tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69516701299405453242024-03-13T21:38:13.481-07:00Tiramisu'Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-37422848858064750232014-12-25T03:46:00.002-08:002014-12-25T11:05:47.838-08:00Bread Baking Buddies:Brioche Snowflake
When I saw this incredible bread I knew I had to try it. I haven't baked with the group Bread Baking Buddies for ages, but this bread was too good to pass. Plus it is so festive! It is not for the inexperienced bakers, the brioche is not a beginner bread and the rolling and chocolate spreading were not that simple. However, the end result is so beautiful!&Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-61299886866869156262014-12-01T14:42:00.003-08:002014-12-01T14:44:01.543-08:00Turkey and Kale Salad
At the risk of committing a heresy, I confess that
I don’t like turkey meat. I find it
bland in taste, and always dry, this year's Thanksgiving leftovers were not different. Despite my finicky taste buds, I
wouldn’t want to waste any food, the turkey and the people who raised it deserve better. This turkey salad used ingredients I had at home and used up the Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-56512683392609331702014-01-27T07:23:00.001-08:002014-01-29T04:11:51.133-08:00No-Knead Chocolate Bread-Bread Baking Buddy
I can't remember the last time I baked as a Bread Baking Buddy, let alone the last time I baked bread. First my gluten intolerance, then being burnt out by my professional baking kept me away from one of my the greatest satisfactions, getting my hands in some yeast dough. Lately I have started baking again to my family's happiness.
I saw this bread when it was chosen as Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-558797079541249702013-12-17T03:00:00.000-08:002013-12-17T03:00:13.706-08:00Best Buttermilk Scone Recipe
It would be crazy to know how many scones I have baked in the past ten years, don't you agree? This recipe was probably the first one I tried when I needed few morning pastry recipes for my very first job. Joy of Baking was one of the first internet sites that offered a huge array of recipes, all of which were really good. The recipe I use has been slightly modified from Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-40934833021327749552013-12-10T02:00:00.000-08:002013-12-10T07:23:49.112-08:00 A New Career and a Diagnosis
It has been cold in the Bay Area!
I disappeared once again, I needed to regroup, so much has changed since my last post, I am still processing it, but as of April I am no longer baking professionally. It has been a long and sad process to give up the pastry chef profession, but it was no longer sustainable for me to work in professional kitchens, physically and financially, so it was Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-64867620184423333672013-04-05T03:30:00.000-07:002013-04-05T09:20:08.795-07:00Refrigerator Chicken Soup
No need to go to the grocery store if you normally are well stocked.
I have been away too long! Lots has happened, a change of career (yes, again!), few dietary changes, but I am still cooking and baking for my family so more recipes to come.....
When the weather is really gloomy like today a hot soup is what I want to eat. Knowing I had some frozen chicken broth and lots of Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-74190080735714275212012-12-17T13:38:00.002-08:002014-02-12T22:23:55.461-08:00For the Children and the Staff of Sandy Hook
With unbelievable grief and sadness, I pay tribute to the children and the teachers lost in this horrible tragedy. My heart breaks for their families and friends.
Charlotte Bacon 6
Daniel Barden 7
Olivia Engel 6
Josephine Gay 7
Ana M. Marquez-Greene 6
Dylan Hockley 6
Madeleine F. Hsu 6
Catherine V. Hubbard 6
Chase Kowalski 7
Jesse Lewis 6Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-42637548726712490662012-10-27T06:49:00.000-07:002012-10-27T06:53:41.957-07:00Walnut Sponge Cake-Flourless and Delicious
I made this wonderful cake at work as a base for the gorgonzola gelato I wrote about here, it is one of those cakes I can't stop eating and it gets better the next day, so it deserves a post of its own. The recipe comes from Pure Desserts, written by one of the Bay Area most accomplished cookbook authors, Alice Medrich, and you can see the original picture of the cake on her website.&Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-35771620042727562692012-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:002012-10-20T05:00:02.695-07:00Gorgonzola Gelato
I have been aching to write a post for weeks but I don't always have a recipe that is worth presenting here. I actually wrote a post on a dessert I created but I lost the whole thing in one wrong click, so frustrating. I love to have a semi-decent photo to go with the recipe and not always I have the time to set up the whole thing nowadays. Yesterday I brought Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-64885984046361211092012-08-31T03:30:00.000-07:002012-08-31T03:30:02.171-07:00Postcard from the GardenI wish I had a recipe for you. I only have time for a photo from my garden, which is buzzing with bees.
Recently I wrote about my intention of changing career, which is still in the making. However, a pastry chef job landed on my lap and it was too good to pass. I am working four days a week, having fun working at a restaurant, working with a super funny and talented chef who Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-13697972578302879892012-07-17T03:00:00.000-07:002012-07-17T03:00:00.192-07:00Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Shallots and Thyme
This is by far one of the easiest and most delicious dishes I have made in a long time. Roasting concentrates the flavor of many vegetables, and it is a quick and easy way to cook them.
I wish I had taken a photo of the carrots before preparing them, they were so beautiful, the colors so intense and appetizing. I found them at the Point Reyes Farmers' Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-8046370041862205182012-07-06T03:00:00.000-07:002012-07-30T09:27:47.896-07:00Blueberry Tart-Without the Crumb
Remember the blueberry tart from few days ago? Well since I had dough for another tart shell I used it to make a version of this wonderful apricot tart from Elra's baking, one of my favorite food bloggers. I figured that most summer fruit will work in this tart, but since I had an over abundance of blueberries you get another blueberry tart. Cherries would work as well, so Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-50098146417408208412012-06-20T18:43:00.001-07:002012-07-05T11:34:44.456-07:00Blueberry Crumb Pie for Pie Day
I thought I had all week, then I realized Pie Day 2012 is today! GASP! I had the ingredients and the fruit so I was able to pull it off, however this will be published late, oh well.
I saw some pretty amazing pies in the internet, click here to go to the Facebook page of the event, the most stunning I saw was made by Irvin of Eat the Love. I made mine with Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-77938662619502240492012-05-29T03:00:00.000-07:002012-05-29T05:41:17.854-07:00Breathing Deeply
Lady beetle resting on parsley flowers
Every time I start a new job I get really excited at the prospect of learning new things, doing what I love, being creative. Unfortunately I had many mediocre jobs, only one stood out to be the best, I was working with a tremendous mentor, he taught me so much, it lasted more than a year. After that, my job history has been spotty, working Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-67211670650001205302012-05-02T06:48:00.001-07:002012-05-02T06:59:57.971-07:00Black and White Wednesday #30
No much to add to this photo, I love the curls of the cinnamon sticks, I find geometry in food fascinating, and black and white photos work to enhance it. I am submitting this photo to the fun event Black and White Wednesday, created by Susan, the master mind behind The well seasoned cook. Brii of Briggishome is hosting this week's event.
I am having a day off and looking forwardLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-76116854969938211792012-04-29T09:22:00.000-07:002012-04-29T09:22:01.329-07:00Organic Gardening and Few Recipes
Aquilegia formosa propagated from seeds from Big Sur
This post is related to food in a way, but I am also in the process of
creating a gardening site so I will keep the two creative aspects of my
life separated.
Salvia involucrata aka Rose bud salvia propagated by cuttings
I am almost done with my Master Gardener certification, and I am busy applying all I have learned and more.&Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-7410311876445263292012-04-06T04:00:00.000-07:002012-04-06T20:30:58.073-07:00Super Easy Fruit Crumb Bars
I can't believe I haven't posted in a month. I can't even start describing how busy I have been, I don't even have time to check my favorite blogs, so frustrating! Work is ridiculously busy since my co-worker hurt her wrists so I am working almost every day to do the morning baking. I can't seem to catch up with sleep and when I get home there are millions things to do, Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-20400286327863234812012-03-06T03:00:00.000-08:002012-03-06T03:00:07.525-08:00My New Puppy
Now I am even busier...I have a brand new puppy in the house, chewing
shoes, paper, towels, just being a typical puppy. I never thought I could be a
dog person, never had a dog in my life, but those eyes and those soft hears totally won my heart. She was one of 5 pups, whose names were chosen because the person who rescued them fed them cream of wheat. We chose to Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-38157346177999016322012-02-24T07:09:00.000-08:002012-02-24T09:12:39.169-08:00Salted Caramel Pecan Brownies
Brownies three ways: plain, with caramel, and fully loaded.
Few things have changed since my last post, so I feel the need to explain even at the risk of losing few readers with this long and winded post. As few of you might know I have been struggling with my professional life for few years. My decision to become a pastry chef was an easy one, but it turned out that it is not Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-27641632973643439952012-01-17T04:59:00.000-08:002012-01-17T04:59:47.345-08:00Harvest (cup)Cake-Tasty and Super Healthy
Why am I proposing this cake in the middle of winter you might ask? Well, as much as I try to only eat what is in season, zucchini are hard for me to give up, plus this cake is so tasty I didn't want to wait until September to post about it. If you are inclined to only use seasonal ingredients I would imagine that parsnips could be substituted for the zucchini, I bet they would Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-21159392241442136012012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-09T00:00:06.404-08:00DHSPC #5-Creamy Cauliflower Soup
The result
In case you didn't know, I am a total Donna Hay's fan, willing to spend $10 a month to get my hands on her magazine. I just realized I missed last month's magazine, I think my local store
stopped carrying it, I better find it soon as it has lots of cookies in
the front. I love her magazine and books, and I have cooked from them quite a bit, with great success.&Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-73743219968098335212012-01-08T01:30:00.000-08:002012-01-08T01:30:01.590-08:00Using up Pantry Items #2-Chicken Broth
Few simple ingredients
This is not rocket science, nor Iron Chef's material, but if you never had home-made chicken broth you don't know what you are missing. My maternal grandmother was the queen of chicken broth. If I close my eyes I can see her sitting at her marble table, eating a bowl of piping hot chicken broth with some little pastina floating inside. It was also a Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-53120998733542902192012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:002012-01-05T00:00:07.795-08:00Lentils with Roasted Delicata Squash-aka Using up Pantry Ingredients #1
In the previous post I mentioned how I tend not to make new year's resolutions. Well scratch that, I just made one! While doing some much needed after-the-holidays cleaning, I saw the mess in my pantry took stock of my pantry ingredients, and noticed how many items I have accumulated. One thing you might not know about me is that I am a compulsive buyer, I see something thatLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-77586240998943100012012-01-01T06:56:00.000-08:002012-01-01T06:59:21.887-08:00Happy New Year and Few Wishes
One of the advantages of being an early riser is to be able to witness the most magnificent sunrises, the one photographed below was breathtaking, the colors were spectacular. I talked about the West Point Inn before. This century-old inn is located on Mount Tamalpais, is reachable only by foot or bikes, and has the most amazing views of the San Francisco Bay. Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951670129940545324.post-62640155443534538372011-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:002011-12-22T00:00:06.132-08:00Red Onion Jam
I can't believe I haven't posted in almost three weeks, where did the time go? The last two weeks have been intense, on many levels. Three of our new chickens turned out to be roosters, which is something I had to deal with, why were the odds against us? One of our chicken was killed by a hawk, luckily she wasn't one of our favorites, but it was traumatic nonetheless,Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305773287880023217noreply@blogger.com20