Concentric Circles of Cherry

Or, a Cherry Almond Tart. Salivate. Eat. Ask for seconds.

Crust--> you basic crust. 1 C. Flour, 3/4 stick butter, salt, 1/4 c Almond Flour, 1/4 c. sugar, and 1/4 cup water. Mix, fridge, roll, fridge, pre-bake (10 min, in oven at 375, weighted down w/ beans)

Filling-->
1/3 C almonds + 1/3 C Sugar --> grind in food processor. Add 3 Tbsp room temp butter, 1 egg, 1 Tbsp Grand Marnier, and 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Fruit--> Fresh pitted cherries, regular red, and those pretty yellowy ones, Rainier?

Putting it all together--> When pie crust comes out of oven, spread 2 Tbsp apricot preserves on bottom. Pour in filling. Arrange Cherries. Bake in oven at 375 for about 50 min, or until its solidifying. Remove and let cool for a minute. Microwave 2 Tbsp apricot preserve mixed with 1 Tbsp H20 for 30 sec, then spread over still warm tart.

Restrain self from eating the entire thing before everyone else has a chance at it.

Surprise!!!

Boring Old Cupcake....


OR,



Zesty, Lemony Surprise

Pear and Raisin Pie

Everyone took seconds. No Joke.
This recipe was born of a Piere Hermé recipe I happened to see, and decide I wanted to make. I did not make it in the slightest, but I did follow its general gist. The result probably what mice meat pie is like, but I really have no idea, other than that its quite tasty if I don't say so myself

Pie Crust
1 C. of Flour (Just short)
1/4 C. Almond Flour
1/8 C. Brown Sugar
6 Tbsp Butter
1/2 tsp salt
Cut butter into dry mix til mealy. Dribble in about a 1/4 C water, just until it comes together. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate.

Pie
! C Large Golden Raisins (soak in Hot Water for about 5 min)
2 Large Pears and ! large apple (Grate into large bowl)
Into bowl add the following
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C agave nectar
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp alspice
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1-2 Tbsp Tapioca
2 tsp salt
1/2 C Grand Marnier

Roll out pie crust, place in tart pan, place back in fridge and preheat oven to 350.

Toast 1/2 Cup chopped walnuts and 1/4 cup pine nuts in large fry pan. Add about Two Table spoons butter, and 2 Tbsp Brown sugar, and then add in the apple and spice
mixture. Let simmer till juices are reduced

Pre-Bake pie crust for about 10 min, weighed down by foil w/ beans or something else similar.

While Crust is prebaking, Mix 1/8 C brown Sugar with 1/2 C oats, and 1 Tbsp Butter.

When Crust comes out of oven, sprinkle oat and sugar mixture over the bottom. Then pour the simmered down fruit mixture over. Place in oven (@ 350) and bake for about 20 min, or until you think its done. I would suggest serving it a la mode.

Newest Invention: Candied Kumquat Crepe Cake

Combination of ideas from greater minds, thanks goes to Smitten Kitchen and to Baking Obsession.

! recipe Crepe Batter--> a few mistakes, but ultimately a stack of perfect crepes was achieved.
Aprox. 2 C Fresh Kumquats, candied. ---> (Boil as you would for making jam with about a cup H2O and 2 cups sugar. There will be a lot of syrup, I'm excited for pancakes)
Cream filling--> about a cup of milk, 1 Tbsp corn starch, 1 tbsp grand marnier, few Tbsps Kumquat syrup, and an egg yolk. Heat and whisk everything BUT yolk constantly, until boiling. Turn off heat, spoon a bit into yolk to temper, then whisk egg into main mix. Bring back to boil, reduce, and continue to stir until pudding like consistency is reached. I added about .5-1 full cup ricotta cheese, but I think I would omit this next time.Worked with, but might be better with out. Cool in fridge while making the crepes.

layer the fillings, however you so choose, starting with the kumquats, in a cake pan with a removable bottom. Refrigerate to set, as long as you see fit. Prob a good couple of hours, overnight if possible. Glorious results.

well, I can honestly say it has been a while. Not that I've not been cooking, but I haven't seemed to have the energy to post much. Here are some picture updates. I'm quite proud of myself, really.



Raspberry Macaron



Vegan Chocolate Avocado Cake, with Vegan Avocado Butter Cream with Fresh Strawberries.



From Scratch, Chicken Enchilades Verdes. Home made Corn Tortillas, Fresh Tomatillo Sauce, Filled with Cotija Cheese, Roasted Poblano Chilies, and Chicken. YUM.

Coconut-Rosewater Cake with Pomegranate Cream Cheese Icing.

Used a recipe from Joy of Cooking that worked quite nicely.

Whip 3/4 c. butter ( stick and 1/2)
Whip in 1 1/2 c. sugar
Whip in 3 egg yolks,
followed by 3 c cake flour, 3 teaspoon baking powder, 3 tsp rosewater, and 3/4 c coconut milk
Stir in 3/4 c. shredded coconut
In a separate bowl, whip 3 egg whites till stiff, but not dry
Fold into rest of batter, pour in to pans, and bake at 350 till done, about 25 min for a cake, 18 or so for cupcakes.

Icing
1/4 C. Cream Cheese
1/4 c. butter
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon pomegranate syrup
2 c powdered sugar
mix, refrigerated, ice cooled delicacies.

Blueberry Chocolate Ganache tort

This was fun :)

Crust

1/2 c. oat flour (or ground oats)
1/2 c. whole wheat white flour
1/2 stick butter (4 Tbsp)
1 Tbsp sugar

Press into tart pan, poke holes, place in oven at 350 for about 15 min, till lightly browned

Ganache

About 7ish oz bittersweet chocolate
about 3ish oz semi sweet chocoalte
-Chop these very fine. I used a food processor, adding one piece at a time.

1/2 stick Butter
1/2 c. half and half, or cream
Heat these 2 ingredients until just simmering


2. 5 c fresh blueberries
1/2 c/ sugar
Heat these 2 until saucy, mush blueberries around to release juices

Pour hot blueberries over chocolate, then hot butter and cream.
Let sit a few seconds, then stir till smooth.

Pour into crust.

Arrange more berries on top as desired, chill till ready to serve.