Food on Friday: Apple and Salsicce Tarte Flambée

There is nothing I love more than the delicious, fresh and comforting food of autumn.  Fresh fruits and vegetables prepared in hearty ways to warm you from the inside out and impress you with what nature has to offer!  

So, when I found this recipe in a German magazine called Lust auf Genuss, I knew I had to make it! And oh my was it absolutely delicious!  The delicious apples combined with the italian sausage completely epitomize fall and it comes together really quickly (especially if you don't have to make the sausage yourself).  Perfect for a cold autumn weeknight!  

Apple and Salsicce Tarte Flambée

serves 2

3-4 sprigs (total) of rosemary and sage

2 apples

2 tablespoons of butter

pepper

1 pre-made pizza dough

1 teaspoon of fennel seeds, crushed

150 g of heavy sour cream or Crème fraîche

175 g Salsicce or italian sausage of your choice (I made my own italian-style sausage using this recipe)

Sea salt

Remove the leaves of the herbs and chop finely.  Slice the apples.  Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat.  Sauté the apples and herbs until just starting to soften.  Sprinkle with pepper.  Preheat oven to 220 degrees C or 430 degrees F.  Thinly roll out dough and spread with heavy sour cream/crème fraîche. Sprinkle with fennel seeds. Arrange apple slices, sausage and leftover herbs on the dough and bake in oven for 20-25 minutes.  Sprinkle with sea salt and serve immediately.  

Beaded keychain DIY

There are some things that just say a lot about people, you know? Their wallets for one.  (Mine is navy with a gorgeous gold clasp...and overflowing with receipts.)  Their dogs.  (I've got the most adorable labradoodle you've ever seen with the most adorable personality to match!)  Their desk drawers.  (Messy, messy, messy and full of things I am hoarding.)  And, of course, their keychains.

Think of all the different keychains out there.  Don't they say so much?  A carabiner?  I am adventurous and outdoorsy.  A rabbit foot?  1993 was awesome or I am incredibly ahead of the trend.  A mini stuffed animal?  I am the worlds most kind-hearted adult.  A bottle opener?  I live in a frat house or like to camp.  A souvenir keychain?  I've never been there but someone I know has.

Since I have always thought of the keychain is an extension of myself, I put a lot of effort into having pretty ones.  That's where the worlds easiest DIY comes in.  These classic and stylish keychains are made with simple beads from a craft store and suede cord and take just minutes to make.

I made a loop at the top of the cord which is tied off with a knot.  Then I strung the cord through the beads and tied a knot at the end.  I left the ends a bit loose so that they would hang down like a tassel and it was as simple as that.  I got the idea here, but instead of painting my beads, I just picked out pretty ones from the craft store.

You can decide for yourself what this keychain says about me... What kind of keychain do you have?

When the leaves and everything else begin to change

Currently*

Making: Beaded keychains (I'll post about them here tomorrow!)

Cooking: With chanterelle mushrooms at least once a week.

Drinking: Yogi Bright Mood tea with basil and hops

Reading:  The Education of Little Tree by Asa Earl Carter, aka Forrest Carter, on the recommendation of my dear friend Ben

Wanting: The Creamy Chai Holiday Mercury Candle from Antrho 

Looking: A lot like Frida Kahlo, preparing for my Halloween costume

Playing: Good music all the time.  Current favorites include: Young the Giant, Kodaline, The Paper Kites and Sibylle Baier.  

Wasting: So much time on bad/awesome TV.  

Wishing: I could be enjoying autumn just a little bit more--that I didn't still have so many sad days
Enjoying: Autumn more than I expected to; spending time by myself; spending time with my girlfriends; knowing I will have no regrets about how I am handling things
Waiting: For the day I can get a dog, live way out in nature and cultivate a more simple life
Liking: Where I am for now 
Wondering: When I became an adult and when being an adult will start to feel easier 
Loving: Mom, dad, Kel, JJ, Danu, Ben, Shaquisha, Nicole, Kathrin
Hoping: That my 27th year brings me something better than my 26th year did.  
Marvelling: At how breathtaking and magical Germany truly is in Autumn
Needing: A hug from my mommy, cute new socks and something sweet
Smelling: Wood burning stoves being lit for the first time, roasted chestnuts, Nürnberger Bratwurst and my favorite Kitchen Spice candle
Wearing: New boots and lots of layers 
Following: My friends and family's advice and trying to just 'get over it' 
Noticing: How much I enjoy being by myself
Knowing: That I have a lot of people who truly love me and would do anything for me 
Thinking: About my future and what I want to do with my life
Bookmarking: Ideas for my new studio apartment...it's gonna be so girly and eclectic  
Opening: Myself back up to enjoying things
Giggling: With my girlfriends all the time
Feeling:   Strong and like I am worth so much more, things are going to get better and life is going to be good again

*Taking Stock post idea and list from Meet Me at Mike's 

Food on Friday: Apple fig grilled cheese

It's no secret around here that I have a (literally) unhealthy love for grilled cheese sandwiches (you can see evidence here and here).  This time of year, as the weather gets cooler and cooler, something in my primordial self begins to crave more and more calories and fat.  So, when my mom mentioned a delectable sounding grilled cheese she had recently at Boudin Bakery (SF shout-out!!!!!!), I knew I had to find a away to recreate it. 

And, thus, the most delicious grilled cheese in the history of the world was discovered.  

Imagine all the things you love about fall....

 Comfort food?  Check.  Cheese?  Check.  Apples?  Check.  Figs? Check.  This grilled cheese is like autumn wrapped up all neatly between two pieces of grilled bread.  It's so, so good.  And, as our nights dip below the 40-degree mark, it is just what I need to help keep my bones insulated and warm at night. 

Here's how you can taste this deliciousness for yourself: 

Apple fig grilled cheese

makes 1 sandwich

2 slices bread (I used basic wheat, but I have heard Boudin Bakery uses parmesan bread)

1/2 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon fig jam (if you live in Germany, Rewe makes a good one) 

2 slices of aged gouda or cheddar

1 tablespoon of brie

4 or 5 thin slices of apple

Heat skillet over medium heat.  Butter outsides of two slices of bread.  On the inside (non-buttered part), spread jam.  Then layer gouda, brie and apples and cook in skillet until everything melts together and the outside of the bread is golden-brown.