tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82128937025083422792024-03-14T02:56:54.747-07:00baked & bittenLife is sweeter when you bake it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212893702508342279.post-65225151533046785662009-12-14T20:04:00.004-07:002009-12-14T20:12:24.119-07:00adorable stocking stuffers<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fredflare.com/display_images/5244_D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" rs="true" src="http://www.fredflare.com/display_images/5244_D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ta Da! I found these on </span><a href="http://www.fredflare.com/customer/product.php?productid=5244&cat=254#"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fred Flare</span></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> the other day. Russian doll measuring cups, aren't they the cutest?!? They'd make an awesome stocking stuffer for your favorite pastry chef this Christmas... now, if anyone would like to let my hubby know i'd be forever greatful *wink* *wink*. I know, It's the little things that me me happy :)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212893702508342279.post-64904433002652703292009-12-13T19:01:00.024-07:002009-12-14T20:21:48.270-07:00chocolate and pear tart<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" oncontextmenu="alert("Please respect copyright"); return false;" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLNmmh9WJjaZUnBjnlEr4YnMREAnP3WiHbHr-rouQFtngaLYy2HBTnk8fkLnH-nikkURCjstKXaPcgOSn7tCDtCxjAy5InYWCb0AiUGQ4jwOcpYdUM8s3yHi5fj_JvVOfgpyHjQxHC24/s400/DSC00470.jpg" /><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>I thought I would start out by making something from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Caffe-Italia-Indulge-Italian-Delicious/dp/1845978358/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260765720&sr=1-1">"caffe italia" by Liz Franklin</a>. The book is pretty small and only has about thirty recipes, but its so darn cute! The photographs are amazing and there isn't a single recipe I wouldn't try.</strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img border="0" oncontextmenu="alert("Please respect copyright"); return false;" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS18rfxZtQve0NgarMsT__Ny4TGenQhuY1gXrKkbVhsfAbm5VIYG27LO9P-Re9jjNWKs9L7eY_arGApzsqD6-Fy8HDtsAWPkNbKMFuGZN4tkncif_XZLJOALls1BaCMGZxsvhuoeIeXro/s320/DSC00486.jpg" /><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><em><span style="color: #f6b26b;">images property of Mayra Gonzalez<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>After hours of trying to decide on a recipe (ok, maybe not <em>hours</em>... more like a couple of minutes) I finally decided on the chocolate and pear tart recipe. I'm not a big fan of pears but i absolutely loved this tart! The recipe calls for a 9-inch tart dish. I used an 11-inch tart dish and had more than enough pears and filling. I think i made a wonderful choice, if I do say so myself. This recipe was amazing... amazing. Totally delish and amazing. </strong></span><br />
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</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img border="0" oncontextmenu="alert("Please respect copyright"); return false;" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprX1iMXNQ6T0z2ukJeZmtivU_duVrjMvjH-f7D2IHSLeKrD_0Q8kkzGnSt3j0IvXXxs0KgjnTyZCLRgK8dY37ThZZTFOPgVxICxT0JLKZX4S2VHjjawbBSC2bwL32gnsDLesQiAZI2s8/s400/DSC00510.jpg" /><br />
</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>chocolate and pear tart</strong></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em><strong>"Caffe Italia" by Liz Franklin</strong></em></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><em><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pastry</span></em><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-1/2 sticks butter, softened</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup sugar</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 egg yolk</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups all-purpose flour</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>chocolate and pear filling</em></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14 tablespoons butter</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup sugar</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 eggs, beaten</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-1/2 cups ground almonds</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons flour</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Mp02mBbnNvn4CsYfl1D_YDGY6Lk-xJPxqH6d9yTu4HZz4khp_2-yX30ee-EbQLVZbRhqOL3du33eoMuYwug5CudHy_afSN07z1sb4VJAvTsNSkaDHf_F9gvrNy2f8emWRjInuytT9aU/s1600-h/DSC00473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Mp02mBbnNvn4CsYfl1D_YDGY6Lk-xJPxqH6d9yTu4HZz4khp_2-yX30ee-EbQLVZbRhqOL3du33eoMuYwug5CudHy_afSN07z1sb4VJAvTsNSkaDHf_F9gvrNy2f8emWRjInuytT9aU/s320/DSC00473.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-1/2 oz. dark chocolate, melted </span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 ripe but firm pears (i used asian pears)</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+sugar, for sprinkling</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><em>directions:</em></span> preheat the oven to 350F.</span><br />
</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">first make the pastry. beat the butter and sugar together until smooth. add the egg yolk and beat again until thoroughly mixed. stir in the flour and work the mixture lightly until it forms a smooth but not sticky dough. divide the dough in half and freeze one portion to use later. </span><br />
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface and use to line the tart tin. chill for 30 minutes or so if time allows.</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">to make the filling, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. add the eggs, ground almonds, and flour and beat until smooth. stir in the chocolate. spoon into the pastry case and smooth gently using a palette knife.</span><br />
</div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKveYB564rDUaeMSQPfnEGlJQ7QYz08EqZBi5YBhMytn-vWDkEHNj0UYtrqsWN52aRaC6PD8qsJCf91q5c43lrS0CWQPF8oCZD5RrmGbIRpbeVVHReumSOWn7awGvhE-ymM2xdqONMD4/s1600-h/1004259-gf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKveYB564rDUaeMSQPfnEGlJQ7QYz08EqZBi5YBhMytn-vWDkEHNj0UYtrqsWN52aRaC6PD8qsJCf91q5c43lrS0CWQPF8oCZD5RrmGbIRpbeVVHReumSOWn7awGvhE-ymM2xdqONMD4/s200/1004259-gf.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">peel the pears, cut them in half horizontally into 1/4 inch slices and lay them evenly on the filling. start in the center and fan them towards the crust to open out the slices a little. bake the tart for about 45 minutes, or until the almond mixture is firm and the pastry is golden. let cool, sprinkle with sugar (and sliced almonds) and serve.</span><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212893702508342279.post-6217041049214784572009-12-12T23:54:00.000-07:002009-12-12T23:54:03.178-07:00baked & bitten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQBsNGCK44qRVeSwiG6KcI3o_lTpVZOxt7yptqomAFRQ3OJHvB45ctSNbtWuYqTSt5aHr4J2_h_ijKAFZ0y2fm-bd6ER7lkUV9ED4B5oFI8LVDayR3ugECY8LnPts-arXzumm1cz9b7c/s1600-h/manor+born+cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQBsNGCK44qRVeSwiG6KcI3o_lTpVZOxt7yptqomAFRQ3OJHvB45ctSNbtWuYqTSt5aHr4J2_h_ijKAFZ0y2fm-bd6ER7lkUV9ED4B5oFI8LVDayR3ugECY8LnPts-arXzumm1cz9b7c/s320/manor+born+cupcakes.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>a food blog in progress....... stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0