Epic Pie Making Marathon

semi successful...in such cases it's best to give away the fruits of your labor...if you want the scale to remain your friend.

Cuisine Soignée

Cuisine Soignée - A simple meal made with great care and the best possible ingredients.
~Jacques Pépin



I was thoroughly charmed when I stumbled across the above definition in a recent NY Times article authored by legendary chef Jacques Pépin. Perhaps it was hearing my nom de plume in the context of Pépin's writing.  After all this is a blog about casual elegance and food! In my opinion superb meals are born from a medley of deft artistry and happy accidents. It's safe to say Pépin and Child shared my view.  

Pépin and his dear friend Julia Child are amongst my father's favorite cooks.  I've often heard Dad reminisce about some technique he learned watching them.  The three share a passion for sauces. 

Of course the foodie blog world has long been enamored with the statuesque chef and her distinctive voice.  No offense to the brilliant Nora Ephron, but Hollywood missed an opportunity for true alliterative movie title magic by neglecting to employ the luminous Ms. Streep for "Jacques and Julia" (as opposed to that other vehicle which ultimately materialized).  Pépin's musings about his perfect sidekick and foil are especially poignant.  Read them here.

Bon Appétit!

dani

Pecan Pie for Breakfast?

Ooey, goey and oft derided as overly sweet; pecan pie can be an acquired taste.  I confess it's not one of my favorite confections.  Tyler Florence's inspired take on the southern classic threatens to change that.

It's not a conventional pairing for a classic italian dinner but this pie was a hit at a recent fete.   My mother has been schooling me in the art of the tester, miniature versions of dishes sampled prior to serving them to company. One such mini served as my breakfast this morning.  Yum.

xx
dani

Hello Luuuuuucy!

So I decided on Earl Grey Truffles and a Torte for the shower. Whisk tea infused cream into quality milk chocolate to make these delightful treats. Rolling them by hand is half the fun. The best part is you'll end up with chocolate everywhere, Lucy and Ethel style.

Blood Orange Bourbon Old Fashioneds

sexy…single…and sipping on Jim Beam.  You're not alone if you find the last component of this image somewhat incongruous and yet the objective of this post is to proclaim my affection for old man drinks.

I've never been a fan of the cliche Cosmo or Kool-Aid's tackier technicolor cousins, Hypnotiq and Alize.  I'll take it straight up…with a twist of wit and whimsy.

Substitute 9 year old Knob Creek (worth it for the typography alone) for ole Jim and you have a versatile mixer as delicious in brownies or a pecan torte as it is in the glass.

An absolutely brilliant rye cocktail from the mixologists at NY hotspot Apothetique inspired this marriage of blood orange and bourbon.  I must say it's a happy union.  Enjoy!


2 oz bourbon
2 dashes Stirrings blood orange bitters
1 sugar cube
a splash of dry blood orange soda
garnish with a lemon twist

Mix sugar, soda and bitters.  Add an orange wedge and muddle into a paste.  Add bourbon.  Fill glass with ice and stir.

Peonies

The peony, my favorite flower, is the dominant floral motif in Chinese pottery and poetry. I snagged some in the market today and they are certainly brightening up the place.  These few lines of verse, from Chinese poet Qian Qi, capture the blossom's intoxicating charm.  

~xo

dani

Visit to the Hermit Chui

Moss covered paths between scarlet peonies,

Pale jade mountains fill your rustic windows.

I envy you, drunk with flowers;

Butterflies swirling in your dreams.

Sweet & Savory

This cake is so yummy my friend @ Squeak My Clean created a soap inspired by it! Enjoy.

Lemon & Rosemary Olive Oil Cake

1 ½ cups of flour

l cup of sugar

1 sprig of rosemary

¾ cups olive oil

1 extra large egg

¾ cups whole milk

zest from ½ lemon

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

4 star anise seeds

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Pulverize anise and rosemary in a food processor along with your sugar. Add liquid ingredients.  Add dry ingredients.  Blend thoroughly.  Bake approximately 40 minutes in a medium loaf pan.