We’ve all seen those tasty videos; those amazing little cooking videos that take you from beginning to finished product in about 30 seconds. It’s like watching the Mary Poppins version of the Food Network. Just snap your fingers, and all the veggies are diced and sautéing in the pan…It’s magic. Two of these videos has been on Sadie’s to-do list for way too long, “Puff Pastry 4 Ways” and “Puff Pastry Decorations 4 Ways“. This is what we learned:
Powdered sugar is your best friend. Almost any mess up can be gently erased with a dusting of powdered sugar- that’s where the real magic is at.
Don’t over fill. If the recipe calls for a teaspoon of filling and you think a Tablespoon sounds better… it can be messy. Refer to No 1.
3. If you ask Rachel to participate in a “puff pastry hacks” post she will go over the top… but eggs baked in puff pastry wells, topped with Gruyère and bacon are so good! It’s a do.
3. A sharp paring knife worked best for imitating most designs. Finish the video before you send your pastry to the oven; otherwise, you might end up with something different.
4. Different might be better! Get creative… look at all of the surface area on that baked apple for caramel topping. Yeah!
5. Things left in the oven too long get burned. (We’ve all done it. Powdered sugar won’t help this.) Use a timer!
6. Fig jam with caramelized shallots is our new favorite puff pastry filling. Oh my goodness.
7. Baked fruit can look dull, an apricot glaze (even from a jar of apricot preserves) can bring it back to life… or refer to No 1.
8. Fresh herbs, such as mint or chives, add beauty and depth of flavor to sweet and savory pastries. And if you have powdered (confectioner’s) sugar, you can add a squeeze of a lemon or a little milk to make an icing. Tip: A little melted butter in the icing adds another layer of delicious.
9. Mommy bloggers have a way of always incorporating the kids.
10. Pre-made store bought puff pastry can be a lot of fun. We love it… almost as much as Tasty Videos!
Not sure if you caught Click on Detroit, Live in the D last Friday morning? Their segment, “Get a taste of France at this Downriver Gem,” showcased Promenade Artisan Foods of Trenton, MI. We wouldn’t have missed it (and not just because the owner is our cousin)! Promenade Artisan Foods is getting the recognition they deserve, because their food is outstanding. Most everything they make is done in-house and from scratch (croissants & pastries, breads & baked goods, sauces, etc.), and I dare say: you won’t find better. Thankfully Click on Detroit shared their recipe for Blueberry Muffins for the world to enjoy. Obviously, we had to make them.
It was cold and dreary the day we decided to make the trek to West Village Detroit and put Sister Pie to the test. (Because what else is better on a cold dreary day than freshly baked pastry?) When we saw the “pie” sign pointing toward the iconic pink neon “Sister Pie” illuminated over the door, it was a little like coming home- with the porch light on waiting for your arrival.
Sadie had been wanting to go for months; ever since she saw the local dancer-turned pie maker’s cookbook in her hometown kitchenware store. Within days of the seeing the book on the shelf, she had convinced herself she should order a copy from Amazon. (It wasn’t hard to do… Michigan born cookbook author + local pie shop + baked goods recipes = no brainer.) The unusual flavor combinations, such as Concord Grape and Goat Cheese Pie; Rhubarb Blondies; Fennel Seed Snickerdoodles; etc; were intriguing.
I love that it smelled like the spices of India when we walked through the front door. Popular tunes were flowing from the radio, and the bakers were all doing their best Mariah Carey. (Note to reader: be sure to get there early before many items are sold out!) And to make you feel even more at home, if you are staying for coffee, you get to pick your own mug from an eclectic collection stored in a “help yourself” cabinet along the wall.
The flavor combinations are interesting for sure, but most alluring is author and owner, Lisa Ludwinski’s mission: “to serve food, our neighborhood, and each other.” Her business approach follows an ethical strategy that is hard to place a value on, and continues to be evaluated and evolved. It is a commitment in supporting employees (i.e. teaching valuable skills, paying them higher than average wages); supporting our environment (sourcing in-season produce from local farms, recycling, etc.); and the economy (they are transparent with their employees about financial reports and sales goals). Bonus: they donate their coffee grounds and egg shells to the local community garden! I’ll eat to that.
Furthermore, they have a great “Pie it Forward” program, where anyone can purchase a slice of pie that someone else can collect at any time for any reason. It keeps a sense of community in focus.
Sister Pie is truly unique, in recipe and vibe, but still has the ageless charm of an established neighborhood bakery. And don’t think just because “pie” is in the name that your options are limited. Rachel’s favorite item was the Salted Rosemary Shortbread. Sadie’s son begged for a second Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookie! (Which he received because “buckwheat” sounds healthy.)
Like many Detroit businesses, Sister Pie offers other Michigan made products. One of our favorite take-aways from our visit was this Detroit made Hibiscus Rosemary Mint Tea from Ellis Island Teas that we didn’t even know existed! Um, delicious!
Of course, being who we are it didn’t seem right to end our journey without cooking something from the Sister Pie Cookbook. We chose “Sweet Potato Coconut Pie” from the Fall and Winter section. (Granted our sweet potatoes were of the white variety, so colors do vary… but so yummy!)
Thank you Sister Pie for bringing the light and warmth on a dismal day!
For more information check out their website at www.sisterpie.com or better yet, visit them in person!
So inspired by these adorable snack creations we see on Pinterest, we had to recreate some that we thought possible. We also wanted to see if making healthy food look cute would actually make our kids eat more of a variety of fruits… the short answer is, no. They basically ate their familiar favorites; and were a bit disappointed if they were touching the less desirable items on the plate. That being said, we’re pretty relieved, because some of these beauties are sort of a pain to make if not for a special occasion. We do agree though, that making these little edible works of art would be an awesome addition to a kid’s party- or the centerpiece of a fruit platter. Here are some of our fruitful presentations…
The apple umbrella with blueberry raindrop (pictured above) was so simple and fast, we can see making it again…perhaps for one of those warmer rainy spring days that lie ahead (yes it’s coming…you have to keep the faith!)
If you don’t know what to do with your picky eater’s apple peelings… how about adding them to some strawberry flowers and making them into a tree? Isn’t this panda the cutest!?
Inspired by an Instagram photo from @cutechichai, this may have been the winner with the kids. Maybe it was the whimsical way the girl holds a bouquet of balloons, or maybe it was the marshmallows? (Okay, it was definitely the marshmallows.)
Seriously, the camera loved these guys! With peanut butter, bananas and blueberries on toast, the kids did too. The best part is it was a cinch to assemble, and we could see ourselves putting it together on a weekday school morning. (And, with a an added drizzle of honey, it even became lunch to a hungry Sadie-bear.)
These tropical fruits make up the perfect palm tree basking in the warm sunshine. Great for kids, but maybe it could inspire us adults too? Get bikini ready and enjoy the snack… and just picture yourself under the shady palms.
Moove over palm tree, it’s time to eat like a cow. Blackberries and cream cheese fruit dip make a delicious topping to toast, and the green apple grass is such a cute detail! (Side note: this adorable creation inspired by an instagram pic from @darynakossar took the longest to assemble.)
Hope you enjoyed our kid’s food reproductions. If you have any you’d like to share, tag us on Instagram @sadiesnest. We’d love to see your masterpieces!
My Great-Aunt Esta is the youngest of six children in my grandmother’s sibling line-up. She is the only member of those loved ones still with us today. It was only on special occasions that we were able to visit with Aunt Esta, after she made the trip from New York. Honestly, all I remember from those visits was watching my grandma and her sisters laugh; talk a little- and laugh; move around a little- and laugh. It was the best. They all had great senses of humor, and nothing was off limits to become a joke. They could laugh at each other, at themselves, and even make the best of bad situations. It’s a gift; and if youtube had been a thing, they would have had a lot of followers. As time and families do, we went on and spread out. We don’t see each other as much as we’d like to… Which is why having recipes from special people is so rewarding. I love baking from scratch, sharing homemade food with my children, and telling them stories about loved ones.
Makes 2 loaves (or 6 mini-loaves)
3 cups Flour
2 1/4 cups Sugar
3 Tbsp Poppy Seeds
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp Salt
3 Eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups Milk
1 cup Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp Almond extract
1 1/2 tsp Butter extract
Glaze:
3/4 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Orange Juice
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Almond extract
1/2 tsp Butter extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 inch loaf pans. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine first 5 ingredients.
Add eggs, milk, oil, and extracts. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 60 – 65 minutes (30-35 minutes for mini-loaves); until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely in pans.
On to the glaze!
I juiced an orange, but you do you.
In a saucepan, bring all glaze ingredients to a boil.
Pour over bread in pans.
Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely.
Don’t be like me and eat a whole mini-loaf in one sitting.
Grandma (top left), with her parents and siblings Esta: Bottom row, on the left
What is Marrow? By definition, it’s the choicest of food; the inmost, best, or essential part. In Detroit, it’s all that- in a hot new restaurant.
Actually, it’s a butcher shop by day, restaurant by night. Rachel and I happened to stumble upon Marrow on a trip to the Detroit’s West Village after frequenting a local pie shop. When we saw “hot birds” on the window sign we, being from The Nest, thought “that’s us.” Of course, they were advertising rotisserie chickens.
The Detroit Free Press had just bestowed Marrow with the honor of No. 2 in Detroit’s Top 10 Best New Restaurants as we moseyed our way in. Oh sure, their cameras might have been bigger, but they had nothing on our appetites. It was like being a kid in a candy store for these carnivores, and we couldn’t wait to take things home for our families to try too. We grabbed sausages (spicy, summer, and pork), Lebanese bologna, and pepperoni. If only we would have brought a cooler, we could have taken home some steaks- or a shank. (Next time…)
Marrow’s butcher shop offers a lunch special every day, we were serendipitous enough to come on a Corned Beef Reuben day. I am not exaggerating when I say the thin slices of corned beef melted in my mouth. Honestly, it melted like a good prosciutto, except with the flavor of a delicious mild corned beef. The sandwich bread was a soft and hearty wheat from Zingerman’s (an Ann Arbor favorite); the Russian dressing was flavorful, but not overpowering; and the crunch from those sweet pickles, mmmm… Let me say that again, those sweet pickles from Coriander Kitchen and Farm of Detroit, were a star in their own right. And FYI, we heard that Coriander is going to be opening a Detroit restaurant in the near future. Oh yeah!
Rachel felt baller sitting at the bar next to the dry ager full of meat (it was a little early for her cognac and cigar). Marrow emanates a great vibe. It’s local-butcher-shop-esque with their impressive displays of meats and charcuteries- complete with meat-carver in apron for day-comers…
And urban chic-meets industrial bar for the night crowd. “The neighborhood butcher shop and restaurant hybrid serves as a community gathering place.” I wish I lived across the street, because I could see me hanging out there regularly.
But I think what I loved most about Marrow, okay, besides the friendly and knowledgable staff- (shout out to the Executive Chef Sarah, who shared a sample of a prototype seasoning blend)…
What I loved most, was the sense of community. #DetroitProud Marrow is supporting local business, who in turn support them. It’s a real grassroots effort that is contributing to the Detroit comeback. Business owners and community members alike are working together and supporting one another for the betterment of the city at large and those who live there. Shelves are stocked with Michigan made goods, and the names of local farms who supply the meats, cheeses, and such are visibly listed on the back wall.
There are great things happening in the D. And it’s contagious- because of businesses like Marrow who take pride in giving their community quality products and services. The vision of founder Ping Ho is to “inspire a return to old world practices of buying direct and supporting small local producers.” There are strength in numbers, and Detroit business owners working together, along with the backing of local patrons, is a movement that is gaining momentum. Although, being excellent at what they do, it’s no wonder that Marrow is getting due recognition for being outstanding.
Thanks to Marrow for letting us spend time perusing your establishment. Our lunch was delicious; and we’ve been enjoying our products, such as Graham’s Organics breakfast pork sausage, at home too!
We can’t wait to get back for dinner at Marrow soon, and a word to the wise: reservations are recommended. (And they are closed on Tuesdays)
Marrow is located at 8044 Kercheval Ave, 1B | Detroit, Michigan
Nah, BUTTER. I can’t think of anything I’ve been loving lately more than Vital Farms butter. (#notsponsored) It’s smooth, creamy, and tastes so rich it makes Jeff Bezos the jelly. And if you haven’t been eating it, it’s because you don’t know any butter.
Quality is key…The ingredient list is simply this: cream (milk), and sea salt. That’s it. And the cream comes from pasture raised cows, which means they are able to graze on grassy pastures to their hearts content. The butter does not carry the “grass fed” label, but don’t let this discourage you! With their ethical efforts, Vital Farms focuses on humane treatment of the “ladies” and sometimes that means a diet including corn and hay for their well-being. Made on American farms in small batches, this butter carries the high butter fat content, (we now know promotes heart health) and is hormone and antibiotic free. It’s keto friendly, full of vitamins, and recent studies show grass fed butter may reduce the risk of heart disease. (#sponsorplease)
So if you’re trying to butter up your Valentine, I’d suggest Vital Farms (and I know butter than you). Granted it’s a little pricey at around $8 for a half pound, but you butter believe it’s worth it! You can find it at Whole Foods (the first to carry it), Kroger, Target, Walmart and even Amazon! And I want you to buy it, because it’s amazing (and I want them to lower the price).
P.S. If you’ve never topped your steak with a pat of butter, give it a try… It’s SO good. And I dare say, a tablespoon blended in your coffee isn’t just for KETO. It can increase brain function- now that’s love.
On any given day, it’s possible that I have a pre-breakfast snack. (This is a no judge zone.)
On average, I wake at 6:30 am… by 7:00 I’m hitting the gym. Bahaha! Just kidding. (In a dream world though…) But Seriously, by 7 I have a cup of coffee in hand and a mouthful of “something” as I go about my morning routine. Sometimes it’s the crust of a peanut butter sandwich, or some apple slices that didn’t fit in the snack bag for my kid’s packed lunch, other times it’s lemon water and Greek yogurt for a metabolic jump start. For me these first few bites kick off the day and set the tone for my morning. When I really want it to satisfy, it’s biscotti (or a Kind granola bar, because those are just candy I get to call health food). This Maraschino Cherry Almond Biscotti recipe is perfection for those days that you want that- life is good and I’m so fancy feeling… maybe I should get a mani?
1/2 cup butter softened
1 tablespoon almond extract
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1 cup maraschino cherries well drained, patted dry, and finely chopped (reserve the juice, secret recipe at the end 😉 )
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Toast your almond slices on a parchment lined cookie sheet for about eight minutes, let cool and set aside.
Chop drained maraschino cherries and strainer a bowl (reserving juice). Place cherries on a paper towel to remove excess moisture so that your biscotti stays crunchy. Set aside.
Beat sugar and butter until smooth, add almond extract, and eggs until combined.
Using a sifter add flour, baking powder, and baking soda and mix until dough is formed. Fold in almonds and cherries.
If dough is crumbly, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a couple minutes.
Now divide dough in half and shape each half into a rectangle about 12” x 2.5”, and place each half on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the center of the dough is firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and cool. Once cooled, cut each rectangle on the bias into ½” slices using a serrated knife. Place slices, cut side down, on the ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake about 15 minutes. When they are lightly browned move to a cooling rack.
Once they’re cool they are ready to be enjoyed (and totally delicious in their own right). Or you can decorate them like we did using milk chocolate, white chocolate, sliced almonds and our own maraschino cherry white chocolate.
To make Maraschino Cherry-White Chocolate Glaze: simply melted ½ cup of white chocolate over a double boiler and whisk in about ¼ cup of the (room temperature) reserved maraschino cherry juice.
Last minute gift ideas… Valentine’s Day is only 1 week away!
You can’t go wrong with chocolates, flowers, and a romantic dinner- those are a given. Hey, you score points for remembering the day! But what about those of you looking for new ideas, or trying to think outside the heart-shaped box? We’ve put together just a few gift options that might hit the mark. (Spoiler alert: “heart-shaped box” was a play on words… all of these options have heart shapes.)
Many of us- moms, dads, grandparents alike, have several little loves in our lives. A thoughtful keepsake (such as a decorative platter with sweet little thumbprints pictured above), could be the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. If you’re not afraid to get a little crafty, Simply Kierste Design has the step-by-step guide just for you!
Image courtesy of UncommonGoods.com
Along the same lines of cherishing your loved ones, is this personalized bracelet found on UncommonGoods.com. How cute is that! Side note: This happen’s to be Rachel’s favorite (the newest member of the Sadie’s Nest team).
Image courtesy of William-Sonoma.com
Most of you probably already know that Sadie has a love of Nordic Ware. (There are worse things in life…) So if you happen to be the Valentine of a baker, this might be your best option. And not that you have selfish intentions; however, this could be the gift that keeps on giving. Because, when your loved one bakes with it, they are highly likely to give you one of their homemade delectables. (Just a little something to keep in mind.) You can find this beautiful pan at William Sonoma.
Image courtesy of Target.com
If that special someone in your life has just moved into their first apartment, or bought a new home… a decorative piece might be the solution for you. A reusable gift, like this heart-shaped wreath from Target is only $19.99! And bonus; they will think about you every year when they put it on display!
Image courtesy of Etsy.com
Last but not least, are these vintage-themed and nostalgic-inspired pins found on Etsy.com. I love the age-old romanticism of someone carving their initials into the bark of a tree… And of course there is the classic tell-tale significance of someone being in a “steady” relationship once they’ve been “pinned”.
Whatever you decide to do, I’m sure it will be perfect- after all, it’s from you!
For those of us in the upper midwest, this time of year begs for comfort food. We need something to keep us warm and fed; our bodies and our souls. I remember my mom making this during the cold winter months growing up. It was the perfect answer to the snowy walk from the bus stop to the front door. As an adult, I love that this recipe uses ground beef. (What northerner doesn’t have a pound of hamburger in their fridge at all times?) This recipe is simple and hearty, it has few ingredients- and will keep you alive.
1 lb Ground Beef
1 oz. packet Dry Onion Soup mix
1 family size Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (22.6 oz.)
1/2 tsp Pepper (to taste)
2/3 – 1 cup Sour Cream (to taste)
Fresh Parsley, chopped, to garnish
12 oz. Pasta or Egg Noodles (cooked according to package directions)
1 tbsp Butter
Brown the beef (if using lean meat, you might want to add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan).
Add dry soup mix, stir until combined.
Stir in Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup and pepper. Let sauce cook over medium heat until it comes to a simmer. Remove from heat and add sour cream.
Add butter to cooked noodles, top with warm creamy beef sauce, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!
