panna cotta – Page 2 – Wait…are those…cookies?!

December 31, 2019December 31, 2019

The Twenties have returned!

Happy New Year, blog friends!

I’m excited that the 20’s are back – can we also bring back the fashions, please? I’m all about the flapper style.

Here’s hoping that 2020 will be a better year for everyone, no matter what kind of year you had last year. Sending love from my kitchen to yours! I bring you a light and bright tart, in hopes that light and bright follow you into 2020 and beyond. It’s such a nice round number for a year, and a fresh start for a new decade!

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In my fam, it’s tradition to take the tree down and get all the decorations put away before the new year, to have a fresh start. I did that yesterday, and also opened up all my windows and let the fresh (slightly chilly) air in and it felt AMAZING.

My walk home from work was brisk and beautiful yesterday – this city has such great vistas.

On another note, my bookshelf plants (Kuzco and Kronk) are going ape, and I love it. Kuzco especially seems very happy in his sunny new home – my apartment is west-facing, and boy do my plants (and I) love it.

I’m ready for 2020. Time for some new exciting things!

In the meantime, I finished out 2019 baking and eating tart, so what else is new. This one is very lightly sweet, to balance out all the eating of sweet things I’m sure we’ve all been doing for the last week. It’s even a little earthy with the rosemary happening in there. Besides all that, it’s gluten and dairy free (not to mention refined sugar free of course) because lord only knows I’ve been eating a ridiculous amount of cheese lately and I should probably eat at least SOMETHING that is dairy free. You know, so I can eat more cheese and balance it out. HA.

Happy New Year! May there be peace, joy and light in your upcoming year, and beyond.

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Lemon Panna Cotta on a Rosemary Almond Crust

A Wait are those Cookies original! Gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. Yield: 1 9″ tart, serves several or enough for a small New Year’s party :) Only lightly sweet to balance out all the eating we’ve all done over the last week. Mildly tart filling plays nicely with the slightly earthy notes from the rosemary in the crust, which is present but not overbearing.

For the crust:

1.5 c almond flour
1/3c unsweetened shredded coconut
1/3c cornmeal
heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
6 tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 heaping tbsp rosemary, very finely chopped

1/4 c chocolate, melted

In a large bowl, stir together almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, sea salt, baking soda and chopped rosemary. Add in vanilla extract, 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 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom) 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 for a few minutes.

With a pastry brush or a spoon, coat the bottom the crust with an even layer of melted chocolate. Refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 10 minutes.

Panna Cotta:
1 package unflavored powdered gelatin
1.75 cup full-fat coconut milk
1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
zest of 1 lemon
Scant 1/4 cup maple
Scant 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 c lemon juice, cold

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

Pour the coconut milk into a small saucepan. Add lemon zest, maple, vanilla, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring consistently. Remove from heat, strain to remove lemon zest pieces, and whisk in the gelatin mixture. Stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool until lukewarm. Pour the panna cotta mixture into the cooled tart shell. Place in the refrigerator until set, approximately 4 hours or preferably overnight.

Top with whatever pretty things your heart desires! Serve cold out of the fridge. Store any leftovers covered in the fridge as well.

December 24, 2019December 30, 2019

Happy holidays from my kitchen to yours!

Hello internet friends! Happy Holidays!!

I have bonus things for you today – TWO recipes!

I’ve now made three desserts in 24 hours and am feeling quite pleased with myself. One for my fam (since there are only three of us) and two for C’s fam, since there are going to be considerably more than 3 at dinner, ha.

Besides, I made this crisp a few weeks ago for C and I and it was bit of a cluster because I lost power while it was in the oven, and then lost the daylight to photograph while waiting for the power to come back on…. so though I wanted to put it up here, I only had photos of half eaten crisp. Which has some kind of aesthetic (obviously I put them up, you’ve seen them) but I needed more than that for a legit post.

So! I made it again for Xmas Eve dessert with my parents, because it was delicious, and now I have a few more actual photos.

But, bonus – I also made this mint panna cotta tart with cacao coconut crust for tomorrow’s dessert, so why not feature that too! It turned out too pretty not to share. It’s actually the same as the one I made last year at this time – couldn’t resist the mint again, and it just looks so festive.

I hope your holidays are filled with all kinds of good things, delicious food, and loved ones. Happy holidays from my kitchen to yours! Merry and bright <3

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Mint Panna Cotta Tart on a Cacao Coconut Crust

Minty fresh and chocolatey, perfect for a holiday dinner. Yield: 1 9″ tart, serves several. A Wait are those Cookies original. Grain and gluten free, refined sugar free. For dairy free, swap out coconut milk & yogurt for the cream.

Recipe HERE.

Apple and Cranberry Pecan Crisp

I have successfully used both walnuts and pecans for this – both are delicious. I choose to chop up a chocolate bar in order to get the finer shards of chocolate, but chocolate chips would do if that’s all you have on hand. Totally adaptable to whatever is in your pantry! Yield: 1 9″ crisp (it was doubled for these photos); serves several. A Wait are Those Cookies original. Gluten free, refined sugar free & easily dairy free with a sub of coconut oil or vegan butter + coconut yogurt.

1 bag of fresh cranberries (fresh or frozen are both fine)
3 apples (I prefer Granny Smith and / or Lady Alice), chopped
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tap tapioca starch
1/4 c water
2 tsp vanilla

1 cup old-fashioned oats (use certified gluten-free oats for a gluten-free crisp)
½ cup firmly packed almond meal
½ cup chopped pecans
1/4 c unsweetened shredded coconut
1/8 c maple syrup
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tbsp plain whole milk Greek yogurt
1/4 c dark chocolate, roughly chopped
a handful of crystalized ginger, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350.
Toss apples & cranberries into your baking dish of choice (my dish is 8×8, 2 qt capacity; 9″ square or 9″ deep pie dish would also be fine). In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the maple and water until combined. Add the tapioca starch, and whisk to combine. Pour the mixture over the fruit and toss to combine. Bake for 20 minutes.

While the filling is baking, make the crisp. In a mixing bowl, stir together the oats, almond meal, chopped pecans, shredded coconut, maple, and salt. Mix in the vanilla, melted butter and the yogurt. Stir until everything is mixed thoroughly, then stir in chopped ginger and chocolate.

Once the filling has baked for 20 minutes, stir it and and redistribute evenly in the dish. Plop spoonfuls of the crisp topping evenly over the filling – no need to pack it down. Return the dish to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 more minutes, until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the top is golden.
Let the crisp rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream, obviously! Keep leftovers, covered, in the fridge for about five days (yeah right. It would take some kind of major feat to make it last that long)

October 28, 2019October 28, 2019

Yuzu & black sesame = made for each other

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Hi friends,

It’s so hard to be upbeat about dessert and life when my beautiful state is on fire, out of power, and struggling so hard. I’m going to try my best to keep it positive in my little corner of the internet, if only to give us something pretty to look at in the midst of all this.

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Today, I have a yuzu and black sesame panna cotta tart for you – I made it over the weekend and it was much loved by all! I’m pretty obsessed with everything black sesame at the moment so rest assured you’ll be seeing more of it here in future posts.

Also, I needed to use (yuz-u… ha see what I did there) up the last of my yuzu juice so this was a great way to do so.

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This was (emphasis on was – it’s long gone, and not only because I’m late in posting, ha!) a great combination of tart, nutty, and creamy all at the same time. The citrusy tartness of the yuzu pairs so well with black sesame – they’re made for each other.

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As per usual – great for breakfast, dessert, snacks: all of the above.

A couple shots of Fort Funston since I headed out that way this weekend and it was as beautiful as always.

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Short and sweet today: love your peeps. Make them tart!

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Yuzu and Black Sesame Panna Cotta

Gluten free, dairy free & refined sugar free! A nice balance of tartness and creaminess and nuttiness. Yield: 1 9″ tart, serves several. A Wait are Those Cookies original.

For the crust:

1/4 c black sesame seeds
1.5 c almond flour
1/3c unsweetened shredded coconut
1/3c cornmeal
heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
6 tbsp coconut oil, melted

In a small sauté pan over medium-low heat, toast black sesame seeds, shaking the pan occasionally, until you hear the first one pop. Remove from heat. Using a mortar & pestle, grind up the seeds until they’re a gritty, flour-like consistency. You’ll probably have a few larger pieces in there, which is totally fine.

In a large bowl, stir together sesame seeds, almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, 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 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom) 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 for a few minutes.

Panna Cotta:
1 package unflavored powdered gelatin
1.75 cup full-fat coconut milk
1 tbsp vanilla
Scant 1/4 cup maple
1/4 c yuzu juice
Scant 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 c water, cold

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

Pour the coconut milk into a small saucepan. Add maple and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring consistently. Stir in yuzu juice and vanilla. Remove from heat, and whisk in the gelatin mixture. Stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool until lukewarm. Pour the panna cotta mixture into the cooled tart shell. Place in the refrigerator until set, approximately 4 hours or preferably overnight.

Top with sliced citrus, figs, etc.

Store in the fridge – keeps well overnight for breakfast or snacks the next day.

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September 28, 2019September 28, 2019

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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September 3, 2019

I love you so matcha

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Hi friends! I hope everyone enjoyed their three day weekend – I know I did… Tuesday back at work was especially painful.

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Much fun was had over the weekend: sun, fave human, good friends, good food, cold pool, big hats, lots of laughter. Pics included, just because I’m so inordinately pleased with the absolute extra-ness of this hat & how it’s essentially attacking fave human in that first picture. Sorry C, gotta make room for the hat.

There was also tart! Not in the same setting, as there’s no way this tart was going to survive an un-air conditioned car & a picnic. Nope. So, I brought cookies (I had a very nice request from a certain someone who loooves them ;) and we ate the tart the night before and the morning of.

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It’s green! Haven’t done matcha in awhile and I was definitely missing it. We both loooove matcha, especially with black sesame. It’s one of my new favorite combinations – very earthy of course, since we’re talking tea here, but in the best way. Grassy and fresh are the words that come to mind – perfect for a Labor Day weekend dessert.

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Excellent with ice cream as always (I mean, what isn’t) but totally shines on its own. We had it two ways as usual – with ice cream and a board game in the evening, and keeping the eggs and kale company in the morning.

I picked up a new tiki friend over the weekend as well! Taking name suggestions… drop me a line if you have a particularly good one in mind ;)

Keeping it short today because I’m really ready to curl up with my book for a bit before bed, and I’m happy tomorrow is already Wednesday. Thank goodness for a four day workweek.

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Happy not-Monday first day back at work! Let’s make this week fly by, what do you say? I’m already ready for another weekend, that is for SURE.

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Matcha and Coconut Panna Cotta on a Black Sesame Crust

A Wait are those Cookies original! Refined sugar free, gluten free and dairy free. Lightly sweet, grassy and fresh – full of tea and sesame flavors. If you’re a matcha fan, this is for you! Excellent with ice cream for dessert or on its own to let the tea flavors shine. Yield: 1 9″ tart.

For the crust:

Panna Cotta:
1 package unflavored powdered gelatin
1.75 cup full-fat coconut milk, divided
1.5 tbsp vanilla bean paste
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup maple
Scant 1/4 tsp sea salt
1.5 tbsp matcha powder
melted coconut butter (just a few tbsp needed – use more for serving if desired)

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

Pour the remaining 1.5 cups of coconut milk into a small saucepan. Add vanilla, mint extract, maple, salt, and matcha powder into it. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring consistently. Remove from the heat (blend if necessary with an immersion blender if you have a few matcha blobs). Add the gelatin mixture and stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool until lukewarm, about 5 minutes. Pour the panna cotta mixture into the cooled tart shell. Drop melted coconut butter onto the surface of the tart and swirl with a knife or a toothpick. Place in the refrigerator until set, approximately 4 hours.

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

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August 18, 2019August 19, 2019

Foods for Fogust

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Hi blog friends! (autcorrect somehow tried to change that to bog friends – no, not quite what I was going for…)

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I have another panna cotta for you today – I know, I know, you’re shocked.

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But this one has black sesame in it! Otherwise known as my new favorite ingredient. It’s a fascinating flavor; I actually like it so much more than tahini, which is rather odd given that they’re essentially the same thing. Anyway, I bought this giant thing of black sesame a while back and then my summer exploded with moving, job change, etc, and I just never got around to using them till now. C and I both loved this – I brought this (and the fave cookies, ofc) to a family event of his, and it was a big hit.

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The nuttiness of the toasted sesame plays really well against vanilla and coconut (okay, what DOESN’T play well with vanilla and coconut?!). You can bet you’ll be seeing at least one other black sesame thing on here in a few weeks – I have an idea that I’m dying to try; I wonder if I can make it come out like it currently looks in my head? We shall see.

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I can’t believe it’s getting close to the end of August. My summer FLEW by… between getting a new job, moving and camp, it’s hard to believe it’s nearly Labor Day. I love fall though, so I’m not upset about it. Despite a heat wave last week, we’ve also been graced with some typical Fogust weather, which I adore – I love how ephemeral and Tolkienesque the fog looks, especially on the beach. This was taken down at Fort Funston on a foggy Saturday morning, probably around 10:30a or so. Foggy beach walks are one of my absolute favorite things.

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I keep buying myself these absurdly large gladiolus bouquets at the market because they’re only $5 and they last for a week… and bring me such joy! I am a huge advocate of buying flowers for yourself. I’m sure it’s quite comical watching me walk home with these bobbing way over my head, while I shlep a giant bag of groceries… but you know what? I’m worth it :)

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Happy Sunday! I hope your week ahead is smooth sailing.

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Vanilla Bean & Coconut Panna Cotta Tart on a Black Sesame Crust

Gluten free, refined sugar free, and dairy free! A Wait are those Cookies original. Black sesame and vanilla pair very well together. This tart is lightly sweet, just like everything I make. I fed it to a crowd tonight & everyone went back for more, so it seems to be a hit across varied palettes! Yield: 1 9″ tart, serves several.

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For the crust:

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

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

Pour the coconut milk into a small saucepan. Add maple, vanilla, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring consistently. Remove from heat, and whisk in the gelatin mixture. Stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool until lukewarm. Pour the panna cotta mixture into the cooled tart shell. Place in the refrigerator until set, approximately 4 hours or preferably overnight.

Top with strawberries, etc.

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

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July 28, 2019August 5, 2019

15 mi, 4000′ & 680 stairs: I’ve earned some tart

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Hi friends!

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Holy cow, C and I hiked 15 miles yesterday with over 4000′ of elevation gain! We did out and back on the Dipsea trail in less than 3 hours both ways (this may or may not have been dubbed the ‘Hayley Scott Beast Mode” speed, NOT by me hahaha sorry not sorry) – had lunch in Stinson & then dinner in Mill Valley when we got back. Never have nachos tasted so good!

You can see the teeny tiny skyline in this one, and Sutro tower!

Gettin’ after some lunch:

It goes without saying that I feel quite accomplished and also tired. I did arms at the gym today and left squats out of it, haha! According to a quick google, the Dipsea has 680 stairs. My quads and glutes believe it!

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Anyway – it was extremely satisfying to come back home to this tart! We both loved it – arguably I think this is one of my favorite things that I’ve made in the last six months or so. Maybe even 9 months. I LOVE fennel. I’m currently sitting here munching on sliced raw fennel as I type… it makes a great snack with cheese (Humboldt fog, yesss)

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It’s lightly sweet, like everything I make – we had it with ice cream for dessert (delicious) and on its own for breakfast (also delicious). It’s also a great make-ahead, since it’s best when it sets up in the fridge overnight.

Definitely fennelicious, as C put it! Not for the faint of fennel-loving heart, that is for sure. If you love munching on raw fennel, this is totally for you. Fennel and almond are a match made in heaven – the crust is nicely textured with cornmeal & very almondy.

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Happy trails! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

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Fennel Panna Cotta on an Almond Cornmeal Crust

Gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. Fennelicious! This is a tart for those who LOOOOVE fennel & almond. Lightly sweet; perfect for dessert with ice cream or breakfast on its own. Yield: 1 9″ tart, serves several. A Wait are those Cookies original.

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For the crust:

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

In a large bowl, stir together almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, sea salt, and baking soda. Add in vanilla, almond extract, 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 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom) 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 for a few minutes.

Panna Cotta:
1 package unflavored powdered gelatin
1.75 cup full-fat coconut milk
2 tbsp fennel seeds, toasted*
4ish 1” pieces of fresh fennel bulb
zest of one lemon
juice of half a lemon
1.5 tbsp vanilla bean paste
Scant 1/4 cup maple
Scant 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 c water, cold

*toast until fragrant – I did it in a small sauté pan

Pour the coconut milk into a small saucepan. Add fennel (seeds + fresh), maple, lemon zest, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring consistently. Remove from the heat and cover to steep for 15 minutes.

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

Strain the coconut milk mixture. Pour it back into the saucepan and add lemon juice. Bring it back to a simmer. Remove from heat, and whisk in the gelatin mixture. Stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool until lukewarm. Pour the panna cotta mixture into the cooled tart shell. Place in the refrigerator until set, approximately 4 hours or preferably overnight.

Top with strawberries, etc.

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

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May 27, 2019August 5, 2019

A match-a made in heaven

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Tea! I love green things.

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This tart technically has *two* teas in it – or rather one tea and one herb that is dried to make a tisane. New info to me, but apparently steeped herbs, flowers, spices or fruit is actually considered a tisane, not tea (‘tea’ proper refers to leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant, ie black tea). Tisane translates to ‘herbal infusion’ in French. Yay for trivia! But still – delicious either way.

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Both flavor are earthy, grassy and so fresh – they just go wonderfully together. Lightly sweet as all my stuff is – this works extremely well with ice cream for dessert, or by itself for a fun breakfast.

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Busy busy lately… I have one piece of news I can share publicly now – I have a new job! I will be starting June 10, but first flying to Dallas for onboarding and training. My official start in the SF office will be that Friday. YAY! I’m equal parts excited and terrified. I’ll be working as the marketing coordinator for a big architectural firm – they’re based out of Houston originally but I’ll be the marketing person for SF. Wheeee!

That being said, desserts might take a slight hiatus for a few weeks, since I already know the next two weekends are going to be insanity. Hopefully I can squeeze something in, but no promises!

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I know there’s been a huge run of panna cotta tarts lately over here, but we both love them and they’re so convenient to make ahead when I’m working! Also, I’ve had my eye on this flavor combination for AGES so I was jonesing to make it before I didn’t have time to bake properly for awhile.

I hope you have a great holiday weekend!

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Matcha & Verbena Panna Cotta Tart

Earthy, grassy, and delicious. This is a sure bet for anyone who loves tea – since both matcha and verbena are such great fresh flavors, they go really well together. Lightly sweet, as always – great for dessert with ice cream or a special breakfast. Gluten free, dairy free & refined sugar free. Yield: 1 9″ tart, serves several. A Wait are Those Cookies original!

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For the crust:

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

In a large bowl, stir together almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, 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 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom) 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 for a few minutes.

Panna Cotta:
1 package unflavored powdered gelatin
1.75 cup full-fat coconut milk
1/4 c dried lemon verbena
1.5 tbsp vanilla bean paste
Scant 1/4 cup maple
Scant 1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp matcha powder
1/4 c lemon verbena tea, cold*

*I use loose leaf dried verbena; I steep a small handful in 10oz of freshly boiling water for ~5min to make tea

Pour the coconut milk into a small saucepan. Add lemon verbena, maple, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring consistently. Remove from the heat and cover to steep for 15 minutes.

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

Strain the verbena out of the coconut mixture. Pour it back into the saucepan and add matcha (blend if necessary with an immersion blender if you have a few matcha blobs), then bring it back to a simmer. Remove from heat, and whisk in the gelatin mixture. Stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Cool until lukewarm. 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 :)

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May 20, 2019

Purple desserts & rain

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Hi friends!

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Slightly delayed post from the weekend, since I was busy busy and didn’t have time to get this out earlier.

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C and I almost completely annihilated this thing in two sittings, haha! It was GOOD. I love the cinnamon crust – it’s reminiscent of cinnamon graham crackers, which which I had a phase when I was a kid. I’ve always loved graham crackers, and anything that reminds me of them (and by association, my gram – who always fed them to me at her house) is totally welcome in my book.

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Such a great weekend surrounded by fave human & friends – I wish it hadn’t flown by so fast! We’ve been having some unseasonably rainy weather (accounting for the slightly funky lighting in these photos… the foliage + overcast wasn’t cooperating with me), which I’m LOVING, despite everyone else wanting sun, hahaa. I just love the rain!

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We ate this tart while board gaming on Saturday night, and then came back for a second round over a late brunch on Sunday. It’s a winner in both contexts – I love it with vanilla ice cream, but it’s also great on its own. It’s not nearly as tart as some of my other desserts, so if you’re baking for a crowd or with kids, I’d suggest this one. Besides, purple is broadly appealing :)

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Have a great week!

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Blackberry Panna Cotta on a Cinnamon Crust

Gluten free, dairy free & refined sugar free! A Wait are those Cookies original. Yield: 1 9″ tart; serves several. The cinnamon play so well against the berries – this works for a special breakfast or a delicious dessert with ice cream. Or both! :) Crust is easily grain free – just swap out the cornmeal for an equal amount of almond flour.

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For the crust:

1.5 c almond flour
1/3 c unsweetened shredded coconut
1/3 c cornmeal
1 tsp cinnamon
heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
6 tbsp coconut oil, melted

In a large bowl, stir together almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, cinnamon, 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 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom) 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 for a few minutes.

For the panna cotta:

2 cups (approx. 1/3 lb.) blackberries — frozen is fine!
1/2 c wild blueberries (frozen is just fine)
2 tsp water
2 tbsp maple
2 cups coconut milk, full fat (one can)
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 packet of powdered gelatin
1/4 c cold water

Make the panna cotta filling:
In a small saucepan, combine the blackberries, blueberries, 2 teaspoons of water, and maple. Cover and simmer over low heat until the berries break down. Taste it – we love it tart, but bump up the maple a little if it’s too tart for your taste.

Add the coconut milk to the berries, and re-heat the berry-coconut mixture over low heat until it just reaches a simmer. Remove from the heat, and allow the mixture to steep for 30 minutes.

Toward the end of the 30 minute steep time, place the 1/4 c cold water in something large, like a mixing bowl or a large pyrex measuring cup (mine is 4c). Sprinkle the powdered gelatin over the cold water.

Return the berry-coconut mixture to the stove, and re-heat again until just barely simmering, and stir in the vanilla.

Place a fine mesh strainer over the pyrex or bowl with the softened gelatin, and strain the berry-cream mixture through the sieve, using a spatula to stir and press berry-y coconut milk to extract every last bit. Once all liquid has been extracted, thoroughly whisk the berry-coconut mixture into the softened gelatin.

Carefully pour the filling into the tart shell, then leave the tart in the refrigerator to at least four hours or overnight. Keeps well in the fridge; serve leftovers for breakfast ;)

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May 4, 2019

On Wednesdays, we wear pink

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Hello hello!

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It’s been a little while… life got in the way of baking a bit, but I’m back with this ridiculously pink tart for you. This seems like the kind of thing that seems perfect for a spring party – LOOK AT HOW PINK IT IS! I’m so delighted.

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The rhubarb swirls also remind me of a circus? Or something? Not sure exactly but I love them – they were so fun to play with.

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Things are pretty much same same over here… this was eaten for dessert & breakfast, so what else is new. It’s such a great hybrid of tart rhubarb & raspberries that are mellowed by the vanilla and coconut milk… if someone claims they don’t like rhubarb, you might try this out on them – it’s less in-your-face rhubarby than when you use the whole stalks. I love that this is basically a vegetable dessert, too. Pink celery for the win!

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I have a mama hummingbird nesting right outside my window! She is the cutest thing ever, and I’ve gotten to the point where I talk to her every morning when I see her sitting there. You would do it too, I know it! I can’t wait to see the tiny hummingbird(s?) whenever it appears… it’s been so fun to watch her build the nest, too. Nature is rad!

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Happy spring! I can’t believe it’s May already.

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Rhubarb Raspberry Panna Cotta w/ an Almond Poppyseed Crust

Gluten free, refined sugar free & dairy free! Yield: 1 9″ tart; serves several. Filling adapted from Pastry & Prose, here! The crust is a riff on one I’ve made a million times; you’ve seen it already in several incarnations. It can easily be grain free & paleo – just swap out the cornmeal for an equal amount of almond flour.

Word to the wise – if you top this with the rhubarb swirls, they’ll keep for a few hours but then they wilt; keep that in mind for serving if you’d like to make this ahead.

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For the crust:

1.5 c almond flour
1/3 c unsweetened shredded coconut
1/3 c cornmeal
1.5 tbsp poppy seeds
heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
6 tbsp coconut oil, melted

In a large bowl, stir together almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, poppy seeds, 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 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom) 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 for a few minutes.

For the panna cotta:

2 cups (approx. 1/3 lb.) chopped rhubarb — as pink as possible!
1/2 c raspberries (frozen is just fine)
2 tsp water
1/4 cup maple
2 cups coconut milk, full fat (one can)
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
1 packet of powdered gelatin
1/4 c cold water

Make the panna cotta filling:
In a small saucepan, combine the rhubarb, raspberries, 2 teaspoons of water, and maple. Cover and simmer over low heat until the rhubarb completely breaks down. Taste it – we love it tart, but bump up the maple a little if it’s too tart for your taste.

Add the coconut milk to the rhubarb, and re-heat the rhubarb-coconut mixture over low heat until it just reaches a simmer. Remove from the heat, and allow the mixture to steep for 30 minutes.

Return the rhubarb-coconut mixture to the stove, and re-heat again until just barely simmering, and stir in the vanilla.

Place a fine mesh strainer over the pyrex or bowl with the softened gelatin, and strain the rhubarb-cream mixture through the sieve, using a spatula to stir and press rhubarb-y coconut milk to extract every last bit. Once all liquid has been extracted, thoroughly whisk the rhubarb-coconut mixture into the softened gelatin.

Carefully pour the filling into the tart shell, then leave the tart in the refrigerator to at least four hours or overnight. Top with coconut, raspberries, or shaved rhubarb swirls if desired. Keeps well in the fridge; serve leftovers for breakfast ;)

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