tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49251596239286690412024-03-05T15:25:32.423-08:00The Irreverent Family CookbookThe Irreverent Family CookbookJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-71630841166491541562009-07-19T07:03:00.000-07:002009-07-19T14:59:47.594-07:00Just Can't Quit YaFinancial report from Jenny's Bread Pudding Business, which has expanded to include the following products:<br /><ol><li>Bread Pudding, with homemade Challah</li><li>Sour Cream Walnut Coffee Bundt Cake, with Sugar Glaze</li><li>Coconut Chiffon Cake with Cream Cheese and Buttercream Frosting, and Grated Coconut</li><li>Berry Tart with Short Dough Crust and Vanilla Pastry Cream, with or without Painted Dark Chocolate on Crust</li></ol><ul><li>initial investment—baking supplies (pans, tins, papers, dough cutters, bakery boxes, string, etc., including one mistake of a tart pan I did not use, worth $25): $275.99</li><li>food supplies, as of today: $462.95</li><li>total receipts in my manila envelope (excluding extraneous taxi, video, and "Bead World" receipts): $738.94</li></ul><ul><li>Total intake, via invoices (excluding three orders gratuit, worth approximately $58): $666.05</li></ul><ul><li>TOTAL LOSS SO FAR (not including hours of labor, which I have yet to calculate, but I could): $72.89</li><li>Other side of the coin: Payback so far, not including my initial investment: $203.10, on my way to making back my initial investment of $275.99, and then maybe, maybe, I could begin to make money. Inch by Inch.</li></ul>Note: There are several variables at work here, including:<br /><ol><li>I have not included in my costs: cleaning supplies, including dish detergent, floor detergent.</li><li>There are several receipts from last minute, unfulfilled mise en place shopping at my corner deli, where I have asked for the receipt, which I then have not itemized, so I'm not 100% sure that each of those items have gone toward my baking.</li><li>At same said deli, there is a very sweet worker who would really like to go out with me, and though I have told him I can't join him for a beer, a number of times, he seems to give me recession prices, often charging me only 1/3 of what the price is (though I'm sure the deli's not losing at all), so I don't ask for a receipt then, so 100% of food supplies have probably not been accounted for.</li><li>Perhaps I can knock out 2 and 3 above, and call it even.<br /></li></ol>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-90074255242960350672009-05-22T12:01:00.001-07:002009-05-22T15:04:40.922-07:00Weekend HomeworkAaaah! New assignment from the gourmet takeout across the street: Coffee cake bundt cake with walnuts and drizzled glaze...Guess I know what I'll be doing with my single self all weekend. Plus, they want to call my brand Jenny from the Block (since I do live across the street), but asked to see my butt first, just to make sure the phrase fit. (And let me tell you, no one's asked me that for a while.) Grade: at least passing, I guess.<br /><br />But Jenny from the Block? Hmmm...Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-68523913255522381182009-05-21T08:58:00.000-07:002009-05-21T09:01:13.633-07:00Alexandria Speaks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uA41CJMmkWMB2PGzxoE80FYn3In9M2GiA9ouoCxtO2Z8M5kQQgA0WOCnyrUbbq93k0wZripg-hNswq7e0xiiZ6vhss9L5BDAALZCaaleajPWsf6tXZlZWqxRNRM-iv5y0F7nQ7dYz4G1/s1600-h/P5210845.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uA41CJMmkWMB2PGzxoE80FYn3In9M2GiA9ouoCxtO2Z8M5kQQgA0WOCnyrUbbq93k0wZripg-hNswq7e0xiiZ6vhss9L5BDAALZCaaleajPWsf6tXZlZWqxRNRM-iv5y0F7nQ7dYz4G1/s320/P5210845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338307526422294994" border="0" /></a><br />Design: Alexandria, D.J.'s tween sitterJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-3511918545068686332009-05-19T06:15:00.000-07:002009-05-19T08:30:03.100-07:00Take TwoBack by quasi-popular demand (two requests), I am now returning to the <span style="font-style: italic;">IFC</span>. Got a midweek batch of B.P. in the oven; an inconsistent selling rate at the gourmet takeout across the street; a new, relatively lucrative (!) freelance copywriting gig on my computer (book covers for the publishing house); a daughter who I apparently put too much pressure on, so I'll no longer be going public, completely bustin', over her achievements, and in particular, her rash of upcoming performances; another surprise business venture I've yet to mention though have been sitting on for years, but suddenly my one-of-a-kind <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost and Found</span><span> t</span><span>ween jewelry</span> collection is possibly a wanted item at a seriously hip East 9th Street store; and a bunch of other stuff I guess I'll get into eventually. I also still maintain a two times per week <span style="font-style: italic;">Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout DVD</span> average,<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>but that's probably the last you'll hear about that.<br /><br />Shout out to N.M., funist, who inspired me (didn't take much) with his...UNSOLICITED ADVICE (trademark 2008, J.K.).Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-22315352534283079652009-05-05T18:03:00.000-07:002009-05-05T18:05:04.100-07:00The Irreverent Family Cookbook<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNUFuWj7TMgkBB01LgxfZ_Ico5tDvkFoBsmc10vT0FrIKg6IPhIAHA2GEwLjU9TFPUA8rg3G0MffsLSgZXdulMegoq2cpUUuFdU2MNb5jo9H9tSutZguyu6rYoUsQbMjQGTXhynB42UDG/s1600-h/Picture_030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNUFuWj7TMgkBB01LgxfZ_Ico5tDvkFoBsmc10vT0FrIKg6IPhIAHA2GEwLjU9TFPUA8rg3G0MffsLSgZXdulMegoq2cpUUuFdU2MNb5jo9H9tSutZguyu6rYoUsQbMjQGTXhynB42UDG/s320/Picture_030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332510654062872546" border="0" /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-45928185960993045112009-05-05T17:59:00.001-07:002009-05-05T18:05:56.712-07:00School's Out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfH8uRtY4kHtwVmK_Eq4HEufbE273OenEnO-Op-sOUJG0pG1lKlfOFQv0fT8xQpj5210VkumStnNrZzdeDThWeF-dOLeE8WPvY9jCInp2Ru10g4-zcgg-oXGgpY54GFThw8EG7ZnPKhXb/s1600-h/P4250959.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfH8uRtY4kHtwVmK_Eq4HEufbE273OenEnO-Op-sOUJG0pG1lKlfOFQv0fT8xQpj5210VkumStnNrZzdeDThWeF-dOLeE8WPvY9jCInp2Ru10g4-zcgg-oXGgpY54GFThw8EG7ZnPKhXb/s320/P4250959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332509350255527986" border="0" /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-75773887689990240162009-05-05T11:31:00.000-07:002009-05-05T17:58:46.371-07:00Special Thanks!Here's a sincere shout-out to my loyal blog followers, official or otherwise; any and all comment writers; my birthday celebrators; my mom for her present; my sister C. for being my most ardent fan, and E. for joining in at the end; Dee, the super cool bakery couple, the restaurant lifer, J., Monique, the three assistants, and the single mother of three who stopped coming after a while; the generous family, without whom I could not have managed the class; Alexandria, who picked up the Saturday slack; anyone and everyone who ever bought or will buy my bread pudding; the folks at the gourmet take-out across the street; my taste testers, aka, my landlord and neighbors; the cooking school on 7th Avenue and 14th Street; and mostly, to Chef Nola, one bitchin', life-altering chef and mentor, who always kept things cool in the kitchen.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-79660992355354089982009-05-05T11:24:00.000-07:002009-05-05T20:54:28.332-07:00Dedication<div style="text-align: center;">To My Daughter Judy,<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for picking me to be your mother.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgp_6G5d83togng2BFaIm9KmySFUjhqbBcjpP2YUXK_EldrLrDI4aI_o358Y05rz99nM1jq7DTrUWTbmO5loAvVO8NeMis7555_eBiwOoB3vb0WTvNWT_jeVWN8sBVAWqGspYhAItlKjx/s1600-h/PICT1975.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgp_6G5d83togng2BFaIm9KmySFUjhqbBcjpP2YUXK_EldrLrDI4aI_o358Y05rz99nM1jq7DTrUWTbmO5loAvVO8NeMis7555_eBiwOoB3vb0WTvNWT_jeVWN8sBVAWqGspYhAItlKjx/s320/PICT1975.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332408008150095586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Huo6tSAH4aAcdu2u72tZaoWr2YyKApA9SDcU-FDEbirPwJgT9HUi-wAdEx5tJy62a51tlZTnt8g_TfQwNcuAg53mduo_MC8H8y-VDHonl4Pu8qusGFvCFoV_Wcrblh2OCCHc9ny8SMox/s1600-h/P8020279.JPG"><br /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-46424191912661572362009-05-05T07:04:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:10:34.814-07:00Moving OnLet's review (I had a beautiful photo to present for just this moment, but it's not uploading. Darn!):<br /><ul><li>I finished my thirteen-week one hundred-hour baking and pastry arts class. Certificate in the mail.</li><li>I met Chef Nola, who is really a special person. Plus Dee, the super cool bakery couple, and the rest.<br /></li><li>I gave myself a D+ for my participation in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout DVD, </span>based solely on my attendance record. I still think it's a great (albeit monotonous) workout, and will try to continue on with it as I prepare for summer in the city.</li><li>I'm selling Jenny's Bread Pudding with homemade <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Challah</span> at the gourmet take-out place across the street. So far, it's a small but potent runaway success. <span style="font-style: italic;"></span></li><li>I had six loyal followers on my blog. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hollah</span>!</li><li>I've begun the transfer of my blog to book form. New variation on a title: <span style="font-style: italic;">How to Make Bread Pudding.</span></li><li>I made eclairs. And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">petit</span> fours. And puff pastry. And tarts. Pies. Breads. Cakes. Cookies. Rose decorations. And more.<br /></li><li>I've moved on from my previous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Challah</span> recipe (will leave that recipe in the sidebar, however, for old times' sake), and am back to my textbook's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Challah</span>, which turned out excellent this week. In fact, my bread pudding looks amazing this time around.</li><li>I still don't have a guy, though there are two possible set-ups on the horizon: one with an upstate inventor who has his own waterfall (though I can't seem to manifest that rendezvous), and one with the bass player from...Joan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Jett</span> (who've I've been told I resemble). The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">yentl</span> there wanted to know if I thought he was cute, but honestly, I couldn't tell with that big U.S.A. tattoo on his arm, and his hair all red and spiky around his head. He kind of looked like a big grenade. (P.S. My phone broke yesterday when I dropped it on another mystery call from you-know-who-you-are. As if I hadn't gotten the message already!)<br /></li><li>I still don't have a new job, or more hours of the old one. My copy editing is improving, though. Now if I could just stop leaving the books until the last minute, I'd probably be much less stressed.</li><li>I have a few new baking tools, including a cool digital scale, a three-ounce ladle, an ice cream scooper, a mini ice cream scooper, a new pastry brush, a box of decorating tips, and even a dough cutter! Plus, of course, my <span style="font-style: italic;">Top Chef</span> kit, my Fourth Edition Le Cordon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bleu</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Professional Baking</span> textbook, and my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">yellow spiral filled with copious</span> notes and handouts, one of which includes my now top-secret recipe for Jenny's Bread Pudding.</li><li>I can put together a bakery box. Kind of.<br /></li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Mise</span> en place: I'm giving myself a prize for most improved.</li><li>D.J. continues to amaze—me, herself, and the world around her. Today begins the first rehearsals for her debut at Lincoln Center. I am so grateful.<br /></li></ul>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-86731720688943023052009-05-03T05:42:00.000-07:002009-05-03T13:17:23.560-07:00Yes!Totally sold out by six p.m. yesterday!<br /><br />Have new tips from Chef for improving my bread making, so I'm going to try that again today, 'cause the cafe already wants a refill.<br /><br />Yes!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-91925938590985916082009-05-02T11:33:00.001-07:002009-05-02T15:41:28.677-07:00International DayDee definitely wins top International Day entry with this beautiful Italian cake I can't remember the name of. It's marble pound cake, sliced, soaked in Amaretto, molded in a bowl, filled with layers of both plain and chocolate whipped cream, refrigerated overnight, and finally turned out on the plate the next morning. Was truly delicate and delicious. Congrats!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6oNT4OjHyA3UJB2DNiyy2YrTb3N3j_d71ATBnmE5kZvB1U7F-tbHeMUbz-Np3hqKeINRWN55V9TIDEAk_8lyisJ6g_lnItS1eJzI7hF03TzFhbcQUhObIAN-H2zJ-OiNVPaKVQwwjDsG/s1600-h/P5020843.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6oNT4OjHyA3UJB2DNiyy2YrTb3N3j_d71ATBnmE5kZvB1U7F-tbHeMUbz-Np3hqKeINRWN55V9TIDEAk_8lyisJ6g_lnItS1eJzI7hF03TzFhbcQUhObIAN-H2zJ-OiNVPaKVQwwjDsG/s320/P5020843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331297410042700786" border="0" /></a><br />My contribution, Grandma Piggyback's Brownie Pie, was frankly only so-so (though Chef did ask for another large piece to go), and I had a bitch of a time making a nice looking slice. The restaurant lifer brought some kind of sandwich cookie with caramel filling that someone else made for him (what-the-?!), and though people raved, I still haven't tried mine yet. Monique looked so pretty and fresh in her street clothes, and she made a Haitian pudding with crackers, sugar, buttermilk, and fruit, which was actually very good, though not the most attractive color. The super cool bakery couple never showed, and I think we were all kinda disappointed.<br /><br />Before the tasting, we talked about our plans post class, and the soon-to-be-divorcee, who arrived with no International offering, received her own personal Chef-over, a tough-love encounter similar to the one I'd gotten last week. I do hope she heeds Chef's words, though, which seemed to be spot-on, and the whole scenario reminded me of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, <span style="font-style: italic;">Rabbit Hole.</span> Though I did not love this play, I often think about the question it raised, which is: Under whatever duress you find yourself, could you dare to imagine living your same life...differently?Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-48659252403037492012009-05-01T17:25:00.000-07:002009-05-01T17:30:30.182-07:00"Somebody Told Me" by The Killers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKqHK1D2-BrYuDQ17gtnNTeYL1TonnqO83G4VqHwoX7GpdK1h06_fXVjc9sECnWScD_OPCK_zuCq1i6to5EHOYD0J1NbK-OHPOa6vn9o851OOeLvK5YAEz2lGCXEv6T31f4x8D0YtRWap/s1600-h/IMG00782.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKqHK1D2-BrYuDQ17gtnNTeYL1TonnqO83G4VqHwoX7GpdK1h06_fXVjc9sECnWScD_OPCK_zuCq1i6to5EHOYD0J1NbK-OHPOa6vn9o851OOeLvK5YAEz2lGCXEv6T31f4x8D0YtRWap/s320/IMG00782.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331016358933610578" border="0" /></a><br />photo: The generous mom who, of course, came to see D.J. tap in her school's talent show.<br /><br />OMG, D.J. is an amazing tap dancer!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-66445239986758919682009-05-01T17:06:00.001-07:002009-05-02T15:40:34.981-07:00NIMBYYes, Chocolate Bar has moved into my backyard. No joke.<br /><br />I knew they were returning to a spot right around the corner from me, and that my neighbor to the left was to be their landlord, but I never realized I could see right into their kitchen. Further, they're having a party tonight, so I thought I'd mosey on over and see what delectable hot chocolate drink or Jacques Torres bonbon I could score. Not! It's a private affair. With a bouncer, guest list, umbrella holder by the door, and everything. I mean, who is the chocolate crowd, and how cool do you have to be to step under that umbrella? I'm actually a bit insulted I couldn't get in. How's that for a low blow.<br /><br />Still, their mini chocolate croissants—fresh from Balthazar—are the perfect size, and I'm seriously going to have to control myself every time I walk by, which is about fifty times a day.<br /><br />Must check on my bread pudding sales.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-20312712331729523202009-05-01T13:37:00.000-07:002009-05-01T11:38:14.173-07:00Checklist<ul><li>Have twenty-three four-ounce fantastic looking bread puddings in my tiny refrigerator right now, midway through their three-hour cooling process. My Challah seemed to work just right, at least visually.</li><li>Hired one of D.J.'s young tween sitters, Alexandria, to make the Jenny's Bread Pudding logo. Was supposed to arrive before today's delivery, but has been postponed until next week.</li><li>Wrote up my first invoice, though wonder whether or not I should've put C.O.D. on the thing.</li><li>Emailed my Bread Pudding update to a growing distribution list, and called a few others. I quickly shut down the personal updates, though, when the two brothers at one of my corner delis had no idea what I was talking about, and apparently don't even like bread pudding.<br /></li><li>Figured out who bought at least half of last week's order, so that's actually making me kind of nervous they won't sell out as quickly this time 'round. (Visualization exercise for myself, and/or anyone else who's into it: They sell out. Quickly. With lots of compliments. Maybe someone even inquires about a private, separate, larger order. Some very cute man enjoys his pudding, and asks to meet the baker, Jenny. Oh, and I get a call from that editor-turned-agent regarding her strong interest and excitement in my blog/book, which she agrees should be called <span style="font-style: italic;">Bread Pudding</span>.)</li><li>Created my mise en place for tomorrow's class assignment (B.Y.O.Dessert) for International Day. I don't feel very international these days, so I've opted for...Grandma Piggyback's Brownie Pie (http://theirreverentfamilycookbook.blogspot.com/2009/02/grandma-piggybacks-brownie-pie.html). It's not the most professional looking item, but it is freaking great, so that's that. Maybe I'll dust it with confectioner's sugar. I'd also bring vanilla ice cream if the taste tests weren't going to be first thing in the a.m.</li><li>Wrote off the recent series of unsatisfying phone calls with my Italian ex. Sadly.<br /></li><li>Asked for a two-day extension on my latest vampyre copy edit.</li></ul>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-86587051665790827612009-04-30T15:13:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:21:42.165-07:00PrizewinnerSurely Grandma Piggyback wins the prize, posthumously, for most prolific contributor to <span style="font-style: italic;">The Irreverent Family Cookbook'</span>s original recipe collection. Further, she's right in there with the dysfunctional spirit of the thing—she wasn't my father's mother for nothing—and was definitely the most memorable cook, with all the right sensory trappings, of my growing up.<br /><br />Sometimes I think I feel her on Halloween night, when the veil is thin between this world and the next. (Next time I'm at the bookstore, I swear I'm going to write down the page number of Grandma P.'s spitting-image Diane Arbus photo I described early on.) In the meantime, I'm offering up a final <span style="font-style: italic;">IFC</span> recipe of hers, a very down-to-earth coffee cake.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">GRANDMA P.'S COFFEE CAKE</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">"Excellent cake—topping even better." </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">—my mother, Grandma P.'s daughter-in-law</span><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">1 cup Presto flour, or any cake flour</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">1 cup sugar</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">1 teaspoon vanilla</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">scant 1/2 teaspoon baking powder</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">pinch of salt</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">2 eggs beaten, then add heavy cream to measure 1 cup</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"> <div style="text-align: left;">Topping:<br />5 Tablespoons brown sugar<br />2 Tablespoons softened butter<br />1 Tablespoon heavy cream<br />Chopped nuts<br /></div> </div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Prepare topping: Beat together butter, cream, and sugar until smooth. Add nuts and stir until well blended. Set aside.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">For the cake, mix together dry ingredients in a bowl. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Add egg mixture, with vanilla, and beat until smooth. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Pour into well-greased 8-inch square pan. Bake 30 minutes. (Check after 20 minutes.)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Pull cake out of the oven and immediately spread with topping. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Place under broiler until melted and browned.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Cool before cutting in squares and serving.</span><br /></div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-37752812744038940642009-04-30T15:07:00.001-07:002009-04-30T15:07:39.469-07:00'Nuff SaidThe cafe dude doubled the order from last week!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-3534641381734919412009-04-30T10:26:00.000-07:002009-04-30T11:42:33.568-07:00B.P. Email Update, Week 2<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Hi guys,</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Well, last week's Bread Pudding sold out (!), so they're booked again for this weekend (under the name Jenny's Bread Pudding, btw), and will be available from Friday late afternoon through Sunday evening. This time, however, I made my own Challah, so that should amp up the item even more! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">So, if possible, and you're around Jane Street and Eighth Avenue this weekend, or you want to send friends and family to Bonsigneur there, do feel free to stop by and sample again. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">And if you bought my B.P. last week, I appreciate it! Thanks so much!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Jenny</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">(Just in case—the pudding's supposed to be heated up, and then turned out, bottom side up, on your plate, for full enjoyment!)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Here's the link to my blog, which tells the whole backstory, and more....www.theirreverentfamilycookbook.blogspot.com</span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-52299213808405291162009-04-28T10:35:00.000-07:002009-04-30T06:53:08.273-07:00D.J.'s Poetry Breakfast<div style="text-align: center;">Four Haiku for Middle School<br /></div><br />(I plan to read these<br />Four Haiku for Middle School.<br />Must check with her first.)<br /><br />Middle school is a<br />lot different than before.<br />I embarrass her.<br /><br />I love to watch her<br />dance so pretty. It’s hard work.<br />Have you seen her jump?<br /><br />Her friends know me, but<br />talk about embarrassment.<br />That’s her hiding there.<br /><br />I might think I’m smart,<br />but she is smarter today<br />than when I was young.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-87790678411302554842009-04-26T06:26:00.000-07:002009-04-30T15:12:52.174-07:00When Harry Met SallySorry about the not razor-sharp photos. Will try again next week, our last week, even though yesterday seemed like the fat lady was singing on my thirteen-week, one hundred-hour baking/pastry arts class. I am kind of sad it is over.<br /><br />High- and lowlights of the day included getting accosted on Seventh Avenue by a crazy person at lunch. Some guy purposely walked straight into me, as if I knew him, or something. He kept walking and walking, until he had me backed up against a scaffolding pole, his middle finger in my face. And then he moved on.<br /><br />Maybe he targeted me for being a bit out-of-sorts, 'cause earlier in class, before we went into the kitchen, Chef gave me a really, really, really hard time for not doing the sugar cookies for the cafe dude across the street from my place. For like a half hour or so. In front of the entire class. That I'd started a ball rolling, so why was I stepping out of the way when I encountered my first pebble? That the dude was my client, so why was I saying no to him? What kind of a businessperson did that make me? That the math could work in my favor. That it didn't matter I didn't think the cookies were so great. I mean, she also told me I had a gift for communicating, and could sell shit to a cow, but that I wasn't dreaming big enough.<br /><br />But what blew me the most, I think, and something I'm still trying to decipher, was that she suggested I was a person who made stories out of stories (she's right), and I should just (basically) shut up and do the thing. I suddenly flashed onto the first-act cross-country scene in <span style="font-style: italic;">When Harry Met Sally, </span>when Harry asks Sally to tell him the story of her life. She says nothing's happened to her yet, which is why she's going to journalism school in New York City. And he challenges her—so she can write about things that happen to other people?<br /><br />And by the way, I don't think men and women can just be friends. Shout out to you-know-who-you-are.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-23622357045579084572009-04-25T14:06:00.000-07:002009-04-25T14:07:28.276-07:00Chef Nola<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2d6Jn8AL7gJZ72oNg5-i_lffxHGstpH4Bx1sDgK2UKsjt71A3vNsM7ELBM-QfZabVD7LfDnqWyMrTUkt7XvFU9zhqeqNuFQ5INkC_RCnLbr6qTNBLeAybvv1QR1VvXhktv4WnCcRBGtR/s1600-h/P4260987.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2d6Jn8AL7gJZ72oNg5-i_lffxHGstpH4Bx1sDgK2UKsjt71A3vNsM7ELBM-QfZabVD7LfDnqWyMrTUkt7XvFU9zhqeqNuFQ5INkC_RCnLbr6qTNBLeAybvv1QR1VvXhktv4WnCcRBGtR/s320/P4260987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328738589237314530" border="0" /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-24483708914959697542009-04-25T14:03:00.000-07:002009-04-25T14:06:00.789-07:00My Wedding Cake Turned Tea Party Hat Cake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1d_5pZel2ke8ZIiFUHn57H3nzlk9rk8rvfppAEVESVpxvb1A6gY8bJmgIa08kbEKmjjcW4Z1tDjry1GNpSHdEq_9_Hgw8znWVSHwRuLDIa_o_6wsdycCqGgg6zBZuhNReSjTHyLLB9GV/s1600-h/P4260970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1d_5pZel2ke8ZIiFUHn57H3nzlk9rk8rvfppAEVESVpxvb1A6gY8bJmgIa08kbEKmjjcW4Z1tDjry1GNpSHdEq_9_Hgw8znWVSHwRuLDIa_o_6wsdycCqGgg6zBZuhNReSjTHyLLB9GV/s320/P4260970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328738136420771650" border="0" /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-31946563934568179482009-04-25T13:59:00.000-07:002009-04-25T14:01:30.372-07:00Lou (the Assistant), Dee, Her Cake, and The Restaurant Lifer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4-Zufdyo997SEUCDyzWZMNIsHW_ajw_cfNQor5zsGB14ErsuVqRf8fs4LVQgTFWYAmODFY3n4JGNIXzXnqxqNYRv01n5j2m8PSfWgXb2nAQXTgHkxYp-774MsGtFcTgFsff0TIBcRMI_/s1600-h/P4260975.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4-Zufdyo997SEUCDyzWZMNIsHW_ajw_cfNQor5zsGB14ErsuVqRf8fs4LVQgTFWYAmODFY3n4JGNIXzXnqxqNYRv01n5j2m8PSfWgXb2nAQXTgHkxYp-774MsGtFcTgFsff0TIBcRMI_/s320/P4260975.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328736623813713938" border="0" /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-65189362291178854832009-04-25T13:57:00.000-07:002009-04-25T13:58:44.230-07:00The Super Cool Bakery Couple and Their Cake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_LxjpusYc9SMBhhaSGsYSIHHKAZYUqHl2L7DieAsNI_-bisdO55Si97zRGdJ-MWe7Gv211x1ov1fvC2pNw2gAfs_hlgSB-S-87aznAbUTfaks88uNQQcegqD2B9NgM2yADqVz_yrkH1B/s1600-h/P4260966.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_LxjpusYc9SMBhhaSGsYSIHHKAZYUqHl2L7DieAsNI_-bisdO55Si97zRGdJ-MWe7Gv211x1ov1fvC2pNw2gAfs_hlgSB-S-87aznAbUTfaks88uNQQcegqD2B9NgM2yADqVz_yrkH1B/s320/P4260966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328736283165119122" border="0" /></a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-19953029087552004522009-04-24T19:32:00.000-07:002009-04-24T19:49:18.477-07:00S.R.O.At rise: Sexy apron-wearing Jenny is still baking in her well-worn kitchen with the flour-covered red floor, making more of the super tiny bite-size sandwich cookies for decoration's sake for tomorrow's mini wedding cake. D.J.'s on a sleepover with that generous family.<br /><br />Eight-thirty p.m. Phone rings.<br /><br />"Hi, cafe dude...Well, that is great...Really?...Wow!...Can I make more for tomorrow...?"<br /><br />[This is exactly how I visualized it—that they would sell out, and I would have ten more waiting to swiftly bring across the street.]<br /><br />"Um, well, actually, no. I've got my baking/pastry class all day tomorrow, those tins you ordered used up all my batter, and I need twenty-four hours to get the bread just right...What's that? Jenny's Bread Pudding?...Well, yes. That sounds good...Let's call it a success, then, and reboot for next weekend..."<br /><br />!!!<br /><br />So, if any of you peeps bought my bread pudding, hollah!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4925159623928669041.post-4749420041284467782009-04-24T12:40:00.000-07:002009-04-24T15:38:05.206-07:00Postscript: Head's Up! Email<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Embarrassment alert: Do not look for the sugar cookies! They won't be there. (No comment.)<br />But all the more reason to check out the bread puddings, $3.50 each, which are there, starting...now!<br />Thanks!<br />Jenny</span><br /></span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01765958594392164472noreply@blogger.com0