RWood

So, in late August we had seven cherry tomato plants come up. A raccoon partook off some of the ones we had planted earlier and crunched them up on the patio (didn’t like them apparently 🙄). We sweep them off, and got plants that did better than anything we planted. It got below freezing this past week, so before I picked all the green ones (6lbs). I made my grandmothers pickled green tomatoes. I haven’t had them in years.

It’s a big touristy bakery chain now. When I first moved out there, it was smaller and we just loved the sourdough. It still tastes the same though. It ships really well. Family has sent it to us and we just freeze it then bake as needed. The taste of it brings back so many memories.

My mom requested Soutzoukakia tonight. Greek yellow rice and steamed broccolini. And some of our last Boudin sourdough from SF. Got get another order in.

Ribollita without the bread. We prefer it without. This time I added some precooked orzo to the bowls, so that it wouldn’t suck up all the liquid (like the bread). And a really old bottle of Vampire Vineyards wine my cousin gave me. It was actually a lot better than I thought it would be.

Was going for a more Halloween theme, but didn’t go that way. Raspberry, Apple Cider Caramel, Pistachio and Dulcey ganache

Heading to Rhode Island for a wedding this week. Made some macarons for family. Caramel, espresso, bourbon pecan and pistachio.

just the lighting 🤷‍♀️☺️

Happy Birthday to my cousin Jackie. She lives for York Peppermint Patties, so chocolate cake with minty cream filling.

Tiramisu cake with a Cruella theme. For my cousin’s (la princesa 🙄) birthday tomorrow. Every time she comes down here, all she talks about is how much she loves that movie.

More macarons, just because (no Botox this time). Raspberry with sprinkles.

Caramel macarons and small fruit tarts for a Botox party at my cousin's salon today.

Made this for Savour School’s 20th birthday contest. They wanted you to choose anything from their classes that could be their birthday cake. This is a chocolate hazelnut cake, orange pastry cream, chocolate buttercream and caramel. All of my favorite flavors. The chocolate curls were a pain since it’s so hot and humid here today, but the chocolate finally set enough to work.

Using up some patty pan squash from the farmers market. Gemelli, caramelized squash, cherry tomatoes, lots of garlic and aleppo pepper, basil and parm.

Bucatini carbonara. My stepsister and I argue with her husband all the time about using peas. Not authentic! We don’t care! 😋

More like brunch, challah orange French toast, bacon, strawberries and a mimosa.

There was a little bit of that on one side. Not sure why one side, could be from the convection oven. But, I thought it was from a little bit of over creaming. My butter was really soft when I got around to making it, and I use a scraper paddle. While it needs to be very light and fluffy to help with the texture and lift, mine may have been beaten a little too long. I've not had that problem though with a loaf or pound cake before. Weird.

Pound cake. Tried a new recipe that starts in a cold oven. Came out very nice.

It’s really good, different. I haven’t made it in a long time. It’s actually a Tyler Florence recipe Spicy Slaw I came across several years ago.

Happy Birthday/Father’s Day for my dad. I finally did my first sous vide and made ribs. They came out great. Along with chicken souvlaki, chipotle apple slaw, grilled artichokes and Hasselback sweet potatoes. Chocolate PB cake for dessert.

Since my squash plant is only making male flowers, I’m gonna eat them 😋. And Trader Joe’s falafel, that improved greatly if they are deep fried. They were terrible following the package directions. Also made tzatziki with Fage 5%.

Cut cake ☺️

Cake will be cut later, can post then. My mom had a Dutch baby in Tahoe before with bacon that she used maple syrup with. I went more savory with this one, but it could still use syrup I think. She said next time maybe just bacon, then she could have maple syrup 😊

Mother’s Day Brunch Dutch Baby with arugula, bacon, roasted tomatoes and gruyere Breakfast potatoes 5” coconut cake Roederer Brut

Pizza again. Did a half and half. Pepperoni, olives and onion, and the other side oven roasted tomatoes, arugula-basil pesto, cheese and fresh arugula. Should have made that a whole. It was awesome.

Pickled onions, bread and butter squash pickles and arugula-basil pesto for the freezer. Along with more pickled asparagus since the previous got given out to my moms sisters.