Rose-Scented Plum Compote with Cardamom Ice Cream

Last year around this time, I began The Seasoned Traveler, not knowing a thing about blogging and uncertain where it might take me. This year-long adventure has been an amazing experience, one that has taught me a lot about food, photography, and writing, and brought me much joy as a creative outlet, but I’ve decided it’s time to travel onward and tend to new (and old) things. Thank you, all of you who supported and followed my cooking trials, let me open my heart up to you and share 150+ varied recipes along the way.

Austrian-Style Potato Salad

I love potato salads of any kind; they are usually what I go for first at a barbecue or other warm-weather get-together. And yet I can’t tell you how many times I’ve botched my own attempts at making a good potato salad. The potatoes have ended up either too mushy and falling apart or too hard and unyielding. I finally figured out that the right variety of potato makes all the difference.

A potato is a potato is a potato, I used to think. Not so. And this is particularly crucial to those of us living in new places where the potato varieties are unfamiliar and labels can be confusing. Here’s what I’ve learned:

Austro-Bavarian Pancake with Plum Compote

Kaiserschmarrn is a traditional breakfast or snack in Austria and Bavaria, and there are many variations to this “torn” pancake. We like it with plum compote, or — my other favorite — sour cherry jam, but many eat it with applesauce, fresh berries, or other seasonal fruit. I also like the addition of quark to give it extra volume and creaminess; this version is called quarkschmarrn or topfenschmarrn. The truly traditional Austro-Bavarian pancake also includes rum-soaked raisins in the batter, and the torn pancake pieces are caramelized in more sugar and butter, but we do without these flourishes. However you eat it, you’ll see why this sweet treat is fit for a … kaiser!

For those curious about how kaiserschmarrn came to be, here is a brief history and description.

Happy Friday, everyone! I’m looking forward this week’s Fiesta Friday – come on over with me to the best party in the blogosphere and see what’s cooking.

Spaetzle with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pancetta & Sage

Spaetzle, or the German version of little dumplings, won me over at first bite. They’re heftier, more dense than Italian pasta, and their short, ridged, rustic shapes are so satisfying to sink your teeth into. Simply toss them in butter and herbs, and they make the perfect accompaniment to a hearty roast; they can also be dressed up with vegetables, meat, and/or cheese for a most delectable dish on their own.