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Chocolate Strawberry Mascarpone Cake … for Pinktober
“Well, we don’t expect him to look pink and wonderful, do we?”Roger Williams I love October. The weather’s finally changing. There’s a nip in the morning air, ever so slight, but it’s there. It’s October, and with October comes DH’s birthday. DH, or Mr PAB, is the reason behind my blog, my biggest source of inspiration, my biggest admirer, and yet my biggest critic. He calls a spade a spade, and as much as I cringe to criticism, I have to be grateful that he doesn’t mince words. He is reserved, very much so, doesn’t have a runaway tongue like me, and talks as little as I do lots! Is…
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FRUITY APPLE SPIRAL SWIRLS … for Monthly Mingle
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”Henry James It’s time for Monthly Mingle, Meeta’s little baby that she so lovingly created in 2006. It’s being hosted this time by Aparna @ My Diverse kitchen. The Monthly Mingle call this month is for high tea snacks, something I used to find quite challenging not so long ago. No longer though since blogging has opened untold avenues. ‘Don’t know what to make’ is passe! Now it’s more like, “shall I make this, this, this, or, oooooh this”! The call was for ‘High Tea Treats’, & I immediately got transported to…
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COOKIES FOR A FRIEND…Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies
“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.”Elisabeth Foley I saw these cookies at Brown Eyed Baker a few days ago, & my first thought was how lovely and comforting they looked. Said to be the famed Neiman Marcus cookies, off a recipe that has been making the rounds via e-mail for ages, they have rave reviews. The difference in these cookies is the way the oats are added. They are ground into an oat flour and give the cookie a lovely texture, more wholesome than the plain flour chocolate chips cookies, yet lighter than regular oat cookies. I think these cookies…
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PEAR TART WITH ALMOND CREAM…
“And with Yeats you lean against a broken pear tree, the day hooded by low clouds.”~William Collins The last week has gone in some kind of daze with the kids home all the time because of an Autumn break. (Autumn never actually got here by the way). Then it was time for the 13 year old to leave on her annual camping trip to the foothills of the Himalayas, so we spent 2 days shopping for unnecessary items of little or no consequence. I shall attempt to share some pictures with you when she gets back if they are scenic and ‘shareable’. Teen pictures have a different flavour altogether, or…
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HUFFING WITH THE DARING BAKERS…TIME FOR PUFF PASTRY!
“All things require skill but an appetite” George Herbert VOLS-au-VENT with The DARING BAKERS The September 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Steph of A Whisk and a Spoon. She chose the French treat, Vols-au-Vent based on the Puff Pastry recipe by Michel Richard from the cookbook Baking With Julia by Dorie Greenspan. Lisa of La Mia Cucina and Ivonne of Cream Puffs in Venice, the fun and talented creators of The Daring Kitchen, commented on this challenge … ‘The September 2009 Daring Bakers’ Challenge has been chosen by Steph of a whisk and a spoon. Steph chose Vols-au-Vent, which we are pretty sure in French means, “After one…
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Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: NO MEAN BEAN – A VANILLA BEAN
Ah, you flavor everything; you are the vanilla of society” Sydney Smith When Foodbuzz invited proposals for September’s 24 24 24 I knew it was time to explore my favourite bean, and I’m thrilled they picked me. No, I’m not talking about the French bean, neither the kidney, not the haricot, unfortunately not the java bean…and NO, not even Rowan Atkinson. It was time to get to the heart of the VANILLA BEAN! My exposure to this intriguing bean, in essence, actually knowledge of it’s very existence came via 2 of my favourite blogs – Canelle et Vanille & Tartlette. Both blogs beautifully inspirational, nurtured by ‘Pastry Chef’ bloggers who…
