Global Table Adventure

Monday Meal Review: Estonia

March 7, 2011 By Sasha Martin 10 Comments

THE SCENE I walked back and forth, haunting the spot where the rhubarb was supposed to be. The sign read "Rhubarb - $6.99/lb" but the bin was empty, empty, empty. Not even a week ago a mountain of lipstick red rhubarb overflowed from the bins, the first pick of the season. The clerk confirmed my fears. There was no rhubarb - not here, not in the back, not in an upcoming shipment. He explained that he had to pull the rhubarb because it was starting to turn and they couldn't sell it any … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Estonia, Europe, Monday Meal Review

Recipe: Gingerbread Ricotta Tart (Cheesecake)

March 6, 2011 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

Serves 8 Is it a tart? a cake? a cheese cake? All of the above? Whatever you call it, this gingerbread love-fest is the perfect combination for a winter dessert buffet. Special thanks to Nami Nami who's ricotta cheesecake recipe inspired our version. Nami is an Estonian blogger with a great collection of recipes, both from her home country and beyond. Cheers! Ingredients: 15 oz container whole milk ricotta 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp cardamom 3 large eggs 1/8 cup heavy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Estonia, Europe, International Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sweets, Vegetarian

Recipe: Gingerbread Cookies

March 6, 2011 By Sasha Martin 12 Comments

Makes about 48 3" cookies Any time, any place. There are no rules when it comes to cookies. In fact, when I was little my mom made gingerbread cookies so often that I didn't realize that most people only ate them in December. We ate homemade gingerbread/vanilla ice cream sandwiches in the summer - one of my all-time favorite, cry-until-you-get-another-one, crave-it-for-the-rest-of-your-life snacks. Although gingerbread can be found all over north america and Europe, today we made them … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Estonia, Europe, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sweets, Vegetarian

Recipe: Estonian Smoked Herring Dip

March 5, 2011 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

Makes 2 cups Get your next party jumping with Estonian Smoked herring dip, a nod to the great national fish of Estonia. No matter what the cooking method, Estonians typically serve herring with a sour cream and vinegar/lemon juice sauce. And now... for an unprecedented cooking tip from Mr Picky. First, he wants to know - how do you feel about sour cream? If you're a little unsure, he suggests making the dip drier by using less of the sour cream mixture - perhaps as little as half. Who is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dips, Estonia, Europe, International Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Seafood

Fun Fact Friday: Estonians drink their bread

March 4, 2011 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

Dear readers, I'd like to introduce you to Estonian black bread. The solution to long, never ending winters. The solution to short winters. And, as I like to imagine, the solution to Miss Ava's terrible, no good, wickedly bad days. Unfortunately, even if she wanted to eat a slice of the dark, rye-based bread, poor Miss Ava couldn't. She is teething something terrible. She literally hurts so much that... 1. I must hold her at all times. Preferably in cradle-hold. 2. If I shift my body so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Estonia, Europe, Fun Friday

Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb & Cream Tart – Estonia

March 3, 2011 By Sasha Martin 11 Comments

Want a bite of Estonian springtime? Go for rhubarb, the most beloved, cold-climate vegetable around. It looks like celery with lipstick, but tastes fruity and tart. Elizabeth Schneider explains the special place rhubarb has in countries like Estonia: Imagine that you've spent the winter eating fruits and vegetables rationed from a root cellar and canning jars. Now imagine the first rosy rhubarb of the year, welcome as new grass. Not so long ago, rhubarb held a special place in the culinary … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Estonia, Europe, Fruit, International Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sweets, Technique Thursday, Vegetarian Tagged With: Maasikas Rabarber ja koor hapukas

Menu: Estonia

March 2, 2011 By Sasha Martin 11 Comments

Winters in Estonia are decidedly predictable. The weather is cold and snowy, and it stays that way for a long while. Not so much here, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This February we had 14 inches of snow followed - less than a week later - by 83F. Since Tulsa can't seem to decide whether to cling to winter or jump forward to spring, our Estonian Global Table celebrates three desserts - one wintery, one that hearkens spring, and one somewhere in the middle. Help me. My pants no longer fit. Which dish … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Estonia, Europe, Menu Wednesday

About the food of Estonia

March 1, 2011 By Sasha Martin 6 Comments

After countless shots of pristine forests, glistening lakes, and hug-able medieval buildings, there he was. A nude man. In the snow. Welcome to Estonia - where the beauty of the outdoors is celebrated and, as I unexpectedly learned this morning, nude men pop up in goofy beer ads. A Le Coq is an Estonian brewery that makes everything from beer, to soda, to juices. They are the most popular drink company in Estonia, tracing back more than a century. Which, I suppose, is why I happened upon … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Estonia, Europe, Travel Tuesday