Fruity Pear Pots

My fruity pear pot recipe is loosely based off of an “Oriental Pears” recipe I found in the rocking early 80′s cookbook, Great Meals in Minutes – Pasta Menus. We have a whole set of these gems and while the 80′s food styling is clearly out of control I’ve found some great recipes including this one and a creamy yogurt pesto that I’ll be sharing with you soon!

Fruity Pear Pots. You will need: one firm pear, 1/4 cup fresh or frozen berries (roughly), one teaspoon complimentary liquor, & 2 toothpicks (per serving)

- cut the top off each pear an inch below the stem, keeping the stem on, set aside - core out each pear (I used a strawberry huller but a melon baller or sturdy teaspoon would work too,) try not to cut/pierce through the bottom of the pear 

- fill each pear with berries (we used Wyman’s frozen mixed berries) and top with one teaspoon of liquor (we had amaretto and it came out deliciously but I bet a blackberry cordial or brandy would be delicious as well)

- place the top back on each pear, using toothpicks to hold it place

-  put the pears in a glass baking dish (I used pyrex Tupperware) and place them on a rack (I used my steaming basket) above an inch and a half of boiling water in a covered pot for 10 – 12 minutes or until tender.*

*for  softer, moister pears add a cup of water to the glass baking dish before placing in the covered pot

- carefully remove the pear from pot (the pears will be extremely hot) and enjoy as is or add a dollop of vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt with chopped walnuts for a fresh and light dessert that’s sure to leave the palette pleased.

what recipes have you been testing out lately?

All photos taken with instagram. To see more follow me (@woreout)!

An all we had left sandwich

After UVM’s defeat at the hands of UNC on Friday D and I found ourselves staring into our bare bones fridge despondently. Using what we had left in our fridge (a questionably tomato, eggs, spinach and bacon) and other odds and ends (avocado and sort of stale bread) we put together this easy and delicious sandwich.

D put a little mayo and chili garlic paste on his sandwich while I kept it simple with just salt and pepper. You can completely customize this sandwich based on your tastes and what you have kicking around in your kitchen. This sandwich would also be be perfect for those suffering from post St. Patty’s ailments.

What are you favorite leftover meals? How do you use up leftovers?

Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes

If you follow me on twitter (which you should) then you may have seen my tweets about these little clouds of deliciousness. When the lovely Brooke of Cheeky Kitchen posted this oatmeal cookie pancake recipe on her ever inspiring blog I couldn’t wait for the weekend to get here so I could try them out. They were amazingly delicious and hearty.

 D smothered his in peanut butter and of course plenty of Vermont maple syrup.

I recently learned that I’m lactose intolerant so instead of buttermilk I placed two teaspoons of lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup, added enough coconut milk to equal a cup (let the mixture sit for ten minutes and then add as directed). I kept it simple this time, deciding not to add anything but next time I want to try adding shredded granny smith apples and walnuts. I think the flavors and texture would work really well. I sadly didn’t get to test out the icing as the whole bag of confectionery sugar I bought last week went missing… kitchen elves 1, Caitlin 0.

What are you cooking up this weekend?

Fall Flavors at Speeder & Earl’s

When a fall chill creeps into the air I look forward to shrugging into cozy knits, classic leather boots and colorful scarves. The arrival of fall doesn’t just call for new fashions but also new flavors. I headed to Speeder & Earl’s, a local Burlington coffee shop, to talk fall flavors, perfect pixie cuts and why local is always better with Emma, one of Speeder’s uber stylish baristas.On the particularly chilly Friday morning I spent with Emma, I was impressed with the level of customer service that is standard practice at Speeder & Earl’s. Emma not only greeted the majority of the customers by name but remembered the orders of almost all the repeat customers. “We’re all repeat customers,” explained Emma. “Even if they’re not a local or don’t come in every day, people can come back in and finish the conversations they started the last time they were here.”

Being a small locally owned business allows Speeder & Earl’s to cater to their customer’s seasonal flavor desires. In the summer months Speeder’s keeps at least three different flavors of ice tea in their coolers and plenty of freshly brewed iced coffee at the ready. When fall rolls around Speeder’s replaces one of their ice teas with local cider from Champlain Orchards and updates their chic specials board with other seasonal favorites. Speeder & Earl’s special board, perfectly depicting the blustery fall conditions in BurlingtonA cup of fall flavors, Speeder & Earl’s steamed cider and mulling spices

Before I’m done admiring her new pixie cut Emma appears with a steaming cup of local cider, perfectly capturing all my favorite fall flavors.  “We steam Champlain Orchard’s cider with these delicious mulling spices, it’s just really warm and inviting,” Emma explained. Inviting was the perfect word to describe this fragrant spiced treat. Not only did it totally take the chill of the day away but it was lite and caffeine free making it a perfect post work pick me up.

The next fall treat Emma whipped up was Speeder’s signature, A Clockwork Orange. According to Emma as soon as it starts to cool off this becomes one of the most popular specialty drinks at Speeder’s.

Emma adding the finishing touches to Speeder’s A Clockwork Orange 

To create this fall favorite Emma, pours freshly brewed espresso over an orange peel to “release the essential oils and make it really fragrant.” Then she adds delicious almond flavor, dark Ghirardelli hot chocolate and whipped cream to create the perfect marriage of summer sweetness and warm fall flavors. The next time you can’t shake the stress of your day or the chill of the fall air, stop into Speeder and Earl’s and treat yourself to one of these.

Speeder and Earl’s is a perfect example of why keeping your dollars local just makes sense. All of their coffee is roasted locally in small batches at their Pine Street location right in Burlington and believe me you can taste the difference. The care that Speeder & Earl’s puts into their coffee extends to their customer service ten fold. Just stop into either their Pine Street or Church Street locations and see what I mean. Whether you try one of Speeder & Earl’s specialty drinks or opt for a cup of their perfectly brewed drip coffee you wont leave disappointed.

What are some of your favorite fall flavors? Where do you get your caffeine kick from?

The Stylish Palette: Lets Talk Investment Pieces

Tracking down a bottle of wine that you read about in a “best wine under $25″ article is no different than driving to every Target’s in a 175 mile radius when Alexander McQueen’s McQ line launched. Similarly a bottle quickly picked up at the convenience store on your way to a party is just like the white v-neck tees you buy in bulk; classic, cheap and totally disposable.

Searching and saving aside certain bottles of wine like certain pieces in your wardrobe deserve require an investment.

Kistler, 2007 Chardonnay, $62.50

Abby from Dedalus Wine Shop in Burlington, Vermont called Kistler’s 2007 Chardonnay from California’s Sonoma Valley, “the Princess Diana of Chardonnays.” With hints of spice and vanilla Abby described this chardonnay as “perfectly juicy.” With a $62 price tag this bottle is meant to be savored and celebrated in the company of good friends and great food.

Pair this investment bottle with an investment piece from your closet. Investment pieces should be timeless, their value should increase overtime and with each time you wear them. When considering which piece to invest in (and how much to invest) consider how often you’ll be able to wear this piece and the craftsmanship that went into creating it.

When I think of investment pieces the first thing that comes to mind is Louis Vuitton. Louis Vuitton has been a leader in the fashion world since opening their doors in 1854. The longevity of Louis Vuitton’s brand is proof that investing in a piece from one of their collections is one that will pay out over time. A bag with a classic silhouette from a time tested designer/design house will stand up to decades of use and always be in style. Louis Vuitton, Wilshire MM

 

What would you consider a great investment piece? What have pieces have you invested in?

A Little Pepe in your Step

Like much of the U.S. Burlington is in the grips of an intense wave of  heat and humidity. Amidst predictions that tomorrow could be the hottest day of the whole summer I thought a cool cocktail recipe was in order.This cocktail calls for only two ingredients; ripe pineapple and gold tequila

First, cut your ripe pineapple into bite sized chunkswhat can I say, D likes to chop shirtless

Once you’ve got your pineapple cut up transfer it to a large container with a lid (We used a pyrex tupperware dish and large mason jars work well too)Next, pour enough tequila into your container to cover all the pineapple chunks. Then simply cover your container and place it in the fridge for 24-48 hours to really let the flavors marinate. Despite being shockingly simple this is a refreshing and sweet summer cocktail that leaves a lot of room for experimentation. Try adding a few squeezes of fresh lime juice or experiment with other type of fruit. Play around with it and see what works best for you.

There’s no wrong way to enjoy this summer treat but here are a few fun suggestions:

• create fruit kabobs layering the pineapple with fresh strawberries and melon for a refreshing after dinner treat
• serve the pineapple straight out of your chilled contained with fun frilly toothpicks (perfect for the beach, park, festival etc…)
• place a chunk or two of pineapple in the bottom of a rocks glass, cover with the chilled tequila and garnish with a lime and cherry
• drain the tequila into chilled shot glasses, spear a pineapple chunk and lime wedge with a toothpick and balance atop the shot glass for a fun chaser

What’s your favorite summer cocktail? How would you serve this summery sweet treat?

The Stylish Palette: Mix, Match & Pair

Picking a bottle of wine to compliment a meal is no different than trying to find a pair of shoes that tie a whole outfit together. Just like a pair of platforms can add the perfect 70′s chic vibe to a pair of flared jeans, a well paired bottle of Barbera d’ Alba can enhance flavor notes in a bold tomato sauce.

Abby from Dedalus Wine Shop explained that when it comes to picking a wine that will pair well with your meal there are two main schools of thought; accent complimentary flavors or highlight contrasting flavors.

• A complimentary pairing would highlight the citrus flavors in a  Sauvignon Blanc by pairing it with a light summer salad with a citrus dressing.
• A contrasting flavor pairing would be using crisp citrus flavors of an effervescent vinho verde to lighten up heavier summery dishes; steamers with clarified butter, marinated grilled chicken or favorite summer grilled treat, bacon wrapped scallops.

Complimentary Flavor Pairing: Hilberg, 2008 Barbera d’Alba, $23.50Tone down the acidity of a bold red sauce by pairing it with this moderately priced bottle of red. Both the wine and the sauce have a certain level of acidity and when paired together they neutralize each other somewhat. This allows the sweetness from the tomatoes in the sauce and the berry flavors in the wine to really shine.

Feeling bolder? Take a contrasting approach with your fashion palette and treat leopard/cheetah prints as neutrals. Try swaping out one of your neutral staple tees with a bold fun animal print to instantly add interest. Here’s how two of my favorite bloggers did it.

Jessica from What I Wore mixed this vintage polka dress dots with stylish cheetah print pumps

Tiffany over at A Reason to be Fabulous treats leopard print as a neutral and pairs it with solids to create a beautifully bold look

Do you prefer contrasting pairings or do you prefer to play off complimentary colors? What food/wine pairings do you enjoy?

The Stylish Palette: How to Style your First Sips

Last Sunday I introduced The Stylish Palette, a series combining my love of fashion and wine. In the first Stylish Palette post I shared my picks for red, white & bubbly to sip on the Fourth and style tips each bottle. This week I wanted to do more of an introductory post.

Firstly I want to thank Abby from Dedalus Wine Shop in Burlington, this series wouldn’t have been possible without her patience (with me) and passion (for wine). Wine like with some fashion trends (harem pants, I’m talking to you) can take some easing into. Here are a few tips for trying out new wines and fashion trends.

You Already Know What you Like

Just like fashion, getting into it wine can be intimidating but if you look at what you already know/like and build off that it can make it much easier. “Think about what flavors you already like and look for wines with complimentary tastes” suggests Abby. “If you love apples and citrus fruits then try a wine with crisp, clean, fruity qualities.”

Unique, 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, $11.25

Similar to knowing what flavors you already enjoy, when it comes to experimenting with new fashion trends look at what styles you already gravitate towards. Look for trends that will compliment the pieces you already have and highlight your personal style.

One of this seasons hottest summer trends is bold floral prints. If you’re used to a more muted or neutral color palette you can ease into the trend by looking for floral prints done in pastels or by adding bold accessories.  This will allow you to build off what you already know and are comfortable with.

Romper, Wedges, Satchel, Fedora

What trends are you experimenting with this summer? When it come to trying new things do you dive right in or do you prefer to ease into it?

The Stylish Palette: Red, White & Bubbly

I am so excited to share The Stylish Palette with you!

Each Sunday in July I’ll combine two of my passions, fashion and wine. Thanks to Abby at dedalus wine shop in Burlington I’ve got tons of great tips for picking the perfect bottle to match not only your price range but your style.

In honor of the Fourth of July Abby helped me find bottles of Red, White and Bubbly perfect for whatever patriotic partying you’ve got planned.

Red: Betts & Scholl, 2008 Grenache, $21.50An Australian wine with flavors of guava and blackberries it’s one of Abby’s personal favorites. “I’ve found a sweet spot with bottles in the $20 – $25 price range. At $21.50 this grenache is one of my favorites, lighter in style but you don’t realize how much it really has going on until you open it.”

Style this bottle with:

A light gauzy shirt dress, statement sandals, bangles, and loose boho beach curls. This is the perfect wine for a torch lit backyard dinner party over looking the beach or a casual bbq with friends.

White: Aveleda Fonte, 2009 Vinho Verde, $10.75Abby described this Portuguese white as a “perfect porch sipping wine.” Ideal for hot summer days this refreshing white is smooth, light and slightly effervescent. I usually drink red wine so Abby suggested this vhino verde would be the perfect white wine to start with. It’s also low in alchol so you can enjoy it all day long. This white is casual, fun and easy to enjoy just about any where.

Style this decidedly laid back bottle with:

Your favorite beach cover up, vintage chevron bikini, floppy straw hat or head scarf. Casual but always stylish this bottle is meant to be enjoyed with friends on beach blanket, picnic table, or out on the boat.

Bubbly: Riondo Pink Spago Argento, $13.75    When it comes to choosing the perfect bubbly there are two main categories, champagne or prosecco. Champagne is strictly made with grapes from the Champagne region of France. Prosecco is a sparkling wine made from a variety of grapes. Abbey described this girly bubbly as “sweet 16 in a bottle.” Prosecco hass fat, lazy bubbles that aren’t in a hurry to go anywhere while champagne is full of tiny, busy body bubbles that are always racing around.

Style this fun bright bottle with:

 Toast the fourth with this bottle from a roof top deck, poolside cabana, or backyard party in a brightly colored silk tank, gold sequin skirt, wedges and a golden summer tan.

What type of get together are you planning for the fourth? What types of cocktails will you be celebrating with this holiday weekend? 

Rainbow Brite Delights

My first rainbow cupcake… YUM!

This past weekend I had my very first rainbow cupcake! It was an impulse buy as we were leaving Junior’s and even though I was stuffed I still managed to find room for this colorful (and wildly moist) cupcake. The frosting was perfectly sweet and surprisingly light, topping each bite perfectly… *sigh*

I loved Rainbow Brite when I was a little girl so naturally I jumped at the chance to enjoy this similarly colored confection. Stylistically Ms. Brite was ahead of her time, she’s been sporting a perfectly chic color blocked mini dress for decades… but I digress.

Even if you’re not a fan of this season’s color blocking trend or Rainbow Brite (though I don’t know if that’s possible) here are a few places for inspiration, recipes and the how to’s when it come to making your own Rainbow Brite Delights!

Our Best Bites is a wonderful resource for all types of recipes accompanied by beautifully shot pictures and easy to follow instructions.  They also have a great recipe for colorburst cupcakes (and Sara is a Rainbow Brite enthusiast like myself!)

Looking for a more multi-media approach? Check out this great video, it lays it all out step by step.

Want your eye makeup to match your cupcakes? Then this tutorial for Rainbow Brite eyes is a must watch.

Were you a Rainbow Brite fan growing up? Have you ever tried/made your own rainbow cupcakes?