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
Yelp Eats!
If you love dining out AND a great deal, then you’ll love Yelp Eats!, which kicks off July 11 in Sacramento. Five fantastic restaurants from the region are participating in this seven-day “event” which concludes July 17. Here are all the details:
July 11 to 17: 7 days. 5 restaurants. A special 1/2-off menu of 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 3 desserts! You can build your own three-course meal or mix and match from the Yelp Eats! and regular menus to order as much as you like. It’s Yelp’s “Tasting Week” for some of the most “Yelpy” restaurants Sacramento has to offer.
A few important tips to enjoy Yelp Eats! Restaurant Week:
• Reservations are not required, but highly recommended. When you call to make reservations, let them know you’re coming for Yelp Eats!
• The half off deals do NOT include tax/tip or additional items. Please tip as you would on a full-meal.
• Please order at least two items off the Yelp Eats! menu to participate in the promotion. For example, try a Yelp Eats! app and drink and order your entree from the regular menu. Mixing and matching is fun!
• Spread the word, this deal is open to all, yelpers and non-yelpers alike!
Here are the participating restaurants and BRIEF menu options:
Yelp Eats! Restaurants and Menu offerings (half off each item listed below)
Morgan’s Restaurant (Inside the Sheraton Grand)
Apps: Bloomsdale Spinach Salad, Harvest Pear Salad, Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
Entrees: Sweet Pea Risotto, Grilled Salmon Filet, Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Desserts: Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble, Praline Cheesecake, Trio of Crème Brule
Good Eats Grocer & Kitchen (Closed Sundays)
Apps: Sicilian House-Made Focaccia Sticks and Marinara, Calamari, Fish and Chips
Entree: Asian Salmon Salad, Good Eats Combo Pizza, Portabella Mushroom Sandwich
Dessert: Key Lime Tart, Lemon Cooler Cake, Triple Chocolate Cake
Kupros Bistro
Apps (3 choices per course): Bruschetta / Blue Cheese Aioli, Bistro Filet, Truffled Arugula, Balsamic Roasted Onions, Soup Du Jour, Baby Lettuce / Pickled Blackberries, Maytag Blue, Toasted Walnuts, Red Wine Vinaigrette
Entrees (6 choices): Grilled Bistro / Epozote and Black Bean Puree, Roasted Corn and Shrimp Salsa, Queso Fresco Arugula Salad, Eggplant “Cannelloni” / Squash and Herb Stuffing, Soffrito, Herb Salad
Desserts: Affogato, Assorted Gelato, Peach Crostada
Cordova Restaurant Casino
Apps: Prawn Cocktail, Lump Crab Cakes, Spinach Salad
Entrees: Lobster Ravioli with Brandy Cream, New York Steak Dianne, Fish of the Day
Desserts: Apple Galette, White and Dark Chocolate Mousse, Coppa Marscapone
Zocalo
Apps: Empanadas, Ceviche Campechana, Ceviche Verde
Entrees: Paella Mexicana, Enchiladas Guanajuato, Cochinita Pibil
Desserts: Tres Leches, Tart de Chocolate, Churros
Macaroni and Cheese
Potluck recipes- as promised!
My approach to potlucks has changed over the years. Previously, I would use the party goers as my guinea pigs to try new recipes I found interesting. However, after many failed dishes, I’ve changed my strategy and have tried to hone in on a few signature dishes that work well in any crowd. For desserts, it’s usually my Peach and Raspberry Crisp, but when I want to bring something savory, I like this Macaroni & Cheese recipe that I made a few small changes to from AllRecipes. I like my Mac & Cheese to have a little bite, so I don’t skimp on the dry mustard and prefer to use an extra sharp cheddar. We’ve used this recipe as a base and have added bacon, peas, even a little cayenne pepper for a kick. Enjoy!
Recipe: Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 8 ounces macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, minced
- 1 tablespoon flour
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Place the panko crumbs into a small bowl and mix well with the melted butter; set aside.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
- Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, then place into prepared casserole dish.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir in the minced onion and cook until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the flour, salt, pepper and dry mustard until incorporated, then pour in the milk and bring to a simmer.
- Simmer, stirring constantly until the milk has thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Take the milk off of the heat and stir in the Cheddar cheese until melted.
- Pour cheese sauce over the macaroni, then sprinkle evenly with buttered bread crumbs.
- Bake until the top is golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
- For an extra crispy top, broil for a few minutes, but we keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
Frosted Cake Shop, Sacramento
A child’s first birthday is a pretty big deal…especially for Mom! I must admit, I’ve been planning my son’s first birthday for about 10 months, so when the big day was nearly here, I threw on my event planning hat and went to work. First order of business was the theme, and there was no question it had to be a Special Agent Oso party. To say my son loves Oso would be a vast understatement. From invitations to goodie bags, it was all Oso. So it was imperative we also have a Special Agent Oso cake as well…enter the Frosted Cake Shop.
I knew I wanted lots of color and Oso on the cake in some way, and what owner/baker extraordinaire Tessa Lindow created far surpassed our expectations. First, she made buttercream look like fondant, something I didn’t know was humanly possible. Second, she didn’t just nail the little marzipan Oso, but she created images of Dotty, Wolfie and Paw Pilot too (if you have a child under the age of three, you know exactly what I’m referring to). But the biggest surprise, and the one that literally brought a tear to my eye, was the special cake she prepared especially for my son.
I haven’t even mentioned that the cake was delicious, light and perfectly sweet – a real crowd pleaser! We ordered the Vanilla Butter cake with Chocolate Buttercream filling and can’t wait to have Tessa make us another cake because her options – including Classic Chocolate Cake with Peanut Buttercream – sound heavenly.
The Frosted Cake Shop
1820 29th Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 453-1981
Manaao Thai Cuisine, West Sacramento
Nestled next to a Starbucks in a tiny strip of restaurants and stores off Highway 80 in West Sacramento is a hidden gem…Manaao Thai Cuisine. We discovered this restaurant about a year ago and have been frequent guests ever since. They have fast, courteous service and delicious and affordable Thai cuisine that keeps us coming back for more.
No trip to Manaao is complete without the Shrimp Rolls ($5.95) which couldn’t be more simple, and yet, so delicious. They perfectly salt and pepper the shrimp before wrapping them in egg roll wrappers , then are quickly fried and served with a sweet and sour sauce.
As for entrees, we have several favorites including the Larb Chicken ($6.95), a zesty salad of ground chicken mixed with dried chilies, onions, cilantro, rice powder, lettuce and lime juice, as well as the Yellow Curry (which we get with chicken for $7.50). We recently discovered the Golden Curry Noodles which takes their yellow curry base and adds in rice noodles, chicken, prawns, tofu, broccoli, onions and cabbage ($7.50). It’s almost a hybrid of soup and curry. It’s just a really lovely dish.
They have dozens more options including a previous Wordless Wednesday post of Garlic Pepper Beef as well as Pra Ram (garlic and spinach in a peanut sauce) with chicken or shrimp.
So if you find yourself at IKEA one day craving Thai food, hop on over to the other side of the highway and check out Manaao. You won’t be disappointed.
Manaao Thai Cuisine
715 Harbor Pointe Palace (next to Starbucks)
West Sacramento, CA 95605
916-373-1732
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