Kasnocken – Ella Quinn

In my April release, Desiring Lady Caro, my characters travel from Venice to Paris. While making their way through the Austrian mountain, they sampled a local dish. Kasnocken is the Austrian version of macaroni and cheese. To be perfectly authentic, Bergkäse must be used, however if you can’t find it, Emmentaler is a good substitute. You can also buy the spaetzle (noodles) if you like.

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Ingredients (serves 2):
9 oz (250g) flour
5 eggs + 1 egg yolk
a good pinch of salt
2-3 tbsp water (if necessary)
2 tbsp butter
5 - 7 oz (150-200g) Bergkäse cheese, grated

To prepare the onions:
3 oz (75g) butter
2 mid-sized onions cut in rings

Combine the flour, eggs and a good-sized pinch of salt. In another mixing bowl, whisk eggs and milk together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the egg-milk mixture. Gradually draw in the flour from the sides and combine well; the dough should be smooth and thick. Let the dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile heat the butter in a frying pan over low to medium heat, add onions, and let them slowly gain a golden brown color. Don't let them get too dark, as they tend to become bitter. Drain on a paper towel and then set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water briefly to a boil, add a pinch of salt and then reduce heat. The water should simmer throughout the whole process. You can either cut and shape the spaetzle by hand or use a spaetzle maker or a colander which makes things easier. Cook the spaetzle for about 2-3 minutes until they float back to the surface, then remove them. Dump the spaetzle into a colander and give it a quick rinse with cool water.

When done, drain the water, melt 1-2 tbsp of butter and return the spaetzle to the pot. Shake the pot a few times to evenly distribute the butter, then add the grated cheese and mix well.

Now simply add the browned onions and chopped chives on top and serve.

Guten Appetit!

Ella Quinn’s bachelors are clever, charismatic—and determined to remain single. Yet one by one, they find that fate—and certain irresistible women—cast doubt on even the best laid plans…

Haunted by her past, Lady Caroline Martindale fled England for the solace of her godmother’s palazzo in Venice. But if Caro was hoping to escape the charms of marriage-minded men, she’s come to the wrong place. And she’ll resort to extreme measures to spurn the advances of a dangerously determined Venetian marquis…

Though most of his friends have married off, Gervais, Earl of Huntley, remains bent on eluding the parson’s mousetrap. But his convictions begin to falter when he arrives in Venice and meets his match in the alluring Lady Caro. What began as a hastily concocted lie to save her from the marquis may become a chance for them both to relinquish their fear—and embrace what they can no longer deny…

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www.ellaquinnauthor.com