Vegan Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce

I have not tried this apple pie yet but it looks so good in this picture that I had to reblog it.  You can get the recipe by visiting Healthy Happy Life. 

Paris Loves Pastry is at it Again

If you have been following my blog for a while you probably already know how much I love the food blog Paris Loves Pastry.  It is one of the very BEST blogs out there about baking.  Just looking at the pictures of baked goods makes your mouth water.  Unfortunately for me Paris Loves Pastry dos not do vegan baking, but I still love to visit this blog.  For the recipe this raspberry cream cake from Paris Loves Pastry click HERE.
 

Heavenly buttermilk cake.  For the recipe click HERE.
 

If you missed my previous post about Paris Loves Pastry click HERE.

Paris Loves Pastry - A Blog

About two weeks ago I came upon a blog that completely blew me away.  It is called Paris Loves Pastry.  It is one of the most well put together and beautiful blogs I have ever seen.  I think it is possible to gain weight just looking at all the photos of cakes, pies, bonbons and a host of other sweet desserts.  The blog owner's name is Danielle who is from the Netherlands.

Feast your eyes on these photos of desserts from Danielle's blog.

 Mama's Angel food cake with rum creme anglaise.

 Nectarine, pineapple and coconut crumble

 Rustic Apple Tart

 Tarte Tropezienn

 Raspberry Tart

Kay Lime Tartlets

 Angel food cake with cream and strawberries.

Food is not the only thing that Daniele shares on her blog.  She also shares photos of her travels around Europe.  I encourage you to visit Paris Loves Pastry.  Please don't blame me if you put on a few pounds as a result of visiting this blog.  You enter at your own risk.  :-)

Paris Loves Pastry blog designed by Dirt and Lace Designs.   

The Fresh Market - French Baguettes and Crostinis

This afternoon after treating myself to a spa number two pedicure I headed off to one of my favorite grocery stores, The Fresh Market.

 This is a photo of my local The Fresh Market grocery store.  The market opened up in 2010 and has been a big hit ever since.  I went to The Fresh Market today to get sugar.  While there, I decided to purchase one of their French Baguettes.  Since reading Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas last week I have been itching to try a French Baguette.  I don't live in Paris or New York City, but The Fresh Market baguettes are baked fresh daily and is supposed to be an original French recipe.

I could not wait until I got home to try it.  I got into my car and broke of a piece.  First let me just say that I could smell the baguette.  My car smelled of freshly baked bread.  That was a huge plus.  The French baguette was baked to a golden brown so it looked pretty nd very appetizing.  When I bit into it the outside of the baguette was crusty and the inside was soft and chewy.  That is exactly what a French baguette is supposed to be like.  I loved the taste and the texture.

   After enjoying the first piece that I broke off and preceeded to break off two more pieces and ate them.

Baguette are meant to be eaten on the same day they are baked.  If not it is advised to freeze it until you are ready to finish it off.  I think that what I will do is make crostini tomorrow out of whatever is leftover from today. 

Below are photos of an assortment of crostini's made with different toppings.  Since I am strictly vegan now the ones with cheese are no longer an option for me but if you are vegetarian you can certainly enjoy them all.  

 Brie, honey and cracked pepper crostini

 Avocado crostini

 Asparagus crostini

Fig crostini

Fire roasted pepper crostini

 Italian cucumber crostini

 Mushroom ragout crostini

 Pizza crostini

 Radish and butter crostini

Spinach, pesto and tomato crostini

 Strawberry and feta cheese crostini

 Poached egg crostini served with arugula salad.

For the recipes just Google the names of each one and you will get an assortment of them to your hearts delight.

Make My Cake - A Bakery in Harlem New York

I am curently reading a book titled Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas.  I usually do not mention anything about a book that I am reading until I am finished reading it.   However, I am making an exception with this book because of all the lively descriptions of sweets throughout the book.  The author has a special fondness for dark chocolate.  It is really diffcult not to become hungry for chocolate, macaroons, pies, cakes and other pastries reading this book.


I am currently on chapter five of Paris My Sweet and having a delightful time reading this book.


This particular post is focusing on a bakery, not in Paris, but in Harlem New York called Make My Cake.  Amy Thomas writes very highly of this bakery.  I am delighted to see on their website that online mail order shopping will be available soon.  YAY!!!  Make My Cake specializes in pies, cakes, cupcakes and cheesecakes.

 Red velvet and butter cake with cream cheese frosting from Make My Cake.

 Sweet potato cheese cake from Make My Cake.

Vintage metal lunchbox from Make My Cake

 All pictures above are from the Make My Cake website.

   Front cover of the book Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas.

 Writer Amy Thomas

Miss Thomas has a blog of her own called Sweet Freak.

Organic Artisan Flour

 

I just purchased several pounds of organic artisan flour from my local Food Coop on recommendation.  I look forward to using it to see how well it performs.

French Triple Creme Cheese

I was shopping in my local Food Coop this afternoon when the man behind the counter asked if I would like to try a sample of French triple creme cheese.  Since I love to eat I said yes.  The man gave me a generous helping of Saint Angel triple creme on a cracker.  It is absolutely delicious! It is super creamy with an almost buttery flavor.  I highly recommend this French cheese.  Of course I had to purchase some. 

Where Women Cook

I just found out about this magazine.  Where have I been that I am just discovering this?  Now I must get copies of the back issues.  I purchased the latest copy of Where Women Cook from Joanne's.  I used their 40% off coupon on the purchase.  I LOVE this magazine!  Actually all of the magazines by Stampington & Company are fabulous.  I really enjoy cooking and I love my kitchen design.  This magazine not only has great recipes but you get to see the fabulous and warm kitchen spaces of other women who also enjoy cooking.   

My Cookbook Collection

Food is one of the things I completely enjoy about life.  Cooking food and then eating it to me is part of having a spiritual experience.  My parents are from the Republic of Panama and I was born there.  I was brought to the USA six days after my second birthday.  I grew up eating Spanish and West Indian Foods.  Every meal of the day, including breakfast, is a big deal and highly flavorful.  When I was growing up, every Sunday we ate coconut rice and peas, fried plantains, cook up chicken, lettuce-tomato-cucumber salad and potato salad.  Sometimes my Mom also included a beef dish, but I was never a big fan of beef so I did not eat it much when Mom prepared it.  I did like spareribs, so if my Mom prepared that I would eat it. I still love spareribs, but I do not eat it anymore.  I also love ham, but I do not eat that anymore either simply because it is better not to.  I still eat chicken but not often.  To me there is a big difference in taste when the chicken is organic.  I love fish, king crab, shrimps and continue to indulge in eating them.  I do not eat seafood often either, but when I do feel like having some I will not deny myself the pleasure.  In Panama the seafood that comes out of the Atlantic ocean is so delicious.  When seafood is fresh like that it does not stink up your kitchen when you are preparing it.

I have quite a large collection of cookbooks.  I love purchasing cookbooks but I had to put a serious stop to that because of space issues.  Below are pictures of some of my cookbooks.