Friday, December 30, 2011

Best Dough Ever


Hello Bakers!
I know the pinnacle of baking season is at its close, but a friend asked me for my version of the *best* piecrust recipe. Since it seems like this is next to the quest for the fountain of youth, I decided to copy my reply email to share with you all. (And also as a one-stop resource for me in the future to remember which one I liked best for the specific pie.) These are just for the basic pie dough. There is one missing and that is the cream cheese crust that you might use for a savory pie, like my husband's favorite Turkey Apple Sausage pie. I can update you later for that one.
There are two(ok 3) piecrust recipies I heavily reccomend:

  • #1: Alan's Pie Crust
     The best in my opinion is for a double crust and I love the flavor:

  • #2: Baked Shell
    This next one is great for "blind baking"- like when you make a single crust for a custard pie and the small amount of vegetable shortening really helps it hold up during the baking process. Just remember to follow all the directions in regards to freezing the piecrust before baking and placing parchment paper inside with beans or pieweights so it doesn't puff up. It sounds like a lot but its totally worth it.
  • #3:Pate Brisee
    Lastly, there is always Julia Childs' and Martha Stewart's pâte brisée, which is a lot of butter and so good if you baby it- ie. cold water, cold butter, very little manipuilation. I used to do this one all the time until I discovered the #1 recipe from BHG where it uses sour cream and vinegar.

Sorry if I gave you too much! I know its a simple question, but it rings dear to my heart as I am always on the lookout for the BEST piecrust, too!
Also, I haven't read it yet, but this might be a great resource for all of our pie needs!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

belated: Fall Soup Recipe

 Autumn Curry pumpkin soup


 

3 lbs or 2 med. Sugar pumpkins, halved, seeded and cut into quarters
1 cup water
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups thinly sliced carrots
2 small onions, thinly sliced
3 tsp ea. yellow curry powder and salt
2 tsp ea. cinnamon & ginger
2 tsp . white pepper,  ground
32 oz. chicken stock
1 can coconut milk
1 tbsp real maple syrup



1. Preheat oven to 450. Place cut pumpkin skin side up on rimmed baking sheet- add water and roast for 30-40mins or until able to pierce with a fork.


2. Sauté onion and carrots in olive oil until onions are transparent and tender. Add pumpkin when finished roasting. Cook until all ingredients are soft. Combine seasonings in separate bowl, whisk with a fork. Stir seasonings to sauté mixture and let sweat for seasonings to permeate squash for 10 mins. Add chicken stock and simmer for 20 mins.


3. Puree soup in two batches in blender or food processer.

4. Place pot back on stove and add coconut milk. Simmer. Salt & pepper to taste.


5. Garnish with spoonful of crème fraiche or greek yogurt and toasted sage leaf.

Added to the menu:
    Serve with a luscious glass of Chinon from the Loire region in France
  • Wilted Rainbow Swiss Chard with toasted pecans & Balsamic glaze
  •  Grilled White Cheddar on Onion Poppyseed Bread











Saturday, December 17, 2011

Winter Fuel

This morning, the kids and enjoyed a satisfying experiment from our kitchen. Be prepared to have energy to run a marathon, hike the olympics or watch a Psych marathon!

Make oatmeal according to directions on Old Fashioned oats package. (I did 1/2 milk, 1/2 water, for a richer cereal.)
Toast chopped pecans in a small saute pan, when fragrant, add ~1/4c. wheat germ- toast for a few mins until also fragrant. Remove from pan and add diced mission figs & 1/3c. shredded organic coconut to cooked oatmeal. Top with 1tbsp. of cream & agave sweetener.

How good would these be in cookie form (with white chocolate chips)?!
Posted by Picasa

Friday, December 16, 2011

I am more

(because of You) I am more

more than a circumstance I cannot control
more than an ox with a burden
more than a series of catalogued mistakes
more than an broken soul crying out

I am more than


‘just’ a woman in a pair of high heels
more than ‘just’ a mom, exhausted and fulfilled
more than a set of morals & pleasantries
more than an embarrassed, clumsy, graceless, loud & unruly child

Because of You

I am peaceful
I am weightless
I am forgiven
I am redeemed
I am unconditionally loved
I am understood
I am KNOWN

I am embraced
Ashley Jackson 2011

Saturday, November 19, 2011

grilled pizza


while this picture is a belated summer dish, it looked so lonely sitting in "my pictures" folder with no attention. So here's a recipe that you can still do out in the snow this winter, just bundle up at the BBQ or you can use your oven's broiler for the same effect.

  • using naan or other flat bread, begin by grilling one side until slightly crispy (to prevent from getting soggy after adding toppings)
  • spread a thin layer of pesto, and add sliced marinated mozzarella.
  • Then top with a cornucopia of various grilled veggies. (I used red onions & tomatoes.)
  • Sprinkle some sliced fresh figs, coarsely chopped basil, grilled flank steak & feta on the top-
  • grill with closed top for about 4 mins or until cheese is melted.
  • Before serving give a drizzle of strawberry balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction to add a nice ZING to the overall flavor.
voila! a gourmet dinner for two in less than 30 mins. oh, and don't forget a nice bottle of Amarone or Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley would go nicely.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Whole Wheat Peanut Noodles


cook about half a package of Whole Wheat spaghetti noodles according to directions.
cook/steam shelled edamame soybeans till tender.
drain noodles and place in bowl with edamame
add: 2tbsp creamy peanut butter
        1/4 c. Soy Veri Teriyaki sauce
        1/4 c. fage' or other greek yogurt
stir to distribute throughout the noodles
add sliced green onions cuts diagonally
and garnish with 1-2 tsp. sesame seeds

*optional- add red chili flakes, satay peanut sauce instead of the PB, or crushed garlic

enjoy! the kids love it and always ask for seconds. loaded with protein, whole grains, and active cultures its a complete meal.
 



grass stains on a party dress


so, as much as i'd like to go to sleep, there is a concept that came to a giant mountain in my head as i lay in bed reading a chapter in Makoto Fujimura's book refractions, a journey of faith, art & culture. when he spoke about his largest installation "Golden Pine" commissioned by the Oxford House in Hong Kong, there was mention to his massive painting weathering, settling, and intentionally allowing the silver to tarnish over time.

this then reminded me of my art- while i have never applied gold leaf or intricate brush strokes to many of my paintings (think brash, bold moves and splatters of paint) I wouldn't mind it. but then again, my environment isn't conducive to "fine art"- my studio is primitive, cold and doesn't support museum like archival temperaments. so does this exclude me from the more sophisticated category and place me into a more volatile arts category, like that of Andy Goldsworthy, who uses mother nature at the canvas, medium and backdrop and is okay with the transformation and morphing of his creation- which inevitably dissolves in a hazy mist of ocean fog, a rushing tide, blowing wind or trampled by animal's hooves.

so, i got a new blouse at Nordstrom today (stay with me here). i've had a gift card from there for ages, so with a few events on the horizon, i felt like i had a (bit) of a handle on some vague fashion trends at the moment. (apparently bows, pleated skirts, and over sized shirts are in) i ended up having to return one shirt because it snagged easily. then i got home with blouse #2 and realize it scoots off the shoulders. intentionally, i am sure from the designer's perspective, but annoying to me. call me a boring mom, but i need my clothes to have function as much as fashion (ok, more function than fashion, actually) so how much does one put up with for the sake of beauty, aesthetics, etc.?

how much can we step outside the box we've been put in (age, demographic, society, environment, stage, maturity, etc) and find a tone that inspires others but also resonates within their core. i love some of the new sitcoms because while i don't work on a TV set (See: Up All Night & 30 Rock) i still find the comical leveling that reminds us how human we are that we get baby spit up on us and eat cheese puffs in our sweats on friday nights when it seems like everyone else is out partying it up. how much can i play joanna newsom to my friends without them covering their ears and still be normal enough to sit down to a game of mexican dominoes? how much can we share the Gospel in the world and understand the pain without indulging in the same vices?

these are just late night ponderings as i get ready to start a new painting and finding out just how eccentric i can be while still reaching the masses. do we just take out our good china (if i had it) and use it in picnics, wear tuxedos no matter the discomfort and perform to an audience that isn't there?









Monday, September 26, 2011

Vehrs Wine Tasting

hosted Monday at Palisade Restaurant in Magnolia, I had a wonderful time trying over 20 different wines. a few that stood out to me were:


                                    


                       




  • Tagaris' - Soaring Rooster Syrah '09 & Soaring Rooster Mourvedre '09
  • Wines Unlimited- Montepulciano Chronicon '08and 642 Riserva del Canapone Maremma IGT Tuscany '09- this one was a blend with bright sangiovese, earth & jammy
  • Casa Ventura's- Belezos Reserva Rioja '04 tempranillo grapes
  • Terra Blanca's- Onyx Red Wine '07
  • Rombauer Vineyards's- Diamond Selection Cabernet Sav. '06 single vineyard, 100% cab
  • Woodward Canyon's- Artist Cabernet Sauvignon '08 earth, subtle oak, cocoa. grown primarily in the Champoux Vineyard
  • Miner Family Vineyards'- The Oracle '06 a Bordeaux style blend from Stagecoach vineyard. cocoa, spicy oak, lush blackberry

the gentleman from Storybrook Mountain Wines (CA) & Miner Family Vineyards (CA) and me



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Oysters



photo courtesy of Brad Lovejoy
as one of the best heminway quotes goes
“As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans.”


― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
a festival dedicated to those precious pearly little shellfish. i'll take 'em cooked, baked, or raw on the half shell. (no frying, please!) the festival in Shelton, on October 1st & 2nd will have tastings, pairings, schuckings, and... fresh oysters.
so, who's coming with me?


Friday, September 9, 2011

with a moo moo here

some people say the whole "local" or "locavore" movement is just a bunch of hype... but i have to push up against it in regards to the wealth and abundance we have in our own backyard here in the PacNw. after a long and bordering on indulgent trip to Metropolitan Market, the kids and I left with some fresh Washington Peaches, Pluots, seattle loose teas that the kids smelled and picked out, fresh baguettes, Valhalla coffee, and lastly a jar of every dairy product that Twin Brook Creamery (from Lynden) had to offer. WARNING: the chocolate milk is the thickest and most addicting treat that you've ever let slip past your lips.


As I pour the "half & half" into my coffee, the sobering thought that coffeemate will never again cut it. Darn you, good food!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

H&M online

fun news you won't find on FOX or MSNBC: H&M can now be shopped online. and some of the random obscure pieces I can never figure out at the store how to pair with another piece actually make sense when they put it together for you- like the look above. it's menswear inspired, but i think its extremely feminine. since i won't be wearing this outfit to the park, grocery store or beach with the kids, someone out there must get it so i can live fashionably vicariously through you. best of shopping luck.

Friday, September 2, 2011

coming back slowly: a kitchen inspiration

(sorry its been so long since i've posted anything creative, much less anything at all. call it a dormancy period, call it hibernation. either way, the breezes of fall on its way and the turning pages of the calendar always inspire me- the cusp of autumn brings me alive. (even in this trying time of my life, i think this still to be true))

  • Listening to: the Head & the Heart
  • Eating: Theo Chocolate (Hazlenut Crunch)
  • Drinking: Cafe Appassionato (Magnolia Blend)


we have been painting the exterior of the house, remodeling our mother-in-law, and laying floor in our kitchen. as i see the sale prices combined with the desire for a simplistic style i see some themes taking place. i think in a past post i had leaned toward the rustic modern look, and i think it might be coming together... the taupe, latte & blue glass tile, the maple floors and the butcher block counter tops (yay ikea!) will lend to a look and feel that i hope will click with my heart. even the lighting will give a 15th ave coffee house feel... here's a preview sample of the kitchen:


here's a song for your day:

Sunday, April 3, 2011

foraging for delicacies

since i was a little girl, i've had fond memories of mushroom hunting with my dad in the woods behind our house growing up. (out in good 'ol Sedro Woolley) it was a feast for the senses as we would hike through the carpeted old-growth forest and cut off the chantrelle mushrooms at the base with our little bone handled pocket knives. when we got home, dad would saute them and add them to a number of dishes- i can't quite remember what they were added to as they definitely were the star of the show.

if you live in the kitsap area, here is a mycological society: KPMS

but now its spring and the mushroom du mois is the morrel.
here is a soup recipe i'd love to try:

Morel Soup
From "mushroom" by johnny acton and nick sandler

14 ounces small Morels
cup sweet butter
2 finely chopped shallots
1 quart chicken stock
1 cups heavy cream
6 egg yolks
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Fry 8 of the Morels in half of the butter for 4 minutes over medium heat. Watch out: they spit! Set them aside, leaving any excess butter in the pan.
Finely chop the remaining Morels, and fry in the rest of the butter along with the shallots. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, pour in the cream and whisk in the egg yolks along with a little salt and pepper. Return to the heat and slowly bring back up the temperature, whisking continuously. The soup will thicken slightly like a thin custard. As soon as it does, serve with the Morel garnish on top. Serves 4.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, March 14, 2011

Spring poached eggs

for one of my first food posts in a long time, celebrate the cusp of spring with poached eggs. i found a wonderful Mt. Townsend Creamery Camebert cheese at the grocery store, let it melt over the top and then added a sprinkling of fresh herbs that survived the winter. mmm....

click here for a great video on how-to poach eggs from Cuisine at Home

Monday, March 7, 2011

inspiration songs

In the midst of trials, I thought that I'd share with you some of the music that has uplifted and encouraged my spirit in these recent days. Some have been shared with me by a dear friend, some I have loved in the past and take on a much richer and new meaning. Others I just recently discovered.

In no particular order:
Amazed...... Desperation Band (Kendall, this might be an awesome one to lead worship)
Highest Place.....Desperation Band
In Feast or Fallow..... Sandra McCracken
If You Want Me To..... Ginny Owens*
Be Thou My Vision..... Ginny Owens
Run In the Night..... Jars of Clay
Call My Name..... Jars of Clay (feat. Thad Cockrell & Audrey Assad)
In Christ Alone..... Bethany Dillon & Matt Hammitt
Hope Now..... Addison Road
Shadow of Your Wings..... Jason Upton & Goodland Band
Between the Graveyard & the Garden..... Jason Upton & Goodland Band
My Beloved.... Kari Jobe
Dancing In the Minefields..... Andrew Peterson
Psalm 13..... Shane & Shane
(Actually the whole album of Psalms by Shane & Shane- the psalms have been my words when my heart aches and I have not the strength to articulate pain or joy)

Bless you and may the Lord use these to bring you closer to Him.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

put a bird on it


okay, so before i saw this hilarious clip from portlandia, i loved little bird icons. now, it feels utterly cliche, but i still like it. reed and i stenciled today and it was the perfect project for a toddler and crafty mom. he chose a gorilla, i chose, you guessed it! a bird. but there's two, so that's what makes it so cutting edge and unique. ;)
before i ruined a bunch of clothes, we started with some old flour sack dish towels lying around. now, i want to go crazy and stencil the walls, all our clothes, tablecloths, and toilet paper.











pesto parmesan swirl bread

in anacortes, near my mom's old dress shop, we used to stop at an italian restaurant on the way home to get some ooey gooey pesto parmesan bread to take home. usually only half made it there, but i've never forgotten that savory treat. if you want the recipe, please just ask.
after going through the whole dough making & punching process, slather, i mean SLATHER with basil pesto

then give a hearty blanket of freshly shaved parmesan inside and on top when rolled


voila!




i also made cinnamon, pecan & orange swirl, but that's more conventional:

Monday, February 14, 2011

this is love

after an amazingly romantic weekend with my love in seattle, i thought that i might share a different kind of love on this v day. when we look at our own love lives- the way we show it to our significant others, we find that surprisingly, it is filled with much self-interest, jealousy, fickleness and just plain misdirected emotions. i have had my share of "lover's quarrels" and spats over my lifetime and will, unfortunately continue to do so (hopefully on a less frequent basis). our society & culture is so in need of love- but have a hard time getting past the sin that marrs it, but we are not left without an example of real love.

anneli anderson, potter
 thank goodness we are not left with an existential feeling of despair that all is hopeless & fleeting in regards to amore. God gave us ultimate love- and the purest form of it:
This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1 John 4:10
so, while we are left to fend for ourselves in finding out if we should make a steak dinner, buy roses or lillies, jewlery or chocolate, we are not left without an example of true, selfless love. i pray that this valentine's day you are able to seek Him, and model His love in your life. that will be the ultimate gift that even Hallmark's missing out on.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

happy birthday lilie!


my friend had a baby. now adelaide has a friend named lilie. so we made her a little banner. (actually made it, but Addy slept for me so i could make it)
such an easy task, but easy to personalize and embelish- with glitter in this case.