Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Marinated Cherries


marinated cherries

adding punctuation to you cocktails



















adding a garnish with unexpected complexity is pays
off when keeping up with the joneses

cherries 8 oz
balsamic vinegar 2 oz
peppercorns 1/2 oz
simple syrup 1 oz

combine ingredients in an airtight container and
refrigerate overnight

store in refrigeration
use within a week



Blooming Dragon



Blooming Dragon 

Vodka
Muddled ginger Simple syrup
Splash of lemonade
Lavender sugar rim 

Sampled in Portland Metro by a dear friend. 

Think we can make it better?

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Ribs, twice baked potatoes and yes, that is a tomato carved into a rose on a bed of spinach.

Memorable Wednesday dinner! It was a collection of old and reliable dishes. Pork ribs with my BBQ sauce, potatoes that have been baked and re-stuffed and for a little more effect, a carved Roma tomato to garnish a spinach salad. This is unfairly better than one might guess. 



Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Lime Cupcakes with Candied Lime Zest

These little cakes have a fresh taste and bring a bright touch to any event.

Lime Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. coarse salt
1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp lime zest
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 large egg whites, room temperature Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a small bowl, mix together milk, vanilla, lime zest and 1 tbsp of lime juice; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar and continue to beat until well combined and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and slowly add egg and egg whites until just blended.

With the mixer on low, slowly add half the flour mixture; mix until just blended. Add the milk mixture; mix until just blended. Slowly add remaining flour mixture, scraping down sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary, until just blended.

Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake until tops are just dry to the touch, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer muffin tin to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely.


Cupcake recipe courtesy ofabcnews.com


Lime Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons lime zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 to 2 Tbsp. milk

Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with Key lime juice, 1 Tbsp. at a time, and 1 Tbsp. milk, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition. Beat in up to 1 Tbsp. additional milk for desired consistency.

Lime Buttercream Frosting recipe courtesy ofmyrecipes.com

Candied Lime Peel

Peel from 1 lime
1 cup of water
1 1/2 cups sugar
Superfine sugar, for coating peel

Using a sharp knife, carefully remove any thick white pith from lime peel. Cut peel into thin 2-inch-long strips.

Bring a medium pot filled with water to a boil over high heat. Prepare an ice-water bath. Add lime peel to boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer lime peel to ice-water bath to cool. Repeat process.

Heat sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved. Drain lime peel and add to saucepan; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer lime peel to a wire rack set over parchment paper to drain. Toss with superfine sugar to coat.

Candied Lime Peel recipe courtesy ofmarthastewart.com



Thursday, November 7, 2013

Persimmon Bread

Persimmon Bread

This bread was made specifically to make use of some rouge fruits in my kitchen that needed a quality transformation, persimmons! It isn't that persimmons are bad, they just don't appeal to me as something that I want to slice up and enjoy them all by them selves. That doesn't mean that we cant get all the joy and flavor persimmons have to share in another way.

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
6 persimmons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Grease a 9 inch by 5 inch loaf pan. Peel, pit, and coarsely chop persimmons then set aside.

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla beat until combined. In another bowl mix the flour, baking soda, nutmeg and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to butter and sugar mixture until combined. Lastly, fold in the persimmons and sour cream. Spread evenly into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean, approximately 50 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before removing from loaf pan and let cool completely before slicing and enjoying.

This is great served warmed with vanilla bean ice cream or just with coffee in the morning.