.SOMETIMES RAW.

I made this brunch for my husband and I a couple of days ago and it was really awesome. It is pretty healthy and quick to make and put together. The best part about it is it kept us fueled until late in the afternoon which is great.

Preparation time: 2 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

15 ounce salmon filet already seasoned (I bought the Salmon at Trader Joe’s which is where I buy fruit, veggies and bread if I am not at Wholefoods) – [You can take the girl out of Germany but you cannot take Germany out of the girl]

1 onion

4 teaspoon dried or fresh parsley

4 large handful of fresh spinach (or frozen)

4 eggs –  one for me, three for him 🙂

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper and fresh garlic to taste

How to:

Put some oil in the pan and let the salon filet steam slowly on medium heat for 10 minutes or so. Then turn salmon to the other side and let again steam for 10 minutes until cooked all the way through.

Cut the onion in small pieces and heat up in oil until onion turns slightly brown. Then add spinach. I only had frozen spinach at home for my recipe which turned out great. Just add salt, pepper and garlic to it. Also a bit of milk to make it creamier. Cook on medium heat.

While all this is cooking prepare the eggs. Have you ever poached an egg? Well for this recipe it was my first try and they turned out great. All you need to do is to fill a saucepan with water and add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Heat water until it begins to simmer. Now stir the water so a whirlpool starts to form, and crack the egg into the middle. The water movement will cause the egg to wrap into a ball. Leave the egg in the water until the white has cooked fully. This usually takes around 2-3 minutes, however if you like the yolk not that runny leave it in slightly longer.

Now place everything nicely on the plate. I put the salmon at the bottom; put the spinach on and the poached egg on top.

Enjoy.

A little history about Croque Monsieur first (Again, I am married to a Frenchi): 

Croque-Monsieur was originally a melted cheese and ham sandwich sautéed in butter. Eventually other Parisian cafés began  serving their own vearsions to the point where the sandwich evolved to the way it is served today, with a topping of béchamel sauce, grated cheese, then run under the broiler until bubbly and golden. The croque-madame is a variation of croque- monsieur which features a fried egg on top. Croque means “bite” according to my husband, so it is also important for the bread to be crunchy while the inside is oozy with melted cheese.

What you need: Saucepan, Toaster, Baking sheet, skillet

How to make it: 

4 tablespoons (60g) butter

4 tablespoons (30g) flour

1 cup (240ml) milk

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 dashes ground nutmeg

8 slices sandwich bread

4 slices ham

3 cups (300g) Gruyère cheese

4 large eggs, room temperature

Preparation: 

Preheat oven to 450 F (230 C)

Cooking:

In the saucepan, melt the butter, add the flour and whisk well. Slowly whisk in milk and cook until thickened. Whisk in mustard and nutmeg. Set aside. Lightly toast the bread in the toaster. Place 4 slices on the baking sheet. Spread a little sauce on the slices and  top with a piece of ham . Place 1/2 cup (50g) cheese on each slice of ham then top with the remaining slices of bread.

Evenly divide the rest of the sauce over the top of the sandwich, add the remaining cheese, and bake for 5 minutes. While the sandwiches are baking, fry the eggs in the skillet (this is for the Croque Madame only).

Turn off the oven and preheat the broiler. Run the sandwiches under the broiler until they are bubbly and slightly browned. Top each with a fried egg and serve hot. (Crocque Madame)

Ideas and substitutions: 

Serve the sandwiches with  simple green salad for a light lunch or dinner. Tonight I added  a little Caprese Salad (mozzarella, tomatoes, basil with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper).

Optional additions to béchamel sauce: finely chopped onion, fresh tarragon, or parsley.

Bon appétit.

“The free soul is rare, but you know it when you see it – basically because you feel good, very good, when you are near or with them.” – Charles Bukowski

As a Bukowski-fan I have to write a review about the latest book that has been published by him. If you have never heard or read anything by Bukowski I want to give you a little insight first. Henry Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) was a German-born (yay!) American novelist and poet. He has written many short stories as well. He moved to Los Angeles at a young age and his later work was strongly influenced by the economy and culture in his surroundings. Throughout his books there is this line of poor ordinary Americans, alcohol, drugs, writing and a plethora of relationships with women. [In his book “Post Office” he describes the drudgery of his work as Hank Chinaski at a post office. (my favorite book by him so far – “Pickle Factory!”)].  He died of leukemia 1994 in San Pedro, California.

I gave my mom one of Bukowski’s books to read once. She read the first 10 pages and put it down with disgust. Bukowski has just an acquired taste to his stories – mostly short stories, very pornographic pieces and very shocking details at points. I have to admit that it made me uncomfortable at points as well reading his books – simply because of all the alcoholics, all his drinking which is a lot (like he was drunk 99%  of the day and while writing basically), adultery, gambling and just simply “hanging- around -doing nothing- lifestyle”.

In “The Bells Tolls for No One” he meets women or characters who come with no backstories really. They just pop into his life in a bar usually, get wasted with him and talk for hours while he writes things down that he might need at some point for a story. And of course he drinks and drinks and drinks with all of them.  Most of his “friends” are motivated by alcohol, drugs, unhappiness, boredom and just craziness. Reading Bukowski gives a great insight on how the hardcore drinking life in the suburbs was like (and most likely still is). He has this unique style of describing sexual violence like you are having tea with a friend at home. Like okay, this is normal. It just happens. Then in the next minute he is totally honest and captivates observations that are just not blurred by alcohol and drugs. (the remaining 1% I guess)

Reading Bukowski in public is awesome. People who know Bukowski will comment when they see you with one of his books somewhere. When I read “Post office” I took the book with me wherever I went to just finish it. So one day in the elevator at work there was a man looking at me, then at the book, then back at me. He smiled and said: “I love Bukowski. I read all of his books. He is amazing.” I wanted to ask him what he loved so much about him but the elevator door closed. I can imagine what it was.  I guess people have specific opinions on Mr. Bukowski and all his writings. He is just a “dirty old man” as many of his readers call him with just a little mix of Ernest Hemingway’s style of writing.

Get ready for some humor, relationship troubles, booze, drugs and sex. Lots of sex! There is this repetitiveness  – almost like all the Bukowski books are in a way the same but each and every one is just unique and a little special and a tiny bit different. When I started reading the book I thought it was just great how he switches between fantasy, drunkenness  and reality. I was wondering throughout the entire book how it is possible to find true meaning in life with a lifestyle like his. How can one comfortably live like this and be happy or enjoy life?

In “The Bells Tolls for No One” only two stories have not been published previously. “A Kind Understand Face,” and “Flying Is the Safest Way to Travel.” All the others ones have been published in one of his more than forty-five books! This book is published by “City Lights” and edited by David Stephen Calonne who did a great job with all the little cartoon throughout the book as well as the introduction.

Great read overall and shocking but comfortably awesome.

Happy reading!