Jessica's Dinner Party

Archive for the 'fruit' Category

Strawberry Tart with Pastry Cream

Finally, the last of the birthday pie desserts is this strawberry tart. It is probably my favorite amongst the three (pumpkin-pecan and peanut butter mousse). The flavors are simple, clean, and familiar but in a surprising and dazzling way. Contrary to what it seems, it’s a no fuss dessert. The tart shell and pastry cream can be made ahead of time, then assembled a few hours before eating. It’s great for dinner parties and casual family dinners. I’ve made this tart a few times since the birthday party and it’s been a hit with everyone.

February 23 2010 | dessert and fruit and pies and tarts and recipe and thoughts | 5 Comments »

Citron Tea

One of my favorite beverages is the citron tea, or yujacha, 유자차. It’s different from regular teas because it is not brewed from dried leaves but from a marmalade like syrup. The citron is a very unique fruit because it is rarely, if ever, eaten peeled. The pulp is dry and little in proportion to the amount of pith and peel. However, it is a very fragrant and nutritional fruit. Many Koreans drink it during the winter months because it is an excellent source of Vitamin C and is also believed to be a natural source of antibiotics. When a cold is caught, instead of orange juice, Koreans give the advise to drink some citron tea.

November 20 2009 | asian and beverage and fruit | 4 Comments »

Matchstick Sweet and Savory Salad

When it comes to salads, I’m not a very adventurous cook. I usually just chop some romaine lettuce and any other greens I have lying around in the fridge. Drop a little extra virgin olive oil, champagne vinegar, and a pinch of salt, and the salad is ready to go. I have to admit, it’s really boring. I’m bored making it, I’m bored while eating it, and I get bored thinking about it. It’s funny though, because when I’m at a restaurant I always forego the standard Caesar salad and go with something interesting and different, but in my own kitchen I don’t even make the effort to shave some parmesan cheese to fake a Caesar salad.

November 19 2009 | fruit and recipe and salad and thoughts and vegetarian | 5 Comments »

Simple Apple Tart

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and if you’re like me, you already have a long list of dishes to choose from. My list always includes some interesting and daring recipes like tamale inspired stuffing, Caribbean scented sweet potatoes, and a vegan chocolate cheesecake. I think: maybe this year we should go with a Southeast Asian theme or try doing everything Southern style. But alas, we always stick to the basics, the recipes we know, and end up craving. How can Thanksgiving pass without grandma’s famous stuffing and a plain old pumpkin pie? Never.

November 16 2009 | dessert and fruit and recipe and thoughts | 9 Comments »

Banana Almond Bread

I didn’t know what a real oven looked like until about the eighth grade. Well, at least I thought I didn’t. That area under the stove with wire racks and a heavy door was a cabinet. The pots and pans were stored there. It’s actually a pretty nifty idea if you lack major storage space (ie. Manhattan). I found out recently it’s actually pretty common amongst Koreans. Makes sense because Korean cooking rarely requires an oven.

Until the age of 14, I did most of my baking in a toaster oven. It works fine and dandy. You just have some size constraints and possibly a few more batches to bake, but in the end, it all turns out the same. While I’m here, I actually prefer to use the toaster oven because then I don’t have to hassle with moving dozens of pans in and out. It’s also nice when you bake mini pastries because it feels like you’re wasting less energy (and possibly saving a little on your bills!).