tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39737334409147220482024-03-16T14:52:53.803-04:00KITCHEN FIDDLER RECIPES & TALES OF CULINARY TIME TRAVELlouisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-60945955898476029042015-09-17T00:46:00.000-04:002015-09-17T00:48:03.999-04:00Genius Chocolate Mousse for Kitchen Fiddler's Birthday<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Oh
hiiii….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I began
this blog seven years ago today and I’m feeling a little sentimental. Though it’s been a
while since I’ve spent time here, I felt compelled to come say happy birthday
to Kitchen Fiddler today. Maybe I just wanted an excuse to make <b>chocolate mousse</b>
this morning, for what better way to celebrate a birthday than with chocolate?!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">When I
started Kitchen Fiddler seven years ago, I was in a dark period of deep
soul-searching, but blogging here provided temporary relief from my doldrums. Since
cooking and sharing treasured recipes with friends had always been vitally
important to me throughout my life, I was truly happiest during that difficult
chapter whenever I wrote here, momentarily recapturing some semblance of joy
that was otherwise eluding me. I am forever grateful for the outlet that
writing this blog provided seven years ago.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Fortunately,
we all have the possibility to change and grow. The dark seasons are not permanent, and
life has gone in fascinating and unexpected directions since beginning this site
on 9/17/08.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t have
anticipated <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/12/project-x-revealed.html">this wonderful crazy adventure</a>, not in my wildest dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been marathon solo recitals
and exciting concert tours as well as countless evenings sharing vibrant food over
delicious conversations with beloved friends. My Not-So-<a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/05/chocolate-chunk-cookies-with-little.html">Little Chef</a> is now in
high school (!), and I’ve handcrafted a ridiculous number of CocoaRoar truffles
in my beautifully <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-new-kitchen-la-dan-and-john.html">redesigned kitchen</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lately
I’ve been quiet here, having spent this year cooking quite simply while
focusing on improving my overall health and getting in touch with my inner
athlete. My cooking has mostly been functional rather than experimental, with
many old standbys in heavy rotation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve been very vegetable-centric alongside quick protein sources, such
as seasonal variations on my favorite <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2009/04/sensational-spring-salad.html">sliced spring salad</a> or this <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/10/raw-kale-salad.html">kale salad</a> topped with a poached egg or two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But
sometimes you really need chocolate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN8Kd5QhvUNvQldxB2IKCHyTfqPnustKxvg4YaR_89YAEyIKllbkZSn41LhyphenhyphenY0eHK5VrC_1rSUxNFSY5eajioF_2GqGcsyA9vHVl-HzY9g2m8EUayKP0yl6OXXF2K7IYlD4Te5r9uF28/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN8Kd5QhvUNvQldxB2IKCHyTfqPnustKxvg4YaR_89YAEyIKllbkZSn41LhyphenhyphenY0eHK5VrC_1rSUxNFSY5eajioF_2GqGcsyA9vHVl-HzY9g2m8EUayKP0yl6OXXF2K7IYlD4Te5r9uF28/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This
chocolate mousse recipe comes from <u>Genius Recipes</u>, and I totally understand its
inclusion in a book with such a title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">You
cannot believe how easily these two ingredients—chocolate and water—are transformed into a rich dessert that happens to be gluten-free and dairy-free.
But of course you are encouraged to top your chocolate mousse with fresh
whipped cream. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re celebrating
after all, right? Happy birthday, Kitchen Fiddler!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0X5AoTRTqMBmrkIetYT-uO8MrMSY_JC24-piJOtpVWum32LV47_iGq3LJYrElATTM3RA-On-GQUzmFArnHpyqfSD20LXo0k2mHs-4PegnN1z1wFPF54j0Xwo9YAFGB_P1wv3z4oIkJ34/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0X5AoTRTqMBmrkIetYT-uO8MrMSY_JC24-piJOtpVWum32LV47_iGq3LJYrElATTM3RA-On-GQUzmFArnHpyqfSD20LXo0k2mHs-4PegnN1z1wFPF54j0Xwo9YAFGB_P1wv3z4oIkJ34/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script> </div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>Two years
ago: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/09/kitchen-fiddler-turns-five.html#more">Top 11 Best Kitchen Fiddler Recipes</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/09/chile-lime-popcorn.html">Chile Lime Popcorn</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>Five
years ago: </b><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/09/asian-cabbage-slaw-to-start-new-season.html">Asian Cabbage Slaw</a>, <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/09/kitchen-fiddler-turns-two.html#more">The Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>Six years
ago: </b><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2009/09/dutch-baby-pancakes.html">Dutch Baby Pancakes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>Seven
years ago:</b> <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2008/09/let-adventure-begin.html">My Very First Post</a>, <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2008/09/notes-on-time-travel-brown-sugar-ice.html">Brown Sugar Ice Cream</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>CHOCOLATE
MOUSSE </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">From
Hervé This in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Food52-Genius-Recipes-That-Change/dp/1607747979/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442374811&sr=8-1&keywords=Genius+Recipes">Food 52: Genius Recipes</a> by Kristen Miglore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><i>How can
you make chocolate mousse without whipped egg whites or cream to lighten it and
give it its texture?? By melting chocolate with water and whipping it over an
ice bath, you create a creamy emulsion that thickens and stabilizes as you
whisk air bubbles into it. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><i>This is
an unadulterated chocolate experience, with no egg or cream to interfere with
the purity of the chocolate. Of course you can flavor it by replacing some of
the water with equal amounts of liqueur or other flavored liquid. I’ve had good success
with 2 tablespoons of crème de cassis or kirsch, though you could use any
flavored liqueur you like alongside your chocolate. I think Grand Marnier or
Amaretto would be delightful, and next time I will try a version using brewed
Earl Grey tea in place of some of the water. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ice cubes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">¾ cup
water (see headnote above for liqueur flavoring options)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">8 ounces
(225 grams) high-quality bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces (I love Valrhona chocolate in the 64% to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>70% cacao range, depending on what I have)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Whipped
cream, for garnishing (optional)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Additional grated chocolate, for garnishing (optional)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Partly
fill a large bowl with ice cubes and set aside while you prepare the chocolate
mixture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Pour the
water (and liqueur, if using) into a small saucepan over medium-low heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add the chocolate pieces and whisk it
with a large balloon whisk as it melts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">When the
mixture has melted into a homogenous sauce, transfer to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Immediately set this inside the large ice-filled bowl and vigorously whisk the
chocolate sauce, either manually or with an electric mixer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If using an electric mixer, it will
thicken faster so watch carefully.) When strands of chocolate form inside the
whisk, immediately spoon the mixture into small ramekins or bowls and let set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>Troubleshooting
notes:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">+ If your
chocolate doesn’t contain enough fat to form a mousse, melt the mixture again,
add a little more chocolate and whisk again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">+ If the
mousse is not light enough, melt the mixture again, add a little more water and
whisk again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">+ If you
over-whip it and it becomes grainy, melt the mixture and whisk again, with no
additions needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Serve the
mousse immediately or refrigerate until serving. Top with whipped cream and additional grated chocolate shavings, if desired. Makes 4 rich servings.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-36844641139999363092014-06-24T18:04:00.000-04:002014-06-26T00:26:55.993-04:00Date Coconut Shake<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">Hi!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I have missed you these last weeks, and
I want to make up for my absence on this site with a scrumptious recipe, one
I’ve actually made six times in the past two weeks. I present you with the <b>Date Coconut Shake</b>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDmrLYJm8d1iOgoIB3Cgxz3IlYgyyqx60y2MleU92MzP28rfN_eOwTvPv2PI39Yl2SXl8h_gl1kDvI0HqFLiu4oYVCpnFQSJfraoq_6zqN5_0TpUd0lvuT4vkaziZcBkXh18L2AuCfek/s1600/IMG_7567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDmrLYJm8d1iOgoIB3Cgxz3IlYgyyqx60y2MleU92MzP28rfN_eOwTvPv2PI39Yl2SXl8h_gl1kDvI0HqFLiu4oYVCpnFQSJfraoq_6zqN5_0TpUd0lvuT4vkaziZcBkXh18L2AuCfek/s1600/IMG_7567.JPG" height="400" width="316"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A date
milkshake??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes. I grew
up in Southern California, and date shakes were one of the culinary pleasures of taking
road trips that veered off into desert territory near Palm Springs where the date
trees were plentiful. The date shakes of my childhood were traditionally made
with a base of vanilla ice cream, and the pureed fresh dates added a beguiling
honeyed depth to this frosty treat. We’d usually enjoy the shakes from the
renowned <a href="http://www.hadleyfruitorchards.com/node/1533">Hadley Fruit Orchards</a>, though were it up to me, I’d have been much more
thorough in my research by stopping at all the various roadside stands along
Highway 10 proffering these special milkshakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(You only have so much input in the family decisions when
you’re a kid!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2WQ8lz8LLCvyyPvuFwq4eD3OZrqe3Mz465yMZ3hx0XHkwruwL9clnUlzKyDS3w7ldgn3cN5KI2PTbobDgLQJ9IkfOBbwOJ3tPOMlWu_hkl_zVvHCmGYjw5Lavyuvq5xQRLxSJW3MUWY/s1600/IMG_7557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2WQ8lz8LLCvyyPvuFwq4eD3OZrqe3Mz465yMZ3hx0XHkwruwL9clnUlzKyDS3w7ldgn3cN5KI2PTbobDgLQJ9IkfOBbwOJ3tPOMlWu_hkl_zVvHCmGYjw5Lavyuvq5xQRLxSJW3MUWY/s1600/IMG_7557.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Memories
of post-school road trips are looming large now that it is late June, and those
childhood date shakes are naturally springing to my culinary imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I am trying to limit my consumption
of refined sugar these days, I have been riffing on this awesome
dairy-free version that was recently posted on the lovely <a href="http://notwithoutsalt.com/">Not Without Salt</a> blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/06/date-coconut-shake.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-84356130080480791662014-04-19T02:10:00.000-04:002014-04-19T02:10:00.299-04:00Orange-Kissed Seed Crackers<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xT8R8Djs37GuW4TRn5nxUc2QuEoy0gRHsvdg8Ems0S167yjKE6b0Phdt9_HZ2XDCLI3uirUwdIvrxDpUldC3Y87FizDm_rl8l5asPtJMBSmbQW31fPUNFbsvF_uTQ50Nqujz5snoUtU/s1600/IMG_7535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xT8R8Djs37GuW4TRn5nxUc2QuEoy0gRHsvdg8Ems0S167yjKE6b0Phdt9_HZ2XDCLI3uirUwdIvrxDpUldC3Y87FizDm_rl8l5asPtJMBSmbQW31fPUNFbsvF_uTQ50Nqujz5snoUtU/s1600/IMG_7535.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Do you
own more cookbooks than you can possibly cook your way through in this
lifetime? I have a large bookshelf
devoted entirely to cookbooks, and due to space limitations, I treat myself
to a new book only once a year or so. I recently bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Everyday-Healthy-Recipes-Kitchen/dp/0847839605/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397886757&sr=8-1&keywords=Vegetarian+Everyday">Vegetarian Everyday</a> solely for their <b>Orange-Kissed Seed Crackers</b>, a recipe definitely worth
breaking my moratorium on cookbook purchases.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCDqZ0yl35khpWP-reF-anhNk-IQR6ygO88bmp4n63XQ_agzhok6lcGEke11m0BKEdYW46aEvmP9ehsYALrzS234ig5uD6VQz7-e9r0GXG1VCTVI2ekWPFumG_YKQJGPHDVEwiXWTx2U/s1600/IMG_7549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCDqZ0yl35khpWP-reF-anhNk-IQR6ygO88bmp4n63XQ_agzhok6lcGEke11m0BKEdYW46aEvmP9ehsYALrzS234ig5uD6VQz7-e9r0GXG1VCTVI2ekWPFumG_YKQJGPHDVEwiXWTx2U/s1600/IMG_7549.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">These
seeded beauties satisfy my cravings for salty crunchy snacks, not to mention
that they’re rich in protein AND are gluten-free too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you binge on these, you’ll still feel more energetic
and won't suffer carb-coma as you might after gorging on a big bag of potato
chips or a whole sleeve of Ritz crackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Not that I would know anything about that, ahem…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I’d never
made crackers before, but these couldn't be easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are also a cracker-making novice, here’s the perfect
way to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/04/orange-kissed-seed-crackers.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-75082841503888085782014-04-10T16:24:00.000-04:002014-04-12T16:16:50.242-04:00Fiddlehead Sauté With Shallots and Bacon <div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UF5d11bRmV22s-0hHAFCiVnNbHDoLnoKOCAA1GC6I9Vgd8BwZa7R-gFV1eyEX42fW4RHDpl3442acZIQBhF1xeiVz6uiaJWOR9sJNQgVLk2VxxURXCS_u4h_ceG2gYE25m5DbVcTno4/s1600/IMG_7506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UF5d11bRmV22s-0hHAFCiVnNbHDoLnoKOCAA1GC6I9Vgd8BwZa7R-gFV1eyEX42fW4RHDpl3442acZIQBhF1xeiVz6uiaJWOR9sJNQgVLk2VxxURXCS_u4h_ceG2gYE25m5DbVcTno4/s1600/IMG_7506.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">This is
usually the time of year when Kitchen Fiddler is woefully neglected because the
rest of my life goes haywire.
April and May are notoriously busy months for freelance musicians in
NYC, and this year is no exception for most of my waking hours are spent with a
violin in hand. (Forget blogging, I'm scrambling to eat proper meals and sleep six hours at night!) However, today was blissfully free with no daytime
commitments, and as I wandered around my neighborhood enjoying the sunshine
this morning, I picked up these adorable fiddlehead ferns. I couldn’t wait to make this easy
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>Fiddlehead Sauté With Shallots and Bacon</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"> for lunch, and it was so delightful
that I immediately hopped back on my blog to share it with all of you.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXmN__Ex9pgHrArFloF5yAeDSUFPrFIcZzCeDXwpKiT5JPYtq21bzI7riffW62LDZ2S2gKiWv0_Suneztb-LCsy8Og4WRwZyjLk21HUxIrAMd2RX-mwtM6UkOXjtzemGTkBXtibAluJw/s1600/IMG_7483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXmN__Ex9pgHrArFloF5yAeDSUFPrFIcZzCeDXwpKiT5JPYtq21bzI7riffW62LDZ2S2gKiWv0_Suneztb-LCsy8Og4WRwZyjLk21HUxIrAMd2RX-mwtM6UkOXjtzemGTkBXtibAluJw/s1600/IMG_7483.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Fiddlehead
ferns are aptly named since they clearly resemble the scroll of a
violin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own fiddle is more than
happy to provide a visual comparison!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecJTmCxonwRzo0DmAVpOr2DhahZVEQDRsuxGPGYghYRgrUywMwS1R8nvrPOB4_-7ifHPkndCc1oKw9AG3sSNU1E7Hy8Ur-pifMUHtp__cbol_fFMw-P-1_TIdUjlWwMFeS0A-NPCxxsI/s1600/IMG_7484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecJTmCxonwRzo0DmAVpOr2DhahZVEQDRsuxGPGYghYRgrUywMwS1R8nvrPOB4_-7ifHPkndCc1oKw9AG3sSNU1E7Hy8Ur-pifMUHtp__cbol_fFMw-P-1_TIdUjlWwMFeS0A-NPCxxsI/s1600/IMG_7484.JPG" height="293" width="400"></a></div>
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<br>
</div></div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/04/fiddlehead-saute-with-shallots-and-bacon.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-27391154370974109842014-03-27T23:59:00.000-04:002014-03-28T18:19:36.399-04:00Devil's Food Cake With Caramel, A La Tartine Bakery<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sometimes
words fail to convey the enormity of a situation. In the case of the alluring <b>Devil’s Food Cake</b> from Tartine
Bakery, I’ll let this photo speak for itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLzooqdCJomtsQo9L6SLBWt8dB707v-LD7Jq7NsCCVwn32EooGpVBfdounNaRe3m7LhGSVaMyrrs3ybAjnV6LF68nCXZ_K-F67VT7mWKfyjkv_boQ_42XU3DbzQqBY5vw7-HnVZ1sdHE/s1600/IMG_7473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLzooqdCJomtsQo9L6SLBWt8dB707v-LD7Jq7NsCCVwn32EooGpVBfdounNaRe3m7LhGSVaMyrrs3ybAjnV6LF68nCXZ_K-F67VT7mWKfyjkv_boQ_42XU3DbzQqBY5vw7-HnVZ1sdHE/s1600/IMG_7473.JPG" height="345" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This
recipe knocks it out of the park each time. I made it twice within a
week earlier this month, and it provoked similar reactions on both occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forks crashed onto plates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knees buckled. Gasps of surprise
mingled with moans of delight. I had people already coming back for seconds as I was still slicing up the cake—a
wild pleading look in their eyes as they extended their plates towards me—long
before I’d had a chance to try a forkful myself, much less grab my camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone gobbled up this chocolate
madness so enthusiastically at both parties that only a modest wedge remained
for its close-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwZHdZJdDmhDuu7u0xohg6ChmXAMFitlQox76uglN75F1_p4gRgD_ZXimTLMWDfJbb8Dix9ZwWIWnALPfBXurkaY0W0lhz33FusITSu62IDjnjUA5WE_JYFWqDL7GZBFcd0PzyLrkZaY/s1600/IMG_7474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwZHdZJdDmhDuu7u0xohg6ChmXAMFitlQox76uglN75F1_p4gRgD_ZXimTLMWDfJbb8Dix9ZwWIWnALPfBXurkaY0W0lhz33FusITSu62IDjnjUA5WE_JYFWqDL7GZBFcd0PzyLrkZaY/s1600/IMG_7474.JPG" height="400" width="377"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I’d call
that a home run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I first
experienced this cake several years ago at the justifiably famed <a href="http://www.tartinebakery.com/">Tartine Bakery</a> during my <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/09/san-francisco-inspiration.html">annual San Francisco pilgrimage</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so compelling and crave-worthy, standing out even amidst all of the other confectionary beauties in the bakery's impressive display cases. I was exceedingly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">grateful that Tartine had published the recipe in their cookbook, and I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"> immediately
baked a version of it myself upon my return home.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Kbip63mEvl_Xxq-kzjcS4H6NKFLMl3tJOYjqrpqbGQexKDELZYQR7xY6mBV49e6Sg3iosQQlHtT91FA1LJTgHw0kLrHugXmuglYu4eLPTxcELLL2nxZX7_CARKMx0Yc_onAK5SNADlg/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Kbip63mEvl_Xxq-kzjcS4H6NKFLMl3tJOYjqrpqbGQexKDELZYQR7xY6mBV49e6Sg3iosQQlHtT91FA1LJTgHw0kLrHugXmuglYu4eLPTxcELLL2nxZX7_CARKMx0Yc_onAK5SNADlg/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil's Food Cake in upper left corner, Tartine Bakery, SF on 8/27/10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/03/devils-food-cake-with-caramel-la.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-6860180429336255992014-03-21T23:44:00.000-04:002014-03-22T12:19:55.843-04:00Making A Cake Banner (When Your Decorating Skills Are Sorely Lacking!)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For
someone who loves baking as much as I do, my cake decorating abilities leave a
LOT to be desired, unfortunately.
I’m not utterly hopeless with an icing piping bag, but I’m certainly
not great. Thank goodness I always do a
test-run before writing with icing on the actual cake, but these dismal
practice attempts have caused my Not-So-Little Chef and me to <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/08/birthday-cake-week.html">dissolve in countless giggle fits</a>, making it even harder to hold the icing tube steady. It’s a quandary since I’m often commissioned
to make special occasion cakes, and I do everything to encourage my customers
to embrace an extremely simple design sans writing, lest my handiwork end up on
the jaw-dropping and hilarious <a href="http://www.cakewrecks.com/">Cake Wrecks</a> website!
But I have a brilliant new solution for my sub-par decorating skills:
The Cake Banner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XsCTlSNJdaxjjnwBDSFb3tEjIZR4px25EAP4kLpstx_cYhr13gL4xAXOmNwPZjtreAFO6Koq7YWEk8lwl6ss38hzMLToaijvmH_7fM2HOiTAze0QAlcG_xez53h7xHjHPYzhg-70Pl4/s1600/IMG_7417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XsCTlSNJdaxjjnwBDSFb3tEjIZR4px25EAP4kLpstx_cYhr13gL4xAXOmNwPZjtreAFO6Koq7YWEk8lwl6ss38hzMLToaijvmH_7fM2HOiTAze0QAlcG_xez53h7xHjHPYzhg-70Pl4/s1600/IMG_7417.JPG" height="400" width="322"></a></div>
<br>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I was
commissioned to provide a cake for a friend’s baby shower last week, a devilishly dark
chocolate-and-caramel cake covered with toasted cake crumbs that the mother-to-be had daydreamed about for years
since the last time I’d made it. (That recipe will be on the next post, I
promise!) One of the baby shower co-hosts asked me to get creative with the
cake decoration, incorporating some pink into the design among other
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally, this request
gave me pause.</span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">However,
I wanted to honor the festive decoration request for the occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently saw this flag banner on <a href="http://joythebaker.com/2012/06/how-to-make-a-cake-banner/">Joy the Baker's blog</a>, and I realized that this was the perfect solution to my
decorating dilemma. The final result was darling and it put the biggest smile
on everyone’s faces, including my own!<o:p></o:p></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPmgaxqFJmuxsddCemobnaSR9zwxbissJQelht6T7k3paf36DpmSFiHsCKZp8Lh3zgKCqblw3I1TmH3ou-A44HGqJi4ZwEXCvF94pZgPBCdDMDYj9BbVm5NCaDGlsUJn-2s7bHaCUKmE/s1600/IMG_7433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPmgaxqFJmuxsddCemobnaSR9zwxbissJQelht6T7k3paf36DpmSFiHsCKZp8Lh3zgKCqblw3I1TmH3ou-A44HGqJi4ZwEXCvF94pZgPBCdDMDYj9BbVm5NCaDGlsUJn-2s7bHaCUKmE/s1600/IMG_7433.JPG" height="301" width="400"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/03/making-cake-banner-when-your-decorating.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-21613946799611475062014-03-16T23:40:00.000-04:002014-03-17T00:24:52.787-04:00St. Patrick's Day Desserts<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was
hoping to have a new St. Patrick’s Day-themed recipe for you before the 17</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">th. However, with a quick-yet-outrageous
trip to Los Angeles earlier this week in addition to furiously cranking out <a href="http://www.cocoaroar.blogspot.com/">a round of CocoaRoar truffles</a> for St. Paddy’s Day, I haven’t had time to explore
anything new in the kitchen. My chocolate tempering machine is purring away in
the background as I type, and as I wait for it to melt a pound of chocolate
into a beautiful glossy pool so I can dip the last few hundred truffles, I
thought I’d re-share a few St. Patrick’s Day ideas from previous entries. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">Of course you may just want to spend
tomorrow in your favorite Irish pub drinking Guinness or green beer. But here are a few fun holiday-themed
dessert ideas, should you need to balance out your beer and pub food intake.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJhL0NMVwM3XG5uHmPews2IU9ojq3Zhj8hRzU8nb2hD1mFZZO_JP3BrFreAlJOlxBJa99hXhHRm3wUvcG4OqaFVC6Z0zV4dJctW6J6FjyrfgbgJKZAM3udp3Vg5VP9wLsEzEbcBVsndM/s1600/IMG_6147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJhL0NMVwM3XG5uHmPews2IU9ojq3Zhj8hRzU8nb2hD1mFZZO_JP3BrFreAlJOlxBJa99hXhHRm3wUvcG4OqaFVC6Z0zV4dJctW6J6FjyrfgbgJKZAM3udp3Vg5VP9wLsEzEbcBVsndM/s1600/IMG_6147.JPG" height="400" width="231"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2012/03/black-guinness-float.html">Black&White Guinness Float</a> tastes like the most sophisticated milkshake you could ever hope
to have. Despite its velvety dark appearance, Guinness stout is surprisingly light
and frothy, making it a natural pairing with ice cream, and this beer float plays up both the deep chocolate notes and the
creamy quality of the Guinness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sign me up, please.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPDBXwQrg-2YQ6s1OCMWSu-6bg7G8lG4w5JOFYGxGjJ3rCHYu8IiWzzpm2ok91DJvPse5LekVzzENBoE0a0nHJ-tDaKVvXZnKbUD5Lm7a89Pjb9mlWUjeGeHrJHb23LeQ4Mrqo6LY0o0/s1600/IMG_6139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPDBXwQrg-2YQ6s1OCMWSu-6bg7G8lG4w5JOFYGxGjJ3rCHYu8IiWzzpm2ok91DJvPse5LekVzzENBoE0a0nHJ-tDaKVvXZnKbUD5Lm7a89Pjb9mlWUjeGeHrJHb23LeQ4Mrqo6LY0o0/s1600/IMG_6139.JPG" height="400" width="265"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The
<a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2012/03/guinness-gingerbread-cake.html">Guinness Gingerbread Cake</a> is still one of the best cakes to ever come out of my
kitchen, which I originally made for Sylvia’s birthday bash two years ago.
(Happy birthday, <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2009/11/ten-bells.html">Syl</a>!) The cake is fragrant with spices (ginger, cinnamon,
nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and even a little dry mustard for heat!), deepened
with Guinness for complexity, and the flavors all come together beautifully
with a vanilla cream cheese frosting.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KNVuRyrvz_G0Au8P4q60zIUATTl3AVv1frqGqsMEn7PMNtNvzTFqrF1LC2Sfu2uWbznh7BBvlUUtN5W7Hvsuz8J2sdoUKP-HbfThzcEDpKOGPwtZqX_Hfeflo05knbOoaaSGtg9LzeQ/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KNVuRyrvz_G0Au8P4q60zIUATTl3AVv1frqGqsMEn7PMNtNvzTFqrF1LC2Sfu2uWbznh7BBvlUUtN5W7Hvsuz8J2sdoUKP-HbfThzcEDpKOGPwtZqX_Hfeflo05knbOoaaSGtg9LzeQ/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG" height="316" width="400"></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/03/st-patricks-day-desserts.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-58352462413373452722014-03-09T22:23:00.000-04:002014-03-14T14:29:03.662-04:00Roasted Cauliflower Soup With Smoked Paprika<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkRZKjj4VsqB7pvM6xpUlR1nY7ymV45LvEDRiN1GmYXeFO95SkpoNIMsuObuvkhezMKtHjDvR61s0CNrp1lqb_NA_H7Kd3AOjkW0D9iPobQRurfeG2D0xDh5YEMnBtWHQBDSsykDGIVA/s1600/IMG_7391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkRZKjj4VsqB7pvM6xpUlR1nY7ymV45LvEDRiN1GmYXeFO95SkpoNIMsuObuvkhezMKtHjDvR61s0CNrp1lqb_NA_H7Kd3AOjkW0D9iPobQRurfeG2D0xDh5YEMnBtWHQBDSsykDGIVA/s1600/IMG_7391.JPG" height="280" style="cursor: move;" width="400"></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Four
years ago I posted a <b>Roasted Cauliflower Soup</b> recipe that my friend Roger
makes, and I love it so much that I must revisit it again here on Kitchen
Fiddler. This soup has made
frequent appearances on my table—and on my friends’ tables—more so than any
other soup in my repertoire. I made <b>a version with smoked paprika</b> the other
day, and it was as though culinary lightning had struck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The
remarkable thing about this soup is how luxurious it tastes while actually
being quite guilt-free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I
often prepare it as a vegan dish by using vegetable stock, and yet it still
tastes as luxurious as if I’d poured a quart of cream into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The richness comes from roasting the
cauliflower with olive oil and salt, letting it caramelize to a deep nutty
brown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This
recipe lends itself well to variation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve done different versions of this, adding other vegetables to the
onion-garlic base and changing up the seasonings with the roasted cauliflower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/02/roasted-cauliflower-soup.html">original version</a> is sweetened with
lots of carrot and fragrant thyme, served with a drizzle of golden olive oil
and grated Parmesan cheese on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve had happy results cooking diced wild mushrooms along with the
onions, finishing it with a few drops of truffle oil to echo the
earthy mushroom quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this
smoked paprika version is my new favorite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/03/roasted-cauliflower-soup-with-smoked.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-26770969278279673302014-02-28T23:21:00.000-05:002014-03-14T14:28:44.269-04:00Warm French Green Lentils With Poached Eggs<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Have you
had enough of winter yet? I know I’m daydreaming about shedding my bulky coat.
However, this weekend’s impending snowstorm is another opportunity to make a
dish that has fortified me during this snowier-than-usual winter. These delightful <b>Warm French Green
Lentils</b> topped with a poached egg are an ideal snow-day meal. Given the weekend
snowfall prediction, I’m sharing them with you just in time.</span></div>
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p><br>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This
recipe is by way of Megan from the lovely blog, <a href="http://asweetspoonful.com/">A Sweet Spoonful</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She writes beautifully about how her </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">boyfriend (now fiancée) made his "famous</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"> lentils" one of the first times he cooked for her, and how she joked that she'd marry him for his lentils alone. I first made the
dish simply because I had everything on hand and it was snowing too hard to run
outside to the store for other groceries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However once I tasted these lentils for myself, I understood how they
could be commitment-worthy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbXKjOtOuaZpdskxLzLURqe7QktZ4xb8MSTSoQHxAAbSJ9TYU_5eZsrxe222EqL16XtrXujBK9oyRvAkb6bgU57SI5zpJNMTtksOxiFiJrrs1gGPI5TffR4mh-ECRS4AXGC3mSvQBlww/s1600/IMG_7315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbXKjOtOuaZpdskxLzLURqe7QktZ4xb8MSTSoQHxAAbSJ9TYU_5eZsrxe222EqL16XtrXujBK9oyRvAkb6bgU57SI5zpJNMTtksOxiFiJrrs1gGPI5TffR4mh-ECRS4AXGC3mSvQBlww/s1600/IMG_7315.JPG" height="400" width="307"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I love
little French green lentils, which are more flavorful than their often-mushy
brown counterparts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also known as
lentilles du Puy, these French green gems hold their shape well in salads and
soups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are often an
accompaniment to traditional French bistro dishes such as salmon or a farmhouse
stew with garlic sausage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfcol_Pkb08IMYpjhCcUPhETbdDdX4oSO8E2CCIxHLyf0TgsBv0EuC8udMOGwU8xzRsqF4PBqXi8nmVmdjJ7Uug2m90bk_r7hxCxOaWOmdeI9EJB6W-SleySNtFhCpzA_rTogt9jFYXw/s1600/IMG_7320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfcol_Pkb08IMYpjhCcUPhETbdDdX4oSO8E2CCIxHLyf0TgsBv0EuC8udMOGwU8xzRsqF4PBqXi8nmVmdjJ7Uug2m90bk_r7hxCxOaWOmdeI9EJB6W-SleySNtFhCpzA_rTogt9jFYXw/s1600/IMG_7320.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></span></div>
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</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/02/warm-french-green-lentils-with-poached.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-10350676612888305772014-02-16T23:17:00.000-05:002014-02-18T03:13:11.614-05:00Ottolenghi's Clementine and Almond Syrup Cake With Chocolate Glaze<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_FR-4AVMRbZ_Tu9b509sWv803FvqPbvzvHapJf2q9XTNoo5nXBrSMLlBlcJx5v0PPXGsmR9l4dvQbCvJXJb4mHbFEc6pnPdHUCJgHbPvlTUWcQWJvt6LWGJPQzN1c4R2PY739Qp2a4U/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_FR-4AVMRbZ_Tu9b509sWv803FvqPbvzvHapJf2q9XTNoo5nXBrSMLlBlcJx5v0PPXGsmR9l4dvQbCvJXJb4mHbFEc6pnPdHUCJgHbPvlTUWcQWJvt6LWGJPQzN1c4R2PY739Qp2a4U/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG" height="287" width="400"></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today is
my beloved grandmother’s 100<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> birthday!!! Yes, you read that correctly, and while I’ve never had the
opportunity to wish anyone a “happy 100</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">th” before, I couldn’t be
more delighted to say it to my extraordinary grandma today. In honor of this major milestone, I’m
sharing the <b>Clementine Almond Cake with Chocolate Glaze</b> I recently made for her.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgei3uKNhTa1jtUNB68bit8YA_DwCG-Nif15e0Z0VbRfalVNHxVydrQEFiMaXe36eL9LM1FuQgbNGl_pjPJoP5nBR9Qmsa0qbiZtQvHnzI3kFzyEXvBkk19eaUMOdTABuNWL5Ovh9PfdtU/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgei3uKNhTa1jtUNB68bit8YA_DwCG-Nif15e0Z0VbRfalVNHxVydrQEFiMaXe36eL9LM1FuQgbNGl_pjPJoP5nBR9Qmsa0qbiZtQvHnzI3kFzyEXvBkk19eaUMOdTABuNWL5Ovh9PfdtU/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" height="400" width="303"></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On my
family visit in California last month, we had an early celebration exactly one
month before Grandma hit this remarkable triple-digit age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed an easy but special cake recipe for her, for I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could on that last day
of my trip. I wanted to <i>talk</i> with her, looking at photos together and playing my violin
for her rather than slaving away in the kitchen making some elaborate
creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Clementine Almond
Cake from Ottolenghi’s <u>Jerusalem</u> cookbook perfectly fit the bill. <o:p></o:p></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBzbrujXkxq34bXB_xMQ8sMAIlVKkQ27pF06ybujMiRI_QdH8a3GztqcpC58CUSkWZnukDBOYgj9OazI_dKUPIg7TJ3sNt7xlUiG3o0torAib17IFhzTI4QxWZcYEQHV59FdtoG0xQ08/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBzbrujXkxq34bXB_xMQ8sMAIlVKkQ27pF06ybujMiRI_QdH8a3GztqcpC58CUSkWZnukDBOYgj9OazI_dKUPIg7TJ3sNt7xlUiG3o0torAib17IFhzTI4QxWZcYEQHV59FdtoG0xQ08/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" height="300" style="cursor: move;" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As
Grandma herself described it after the first bite, “It’s worth living to nearly
one hundred to have a cake like this!” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">This cake
may be only a single layer in form, but you definitely taste multiple layers of
flavor with each bite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grated
clementine zest infuses the almond-flour cake with fragrant citrus, while
clementine syrup poured over the still-warm cake adds another level of edible
sunshine. </span></div>
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</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/02/ottolenghis-clementine-and-almond-syrup.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-47136602328650737742014-02-12T19:16:00.000-05:002014-02-12T20:46:41.886-05:00A Valentine's Day Dinner Menu<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">With
February 14th quickly approaching, many cooking blogs are abuzz with
Valentine-themed recipes this week.
I myself have no new recipe to share with you today, for I’m currently
in the midst of churning out hundreds of CocoaRoar truffles, sprinting towards
the finish line to finish my Valentine’s Day Collection orders in time. (I wish I could make my divine <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2008/10/truffle-masterclass-bittersweet-caramel.html">Caramel and Sea Salt Truffles</a> for all of you!)
After going full-force in the kitchen all week, I will happily let
someone else cook for me on Friday night. But if I were responsible for a
special meal, this would be my Valentine’s Day menu:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I would
start the evening with champagne, naturally, and my <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2012/02/elderflower-champagne-cocktail.html">Elderflower Champagne Cocktail</a> turns any evening into an occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a touch of St Germaine liqueur and a few raspberries
bobbing up and down in the glass, this festive spritzer is pure delight in a
champagne flute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">You’ll
want something to nibble on with your glass of champagne, perhaps a little
ricotta crostini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inspired by the
marvelous <a href="http://www.gourmetfoodideas.com/harvest-song-tea-rose_petal_preserve-10.2-oz..html">Harvest Song tea-rose petal jam</a> I’ve been using in my rose truffles this
week, I love spreading <i><b>thin baguette slices with fresh ricotta and a dollop of
this fragrant not-too-sweet rose jam</b></i>. For a savory version, drizzle the
ricotta-topped baguette slices with a few drops of good olive oil, a sprinkling
of flaky Maldon salt, and an intoxicating pinch of smoked paprika. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLVPmXl40d6gnpECs95HrBrLJAEnNg9QmXFVgf2kdOo4_QOWagMRXlp2qMq9QZGUS05qMB93MVg93xytszutusi4arXoej5tkr4UpxEYiv1rDYc5vkXaVBzXgeVT_K-SynYIKe53Ylw4/s1600/IMG_7302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLVPmXl40d6gnpECs95HrBrLJAEnNg9QmXFVgf2kdOo4_QOWagMRXlp2qMq9QZGUS05qMB93MVg93xytszutusi4arXoej5tkr4UpxEYiv1rDYc5vkXaVBzXgeVT_K-SynYIKe53Ylw4/s1600/IMG_7302.JPG" height="267" width="400"></a></div>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-valentines-day-dinner-menu.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-51422676336998464782014-02-05T23:50:00.001-05:002014-02-06T00:29:12.088-05:00Winter Salad With Radicchio, Endive and Citrus<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today is
my beautiful mom’s birthday, and I’m writing this post in her honor. Several
years ago on this day I wrote <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-magic-cake.html">one of my all-time favorite blog entries about our family’s Black Magic Cake</a>. I don’t know how I can top that, so today I’m posting a salad recipe
instead. Now before you yawn,
please know that this fabulous <b>Winter Salad With Radicchio, Endive and Citrus</b>
is definitely celebration-worthy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dyFCjRZD6B3eClhyphenhyphenHElnTFbfJ2s_IBofQ8UOOVWRlBK3aCuKbVsJBjp-agNtgo2K_JZPFjQVoa_joK-1-vIniqUiFqicwI8zH4dv-1QGYJ349T5raamkzktIme2dpkInNrjeEuZI0OI/s1600/IMG_1723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dyFCjRZD6B3eClhyphenhyphenHElnTFbfJ2s_IBofQ8UOOVWRlBK3aCuKbVsJBjp-agNtgo2K_JZPFjQVoa_joK-1-vIniqUiFqicwI8zH4dv-1QGYJ349T5raamkzktIme2dpkInNrjeEuZI0OI/s1600/IMG_1723.JPG" height="308" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It’s also
appropriate for <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2009/02/kale-dish-delicious-enough-for-birthday.html">Mom's birthday</a> because she is the queen of the beautifully
composed salad. Ever since I was a kid, I always remember Mom presenting these
artful-looking salads, incorporating as many colors and textures as she
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a mini painting on a
plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74dn9KTWTIE3bKoskTRzbA2jJs84naxCfUKqhf7seUwoBFuLyqZ0cRDZ4eczt8kPuVNXL5U34749Ro1ljGwqRkZV4h6FbNlRomMP1Wtb6pobxXh1q6FhSrvNHE9VDXoRGXeAPYIE_jW4/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74dn9KTWTIE3bKoskTRzbA2jJs84naxCfUKqhf7seUwoBFuLyqZ0cRDZ4eczt8kPuVNXL5U34749Ro1ljGwqRkZV4h6FbNlRomMP1Wtb6pobxXh1q6FhSrvNHE9VDXoRGXeAPYIE_jW4/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" height="262" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">During
these winter months, I shy away from typical leafy salads since most of the
available greens these days are rather limp and uninspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I turn to vegetables that are
crisp and assertive right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Radicchio and endive are both members of the chicory family, and I can
always rely on them to wake up my palate during the winter doldrums, as well
as help combat those starchy/cheesy comfort food cravings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7r0yeXWLdaIpG8bO9_qJ5yPmI0aw94VNfBW1C0lk8zeRNa8g27lwNyDc9Rz-HPFJDmEnS34OCnFJ7arnuYDto9wjhZNonCKFiU1E_H09o5FqUgvNe80PJOMu7TvIk4Q-RcHOaEyIWyA/s1600/IMG_1720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7r0yeXWLdaIpG8bO9_qJ5yPmI0aw94VNfBW1C0lk8zeRNa8g27lwNyDc9Rz-HPFJDmEnS34OCnFJ7arnuYDto9wjhZNonCKFiU1E_H09o5FqUgvNe80PJOMu7TvIk4Q-RcHOaEyIWyA/s1600/IMG_1720.JPG" height="330" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I love
the variety of textures and tastes in this winter salad. The tangle of bitter
radicchio and endive leaves, shaved into paper-thin ribbons, is balanced by the
crisp sweetness of the little celery crescents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Juicy orange segments add citrusy brightness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slivered scallions pack a punch while
cilantro mellows it out, and a zippy Dijon vinaigrette ties it all together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/02/winter-salad-with-radicchio-endive-and.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-8142045425490836712014-01-31T23:59:00.000-05:002014-02-03T03:01:58.742-05:00My New Kitchen (a la Dan-and-John)<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have a new kitchen!!! My little Manhattan kitchen was miraculously transformed last month by the brilliant work of my friends <a href="http://www.danandjohnlife.com/danandjohnlife/About.html">Dan and John</a>. I’m totally over the moon.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TCOCv-OeCzM3xk7_cCldw5oVJRmHs633aWeXtd7agP6hnB0uo0zCkTYq5mMmkgS4vc_s4rs0WqRnVaSI10Qt9O4yZvJefILQzaEZMD1yXFsHEriFdZT5nNB9rkO6dLhDFpLw-Kf9ycU/s1600/IMG_7275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TCOCv-OeCzM3xk7_cCldw5oVJRmHs633aWeXtd7agP6hnB0uo0zCkTYq5mMmkgS4vc_s4rs0WqRnVaSI10Qt9O4yZvJefILQzaEZMD1yXFsHEriFdZT5nNB9rkO6dLhDFpLw-Kf9ycU/s1600/IMG_7275.JPG" height="400" style="cursor: move;" width="300"></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I’d wanted to make improvements for years, having struggled with motivation to cook and create for this blog when I felt claustrophobic in my own kitchen, but I knew I couldn’t delay this project any longer after barely surviving the busiest <a href="http://www.cocoaroar.blogspot.com/">CocoaRoar</a> truffle season a year ago. Frustrated to tears by the lack of functional counter/storage space, I honestly considered giving up my truffle business. Either I had to move to an apartment with a better kitchen, or I had to make serious changes to my existing space before the next December truffle season came around.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8qSUNqpiunfZPefHQ6CJ_7Cz_pJXFfJLHGrqebFn0H2VUuwHXYdPP0Y8ZPfREFq5cQ7t1iWaDC_dOkH94vx9B402k-WwtW8uzRCI2FzH6Yvr187GVuwR2mbvkEqF1hghdiCfHVcPMK8/s1600/IMG_4088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8qSUNqpiunfZPefHQ6CJ_7Cz_pJXFfJLHGrqebFn0H2VUuwHXYdPP0Y8ZPfREFq5cQ7t1iWaDC_dOkH94vx9B402k-WwtW8uzRCI2FzH6Yvr187GVuwR2mbvkEqF1hghdiCfHVcPMK8/s1600/IMG_4088.JPG" height="300" style="cursor: move;" width="400"></a></div>
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Before...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">Enter Dan and John. As they say on <a href="http://www.danandjohnlife.com/danandjohnlife/Home.html">their website</a>, “We believe space matters—and that a well-designed environment enhances well-being and promotes the enjoyment of daily life.” </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVEmgrn8zoyTd7_Hs1WHQ3_1vYvQ65n0t4zVkNfOa57B_C1OUpm_1Sx48FtoDxdVF4CIwyIUCMucG0N6daNtRHnQTFEU3kpYUhVHKd9deO1KXeS8l8EgHgmhUCiylVKwJ5-U_g0sIgm8/s1600/IMG_7234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVEmgrn8zoyTd7_Hs1WHQ3_1vYvQ65n0t4zVkNfOa57B_C1OUpm_1Sx48FtoDxdVF4CIwyIUCMucG0N6daNtRHnQTFEU3kpYUhVHKd9deO1KXeS8l8EgHgmhUCiylVKwJ5-U_g0sIgm8/s1600/IMG_7234.JPG" height="400" style="cursor: move;" width="298"></a></div>
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After!</div>
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Any home improvements I’d made in the past were always very DIY. I’d never experienced having a fully realized vision for a room and then executing it, but sometimes you need to turn to the pros. I’d seen other beautiful design projects that Dan and John had done in the past, where they excelled at finding clever functional solutions that also looked incredibly cool. I couldn’t have imagined how far they’d exceed my expectations for my kitchen project!</div>
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<a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-new-kitchen-la-dan-and-john.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-70304405651110019722014-01-24T22:07:00.000-05:002014-02-06T00:29:24.384-05:00Roasted Acorn Squash With Chile-Lime Vinaigrette<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqzIo-JR4Gi_iO2UhGpIaHtVDjmI4SZXye0gez6XJdEK3cdWnay0WVSwK_dmKjN5TDswN_Y1arKxo0mJ4wnH3GHwKL75ms0Fvh6sPZxKQ86lzXNBz9u3_0uvNi8AKifF7R4MyeSP3FVI/s1600/IMG_7128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqzIo-JR4Gi_iO2UhGpIaHtVDjmI4SZXye0gez6XJdEK3cdWnay0WVSwK_dmKjN5TDswN_Y1arKxo0mJ4wnH3GHwKL75ms0Fvh6sPZxKQ86lzXNBz9u3_0uvNi8AKifF7R4MyeSP3FVI/s1600/IMG_7128.JPG" height="325" width="400"></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The lower
the temperature drops, the stronger my craving for starchy cheesy food
grows. I’m sure many of you can
relate, and it is taking every bit of self-control I have not to make huge pans
of <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2012/02/wild-mushroom-lasagna-with-smoked.html">lasagna</a> or vats of buttery mashed potatoes during these major cold
spells. However, I’m
counterbalancing my cravings for starchy white food by cooking from my arsenal
of favorite roasted vegetables dishes. <b>Roasted Acorn Squash With Chile-Lime
Vinaigrette</b> makes me especially happy, as this dish adds a welcome pop of
bright color and a good nutritional punch on these cold wintry days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q9UYixcgwDKUqXybc-M8UJqy30RZUp6CG-ghFlzbW7mWhEUdRiHto_1HMNg2ulognn92AIyLikYUforsUUdoSsnoGaOLnurggo8fjFLc0XzT3Be2mXUOlKOv_7-0mUQjG_Ioqm5m5yM/s1600/IMG_7094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q9UYixcgwDKUqXybc-M8UJqy30RZUp6CG-ghFlzbW7mWhEUdRiHto_1HMNg2ulognn92AIyLikYUforsUUdoSsnoGaOLnurggo8fjFLc0XzT3Be2mXUOlKOv_7-0mUQjG_Ioqm5m5yM/s1600/IMG_7094.JPG" height="313" width="400"></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It’s
amazing how so many vegetables are transformed into satisfying comfort food
when roasted at high heat with a good glug of olive oil and a liberal
seasoning of salt and pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
acorn squash is no exception to that rule, and it couldn’t be easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcRVRiywFcBfOpRWQ5JKq4kwnYfynASS1zZHSW3MBbpwAnDNkJnRlZAQZiWiWbMivD9CCe0fALAH3-tObKM2EoidD83Ue2ScbbojMHtZ_dTtombLbHeqQ06p_6AoMQ0RU4wB8hqBVPMI/s1600/IMG_7099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcRVRiywFcBfOpRWQ5JKq4kwnYfynASS1zZHSW3MBbpwAnDNkJnRlZAQZiWiWbMivD9CCe0fALAH3-tObKM2EoidD83Ue2ScbbojMHtZ_dTtombLbHeqQ06p_6AoMQ0RU4wB8hqBVPMI/s1600/IMG_7099.JPG" height="316" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">All you
do is cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, and slice the squash into thin
wedges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t even need to
peel it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the peel gets
crispy and candied when roasted, and that crispy-skin is one of my favorite
elements of this dish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLitl5x9u7mnEChpTEVgDTrX-PEUv3r5LHP4jj0o2AZZLWXdoJWUVvDHj5D8IokTLi_O45omcj-QFYdf33NWXiehx-8O5ivG9mOlTvBjQ6DTgCE0ODtZka5HtfhHxgQkcygeEmslSQHE/s1600/IMG_7102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLitl5x9u7mnEChpTEVgDTrX-PEUv3r5LHP4jj0o2AZZLWXdoJWUVvDHj5D8IokTLi_O45omcj-QFYdf33NWXiehx-8O5ivG9mOlTvBjQ6DTgCE0ODtZka5HtfhHxgQkcygeEmslSQHE/s1600/IMG_7102.JPG" height="305" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">While the
squash is in the oven, the dressing comes together in a snap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the contrast between the earthy
warmth of the roasted squash and this zingy vinaigrette.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fragrant with lime zest and cilantro,
then punched up with minced garlic and chilies, this dressing will wake up your
palate and rev up your metabolism as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br>
</div></div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/01/roasted-acorn-squash-with-chile-lime.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-59573432831807805852014-01-12T15:34:00.001-05:002014-01-12T15:35:19.379-05:0060 Minutes To Prepare A Party<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Well,
here’s a bit of news: I’m going to be on “60 Minutes” again tonight! Break out the bubbles!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Many of
you know I was featured in an Emmy-nominated profile about a very small handful
of people who possess a rare ability called Highly Superior Autobiographical
Memory. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zTkBgHNsWM">"Endless Memory"</a> aired on 12/19/2010, drawing the largest audience “60
Minutes” had in years, and a follow-up story was definitely in order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We filmed
this new piece this past November, though it was a major house of cards trying to
coordinate everyone’s busy schedules. I
was away playing concerts with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Every-Should-Know-Harry-Connick/dp/B00CAYH2XW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389558131&sr=8-1&keywords=harry+connick+jr+every+man+should+know">HCJ</a> for most of the fall, but there was a brief
window when the stars aligned and I left the tour for a whirlwind 24-hour trip
to be interviewed by Lesley Stahl.
I had a delightful reunion with my fellow memory wizards, Marilu Henner
and Bob Petrella, and we were particularly excited to meet 10-year-old Jake,
the youngest person to be discovered with HSAM. I know he’ll amaze you.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIrsgGdnSARKltPX_s5guktgYYuQYnr4igKcM2GJ1QfZQvb8S_vCSYa15VCvwGszFwIZByJsn7jiY88dd8LCL2svbLarimkwUr9JNSFZRxoPuuYW6t-EXdcf7ti_iGARVXPWuoj_nm2E/s1600/IMG_7139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIrsgGdnSARKltPX_s5guktgYYuQYnr4igKcM2GJ1QfZQvb8S_vCSYa15VCvwGszFwIZByJsn7jiY88dd8LCL2svbLarimkwUr9JNSFZRxoPuuYW6t-EXdcf7ti_iGARVXPWuoj_nm2E/s1600/IMG_7139.JPG" height="296" width="400"></a></div>
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</div>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/01/60-minutes-to-prepare-party.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-17542441201035720052014-01-04T23:52:00.000-05:002014-02-06T00:29:45.994-05:00Chile-Cinnamon Hot Chocolate<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy New
Year! Well, technically it’s
January 4<sup>th</sup>, so allow me to wish you a Happy 1/4/14! I really like the symmetry of that
number and I’ve been writing it all day in as many forms as I can. I’m happy to
be home at Kitchen Fiddler again, as it’s been an extremely eventful three
months since my last entry here, but that will be for another post. I’ve just
come off an intense round of CocoaRoar truffles so you’d think I’d be sick of
chocolate by now, but astonishingly, I’m not. In fact, I’m here to talk about hot chocolate—<b>Chile-Cinnamon
Hot Chocolate</b>, to be exact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The new year promptly started off with several inches of snow, and I was glad to hibernate
at home those two days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
nothing more comforting than being safely tucked inside during a snowstorm,
wrapped in a blanket while watching favorite movies and drinking huge mugs of
steaming hot chocolate topped with floating islands of whipped cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When that hot chocolate has an extra
kick from the spicy addition of chile powder and the whipped cream is flecked
with cinnamon, so much the better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZN0CyKMBf-3rjSgqULnqgCqG9UFz9OZCAfGZ7s7LTofP6i7SbxG8h0GW0LG7C7nWj71syiXbqUmZsaI4wWP58lLbIVbDLhZe-LDzvt78El3C5m_NMsUzaoKaADpvHm8wxchPz8RMr4s/s1600/IMG_7198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZN0CyKMBf-3rjSgqULnqgCqG9UFz9OZCAfGZ7s7LTofP6i7SbxG8h0GW0LG7C7nWj71syiXbqUmZsaI4wWP58lLbIVbDLhZe-LDzvt78El3C5m_NMsUzaoKaADpvHm8wxchPz8RMr4s/s1600/IMG_7198.JPG" height="320" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I rarely
find myself making regular B-flat hot chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost always doctor it up in some way, either by spiking
it with various liqueurs or infusing the whipped cream with flavors beyond the
norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I transpose my
favorite truffle flavors to hot chocolate form, as in my <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2008/09/everythings-coming-up-roses-and.html">Cardamom Hot Chocolate with Rose-infused Whipped Cream</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tonight’s chile-cinnamon hot chocolate is also a riff on my popular
spicy truffle, one I haven’t made in a while but have been craving recently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2014/01/chile-cinnamon-hot-chocolate.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-88477508824254656452013-10-09T22:30:00.000-04:002013-10-09T22:31:20.494-04:00Lavender Shortbread Cookies<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Much has
happened since my last post! I
played a monster solo recital last week, featuring a program that was the
musical equivalent of an ironman triathlon. My wonderful mother flew into town for the occasion, and I
was delighted that she could share in the big night and visit with all of my
friends. Mom made the most delectable <b>Lavender Shortbread Cookies</b> for the
post-recital reception, and it is my pleasure to share these little beauties
with you today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CEbLOdipVDFm0ODIk6vSnF3h_XwVeZrzXhvQVIuKVJlQQjOzLqr23cxv1PW7i7O5gAkRezJnZ0n5S0ZheFZWi6c1rtYZttYDi3r_2PS4PscqCMSsNI9SVA3xVNzgZFGMD7YIwn4NWL0/s1600/IMG_7076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CEbLOdipVDFm0ODIk6vSnF3h_XwVeZrzXhvQVIuKVJlQQjOzLqr23cxv1PW7i7O5gAkRezJnZ0n5S0ZheFZWi6c1rtYZttYDi3r_2PS4PscqCMSsNI9SVA3xVNzgZFGMD7YIwn4NWL0/s400/IMG_7076.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">My
post-recital parties are usually fairly simple affairs, usually with a few beautiful
cheeses, olives and grapes set out alongside some wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Mom wanted to make these lavender
cookies that my Aunt Barbara had baked on a recent visit, and I certainly
wasn’t going to say no.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFsCoPVU5Z9sNkWPRLIQg5Ck4OSAnGDO2zRr0NUBLmxaIW74mEIy38xIQau6Oxl3FCyj6WzBp0VXOhWXROR5muzDLnF6eXqIoQyT_VyG8IM_XuU7GkQRC0l-IVt8bN49FjNCeMdrr0Ng/s1600/IMG_7063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFsCoPVU5Z9sNkWPRLIQg5Ck4OSAnGDO2zRr0NUBLmxaIW74mEIy38xIQau6Oxl3FCyj6WzBp0VXOhWXROR5muzDLnF6eXqIoQyT_VyG8IM_XuU7GkQRC0l-IVt8bN49FjNCeMdrr0Ng/s400/IMG_7063.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-magic-cake.html">Mom</a> and I
have a long history of planning post-recital parties together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I got my start in the kitchen
because of the parties Mom threw for her piano students after their monthly
class recitals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember
marching into the kitchen during one of her pre-recital baking flurries when I
was six years old, announcing that I needed to learn how to bake and that I would
help her get ready for her party the next day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/10/lavender-shortbread-cookies.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-20706348485149942072013-09-29T00:19:00.000-04:002013-10-02T00:32:10.225-04:00Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad (a la ABC Kitchen)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am
totally obsessed with this <b>Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad</b> from ABC Kitchen. In fact, this post should really be entitled “Go Make This NOW!” I haven’t actually been to <a href="http://www.abckitchennyc.com/">ABC Kitchen</a> myself,
but if the rest of their food is anything like this brilliant carrot
concoction, I want to have lunch there as soon as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It’s been
a while since a dish grabbed my attention so insistently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since finding this recipe two
weeks ago in the New York Times, I’ve made this salad nine times and for five
different friends. Everyone flips when they taste it, and I think you will too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">At first
glance the roasted carrots, avocado slices and sprouts seemed a slightly
incongruous combination, or at least something reminiscent of my ultra-healthy
1970s California childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I was intrigued enough to try it immediately, making the whole
recipe so that I’d have leftovers for the next day or two. It turns out that
the combination of the fragrant roasted carrots with velvety avocado slices is
an inspired one, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I ate the entire thing in
one sitting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJga_cZNwEMwwE9A3ZLs8Htqd6Ogl8hsSrBrkjw6sLna-zF4_QtGJ-VOXX8iD4hdkMByNmLA_5PyWro-AJDFUVnzqcKDwVPbCGfO5ERnfnozjeZLUWN7kO2VDsxA27XmsOwAQIbGMauLM/s1600/IMG_7025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJga_cZNwEMwwE9A3ZLs8Htqd6Ogl8hsSrBrkjw6sLna-zF4_QtGJ-VOXX8iD4hdkMByNmLA_5PyWro-AJDFUVnzqcKDwVPbCGfO5ERnfnozjeZLUWN7kO2VDsxA27XmsOwAQIbGMauLM/s400/IMG_7025.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">These are
no ordinary roasted carrots. Normally I’d be happy drizzling a bunch of carrots
(or almost any vegetable) with a liberal dose of olive oil, salt and pepper
before popping them in the oven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But these carrots go to a whole new level when covered with a garlicky
paste, enlivened with cumin and fresh thyme as well as lots of salt, pepper and
hot chile flakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/09/roasted-carrot-and-avocado-salad-la-abc.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-56764957868274832672013-09-17T01:31:00.002-04:002013-09-17T01:34:35.173-04:00Kitchen Fiddler Turns Five<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today is
Kitchen Fiddler’s 5<sup>th</sup> birthday! If I could make one giant birthday cake to share with you
all, it would be this <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/11/black-pearl-cake.html">Black Pearl Cake</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95WAPMJx7hf2mX1KZjahboXhNHDq5qTHvdN64Pw_2XJZvOMEiJLpepL8ULDhk8jeNbrwACUBQopv6vcWOXZip6-HKz-oyHV7bIeJx6n172_qDyj5GdsqWZnqmSrsyD3N9Ss76PnQ3VHE/s1600/IMG_3717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95WAPMJx7hf2mX1KZjahboXhNHDq5qTHvdN64Pw_2XJZvOMEiJLpepL8ULDhk8jeNbrwACUBQopv6vcWOXZip6-HKz-oyHV7bIeJx6n172_qDyj5GdsqWZnqmSrsyD3N9Ss76PnQ3VHE/s400/IMG_3717.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Five
years ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into, only that I knew a blog
would provide a way to share recipes and stories beyond my immediate circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t have imagined
how much joy I would find knowing that family, friends, friends-of-friends,
and even strangers truly enjoy the recipes they find here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ceBEPUOO5JVnBv4mtYNf3gJnnJmx_7plw8UXywo8zIgdw5wuzK6x5PLwueRoEOC5T-rNy0LS6dZh08TG2nIT3LY7ihZ9bMyOl0LTFWHruxLHhftPPTFyxQukJO_lw2UD58rduGToYc4/s1600/IMG_4104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ceBEPUOO5JVnBv4mtYNf3gJnnJmx_7plw8UXywo8zIgdw5wuzK6x5PLwueRoEOC5T-rNy0LS6dZh08TG2nIT3LY7ihZ9bMyOl0LTFWHruxLHhftPPTFyxQukJO_lw2UD58rduGToYc4/s400/IMG_4104.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I’m
grateful for this little space in the cyber world, for it has challenged me in
so many creative ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My cooking
has improved over the past five years, and my writing and photography skills definitely have as well. I almost cringe at some of those earliest posts that rambled on
at great length, yet as much as I’ve wanted to go back to edit them or retake
the photos in natural light, I’ve left them alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They represent where I was at that time, and there’s
something heartening about being able to trace one’s creative journey, with
both stumbles and successes along the way.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwH6KYJQWEQcPcHezY2CKIKneFvow0beI1LRm1gNayae2ww1AXdvuoPoSUr4BMSbYf6Td6_2zAvkbIWNYSqgd3DXtj1d6oeeKs10tPljc95b2Kru8HYx4hHx1hNgKiSPWg4WOLorJdQy0/s1600/IMG_4255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwH6KYJQWEQcPcHezY2CKIKneFvow0beI1LRm1gNayae2ww1AXdvuoPoSUr4BMSbYf6Td6_2zAvkbIWNYSqgd3DXtj1d6oeeKs10tPljc95b2Kru8HYx4hHx1hNgKiSPWg4WOLorJdQy0/s400/IMG_4255.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/09/kitchen-fiddler-turns-five.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-86976753099797213822013-09-10T23:25:00.000-04:002013-09-12T18:36:38.824-04:00Chile-Lime Popcorn<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have
three words to say this evening: <b>Chile Lime Popcorn</b>. You heard me.
Be prepared to be astounded.
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">After a
long-time addiction to Newman’s Own microwave popcorn, I’ve recently started
making popcorn the old-fashioned way, on the stove in a heavy pot with a little
oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy, inexpensive, and
it tastes like the popcorn of my childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stove-popped pocorn is also a versatile canvas for letting
your flavor imagination run wild.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L-oQqiWPJ8ADVF8vtvWryidRV3AqpTONN35DK3t-NtLDxkPTyM5sqoMvt8lgc4BAbXEnjeGzm_2nzTTxn-0JazUyT8_OeF-wnyqliQANmwYVMRRPuJjlBu2sms_lpMZM4p_s9fakZBs/s1600/IMG_6986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L-oQqiWPJ8ADVF8vtvWryidRV3AqpTONN35DK3t-NtLDxkPTyM5sqoMvt8lgc4BAbXEnjeGzm_2nzTTxn-0JazUyT8_OeF-wnyqliQANmwYVMRRPuJjlBu2sms_lpMZM4p_s9fakZBs/s400/IMG_6986.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I’ve had
fun seeking out different kinds of popcorn kernels, and this organic multicolor
blend from Fairway is particularly festive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMJpBHjd-XkifNBtb6bqrPF-bhuoqiN8iaHWqr0jbLotgtYxHWk-8Qn8YT40ipYEDseAPVqXV1PIq8AAV9JmY5-hWAdEVzocwsfSPO9JgZZuln1kPJHe7UBFhLJg_RneNxgEjDZpEbyU/s1600/IMG_6991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMJpBHjd-XkifNBtb6bqrPF-bhuoqiN8iaHWqr0jbLotgtYxHWk-8Qn8YT40ipYEDseAPVqXV1PIq8AAV9JmY5-hWAdEVzocwsfSPO9JgZZuln1kPJHe7UBFhLJg_RneNxgEjDZpEbyU/s400/IMG_6991.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/09/chile-lime-popcorn.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-87366936246849790682013-08-14T23:25:00.000-04:002013-09-12T18:36:18.145-04:00Cherry Stracciatella Ice Cream<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">Cherries
are my favorite fruit, and I can’t eat enough of them in the summer when
they’re at their peak. My neighborhood fruit stand vendors know me so well that
they automatically hand me a bag of cherries before I even ask.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">So you can imagine how my taste buds
went into a tizzy when I saw a recipe in the latest </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><i>Bon Appetit</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"> for a
cherry-bourbon vanilla ice cream.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I started doing mental variations on the recipe, imagining it with
brandy instead of bourbon, or plumping the cherries in amaretto and topping it
with toasted almonds. But last night I started dreaming about drizzling in
melted chocolate at the end of the freezing time to make a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>Cherry Stracciatella
ice cream</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">And that version
galvanized me into ice cream-making action this afternoon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">You know
you want this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of it as a
sophisticated riff on the popular B&J’s Cherry Garcia flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it is so much more than Ben or
Jerry could have ever dreamed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgu532_eQdoNbSq8WESg-oJ5onr6GA_6ZKPp_gNTk-GX5WVNXyxTA0ydVEEGAUES-2CcEvVKWSbxyo6td-TThvvp598KSUVjhDnDehJUmBDvOTibCN3vyLCQRv2GLOVKVvkRP1EM9S24/s1600/IMG_6962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgu532_eQdoNbSq8WESg-oJ5onr6GA_6ZKPp_gNTk-GX5WVNXyxTA0ydVEEGAUES-2CcEvVKWSbxyo6td-TThvvp598KSUVjhDnDehJUmBDvOTibCN3vyLCQRv2GLOVKVvkRP1EM9S24/s400/IMG_6962.JPG" width="292"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The ice
cream custard base is a straightforward vanilla one, an excellent backdrop for
wherever your culinary imagination leads you. I like the roundness of flavor
that vanilla bean specks add, but you can flavor your ice cream simply with
pure vanilla extract if you don’t feel like splurging for the vanilla bean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhcVeP9mfRDf5UUa3_u23-VraCUo6rys1gofOl30XLco2yoFYkTj8TE1naDJcU59ZYQHBSdt5KGREkbasE-qbQCYTYqnCB7rAtZsCbcyQz_TmvT0LKkLwjGb26nO_uSiBhwydppEGcFc/s1600/IMG_6947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhcVeP9mfRDf5UUa3_u23-VraCUo6rys1gofOl30XLco2yoFYkTj8TE1naDJcU59ZYQHBSdt5KGREkbasE-qbQCYTYqnCB7rAtZsCbcyQz_TmvT0LKkLwjGb26nO_uSiBhwydppEGcFc/s400/IMG_6947.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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</div></div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/08/cherry-stracciatella-ice-cream.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-43362467079963039212013-08-02T19:13:00.000-04:002013-09-12T18:37:05.089-04:00Shaved Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Pine Nuts and Parmesan<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After my
wordy protestations this past month about wanting to be back in my kitchen
after weeks away, I haven’t actually turned on the stove very much. When I’m not making vast quantities of <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/07/making-green-juice-in-vitamix.html">green juice</a>, I’m content to find whatever produce looks freshest and assemble a
simple huge salad with it. If I
add fresh herbs, some toasted nuts, a few shavings of a pungent cheese and a
drizzle of great olive oil, I'll call it a meal. This <b>Shaved Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Pine Nuts and
Parmesan</b> definitely follows that formula with very happy results.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is
the time of year when zucchini is growing out of control, overflowing in the
gardens and in the markets. When I walk by the farmer’s market stands in my
neighborhood and see these perfect specimens at the peak of their season, it’s very hard for me to pass them up. Not to be confused with much
paler yellow summer squash, I love the robust yellow variety as well as their
darker green counterparts too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgCUCM74EJY97O_4c1tvGQzFo0459ygZjyYG7zCWmYdmI0-yY96bZiIdnyIlje0tjUUwshkDlZh1NO_fyGpU8WDUt4Q-1mfZlRkuQiOHvjlRBbQ-7a-kCKCwDjnmlej2ohwAanMwciVw/s1600/IMG_6873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgCUCM74EJY97O_4c1tvGQzFo0459ygZjyYG7zCWmYdmI0-yY96bZiIdnyIlje0tjUUwshkDlZh1NO_fyGpU8WDUt4Q-1mfZlRkuQiOHvjlRBbQ-7a-kCKCwDjnmlej2ohwAanMwciVw/s400/IMG_6873.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Zucchini
is very versatile, lending itself well to being steamed, sautéed, grilled,
roasted, baked into quick breads or cakes, or simply eaten raw. I can happily
eat my <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/07/quickest-zucchini-saute.html">Quick Sauté with Mint and Almonds</a> on a daily basis without growing tired of it, but lately I
don’t feel like turning on my stove even for the 60 seconds required for this
recipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, it’s been fun to
put my vegetable peeler to work and make this raw salad on a regular basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nbnYvwv0c20_QnyKiehyphenhyphensEUxJrZrM7GnXgJGy8goI2-11URflmx_g_WsMKkLG-bjh90lVhg5MeuEpBbNolRppzrig2Ew675-YRn2g8iLkXxS49qmKvd9Ge4cCXD7Qy4ReoGiIB2LKxc/s1600/IMG_6890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nbnYvwv0c20_QnyKiehyphenhyphensEUxJrZrM7GnXgJGy8goI2-11URflmx_g_WsMKkLG-bjh90lVhg5MeuEpBbNolRppzrig2Ew675-YRn2g8iLkXxS49qmKvd9Ge4cCXD7Qy4ReoGiIB2LKxc/s400/IMG_6890.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/08/shaved-zucchini-ribbon-salad-with-pine.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-38438457934184567082013-07-25T00:21:00.000-04:002013-08-01T01:33:38.054-04:00Making Green Juice In The Vitamix <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw-2No2t7ZSaitQ93c3jPvbSB6hFoyDgqyGfAHwgWHDlJnVAupqilTP4m0Bt-vPiZ0aSq2jbHP5SMPnAc4mW3_2DlmhE6zy1CDK9dK4iqXjDLSovyCxYnO-nrTuZBJADvKiKODs-AJUI/s1600/IMG_6866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw-2No2t7ZSaitQ93c3jPvbSB6hFoyDgqyGfAHwgWHDlJnVAupqilTP4m0Bt-vPiZ0aSq2jbHP5SMPnAc4mW3_2DlmhE6zy1CDK9dK4iqXjDLSovyCxYnO-nrTuZBJADvKiKODs-AJUI/s400/IMG_6866.JPG" width="300"></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">After weeks of <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/06/meals-on-tour-part-one.html">touring</a> and eating only in restaurants, i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">t’s really good to be home for a few days</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">I’ve been cooking very simply, and my
refrigerator is full of all things green and leafy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">And I have been enjoying a daily large dose of fresh
vegetable juices, thanks to my trusty Vitamix blender.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">This <b>Kale-Cucumber-Ginger-Mint Juice</b> is
the perfect way to energize your body, whether or not you need to detox after a
month of late night eating and drinking on a tour bus! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3IgGBoYJAp0CtNzP7zOQnN6DAfEOlXakZJzEA5RsoQH4GTDK9yJdtbl_Eo1ghVeNWqHZ5mWogx0aKMd3QOvCUSoj3UupIpyltdacPC7L9Ai2iNbw8367jiUBeU3B9nUVvPkI5GlGZWA/s1600/IMG_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3IgGBoYJAp0CtNzP7zOQnN6DAfEOlXakZJzEA5RsoQH4GTDK9yJdtbl_Eo1ghVeNWqHZ5mWogx0aKMd3QOvCUSoj3UupIpyltdacPC7L9Ai2iNbw8367jiUBeU3B9nUVvPkI5GlGZWA/s400/IMG_1264.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I really missed my <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/vitamix-blender-pro-300/?pkey=e%7CVItamix%7C7%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C2&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule%7CTop_Marketing_Billboard-_-">Vitamix</a> this last month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This kick-ass
blender immediately became the MVP in my kitchen upon its arrival this
spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a wizard at pureeing
soups, transforming them into a puree so silky smooth, you’d swear someone
added a cup of cream while you weren’t looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I bought this machine primarily for making vegetable
juices, as a way to incorporate more fresh produce into my daily diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKnhAH1Gtv3bNE6GoXOxqGMjS0YKf1C2JvWprPFclRevQte6yBekdvoX5pr-842ga1DEjmQUYgmQbO5WyZ-Vrwxz1zDINGobeJ77y8hbtifMIQfbRsVYkGVWkG_oOlBXXIbhrYPZ0Tmk/s1600/IMG_1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKnhAH1Gtv3bNE6GoXOxqGMjS0YKf1C2JvWprPFclRevQte6yBekdvoX5pr-842ga1DEjmQUYgmQbO5WyZ-Vrwxz1zDINGobeJ77y8hbtifMIQfbRsVYkGVWkG_oOlBXXIbhrYPZ0Tmk/s400/IMG_1276.JPG" width="400"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For ages I’ve wanted a
juicer but couldn’t justify the counter space for another appliance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, after doing some research
online, I found that you could get similar results by blending fruits and
vegetables with a little water and ice in the ultra-powerful Vitamix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The motor in this machine is a force to
be reckoned with, capable of pulverizing anything to a liquid, and that was
enough to convince me to splurge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/07/making-green-juice-in-vitamix.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-14291124944176932252013-07-13T12:55:00.000-04:002013-07-25T13:43:24.189-04:00Summer Produce Daydreams<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I’ve been on the road for
36 days and counting, and I still have more than a week to go before I am back
in my apartment again. I am having a fantastic time, between the <a href="http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20130708/ENT/307080015/Connick-dazzles-funky-Peace-Center-concert">exciting concerts</a> that keep me on my toes, traveling to great cities and enjoying some excellent hotels along the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I miss my kitchen
terribly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizNzF4IsZ3rGgY3HM9jsThZtfj53JsQSYyq1NpDjIG9FNJZbBXgOdqU0YD9txRMNt_HXEuK38vkYDd-clLsckBiCpLVfGi6D4K1x8wCqfbIdfs9O8MdxwnUhAqjBvdqRw8mtuEk5Z5J8/s1600/IMG_5361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizNzF4IsZ3rGgY3HM9jsThZtfj53JsQSYyq1NpDjIG9FNJZbBXgOdqU0YD9txRMNt_HXEuK38vkYDd-clLsckBiCpLVfGi6D4K1x8wCqfbIdfs9O8MdxwnUhAqjBvdqRw8mtuEk5Z5J8/s400/IMG_5361.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yes, you heard me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am homesick for my cramped little
Manhattan kitchen, the same one that often makes me feel like I’m cooking in a straightjacket with its limited storage and counter space. But I miss it
nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> While </span>I love certainly exploring
great restaurants in new places, sometimes I just need a home-cooked
meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I’m daydreaming about my
favorite recipes that take advantage of the summer produce bounty, as well as a
few other perennial favorites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Until I can get home again, perhaps I can entice you to make some of
these dishes in your own kitchens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Happy cooking!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRE_1_LFmXGPrmJYD-BGttF6oMJrx-eXR2-1qfEKYmImS0qC3jESc3dKo2DN04dTd5zytShOXnFqKxxlF4PfYYYdd1gv_r5uGb4TBQmJvOkUzBJNbq5iuwupTZ9bUjrOJ9UYEBg2wxYzI/s1600/IMG_2634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRE_1_LFmXGPrmJYD-BGttF6oMJrx-eXR2-1qfEKYmImS0qC3jESc3dKo2DN04dTd5zytShOXnFqKxxlF4PfYYYdd1gv_r5uGb4TBQmJvOkUzBJNbq5iuwupTZ9bUjrOJ9UYEBg2wxYzI/s400/IMG_2634.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br>
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2010/07/quickest-zucchini-saute.html">Quick Zucchini and Mint Saute</a> comes together on the stove in less than a minute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But if you don’t mind a
little heat in the kitchen, you can make a whole meal out of these <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2012/02/arugula-stuffed-baked-potatoes.html">Arugula-Stuffed Baked Potatoes</a>. They're also the perfect accompaniment to your next grilled steak.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUZJNUy3ei0Rn5nHGZWAuFdONbDFdSUf5T0L8ceF1AZNSq_DYuZgRC3fySVqnTthsVD9Dw2QyAN9-ZGurLjoytgJXaXEm0Qn9AIPdhAePHfd3hvTOo4zYC7s8eznBzU7G6lVgztg5Y10/s1600/IMG_4973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUZJNUy3ei0Rn5nHGZWAuFdONbDFdSUf5T0L8ceF1AZNSq_DYuZgRC3fySVqnTthsVD9Dw2QyAN9-ZGurLjoytgJXaXEm0Qn9AIPdhAePHfd3hvTOo4zYC7s8eznBzU7G6lVgztg5Y10/s400/IMG_4973.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br>
</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-produce-daydreams.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3973733440914722048.post-17918183162314160032013-06-27T23:51:00.000-04:002013-07-05T01:29:23.692-04:00Meals On Tour: Part One<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Greetings
from a tour bus in the middle of Pennsylvania! I’ve been away from my kitchen for weeks, first performing
at the OK Mozart Festival and now playing with <a href="http://www.harryconnickjr.com/us/events" target="_blank">this man</a> on a 5-week
tour. I had grand plans to cook
and photograph many summery dishes in early June so I could write periodic blog
entries from the road, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. I was overwhelmed by the preparations
for these 7 weeks away from home, so until I am back in my kitchen, here’s another
series of <a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2011/04/memorable-meals-on-road.html">Meals On Tour</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I love
being “the string boss” for this band, and the concerts have been a total blast
with a mixture of songs from <a href="http://www.myplaydirect.com/harry-connick-jr/every-man-should-know/details/28510904" target="_blank">the new album</a> as well as classic standards, gospel tunes and New
Orleans jazz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A typical day on
this tour focuses on an evening concert, followed by a several-hour drive and arriving at the next hotel in the middle of the night. Sometimes we only have a
day in each new city, but I always try to explore a bit and seek out an
excellent lunch, no matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisszBXF-zztTH2WaQUpDpuxr2Q2levB4jIUWT408BC1pQI5B02PAleVwYzfjM1X5voev71a8LvDWqQTMLzwZxG4jD63cRMXW3wOVD9_HBBgYRDywQOvca9szmdqR31D5WkAhk5mUKIH2M/s1600/IMG_1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisszBXF-zztTH2WaQUpDpuxr2Q2levB4jIUWT408BC1pQI5B02PAleVwYzfjM1X5voev71a8LvDWqQTMLzwZxG4jD63cRMXW3wOVD9_HBBgYRDywQOvca9szmdqR31D5WkAhk5mUKIH2M/s400/IMG_1004.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The first
big travel day was rough, leaving late after the first concert in Baltimore and
rolling into Providence at 7 am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At least our hotel was around the corner from <a href="http://local121.com/menus" target="_blank">Local 121</a>, so after
sleeping a solid four hours in the hotel, I treated myself to lunch. This white
pizza with smoked mozzarella, sautéed kale, oven-roasted tomatoes and topped
with a fried egg totally hit the spot, and I can't wait to recreate it at home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We
followed the brief stint in Providence with several days in Boston, my old
college town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thrilled to
play at Symphony Hall for the first time, and my inner 19-year-old was turning
cartwheels with the excitement of it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was deliciously happy wandering around all weekend, revisiting my
first two college apartments and other favorite places. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0j0_Oe9-I-_44fw01jPtBkQYjXAOzqiho32Z2m-UtfVcsmbRO2v16V1v9M-7zBgJH82GDGuUuPS4-8rM51rUKpLjHOSVkh0K8AVGvM7XIgNHgyBWQr51Sv5HIbS9nOv6fRs6XPFeVJw/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0j0_Oe9-I-_44fw01jPtBkQYjXAOzqiho32Z2m-UtfVcsmbRO2v16V1v9M-7zBgJH82GDGuUuPS4-8rM51rUKpLjHOSVkh0K8AVGvM7XIgNHgyBWQr51Sv5HIbS9nOv6fRs6XPFeVJw/s400/IMG_1017.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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</div><a href="http://kitchenfiddler.blogspot.com/2013/06/meals-on-tour-part-one.html#more">Continue reading »</a>louisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735885049515314389noreply@blogger.com0