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When God invented sugar it must have been a very good day. Even though we all consume larger quantities than we should, there is no question we would do anything to experience its rush of pleasure. We serve it at all the most important life events. Even the saying, "life is short, eat dessert first!" proves we would rather have sugar than almost any other food. We call loved ones, "sweetie." People who talk nice to us are "sugar coating it." And adding sugar to cocoa beans has literally changed the planet! Oh, sugar, sugar, sugar! I worship sugar! Which, I'm thinking, is why God probably kept it to himself for millennia.... no doubt leaked by the dark forces. Um, thank you dark forces? Oh dear...  The sugar beet and sugar cane are the two main sources of refined sugar production, which seems trivial. However sugar itself has become one of the key commodities of modern times. I actually grew up near a small town where there was a sugar beet factory. Constructed in 1903 in Garland Utah , the Utah Sugar Company was in operation until 1978. I will tell you. The smell from that plant is nothing like the sweet final product. Odd, eh? Want to know more? Here are some interesting facts published on sucrose.com about sugar: "It was the major expansion of the Arab peoples in the seventh century AD that led to a breaking of the secret. When they invaded Persia in 642 AD they found sugar cane being grown and learnt how sugar was made. As their expansion continued they established sugar production in other lands that they conquered including North Africa and Spain. However, it is thought that cane sugar was first used by man in Polynesia from where it spread to India. In 510 BC the Emperor Darius of what was then Persia invaded India where he found "the reed which gives honey without bees". The secret of cane sugar, as with many other of man's discoveries, was kept a closely guarded secret whilst the finished product was exported for a rich profit."
Let's talk about some of my latest sugary treats. They have produced so many happy tummies so it is hard for me to think about being a perpetrator of dark arts. Really, how could a candy sprinkle be evil? It turns out we do need to be a bit mindful of the stuff. The Huffington Post has published a very interesting article explaining what happens when we become sugar addicts. It is worth the read. I find that between the lines the logic lies in understanding that we must have balance. And that a lot of our sugar and other unhealthy items are found in processed foods. I work very hard to avoid a processed food diet and find that if you eat naturally you can probably imbibe responsibly without too much harm... But I will let you decide with every, delicious, crystallized, sparkling, happy bite... RECIPE: Quick Watermelon Ice Cream
 6-7 C of ripe watermelon, cut into chunks 1 C sweetened condensed milk Dash of salt Place watermelon chunks on parchment paper on baking sheet. Freeze for 4 hours. Then take watermelon and put into a food processor. Process until smaller chunks. Add the sweetened condensed milk and the salt. Blend until very creamy. Pour into a dish and smooth out top. Cover with cling film. Return to freezer for 3-4 hours until firm. Serve! Recipe inspired by several online posts. RECIPE: Chai Bread Pudding |
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3 ripe nectarines sliced into 24 crescents and tossed in 1 T white sugar
8 pieces of white bread cubed and toasted
5 large eggs
1 C heavy cream
2 t vanilla extract
1/3 C sugar
1/8 t ground cloves
½ t cinnamon
½ t ground cardamom
1/8 C chopped candied ginger divided 6 ways
Butter for greasing large muffin tins
Dash of salt
Sea salt to garnish
MOCK ANGLAIS SAUCE:
½ C sweetened condensed milk
3-4 T whole milk
3 T lemon curd
8 pieces of white bread cubed and toasted
5 large eggs
1 C heavy cream
2 t vanilla extract
1/3 C sugar
1/8 t ground cloves
½ t cinnamon
½ t ground cardamom
1/8 C chopped candied ginger divided 6 ways
Butter for greasing large muffin tins
Dash of salt
Sea salt to garnish
MOCK ANGLAIS SAUCE:
½ C sweetened condensed milk
3-4 T whole milk
3 T lemon curd
Make the mock crème anglais and set aside.
Grease an oversized muffin tin generously with butter (6 muffin openings). Divide toasted bread evenly among 6 muffin openings until the stack is a bit above the top of the rim. Sprinkle with the chopped candied ginger. Thoroughly mix the eggs, cream, vanilla, spices, and dash of salt. Pour over the bread dividing evenly among all puddings. Gently press down the bread so it all touches the egg mixture. Let it soak for about an hour on the counter, or not more than 3 hours in the fridge. Be sure to bring to room temperature before cooking. Arrange the sugared slices nicely on top of the bread puddings.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove from oven and place pan on a rack. Let cool for about 10 minutes. Remove each personal bread pudding and serve with the sauce poured over the top. Can be refrigerated and then reheated in the micro. Keep sauce refrigerated.
Note: Can do in a baking dish, but check center to make sure it’s done.
Grease an oversized muffin tin generously with butter (6 muffin openings). Divide toasted bread evenly among 6 muffin openings until the stack is a bit above the top of the rim. Sprinkle with the chopped candied ginger. Thoroughly mix the eggs, cream, vanilla, spices, and dash of salt. Pour over the bread dividing evenly among all puddings. Gently press down the bread so it all touches the egg mixture. Let it soak for about an hour on the counter, or not more than 3 hours in the fridge. Be sure to bring to room temperature before cooking. Arrange the sugared slices nicely on top of the bread puddings.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove from oven and place pan on a rack. Let cool for about 10 minutes. Remove each personal bread pudding and serve with the sauce poured over the top. Can be refrigerated and then reheated in the micro. Keep sauce refrigerated.
Note: Can do in a baking dish, but check center to make sure it’s done.
RECIPE: Easy White Chocolate Cranberry Fudge
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3 ¾ C white chocolate chips (24 oz.)
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 t vanilla (I added 2 t)
1 ¼ C craisins
Pinch of salt (I also sprinkled kosher salt on top of the fudge at the end.)
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 t vanilla (I added 2 t)
1 ¼ C craisins
Pinch of salt (I also sprinkled kosher salt on top of the fudge at the end.)
Line a square baking pan with parchment paper. I used an 8” X 8” pan. The place white chocolate chips in a large bowl with the condensed milk and microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir. If needed, add about another 20-25 seconds, being careful not to overhead. Stir patiently until the chocolate is smooth and melted. Add the vanilla and the pinch of salt and quickly pour into the lined pan. Spread evenly. Can cool in fridge or on countertop until room temperature. Can freeze or store in fridge. Sprinkle with a bit more of the sea salt on top. Serve in small 1 inch squares!
©Photos Copyright Camine Pappas, 2019. All rights reserved.
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I changed my cover photo on my personal FB page to a scene depicting a wintery sidewalk at night, with the word, "BELIEVE" written across it. That one word is 'Christmas' for me. It is a simple command, or request, to just have faith and let the magic of the season wash over you; to know that all is well, and even that dreams really do come true.
But what does it mean to believe? I think it has to do with the present. The more you immerse yourself in it, and try really hard to be a part of it, the more future "nows" have a chance to be just as amazing. If all you're doing is thinking about tomorrow, or 5 years from now, or even just a place moments away, you create a pattern that says you can't be in the now. And if you're not in THIS now, you won't be in THAT now. I don't want to miss a single moment. So I BELIEVE that every moment is special.
Cooking does that for me which is offer me the absolute bliss of the moment. Like how I felt when creating this very warm and tasty DOUBLE CHOCOLATE KAHLUA BREAD PUDDING, pictured here. Quite simply, what feeds me, even though that's a bad pun, is what I do in the kitchen when food is surrounding me, inspiring me, and nourishing me. It would be awesome if I could just stop my 'day' job, and open the oven PERMANENTLY. But of course that is a choice I am not prepared to make yet, and I always have a choice as to what I do. And the day when I can leave my primary business will come, but not today.
Yet, I believe that I can lead the life I have imagined, and I know that success WILL come in common hours, as Thoreau says. Until then, I will choose to find time to be in the kitchen, every moment I can, and try and create something amazing that makes you go, "wow..." and maybe it even inspires you to try something new or create a new dish.
Whatever happens between now and the next present moment, just know, I believe in YOU.
But what does it mean to believe? I think it has to do with the present. The more you immerse yourself in it, and try really hard to be a part of it, the more future "nows" have a chance to be just as amazing. If all you're doing is thinking about tomorrow, or 5 years from now, or even just a place moments away, you create a pattern that says you can't be in the now. And if you're not in THIS now, you won't be in THAT now. I don't want to miss a single moment. So I BELIEVE that every moment is special.
Cooking does that for me which is offer me the absolute bliss of the moment. Like how I felt when creating this very warm and tasty DOUBLE CHOCOLATE KAHLUA BREAD PUDDING, pictured here. Quite simply, what feeds me, even though that's a bad pun, is what I do in the kitchen when food is surrounding me, inspiring me, and nourishing me. It would be awesome if I could just stop my 'day' job, and open the oven PERMANENTLY. But of course that is a choice I am not prepared to make yet, and I always have a choice as to what I do. And the day when I can leave my primary business will come, but not today.
Yet, I believe that I can lead the life I have imagined, and I know that success WILL come in common hours, as Thoreau says. Until then, I will choose to find time to be in the kitchen, every moment I can, and try and create something amazing that makes you go, "wow..." and maybe it even inspires you to try something new or create a new dish.
Whatever happens between now and the next present moment, just know, I believe in YOU.
Charlotte, NC is slowly evolving into a more sophisticated location for outstanding restaurants. One of my favorites, and a darling of southern fare is Tupelo Honey. This is their second restaurant, the first enjoying phenomenal success and fame in Asheville, NC. Fresh, and inventive, dozens of southern favorites dominate the menu. I love it all.
Last Sunday we brunched our way through a few dishes and I ordered their sweet potato pancakes. That is a bit of an understatement as the two flapjacks were more like loaves. Easily an inch or more thick and sporting a diameter that would make a Frisbee jealous, they were dotted with pecans, and served with a crunchy granola. The only problem, and it was only a problem seeking a solution, was the fact that I had about 4 bites and I WAS FULL. I couldn't imagine leaving them behind, and no one at the table wanted these tempting manhole covers in their fridge. So, I packaged them up and waited for inspiration.
Not long after reaching my kitchen, and peering in to the paper to-go container, I realized these would make a fantastic bread pudding. I had a bit of french bread left over to stretch them, and eggs, sugar and cream always fix everything. Take a look at this YUMMY repurposed dessert, my SWEET POTATO PANCAKE BREAD PUDDING WITH MAPLE BRANDY CREAM.
Last Sunday we brunched our way through a few dishes and I ordered their sweet potato pancakes. That is a bit of an understatement as the two flapjacks were more like loaves. Easily an inch or more thick and sporting a diameter that would make a Frisbee jealous, they were dotted with pecans, and served with a crunchy granola. The only problem, and it was only a problem seeking a solution, was the fact that I had about 4 bites and I WAS FULL. I couldn't imagine leaving them behind, and no one at the table wanted these tempting manhole covers in their fridge. So, I packaged them up and waited for inspiration.
Not long after reaching my kitchen, and peering in to the paper to-go container, I realized these would make a fantastic bread pudding. I had a bit of french bread left over to stretch them, and eggs, sugar and cream always fix everything. Take a look at this YUMMY repurposed dessert, my SWEET POTATO PANCAKE BREAD PUDDING WITH MAPLE BRANDY CREAM.
| swtpotatopncksbreadpudding.pdf |
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Meet the Cook...
My name is Camine Pappas and I love to create beautiful and delicious food that anyone can make. My signature style centers around a love for combining things in a way you might not expect as I work to find a hidden combination of colors, textures and flavors from the things that are in my pantry and/or easy to obtain.
Want to get spontaneous with me? It's pretty exciting. Let's all find out what happens when, "I Feel Like Cooking."
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