by Kimberly | Feb 22, 2011 | food
Not only do I like writing tools, I also love baking tools. I’m not a gadget person, but I do love quality products that I know will last.
During my previous stint in NC and part of my time in the Ville, I had the luxury of working at Williams-Sonoma during the holidays to earn some money, get to know non-believers, save some money for mission trips, and stock my kitchen. It was for the most part a great p/t job.
I got this one pan early on and it is one of my favorite in my kitchen. Last night I baked an apple cobbler in it so I thought I would post about the tool and give you the recipe as well.
This pan is versatile and pretty – even when it is baked in and everything. The gold finish keeps its look even when you’ve had it for many years like me. I also have bar pan in this series and love it as well – these are my two go-to pans!
Here is a quick and easy cobbler recipe from my mentor. I’ve had this recipe for 15 years or more now and love it and it always is a hit:
Easy Cobbler
3/4 cup self-rising flour
1 stick butter, melted
3/4 cup milk
1 cup sugar
cinnamon
1 can pie filling
1/3 cup sugar
cinnamon
In glass 8×8 pan (or microwave safe to make cleaning dishes easier), melt stick of butter. Mix in flour, milk, and 1 cup sugar. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Spoon on pie filling. Top with mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 325 for 1 hour. Serve with ice cream! 🙂
by Kimberly | Feb 13, 2011 | food, restaurants, Uncategorized
Two delicious downtown restaurants: one week: one owner.
Rue Cler is about a block from First Durham, a french restaurant and bakery (I’ve heard their blueberry muffins are just excitement for your mouth).
A friend and I went. Dinner menus are daily reads, so I couldn’t plan ahead of time (ACK!). They are pre-fixe menus, but you can substitute for anything, or you can do it a la carte.
I got the salad frisee (frisee greens, croutons, vinaigrette, bacon (which I left off for meatless year) and an egg – broken down into the greens – maybe all the time from now on. Then I had a side of the pomme frites (really yummy seasoned french fries). I didn’t care for the sauce (butter/tarragon) but I refrained from asking for ketchup.
We had a great waitress who was patient in answering all of our questions because neither of us specialize in French cooking.
The other restaurant I tried this week was Pop’s Trattoria on Main Street. They recently moved buildings – into an urban/warehouse type feel with local artist’s work adorning the wall. We walked right in on V-day weekend because of reservations. They sat us right next to beautiful precious friends which made the night even more special.
Mussels with tomatoes, white wine, and red chili – AMAZING. You really want a straw to sip up all the broth – but instead you dip the bread. They come around to the tables periodically with a big basket and a set of tongs to give you as much bread as you desire. (1 1/2 for me). The olive oil they served was delicious and fruity, but it didn’t compare to the mussels’ broth, so I chose that for my dipping choice.
Those we devoured – we also got the apple brie ricotto pizza topped with a truffle oil cream. Very rich, we took leftovers.
The food was better than the service. That’s not to say the service was bad, just not STELLAR – but the food definitely made up for it. I could go back every night just to have the mussels. Will definitely be going back to Pop’s!
by Kimberly | Feb 3, 2011 | Books, food, restaurants
Today is one of those days when I wish I was independently wealthy and didn’t have a job. If I were – I would purchase a ticket to the closest airport to Big Sur I could possibly find, maybe even tomorrow, and dine at the Big Sur Bakery along the Californian Coast. Honestly, I wouldn’t go today – because its January and they may or may not be open – but maybe the first week of June.
The Big Sur Bakery was recommended to me by Jenna or Eat Live Run who lives in the area of the Bakery now and loves this cookbook as well. I really was skeptical of how good a cookbook could really be. This sets the bar. A new plumb line for cookbooks.
Honest. Ingredients. Journal-type writing. Amazing breathtaking, simply want to make you run to whole foods and make everything recipes, and beautiful mouth-watering pictures – the type I only dream to one-day take.
They care about their friends and family, their local ingredients, and specializing in their craft. And don’t let the term “bakery” in the restaurant’s name fool you. They are about craftful baking, but they love their meat and potatoes as well. They even have a pork and beer night once a year, complete with fake pig snouts. Vegans not apply (that’s why I can’t go for eleven months).
So…do you need a good read by a fire-place? Pick this up. I may not have a fire going at this moment, but this has been an amazing 3 hour journey into the lives of the owners and lovers of the Big Sur Bakery.
Tax return money, pleae come quickly, so I can buy my own copy.
by Kimberly | Jan 30, 2011 | Books, food
Reading cookbooks. Such a delight. Really – there is so much more to do with a cookbook other than to cook by it. Read it. Laugh at it. Savor the pictures. This will occur if it is a well-written cookbook.
I learned the art of reading cookbooks by reading Jenna’s blog. Many of the cookbooks she recommends are now on my Amazon wishlist (linked here in case anyone wants to buy one from themselves, or me). This one, a platter of figs, wasn’t on it – but it was at my local library. I checked it out, read it, took notes, and added it to my wishlist.
David Tanis, of Chez Panisse fame, has a delightful approach to his recipes and his writing: fresh, simple, gorgeous, local ingredients.
There are four I want to try: fava bean salad, spinach cake, pears and parm, and avocado mozzerella quesadillas. His recipes are divided into seasons – which is really the only way a good fresh, seasonal recipe book should be organized. Perfect and helpful.
Here are two quotes that will stick with me:
“I was drawn to the idea that the experience of dining is an end in itself.”
“What a strange idea: comfort food. Isn’t every food comforting in its own way! Why are certain foods disqualified? Can’t fancy food be soothing in the same way as granny food?”
Enjoy a platter of figs.
by Kimberly | Jan 27, 2011 | food, restaurants
I don’t know really how you say it, but I pronounce it: good eats.
On the side of Five Points in the downtown district of the Bull City, sits a gem. Jazz, spinach gruyere dip, vegan and vegetarian choices on a full menu, wines and coffees, luscious desserts, and wifi – really – need I say more.
We walked in with only about 35 minutes for dinner. I stated that to our waiter and he was on it. Thankful for the service!
I think I may have had the best spinach dip I’ve ever had: spinach and gruyere cheese – that’s all (well, the two main ingredients) – baked in my own little ramekin so I could devour it all to myself (I did share a bite, and saved some for leftovers). No artichokes – I think I like it that way.
The sauce that I tried from my friend’s choice: chorizo quesadillas: guacamole mayo – splendid. That would go good on just about anything – but maybe perfect on a BLT. Yum.
The dude singing – perfect, not too loud, we could still carry on a conversation. Must. Go. Back. for more.
by Kimberly | Jan 27, 2011 | food, restaurants, vegetarian
Unpretentious. Good food. Hopefully go back for the good wine. Good price. Good friend. What more could you ask for?
A friend and I celebrated hump day by taking advantage of Triangle Restaurant Week and went to a new place for us both, Vivace in North Hills. I will definitely pay a return (or two or three) visit!
They brought out delicious simple crusty bread slices with a white bean hummus type dip. Good, simple.
We both ordered the salad: spinach, dried apricots, slivered almonds, and a prosecco vinaigrette. Loved the attention of the dressing of the salad with the light vinaigrette and the sweetness (but not overwhelming) dried apricots. Maybe the hand was heavy on the pecorino cheese, just a bit salty.
I ordered the pizza, minus the chicken since I’m going meatless. The presentation was flawless, brought out on a wooden cutting board. Thin crispy-edged pizza with olive oil, goat cheese, roasted garlic, pear, and red onion. Simple. Mastered. I took one bought, slouched back on my cushioned-seat, and sighed. Good food. Such a pleasure.
My friend got the mussels in white wine sauce and linguini. I tasted a mussel and tried some of the sauce. Splendid. And both meals provided us leftovers.
Dessert: cappuccino panna cotta with raspberry puree (dotted with 3 chocolate covered espresso beans) and biscotti. Everything was good, nothing oh my goodness stellar (like the pizza). I enjoyed it. Brown colored desserts are not easy to photograph. But, neither of us (my friend nor I) are HUGE coffee fans and we both enjoyed it!
So. My plan: return for a visit. Go late at night with a friend who wants to split a pizza, a glass of something, and sit there and talk, oh for hours.
And we had attentive wait staff and an enjoyable time! Thank you Vivace. Enjoy the photos.
Not only do I like writing tools, I also love baking tools. I’m not a gadget person, but I do love quality products that I know will last.
