More Recipes from My Weekend Foodapalooza - Rhubarb Vanilla Crumble Tart

The only thing to survive yesterday’s dessert mass extermination was my Rhubarb Vanilla Crumble Tart.  As much as I knew it should get tossed into the garbage with the rest of the sweets, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.  1) It was much more complicated and time-consuming to put together than the other desserts, so I was hesitant to trash something I had worked hard on.  2) Mouse loves anything rhubarb, so I can count on him to help me eat it.  3) I was able to incorporate one of my weekend-finds, honey powder, into the dough recipe, which lent a subtle complexity to the crust that I fell in love with. 4) I just really like this dessert.  The combination of the tart rhubarb, with the sweet crust and crumble topping is wonderfully delicious.  So, I’m granting this dessert a reprieve and allowing myself just one more slice.  See below for the recipe if you want to give it a try.  (BTW – Thanks to Smitten Kitchen for the compote recipe!)

Bye-bye Brownies

It’s a shame, but it had to be done.  Today, I was forced into throwing away the remnants of this weekend’s baking bonanza.  It nearly broke my heart to see the fruits of my labor find their way into the garbage, but I had no choice.  Mouse isn’t much of a chocolate person, so I was left to nosh on the brownies and cakes alone, and it was becoming alarmingly evident that my self-control was quickly dissipating.  I realized that, if I kept this binge up, I would have no hope of fitting into my wedding dress come June.  So, they had to go.

But, just because my sweet treats are gone, doesn’t mean I can’t remember them fondly, and share my joy with you.  I know I’ve posted my brownie recipe (courtesy of Baked bakery) before, but I decided to repost it, as I made some changes that made this batch especially delicious, and definitely worth trying.  Most importantly was the substitution of black onyx cocoa powder for regular Dutch cocoa powder.  (I highly recommend getting your hands on this cocoa powder, as it is absolutely amazing!)  I also added real, Madagascar vanilla bean, which might have been an over-the-top extravagance, but I’m convinced it made the brownies just that much better.  Anyway, I hope you get a chance to try this recipe.  I promise, it will be well worth the effort.

Blame it on the Rain

Maybe it was the unseasonably bad weather, or inspiration from the cake workshop, but this weekend was all about food, food, and more food.  The thing is, as much as I may want to blame this food-fueled weekend on the above-mentioned factors, I know it started way before the weather had a chance to turn for the worse, or taking even one step into Sur la Table.  (The plummeting temps and torrential downpours just strengthened my need to stay inside and nest.)  Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure this fattening weekend was already in the works as I powered through the final hours of my last night shift of the week.  I was so busy and so stressed I don’t remember much from the evening (I didn’t have time to sit down, let alone think.), but I’m pretty sure, as the wee hours of Friday morning came around, I clung to the idea of making brownies like I was clinging to a life raft in stormy seas.  (Sad, but true.)

Then, I made the fateful decision to stop into Foodie Paradise, also known as Whole Foods Market, instead of fighting the morning rush hour, as I was on my way home Friday morning.  I was a goner the moment I saw fresh, local rhubarb on display.  Why not just make two desserts this weekend?  I reasoned the brownies would be for my Newport bestie’s birthday and the rhubarb dessert for Mouse.  (Rhubarb is his favorite, after all.)  Plus, nothing screams SPRING to me more than fresh rhubarb, and after living like a vampire for a few days, I was desperate for something to remind of sunshine and happy days.

Oh, and then I made another fateful decision to stop by our local spice shop, The Savory Spice Shop.  This place is amazing, inspiring and addicting, and as soon as I walked in the door, I just couldn’t help myself from acting like a little kid in a candy shop and going nuts.  With so many delightful options at my fingertips, I became a woman possessed.  Try as I might, I couldn’t stop myself from buying a bunch of new ingredients to experiment with.  What baker in her right mind could pass up Madagascar vanilla beans, powdered honey, or Black Onyx cocoa powder, after all?  I just didn’t have the willpower to stop myself.

So, over the next few days, I will put together the recipes of my weekend creations and post them for all to see.  Stay tuned for upcoming deliciousness…

Cake Break

This weekend, I’m taking a break from the normal wedding planning and DIY projects to spend some much-needed girl time with my Newport bestie, all the while brushing up on my cake-making skills.  We decided to enroll in a weekend cake workshop at Sur Le Table (aka happiness in a store) for a little batter and butter cream filled fun.  And, while I spent a good portion of the first class stupefied by how ignorant some of my classmates were of basic pastry techniques (I can’t help it, I’m so easily annoyed!), I actually had a good time.  I have to admit, there are few things quite as soothing as preparing a cake from scratch.  All the creaming, whipping, melting, and folding are incredibly satisfying.  It’s really a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.  Plus, this workshop is a practical time investment, as I’m hoping to glean as many tips as possible from a professional pastry chef.  I’ve got some wedding cakes to bake in the near future, after all…

Pizza or Heaven?

Even though life is one big ball of stress these days, there are times, fleeting moments, when everything falls into place and life just seems perfect.  It’s times like these that remind me I’m in the right place in my life.  It’s times like these that bolster my spirit and help me push through the tough stuff.  And, surprisingly, it doesn’t take much to find myself in these moments.  Often, it’s the smallest things that make me realize how good my life truly is.  This time, it was Friday night pizza.  There we were, playing around in our too-small kitchen, drinking red wine, chopping veggies, saucing the crust, and joking around.  We weren’t doing anything spectacular or particularly memorable, but we were having fun.  Our chemistry was undeniable.  And that’s when it hit me, a wave of overwhelming contentment rushing into every cell of my body.  It was a feeling that made me pause for a brief second, just so I could take it all in.  It was one of those rare moments of sheer bliss, all thanks to a pizza-making session.  Who would have guessed something so mundane could transcend into a temporary heaven.  These are the moments I need to hold onto when the craziness of the outside world threatens to do me in, because I can tackle anything if I have more of that waiting in the wings.

When Will It Ever End?

Since I’ve been back, I’ve had the distinct feeling my life barely belongs to me any longer.  I know that’s a weird sentiment, but I can’t think of a better way to describe my current situation.  The moment my plane landed at LAX, I felt like my brain was under siege, bombarded with the various duties and responsibilities that lie ahead.  And since that moment, the feeling hasn’t subsided, not one bit.  Living in Australia was like existing in a bubble.  I was able to put most of my life on hold, and only focus on being there.  Australia was my break from reality.  It was my time to be selfish, to explore an exotic land, and forget about the extraneous details of life.  It was my time to just be.  But all good things must come to an end, and that bubble had to burst.  So, here I am, back in the States, facing reality once again, and doing my best to maintain some semblance of sanity.  It isn’t easy.  There are just too many things to do, and even more things too worry about.  I’m still trying to sort out all of my affairs, in regards to living abroad for a year; the amount of paperwork I need to go through is mind-boggling.  Even though I’m working fewer hours, I’m constantly reminded of how draining working nights can be.  And then there is this darn wedding we are trying to plan.  It would be easier if we had a bigger budget, but we don’t, so I’m left to do much of it on my own.  My mind is spinning with all of the details I should be attending to.  I can’t even worry about the honeymoon right now; it just isn’t a priority.  And then there is the annoying fact that we need to move again in a couple of months.  The list just goes on and on.   I keep telling myself this insanity won’t last forever; eventually life will slow down and I will be able to catch my breath.  But, right now, it’s all quite overwhelming.  So, I’m doing my best to take things one step at a time.  Tonight’s step is to enjoy a glass of red wine while I navigate through my real estate bond paperwork.  After all, if I’m going to spend a Saturday night tackling something so dull, I might as well make it a little fun.

The Upside of Vegas

OK – I’ll confess.  Vegas was fun.  Even though I had to put up with smoke-filled casinos and tacky tourists, I had a great time this weekend.  In my defense, the fun parts of the weekend all took place off the strip, and had nothing to do with gambling or showgirls, but I did have fun, nonetheless.  And, as much as I hate to admit this, it was the first time in a very long time that I’ve felt at home.  I guess it was bound to happen.  After living there for several years, I can’t help but feel some sort of attachment to that place.  I never thought I would feel any affinity for that dusty, tourist trap of a city, but I found myself feeling incredibly nostalgic as the weekend progressed.  I was reminded of the convenience of my old neighborhood and how much I liked the surrounding shops.  I ate at my favorite restaurants.  But most importantly, I was able to fit in some of my favorite outdoor activities.  One of the hidden beauties of Vegas is that it offers so many opportunities for the outdoors enthusiast, and I did my best to take advantage.  I got in a great bike ride and made it up to Red Rocks State Park for a breathtakingly gorgeous trail run.  It felt good to be able to commune with nature for a few hours.  The jaw-dropping beauty of the desert canyons made me feel more invigorated than I have in a while, and made me miss living in such close proximity to these natural wonders.  I don’t regret our decision to leave Vegas, but it was nice to be reminded of its good qualities.  So, now I’m back home and ready to tackle another workweek.  I really hope I had enough R&R to get me through my next three night shifts.

Vegas Bound

It’s funny.  As much as I loathed living in Las Vegas, I’m incredibly excited for this weekend’s visit.  I don’t care about The Strip and all its glitz and glamour; none of that appeals to me.  I’m just excited to go to my favorite off-the-beaten-path restaurants and hang out with my friends.  My Vegas is much, much different than the Vegas portrayed on TV.  It’s much more mundane and very outdoorsy.  I’m itching to hit the trails and go for a hike.  I’m even bringing my road bike in hopes of fitting in some good rides.  And if I’m really lucky, I’ll squeeze in at least one good run.  And when all of that is done, I’ll relax with a glass of wine and the company of the friends I miss dearly.  It’s not the Vegas weekend most would expect, but it’s what I’ve been looking forward to for a long time now.

All Rested Up with Nowhere to Go

As much as I enjoy agency work, the one aspect of it that really sucks is that work is never a guarantee.  Most of the time, this isn’t a problem.  Hospitals are chronically short-staffed, so I can usually pick up a shift whenever I desire.  Tonight is one of those rare occasions, though, when no one needed me.  So, here I sit, wondering what to do with my evening off.  Mouse is away on a business trip, so I’m left to fend for myself.  Since I thought I would be working tonight, I got a full day’s sleep.  Now I’m fully rested and wondering what to do with all of my energy.  Retiring to bed is not an option.  I feel like I should be productive, like I should be getting important things done; I’m just not sure what those things are.  I guess I’ll probably fall into my typical pattern of wedding planning, which is an addictive habit I’ve formed.  Maybe the continuous viewing of wedding blogs will either inspire me or lull me to sleep.  A girl can only hope…