Challenge and Adventure: Fruit Tarts

Your other poster, Helen, decided that she want fruit tarts because the kids in Harry Potter were eating tarts. So she presented to me a challenge to make some tarts. Any kind of tart. I don't know anything about tarts. I consulted my friends for ideas. I found an apple tartelette recipe with ricotta cheese and no crust. However, Brendan, decided that it was too easy and he challenged me to make "traditional tarts" with crust. I'm afraid of crust. Very afraid. However, I accepted the challenge because, the hell with it, the worst that could happen is a batch of terrible tarts in the trash. Because my sister loves raspberries, I decided to make berry tarts. So this one is for you: Helen, Brendan, Baotran.

The making of this dessert also included an adventure for me. Please bear with me...

Shaking Beef & Garlic Noodles

Yes, I noticed that this is supposed to be an "International Food Adventure Blog," but I just can't seem to get out of Southeast Asia.

Whenever I hear "Shaking Beef," I always imagine a really cold cow shivering... inside my apartment (because it's really cold!). Anyhow, I decided to make some "famous" dishes from some restaurants: Shaking Beef from The Slanted Door and PF Changs' Garlic Noodles. For those who have not heard of The Slanted Door, it's a local San Francisco Restaurant (a kin to Out the Door).

Molasses Cookies

It has been rainy, windy, chilly, and everything winter-y lately. The chipotle shrimps and Mexican rice are going need some help to combat this cold dampness. In addition, my friend said that we don't have any dessert on this blog. So, this one is for you, Nur, something sweet rather than savory.

Chipotle Shrimps and Mexican Rice

They lied about global warming because it's freaking cold! Why is it that San Francisco temperature dips down into the 30's?!? The thirties!!! I decided to make something spicy and south of the border to help me cope with this cold front. What says spicy and warm better than some chipotle shrimps and Mexican rice?

Thai Pad See Ew

Pad See Ew is one of my favorite Thai dishes. Move aside Pad Thai, you're over-rated! This is one of my more complicated dishes, with exotic ingredients that you will have to venture into an Asian supermarket for. Epps! Scary!

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

I realized that gnocchi is not something that people make from scratch normally for dinner. It's like me trying to make egg noodle from scratch just for one dinner. But, sweet potatoes were on sale and then I read the recipes and it sounded easy enough: sweet potatoes, flour, salt, and pepper. That didn't sound like a lot.

Baked Scallops

Garlic Shrimp Curry


Baked Scallops


Mixed Green Salad

Simple Chicken Salad

So I don't know about you, but most place's chicken salad is very goopy and tastes only like mayonnaise - or perhaps I should hang out at better delis. Today I decided to do my own (lighter) take on the very simple chicken salad.

Chez Pim's Roast Chicken

Can't you tell already that I like to peruse food blogs? This dish is a result of hours and hours of reading through more than 60 food blogs. I know, I know, I'm crazy sometimes. Pim from Chez Pim is living my dream life. Travelling all around, meeting all sorts of people (mostly awesome people), and eating extraordinary food. Who can say no to that?

Recently, Pim posted this roast chicken recipe which she learned from her friend, Laurent. One look at it and I decided that I had to make it!

Elise's Onion Potato Gratin

Since I have only had potato gratin once before in my life, I'd like to try out different variations of this dish to familiarize myself with it. Last week, it was Kay's potato gratin with bacons. I want to try to make a vegetarian potato gratin, so Elise's onion potato gratin fits the bill.

If you don't know who Elise is, you need to go her food blog Simple Recipes ASAP!. Not only the recipes are wonderful and super easy to make, most of them are family recipes.