Personal

Car Stuff

Extras

Flammkuchen

Flammkuchen, Flammekueche, or Tarte flambée is a an Alsacian speciality, but also popular in southern Germany. It is like a thin crusted pizza with a topping that is primarily crème fraîche, onions, and bacon.

Zwiebelkuchen (a similar product generally also containing caraway, and maybe quark) is popular in the wine producing regions of Germany (e.g. Rhine, Mosel, Pfalz or Franconia), and is particularly popular at the time of Most (Federweißer) production (an early production of wine/grape juice - a kind of wine equivalent of scrumpy).

Starter for the Dough

* ¼ cup flour
* ¼ cup moderately hot water, about 110 degrees F (45 deg C)
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1 package yeast

Dough

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* ¼ cup beer
* 6 tablespoons (¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons) milk

Covering

* 2 tablespoons oil
* 1 medium onion (3 ounces), finely chopped
* 1 cup crème fraîche, commercial or homemade (see note)
* ½ teaspoon salt
* ¼ teaspoon pepper
* 4 pinches nutmeg
* 3 ounces bacon, cut into matchsticks

1. Mix the starter ingredients together in a small bowl, cover tightly, and set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes.

2. When the starter is light and bubbly, mix the beer and milk into the mixture.

3. Put the flour and salt into a food processor, then, with the motor running, add the yeast mixture through the feeding tube. Process the dough until it forms a ball. Add very small amounts of additional flour or milk if necessary.

4. Process the ball until it is smooth, elastic, and warm, about 45 seconds to 1 minute.

5. Butter a medium-sized bowl, roll the ball around in the butter, then cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled. Punch down and let rise a second time.

6. While the dough is rising, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a nonstick skillet. Add the onion and cook, stirring, over low heat for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.

7. Combine the crème fraîche, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooled onion.

8. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet and fry the bacon until lightly browned, stirring constantly. Remove and drain through a strainer.

9. Heat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 deg C).

10. Oil a 14 x 16 inch baking sheet. Roll the dough until slightly smaller than the baking sheet. Place it on the sheet.

11. Spread the onion mixture over the dough, leaving a very small raised rim all the way around, then dot with the bacon.

12. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the tart is lightly browned. Serve very hot.

NOTE: To make crème fraîche, combine 1 cup double (heavy) cream with 2 tablespoons buttermilk, stir, cover with plastic wrap, and leave at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours, or until it has become very thick. Refrigerate, and it will become even thicker.