Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Les Petits Cannelés de Marica
I was having coffee in L.A. Burdick's last Friday and glanced (just glanced; otherwise, I would have bought and inhaled everything!) the display of baked goods. I noticed a few pretty cannelés lined up in neat little rows and immediately became nostalgic. My mother loved to bake cannelés on Sundays. Her recipe is divine and so, I thought I would take the time to share it with you!
Ingredients:
1 liter 2% milk
500 g. butter
300 g. flour
4 egg yolks
½ cup of rum
1 vanilla bean
Directions:
1) Bring butter and ¾ milk to a boil. Remove from stove and add the rest of the cold milk. Gently whisk in egg yolks until blended. Set aside to cool.
2) Add sugar, flour, rum, and scraped vanilla bean. Mix well. Place the mixture to rest in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
3) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour mixture into cannelé mold, filling it up to ¾. Bake in oven for 1 hour.
Bon appétit!
[image thanks to LJ42 according to this license]
Ingredients:
1 liter 2% milk
500 g. butter
300 g. flour
4 egg yolks
½ cup of rum
1 vanilla bean
Directions:
1) Bring butter and ¾ milk to a boil. Remove from stove and add the rest of the cold milk. Gently whisk in egg yolks until blended. Set aside to cool.
2) Add sugar, flour, rum, and scraped vanilla bean. Mix well. Place the mixture to rest in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
3) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour mixture into cannelé mold, filling it up to ¾. Bake in oven for 1 hour.
Bon appétit!
[image thanks to LJ42 according to this license]
Monday, October 19, 2009
Zucchini Velouté - recette de Manou
I loved going to St Martin le Vieil in October for many reasons. Nestled in the woods just an hour and a half away from Toulouse, St. Martin is a small village with a mere 200 inhabitants, a church, and a small library (tiny, actually) - the nearest store is a 20 minute car ride away in a neighboring town called Bram.
My mother would take us to St. Martin to visit her parents for two to three weeks every summer. It is beautiful in the summer too. With all the plum trees ripe with fruit, the colorful vegetable garden growing the juiciest tomatoes, and the fragrant fig trees readying their blooms to bear fruit in early fall... My grandparents' house is a playground for kids. My cousins, sisters, and I would build forts in the woods, splash around in the pool for hours in the blistering afternoons, pick the sunflowers' big black seeds and snack on them while playing hide-and-seek in the fields, go fishing in the stream... We barely ever got bored. Even when it rained, we would entertain ourselves with nature... looking for snails for my grandma's next meal, or playing game after game of rummikub or scrabble with my grandfather. We were very creative in the summers and there was always so many of us to keep us entertained!
However, Falls at 'La Combette' were quiet. The leaves rustle with the wintry winds. The logs in the fireplace crackle under the flames; my grandfather grumbling at a crossword puzzle impasse and my grandmother snoring to the Young and the Restless' lack of a plot. I love Fall. It's my favorite season. I love the smell of the first chill in the air, and of wood burning. I love the crinkling sound of the leaves beneath my feet, and the wind gently hitting against the shutters. But what I love the most about fall there is going mushroom foraging. We would find so many Chanterelles! We would come back with bags of them to clean out for dinner. Often, my grandmother would simply sauté them with a dice of butter, salt and pepper. It was unnecessary to make a complex dish out of something boasting as much flavor. She would usually serve it as a side dish with poultry or game. But I loved it most when she cooked up her zucchini soup. There's nothing better than a warm creamy soup and sautéed Chanterelles on a crisp fall day. I would sit near her in the kitchen, helping her with any task she would entrust me with; watching her every moves curious and wide-eyed.
'Qu'est ce que c'est?' - What is it?, I would ask when I saw her dropping something in the blended zucchini velouté.
'C'est de la vache qui rit!' - It's laughing cow, she would say.
'Pourquoi tu mets ça?' - Why do you add that?, I would inquire.
'Pour que la soupe soie plus crémeuse et que les enfants aiment la manger!' - To make the soup more creamy so children will enjoy it more, she would patiently answer.
I still make this soup to this day. And although I am grown-up, I still enjoy adding those 3 laughing cow cheese wedges in it!
I am very nostalgic of 'La Combette' and the time I would spend there in the Fall. My grandfather has since passed and the house has grown empty with many of us scattered around the world. But I love to hold on to those memories so dear. And whenever I cook something my grandmother has taught me - which is often - those fond memories, scents, and sounds resurface in my heart.
Zucchini Velouté - a recipe from Manou
6 big zucchinis
3 laughing cow cheese wedges
A pinch of nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Boil water in a large pot with a pinch of Fleur de Sel.
Peel the zucchinis and cut each of them into three even pieces. Place all in boiling water. When the zucchinis are very soft, strain them and place them in blender to create a liquid mixture. Add the laughing cow wedges into the blender one at a time.
Finish with the nutmeg and enjoy!
[image 2 thanks to Vanessa Pike-Russell according to this license]
My mother would take us to St. Martin to visit her parents for two to three weeks every summer. It is beautiful in the summer too. With all the plum trees ripe with fruit, the colorful vegetable garden growing the juiciest tomatoes, and the fragrant fig trees readying their blooms to bear fruit in early fall... My grandparents' house is a playground for kids. My cousins, sisters, and I would build forts in the woods, splash around in the pool for hours in the blistering afternoons, pick the sunflowers' big black seeds and snack on them while playing hide-and-seek in the fields, go fishing in the stream... We barely ever got bored. Even when it rained, we would entertain ourselves with nature... looking for snails for my grandma's next meal, or playing game after game of rummikub or scrabble with my grandfather. We were very creative in the summers and there was always so many of us to keep us entertained!
However, Falls at 'La Combette' were quiet. The leaves rustle with the wintry winds. The logs in the fireplace crackle under the flames; my grandfather grumbling at a crossword puzzle impasse and my grandmother snoring to the Young and the Restless' lack of a plot. I love Fall. It's my favorite season. I love the smell of the first chill in the air, and of wood burning. I love the crinkling sound of the leaves beneath my feet, and the wind gently hitting against the shutters. But what I love the most about fall there is going mushroom foraging. We would find so many Chanterelles! We would come back with bags of them to clean out for dinner. Often, my grandmother would simply sauté them with a dice of butter, salt and pepper. It was unnecessary to make a complex dish out of something boasting as much flavor. She would usually serve it as a side dish with poultry or game. But I loved it most when she cooked up her zucchini soup. There's nothing better than a warm creamy soup and sautéed Chanterelles on a crisp fall day. I would sit near her in the kitchen, helping her with any task she would entrust me with; watching her every moves curious and wide-eyed.
'Qu'est ce que c'est?' - What is it?, I would ask when I saw her dropping something in the blended zucchini velouté.
'C'est de la vache qui rit!' - It's laughing cow, she would say.
'Pourquoi tu mets ça?' - Why do you add that?, I would inquire.
'Pour que la soupe soie plus crémeuse et que les enfants aiment la manger!' - To make the soup more creamy so children will enjoy it more, she would patiently answer.
I still make this soup to this day. And although I am grown-up, I still enjoy adding those 3 laughing cow cheese wedges in it!
I am very nostalgic of 'La Combette' and the time I would spend there in the Fall. My grandfather has since passed and the house has grown empty with many of us scattered around the world. But I love to hold on to those memories so dear. And whenever I cook something my grandmother has taught me - which is often - those fond memories, scents, and sounds resurface in my heart.
Zucchini Velouté - a recipe from Manou
6 big zucchinis
3 laughing cow cheese wedges
A pinch of nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Boil water in a large pot with a pinch of Fleur de Sel.
Peel the zucchinis and cut each of them into three even pieces. Place all in boiling water. When the zucchinis are very soft, strain them and place them in blender to create a liquid mixture. Add the laughing cow wedges into the blender one at a time.
Finish with the nutmeg and enjoy!
[image 2 thanks to Vanessa Pike-Russell according to this license]
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Blog Action Day: When eating food means taking action
In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma author, Michael Pollan once said at a Madison, WI news conference, “I happen to believe America’s farmers hold the key to solving the national health care crisis, climate crisis and energy crisis.”
I could not agree more.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
When the price isn't right.
Weeks ago, I decided to sell my desk. I have been out of college for a few years now and have to homework to tend to – no piles of library books occupying space, and notebooks filled with research. I now only use my laptop computer, which in my mind doesn’t really need to have its own desk space. I posted my desk on craigslist and received many emails from prospective buyers. I sold it last weekend, and once it was gone, the first thing that came to my mind when I saw all the desks’ contents spread on the floor was “what now.” I hadn’t bought anything to replace the desk yet. I had the idea of using the space for an armoire or chifforobe to put away my bed and table linens, and winter sweaters. I perused a few websites for ideas but of course, my favorites were at 1000 to 1700 dollars at Pottery Barn. Yikes. I searched ebay, West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Craigslist, Ballard’s, etc for more options but always went back to PB, yearning for the sleekness and beautiful wood it had to offer. Here are pictures of the 3 armoires that enticed me:
My mother convinced me not to spend that much (I didn’t need much convincing). I opted for a mahogany-finished armoire found on Ebay at a significantly lower price (picture on right). I didn’t like the round old-fashioned knobs but I immediately thought of how much fun it would be to pick out new knobs at anthropologie. Woohoo! I clicked ‘new tab’ on my computer and started browsing away. Here are my finalists:
Which ones do you like best?
My mother convinced me not to spend that much (I didn’t need much convincing). I opted for a mahogany-finished armoire found on Ebay at a significantly lower price (picture on right). I didn’t like the round old-fashioned knobs but I immediately thought of how much fun it would be to pick out new knobs at anthropologie. Woohoo! I clicked ‘new tab’ on my computer and started browsing away. Here are my finalists:Which ones do you like best?
Clockwise from top left:
Washington, DC, here I come!
Sitting on a train bound for DC, and slowly readjusting my breathing to its normal rhythm, I decide to write here. Although I am headed to the capital for work, I have extended my stay through the weekend to sightsee and of course, eat! I have never been to DC but in my mind, I imagine it to be similar in size and savoir-vivre as Boston (minus the Red Sox fanatics). I picture cobblestone streets, vintage lampposts, and cheerful people greeting me here and there… Yes, I realize, I may be idealizing this town more than necessary. One thing I noticed is that apart from knowing that DC is home to the President, the Smithsonian, and the National Geographic, I don’t really know much more about it. For example, I don’t even know what it is known for in terms of food (the one thing I should know!). Again, I foresee it offering great seafood – probably because of the similarities I imagine it to have with Boston.
When this train pulls into Union Station, I have to head straight to my hotel, change and get to all work, no play – well almost no play. I am hoping I can squeeze in a few tourist things tomorrow, including a visit to the Smithsonian, seeing the White House (maybe begging on my hands and knees for the guards to let me into the kitchen and Michelle O’s famous vegetable garden?), strolling along the Potomac river, and sampling some good eats. I will return on Sunday with all this juicy pictures and hopefully, some great dining recommendations!
[image 1 thanks to Schodts' according to this license]
Thursday, September 24, 2009
A giant ravioli you say?
I like to eat. That's a widespread fact. I also like to scour the city for some mouth-watering eats... fact #2. However, there's nothing I like more that to eat a three-course dinner at Chestnut on a Tuesday evening- make it almost every Tuesday evening.
If you know me, you'll also know that I don't really like Restaurant Week. Although I was excited to taste some of the 'best' restaurants' food at an affordable price, I quickly learned that Restaurant Week menus at touted, and otherwise expensive restaurants don't live up to the clout the press builds up around them (not always but often enough). It seems that this event, which was initially created to celebrate food and the social culture surrounding it, is also an excuse to serve up the bad pieces and leftovers of the week. So now, whenever Restaurant Week rolls around, I steer clear.
Chestnut doesn't wait around for Restaurant Week to celebrate food and the loyalty of their customers. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, it offers a prix-fixe menu. And there's no catch. You can choose from any appetizer, any entrée, and any dessert* for a whopping 30 dollars! It is worth every pretty penny if you'll ask me. All the produce, meat, and fish are locally sourced (farm-to-table actually) and everything is prepared with love. How do I know? Well, my neighbor creates the delectable desserts there, and when I have dinner on the back patio, I walk straight through the kitchen! You know a restaurant can only offer great food if they let you walk through the kitchen!
My favorites on the menu include the beet (yellow and red) salad with marcona almonds, the grilled calamari stuffed with quinoa, and the pansoti pasta (giant spinach, ricotta ravioli - my favorite!) with wild greens and mascarpone foam. The menu changes seasonally but these items are around year-round.
If you know me, you'll also know that I don't really like Restaurant Week. Although I was excited to taste some of the 'best' restaurants' food at an affordable price, I quickly learned that Restaurant Week menus at touted, and otherwise expensive restaurants don't live up to the clout the press builds up around them (not always but often enough). It seems that this event, which was initially created to celebrate food and the social culture surrounding it, is also an excuse to serve up the bad pieces and leftovers of the week. So now, whenever Restaurant Week rolls around, I steer clear.
Chestnut doesn't wait around for Restaurant Week to celebrate food and the loyalty of their customers. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, it offers a prix-fixe menu. And there's no catch. You can choose from any appetizer, any entrée, and any dessert* for a whopping 30 dollars! It is worth every pretty penny if you'll ask me. All the produce, meat, and fish are locally sourced (farm-to-table actually) and everything is prepared with love. How do I know? Well, my neighbor creates the delectable desserts there, and when I have dinner on the back patio, I walk straight through the kitchen! You know a restaurant can only offer great food if they let you walk through the kitchen!
My favorites on the menu include the beet (yellow and red) salad with marcona almonds, the grilled calamari stuffed with quinoa, and the pansoti pasta (giant spinach, ricotta ravioli - my favorite!) with wild greens and mascarpone foam. The menu changes seasonally but these items are around year-round.
*there is sometimes a 5 dollar supplement for 1 to 2 items on the menu.
Chestnut
271 Smith Street (between Sackett and Degraw)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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