Showing posts with label blogging events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging events. Show all posts

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Fresh Blackberry Shortbread Bars

Last week I attended a blogging event sponsored by Driscoll's berries. They had Chef Rick Rodgers there doing a cooking demonstration, photographer Caren Alpert leading a photo workshop, and a baking contest for us bloggers.

I brought Blackberry Shortbread Bars. 


Blackberry Shortbread Bars

2 sticks unsalted butter
1/2 t. vanilla bean paste
1 cup white sugar
1 t. baking powder
2 3/4 cup flour + 2 T
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. salt
1 large egg
12 oz fresh blackberries, sliced in half (two, 6oz containers)

Brown the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden, and will finally start to brown and smell nutty. Stir frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom. Don't let it burn! Remove from stove and stir in vanilla. Transfer to a small dish and cool in freezer until firm (~30 minutes)

Preheat oven to 375˚
Butter a 9 x 13 pan

1) In a medium bowl whisk together sugar, baking powder, flour, salt, and cinnamon
2) Dice chilled butter and add to the flour mixture; add egg; mix with a pastry blender or fork until crumbly.
3) Pat 3/4 of the crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan pressing firmly
4) Add blackberry halves in a single layer until crust is covered
5) Scatter remaining crumbs evenly over fruit. Bake 25-30 minutes until the top is slightly brown.
6) Cool completely in pan before cutting

The Driscoll's Event

Chef Rick and his team prepared some really yummy food for the event. I'm going to post all their recipes tomorrow, they would be perfect for a holiday dinner.  My favorite dish of the evening was The Cheese Tartlets with Blackberry. They were light and flaky, salty and sweet, so good!









Blackberry Cobbler Cocktails

 

Dinner: Pancetta Wrapped Pork with Blackberry-Sage Compote, smashed sweet potatoes, and roasted fennel.


Dessert: Blackberry Pumpkin Cake with Granola, and Blackberry-Pear Cobbler with vanilla ice cream

I brought my friend, and fellow blogger, Rachael Hunter as my guest. She's not the supermodel (although she is gorgeous) or a food blogger, but I thought she might enjoy this little event. She was quick to make friends and promote her mommy Happy Mommy Blog to everyone.

She had the Driscoll's guys cracking up, especially when she accidentally got locked on the roof of the building after sneaking up there to grab a smoke. She was frantically calling my cell which was in my purse, out of sight, on the floor. Thankfully I saw the glow and we rescued her.



Some of the dessert entries. The winner was announced today. I didn't win. But it sure was fun participating.


I love making shortbread bars. Because I really love butter.



**Big thanks to Driscoll's for inviting me to the party and for giving me coupons to buy berries. YAY!

Come back tomorrow for the recipes from Rick Rodgers!!!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

My rough life

I've gone to two fun blogging parties in the last two weeks. The first was a group of foodies tasting chocolate and wine. The second was a group of lady bloggers from Northern California who got together to drink wine, eat yummy food and share blogging ideas.

Free chocolate and wine. It's rough.

If you had told me five years ago I would have a blog and would be socializing with people I met on the internet I would have given you one of my famous "HUH?" looks.

It's amazing how my life has changed since I started my silly little blog. I'm now making money (real money) blogging for companies. How crazy is that?

Elli thinks it's the best thing ever that I get to Tweet and Facebook all day long and get paid for it. "You love tweeting! That's the perfect job for you." she said.  And it's true. I love Twitter. It's full of news and interesting people. It's like reading all the headlines on topics you love all day long. The hardest part is stopping. Just ask Don.

So here are a few pics from the parties!

Ghirardelli Chocolate and Wine Party.
Hosted by Sabrina of The Tomato Tart blog.

 You can see all the details of the pairings on her blog here.

Carmelized onion and Parmesan tart
Fresh berries and plum and red wine jam with pepper corns.
Gluten free Gingerbread
Lemon Pepper brioche and yuzu pots de creme



And then there's the Nor Cal Lady Bloggers.
We got together this past weekend to drink some wine, chat, eat, drink more wine and laugh.

Nor Cal Lady Blogger Dinner
Sacramento
4:30 Wine Tasting at BevMo
6:30 Dinner at Ella
Overnight at the Citizen Hotel

Rachael Hunter, my Mill Valley blogging buddy and roomie.

Rachel, Nichole, Eileen, Sherri, Rachael and me.
We heart the BevMo! guys at the Arden store.
The S. Anderson cab was the crowd favorite.
The private dining room at Ella was perfect. We were a bit noisy. : )
The fancy prix fix menu, $30pp and it was fabulous.
Ricotta gnocchi. Outstanding. I wanted to lick the plate.
Stuffed Trout wrapped in pancetta.
Chocolate heaven.

It's a rough life, huh?