Apple Tart

This week, my friend, Iva, and I decided to make this Apple Tart posted at Smitten Kitchen, an adaptation of Jacques Pepi's apple tart as documented by Alice Waters. I believe this apple tart is still served at Chez Panisse today, which I believe the Chopping Block has visited a couple of times, but maybe I'm wrong. Anyways, this was delicious. We served it with homemade vanilla creme en glaze and apple syrup.

Weekend Misadventure

For weekday culinary activities, we do not want or have time for lengthy recipes or experiments. However, for the weekend, the lab is wide open for all sorts of culinary adventures.

This week, my culinary adventures led me to make apple chutney. So I peeled,



sliced,



and diced apples.



Then I chopped onions and gingers...



...and added the necessary spices and sugar.



I even went and found a bottle of red wine vinegar for the purpose.



Then everything went on the stove to boil and simmer. It was going great for a while and then...I smelled something odd. That "odd" smell turned into a "burnt" smell the closer I approach the stove. Well, whaddaya know? I went and doggoned burnt my apple chutney. The sugar has become bitter caramel and stuck to the pot. Therefore, I have no recipe for you. I'm sorry. If you still want to make some awesome apple chutney for your next roast pork meal, please go see Elise at Simply Recipes. (Hint: click on the words "Simply Recipes")

What about you? What sort of culinary misadventures you've recently been through? Please share!

Baked Apples

It's November. In northern California, the temperature is starting to drop into the 60's and the 50's at night. For the tough folks out there, it doesn't mean much. But for a girl originally from the tropics, it's darn right cold.

Fall means...