Albania

 Welcome to Albania!  Albania is considered a Balkin country, even though it is independent.  They are known to be relatively bad drivers, since most cars didn't come into the country until the early 1990s.  They also serve coffee that is very thick - like Turkish coffee!  The pictures look beautiful - maybe somewhere to check out in the future!  According to Google, the population of Albania is 2.55 million people and the capital is Tirana.  Their national dish is...

Tavë Kosi!

It's a soured milk casserole.  Sounds appetizing, right?  I will apologize ahead of time that the recipe is in grams and milliliters - I didn't convert it to metric when I cooked it, so this is true to the original recipe.  To go with the Tavë Kosi, we made Byrek, which is a filo dough-stuffed finger food.  This one was going to be tricky, because I could not find gluten free filo dough anywhere.  So, what's a girl to do but make her own!  I used this recipe (I'm not going to write it out).  This was a fragrant meal to make, even though there weren't many spices, which was strange.  Here's what we did:

TAVE KOSI

Lamb

600g Diced Lamb 

20g Butter

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

70g Rice

2 Tsp Oregano

450ml Boiling Water

2 Cloves Diced Garlic

Salt

Pepper

Roux

50g Butter

2 Tbsp Flour

Yogurt

750g Sour cream

6 Eggs

Salt

Pepper

1. 1.  In a large pan, melt the butter and olive oil together then add the diced lamb. 
2. 2.  Brown the lamb on a medium heat, this will take around 5 minutes.
3. 3.  Add the garlic, oregano, 300ml of water and season with salt and pepper. 
4. 4.  Mix well before covering with a lid. 
5. 5.  Leave to simmer for 50 minutes mixing a couple of times ensuring the lamb doesn’t start to burn.
6. 6.  Add the rice.  The juices should have nearly all boiled away so another 150ml of water should be added along with the rice. 
7. 7.  Mix altogether, bring to a boil, place the lid on and leave for just 10 minutes. It’s advised to check at around 8 minutes – you want the liquid to be evaporated with just a moist coating of oily water left over the lamb and rice.
8. 8.  Place the lamb and rice into a casserole dish, the mixture should fully cover the base and have at least 2 inches spare for the yogurt. 
9. 9.  In a small saucepan melt the butter over a medium heat and then add two tablespoons of flour while continuously stirring for two minutes. 
10. 10.  Pour the roux into a bowl and keep to one side.
11. 11.  In a mixing bowl add the sour cream, eggs, and season with salt and pepper. 
12. 12.  Mix together then add the roux continuing to mix fast for a minute to ensure the roux and yogurt are thoroughly combined.
13. 13.  Pour the yogurt mixture over the baked lamb and rice and sprinkle on a little oregano.
14. 14.  Place on the bottom shelf of the oven on 356 degrees for 35 minutes then move it up to the middle for a further 10 minutes. 
15. 15.  The Tavë kosi is ready when the yogurt has risen up high and a golden crust formed.
16. 16.  Leave to cool for 5 – 10 minutes before serving.
17. 17.  Enjoy!

(Source: Tave Kosi)

BYREK

1 lb frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed

1 tbsp avocado oil

4 green onions, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, grated

7 oz feta (the block in brine, not pre-crumbled)

1 C full-fat cottage cheese

1/2 C sour cream 

2 small eggs

Salt and pepper, to taste

Phyllo

1 packet filo dough

4-5 tbsp oil, for brushing the dough

1. 1.  Defrost the spinach and squeeze out the excess moisture.
2. 2.  Preheat the oven to 400°F. 
3. 3.  Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. 4.  Sauté green onions: Finely chop them. Heat the oil and sauté the onion for a couple of minutes until slightly softer.
5. 5.  Mix the green onions, spinach, grated garlic, crumbled feta, cottage cheese, sour cream, and eggs thoroughly and season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. 6.  Place one sheet of filo pastry on the working surface and brush it with oil. 
7. 7.  Layer two more sheets on top, brushing each with oil. 
8. 8.  Cut the filo sheets into 16 rectangles 6x7 inches.
9. 9.  Place a heaping tablespoon of filling on the bottom of each rectangle. 
10. 10.  Fold the long sides of the filo over the filling, then fold the bottom edge over it as well.
11. 11.  Roll up the pastry starting from the bottom. 
12. 12.  Place the rolls seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. 
13. 13.  Brush them with the remaining oil.
14. 14.  Bake the rolls for 30 minutes or until golden brown. 
15. 15.  Let them cool slightly (5-10 minutes) before serving. You can also serve them at room temperature.
16. 16.  Enjoy!

(Source: Byrek)

The verdict?  The Tave Kosi was really good!  It took a few bites for us to decide if we liked it, since the textures were very strange.  But we all agreed that this was a delicious meal.  The Nifty Niece and Nephew really enjoyed the lamb, which turned out to be AMAZINGLY tender, but not the rice or yogurt souffle.  The Super Sister loved the souffle part. And the rice part was very flavorful, but there wasn't very much of it.  We decided that we needed to make this meal again, but next time we would add more rice, and maybe see how beef stew meat is instead of lamb.  We would probably add more meat too, to make it chunkier.  The byrek was a disappointment.  I think part of that was because of the homemade filo dough - it wasn't super.  They were really hard to fold, and it didn't seem like enough of the filling in each byrek.  It also made a TON of extra filling.  We're going to try making them with rice paper wrappers with the rest of the filling.  That should be an interesting experiment.  Overall, it was a good main meal, but not a good appetizer.  

   

    

ME

Taste of Tave Kosi (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 8

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 8

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Tavi Kosi (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 8

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 8

ME

Taste of Byrek (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 5

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 6

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Byrek (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

Hope you enjoyed reading about Albania!  Join us next time in the United Kingdom!

Syria

 Welcome to Syria!  Syria gained its independence from France in 1946 after WWII.  Syria is home to the oldest library in the world -- in 1974, the ancient city of Ebla was discovered along with around 1,800 clay tablets dating from around 3,000 BC. Syrians are some of the lightest drinkers in the world: the average Syrian consumes just 0.1 liters of alcohol per year.  According to Google, the population of Syria is 24.26 million people and the capital is Damascus.  Their national dish is...

Kibbeh!

They look like little footballs!  However, to make kibbeh, you need to use bulger wheat, which I cannot eat. So it was off to the recipes to find something to make with the kibbeh.  We found Batata Harra (which is a spicy potato), Syrian Salad, and Fattet Djaj, which is a chicken and rice dish.  It was a very full, busy kitchen, but the smells were wonderful.  I did the prep over two days, just to make it easier on myself.  Here's what I did:

KIBBEH

For the shell:

1 lb bulgur wheat

1 1/2 C cold water.

1/2 lb ground beef

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 C onion, diced

1 C plus 2 tbsp water

For the filling:

2 tbsp oil

1 onion, diced

1 lb ground beef

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp pepper

1 1/2 tsp paprika

1/3 C pine nuts

Iced water for shaping and forming

Oil for frying

1. 1. In a deep bowl, add bulgur wheat and pour water over, cover and let it soak for 30 minutes.
2. 2. In a large skillet, over medium heat, add oil and sauté onions until translucent.
3. 3. Add the ground meat and stir until it is browned. 
4. 5. Add the seasoning, mix well.
5. 6. Turn heat off and stir in the pine nuts.
6. 7. Add the onion, ground beef, salt and pepper to the bulgur wheat and combine well.
7. 8. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of food processor in batches, adding a couple of tablespoons of water and processing until mixed each time. 
8. 9. Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes.
9. 10. Fill a measuring cup with cold water and add some ice (this is for when you roll the kibbeh).
10. 11. Prepare a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper and set next to you.
11. 12. Lightly dip your hands in the cold water and take about 3 Tablespoons of the shell mixture then roll into a ball the size of a golf ball.
12. 13. Place the ball in your left hand and using the index finger of the other hand poke a small hole in one end of the ball reaching to the middle of the ball.
13. 14. Gently roll the ball into your left hand while pressing your index finger in a circular motion.
14. Keep doing this until the hole is bigger; make sure not to press too hard on the walls of the kibbeh or it might break or tear.
15. 15. Now take about 3/4 teaspoon of the filling and fill the hole of the kibbeh, do not overstuff.
16. 16. Close the end of the kibbeh by pinching the end together, make sure to dip your fingers in the iced water every now and then.
17. 17. Place the kibbeh on the baking sheet and continue until the whole batch is done.
18. 18. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour,
19. 19. In a deep frying pan add oil enough to cover the kibbeh when put in it.
20. 20. Heat oil on medium-high , between 355F-375F. 
21. 21. Add cold kibbeh and fry for 4 minutes until dark brown.
22. 22. Transfer the Kibbeh to a plate lined with paper towel.
23. 23. Continue until you are done with them all.
24. 24. Serve hot and enjoy!

(Source: Kibbeh)

BATATA HARRA

2 lbs potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes or baby potatoes

3/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper 

1/2 tsp paprika

2 tbsp avocado oil

Cilantro Sauce

2 tbsp avocado oil

1 tsp garlic, minced

1/4 tsp cayenne 

1/2 C cilantro, chopped

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp lemon juice

1. 
   
2. 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
3. 2. Pat the 2 lbs potatoes dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel until they're completely dry.
4. 3. Mix the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika in a medium bowl. 
5. 4. Stir in the avocado oil to make a paste.
6. 5. Add the potatoes to the spice mix and coat evenly until every surface is covered.
7. 6. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat the foil with oil.
8. 7. Spread the potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet.
9. 8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through and golden in color. 
10. 9. Transfer potatoes to a serving dish.
11. 10. In a small saucepan, saute garlic in avocado oil over medium heat. 
12. 11. Turn the heat down to low and add cayenne and stir briefly. 
13. 12. Stir in cilantro, paprika, and lemon juice. 
14. 13. Stir to combine and remove from heat.
15. 14. Add cilantro garlic sauce to the potatoes. 
16. 15. Stir all ingredients together and serve immediately as a side dish or appetizer.

(Source: Batata Harra)

SYRIAN SALAD WITH ZA'ATAR VINAIGRETTE

4 C Romaine Lettuce, chopped

1 C diced tomato

1 C diced cucumber

1/2 C thinly sliced red onion

1/4 C minced parsley

1/4 C minced fresh mint

2 cloves garlic, grated

1/4 C avocado oil

1/4 C lemon juice

2 tbsp za'atar

Salt and pepper, to taste

1. 1. Place the first six ingredients in a large salad bowl (Romaine through mint)
2. 2. Squeeze juice of one lemon around the bowl, carefully holding your opposite hand underneath to catch the seeds.
3. 3. Using a microplane, grate the garlic directly over the salad.
4. 4. Drizzle salad with oil and lemon juice, then sprinkle with za'atar. 
5. 5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. 6. Gently toss the salad together and enjoy!

(Source: Syrian Salad with Za'atar Vinaigrette)

SYRIAN FATTET DJAJ

1 rotisserie chicken, chopped

3 gluten free pita breads, cut into small squares

Vegetable oil, for frying

3 C cooked rice

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 C plain yogurt

1/4 C tahini

Juice of 1 lime

1/2 C toasted sliced almonds to garnish

Salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Chopped parsley, to garnish

1. 1. Start by heating the vegetable oil, over medium heat, and frying the pita squares until golden and crispy. 
2. 2. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel to soak up the extra grease and set aside.
3. 3. Prepare the sauce by combining the mashed garlic and the yogurt and whisk until smooth. 
4. 4. Add the tahini while whisking and, finally, the lime juice. 
5. 5. Season with salt and pepper and reserve.
6. 6. Make sure your shredded chicken and rice are warm before assembling the Fattet Djaj and work quickly so everything is still warm when you serve it.
7. 7. In a big casserole dish or serving platter, start with the pita squares, evenly distributed in a single layer.
8. 8. The next layer is the rice and finally 2/3 of the chicken.
9. 9. Top with the yogurt sauce and the remaining chicken and finish by sprinkling the toasted nuts, the chopped parsley and the cinnamon. 
10. 10. Serve warm and enjoy!

(Source: Syrian Fattet Djaj)

The verdict?  The Fattet Djaj was ok.  It was a very strange combination of flavors and textures.  I think it needed more seasoning and needed more sauce.  It was slightly dry unless you had a spoonful of sauce.  And the combination of the cinnamon and the yogurt made it slightly sweet, but not icky sweet.  Then you had the soft rice and chicken with the crunchy almonds.  It was a party in your mouth!  The fried pita bread at the bottom didn't add much.  I think it would have been better to fry the pitas and used them as chips and eaten the Fattet Djaj as a dip.  It was also a little bit odd that it is supposed to be served lukewarm... I'm sure the health department would have something to say about that!  The potatoes were good, but had a kick to them!  I would recommend roasting them a bit more so they are more crispy - maybe put them under the broiler for the last 5 minutes.  I didn't care much for the salad.  I think it would have been fine without all the different spices in the za'atar mix, but that's what is unique about the salad!  I think more tomatoes would have been good too :-)  I did forget to take a picture of the salad...oops!  I will let Handsome Husband tell you about the Kibbeh!

The Kibbeh was very interesting. It was firm and almost crunchy, and I had no idea that there was actually ground beef in the shell until I previewed the blog post! Very odd, but it worked! It was a little bit dry and crumbly, but the flavor was mild and nice. The savory flavors were a good addition to the rest of the meal.

    

ME

Taste of Kibbeh (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): NA

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): NA

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): NA

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Kibbeh (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 6

ME

Taste of Batata Harra (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 3

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Batata Harra (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 1

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

ME

Taste of Syrian Salad (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 5

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 6

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Syrian Salad (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

ME

Taste of Fattet Djaj (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Fattet Djaj (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 6

Hope you enjoyed reading about Syria.  Come with us to Costa Rica next time!

Chad

 Welcome to Chad! The top third of Chad is covered by the Sahara Desert, and the Tibesti Mountains in the extreme north are home to some of the best camel racing in the world. For every 23,600 people in Chad there is only one Chadian doctor available, and the country has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. 1,100 mothers die per 100,000 births.  Chad is also one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world.  According to Google, their population is 19.67 million people and their capital is N’Djamena.  Their national dish is...

Boule!

It is a rice or wheat porridge dish, traditionally eaten in the morning.  However, we ate it for dinner.  To go with the boule, we made Daraba, which is a vegetable stew with peanut butter.  The vegetables used in the dish were not ones I would ever think to put together!  It looked like a simple, quick meal to make.  Here's what I did:

BOULE

5 C water, divided

1 C rice

3 tbsp natural peanut butter (for authenticity, this should be pure crushed peanuts, no additives)

Pinch of salt

3 tbsp millet flour

1 tbsp lemon juice 

1 C whole milk, to taste

Sugar, to taste

1. 1.  In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil and add the rice. 
2. 2.  Stir in the peanut butter and a pinch of salt.
3. 3.  Mix the flour with the remaining cup of water and then pour the liquid into the boiling mixture.
4. 4.  Cook 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently until tender.
5. 5.  Stir in the lemon juice, and add sugar to taste. 
6. 6.  Pour in as much of the whole milk as needed to thin it out to the desired porridge consistency.
7. 7.  Serve hot and enjoy!

(Source: Boule)

DARABA

1 lb okra, sliced in big chunks

3 medium tomatoes 

1 sweet potato 

1 eggplant 

1 lb spinach (I used frozen)

1 C peanut butter

6 C beef broth

Cayenne, to taste

Salt and pepper, to taste

1. 1.  Add all of the vegetables, except the spinach, and beef broth to a pot. 
2. 2.  Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and cook for half an hour, or until the vegetables are almost done.
3. 3.  Remove 3/4 cup of the stock and mix with the peanut butter to form a smooth sauce. 
4. 4.  Add the peanut butter and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the soup has thickened.
5. 5.  Stir in the mixed greens until just wilted. 
6. 6.  Season to taste with salt, pepper and cayenne.
7. 7.  Enjoy!

(Source: Daraba

The verdict?  This was interesting.  The boule was OK, but not great.  It didn't taste bad, but it didn't really taste like anything.  Handsome Husband commented that it was easy to keep eating.  He added the milk - I didn't.  He said the milk didn't add much, but made it more the consistency of rice pudding.  It didn't cook like normal rice - you had to continue stirring it to make sure that it didn't stick to the bottom.  The daraba was also interesting.  I would never have thought to put okra, sweet potato, tomato, and eggplant together.  I don't even like eggplant.  However, in this stew, it didn't taste like anything, and the texture wasn't bad.  It needed the spice from the cayenne, for sure.  All in all, it was fairly bland, but not a terrible meal.

    

ME

Taste of Boule (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 5

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Boule (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 4

ME

Taste of Daraba (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Daraba (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

Another country down!  Join us next time in St. Vincent & Grenadines!

Germany

Welcome to Germany!  I've been wanting to do Germany in October, but the last four years haven't allowed me to do that.  This time, we barely made it!  Germany is a bucket list country, and I think that may be the truth for many people.  The country looks beautiful, and the history is fascinating.  According to Google, the population of Germany is 84 million people and the capital is Berlin.  Their national dish is...

 

 

Sauerbraten!

It literally means "sour meat". Sounds appetizing, right?  Along with the sauerbraten, we made Kartoffelpuffer, which is a German potato pancake, Rotkohl, which is a red cabbage slaw, and a German apple cake with streusel topping.  This meal took a while (2 weeks!) to get ready, so if you're going to make it, plan ahead!  Here's what we did:

SAUERBRATEN

Marinade

2 onions, chopped

2 large carrots, chopped

1 large leek, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 sprigs thyme

2 sprigs rosemary

2 bay leaves

4 tsp gin

6 whole cloves

10 peppercorns, cracked

2 1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp sugar

2 C red wine

1 1/2 C red wine vinegar

1 C beef broth

 

Roast

3-4 lb pot roast

2 tbsp avocado oil

10 gluten free gingersnap cookies, crushed

1. In a large pot, combine all of the marinade ingredients.
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, boil for 10 minutes, then cool completely.
3.  Put the pot roast in a freezer bag and pour in the cooled marinade to marinate for 10 days.
4. Remove the roast from the marinade and pat dry using paper towels.
5. Do not discard the marinade!  Keep it for later.
6. In a dutch oven, heat oil over high heat.
7. When the oil is hot, sear the roast on all sides until it is browned, then pour the marinade into the dutch oven with the meat.
8. Bring the liquids to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer.
9. Simmer for 3 hours, or until the meat is tender.
10. Remove the meat from the dutch oven and set it aside to rest.
11. Meanwhile, strain the marinade, discarding the solids and reserving the liquids.
12. Return the liquids to the dutch oven. 
13. Add the crushed gingersnap cookies to the reserved liquid.
14. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until the gravy has thickened.
15. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
16. Slice the sauerbrauten into thin slices and serve with the hot gravy.
17. Enjoy!

(Source: Sauerbraten)

KARTOFFELPUFFER

2 1/2 lbs gold potatoes, peeled and very finely grated (raw)

1 onion, very finely grated

2 eggs

1/2 C gluten free flour (or more if needed)

1 tsp salt (more to taste)

Oil, for frying

1. Thoroughly remove the liquid in the grated potatoes by putting them in a tea towel and wringing out the liquid.
2.  Place the drained grated potatoes in a medium-sized bowl with the grated onions, eggs, flour and salt.
3. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together into a tacky mixture.
4. Heat a few tbsp oil in a pan over medium-high heat and place 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the mixture in the hot pan and flatten into pancakes.
5. Fry on both sides for 3-5 minutes, until they are golden.
6. Serve hot and enjoy!

(Source: Kartoffelpuffer)

ROTKOHL

2 tbsp butter

1 onion, diced

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped

1 head red cabbage, sliced very thin

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 C apple juice

1 tbsp sugar

1 bay leaf

2 whole cloves

1 tsp gin

1/2 tsp salt

1. Melt the butter in a large pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onion and apples and saute for 7-10 minutes, until soft.
3. Add the cabbage to the onions and apples, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer.
5. Simmer for 1 hour until cabbage is soft.
6. Serve warm or cold.
7. Enjoy!

(Source: Rotkohl)

GERMAN APPLE CAKE WITH STRUESEL TOPPING

Shortbread Crust

175 g gluten free flour

50 g sugar

1/4 tsp xanthan gum

1/4 tsp salt

145 g butter, cubed and chilled

 

Apple Filling

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced

3/4 C unsweetened applesauce

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp lemon zest

1/4 tsp cinnamon

 

Streusel Topping

1 C gluten free flour

1/2 C cold butter, cubed

1/2 C sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper.
3. Add the flour, sugar, xanthan gum, and salt to a food processor and pulse to combine.
4. Add the butter and pulse until fully incorporated and you get a mixture of smaller breadcrumb-like pieces.
5. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and press to compact it into an even layer.
6. Put it in the fridge until later.
7. In a large bowl, combine the apples, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, cinnamon, and applesauce.
8. Spoon the apple filling in an even layer over the shortbread dough that was in the fridge.
9. In another large bowl, cut the butter into the flour and sugar using a pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs.
10. Squeeze handfuls of streusel topping together to create larger clumps, then sprinkle the streusel over the apple filling.
11. Bake for 45 minutes until lightly golden brown on on top and the apples are soft.
12. Cool completely, and then cut into squares and serve cold.
13. Enjoy!

(Source: German Apple Cake with Streusel Topping and Shortbread Crust)

The verdict?  This was a favorite, for sure. Handsome Husband declared that the gravy for the sauerbraten was the best brown gravy he had ever had!  We will be doing this roast again.  The original recipe called for juniper berries instead of gin, so I will try those next time.  I just couldn't find them in time.  I also couldn't find gluten free gingersnap cookies, so I also made those on my own.  We did have to plan ahead in order to marinate it for 10 days, but I think it was worth it.  That meat was so tender!  I subbed the juniper berries for gin in the rotkohl as well, and it worked well.  I liked the rotkohl, but didn't care for the mushy apples in it.  The textures were strange together.  The kartoffelpuffer were not anything special - typical potato pancake, but they were very good with the gravy.  It almost gave it an apple taste.  We were disappointed in the apple cake.  Usually apples, cinnamon and sugar go great together, but it just wasn't great.  That said, we were compelled to eat it.  Go figure!  We ended up tossing the leftovers.  The sauerbraten was the winner of this meal!

 

 

ME

Taste of Sauerbraten (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 9

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 9

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Sauerbraten (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 9

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 10

 

ME

Taste of Kartoffelpuffer (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Kartoffelpuffer (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 4

 

ME

Taste of Rotkohl (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 6

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Rotkohl (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

 

ME

Taste of German apple cake with streusel topping (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 5

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

 

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of German apple cake with streusel topping (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 5

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

 

Join us next time in Georgia!