Pumpkin Chip Cookies - Take 2

Okay after fussing around a bit with the original recipe, as well as making several mistakes, I have decided this is the way to go. Enjoy!

Parchment Fish Dinner

Made this tonight because I was short on time. 10 minutes prep time, 20 minutes cook time. Good for weeknight meals and super healthy. Make one fish pack per person.

An Excuse to Bake

Not like I ever really need a reason to bake, but I love taking requests for events! I made two of my favorites for a friend's baby shower this weekend; "Overnight" Pecan Sticky buns and Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars.

Coddled Egg

I love coddled, baked, or poached eggs; they are my most favorite way to eat them. In this case I mixed prosciutto, brie, bell pepper, tomato, salt and pepper into a ramekin. Drop it into a roasting pan filled with water and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

A little dinner for Bastille Day

Just baked some no-knead bread. I had gone to the farmer's market yesterday for tomato and basil. So combine that with some nice spicy red wine and fresh mozzarella and that's a nice light summer dinner.

It was just an apple

I was craving an apple this afternoon but then it got out of control.

I chopped up a Gala apple. Then added dried cranberries, dried cherries, some candied ginger and corn starch. I tossed that in a bowl and set it aside. I greased a small baking dish and spooned the fruit in.

In my mini-prep I put 1/4 cup of oats, 1/8 cup of wheat flour, 1 tbsp of muscovado sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. I added 1 tbsp of chopped up butter and pulsed until it looked like cornmeal. Over the fruit and into the oven.

Now I just have to wait 30 minutes more for that apple.

Strawberry Banana Cream Pie(s)

Made these for hubby's birthday yesterday. Got the recipe from here. Instead of making one big pie, I got mini Dufour shells (chocolate) from Surfas. I made the custard, sliced up bananas and strawberries, and assembled it with my frosting kit (piping the custard and cream rather than spooning). They were super yummy and people liked being able to eat more than one...

Lunch(?) at Eclipse Chocolat

I had to drive to San Diego on an errand and it just so happens that my current favorite chocolate place is there: Eclipse Chocolat. This is the s'mores platter. Chili chocolate brownie, espresso brownie. Both topped with a housemade marshmallow on top. Served with lavendar sea salt and blood orange olive oil fondue (in the cup). My brain totally exploded. I took most of it to go along with a couple orders of "dry soda", truffles, and an aztec cinnamon roll. If you ever have a chance to be in SD, I recommend you make a stop. If you live in LA I know you can get their amazing sea salt caramel collection at Curious Palate (that is if I haven't already been there and wiped them out).

Brunch with Friends

Had some friends and their mom here for brunch and this is what we made:

Pecan Sticky Buns (Overnight Sticky Buns from Cook's Illustrated)
Veggie Frittata (also from Cook's)
Potatoes (you guessed it, Cook's)
Fruit Salad

We were in a food coma but man it was good!

Pretzels

Can't believe I waited this long to try these. So easy, so fun, SO DELICIOUS. They are my finest bread yet. Got the recipe from the Food Network.

From start to finish they take about 1.5 hours and only about 10 minutes of hands-on time. Making the dough takes 5 minutes, then it rises for an hour or so. Shaping is quick, boil for 30 seconds, then bake for 14 minutes. Make sure you stick the ends down well when you shape them or you'll end up with a snake instead of a pretzel in your boiling water (you can stick it back together before you bake). The first time around I didn't have Kosher salt so I just used sea salt which turned out fine. If you don't have a stand mixer with dough hook just mix it with a metal spoon. The dough is buttery and much easier to work with than traditional bread dough which is sticky. Rather than oiling the surface to roll out the dough, I spray Vegalene (Pam imparts an undesirable flavor).

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars

MMM. These chocolate chip peanut butter bars are a fine bar! They have a ton of flavor and texture and I just love them. I made these for a housewarming party this afternoon...

Lobster Risotto & Caprese Salad

So I finally got to cook a meal at home - just been working too much to do it lately. Our good friend came over and brought fixings for the caprese salad. The angelo & franco mozzarella (ciliegine with cream) cheese blew my mind!!! We opened a bottle of 2006 Domaine de la Charbonniere Vacqueyras. OH MY - very likely some of the best wine I've had. (Thanks Accidental Wine!) I found this description and it's perfect: "Dark purple. Smoky blackberry, kirsch and licorice on the seductively aromatic nose. Deep and sweet on the palate, offering well-delineated dark fruit liqueur flavors, chewy tannins and a bright jolt of cracked pepper." (Josh Raynolds)


We sipped on this while I made the lobster risotto. 


It was a damn fine evening.

Split Pea Soup

Been working too much and missing slow food. Tonight I whipped up a batch of my split pea soup after work for the next few days. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

2 ham hocks (I get them in the frozen section) or a big ham bone
3 C dried split peas
10 C chicken broth (or water)
--
2 carrots
1/2 yellow onion
1 celery stalk
2 garlic cloves (or shallot for milder, sweeter flavor)
2-3 thyme sprigs (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf
*salt & pepper at the end

INSTRUCTIONS

Throw the first three ingredients into a pot on the stove. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1 hr.

Remove the ham bone/hocks and remove the meat from the bone. Add it back into the pot and add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer 35 minutes, then remove from heat and add in the salt & pepper. Serve with cheesy bread (sliced french bread with grated parmesan and garlic salt, broiled in the oven).