Creamy iced coffee & a gentle chicken dinner
Plus, cinnamon swirl bread and my favourite Friday night pasta
Hello!
I’m days into a month-long holiday and I am so excited to give my brain and body a break from routine. I’ll be heading to the US with my brother soon and have already lined up lunch at a ramen counter where you have to confirm your order at the time of booking (I’m getting bacon, egg and cheese!).
It’s been such a slow transition into autumn, so please accept this mish-mash of meals that reflect just that, starting with Eric Kim’s iced Einspänner (NYT Cooking gift link).
This is such a fun drink, made from cold brew, lightly whipped cream and a dash of cocoa powder. It’s described as “a tiramisù in beverage form”. It’s so delicious you’ll want to drink two in a row, which I have done and do not recommend 🤪
A gentle, one-pot chicken dinner
Shiitake and chicken rice was the first thing I made from Emiko Davies’s latest cookbook, Gohan, which focuses on everyday Japanese food.
The technique was new to me — the rice, veggies, chicken and mushrooms are layered in a pot and cook together. I made it one Monday where I’d overslept and felt behind all day. It was easy enough to put on the stove to cook while I did some yoga. Next time, I’ll double it as we managed to eat it in one sitting.
Cinnamon swirl sourdough braid
For Easter I made this German braided bread by Mary Grace Quigley. We cut into it while it was still warm and it made me nostalgic for the cinnamon swirl fruit bread my parents would sometimes buy from the supermarket. It’s super soft, heavy on cinnamon and sultanas, and the best fruit loaf I’ve ever made. It would also make the nicest gift!
If you’re used to making sourdough, I did the odd coil fold while the bread was proving because I was home, but this step is optional.
Simple tomato pasta + panzanella
I was given so many homegrown tomatoes last month from friends and neighbours. They came in paper bags and ice cream buckets, which gave me plenty of chances to make a favourite pasta with slow-roasted tomato sauce.
It’s a Heidi Sze recipe and I stirred through some butter just before serving, inspired by Marcella Hazan’s tomato pasta sauce. This is my ideal Friday night dinner — a cinch to make yet always tastes special.
Tony made Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s panzanella at least four times last month. It was taken to barbecues and enjoyed for lunches and dinner. The croutons, eggs and anchovies make it a satisfying meal.
Eggplant parmesan
Cheesy eggplant parmesan (NYT Cooking gift link) is such a nice meal for cooler nights. An eggplant appeared in my veggie box the same week I’d watched the YouTube vid of Eric Kim making it.
With any lasagne-like dish, it’s so good to either split up the elements over days or share the cooking. We halved the recipe (the original feeds 6-8) and made this on a Sunday night. Tony prepped the panko eggplant, leaving me in charge of sauce and assembly.
Pantry-based lemon risotto
If you’re due for a shop, Sohla El-Waylly charred lemon risotto is delicious and made with puzzlingly few ingredients. I enjoyed her Eater interview with Ali Slagle, about how her weeknight dinners have become more streamlined with a baby (she still dry brines her chicken before roasting!), and the idea of ‘processing’ your food shop to make your week easier.
Cinnamon apple dutch baby
Lastly, Thalia Ho’s dutch baby with caramel apples is my default Sunday breakfast, so I share this recipe often! Most of the time, I skip the apples out of laziness, but it’s apple season so I’m back to cooking the recipe as originally intended. The caramel apples smell amazing as they cook and only add 5-10 minutes to the whole process.
I have something fun planned for next month’s edition, so catch you then!
I think I’ll have to make the caramel apple Dutch baby for our end of school holiday special brekky. I wish it was cooler - I’m so ready for soupy, hearty food.
Beautiful food!!!!yum! I'm inspired to cook these and post them here https://www.makepurethyheart.com