I tried two new recipes this weekend, both from The Wednesday Chef by blogger Luisa Weiss. She wrote a book in my favorite genre, food stories. My Berlin Kitchen is on my shelf and has proven to be a reliable source for straightforward recipes.
Crostata is a jam filled cakey tarty type baked good. It's very dry and mild, reminiscent of scones or biscotti. It's very easy to make and looks great. The finished product looks like something scrumptious, so my family gobbled it up even though it's not very sweet or rich. Master chefs are fond of saying that 'we eat with our eyes first', and I've found this to be true with this recipe.
Click through for the complete description and recipe. I made this twice in just a few days. The first time I followed the recipe exactly. The second time I subbed some almond meal for part of the flour and added a few blueberries to the jam. These changes didn't make a big difference in the result. I love a recipe like this that is simple, easy, not too decadent, and impressively pretty. The crostata gets most of its flavor and sweetness from the jam, so be generous if you want it sweet. We enjoyed our crostatas as a great breakfast alternative and for snacking.
Post Script:
While looking for a quote about 'eating with our eyes first' I came across an interesting tidbit. According to Visualology.net there was a study done in the late '70s which showed that when we find food more appealing, not only do we enjoy it more but we also absorb more nutrients from it. In my own kitchen I've found the importance of presentation in our regular meals. For example, it doesn't matter to my family how much cheese is in a dish. What matters is if they can see the cheese on top. Likewise, a small bit of bacon crumbled on top of any soup makes it an appealing dish. Does this work for you?
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