FFWD: Pastry Bags and Paris-Brest

I am so glad the Paris-Brest was the chosen recipe for this week.  First of all, I love a good cream puff and secondly, I got to bring out my pastry bag and tips.  it has been many years since I retired from commercial baking and the much too early hours and soar wrists, but brought back good memories. I thought it was very brave of Dorie Greenspan to include the Paris-Brest in her book Around My French Table. If I hadn't spend most of my life in the food industry, I would have found this recipe choice quite a challenge. I think for all the steps require to make these delicate little puffs and the delicious cream filling, you may as we'll make a hundred, so you can share with friends and celebrate all the work! I am not sure if I will make these again soon, but I recommend everyone try it once, you won't regret it! Click here to check out the other Doristas and their Paris-Brest experience.

Saturday Morning Fun: glassybaby and Volunteer Park Cafe

Twice a year in Seattle hundreds of people get in line in the early morning freezing cold to find their spot in line for the glassybaby "seconds" sale. I have a few glassy baby's that I have received as gifts and have given a few to friends. I was a little suspicious of "seconds". Why wouldn't I just get the real glassybaby. Well, at 5 am this morning, I had 3 hours in the freezing cold to think, "Is this worth it?" I don't want to give an enthusiastic, "Yes", because I don't want to give away the big secret, but, "Yes!". Unlike the seasoned glassybaby "seconds" veterans who brought their chairs, blankets and hot coffee, my friend and I came dressed warmly, but empty handed. Oh well, live and learn. I wish I was able to take a picture of the mob scene that we walked into when we got inside the glassybaby store. EEK! it was a crazy grab-fest and we were packed in like sardines. Keep in mind, all this craziness was for a small glass votive. Well, I have to say! I was not planning on buying a "second", but I had already invested 3 hours in the freezing cold, so I may as well get something for my efforts. I bought 6 glassybabys and I love them!!! As I mentioned before! I already had a few at home, so I tried my best to pick colors that would match the ones I already had. So, 3 hours and 20 minutes later, my friend and I had completed our purchases and loved, loved, loved our new glassybabys. Next stop, breakfast, but where? So we had been up and in line for hours, but it was only 8:30 am on a Saturday and a bakery or coffee shop, was not an option. Thanks to Urbanspoon, we were able to find a cute cafe that was open and serving breakfast. Just a few blocks away from glassybaby we found our way to Volunteer Park Cafe. I forgot how cute this place was and how good the food was there. I had the meat strata, which was more like a big strata muffin and my friend had the meat quiche, both came with a little mixed green salad. We also couldn't resist the pastries, so we split an almond croissant. Very casual self seating, cozy and bright. Perfect place to grab a bite and relax.

FFWD: Moules Mariniere

Moules and Frites in Bruges 

Moules, mussels, whatever. I'm not a huge fan of mussels, unless they are in a cioppino or made in a yummy sauce. Ok, the recipe from Dorie Greenspan's Around My French Table is easy, easy, easy and produces a very delicious broth for dipping. Make sure to buy fresh mussels from your fish monger and use a decent white wine. The other ingredients are most things on hand, onion, shallot, garlic, parsley, thyme, lemon zest, and wine. A ¼ chicken bouillon cube was listed as optional, since I don't use those, I added a little chicken broth, and I am glad I added broth! The mussels cook really fast, so be ready to eat as soon as the mussels hit the pan. The mussels sit in the pan for just a few minutes, make sure they all open, discard the ones that stay closed, they were probably dead before you cooked them, yuck. My husband paired his mussels with wine and a simple salad. I spent some time in Bruges, after my nephew was born, my sister and family, lived in Amsterdam at the time. So in memory of my trip to Bruges, when I enjoyed Mussels and Frites with a local beer, I paired my mussels with a Belgian Beer. Looking for a fast mid-week meal, this is a good one. Oh, and if you have a chance to make this recipe, add the chicken broth, so you have a lot of broth to dip bread or frites in, you will thank me. For the recipe, please buy Dorie Greenspan's Around My French Table or call me, I'll share.  Also, if you want to see other versions of this recipe, go see my Dorista friends at French Fridays with Dorie. 
Have Fun, Enjoy and "a Votre Sante!"

Game Day BBQ SeaChicken Sandwich with Apple Slaw

On Sunday I made my BBQ Sauce before the big game, Seahawks vs. SF 49ers or to some the SeaChickens vs. the 40-whiners.  YUP, there was a lot of trash talking going on, but the Seattle Seahawks were victorious and are Super Bowl bound!!! I made sure to get my game day nails on, "It's only weird if it doesn't work!" Ok, best thing about game day...SNACKS!!! Last week when the Hawks were playing the New Orleans Saints, my son had some friends over and he made his world famous guacamole and I made White Chicken Chili. This week, I wanted to make something different, maybe even healthier, well kinda. So I made BBQ Pulled Chicken and Apple Slaw Sandwiches. I figured with less fat than pork, chicken was a good substitute. I just needed to make sure to keep the chicken moist. I started by poaching a skinless chicken breast in water, an onion, bay leaf and orange peel. I put everything in a pot, brought it to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes. I turned the pot off and let the chicken sit for another 15 minutes. The chicken turned out great, moist and lower fat than pork. As for the Apple Slaw, I grated 1 large carrot, and 2 medium Granny Smith apples. I added 1 tablespoon sour cream, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of chopped golden raisins, a handful of cilantro, chopped, and salt and pepper, to taste. YUM! I shredded the cooled chicken with my BBQ Sauce, toasted ciabatta bread, put a little mayonnaise on the bottom slice...chicken, Apple Slaw, then topped with the other piece of bread and done. OH SO GOOD! Go Hawks!

Sticky Sweet Birthday Wish

Today is my birthday. Yay! Not a big celebration, since it's a weekday, so this is really the beginning of my birthday week. I was going to make a fabulous cake, but I decided to sleep in instead. No regrets!

OK, lucky me, my husband surprised me with a fun cake, a Chinese New Year cake. If you know me! I am obsessed with things that bring Good Luck. Well, Chinese New Year cake, or Nian Gao, is very lucky!!! This sticky, rice cake brings promotion or prosperity. I wish for both!!! My aunt Lily makes a Filipino version of this cake, Bibingka. Rice flour, palm sugar, and I'm not sure what else, sometimes she mixes in cassava. I should get the recipe. Delicious! Chinese New Year is just around the corner, so if you are looking for a little luck, see if your favorite Chinese restaurant may be making Nian Gao. You might like it.

Sunday FUNDAY "Starbucks, BBQ Bourbon Sauce, Lil' John's and waiting for the Big Game"

Big Game today, The Seattle Seahawks vs. SF 49ers. Sammi and I got up early to make Maple-Bourbon BBQ sauce for later. No coffee in the house, so we had to take a quick drive to Starbucks for a Tall Americano, then back to making BBQ Sauce.  It starts with 1 cup of ketchup. I use organic ketchup, so stop judging me! Ok, now add 2 tablespoons each of the following: brown sugar
maple syrup
Dijon mustard
apple cider vinegar
Worcestershire Sauce AND the juice of 2 tangerines, 2 shots of bourbon, and 2 cloves of garlic.  Boil, then 30 minutes of simmering and you're done! While the sauce was cooling, we went to have a little breakfast at Lil' John's. Nothing fancy, just a neighborhood restaurant which has been around for nearly 50 years and recently renovated after a kitchen fire. I have to admit, it's been many years since I have been to Lil' John's, it use to be a total dump and stale cigarette smoke from their bar use to wander into the dining area and made for a "not so nice" experience. I had the #1 and he had the Chicken Fried Steak. Not the best breakfast ever, but at $6.25 for 1 egg, hash browns, 2 sausage and toast, not bad. I didn't try the chicken fried steak, someone did not share, but no complaints from the other side of the table. Well, I am off for a little Sunday stroll, then the big game. GO HAWKS!

FFWD: Christine's Simple Party Soups

I haven't posted my French Fridays with Dorie recipe in quite a long time, but I still enjoy making the recipes along side the other Doristas!  Click  here to check out their versions of this recipe.

Well, today is Blue Friday in Seattle, in support of my beloved Seattle Seahawks.  I made my soup last weekend after the win over the New Orleans Saints, therefore, I will not post anything red today (SF 49ers colors), so I don't jinx THE HAWKS!

The recipe this week was so simple, I didn't need to go to the store for the ingredients. My soup is really 1 of three that are to be served together, but now that my son has gone back to school, and my husband is not a big soup fan, I picked one. It got a little messy. YUM! This made for a lovely lunch...French-style, with wine!!!

Doggie Walk Training

New route today which included a little but of a hill and some fog!

Smoothie du Jour: Kiwi and Strawberry

I kept my smoothie simple today.

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 cups baby spinach
1 banana
1 kiwi
1 cup frozen strawberries

Blitz and Enjoy!

Post Dog Walk Smoothie

I've been trying to get my little dog, Sammi, ready for a couple dog friendly 5k's.  Last year, she participated with me in the Valentine's 5k and Four on the 4th, but at some point, she was exhausted and I had to pick her up for a little bit.  This year, we're doing a little training!!!
Last year, we always had a 2-Mile-Tuesday walk, but this year we're cranking it up to 3.1-Mile-Tuesday.  Sammi did great, just a few stops and sniffs.



When we got back from the walk, Sammi got a doggie treat and I had a green smoothie.  I loosely followed a smoothie recipe that SIMPLE GREEN SMOOTHIE posted on their Facebook page.



I used 1 cup of Almond-Coconut milk, instead of 2 cups coconut milk and only 1 cup frozen pineapple.  I also add 1 tablespoon of Chia Seeds.  I add ice to this when I am halfway through, and sip until it's time for lunch.

Smoothie Du Jour

Smoothie du Jour 
1 cup fresh baby spinach
1 cup water
1 cup seedless grapes
2 small peeled tangerines
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1 small banana
1 T. chia seeds

Blitz and Enjoy!

Eastside Eats: GINZA

I've been a sushi fan for years, even before it was popular.  It was common to have some raw fish or seafood on special occasions at family gatherings, so raw fish for me, never a problem!  However, here's the thing, it has to be fresh! I have gone to GINZA on Main Street a couple times, after their remodel, and the fish there is quite good. The menu at GINZA is quite vast and the sushi selection includes many sushi Rookie favorable items. Actually, the first time I ate there with my family, I don't think I had sushi. I should mention that several tables have heating elements so you can order the "table side grill" thing. Not my thing. Anyway, not bad for a neighborhood Japanese restaurant. Their pricing is a little on the higher side compared to some of their neighboring Japanese/Sushi places. Sushi is quite good, stick to the normal negiri, be brave and go for the Chef's Selection. Also, take note, One thing I really enjoy at GINZA is the Protein Salad. This combination of pickled and fresh vegetable, seaweed, broiled salmon skin and tobiko...delicious! There's usually a seat available.

let them eat cake...from scratch

The other night at dinner a question was asked, "Does anyone make cake from scratch anymore?"  Surprised by the question, I quickly said, "Yes!"  Funny think is, I haven't made a cake, a whole cake especially, from scratch in quite some time.  When I have had time to bake, I have opted to make cookies or bread.  I woke up this morning and thought, "I am going to make a cake today, from scratch".

I checked for all the ingredients and luckily, we had everything I needed.  I checked the back of the cake flour box, since there was a recipe on the back that I had used for years, sadly, the recipe was for Devil's Food...hmmm.  No.  Another standby recipe is the one from King Arthur's Flour.  I found the recipe, click here. YAY!!!

After reading the recipe, and gathering all the ingredients, I really don't see the point of making cake from a box.  It's nearly the same amount of time and homemade from scratch is a million times better.


I love the smell of cake baking.  YUMMY!  I can barely wait.


I made the frosting from scratch too.  I really don't measure when I make frosting, but the main ingredients are 1 stick of butter, 3-4 cups of powdered sugar, teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/4 to 1/2 cup whipping cream.  Today, I added 1/4 cup of melted semi-sweet chocolate, but you don't need it.


OK, time to frost the cake.  Crumbs can be a pain to deal with, but if you plunk a big glob of frosting  in the middle and carefully drag the frosting to the edge, you'll do fine.  Use the same technique on the sides, put a big glob of frosting on your knife and gently drag it around.


Finally, I get a piece of cake!