Category Archives: Baked Goods

Top 5 Posts of 2011

Festival de las Brasas, la Cerveza y el Vino
The end of the year is nearly approaching, and what a year it has been. We started our blog half way through 2011, and I can’t believe how wonderful it has been discovering new places and cuisine. I want to thank all of my readers for following and supporting Life & Food. It is such an amazing feeling to know that my posts are actually being read. I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings, and the food adventures that it will take us on.

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Chocoflan

Chocoflan
I have had chocoflan countless times, but there is something about this recipe that made this one stand out. The cake comes out rich and moist, and the flan is so creamy. I had never made flan with cream cheese before, but now I can’t imagine making it without it. It really helps make the overall consistency of the flan so silky.  This is a great dessert to make for your upcoming holiday parties. You can choose to garnish it with your favorite fruit or nuts. The chocoflan presents itself as a gorgeous cake, and is sure to impress your family and friends. I chilled mine overnight, but you are more than welcome to enjoy it warm.
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Tijuana Tidbits

Tijuana Tidbits
Day trips to Tijuana are a convenient “getaway” for us. We get to enjoy a change of scenery, as well as enjoy delicious food. I can’t be the only one that has a list of everything they want to eat prepared, before even crossing the border. Okay, so maybe I don’t actually write anything down, but it’s all about the mental lists. Tijuana isn’t only about amazing tacos, but they are often the first stop we make, no matter what our plans for the day are.
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Elizabeth Falkner’s Citizen Cake


I make “lists” of places that we must eat or get a drink at according to the city that they are in. Now being that it is San Francisco, there are so many places on that list, and it may take us many visits to accomplish all of them. Returning to San Francisco is most definitely in our future plans, and of course you have to start somewhere right? Elizabeth Falkner’s Citizen Cake is one that we decided to check off our list this time around. Now checking it off doesn’t mean we won’t be back. I have been craving the Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart, ever since we left. I also loved the interior of the building. The exposed brick and lighting really make it such an inviting atmosphere.
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Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have never actually had a “go to” Chocolate Chip cookie recipe before. Chocolate chip cookies have always been a recipe that I have either tried to improve myself, or thumb through cookbooks in search of that “better” recipe. This my friends, is officially my new “go to” recipe. Once you take your first bite of this moist and gooey chocolate chip cookie I am sure that you will agree.

Whenever I think of a Chocolate Chip cookie, I almost always associate it with crisp and cool weather, a tall glass of ice cold milk, or even a hot cup of cocoa. I took a bite of this cookie and it was like a giant warm and comforting hug. Everyone has those days that you just need a hug and some delicious comfort food. This can very well be a (temporary) solution for that. As I was mixing all of the ingredients  together, I thought to myself, “I hope that I can last the 24 hours knowing that this dough is sitting in the refrigerator.”  Let me tell you, it is more than worth it! The end product is absolutely amazing. Another added bonus? The sea salt sprinkled over the top of the cookie before they are put in the oven to bake. Once again sweet and salty components come together and have their own little soiree.

You know that you are going to have to try one of these cookies as soon as they come out of the oven. Who can resist a warm Chocolate Chip cookie? Of course a tall glass of milk is definitely in order as well.

From the New York Times

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons cake flour
  • 1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (I used the Ghirardelli 60 Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
  • Sea salt.

Instructions:

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.

Enjoy!

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Birthday Bites


Over the weekend we threw a little get together in celebration of my Birthday. I love to throw dinner parties, but this was more of a “tapas style” soiree. I chose to make a couple of different finger foods, and even made cake pops for the first time ever.



I made my Roasted Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta. You can find  the recipe here. I love how simple this dish is. I can not get over how beautiful the  colors are.


We have been experiencing some hot days and warm nights here in San Diego lately. I thought that the Chilled Avocado soup would be a perfect addition to the lineup.  You can find that recipe here. It was served in shot glasses, which made it a delightful version of an amuse bouche.  I added Tajin (chile lime powder) on the rim for an extra kick, as well as some color.


Proscioutto Wrapped Canteloupe has to be one of my favorite food combinations. The sweet and salty components are  so perfect together. I actually had a few friends that had never tried it before, and they ended up loving it.


Here are the the Caramelized Onion Tartlets with Feta Cheese. I have made a French Onion tart, where I topped it with Goat Cheese. These are basically a mini version of that, but this time around I decided to use Feta Cheese. You get just the right amount of tangy and salty bite with the rich caramelized onions and flaky puff pastry.


I am normally all about cupcakes, but hearing so much about the cake pop world lately, I had to give them a shot. I made Carrot cake pops with cream cheese frosting, and Devil’s food cake pops with buttercream frosting. They came out so moist and delicious. I will definitely be making some of these for my son Giovanni’s First Birthday that is coming up. I love everything about them. They were displayed in glasses with sugar cubes, but it will be fun to experiment with different displays.

I had a wonderful time! I love to see people eat and enjoy the food that I make. I will spend an entire day in the kitchen, if that means that someone gets to enjoy what I have created. I want to thank every one that sent me birthday wishes, as well as the ones that I got to enjoy this special evening with.

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Orange and Olive Oil Cake


Ever since I made my Olive Oil muffins, I have been wanting to experiment more and more with the olive oil baking world. It is amazing how moist the olive oil makes cakes and muffins. This is a light cake with beautiful and bright flavors of orange. This would be a great cake for a brunch with friends, or a dessert with a cup of coffee or tea.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
3 Eggs
2 tbsp. Orange Zest
The juice of one orange
3/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Powdered Sugar, For sifting

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.
Lightly oil an 8″ Springform pan.
Whisk together the flour, Baking Powder, and Salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together the eggs, sugar, and zest until light and fluffy.
Add in the orange juice and beat until blended.
Gradually beat in the olive oil.
Stir in the flour mixture until blended.
Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes cleanly out of the center.
Transfer to a cooling rack for 15 minutes.
Remove the pan, transfer to a platter and sift the powdered sugar over the top.
Cut into individual slices.
Serve.

Enjoy!