Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Pear Tart
Today we're having a cook-off in the office. I made my famous (with a little help from Food Network) Pear Tart. It is always a hit at home and so I've decided to share it with you all....
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1 piece store-bought frozen puff pastry, defrosted according to package directions
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup of brandy
1 (4-ounce) log mild goat cheese
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 firm-ripe pears, cored and sliced as thinly as possible
2 tablespoons apricot preserves
1/4 teaspoon of water
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cold butter; chopped into small squares.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll the puff pastry sheet to a thickness of between 1/4 and 1/8-inch. Fold edges about 1/2-inch thick. Refrigerate while you prepare the toppings.
Combine the raisins and brandy in a small nonreactive bowl and set aside to allow the raisins to plump for about 10 minutes.
Mix together the goat cheese with the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla and mix until smooth.
Place the puff pastry onto the lined baking sheet and spread the goat cheese mixture over the puff pastry, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle the raisins and a little of the brandy liquid over the goat cheese; arrange the pear slices evenly over the goat cheese. Combine the apricot preserves or jam, whichever you have handy, with a small amount of water; in a small saucepan or in the microwave, melt the preserves. Brush the tart with the apricot preserves and sprinkle with the dark brown sugar and butter.
Optional: I like to sprinkle raw sugar for a little crunch.
Bake the tart until pastry is golden brown on the bottom and sides, about 25 minutes. Remove the tart from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool. Serve the tart at room temperature. ENJOY!
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1 piece store-bought frozen puff pastry, defrosted according to package directions
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup of brandy
1 (4-ounce) log mild goat cheese
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 firm-ripe pears, cored and sliced as thinly as possible
2 tablespoons apricot preserves
1/4 teaspoon of water
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cold butter; chopped into small squares.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll the puff pastry sheet to a thickness of between 1/4 and 1/8-inch. Fold edges about 1/2-inch thick. Refrigerate while you prepare the toppings.
Combine the raisins and brandy in a small nonreactive bowl and set aside to allow the raisins to plump for about 10 minutes.
Mix together the goat cheese with the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla and mix until smooth.
Place the puff pastry onto the lined baking sheet and spread the goat cheese mixture over the puff pastry, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle the raisins and a little of the brandy liquid over the goat cheese; arrange the pear slices evenly over the goat cheese. Combine the apricot preserves or jam, whichever you have handy, with a small amount of water; in a small saucepan or in the microwave, melt the preserves. Brush the tart with the apricot preserves and sprinkle with the dark brown sugar and butter.
Optional: I like to sprinkle raw sugar for a little crunch.
Bake the tart until pastry is golden brown on the bottom and sides, about 25 minutes. Remove the tart from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool. Serve the tart at room temperature. ENJOY!
10/23/09 weekend
Hey kids! Hope you all had a great weekend!
Friday night- the finance and I went out with some friends for some relax time. We went out to dinner at Pio Pio, amazing chicken!!! Followed by a night of bowling. I won the first game and then failed at the second. womp womp.
Saturday spent the day biting my nails-took the GMAT in the afternoon. It was an interesting experience. I'll perform better the next time around. For now, I'm okay with the results.
Sunday- WHAT A BEAU-TIFUL Day!!!! We had fantastic weather here in NYC. The temperature was warm, the sky was blue. AWESOME! The fiancé and I went to IKEA to pick up some curtains. The future mother-in-law and I went to Manhasset mall for some window shopping. If you haven't been to Miracle Mile-you MUST go!!!! It is absolutely amazing. I think it might be my heaven. You have all the designers from 5th avenue in one outdoor mall. Since I was near Gucci I decided to pay a visit to my bag. =)
'pelham' Gucci
Americana Manhasset Mall
Friday night- the finance and I went out with some friends for some relax time. We went out to dinner at Pio Pio, amazing chicken!!! Followed by a night of bowling. I won the first game and then failed at the second. womp womp.
Saturday spent the day biting my nails-took the GMAT in the afternoon. It was an interesting experience. I'll perform better the next time around. For now, I'm okay with the results.
Sunday- WHAT A BEAU-TIFUL Day!!!! We had fantastic weather here in NYC. The temperature was warm, the sky was blue. AWESOME! The fiancé and I went to IKEA to pick up some curtains. The future mother-in-law and I went to Manhasset mall for some window shopping. If you haven't been to Miracle Mile-you MUST go!!!! It is absolutely amazing. I think it might be my heaven. You have all the designers from 5th avenue in one outdoor mall. Since I was near Gucci I decided to pay a visit to my bag. =)
'pelham' Gucci
Americana Manhasset Mall
Friday, October 23, 2009
Dress to Impress!
I know the weather is getting cold and the last item of clothing anyone wants to wear is a dress, but I'm adoring dresses so much this year. Perhaps it's due to the holiday season, which means Cocktail time or maybe I just want to be girlie; either way I'm loving it!
Quasar Cocktail Dress via ModCloth
Trina Turk "Decadence" Midnight Blooms Dress
Quasar Cocktail Dress via ModCloth
Trina Turk "Decadence" Midnight Blooms Dress via Bloomingdales
Alexander Wang Silk Georgette Dress via Saks
Candela via Saks
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Got to have!
A couple of weeks ago, I saw an ad for the new sneakers by Reebok called EasyTone and thought "o-k, another fit shoe" but these sound really awesome and they look cute...not like those other sneakers that curve on the bottom.
The sneaker is claimed to "incorporate stability balls under the heels and forefoot to create a natural instability to force muscles to adapt and encourage toning." Reebok EasyTone These are going on my Christmas list!
The sneaker is claimed to "incorporate stability balls under the heels and forefoot to create a natural instability to force muscles to adapt and encourage toning." Reebok EasyTone These are going on my Christmas list!
A way to shop without spending money-Possible? Perhaps online
There is a whole virtual world out there that you can shop for whatever you desire without opening your actual wallet. No Joke. NYTimes.com reviewed a few "second life" virtual sites, There.com, IMVU.com or Second Life.com. You create your own character and then you can shop your socks off! I think it's a great way to release that urge to shop without actually spending your money. hmmm I wonder if this will eliminate the urge for those $400 boots I'm craving....I'm thinking no.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Floral Touch with a little feather
I'm really into this whole feather thing. Seems very 1920's and French.
via Luly's Wedding Accessories
via Luly's Wedding Accessories
Garlic wards off colds...
I heart Garlic! I don't use it in everything nor do I eat it raw but I do like to add garlic to my meals. It just makes everything taste better. Don't you think?
Well, my fiancé loves to make fun of my garlic appreciation. Now, I have an excuse! I just read this great article on NYTimes.com that explains how garlic wards off colds. Check it out!
Cobalt
After my trip from Paris this past spring, one of my discoveries was magenta and cobalt blue bags. Every lady in Paris had either one of these colored bags. Upon my return, I was in search for a magenta bag, which I found at a Tory Burch sale.
'Nico' via Tory Burch
Now I am in search for something Cobalt Blue to complete my fall collection...
See by Chloé Rise & Shine Leather Tote 
Diane von Furstenberg Crackled Leather Bag 
MARC by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Aidan
Nancy Gonzalez Brilliant Croc Degrade Clutch 
Botkier Angie Large Satchel
Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini SatchelTuesday, October 20, 2009
I love...
High-Waisted Wool Skirt (in Black) This skirt goes with everything! by Chloe and Reese
Wool Mini Dress with Nautical Buttons (in Camel) by Chloe and Reese
Monday, October 19, 2009
Weekend 10/16
It was an interesting, exciting and fun filled weekend.
Friday- I took my Lola to the vet to get her teeth examined and cleaned. The news turned pretty bad very quickly. She has gingivitis and had to have 4 teeth removed because of bone damage. Poor Lola. I don't understand. I brush her teeth often, she has plenty of chew toys and she is only 2! You would think the vet would have said something before this whole thing started.
Later that evening I made a fabulous baked chicken dinner with asparagus and cheddar biscuits. yummy!
Saturday-Went to dinner at Loukoumi followed by a movie, Couples Retreat. Very funny! Definitely a must see!
Sunday-We went to our fabulous local bakery, Cannelle Patisserie, for breakfast. We had to try everything so we bought mini pasteries; chocolate croissant, cheese danish, blueberry danish, corn and chedder muffin with chives, banana nut muffin. If I could, I would be at this bakery everyday! Small things bring me such joy! =)
How was your weekend?
Friday- I took my Lola to the vet to get her teeth examined and cleaned. The news turned pretty bad very quickly. She has gingivitis and had to have 4 teeth removed because of bone damage. Poor Lola. I don't understand. I brush her teeth often, she has plenty of chew toys and she is only 2! You would think the vet would have said something before this whole thing started.
Later that evening I made a fabulous baked chicken dinner with asparagus and cheddar biscuits. yummy!
Saturday-Went to dinner at Loukoumi followed by a movie, Couples Retreat. Very funny! Definitely a must see!
Sunday-We went to our fabulous local bakery, Cannelle Patisserie, for breakfast. We had to try everything so we bought mini pasteries; chocolate croissant, cheese danish, blueberry danish, corn and chedder muffin with chives, banana nut muffin. If I could, I would be at this bakery everyday! Small things bring me such joy! =)
How was your weekend?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Let the baking begin!
It's baking season! I decided to make some chocolate chip cookies for Tom's cousin since it's his first semester in college and his b-day is this week. I'm a little rusty but I'll improve by Christmas. Tom likes them, I'm comme çi comme. I made one batch strictly chocolate chip and the other I added some cranberries. Oh and of course some Halloween sprinkles! =)
Lola-waiting for a cookie to fall.
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