IN MY KITCHEN, APRIL 2012

Posted in General, In My Kitchen by sallybr

Following Celia’s footsteps once more, I share with you what is going on in our kitchen this month.

In My Kitchen…. A little celery miracle!

Did you know that if you cut the base of celery and place it in water for a few days a new celery plant will grow from it? All you have to do is plant it in your garden. Thanks to a tip from my friend Cindy, I have my own celery experiment going on, and this baby is now outside (fingers crossed for a long, productive life!)

In My Kitchen…
Homemade pain de mie, recipe from The Bread Bible, by Rose Levy Beranbaum, perfect to spread with any of the tasty concoctions by American Spoon, from Michigan. (I don’t work for the company and have not received any freebies to evaluate and/or promote).

In My Kitchen…. one of my favorite bowls, made in Italy, with a nice image of Tuscany. Just looking at it makes me happy!

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In My Kitchen…. two special gifts from our friends and neighbors, the super-gardeners V & M

Romaine lettuce, picked from their garden just a couple of hours earlier!

Amazing spinach, very flavorful, that went into a spinach risotto, soon to be blogged about! 😉

In My Kitchen…. A new passion, hibiscus flower tea!

I was intrigued by this post and could not rest until I got some hibiscus flowers to play with. The color of this tea is amazing… stay tuned to hear more about it.

In My Kitchen…

A bundt cake tester with a probe that changes color when the cake is perfectly cooked in the center. Yeah, I need all the help I can get as far as cake baking is concerned.

In My Kitchen…

Normally our pepper grinder is full of black Tellichery pepper, but I could not resist getting this bag of colorful peppercorns, to shake things up a little

In My Kitchen….

My newest toy, a tortilla press! Corn tortillas from scratch are infinitely better than store-bought, and a good quality press makes all the difference. A blog post about it is in the works…

In My Kitchen… especially for Codruta & Smidgen….
THE BREAD KNIFE!

and, finally… from the backyard, two cool dudes wanted to say hello and hope that you enjoyed this little tour through their favorite spot in the house!

Oscar + Buck = Double Trouble on the horizon… 😉

ONE YEAR AGO: A Dutch Tiger

TWO YEARS AGO Banana Bread

17Dec2011

IN MY KITCHEN, DECEMBER 2011

Posted in In My Kitchen by sallybr

Life has been pretty busy. I am shocked to realize that my last “In My Kitchen” post happened three months ago! But, before 2011 says goodbye, I take you to a little virtual tour of what is happening in our kitchen, again inspired by Celia, who started these virtual tours and got many bloggers following her lead.

In our kitchen….
My pressure cooker, that goes into reverse-hybernation during the warm months, but comes out to play in the Fall and Winter. Cooking beans, potatoes (mashed potatoes in 15 minutes), soups, stews, even risotto. Many people are afraid of pressure cookers, but nowadays they are very safe and easy to use. Ours even has a cool timer attached to the lid, that counts down from the moment it reaches full pressure, beeping when the time is up.

A few goodies brought from Trader Joe’s during our short visit to Los Angeles last month. Assorted dried mushrooms, dried cranberries… Their Pound Plus dark chocolate bar is great for baking, although it’s hard to resist grabbing a little square here and there to nibble with a cup of capuccino.

And, speaking of capuccino, as the weather turns cold and sometimes gray outside, we brought some color to our kitchen, with these fun cups to serve our first java of the day.

But when only a shot of pure espresso will bring us back to life, these cute cups we bought in an antique store in Germany many years ago are perfect to enjoy them.

A madeleine pan – a blog on madeleines will be up next year (it’s only a couple of weeks away 😉 – with a non-stick coating that helps these delicate little cakes come out easily after baking. But, I don’t use it only for baking….

Their shape is perfect for laying a piece of plastic wrap on top, and spooning items to be frozen. For instance, we love a particular brand of salsa (Victoria), but they only sell a huge bottle. We simply spoon portions on the madeleine pan and freeze the tray. After that, the portions are dropped in a zip lock container, and stored in the freezer. The shape of the madeleine pan is perfect for this use, better than muffin tins.

My most recent acquisition, a Christmas gift I gave to myself: a bread proofing box! It stores flat, but once you assemble it….

It turns into the perfect environment to proof starters and bread doughs, no matter how cold your kitchen is. I am absolutely smitten with it! Stay tuned for a post on my first bread made with it.

And, finally… not exactly in our kitchen, but in our dining room…
A chandelier we brought from Brazil after my Dad passed away. It was in my parents living room, but my Mom moved out of that house and had to keep it stored in a box for years, waiting for a loving home. Phil painstakingly assembled it last week, looking at old photos to figure out how to do it. I know my Dad would love to see it in our home.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour through our kitchen… So, what’s happening in YOUR kitchen these days?

ONE YEAR AGO: Homemade Ravioli

TWO YEARS AGO: 100% Sourdough Rye

26Sep2011

IN MY KITCHEN – SEPTEMBER 2011

Posted in In My Kitchen by sallybr

Inspired by Celia, and her monthly edition of “In My Kitchen”, I join this virtual party once again with this post.

In my kitchen lives a rice cooker (working on quinoa in this photo)…

When we were in Los Angeles, cooking in the nano-house had a few challenges. One of the things we bought to help us out was a small rice cooker. At first, I did not want to bring it back to our regular home, thinking there would be no need for it. But, the truth is, this little gem of an appliance makes life so easy! I don’t remember last time I cooked rice on the stove top. I rinse the rice in the insert of the cooker, fill it with the appropriate amount of water, season with salt, and flip the switch on. Farro? No problem… Quinoa? Perfect every time. I am so glad Phil twisted my arm to bring it with us! ;-

… and speaking of quinoa, I must show you one of my favorite gadgets ever! I bought it many years ago, a simple serving utensil labeled as a couscous server. It is perfect for couscous, but I also use it to fluff rice, quinoa, and other grains. Here it is, sitting next to two very recent acquisitions: an ice cream scoop on the far right (also great to portion muffin and cupcake batters), and a cookie dough dispenser in the center. The cookie scoop will be highlighted in a post in the near future, Nutella drop cookies… (nothing like a little self-advertising!).

Cookies… I’ve been on a cookie mood lately.   Even got a couple of special molds, to make one of my favorite types of cookie – spicy, sweet, crisp, addictive. Stay tuned! 😉

From cookies, let’s talk tea…   While having lunch with my dear friend Cindy at Couscous Cafe, we were both blown away by how good their hot Moroccan tea was. I am not too wild about sweetened tea, but at some point I stopped paying attention to how much tea I was pouring for myself. I probably drank 90% of the teapot, leaving Cindy to watch, certainly a bit frustrated with my rude manners. It was just too good! They had a tea set for sale, and I brought it home.

In my kitchen… a bowl of farmer’s market yellow cherry tomatoes, plump, sweet, juicy, totally delicious! I love to incorporate them in recipes, but sometimes I just grab one and pop in my mouth, no salt, nothing. Just its pure flavor.

In my kitchen… a great thing that unfortunately will come to an end. This Trader Joe’s kalamata olive oil will be enjoyed to the very last drop. It traveled all the way from L.A. with us, and now I wish I had brought two bottles. Or three…   (sigh)

In my kitchen… a sign of the times. Fall is the season of apples, and with apples come apple cider. Great stuff, that I had not tried until Phil introduced me to it. We always go through several bottles this time of the year. And, for a change of pace, I intend to follow the footsteps of Fer, from Chucrute com Salsicha, and brew some tea using cider as the basis. She mentioned it recently in her blog. Those who read Portuguese (or you can always use Google translate) can take a look at her post here.

and, finally… in my kitchen these days, an attempt at organization. I’ve decided to keep only my issues of Fine Cooking. All other publications I will read, cut out the recipes that appeal to me, and glue them in a notebook. The rest: recycle bin. I’ve tried many methods to organize my recipes before, with very limited success. But, no big deal, I have a lot of fun trying! What matters is the journey, not the destination. Right? 😉

ONE YEAR AGO: Creamy Broccoli Soup

TWO YEARS AGO: Marbled Rye (how NOT to make it, that is… 😉

28Aug2011

IN MY KITCHEN – AUGUST 2011

Posted in General, In My Kitchen by sallybr

…. a Brazilian extravaganza!

Celia, from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, is the inspiration behind “In My Kitchen”, as she started this type of post in her blog many moons ago, and now many bloggers are doing the same. 😉

These are just some of the goodies we brought home with us from our trip, and most of it brings back memories of my childhood. You ‘ll notice that I definitely had more appreciation for sweets then.

To start off… Bombons Sonho de Valsa (A Dreamy Waltz). These (in the pink wrappers) are by far the most popular chocolate concoction in Brazil. They were created in 1938 by Lacta, and the label hasn’t changed much since then. Kraft Foods later acquired Lacta, and the new company came up with a few variations, but none as popular as the original. It has a center of cashew nut cream, surrounded by a thin layer of waffle crust, and the whole thing covered in milk chocolate. I grew up savoring these, and my favorite part was the creamy center, so if no one was around I’d carefully nibble the chocolate and the waffle, to enjoy the cashew nut filling all by itself!

Later, much much later, the same company created “Ouro Branco” (White Gold), the exact opposite of Sonho de Valsa, in that white chocolate forms the outside layer, with a dark chocolate/nutty cream lays inside. Ouro Branco arose in the mid 70’s, and die-hard fans of Sonho de Valsa (me included) would not touch one. But, one day I happened to try it, and concluded that they have their well-deserved spot on Earth! With their older brother they make a great yin-yang pair… 😉

Ovinhos de Amendoim (little peanut eggs). You can’t give these little delicacies enough praise. It’s impossible to eat just one. They are addictive and incredibly delicious! But don’t just take my word for it, here’s what an American traveling for the first time in Brazil had to say about them… 😉

They were a mandatory snack at my parents’ home to nibble before a Sunday lunch, or when friends came to visit. Japanese immigrants deserve all the credit for these little jewels. The outside layer is made of manioc (cassava) flour, which crumbles in your mouth and dissolves with a salty/sweet taste that’s perfect for the roasted peanut inside. They bring me memories of my Dad, because we’d sit down to watch TV and share a bag, fighting hard for the last ones. 😉

BANANA-PASSA (Raisin Banana) – Or, as Phil calls them “bananinhas.” Don’t hold their look against them. Ugly? …maybe, but sooooo tasty! Each one is a full grown banana, dried down (with or without additional sugar, depending on the brand), until they are about 1/5 of their size, and each packs a ton of banana flavor. They’re perfect for a hiking trip, but don’t forget each one you wolf down is an entire piece of fruit. Imagine what will happen if you eat 6 bananas! So, pace yourself, and stay with a maximum of two of these.

BALAS DE LEITE KOPENHAGEN. I have very few addictions. Nutella, Haagen Dazs Dulce de Leche ice cream, and Balas de Leite (milk candy) from Kopenhagen. When I was young all the products from Kopenhagen were too expensive, and not a good match for my allowance. But when I had a little bit of extra cash, I’d indulge myself and buy a small bag of these candies, which put me in personal heaven for a while. Every time we now land in Brazil my sister gives me several bags to bring home!
The outer shell is hard; you can either bite it right away or let it slowly dissolve in your mouth until it breaks and releases its treasure: sweetened, condensed milk! I’m partial to the second protocol, but sometimes I’ll devour one just to get that mixture of crunchy shell with the condensed milk… aaahhh the simple pleasures…

CHA’ de CAMOMILA & ERVA DOCE. My Mom’s evening tea is a new found love. When I tried it I thought it was the best I’d ever had, but I could not figure out what kind it was. She finally told me her “secret recipe” – a mix of two herbal teas, chamomile and fennel, brewed together. Their flavors combine into something else, something soothing and smooth, a perfect way to end the day. I’ve been making it before going to bed, so me and my Mom share a similar routine, only a few thousand miles apart from each other…

and, finally, also in our kitchen, precious gifts from loved ones….
A painting of a Brazilian flag, which was a gift from my niece and her daughter. The center of the flag shows a flowering tree called “quaresmeira“, typical of Brazil, that is thought to bring everlasting happiness…

A beautiful tablecloth made by our friend Alice….

A nice kitchen towel made by my Aunt….

Wooden items, salad servers, lime mashers for caipirinhas, drink stirrers, all sitting on a beautiful wooden tray, a gift from my sister.

I hope you enjoyed the glimpse into our kitchen this month…

ONE YEAR AGO: A Journey to a New Home

TWO YEARS AGO: Pork medallions in mustard-caper sauce

20Jul2011

IN MY KITCHEN

Posted in General, In My Kitchen by sallybr

One of the blogs I visit all the time is Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, hosted by Celia, a mother of two boys living in a wonderful spot in Australia, where she and her husband maintain a garden that provides almost all the vegetables they consume, raise chickens, and in her time off, she does trivial stuff like baking all the bread they consume, making cakes and tempering chocolate. Talk about impressive! Her blog is always a joy to read, and I particularly look forward to her posts under the category “In My Kitchen.” Check them out here.

Today I join her by sharing with you some of the highlights in my kitchen these days.

In my kitchen….
A brand new arrival! A Cuisinart ice cream machine, red, sexy, gorgeous… which was put to test with a chocolate sorbet, a favorite of my husband, who used to order it often at Sweet Harts, in Los Angeles. The enabler for this purchase was another favorite blogger of mine, Fer, from “Chucrute com Salsicha.” She always makes amazing concoctions with her ice cream machine, and I could not resist getting one myself.

Here it is, hard at work, it’s fun to watch the ice cream starting to form in front of your eyes

In my kitchen… serendipity…
When we lived in L.A., I used to visit an amazing Anthropologie store in Beverly Hills, and drool over their clothes and kitchen stuff. This set of plates caught my attention then, but the price tag left me cold, so I did not buy them. A couple of weeks ago, I logged into ebay and just for fun did a search for Anthropologie & plates. I felt a shiver up and down my spine (the good kind of shiver) when these plates were the third item, no bids, a couple of hours to go, great price… don’t you love when things work so well? 😉

In my kitchen…
A beautiful bowl, with my favorite colors, that I found over at Etsy, in this store from Kim Berger. Perfect to serve pasta, salads, stews, rice…

In my kitchen…. a little soba-obsession, maybe? 😉
I brought this “small sample” with us from L.A., from our favorite Japanese market. The green ones are made with tea, and I must use them instead of guarding the packages like a terrier with his favorite toy.