Sparkling Sangria

 Drinks, Fruit, NYC, Recipes  No Comments »
Jul 102008
 

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Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I love Bubbles. So how could I do an entire Sangria tasting and not try one with Sparkling Wine? I mean Cava is Spanish Sparkling Wine so it is completely appropriate! Sangria really is the perfect drink for entertaining.

1 Tablespoon of Mint Leaves (If large leaves tear them up)
1/3 Cup Frozen Grapes
5 Strawberries cut into 4 pieces
1/3 Cup of Cubed Nectarines
1/4 Cup of Grape Juice
1/4 Cup of Cognac
1 Bottle of Cava

In a Pitcher mix all ingredients together except the Cava and grapes. Let stand for at least three hours in a refrigerator. Before serving mix the Cava and frozen grapes.

Blueberry and Nectarine Sangria

 Drinks, Fruit, NYC, Recipes  No Comments »
Jul 102008
 

This one was a pleasant surprise. We came to the conclusion that it might best be served at a ladies luncheon or shower. I had complete faith, since I love Blueberries and Nectarines together!

1/3 Cup Blueberries
1/3 Cup if cubed Nectarines
1/4 Cup of Cointreau (you could use triple sec)
1/4 Cup of Sugar
3 Cups of White Wine
1 12 oz can of Lemon/Lime Seltzer Water

In a Pitcher mix all ingredients together except the seltzer water. Let stand for at least three hours in a refrigerator. Before serving mix the seltzer water and serve Sangria over a glass of filled with ice.

Peach Sangria

 Drinks, Fruit, NYC, Recipes  No Comments »
Jul 102008
 

This we discovered would be great to be served more as a dessert drink.

1 Peach cut into cubes
1/3 Cup of Peach Jam
1/4 Cup Grande Marnier
3 Cups of Red Wine
1 12oz can of Lemon/Lime Seltzer Water

In a Pitcher mix all ingredients together except the seltzer water. Let stand for at least three hours in a refrigerator. Before serving mix the seltzer water and serve Sangria over a glass of filled with ice.

Frozen Blackberry Margaritas

 Drinks, Fruit  No Comments »
May 042008
 

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It is almost Cinco de Mayo. I believe Margaritas are always a good time! I recently had a frozen blackberry drink and thought this would be a good combination for a margarita.

2 Tablespoons of Blackberry Puree
1 oz. Tequila
½ Tablespoon of Fresh Mint Leaves
1 Teaspoon of Lime Juice
2 Cups of Ice

Blackberry Puree
1 pint of Blackberries
½ Cup Sugar

In a saucepan cook blackberries and sugar until sugar has melted about 3-5 minutes. Pour mixture into a blender and blend smooth liquid consistency. Pour blackberries sauce through a sieve in order to discard all the seeds.

In a clean blender add blackberry puree, tequila, mint leaves, lime juice, and ice. Blend until smooth and pour into glass top the margarita with mint leave.

 Posted by at 5:40 pm

Banana Nut Bread

 Breakfast, Fruit, Recipes, Sweets  1 Comment »
Apr 172008
 

Last week I was making breakfast breads for a bachelorette party I was attending. The thought of SUN and warm weather took over me in what I was going to prepare. Banana Nut Bread, but I did not want it to be traditional. Because I was going someplace warm it made me think about adding coconut and chopped up chocolate cover macadamia nuts and no I did not go to Hawaii.

1 ½ Sticks of Butter

2 Tablespoons of Sour Cream

2 Eggs

½ Cup Raw Sugar

1 teaspoon of Vanilla

2 Teaspoons of Lemon Zest

3 Very Ripe Bananas chopped

1 Cup of Shredded Coconut

1 ½ Cup of Flour

1 Teaspoon of Baking Powder

½ Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 Cup of Chopped Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts

Preheat 350

Grease and Floured a 10×4.5 loaf pan

With an electric mixer beat together the Sugar, Butter, and Sour Cream followed by one Egg at a time. When well combined add the Vanilla, Lemon Zest, Bananas, and Coconut. Mix in Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder and once well combined finally stir in the Macadamia Nuts. Pour batter into baking dish and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until wooden spoon comes out clean.

 Posted by at 5:49 pm

Lemon Butter Sauce- Perfect for Fish

 Fruit, Recipes  2 Comments »
Feb 202008
 

Last night, I was in a rush to make dinner. I didn’t think I was going to have enough time. I had purchased a piece of Halibut on my way home from work and remembered once having an incredible butter sauce on a piece of fish. So I thought I would try it, but make it a lemon butter sauce. It took a total of ten minutes to make and it tasted so delicious, I was perfectly content and ready to run out door! This could become a staple.

Lemon Butter Sauce

1/3 Cup of Lemon Juice
4 Tablespoons of Butter
1/4 Cup of Vegetable Stock (or hot water)

In a sauce pan heat lemon juice until it has reduced to about 1 Tablespoon. Remove from heat and stir in 2 Tablespoons of Butter until fully melted and combined. Return to low heat and add stock and remaining butter and let come to simmer. Now ready to pour over fish. This will be enough for 2-3 pieces of Fish. This is perfect for any white fish.

 Posted by at 6:52 pm

Apple Strudel

 Fruit, Recipes, Sweets  1 Comment »
Dec 022007
 

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This past Thanksgiving I did not spend with my family and instead visited a friend in Vienna. This could definitely become one of my favorite cities. A city all about eating chocolates and cakes, how could I not instantaneously become enamored? I had an agenda of different foods I wanted to try while I was there and classic Apple Strudel was on the top of my list. Another treat that I enjoyed were the Christmas Markets and Spiced Wine.
Now this recipe I received from Cafe at the Summer Palace.

Strudel
1 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons of Flour
1 Egg
1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
1/3 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons of Lukewarm Water
5 Teaspoons of Vegetable Oil

Mix all ingredients to a soft dough and knead it until it looses from hands and table.
Tip: Form it into a ball and let it res in vegetable oil for 30 minutes. Put the dough on a flour covered linen cloth and roll it in a rectangular shape. Continue to stretch the dough out with the back of your hands until it is wafer-thin.

Filling
1/2 Cup of Bread crumbs
3 Tablespoons of Butter
2/3 Cup of Sugar
2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon
3/4 Cup of Raisins
2 Teaspoons of Lemon Juices
2 1/2 Pounds of Apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1 Tablespoons of Rum.
Pre Heat Oven 375
Heat the Butter in a pan, add the breadcrumbs and roast them until they take on a golden brown shine. In a bowl add the bread crumbs with the remaining ingredients and mix them all together .
Put the filling along the extended layer of the dough. Roll it up carefully with the cloth. Put the strudel onto a buttered baking tray and bake it in the oven at until it takes on a golden brown shine about 35-45 minutes. Tip: Put butter on the Strudel as soon as you take it out of the oven.

Serve warm with either, Whipped Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream, or a Vanilla Sauce.

 Posted by at 6:56 pm

Baked Apples

 Fruit, Recipes, Sweets  1 Comment »
Oct 302007
 

My favorite time of the month is when Gourmet Magazine arrives in my mailbox. Last weekend I was inspired by the Vegetable Stew served in a baked Pumpkin in the November Issue.  When I am inspired it usually means a dinner is coming soon.  I had no idea what I was taking on exactly but definitely a large endeavor for my tiny little space.
If you try this stew I recommend making the stoock in advance and not making the entire stew in one day. As I was happy with the Vegetable Stew, I was most enamored by the Baked Apples and Calvados Ice Cream I had made for dessert.  What was even more amazing about them was how simple and easy they were it was 6pm, people were arriving at 7, and I curlers in my hair and still had not started the Baked Apples. Because my beloved stew had taken so long to make!!

Baked Apples

8 Apples (I used Cortland)
1 Cup Light Brown Sugar
2/3 Cup Raisins
1/3 Cup Dried Apricot
1/3 Cup Chopped Pecans
1 Tablespoons of Flour
5 tablespoons of Melted butter
¾ Cup Sparkling Apple Cider
1 teaspoon of vanilla
¼ Teaspoon of All Spice
½ Teaspoon of Cinnamon

Preheat 400

Using a melon Baller take out the core of each apple.
In a separate bowl mix together sugar, raisins, apricots, pecans, flour, cinnamon, and all spice. Add three table spoons of butter and vanilla. Stuff each of the apples with the sugar mixture and brush the remaining butter around the apples. Right before baking top off by pouring apple cider over the top of the apples.
Bake for 1 hour or until apples have softened.

 Posted by at 5:32 pm

Best Apples for Baking

 Fruit, Tips, Terms & Tools  No Comments »
Oct 302007
 

Have you ever had the experience of using an apple that is not good for baking? I can perfectly remember the time years ago, I had made an apple pie and used Fuji Apples. My father had been boasting all evening that I was this great cook/baker and then I was completely mortified when I delivered a juice-less pie for dessert. So next time you are in the market getting ready to buy some apples for baking here are some good ones to use!

-Granny Smith
-Golden Delicious
-McIntosh
-Rome
-Cortland

 Posted by at 5:21 pm
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