Cappuccino with Sugar

Good morning, sunshine : )  Just wanted to share a lovely, foamy cappuccino with you on this wonderful Wednesday.

Passion Fruit Dessert

Today I had the amazing good fortune to join my dear friends at the French Laundry in Yountville, CA. This was the first of, oh, six desserts or so. So beautiful, so delicious. I may never recover!

Happy New Year Beans!

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

Today we are making good luck heirloom vaquero beans in the kitchen to bring forth happiness and prosperity in the new year. I think we all could use a little good fortune for 2014 : )

This recipe is a cross between the New Years Day black eyed peas found commonly in the southern states, and savory cannellini beans from Italy, with a smidge of Napa Valley coolness on the side.

Ingredients

1 lb of vaquero (or similar) beans
1/4 cup plus one tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Soak the beans in water for 6-12 hours. Yes... 6-12 hours.
2. Transfer the beans into a large pot and cover with water. The water should be about 1 to 1.5 inches above the beans.
3. Finely chop the garlic.
4. Using a small saute pan, saute the garlic until soft in one tbsp of the olive oil.
5. Add the sauteed garlic yummieness to the beans.
6. Now add the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil directly to the bean mixture.
7. Bring the bean mixture to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Simmer for approximately 2 hours.
8. Add the salt and pepper, then continue to simmer on low for another 30 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!!

Simple Candied Orange Peel

One of my favorite sweetical holiday treats... candied orange peel! When talking about candied peel, you have a decision to make. You can either pay $8 or so for a few ounces of the delicate deliciousness from Whole Foods, or you can invest a little time and a couple of bucks to DIY and make about two cups of the sparkling goodness.

My fave recipe is the perfect no-nonsense version found over at Epicurious - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/simple-candied-orange-peel-350798

What they don't mention is the incredible bonus you'll get from making the peels. The leftover sugar and water solution the peels are cooked in? Omg- it's the best orange syrup EVER! Try the syrup slathered over pancakes. Yum! Or try mixing it with sparkling water for an elegant, continental soda.

I suspect even Julia would approve. So, in that case... Bon appetit!

In preparation for our Thanksgiving week... fresh, homemade butter! And it's so simple to make this tasty goodness.

Needed:
Heavy cream
A pinch of salt
A jar with a tightly fitting top

1. Fill the jar about halfway full with heavy cream. 
2. Screw on the lid and shake for about 15 minutes. Note that about 10-12 minutes in, the cream gets so thick it's hard to shake at all. But persist!!! Just after that point, the butter gloms together, the buttermilk separates out and it becomes super easy to shake.

Enjoy!!!

Fruity Obsession

This morning I made my yearly pilgrimage to Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. This tradition just started last year, but I seriously cannot go there more than once a year. If I did, I swear I would chuck my day job out the window, pick up the nearest cook's apron and start baking like there's no tomorrow. Yes, it is that good. Pinky swear.

Spices, Italy

Time to spice things up a notch!

To infuse a gentle zing in your pasta, add a pinch of crushed red pepper and a few drops of olive oil to gently boiling pasta water. Add the pasta to the spiced water, stir, lower the heat and cook as normal.

Drain, add your sauce du jour and enjoy the spicy goodness!