potato & paprika soup

| Print |

09 March 2013
Posted in Soups

poatopaprikasoup

During our winter, I haven't made soup as often as the previous years, so I thought I had better snap into gear and do so before the end of our cool season. There is something quite satisfying about coming inside from the cold outdoors, then heating up a serving of soup to diminish the chill.

What had also prompt me to make this potato soup with the spicy paprika, was due to the abundance of the powdery substance we already had in our cupboard. Peter's (my hubby) Hungarian colleague arrived at work one day with his gift of Kotányi Paprika Csípös from a recent trip to Hungry, and would brag (I won't tell you what he really said) that this Hungarian paprika variety beats any powered paprika on the German food market "hands down" as far as its strength. I have yet to open the second 100g packet that the fella has given us, so I wonder just how many potato and paprika soups we can endure over the course of time. The soup is rather wholesome, and has a touch of crispness with its pre pan-fried potatoes and croutons that is added to the mixture. This soup recipe is definitely a keeper in my books, or I should say blog, so there will be more use for this red powder to come!

What do you like to cook with your powdered paprika?

 

redcapsicum


Last summer, we discovered a stylish and accomplished ceramic gallery whose wares are made on its premises. It was only by chance that we came across the gallery that is set in a street of half-timbered houses in Oberderdingen (try saying this a few times!), while out sightseeing with our Australian visitor. The town is full of charm, which I vow to return to make a photo session for a later post. It was here at Töpferei Wenzel, where I found the denim blue bowl that was used for this potato soup. Their prices are very reasonable for the quality and the workmanship of their tableware. The prices range from 8 Euros for the smaller objects (such as the tiny vase that I've used in the top picture), to 15+ Euros for a soup pot and for the larger food containers.

Töpferei Wenzel also produces contemporary lamps and art pieces for the home. Their charming rooftop figurines shaped as cats, foxes and witches...just to name a few shapes, are iconically fixed to the rooftops of homes in our Kraichgau region. I highly recommend a visit to their website, and Herbert Wenzel speaks English for International enquires.

 Next-up...the soup kitchen will open again, and more Töpferei Wenzel pottery to come!

   

Read more...

food in still life 2

| Print |

03 January 2013
Posted in Food Stories

stilllife_-8-2

I've been meaning to post this second part of food in still-life for a little time now, but with today's news of the sale of my exhibition picture of the apples (in my previous post), this has prompt me to do so. You may like to have a peep at the original post regarding the exhibition held at the Culinarium restuarant, and how the pictures are printed directly on acrylic.
 
The gallery of pictures in this post are also a favourite of mine, but due to the exhibition being held during autumn, I decided to run with the food of its season and due to the wall space that was offered.

Even though I had entered the Saturday farmers' market with a fruit or vegetable in mind to photograph, it was hard to be a stickler with my tiny models. I came across a unique looking luminous yellow and red striped lettuce (as seen in the gallery below); a lettuce whose variety the stall assistant and myself could not fathom out, but we presumed it came from the Cos family. Another interesting find was the artichokes that had already gone into flower; regardless of not being able to be eaten they did make an interesting photographic subject. Another find was these tiny green pumpkins (in the gallery) whose use was suitable for decoration only. Oh, and I mustn't forget to mention the elegant purple and white striped eggplant and the purple capsicum that I picked up. Not having a clue what to place them on, and as my luck would have it at the flea market that same day; I stumbled across the same colour green and purple patterned bowl as the capsicum for just 5 Euros. 
 

Here's a tomato soup and Asian mushroom dish that I made with the produce the following day—only because I was too pooped to make on the Saturday!

 Julie

 

...to view the image gallery

almond biscuits & macaroons

| Print |

20 December 2012
Posted in Sweet things

pinkcookies

Today, I am showing off this pretty, little, jam filled biscuit, accompanied by the crusty macaroon. I can’t take credit for the recipe creation this time around ladies & gents, as friend Paul Schwendemann was kind enough to share his recipes with us all on P&P.  I am still searching for my baking equipment packed in our storage shed from a recent move!

Leading up to advent, Paul bakes his batch of small biscuits with passion in the basement of his restaurant. When prepared, they are placed into small gift boxes then dressed up with a pastel ribbon. These quaint boxes are then ready for Culinarium’s customers, to purchase in the gourmet shop that adjoins Paul’s restaurant. If you have already done your holiday baking, then you may like to consider making these small delicacies throughout the winter period to add some pastel to your coffee table.


Wishing you and your family a happy holiday, and eat, drink and be merry...no doubt you will!


 

PaulCulinariumgifts

 

...for the recipes

More Articles...