April 16, 2011

the back abbey

went over to the back abbey with a couple friends/coworkers this past week to try their famous back abbey burger.  i've been hearing a lot of hype on this little joint so i wanted to go and try this place of myself.
little joint is a nice way to explain this place i think. super cozy little pub: you need to seat yourself.  with a wide selection of beers, we decided to go with the beers suggested by our waitress.
tried this beer with their "pommes frites" - french fries- "fresh kennebec potatoes fried twice and served with horsradish chice sauce, roumelade, and ketchup" - (its friend in duck fat)
choice of burger: the back abbey burger of course-it shares the name of the joint, must be good right? - "6oz dry-age grind burger with aged gouda, mustard aioli, caramelized onion, niman ranch bacon, and micro greens served on a brioche bun"


it was pretty good i must say.
not sure though, i think i'm still more of a fathers office fan.

which do you prefer? 
Fathers Office or The Back Abbey?

April 2, 2011

wedding preview

a little sneak preview of a dessert bar i did couple weeks ago.





more details about it when i get some pictures.

March 23, 2011

blueberry donuts recipe

for weeks now, i've been craving and wanting a bite of a blueberry donut.
why you ask??
well simply because everyone was posting pictures of their blueberry donut all over facebook.
a bit jealous and a little sad; but i still didnt have enough want to physically go and get them myself.
so i figured the next best thing would be to bake them myself.



the dough during its rising stage. when it fully doubled in size, i was super excited [i literally jumped up and down]...my mom probably thought i was crazy.

mixed in the blueberries and cut out donut rings.

into the pot of oil it goes

fried and glazed. i had to literally tell my family to stop eating them for a couple minutes so that i could take a picture.  [its a good sign i guess]

boxed and ready for work.
my coworkers are in for a surprise. ^^

donut recipe
ingredients
-.5oz active dry yeast
-1/4 cup warm water
-1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
-1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tspn salt
-2 eggs
-1/3 cups butter (room temp)
- 5 cups all purpose flour
-5 oz box of blueberries
- vegetable oil for frying

directions
-mix warm water with year until dissolved.
-mix yeast mixture, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, butter, and 2 cups of flour on low speed with dough hook.
-gradually add the rest of flour
-knead dough until smooth.
-place dough in a oiled bowl and cover. (set in warm place and allow to double in size. i put it on top of my stove)
-mix in blueberries
-roll out onto floured surface (dont worry if the blueberries pop) ~1/2in thick
-cut out donuts (allow to rise. i didnt really do this part because by the time i finished, the ones i first cut seemed ready)
-in a 350f pot of oil, fry donuts to a tan color on both sides. once fried, place on a wire rack .

glaze recipe
-1/3 cup butter
-2 cups powdered sugar
1 tspn vanilla
hot water

using a double broiler, combine all ingredients (minus water). slowly add water until wanted consistency. 
dip donuts into glaze and enjoy.!!

for baked donuts (tastes more like bread on its way to being a bagel)
for a healthier alternative.

-preheat oven 350F
-bake donuts for 10 mins on both sides.
-enjoy!!

next batch i'll try the famous combo of apple and bacon.

*side note: tired the donuts this morning. definitely tastes better when fresh. right out of the deep fryer.
*side side note: the bagels this morning was delicious. cut them in half, toasted them, spreaded cream cheese and ate it on the way to work. perfect little breakfast.

March 16, 2011

caramel apple cupcakes

lately i've been having a lot of  conversations revolving around the topic: food.
here and there people throw ideas (some better than others) of the next flavor combo i should incorporate.

while at church, pastor sam suggested caramel apple for my next cupcake flavor.
i just nodded and went on with my day.
this flavor stuck with me the entire week so i figured i would give it a try.



so here you go.
an apple cupcake with a pinch of cinnamon.
filled with caramel.
topped with a buttercream frosting.
drizzled with caramel and sprinkled with cinnamon.

enjoy!

February 20, 2011

recipe: strawberry tiramisu

i think its about time that i share a recipe.
this past friday, we had a combo community group get together.
lots of people. lots of food. lots of fun.

not having enough time to bake something, decided to compromise.
this is the PERFECT bite size dessert to make.
just cut, stack, eat.

ingredients:
-strawberries - sliced
-coffee flavored mascarpone 
-family size pound cake
-2 tbsn powdered sugar

slice thin slices of pound cake. using circle cutter, cut circles out of the pound cake.
mix mascarpone with the powdered sugar (add more if depending on desired level of sweetness).
start the stacking process.
pound cake. mascarpone cheese. slice of strawberry. mascarpone cheese. pound cake. mascarpone cheese. strawberry.

super simple. super easy. super cute. super delicious.
enjoy!!

picture credit: janice kim

February 17, 2011

vanilla cake with strawberry jam, buttercream frosting, coconut

and i'm back!!
been a little m.i.a. because my charger for my laptop broke.
i realized i can use my brothers charger and currently am in the process of finding one.

couple weeks ago, i have a girls night in.
made a simple cake to share with my favorite ladies.
toasted coconut and covered the frosted cake generously.
zested to top with some lemon zest.

the center filled with buttercream frosting and a layer of strawberry jam.
this picture doesnt do justice but it was there. promise.

valentine cupcakes


a little late but heres some mini cupcakes with heart shaped frosting.



hope everyone had a wonderful valentines day or S.A.D. day!!