Christi Himmelfahrt. And Martha strikes again...

that's mozzarella up there, but unfortunately it looks like an egg..

Today is Christi Himmelfahrt day in Germany. Any holiday with a name like that is worth celebrating. Everyone has the day off, and all the stores here in Heidelberg are closed, except of course for a few cafes and Starbucks. Because what would Christi Himmelfahrt day be without a Grande Cafe Mocha. Apparently, this is a Christian holiday, otherwise known as Ascension Day, which celebrates Jesus' ascent into heaven 40 days after his resurrection. It sounds much more exciting when you say Christi Himmelfahrt.

Aside from that I have my own exciting news. And I couldn't even wait to share it. I struck gold in the land of recipes. How could I even resist a recipe on Martha's website called Black Olive and Basil Power Pack. It sounds like Martha's version of Gatorade. The name gives the recipe so much moxy. And it makes me want to revisit all the boring recipe names that appear on my blog. But unfortunately, I am not clever enough. I'd only get as far as Roasted Carrot Power Pack Soup. Or Shiitake Mushroom and Gruyere Power Pack tart. Not very original is it. I could perhaps substitute the phrase 'power pack', with 'battery-powered', but that would paint entirely the wrong picture.
But truthfully, Martha had me at Black Olive and Basil. Anything with those two ingredients gets my attention. So I made it. And then I ate it. And I loved it. Yes I did. I was so disappointed that I only made half the recipe. But I had run out of olives. I can't wait until I can make it again. Seriously, it's that good. Martha strikes again.

Here's the recipe.

Black Olive and Basil Power Pack (from www.mslo.com)

Makes about 1/2 cup

1/4 cup chopped black olives
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup basil, finely chopped
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Martha says you should combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and serve it on pork, chicken, or beef. I combined it all right, in an appropriately sized bowl too. But there was no meat involved in its consumption. Just a couple of slices of baguette, brushed with olive oil and toasted under the broiler. A dab of the B.O.B power pack, a slice of tomato and a chunk of fresh mozzarella. And yes, back under the broiler for a minute or two. Mein Gott, that was good.