Month: December 2016

Categories
Germany Life Miscellaneous Travel

Strasbourg and Heidelberg

When living in southern Germany in 2006 we made a few trips to Strasbourg which was a short drive from Karlsruhe. The first trip was on New Years Day and I recall the amazing Christmas market in the old town near the Cathedral. Surrounded by beautiful buildings of stunning architecture, people playing music in the streets, vendors selling their wares of clothing, leather goods, pottery, woodworks, jewellery and food. The smell of spicy sausages being cooked over an open fire must be savoured along with as many cups of hot mulled wine you can handle! I can still picture the colourful decorations and lights twinkling in the streets and smell the food and taste the wine; so wonderful!!

Strasbourg Cathedral and Christmas Market
Strasbourg Cathedral and Christmas Market

On this same trip we made the short journey over to Heidelberg during the day to walk around the castle. What a lovely city is Heidelberg, so picturesque with the river Neckar flowing through it, surrounded by the beautiful buildings so prevalent throughout Europe.

Heidelberg
Heidelberg
Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle

If you are ever in the area, it is definitely worth taking some time to wander through the city…

Enjoy!!

Categories
Food Life Miscellaneous

Merry Christmas Turkey Neck!

Yes folks, Merry Christmas today to everyone who celebrates this special day. I do. My family does, and the majority of my friends do…even for those of my friends who are not Christian they tell me they love an excuse to celebrate anything so they join in whenever they can 🙂

Growing up it was a big deal. Lots of church I remember well. I had to be part of the church choir (that did not work out too well for me overall) helping my Mom and of course the big meal on Christmas day. When I was really young it was usually always at my Grandma’s then as I got older it would alternate between my Grandma’s and our place. My Mom would be up after 4am making the stuffing for the gigantic bird we would later be devouring. And just on queue my Grandma and Mom would fight over who got the turkey neck (well not literally…and Grandma usually won!!) I aways thought it was disgusting – arguing over this ridiculous piece of bone with little bits of meat on it. I would mock them and belittle the thought of holding such an insignificant part of the grand turkey so high above all others. Until a few years ago that is, when I had guests for a turkey dinner. There was no fight for the neck and I indulged. Oh my. I never gave my Grandma and Mom enough credit for the taste of this odd bit. Some of the tastiest and most tender meat I have ever tasted. I was a convert. I actually am surprised at myself for being so critical as I have had beef neck bones which are fabulous, and grew up eating pork hocks which is some of the most tender meat on little porky. But I had shunned the turkey neck for years.

This year as we join in a festive dinner with family I plan to scope out this little gem; scrutinizing the company I am in for anyone else planning the same….I may have some stiff competition…

Merry Christmas and Bon Appetit!!

Categories
Food Recipes

Baked Chicken with Herbs

This is such an easy dish to make and so flavourful!

What you need:

Chicken pieces preferably chicken leg and thigh pieces with skin on. It is really important to have pieces with skin on – you can trim them but leave a good portion of skin as this adds much of the flavour.

Olive oil

Spices such as rosemary, oregano, sage

Chili pepper flakes or cut up a dried chili

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

1/2 onion chopped

A couple garlic cloves

White wine about 1/4 cup or some sherry vinegar or just use a little extra stock

Chicken stock about 1/2 to 2/3 cup

Heat oven to 400F

Heat a frying pan on medium heat with some olive oil. Add the onion, sauté a few minutes, add the garlic. Add wine or sherry let reduce a few minutes. Add stock, reduce heat a little and let reduce slightly. Add salt and pepper.

Sauce for chicken
Sauce for chicken

Wash the chicken pieces and trim some of the skin if necessary. Place in a large casserole dish so there is no overlap.

Sprinkle the chicken the herbs and chili and then season with a little sea salt and pepper.

Chicken pieces seasoned before cooking
Chicken pieces seasoned before cooking

Cook, uncovered, in heated oven for 30 minutes.

Remove the dish from the oven and pour the sauce over the chicken pieces and cover the pan with foil and return to the oven reduced to 300F and cook for another 30 minutes.

The initial cooking at high heat with these simple seasonings leave a crispy skin, sealing in the flavour followed by the final cooking session to finish off the dish. The chicken is so moist and tender and flavourful this is one of my favourite fast and easy chicken dishes to make.

Baked chicken with sauce
Baked chicken with sauce
Chicken with herbs, fresh pasta with onion and tomatoes and rum-maple baked quince
Chicken with herbs, fresh pasta with onion and tomatoes and rum-maple baked quince

Serve with potatoes, vegetables, pasta etc.

Bon Appetit!!