August, 2012 | Little Bits of...

Pear, Blue Cheese & Caramelized Onion Pizza

August 29, 2012 By Kelsey 4 Comments

Do you ever want to impress people with food but find it just too tiring and stressful? Well fear not! This pizza is so simple and delish that you will want to make it every night. The key to making easy pizza is PRE-MADE DOUGH. I am sure there are many great pizza dough recipes out there, but I am not ready to tackle that quite yet. I get my dough from trader joes. They have a wonderful whole wheat dough that makes you feel like pizza can be healthy!

I started by melting some butter and olive oil together. ( You do this so the butter doesn’t burn, and the mix of the two gives great flavor.)

Then add onions and a little sugar to caramelize those bad boys.

Once those are translucent and soft, add some balsamic and cook a bit longer.

For cooking this pizza you can either use a pizza stone or a cookie sheet. I attempted to use a pizza stone but transfering the pizza to the stone was pretty difficult. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees, and assemble your pizza. First roll out the dough into desired shape and thickness, then pour the onion mixture on top.

Then slice pears and place on top.

Then sprinkle on the blue cheese…

Then the mozzarella…

Then I added some pancetta…

And of course… a little more cheese…

Then toss it in the oven and watch it turn into deliciousness in about 15 minutes…

Then all you have to do is enjoy!

Pear, Blue Cheese & Caramelized Onion Pizza

Ingredients

Pre-made Pizza Dough
1 large Onion; Peeled, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 stick Butter
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 Large Pear, cored and sliced in half lengthwise
2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
2 oz Bleu Cheese, crumbled
Pancetta (optional)
Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Directions

In a large saute pan, melt the butter and add the olive oil so the butter doesn’t burn. When the oil and butter mixture is hot, add the onions and sprinkle with the sugar. Saute the onion until they begin to brown. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the Balsamic vinegar and continue sauteing until the onions are caramelized. Slice each half pear in half and slice the resulting quarters lengthwise into thin slices. Place a pizza stone on the middle shelf of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees.

Roll out your dough with plenty of flour, and place on a cookie sheet, if you are not using the pizza stone. Evenly spread the onion mixture on top of the dough. Then place the pear slices over the onion mixture. Sprinkle the blue cheese over the pears, followed by the mozzarella. Then if you want you can add some pancetta or any meat you may desire, and top with a bit more mozzarella. Place in the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes, keeping an eye on it after 10 for desired crispiness. Enjoy with a salad and a glass of wine!

http://littlebitsof.com/2012/08/pear-blue-cheese-caramelized-onion-pizza/

http://littlebitsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Pear-Blue-Cheese-Caramelized-Onion-Pizza-12-764x1024.jpg

Filed Under: dinner, Recipes

DIY – Beach Sign

August 28, 2012 By Kelsey Leave a Comment

After staring at about 5 pallet’s in my side yard for a few weeks, I decided to get some more use out of them. My sister, boyfriend and I will be moving near the beach soon and I wanted to make some beach decor. I cut a piece of pallet wood into the size I wanted, then printed out letters that spelled out BEACH. I first painted the piece of wood white, and let it dry. Then I layed out the letters to get an idea of my spacing. I took a light green fine point sharpie and pressed down on the paper in dots, outlining the letter. Then picked up the paper and traced the dots that had bled through.

Then all you have to do is paint your desired color in!

And continue down the board just like that…

Then I added an arrow in the mix, the beach is this way!

Once you are finished, let it dry and place it wherever you would like…. maybe a cluttered book shelf!

http://littlebitsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Beach-sign-9-1024x764.jpg

Filed Under: DIY, Uncategorized

Double Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

August 23, 2012 By Kelsey 2 Comments

These cookies were inspired by my Peanut Butter Cookie Cups. A co-worker is a Peanut butter fanatic and thought that peanut butter buttercream on peanut butter cookies would be divine. Topped with a mini reese’s, these little bites are delish. I whipped up the same peanut butter cookies from the previous PB cookie post, and scooped them into mini muffin pans.

Once they bake they for about 8-9 minutes, they will be golden brown. They will also slightly cave down in the middle, but you will need to press down a little more to make the cup shape. Then I whipped up the same peanut butter buttercream from my PB & C cake, which is just the vanilla buttercream I always use, with 1/2 cup peanut butter added. And I also only did a half batch of buttercream because I didn’t need a whole batch. Once the cookies cooled, I put the buttercream in a piping bag and filled the cookies.

Then just take a mini reese’s peanut butter cup and place it on top. Too cute!!

http://littlebitsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Double-Peanut-Butter-Cookie-Cups-4-1024x1024.jpg

Filed Under: cookies, Recipes

Apricot & Brie Crostini with Golden Honey

August 15, 2012 By Kelsey 1 Comment

Fun Fact: An ocean breeze and push your worries aside.

My grandparents have a wonderful little house in Laguna Beach. On Sunday we went there for dinner and I made these amazing little bites of goodness. Good food + ocean breeze…. now that is a problem solver. I got this recipe from a friend of a friend, who learned how to make it at a Sur La Table class. First you start with your key ingredients, onions and apricots.

Combine onion, apricots, thyme and white wine vinegar in a saute pan and cook until tender and slightly browned.

Then cut up a bagette…. and look at the beautiful ocean… take a deep breath and smile.

Put the bagette slices under the broiler for a few seconds, or until your desired crispiness. Then take them out and scoop on some onion and apricot mixture.

Then cut up your brie. I got a log of brie because it was the perfect size and easy to slice.

Then slice and place on crostini.

Top with honey and fresh thyme.

Apricot & Brie Crostini with Golden Honey

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large onions, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch thick pieces
1/2 cup dried apricots, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large baguette, cut into 24 (1/2-inch thick) diagonal slices
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces brie, cut into 2 inch by 1 inch by 1/8 inch slices
3 to 4 tablespoons honey, for drizzling

Directions

To prepare onions, add oil and butter to a large skillet and heat over medium heat. Add onions, apricots, vinegar, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook until onions are golden, stirring occasionally, about 12 to 14 minutes. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.

Preheat broiler and arrange baguette slices on a rimmed baking pan lined with parchment paper. Brush tops with butter and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Toast until golden brown on top.

To serve, remove baguette slices from oven and top each with 1 tablespoon onion and apricot mixture. Top each with a slice of brie, drizzle with honey and garnish with thyme leaves. Serve immediately.

http://littlebitsof.com/2012/08/apricot-brie-crostini-with-golden-honey/

Enjoy!!!

http://littlebitsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Apricot-Brie-8-1024x1024.jpg

Filed Under: dinner, Recipes

Butterfinger Caramel Corn

August 13, 2012 By Kelsey 6 Comments

Life can be hard at times. I haven’t posted on the site in a while, and I apologize! Life happened last week. And life got real. My grandma, who is one of the strongest, cutest, funniest people of all time, passed away. It still doesn’t quite seem real, but as nana would have wanted, my family has tried our best to be strong and keep smiling. I want to share her molassas cookie recipe with you later in the week! It is amazing. Through all the comotion of the last week, I decided to make a quick treat that we could munch on when we needed a little pick me up. I love caramel corn, and I love butterfinger. Putting the two together might have been one of my best ideas.

First, pop your corn.

Then make your caramel in the microwave (yay!).

You will add a bit of baking soda after it cooks, then pour it over you popcorn in a paper bag.

Then close the bag and shake shake shake it! Next up, Butterfinger!

Chop up your butterfingers, pour them in, and shake again!

Then just pour the caramel corn on wax or parchment paper and let cool!

Butterfinger Caramel Corn

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup white corn syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 quarts popped corn
10 fun size Butterfingers (chopped)

Directions

In a 1 1/2 quart microwave dish, stir together brown sugar, butter, or margarine, corn syrup and salt. Microwave on high 2 minutes; stir. Microwave on high for 2 more minutes. Stir in baking soda. Pour mixture over popped corn in large brown paper grocery bag. Shake well to coat. Place bag in microwave for 1 1/2 additional minutes. Pour in Butterfinger and shake to coat again. Pour onto waxed paper to cool.

http://littlebitsof.com/2012/08/butterfinger-caramel-corn/

http://littlebitsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Butterfinger-Caramel-Corn-9-1024x1024.jpg

Filed Under: candy, Recipes

SF Chefs 2012

August 9, 2012 By Kelsey 1 Comment

Guest post:

by Monica Powers

When my best gal pal approached me and asked me to write a post for her super trendy foodie blog, I knew exactly what I would write about – SF Chefs 2012! This past weekend I had the opportunity to work with some of the best chefs, restaurateurs, bartenders and culinary leaders in the nation. This annual festival, taking place on Union Square in San Francisco, showcases all the best in food, wine and spirits throughout the Bay Area. With classes, demos, panels, discussions and the Grand Tasting Tent, the weekend was packed with action and delicious food!

On the 32^nd Floor of the Westin St. Francis – looking down onto Union Square.

Eater Chef Challenge – This event was essentially the battle between two teams of two chefs, where a secret ingredient was revealed and within an hour, the participants had to create an amazing dish. A panel of four judges would deliberate on the dishes and pick a winner. Judges included the editor of Food & Wine Magazine, the editor from Eater SF, celebrity chef Fabio Viviani and Miriam Morgan of the SF Chronicle, among other notable foodies.

The Grand Tasting Tent (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) was an amazing display of the best in Bay Area dining. From delicious Campari cocktails to an assortment of sliders, the Grand Tasting Tent was the place to expose your palate to an array of delicious dishes.

Inside Scoop with Michael Bauer – For those of you who don’t know who Michael Bauer is, well he is kind of a big deal! For the past 25 years, Michael Bauer has held the prestigious position at the San Francisco Chronicle as the Restaurant Critic. For the first time EVER, Michael Bauer sat down and answered the questions people were dying to ask him. But there was a twist, to maintain his anonymity, Michael sat behind a screen and people in the audience could only hear his voice and see the outline of his profile.

Go Nuts for Donuts – On Sunday morning (after a super exclusive and chic Campari Party at the Clift Hotel on Saturday) we stumbled into a donut making class presented by Fine Cooking. During the class, we were educated on the easy ways one can make donuts. The donuts from Donut Sevant in Oakland were AMAZING!

Lastly, the entire weekend was an absolute blast and wouldn’t have been possible without my amazing colleagues at Andrew Freeman and Co. With their hard work and dedication, SF Chefs 2012 was a HUGE success! From the demos to the Grand Tasting Tent, the weekend was incredible!

I hope to see you all next year for SF Chefs 2013!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Cinnamon Chip Snickerdoodles

August 6, 2012 By Kelsey 1 Comment

Oh sweet cinnamon and sugar. I feel that this pair comes through my house at least once a week. Thank goodness for Costco Cinnamon tubs! I have used the same snickerdoodle recipe for years, but I thought it was about time I mix it up. The only thing I changed, was that I added brown sugar, and I made cinnamon chips! The chips added a whole new dimension to the cookie, and brought a burst of cinnamon flavor.

To make the chips, I just mixed sugar, cinnamon, shortening and corn syrup. That turned into a crumbley mixture that I poured onto a cookie sheet with foil and baked. Once it was cooked I removed the flatened out sheets of cinnamon and let it dry.

Then I chopped those up into little chips, and mixed them into my batter.

Next I scooped about 2 tablespoons into a ball and rolled it in cinnamon sugar.

Once the balls of dough were covered, I placed them on an ungreased baking sheet and flatten them slightly with my palm. Then sprinkled a bit of Pure Cane Sugar on top.

Then bake at 400 for 8 minutes!

Once I took them out of the oven I sprinkled on some extra cane sugar! Then you can try to let them cool… but if you can’t wait much longer, give them a try!

Enjoy!!

[Read more...]

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Filed Under: cookies, Recipes

Oatmeal & Dark Chocolate Chippers

August 1, 2012 By Kelsey Leave a Comment

Do you remember the days when you would come home from school and a fresh batch of cookies was being pulled out of the oven? Yeah me neither. That only happens in Toll House commercials, but it is a beautiful thought isn’t it? I try to bake or cook just about everyday, and yesterday I made these delicious oatmeal cookies with dark chocolate chunks. My sister came home from work and knew right when she walked in that there were fresh cookies. I love to make people happy through baking! These cookies are chewy and delicious, and the oatmeal totally makes them healthy! Right? Okay well don’t quote me on that, but how could oats and dark chocolate be bad? Hellllooooo antioxidants people! Time to get baking.

First cream up your butter and sugars!