Cranberries: Sweet and savory recipes

On the agenda: A three layered bar cookie "Crangipane bars"(I cut the bars into hearts for Valentine's Day), Persian Pilau, and a satisfying South African drink all made
with cranberries! Click here for all recipes





My version of a Persian Pilau




The munchkin is now 2 yrs old & has
a personality just as big as the Rocky Mountains! he! he!




Click here for recipes, more pictures & good cheer!
www.giddygastronome.com

Scones, Red Rocks, Colorado & Usher's new song!

Tahitian vanilla powder, is my little twist on
my Late Mom's recipe of this delectable brunch confection!



Absolutely no pectin or loads of sugar in my
homemade preserves! Just lavish amounts
of sun-ripened berries & a modest amount
of honey!




Sure there are many recipes of this time-honored
tradition of the "Brits" around, but I have many
little twists in mine! Click here for recipe! & scroll
all the way down. I love my scones flaky, with a
"little give" in the center


Mascarpone mousse, lightened with whipped cream!



Publication

This fruit fondant Madeira cake, that I developed here, is featured in this British magazine below, the Fall issue #114 on page 114. Originally, I contacted them to thank them for the safe arrival of my package with the delectable fruit fondant powders, I purchased from them and much to my delight, they emailed me, asking for a head shot of myself & the pictures of this cake and publishing my little article in the ” forum” section on pg 114-115. Anyway, this cake was indescribably delicious, this fruit fondant powder turns into a rich fruit coolie when mixed with water!

This magazine is sold at Barnes & Noble.

Red Rocks, Colorado, is my escape from this sometimes
frenetic world!..........more here



Thanks for your visit, hope you enjoy my version of the scone!

Love,
Nazarina.

A trip to Telluride, Ouray & Durango, south west part of Colorado.

I live in Colorado, so this trip to the south western part was
imminent, sooner rather than later!








Hooray for Ouray, Colorado!




Hayden Trail head, Ouray, Colorado



More about this trip here......

Thank you for stopping by.
Nazarina

Sunflower sprouts, pine nuts, roasted tomatoes, dried fruits & a sour fig dressing.

This sour fig dressing is actually the star of this dish!
See the ingredient list & "how to" here @ www.giddygastronome.com

The sour figs are from South Africa! recipe here



Pine nuts should be toasted, tomatoes should be roasted.....etc

____________________________________________

This is our old guest bathroom, I can assure you that it
was"dislike" at first sight.....
see the complete new transformation done by my Sweetie

here www.giddygastronome.com






I love making soaps for kids & I really do not mind
when they take them home!



Thank you,
Nazarina.

Pina colada thumbprints, Easter & sea soaps & more!

click on picture





Dessicated coconut rocks & the occasional pure-white
coconut flesh toasts perfectly into a delicious toasted
flake!





These Easter soaps were a cumbersome project but
what can I say, perseverance prevails every time!

More here




Soaps that make munchkins want to live in the bathroom!



These molds for the sea creatures above and terrestrial "monsters"
below were not meant for soap but I used them anyway!



I love the unexpected twists & turns in this recipe, it made the diners at this baby shower wish for more! They all wanted to know how I achieved this delicately balanced recipe & not sweet at all! What can I say freeze dried fruit does wonders!





Summer is here & I am stagnant no more!

I made the cookies & the soaps for a friend's baby shower www.giddygastronome.com....more here

Digestive biscuits & another pumpkin pie

To be chocolaty or cheesy? that is the question!




This biscuit had a "malty" overtone with a light crisp
& shortbread-like taste.....Mmmm! must be the barley malt
syrup & just the yolk I added! Absolutely Yum! A nazarina special.



A mousse-like pumpkin pie....vanilla bean whipped
double cream! Stop me please, how many more times
am I going to revamp this gift that keeps on giving? LOL!




Hello!

I developed my rendition of this digestive biscuit with my Mom in my mind, recollecting all those wonderful moments, when we had them for high tea! This pumpkin pie is another rendition of an older pumpkin pie I made last year where I just "Jackson Pollocked" the dark chocolate over the swirled vanilla bean whipped double cream! See all the recipes & pictures of foxes in my backyard......... HERE!

"Thomas", the train made from chocolate gingerbread!

All my cherished bake ware is at the brunt of his rambunctious baking demeanor!

Recipe: Use organic ingredients whenever possible!

• 1/4 cup Valrhona French dark chocolate powder 64% ( Grand Cru de Terroire, “Tainori” Dominican Republic. I am now using this in almost all of my chocolate creations!

Click here for the template & the rest of the ingredients & pictures!



Have fun making this train!

Love,
Nazarina.

Curry pies made with a William Sonoma lattice mold

Have a happy new year!!!!


These are curry pies with chopped egg on top &
roasted apricot & chili chutney on the side
& ice cold glasses of Martinelli's sparkling apple cider &
marachino cherries as a garnish.


Pictures of this mold here and recipe at www.giddygastronome.com


Love,
Nazarina.

Sweet potato recipes, "Lays style" potato chips & a sushi napkin fold

I have all the instructions on my new blog www.giddygastronome.com


The "how to" of these sushi napkins are extremely easy & will dazzle your guests!



A childhood favorite, tomato chips! Yes, that is a dried tomato spice blend and toasted pink peppercorns in the little container.
The sweet potato chips has my Chinese 5 spice & cinnamon blend sprinkled all over the warm , crispy chips!





See the "How to" & more pictures of a baked panko sweet potato salad
on my other domain by clicking HERE!

Enjoy,
Nazarina.

New growth: berries, tomatoes, mint, cherries, cucumbers

Click here for more of this fruit fondant cake, chocolate steam pudding recipe & my absence from blogging!

Love,
Nazarina.