the red kitchen

Breakfast in Amsterdam

Breakfast, originally uploaded by kitschenette.

Just back from Amsterdam. Am I the only person who didn't know that apple pie was such a big deal for the Dutch? Possibly. I have to say, the dutch apple pie ROCKS. It is so delicious, no nuts, big chunks of cinnamony buttery appley goodness, with a crumbly, almost crumble-like pastry. Must find a recipe!

That said, this photo depicts The Apple Pie of Death! Delicious, sooo delicious, but not a good idea for breakfast on an empty stomach...Plasticfancy and I were starving on saturday morning, and ordered this huge wodge of pie and cream for breakfast, with a coffee on the side. But it proved too much for our delicate morning constitutions - too heavy, too rich for our poor stomachs. I think we experienced something close to the meat sweats (!), but for sweets - the sweets sweats????

Work day lunch

Work day lunch, originally uploaded by kitschenette.

I am shockingly attracted to spring onions at the moment, hence lunch today was a quick-as-lightening scrambled eggs with spring onions.

Just the smell of a bunch of spring onions is enough to turn my head - mmmm. usually I'm most definitely not a fan of eating anything vaguely oniony or garlicky raw (makes me nauseous) but at the moment I am making an exception for spring onions.

Food stop, at the top

Food stop, at the top, originally uploaded by kitschenette.

I like the little touch of the real knife and fork.

Garlic and rosemary focaccia

Garlic and rosemary focaccia, originally uploaded by kitschenette.

Deliciously crisp, garlicky and salty.

I used some leftover pizza dough and pressed it flat with my fingers, then brushed over some of the luxuriant organic EV olive oil that Bruno's parents buy for us in Tuscany every year, into which I had crushed a couple of cloves of garlic, needles of rosemary and a good crunching sprinkling of flaky sea salt and grinding of pepper.

I baked it at a high heat until golden, blistered and smelling fantastic.

It got devoured in about 2 seconds flat!

First grill of the season

First grill of the season, originally uploaded by kitschenette.

The weather was outstanding on the weekend, and we took the opportunity to have a bbq last night.

Cervelats, potato salad, nusslisalat (lamb's lettuce, or rampon), garlic focaccia, plus ketchup and mustards of varying strengths.

Morning coffee and pastries

Morning coffee and pastries, originally uploaded by kitschenette.

Pastries, and more pastries.
Coffee + pastry = 2.30 euro
A bargain!

The Italians have such a collective sweet tooth. Everything is sweet. Breakfast comes with a selection of (dessert-worthy) cakes, and the morning pastries come stuffed with custard - vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, orange. So delicious.