Not the usual cheese and crackers...

I had the opportunity to have a lovely meal at Lovely Hula Hands last weekend. Every ingredient on the menu was incredibly fresh, locally grown and at the peak of summer flavor. It was really nice to have such a simple restaurant meal, where all of the ingredients are highlighted, rather than manipulated into completely different forms. I think the most interesting item I ate though, was the black sesame seed cracker. It was paper thin, crackly, and delicious. (Especially with some of the fresh mozzarella!). When I was in Italy, we made crackers that were somewhat similar. We called them “sheet music bread”, because they were so paper thin. I tried to recreate Lovely Hula Hands’ crackers yesterday, and was able to get pretty close. When you make this, you can vary the seeds as you like- black or white sesame seeds (or even flaxseeds) would all work. They’re really light and crispy, but are especially good with fresh cheeses like goat cheese or fresh mozzarella.
I get to travel back to Italy on Thursday, at our Tuscan Harvest Dinner. Alison and Amelia, wonderful and talented chefs that are long-time teachers at In Good Taste, are back again. This time, their menu takes a trip to Florence, with Summer Panzanella, Porcini minestrone, Chicken with Grapes and Marsala, and an Apple Torte. These dishes are perfect for savoring from the deck. Buon Appetito!

-Josie
Thin and Crispy Black Sesame Crackers