Brunch

Brunch at 7 Quarts Tavern on August 7 2016

https://sevenquartstavern.com/

Bloody Mary

Eggs Benedict

Thai red curry

Was inspired by my cousin Nick's lovely wife Ott to try my hand at a Thai dish after she shared some of her skills and talent with us as we helped her prepare a meal. It came out good and was easy to make.

Here's a look at the finished dish.

What you need to make it:
Red curry paste, I found it in my supermarket in a jar, just had to spoon it out, easy right?
garlic
grated ginger
lime, zest and juice
red pepper
carrots
scallions
Thai basil, keep some for garnish on top 
coconut milk
rice
coconut oil and sesame oil


Just chop up your veggies, zest your lime. 

 There really is no recipe for this that I followed. You can make any quantity that works for you.  

Started with the garlic in some coconut oil and sesame oil., and added the curry paste by eye. Then added the zest and juice of a lime. Next up was grated ginger and scallion. 

As these cooked a while I added the coconut milk and the rest of the veg, I just let it simmer until veggies were cooked. Cook up some rice spoon some on top of rice when it's done and some of the thai basil on top, grab a spoon and dig in!

Cannoli Cupcakes

 Had this idea to make a cannoli cupcake, so here's how it went:

I started with a chocolate cupcake recipe 

Devil's Food Cupcakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Fine salt
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line one 12-cup standard muffin tin with cupcake liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Slowly beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix together the  milk and vanilla in a measuring cup. Add half the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, beat to combine, and then add the milk mixture and continue to beat. Then add the remaining dry mixture. The mixture will look thick and airy.

Using an ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner three-quarters of the way full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the oven to a wire rack; let cool before frosting.


Cannoli Filling:

1 cups ricotta cheese

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

2 tablespoons orange zest

Pinch of cinnamon

For the filling: With a large wooden or metal spoon, mix the ricotta, confectioners' sugar, chocolate and orange zest in a medium bowl until combined.

What I should have done was drain the ricotta better, it was very thick until I started adding the other ingredients. It got looser and looser as I stirred. I was hoping for a thicker frosting than I got but it tasted great!

I also filled the cupcakes with the mixture and added some chopped pistachios for garnish!!!

MOLTO BUONA!!!!

Pizza

There really is no recipe for these, that's what makes them so easy to make. I just get some store bought pizza dough in the refrigerator section at the supermarket, and top with whatever suits my fancy, or whats left in the fridge :)
This was tomato sauce, fresh basil and cheese.

This has red onion, asparagus, and cheese with some olive oil drizzled on top.

This is Serrano ham, spinach, and of course cheese :)

All you do to make these is put the pizza dough in a flat pan, you dont' need anything special a pie pan or a baking dish work fine. Spread out the dough. Add your toppings. Pop it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20-30 minutes. When it gets brown and bubbles up and the cheese gets melty, it's done. Pizza!!! I use a half of the dough to make a pizza for one and keep the rest in the fridge. A little drizzle of EVOO on top if you want and thats it. 

BUON APPETITO!!!

                                                                                                                                                                    

Almond Cookies

I just think these cookies are so pretty and they taste really good!!! Almond is another of my favs and these are full of almond flavor. There aren't many ingredients and they are super easy to make.

Cookies

1 cup butter softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Glaze


1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
water to thin glaze as needed (start with small amount)

sliced almonds


Heat oven to 400°F. Combine all cookie ingredients in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten balls to 1/4 inch thick with bottom of buttered glass dipped in sugar. Bake 7-9 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack. Cool completely.

Combine all glaze ingredients except almonds in small bowl with wire whisk. Decorate cooled cookies with glaze and sliced almonds as desired.

Thats all there is too it!!! These are probably my favorite cookies, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!!!

White chocolate covered macaroons

OK so you know I loooove coconut and these are all coconut and covered with chocolate even better right??? And so easy to make. 

Heres what you need: 

INGREDIENTS:
1 14-oz bag of sweetened shredded flaked coconut
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. coconut extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 - 3 Tbsp. of all-purpose flour 

Chocolate for dipping

DIRECTIONS:

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the coconut, condensed milk, flour and extracts until well incorporated. Cover and put bowl in the fridge for several hours; overnight if needed.
Use a spoon to scoop batter and then roll with your hands to form 1 1/2-inch balls. Place each ball on baking pans lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper, leaving about 1-inch of space in between each. Preheat oven to 330 degrees. Bake for 20 - 23 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.

Let them cool and then cover them in melted chocolate. I sprinkled some sugar on top to make them pretty.

There you have it, sweet treats enjoy!!!!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

 I know Brussel Sprouts, you either love them or hate them, but I love them, especially roasted with some EVOO. And of course this is another quick & easy dish to make. Its also yummy & healthy. 

These were roasted just with olive oil, but I have used oil and added  lemon zest, garlic, even honey, it gets all caramelized, soooo good! Depending on what you like and what veggie you use, its super adaptable.

This works well with  whatever veggies you like too. I have used asparagus, broccoli, broccoli rabe and they all have  come out great. Just put your EVOO in a roasting pan with your veggies add whatever extras you want to use. Put the oven on 350 degrees for about a half an hour or so and done! You know I am a pasta lover, this works well over pasta on its own or I sometimes add it to tomato and make it a sauce. 

There you have it another quick & easy satisfying meal! Hope you enjoy!