Fall Apple Crisp & Other News ^_^

As far back as I can remember my mom has always made this delicious apple dessert--for holidays, birthdays, and just because--and I have always remembered this slightly spiced, apple crumbly goodness. Since tonight was my "Make-up Birthday Dinner" and my dad was nice enough to cook me up some Chamorro dishes for our main course, I decided I would make this simple dessert, carrying on the tradition my mother had started from before I was born.

I haven't actually made this dessert in quite a while! So pulling out this old recipe book made me investigate a little more into where this recipe had actually come from. This was actually a recipe book my mother had bought from one of her co-workers, whose child had gone to Waiokeola Pre-School from 1983. The recipe itself was a contribution by Jann Rogers, so thank you Ms. Rogers for this delicious taste of my childhood.

Apple Crisp (Adapted from Gingerbread & Cranberries)

4 cups apples (peeled and sliced) *I used 2 Granny Smith and 2 Gala

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup water

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter (softened) 

3/4 cup flour (sifted) 

1/3 cup oatmeal 

8x8 in pan 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread apples in pan, I like to layer them evenly after I have sliced them. It gives them a more even bake and everyone gets an equal amount in each serving. 

Mix the water, cinnamon, and salt. Evenly drizzle mixture over the prepared apples and set aside.

In a small bowl use a pastry cutter to combine the sugar, flour, and butter until crumbly. Add in the oatmeal and mix in with a spoon. The topping should pack together if squeezed in your hand. I like to squeeze handfuls of the mixture in my hand and break up as I top the apples. The bigger crumbles taste so good when they cook up and get a little crunchy^_^ Bake uncovered for 40 minutes, making sure the liquid at the bottom boils and the top is evenly golden brown when you remove it from the oven. 

MMMMMMMMMMM, so good!! This delicious dessert was the perfect ending to my "Make-up Birthday Dinner" and I can't wait to re-heat it and eat it tomorrow...luckily its just as mouth watering the next day^_~ 

Happy baking!!^_^

P.S.-I received my orientation notification for culinary school!! I'm starting this November!! AAAH can't wait!!^_^

Just Because...

As I had mentioned in one of my previous blogs, its fall here in the great Northwest. SOO I've been craving some great comfort food recipes to try out! And if you have been keeping up with my blog at all, you'll know I absolutely love cinnamon!! I think it's because my favorite season is fall and I have always loved the fall--the chilly weather, the warm sweaters you get to wear, the leaves changing colors, and the first cup of cocoa on a chilly morning--all these things bring a little bit of warmth before the LOOOONG rainy winter.

In light of my craving and my love for cinnamon I decided to scour the internet for some tasty treats that just scream fall!! As I was checking out one of my fave websites, Tastespotting.com (which, I wouldn't recommend checking out on an empty stomach, I can't tell you the number of times I've gone on and headed straight to the kitchen right after for a snack!!) I stumbled upon this delightful cinnamon pull-apart bread recipe. If that doesn't say FALL I don't know what does!! As, I was reading the recipe a few wheels started to turn in my brain, I loved the idea of this bread with it's browned butter (which, to me, smells like warm caramel), and its added hint of nutmeg, but I wanted to put a lil' extra so why not make a cream cheese frosting on top?! I couldn't wait to try it out! I decided to make it for my friend Jen, and her boyfriend Lyle, since Jen was recently sick and I wanted to give her something to help cheer her up.

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread (Adapted from Broma Bakery)

For the Dough:
2 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour * I used bread flour instead, because the ascorbic acid helps the fermentation process when the dough is rising*
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 ounces unsalted butter
1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 cup water
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the cinnamon sugar filling:
1 cup granulated sugar *I used brown sugar packed because I like the taste and richness of brown, but plain white sugar will work*
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted until browned

For the Cream Cheese Frosting: * These measurements are all guesstimates, I mixed everything to taste since I like my frosting to be a little runny but still have great body and taste*

¾ of a block of cream cheese softened

2 tablespoons butter softened

¾ cup powder sugar (add more to taste)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup milk

Small pinch of salt

In a large mixing bowl whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Set aside.

Whisk together eggs and set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt together milk and butter until butter has just melted. Remove from the heat and add water and vanilla extract. Let mixture stand for a minute or two, or until the mixture registers 110 to 115°F.

Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula. Add the eggs and stir the mixture until the eggs are incorporated into the batter. The eggs will feel soupy and it’ll seem like the dough and the eggs are never going to come together. Keep stirring. Add the remaining 3/4 cup of flour and stir with the spatula for about 2 minutes. The mixture will be sticky. That’s just right.

Place the dough is a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Place in a warm space and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. The dough can be risen until doubled in size, then refrigerated overnight for use in the morning. If you’re using this method, just let the dough rest on the counter for 30 minutes before following the roll-out directions below.

While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg for the filling. Set aside. Melt 2 ounces of butter until browned. Set aside. Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Set that aside too.

At this point, place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F.

Deflate the risen dough and knead about 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out. The dough should be 12-inches tall and about 20-inches long. If you can’t get the dough to 20-inches long… that’s okay. Just roll it as large as the dough will go. Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter across all of the dough. Sprinkle with all of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. It might seem like a lot of sugar.
 

Slice the dough vertically, into six equal-sized strips. Stack the strips on top of one another and slice the stack into six equal slices once again. You’ll have six stacks of six squares. Layer the dough squares in the loaf pan like a flip-book. Place a kitchen towel over the loaf pan and allow in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size

Place loaf in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown. The top may be lightly browned, but the center may still be raw. A nice, dark, golden brown will ensure that the center is cooked as well.

*I had extra cinnamon sugar so I put some on top before letting it rise*

Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread and invert onto a clean board. Place a cake stand or cake plate on top of the upside down loaf, and carefully invert so it’s right side up.

In a medium bowl with an electric mixer mix the softened cream cheese, butter, and sugar till blended, it will be a little thick, but the liquids will thin it out a lot. Next, add the vanilla, milk, and salt mix until silky and smooth. Once the bread has cooled spread over and ENJOY!!^_^

Mine came out a little crazy looking, but I loved the way the pieces looked broken and turned every which way^_^ Jen and Lyle loved it and I have to say, the cream cheese frosting helped balance out the crustier parts of the bread and added a lot of extra flavor to the cinnamon. Jen, also gave me my early birthday gift!! YAY cupcake book, silicone cupcake cups, bright colored markers, bright 80's shades and a kitty card!! Can't wait for my birthday tomorrow!!^_^ Happy baking people!!

Corie & Andrew got HITCHED...and some desserts^_~

CONGRATS again to my beautiful sister, Corie and her NEW husband Andrew on their marriage this past September!! As I had mentioned in my previous blog, The Great Cake Challenge, I was commissioned by my sister to make SEVEN cakes at the time! Luckily for me, and my sanity, she cut it back to two kinds of cake, NY style cheese cake and vegan chocolate. She also tacked on two type of cookies, per the grooms request, a lime glazed short bread, and per my sister's request, a Double Sexual Chocolate cookie (I think she just liked the name^_~). Here is how they all turned out...

I paired the NY style cheesecakes with my mom's and Andrew's mom's homemade jams. They were a perfect pair, the slightly tangy cheesecakes were topped with a sweetened vanilla sour cream and crystallized almonds along with the fruity jams of blueberry, blackberry, or strawberry!! YUMM-O!!!

The almond flavored chocolate frosting is always a great pairing with the rich chocolate vegan cake and was a BIG hit at the reception!!^_^ And the cookies, well there weren't any left at the end of the night so they must've loved them just as much as I do!! All in all a great night with food, family, fun and best of all DESSERTS!!^_^ Happy eating!!

OSCAR THE GROUCH adds another year^_~ AND Auntie Rina's Chocolate Eclair Dessert

Hello again!!^_^ Ok, took some time off from the blog...AGAIN!! But, trust me, I now have a heck of a lot more time to send some "sweet" love around the world. AND to make up for it ,I came back with not only a celebration, but also an easy peasy recipe for all of you out there in blogger world to try!! 

By the way, the picture above isn't to scare y'all out there, even though Halloween is right around the corner; it's my dad, Oscar. My family and I just celebrated his "umpteenth" birthday yesterday, I bought him a pretty blue candle to go with the birthday treat I made him, Auntie Rina's Chocolate Eclair Dessert!! I don't know about you, but when the weather starts to get cold (anything below 70, I grew up in HAWAII people, cut me some slack),  and the leaves start turn that beautiful blazing red around the edges I CRAVE comfort food, and this recipe was the perfect luscious and creamy dessert to feed my craving. I learned about this amazing dessert at my sister's wedding this past month. My Auntie Rina (also known for her mouth wateringly bombastic red velvet recipe) introduced me to it and made some for my sister's reception. She switched it up a bit from the original recipe and instead of using plain old chocolate frosting she opted for chocolate pudding because she said it had a "lighter" taste. AND let me just tell you, this recipe is the EASIEST dessert I have made in a while, NO BAKING NECESSARY!!!^_^ Yeah, I knew that would make your heads turn!!^_~  Ok, so let's get to it!!

Auntie Rina's Chocolate Eclair Dessert (Adapted from AllRecipes.com)

1 box graham crackers

2 (3 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix

3 cups of cold milk

1 (8 ounce) container cool whip, thawed

1 (5 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix

2 1/2 cups cold milk

Line the bottom of a 9x13 pan with graham crackers.

In a large bowl, with a whisk, mix the 3 cups of cold milk with the 2 packages vanilla instant pudding mix until the pudding mix dissolves.

Next, add the container of cool whip to the vanilla pudding mixture and mix till creamy. *This was the part I jumped the gun on, I forgot to let the cool whip thaw and I had to stir a little longer till all the frozen lumps came out...oopsies!!*

Spread half of the cool whip vanilla mixture over the first layer of graham crackers. Spread with a spatula or spoon to even out.

Follow with another layer of graham crackers and the other half of the vanilla mixture. Put one final layer of graham crackers and set aside. In another bowl use a whisk to mix the 2 1/2 cups cold milk with the package of chocolate instant pudding mix. *BE CAREFUL the pudding sets pretty quickly and if you don't want to have to "fuss with it" as my Auntie Rina says and make it "pretty on top" whisk until JUST dissolved* Then carefully pour the chocolate over the last layer of graham crackers, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

IMPATIENT PEOPLE BEWARE!! I HIGHLY suggest letting this baby sit in your fridge OVER NIGHT!! I know, I know, it will be hard not to want to dig into this amazing luscious and creamy dessert before the next day, but TRUST!! It will be worth it!! The graham crackers absorb some of the moisture from the puddings and they get soft enough to cut a knife through them, and with the combo of the vanilla and chocolate, MMMMMMMM! I did a "happy penguin" wiggle when I ate this and I'm sure you will too!! And YES, I am eating some as I write this blog...*Penguin Wiggle*^_^ Happy eating!!

JAPAN!!!!^_^

i just thought this would be a great picture to open with, yes, ramen cannibalism^_^

ok people bear with me on this random mix of pictures of food. but since this is a "food blog" this is just going to be mostly pictures of the different foods i tried on my trip to japan. it ranges from regular bowl of cornflakes for breakfast to the more authentic freshly caught otoro sushi. i have tried to keep it in a chronological order so i can remember where and what exactly i ate, but if not i'll just wing it^_^ and please forgive me if i didn't get it absolutely correct i tried to verify as much as humanly possible with my friends asuka and toshimi (i think they got irritated because i kept asking "what was the thing called we ate again?"). ok here we go...

 so call me a weird person when it comes to little details, but as i had my little lay over in vancouver, BC i got some subway. we all know what subway looks like so i didn't feel like REALLY boring you, but i thought it was really cool how everything in canada is in both english and french!! i took french in high school and college and i have to say i kinda want to move to canada just to brush up a little bit more! random though...moving on...

 my first REAL breakfast in japan...un-eventful huh? well sometimes food can be un-eventful. but in all honesty i was really happy to have frosted flakes with soy milk and some green tea. plus the view of tokyo as you are sitting on the 33rd floor of an apartment building enjoying your frosted flakes doesn't seem that un-eventful after all^_^

 funny story with this picture. so, toshimi and i were walking around shibuya on my first day in japan. and she asked me if i wanted some sushi. so here i am thinking "i wonder what kind AMAZING sushi place she will take me to?" haha much to my surprise the place we ended up going to reminded me of genki sushi in hawaii. basically all the plates are on a little conveyor belt and you grab whatever you want. not exactly "amazing", but it was still delicious! i also tried fish guts for the VERY first/last time. i was attempting be as adventurous as possible with food while in japan. i basically thought i was going to throw up after i took the first few bites. it had a weird kind of creamy half-cooked egg texture. and if you know me at all i never really liked egg yolk, and that's all i could think of as i ate it. so i spit it out, its in my napkin right above my chopsticks in this picture^_^ enjoy...

 it was ridiculously humid/hot in japan when i went, you could literally stand still and sweat. that is the kind of heat i am talking about people, so when we passed this gelato place in shibuya i ran right in!! i got coffee and hazelnut...yummmmmmm! toshimi said that a lot of gelato places have been popping up all over japan and this one was the most recent one in shibuya. thank you gelato gods!

my first taiyaki!! i had seen these all the time in shirokiya (the japanese market in the ala moana shopping center in hawaii). but i had never tried one until i went to japan. toshimi, being the phone wiz that she is, along with EVERY person in japan, told me that "tai" is a kind of sea bream (fish) and its the shape of the fishes themselves. i thought it was very delicious, the crunchy outside with the sweet azuki beans on the inside, sway, sway, sway.

after the taiyaki we stopped at a little bakery, they wouldn't let me take a picture of the cutest teddy bear cake in the world! picture nazis...but i did get a yummy little macaroon, so i wasn't too hurt.

breakfast on day three: toshimi made a wonderful mixture of chicken, rice, and konnyaku (paste made from potato flour). it was a perfect little meal! and they had this amazing veggie juice. i love japanese drinks, they really have the best ones!! it was all so healthy!! i think i drank the whole bottle and i bought mike and toshimi another^_^ 

toshimi and i got our haircut then went to lunch. we stopped at this place near the oimachi station. they had THE BEST GINGER PORK EVER!!! it was perfectly cooked and seasoned it also came with rice, a hard boiled egg, cabbage, and dumpling soup i was in food heaven!! i finished it all!! oh my goodness, just thinking about it now makes me want more!!

i bought some snacks for the train ride to osaka. i got my veggie juice^_^ and some japanese chocolate sticks, my new fave!! TOPPO!! its like a pretzel filled with chocolate!!

TAKOYAKI!!! basically a pancake ball filled with green onions and pieces of cooked octopus. it is cooked in this special plate/pan and they have to flip it with chopsticks. it comes in a little box of ooey goodness!! with some fish flakes and mayo sauce on top and you are seriously set up!! its oozey and not cooked all the way through, but its is altogether pure BLISS!! sounds weird, but man, i think this is one of my new favorite things!! I WANT MORE!!

asuka took my to her favorite cake place to eat. it was called comme ca. they not only served AMAZING cakes, but also delicious pasta dishes! this is our prosciutto with mushrooms in a cream sauce. its was delectable and  rich, the perfect meal to follow the already digesting takoyaki^_^

these are our cakes, i opted for the chocolate banana cream cake. which was one of the best cakes i have ever had. i have a spot for anything chocolate banana, i think the combination makes the best shake in the world! so of course i had to have it in cake form!! the cream chocolate mixed with the fresh banana just made my little heart sing with joy!! i literally could not stop smiling i was so happy!!

this is asuka's blueberry with a kind of chocolate mousse cake. equally delectable in every way. i took a little nibble and i have to say i love the way this place mixes the fresh fruits with the smooth creams. it just made me sway. i think asuka thought i was a little weird, but hey! food does funny things to people^_^

asuka was sweet enough to leave this for me in my room when i woke up. it was our breakfast for the day, she is so sweet! a nice little coffee and little sandwiches before our long walk through kyoto, the perfect meal for the day!

green tea shave ice with condensed milk, azuki beans, and mochi balls. in other words the most amazing this in the WORLD! we had been walking through the golden palace and wanted to stop for a snack. again i am reiterating the fact that it was ridiculously humid and hot in japan while i was there, and walking around in a yukata(summer time kimono) was not helping!! so this cool treat really hit the sport perfectly!! kytoto is also known for its green tea, so i had to get it as my flavor of choice!! i ate it all, and even spooned the soupy melted ice out at the end, that is how good it was!

the ladies who ran the shave ice/cafe gave us these when we finished our shave ice, asuka said they were the candy the emperor had given away at his wedding and were a very popular candy in japan^_^

LUNCH TIME!! i honestly don't know how i managed to eat all this food. really!! looking back now on all the food i ate its hard to think about where i put it all! as asuka and i had walked through the central part of kyoto we stopped in a little bakery/cafe to grab a bite to eat. i got a chicken katsu plate(because i miss hawaii that much) with a squash soup, pasta, salad and shrimp tempura. i really love the way every meal in japan looks like a masterpiece!^_^ i almost didn't want to eat it because it looked so nice...ALMOST.

ok, so after our walking spree around kyoto asuka and i met up with my friend, john, for dinner. asuka had told me about her favorite place to eat before i had even arrived in japan. so i was eager to try it. but i was actually really blown away by this place!!

the many dipping sauces...yummmm, i love dipping fried food in sauce. drooling just thinking about it.

my version of the cherry slush, a hawaii delight! cherry slush is usually cherry slush with soft serve vanilla ice cream, but since japan has a fanta melon soda, and this restaurant had a shave ice maker i made my own concoction!! it was fresh and melony, with the creamy vanilla soft serve i ate it all! YUM!

asuka's mother bought me this before i left, japanese hospitality and kindness is truly amazing! i wish i could have stayed with them longer. 

shave ice on a hot and humid day while biking around kamakura, PERFECT!!

call me weird, but i thought their little starbucks was too cute for words^_^ and what better than to get a matcha frappuccino in japan!!

if you are in japan and you don't get ramen, i would think you were crazy!! the noodles are amazing and usually made fresh so they are tender and smooth, not like the pasta that is dried and then boiled. but, completely soft...i want some now after thinking about this...mmm.

plastic food is literally EVERYWHERE!! that is the wonderful thing about japan if you don't know how to speak or read it, you can ALWAYS point it out!

yes, i did still have cravings for american food...i missed my all beef patties!!

i loved the artistic way that all the food was presented. it really showed how much effort they put into all their food and how much it represents their culture. time, effort, and energy to make one simple plate fantastic^_^

final dinner. sad, but the food made up for all of it!!!

love me some bacon wrapped asparagus skewers!!

out of all of these lovely desserts i still remember the one with cornflakes. i kept thinking as i was eating this odd concoction of cornflakes and ice cream "why hadn't I thought of this sooner!?" count on those inventive cooks in that kitchen to open my eyes to the idea. the mixture of sweet cream and crunchy flakes gave an oddly satisfying feeling in my mouth and made me want more. an experience i will not soon forget, even a year later. i can't wait for my next trip to a new land, and after this initial jump to a new country i will keep in mind to keep my palette open to new tastes, you never know where they will lead!!