Skip to main content

SOCIAL MEDIA

Literary Friday: My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes)

Friday, April 26, 2013



This week I read My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) by Luisa Weiss.  Part memoir, part recipe book, I couldn't put this one down.  I've even already tried a couple of her recipes, and they are fantastic, too.  Luisa is the author and creator of the popular The Wednesday Chef blog.  I love how Louisa decided upon her blog's name: It's in honor of the Wednesday food section in the New York Times.  Luisa has spent years collecting recipes, many of the clipped from the paper.

Luisa has such an interesting history.  She is the daughter of an Italian mother and Jewish-American father.  Born in Berlin, she split her time growing up between Boston and Berlin as her parents divorced when she was in preschool.  Spending time in the kitchen began with Joanie, her nanny, in Germany.  Luisa loved spending time in Joanie's homey kitchen, and Joanie's early influence is evident throughout the book.  The simple comfort of conquering a recipe became an anchor for Luisa as she went to graduate school in Paris and moved to New York to begin a career in publishing.  Eventually, she was lured back to Berlin, and that's when the book really becomes interesting to me.

Have you noticed I haven't mentioned much about the love story aspect of the book?  Well that's because I don't want to post any spoilers.  Trust me....I enjoyed reading it, and I found myself cheering Luisa as she bravely takes a giant leap for love. Her voice is so genuine, and she is too, too cute.  I only hope to one day possess her confidence when planning and cooking for a dinner party. This book is the perfect combination for the romantic and the gastronome, and I look forward to preparing even more of the recipes from My Berlin Kitchen.


This is one of the first recipes I tried when Mr. Art @ Home was recovering from his food poisoning illness.  It was a huge hit, and I can't believe I've never made an omelet like this before.

Omelette Confiture





INGREDIENTS
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk
Small pinch salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 to 2 tablespoons black or red currant jam
1/2 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
DIRECTIONS
1. Separate the egg white from the egg yolk. Beat the egg yolk with the milk in a small bowl until well combined. Beat the egg white with the salt in a spotlessly clean bowl until it just holds soft peaks. Fold the beaten egg white into the egg yolk mixture.
2. Melt the butter in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and let cook for 3 minutes, until the edges have set, making sure the heat of the stove is not so high that the omelette browns or burns. Shaking the pan gently, flip the omelette and cook the other side for an additional 3 minutes. This takes some practice, but there’s no shame in using a plate over the pan to invert the omelette instead of flipping it.
3. When the omelette is set and cooked through, slide it onto a plate. Dab the jam along the center of the omelette and then roll up the omelette—using a plastic spatula should help. Shake the confectioners’ sugar through a sifter or strainer held over the omelette. Serve at once.


I went with the Tiptree red currant jelly.


I hope you'll link-up and share your book love today!



Until next time...
Happy reading!
Ricki Jill

17 comments

  1. Hi Ricki,

    This sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your review of this book. Lunch in Paris is similar I think.. and I really enjoyed that. It's fun to break up the story with the recipes.

    Have a great weekend!

    xxleslie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh I'm in! I know I would enjoy this one! Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OH this sounds fabulous...thanks for not spoiling, I really try to keep spoilers out of my reviews also. I am adding this book to my Wish List pile and am off to check out her website.

    Hugs
    Caroline

    ReplyDelete
  4. That sounds fabulous! I love a good food-influenced novel (or chapbook, as my intro to that style was an SCA chapbook with medieval recipes and a sweet love story). I am definitely putting this one on my library list. Thanks! :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Another one for my list! I think I'll jump this one to the top of the page. Good job at interesting us in this one!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I really need to get myself cooking more (but fear that could mean reading less)

    ReplyDelete
  7. We're going hiking tomorrow, so I'll make the omelettes before we go! The book sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That sounds so good. I'm reading a mystery by Victoria Laurie, Lethal Outlook...funny book and a new author for me. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love books like this - it is definitely on my 'must read' list. It sounds something like An Embarrassment of Mangoes which I loved. Stories with real life woven through the cooking parts are the best.

    I hadn't realized Mr. Art had food poisoning. That would explain the response to antibiotics. I hope he is on the mend now.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That book sounds like a great book! I am going to have to put it on my must-read list :D Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. You find such interesting books. How do you usually go about finding them? Just browsing or recommendations?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Ricki Jill, Sounds like you really enjoyed this book and recipes. I haven’t made an omelette in ages, and Jim loves them. Thanks for the recipe. Hope you are enjoying this beautiful day.....

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love how you drew me in and how I want to read the book now. I also always enjoy when you post a recipe to go with your reading.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Unread this book back in February. You just reminded me that I took notes on my phone and this quote from page 112 is in my notes.

    You, and only you, determine your own fate. You only get one chance at this life. DO something with your life; open your heart to risk. At some point, enough is enough and you must think of the biggest leap you can fathom and then take it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ricki Jill~ This sounds like a delicious read! I'm adding it to my every growing TBR pile! Your omelet looks delicious! Hope Mr. Art @ Home is feeling better :)

    ReplyDelete

Comments are friendly!


Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

Follow me on Instagram