Gruyere Stuffed Purple Potato Dumplings with a Walnut Parsley Pesto

Recently I was invited to submit an original recipe to the Idaho Potato Commission as part of their "February is Potato Lovers Month" campaign.  I happily accepted; after all, this challenge involved two things that are close to my heart: potatoes and money. Not only would I (full disclosure) be paid for my time and trouble in creating the recipe, my dish would be featured (along with those of other participants) on the Idaho Potato homepage for the whole month of February. As an added bonus, prize money was up for grabs, as the commission would choose several winners, including best dish, most original recipe, and best photo.

Well guess what kids? I am very proud to announce that the image at the top of this post won in the "Best Photo" category! Many thanks to the Idaho Potato Commission for this award.

Za Vas! Eating and Drinking My Way Through the Russian Festival

Because why wouldn't you put a creepy big-eyed baby head on your bite-sized chocolate??

The gravity-defying moves of the Ukrainian Dance Troupe

Anyone who reads this blog knows just how much I love a good festival. I get ridiculously worked up about them, really. Latino, Korean, Greek - just put a fork in my hand and point me towards all that  food.   So you can only imagine how excited Poppa Trix and I were for the Russian Festival. Just think: Vareniki!  Babka! Blinis! Vodka.  And even though the festival took place in a relatively small space - under a tent and an  adjoining room, part of a Russian Orthodox church - there was no shortage of goodies and fun.

International Dumpling Incident: Spinat Knödel mit Gorgonzola Sauce

Can you guess what time is is, kids? That's right, it's  International Incident time, a monthly (ish) event in which  food bloggers from around the world come together and create their own version of a dish based on a theme. After our last two successful parties - gnocchi and pizza pie - this month's Incident is all about dumplings. (To check out my compatriots' creations, please visit our party host, Penny aka Jeroxie.)

As much fun as I had with pizza, I've really been looking forward to this one because I've been wanting an excuse to recreate the hearty, rib-sticking dish I had at the Cafe Phönixhof in Vienna: rich and cheesy spinat knödel (spinach dumplings) mit gorgonzola sauce.