March 26th, 2011

Whisking pastry cream on the stove

Some friends were having a scorpion bowl party, so I thought, what better time than to bake more fun treats? I'm really obsessed with baking sweet if you hadn't noticed by this blog. Trying to fit in with the scorpion bowl theme, I thought coconut and pineapple! I had both on my kitchen counter. Not wanting to invest hours on end to this endeavor, I picked up some pre-formed pastry shells from the freezer sections and decided to dedicate my efforts to the filling.

I made a classic pastry cream, halving the Dorie Greenspan recipe that I used for the Classic Fruit Tart the week before. I then sauteed fresh cut pineapple and mixed it with a warm lime curd glaze. Bon appetit!

Pineapple + Lime Pastry Cream Tart

While the tarts were under construction, I dipped into my newly purchased cookbook: My Sweet Mexico by Fany Gerson. It's a delectable book filled with rich stories and anecdoates about authentic pastries, breads, candies and other treats from Mexico. She includes detailed easy to execute instructions as well. The simplest and most compelling recipe for me to begin with was Jamoncillo de Leche, or milk fudge. Her description made it seem super easy. Toss in ingredients and stir until it pulls away from the sides of the pan. Ta-dah! It struck me as funny simply because I investigated other milk fudge recipes online only to find them described as complex with specific temperatures and procedures to follow - like candymaking. But it wasn't that way at all. I could tell when it was ready. It was clear. I didn't need thermometer or whatever else they suggested. It did take me 45 minutes of constant stirring, instead of the 20-30 min she said. I realized mid-way through that my stove simply wasn't hot enough, hence the slow carmelization. I was too cautious at first due to concerns about burning - but I didn't need to have those fears.

Honestly, I don't know what the big fuss is about this kind of cooking. It was super easy and everyone loved the milk fudge. I used coconut milk instead of evaporated milk, so it had a hint of tropical sweet. Perfecto!

March 23rd, 2011

Newfie at Whole Foods
Boston, MA

I'll admit, a poor snapshot. But this big guy was the highlight of my day. Such a sweetie, sleeping outside of Whole Foods in downtown Boston, waiting for his parents to come out. He had the biggest, sleep eyes and his fur was fluffy soft to the touch. I wanted to give him a big hug and curl up beside him!

March 21st, 2011

Saratoga Street
East Boston, MA

I love this building on Saratoga Street. The weather worn wood in the front adds dramatic character. It's rundown, but in a romantic Restoration Hardware kind of way. Although, I do kind of doubt they have $3k sofas inside if that plastic-bag-patched window pane is any indication. But you never know. I have romanticized anyway.

March 20th, 2011

Kelly Square Pub
East Boston, MA

A local East Boston bar, Kelly Square Pub should not be mistaken for being Irish. It isn't. I've been assured that. Twice. It's Kelly's Square.....Pub. Only the square is Irish. Not the bar.

The food is fairly generic, basic American comfort food leaning on the Italian side. They have beers on tap, even Blue Moon if you'd believe it, but rarely a tasty seasonal. The wine is of the Berringer variety and I really don't think people order it very often. It's a local pub. Everyone seems to have been born and raised in Eastie, all know each other, and are generally pretty friendly. They have some flatscreens behind the bar, which is the ideal place to sit. There's usually a waitress, but I've always been served by the bartender regardless of where I sat. Its stumbling distance home, which is the real lure. I've been to better and worse in the neighborhood. It's here. I feel very neutral about the place.

March 19th, 2011

Still swollen feet

After getting home, you can still see the swelling in the top of my left foot. Where the tendons are apparent in my right, there is nothing but inflammation in my left. It shines with ibuprofin topically applied. While it exists in this form in Europe, I'm still rather uncertain how effective it is. Or rather, it feels effective, but it could be a placebo effect, or some combination of the fact I've stopped walking by the time I apply it. Either way, this problem doesn't seem to be going away.

March 18th, 2011

Free weights at the gym

I've returned to the gym with a vengeance. My favorite move being the curl-to-press with dumb bells.

March 14th, 2011

Classic Fruit Tart

My tart came together beautifully for Pi Day, in spite of some initial troubles with the pastry cream. In the end it was both delicious and enjoyed by all. I love tarts.