Well, I guess it’s time to call it – I am a croquette addict. I can’t stop making them, eating them, thinking about them. What I love best about them is their versatility. They can take on just about any flavor profile you care to impose on them. They have a place in multiple cuisines, so it is well within the limits of “authenticity” to use far-from-home flavors and ingredients. The croquette, croquetas, korokke, etc. is truly a blank canvas ripe for creativity and adventure. Okay, maybe I’m overselling the croquette as a whole. But I am confident I am not overselling these Smoked Trout Croquettes with Beet Labneh. These beauties are a bright spot in the already gleaming croquette genre. So let’s make them!
Summer is fading fast here in Toronto. There is an unmistakable chill in the air and some of the leaves are starting to change. Fall is right on our doorstep it seems. But the calendar insists that summer is still here. So regardless of the weather forecast, we’re going to keep the good time rolling with refreshing and light summer desserts like this Labneh Mousse with Melon Confetti Salad. These delicate little cups feature an airy labneh mousse flavored with honey and vanilla caviar and topped with a melon salad dressed with a mojito-inspired simple syrup. This dessert is elegant, effortless, and unabashedly summery, so let’s make it.
I’ve always been a fan of thick-crust pizza probably because I’ve always been a fan of bread. Well, really carbs in general. In my neck of the woods, most restaurant pizza is Neopolitan style, which is great – I have no complaints. But it’s not the only kind of pizza I want to see in the world. I adore New York style, and I can get down with Detroit, but my true love is Sicilian-style pizza or Sfincione. Today’s Rosemary Focaccia with Mortadella and Pistachio Labneh features a pillowy Scilian-style pizza crust topped with rosettes of shaved mortadella, dollops of earthy and tangy pistachio labneh, and torn fresh mozzarella. This pizza is by no means a traditional sfincione but my goodness, is it delicious. So let’s make it!
I realize we’re inching our way into fall and today’s Roasted Red Pepper Labneh with Charred Corn has summer written all over it but I don’t care. I can still sit comfortably on my back patio, and corn is sweeter and more plentiful than ever. And even the calendar is behind me. It’s summer until the 22nd and if current temperatures persist, I’m not even willing to accept that date as summer’s end. I’m not going to go on the ever-trendy tirade against pumpkin spice because I like pumpkin spice and I’m not against anything people find joy in. But I would like to live in this summery moment a little longer. So let’s temporarily banish thoughts of Halloween and dig into this labneh.
