Congratulations to Eli and crew at the Ferm, to the lovely and talented folks at Sonny’s, Rosemont, and Kamasouptra for making it into The New York Times article 36 Hours in Portland, Maine. Oh, and SCRATCH I love you guys, your bagels, brownies….
Archive for the ‘Baked Goods’ Category36 Hours in Portland, MaineFriday, August 20th, 2010Chocolate TartsMonday, August 16th, 2010I finally made the Malted Milk Chocolate Cookie Tart Jennifer posted on her blog. It is delicious, perfectly sweet and has chocolate and chocolate candy in it! So good, definitely keeping the recipe on file. Now it seems I must make another chocolatey tart, this one with caramel. After eyeing a version of Claudia Fleming’s recipe for Chocolate Caramel Tart on Lottie & Doof, a beautiful food blog a friend follows, I was overcome with a sense of duty as a self-admitted chocoholic. I must make the chocolate tart. The idea of not doing it is simply impossible. Maintaining a balanced diet is a good thing. Not including a lot of good chocolate (yes folks there is bad chocolate) in the form of homemade concoctions is, however, a fairly unpleasant idea. Do you want a life without a batch of just out of the oven chocolate chip cookies? I know I don’t.
Malted Milk Chocolate Cookie TartTuesday, July 27th, 2010A friend gave me a short list of her favorite bloggers attending the blogging conference I am attending next month in Seattle. One of those blogs, the merry gourmet, is very quickly becoming a favorite. It is well organized with beautiful photographs and a reposting of this recipe for a Malted Milk Chocolate Cookie Tart from the July 2010 issue of Bon Appetit. This particular recipe needs to happen as soon as possible in my kitchen. I realize I just finished a marathon eating session on Isle au Haut and have two boxes of Black Dinah chocolates plus their Jimmies in my fridge, but come on this looks so darn good. Really, just try to resist….here is a picture (SEE BELOW) …one …two…three pattering of footsteps, grabbing of keys and wallet, door slamming, car starting or bike being pulled from garage and yup that is what I thought only dust in the wind you left behind on your quick departure to the market for ingredients. Hey, I’m right behind you!
Photo merry gourmet. Isle au Haut TripMonday, July 26th, 2010Rain, sun, fog - I got it all during my weekend on Isle au Haut. Unlike the weather, certain things such as the rustic charm and great food never change on the island. It is as beautiful as ever. The island is located six miles out to sea from Stonington Maine and is home to the most remote sector of Acadia National Park. There is a year-round community of 45 - 50 and a significant summer population made up of day-trippers and summer residents. The year-round community is comprised of fishermen, two chocolate makers, retirees, and at least one famous writer. Paved/unpaved roads leading to trailheads and lush forest that feels like a fairyland. There is a loyalty among those who have spent significant time on the island, a true community with unwritten rules. A friendliness, which can be found in people willing to offer a lift in the back of their pickup into town (where the one tiny market, ranger station and post are located), and a feeling of freedom. No surprise, I had a GREAT time!
The church spire is one of the first signs of the town.
The town dock, where the mailboat, that brings people onto the island from Stonington lands.
This Bittersweet Peruvian Chocolate Raspberry Tart from the Black Dinah Cafe was out of this world!
Kate was so sweet, she took time out from her busy chocolate making day to give my friend and I directions on where to hike. Went up Black Dinah Mountain and took in the scenery at Robinson Point, location of the island’s lighthouse.
There were so many raspberry bushes on the island. They provided a healthy and tasty snack while hiking.
Diana’s Lunch Buggy sells homemade sandwiches, whoopie pies, cookies, chips, and pink lemonade with Maine blueberries. I had “The Veggie” with pesto, cucumber, tomato, and I am not sure what all else for lunch. So good.
The view from the Inn at Isle au Haut is magical. Let Them Eat CakeTuesday, July 20th, 2010BrowniesMonday, July 12th, 2010These brownies prove it is possible to be infatuated with food! After the strawberry jam workshop on Saturday I was supposed to provide something for the potluck lunch. Of course, being me, I wanted to bring something chocolatey. The outside of the brownies was just done enough and the middle gooey the way I think all delicious homemade brownies should be (the kind that leaves you licking a bit of the chocolate ooze off your fingers). Also, they were so simple to make. It was truly gratifying seeing people enjoy them not once, but at least twice. I brought a couple home and that night it was all I could do to leave them be till the next day. Hoping you will feel the same way.
Brownies (adapted from recipe in Taste of the Taber) Ingredients:
Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler. Beat together vanilla, orange extract, salt, coffee, sugar, and eggs. Add chocolate. Add flour and mix until blended. Coat pan with butter and dust very lightly with flour. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes (**depending on your oven maybe lower to 350 for the last 5 minutes). Let cool for at least three hours at room temperature before serving (put the leftover brownies if there are any in the fridge overnight and enjoy a bit denser brownie the next day). Yield: one 8×8 pan. Sip It, Munch ItTuesday, June 29th, 2010Two of the best things in life: coffee + cake (in this case cupcake)…
Vanilla Lemon Cupcake at Spot Dessert Bar Fancy Food ShowMonday, June 28th, 2010Today I spent several hours wandering the halls of the Javits Center attending the Summer Fancy Food Show organized by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade. In addition to running into an old friend and getting to spend time with some clients whose products I find pretty tasty, I was able to meet some of the people behind the edible products I enjoy so much. Similar to the natural food trade show I went to in Los Angeles a few months back, this event is attended by hundreds of food retailers, distributors, and exhibitors. My favorites: Fastachi (I carry a bag of their Super Nut Mix in my bag for protein on the go) Theo Chocolate (their salted caramels are tasty and the sales manager was kind enough to invite me to their blogger conference in Seattle - um hello yes I would like to attend! oh and that factory tour yup sign me up for that too) Tate’s Bake Shop (love their chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies, oh and the packaging by Louise Fili!)
The French Farm (import delicious goods including salts, oils, and mustards from France) Bella Cucina (I use their pestos to make homemade croutons, they also have the most beautiful presentation and packaging). Check out their fun blog!
Hancock Gourmet Lobster - owner Cal Hancock is one of the nicest people. Her grandmother owned a lobster restaurant in Ogunquit, Maine. When someone does me a big favor I thank them by sending Cal’s Downeast Lobster Rolls or Black Dinah Chocolatiers truffles. Anyone who reads this blog enough knows of my love for BDC truffles so the fact I would include Cal in the same sentence..well you get the idea. Authentic, locally sourced, the real deal and so tasty.
Guittard Chocolate - I bake with their chocolate chips. Tasted their green mint chips, pretty good but not sold in Maine. Top image Louise Fili Ltd. Bottom image Hancock Gourmet Lobster Warm DonutsWednesday, June 9th, 2010After a couple hours in cool water getting banged about by waves that sure seemed a lot more reasonable from shore, climbing out of my wetsuit in a rather casual fashion (in other words pulling myself out of it), and feeling pretty darn great I thought sugary treat that is exactly what I need. What do you know, The Higgins Beach Market at the entrance to the beach was open! Hello warm homemade donuts and fresh local strawberries. My life, or at least day is now complete and all before 10:00 a.m.
Rhubarb CrispMonday, May 31st, 2010Back from a lovely weekend getaway at a friend’s camp near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. I read the first half of Anthony Bourdain’s bloody fun book Kitchen Confidential, sat by a fire made in a beautiful stone fireplace (it was really breezy outside), drank deliciously refreshing margaritas, cooked, walked, and ate whoopie pie cake (what better way to top off a relaxing Sunday). The Rhubarb Crisp I made from Mark Bittman’s New York Times column was a success at the dinner table. Listen, this sweet dish is ridiculously easy to make so while you can get fresh rhubarb and whip it up for friends - the sooner the better. Oh, and it is just as good for breakfast as it was the night before. Trust me. Hope you all had as luxurious a holiday weekend. xo
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