Serge the Concierge

Bake Your Love for Valentine's Day, Chocolate Valentine's Cakes Recipe by Annie Rigg

On Valentine's Day pour your soul into a DIY gift.

Bake your love.

With Gifts from the Kitchen (September 2011, U.S edition, Kyle Books),  Annie Rigg offers 100 homemade present ideas for each season and occasion.

Here's her suggestion for Valentine's Day:

Chocolate Valentine‘s Cakes

Forget the usual chocolates and roses for Valentine’s Day; instead, say “I Love You” with these chocolate heart-shaped cakes coated with dark chocolate ganache and topped with sugar paste roses.
Ready-made flowers are available from specialty stores and online, but making your own roses is really very simple, just make them 24 hours before topping the cakes to allow them to dry.

MAKES 6

1⅓ sticks unsalted butter,
softened,plus 1 tablespoon,melted
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
7oz (200g) plain chocolate, chopped
3/4cup superfine sugar
4 medium eggs, separated
1 cup ground almonds
2 tablespoons freeze-dried raspberry crispies (optional)
pinch of salt
sugar paste roses, to decorate
(optional)
fresh berries, to decorate
(optional)

CHOCOLATE GANACHE :

7oz (200g) dark chocolate (72% cacoa solids)
⅔stick unsalted butter
2 tablespoons heavy cream

You will need 6 x 4in. (10cm) heart-shaped cake pans with a depth of 11/4in. (3cm).

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Brush the insides of the pans with the melted butter and dustwith 1 tablespoon of the all-purpose flour, tapping out any excess.
Melt the chopped chocolate either in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, or in a microwave on a low setting. Stir until smooth and set aside to cool slightly.
Cream the butter and sugar until pale, light, and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and stir until combined. Add the cooled melted chocolate and stir again.
Mix the remaining 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour with the ground almonds, freeze-dried raspberies, if using, and salt. Add to the chocolate mixture and mix thoroughly.
In a clean bowl,whisk the eggwhites until they reach stiff peaks. Stir one quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen and then, using a large metal spoon, fold in the remainder.
Line the bottom of the cake pans with parchment paper and divide the mixture between them all, then arrange on a baking sheet and bake on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 20 minutes, until risen and firm to the touch. Leave to cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then carefully run a small palette knife around the edges and turn the cakes onto a cooling rack and leave until cold.

To make the ganache, melt together the chocolate, butter, and heavy cream either in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water or in amicrowave on a lowsetting. Stir until smooth and combined.
Set aside to cool and thicken slightly. Using a palette knife, spread the ganache over the top of each cake and leave to set before decorating with sugar paste roses or fresh berries.
Stored in an airtight container or cake tin, these will keep for about 4 days.

(* Recipe from Gifts from the Kitchen by Annie Rigg reproduced courtesy of Kyle Books, Photos by Catherine Gratwicke, all rights reserved)

Filling Stomachs not Garbage Dumps, Pop Up 'Food Waste' Restaurants in London

From vegetable stands to bakeries, cafes to supermarkets and various eateries, food waste is an endemic problem.

Self-described 'London magazine for ethical eating', The Jellied Eel, in Cleaning up London's leftovers looks at efforts to fill stomachs not garbage dumps

Amongst them are temporary 'food waste' restaurants, a new iteration of the pop-up concept.

One example quoted in the piece is following:

"The charity Wastewatch, in conjunction with government-funded project Love Food Hate Waste and the West London Waste Authority, is holding four ‘Feed the 1000’ events with local universities, feeding 1000 people for free using the same amount of food as the average family wastes each year."

The group FoodCycle operates community cafes year-round and also shares their Surplus Apple Cake recipe.

Having firsthand experience of how much food is left on plates at restaurants at the end of a meal I was intrigued by another idea quoted in the piece:

"East London Nigerian restaurant, Obalende Suya Express, which famously introduced a £2.50 fee (donated to Oxfam) if diners didn’t clear their plate."

Sounds like the equivalent of carbon offset as applied to travel.

Filling stomachs not garbage dumps for Green Day # 209

Previously: Gringos Welcome at Green Conference of the Americas, MiaGreen 2012, Miami, Jan 26-27

Neon Duct Tape to Pixel Weave, 12 Steps to Stress Free Creative Gift Wrapping by Brit

The art of setting the table and what you serve food in ads a special touch to any end of the year meal. I evoked that with mentions of Dish by Shax Riegler and The Pot Book by Edmund de Waal, 2 excellent gift book ideas.

As Christmas 2011 is closing in on us, another task needs to be completed, wrapping all these gifts.

Who would think that Neon Duct Tape and Colorful Tights (full of runs) can be repurposed as gift wrap accessories?

It would have not dawned on me if I had not stumbled on 12 Days Of Wrapping: It's A Wrap! (Creative BRIT Living, December 23) by Brit.

12 tips besides using Neon Duct Tape and recycling runny Colorful Tights include turning Twitter Handles into name tags on presents and Pixel Weave: Weaving construction paper into a pixelated letter atop a gift box.

Thanks Brit for turning what could be a chore into an exercise in creativity.

(* Illustration courtesy of Hello Brit)

Stained Glass Snowflake Cookies On 1st Day of Winter, Recipe from Gifts from the Kitchen

Back in late August, as a sneak preview of Gifts from the Kitchen (September 2011, U.S edition, Kyle Books) by Annie Rigg I offered her Summer Berry Vodka Recipe...

On 1st day of winter, snowflake cookies could not be more timely and are another idea for last minute DIY (do it yourself) gift.

Stained Glass Snowflake Cookies

I have used festive snowflake cutters for these cookies, but the same idea works just as well for almost any shape. They look beautiful hanging at a window, allowing the light to shine through the “stained
glass.” Or you can give one cookie to each guest as a place setting or table gift at the Christmas dinner table.

MAKES 8 – 12 COOKIES

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
11/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
23/4cups all-purpose flour, plus
extra for rolling
pinch of salt
assorted flavored and colored candies

You will need a selection of snowflake cookie cutters.

Cream the softened butter and confectioners’ sugar together until pale and light. Add thewhole egg and vanilla extract andmix again until thoroughly combined. Sift the flour with the salt, add to the bowl, and mix again until smooth.

Gather the dough into a ball, flatten into a disk, andwrap in plasticwrap. Chill for a couple of hours, or until firm.

Meanwhile divide the boiled candies into separate colors, place in freezer bags, and crush using a rolling pin.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line 2 baking sheets with nonstick parchment paper.

Lightly dust awork surfacewith flour and roll out the dough until it is about the thickness of a quarter. Using the snowflake cutters, stamp out snowflakes in assorted sizes and arrange on the prepared baking sheets. Carefully and neatly fill the holes in the snowflakes with the crushed, boiled candies. Bake in batches on the middle rack of the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, until the cookies are pale golden and the boiled candies have melted and filled the holes.

Cool the cookies on the trays until hardened, and package into boxes lined with baking parchment or waxed paper once completely cold.

These will keep for 4–5 days in an airtight container.

For a number of years, Annie Rigg cooked on the road for the likes of Paul McCartney and Pink Floyd.

(* Recipe from Gifts from the Kitchen by Annie Rigg reproduced courtesy of Kyle Books, Photos by Catherine Gratwicke, all rights reserved)

Will Z Hotel in Long Island City-Queens Fill Up with 100 Dollar Night Deal for NYC Hotel Week, Jan 6-15

Visitors to New York (including some of my family members) want to do so many things while they are in town that they often turn down offers to stay in the burbs.

Will they make the trek to Z Hotel, a new boutique hotel in Long Island City, Queens to take advantage of their $100 a night Deal during NY Hotel Week running from January 6-15.

Hotels in Manhattan offering the $100 promo include budget option the Hotel @ Times Square.

Other offers are priced at $200 and $250.

I wish New York Hotel Week had a proper site with full details.

I had to rely on NYC 'Hotel Week' rates as low as $100 a night (Hotel check In, USA Today) by Barbara De Lollis for real details on the promo.

As with any deals, she advises those interested to read the fine print.

January treats in Big Apple for the flexible traveler.

(* Image of Z Hotel lobby from hotel website, by Reuben Negron Photography)

Opposite of Waste is Saved, T Shirts Re Invented, DIY Holiday Gift Ideas

Humor and practical common sense rule at Do the Green Thing as always.

Amongst their greenest advice for 2011 and beyond, The Opposite of Waste is Saved which echoes ethos of Junk for Joy as mentioned in Turn Old Vinyl Records into Bookends...

 

 

T Shirts re-purposed as DIY holiday gift ideas

Saved not wasted for Green Day # 206

Previously:

Dumpster Diving Gift Idea, Dive! Living Off America's Waste, The DVD and Eat Trash Campaign

Turn Old Vinyl Records into Bookends, Junk for Joy by Sian Berry Offers Fun DIY Gift Ideas

If I needed a reminder that someone's junk is somebody else's gold, Junk for Joy (Kyle Books, September 2011 in the UK) by Siân Berry proves that creating new designs from discards can be very rewarding.

As shown below, the author turns old vynil records into bookends.

This would be a great DIY gift idea for a music lover.

Just don't use of her/ his favorite records for it.

Quince Vodka, Do It Yourself Gift Idea from How To Make Your Own Drinks

The DIY wave has many facets. Suzy Atkins guides us through its liquid side in How to make your own drinks (Mitchell Beazley, Fall 2011).

It will be a little late to have this recipe ready for Christmas 2011. You can always offer it as an unfinished melody.

Here's Quince Vodka recipe from How to Make Your Own Drinks.

Quince Vodka

Makes approximately 600ml (1 pint)

I challenge anyone not to like this – quinces give the vodka a yellow glow and a honeyed flavour. This is another drink that you make in the autumn to be ready by Christmas. Another great gift, then.

2 large quinces
50cl (18fl oz) vodka (unflavoured)
200g (7oz) golden caster sugar

1. Wash and dry the quinces, then grate them, whole and unpeeled, using the coarse side of a grater. Use the entire fruit, core and all. As you grate, put batches into a kilner jar and splash in a little vodka,
or the fruit will quickly brown.

2. Work swiftly and pile all the last bits into the jar and add the sugar, topping the whole lot up with the vodka.

3. Seal and turn gently to mix. Turn every day for 2 weeks, then occasionally for another 4 weeks. Strain after this period, discard the quince and bottle the lovely golden spirit.

* This tastes quite sweet and doesn’t need any more sugar adding at the end (as some recipes suggest).
* Delicious with a fresh fruit salad, or with a plate of preserved fruits (apricots, figs, dates), toasted hazelnuts and pistachios.
* I have made this with decent windfalls, but do inspect each quince carefully and discard any that are very bruised.

(* Quince Vodka recipe from How to make your own drinks by Suzy Atkins- Mitchell Beazley- Fall 2011- shared with permission- all rights reserved)

Dumpster Diving Gift Idea, Dive! Living Off America's Waste, The DVD and Eat Trash Campaign

Time's been scarce to jot down ideas for today's Green Day.

Thankfully a fully formed topic landed in my Inbox.

As our buying frenzy gets into high gear with each holiday, what could be a better antidote than the subject of Dumpster Diving, rescuing food leftovers.

Let's be honest, many people do it out of necessity rather than choice.

A man on a mission, Jeremy Seifert documents the trend in Dive! The Film- Living Off America's Waste.

The film site also promotes the Eat Trash Campaign to End Food Waste.

Will it be part of the conversation at the dinner table on Christmas or New Year's Eve 2011?

Dumpster Diving for Green Day # 205

Previously: Are DIY Gifts the Best Way to Give Green This Holiday 2011?

Are DIY Gifts the Best Way to Give Green This Holiday 2011?

There is an inherent tension between desire to be green and shopping for holiday gifts.

Are DIY (Do It Yourself) Gifts the best way to give green this holiday 2011?

You might not be the next great painter or best cook in town.

For those with time and patience, embroidery can combine both and after being framed ends up as a nice personalized kitchen gift.

It all starts with a pattern like those Food Math themes 'Sad to Happy' themes sold by Wild Olive on Etsy.

DIY gifts on the table for Green Day # 204

Previously: Chauffeured New York Car Service with a Low Emission Mission, OZO car

(* Image for Food Math from Wild Olive's Etsy Shop)