CHOCOLATE & CROISSANTS

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

2012-02-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

The other evening I had purchased some portobello mushrooms. Easy enough except I must have pulled 10 cookbooks off my shelves looking for a recipe. I know you are probably looking at the photo above thinking that you do not see the mushroom. My portobello is there-just hidden under a lot of marinara sauce and the spinach cheese mixture. I was so lucky to find some leftover marinara sauce I had made for lasagna a few nights earlier in the back of the fridge...and my husband wanted to throw it out.

This mushroom, was delicious. I think I ate both of them for dinner myself. My husband was out that eve, however he commented that the house smelled great and wanted to know if there were any leftovers. Sorry they were in my belly.

This is the perfect mushrooms whether it is a side dish or as a meal itself.

Cheese and Spinach-Stuffed Portobellos
(adapted from the Eating Well on a Budget cookbook)

4 large portobello mushroom caps
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cups spinach
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped kalamata olives
3/4 cup marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

Place mushroom caps gill side up on the prepared pan and roast until tender 20-25 minutes.

Mash the cottage cheese, spinach and 1/4 cup Parmesan, olives in a medium bowls. Heat the marinara sauce.

When the mushrooms are tender carefully pour out an liquid accumulated in the caps. Return the caps to the pan fill side up. Spread 1 tablespoon marinara into each cap cover the caps with a generous heaping of the cheese spinach mixture.

Bake for 10 minutes. Serve with the remaining marinara sauce.

Once mushrooms have cooked drain out the liqud and then add the mixture-I added pepper at the end-put some marinar sauce on the mushroom and top of with the spinach mixture-the recipe called for kalamata olives which I did not have. Cook for10 minutes with more marina sauce added to the dish.

What Warms My Heart

2012-02-06T21:08:00.001-08:00

This is my morning hug to you.

Vaults of Power by D. Echer Review

2012-02-06T07:02:00.000-08:00

Do you ever agree to review a book thinking that it is so up your alley only to read it and just not like it. This is what happened to me with Vaults of Power.
The book offered everything that I should like, a thriller, parts of it set in France, a hundred year old conspiracy and intrigue and deceit surround the Federal Reserve. Sounds exciting. I just could not get into this book. I will also mention that my husband and I went to the movies and we went to see a spy thriller. I think we lasted 10 minutes as I stared at the screen thinking this is dumb.

Somehow my mind in not in the thriller category. I am a firm believer of reading moods. I have a very eclectic taste in books. But I must be in the mood for the genre. This is what I think happened here. My giveaway for this book ends today so feel free to enter here.

For me all the concepts of the novel sounded intriguing and I think they are, just not at this time. I will probably pick up this book again at a later date and try reading it. A few years ago I picked up a book and hated it. The publisher then sent me a copy unsolicited and I felt obligated to read it. I loved it and could not understand how I despised it the first time. What can I say, Reading Moods? Have you ever experienced this?

It's Monday What are You Reading?

2012-02-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

It's Monday What are you Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It is Super Bowl Sunday and my television did not get turned on today. My husband was out of town. Until yesterday I had no idea who was playing and could not have cared less. Honestly people do you really need an excuse to eat junk food. The whole concept is rather mind boggling to me. The French is me just does not approve (for me that is). For those who want to eat junk food, it's your life your body.

We had another glorious day in California today. I logged in 50 miles on the bike this weekend.

Tonight's dinner was portobello stuffed mushrooms with spinach and cottage cheese. Tasty and easy. That recipe will be coming later this week.

I may have read my favourite book all year, Immortal Bird. This book may not be for everyone. The story is fierce and sad. I am a huge memoir fan and seem to get drawn in to the plight of others. I devoured this book in two nights. Towards the end, I knew the tears where going to flow. (FROM THE PUBLISHER) Maybe I’ve finally beaten this thing, maybe three years’ struggle will not have been in vain. Maybe this is finally over . . .” —from Damon’s blog, May 2004 A FAMILY’ S LOVE lies at the heart of this gifted boy’s fight to survive. Born with a congenital heart defect that required surgery when he was a baby, Damon Weber lives a big life with spirit and independence that have always been a source of pride to his parents, Doron and Shealagh. But when Damon is diagnosed with a new illness as a teenager, his triumphant coming-of-age tale turns into a darker and more dramatic quest: his family’s race against time and a flawed heath care system.Immortal Bird is a searing account of a father’s struggle to save his remarkable son, a story of a young boy’s passion for life, and a tribute to his family’s love. It is also a story of the perils of modern medicine and the redemptive power of art in the face of the unthinkable.

I also finished Vaults of Power. My giveaway for it end tomorrow. I started reading The Book of Lies and it was all lies, lies that I was going to like it. It was returned back to the library as quickly as I checked it out.

In the car I am listening to Heart of the Matter.

I think I am going to pick up Heidegger's Glass next. I am trying to read my books that I have agreed to review as they come in.

French Bistro: Seasonal Recipies

2012-02-02T20:23:00.000-08:00

From the Publisher: The French bistro provides an irresistible dining experience, combining fresh, traditional dishes with a friendly atmosphere. With its checkered tablecloths, chalkboard menus brandishing the plats du jour, emblematic wooden chairs, and an endless supply of crusty baguettes, the gastronomic bistro has firmly established itself as a culinary institution.

Bertrand Auboyneau, the owner of Bistrot Paul Bert in Paris, offers a seasonal selection of sixty hearty recipes. Starters include rustic country pâté with cognac and wild mushroom confit or scallops cooked in their shells with a piquant twist. An extensive selection of main courses ranges from shoulder of lamb en cocotte to duck breast with cherries and roasted new potatoes. After a dazzling cheese platter, if you still have room for dessert, you can indulge in an assortment of delicious classics, such as Paul Bert’s signature Paris-Brest, praline cream in a crisp choux pastry ring, or Île flottante, an island of poached meringue floating in Tahitian vanilla créme anglaise.

To accompany the recipes, revered food critic François Simon outlines the ten commandments that rule a true bistro, such as the importance of an inspirational owner and a highly experienced chef as well as impeccable waiters and the art of creating an authentic decor, dense with the wafting smells of good food and wine. Photographs feature both recipes and the lively spirit of a dozen Parisian bistros.

My Review: When Flammarion Publishing asked me if I was interested in reviewing French Bistro, I jumped at the opportunity. French Bistros are the essence of the Parisian food scene. Who would not welcome an evening sitting at a bistro enjoying a glass of wine, and a wonderful meal watching the world walk by.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself seated at a small round table for two, seated on a sidewalk. You are so close to your neighbour that you can smell the scent of their meal. You are enjoying a glass of wine, perusing the menu you must decide between duck breast and sea scallops on a bed of pea risotto. Decisions Decisions. If only all our decisions were so simple.

One of the bistros featured in this book is a favourite of mine; Le Comptoir located in the 6th district. Let me start off by saying the 6th is one of my favourite districts in Paris, Home to St. Germain des Pres, Luxembourg Gardens, Odeon Theater, great shopping and fine restaurants. I had quite discovered Le Comptoir by accident. For years I had been staying in a hotel a few blocks away. At least once during my stay in Paris I would stop by the creperie for a nutella and banana crepe. Then on one visit I realized that attached to the creperie was this wonderful bistro.

To get a table at Le Comptoir you need a reservation. Reservations are not taken for lunch, and Sunday night dinner. I was fortunate enough one Sunday to get a table. I can still remember the meal. I started off with an cream of artichoke soup with foie gras. It had been a snowy weekend in Paris. The first time I had seen snow in the city. The soup was warm and heavy. Just perfect for a winter night. With slices of baguette to clean up the bowl. At the end of the meal I was shocked that I had never sat down to eat here before.

In the cooler months-including the winter the tables outside all have a cozy red blanket thrown over the chair. To me there is something romantic about sitting outside on a Parisian sidewalk with a blanket thrown over your lap.

On my last visit I discovered these delicious ham and artichoke crepes. I think I may have gone back twice for them.

At night time you cannot move inside the creperie. People are packed inside enjoying a glass of wine and the food. Who would have guessed for year I walked past this bistro oblivious to the delicacies that were awaiting.

French Bistro is filled with the stories and recipes of darling little Parisian bistros. The book is as French as the bistros themselves.

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking hosted at Beth Fish Reads.

Les Fleurs de Paris (Parisian Flowers)

2012-02-01T20:23:00.001-08:00

Good Morning, Let me brighten your day. Pick yourself a bouquet of flowers and put them somewhere where you can see them all day. Maybe on your desk, maybe in your kitchen or on your bedside table.

Paris for me is a treasure chest. Every corner brings a lovely present. Look at these beautiful flowers. How can you not smile and feel cozy and warm inside when you see them. I think the arrangements are just stunning.

Whiskers

2012-01-31T07:30:00.000-08:00

Hello, it is my turn to have the spotlight. I am Magellan, the sweet handsome cat in the house. I groom my sister all the time, as the vet said Penelope is a lazy groomer. She likes to be preened constantly. I also let her eat out of my bowl constantly. She is very dominant when it comes to food. Mama loves my whiskers. They are beautiful. Nice and long and glow in the softness of the sunlight. Yesterday we had a photo session and these are some of my photos.

Vaults of Power Giveaway

2012-01-30T08:42:00.000-08:00

Here is the first giveaway of the year. Vaults of Power by D. Echer

Leave a separate entry for each:

Feed the cats-upper right hand side
Tell me you want to read the book
Publish the giveaway on your blog or elsewhere and leave a way to contact you. Contest will close Feb 7

From the Publisher: One independent woman. Robyn Gabriel, a young historian
turned treasure hunter with a taste for one-night stands and a strained relationship with her twin.

Two duty-driven men. A senior executive of the Federal
Reserve, and a Chinese triad member.

Six days to deliver an impossible ransom.

When her twin is kidnapped in Southern France, Robyn Gabriel
has six days to steal the precious Voynich manuscript from a bunker-like library at Yale University and break its code--a
feat no cryptologist, linguist, scientist or software engineer has
ever been able to accomplish.

The Federal Reserve can’t allow that. Now, they want her
dead.

Caught between kidnappers and killers, from Florida to Austria,
from France to New York, Robyn, shattered by the revelation
of the origin of her own family, lifts each layer of a
hundred-year-old conspiracy involving the Jesuits, the Federal Reserve, China and the sinking of the Titanic, and discovers
the terrible pact that ensured the United States’ financial
supremacy.

Blog World Giveaways

2012-01-29T18:20:00.001-08:00

My friend Vicki at Two Bags Full is having a giveaway for Roast Figs, Sugar Snow. This cookbook is wonderful.

Pay a visit to Just Be Farm, Eric and Bob have just started a blog about their farm. They love animals and with just one post I can tell this is going to be a fun blog to read. They are giving away a fun basket of food goodies.

It's Monday What are You Reading?

2012-01-29T18:19:00.000-08:00

It's Monday What are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. With January ending it seems that my reading has slowed down. I planned to read a lot this weekend. That just did not happen. We had a gorgeous weekend-I mean gorgeous-I am sporting tanned legs. I went riding both days and logged in 80 miles. I was pretty impressed myself. And I can ride without holding my bars. Now I only do that with no-one, or no cars anywhere in the vicinity. I had not ridden like that in years so I was impressed I could still do it.

So what did I read this week. I finished reading The Night Circus which I adored. I thought the book was quite enchanting and took me away to another world. A world full of magic and charm.

I am almost finished listening to A Good Year in the car.

I started reading a new cookbook, Donna Hay Seasons. There is a delicious recipe for chocolate cake that is calling my name. However I do not feel like cleaning up so it will not get baked tonight.

I also started reading Vaults of Power by a fellow attorney. The author has given me an extra copy so I thought this is a great place to start the giveaway. Since I am mailing this out I will make it international:

Leave a separate entry for each:

Feed the cats-upper right hand side
Tell me you want to read the book
Publish the giveaway on your blog or elsewhere and leave a way to contact you. Contest will close Feb 7

From the Publisher: One independent woman. Robyn Gabriel, a young historian
turned treasure hunter with a taste for one-night stands and a strained relationship with her twin.

Two duty-driven men. A senior executive of the Federal
Reserve, and a Chinese triad member.

Six days to deliver an impossible ransom.

When her twin is kidnapped in Southern France, Robyn Gabriel
has six days to steal the precious Voynich manuscript from a bunker-like library at Yale University and break its code--a
feat no cryptologist, linguist, scientist or software engineer has
ever been able to accomplish.

The Federal Reserve can’t allow that. Now, they want her
dead.

Caught between kidnappers and killers, from Florida to Austria,
from France to New York, Robyn, shattered by the revelation
of the origin of her own family, lifts each layer of a
hundred-year-old conspiracy involving the Jesuits, the Federal Reserve, China and the sinking of the Titanic, and discovers
the terrible pact that ensured the United States’ financial
supremacy.

What are you reading?

Sweet Potato Pancakes

2012-01-24T20:20:00.000-08:00

Okay I will admit these may not be the most attractive potato pancakes but they were tasty. Tasty. The best part about them is that their recipe was one that you could easily adapt to your desires. I got the recipe from Ottolenghi's book Plenty. I had had my eye on Plenty for quite awhile. Browsing through it in the store I never realized that it was a vegetarian cookbook until I started reading it. The recipes are so amazing that I am fine with that. Vegetarian or not there are recipes here for everyone.

These potato cakes were meant to be fried on your stove top. In his photo, they are floating in oil. I more sauteed mine. Even sauteed they were just perfect. For me these are the ultimate comfort food. Ottolenghi was introduced to these cakes as a student in Tel Aviv.

Sweet potato cakes

Serves 4
2 1/4 pounds sweet potatoes cut into large chunks

Sauce

3 tbsp Greek yogurt
3 tbsp sour cream (I added another 3 tbsp Greek yogurt)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp soy sauce
3/4 cup all-purpose flour-(I used whole wheat flour)
1/2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp chopped green onion
1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh red chile or more if you want them hot

plenty of butter for frying

Steam the sweet potatoes until completely soft and then leave them in a colander for an hour to drain. I did not peel mine-they are easy to scoop out once they are steamed/

whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce. Once the potatoes have lost most of their liquid place them in a mixing bowl and add the rest of the ingredients except the butter. I would add the flour as needed. Your want the mixture to have a consistency so that you can form a flat cake. Do not over-mix them.

Melt some butter in a non-stick frying pan. For each cake, use a tablespoon to lift some mix into the pan and flatten with the back of the spoon to create a cake. Fry the cakes for about 8-8 minutes on each side or until they have a nice brown crust. Place between paper towels to soak up the excess butter. Serve with the sauce.

It's Monday What are You Reading?

2012-01-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

It's Monday What are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. I feel that this was a slow week of reading. I am slowly making my way through The Night Circus. I am liking it but not loving it. I think that I had very high expectations for it. I have also started reading French Bistro which was sent to me by the publisher. I could not resist cracking this one open and starting to leaf through it. Needless to say I was ecstatic upon seeing bistros that I had been to.

I also finished reading The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt which I loved.

I am almost finished listening to A Good Year in the car.

What have you been reading this week? Sometimes I think that I have reading ADD and spend more time surfing the web than I do reading. Do any of you have this problem?

Weekend Cat Blogging

2012-01-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

I am so cute. Show me this face anyday and the world is your oyster darling Penelope.
This is my entry for Weekend Cat Blogging hosted by Samantha Maverick and Clementine.

Tourtiere: A French Canadian Tradition

2012-01-17T19:28:00.000-08:00

This is what a beautiful Tourtiere pie should look like. No this is not my tourtiere, this one belongs to letouj courtesy of flickr. Mine is below. My crust is not as pretty but it was tasty. Tourtiere is the traditional Christmas Eve or reveillon fare served when the family returns from midnight mass. I am not sure if I had ever had one before however when I was home at Christmas the Globe and Mail featured tourtiere on Christmas eve. French Canadians celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve. Ever since I saw that delicious photo I was determined to make my own.

The only catch was I only brought the outer section of the newspaper-oops the recipe was on page four. Quite simply tourtiere is a ground pork pie with lots of warm spices. It is the perfect food for a cold winter night. My house smelled absolutely lovely. When do you get to make a meat pie with cinnamon and nutmeg? I added sweet potato pancakes and a spinach salad.

My husband had never heard of tourtiere before. I told him we were having a late Christmas Eve celebration. This is a dish that is sure to delight anyone sitting at your dinner table.

Traditional French Tourtiere (From Julian Armstrong's A Taste of Quebec)

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds ground pork, ideally organic & local
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 bay leafs
1 teaspoon dried savory
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Salt
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
Pastry for two double-crust, 9-inch pies
1 egg, beaten, for glaze

Directions:

1. In a large, heavy frying pan, combine pork with cold water and heat to boiling point. It should be slightly soupy.

2. Add onion, celery, pepper, bay leaf, savory, rosemary, nutmeg and cinnamon. Cook, covered, over medium-low heat for 1 1/4 hours; stir often. Add more water if mixture dries out.

3. Halfway through cooking time, season with salt to taste.

4. Stir in rolled oats and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove bay leaf and allow to cool.

5. Meanwhile, line two 9-inch pie plates with pastry. When meat mixture is lukewarm, divide it between two pie shells and spread it out evenly.

6. Brush around outer edge of pastry with the beaten egg. Place top crust on the tart and press gently around the edge to seal. Trim pastry, crimp edges and cut steam vents in top crust.

7. Bake in preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F and bake another 25 minutes or until crust is golden.

Makes two 9-inch meat pies.

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking at Beth Fish Reads.

It's Monday What are You Reading?

2012-01-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

It's Monday What are you Reading-is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

First of all, my twitter account was hacked. Thank you to everyone who sent me a message and sorry to those that were DM. Yeah tomorrow is MLK day. A holiday from work. Yeah, Yeah Yeah. I have been in trial since after Christmas so the break is quite welcome. A little biking, a little reading, maybe some cooking, playing with the kitties and of course a reflection on what Martin Luther King had hopes of achieving.

This week I read More than Words Can Say. You can can catch my review. It was not my favourite book. I also finished off Day After Night by A. Diamant, the story of four young orphaned teenage Jewish women held in a British camp in Palestine and their rescue (excellant story) and A Train in Winter the story of 320 French women who were accused of being part of the Resistance and shipped off to Birkenau. As much as I love everything France, I am disgusted at how they rounded up the Jewish people and members of the Resistance, doing the Nazi's dirty work.

For Christmas I received Plenty by Ottolenghi, a Mediterranean vegetarian cookbook. Earlier in the week I made a tofu dish that was delicious. Tonight was a carrot salad. There was more than that for dinner.

I also pulled down Babycakes from my shelves and was rereading the recipes.

I have started reading Vaults of Power and listening to A Good Year by P. Maynard.

I also received Across Many Mountains which I cannot wait to start reading. I am really hoping to clear some books off of my shelves. So what is my plan. I will read library books as they come in on the hold shelf and alternate between reading my books and review copies I have agreed to read.

More than Words can Say Robert Barclay Review

2012-01-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: From the author of If Wishes Were Horses comes a novel of long-buried secrets and self-discovery, showing us that sometimes what goes unsaid is more powerful than words. . . .
Chelsea Enright never expected to inherit her grandmother's lakeside cottage deep in the Adirondacks—a serene getaway that had been mysteriously closed up decades ago. This is no simple bequest, however, because when Chelsea finds her grandmother's WWII diaries, she's stunned to discover that they hold secrets she never suspected . . . and they have the power to turn her own life upside down.
Even more surprising is the compelling presence of local doctor Brandon "Yale, and Chelsea soon finds her "short stay" has stretched into the entire summer. She cannot put this cottage and her family's past behind her easily—and the more she learns about the woman her grandmother truly was, the more Chelsea's own life begins to change . . . and nothing will ever be the same again.

My Review If I had not received an ARC from the publisher William Morrow I more than likely would not have finished reading this book. By the time I finished it, it was not as horrible an experience as I was dreading however there was a lot of skimming of the book. Why? The dialogue was painful. I am not sure if the author had a word quota to be met however he had the characters repeating themselves constantly with a matter of paragraphs. Does he not think that I would notice this. An example of this is when Chelsea's father showed up at the house. Her father is described as the rugged handsome type and then on the next page is another description of him, this time describing how his clothing reflected his good looks. Later in the book when Chelsea met Brandon twice within paragraphs he comments how he wished he met her grandmother.

The relationship between Brandon and Chelsea was also quite out there. Brooke, Chelsea's grandmother left her her cottage and sent her on a mission that she wanted her to do solo. Within hours of meeting Brandon she has him reading her grandmother's diary with her. Call me a cynic, yes love at first sight exists however these two were practically married within a few days of meeting each other. Okay I am slightly exaggerating however you understand my point.

On the positive Brooke would cook during her husband's absence during WW11. Her dishes were named after leaders of the time. She conceived up delightful recipes titled MacArthuroni and Cheese, Eisenhower's Eggs Benedict and Churchill's Cherry and Cream Pie. No there is no recipes for Hitler's Ham or Stalin's Stale Borscht. I thought the recipe idea was rather quaint.

Author Barclay had a good concept with the romance of the novel, unfortunately he was not able to deliver.

All the Flowers of Shanghai Duncan Jepson review

2012-01-10T05:36:00.000-08:00

Books about Asian women is one of my favourite genres. I am not sure if this is because I enjoy reading about the plight of women and books set in a different culture. Books about Chinese women always seem to involve a degree of suffering and All the Flowers in Shanghai is no exception.

Jepson who is Eurasian became interested in his mother's culture and noticed that there is often favouritism of sons over daughters and often eldest over youngest often times promoted by the mothers themselves. In the Chinese culture the practice does not end in favouritism and often manifests into discrimination and actual victimization and rejection. In writing All the Flowers of Shanghai Jepson wanted to explore the Chinese attitude toward motherhood, children and families.

For me, Jepson created an outstanding novel in exploring the above themes, narrating the book from a female experience and bringing to light the story of Feng.

Feng was the second daughter born into a Chinese household. She was never meant to marry. Her role was for her to take care of parent's in their old age. As a child she was subject to her sister's tirades and escaped through her time with her grandfather walking in the gardens.

An unpredictable event leads to her marrying a wealthy businessman who was selected by her parents. While her husband is kind to her she finds herself isolated and intimidated in the oppressive household of her husband. Feng's only companion is her mistress who attempts to guide her through her role of being a wife and producing a male heir.

Feng's anger at her family for giving her away overcomes her innocence provoking her to seek revenge and making a decision that she will live with for the rest of her life.

The book moves swiftly and is easy to read introducing the reader to the lives of the wealthy during the 30's in Shanghai to post revolution China.

For anyone who enjoy's novels set in China this one will not disappoint. Author Jepson has also given us a list of further reading. Thank you to William Morrow publishing for providing me with a copy of the book.

Rice Su Tong
My Life as Emperor S. Tong
Daughter of the River Hong Ying
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers Yiyun Li
Beijing Doll Chun Sue

Foodies Reading Challenge 2012

2012-01-10T04:50:00.000-08:00

Margot at Joyfully Retired is hosting the Foodies Reading Challenge.

January

1. Cutie Pies
2. More than Words Can Say

It's Monday What are You Reading?

2012-01-08T16:40:00.000-08:00

It's Monday What are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

This past week I read Cutie Pies-yumm yumm yumm, All the Flowers of Shanghai by D. Jepson-my review will be tomorrow and listened to The 10 Year Nap.

I am listening to Day After Night and loving it. I started reading Vaults of Power and just picked up a The Ciao book of Gelatto and A Train in Winter. I will be switching over to my library books as they were on hold for me with a wait list.

Cutie Pies:40 Sweet and Savory Pie Recipes

2012-01-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

Praised by Bon Appetit, DailyCandy, and Sunset magazine, the secrets behind Dani Cone's signature handmade, all-natural miniature pies are revealed for the first time inside Cutie Pies: 40 Sweet, Savory, and Adorable Recipes. Whether you're grabbing the perfectly portable Flipside on the way to work, enjoying a Piejar as a tasty afternoon treat, or looking for a fun and impressive dinner party dessert, Cutie Pies provides the perfect morsels to satisfy sweet and savory cravings alike.

Inside Cutie Pies, Cone presents 40 exclusive recipes inspired by the unique line of compact pastries she serves at her Seattle-based Fuel Coffee and High 5 Pie locations, which have received a Best of Seattle Weekly award. Sweet, one-of-a-kind treats like a Mango-Raspberry-Lemon Piepop mingle with savory recipes like Cone's Curry Veggie Piejar, all in a distinct and delightful design.

(My review) Cutie Pies is just plain cute. With 40 sweet and savory recipes who could resist this book?

I am a huge pie fan. My mum's crust was the best. I grew up with a mum that made apple, peach, nectarine and blueberry pies by the dozen. My mum would freeze them and in the winter we would be sent to the freezer to retrieve a fresh pie. I rarely eat store bought pies just because they are not my mum's (and I hate the cornstarch that is used to fill them up).

The book starts off with how to make pie crust and gives you a choice of 4 different crusts, a traditional one, gluten free, graham cracker crust and vegan crust. What makes the book so adorable are the different ways to serve your pie, traditional with an upper and lower crust, baked in a mason jar (Pie Jars), turnovers (Flip Sides) and pie pops on a stick. I am not sure how messy the pie pops would be.

There are plenty and plenty of berry pie recipes-which are my absolute favourite. Just think blueberry pie and razzle dazzle. Some of her more creative recipes include Caramel-Pecan and Mango Raspberry Lemon Piepops, Strawberry Rhubarb Ginger Flipsides, Campfire S'Mores Petit-5's, Peach Ricotta Honey Piejars, and Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie.

The savory recipes sound just as tasty. How about a Curry Veggie Piejar or broccoli cheese and onion pie or Potato, Cheese, and Bacon Flipsides. For those who want just an individual pie Cone tells us which recipes work best for that.

For me I am going to start off with the Pear, Gruyere, and Proscuitto, possibly followed by the Spiced walnut and plum one.

One could have a tea party with all the recipes in this book. There are a great variety of savory recipes. Just imagine little pies for popping in your mouth. Cone has put together quite the delightful pie book. There are plenty of photos to give you idea and her concepts are unique. I had never thought of making a pie in a mason jar until seeing her book.

This book is worthy of 4 freshly baked chocolate croissants from a bakery in Paris.

Cutie Pies is my contribution to Weekend Cooking at Beth Fish Reads. Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Leaving The World by D. Kennedy

2012-01-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

Do you ever read a book by an author that you have read before and expect it to be similar? Initially you may be disappointed because it is not the same and then the book just grabs up. Having read one of Kennedy's other books I picked up Leaving the World with pre-conceived notions which is always dangerous when reading. I liked the way the novel started and then felt that I had been dating the book for too long and we were just going through the steps together without any excitement. Just as I was feeling comfortable I was walloped. The book took hold of me and I could not put it down. At the risk of sounding sexist, Leaving the World reads like it was written by a woman. But it was not. Author Kennedy has an amazing talent for writing in a woman's voice.

Leaving the World is not for everyone. If you are feeling the slightest bit sad or depressed I would not read this book. Some of the scenes are quite painful and gut wrenching.

The book opens up with "On the night of my thirteenth birthday, I made an announcement
"I am never getting married and I am never having children." The following day Jane's father walked out on his family after considering the dramatic statement made by his daughter. For Jane she would be the brunt of her mother's guilt and denial until the day she died.

The main character Jane does not really know how to experience happiness. Her life is marked by one tragedy after another. The book is divided into the different stages of her life. Happiness is an elusive concept of Jane.

I have been accused of liking sad books before. Maybe that is true as in the end I really enjoyed this one. Author Kennedy did a great job of having us walk in the shoes of Jane and feel her pain.

Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this book for review

New Words

2012-01-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

This is a compilation of new words discovered while reading.

ululate to whine or howl
verdant-green with grass or vegetation
euphonious-pleasant sounding
profligacy-reckless/extravagant abundance

Where Are you Reading Challenge?

2012-01-02T12:46:00.000-08:00

Where Have I Been Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Massachuttes-Leaving the World
New Hampshire, The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt
New York, 2 The Ten Year Nap, More than Words Can Say
Washington Cutie Pies

China, All the Flowers of Shanghai
France 3 Paris A Train in Winter, The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt, The Night Circus,
Provence A Good Year

Germany, A Train in Winter
Palestine Day After Night
London, The Night Circus

January

1. Leaving the World D. Kennedy Massachuttes and Canada, from the publisher 4 hearts
2. The 10 Year Nap M. Wolitzer New York, library audio 4 hearts
3. All the Flowers of Shanghai, D. Jepson, China, publisher 4 hearts
4. Cutie Pies D. Cones publisher 4 hearts
5. Day After Night, A. Diamant, audio, library 4 hearts, Palestine
6. A Train in Winter Carol Moorehead, library, 4 hearts, Germany and France.
7. More Than Words Can Say, R. Barclay, publisher 2 hearts, New York
8. The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt, Caroline Preston, won, 4 hearts, New Hampshire and France
9. The Night Circus, E. Morgenstern, won 4 hearts, Paris, London, Massachuttes
10. A Good Year, P. Mayle, library, 4 hearts, Provence

So what is the point of this challenge? It is to try to read in each of the 50 States between January 1 2012 – December 31, 2012.
So how do you decide what state a book is categorized under?
1. In a fiction read it would be the State or Country that the book spends the most time in. (Ie. If your main character is from Wisconsin but the book is all about his/her time in college in California – the books should categorize under California….)
2. Non fiction reads categorize in whatever State or Country it is about (Ie…. a book about fly fishing in Colorado is a Colorado point, and a book about women in Afghanistan is an Afghanistan point.
3. If the book goes from one state to another… go with the state that most of the time is spent.
How to get started
Set up a map under Google Maps. It is easy to do! Every time you read a book in 2012, upload a cover picture to Picasa Web Albums (there may be other sites to use, feel free to use what works best for you).
Grab the challenge button here for your posts and sidebar:

Where Have I been with my reading?

2012-01-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

Sheila at Book Journey hosted a Where Have I Been With My Reading Challenge. This is the only challenge that I participated in.

Here is where my reading took me. Given that I read over 75 books this is not comprehensive of how many times I visited certain location. I did include every country I visited.

England x 4, India-four times, Spain, China-2x, New Guinea, Bhutan, Afghanistan x 2, Belgium, Germany, 7 x France, Hong Kong, Morocco, Egypt, Rome, Italy, Switzerland, Congo, Guyana, Iran, Japan, Turkey, Nepal 20 countries

USA-New Jersey x 2, Wisconsin x 2, Illinois, Maryland, California four times, Ohio, Oregon, New York. Connecticut, Washington x 2, Kansas, Texas, Nevada, North Dakota, Massachusettes, Colorado, South Carolina x 3, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island 21 states only

Extraordinary Cakes by Karen Krasne

2011-12-31T07:01:00.000-08:00

(from the publisher)
Extraordinary Cakes: Recipes for Bold and Sophisticated Desserts
Written by Karen Krasne and Tina Wright

Pub Date: October 4, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Category: Cooking - Cakes
Publisher: Rizzoli
Trim Size: 8-1/2 x 10
US Price: $37.50
CAN Price: $40.00
ISBN: 978-0-8478-5808-8
About This Book

How to make cakes that are as delicious to eat as they are beautiful to behold. Karen Krasne, the “Queen of Cakes” according to Gourmet magazine, brings a fresh and contemporary sensibility to special-occasion cakes. Instead of the conventional fondant and gum paste, she relies on natural frostings based on chocolate, cream, or butter (which are also easier to make). What makes these cakes showstoppers is their unexpected flavor combinations-take, for example, the Blood Orange Ricotta Torte, the Chocolate Tiramisu, or the Yuzu Tea Cake. These desserts take full advantage of layering-contrasting textures in each bite-as seen in the New York, New York (chocolate ganache, devil’s food cake, chocolate chantilly, and caramelized apples) or the Beau Soleil (mascarpone mousse, peaches, pralines, and honey-soaked pound cake). Krasne favors vibrant touches like fresh fruit and real flowers, which add flair without being fussy. The recipes include tips from her twenty years as a pastry chef, and a step-by-step introduction covers basic techniques. Extraordinary Cakes shows how to create amazing cakes that satisfy sophisticated palates-but are still achievable for the home baker.

Some of the luscious cakes included are Toasted Macadamia Caramel Cheesecake, Shangrila (Guava Mousse, White Chocolate Mousse, Fresh Strawberries, Pound Cake), Vallarta (Key Lime Cream, Whipped Cream, Tequla-Infused Genoise), Marco Polo (Vanilla Mousse, Blackberry Gelee, Tea-Infused Cake), Chocolate Nirvana (Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Cream, Chocolate Cake), King Kamehameha (Coffee Mousse, Chocolate, Mocha Pralines, Chocolate Cake), Beau Soleil (Marscapone Mousse, Peaches, Caramelized Pralines, Honey, Pound Cake), Blood Orange Ricotta Torte, Carnaval (White Chocolate Banana Truffle, Chocolate Mousse, Rum), Caribe (Banana, Mango, Passion Fruit, Chocolate Cake), Tortamisu (Marscapone Cream, Espresso-and-Rum-Soaked Cake).

About the Author

Karen Krasne is the owner and executive chef of Extraordinary Desserts, San Diego’s number one destination restaurant for desserts for the last twenty years. Her cakes have graced the cover of Bon Appetit, and Forbes recognized her as one of the country’s ten best pastry chefs. She has been featured in The New York Times, Gourmet, Sunset, and The Los Angeles Times, among other publications. Tina Wright is a professional pastry chef and coauthor of two books. A graduate of the Institute for Culinary Education, she helped write the pastry curriculum for the French Culinary Institute in New York.

My review: I hope that you were not planning on starting a diet tomorrow. After reading this book your thoughts will be focused on the cakes. Even if creating an "extraordinary cake" is not in your future the recipes are too good not to try.

"Extraordinary Cakes" is all about getting dressed up and going out on New Years Eve-the black velvet, champagne and glistening diamonds. The photos are absolutely stunning. Who would not want one of these cakes on their table? You would not even need to diet as the cake would be too pretty to cut into. But maybe not. Each cakes seems to have an extraordinary filling full of seasonal flavours.

What I think makes this book unique is both the recipes ( I have not seen most of these recipes before) and the assembly of the cakes. The cakes are divided by season, emphasizing the tastes of each season. Summertime has you savouring a strawberry poppy seed cake, bora bora, a combination of vanilla joconde cake with coconut creme and beau soleil (beautiful sun) which is a hazelnut vanilla joconde with a mascarpone mousse and peach curd. For spring, you can enjoy Devika, rose flavored tortes with a raspberry gelee and rose whipped cream. Of course there is a lemon praline torte and Toute Fraises (everything strawberry) strawberry cupcakes. The Fall is offering you Blackberry cheesecakes and blood orange ricotta cake. For the winter you can enjoy Versailes (the cover cake) an almond joconde cake with a salted caramel mousse. Of course the winter offers you a Yule Log and rasberry white chocolate linzer torte. There are many variations of chocolate cake for each season.

All the recipes look straight-forward and easy to follow.

The author has detailed notes on assembling the cakes and includes an introduction regarding kitchen essentials and techniques.

This is one baking book I cannot wait to start trying out.

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads.