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Piped Roses

This past weekend, I celebrated a dear friends birthday in Muskoka with a group of fabulous gals.  I used it as a perfect excuse to bake a birthday cake and an even more perfect excuse to practice piped roses. I baked a red velvet cake using Magnolia Bakery's recipe, with a few of my own tweaks and paired it with a Barefoot Contessa cream cheese frosting and ended up with a major hit and even a few oos and aahs.

I woke up and baked the cakes early in the morning so they would cool off in order to decorate. I made two recipes of the cream cheese frosting because I read the piped roses would use a lot of frosting….did they ever. I ended up making 3 and a half recipes and only just had enough!


I baked two layers instead of three and made cupcakes with the remaining batter. First things first, you need to level the cakes out in order to stack them together.

It's a bit heartbreaking cutting off and discarding all your hard work but at least you get to taste test it! Level off the tops of the two cakes using a serrated knife. Tip: keep the knife at a 90 degree angle to have an even cake top. Ice one side with a thick later of the frosting then stack the cakes together, flipping one over so the top layer is even.

The next step is very important - the crumb coat!











Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of the frosting. This will be the "background" for the roses




I had to work quickly because the frosting was melting with the humidity! I'm sure you will be neater than I was!













 I started off practicing the piped roses on a cupcake. This one wasn't so great but I finally got the hang of it. I followed a blog to learn how to go about making the flowers but it really is simple: Take any medium to large star piping tip and make simply wrap the frosting two times around a centre point. I suggest practising first - even on your counter top! You can always scoop it up and put it back in the piping bag.

A rose! 

Begin by wrapping the entire sides of the cake with roses - don't worry about the spaces - you will fill them later!

Next: move to the top! I suggest working quickly - cream cheese frosting melts quickly as your hands warm up the piping bag. I even turned off the lights to minimize the melting.

To fill in the spaces, follow the direction of the rose next to the space and make an extra "petal" around the rose. At first, it will look a big strange (you can see a not so good example here) but once the entire cake is filled you will be more than pleased.

This was my first (embarrassing) attempt - I scraped off the entire cake and started again and ended up with much more beautiful results.

I know this method seems daunting and difficult but it was simple and successful! Try out one rose on your next frosted baked good - you'll be glad you did! www.wilton.com has some great tips on decorating cakes. Check this out to learn more about properly holding a piping bag.

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Magnolia Bakery Red Velvet Cake (with a few tweaks!)

3 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

3 large eggs, at room temperature

8 tablespoons red food coloring

3.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour three 9- by 2-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with waxed paper.

To make the cake: In a small bowl, sift the cake flour and set aside. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl, whisk together the red food coloring, cocoa, and vanilla. Add to the batter and beat well.

In a measuring cup, stir the salt into the buttermilk. Add to the batter in three parts alternating with the flour. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not overbeat. In a small bowl, stir together the cider vinegar and baking soda. Add to the batter and mix well. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl, making sure the ingredients are well blended and the batter is smooth.

Divide the batter among the prepared pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the layers cool in the pans for 1 hour. Remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack. Let cool completely before icing.

This recipe also makes 2 dozen cupcakes. Use 2 muffin pans, each with 12 (1/2-cup) muffin cups, and line each cup with a paper liner. (There's no need to grease the cups.) Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and bake the cupcakes, switching positions of the pans halfway through baking, until a tester comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool completely on a rack before icing. To ice, mound about 1/4 cup of frosting on top of each cupcake and use an icing spatula to make a swirl on top. If desired, decorate with colored sprinkles.

Cream Cheese Frosting, Courtesy of Barefoot Contessa (x3 for piped roses)

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (3/4 pound)

Place the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and mix on medium speed just until combined. Don't whip! Add the sugar and mix until smooth.

Arriba!

Lately, I have been gravitating towards Mexican food. I don't know if its the sudden slew of amazing Mexican restaurants in Toronto (Playa Cabana, Grand Electric, La Carnita), or my love for margaritas and overly flavourful food, but I just can't get enough of it. Bringing a taste of Mexico to your own home can be simple, healthy, and delicious. Here are a couple of easy recipes for salsa and guacamole. I have adapted them (slightly) from Grand Electric's famed recipes featured in the Toronto Star. Check them out here. 

Guacamole

4 avocados

1-2 small jalapeños, seeded and very finely diced (less if you don't like the heat)

1/4 medium spanish onion, finely diced

juice of 3-4 small limes

salt

Combine ingredients together in a bowl and mush the avocado until it is smooth, but still chunky and most definitely not in the form of a puree. Season to taste with salt and lime juice. 

Pico de Gallo

3 ripe tomatoes, finely diced

1/2 spanish onion, finely diced

1-2 jalapeños, finely diced

juice of 2 limes

handful of cilantro, finely diced (this can be omitted if you - like some-  hate cilantro)

splash of olive oil

salt

Mix ingredients together and season to taste. Pico de gallo can even be used as a salad dressing on a taco salad. 

Aperol Spritz

When I first moved to New York, I was introduced to a fun new cocktail - an aperol spritz. Aperol is an Italian aperitif with a bit of a citrus flavour. A few months passed, and there it was again - at the top of a cocktail menu in one of New York's most popular speakeasy bars. The very next day, I was at a restaurant and heard a man next to me order a…I'm sure you can guess... aperol spritz! I came back to Toronto and decided to recreate the refreshing delicious drink for my family (even the LCBO made a big deal about the aperol)! Then, crazily enough, I went to a Charlie's Burgers dinner (see the droll worthy pictures below) and the aperitif was an aperol spritz.

If, unlike me, you haven't had or haven't heard about this drink, please order it or even better - recreate it yourself!

The recipe is on the back of the bottle:

Aperol Spritz
Ice
Slice of Orange

3 parts Procescco

2 parts Aperol

Splash of soda water

Tip for Tat

Everyone always asks me what the best thing I learned in culinary school was. I don't think it was how to make hollandaise, or a jus, or how to perfectly bone a fish. I do, however, think it was the small little tips and pointers that I have turned into habits in my every day cooking.

The first one is mis en place. Mis en what? This frilly French term is actually very simple - putting into place. The idea is that before any simmering, boiling, or grilling, you organize and measure out your ingredients. Who wants to worry about measuring 1/2 teaspoon of salt when you have three sizzling pans on the go? Prepping your ingredients will make new cooks calmer and seasoned cooks even better.

These are a few tools I like to use, but anything goes - as long as its dishwasher safe!

These graduated stainless steel bowls are also great for baking. Get a bunch of them - you'll be surprised how many you need!

Stainless-Steel Restaurant Mixing Bowls, Set of 5, $75.94

Glass Prep Bowls, Williams Sonoma, $37.93

Stay tuned for more tips!

Charlie's Burgers: The Anti Restaurant

I wouldn't even dream of liking anything "anti-restaurant" until I met Charlie. Charlie Burger isn't a Charlie, or a Burger, but a somewhat secret dinner society. Foodies from around Toronto can sign up, fill out a questionnaire, and be invited (and hopefully picked) to attend a chef designed dinner at a secret locale in Toronto. I was lucky enough to attend one last summer, and again this past weekend. Once chosen, Charlie sends vague but mysterious emails to the attendees notifying them where to meet, who to look for (generally a guy sitting on a wine barrel), and what secret "pass code" (Ours was...I like my pasta cooked with west coast water). The meal was created by Chef Lee Cooper, of L'Abbatoir in Vancouver and was simply incredible. My foodie friend and I were overwhelmed with the foods originality, creativity, and the incredible experience overall.  Each dish had layer upon layer of flavour, and highlighted seasonal fresh produce and ingredients. Charlie's Burgers is not for the faint hearted - pigeon and lambs brains have been known to grace the menu - but-  if you love food, and are open to try anything, I highly suggest testing your luck and signing up at http://www.charliesburgers.ca/.

Learn more about Charlie's Burgers here:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/food-trends/revealed-charlie-burgers-true-identity/article588310/?page=all

Here are a few pictures and the menu.

Jewels (Pearls) of the Sea

If one day, I'm forced to eat only one thing for the rest of my life, it just may be Pearl Oyster Bar lobster rolls. Located in New York, at Cornelia and Bleecker, Pearl's is one of the most charming and delicious go to's for any seafood lover. The minimal seasoning and the highly flavourful east coat lobster come together to create a best-I-ever-ate dish. I even sometimes go to Pearl's, alone, when my cravings for these beauties get far too out of control. If after you come down from lobster roll heaven, you have any room left in your stomach (which I rarely do) try their hot fudge sundae.

It's just my luck that a few years ago, Pearl's published a cook book! Although never quite the same (I think some secret ingredients are left out of this recipe), this version is pretty darn delicious. Make the shoestring fries that come with the roll….I highly suggest it!

Pearl Oyster Bar Lobster Roll

(Serves two) 
Ingredients: 
2 pounds cooked lobster meat, chopped roughly into 1/2 and 3/4-inch pieces
1/2 celery rib, finely chopped
1/4 cup Hellman's mayonnaise
Squeeze of lemon
Pinch of kosher salt and freshy ground black pepper
2 teaspoons unsalted butter
2 Pepperidge Farm top-loading hot dog buns
Chopped chives for garnish 


Directions: 
To make the lobster salad, in a large bowl, combine the lobster meat, celery, mayonaiise, lemon and salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Cover the mixture and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It will last for up to two days. 
To prepare the bun, in a small sauté pan over low to medium heat, melt the butter. Place the hot dog buns on their sides in the butter. Flip the buns a couple of times so that both sides soak up an equal amount of butter and brown evenly. Remove the buns from the pan and place them on a large plate. 
Fill the toasted buns with lobster salad. Sprinkle with chives and serve with a salad, slaw or shoestring fries. 

Here's my version - I used mini buns and toasted them in the oven! 

Japa…dog?

I never thought the marriage between two of my favourite things would live so happily ever after: Japanese cuisine and DOGS (hot dogs, canines, whatever - they all rule). Japadog, out of Vancouver, was started by a Japanese couple who came to Canada with dreams of creating a majorly popular restaurant. Without the funds, a food stand would have to suffice, and out came their take on the all American (Canadian) hot dog stand. Japadog merges Japanese flavours with various hot dogs and sausages. Dreams really do come true - Japadog has been serving downtown Vancouver for the past few years with line ups around the block to prove their success. My favourite, and Japadog's most popular, is the Terimayo: your choice of hot dog (I go for Turkey or the Edaname stuffed dog) with teriyaki sauce, mayo, and seaweed. Trust me, I know it sounds a bit strange, but with that first bite you'll understand!

Japadog is located at Burrard and Smithe, 530 Robson, Burrard and Pender St, Granville and Cordova, in Vancouver. They also have a location at 30 St. Marks Place, in New York.

Don't Scream Bloody Mary!

One thing I do love is a fabulous brunch paired with an even more fabulous brunch cocktail. One thing I do not love is America's lack of Cesar's on their boozy brunch menus. Being a canuck allows me to enjoy these bloody mary esque cocktails with clamato juice (tomato and clam juices) instead of regular old tomato juice. I am well aware that this concoction sounds awful but let me tell you- with the hit of worchestershire sauce and heaping tablespoon of horseradish you have a delicious combo.

While living in New York I have to settle for simple bloody marys. Cookshop (at 10th and 20th, in the Meatpacking District) makes a GREAT one. They add olives to theirs which makes me love it even more.

I have attached recipes for both bloody marys and caesars - whichever you choose do NOT forget the seasoned salt and go heavy on the spiciness!

Martha Stewart's Bloody Mary

• 4 cups tomato juice
• Juice of 2 large lemons
• 1 to 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 heaping tablespoon prepared horseradish
• 1 1/2 cloves garlic, passed through a garlic press
• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• Unflavored vodka, to taste
• Lemon wedges, for serving
• Celery sticks, for serving and munching

Classically Canadian Caesar

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 4 oz clamato juice
• 2 dashes Worchestershire Sauce
• desk of tabasco Sauce
• celery salt (to line the rim)
• pepper to taste
• Lemon wedges, for serving
• Celery sticks, for serving and munching

For both drinks, line the rims of a highball class with celery salt,  combine ingredients with lots of ice, and most importantly, enjoy!