FFwD - Marie Helene's Apple Cake

All of these apple deserts are going to be the death of me.  I love them.  So I'm hoping this is the last one and we can move on to something that I won't constantly just "cut a litle corner off of".  Because little corners don't contain any calories.......

And this one had three tablespoons of dark rum in it.  And I love me some dark rum.  There's just something so sexy about dark rum.  Or maybe that's just me....

This dessert is one of those times that you should have the exact bakeware required for the job.  This cake called for an 8" springform pan and all I had were 6" and 9" pans.  I used the 9" pan and as you can tell from all of those apple chunks poking through the top, it wasn't exactly a great substitute visually.  It didn't, however, alter the taste what.so.ever!! But I do think the 8" would have made a prettier cake.

This was an incredibly easy and quick recipe to put together and I can see myself making this over and over agin.....with apples or pears or peaches or......  It would be great for breakfast with a cup of coffee, or in the middle of the afternoon, or for dessert with some ice cream or whipped cream on top.  Or all by itself.  Whatever.  Make it.  It's in the book.

TWD - All American, All Delicious Apple Pie

Does anything say Fall quite like an apple pie?  I think not!  Dorie's version called for a double crust but as you can see, I went the streusel route.  The crust is my least favorite part of the pie so I just couldn't go there.  I will say, however, that I loved the trick of sprinkling the bottom crust with graham cracker crumbs to keep it from getting soggy.  Totally worked.

I used four different kinds of apples, per Dorie's suggestion, and also threw in two pears because I had a few extras that needed to be used.  I loved the combination.  I also substituted cornstarch for the tapioca called for because that's what I had on hand.

I didn't already have a tried and true family recipe for apple pie so I guess this one will have to do!  It's really delicious!

Check out Emily's site, Sandmuffin, for the recipe.

FFwD - Hachis Parmentier

If I could have found this on a menu in Paris I would have ordered it.  It was so cold the few days we were there and this is the ultimate cold weather comfort food.  Come to think of it this is the ultimate comfort food anytime.  It's the French version of Shepherd's Pie....meat and potatoes all in one deliciously fatty dish.  Yeah, this is not for the dieting set.  If you need to fit into your jeans tomorrow, don't make this today.

But if, for instance, your best friend's betrayed you or your favorite college football team loses one week after being ranked #1.....something like that, then by all means you need to make this.  It will make everything all better.  That and a good cry.

I followed Dorie's directions and made my own beef broth, but you can also take a short cut and buy already ground beef and store broth and it won't be quite as time consuming.  Might not be quite as good, but whatever!  I also became convinced that using a food mill is the ticket for making the creamiest mashed potatoes.  Well maybe that and whole milk, cream and butter!

Like I said, this isn't for the faint of heart!

You'll have to buy Dorie's book for the recipe.  I can't believe you haven't done that yet.

Chocolate Kahlua Whoopee Pies with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream Filling

These are just plain fun.  I mean, who doesn't remember whoopee pies from their childhood?  Cakey, chocolatey cookies with a wonderfully creamy filling.

I made these for a party recently and they were a huge hit with the kids and adults.  A crowd pleaser.  These would perfect for that upcoming Halloween party!

Chocolate Kahlua Whoopee Pies with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream Filling

Makes about 18 cookies (depending on how big you scoop your dough)

Intermezzo - 2006

For cakes:
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch Salt
1 cup milk

For filling
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese (can substitute cream cheese)
Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean
3 cups confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Using a stand mixer or hand-held mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until light in texture.  Add egg and liqueur.  Beat until blended.  On low speed, add flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Beat until well blended.  Add milk and beat until smooth.

Drop batter from a rounded tablespoon onto prepared cookie sheet, spacing cookies about 3 inches apart  Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until center springs back when lightly pressed.  Cool completely before filling.

Make filling.  Using a stand mixer or hand-held mixer, mix all filling ingredients on low speed until blended.  Whip on high speed 3 to 4 minutes or until fluffy.

Using a knife or small spatula, spread a generous amount of filling on bottom of one cookie.  Press bottom of another cookie on top of filling to form sandwich.  Wrap pies in plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.

French Sunday with Dorie......

Hubs and I made it to Paris yesterday but can I first complain a little about the French.....and their ability to strike.....ABOUT EVERYTHING.  I've been to Paris several times and everytime I've been here someone has been striking over something.  Mostly I don't give a shizzle the reason, I just pay attention to how it's going to affect my vacation! It's all about me.

The first time I was here the garbage workers were striking.  Not pleasant.  Luckily I was only here for a few days.  The next time I was here, I had these big plans to visit the Louvre (because I didn't have time the first visit).  No such luck......museum workers were on strike.  The next time it was the transportation workers and for the first few days we were here, not a cab to be found.  Luckily these people don't stay mad for long.  I think even they get bored with themselves.  This time its again the transportation workers which meant the trains from Provence into Paris were few and far between and rather and spend four hours packed like a damn sardine in a tin can with the famously underbathed, we chose to just drive to Paris.  I think it probably worked out for the best.....plus it was mostly a pretty drive.

Anyhoo, we made here yesterday and looks like everything is going to be ok for us to get out tomorrow.  Not so much for those later in the week, however.

Let's start this schizophrenic post with last week's French Friday's with Dorie.....Vietnamese Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup.  Never, never, never would have made this on my own.  And once again, that would have been another big mistake.  Hubs absolutely loved this and so did I.  This had a ton of ingredients, a lot of which I'm not overly fond of individually, but all together they were delicious. 

I know I've said this before, but get your butt to Barnes and Noble and buy this book and start cooking along with us.  Your family (or just you) will thank me profusely!!

Now onto the rest of our time in Provence.  We had such a great time.  I feel like we did and saw a lot but also didn't really do that much.  Huh?

The only thing hubs had on his Provence bucket list was to drive up Mont Ventoux.  Notice I said "drive up".  He religiously watches every stage of the Tour de France every year.  Never misses a day.  Sometimes watches the re-broadcast at night.  Total groupie.  But has no interest in riding a bike.  Weird.

So we dedicated one of our days to driving to the top.  I could try to tell you how beautiful it was, but I'll just shut up and let you look.  We stopped several times on the way up to act like tourists.

On the way down we stopped at a local pizza parlor for lunch.  One of the best pizza's I've ever had.  But it was after several bottles of wine, so I may not be the best judge!

See.....told you!

Rhone Winery Visits

I know this will surprise all of you, but we've visited some wineries this week!!  The only thing that really IS surprising is that we haven't done it every day like on most trips!  Hasn't hindered our wine consumption......just consuming on a more informal basis.

                                   

That's Olivier and he was our guide for the day.  This dude knows his stuff.  He's a Britt transplanted in Provence and he's really an expert on the region.

The French believe that wine is all about the terrior.  See that crappy terrior?  Crappy terrior = tasty wine!  

We started off at Domaine la Soumade tasting some Rasteau and Gigondas.   Yummy.

It was even better when he pulled out the cheese.

Then it was off to Chene Bleu which means Blue Oak.  I think it was Oak.  Anyhoo, seems this tree on the property was not doing so well so they sprayed it with some sort of blue chemicals to try and save it.  Didn't work but it gave them a perfect name for the winery.

This beautifully restored priory, La Verriere, is part of the property and is used for corporate events, weddings, etc.  It's stunning.

We were lucky enough to have a private tasting along with delicious lunch specifically paired with their wines.

Hunky American chef!

Hunky hubs being goofy!  He said this tree reminded him of "Touchdown Jesus" at Notre Dame.  Hmmm.

Our last stop was Chateauneuf du Pape which had some beautiful views of the Rhone river.

This little guy is Fargo who lived at Domain de Montpertuis.  He followed us on the entire tour and tasting looking for belly rubs.

Chateauneuf do Pape is my favorite of the Rhone wines so I enjoyed this stop the most!

We had a great day and learned a bunch.  Thanks, Olivier!

A week in Provence.....

Hubs and I and a few other friends have been in Provence, France for the last week experiencing Exclusive Resorts at their best.  They put together about four per year of what they call Once in a Lifetime trips.  They lease various properties around the world for a couple months and we members get the opportunity to visit breathtaking villas, etc. as only ER does them.

We arrived last Friday and spent the first night at a fabulous little village, Crillon de Brave  that had spectacular views of Mont Ventoux.

 

The next day we met up with the rest of the crew at our house for the week.  It's a beautiful five bedroom chateau sitting on top of a hill in Beaume de Venise.  

 

It's comfortable and spacious and has been a perfect place to drink some French wine, eat, cook, drink some Champagne, relax, go for long walks, drink some Muscat, etc, etc.

  

 

We're having a ball.  We've been wine tasting, shopping, eating, drinking, doing touristy things.  Oh......and laughing.  A lot of laughing.

As I said, we're staying in the small village of Beaume de Venise in southern France.  It's beautifully nestled among the vineyards of the southern Rhone valley.  Specifically, they make the French desert wine Muscat.  

 

    

Walking along the rows and rows of grape vines every morning has made it feel much less like exercise.  Hubs has decided we're planting grapes in our back yard when we get home.

   

Considering we've started drinking wine at lunch every day and not stopped until bedtime, try to think of this as coherent post.  It's about the best you're going to get until I get home and de-tox!

I'll try to post again tomorrow about all of our wonderful activities!  Bon Apetit!