Dr. Pepper dreaming...

Having had a few months out of the foodie blog-o-sphere, I am ready to come back with vengeance. The holiday season is almost upon us and with the onset of cooler weather finally setting in, I can almost smell the pumpkin pie and peppermint bark in the air. However, lets not get ahead of ourselves…after all Halloween candy and trickery-treats deserve their moment under the cool harvest moon as well.

The Celtic culture found hope in Groundhog Day; the appearance of that one groundhog gives hope to the end of harsh winters and the onset of sweet spring. In a foodie’s world, the spotting of the first pumpkin is like seeing that groundhog. It means the end of hot sticky days of summer and melting fondant are over, thus the real creativity begins.

I have recently been inspired by the idea of homecoming, particularly homecoming in the deep south. Homecoming isn’t just about catching up with old friends; it’s the mums, the parade, the school spirit, the perfect answer to the question “what have you been up to?” (the most haunting question for any recent graduate), and of course the crème de la crème: the football game. Now at my almamater there is an almost sickly obsession with Dr. Pepper; to the point where every Wednesday afternoon there were free Dr. Pepper floats in the student union building. A tradition that we Bears are extremely proud to call our own. I recently have been re-introduced to the Dr. Pepper cake…yes, yes; if we can deep fry Dr. Pepper you better believe someone put it in a cake. Before you knock this slightly odd confection, I will say as a lover of sweets and a pastry chef that the cake is light and chocolaty with hints of cinnamon. The chocolate/Dr. Pepper butter cream frosting is, well, positively mouthwatering. Here is my favorite recipe…



Cake…
1 cup butter
1 cup Dr. Pepper (this is no time to use diet)
4 tbsp. cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups sugar
½ cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cup flour
1 ½ tsp. cinnamon

-heat the butter, Dr. Pepper, and cocoa powder together until the butter melts and you have a lusciously chocolaty mixture
-cream together eggs, sugar, buttermilk, baking soda, and chocolate mixture
-finally add the cinnamon, vanilla, and flour
-makes two round cakes (9x12), bake at 350 degrees F, and bake fro about 25 minutes

Dr. Pepper Frosting…
½ cup butter
½ cup Dr. Pepper
6 tbsp cocoa powder
Confectioner’s sugar (just add enough to get the constancy you want ~2 cups)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

-heat the butter, cocoa powder, Dr. Pepper, and blend well
-stir in the other ingredients
*you could also blend in a block of cream cheese to make it into a cream cheese frosting
-decorate with nuts on top or on the sides

To my fellow foodie’s I will tell you to always live life filled with sweet notes rich in tradition and history.

Where do you like to shop and eat? London calling...

Disclaimer: The beauty of London is that on almost any street you walk down there will inevitably be a boutique or restaurant you didn’t realize you couldn’t live without. These are just a few of my personal suggestions of places I enjoy.


Le Entrocote-on Maryelbone Lane
(tell the taxi driver the north end; the closest tube stop is Bond Street)
Ok, so, there are 3 of these restaurants in the world (London, Barcelona, and Paris) and they only serve one thing: steak, fries, covered in a secret sauce that will change your life it is so good! The story goes that these two sisters had a big argument about the restaurant and how to run it, so they split up. Their father made up this secret steak sauce and told it to his daughters on his deathbed...the two sisters are the only ones who know the recipe. In a nut-shell that is the story behind the restaurant, according to a friend of mine. There is usually a line and it is a little bit pricier, but if you want a night out with great food go there...trust me its worth it. For 4 of us it was about 35 each Euro for dinner including 1 bottle of red wine and you get two helpings of steak and fries. This is one of my favorites by far in London.

*La Fromagerie-www.lafromagerie.co.uk
A very cute cheese and bread shop, and it is worth a stop in. Great place for a snack if you are anywhere near Oxford Street and they also have tastings parties. According to our cheese connoisseur at Le Cordon Bleu it is one of the best cheese shops in Europe. Hard as it is to believe this guy actually has a degree in food history specializing in cheese, so he knows his cheese.

*Books for Cooks
www.booksforcooks.com
(4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill London W11 1NN)
Just off Portobello Road, this bookshop has hundreds of cookbooks. In the back they have a cafe that only serves one thing everyday: a home-made soup, fresh baked bread, and about 5 different cakes all of which comes from the cookbooks sold in the store. They stop serving lunch at 2pm, but if you are going to Portobello Road it is a great lunch or great coffee break. Books for Cooks is also very affordable.

Royal China Club
www.royal.chinagroup.co.uk
(40-42 Baker St. London W1U 7AJ)
If you are looking for VERY authentic Chinese food this is the place to go. You can eat a lot for a very good price. I have always had great service and the food is fresh. It is also a great place to try something a little different. The pork buns are my favorite.

Tomoe
62 Marylebone Ln. London W1U 2PB
www.tome-london.co.uk
If you go here you absolutely must get the "black cod dish" it will blow your mind!

The Kensington Creperie
2 Exhibition Road South Kensington London SW7 2HF
www.kensingtoncreperie.com
In the highly coveted area of South Kensington this local cafe fills up fast, but the wait is usually not too long (15 min tops). My friends and I would go there every Sunday. This is a wonderful brunch place and is only about a 1-2 min walk from the Victoria and Albert Monument, Hyde Park, and all of the major museums. I would recommend getting one sweet crepe and one savory crepe...they are big and great to share!

Caldesi (tuscan restaurant and cookery school)
15-17 Marylebone Lane London W1U 2NE)
www.caldesi.com
Café Caldesi has a casual dining room downstairs and a fancy dining room upstairs. The food is very fresh and authentic. It is a very fun place to take an Italian cooking class and meet people from all over the world. This also happens to be just behind Le Cordon Bleu!

The Fat Duck
If you can get a reservation here then you should definitely go, but when I was in London they had a 6 month waiting list...it is delicious.

The St. James Restaurant at Fortnum and Mason
www.fortnumandmason.com
A great place for high tea...it is a bit pricy. If you go around a mealtime it is more than enough food to be a meal and then some. Also, they do not tell you this, but if you want more of anything just ask because re-fills of tea and food is free. Great atmosphere!

The Golden Hind
73 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2PN, United Kingdom
The best fish, chips, and mushy peas in London...it is an absolute must if you go to London. The restaurant has been there forever and is practically and institution. Keep and eye out because many famous Londoners tend to eat there. They also have a great Greek salad.

La Duree
http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/maisons/londres_accueil.htm
French Macaroons...if I could eat these every day I would. These are my personal favorite.

The Orangerie
http://www.hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace/cafesandrestaurants.aspx
In Hyde Park this place is wonderful for breakfast or High Tea...it is located just behind Kensington Palace. They converted the Kensington Palace green house into a cafe with little orange trees on every table. It’s really cute and very good...it is also close to the Princess Diana memorial. I would recommend coming here for breakfast or high tea.

Beach Blanket Babylon
http://www.beachblanket.co.uk/home.html
Ok don't let the name scare you...this is one of the coolest restaurants in the city as far as atmosphere goes. It is located in Notting Hill and was the official restaurant for London Fashion Week. I would HIGHLY recommend this place, even if it is just for dessert or cocktails. As a side note, make sure to find your own taxi from the restaurant. When I was there, there happen to be some men trying to get us to use their ‘taxi’ service. Something to be careful of anywhere in the city, make sure to only take the iconic black taxis.

Brick Lane Market
I personally have not been here yet, but all of my friends are obsessed with it. Brick Lane apparently has the best Indian curries in the city...all of the restaurant owners will try to get you to come into their establishment, so walk around a little bit to find the best price on dinner.

The Muffin Man
12 Wright’s Lane London W8 6TA, UK
In South Kensington just off Kensington High Street, I would go get a Banana Toffee muffin. It’s also a great place to grab some tea or coffee in the afternoon

Hummingbird Cupcakes
http://hummingbirdbakery.com
The main one is on Portobello road...if you go on a Saturday try the chocolate beetroot cupcake. There is always a long line on Saturday, but it is worth the wait!

HIX
http://www.hixsoho.co.uk
Located in Soho it is the hottest bar and restaurant in the city, it is the place to see and be seen (or it was in March of 2010). I have only had a drink there, but the food is suppose to be great.

Comptoir
http://www.lecomptoir.co.uk/
Great Lebanese food! The atmosphere is fun and vibrant. On my way home from school I would get a Pomegranate Lemonade every night. They also have really neat straw beach bags lining the walls. I know that doesn’t seem unique, but you absolutely must see it in person.

The Lanesborough Hotel
http://www.lanesborough.com/?PS=EAME_aa_Starwood_NWE-1435_Google%20US_lanesborough.com_04/23/10#culinary_experience/afternoon_tea
To be honest this is one of the most fabulous places I have ever been in my life. They have great high tea, a gorgeous garden room for breakfast, a traditional English bar, and a great new restaurant for afternoon and evening. It is directly behind Buckingham Palace and would be a great place to grab breakfast before going to see the changing of the guards.

Fun Shops:
Portobello Road:
Things to look out for: micro-mosaic broaches- they are absolutely beautiful and made in Italy in the 1920's; cashmere wraps and scarfs-on Portobello Road you actually get an amazing deal with very high quality

Fortnum and Mason-Things to look out for: picnic baskets, they happen to be famous for their iconic picnic baskets

Walking down St. Christopher's St.: this little oasis is just off of Oxford Street near Bond Street tube station...here are my directions just as you pass H&M you will see a small opening just wide enough for 1 or 2 people to get through, that is the entrance to a very cute little street with great cafes and shops...there is also a clock on Oxford street just in front of the entrance that says "St. Christopher's" on it; from St. Christopher's St. I would walk down Thayer Street, they have great little boutiques and it is the road that connects Oxford Street to Maryelbone High Street

Harrods-its just neat to go in and look at everything
Lulu Guinnes: a famous London based designer, has great clutches and handbags

Jo Malone: great place to get a facial or massage

The Branch: jewelry carved from wood

Shout Out to my Class!

This week my original class in London had their superior cuisine event. Everything looked beautiful and I am so proud of them! Congrats you guys! Lots of love from Texas!

All I can think is to keep adding powdered sugar!

I am very blessed to have my family and friends constantly supporting me in this venture I have chosen to take on in my post-grad years. My dear friend Shay has a work event that she is putting on and being a great believer in me, she asked me to make the dessert. I decided that catering is how I am going to use my culinary skill for now and that I am going to limit that scope to only friends and family until I get more experience and can decide on a name. Trying to seem like a trained professional I sent her an email with different options. I decided to have her over for a tasting of two cakes: 1. orange chocolate cake, which is completely decadent and rich 2. peach and pecan cake with homemade dulce de leche buttercream frosting, need I say more...it is delicious. Shay, and just about everyone else who came over that week, fell in love with the peach and pecan cake...I mean who wouldn't right? So off I went to make 40 cupcakes for the event that was occurring in 24 hours. I think it is important to make things fresh...dry cake is disgusting! That night I stayed up watching old I Love Lucy reruns and made 50 cupcakes. I decided that I could make the frosting in the morning and let the cupcakes cool overnight. I woke up early the next morning to start making the dulce de leche for the buttercream, which isn't hard at all it just has to cook on the stove for about an hour and then fully cool before you can use it. By noon the dulce de leche had cooled and the butter was just soft enough to use. I got out my Kitchen Aid mixer and went to town with butter, dulce de leche, powered sugar, and some vanilla, and praying the entire time that the buttercream wouldn't split causing me to start all over. T-2 hours before delivery and the frosting is not holding, thus not enabling me to pipe the frosting onto the top of the cupcakes. I yell for my mom and all we can think is to add as much powdered sugar as possible to the frosting without harming the taste. Cup after cup of powered sugar and it is still not holding...T-1 hour and 30min! I calm myself down and think about my options...the refrigerator is my last chance to get it to hold! I throw the frosting into the refrigerator for 30min. It is holding much better now, but still not quite the firmness I needed to feel completely confident that the frosting would not melt. T-1 hour at this point and I just needed to go for it. I piped 6 cupcakes at a time and kept the frosting in the refrigerator in between groupings. The frosting is holding! The cupcakes look beautiful and they are safely in the freezer to let them firm up. I kept one cupcake out to make sure it would hold at room temperature and sure enough it did. I whisked over to Shay's parents house to drop off the cupcakes...what a rush of accomplishment! I felt like I was on Food Network Cupcake War's! With frosting in my hair, I had successfully finished my first event. Thank you Shay for putting your faith in me!

Summer Dinner

Mom called and she does not have time to make dinner...which means that is up to me! Being home for the summer has made cooking a lovely luxury for me. I figure that now, when I have the opportunity to cook,

I should pull out all the stops. I am a trained chef after all. On the menu tonight is a salad of Heirloom tomatoes and red onion with salt, pepper, and olive oil. The infamous rack of lamb dish during which I so brutally burned my hand while cooking at school in London and red wine risotto with peas. I may have gone a little crazy at Whole Foods, but the end result was worth it. Everything looked beautiful and we ended up eating off of that meal for the next few days.

Can she really cook?

The answer to that question will be in the hands of the friends and family who have gotten to eat a few of my dishes. The French macaroon cookie and the creme brulee seem to be the dishes of choice thus far in showing off my new found skill set. My first dish at home was steak with peppercorn sauce along side perfectly piped herb potatoes. A sweet ending to the meal was a cold lemon souffle with my newly learned fanciful touches. Next the pressure was on for me to re-create the Lemon Sole dish I had as my final exam. With an inevitable need for a dinner party to occur in the near future looming over my head, I felt the need to have a "soft opening" shall we say. So I had just a few close friends over for dinner. On the menu...chicken with a mushroom cream-sauce, deep fried mashed potatoes, and of course vanilla bean creme brulee. The vanilla bean creme brulee definitely was the show stopper of the evening. I must say that it was quite different cooking in a kitchen where someone wasn't yelling at me with an accent and that I really had all the time I needed. I think that my friends and family will be reaping the rewards of my cooking labors...and of course I am loving every minute! As my neighbor in London, Sam would say "Sarah lets just face it...you just want to throw fabulous dinner parties!".

A closing to a wonderful adventure...

Well everyone I finished and am now a chef! Last week we had our practical finals, which were so intense, and this week we had our written exams. For our practical we had to memorize a bunch of recipes and right before we entered the kitchen we drew a number out of a hat to a corresponding recipe. You have a set amount of time to finish your dish, if you go over time you basically fail automatically. Needless to say it was very stressful. For cuisine I made Lemon Sole..even filleted my own fish! For pastry I made the Lemon Tart. Both test went well and I am very happy that they are over. I have been through countless recipes and can create almost anything from scratch...down to the butter.
We all went out to celebrate at Nobu on Tuesday night. Nobu is a very famous Japanese restaurant and we had an incredible 6 course meal.
We have graduation of Friday and then I have one last week in London. I am very sad to be leaving and will miss all of the people I have become very close friends with over the last few months. Then I will be headed off to Spain (if British Airways doesn't go on strike) to see Naomi for a week. Back to London for one more night...then its homeward bound.
London has opened my eyes to many things, especially macaroon cookies that I am now obsessed with! Most importantly I have learned that with every bend in the road and every leap of faith comes new friends, adventures, and life experiences that cannot be surpassed. This has been a incredible journey and learning experience. I know that cooking will always be a part of my life and this has made me even more passionate then I was before. Thank you to all my friends and family for supporting me in this wonderful adventure!