Double the Birthdays, Double the Cake

Excuses to make cake are always welcome.  Especially when the cake is to celebrate the birthdays of family.

For the gal: Chocolate Cake with Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache
For the guy: Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Coffee Ganache

All finished with whipped cream.

Popcorn with Peanut Butter Chocolate

New Year, new resolutions about blogging more consistently.

It's National Popcorn Day! Sharing a recipe to take your popcorn to the next level seems appropriate.
As a pastry chef, I'm always looking to bring a little sweetness to the world of snacks.  What goes better with sweet than salty?

Recipe

-popped corn (I use an air popper)
-salt
-55 grams dark chocolate
-10 g cocoa butter (or coconut oil)
-85 g peanut butter
-1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Arrange popcorn in a single layer in any dish, salt to taste.  In the microwave or in a bowl over a pot of simmering water, melt together the remaining ingredients, stirring frequently.  Pour mixture into a piping bag and drizzle over popcorn.  Let set and enjoy!

If you have any leftovers, pour it over your ice cream.

Cinnamon Rolls

I've been told by many that cinnamon rolls give off the most enticing smell of anything the oven has to offer.  Either there is scientific evidence proving this or it is a view so widely shared that it has been accepted as fact.  It's certainly easy to make friends when you've got a few extra sitting around in your kitchen.

Tomato Pie

I've had tomato pie once or twice before making it a few days ago.  One of our dear family friends, Mrs. Q,  is an absolute natural in the kitchen and an expert in southern cooking.  My father, the avid vegetable gardener is a lover of tomatoes.  He grows tomatoes.  Mrs. Q can make tomato pie.  Suffice it to say I've had some pretty darn good tomato pie between dad and Mrs. Q.

Recently, a friend and co-worker of mine introduced me to the work of Chef Vivian Howard through her PBS program A Chef's Life.  While binge-watching this wonderful show I couldn't stop thinking about the tomato episode in which Chef Vivian makes tomato pie.

The point is: I made tomato pies.  With heirloom tomatoes from my dad's garden.

All you really need is a pie shell, tomatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper and some homemade mayo mixed with your favorite cheeses.

Name in Print

My heart skipped a beat when I saw a photo of the proofs for Remedy Quarterly's upcoming issue: Share.  My name.  In print.  I was privileged to write an article about growing up with an urban farmer for a dad and spending precious summer days preserving food for the winter.

Please check out this wonderful magazine and order an issue to see my story and a great recipe to go with it.