Category Archives: Recipes

Recipe // Pumpkin Soup with Parmesan Crisps

October 6, 2015

I am teaming up with Harmons Grocery to share with you one of my favorite fall recipes!
Be sure to tag #MyHarmons to share your favorite fall recipes on your social media!  
Pumpkin soup always reminds me of Fall time!  My mom used to make big batches of Pumpkin soup. Sometimes I would eat it with a little scoop of rice or pasta.  It was always a fun tradition!  Some may not look at Pumpkins as something you can eat, but they aren’t just for your front porch!  They are a squash too!  Just be sure to buy the sugar pie pumpkins at Harmons Grocery!
I am very excited about Harmons brand products that are popping up all over their store!  When you see the Harmons name on anything, you know it will be good quality and well sourced!
My favorite way to use the flesh of the pumpkin is to roast it!  My mom used to skin the pumpkin with a knife then cut it into cubes, but this is so much easier!  When it is nice and roasted, the flesh will just scoop right out!  I also throw my garlic and potatoes on to roast with the pumpkin!
I just wash the pumpkin and cut it in half and add about 1/4 cup of water on top of parchment paper then place the flesh side down.  I don’t even take out the seeds or pulp because they easily scoop out of the way after you roast it.  For the full instructions, check out my homemade pumpkin puree post.
Outfit:
Romper- Eva Jo Rompers c/o
For the parmesan crisps, (or scary cobwebs if you need something with a Halloween theme) I just took good quality Parmegano Reggino and shredded it.  I placed a tablespoon on some parchment paper and added a little garlic powder (optional) and baked it at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes or until a little golden on the top.  Remove and allow them to cool, remove with a spatula.  Store in an airtight container.
Pumpkin Soup
Serves 8

7 cups roasted pumpkin [about 2 or 3 of the 3-4 lb  Sugar pumpkins pre-roasted}
8 cloves garlic
2-3 Russet Potatoes
Olive oil
Salt and Freshly ground Black Pepper
6-8 Shallots, diced
8 cups chicken broth (64 ounces or two 32 ounces boxes)
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon Fresh Thyme, removed from stems and washed
1 tbs fresh Sage, washed

Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper on halved pumpkins, potatoes and un-peeled garlic cloves.  Place cut side down pumpkins on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, along with garlic and potatoes. Add 1/4 cup water.

Bake at 375 degrees uncovered for about 1 hour. Or when you can easily slide a knife through the top of the pumpkins.
Scoop out the pumpkin seeds and pulp, then scoop out the flesh of the pumpkin and measure 7 cups. Peel garlic and roasted potatoes.
In a large pot, saute/sweat shallots in 1 tbs olive oil over medium, medium low heat until soft.
Add pumpkin, garlic, thyme, and chicken broth to pot.  Simmer for ten minutes over medium to low heat, and stir. Next, blend in batches in a blender and place blended soup in a new clean pot.  Add salt and pepper to taste, add heavy cream and warm soup through.
Serve with Parmesan crisps (recipe above)!
Enjoy!
Here’s how I was able to serve it at a Halloween Themed party I attended! A very fun and festive soup for a Fall or Halloween party!
Cute little Pumpkin soup with “Cobweb crisps!”
Be sure to check back this week for more on a very fun Halloween Ghouls Night out Collaboration!
{all photos by me}

Recipe // Crème Brûlée

June 26, 2015

My last recipe I shared on my Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Dinner Party article for Wayfair’s Emagazine is Crème Brûlée.
Crème Brûlée is one of my absolute favorite desserts, any chance I get to order it from a good restaurant, it’s always at the top of my list!  But, I don’t think that people realize, it is also simple to make at home!
Creme Brûlée with Fresh Fruit
Yields: 6-8 individual portions
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups half and half
2 teaspoons vanilla powder
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
3/4 cup of sugar, plus 6-8 teaspoons for sugar crust on top
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 egg yolks
Berries, washed and dried
Fresh mint leaves, washed and dried
Heat the oven to 325 degrees.
Heat the heavy cream, and half and half in a large saucepan over medium heat to just under scalding. (when bubbles first start)  Turn off the heat, and add vanilla powder, paste, and whisk well and cool slightly.
Place the egg yolks, sugar, and salt, in a medium heatproof bowl, and whisk for 3 minutes to dissolve the sugar, until it gets to be a pale yellow.
Temper about 1/2 a cup of the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture and whisk well.  Slowly whisk in the remaining cream mixture.
Place a large pot with 5 cups of water on the stove, and bring to a boil.
Place 8 small ramekins into a casserole dish, and pour cream/ yolk mixture into ramekins, and skim off any foam or bubbles on the top.
Place casserole dish filled with ramekins onto the middle rack in the oven.  Slide the middle rack out, and fill the casserole dish for a water bath around the ramekins until the water reaches half way up the ramekins.
Bake in a water bath, until the custards are just set in the center, 40 minutes. Rotating the casserole dish halfway through.
Carefully remove the ramekins from the water bath, and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.  After cooled, transfer to the refrigerator.  Chill uncovered for at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
Prepare the topping: About 30 minutes before serving, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar over each custard.  Tilt the ramekins to evenly distribute the sugar and tap out any excess.
Caramelize the sugar using a culinary kitchen torch about three inches away.  Burn the sugar until it reaches a deep amber color.  Refridgerate the creme brûlée just until the crust hardens, about 30 minutes to 1 hour, but
any longer may cause the topping to soften.  Serve Cold with berries on mint on top.
Sources:
Moroccan Gold Glasses
All Photos by Me.

 

Recipe // Strawberry and Honey Ricotta Crostini

June 22, 2015

While working with Wayfair on their Emagazine last month on the Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Dinner Party, I came up with this flavorful appetizer.  A Strawberry and Honey Ricotta Crostini!
I loved the idea of using strawberries on a crostini, and paired with some balsamic, basil along with honey and ricotta cheese, it is an explosion of flavors!
My favorite part is that they looks super fancy, but they are so easy to make!
Be sure to head over to Wayfair.com for the full recipe and tips!  P.S.  This would also make a festive appetizer to share on the Fourth of July!
Strawberry Crostini with Honey Ricotta and Basil
Yields: 10 slices
1 baguette loaf cut into slices
16 ounces of fresh ricotta cheese
4 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons olive oil
fresh ground pepper
Olive Oil
1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced lengthwise
5 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons honey
Directions
Set the oven to the broil setting.  Place the sliced baguettes onto a cookie sheet.  Drizzle the tops of the bread with olive oil.  Place in the oven for about one and a half minutes, then flip the bread over, and broil
for another one and half minutes.  Remove from oven.
In a small bowl, add ricotta, 4 teaspoons honey, 2 teaspoons olive oil, and fresh ground pepper to taste. Spread a thin layer onto the toasted crostini bread.
In a small bowl, add sliced strawberries, fresh chopped basil, and 2 tablespoons honey, and a little fresh ground pepper.  Mix well, and allow strawberries to sit at room temperature for at least a half an hour
so juices begin to seep from strawberries.  Spoon strawberries on top of ricotta mixture on toast and serve immediately.
Sources:
Moroccan Gold Glasses
All Photos by Me.