Happy Halloween

Last weekend I decided to throw a pumpkin themed party- complete with live music, pumpkin themed snacks, pumpkin treats and pumpkin carving.  We even had a pumpkin braised pork roast! 

I made pumpkin dip, pumpkin ginger cupcakes (still baking when I took this picture), Jack-o-lantern stuffed bell peppers, Bakerella's Pumpkin Pie Bites, ghost cucumber cream cheese sandwiches, and bat ham and muenster cheese sandwiches.  I am pretty sure everything tasted great because these little snacks didn't last long.

The pumpkin dip was served in a pumpkin of course! I served it with some thinly sliced apples and Terra sweet potato chips. 

Here's my little orange bell pepper jack-o-lanterns.  I just carved them like I would a pumpkin using a paring knife.  It was so much fun!

Here's my attempt at carving a cat pumpkin.
 

 

The pumpkin pie bites, fresh from the oven. 

 

This is Monsters and Animals. 

This is Disposable Music. 

You can listen to the sets from the show by visiting my boyfriend Ryan's music blog, SoundedLikeThis.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Halloween!

Simple Pear Tart

This recipe calls for only a few ingredients, but it has a lot of flavor.  I made it the other night when Ryan and I were having a band from out of town stay at the house, and it was gone in seconds.  It's quick, easy and versatile because you can make it with almost any fruit!

Pear Tart with Almond Cream (makes about 12 pieces)

For the tart:
2-3 ripe pears (I used green Anjou pears, but any variety will do), sliced
1 package of frozen puff pastry, thawed
½ cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cinnamon

For the cream:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 Tablespoon sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1-2 drops almond extract

Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

Lightly flour a clean, flat surface to work on. Using a rolling pin, roll the puff pastry out until it is about ½ inch thick.  The pastry should be roughly a 9 x 12 inch rectangle.  Transfer the pastry to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Using a sharp knife, gently score a 1 inch border around the pastry without cutting all the way through.  This will create the edge of the tart.

Arrange pear slices directly onto the pastry dough, along the inside of the smaller rectangle  (I alternated the pears along the tart to create a shingle-like effect).

In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of sugar with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.  Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of the pears.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top of the pastry is golden brown and the pears are soft.

Simply whip the heavy cream with the sugar, cinnamon and almond extract.  Slice the tart into desired sizes, serve with the cream and enjoy!

Dallas Farmers Market

When I was little I always loved going to the farmers market with mom because I knew that I would get a lot of free food out of it!  Now that I'm older I've gained a new-found appreciation for the farmers market.

What's not to love?  You can literally drive up and park your car 5 feet away from a huge produce department.  I always have to remind myself to stick to the list after trying everything.  I'll always end up coming home with an extra bag of oranges or blueberries that I hadn't planned on buying.

 

When selecting your fruits or vegetables, be mindful of what you select.  The farmers market can be great, but be sure to shop around to make sure you are getting the best price, and the highest quality produce.  One time I thoughtlessly opted for a cheaper bag of corn and when I got home,  I opened the bag only to realize that the corn was spoiled.  Two dollars for 6 ears of corn may have been to good to be true. 

 

Dallas Farmers Market

1010 South Pearl Expressway

Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 939-2808

Hours: Sun-Sat 7am–6pm