A blog about food and how it brings together everyone that I love! Food is about love and sharing memories with family and friends. Recipes for home cooked meals, desserts, and even some fun videos showing the world how we put love into our food!
Recent Adventures With Food
As I am walking down the street chatting on my cell phone with my mother I instantly perk up with a scent in the air. The scent leads e further forward towards the hottest beat in Spokane: Italia Trattoria. As people shove past me in anticipation I linger in the back waiting to get through the door. Finally I get in and the hostess greets me. "can I have a seat at the bar?" I ask. The customer to my right asks if I know someone here, I reply "my fiance is a cook here." He shoots back "You should of said something and they would've sat you right away." I smile knowing how good the food will be, even with the insider connection I know. My stomach leaps a little with the smell in the air. Kids are chirping at their parents how good their pasta is, couples are cooing over wine, and a friendly party is chatting. The hostess leads me to the bar and I have a seat. I set my purse on the ground, and then see that there is a hook for bags. YES! The bartender comes over right away and wipes a little water off the bar, and hands me a menu. I order a glass of red. A few moments later my tall, dark, and handsome glass of red wine arrives. I decide to go with the chard octopus salad with parsley oil, sundried tomatoes and lemon zest.It was out of this world good. Very fresh, clean, and tasty. Rich in flavor and not chewy at all. The word on the street is Chef Anna uses an old school trick of putting corks in with the octopus to keep it tender! It is working! After eating half of my salad with bread and oil with balsamic I went straight to dessert. The tiramisu was rich and little boozy as chef Anna puts it. Perfectly balanced with the right amount of coffee and chocolate shavings. The mascarpone topping was delicious and light. As the busy night was winding down the large garage style doors that open to the street where opened up by manager Bethe. The night breeze flowing in and the energy of the night mellow and easy. All in all a delightful dinner. Service was friendly and prompt. Not to mention my fellow eaters where enjoying themselves as must as I. I definitely will be back for secondi! Not just because I know a good looking fellow there, but because the food is honest.
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Memorial Weekend Vineyard Trip
Visit to Vineyards!
Current mood: drunk
Category: Travel and Places
Wine Country
Apple Pie
Apple Pie Recipe
Easy As Apple Pie!
400 - 375 15 minutes
325 - 300 20 - 25 minutes
Flaky Pie Dough
2 1/2 cups all purpose unbleached flour
1/4 tsp salt
8 oz butter cold
3-5 TBS ice water
1. cut butter into flour dry ingredients mix by hand or in mixer at low speed. until pea sized or smaller.
2. add in water tbs by tbs until the dough comes together. Don't over mix! cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
Makes enough for 9 in top / bottom crust plus a little extra
Fillin'
1 pound or so of peel or un-peeled tart apples (granny smith) cored and sliced
1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup of granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp clove
1/2 tsp all spice
4 tbs butter cubed
4 tbs flour
1. Slice apples, add all spices, sugar, lemon juice and flour. Let stand at room temp to allow the juices from the apples to combine together.
2. Dust counter top with a light flour, and pie dough, roll bottom crust out. Use non-stick, or pan sprayed pie pan before putting crust on the bottom.
3. Add in pie filling. Repeat rolling for top, cut off any extra crust and crimp / flute edges. Cut vents on top crust. Place pie on a sheet pan in case the filling over flows, saves cleaning the oven :).
4. Bake on high at about 400 - 375 degrees for about 15 minutes reduce heat to 325 - 300 degrees for about 20 or so minutes or until brown, at the last five minutes of baking add egg glaze with a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon.
400 - 375 15 minutes
325 - 300 20 - 25 minutes
Flaky Pie Dough
2 1/2 cups all purpose unbleached flour
1/4 tsp salt
8 oz butter cold
3-5 TBS ice water
1. cut butter into flour dry ingredients mix by hand or in mixer at low speed. until pea sized or smaller.
2. add in water tbs by tbs until the dough comes together. Don't over mix! cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
Makes enough for 9 in top / bottom crust plus a little extra
Fillin'
1 pound or so of peel or un-peeled tart apples (granny smith) cored and sliced
1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup of granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp clove
1/2 tsp all spice
4 tbs butter cubed
4 tbs flour
1. Slice apples, add all spices, sugar, lemon juice and flour. Let stand at room temp to allow the juices from the apples to combine together.
2. Dust counter top with a light flour, and pie dough, roll bottom crust out. Use non-stick, or pan sprayed pie pan before putting crust on the bottom.
3. Add in pie filling. Repeat rolling for top, cut off any extra crust and crimp / flute edges. Cut vents on top crust. Place pie on a sheet pan in case the filling over flows, saves cleaning the oven :).
4. Bake on high at about 400 - 375 degrees for about 15 minutes reduce heat to 325 - 300 degrees for about 20 or so minutes or until brown, at the last five minutes of baking add egg glaze with a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon.