Category: Good Housekeeping World Cookery

Marillenkuchen

Hello friends. Welcome to the final part of our Austrian culinary adventure. Today, we’ll savour Marillenkuchen – Austrian for Apricot Cake.  I was more excited about Austrian desserts than the savoury dishes. Austrian cakes and pastries are world-famous, and Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery offers an enticing array!  Initially, I struggled to choose between Sachertorte, the most famous, and Linzertorte, my favourite. However, when visiting my greengrocer, I saw a display of breathtaking apricots. Consequently, all thoughts of other cakes vanished instantly.

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Unlike its more fancy counterparts, Marillenkuchen is a simple cake. But as the saying goes – the simple things in life are often the best! Tilly Pamment, author of the excellent baking book “The Plain Cake Appreciation Society,” says:

The Plain Cake Appreciation Society is a club for connoisseurs of uncomplicated cakes, seasonal bakes and the general appreciation of pausing (often) for tea and cake

I think Tilly would approve of the Marillenkuchen!  As do many Austrians!  Marillenkuchen holds a special place in Austrian culinary tradition. It’s often enjoyed during the summer months when apricots are in season.  It is a perfect treat for picnics, garden parties, and afternoon tea.

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Marillenkuchen – The Recipe

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Apologies for my scribble about how much my eggs weighed!


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A Fun Fact About Austrian Apricots

Did you know there was an Austrian apricot that is famous throughout Europe?  I had no idea!  The Wachau Apricot is a key ingredient in jam, brandy, and various liqueurs. The EU protects this fruit.  Only apricots originating from the Wachau region can be called ‘Wachau Apricots.  Furthermore, the Wachau region, nestled along the Danube River, looks stunningly beautiful!  An apricot festival appears to take place annually in July. If I ever have the opportunity to visit, I will plan my trip accordingly

Today we bid “So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen goodbye” to  Austria.  Our next stop is Belgium.  Have a wonderful week! 

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Veal with Cream Sauce

Hello Friends, today we’re continuing our journey into Austria in 1972.  We started with some Eggs in Sour Cream a few weeks back and that was a great dish!  Now, I’m sure some of you might be expecting a Wiener Schnitzel as the main course.  However, as I have already shared a fancy version recently, I thought I would choose something a little different.  So today, we are dining on a dish of Veal in Cream Sauce.  This recipe sings to my soul! Capers, mustard, lemons.  As they say in Austria, a few of my favourite things

However, the Good Housekeeping World Cookery chapter on Austrian cuisine, gives us, a world of hearty peasant fare for mains. Now, don’t get me wrong, I adore a good, wholesome dish, but let’s be honest, ‘hearty peasant fare’ doesn’t always translate to the most Instagrammable plate.

As Jenny from Silver Screen Suppers so eloquently put it, ‘brown food is the enemy of the photographer.’ Therefore, I implore you, dear reader, to feast your eyes on the words, not the pictures, for this dish is a revelation

Veal in Cream Sauce

The cream sauce was glorious! Honestly, I could bathe in it. Furthermore, it worked perfectly with the veal, but I could see it gracing chicken, fish, and shellfish. In fact, I would have eaten it with just the potatoes and the broccoli, never mind the veal!  To accompany the veal, I served steamed broccoli, a vibrant green counterpoint to the rich sauce, and Nigella’s divine Salt and Vinegar Potatoes, a perfect accompaniment. Finally, as the good Doctor Seuss might say, ‘I would eat this on a plane, I would eat this on a train, I would eat this in a box, I would eat this with a fox!

This is how eating this made me feel!

Veal In Cream Sauce – The Recipe

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As a total aside, can I say how hard it is for me to type “Austria”? My fingers automatically move to “Australia”!  I have had to correct this so many times in these posts!  I, for one, will be glad when I hit the chapter on Belgium, so that I don’t have to keep correcting my spelling! 

 

Have a great week!

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Eggs in Sour Cream

Guten Tag, friends! Today, we embark on a culinary journey through Europe, guided by the pages of Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery. Our first stop? The enchanting land of Austria, where the hills will soon be alive with the delightful aromas of delicious food. We’re starting with a simple yet elegant dish: Eggs in Sour Cream.

As the holiday season approaches, life often becomes a whirlwind of activity. It’s during these hectic times that simple, comforting meals become invaluable. Eggs in Sour Cream is the perfect solution, providing a quick, easy, and delicious meal that requires minimal effort. This Austrian dish resembles the French Ouefs en Cocotte, both involving eggs baked in a creamy mixture.  

Eggs in Sour Cream

I’ve loved Ouefs en Cocotte, ever since my aunt introduced me to them during my primary school years. Discovering this Austrian variation was a delightful surprise, offering both familiarity and novelty. The tangy sour cream and the light, creamy texture create a truly divine experience. The crunchy breadcrumb topping adds a delightful textural contrast, elevating the dish to new heights.

Paired with a fresh green salad, Eggs in Sour Cream make for a perfect lunch or supper. It’s quick, easy, and incredibly cost-effective, making it a win-win. Feel free to experiment with different herbs to suit your taste preferences.

This dish was a pure comfort, a tranquil oasis after a long, busy day. While I opted for a simple green salad to accompany the eggs, you can also serve it with roasted vegetables, crispy bacon, or a slice of crusty bread. The endless possibilities allow you to customize the dish to your liking.

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So, let’s dive into the recipe and experience the magic of Eggs in Sour Cream for ourselves. This dish promises to warm your soul and satisfy your taste buds, making it a perfect addition to your culinary repertoire.

Eggs in Sour Cream – The Recipe

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Happy cooking, friends!  Have a great week!Signature2

 

 

 

Pineapple Snow Pudding

Hello friends and welcome to our final voyage to the South Sea Islands aboard the SS Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery. Today, we’re crafting a delightful Pineapple Snow Pudding bursting with tropical flavours of pineapple and coconut.  As Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery doesn’t include many visuals, sometimes you need to use your imagination to envision the final product.

And sometimes my imagination runs a bit wild. I pictured the coconut settling at the bottom, so when I inverted it, the Pineapple Snow Pudding would resemble a miniature Mount Fuji. Unfortunately, reality didn’t quite align with my vision.  I’m not even sure why I had a Japanese vision for my South Sea Island dish…maybe it was because the previous recipe from this chapter, Mainland Teriyaki, was Japanese-inspired? 

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No surprises but it didn’t look anything like that…

Pineapple Snow Pudding

The Pineapple Snow Pudding may not have looked like how I imagined, but nor did it taste that way.  It is almost impossible to describe how light and airy this is.  It is almost as if you are just getting pure flavour from air!  Absolutely delicious!

I loved the Pineapple Snow Pudding!!!!

  It’s light and airy, fruity and tropical.  Never mind Mount Fuji, this dessert tasted, if not exactly like summer, then more like the promise of summer.  And with the coconut, pineapple and strawberry garnish, it also smelled of summer.  

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Pineapple Snow Pudding – The Recipe

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This ends our trip to the South Seas and also technically ends Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery. However, those of you with a wanderlust for World Travel and 1970’s versions of classic dishes needn’t worry. For some reason, lost to time, I started cooking from this book with Swizterland which starts at page 400. So, from next month, we are heading to the start of the book to check out the best of pages 1-399!

Have a great week!

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Mainland Teriyaki

Today, we’re continuing our virtual journey to the South Sea Islands which started with Fish in Lolo Sauce. Our culinary adventure takes us through the pages of Good Housekeeping’s World Cookery (1972), where today we are rediscovering a classic recipe: Mainland Teriyaki.

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Setting the Scene

Imagine yourself on a secluded beach. The warm sun gently warms your skin while ocean waves crash softly against the shore. Meanwhile, the air is filled with the sweet scent of tropical flowers. Then, someone fires up a grill. Soon, you smell roasting pineapple and grilling meat. That’s the essence of Mainland Teriyaki. It captures the spirit of the South Sea Islands, even though the recipe has Japanese origins.

Although Mainland Teriyaki may not be for everyone, those who love a blend of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors will be delighted. The combination of sweet pineapple, salty olives, and umami-rich, garlicky, ginger-infused marinated steak is delicious!

 
 

 

For me, Mainland Teriyaki brought back a wave of nostalgia. It reminded me of a time I’ve only ever experienced through the lens of film and television. Specifically, it evoked memories of Gidget, the iconic surfer girl. Additionally, it took me back to when a young, handsome Elvis Presley was playing his ukulele on the beach in Blue Hawaii.

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Mainland Teriyaki is a perfect dish to enjoy on a warm summer day. Or, if you’re feeling a bit blue, it can serve as a reminder that summer is coming, even if it feels like “it’s been a long cold and lonely winter.” The combination of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors will transport you to a tropical paradise, making you forget about the cold weather. 

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Whatever your mood, why not fire up the grill and get ready to savor a taste of the South Sea Islands, courtesy of Mainland Teriyaki? 

Mainland Teriyaki – The Recipe

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At first I thought the inclusion of olives in this recipe was a bit weird.  They really didnt seem to fit in with the Asian inspired flavours of the rest of the dish.  But they really work together well here, just like they do on pizza!  

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Have a great week!  

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