Puree of Pea and Bacon Soup

One of the things I learned from culinary school was how to make soup. Rainy season is finally here so a good soup would be perfect! What makes this soup special is the hint of bacon. You gotta love bacon! Here's how:

 Puree of Pea and Bacon Soup
40g bacon, minced
1g   garlic, minced
40g onion, minced
50g potato, thinly sliced
200g frozen peas
400ml chicken stock/water
45ml canola oil
1/2 pc white bread, diced small
15-30ml heavy cream

Heat a thin film of oil in a saute pan and toss the diced bread in. Cook over moderate heat and toss frequently until golden brown croutons are achieved. Season lightly with salt and set aside. Render bacon in a small pot. Add a little oil. Cook until light brown, set half of the cooked bacon aside for garnish. Add the onions and sweat. Add potato trimmings and frozen peas and continue cooking for a minute. Add the stock/water and bring to boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook for 10-15 mins until the vegetables are tender. Puree thoroughly in a blender and put it back on the pot. Whisk in enough cream to round out the flavor of the soup. Check the consistency. Add more stock if it's too thick. Season to taste. Serve hot and garnish with bacon and croutons. 

Enjoy!

xoxo Patricia and Pauline

Watermelon, Banana, Strawberry Smoothie

One day, I decided to make a smoothie from what we have and it turned out surprisingly yummy. Super yummy in fact it's the only smoothie I make every time! Here's how:

Watermelon, Banana, Strawberry Smoothie

2 big slices of watermelon

1 whole banana

100g of strawberry flavored yogurt (I used Acti-V)

Make sure the yogurt and watermelon is cold. Throw everything into the blender. Shake then serve.

Easy peasy!

xoxo Patricia and Pauline

Velvet Cupcakes

As promised, here's a cupcake post! A new take on velvet cupcakes. Instead of going red all the time. We went on a different direction! Here's how we did it..

Velvet Cupcakes, makes 24 cupcakes.

2 cups sugar

2 sticks butter, room temperature

2 whole eggs

1-1/2 tablespoon liquid blue food coloring

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2-1/2 cups cake flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare cupcake pans with paper liners. In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Mix cocoa and preferred food coloring together in a bowl to form paste and add it to the mixture. Mix well. Sift flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Add vanilla extract. Combine baking soda and vinegar then add to mixture. Pour the batter into cupcake papers. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack and let it cool completely before frosting.  

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pound cream cheese,softened

2 sticks butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups confectioners sugar

desired food coloring

In another bowl, combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract together until smooth. Add sugar on low speed. Mix until light and fluffy. Add drops of food coloring. Mix well. Frost the cupcakes with butter knife or pipe it to the cupcake and serve.

Did I mention it's freakishly hot here? Well it is! Everything just melts! I shot this in our front yard and not only did the frosting melt but I did too. Haha! Also this kid came rushing into my spot, tempted to grab some cupcakes. Of course, a good teenager I am, offered her one. ;)

And don't be afraid to try different colors for your cupcakes! Enjoy!

xoxo Patricia and Pauline

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

We wanted to bake something Easter themed but Sweet Craft was closed! So we decided to just make something with what we have. Lo and behold, chocolate chip banana bread!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, makes one loaf

3 or 4 ripe bananas (smashed)

1/3 cup melted butter 

1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)

1 egg (beaten)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

inch of salt

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 175 °C.  Mash the bananas then add the melted butter. Set aside. Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Combine the mashed bananas and the egg mixture. Add the flour then mix. Add the chocolate chips. Line the loaf pan with parchment paper. Pour the batter on the loaf pan. Bake for an hour. Place on a wire rack, slice and serve.

As the bread gets older, it gets yummier! Enjoy!

xoxo Patricia and Pauline