Caramel Apple Bundt Cake

As I mentioned here, my girlfriend has been handing out all sorts of homemade treats from her apple tree and I had more applesauce than I knew what to do with. Luckily, I was browsing food52 and came across this recipe for applesauce cake with caramel icing. I’ve been making a lot of sweets lately (see here and here), but I couldn’t resist trying this out. The applesauce I used was pretty chunky and I love the texture it gives to the cake. Serve a slice with some ice cream for dessert or eat alongside your morning coffee for a sweet breakfast treat.

Caramel Apple Bundt Cake:
For Cake

• In a large bowl, beat together 2 large eggs with 1 c. white sugar and ½ c. brown sugar until pale in color.
• Add in 1 ½ c. unsweetened applesauce, 2/3 c. canola oil, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract.
• Sift together 2 c. flour, 1 ½ tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. powdered ginger and ½ tsp. ground nutmeg and stir into the applesauce mixture until just combined.
• Pour the batter into a large bundt pan that has been buttered and floured and place in a 350°F oven.
• Cook for 45 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean from the center of the cake.
• Let the cake cool for a few minutes, then remove from the pan and let the cake cool completely.

For Glaze

• Melt together ½ stick butter, ½ c. brown sugar, 1/3 c. heavy cream, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan.
• Let the mixture boil for 1 minute, then remove from the heat and cool for a few minutes.
• Slowly whisk in 3/4 c. powdered sugar, then immediately pour glaze over the cake.
• Let the glaze harden completely, then cut and serve.

Serves eight

Ricotta Gnocchi

Make a big batch of these gnocchi and freeze leftovers for future quick weeknight meals

I've always been confident with my cooking ability, but there are certain things I like to leave to the professionals (puff pastry, complicated sauces, etc.). Gnocchi used to fall into that category, as I've tasted the difference between perfect pillowy clouds of deliciousness and dense, gummy disasters. Potato gnocchi is an all-day cooking event with countless steps, but its equally tasty and much easier-to-make sister, ricotta gnocchi, is much more approachable. I chose to make an adaptation of this recipe, which yielded incredibly soft and tender gnocchi. If you're like me, you'll want to make extra and freeze them for a future quick weeknight meal.


Ricotta Gnocchi:

• Place 24 oz. whole milk ricotta in a towel-lined strainer over a bowl and let sit in the fridge overnight. Pour off liquid that collects at the bottom of the bowl.
• In another large bowl, mix together 1 c. flour, 2 eggs, the ricotta, and salt and pepper until well-combined.*
• Use a 1/2 tsp. measure to grab the dough, then use your hands to roll each spoonful into a ball.
• Place the gnocchi on flour-dusted baking sheets and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.**
• Drop the gnocchi into lightly boiling water and cook for 4-6 minutes, or until gnocchi float to the top and are cooked through.***
• Toss the gnocchi in a pan with warm tomato or brown butter sauce for another minute.
• Divide gnocchi onto plates and top with parmesan cheese.

Serves four - six
*Do not overmix or your gnocchi will be tough. Add a few more tbsp. of flour if your dough is sticky.
**If freezing your gnocchi, place the baking sheet in the freezer until the gnocchi are completely frozen. Then place them in a plastic bag and return them to the freezer.
***Do not overcrowd the pot or your gnocchi will stick together. You may need to cook them in batches if you're making a lot.

Weekend Review: Sam's by the Beach

Bird Nest - Crispy Phyllo, Rose Water Custard, Honey, Pistachios

Yesterday was the beginning of DineLA, L.A.’s restaurant week, and I was so excited to see Sam’s by the Beach on the list of participating venues. For those of you unfamiliar with DineLA, it’s a bi-yearly two-week event where some of the city’s best restaurants offer a discounted three-course prix-fixe menu. My boyfriend and I looked forward to its return for months (see previous DineLA experiences here and here) and take our menu choosing very seriously. Sam’s was an easy choice for us as we’ve been dying to go there for months and it’s located close by. Our party of four loved the California-Mediterranean food and the quaint ambiance – a great start to the week!

Strips of Grilled Calamari Steak, Cous Cous

Hanger Steak, Red Wine Reduction, Mashed Potatoes

Sam's Famous Bread Pudding