My mom’s Christmas cookies…best eaten straight out of the tins before Christmas! As is tradition, this year’s selection included the fabulous Nikolokugerln, which only require a few simple ingredients and are put together in no time (see picture below – the little round balls in the center of the plate).

Nikolokugerln

250g oat meal
80g walnuts, finely ground
60g unsalted butter, at room temperature
5-6 tablespoons strong coffee
200g powdered sugar

Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add softened butter and coffee, and mix well. Form little balls and roll in powdered sugar. They can be stored in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks.

Merry Christmas!

These traditional hand crafted gingerbreads from Slovakia are true pieces of art. I found them at a crafts market in Bratislava last summer and couldn’t resist taking some home. They are way too pretty to eat! You can find more patterns and shapes here.

The world’s best fried catfish is dished out in a quaint restaurant in Manchac, Louisiana right on the bayou. A 40- minute drive northwest of New Orleans through scenic Cypress swamps along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, Middendorf’s is the holy grail of fried catfish. And for good reason. A visit to Middendorf’s will forever change the way you think about fried catfish.

Middendorf's in Manchac, Louisiana

Dining on the bayou

People come here from all over the place for “Middendorf’s Special” – a plate piled high with their famous thin fried catfish, served up with a side of tartar sauce, sweet cole slaw, crunchy fries, and heavenly hush puppies with just the right amount of jalapeno chili. The paper thin fish is breaded with cornmeal, ensuring the perfect crunch. It is then deep fried at just the right temperature, making it light as air and never greasy.

Middendorf's Special

Fried Thin Catfish

Perfection

Hush Puppies Like None Other

Middendorf’s
I-55, Exit 15 in Manchac
Manchac, Louisiana
(985) 386-6666
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:30AM – 9:00PM

My friend Mario just sent me the sweetest greetings from Zagreb…  Apple walnut strudel from Bas restaurant, and pastry from Vincek with tiny wild strawberries bringing back wonderful memories.

Apple walnut strudel

Pastry from Vincek

Vincek is one of those Old World pastry shops that instantly force you to delete the word “calories” from your vocabulary. There’s everything from torten to cakes, pastries, and ice cream. A visit to Zagreb is not complete without a stop (or two!) at Vincek.

Vincek
Ilica 18
Zagreb, Croatia
Open Monday through Saturday 8:30AM to 11:30PM. Closed Sundays and holidays.