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Category Archives: foodporn
Chocolate Cherry Cordial Tart
As a new Gojee contributor, I was invited to the Gojee Potluck Dinner at their headquarters in New York City on January 12th. Unfortunately I am not able to make it. But this is what I would have brought with me if I did! The combination of cherries with chocolate, a touch of chocolate Balsamic and the flaky puff pastry crust is just delicious! Starting on Thursday, January 26, check out other potluck dishes fellow gojee contributors shared. Go to gojee.com and enter “gojeepotluck” into I Crave. You can also follow #gojeepotluck on Twitter
Chocolate Cherry Cordial Tart
Wonderful as an afternoon treat with coffee or tea.
Add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or frozen yogurt and you have a perfect dessert.
Serves 8
4 cups fresh sweet Bing cherries, pitted
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup port wine
1 tablespoon chocolate balsamic
vinegar (I use Fiore brand), but if not
available, use an aged Balsamic
1 teaspoon arrow root powder
(dissolved in a couple
tablespoons of the port)
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 sheet frozen puff pastry,
thawed (you could make your own!)
4 ounces softened cream cheese
4 ounces shaved chocolate (or
Chips)
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix the pitted cherries with the sugar, port,
balsamic, dissolved arrow root powder, and cocoa
and put into medium saucepan. Cook over medium
heat until sauce comes to a boil. Remove cherries and boil
sauce 2 to 3 minutes longer to thicken. Remove from heat and
place cherries back into sauce and allow to rest.
3. Press the puff pastry sheet into a 9-inch shallow and greased baking dish or tart
pan.
4. Spread the softened cream cheese on the pastry. Spread the chocolate shavings
(or chips) evenly over the cream cheese. And using a slotted spoon, place the
cherries in a single layer over chocolate.
5. Bake for 35 minutes. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes before serving.
This recipe is in the Baked Goods section of my cookbook, The Art of Breakfast.
Grapefruit Brûlé Cocktail, Anyone?
I am fascinated by the challenge of converting fruit ideas from my cookbook into the late afternoon cocktail hour. This creation was inspired from my favorite Grapefruit Brûlé with Vanilla Bean Crème from the fruit course chapter of my cookbook. It came about from the allowing the torched grapefruit to sit for quite a while – there was a leftover half and after a couple hours, I saw the juices on the plate that mixed with the vanilla sauce and the crunchy sugar top so I tasted the juice and a new cocktail was born!
- Rim the martini glass with a piece of grapefruit and dip into a plate of dark brown sugar
- Add a small handful of ice to a cocktail shaker
- Squeeze 1 large ruby red grapefruit into the shaker (it yields about a 3/4 cup)
- Add 1/2 cup vanilla vodka (I used Pinnacle, they’re in Maine)
Shake vigorously and serve in the brown sugar rimmed glass. Garnish with a slice of the ruby red grapefruit and enjoy!
Grapefruit Brûlé Cocktail
Grapefruit Brûlé from The Art of Breakfast
I never thought a roasted plum could look so gorgeous in photos!
So this isn’t about Maine (though I did make this dish here in Maine and it is in my cookbook) but more about photography and how just the right lighting, contrast and reflection can make a photo pop! The shine of the glaze fascinates me, and this food is 100% natural! The plums are roasted with honey and the skins give off this beautiful pink juice. They tasted great too, by the way…
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
I just love the way they look before they’re even baked!
Ever tried homemade marshmallows?
YOU SHOULD! You may never buy packaged mass-produced again!
This was a Martha Stewart recipe. We turned them into bite sized S’Mores 
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Chive and Cream Cheese Scrambled Eggs in Wonton Cups
From The Art of Breakfast…
Chive and Cream Cheese Scrambled Eggs in Wonton
This is a fun and delightful way to serve simple, scrambled eggs. Add salsa, cheddar, and some crumbled spicy sausage and you have a nice Latin inspired breakfast.
Serves 4
16 wonton wrappers
12 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 bunch scallions,trimmed 1 inch from top and bottom, using both white and green parts, sliced 1/8-1/4 inch thick
one (8-ounce) package cream cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Coat a popover pan with butter or vegetable oil. Take 3 to 4 wonton wrappers for each popover cavity and line it, overlapping the wrappers. Be sure to get a wrapper into the bottom.
Bake until the tops are lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Then cover carefully with foil and bake another 15 minutes. This allows the wonton wrapper inside the pan to continue browning without over browning the edges. Let the wrappers sit to cool a few minutes and place each on individual serving plate.
Mix the eggs and the cream in blender for 5 seconds.
Coat a large frying pan with butter or vegetable oil. Over medium heat, pour the eggs and scallions into pan and slowly cook until eggs are almost scrambled.
Add the cream cheese in small dollops and continue to cook until the eggs are set, just another minute or so. Add salt and pepper to taste
To serve, portion one-fourth of the eggs in each wonton cup. You could serve this version with salsa on the side with a few slices of ripe avocado and fresh heirloom tomatoes.
Kitchen Tools: popover pans are designed specifically with a lip that forces the popover up and out to expand, creating the signature balloon shaped top. The pan works perfectly in this recipe since it’s tall and holds the wonton wrappers in place vertically.
I found another food to torch! A fresh fig!!
I halved a fresh fig, dipped it into Vanilla Bean Creme (recipe in The Art of Breakfast) and then into raw sugar and torched! Add a drizzle of the creme on top and voila, a beautiful, delicious garnish or even small bite for dessert.
Chocolate Cherry Cordial Tart, from The Art of Breakfast
Chocolate Cherry Cordial Tart
Wonderful as an afternoon treat with coffee or tea.
Add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and you have a perfect dessert.
Serves 8
4 cups fresh sweet Bing cherries, pitted
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup port wine
1 tablespoon chocolate balsamic
vinegar (I use Fiore), but if not
available, use an aged Balsamic
1 teaspoon arrow root powder
(dissolved in a couple
tablespoons of the port)
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 sheet frozen puff pastry,
thawed
4 ounces softened cream cheese
4 ounces shaved chocolate (or
Chips)
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix the pitted cherries with the sugar, port,
balsamic, dissolved arrow root powder, and cocoa
and put into medium saucepan. Cook over medium
heat until sauce comes to a boil. Remove cherries and boil
sauce 2 to 3 minutes longer to thicken. Remove from heat and
place cherries back into sauce and allow to rest.
3. Press the puff pastry sheet into a 9-inch shallow and greased baking dish or tart
pan.
4. Spread the softened cream cheese on the pastry. Spread the chocolate shavings
(or chips) evenly over the cream cheese. And using a slotted spoon, place the
cherries in a single layer over chocolate.
5. Bake for 35 minutes. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes before serving.
Recipes can be found in The Art of Breakfast, How to Bring B&B Entertaining Home
Maine Crab Dip, anyone?
A REALTOR friend from Maryland whom I met on Twitter sent me the nicest gesture of thanks for simply sharing my knowledge (social media and real estate) – a tin of that fabulous Maryland Old Bay Seasoning. So I had some Maine crab and decided to make a crab dip seasoned with Old Bay, a bit of mayo, ricotta and white cheddar. Delish! Thank you, Chris!
