A Baking Challenge: Pie Perfection

Who would've thought that at 31 years old, I would be living back at home with my parents. Don't get me wrong I love them to death, but still, this is not exactly where I thought I would be at this point in my life...especially since last year I was living it up out in lovely San Francisco. But now I'm back in Jersey, chillin with the parental units.

It's a somewhat different food environment here in NJ then when I lived in SF. Sweets, desserts and junk food were a rare find in my apartment out West. For the most part our shelves and refrigerator were full of veggies, fruit, lean proteins, vitamins and supplements, and coconut water (thanks to Joe). My parents house is a different story. M&Ms, tortilla chips, ice cream, cheese, wine & beer, bread, and pies/cakes are always on hand. Healthy items like yogurt, fruit and rice cakes can also be found, but the ratio of "junk" food to healthy food is basically 2:1. I don't mean to make my parents out to be unhealthy people. they are actually in great shape and eat quite well. Even though the "junk" food is always around they are proponents of eating it in moderation.

But this love of food, especially dessert, actually works in my favor. First of all, my mom is not a good baker. She tries, but normally her attempts are not successful. Store bought cakes tend to be her go to. However this past weekend, her dessert item of the week was a frozen Sara Lee blueberry pie. Please note, she didn't purchase the frozen pie. It was given to her (she may not have the skills, but my mom certainly understands the value of freshly baked goods). Well the pie comes out of the oven and this is the finished product:

Does this look appetizing to you? Cause let me tell you, it was not. I mean look at that photo. The synthetic blueberry filling is literally oozing out. Just looking at this pie sitting in our kitchen made me feel bad for my parents. How can I allow them to eat something like this???

So I gave myself a personal baking challenge; to make an amazing blueberry pie. Something that would blow this pie out of the water.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present my Blueberry Pear Pie with a Walnut Streusel Topping!

I have a few notes to add before I wrap this post up. Instead of cooking the pears in orange juice, I used some mango juice we had in the house. I also grated in a teaspoon or so of fresh nutmeg during this process. Lastly, when combining the pears, blueberries, sugar, etc I added in 2 teaspoons of grated orange zest. 

I think it's safe to say, I got very close to reaching pie perfect. Dare I even say, even close than Sara Lee and her blueberry pie.

Italian at Heart

In my opinion there is one true test that proves how much of an Italian you are at heart, and that is the test of making great sauce. Every Italian family has their own recipe, and every family thinks their sauce is better than the rest. So, there tends to be a lot of pressure placed on one's sauce recipe.

I had a friend visiting for the weekend a few weeks ago and I decided that now was as good a time as any to test my sauce making skills. I had no recipe to follow, just instinct and learnings passed down from generations. I harnessed my Italian relatives and went to work. The keys to making good sauce are such:

Do not, by any means, add sugar
Don't lose the integrity of the tomato flavor by bombarding it with other ingredients
Low and slow cooking is the best
Fresh herbs and San Marzano tomatoes are a must

Oh! And I decided to make meatballs as well, just for good measure. But these were healthy, turkey meatballs.

Now part of me wants to share the recipe, but part of me wants to keep it as my own family secret that I can pass down to generations to come. So for now I would say just admire the pictures, and use the tips above to come up with your own sauce recipe. Who knows, you may find that you're a true Italian at heart.

Ode to Brussel Sprouts

Over the years I have developed an immense love for the brussel sprout. What was once thought of as an unappetizing side dish, has now become a craved accompaniment. The tiny cabbage-esque shape gives way to an amazingly appetizing bitter flavor, that only becomes "sweeter" when tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted. Lemon, garlic, bacon, white wine, or red pepper flakes only enhance the punch these little guys pack. So next time you see a container of brussel sprouts as you walk down the produce aisle, don't pass them by. I have a feeling you'll learn to love them, just as I have. 

In Search of the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

Over the years I have baked countless batches of chocolate chip cookies. With every venture down this baking path, I have searched for ways to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie. After last night's baking experience, I am happy to say that I have mastered the art of cookie baking. AND I believe I have found the secrets to making the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

• Secret #1 - Room temperature butter and eggs are key
• Secret #2 - Make sure you take the time to cream the butter and sugar to a light and fluffy consistency
• Secret #3 - Always sift the dry ingredients
• Secret #4 - Don't overbake. Cookies will continue to cook for another minute or two once they come out of the oven
• Secret #5 - Cookies don't need much time to cool. I give them about 5 minutes and then instantly put them in a tupperware container. They will stay soft for days. (This secret is my best discovery)

And in the end...perfection!

Bringing Some Southern Comfort to San Francisco

Dinner parties are a great way to spend some quality time with your friends, as well as try new cuisine and new recipes. Since I have moved to San Francisco, my girl friends and I started throwing themed dinner parties. The first was a Vegetarian dinner. The next was a Valentine's Day red themed dinner, then a San Francisco food themed party. This week our theme was food from the last vacation we have been on. Well kudos to my friend Pauline who thought up the theme. The meal consisted of a pumpkin coconut soup to start, in honor of my friend Pavitra's trip to Africa. Then we moved on to Hawaiin Poke courtesy of my friends' Andrea and Catherine last vacation. Pauline also visited Hawaii recently, so she made baked talapia with a mango avacado salsa, quinoa and fruit salad.

My last vacation was a family trip to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. So in honor of the south I baked a Sweet Potato Pie. The recipe was simple, but I tweeked it slightly in order to make it my own.

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe:

• 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes
• 1 sticks butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• Dash of cinnamon
• Dash of nutmeg
• 1/4 can evaporated milk
• 1 store bought pie crust, thawed (I used a whole wheat crust)
• pecans for decorating
• whipped cream (optional)

PREPARATION:

Peel and dice potatoes. Cook potatoes until done in boiling water until fork tender. Strain and then put back into pot. Slice butter over them and mash. The transfer to a large bowl and beat with rotary beaters at high speed. When smooth, rinse beaters and continue beating at high speed, adding sugar gradually. When dissolved, add eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Beat a few more minutes. Stir in milk gently.

Pour mixture into 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until firm in center. Decorate with pecans. Serve with whipped cream.

It was a fabulous dessert that brought a little bit of Southern Comfort to our dinner party.

Food Tourin' from East to West

Since my move to San Francisco back in November, I have been bouncing back and forth between the two coasts a lot. I have the benefit living out West and enjoying all that the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer, while still being able to go back East and spend time with my family and friends whom I love so dearly. Oh and of course, enjoying the amazing food that both coasts have to offer.

On a recent trip back East, my family and I traveled down the coast from New Jersey to Kiawah Island, South Carolina.  Located on a beautiful barrier island just a few miles from historic Charleston Kiawah Island was a great location for a long awaited family vacation. We sat on the beach, rode bikes around the island, visited a plantation, and most importantly, went food touring in Charleston. This was the first food tour I had ever been on, and it's definitely a great way to learn a city, meet new people and eat some great food. As part of the Charleston Culinary Tours, our tour guide Glenn took us to 4 different restaurants in the city. Due to my excitement and initial hunger, I didn't get photos from our first stop, but was able to get most of the rest. Here is what we ate:

Chicken Pot Pie Soup & Duck Confit Wrap @ Leaf

 

Grilled Ceasar Salad @ Leaf



Boccadillo Sandwich with Parmesan Truffle Fries @ Leaf



Chicken Parm @ Eli's Table


 

Banana Spice Caramel Cake @ Kaminsky's



Chocolate Martini @ Kaminsky's



Needless to say we left South Carolina very relaxed and about 10 pounds heavier! 

I returned to San Francisco the week before Memorial Day weekend. With a 3 day weekend approaching, I wanted to make sure I had some fun things planned. In lue of the Charleston food tour, I decided that taking a food tour of San Francisco might be a perfect way to fill a day. I texted my friend Kris (also a lover of great food), googled away, and booked our Mission Food tour. Thanks to our amazing tour guide, Chris Milano and his company Foodie Adventures Kris and I embarked on a 4 hour eating and walking tour. We made 7 stops, taking in the Latin food and culture that the Mission has to offer. Here are some photos of the food and the fun we had along the way:

 

Kings Bakery where we enjoyed amazing Coconut Rolls

  

Murals in the Mission

 

Pupusa

 

This was my favorite!



 

Of course Kris (left) won a prize at the end



Yeah that's a Pork Brain Crispy Taco!



So the moral of the story is this, no matter where you are, no matter who you're with, take some time and go on a food tour. Your tummy will thank you. 

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

A lot of my friends have come to recognize me as the resident baker of the group. With this recognition, they constantly send me blogs, recipes, articles, etc all relating to food and things I should bake (or better yet hint to things I should bake for them).

Recently one of my friends sent me this article from Bon Appetit, "10 Ways to Make Better Brownies." The end result was the following:

Peanut Butter Swirled Brownies. And it was as simple as making boxed brownie mix, and adding 2 tablespoons of slightly melted peanut butter (microwave for approximately 20 seconds) and bake per the box directions. 

And I always make sure to share with as many of my friends as possible.