Danish

I have a confession to make: I have a crush on Joe Pastry. He's my latest blog crush. It's just a "Blogger Crush", totally anonymous. I mean seriously, I'm a married woman. But I have been stalking his blog for the last month or two and I love it. Totally nuts and bolts pastry making basics. I pretty much want to make everything on his blog. Hey, maybe I could do one of those "Julie and Julia" things and blog about making stuff from his blog. Then someone could blog about reading my blog about making stuff from Joe Pastry's blog. Whoa, whoa, whoa. . .I'm kinda through the looking glass here. Kind of like one of those bathrooms where there is a mirror in front and one in back and you see infinite reflections of yourself. Whoa again, am I making any sense? I think I've had too much coffee today. YIKES! Anywho . . . check out Joe's blog. It has great step by step instructions, with pictures, and recipes for any and all pastry basics.

For my first attempt at one of Joe's recipes I decided to try and make Danish. I love danish, it's my favorite thing from the pastry case. Or should I say, I like good danish. The soggy plastic wrapped blobs from the bread aisle don't cut it. I like buttery, crispy danish. Coconut Custard is my absolute fave but I pretty much like them all, well, except for apple. Don't know why but I just don't really like apple danish. Anywho . . . again . . . boy I'm long winded today . . . check out how I did on my first attempt at a laminated dough . . .

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

When I saw this recipe on the Tasty Kitchen Blog I knew I had to make it ASAP. So urgent was my quest to make this cookie that I went right out and bought the first 8-inch cast iron skillet I could find. (Can't believe I didn't already have one.) No, I didn't shop around for a deal, search the internet and wait for it to be shipped (my usual M.O.) I just snatched up the first one I saw. Was it a deal? Did I pay way too much? I didn't care, and don't want to know. All I knew what this cookie had to be made, at any expense. And so it was made. . .

Do you blame me? Who can resist a hot chewy chocolate chip cookie, served warm with vanilla ice cream. What's not to love. The fact that you make the whole thing in one pan - no sifting, mixing bowls, no separating ingredients, just one 8-inch skillet (and it must, must, must be cast iron) - it's just the "icing on the cake" or cookie, or whatever, you know what I mean. So, make this cookie. . .NOW!

Grilled Cheese and Jam, BAM!

Am I the last person to this party?

Or am I an innovator?

Have people been doing this for ages?

Or am I about to start a new craze?

Some things are just so simple that when you discover them you feel like a complete idiot that you hadn't thought of it. This delicious creation made me feel like the most complete of complete idiots. I know what you're thinking, grilled cheese and jam? What? Gross! But wait, it makes perfect sense. Cheese and fruit have been paired since the dawn of time. Have you ever seen a cheese board that didn't include fruit? Seriously, have you? And what do they serve with the classic Monte Cristo Sandwich? Why jam of course. 

I know, you've got reservations, I had them as well. When our friend Katie told me about this sinfully delicious creation I was totes skeptical. I mean grilled cheese is perfect as is. Did I have it in me to desecrate my beloved Grilled Cheese. But I fancy myself a culinary adventurer so I decided to give it a try. Whoa nelly! I am so so so glad I did. I may never eat grilled cheese without jam again. It's that good. Please, if you've got an ounce of adventure in you, try this sandwich!