Eat Drink and Blog » Z

Fruit Tart

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:55 +0000

I made first made this tart last summer for my mom’s birthday (she’s allergic to chocolate – quelle horreur!!! – but looooooooves anything resembling cheesecake) after researching recipes on Cooks.com … Usually I find I don’t get the recipe perfect til the second time through, but this one was easy and wonderful, and I’ve made it many times since with NO mishaps!

Crust

1 cup unbleached flour

1 tbsp sugar

1/8 tsp salt (a good hearty pinch)

5 tbsp vegetable shortening (supposed to be chilled, but I forgot… and it worked just fine!)

3 tbsp chilled unsalted butter (this one I did chill, and wished I hadn’t…)

3 tbsp water (also supposed to be cold, but again – nope)

Combine flour, sugar, and salt in medium bowl. Add shortening and butter and cut in until mixture resembles coarse meal (which took me all of, oh, 30 seconds). Mix in enough water by tablespoons to form dough that just comes together (for me, this was 2 – not the 3 they recommended). Gather dough into a ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees before taking dough out.

After chilling, roll out dough on lightly floured surface (they say to 1/8 inch thick round, I just did it til it was enough to cover my pan plus some extra) – transfer to 9 inch diameter tart pan with removable bottom (and if you can do this without breaking it, you’re better than me! Luckily, though, dough is really easy to squish back together!) Trim edges to pan, squish dough to sides (in case you couldn’t tell, I added that last bit).

Line top of tart with foil and fill the crust with dried beans or pie weights; bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and weights, then bake another 10-12 minutes (until golden brown). Transfer to rack and cool.

Filling

1 package cream cheese, room temperature (and this really is critical!)

1/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice (I used the bottled kind, it was fine…)

1/2 cup chilled whipping cream (I used heavy cream, since I was in a rush and grabbed the wrong carton at the store. Same difference…)

Beat cream cheese, sugar, and lemon juice together in a bowl until well blended (if you have a electric mixer like they ask for, YAY for you! I did it by hand. It was fine. I called it my workout for the day) Add cream and beat until light and fluffy. Spread filling into (cooled) tart shell. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Fruit

Grab your favorite fresh fruit and line the top in concentric circles – as easy as that! I used blueberries and raspberries because that’s what the fruit cart guy had for me, but I believe this is an endeavor for which creativity would be rewarded. So have fun!

Now, you can glaze the top with an apricot glaze – if you have the time. Which I didn’t. And you know what? It was yummy anyways…

Pasta and Vegetable Gratin (aka Mac ‘n Cheese)

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:00:33 +0000

This is one of my go-to recipes – easy, yummy, and oh, so delightful! A mouthful of comfort with every bite…

Ingedients:

1 pkg pasta (rotini, macaroni, ziti, shells)

Vegetables:

recipe recommended: 1 yellow squash, diced; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 2 scallions, sliced

Z recommended: cauliflower – the BEST veggie in Mac and cheese EVER! ; pepper of any sort ; a whole bunch o’ scallions ; and any other veggie you enjoy!

1 cup or package of grated cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon unsalted butter (I’ve used salted before, though, too)

1 tablespoon flour

2 1/4 cups milk

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/7 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp dill

black pepper to taste

(And, this being me – any other spice to taste! I like red pepper flakes, myself…)

Cooking instructions:

Dice vegetables first and preheat oven to 400 F.

Make sauce (while also boiling pasta): melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and let bubble, whisking constantly until it turns beige. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and then add parmesan, dill, and pepper.

Cook pasta then drain; pour into pan. Stir in vegetables, then sprinkle on cheddar cheese and mix.

Pour sauce over pasta and toss lightly.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until brown on top.

Eat and ENJOY!

$5 Fridays: Barefoot White Zinfandel

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:59:38 +0000

I barely made it to the store this week, what with all the rain… But there was a break in the clouds yesterday, and it AMAZINGLY was actually sunny and nice! (Today? We’re back with a huge thunderstorm. It figures.) So – off to the wine store I went, and I was in the mood for something summery… And, thus, this weeks selection is:

Barefoot White Zinfandel

$5.99

Type: Pink!

Variety: Zinfandel

Location: California

Drink date: “Non-vintage” (ie dont drink the year it’s made!)

My thoughts? It was a pleasant wine. Zinfandels are sweet, pink, rose wines. And this was certainly all of that. It was light, it was fun, it was easy to drink – and easy to see why it is the third most popular varietal in the US! (Apparently, that’s 10% of all wine sold) This particular White Zin is fruity and sweet – it tastes pretty much exactly as it looks. It’s a good wine for the price – and a perfect sip on a sunny summer day! If you want more info on this wine, or any others produced by the winery, you can go here to learn about “great wine with attitude”!

$5 Fridays: Chenin Blanc & Pinot Grigio

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:56:14 +0000

So… It’s not Friday. And it’s not Saturday, either. No. No, it’s Monday.

What happened?

We got rid of one set of parents only to trade ‘em in for another… Which? I love them all – really I do – but one week of my parents followed immediately by a weekend with his, with me STILL working full days (yes, weekends too!) left me exhausted. As soon as the last of the ‘rents left, I fell into bed. It didn’t matter that it was 8pm, I was going to bed!!!

And then it was today. Monday. Blech.

But let’s think happy thoughts, why don’t we? Thoughts like… Good, cheap wine! Yeah!

Except… Nope… This week? I wasn’t thrilled by the selections. Actually, to be honest, I was downright disgusted by one. (Nearly spit it back out, and NOT in that “I’m on a wine-tasting kick” kind of way!!!)

The two I reviewed this week were:

Indaba Chenin Blanc and Cadonini Pinot Grigio (both $5.99)

So let’s get down to business, all right?

Indaba Chenin Blanc

Type: White

Variety: Chenin Blanc

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Drink Date: Now – 2011

A review says, “A sweetly perfumed wine, characteristic of the grape, showing lots of tropical fruit, melon, citrus and floral aromas. The same luscious fruit flavors follow through on the palate, backed by refreshing acidity and good structure. The finish leaves you with an intriguing note of clove.”

And I say, “WHA?!?!?!?!” I really wanted to like this wine. I really, really did. It was pretty! And really, a $10 bottle (on sale for $5)! And, did I mention, PRETTY?!?!

But… No. Just no. My first sip was without food, on a clean palate. It was so acid, I nearly spit it out. Before I took another sip, I had a few bites of my dinner. Second sip? A tad better. Slightly. No urge to regurge, but also – no real desire for another sip. Which? If you know me? Is saying something.

And so I put it back in the fridge overnight, thinking maybe I could do something with it… Or, you know, drink another bottle first so that I was drunk enough it tasted alright later on. (WHAT? You KNOW that works!) The next day, despite not partaking of another beverage, it was… surprisingly, MUCH more palatable. The overnight aeration had gotten rid of a lot of the acidity and bitterness, and the wine was now passable. Still not one I’d recommend, but – OK. And that’s the final verdict.

(Just thought I’d mention here, again, that these reviews are totally my opinion and I am in NO WAY a wine expert. Who might love and recommend this wine. But me? With my plebian “would I drink it?” standards? No, I do not. Sorry.)

Cadonini Pinot Grigio

Type: White

Varietal: Pinot Grigio

Location: Italy

Drink Date: Now

This was a cheap Pinot Grigio that… tasted like a cheap Pinot Grigio. There was nothing offensive about it; there was also nothing distinctive about it. Wikipedia tells us that the wines made from the Pinot Gris grapes grown in Italy are “a light-bodied, often lean wine that is light in color with sometimes spritzy flavors that can be crisp and acidic. Although this wine can be very sweet, it will begin to lose its acidity when it is nearly ripe.” And who am I to disagree with Wikipedia?

This wine was OK; truly one where you got what you paid for. Worth $5, sure. But you’re not getting a huge bang for your buck.

Next week (um, OK. THIS week!) I hope to find something with a bit more OOMPH behing it. A $5 wine that tastes like a $8 wine? Is that too much to ask for?!?!

$5 Fridays: Rain Delay

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:31:10 +0000

Due to circumstances (*ahem* my parents in town *ahem* the consumption of large quantities of non-$5 vino… WITH the parents, not BECAUSE OF them! *ahem*) this week’s review will be delayed until tomorrow (but somehow, $5 Saturday doesn’t have quite the same ring)

As you may have guessed, I’ll be reviewing the remainder of my whites – one Chenin Blanc and one Pinot Grigio – coming up… after the break (channel your inner Cat Deeley while reading that, because, why yes, I am a huge SYTYCD dork)

$5 Fridays: Frontera Sauvignon Blanc

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:00:25 +0000

What’s this? Two reviews in one day?!?!

Oh, yes.

I figured I may as well temper the good with the bad… Or at least, the not good:

Type: White
Variety: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Semillón
Location: Central Valley, Chile
Drink date: NOW

While I was drinking this wine, a post shared by Margarita via Google Reader a few days ago immediately popped into my mind:

“wines in the lower price categories that are made for American consumption do tend to be flabby, sweet, simply wines with little character. They are, in my opinion, delivery vehicles for alcohol disguised as sweet fruitiness that is slippery on the tongue. The California Central Valley and Australia has been pumping out these benign, unchallenging, hollow mixtures for quite some time.”

While this wine is Chilean, not American or Australian, it certainly fits the bill. This wine is not good. It is eminently drinkable, but not GOOD. It is a $5 bottle of wine, and it tastes like a $5 bottle of wine. With this one, you truly are getting what you pay for. If you simply wish to have something inconspicuous to give you a slight buzz as you sip with dinner, this is the wine for you. If you, perhaps, want something more out of your wine? Save your $5.

Now, as for what the wine tastes like, the manufacturers tell us that it showcases Chilean style with notes of green apple, kiwi and citrus on the nose. This light-bodied wine is clean and crisp, with lemon and peach flavors and a brisk, dry finish. The wine is a blend of two grape varieties that complement each other beautifully; Sauvignon Blanc provides complexity, bouquet and elegance, while Semillón is added for freshness, fruitiness and balance. Created in the traditional French style, this excellent dry wine is a pleasure with soft flavored fish and seafood. Best served chilled.

$5 Friday: Fuzelo Vinho Verde

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:00:16 +0000

Type: White (with some small CO2 bubbles!)
Variety: local (Portugeuse) grape varieties Loureiro, Arinto, Trajadura, Avesso and Azal
Location: Minho, Portugal
Drink date: NOW!

Here’s what Wikipedia tells you about this variety of wine:
The name literally means “Green Wine”, referring to its youthful freshness rather than its color. The Vinhos Verdes are light, fresh, and intended for drinking within a year. At less than 1 bar of CO2 pressure they do not quite qualify as semi-sparkling wines but do have a definite pétillance. The white Vinho Verde is very fresh, due its natural acidity, with fruity and floral aromas, depending of the grape variety.

And here’s what I have to say:
This wine is GOOD!!! I broke open the bottle on a warm afternoon after wandering around the city on errands, and it was perfect for sipping as I relaxed and watched the sun go down out my windows. I enjoyed it both alone – sipping as I relaxed for the first time that day in a comfy chair with a good book – and later on when paired with dinner (a light whole wheat pizza with spinach and fresh mozzarella). This wine is refreshing and light, with just a touch of sweetness and a hint of fresh, green, growing things. It is a perfect summer wine, made for sipping on those warm afternoons and evenings after a long day outdoors.

So, do I recommend you try this one? Hell, yes! (Though I should admit, I’m a sucker for this type of wine – I don’t really go for the full on sparkling Champagnes, but wines with a dusting of bubbles? Oh, baby!) Despite its low price tag, this is one $5 bottle of wine that would not disgrace your table!

iPhone Food Porn: A Rebuttal

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:20:15 +0000

In response to Meghan’s Food Porn:

Toasted Baguette, Pesto, Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, and Green Leaf Lettuce

So there!

iPhone Food Porn, v1.0

Week of Whites

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:30:33 +0000

In between other *important* errands this weekend (ahem, new shoes, ahem) I managed to sneak into ye olde wine shoppe and snatch up a few more $5 bottles for review. Oh, the sacrifices I make!

This week was all about the whites, and I found 4 different wines to try:

Fuzelo Vinho Verde, $5.99 (I give myself $1 leeway in pricing, as I live in Manhattan… Also, this bottle was just too pretty! I HAD to!)

Frontera Sauvignon Blanc, $4.99 (While I am not sure how available all of these wines will be nationally, THIS one, I am sure, will be at a store near you. Its prevalence and price is virtually guaranteed, this being one of the bottle eqivalents to boxed wine.)

Pinot Grigio, $5.99

Indaba Chenin Blanc, $5.99

And here are these babies hanging out in my kitchen, primed and ready for reviewing:

First up – Fuzelo Vinho Verde!

Review: Friday, June 12

Are you ready for some bubbly?!?!

$5 Friday: DiLorenzo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:00:15 +0000

Type: Red Wine
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Abruzzi, Italy
Drink date: NOW

It should come as no surprise, given that I named this one of my favorite cheap table reds yesterday, that this is a $5 wine I think you should go out and try yourself. While I can’t give you an official description of what a “table red” is, to me, it is a wine that goes with everything, a wine you can – and just might! – drink with (nearly) every dinner, a wine that you will not get tired of. And that is exactly what this wine is. What it is not? Exciting. Full-bodied. Layered with flavors and textures. No, it is none of that. This is not a wine that you would want to sip at a tasting; it is a wine that you will want to sip with your dinner on a Tuesday night. It is a wine that blends with and enhances your meal, not one that stands out from it. And while you *could* have a glass of this on its own (it is not harsh, and does not absolutely require a paring with food to mellow its flavors), it’s not one that is meant for that. No, this is a wine to have with pasta or pizza (it is Italian, and its flavors, at least to my mind, tend to complement that variety of food. Though I don’t think it would go badly with anything else – except perhaps fish – and, in fact, I think it would pair very well with Mexican… or used in Sangria!) And so my recommendation? Go out and get yourself a bottle or two – it’s a great wine to have on hand for every day pours!

Now, if you want more information than just my “expert” (ahem) opinion, here’s what the awesome power of the internet tells us about this type of wine (exerpts and paraphrases from the original text, which can be found here):

Montepulciano, the grape, is rarely afforded much attention. However, given some care in the vineyard and winery, it is capable of making deeply pigmented red wines, with ample structure and a pleasant suppleness. The grapes are primarily grown in the province of Abruzzo along Italy’s Adriatic coast. Here, it is often blended with Sangiovese (another grape variety). Although most wines made from Montepulciano are destined for bulk and value wine production, there is an ever increasing amount of winemakers producing quality versions. The wine made from this grape tends to be uncomplicated, refreshing, easy going, and charming. It is not famous outside of the Adriatic, but locals and the occasional visitor praise its contributions to the everyday Italian table.