where the wild things are no. 10. juniper pickled onions.

Strangely, I have been craving juniper this past year. It started late last Summer, upstate, with a series of wild cocktails and juniper stuffed trout. I have since experimented with a number of recipes and drinks, to which my friends can attest, as I have plied them with many a juniper tipped cocktail.  I had never really incorporated juniper into my cooking in the past but now, I don't think I could live without it!  It should really have come as no surprise to me that I would like it this much. I do, after all, love gin, that brilliant aromatic spirit, spiced with juniper and other aromatic herbs and spices. I discovered gin in my early twenties.(Right now my two favorites are Hendricks and Breuckelen  Gin.) Juniper smells both medicinal and like the darkest forest floor. It is very complex. I have many Juniper recipes to share but for now I will post my current obsession; juniper pickled onions! Once you try them, there is no turning back.

Juniper Pickled Onions 

 (I added a few shallots to this recipe)

3 cups Japanese Apple Cider vinegar

(you can use Bragg's Raw Cider Vinegar if you want, I used what I had on hand)

1 tablespoon dried Juniper berries

1/2 tablespoon crushed Juniper berries (crush with mortar and pestle)

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon black pepper corns

3 tablespoons sugar

 To make the brine:

Add the spices and sugar to the 3 cups of vinegar

Heat to a boil in a non-reactive pot

Turn off and allow to steep for 20 minutes for the spices to infuse

In the mean time, thinly slice 2 medium  red onions

After 20 minutes, heat the brine to a slow simmer.

Divide the onions into thirds and drop into the brine for 20 seconds.

Remove after 20 seconds with a slotted spoon and set aside.

The onions will turn a brilliant pink.

When all the onions have been run through the brine, turn it off an allow it to cool.

When cool put the onions in a Weck or Ball jar or some other airtight storage container and pour the remaining brine over the onions.

The pickled onions will last for a couple of weeks in your refrigerator.

 

sunday morning sleepover cake

This past Sunday morning I woke early thinking about what to make the gaggle of girls sleeping in Lula's room. The past few weekends we have been in a pancake rut. I thought about making an apple ginger cake but didn't have apples. After rummaging around I came up with a few pears and a whole lot of mint and basil left from last week's shoot. The combination of basil and pear sounded good to me, so I set out to make a cake. When the girls finally staggered out of Lula's room around noon the cake was waiting. I brewed them some  fresh mint tea and suddenly it was a perfect non-pancake breakfast for a perfectly gorgeous Sunday.

Basil Pear Cake

2 cups of whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup of light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of ground ginger

12-15 large basil leaves roughly torn

1/2 stick of  softened butter 

2  pears 

2 tablespoons heavy cream

2 eggs

Sift the first 6 ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

Add butter, grated pears, torn basil leaves, heavy cream and eggs. ( I grated one pear and used a mandolin on the other to change up the texture. Set aside 1/4 of the second pear to mandolin some slices for the top of the cake )

Mix for a minute by hand.

Turn the batter into a well greased and floured baking pan. I used a 7 inch round. Shave the remaining quarter of pear on the top of the cake.

Bake for 45 minutes at 350.

sweet valentine

This morning I left a little Valentine for the ones I love. I wanted to share in case you are in need of a last minute idea.... I got mine from New Amsterdam Valentine Market which was held last weekend in a very special public space managed by the South Street Seaport Museum at 215-217 Water Street. If you did not get a chance to swing by the market you can find these sweets by clicking on the links below!

Mast Brothers Chocolate

Bowne & Co. Bowne & Co. 211 Water Street (NEW LOCATION)

and Chocolate Whiskey from King's County Distillery made from the Husks of Mast Brother's Cocao Bean....

Have A Sweet One.

Where to Buy Chocolate Whiskey

For now at least, the Chocolate Whiskey remains an experimental release and supply is extremely limited.The full list of stores that carry the chocolate whiskey is as follows:  (Brooklyn) Heights Chateau, The Greene Grape, Dry Dock, Fermented Grapes, Juice Box, Natural Wine Co., Pier Wines, Brooklyn Oenology, Thirst Wine Merchants, and The Whiskey Shop.  (Manhattan) Park Avenue Liquor Shop, Winfield Flynn, Astor Wines and Spirits, Union Square Wines Downtown Cellars, and (upstate) A Wine for All. 

And of those outside NYC, the following stores do online sales:

Pasanella and Sons 

www.astorwines.com

www.parkaveliquorshop.com

www.heightschateau.com

www.taigan.com/shops/wineforall

twenty years. no. 5. love.

From the archives... In the spirit of love and St. Valentine I am posting this photograph of our sweet friends Kim Krans and Jonny Ollsin of Family Band on their wedding day.

twenty years no. 4. love the one you are with.

 

Oh dear it has been so long since I have posted! I promised myself to keep up this blog but this past month or so it has proved a bit diificult! I have been in the midst of many projects! I can't complain because I thrive on being busy, however at least once a day that blog guilt creeps in... I promise to be back soon with new material and lots of adventures! Until then, I thought I would post more 8x10 work from the archives of the two babes who inspire me most. xx