If you give a German bread…

Sunflowerseed bread from Boulangerie Friandise

…she will love you forever. Having spent a good part of my life in southern Germany, I love a hearty, crusty bread made of whole wheat, rye, nuts, and seeds in any combination. It can be heavy and too healthy-looking, but it has to have a dynamic texture and pair well with both cheese and jam. My father, having the same opinion and finding no decent bread in the states, went so far as to build a wood-fired oven in our backyard in Oregon.

Apple Season!

Rum Raisin Apple Crumble

I hope everyone who’s tried one will agree that Japanese apples are absolutely delicious. They are sweeter and have a much softer texture than most US apples. (Hint: If you cut open an apple and find a somewhat clear area all around the core, you know it’s super sweet.) Half the apples I ate during college in Massachusetts were incredibly mealy and unpleasant. Not so with Japanese ones! And at this time of year, they’re in season.