Saturday, May 13, 2017

Coconut Lime Scone Loaf with White Chocolate and Mac Nuts

Coconut Lime Scone Loaf with White Chocolate and Mac Nuts // Loves Food, Loves to EatLet me be clear: this is not a Mother�s Day post (sidenote, happy Mother�s Day, mom!). This recipe isn�t for Mother�s Day. You can, of course, make it for a mom, but you can also make it for yourself (you can enjoy it even if you�re a dad, a cat-mom, a dog-mom, a non-binary non parent, an LGBTQ teen, a single dude who loves video games, a dude married to a dude, a woman in a long-term relationship who may or may not want to get married and has decided she doesn't want kids, a pregnant lady, a DINK couple, etc!), and you can also make your mom a big spicy pan of enchiladas if that�s what she�s into. Because moms, like all human women (and like all of the humans mentioned above, plus more... all the humans, even!), are complex creatures who don�t fit into one mold.

I�ve said it before and I�ll say it again, my mom has a taco tooth, not a sweet tooth, and would much prefer something savory over something sweet. When I was growing up, my dad would whip up some waffles� while my mom chowed down on a leftover taco, cold from the fridge. That�s how she rolls. All this is to say, one: my mom gives absolutely zero fucks #shedowhatshewant, and two: let�s stop gendering food. Sure, moms might like flowers and scones, but they also might like a big bloody steak with a glass of whiskey or something smothered in some goddamn hot sauce. Just as dads might want sweets and waffles and fresh flowers on the daily (like my dad did). Based on my observations of brunch ordering habits, most of my women friends prefer breakfast sandwiches with runny eggs and bacon, over fruity French toast. As far as I know (and of course, only with an outsider�s perspective/cat-mom perspective, so I might be wrong), having a baby and parenting a child doesn�t make all the women suddenly crave pink breakfast food.

Coconut Lime Scone Loaf with White Chocolate and Mac Nuts // Loves Food, Loves to EatI�d like to make a proposal: food blogs filled with meaty, spicy, savory recipe roundups on Mother�s Day, and waffle brunches on Father�s Day. Ok, so now, to the part where I look like a total hypocrite because this isn�t a recipe for something meaty and spicy and savory. Here�s a scone thing! We can start the revolution on Father�s Day.

Coconut Lime Scone Loaf with White Chocolate and Mac Nuts // Loves Food, Loves to EatI didn�t intend to have this post coincide with Mother�s Day, but I saw both Molly Yeh (My Name is Yeh) and Food52 post pics of Molly�s scone loaf on Instagram this week, and I just had to make it because LOOK AT IT. It�s a scone! In a loaf! So I had to make it and then I had to post it, and it just so happens to be on Mom�s Day weekend. If I was having Mother�s Day brunch with my mom, though, we�d probably have breakfast burritos with tons of salsa. She�d be real PO�d if I only showed up with scones. (ha, remember saying PO�d? lolol).

Coconut Lime Scone Loaf with White Chocolate and Mac Nuts // Loves Food, Loves to EatI changed up the flavor profile of this scone loaf (Molly uses marzipan and dark chocolate) to better match what I had on hand and because I thought maybe tropical-ish flavors would coax the sun back out of its cloudy, rainy hiding place. This recipe is adapted from Food 52�s post, but I also share custody of Molly�s book, Molly on the Range, with my sister, and I highly recommend getting it. It�s one of the most creative yet accessible yet adorable plus delicious cookbooks I�ve picked up in a long while.

Coconut Lime Scone Loaf (with white chocolate & Mac nuts)
Adapted from here and here
Notes: I used this almond-coconut milk, but I think canned coconut milk or regular almond milk would do the trick, or you could simply use heavy cream. I also accidentally used 1 full cup (rather than 3/4 cup) of butter and it turned out awesome, so choose your own adventure. 


1 packed teaspoon lime zest (+ 1 teaspoon for top)
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
� cup chopped macadamia nuts
� cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried coconut flakes (unsweetened)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
� teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons granulated (white) sugar
(+ 1 teaspoon for top)
� cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 large eggs
� cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon coconut extract

Glaze
� cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
Splash coconut extract
Pinch fresh grated nutmeg



Heat oven to 400� F.

Line an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving 1-inch over-hang (or grease pan really well).

In a small bowl, toss together the 1 teaspoon lime zest with the powdered sugar, so that the sugar coats the lime and it doesn�t clump together. Add the nuts, chocolate chips, and coconut, and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar. Add cubed butter and, using a pastry blender, cut in and mix until butter is roughly pea-sized. Stir in zest/nut/coconut/chocolate.

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, coconut milk, and extract and add to the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined.

Scoop the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and evenly spread. In a tiny bowl or measuring cup, stir together (or mix using fingers) remaining 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon lime zest, and sprinkle evenly on top.

Bake until deep golden brown on top and �firm when you poke it with your finger, with no squishy give,� approx. 40-45 minutes total. Check at 30 minutes in, and cover top loosely with foil if it looks too dark (any white chocolate chips near the surface might burn). Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove using the parchment overhang, or gently turning upside down against rack.

To make glaze, whisk together ingredients, and drizzle over cooled loaf.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Parmesan Cloud Eggs


Lately, "Cloud Eggs" have been all the rage.  I guess they've been around for a long time, but Instagram has taken their popularity to a whole new level, as only Instagram can do.  I mean, they are super purrrrrrty, aren't they?  A bright, runny yolk delicately placed atop fluffy, baked egg whites.  Best part?  It takes less than 10 minutes to accomplish.  All you need to do is separate your eggs, whip your whites, bake them for 3 minutes solo and 3 minutes with the yolks.  Done!  I added Parmesan to my egg whites after the stiff peaks were formed, but I want to experiment with more ingredients like chopped chives, crumbled bacon and other types of cheeses.  And you might be wondering how it tasted?  SO delicious.  It's a delightful texture and a very healthy breakfast.     

You can view tutorials on how to make these here and here.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Chocolate and Caramel Chip Cookies


The other day I found these chocolate baking discs at Whole Foods and I did a cartwheel!  Just kidding, I've never in my life been able to do a cartwheel.  I legit feel jealous of four-year-olds that are able to hurl their bodies around in airborne circles.  I don't get it?!  Even as a limber kid (I was never limber), my body was like "if you try this, you will die."  It's fine, really, I just stuck to beautiful somersaults (except I couldn't do those either). 

What was I talking about again?  Oh yes!  Chocolate!  I've seen the bittersweet dark chocolate discs before, but the bottom ones in the picture are called "dulcey" and they are creamy, toasty, caramely discs of cocoa goodness.  I highly suggest you go to Whole Foods to see if you can find them, or click on that link above and have a heart attack over how expensive chocolate can be (don't worry - they were $11 at WF - maybe a Mother's Day gift??).  Then I suggest you chop them up and throw them in your favorite salted chocolate chip cookie recipe...

(Like these.)

Saturday, May 6, 2017

High Tea on CBC

This morning on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai I presented High Tea.  I made Moroccan fresh mint green tea slightly sweet, crust less sandwiches using Old Church Bakery's Feta Dill Sourdough, Gimli Fish's Smoked Goldeye with cream cheese, some smoked salmon and cucumber with dill, and Strawberry Shortcake. These make lovely and easy to prepare dishes for Mothers Day next week.






Smoked Goldeye with Cream Cheese 

1 medium smoked Goldeye (available at Gimli Fish), skinned and pulled off of the bones
1/2 - 1 cup softened cream cheese
1-2 green onions, sliced, or chives
salt and pepper, to taste
optional:  chilies

Mix all ingredients together to make smooth consistency.  Spread generously on crustless bread for high tea.  I used Old Church Bakery's Feta Dill Sourdough, available today at Third and Bird and St. Norbert's Farmer's Market.

Also featured above, smoked salmon with cucumber and dill.

Strawberry Shortcake

 2 cups flour
5 tbs sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400�F.

Strawberries and other berries macerated in a bit of sugar for at least 30 minutes.  Whipped cream with a bit of sugar and vanilla.

Mix dry ingredients above and add the buttermilk until just mixed.  Pour into an ungreased 8" pan and bake for 18 minutes, until golden.  Remove from pan onto a cooling rack after cooling the pan for a few minutes.  Cut into serving pieces and split in half. 

Spoon berries and whipped cream over the shortcake and enjoy!


Friday, April 28, 2017

Zucchini Noodle Shrimp Scampi


I love how zoodles (zucchini noodles) are everywhere.  Most grocery stores now carry a selection of spiraled veggies, like squash or beets.  My favorite, however, are definitely zoodles.  Mostly because they are fun to say.  Oodles and oodles of zoodles, zoodles!  I smell a children's song coming on.  

A couple of weeks ago I made a shrimp scampi dish using zoodles and it was so good, I've since made it a few more times.  I used this recipe, omitting the scallops (although I have had the dish WITH them and it's delicious).  It's the perfect light and vibrant spring dish!

I hope you all have super weekends.  I have something to share with you soon, and I can't wait :)

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Spicy Chicken Rice Bowls


HELLO BLOGGING WORLD!  

Ok, how did I do this again?  This blogging thing?  I would type nonsensical thoughts, you would read them, chuckling loudly while slapping your knees, there were food photos, recipes... ok, it's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now.  There were moments of gold and there were FLASHES OF LIGHT.  

I haven't forgotten about you, it's just we were out west for eleventy days (my favorite not-a-number), and as my kids get older it seems to be taking them longer and longer to adjust back to their accustomed time zone.  My son becomes a teenager, staying up too late and playing dead in the morning (like seriously, I know you can feel that I've just ripped the blankets off your body and I know you can see the sunlight burning through your closed eyelids as I've just violently opened the shades).  My middle child decides to pick 8pm to run laps around the house, wearing three winter coats (??), until I finally decide to give her a leeeeeeeeetle Benadryl (hahahahahahahaha, kidding).  My toddler keeps waking up with night terrors... first, there was a "bird" in her bed and the next night a "crab" (I won't go there).  Needless to say, I am a walking asleep person...

...but I haven't forgotten about you.

In fact, I've made the same dinner the last 3 nights in a row in an attempt to get more photos so I can post the recipe, but somehow I just have one?  Remember how I said I was a walking asleep person? 

Alas!  It's time for me to just POST it already.  Because it's so delicious, and because you deserve it.  It's basically a chicken and rice bowl on top of arugula and topped with various yummy things, and it's based on a dish called 'Le Bowl' from a restaurant called Zinque in Los Angeles.  I toss the chicken in a little mayo and sriracha, which is why I'm calling it spicy, and if you watch "Sing" as much as I do, then you just heard Gunther the pig in your head.  Enjoy!

Spicy Chicken Rice Bowls
Servings: 2 bowls

2 cups arugula
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups roasted chicken, shredded
Sriracha sauce
Mayonaise 
Shaved Manchego cheese (or Parmesan)
1/2 avocado, diced
Cherry tomatoes, diced
Corn shredded off the cob

Divide the arugula and brown rice among two bowls.  In another small bowl, add chicken and desired amounts of mayo and sriracha (I do about 1 Tbsp mayo and 1 heaping tsp sriracha), stir together.  Top each bowl with chicken, cheese, avocado, tomatoes and corn.  Drizzle some more olive oil and more hot sauce (if desired) on top.  Season to taste with salt and pepper!   

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Vote for your Future: May 9th


All Candidates Meetings Near You


Come join Burnaby Food First and like-minded community organizations concerned with the well-being of our municipality. Take this opportunity to meet your provincial candidates. Bring your questions and your vision for Burnaby and British Columbia.