Pie Bake-Off Results

I hate it when I don't listen to Aaron.

Shhh. Don't tell him he was right. I should have made my lemon meringue tart, the one we both think is perfect - looks perfect, tastes perfect, is perfect. I made the rhubarb tart, but it tasted more like orange (on account of the orange juice and zest in it) than rhubarb. It was pretty though. But there's a story!
The coconut cream was awesome, but when the cream pies sit out in a kitchen for an hour before anyone gets to eat them, they aren't as good as if they've been chilled. Still, the best coconut cream ever! The crust is made out of crushed shortbread cookies, coconut and butter. Tasty! Far better than graham crackers in my book.
So, the story. I was about to make the crust for the coconut tart when I went looking for the tart pan. I have ones with removable bottoms, so I found the ring, but not the removable bottom. I tore the house apart looking for it. I know we'll find it someday (when we move!), but I needed it right away. So I walked over to Williams-Sonoma with Laurel (dangerous that WS is within walking distance for me) and got two new 9-inch tart pans. I debated on getting the non-stick variety - but they were more expensive and I'm so glad I didn't.
I took them up to the church with the outer ring still on because they transport so much better that way. When it came time to cut the tarts, Aaron just happened by the kitchen and witnessed someone stabbing at the rhubarb pie with a table knife. Now, I'm super gentle with those tart pans - I use a large chef knife and the others I have do not have many scratches on them. When we washed them off before going home, I could see and feel the scratches on them. Not happy.
And I didn't win. Not that I was expecting to win. But the girl who won, who is my neighbor and she made a key lime pie, decided that she should give me some constructive criticism on my tart. Said it needed to be chilled more, to set up more. I was gracious, I promise, and just agreed with her. Never mind that all the custard-y pies had softened (including hers) on account of sitting at room temperature for hours. But whatever.
I'm done with baking for church events. It's just been disastrous. Considering the effort I put into it, it's just not worth it.
I've said it before, but I long for the days and times when, for events like this, women put forth their best efforts, made their prettiest pies, best tasting ones. Now, it's a box of Jell-o pudding and some cool whip. Not kidding - that pie won second prize last night. I think the guys worked harder on their chilis! I just think things like this are worth your best efforts - not just something the kids can maul and eat.
And I'm glad I didn't buy non-stick. They would have been destroyed!

Pie Bake-Off @ Church

I'm entering the pie bake-off on the 21st at church. Not a great time of year to have one, if you ask me. So I'm doing the best I can with the fruit I know is in season and tasty.

My first entry will be a rhubarb lattice pie. I saw some gorgeous rhubarb at the store the other day - I have a bizarre love affair with rhubarb that has no explanation other than I love the name, love the color (at this time of year when it's completely red) and LOVE the taste.

The second entry is my coconut cream tart. Okay, not technically a pie, but it's round and it could be a pie. I'm just making it in a tart pan. Actually, the rhubarb one will be in a tart pan too. But, shhhhhh, don't tell on me!

I love making desserts. I love this coconut cream tart too. I just don't know if I should add a smidge of chocolate - like brushing a thin layer of melted chocolate on the crust before putting the filling in? I just might do it.

Marshmallows

I was on my fun date with Aaron and we always seem to end up at a book store. Not a shocker. I found a book. This book:

Seriously, how awesome is that! An entire book devoted to marshmallows. Strawberry mallows, caramel mallows, chocolate mallows. Making your own marshmallow fluff. This has totally derailed my Valentine's Day plans. I might make homemade mallows for my friends/family instead of cookies. And some cocoa. Mmmm. As cold as it's been here in Seattle, this would rock!

Did I buy it? Not yet. But I will. Don't worry. I wouldn't let you down like that!

Non-fat/Low-fat/Healthy Baking

My friend Jennifer just posted about a recipe for non-fat, high-fiber chocolate chip cookies. She asked me what my thoughts were. Here they are.

As I'm immersing myself more and more into the French culture, I really have to say they've got it figured out food-wise. Fresh vegetables, good meat, but not a lot, moderation in everything, the whole bit. Talking with my instructor, who is from Provence, I realize that things are sweeter over here. We add a lot more sugar to our foods. If I'm going to have a pastry, I'm not going to have it because it's also good for me. I'm going to have it because it is going to be delicious. Which is why, as Aaron puts it, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to dessert. I don't want things to just be sweet. I want the full flavor of something. Don't get me wrong - I love sugar. But I'm trying harder to make my meals better balanced so that when I indulge, regularly, in something I don't have to make that healthy too.

I'd rather teach my kids about good food choices than make treats healthy. Although, in the summer time, our treats are healthy. We go to the farmer's market and we each get a pint of strawberries or raspberries and eat them on the way back to the car. Heaven! I'd like to do some u-pick adventures with them. And they're learning in Opa's garden about all the good things they can grow. We'll grow some carrots at home this year. If I can get them excited about the tasty, healthy things there are, we won't worry so much about the chocolate chip cookies.

And homemade is always better than store-bought. And butter is good for you. And if you add a little malt powder, it takes a basic chocolate chip cookie to a whole new level.

Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls

Happy new year - here is my latest and greatest recipe. I don't take the credit for it entirely. I thought it was so original until I googled it and found that, well, it's not. Who cares. These are so good.

Ingredients:
1 medium sweet potato
1 1/2 cups potato cooking water
1/2 oz. active dry yeast
1/3 c. sugar + 1/2 tsp.
1/2 c. butter, melted
4 T. dry milk powder
2 eggs
2 t. salt
4 c. bread flour

Filling:
2 c. toasted pecans
2 c. brown sugar
1 T. cinnamon
1/2 c. butter

Icing:
2 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. milk
1/2 t. vanilla

Fill a medium saucepan three-quaters full with water and set on high heat to boil. Peel and quarter the potato. Add the potatoes to the water and bring to a second boil. Decrease the heat to medium until the potatoes are simmering. Cook the potatoes until tender when pierced with a fork, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the potatoes, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the cooking water. Set the potato water aside to cool, until it registers 110 to 115 degrees.

In a large bowl, mash the poatoes - you will have 3/4 to 1 cup worth - by hand or use a mixer on medium speed.

Here's where I cheat, and you can too if you have a Zojirushi breadmaker! I just throw all the ingredients in it and use the dough setting. If you don't have a Zoji . . . . .

In a medium bowl, mix the reserved cooled potato water, yeast and the 1/2 tsp. sugar. Stir until the yeast has dissolved. Let the mixture rest until foamy, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together the potatoes, 1/3 c. sugar, melted butter, eggs, salt and yeast-potato water. Add the flour in 1 1/3 c. increments and stir with a spoon until the flour is incorporated. Place the dough in a large greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and leave in a warm place until the dough doubles in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Leaving the dough in the powl, punch it down until it deflates. Cover with plastic wrap. At this point the dough can be refrigerated until the next day.

To make the filling: preheat the oven to 350. Arrange the pecans on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast them in the oven for 7 to 9 minutes, until golden brown and aromatic.

Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it in half. On a clean floured surface, roll each half into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Spread each rectangle with half of the butter. Cover each butter rectangle with half of the brown sugar mixture. Sprinkle the dough with an even layer of pecans.

Generously grease a 9 X 13 baking pan. Carefully roll up each rectangle. Using a very sharp serrated knife, cut each roll crosswise in 2-inch slices. Place the slices, cut side down, in the pans. At this point, the rolls can be tightly covered in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil and frozen up to 3 weeks. Defrost the rolls in the refrigerator overnight and continue following the directions from this point. Set the rolls in a warm place and let them rise until they get puffy, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375. Bake the rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, or until light brown.

To make the icing: combine the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla in a medium bowl. Spread the icing on top of the rolls while they are still warm. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Of course, you can use a regular potato if you'd like. And I'm working on a marshmallowy frosting. But for now, enjoy!

Update - Productivity!

Is it lame to feel accountability to a blog? As if someone out there cares that I'm getting things done?
Photos will appear in a bit. For now, I've finished:

• Doll quilts for Laurel
• Jammies for Will and James - just need some elastic
• Pincushions - adorable little buggers - need stuffing
• Aprons for boys are cut out and getting sewn today
• Dresses for girls are 2/3 done - finishing today!
• One bag as a gift is done
• Will's pillowcases
• Laurel's apron

Left to do (besides what is mentioned above):

• two more bags as gifts
• a doll apron for Laurel, if I have time
• a church bag for Will, if I have time
• Laurel's jammies - they're cut, just need sewing!
• ship what needs to be shipped!

I should be sewing . . . .

but I am so very tired (see my other blog to know why). I have several projects done, but so many to finish. I'm waiting for some things to come in the mail so I can complete the rest of these. I have to be done by Thursday - that's the deadline I've given myself. We'll see if that happens.
What I've finished:

• Will's Thomas the Train pillowcases
• Laurel's dolly quilts - two of them
• another apron for Laurel

What I have left to finish:

• pin cushions
• jammies for all three kids
• Will's apron
• Aprons for Preston and Carson
• Dress for Gracie
• Dress for Laurel
• gift for Angela
• gift for Annette

Can I get it done? Had it not been for my neighbor's boyfriend's stupid car, I would be feeling more rested today. Grr. I'll power through and at least get the pincushions done. I need Bing Crosby to help me out with this one!