Tag: cayenne

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Figgin’ delicious

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Hi friends!

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I’ve had a wonderful week – my birthday was last Monday, so C planned a whole surprise trip to Monterey! So so so lovely and relaxing.

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I didn’t bake anything for my birthday this year but I did get to spend quality time with the fave human, enjoy myself at the spa and on the beach and play board games + read my book, so I consider this a winning situation. Ofc we also went to the aquarium! How could you not. Plushies were acquired, ha! He got a kraken and I now have Norma the Narwhal keeping me company.

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Vati’s birthday was yesterday! This is the week of all the birthdays. Ergo, there is dessert! He doesn’t know about this one yet as I’m writing this, sneaky sneaky. I’ll be bringing it over in a few hours and scheduling this post to drop after I arrive. Ha!

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This tart is inspired by horchata! I love horchata with a fierce passion, though I very rarely drink it because it’s usually so sweet. I took the cinnamon-vanilla idea and threw it in with some coconut milk, tucked inside a spicy chocolate shell. I have to say (based on the few taste tests I had while putting this together) that this is a winning combination. Vati looooves all things spicy so I think it’s definitely his jam.

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I love what happened with the surface of the panna cotta too – not sure actually what happened there but my guess is that once it was mostly set, I shut the fridge door slightly harder than I meant to and jostled it. Regardless, it’s a super cool effect so I might try to replicate at some point.

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Alsooooo it’s FIG SEASON. I have stopped by the market repeatedly to pick up figs the last several weeks – can’t stop, won’t stop. Fig season isn’t that long so I have to get after it while I can! I LOVE figs. Especially these – they’re called Panachée or tiger stripe figs, and they have gorgeous magenta insides. Eat out of hand or top a tart with them – can’t go wrong either way!

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Happy weekend!! I hope you’re out enjoying the beautiful weather.

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Cinnamon Coconut Panna Cotta on a Mexican Chocolate Crust

Inspired by horchata! Cinnamony, vanillay goodness with in a spicy chocolate crust. Grain & gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. A Wait are those Cookies original. Yield: 1 9″ tart.

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For the crust:

1.75 c almond flour
1/3 c unsweetened cacao powder
1/4 c unsweetened shredded coconut
heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
4 tbsp coconut oil, melted

In a large bowl, stir together almond flour, cacao powder, coconut, sea salt, and baking soda. Add in vanilla, maple, and melted coconut oil and stir until completely combined. The dough will look crumbly, but you’ll be able to press it together with your fingers.

Preheat the oven to 350, and lightly grease a pie plate with coconut oil. Press the crust into the plate and up the sides with a spoon or your fingers, creating a smooth edge (or not, your call!). Poke the bottom with a fork a few times, and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove and let cool.

Panna Cotta:
1 package unflavored powdered gelatin
1.75 cup full-fat coconut milk
1/4 c cold water
1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup maple
Scant 1/4 tsp sea salt

In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water. Let stand without stirring until the gelatin is moistened, about 10 minutes.

Pour the coconut milk into a small saucepan. Add vanilla, cinnamon, maple, and salt, stirring consistently. Remove from the heat. Add the gelatin mixture and stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool until lukewarm, about 10 minutes. Pour the panna cotta mixture into the cooled tart shell. Place in the refrigerator until set, approximately 4 hours.

Store in the fridge – keeps well overnight for breakfast the next morning :)

Behind the scenes…

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Things.

IMG_6518Ugh sorry sorry sorry I know it’s been forever since we’ve had an invisible internet friend chat… but I’m back now with random things so you can rest easy. I know, you suuuuper missed me. Or something.

IMG_6524This is pretty much going to be one of those photo dump posts… I’ve made and eaten a lot in the last weekish and am feeling a little braindead. Back with a normal recipe post shortly…

Firstly this.

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Because…. just because. I just think it’s way too good not to share. Agreed?

Just do me a favor and don’t take this out of context… no, my family does not lollop around dressed in early Californiana-esque garments… nor do we secretly own a saloon/tavern/gambling/dancing establishment. Just no. However, we did decide we needed a new family portrait. So that happened.

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And then there was Father’s Day! Or rather, Father’s Day happened before all of the vintage photograph shenanigans but it’s family and therefore relatable so MOVING ON. Vati requested something chocolate and spicy, so I made him these!

IMG_6517Salted chocolate, cayenne and ginger ice cream sammies!!

The recipe is from The Artful Desperado, here, and I made a few changes:

  • 1.5 c whole wheat pastry flour instead of all-purpose (obvi)
  • 1/2 c avocado oil instead of canola
  • 3/4 c extra dark chocolate chips+some chunks from a 70% bar
  • 1 c brown sugar+ 1/2 c white***
  • baked for 13 minutes, yield 15 cookies+ one little baby one

***As you know, I pretty much never ever make things with refined sugar any more (some of the older recipes on the blog do though)… but as Vati specifically requested something sugary and decadent, there you go. It was Father’s Day, after all, and what he says goes.

He looooved them. They are dark and spicy and PERFECT with some good quality vanilla ice cream smashed in the middle. I only caution you if you’re not a fan of spicy things, as these are not particularly for the faint of heart. Especially if you don’t like spicy desserts. If you do, however, I can’t really recommend these enough.

They got annihilated.

IMG_0650Dinner was this spectacular steelhead with potatoes and bacon and red wine sauce. Gastro heaven, thank you Farallon.

IMG_0644Reason number one why I love summer [actually might be one of the only reasons since I hate being hot so much, but regardless]:

SO. MUCH. FRUIT. Can’t stop, won’t stop.

IMG_0677And also chocolate. Because… chocolate.

IMG_0683Oh oh oh!! One last random. HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE [quite possibly the best ice cream ever] opened a shop in the Ferry Building, which means it’s only a short hop away on the Oakland-SF ferry. Winninggggggg. E and I literally ate our way into an ice cream coma last week. Secret Breakfast [bourbon cornflake]+banana beach blanket [with peanuts!!!]+bourbon caramel for me; sea salted chocolate+vanilla honey+bourbon caramel+frosted almonds for him. All hail the ice cream mecca!

IMG_0660And now  I need a nap.