Working in the PR biz, we cross paths with many food editors and writers. One of those editors is Jennifer Perillo from Working Mother, In Jennie’s Kitchen and Food 52. We’ve had the opportunity to work with her on stories as well as dine with her a time or two at a great NY hot spot. Sadly, Jennifer’s husband Mikey passed away suddenly earlier this week and the food community has been trying to figure out a way to help Jennifer and their two children. In this touching blog post from In Jennie’s Kitchen, she writes “for those asking what they can do to help my healing process, make a peanut butter pie this Friday and share it with someone you love.” Here’s the SacFoodies take on Jennifer’s recipe. Hope we did her and Mikey proud.
Creamy Peanut Butter Pie
8 ounces chocolate cookies
4 tablespoons butter, melted
4 ounces finely chopped chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup creamy-style peanut butter
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Add the cookies to the bowl of a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Combine melted butter and cookie crumbs in a small bowl, and stir with a fork to mix well. Press mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Pour over bottom of cookie crust and spread to the edges using an off-set spatula. Sprinkle chopped peanuts over the melted chocolate. Place pan in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
Pour the heavy cream into a bowl and beat using a stand mixer or hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a small bowl and store in refrigerator until ready to use. Place the cream cheese and peanut butter in a deep bowl. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in the confectioner’s sugar. Add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract and lemon juice. Increase speed to medium and beat until all the ingredients are combined and filling is smooth.
Stir in 1/3 of the whipped cream into the filling mixture (helps lighten the batter, making it easier to fold in the remaining whipped cream). Fold in the remaining whipped cream. Pour the filling into the prepared springform pan. Drizzle the melted chocolate on top, if using, and refrigerate for three hours or overnight before serving.
Makes 10 – 12 servings
Recipe courtesy of In Jennie’s Kitchen
Archives for August 2011
Patio Happy Hours, Perfect for Hot Summer Nights
I love summer.
For the people of the Sacramento Valley, June, July and August are marked with thermometers reaching 80 degrees at dawn, afternoon swimming and air-conditioners running on high well into the evening.
The upside to this hot, hot heat is that the evenings here in Sacramento can be the perfect time to relax outside, if you don’t mind it feeling a little bit like you stepped in to an African safari.
We have a few suggestions for some happy hours that have great outside patios for enjoying the balmy summer nights.
First and foremost, Cafeteria 15L is my absolute favorite place for evening cocktails in midtown. Not only do they have great patio dining, but you have the chance to sit in tented bungalows worthy of a poolside spot at the Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel. With their billowing white canvas covers, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a romantic summer rendezvous or a casual cocktail with a friend.
Best appetizers hands down are the Grilled Asparagus and the Trio of Fries, which includes regular, sweet potato and garlic. Cafeteria 15L also has $4 well drinks, $5 glasses of wine and $6 martinis. Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Another place I love is Lucca. This charming Mediterranean/California cuisine bistro is the perfect place if you’re feeling adventurous and bit like you need a vacation to the Greek Isles. Its outdoor patio is the perfect place to sip a cocktail and imagine you’re staring out into the ocean off of the Santorini coast.
My recommendations for appetizers at Lucca include the Zucchini Chips and the Bruschetta. As for drinks, when in the Mediterranean, don’t skip the wine.
One great way to find other happy hours is just walk around. I have found many a drink special by just parking my car, getting some exercise and paying attention to the sandwich boards posted outside.
Happy summering!
Cafeteria 15L
1116 15th Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 492-1960
Lucca Restaurant and Bar
1516 J. St
Sacramento, Ca, 95814
(916) 669-5300
Photo courtesy of Fickr user Seriously Photographic.
And the winner is….
Congratulations to Tiana Jette and Renae Chandler for winning tickets to the 2nd Annual Sacramento Banana Festival!
Not a winner, but still want to attend? Tickets can be purchased here. The event takes place this August 13th and 14th at William Land Park.
Thanks to everyone who participated in our ticket giveaway – stay tuned for the next Sac Foodies giveaway!
Sacramento Banana Festival 2011
Sacramento is going BANANAS August 13 – 14, 2011!!
Are you looking for something out of the ordinary to do this weekend? If so, head to Sacramento’s William Land Park for a weekend full of music, food, art, dance, films, and family fun at the 2nd Annual Banana Festival! The weekend of banana-loving fun will take place on Saturday, August 13, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, August 14, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Banana Festival in Sacramento celebrates all the cultures around the world that use bananas as a traditional food source. The festival is also a fundraiser for many local non-profits, primarily the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum.
The festival offers tastes of banana breads, cakes, pies, ice cream, muffins, puddings, cookies, shakes, fritters, and soups. And there’s even a Banana Split Tasting Spectacular – which is reason enough to go right there! Plus, be sure to check out the artwork, costumes, live performances and much more.
If you’re feeling sporty (or need to burn some calories before the Banana Split Tasting Spectacular) head over to the 5K Fun-Run at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Register ahead of time by visiting The Banana Festival online.
Tickets to the Banana Festival can be purchased for $5 online, or for $7 at the gate. Kids five and under are FREE all weekend.
Two lucky readers can win a pair of FREE TICKETS to the Banana Festival right here on SacFoodies! To enter, leave a comment here or on our Facebook page and tell us what your favorite banana dish is and why. We will pick two lucky winners who will each receive a pair of free tickets to The Banana Festival! The winners will be announced on Tuesday.
Here’s a few tips to consider from your friends at SacFoodies: The Banana Festival is an alcohol-free family-friendly event; no pets are permitted other than service dogs; no non-festival food and drinks are permitted within the festival grounds except for water.
Historic Folsom’s Farmers Market
On a recent Sunday morning while most of my family slept, my daughter, sister, aunt and I headed over to the Farmers Market at 900 Sutter Street in historic Folsom. With the sun shining and a giant cup of coffee in hand, we parked on a side street and traipsed across the cobblestones to peek into the more than two dozen stalls that make up this Sunday morning market.
From 8 AM to noon you can taste and purchase locally grown fruit and honey, a variety of fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers, as well as baked goods and homemade sauces. We sampled sweet white nectarines, as well as locally procured honey infused with a hint of blackberry. We saw pomegranate grilling sauces, fresh green beans, eggplant, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, beets – you name it.
Since my sister’s baby shower was only a few hours away, we spent a lot of time at the flower stall, where for $6 I was able to purchase a beautiful bouquet of summer flowers. (I loved them so much I ended up buying two!)
As we left, we noticed scores of people enjoying breakfast at various Sutter Street cafes and vowed that our next trip to this picturesque market would include breakfast!
Folsom Farmers Market
900 Sutter Street in historic Folsom
Sundays, 8 AM – Noon
June -October