Monday, September 14, 2009

On a blue day....

The only thing that helps is cooking. There is so much that can set me off, friends, too high of expectations, lack of children blah blah blah. So I cook. I have been dying to try this Tapioca Coconut Pudding from Sunset Magazine, so it's my first project. Had no fresh vanilla bean, ah well, but used vanilla extract and added a tablespoon of rum instead. I think tasty!


Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup small pearl tapioca
  • 1 can (13.5 oz.) coconut milk (I use low fat)
  • About 1 cup soy milk
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon Rum (my addition, not needed but very good!)
  • chopped fresh fruit such as mango, papaya, kiwi fruit, passion fruit, pineapple

Preparation

1. In a medium saucepan, cook tapioca in 1 1/2 qts. boiling water until only slightly chewy to the bite, 5 to 8 minutes. Pour through a fine strainer.
2. Meanwhile, in another medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the coconut milk, 1 cup soy milk, the sugar and vanilla until steaming, 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Stir drained tapioca into vanilla mixture. Cook, stirring often, until tapioca pearls are clear and just tender, 3 to 6 minutes.
4. Let pudding cool, then chill, stirring occasionally, at least 1 1/4 hours.
5. Spoon pudding into tall glasses. Top with fresh fruit.
If pudding is too thin, adjust the amount of tapioca (use a little more) and milk (use a little less)

Next on my blues list: Gougere, from a recipe by Molly Wizenberg, she blogs as Orangette. Just the thought is uplifting.

So I made dinner out of my creations. Gougere, 4 to be exact, with a glass of Soave, divine, and for dessert, the pudding with fresh figs and cantaloupe, not so bad!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Cooking for friends on Labor Day

One of my favorite things, cooking for friends. On the menu:


Roasted red bell pepper salad
Fresh figs, wild arugula, ciliegine (small mozzarella balls), Kalamata olives and basil with an orange oil vinaigrette

Pork tenderloin from the grill
olive oil, herbes de province, fresh garlic, salt, pepper, sumac

Grilled zucchini
salt, pepper, olive oil

Teeny, tiny potatoes
steamed, with sour creme tsaitsiki: Persian cucumbers, breakfast radishes, olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh garlic, a bit of vinegar

Everyone ate everything!

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