Dan and I just spent a long weekend in Seattle, eating our way through some amazing places. We had recommendations for so many spots and got to explore Ballard, Fremont, and Capitol Hill as we ate our way through them all. It was a treat and a half.
I’ve visited before and ate at the wonderful Sitka & Spruce which I was sad to miss on this trip. Instead, we ate the best chocolate croissants we’ve ever had at Cafe Besalu (and some damn good quiche to boot); had a gut-busting breakfast at the awesome Skillet Diner (order The Little Rob); stumbled upon what we later learned was a Seattle institution (the $1.50 burger, fries, and perfect strawberry milkshake were totally of another era and tasted AMAZING); and finally, on our last night we found great sushi and sashimi at Umi Sake House (it was sushi or bust by that point, I tell you).
Now that I’m back and the weather is promising to start changing, I’m looking forward to cooking again. It’s been a summer of little kitchen action (and hence, little blogging action). I’ve missed this space and I hope to be back soon.
P.S. More pictures of non-food stuff over here, if you’re interested.
In Morocco, desserts are not a strictly after-dinner affair – instead seasonal fruits rather than cooked desserts are usually served at the close of a meal. According to Moroccan chef Mourad Lahlou, baked goods are more often reserved for a late afternoon treat to be enjoyed with rounds of tea.
The typical offerings appear to be variations on a theme: almonds, honey, dates, and flaky pastry.
One glance at this recipe for almond cookies and I knew I had to make them to share over on the Caravanserai blog. They’re a one-bite affair—soft, light, and oh-so sweet—perfect with after-dinner coffee or late afternoon tea.
The almond flavour is intense, coming from three sources: almond extract, almond paste, and whole almonds, ground together with a handful of other ingredients to create these sweet, multi-textured spheres. A hint of salt rounds out the flavours, making this cookie a great introduction to simple Moroccan desserts.
Get the recipe on the Caravanserai blog.
You guys know about my affinity for lemon cake so I was very happy to have this recipe featured on A Cup of Jo today – a blog that I absolutely love.
It really is a brilliant cake. Read the secret to making the best lemon cake ever over on A Cup of Jo and then for goodness’ sake, go and make some.
