As weird as the summer of 2020 was, there were some recipes that made it better:
NYT's Lemony Turmeric Tea Cake
I came across this recipe during my daily browse of the NYT Cooking app (does one even need Instagram anymore?), and it has been life changing. I am not that into baking, especially for desserts, but this is fool proof, easy effort, uses up extra lemons, not fussy and yet the outcome is an incredible moist flavor packed, not too sweet cake. One day I even accidentally used creme fraiche instead of the sour cream called for, and it still came out perfect. I have even made this recipe with oranges instead of lemons, and now my roommate prefers the Orange cake.
You can find the recipe here and I highly recommend you try it. I have probably made this twice a month for 4 months, and still can't get enough.
White Bread
During quarantine I was so far down my pasta rabbit hole, that I never joined the sourdough bread crew. So when I tried a friend's easy white bread recipe, without the need for hassling with sourdough starter, I was hooked. Also the best part is you get two loaves, and can freeze the extra one. This recipe is also very flexible time wise, you can crack it out in 4 hours, or enjoy the process and drag it out for 3 days. The recipe can be found here.
Baba Ganoush
You know a recipe is good, when you are at a dinner party, and then force the host to give you the recipe before you leave... and then make it the next day. This is how I came across this recipe, and it is so easy I was shocked. I am never buying this in the supermarket again.
Preheat the oven on the hottest grill setting.
Prick the aubergine all over with a fork.
Grill in the oven, until soft inside, and charred on the outside.
Cool until you can handle it safely.
Cut in half and spoon out the soft flesh inside. Chop finely.
Mix in a bowl with 1/2 lemon juice, 2 tbsp tahini, 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, 1 clove crushed garlic (this is for 1 Aubergine, adjust accordingly for more).
Serve with your bread.
Cheeseboards
With being stuck at home for a lot of 2020, my neighbor and I have been making the most of it and enjoying cheeseboards with whiskey or wine tastings at home. Not only has this been more cost effective than going out for cheeseboards, but more fun, since we get to go out and buy and try new unusual things and pairings. We have been having so much fun with it, and making it a weekly tradition, that I hope never ends.
In line with this, I have started following cheeseboard accounts. I mean, who even knew these existed? For the classics and general cheese information I would defiantly recommend Neal's Yard. If you are ever in London, check out the store as well. For your more 'design' of cheeseboards follow ThatCheeseplate and Grapeandfig. Below are some of our creations:
I am going to try and make this a quarterly 'thing' to log my favorite recipes for the season, that way when it comes round next year, there is a collection of seasonal favorite recipes already stored that I know are great. Fingers crossed I remember.
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