spring, please

oh where oh where is spring? just tell me that it is coming soon. really soon. like, now.

it's at this point every year where i begin to rail against the injustices of winter and all things associated with winter, especially the food. potatoes, onions, leeks, carrots, dismal winter salads (except, of course nüsslisalat, but even that is almost finished), meat dishes, soups..oh, the tedium......give me fresh, and bright, and new, and vibrant, and shockingly tasty. our winter palates are bored and restless. in the kitschenette household we have been scarfing down cherry tomatoes by the handful, just for the sharp, savoury hit of juice. and a wayward couple of packets of spanish strawberries which made their way into the kitchen were fallen upon and devoured within seconds of their arrival. thank goodness for citrus fruits in all their orange, yellow and ruby red glory. where would we be without them to brighten up the mid-winter gloom?

a few spring-time fruits and veges have begun to trickle into the shops, asparagus and the afore-mentioned strawberries. the strawberries were good, mildly sweet rather than sharply full-flavoured. but i just can't get excited about the thick, woody-looking spears of asparagus. have i whinged on this topic before on this blog? surely i have : ) here in switzerland, thick spears of asparagus are prized, whereas in australia it is the thin, slender spears which are most-sought after. i hark after the latter, only the latter, so i am cruelly disappointed every spring-time. some of the mangoes available are ok, but it's a very hit and miss operation. they have travelled so far and been picked so early it's a wonder they taste of anything at all. even the quality of the available apples is waning. fennel is good and crisp, though, so a fennel salad of thinly sliced raw fennel with finely chopped dill and a dressing of olive oil and lemon juice might be on the menu soon. i have such a craving for hot, spicy foods. and light, sour, tangy foods. <bright idea!> maybe a tom yum soup soon, with fish and rice (my favourite)....

so, what have we been eating, then, you ask. amongst other things:

- cheese tart. a swiss speciality.

- rösti and various wursts (sausages), with salad (also very swissy)

- mushroom and lemon risotto. i slathered in the butter and parmesan, just because i could.

- chilli beans (a remnant from my student days)

- a cracking good fondue, while on holiday

- cous cous salad (chickpeas, cherry toms, cucumber, coriander, lemon juice, olive oil)

- smoked local fish, boiled potatoes, and various cheeses (another swiss favourite)

- home-made breadsticks, for dipping into guacamole ( i give the kids their own ramekin of avocado, and they dip as they please)

- the last of the christmas fruitcake

- stephanie alexander's excellent banana cake, made with buttermilk (must post recipe)

- self-saucing chocolate pudding (see rainbowcake's lovey foodblog for the recipe) with vanilla ice-cream

- sticky date pudding with toffee sauce and double cream

- apple and berry crumble (for breakfast!)

- mangoes, seedless grapes, apples, bananas, strawberries, honeydew melons

- soft-boiled eggs with toast soldiers (we love a good egg in the kitschenette household)

- bread, bread, and more bread. good thing no-one in our family is gluten intolerant. that would be a terrible thing in a country with so much excellent bread.

- guiltily, a jar of nutella : )

Comments

[Molly]

I absolutely agree with you on the fennel salad--so simple, so clean, so delicious! Your taste in food is very much up my alley...it all sounds wonderful. And please please please do post that banana cake recipe with buttermilk!

[kitschenette]

recipe coming up soon, molly! btw, i also love yr blog. so much cooking, and baking! so much wonderful food!

[lucinda]

A delightful variety of eats listed here, despite your attach of culinary winter blues.

Yes, yes, banana cake please. I'm interested in chilli beans too. Like you I'm a fan of couscous salad, other variations including good tinned tuna, sweet chilli sauce, parsley, toasted pinenuts, avocado (not all at once). Apple and berry crumble for brekky? How indulgent! Must try it.

[kitschenette]

i'm waiting for my present lot of bananas to ripen, them i'll be snapping and posting away, i promise!

chilli beans are ace. obviously they are not chilli when i make them for the kiddies. with rice, they are one of max's favourite meals. inexpensive, filling and very tasty. leftovers make excellent fillings for tortillas, so i make up a big pot and we have beans and rice one night, and tortillas the next (or the day after, just to break the monotony a little : ) ). recipe to come!

re. the breakfast crumble: when i make the crumble topping i usually add a good portion of muesli, ground almonds, and oats. i don't make the topping too sweet, and don't sweeten the fruit. then i can kid myself that all i am really eating is muesli and fruit!!!!!¨with a good greek yoghurt, it is a divine breakfast.