How to Make Madeleines

Many people say that one either loves culinary (the savory stuff) or they love pastry (the sweet stuff) - that can't love or do both; but, I tend to disagree. By default, I tend to cook more than I bake, so, when the opportunity strikes to make some sort of pastry treat, a little sparkle in my eye appears. For me, when I get to pick up a piping bag - whether it is for piping truffles, putting icing on a cake, or batter into a pan - I get a bit giddy.

Madeleines are shell-shaped, tiny French cakes with a long history. These soft and moist cakes have delicious, lightly-crisped edges. While there are a few different methods in which to make these, this recipe is quick to put together and can be one of those "go to" treats when you unexpectedly have company coming. They are also a great hostess gift or can help to cheer someone up. We actually took a batch of these to Dawn's little niece who is currently fighting cancer. She's definitely a positive, little trooper and she was so pleased to be able to pass them around to share with everyone!

While I have learned to let go of recipes in the culinary world, with baking I get to feed that part of my personality that loves to measure, be exact and follow certain rules. It never ceases to amaze me how many different things can be made out of butter, sugar and flour. Once you learn a bit about the function of ingredients and how they produce certain textures and flavors, you have a better understanding of the whole process of baking, so there's no need to be afraid of it. It's just like learning a new cooking technique. Madeleines are best served warm, so they are one of those pastries that you don't have to wait for them to cool completely before diving in (and that's a good thing, as it's almost impossible to wait for them). This easy-to-make batter keeps well in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days so you can have freshly-baked madeleines any time. Click on the link to view the full text recipe for Madeleines. Happy Baking!

Tagged as: [ pastry ]

Lesson on Determining the Quality of Chocolate

If you have followed this blog, you will know that I absolutely love chocolate. Today is an exciting day for me at Rouxbe, as we released the first lesson on CHOCOLATE in the Cooking School.

Many people don't even know where chocolate comes from and the amount of careful work it takes to it get from bean to bar. What is really sad, is that a lot of people don't know what quality chocolate even is...they are used to mass-produced chocolate made from low-grade cocoa beans which is also loaded with artificial ingredients. Once you watch the lesson on the Basics of Quality Chocolate, you'll be able to pick up a package and understand what a label really means.  

If you aren't already a Rouxbe member, make sure to sign up for your 30-day free trial.

Happy Chocolate Eating!

Tagged as: [ chocolate rouxbe ]

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year to everyone and Merry Christmas to those who are Ukrainian! Unless I'm back home, I don't make it a habit to celebrate Ukrainian Christmas which falls on January 7th. I laughed at the thought that if a Ukrainian wanted to make a New Year's resolution on January 1st such as "eat less carbs", they'd be screwed.

I remember when I was a kid, we'd have Christmas Eve dinner on the 6th, which would consist of 12 traditional dishes (none of which would contain meat). There'd be things such as cooked whole wheat kernels, fish, cabbage rolls, beets, mushrooms, potatoes, beans, bread and perogies. Carbs...and lots of them. It's in my blood.

The baba in me emerged and I decided to make some perogies this past weekend, using my late grandma's recipe that my aunt passed to me. Although I could have rolled the dough a little thicker, she must have been around in spirit because they tasted pretty darn good.

Makes 3-4 dozen

Making the Filling

4 medium yukon gold potatoes
1 bay leaf
salt and freshly ground pepper
4 ounces cheddar cheese

Peel and cut the potatoes into even pieces. Cover with cold water and add about 1 teaspoon of salt per liter of water. Bring the potatoes to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until tender. In the meantime, grate the cheddar cheese. Once the potatoes are done, drain and reserve the water. Rice the potatoes while they're hot and add the grated cheese. Stir well to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside to cool.

Making the Dough

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 cup warm reserved potato water
1 tablespoon vinegar

Place the flour and salt into a large bowl and whisk to combine. Form a well and add the potato water, grapeseed oil and vinegar. Stir to combine and form into a dough. Turn out onto a counter top and knead until smooth, about 5-10 minutes, adding more flour, if necessary. Keep the dough slightly tacky (don't add too much flour or the dough will become too tough). Place into a clean bowl, cover the surface of the dough with a piece of plastic wrap and cover the bowl with a cloth towel. Let rest for about 2 hours.

Once the dough has rested, divide into 4 portions. Roll out onto a floured surface to about 1/4" thick. Don't roll the dough too thin, especially if you plan to fry the perogies (they'll get too crunchy). Cut out rounds with a 2 to 3 inch cookie cutter. You can even save the extra pieces of dough to cook and/or fry as well! Fill with about 1 tablespoon of the potato filling. Fold and stretch the dough in half, making sure to pinch the seam very well so they don't open up during cooking.

Once filled, place onto a towel-lined tray and cover with another towel to prevent them from drying out. Alternatively, they can be placed onto a parchment lined tray and transferred to the freezer to cook in the future. Once frozen, transfer to a sealed plastic bag and freeze for two to three months.

To cook the perogies, bring a large pot of cold, salted water (1 teaspoon per liter) to a simmer. Add a few perogies at a time. Stir gently so they don't stick to the bottom. Simmer for about 3 to 5 minutes until the perogies float to the surface. Remove with a slotted spoon and serve immediately or transfer to an oiled baking sheet to cool in the refrigerator (if frying). The perogies brown better if they are cool (or cold) prior to frying.

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and add some butter. Fry the perogies on both sides until golden. Serve immediately with sour cream, fresh bacon bits and slow-cooked, golden onions. Enjoy! Click here for a few more pics.

Tagged as: [ recipes ukrainian ]

Merry Christmas!

Here's wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season! During your family get-together, why not join forces and browse the projects on GlobalGiving. Even the smallest donation will make a difference for those who are less fortunate. Happy Holidays!

 

Tagged as: [ donations globalgiving ]

Gift Rouxbe for Christmas!

If you have already experienced Rouxbe, you'll know a few things: 1) your cooking skills have improved; 2) it's the only online source that clearly shows you "how" and "why" things work; and 3) people think you're a rock star and keep inviting themselves over for dinner!

So, if you're wondering what to get that "person who has everything" or that friend or relative who doesn't have the first a clue about what to do in the kitchen, give them a Rouxbe membership this Christmas. Not only will they have access to full, step-by-step video recipes, they'll be able to enroll in the World's first-ever, at-home professional cooking school. See the following post taken from Rouxbe's blog for instructions.

---

The gift of cooking this holiday season.

Buying a kitchen tool for a holiday gift is one thing...buying a friend or loved-one the learning tools for cooking success is a complete other story. What we're talking about here of course, is 'gifting' a premium online instructional cooking membership to Rouxbe.

The Rouxbe Cooking School delivers the World's first-ever, at-home professional cooking school curriculum in high quality, close-up video to home cooks around the world. The School features a graduated video series, complete with progress reporting, evaluation quizzes, chef and community support. Click to view a sample of the lesson format here. It's like having your own personal cooking school and professional chef in the comfort of your own home.

Since the School's official launch this past July (2008), aspiring home cooks from over 140 countries have enrolled and completed over 4,000 lessons and evaluation quizzes. The site also features an instructional video recipe section featuring recipes that have been driving over 95% success rates since the site launched in late 2006.

Two Membership options are available: Annual Premium Membership ($99) or a Lifetime Membership ($199). 15% of all membership fees go to Rouxbe for Life - the Company's social program to feed hungry children in developing countries. To date, the company has fed almost 60,000 kids.

To find out more, please click on the button below and send us a quick note. We'll have someone here at Rouxbe send you further instructions on how to make it happen. 

Happy Cooking from Rouxbe!

Tagged as: [ culinary rouxbe school skills techniques ]

Terranova Holistic Food and Health Classes

For those interested in a healthy activity with a nutritional twist, join Chef Ian Lai at the Terranova Rural Park in Richmond. Start your day with an invigorating yoga or tai chi class, followed by a healthy breakfast or brunch. Or simply enjoy an evening learning some culinary essentials and wine appreciation. Call the Thompson Community Center at 604-718-8422 to register.

Beginners Tai Chi and Breakfast (Classes start September 27)
Join Tai Chi instructor Anthony Lee-Hem and Chef Ian Lai for a great start to your morning.
Sun style Tai Chi from 7:00 - 8:00AM followed by a healthy breakfast.
10 sessions for $200

Beginners Hatha Yoga and Power Breakfast (Classes start October 29)
Yoga Instructor Jodi Stokes and Chef Ian Lai will rev up your day.
7:00 - 8:00AM with breakfast to follow.
(Wed Thurs or Fri)
8 sessions for $160

Culinary Essentials (Thursday nights) 
Chef Ian Lai hosts an evening of culinary education.
Thursday nights 7:00 - 8:30PM. 
October 2 - Turkey
October 23 - Salmon
October 30 - Japanese
November 6 - Soups
November 20 - Crab (Additional $10)
November 27 - Chicken
December 11 - Stews
December 18 - Lobster (Additional $10)
$30 per session

Family Hatha Yoga and Brunch (Classes start October 1)
Start your weekend off right with Yoga instructor Jodi Stokes and Chef Ian Lai.
This is a half hour parent and child yoga class.
9:00 - 9:30AM or 9:30 - 10:00AM.
Brunch served at 10:15 AM for both sessions.
8 sessions for $160

Wine and Food Appreciation (October 17, November 21 and December 12)
Join Sommelier DJ Kearney and Chef Ian Lai for an evening of wine and food appreciation. 
7:00 - 8:30PM
$55 per session

Tagged as: [ culinary organic yoga ]

Top 10 Dishes for the Fall Season

Fall has to be one of the best seasons. How can't it be with all of those warm, comforting dishes? Click through to Rouxbe's Blog to see a few of our favorite fall recipes.

Tagged as: [ comfort culinary fall recipes rouxbe video ]

The Flavor Bible

Well, they've done it again! Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg have released The Flavor Bible, an inspiring guide to help cooks better understand how to pair and balance flavors from around the world. I have turned to their book, Culinary Artistry, for ideas and "flavor pals" for years. With input from many well-respected chefs, The Flavor Bible takes heightening the flavor experience to a whole new level.

When I first really started cooking and learning proper techniques, I was very focused on recipes and had a hard time letting them go. Although I honed my skills and understood cooking processes, I would get tripped up from time to time on how to combine flavors. Culinary Artistry provided a lot of guidance. The book freed me to experiment and understand my own flavor combinations...without having to rely on a recipe.

Today, The Flavor Bible was delivered to my door. I can hardly wait to dive into it and learn more about the flavor possibilities. This is one bible that I'll definitely be reading before bed.  

Tagged as: [ basics books culinary dornenburg flavors page pairing ]

The Second Annual Chef's to the Field

A little overdue, but the Second Annual Chef's to the Field event held in Richmond was another huge success! This year, I was able to take quite a few photos and sample a lot of wonderful food. One of the prettiest food samples, I thought, were these edible flowers designed by one of the competitors, Pan-o-Pan.

Soon after the chef's had their harvest orientation, they were racing through the fields gathering all the needed produce. They had only 90 minutes to create 4 dishes.

The mystery ingredient this year: fresh B.C. sardines!

The first-place winner of the coveted "Green Cuisine Award" was Raincity Grill. Using local produce and ingredients is certainly not foreign to them. Just visit their restaurant to sample some delicious Pacific Northwest cuisine. Congratulations also go to Aurora Bistro for their 2nd place finish and Tapenade Bistro with 3rd placement. You can visit Terranova's website for more detailed information about the event.

It was great to see so many people come out and support Ian Lai's vision and the Terranova Schoolyard Project. Click here for more pictures from the day and see you next year!

Tagged as: [ competition culinary organic richmond terranova ]

Dove Chocolate

Recently, I was approached by Matchstick, a word-of-mouth marketing agency who is working on behalf of Dove chocolate to launch their all-new line of chocolate. I was sent a package of 4 varieties: 71% cocoa, Dark, Dusk and Milk and was encouraged to share the sample packs with my chocoholic family and friends. Not so hard to give out free chocolate.

When asked to participate, I wasn't sure what kind of package to expect. I had asked what percentage of cocoa was in the new line of chocolate and the person on the phone didn't seem to know. No problem, but when I received the package, I was a bit disappointed that out of all the samples, there was only one bar of 71%. It was hardly enough to conduct a proper survey with such a small sample. However, I had people sample them from the lightest to the darkest: milk, dusk, dark, and a tiny nibble of the 71%. I also did not tell them what it was for. Just that I wanted their honest feedback on the chocolate they were about to eat. 

I recorded people's comments as they sampled each one. Here is a compiled list of results:

Milk Chocolate (first in line to taste)
- didn't taste it until finished eating, then it had a bite in the back of the throat
- cheap milk chocolate bar, unnatural, trying to be fancy, thick
- too sweet, sugary
- isn't Dove a brand of soap? don't usually buy milk chocolate, it tastes like it's for kids
- tiring in back of throat
- smooth texture, I like milk/white chocolate though, wouldn't buy but would eat if given
- weird, doesn't melt, pasty and chewy, not natural, has a caramel flavor
- can taste chocolate, not very strong, tastes like caramel, soft, smooth, creamy
- ok texture, dry flavor, lower quality than used to
- ok flavor, good for smores

Dusk (second in line to taste)
- more flavor, chewier, creamier, very sweet on after taste - really sweet actually
- too sweet, too thick, liked this one better though
- better but still too sweet
- too sweet still, couldn't eat a whole chocolate bar of this
- less creamy, don't like the flavor
- just average
- liked it better than milk, layers of flavor, heavier texture, couldn't eat a whole lot
- pasty, same texture, seemed saltier, better flavor
- better than the milk chocolate
- stronger flavor, chewy
- ok flavor, good for a treat on its own
- sticks to my teeth

Dark (third in line to taste)
- less bitter, smoother, less after taste
- trying to be high end but not
- like this one better than dusk at first, but weird aftertaste, less waxy
- like better but weird aftertaste, less sweet up front, not as creamy, waxy coating in mouth
- liked the aftertaste, little bit bitter, better texture, not as thick aftertaste, bittersweet
- not as bitter
- bitter, not as much flavor as other dark chocolates
- let down, yucky aftertaste, makes me like dusk better
- sweeter caramel flavor, moister, would buy
- too strong, hits back of throat instead of taste buds, bitter
- had a squishy, oily texture that didn't do it for me
- this one is the most disturbing

71% (fourth in line to taste)
- bitter, chalky, longer after taste
- I'm used to flavor left behind from chocolate, this one was bitter and lingered, more cocoa taste but crumbly
- horrible, not much taste
- much waxier, bitter, not much flavor
- very different, bitter aftertaste, creamy but no flavor
- same flavor, slightly different consistency, doesn't feel as mushy, same bitterness, not very chocolaty
- seems synthetic
- tastes like lard (not like chocolate)
- is this the same one as before? bitter, not as sweet
- I prefer the texture of dark but found the flavor elusive, not as robust, I had to move it around and think about it to find the flavor

Overall Comments:
- wouldn't buy; usually buys Lindt, Denman Island Dark Chocolate, quality chocolate from Spain
- wouldn't buy, seems cheap/fake
- educated about cocoa content, so I wouldn't buy
- wouldn't buy as a gift and won't take extra samples to eat
- wouldn't buy based on no cocoa content - it's the first thing I look at on the list of ingredients
- why do I only get one small piece of 71%? (because there was only 1 bar in the whole lot)
- none of them melt in your mouth - wouldn't buy
- none really seem like the kind of thing we'd normally have in the house

What I found interesting, is that most people, even if they aren't foodies or pastry connoisseurs, know about cocoa content. The general public is more aware of what quality chocolate consists of and I think, unfortunately, Dove fell short on this one. Overall, people seemed to like Dusk the best, but weren't racing out to buy it.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of quality, dark chocolate, so I wouldn't purchase the milk, dusk or dark (especially because no cocoa content is listed). For me, there are many superior chocolates out there which contain 71% cocoa mass. I feel bad that the reviews aren't the greatest, but I was asked to provide honest feedback. Not-so-great chocolate makes me sad.

Tagged as: [ chocolate ]

School is In!!! - Rouxbe's Online Cooking School Launches

We did it! Today Rouxbe launched the world's first online Cooking School! Now, you can learn all of the skills and techniques that I learned in culinary school - close up, in the comfort of your own home. Twenty lessons have been released (15% of the school so far) and will continue to be released now every couple of weeks.

Having gone through the full-time culinary and pastry program at NWCAV, I can honestly say that the information packed into these quality videos is unlike any learning experience. I am certain that the Rouxbe Cooking School will boost the confidence of any cook, whether they are an at-home cook or a newbie in the industry who might not have been able to afford the tuition of a full-time program.

With every Premium Membership ($99 per year or $199 for a lifetime membership), you can have access to all of the up-close and detailed courses (try a free sample). We are trying our best at Rouxbe to break the thought pattern that good cooking must be complex. Learn the foundations of cooking, and you'll be well on your way to having more fun and success in the kitchen.

Tagged as: [ culinary online rouxbe school ]

Goldfish Pacific Kitchen | Yaletown, Vancouver

As part of a blogger marketing campaign, Marcelo and I recently had dinner at Goldfish Pacific Kitchen, a spacious, alive and sexy restaurant in Yaletown. From the time we walked in right up until we left, the service was fantastic - the hostesses, servers, kitchen and bussing staff were all attentive, friendly and efficient.

Most important is the food, which focuses on seafood fusion. We ordered the prawn and chicken gyoza with ginger red vinegar ($9) to start. They were very tender, so much so that they tended to fall apart when you picked them up. Nevertheless, they were quite delicious and I'd order them again.

Marcelo is usually on the hunt for a restaurant that can cook a good ribeye steak. Goldfish's came with a brandy peppercorn sauce and mushroom risotto spring rolls ($35) - risotto spring rolls? That one sounded strange. I ordered the pan-roasted halibut with prawn meringue and baby bok choy served in a lemongrass broth ($26).

We have noticed that quite a few restaurants in the city underplay how large the portions are and always suggest ordering a "side dish". The servers often say the main doesn't come with much more than a tiny "garnish". We should have known better, but went ahead and ordered the pan-roasted corn with green chilies and cilantro ($8) and the hand-cut fries with lemongrass-scented ginger aioli ($6).

It turned out that both mains were quite substantial. Underneath my tasty piece of halibut was a healthy amount of bok choy - enough to complete the meal. The first few sips of the lemongrass broth were quite spicy (and I love spicy), but I felt it sort of overpowered the fish. Overall, the fish was cooked well and the dish had nice flavors.

Marcelo's medium-rare ribeye steak was a delicious cut of meat that was cooked perfectly. We both did not like the two risotto-stuffed spring rolls that accompanied it though. While we appreciate fusion cuisine, we thought this one was taken way too far. In our opinion, spring rolls and risotto just aren't meant to be friends. It seems wrong. (I bet the eyeballs of a certain Italian I know would pop out of his head if he reads this.) The risotto was mushy and competed with the flavor from the oil in the wrapper. I always admire the restaurant that keeps their menu simple and is able to nail each component. We both would have preferred a small side of perfectly-cooked risotto to dig our forks into.

The presentation for each plate was quite nice but the disappointing part was there was just too much food. We are not light eaters?but the additional sides were not necessary as the mains were generous enough. However, we both loved both the fries and the spicy pan-roasted corn. The sad part is that there was absolutely no room for dessert.

Overall, dinner at Goldfish was very pleasant. We'll visit Goldfish again, but will make a mental note to order less. Try it out for yourself.

Tagged as: [ culinary restaurants review vancouver ]

Chef's to the Field | Sunday, August 10 (11am to 4pm)

It is incredible that almost a year has gone by! It's time to join Chef Ian Lai for the 2nd Annual Chef's to the Field event on Sunday, August 10. Come out and support the Terranova Schoolyard Project and sample some of the best gourmet food in town. Twelve teams are going head to head this year to win the 'coveted' green cuisine award.

Location: Terra Nova Rural Park (2631 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC)
Date: Sunday, August 10, 2007
Time: 11am - 4pm
Parking: Limited. Please try to bike or walk. A shuttle bus is being provided from the City Works Yard (5599 Lynas Lane, Richmond, BC) to the event every 15 minutes.

Tagged as: [ blackbox competition culinary nwcav organic ]

Rouxbe Cooking School is Coming SOON!

It's so close, you can smell it! We have been working around the clock to release the first few lessons of the world's first-ever online Cooking School. As it nears, everyone at Rouxbe is becoming more and more excited.

The Rouxbe Cooking School will launch the first part of its content at the end of June / first week of July. Additional courses will be released regularly over the next several months.

SPECIAL OFFER: Sign up for an Annual Membership ($99 USD) and you will automatically be upgraded to Lifetime Membership ($199 USD) status on June 28th. This includes access to our new Cooking School. Offer is only good until this Friday, June 27th at Midnight PST.

Check out Rouxbe's Blog for a sneak peak at what's cooking.
 

 

Tagged as: [ culinary nwcav online recipes rouxbe school techniques ]

Lemon-Cranberry Scones with Lemon Fondant

I recently woke up at 3am from my first-ever root canal which had gone bad. I couldn't sleep, so I thought why not bake? I made one of Marcelo's favorites - lemon-cranberry scones. Even though I couldn't chew very well, the cake-like texture, along with the lemon fondant, melted in my mouth.

Scone Ingredients: 140 ml whole milk 2 large eggs (100 ml) 1 tsp lemon zest 120 g unsalted butter 100 g sugar 320 g cake flour 80 g bread flour 10 g baking powder 3 g sea salt 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1 large egg (for egg wash)

To make the scones, first preheat your oven to 340º degrees Fahrenheit. Whisk the milk, eggs and lemon zest together and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until light. Sift the dry ingredients together and fold them into the mixture. The texture should be crumbly, so don't over mix.

Lightly fold in the milk mixture just until combined; then add the cranberries. Dust the counter top with flour. Gently divide the dough and shape into two rounds, so they are about 1 inch high. Cut into triangles and transfer to a baking sheet. Brush lightly with egg wash and bake until light golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.

Lemon Fondant 3/4 cup fondant 1 tsp. egg white zest of 1/2 a lemon 1-2 tsp. lemon juice

While the scones are baking, place the fondant in a bain marie. Heat over low heat and add the lemon zest, lemon juice and egg white. Stir to combine and bring the mixture just above body temperature.

Once the scones are done, place them onto a cooling rack and let cool slightly. Drizzle with the lemon fondant and enjoy.

Makes about 12.  

It's important not to over work the dough. Be gentle with it and work quickly. Avoid over-baking - bake just until they are light golden brown underneath.

Tagged as: [ pastry recipes scones ]