Peach Toast with Whipped Ricotta offers a delightful balance of sweetness and creaminess, perfectly complemented by 'Crying in H Mart' by Michelle Zauner, a memoir rich in emotional depth and culinary nostalgia. Pairing this with a Bellini cocktail adds a touch of elegance and freshness, enhancing the peachy notes of the dish. Together, these elements create a sensory experience that celebrates flavors, stories, and shared moments, making it ideal for a leisurely brunch or book club gathering.
Ingredients
- 4 slices of your favorite bread (sourdough, whole grain, or brioche)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 tablespoon honey, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 ripe peaches, thinly sliced
- Fresh basil or mint leaves, for garnish
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the bread: Lightly toast the slices of bread to your desired level of crispiness. You can use a toaster, oven, or grill for this.
- Whip the ricotta: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, honey, and vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer or whisk to whip the mixture until it becomes smooth and airy.
- Assemble the toast: Spread a generous layer of whipped ricotta on each slice of toasted bread.
- Add the peaches: Arrange the peach slices on top of the ricotta-covered toast.
- Garnish: Drizzle a little olive oil and honey over the peaches. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper to enhance the flavors. Garnish with fresh basil or mint leaves for a burst of color and aroma.
- Serve: Serve immediately and enjoy your Peach Toast with Whipped Ricotta as a delightful start to your day or a light, refreshing snack.
Crying in H Mart
An unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, losing a parent, and forging a new identity. Michelle Zauner, best known as a singer for Japanese Breakfast, explores her experiences with identity, loss, and the healing power of food.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the indie rock sensation known as Japanese Breakfast, an unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love, and growing up Korean American—“in losing her mother and cooking to bring her back to life, Zauner became herself” (NPR). • CELEBRATING OVER ONE YEAR ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother's tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band–and meeting the man who would become her husband–her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her. Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner's voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.
Discussion Questions
- How does Michelle Zauner weave the theme of food throughout her memoir, and what role does it play in her identity and grief?
- Discuss the relationship between Michelle and her mother. How do cultural differences shape their dynamics?
- What are some of the ways that the memoir explores the concept of cultural identity?
- In what ways does the book challenge the mainstream representation of Asian American stories?
- How does the narrative address the topic of grief, and what new perspectives on loss does it offer?
- Consider the title, 'Crying in H Mart.' How does it encapsulate the themes of the memoir?
- Discuss the importance of music in Michelle Zauner's life and how it intersects with her family story.
- What role does nostalgia play in the book? In what ways does memory help Michelle to cope with her loss?
- How do the recipes and food descriptions enhance the storytelling in the memoir?
- Reflect on the ending of the book. How does it provide closure, or does it leave some questions unanswered?
Authors:
Michelle Zauner
ISBN: 0525508834
Publisher: Knopf
Published Date: 2021-04-20
Bellini Cocktail
The Bellini cocktail is a delightful blend of sparkling wine and peach purée, offering a refreshing and sophisticated drink that perfectly complements the flavors of Peach Toast with Whipped Ricotta. This classic Italian cocktail is known for its elegant presentation and is ideal for brunch.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted, and puréed
- 1 bottle of chilled Prosecco or Champagne
- Fresh peach slice or mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the peach purée: Blend the ripe peaches in a blender until smooth.
- Chill the ingredients: Ensure that the sparkling wine is well chilled before serving.
- Combine: In a champagne flute, pour about 2 tablespoons of peach purée.
- Top with Prosecco: Slowly fill the glass with chilled Prosecco while gently stirring to combine the ingredients.
- Garnish: Add a fresh peach slice or a mint sprig on top for a beautiful presentation.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately for a refreshing, elegant brunch drink.