Bearwithmeee

Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich

2012-02-14T15:34:00.000-05:00

This year I made brunch for Valentine's day. Normally its the other way around, but since I'm up at 5:15am everyday anyways, I figured I would do the honors.

Blueberry muffins, eggs made over easy and Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Totally loved the sandwich!! Delicious!!

Adapted from 2 Peas and their Pod
Ingredients:
To make the guacamole"
2 ripe avocados
1/2 small onion, minced
1 small jalapeño, stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh line juice
1/2 teaspoon course salt
A dash of freshly grated black pepper
1 Roma tomato chopped

4 slices crusty white bread
4 slices cheddar cheese
Butter, for buttering bread

Directions:
1. To make the guacamole-cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avocado from the peel, put in a large bowl. Using a fork, mash the avocado. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined. Add the chopped tomato and stir.

2. Heat a pan or griddle to medium-high heat. Spread desired amount of guacamole on both slices of bread then top with cheese. Butter outer slices of bread and grill on one side for about 2 minutes or until golden and crispy. Flip the sandwich and grill until golden brown. Make the other sandwich the same way and serve warm.

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T13:45:00.002-05:00

"Celebrate Love. It is the breath of your existence and the best of all reasons for living"

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

P.S. I love my card, so pretty :)

Saucy Asian Meatballs

2012-02-11T03:20:00.001-05:00

For some reason I've always been intimidated in making my own meatballs, just seemed too complicated. After trying out this recipe, I can say I kicked that fear out the window. Super easy and I can see so many different possibilities. Definitely worth giving it a shot!

Adapted from gimmesomeoven

Ingredients:

Meatball Ingredients:

- 2 Ibs ground pork or ground beef

- 2 tsp. sesame oil

- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

- 2 eggs

- 3 tsp. minced garlic

- 1/2 cup thinly-sliced green onions

- optional garnish: toasted sesame seeds, sliced scallions

Asian Sauce Ingredients:

- 2/3 cup hoisin sauce

- 1/4 cup rice vinegar

- 2 garlic cloves, minced

- 1 tsp. sesame oil

- 1 tsp. ground ginger

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

In a large bowl, mix together meatball ingredients until well-combined. Shaped into balls (I made mine about 1.5 inches, yielded 25 meatballs), and place on a greased baking sheet or in a 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until meatballs are golden on the outside and no longer pink on the inside.

While the meatballs are baking, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until blended. Once meatballs have finished cooking, you can either dip each meatball individually (using a toothpick) in the sauce mixture. Or you can pour the sauce over the meatballs and gently stir them until covered.

Serve warm, sprinkle with additional garnish if desired.

Jenny's Tip:

- Added some suger and water into the sauce because the taste of vinegar was too strong.

- Added some cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

Avocado Tomato Mozzarella Salad

2012-02-09T20:02:00.001-05:00

Caprice salad is one of my favorites so of course when I found this recipe off of Pinterest, I knew it was going to be good. Such a great idea for a party too!!

Adapted from justaspoonfulof

Ingredients:

3 avocados (peeled, pitted & cubed)

4 tomatoes (cubed)

2 balls of fresh mozzarella (cubed)

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (eyed the amount)

3 tsp. dried basil (eyed the amount)

salt & pepper to taste (I love pepper so of course I went crazy)

Directions:

1. Mix cubed avocados and tomatoes together and season with olive oil, basil, salt & pepper.

2. Season mozzarella with olive oil, basil, salt & pepper in a separate bowl (I seasoned the mozzarella in a separate bowl to keep the avocados from getting mashed).

3. Combined the avocado, tomato, and mozzarella together.

4. Ready to serve :)

Simple Living

2012-01-27T19:49:00.004-05:00

As we finished off our holiday leftovers in the fridge, returned the unwanted gifts from each other and watched our Christmas tree wilt before our eyes, I finally had some time to sit down and reflect on this past year. It was one of the slowest years I’ve experienced, maybe because there was so much that happened, most of which required a lot of faith and patience.

One concept Simon and I inadvertently adopted in the year 2011 was the act of minimalist living. Maybe because we’ve moved a grand total of 5 times during our 7 years of marriage, but the idea of having more useless things to lug around became extremely unappealing. My goal going into the New Year is to clear all the clutter that can stifle my creativity, and make my life chaotic and discordant and make space for more beautiful and harmonious things. I want a lifestyle where I’m not attached to my possessions and if I have to pick up and leave, I can do so. I love the quote, “It is desirable that a man lie in all respects so compactly and preparedly that, if an enemy take the town, he can, like the old philosopher, walk out the gate empty-handed without anxiety. “

In my opinion, minimalist living does not happen over night, it is rather a refining process. Being a minimalist certainly does not mean to deprive yourself of what you love, throw out everything in your house or give up all your hobbies. It is about taking pleasure in more than just your material wealth, making every item that enters your household earn their spot, thinking twice, 5, 10 times before purchasing something from a store, being generous with your time and possessions, putting others above yourself. Allow meaningful things, friends, family into your life. Clear out the garbage that enters your daily routine, invest in people who are willing to invest in you. Be of value to others. None of this can be achieved when your life is full of clutter.

As we made our big move across the country this past year, Simon and I spent so much time figuring out what to do with our unwanted goods. “Should we sell it?” “Should we re-gift it?” “Should we donate it?” “Do you think this person is going to want it? “ “WHAT!!! You’re throwing that away???” “But we spent so much money on it!!!” At the end, we just laugh at the amount of time and brain cells we dedicated to discussing our unwanted goods.

The older I get, the less I want and the smaller home I want. I used to desire a huge house, nicely furnished and a basement to store all my junk. Now I’d love to have a house that actually had little storage so I can’t inadvertently hide clutter. The less possessions we have, the less time, money and energy we need to devote to it. It frees our time to do more meaningful activities. "Remove the extraneous to reveal the extraordinary"

I recently read the Kindle edition of “Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify”. I’d call it an easy read, big impact type of book. She makes such great points that could potentially be life changing.

Here are just some points from miss minimalist that I thought was neat:

- - Seek beauty in nature, rather than in stores

- - Appreciate things without owning them

- - Go with the flow, don’t control events, things, or people in your life with an iron fist. Let things happen of their own accord.

- - A melody depends on every note being in the right place. Similarly, having designated spots for all your things makes your daily life much more harmonious.

- - Think of every possession, every activity, every moment of your life as a note in your symphony. When a musician composes a song, he doesn’t fill it with as many notes as possible – instead, he carefully chooses just enough to make a pleasing melody.

- - A musician, artist, or writer constantly edits her work, removing the extraneous to reveal the extraordinary. In your own life, always be on the lookout for ways you can simply.

- - Every item in your home, and task in your day, should contribute something of value to your life. If something does nothing more than take up space, show it the door.

- - As minimalists, we strive to be butterflies – living as lightly, gracefully and beautifully as possible. We want to flit through life with little baggage, unencumbered by excess stuff. Any excess baggage on a butterfly would only weigh them down.

- - “It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a bed of straw, than to have a golden couch and a lavish table and be full of trouble” - Epicurus

La- Lastly, my favorite quote from her book:

“I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough” - Diogenes

Spiced Vegan Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

2010-10-20T18:07:00.003-04:00

Did you know that eggs are not considered dairy? I guess you would never know unless you were either very educated or very allergic to them. I've had the hardest time finding sweets not containing milk and eggs. Even the gluten free pastry shop near our neighborhood did not offer any pastries that were eggless. I finally figured out that these kinds of cookies are called "Vegan". Believe it or not, they are unbelievably good. Finally a cookie my son can eat!

frozen in time

2010-10-09T02:09:00.000-04:00

Really wish I could some how find a way to freeze him. Growing up too fast (sob).

Pittsburgh Rib Fest

2010-09-06T00:27:00.001-04:00

The weather was more than perfect to stuff your head with RIBS and CORN and FUNNEL CAKE and LEMONADE!!! I love it, it was delicious!!! This annual event is a MUST GO!!!

....now you know why people generally gain about 10 Ibs when moving to da burgh =)

Chocolate French Toast

2010-09-05T17:28:00.005-04:00

Hubby made me delicious Chocolate French Toast for our 6 years anniversary. They are sooo good!!

Recipe adapted from Fine Cooking

Ingredients:

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 oz. (1/3 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-processed)

1/8 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. table salt

1 cup whole milk

4 large eggs

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

4 1-inch-think slices challah bread (stale is fine)

Confectioners' sugar, for garnish (optional)

Fresh raspberries, strawberries, or sliced bananas, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. WHisk until well blended and no cocoa lumps remain. Pour in about half of the milk and whisk until the mixture is a lump-free paste. Add the remaining milk, the eggs and the vanilla. Whisk until well blended.

Arrange the bread in a single layer in a 9x13-inch baking dish (or similar vessel) and pour the cocoa mixture over the bread. Turn the bread once to get both sides nicely coasted. Poke each bread slice repeatedly with the tines of a fork to encourage the bread to absorbe the batter. Let soak, turning every 10 minutes until the bread is well saturated, 20-30 minutes.

Set a griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. WHen the pan is hot, add the butter and spread to cover the pan. (If using a skillet, you'll need to cook the French toast in 2 batches, using 2 Tbs. butter for each batch.) Using your fingers and a large rubber spatula, carefully transfer the bread slices, one at a time, from the batter to the griddle. Cook until the underside looks browned and lightly crisp, 3-4 minutes. (Reduce the temperature if the slices are browning too fast.) Flip and continue cooking until the slices are slightly puffed in the center and are bouncy to the touch, another 3-4 minutes. Transfer the French toast to plates and serve immediately, dusted with confectioners' sugar and fruit, if you like.

Toblerone Chip Cookies

2010-09-02T00:19:00.002-04:00

I've always Idolized Toblerones to a certain degree, not because they necessarily taste any good, but because its always one of the snacks for sale at hotel rooms which I was forbidden to buy. I would pick it up, look at it, and dream that one day when I make millions I'll finally be able to afford one.

Honestly, Toblerones really do not taste that great, especially the big ones. The small ones are decent. I do have to say Toblerone chocolate in a cookie though is GOOD! If you ever feel like putting a spin to a regular chocolate chip cookie, give this recipe a try!

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups butter, softened

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 (3.4 ounce packages instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups chopped Toblerone Chocolate

2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the Toblerone chips and nuts. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 10-12 minutes in the preheated oven. (I baked for only 10 minutes)

4. Transfer to cooling rack.

Loving the Pool

2010-08-23T00:47:00.000-04:00

We sneaked in a little pool time for DS right before summer is over. His first and last time for this season.

I heart Tamari

2010-08-13T10:29:00.005-04:00

Tamari has quickly became one of our favorite places in Pittsburgh. Yesterday was our 3rd time back at the place and we were once again satisfied. The sushi/sashimi platter is our standard order each time along with trying out different tapas and rolls every time.

The fish is consistently fresh (new order comes in every 2 days). Their white tuna is to die for!! Hubby and I normally hate tapas, but theirs is actually very good and the quantity is bigger than most tapas restaurants. Hubby's biggest fear in a sushi restaurant is to leave the place still hungry, but we are stuffed every time we're out the door. Umi and Chaya seems to compete for the "best sushi" title in Pittsburgh. We've never tried Umi, but I can say with confidence this place beats out Chaya (with comprable prices).

We were able to sit at the sushi bar yesterday and let me tell you, I have more respect for these chefs than ever before. Their hands and feet did not stop moving the entire 2 hours we were there. I definitely cannot do what they do.

Hubby and I will be returning to Tamari for our anniversary and trying out their tasting menu custom prepared for each individual by their head chef Roger Li. We get to watch him as he prepares each course. I'm sure it will be amazing. I cannot wait!!

Bath Time!!

2010-08-02T13:14:00.000-04:00

Someone is a big boy now!! DS finally graduated from bathing in the kitchen sink to the bathtub. Its about time, he's 14 months old. It has been my laziness all along in delaying this transition since it was much easier for me to bathe him in the kitchen sink where I didn't have to bend over. His love for playing with water gave me all the motivation to go to Target, buy a $2 stool and start his journey of finally bathing in the adult tub.

Seared Ahi Tuna

2010-08-01T23:20:00.002-04:00

We bought 2 big tuna steaks from Costco this weekend. Hubby made it for dinner tonight. Oh I love seared Tuna. Refer to my previous post for this recipe.

Avenue B

2010-07-16T15:48:00.001-04:00

The Kobe burger at this place is yummmilicious!!!! I recommend everyone get it if they decide to go. Their bruschetta was also a thumbs up!! It didn't look as appealing when I first saw it, but the awesome flavor quickly over powered the looks. I got some salmon dish (basically smoked salmon in a bagel) from their specials menu and I have to say it was nothing special. We brought our own wine and enjoyed a nice lunch date on a gorgeous day.

Tamari

2010-07-08T15:43:00.003-04:00

Tamari, ranked as top 25 in Pittsburgh. Its a neat and hip place. Food was surprisingly good. My favorite was the Tuna roll we ordered (pictured below, sorry can't recall the exact name) and their salmon sashimi. I normally don't like tuna sashimi, but theirs was surprisingly fresh. Yes, I would go back!

Mio Kitchen & Wine Bar

2010-07-04T23:21:00.002-04:00

Dinner date with Hubby at Mio Kitchen & Wine Bar, this place is listed as Pittsburgh's top 25 Restaurants. We had a nice and relaxing time. Great food, wine and service. I personally really liked their salads, the chef's sample, and their cannoli for dessert . Recommended!

California Roll Chinese Style

2010-06-29T16:50:00.002-04:00

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure to attend a cooking class by Grace, our church chef. Her family owns Lu Lu's Noodles in Oakland. What a treat! I had so much fun learning to make steamed pork buns, spring rolls, and sushi. I always knew making sushi rolls was not rocket science (even though good quality fresh sushi tastes like it fell from heaven), but never had the motivation to actually go do it. Her class gave me the inspiration and that extra push to try it out.

The ingredients I used inside the rolls were imitation crab meat, avocado's, and pickled radish. Regular california rolls uses cucumber instead of pickled radish so thats why i called mine California Roll Chinese Style!

Sorry no directions, its easy, just look it up on the web :D

Thumbprint Cookies

2010-06-19T15:49:00.002-04:00

Its always a good idea to relax once in awhile and enjoy a cookie with a cup of coffee...

Original Recipe from Joy the Baker

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 cup (50g) granulated white sugar

1 large egg separated

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (130g) all purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (100g) Hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, or walnuts, toasted and finely chopped

1/2 cup jam

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place rack in center of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the batter and beat just util combined. If the batter is too soft to roll into balls, refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

3. In a small bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy. Place the chopped nuts on a place. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls. Taking one ball of dough at a time, dip first into the egg white and then lightly roll in the nuts. Place on the prepared baking sheet spacking about 1 inch apart. Using your thumb or end of a wooden spoon, make an indentation into the center of each cookie and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon of jam.

4. Bake for about 13-15 minutes, or until cookies are set and the nuts have nicely browned. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool.

**Note: To toast the nuts, spread nuts on a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 8-10 minutes (almonds, pecans or walnuts). The nuts are done when they are light golden-brown in color and fragrant. Toast the hazelnuts for about 15 minutes or until fragrant and the outer skins begin to flake. Remove from oven and place the hot nuts in a dish towel. Roll up the towel and let the nuts sit (steam) for a few minutes then rub the nuts in the towel briskly to remove the skins. Let cool completely. Once the nuts have cooked, place them in your food processor and process until finely chopped. Alternatively, you could chop them by hand.

**Note: If you are planning to store these cookies, bake them without the jam. Just reduce the baking time by a few minutes. These cookies can be stored for about a week. Fill the cookies with jam the same day as serving.

The Big One

2010-06-18T16:33:00.009-04:00

Where did the time go? DS hit the big one mark on May 30, 2010. In my eyes, he's still the cutest baby in the world, but now with opinions, sometimes far more than I can handle.

Fluffy Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Icing

2010-05-24T15:55:00.001-04:00

I am a huge fan of those generic fluffy sugar cookies with thick icing that is available in the bakery section of almost any grocery store. Every time I run into them, I grab it, stare at it for 5 seconds and then proceed to put it back. Hubby once bought some and hid them in the trunk of his car. Don't ask why :D

These cookies turned out almost exactly like the store bought ones except I've had much better buttercream icing. My favorite favorite favorite sugar cookies of all times are still from Soergel Orchards. Theirs is almost like a cake top with powdered sugar. OH YUMMMM.

Original Recipe
Ingredients:
COOKIES
1/2 cup room temperature butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup room temperature butter
1-2 tablespoon milk
Food coloring (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. For the cookies, beat the butter and sugar until creamed. Add in eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
3. Combine dry ingredients.
4. Add dry ingredients and milk into the creamed mixture in two batches.
5. Refrigerate dough for up to an hour. (If you don't refrigerate it will be too sticky to mold)
6. Use 2 tablespoons to make 2-3 inch balls of dough. (After baking you want cookies that are about the size of the palm of your hand).
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes. The top of the cookies shouldn't be browned.
8. For the frosting beat all ingredients together until smooth adding more milk if necessary. When cookies are cool, frost and add sprinkles if you like.

Night Out at Enrico's

2010-05-10T22:59:00.007-04:00

May26,2010 UPDATE: Hubby and I went back to Enrico's yesterday and each ordered muscles as our meal because we were so impressed by them on Mother's day. Unfortunately, we were so disappointed. The muscles were definitely not fresh, you can tell by the discoloration and the fishy taste. There were also green guey stuff coming out of them. I kept thinking to myself "do muscles always have this green guey stuff? If they do, how come I just noticed it now, but was never disgusted by it before?" After about 5 muscles, I just couldn't put another one down my system. Hubby maybe ate half of his plate and refused to eat anymore either. We did find out from the waitress that the chef was indeed different on mother's day. Nonetheless that doesn't explain the rotten fishy taste in the muscles. On the bright side, the service was good and waitress was super nice. She took it off of our bill even after we insisted many times that she didn't have to do that. Would I go back? Eh, I think one bad experience is enough for me.

-----ORIGINAL POST------
Our friends Joe and Lisa babysat for us last night so we could once again experience what it feels like to have peace. We really forget at times that eating out was once a relaxing experience.

Hubby made dinner reservations at Enrico's in Shadyside. I didn't go in with very high expectations, but was pleasantly surprised. We started out with 2 glasses of white wine and muscles as our appetizer. The muscles were delicious!! We both ordered pasta for our main course along with a bottle of Chianti and ended our meal with Tiramisu in a wine glass. Totally loved the Gnocchi I ordered, but would rather have walked down a block to Crazy Mocha for their Tiramisu. Overall, very enjoyable experience!! We'll definitely be revisiting the place when the weather is warmer.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T14:20:00.002-04:00

I woke up this morning to chocolate chip pancakes, fresh fruit, and coffee made by my thoughtful and wonderful husband.

Today Hubby and I stayed home and didn't go to church because DS still has a fever and is feeling very blah, poor thing only wants to stay in his crib :( We tuned into Mclean Bible's internet campus and listened to Lon Solomon speak. What a treat! Lon Solomon, hands down is my favorite speaker. He totally captivates me every single time. I don't zone out, fall asleep, or start planning out what to eat for lunch. 90% of the time I am doing one of the 3 things during Sunday sermons.

Mother's day got me thinking a lot. I grew up being told to "appreciate your parents", "Their sacrifice for you is beyond what you could ever pay back", "You won't really appreciate your parents until you've had your own kids", etc. etc. I'm not disagreeing with any of that, in fact Amen to all of it......but I do feel there is another side.

After becoming a mother, I've learned what a special privilege it truly is. To me, its not a sacrifice at all, rather an honor I don't deserve. I am so thankful that God has entrusted one of his precious little ones into my hands.
When we look at our child as a gift from above rather than the product of sex, our attitude towards them changes dramatically. I don't expect anything in return from DS, really I don't! After all, God never did when he created us.

Lon Solomon reminded me this morning that my son is a sacred trust that God has directly given to me and I must treat him softly, gently, lovingly and with respect. God designed him for me and me for him. I want to raise DS up directly in the path of the Lord by deliberately and intentionally cultivating his spiritual life just like what Hannah did. Why? Its the only successful way of parenting. The world tells us that raising children does not mean you have to sacrifice your career, time, life style, car, clothing, etc etc. When push comes to shove, something's gotta give. You either sacrifice for your children - or you sacrifice your children.

...on the lighter note, as you can see below, DS was trying to wish me a VERY Happy Mother's Day and tell me how much he loves me :D

Toasted Corn Cherry Tomatoes and Edamame Salad

2010-05-08T22:24:00.001-04:00

What a day! Hubby played in a golf tournament all day in terrible miserable weather, DS has a fever, threw up in Giant Eagle and is now in bed, My Burberry umbrella was completely destroyed by the wind while walking to get groceries.

I think I need a glass of wine and retire for bed, but instead I'm up blogging about this side dish we had for dinner. Delish! I loved the basil in there, not quite sure what I thought about the mint. All in all, a great dish made by Hubby!

Original recipe: Fine cooking
Ingredients:
1 cup frozen edamame
5 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
2-1/4 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 3 medium ears) - (personally used frozen white corn)
2 Tbs. plain low-fat yogurt
2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. clover honey
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 heaping cup quartered cherry tomatoes (about 15)
1/4 cup very thinly sliced fresh mint
1/4 cup very thinly sliced fresh basil

Directions:
1. Heat 1 Tbs. of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kernels are golden brown in patches, about 9 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

2. Heat 1 Tbs. of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kernels are golden brown in patches, about 9 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cook.

3. In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk the yogurt, lemon juice, honey, garlic, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Slowly pour in the remaining 4 Tbs. olive oil, whisking constantly until blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. In a medium serving bowl, combine the cooled edamame and corn, the tomatoes, and the herbs. Gently toss. Add half of the vinaigrette and gently toss. Add more vinaigrette and salt and pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature.

Pineapple Tarts

2010-04-28T16:21:00.000-04:00

This was one of those spur of the moment desserts. Its an alternative taste to feng li su (Chinese Pineapple Cake). Very easy to make except for the shaping and molding part, takes me some patience there! These would be perfect for an Asian style tea party. ENJOY!!

Original recipe: Pineapple Tarts
Serving size: 24

Ingredients:
Pastry:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks
4 tablespoons icing sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening (optional-makes the tarts extra crumbly)
1 egg yolk (lightly beaten for egg wash)

Pineapple Filling:
2 cans (20 oz can) crushed pineapple filling
10 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch (mixed with 1 teaspoon water)

Directions:
1. Drain pineapple slices and squeeze the extra juice with your hands. Using low to medium heat, cook the drained crushed pineapple and sugar until most of the liquid has evaporated, and the filling turned golden. Stirring constantly using wooden spoon to avoid burning. Add in the cornstarch to thicken the mixture. Set aside and let it cool in the fridge.
2. Sieve the flour, cornstarch, salt, and sugar into a medium bowl. Beat butter in a mixer until it turns light in color and fluffy. Add in egg yolks until well combined. Slowly beat in the flour mixture until just combined.
3. Divide pastry dough and pineapple filling each into 24 equal round. Flatten the pastry dough with the palms and put the pineapple filling in the middle and use the dough to cover the filling. Use your palms to round it up and shape it into a roll about 1.5 inches long (This part requires a lot of patience since the pastry dough is very crumbly).
4. Use a fork to make criss-cross patterns on the tart and then brush it with the egg wash (I never did this part b/c dough was too crumbly).
5. Preheat the oven for 350 degrees F and bake for 20-25 minutes or until light brown.