Month: May 2012

Five Things

Sadie1 Comment

I don’t do.

1. Smoke.  It’s bad for you.

2. Use the dishwasher.  I’ve never used the dishwasher in any of my apartments.  I live by myself, it would take too long to have enough dirty dishes to run it.  Plus washing dishes gives me a sense of accomplishment.

3. Eat french fries.  I gave them up for a couple months in 2005 to try to be healthier and it just stuck.  It’s probably the one food I 100% won’t eat.

4. Go more than a week without calling my mom.  I’m her favorite person, that would be rude.

5. Get anything less than 100% (yeah right).

 

What do you not do?

Afternoon Tea

CarrieLeave a comment

One of my favorite memories of my grandmother is having afternoon tea at her house.  My grandmother was a woman of grandeur in her heyday.  As one of her only two grandchildren, I inherited a lot of her wonderful antiques.  I have also acquired many antiques over the past few years myself.  My love of antiques started in college.  Lewisburg, PA is quite the mecca of great finds at bargain prices.  I used to go to the antique flea market on the weekends and find some really unique finds at a very affordable price.

Every so often, I have my “niece” over for afternoon tea.  Fionna is five years old and she loves all things girly.  Sometimes I really think she believes she is a princess.  She loves to wear a tiara and a tutu and all things pink.  Whenever people ask her what she wants to be when she grows up she answers with a rock star or a baker.  She says she wants to work for me someday!  So as her “Auntie” Carrie, I have her over for tea every now and then.

The most important thing is to make her feel special.  I make sure the table is fit for the princess that she is.  I pull out the crystal candelabras and the silver tea set to make a big impression.  I also make sure I go to my favorite childhood bakery-of course that’s before I owned my own bakery 😉  Ward’s Pastry in Ocean City, NJ have the best petite fours (of course they have to be pink), butter cookies, and cobblestone bread if you ever get the chance to go there.  The little things in life always add up and make a long-lasting impression.  Take a look and I hope you are inspired to throw your own tea party!

Almond Biscotti

Sadie3 Comments

Something about biscotti makes me feel civilized. I’ve toyed around with a few recipes over the years and I think my favorite is definitely the almond variety.  They’re nice and basic and it’s kind of a throw back to the traditional Italian-American bakeries of my homeland (NY/NJ metropolitan area).

I also enjoy making biscotti because they are easy and yet they require an extra step so they seem fancier. I like to make them when I’m going to hang out with my family for a few days.  My parents and grandparents prefer them to the brother focused chocolate and peanut butter baking creations.  I think these cookies provide some much needed range to any baking repertoire.

Almond Biscotti

from Epicurious

Yields about 40

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (melted)
  • 3 Tbs brandy (optional)
  • 2 tsp almond extract
  • 1 cup whole almonds (toasted and chopped)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1  1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Method

  1. Cream together butter and sugar.
  2. Add brandy, extracts, and eggs one at a time.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add dry mixture to wet.  Mix in almonds.Toasted Almonds
  4. Allow dough to chill for at least 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350.
  5. Shape chilled dough into two flat logs, bake for 30 minutes until slightly golden.
  6. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
  7. Slice logs at an angle with a serrated knife into cookies about 3/4 inch thick and lay flat on cookie sheet.
  8. Bake slices about 20 more minutes until lightly toasted.