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Pistachio & Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies From Aran Of Cannelle Et Vanille Blog

August 9, 2013 by Zizi

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I found Aran‘s beautiful award-winning blog, Cannelle et Vanille on the internet a few years ago. I fell in love with it for the first time. I remember I saved so many recipes to make them (I did a few of them! :)). Even though I love her gluten-free recipes and travel stories, I always go back to her blog because of the breathtaking photos. I learn so much about food styling and photograpy just looking at Aran’s pictures.

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When I asked her to guest post on my blog I didn’t know how she will react. As I expected she was so nice and happy to help me out. She told me she was very busy with a big move (from Florida to Seattle) and travelling to teach at different workshops (one of my dreams is to participate in one!) but she would try her best!

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Here she is sharing one of her cookie recipes from her first incredibly photographed cookbook, Small Plates & Sweet Treats. Aran says: “This shortbread gathers two of my favorite ingredients – pistachios and vanilla beans – in one treat. They are coated in powdered sugar while warm, which creates a slightly creamy coating. I make batch after batch of these during the holiday season. They are great to give as gifts.”

Pistachio & Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients (makes about 50 cookies)

– 1 cup (140 g) superfine brown rice flour
– 1/2 cup (80 g) potato starch
– 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (70 g) gluten-free oat flour
– 1/4 cup (30 g) tapioca starch
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 cup (80 g) unsalted natural pistachios
– 16 tablespoons (225 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
– 3/4 cup (90 g) powdered sugar, plus more for dusting, sifted
– 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped

Method

In a medium bowl, whisk toether the superfine brown rice flour, potato starch, oat flour, tapioca starch and salt. Measure 1 tablespoon of this flour mixture and add it to a food processor along with the pistachios. Pulse until the pistachios are ground to a fine powder.

Combine the soft butter, powdered sugar and vanilla seeds in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on low speed for a few seconds so the powdered sugar doesn’t fly everywhere. Increase the speed to medium-high and cream together until light, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle.

Add the dry ingredients along with the ground pistachios to the mixer bowl. Mix until the dough comes together; it will be a sticky dough. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and shape it into a log that is approximately 13 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the log in parchment and roll it, trying to make it as round as possible. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the ovent to 180C (350F). Remove the dough form the refrigerator and unwrap it. Cut disks that are 1/4 inch thick. Place them 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly golden on the bottom, but do not overbake, as they will become very hard. Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes. Dust them with powdered sugar. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.

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Interview to get to know Aran a bit more…

Where are you from? Where do you live?
A: I was born and raised in Bilbao in the Spanish Basque Country and I currently live in Seattle, Washington.

What is the name of your blog?
A: Cannelle et Vanille.

How long have you been blogging?
A: I started blogging in January 2008, so that if over 5 years.

When did you start cooking/baking?
A: I started cooking and baking very young as I grew up with grandparents who owned and operated a pastry shop. I remember being as young as 6 or 7 and helping my mom in the kitchen. In my late 20s I attended culinary school and worked as a professional pastry chef for 4 years until I had my first son.

Who (where) did you learn cooking/baking from?
A: I learned to cook from my mother and grandmother and to bake from my uncles and grandfather who were all pastry chefs. We lived across the street from the pastry shop so I spent most of my time there with the smell of cinnamon, vanilla, simmering milk and fermenting yeast.

What is your signature dish?
A: Oh that’s hard to answer. My friends really appreciate my baking skills, but they usually ask me to make them tortilla de patatas, which is a traditional Spanish omelet with potatoes, onions and eggs.

What is your favourite vegetarian/vegan meal?
A: I love lentils and I make them all the time for my family, so I would probably say that lentil soup with lots of root vegetables and kale or Swiss Chard is one of my favorite meals. I love soups in general – anything I can eat with a spoon I love.

Where do you get inspiration from?
A: From many different places… the farmers market, restaurants where I eat, cookbooks, other makers and artists, ceramics… It’s endless.

What was the most memorable food you have eaten during your travels?
A: I absolutely loved the last meal I had at Martin Berasategui’s restaurant outside of San Sebastian a few months ago. It took my breath away.

Name three things you always have in your fridge!
A: Eggs, some kind of green like kale or Swiss Chard, and plain yogurt.

Is there a food that always reminds you of home?
A: Yes, tortilla de patatas, leeks and potato soup, arroz con leche…

What would people be surprised to find in your kitchen? Is there anything you want to share?
A: When I have chicken feet in my freezer I know it’s going to be a good day. The best stock to be made.

—

All photos are courtesy of Aran Goyoga.

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Filed Under: guest post, ovo Tagged With: baking, cookies, edible gift, sweet

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

January 8, 2013 by Zizi

I think we all agree that chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate comfort food with a glass of milk, a cup of tea or coffee. Chocolate chip cookies always help, don’t they? There are plenty of classic recipes on the Internet but only a few of them are vegan.

I found this recipe on Emily’s blog and decided to give it a go. This recipe taste just like any of the classic ones, you won’t even know they’re vegan. These cookies are so easy to make, crunchy outside and chewy inside because of the buttery coconut oil and one banana. When you have guests come over, bake for them (without saying it’s a vegan recipe). I bet they will love it too! Share the vegan chocolate chip cookie love!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients (makes 25)

– 1 cup (120 g) whole wheat spelt flour
– 1 cup (135 g) white spelt flour
– 1/2 cup (110 g) raw cane sugar
– 1/2 cup buttery coconut oil (not solid and not liquid)
– 80 g bittersweet chocolate chips
– 1 ripe banana, peeled and mashed with a fork
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 2 tablespoons almond/rice/oat or soy milk
– 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded

Method

In a bowl add all dry ingredients: whole spelt and white spelt flour, baking soda and salt. In another bowl cream together coconuti oil with cane sugar. Once the mixture is fluffy and light, add mashed banana, vanilla, almond milk and with a wooden spoon beat until combined. Add dry ingredients into the wet, fold in the chocolate chips and mix until combined.

Preheat the oven to 180C (356F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Using a cookie or ice-cream scoop, portion out small balls of dough, then flatten the balls slightly with your hands. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

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Filed Under: vegan Tagged With: baking, chocolate, cookies, edible gift, sweet

Coconut Date Energy Balls

December 29, 2012 by Zizi

First I made these cute energy balls for a hiking trips in October. These little bites were a yum trail snack, everybody loved them. They are great energy boosters and easy to store (in a box). Energy foods are engineered to enhance each stage of a workout or outdoor excursion and these coconut date energy bites are great for it.

Because of its success I decided to make them for Christmas as an edible gift. These balls are the healthy option to snack on something. I made two very similar truffles a couple of years ago, don’t forget to check them out to get more inspiration.

Coconut Date Energy Balls
(Recipe inspiration: Daily Garnish)

Ingredients (makes about 36 pieces)

– 1 cup rolled oats
– 1 cup desiccated coconut + extra for coating
– 1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
– 1/4 cup water
– 12 dates, pitted, chopped
– 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded
– 1 orange’s zest
– pinch of salt

Method

Add rolled oats, desiccated coconut and toasted pumpkin seeds to a food processor and let it spin. Add dates, vanilla, cinnamon, orange zest and salt, then let it process for 2-3 minutes. Slowly start adding the water until the mixture becomes a bit sticky and wet.

Form little balls with your hands and roll them in desiccated coconut. Eat them straight or keep them in a box in cool place.

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Filed Under: vegan Tagged With: Christmas, coconut flakes, date, edible gift, orange, snack, sweet

Spicy Walnut Mustard

December 28, 2012 by Zizi

Although this mustard was an edible gift for Christmas, it can be made without any occasion at all because it’s spicy and tangy and it goes very well with roasted meat, tofu or a nutritious grain salad. In Hungary eating mustard is popular at New Year’s Eve too.

New Year’s Eve (as we call it – Szilveszter) in Hungary is celebrated with home parties and street parties too. Fireworks and firecrackers are getting very popular. Champagne and wine are part of the celebration and traditional Hungarian New Year’s Eve dishes are frankfurter sausages (from soy too! luck for vegetarians! :)) with lots of mustard or horseradish, roasted pork and cabbage rolls. On New Year’s Day lentil soup is served because lentil is considered to bring luck and lots of money in the New Year.

Recipe inspiration from my friend, Giulia.

Spicy Walnut Mustard

Ingredients (makes about 1 cup)

– 50 g mustard powder
– 50 g walnut, chopped
– water
– 1 tablespoons of runny honey
– 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
– 5 pinches of salt
– small jar

Method

Place the mustard powder in a bowl and stir in the water (about 6-10 tablespoons) little by little until it gets its the desired consistency. Add chopped walnut, season with salt, honey and vinegar.

Pour into a sterilized glass jar and keep it in the fridge. Wait 12 hours before tasting it.

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Filed Under: vegan Tagged With: Christmas, dip, edible gift, homemade, mustard, walnut

Homemade Chocolate Liqueur

December 23, 2012 by Zizi

Is it possible to make homemade chocolate liqueur? Really? And it only takes 15 minutes! Chocolate liqueur can be consumed straight, as an after dinner drink rather than as aperitif. It can be used in mixed drinks and in desserts, especially in dessert sauces, cakes and truffles.

I love making edible gifts for Christmas and for birthdays. I put myself into the effort so the gift has my heart and my love. I gave homemade edible gifts for Christmas or any special occasions in the last two-three years for my loved ones. The success was always guaranteed. This liqueur is perfect for anyone for any occasion.

Chocolate Liqueur

Ingredients (makes 500 ml ~ 2 cups)

– 100 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa content)
– 150 g powder sugar
– 200 ml cream
– 250 ml rum
– 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
– 1 bottle

Method

In a pan mix together cream, powder sugar and cocoa powder. Start heating over low heat. Slowly add the dark chocolate. Stirring continuosly melt the chocolate. Remove pan from the heat and let it cool until lukewarm. Mix rum with this melted chocolate sauce, stirring until smooth.

With the help of a strainer pour the liqueur into the bottle and store it in a cold place. If it gets a bit too thick, dilute it with a splash of rum.

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Filed Under: lacto Tagged With: alcohol, chocolate, Christmas, drink, edible gift, sweet

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