You might recognize Sunny Side Up Apricot Pastries if you own “Baking with Julia” by Julia Child. Michel Richard, the consummate baker contributed the recipe. These are a playfull French pastry featuring puff pastry, pastry cream and apricots. The finished pastries look just like sunny side up eggs. I told you he is the consummate baker! Continue reading
Holiday Food Gifts are always welcome and say you thought of someone in a very special way. My family is dispersed and I don’t always know what to give them…..but I know what food they like so, this year, they are getting their favorite foods.
Each of these Holiday Food Gifts has something noteworthy about it. Some are really quick and easy, others have unusual flavor combinations but all are worthy of being given as a gift.
I wish you all Happy Holidays spent with those you care about.
Chocolate Chocolate Truffles – During the span of my bakery, we made thousands and thousands of these, especially for the holidays. The centers are very creamy thanks to an easy trick. 
Salted Macadamia Rum Toffee – Macadamia nuts are my favs and you will see them twice in this listing. This Toffee is a perfect Holiday Food Gift that says luxury!
Hot Peppered Pecans – These are not for the faint of heart but they sure are special. Less than 30 minutes and you have a great Holiday Food Gift.
TJ’s Cowboy Bark – This is a super quick and fun gift that is within anyone’s reach to make. Melt some chocolate, embed a bunch of fun ingredients and you’re ready to go.
Garlic Oregano Cracker Bread – This is one of my favorite food gifts. It is unusual and isn’t the normal candy or cookie. 
Sweet and Hot Macadamia Brittle – Macadamias again but any nut can be subbed. This is absolutely addictive. 
Cranberry Strawberry Jam – Perfect for the season and really easy to make. Sure to be welcome wherever you send it.
Hot Curried Party Mix – Another really quick and easy party mix based on the Chex theme. This will disappear fast!
Granola – Measure a few ingredients, whisk together the magic sauce, bake, stir, bake and you’re done!
Cheddar Pecan Shortbreads – These last forever in a tin but they go in a hurry when served.
Strawberry Balsamic Jam – Strawberries benefit from a touch of balsamic vinegar to sharpen their flavor. See if you don’t agree.
Puff Pastry Crackers – Be sure to watch the video at the end of this super easy recipe. As you’ll see I couldn’t stop laughing – actually, no one in the studio could!
Candied Orange Peel – An unusual gift for a favorite person.
Light, tender and airy puff pastry has often intimated the most avid pastry cook, amateur or professional. Forewarned in many recipes of the great amount of time and effort involved, even adventurous bakers have found other ways to spend their time. However, with the use of the food processor, the pastry can be made in a fraction of the time. In fact, it is ready to use in about 3 1/2 hours – a long way from the 36 hours it traditionally takes.
In my blog American Butter vs. European Butter I talked about the difference between these butters when making laminated doughs. The experiment has convinced me to use bread flour and European Butter in my laminated doughs. Continue reading
Whether you call them cream horns or lady locks, the long ago name for a pastry that resembled the curls of a woman’s hair, they are fun to eat.
They are simply puff pastry that has been rolled very, very thin and wrapped around a metal form. After baking, the form is removed and the cream horn is stuffed with a variety of fillings. Continue reading
With the holidays approaching, I thought I would test all butter purchased puff pastry. Normally, I would make my own using my blitz puff pastry method but I thought there might be a place for purchased puff pastry when time was of the essence.
I only wanted all butter puff pastry so that limited my options in St. Louis. We have Dufour found at Whole Foods for about $14.00 for 14 ounces and Trader Joe’s for $3.99 for 18 ounces. I kept looking for a catch with Trader Joe’s version and the only one I found is that it is only available from now until the end of the holiday season. It is not a year round product as is Dufour. Continue reading
