Potato Salad

There is nothing quite like watching potato salad aficionados become weak in the knees or begin to drool in anticipation when a big bowl of homemade potato salad is set on the table. Especially a classic potato salad, the one lovingly made by the grandmothers, mothers, and Aunt Toni's in our lives. The paprika kissed top, brimming with red potatoes, sweet onions, celery, hard-boiled eggs, sweet pickles, and mayonnaise kind. Every family has their sacred, 'it's not broken so don't fix it', throw down worthy version of a homemade potato salad recipe. However, more often than not, these recipes aren't always written down. Instead they are passed down through the generations via word of mouth or learned by hovering in the kitchen and keeping a very close eye on potato salad maker.

Without a doubt, making a homemade potato salad is a labor of love. Which may explain in part why it is so crave worthy delicious. And why it usually makes only special appearances.

This Potato Salad made a reappearance over the Labor Day weekend. 

To prevent your potatoes from being too mushy or too hard, pick out same or similar sized red potatoes. Smaller ones are preferable to larger ones as they are the most flavorful. In a large pan of cold salted water, bring first to a boil and then immediately turn down to a simmer. The potatoes are done when the tip of a sharp knife inserted into them midway goes in smoothly. Allowing the potatoes to cool completely is key as warm potatoes will add moisture to your potato salad. A good way to begin passing this recipe along to your family and friends is to invite them over to peel your perfectly cooked potatoes.

There are no exact specifications to the size of the potato salad chunks. Some of mine are half-inch chunks, some a little smaller, some a little larger as I like a potato salad that looks like it was homemade.

There are also no hard and fast ratio rules with regard to the potatoes, onions, and celery. I use a medium sized sweet yellow onion and about 3-4 stalks of celery. Before I add any other of the ingredients I make sure to mix together the cut potatoes, onions, and celery. If it looks there isn't enough onion or celery, I might add a little more. I don't want the onion and celery to overwhelm the star of the show potatoes, but I do want to make sure every fork bite has some crunch to it. As laissez-faire as I might be about the sizes of the cut potatoes, I am all about cutting the onions and celery into an as even as possible small dice.

Some homemade potato salads use dill pickles and some use sweet pickles (with or without some added pickle brine). This one uses only sweet pickles. Note: Sweet pickle relish is not the same as chopped sweet pickles.

It's hard to say what makes this humble Potato Salad so wicked good. But the dozen, roughly chopped hard boiled eggs might be one of the front runners. Yes, one dozen (large) hard-boiled eggs. And even more if you like finishing the top of your potato salad with hard boiled egg slices. 

Before adding in the mayonnaise I mix in the salt and pepper, so I can decide if it needs any more after the mayonnaise is mixed in. So let's talk about a bit about the mayonnaise. I don't add all of it at once. I start with 1 1/4 cups, mixing with a spatula to begin evenly coating the vegetables. Then I start adding more mayonnaise in 1/4 cup increments to ensure the salad is not 'over-mayonnaised'. Usually I end up using somewhere between 1 1/2 and a generous 1 3/4 cups of mayonnaise. If not serving the potato salad until later or the next day, I won't add all of the mayonnaise all at once but will mix in more if needed. 

Taste for seasoning and then transfer all of this amazingly goodness into a serving bowl.

Serve immediately, chill for several hours, or chill overnight. Any and all of these options work.

When I am craving a homemade potato salad, I will either make the Lemony Potato Salad or this one. They are both amazingly good. Once you taste either one of them, you will find it hard to ever consider serving a store bought version to your family and friends again. 

Potato Salad
Recipe
Serves 10-12

Ingredients
5 pounds red potatoes, unpeeled (Note: Choose same sized potatoes, preferably ones on the smaller size)
1 medium sized yellow or other sweet onion, diced (about 1 to 1 1/4 cups)
3 - 4 stalks of celery, diced (about 1 to 1 1/4 cups)
12 large eggs, hard boiled, peeled, coarsely chopped (plus more for garnishing on top if desired)
5-6 medium sized (3") sweet pickles, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt or more to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1 1/2 to a generous 1 3/4 cups mayonnaise (I use Hellman's)
Sweet paprika for garnish

Directions
1. Place potatoes in a large pan of salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook potatoes for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a sharp knife inserted into the potatoes goes in easily. (Note: Be careful not to cook the potatoes to the point where they begin to severely blister or get too mushy.)
2. Drain potatoes and allow to come to room temperature. The potatoes should feel cool to the touch.
3. Peel potatoes and cut into chunks (e.g. approximately 1/2" dice).
4. Mix together the cut potatoes, onion, celery, sweet pickles, kosher salt and pepper.
5. Add in coarsely chopped hard-boiled eggs. Mix until well incorporated throughout the potato mixture.
6. Stir in about 1 1/4 cups of mayonnaise using a spatula to begin to evenly coat the vegetables. Add an additional mayonnaise in 1/4 cup increments or until vegetables are evenly coated but not drenched in mayonnaise. Usually this brings the total amount of mayonnaise somewhere between 1 3/4 and 2 cups of mayonnaise.
7. Taste for seasoning. Add additional salt and/or pepper if needed. Transfer to a serving bowl.
8. Serve immediately or cover and chill for several hours.

Notes: (1) This makes enough for a large gathering. If serving less people, cut all of the ingredients in half. (2) Could also make this potato salad using all varieties of waxy potatoes (red, fingerling, or new potatoes). 

Forest Preserve views (September 2017)

Stovetop Mac and Cheese w/ Caramelized Shallots

Like most everyone else, I too got a little caught up in the whole 'first total solar eclipse in 99 years' frenzy. Considering how much attention THIS eclipse has been getting in the media, it was sort of hard not to want to experience firsthand one of those 'do you remember where you were on the day of' historic moments. Not even the slightly cloudy skies could dampen my eclipse excitement. In a national tallgrass prairie, looking up at the sun wearing my special glasses, I was standing in the path of totality.  Feeling connected to the sun, moon, stars, and the millions of others across the country equally obsessed with the eclipse was magical.

If the recipe for this Stovetop Mac and Cheese w/ Caramelized Shallots got as much attention as the eclipse, everyone would be making it. Yet unlike the total solar eclipse, this version of comfort food would be making regular, repeat appearances on dinner tables across the country.

Admittedly I am always skeptical when I come across a three ingredient recipe. Especially for a dish I happen to love and have labored over making. However, Melissa Clark's version of a stovetop mac and cheese made me believe in three ingredient possibility. I could easily see myself making it at least once weekly using the excuse one should always eat carbohydrates the day before a long run. But you don't need to be a runner to make this mac and cheese with the kind of frequency I anticipate will be happening around here. Loving and craving comfort food is reason enough.

I added caramelized shallots to it, so technically it's five ingredients. Although with or without the shallots, this may be the creamiest, most delicious, most addictive stovetop mac and cheese I have ever tasted. Topping the Mac and Cheese with caramelized shallots or onions adds a depth of flavor not found in the microwave or boxed stovetop versions of this classic comfort food. Thinly sliced shallots, sautéed in butter over low-medium heat until golden and crispy, takes only 15-20 minutes. 

Elbow macaroni may be considered the more traditional 'noodle' choice, but any small tubular or shell shaped pasta will work. One of the keys to this version of Mac and Cheese is cooking the pasta al dente. It will have additional cooking time when it is added to the sauce.

Speaking of sauce, be sure to reserve at least a quarter cup of the pasta water. More on why this is important this later.

Whether you choose a white or yellow cheddar or a mild, sharp or extra-sharp cheddar, choose a really good cheese to use. A good cheese, like a good bottle of wine, will make or break your dinner. 

All you need is five ounces of a coarsely grated cheddar. I could tell you this equates to 1 1/2 cups of grated cheese. However, depending on how you measure it out, you may end up with significantly less or significantly less than five ounces. So I will temporarily jump on the 'everyone should own a kitchen scale' bandwagon for a brief moment. Don't think of a kitchen scale as a luxury, think of it as a necessity. Okay, my time limit on the bandwagon is up.

You can and should use the same pot for the entire dish (excluding the caramelized shallots of course). After draining the macaroni (remember to remove at least a 1/4 cup of the water first), the heavy whipping cream is poured into the already hot pan. In less than two minutes, the cream will come to a boil, thicken and slightly reduce. Add the grated cheese and continue stirring until all of the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Return the drained al dente macaroni to the pan, seaons with some salt, and continue cooking for a minute or two. Long enough for the macaroni become coated in the deliciously rich cheese sauce. If by chance your sauce doesn't have the creamy texture you had hoped for, add in some of the reserved pasta water. One tablespoon at a time until it reaches the consistency you desire. Note: I added about two tablespoons of the reserved pasta water.

Transfer the mixture to a serving dish and top with the caramelized shallots and some freshly cracked pepper. 

Honestly, this Stovetop Mac and Cheese with Caramelized Shallots is a bazillion times better than the boxed versions we may have all grown up with. Seriously, it's really, really, really delicious. Real cheese and real whipping cream create a cheese sauce for the mac and cheese to rival anything found in instant or frozen versions of mac and cheese. And it's definitely easier than the roux based, baked versions many of us have made. 

At the moment, I wonder if I will ever go back to making a baked version of mac and cheese. Okay, I probably will, but for the moment I am deeply, madly over the moon in love with this incredibly flavorful, satisfying stovetop version. It is everything and more comfort food should be. For those of you with a secret affinity or strong allegiance to the boxed or frozen versions of mac and cheese, make this Stovetop Mac and Cheese with (or without) Caramelized Shallots. I am willing to bet after one bite you will be converted to this real, homemade version of comfort food. And who knows, you might have everyone in your family asking if macaroni, cheddar cheese and whipping cream is on your grocery list every time you go shopping.

Recipe
Stovetop Mac and Cheese w/ Caramelized Shallots (inspired by Melissa Clark's Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe as shared in her cookbook 'Dinner: Changing the Game')
Serves 2-3 as a main course, 4-5 as a side

Ingredients
2-3 large shallots, thinly sliced
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces elbow macaroni or tubular pasta
5 ounces cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (I love the flavor of Cabot's Extra Sharp Cheddar)
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
Salt/Pepper to taste

Directions
1. In small saucepan, melt butter. Add sliced shallots and cook over low low/medium heat until caramelized (approximately 15-20 minutes). Note: Stir frequently to prevent sticking or burning.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the macaroni/pasta and cook until al dente (about 1 minute less than package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1/4 cup of the the pasta water. Set drained macaroni/pasta aside.
3. Return pan to medium-high heat. Add cream and cook until thick, bubbling and reduced by half (approximately 2 minutes). 
4. Stir in grated cheese, whisking until completely melted.
5. Add pasta and cook until well combined. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to enhance the creaminess. Season with salt.
6. Transfer to a serving dish. Top with caramelized shallots. Finish with some freshly ground pepper. Serve immediately

Notes: (1) If using cheddar cheese, consider using a good quality sharp or extra-sharp cheddar. (2) Instead of caramelized shallots, could top the Stovetop Mac and Cheese with caramelized onions. (3) If there are any leftovers, this reheats well in the microwave.

Prairie flowers in bloom on the day of the historic solar eclipse (August 21, 2017)

Peach, Tomato and Burrata Caprese Salad with Basil Drizzle

One of my friends recently asked if I thought burrata was the new kale as it seems to be showing up everywhere these days. Being one who has yet to jump on the kale bandwagon (am very late to this party), I said maybe it's the new goat cheese as burrata also changes the deliciousness factor of just about everything it's paired with. And in a salad composed of sweet, ripe tomatoes and peaches, toasted pine nuts, a basil drizzle and a light sprinkling of sea salt, the burrata takes center stage. Becoming one of the game changers in this salad. If there was ever a salad to make you wish summer could go on endlessly, this Peach, Tomato and Burrata Caprese Salad with Basil Drizzle might be the one.

Unlike the classic caprese salad, this one uses peaches in addition to the tomatoes; a basil drizzle instead of balsamic vinegar; and, burrata instead of mozzarella. The combination of these ingredients takes the caprese salad to a completely new level.

Judging this strikingly beautiful salad on looks alone, it would score a 10. If competing in a taste test, it would be deemed blue ribbon worthy.  In both taste and presentation, this salad is a hands down win-win. Served as either a stand alone entrée or as an accompaniment to some grilled chicken, it is an incredibly sumptuous, satisfying dish.

With both tomatoes and peaches in season, now is the perfect time to make the Peach, Tomato and Burrata Caprese Salad with Basil Drizzle. 

I used yellow peaches, but you could also use white peaches for this salad. Because you are cutting the peaches in wedges, choose semi-firm ripe, still juicy ones. Peaches on the too ripe side will not work in this salad.

To cut the peaches, begin by making a cut along the seam all the way around and through the fruit to the stone. Twist each half of the peach in the opposite direction. Pull the halves apart and remove the peach. If using medium sized peaches, cut each half into 3 or 4 wedges.

The original recipe called for the use of cherry tomatoes. In this version, I used a combination of both cherry tomatoes and tiger tomatoes. I chose ones slightly larger than a cherry tomato, but smaller than the normal garden variety tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes were cut in half, while the tiger tomatoes were cut into either halves or quarters. For added color to this salad, choose a combination of yellow and red tomatoes.

Just as the flavor of most nuts is enhanced when roasted, the flavor of pine nuts undergoes a similar transformation when toasted over medium heat on the stove top. If the heat is too high, or pan to thin, or they are left unattended, you will risk burning them. It takes only 3 to 5 minutes for the pine nuts to become lightly golden. Not only did the toasted pine nuts add another layer of flavor to this salad, they brought some crunch. Pine nuts are a little on the pricey side, however, I urge you not to consider omitting them.

Most balls of burrata come in either a 6 ounce or 8 ounce size. I used the BelGiosioso's 8 ounce burrata. If there was such a thing as a 10 ounce size ball of burrata, I would have bought one. Because one can never have enough burrata.

The basil drizzle is more like a dressing, less like a pesto. If there was one thing I would do differently the next time I make this salad, it would be to double the amount of basil drizzle. Still dressing the salad with half of it, but serving the other half on the side for those who want more.

This is one of those salad best enjoyed as soon as it is assembled.  Because it's such an easy and relatively quick salad to assemble, you won't mind at all it isn't one of those make ahead salads.

After assembling the salad on a platter, finish it with a very light drizzle of olive oil and sprinkling of salt. Definitely serve it with some bread as it would be a terrible waste to let the juices of the salad remain on the platter. 

On your next trip to the Farmer's Market or if lucky enough to pass by a farm stand, buy some ripe tomatoes and peaches. But don't wait to long to make this Peach, Tomato and Burrata Caprese Salad with Basil Drizzle as there may only be a month left of the tomato and peach season. Seriously, don't wait. Because I promise you will want to make this salad more than once. 

Recipe
Peach, Tomato and Burrata Caprese Salad with Basil Drizzle (inspired by the recipe for Burrata Cheese with Peaches, Tomato and Basil recipe in Melissa Clark's cookbook 'Dinner: Changing the Game')
Serves 4 as a main course, 6 as a side or first course.

Ingredients
8 ounce ball of Burrata cheese
1 pound ripe tomatoes (e.g., cherry tomatoes, baby heirloom tomatoes, Tiger tomatoes), cut in half or quartered depending on size
3-4 medium sized yellow or white peaches, cut into wedges
3 Tablespoons pine nuts
1/3 cup tightly packed basil leaves
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Sea salt, plus additional for finishing
Optional: Basil leaves for garnish

Directions
1. In small pan, toast the pine nuts, stirring frequently, over medium heat until they are golden (approximately 3-5 minutes). Immediately pour toasted pine nuts in a small bowl and set aside.
2. In a small food processor or blender, combine the basil, lemon juice, sea salt and olive oil. Puree until it reaches a semi-chunky consistency. Note: Be careful to not over process as you want pieces of the basil to remain.
3. On a large platter, place the whole burrata in the center. Arrange the peaches and tomatoes around it. 
4. Spoon the dressing over the cheese and fruit. Lightly drizzle with additional olive oil. Top with the toasted pine nuts and a very light sprinkling of sea salt.

Notes: (1) If using a round platter, one 12"-14" works perfectly. (2) Consider doubling the amount of the basil drizzle, spooning half over the cheese, tomatoes and fruit and serving the remaining half on the side. (3) If using cherry tomatoes, choose red and orange ones to add even more color to the salad. (4) If not using cherry tomatoes, choose smaller sized tomatoes. (5) This is best served immediately after assembled. In the event you refrigerate any leftovers, allow the tomatoes and peaches to come to room temperature.

Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby with Cherry Tomato Jam

Up until just recently I had put the Dutch Baby into the sweet for breakfast or brunch category. And the only thing causing me to vacillate between ordering and not ordering one in a restaurant is the wait time. Twenty to twenty-five minutes feels like a lifetime, particularly if you are in a hurry or hangry. But if time is not an issue and you aren't falling over the edge of starvation, the deliciousness factor of a Dutch Baby is always off the charts. If Rotten Tomatoes rated Dutch Babies instead of movies, it would probably give it a rating of 97%. I have yet to meet a version of a breakfast Dutch Baby I didn't like. The Apple Dutch Baby may be my most favorite, but I wouldn't turn my nose at a Dutch Baby simply dusted with confectionary sugar or piled high with blueberries. 

The world of savory Dutch Babies was unfamiliar to me until I discovered Melissa Clark's recipe for the Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby in her new cookbook Dinner: Changing the Game. Serving a savory Dutch Baby for lunch, dinner, or as an appetizer sounded intriguing. But then I would be game for making any dish destined to pair well with wine. In the case of this Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby, think chilled chardonnay or sparkling wine.

My contribution to this recipe was pairing it with some homemade Cherry Tomato Jam instead of sriracha. I may be the only person on the planet not a fan of sriracha. I had a strong hunch the fruity, nutty taste of Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese would go well with the slightly caramelized sweetness of the jam. And it must have been my lucky day as my hunch turned out to be right. If you have never made or had Cherry Tomato Jam before, you really should. Seriously, you should. Not only does it compliment the flavor of this Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby, it is a game changer on cheese platters.

Unlike most of the other Dutch Babies I have made, this one is made with almost double or triple the number of eggs used most other of my Dutch Baby recipes. Making it a slightly denser, heartier version of this classic dish. 

When looking at Dutch Baby recipes, there seems to be two approaches to making the batter. Whisking the dry and wet ingredients together until blended or processing in a blender/food processor until smooth and frothy. I prefer the later method. In the direction below I give you both options.

Whenever an ingredient list specifies the amount of grated cheese in cups versus weight, I always convert to weight (grams or ounces). Unlike measuring brown sugar (lightly or firmly packed), there don't seem to be any clearly specified guidelines for measuring grated cheese. The lack of these guidelines more than likely often means a higher probability of erring on the side of not using the amount of cheese called for in a recipe. If you don't have a scale, try to buy a chunk of cheese in the amount you need. And don't even think of substituting packaged grated cheese for freshly grated. Nothing comes close to or tastes better than a high quality Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Oven temperature is another one of the variations noted in Dutch Baby recipes. While all are baked at high temperatures, the recommended ranges are somewhere between 400 to 450 degrees (F). The only exception to these temperatures are found in some German Pancake recipes. This one calls for baking the Dutch Baby at 425 degrees (F). Cast iron pans not only handle the high heat well, their surfaces are inherently non-stick. Make your Dutch Baby in a 12" round or 9"x 12" pan, but make certain it's cast iron or one that can handle the high heat. Note: Most non-stick pans are not designed to perform at very high oven temperatures.

You can either melt the butter by placing it the pan and putting in the oven or melting it on the stovetop. It is critically important be hot when you pour in the batter.

In 20 to 25 minutes, the sides of your Dutch Baby will rise and turn the most beautiful golden brown. Garnish the baked Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby with some additional chopped thyme and chives and immediately bring to the table. Not just for the wow factor, but like most Dutch Babies, this one is best enjoyed while still hot. Although I found picking at the room temperature leftovers was still an incredibly pleasurable eating experience.

Don't forget to make some Tomato Jam ahead of time.

The batter for this Dutch Baby comes together rather quickly. In less than an hour, you can have dinner (or lunch) on the table. However, you can also have everything prepped in advance. The batter and grated cheese can remain refrigerated until you are ready to assemble, bake, and serve.

But this savory Dutch Baby shouldn't be pigeon-holed in the Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby category. As Melissa Clark suggested, it would also make for a great appetizer. What about the 20-25 minutes it takes for it to bake in the oven? Well depending on your timing, it won't seem long for your guests. But even if you decided to put in the oven once they arrive, this Herbed Dutch Baby is well worth the wait. And maybe I need to reconsider how and when I think about the sweet versions of this 'love child to the pancake'. 

Recipe
Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby with Cherry Tomato Jam (A slight adaptation to Melissa Clark's Herbed Parmesan Dutch Baby recipe as shared in her cookbook Dinner: Changing the Game; a slightly revised version of the Cherry Tomato Jam for Cheese recipe as shared in the cookbook: The Cheesemonger's Kitchen: Celebrating Cheese in 90 recipes)

Ingredients for the Dutch Baby
1 cup (120 g or 4 1/4 oz) plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 large eggs
3/4 cup whole milk
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
2 Tablespoons finely chopped chives, plus more for garnish
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (75 grams or 2 1/2 ounces) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
Flaky Sea Salt

Directions for the Dutch Baby
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F).
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. In a medium sized bowl, whisk the eggs and milk until well blended.
4. Add eggs to the flour mixture and whisk until well blended and frothy. (Note: Alternately put the flour and egg mixture in a blender and mix until well blended or whip using a hand mixer.)
5. Stir in chopped thyme, chives and a heaping tablespoon of the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese.
6. Place butter in a 12" or 9"x12" cast iron pan. Place in oven until butter melts and begins to slightly brown (approximately 3-5 minutes). Note: Check on butter after 2 minutes and every minute thereafter.
7. Remove pan from oven. Pour in egg mixture. Top with grated parmesan cheese.
8. Return to oven and bake for 20-22 minutes or until the Dutch Baby is puffed and golden.
9. Remove from oven, garnish with additional thyme and chives. Serve immediately with Cherry Tomato Jam.

Ingredients for the Tomato Jam
2 cups (340 g) cherry or grape tomatoes (or a mix of the two), cut in half
3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
2 -3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
generous 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

Directions for the Tomato Jam
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Place the cut tomatoes halves on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes to loose the skins.
3. Remove tomatoes from oven and place in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Add sugar.
4. Over medium heat gently melt sugar, then bring to a boil and cook (boiling rapidly) for 5 to 7 minutes, or until thick and syrupy. Notes: Stir frequently. My cooking time was 7 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and add lemon zest, freshly squeezed lemon juice and chopped rosemary.
6. Transfer tomato jam to clean, sterilized jars. Seal well. When cool, place jam in the refrigerator.
7. The tomato jam can be kept refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, if it lasts that long!

Notes: (1) Instead of melting butter in the cast iron pan in the oven, can melt on the stovetop over medium high heat; (2) Instead of using thyme and chives, could use thyme and tarragon or thyme (2 T), tarragon (1 T) and chives (1 T); (3) Instead of serving with the Tomato Jam, could serve with Sriracha and/or lemon wedges; (4) Definitely serve with a good quality white or sparkling wine; (5) If using a round cast iron pan, cut into wedges for serving; (6) The Dutch Baby is great hot out of the oven, but was equally delicious when it came to room temperature; (7) The batter and grated cheese can be prepared ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to use, making it a slightly make-ahead appetizer or luncheon/dinner entree. 

Fishing on the Snoqualmie River (June 2017)

Twin Falls, Snoqualmie Region, North Bend, Washington (June 2017)