Dunk & Crumble

Recipes

Casey’s Apple Date Walnut Salad (Charoset)

by 9 Comments

I did Passover a little differently this year.  I did it on the west coast, for one, and I did it without the usual crowd — no Aunt Lissie, Mom, Dad, sisters, original girl cousins, or any other east coast family, for that matter.  Lucky for me, I have family, both real and makeshift (which, let’s be honest, also counts as real), here in the Bay.

There were 10 of us at last night’s Seder (a little late, yes, but no matter – Elijah still came), only two of us actually Jewish, but all of us open-minded and enthusiastic.  We drank wine, we said prayers, we ate matzoh balls, and we tore through our hosts beautiful apartment in search of the Afikomen.  We told the story of Passover, drank more wine, and ate flourless chocolate cake while singing Happy Birthday, competing with each other to see whose voice sounded best.  I don’t want to say we’re bad singers, but the Happy Birthday contest probably could have been the 11th plague.  Was it unconventional?  Yes.  Was it perfect?  Yup.

Happy Passover, everyone.

…

Read More

Cashew Cream of Asparagus Soup

by 4 Comments

We had an unofficial soup-off here the other night, whereby two soups were made, tasted and judged, and one soup was declared the winner.  It was a slurpy, soupy fight.  It was a battle of epic proportions.  Gauntlets were thrown, tears were shed, friendships were ruined.   Vegetables were blanched, fingers were nicked, steam puffed from simmering pots and, in the end, this soup took home the trophy.

That’s actually sort of a lie.

I mean, we did have a soup-off, and two soups were definitely made and tasted — our friends Dania and Craig made a smooth tomato bisque, Ben and I made cashew cream of asparagus — but as far as judgement goes, we sort of dropped the ball.  We just slurped and slurped, each insisting that our own creations were clearly the best, none of us able to keep a straight face while doing so.  In the end, no soup was declared the winner, and everyone went home full and happy.

Lame.

Everyone wins?  What is that?  This is America, dammit, the land of champions, and I demand a trophy.  This soup wins!  Cashew cream of asparagus!  Most original!  Sneakiest use of cashews!  Maybe not the best looking but all-around tastiest!  Best soup in the land!

Well.  It’s good, anyway.  Like, really good.  Don’t let the name fool you — there’s no cream in this soup.  Just some soaked and pulverized cashews, which add some protein and a full, creamy texture; it really balances out the fresh, springy green of leeks and asparagus.  Try it!  It’s award-winning, you know.

…

Read More

Lemon Scented Banana Bread

by 10 Comments

When I lived in an enormous apartment building in New York City (a mere month ago), I knew only one of my neighbors.  Just one of those New York things, I guess; when you live in a city with 8 million others, it’s far too daunting to try and get to know everyone, so, instead, nobody gets to know anyone.  Neighborliness is too exhausting when you live in a building of thousands, you know?  At any rate, my one New York neighbor was named Mike.  He owned a big dog and a nice collection of shoes, and I’m fairly certain he thought my sister and I were a sweet young lesbian couple who lived three doors down and often wore matching workout gear.

Since I’ve moved to San Francisco, I’ve already met two of my neighbors.  There’s Chris, who lives next door — we met when I was walking out of my apartment and he was walking into his.  It was clear we were both in respective hurries, so we said quick hellos and then did an awkward shuffle around each other in our small hallway; it was nice.

My other neighbor is named Jen.  I know this because of the late-night laundry lock out.  The late-night laundry lockout began at 10:30pm last Saturday night.  Ben and I snuck down to the laundry room to throw in a load (quite a life, we lead), terrified yet thrilled at the prospect of doing laundry after the building’s acceptable laundry hours.  We darted into the washroom, fed the machines some quarters and then dashed out, nervously giggling at our domestic derring-do.  It wasn’t until we were halfway up the building’s back staircase that Ben asked me, smiling, “You have my keys, right?”

I didn’t.  Being his keys and all, I didn’t, you know, have them.

…

Read More

Sweet Cream Biscuits

by 6 Comments

Sometimes you just need a biscuit.  A warm and sweetish salty one, smeared with soft butter and jam, and maybe some fruit and milky tea.

Know what I mean?

It’s raining in California again.  Someone needs to talk to the authorities about this.

So, um, excuse me?  Authorities?  Mr. and Mrs. Powers That Be?  Can’t we lay off the grey skies, the chilly drafts, the rain coming down in drips and sheets?  I may be new around here, but I was told California was, you know, sunny.  I’m beginning to think I’m being punked.  (Not cool, Ashton.)

So, yes, biscuits.  These are simple, light, tender-crumbed.  Eaten warm, they’ll make you close your eyes and smile.  A little bit of cozy on a wet and dreary day.

…

Read More

Meyer Lemon Almond Loaf Cake

by 11 Comments

Roughly 80% of my days here in California have been rainy ones.  Maybe 73%.  70-80 percent, probably.  Definitely.  I mean, those are made up percentages, but whatever, it’s been rainy.  What’s going on, California?  Meanwhile, my old love, New York City, has been taunting us with sun-filled, 70 degree days.  It’s officially spring now, so let’s get our act together, California, okay?  Okay.

Spring it may be, but only just.  At the markets, the steadfast winter jewels are hanging on tight — kale, Brussels sprouts, apples, citrus.  They haven’t yet made way for asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries and peas.  I don’t really mind, because of the Meyer lemons.

Meyer lemons are thin-skinned, bright and gorgeous, especially here, where they’re grown in my neighbors’ backyards.  They’re sweeter and more floral than regular lemons, since they’re actually a cross between a Eureka or Lisbon lemon and a mandarin orange.  (It’s true, I Googled it).

I’m planning to wait out the rain, and to wait for the strawberries.  Until then, we have Meyer lemons, and that’s okay with me.

…

Read More

Cookies & Cream Cake

by 17 Comments

Sunday was a day for tears, for long goodbye hugs, runny mascara and tear-stained t-shirts on the east coast.  Monday was a day for travel, filled with taxi cabs and airplane food, cramped-up legs and some minor jet lag on the west coast.  And today, well, today is a day for celebrating.

Not only is today, March 6th, my first official day as a person who lives in San Francisco, but it’s also the birthday of two of my very favorite things: Katie Gro and Oreo cookies.  KGro is my curliest-haired (some say identical) cousin, a lover of high heels, yoga and scotch, and the best, truest, most selfless friend you could have.  Happy birthday, KGro!

And then there’s milk’s favorite cookie, the classic and unmatched Oreo.  Today, the Oreo turns one hundred years old.  One hundred!  I’ve been eating Oreos since birth, I’m pretty sure, and they are by far my favorite packaged cookie.  Do I consider the Oreo a sweet and special friend, on par with my KGro?  No.  Do I consider the Oreo a sweet a special friend, always there for me in times of happiness, sadness and excess milk?  Absolutely.  Happy birthday, Oreos!

California.  KGro.  Oreos.  So many things to celebrate!  To help, I thought a cake might be in order, a chocolate one with Oreo-flecked buttercream.  Happy happy, everybody.

…

Read More

Creamy Chocolate Date Bars

by 8 Comments

It’s getting closer.  The big date, I mean.  You know, the date!  The one on which I board a flight from New York City, wing my way out to California, and then stay there.  Like, for good.

March 5th is that date, and there are signs everywhere telling me that it’s just around the corner.  Signs like a wine- and pasta- and wine-filled going away party.  Extra tight hugs.  Empty shelves.  The stack of brown cardboard boxes cluttering my apartment, and the men here to load them into a truck and move them across the country.  Just a few signs.

As the date approaches, I’m getting antsy.  Excited.  Nostalgic.  Hungry.

On the subject of dates and excitement and hunger, I’d like to tell you about these date bars.  I’ve been on a date kick lately; it seems I buy a new carton every time I’m at the grocery store.  I enjoy them, roughly chopped atop my cereal or oatmeal, or else straight from the carton; I rip each soft, sticky date open, wrest out the almond-shaped pit, and pop them, one after another, onto my happy tongue.

When the urge to bake something with my weekly carton of dates hit, I was initially reluctant to go with date bars.  Date bars sound more like health food than dessert.  But, after some thought, I reconsidered.  I decided that, if I add some thick, rich and chocolatey ganache to my date bars, already filled with crunchy, oat-y cookie and creamy, naturally sticky-sweet dates, they might be okay.

They are.

So here’s to move dates and fruit dates, some of which are bittersweet and full of excitement, others of which are covered with chocolate ganache.

…

Read More

Moroccan Spiced Tomato Soup with Cous Cous

by 20 Comments

Happy weekend, friends!  Today I leave for Florida, to visit Gramma Lynn.  It will be my last visit before the big move, and we have big plans, Gramma and me.  Plans which involve crossword puzzles, Mallomars, movie dates and, hopefully, a bit of sun.

Gramma Lynn is, very decidedly, the bee’s knees.  There’s just no other way to put it.  She grows her own tomatoes.  She lets me sit at her very well organized vanity and play with her tubes of pink lipstick.  She always has a cookie in the cabinet.  She drives a convertible, yet has unshakeably flawless hair.  She enjoys Steve Carell.  You see?  Bee’s knees.

One day, I’m going to grow my own tomatoes.  I don’t think flawless hair is in the cards for me.  But tomatoes?  Could be.

Until then, I’ll make tomato soup from cans (cans?  …CANS?  Did she say cans?) (Yes, cans.  It’s okay, really.  It’s winter time, there are no good, fresh tomatoes in sight.  Canned whole, peeled tomatoes are cheap, flavorful, and great for soup in a pinch.  Try it.  Try it so I can close the parenthesis.  Okay?  Okay).  Thank you.

Tomato soup, from canned tomatoes.  Or, as Gramma would say, “tuh-may-duhs.”  Give it a try.  Wear pink lipstick.  You might be surprised.

…

Read More

Black and White (and Pink) Cookies

by 10 Comments

The black and white cookie.  The official unofficial cookie of New York City.  Or is it the unofficial official cookie?  Hm.

I made mine black and white and pink, for Valentine’s Day.  Would Jerry Seinfeld approve?  Probably not.  But if you look to the cookie, you will see that these are really kind of perfect — they are a sweet sort of tribute, my personal homage to this city so nice, they named it twice; they are my little love letter to New York City, a city I’ve called home for three years, but which, quite soon, I will leave behind.  For now.

…

Read More

Sweet & Salty Snack Mix

by 2 Comments

Last night was the Superbowl.  While the Giants were busy beating the Patriots, game day food threw down.  Chicken wings and blue cheese battled nachos and guacamole, and beer and burgers shoved their way around the table, barely leaving room for ganache-covered football-shaped cakes.  Simpler snacks like pretzels and goldfish may have been left uneaten in the scuffle.

I know.  Very sad.

Luckily, I’ve got you covered: sweet and salty snack mix.  It’s a non-recipe sort of recipe, easily bagged and tied up with red ribbon, and it will make your Valentine smile.  Probably.  Unless your Valentine doesn’t like Goldfish and M&Ms, and really, if that’s the case, I’m pretty sure you’ve got bigger problems to deal with.  Best of luck.

…

Read More