Blueberry and Dark Cherry Youghurt Parfait

Happy Birthday America!!! This Fourth of July, stay cool with a chilled fresh fruit and youghurt parfait! I make homemade soy youghurt, and flavour it with vanilla bean.  It's fairly easy and really tasty.  

The rest of the ingredients are simple and wholesome: dark cherry halves, rolled oats and blueberries. When I'm in a rush, I just throw all the ingredients in a bowl and stir, but today's special, so let's get fancy!

First, I like to add a layer of youghurt, then oats, then berries.  The oats help keep things in layers - they add a dryness and stability. Sometimes, the sugars in the fruit draw out moisture from the youghurt, making a watery pocket in the parfait.  The oats soak up the separating water and keep things texturally consistent. 

Keep layering the youghurt, oats and fruit until about an inch from the top.  Then, place a row of cherry halves around the top of the glass, followed by a bit more youghurt and a row of blueberries. You could add a sprig of mint, or a few oats to the top.  My favorite thing, however, is a few toasted slivered almonds.  

You can customize this for your tastes.  Use strawberries or raspberries instead of cherries.  Try granola instead of oats.  Any way you make them, parfaits are refreshing summer treats.  

*Despite my European, Asian and Brittish tendencies, I'm really proud to be American.  Happy Fourth!

Made from scratch Hot Cocoa!

Mmmm!  The perfect thing for these cold winter days!  Vegan, made from scratch, hot cocoa!

First, I like to work with fair trade organic cacao nibs.  Spread them in a thin layer and toast lightly at 350˚F until they start to darken and sizzle.  Then, after they've cooled just slightly, add them to the Vitamix.  You may be able to do this with another blender, but the ultra slow speed option of the Vitamix makes the process very easy.

Blend on low until a thick paste forms.  Then add a bit of non-dairy milk - just enough to loosen the cacao so it can be easily blended.  I like almond milk best for this beverage.  Increase the blender speed to the highest setting.  In a high powered blender, the friction of the blade will cause the mixture to heat up.  Continue blending until the mixture reaches ~150˚F, adding milk as needed to keep the entire mixture available to the blades.

When heated, and smooth, add a bit of vanilla bean and cayenne pepper (if you like things wild).  Unless you're using a sweetened milk, it may need sweetening at this point, too.  Blend a while longer to ensure that all the ingredients are completely mixed through.

To ensure consistency, be sure to strain the mix through a very fine sieve.  Pour up the mixture and garnish with flake salt.  I like Maldon or a fleur de sel.

Apple Cobbler

It's apple season!  I kicked off the season with this simple apple cobbler.

I like to use a blend of apples to get nuanced flavour from each cultivar.  Peel, slice and add to a skillet with a bit of oil.  Saute on low heat until they begin to soften.  Add a bit of sugar, cornstarch, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract.  I also added a bit of molasses.  When they're soft, place in a greased cast iron skillet.

I ground a bit of organic red wheat and used it for a basic biscuit dough recipe.  I didn't add any sugar, but probably would next time - sugar helps the dough brown as it bakes.  It's easy to cover the apples with the dough by using a dough scoop to parcel out the topping.

Bake at 350F until the top is done.  I sprinkled a bit of rolled oats on top because oats, brown sugar and cinnamon are amazing together.

Brioche

So, the first thing bread artisans will say, "This isn't the way to make brioche!"  Then, they'd launch into an explanation or debate regarding how to work in the chilled butter.  But, I take every shortcut I can and I wanted to make this recipe accessible.

First, I added the yeast to a bit of water (and orange juice) to let it dissolve.  Then, I add chunked butter, eggs, sugar, salt, nutmeg and vanilla to the mixer and run it until the butter is broken down to small bits.  Then add the water and yeast mixture and enough flour to make a soft dough.  Keep mixing to form the gluten.  Set in a cool place for about 8-10 hours.  This allows the dough to ferment and develop complex tangy flavours.

Then add more flour to form a stable dough, mixing it with the dough hook.  Allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes and form to round loaves.  Set in a warm place to raise until it's more than doubled in size.

Bake at 350F until light golden brown.  Then remove from the oven and brush with egg wash (a whisked egg and a shot of water).  Return to the oven and bake it until it's a dark golden brown.

This is what delicious looks like!

Mixed Fruit Pavlova

It's relatively easy to make, with three main components: meringue, whipped cream and fresh fruit.  It does take a while, though.

Start with a couple egg whites and a small bit of cream of tartar; whip until foamy.  Then add a bit of sugar and vanilla; whip to still peaks.  Spread the meringue onto a silicone baking mat.  Be sure to make walls around the edge of the meringue to form a shell (ya, know like in the picture).  Place it into a preheated 250F oven.  Here's the where the waiting starts: turn off the oven and leave the meringue overnight, or for ~8hours.  When it's done, it should be crisp and melt away when you bite it.

You can prepare the fruit while the meringue "bakes."  Be sure to use flavours that complement each other.  Also, the delicate fluffy composition needs the texture of soft fruits like berries and stonefruit.  Something like apple wouldn't fit the texture profile.

When the meringue is done, prepare the whipped cream.  I went with a light flavour profile to support the already delicate taste: acacia honey and almond.  Like the taste of angels dancing on your tongue, they are!

Finally, pile the whipped cream in meringue shell and layer the fruit atop the cream.  I also made a blood orange syrup to drizzle over top.  Be sure to serve it promptly so the meringue doesn't get soggy.

Raspberry-Pomegranate Parfait

Start with fresh pomegranate and extract the juice.  I used a ricer: Good Grips Ricer Mix raspberries, the pomegranate juice, a bit of vanilla and a smidgen of sugar. Muddle the ingredients and spoon a portion into a clear glass. Add Greek youghurt to a piping bag (I prefer vanilla or honey) and carefully add a layer atop the raspberries.  Continue alternating layers of fruit and youghurt until the glass is full. Top the arrangement with sugared raspberries and a sprig of mint.

Serve chilled. Sweet citrus flavours are an excellent complement to the raspberries.

Gateau de figues fraîches

Egg white genoise with youghurt and figs.

A light cake with fresh fruit is always a delight.  This sponge is made with egg whites and coconut oil instead of the traditional whole eggs and butter.  It bakes nicely and plates attractively with an apricot glaze.

The sky's the limit, but fresh figs are irresistible.  A light youghurt, instead of heavy cream, brightens the flavour.

Although it was a tasty composition, it lacked the desired sweetness.  Next time it should be prepared with extra honey and vanilla in the youghurt and, perhaps a sprinkle of sugar on the figs.

Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Warm and pecan cinnamon rolls.  They're the perfect weekend food and they keep for a few days.  Monday morning isn't so bad with these as leftovers.

Start with a basic bread dough, adding a bit more sugar and a whisper of cinnamon.  Once the dough is ready, prepare the pan first by giving it a spray of olive oil (or other non-stick cooking spray), then arrange pecan halves on the bottom.

Prepare the filling: a mixture of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and a dash of salt.  I also like to use coconut oil to reduce the amount of cholesterol.  The mix should be slightly pasty, but spreadable.

Roll out the dough, spread the filling and sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Roll, score evenly and cut with unflavoured dental floss.

Arrange in the pan and allow to raise.  Bake at 175C or 350F until the tops are golden brown.

Remove from the oven and immediately invert on a hear safe surface.

The perfect weekend food to serve with hot coffee.

Tarte aux Fraises with Greek Youghurt

This one's not quite the classic strawberry tarte.  It has a graham cracker crust, but the filling is made of Greek youghurt, coconut oil, sugar and vanilla.  It's egg free, much lighter and more tangy than the traditional crème pâtissière - a nice alternative for those with egg intolerances.

Making the design isn't complicated at all.  Escargot it! - just make a slight overlapping cicrular pattern.

C'est délicieux!

Classic Tiramisu

The sequence of preparation is like the Nectarine Tiramisu.  However, instead of pouring the flavouring over the ladyfingers, simply dip them in cooled and sweetened espresso.

I use these pastry bags with great success: Regular size: DayMark 115435 12" Hand-E-Grip Pastry Bag with Dispenser (Roll of 100)

Large: DayMark 115436 18" Hand-E-Grip Pastry Bag with Dispenser (Roll of 100)

Berries in a Basket

Strawberries in a chocolate basket!

Cream, sugar, a couple of grates of nutmeg, and vanilla bean.  Whipped by hand to perfection:

A few tiny berries:

Chocolate basket: instructions here

Pipe in the whip and top with berries:

Garnished with apple mint.  Outrageously decadent.

Apricot and cranberry scones

Mix chopped dried-apricots and dried cranberries.  Rehydrate with orange juice.  Add a grating of orange zest and a slash of vanilla essence.

Mix the flour and fat - here it's coconut oil with.  A little salt, sugar and baking powder and it's ready to have the soy milk added.

Form into a round flat (2cm thick) loaf.  Bake at 175C  (350F).

These are not the modern American scones, sugary, eggy and greasy.  These are more like the English mildly sweet biscuits.