Best Bran Muffin Recipe

I'm searching for the best bran muffin recipe.  So far, I found a pretty good one in a vintage cook book but I think it still needs some tweaking.  Maybe due to the fact that it has shortening, which I really don't like to use.

My ideal Bran Muffin has a crispy top and grainy texture with some dried fruit throughout.  The recipes with less flour and more bran are so far my favorites.  My favorite bakery-made bran muffin was at a place called the Avenues Bakery, which shut their doors a couple years ago.  Since then I've been on a quest for a the perfect Bran Muffin.

I would love any tips or links to recipes that you might have for a great Bran Muffin.  Or if you have any suggestions on how to make the recipe below better, I would greatly appreciate it!  It is the best I've found but I have hopes for something even better soon.

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Pretty Labels and Jaime Oliver's New Food Collection

I confess, I judge foods and books by their cover.  When I go to the wine store I often pick a bottle with the best label.  I even found myself picking a face wash based on the packaging the other day and I was ashamed at myself.  Maybe its being in the design industry or maybe it's because my mother and grandmother also loved beautiful things.  Either way, I admit, I buy based on appearance much of the time.  I'll try to get better but I have to share with you first some packaging that captured me recently.

Jaime Oliver recently came out with his own food line.  You can buy his beautifully labeled goods at his online store or at Williams Sonoma.  I can't help but imagine how cute these would look in my open pantry (we don't actually have a pantry, it is more or less a glorified book shelf).
1. Seville Orange Marmalade 2. Raspberry Jam 3. Spicy Mustard 4. Handcrafted Mayonnaise

I love the scratch font on the labels.  Major props (do people still say that?) on that.

Maybe sometime soon, I'll make my own labels.  My friend Joy, who has a local Vegan blog and also loves to cook, recently handed me a beautiful package of homemade vegan caramels with her own fun label on them.  Maybe she can help me create something fabulous.

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The Ace Hotel, Portland Oregon

While traveling in Portland this week we get the pleasure of going back to a favorite hotel of ours, The Ace Hotel. Here are some photos of this fun old hotel. And if you are interested in a full Portland review with restaurant and site recommendations click here.  What is a hotel that you love to visit?

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Salted Desserts and Himalayan Sea Salt

The combination of sweet and salty foods has been around for forever. From my childhood I can remember enjoying homemade chex mix at friends houses, which combines the saltiness of nuts and the sweet touch of M&Ms. But I do think that it wasn't until recently that the culinary world has just completely diverged the two, creating a whole new dessert category.  Some of the most decadent and rich desserts are now topped with a few salt crystals or a pinch or two of chopped salted nuts.

Fruit tarts are being topped with pistachios, strawberries are drizzled with balsamic vinegar, chocolates are infused with sea salt, and ice cream combined with salted caramels.

In efforts to keep in step with the food world, I have been trying several salted dessert recipes lately and picking more unusual desserts when we dine out.  I tried salted caramel ice cream, during our trip to Breckenridge this summer, and I instantly fell in love.  We've made two batches of it this summer from this recipe, and believe me, it won't stay in your freezer long!  I made Salted Fudge Brownies this past weekend and also loved them.

While we were traveling this summer I've been reading Gourmet Traveler on my iPad and have learned a lot about current food trends.  I read about the popularity of a fruits like quince and yuzu, which you'll be seeing more and more frequently on menus and used in pastries.  I also read about some popular sea salts to use in dishes.  I particularly like the texture and the natural stunning color of Himalayan Sea Salt.  It is pink in color and adds a perfect touch to the top of a brownie or ice cream. I couldn't resist picking some up at The Spice Merchant in Breckenridge Colorado.

Here are some great Salted Dessert Recipes to get you started in this fun food trend:

Salted Caramel Ice Cream from Epicurious
Salted Fudge Brownies from Food and Wine
Salted Caramel Sauce from Food and Wine
Peanut Butter & Pretzel Truffles from Eating Well
Chocolate Covered Toffee with Pumpkin Seeds and Sea Salt from New York Magazine

I would love to know what Sea Salt desserts you're trying and if you have any good recipes!  What have you tried lately? And please leave links to your Sea Salt Dessert recipes!!

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A Few of My Favorite Things: Poco Dolce Aztec Chile Chocolate

Spicy chocolate with pumpkin seeds, slightly salted and perfectly bittersweet.  Need I say more?!  This is my absolute favorite chocolate, made by Poco Dolce.  I will occasionally splurge and buy one of these tiny tiles of chocolate (at $2.50 for a bite).  You can indulge yourself with them at either of the Tony Caputo's locations and also at Liberty Heights Fresh. Or online, if you're not local to Salt Lake City.

Read more of my favorite things in Salt Lake City.

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Slow Cooked Chicken with Roasted New Mexico Green Chiles

I found the most delicious Roasted New Mexico Green Chiles the other day at Sunflower Market then I came home on a mission to find the perfect recipe for them.  I couldn't find anything on the web.  Where are all of the good Mexican food recipes that include green chiles?

After coming up dry from the wellspring of Internet recipes, I just decided to slow cook some chicken in my french oven and throw the chiles in with the chicken to flavor the meat.  To my surprise, it turned out quite good.  And since then, I've made the same meal several times.  I use the chicken for tacos or in quinoa with corn and black beans or just on top of a hearty slice of wheat bread for an open face sandwich with peach salsa on top.  You really can't go wrong; the chicken is just perfectly flavored by the chiles.

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Sea Salt in Salt Lake City and the routine of life

Routine is something I secretly love.  Most of the time my schedule forbids routine in my life.  Traveling and being married to an independant artist is gloriously rewarding and always exciting but when we are home for a few weeks at a time and really get to sink in, enjoy our friendships, try out some new restaurants in the city we love, and actually buys groceries to share a home cooked meal together... this is a beautiful part of life.  I'm sure if we didn't get to travel so much I wouldn't see the wonderfulness of just being at home but I do and for that I am glad.

Grabbing lunch with a friend and catching up on life together over a bowl of olives is sometimes a rare occasion, but it is something that I try and prioritize.  Meeting a good friend on a regular occasion, now that is something I really love!

Heather, who also blogs here, and I try and grab lunch together often.  We've tried several great spots in town like Martine and Ekamai.  We are always up for the challenge of a new restaurant. After hearing some bad reviews of Sea Salt, we knew we had to go and try for ourselves.

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Rustic Tartlets with Fresh Fruit and Lemon Curd and Baking with Friends

Last weekend, Maria, friend and fellow food blogger, from the food blog TwoPeasAndTheirPod, came over for a day of cooking and baking.  I had been wanting to try making these individual rustic tartlets I spotted at the Frog Hollow Farm Cafe  during my trip in San Francisco.  It was labor day, and both of us couldn't imagine a more enjoyable afternoon than to be cooking and chatting in the kitchen.

Baking is a much more fun endeavor when its shared with someone else.  As is eating the final product!  Just think about it... screwing a recipe up becomes an exciting challenge to fix it instead of an annoyance, spilling flour is humorous not a hassle, and a seemingly complicated recipe becomes achievable with two sets of hands.  Not to mention the conversation and enjoyment from just being with someone who enjoys a similar interest. So, this labor day I found myself cooking for hours in the kitchen, but I felt restored and encouraged by enjoying a friendship and creating something delicious in the kitchen.

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Faves by Melissa Chappell. A fresh and healthy cookbook by a local Utahan.

Local sweetheart to Utah, Melissa Chappell, recently came out with a cookbook for the whole state to be proud of called Faves: Fruits and Veggies, Energy's Secret. Although I haven't met her, I have enjoyed following her tweets and her blog and have heard many wonderful things about her from my friend Jen.

Melissa is a food fashionista and a magician when it comes to making healthy food delicious.   Her food is beautifully presented and full of flavor and fresh ingredients.  Always health and environmentally conscious,  Melissa even produced a cookbook with a 'raw' cover, using gorgeous natural paper.  And the photos throughout the book will make you want to eat it right up (which you probably could), but I am sure that creating the recipes in the comfort of your own kitchen will be much more rewarding and tasteful than eating the finely printed pages.

Some topics included in the book: light meals, desserts, salads, salsas, sauces and dips and smoothies, all fresh and delicious. Her personal favorites are the famous Thai Nut Sauce, Lime Mousse, Winter Tomato Sauce, Raspberry Basil Smoothie, and the No Bake Chocolate Cookies.

The presale cost is $12.95. After the presale, the cost goes up to $15.95. On Saturday, September 18th, Melissa will be at the American Fork Good Earth from 11am-4pm doing a cookbook signing. People who pre-purchased the book through this site can pick up there and she will sign it if you wish. Or the cookbook can be mailed to you, adding $3.00 to the price for shipping.

Purchasing Options:

Presale Price UNTIL 09/10/10 $12.95 Presale Price with Shipping $15.95 Regular Price AFTER 09/10/10 $15.95 Regular Price with Shipping $18.95

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The Metropolitan, a Salt Lake City Dining Staple

One of my favorite summer memories in Salt Lake is having my bestest friend Kristin in town and sharing a special weekend together including several good meals. We had rich long conversations over meals and scenic mountain drives, making up for lost time in our treasured friendship. Kristin has visited Utah a few times, so I asked her if she would share a bit of her persepective of Salt Lake.  Allow me to indulge you with a new perspective.

One Texas Gal and Her View of Salt Lake City
"One word that would sum up my time in Salt Lake is refreshing. From the Farmer's Market, to the mountain barbecue, and the hike to Dog Lake, my soul felt renewed by the relaxed atmosphere and outdoor beauty. It was energizing to walk downtown, and up to Sundance. I got to escape the monotony of strip malls and food chains and experience the uniqueness of Salt Lake. Friendly people, delicious fare, and fantastic conversation with my dear friend made for a rejuvenating trip."

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Tillamook Cheese Loaf Tour comes to SLC

When Josh and I traveled to the Oregon Coast and Portland earlier this year we made a point to stop by a couple of cheese factories for cheese tastings, Tillamook being one of them. We actually visited the town of Tillamook, where we found not only one but two cheese factories in a town of 25,000 people; we also found wine tastings, amazing fish tacos, and we fell in love with Tillamook Marionberry Ice Cream.  The Oregon Coast was an amazing place for good food, especially if you love cheese.

Tillamook is taking the high road with their marketing efforts, packing their bags, and hopping into a couple of small 1966 VW microbuses to give many an opportunity to try their delicious cheese. The Loaf Love Tour will stop at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, neighborhoods and special events to spread the love of Tillamook’s cheddar to consumers. Event attendees will have the chance to learn about Tillamook while sampling their all-natural cheddars made in the Pacific Northwest using only the highest-quality milk from humanely raised cows not treated with the artificial growth hormones.

Here are a couple of their stops in our area:

Tillamook Loaf Love Tour in Salt Lake City

Sept 7  11am-6pm  Smith's 555 South 200 West, Salt Lake City

Sept 7  11am-6pm  Smith's 876 East 800 South, Salt Lake City

Sept 8  12pm-7pm  Fresh Market 5632 South 900 East, Salt Lake City

Sept 8  12pm-7pm  Fresh Market 2040 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City

Sept 8  12pm-7pm  Fresh Market 4530 South Highland Drive, Holladay

For a list of all of their tour stops check out The Loaf Love Tour Website.

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Salt Lake Farmer's Market Meal Part 2: Baked Eggs over Polenta and Chard

I love when I can use ingredients from leftovers and turn it into a totally new dish. The leftovers from the Polenta and Swiss Chard Dish that I posted yesterday are perfect for baked eggs the next morning.

If you are serving brunch for a few people, you could serve this with crusty bread or Hazelnut Zucchini Bread and a big bowl of fresh fruit. What could be better than a savory brunch for friends with little to no hassle. Hope you enjoy this too!

Baked Eggs over Polenta and Chard

serves 4

INGREDIENTS
leftover polenta
leftover chard and mushroom mixture
4 fresh eggs
salt and pepper
Parmesan (optional)
Rosemary (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Butter 4 ramekins then layer polenta, then chard and mushrooms into the ramekins. Top with egg and lightly salt and pepper the top.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.  Top with Parmesan cheese or a sprig of rosemary or both!

Serve with crusty bread, or a sweet bread like my Hazelnut Zucchini Bread and fresh fruit.  

Previous Farmer's Market Meals:

Hazelnut Zucchini Bread

Artisan Pasta with Sausage, Zucchini, and Onion

Roasted Beet and Hazelnut Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing

Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler

*with ingredients from the Salt Lake City Downtown Farmer's Market

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Salt Lake City Farmers Market Meal: Polenta with Sausage, Chard, and Oyster Mushrooms

Corn has been in bountiful supply recently at the local grocery stores and farmers markets around Salt Lake City. I picked up several ears of corn at the Downtown Farmer's Market a couple of weeks ago and have made this meal twice with fresh corn. Plus we used the same ingredients to make breakfast the next morning.

My husband didn't much care for polenta from the store but when I made it fresh with the sweet corn from the market, he loved it; the sausage and mushrooms on top probably didn't hurt either.

Here is the basic 2 meal deal:

DINNER: Fresh Corn Polenta topped with Sausage, Chard, and Oyster Mushrooms
BREAKFAST: Baked Eggs over Polenta with Sauteed Chard

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