jamie of all trades

a thanksgiving pie round up

the good thing about thanksgiving pie is that you can wait till the last minute to make it.  if you need some recipes + inspiration for your pie, here's my round up:

{image via}

:: pumpkin pie - classic

:: apple pie - if pumpkin isn't your thing

:: cherry pie - again if pumpkin isn't your thing

:: apple tart - puts a new spin on pie

:: french pear pie - a little something new

topped them off with my least favorite thing, whipped cream.

 

and if pie isn't your thing, try one of these:

:: pumpkin creme brulee

:: pumpkin flan

happy thanksgiving!  see you next week.

xoxo joat

 

cinco de mayo ideas

tomorrow is cinco de mayo and if you're looking for something some recipes, here are a few:

:: drink - margarita

:: start with - guacamole

 

:: serve - fish tacos

 

:: dessert - i haven't made any but try these margarita cupcakes.

happy cinco de mayo, ole!
 

turtle cheesecakes or engagement cakes?

i had some girlfriends over on friday night for dinner, wine, chatting, catching up, bonding and most importantly dessert.  we do this a few times a year and it's one of my favorite things.  mostly for connection time but eating dessert is up there too. 

i don't know what made me decide on turtle {caramel + pecans} cheesecakes but i did.  perhaps they should be called engagement cakes?  we ate these friday night and the very next day my friend kris' boyfriend, kevin, proposed to her! woo hoo!  congratulations kris + kevin.

another recipe written by moi!

 

1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup crushed chocolate cookies
8 oz cream cheese, soften
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup sugar 
3 eggs
1/4 caramel
1/4 cup toasted pecans

preheat oven to 350.  in a mixing bowl, stir melted butter and chocolate cookies together until all the cookies crumbs are covered.  line a muffin tin with cupcake papers, scoop in enough cookie crumb mixture to cover the bottoms.  press in with the bottom of a glass.  bake for 5 minutes.

in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, ricotta cheese, sugar and eggs together until smooth.  pour into the muffin tin, about 3/4 of the way full.  bake for 30 minutes, allow to cool and then refrigerate for at least 1 hour, even overnight is okay.  drizzle with caramel and top with nuts.

{the pack up real nice for an engagement celebration too!}  

spanakopita

back when i held my cocktail party one of my 'made' appetizers was spanakopita.  spanakopita is always a hit and a great finger food you can just eat with a napkin.  and they are super easy to make.  you can make the filling ahead of time and then assemble right before the party and bake.  nothing is better than a homemade spanakopita. opa!

4 cups of spinach
1/4 cup olive oil
1 white or yellow onion
1-2 cloves of garlic
4 scallions, chopped, white and light green parts
2 tbls flat-leaf parsley, chopped 
salt + pepper
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 tsp water
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 pound filo pastry sheets

in a large pot filled 2/3s full of water.  bring to a boil.  add spinach and cook for 1 minute.  remove and drain in a colander or sieve.  dry with paper towels until most of the water has been absorbed.  set aside.

 

heat olive oil in a large skillet.  add spinach, garlic and scallions and saute until soft, about 2-3 minutes.  add parsley and salt + pepper.  allow to cool or chill overnight.

 

preheat oven to 350.  stir feta in with the beaten egg.  Add to the spinach mixture.  remove the filo dough from the fridge and unroll onto a flat surface.  using a sharp knife, cut the file into 3x11 inch strips.  using a pastry brush, brush a strip of filo with melted butter.  place another strip of on top.  at the end of the double filo strip, place a small amount of the spinach mixture 1 inch from the end.  fold one end of the filo over the spinach mix to form a triangle.  continue folding like a flag.  

 

repeat until all the spinach mixture is gone.  brush the triangles lightly with butter and bake for 20-25 minutes.  serve hot.

julia child's beef bourguignon

yesterday it was my sister's birthday so we had a julie + julia party and made julia child's beef bourguignon. {recipe is at the link, it's too long to post out.}  it's a long and more difficult recipe.  but your labors are rewarded because it's an incredible dish.  it might be one of my favorite meals.

you can top it on noodles, rice or potatoes.  we did noodles but i wanted potatoes.  oh well, i guess i'll just have to make it again soon.

here are some photos.

going in the oven

liquid is evaporated

ready to be served

on the plate