Gilded in Gold Easter Eggs

Dying Easter eggs has always been an important family tradition in the Meyer house and as the children who used to guard their mugs of eggs soaking until they couldn’t get any more color got older, the tradition has evolved with each of us celebrating the holiday with our own new traditions.  This year I decided to try a new take on the annual craft and was so excited to come across this super DIY tutorial for foiling eggs.  The process is actually pretty simple – especially if you’ve worked with gold gilding sheets in the past.  I found the eggs took the size (the glue for foil sheets) much better at room temperature.  Pics of my project after the jump.  Happy Easter!

Brown Butter Custard Pie with Cranberry Glaze

I wrote about this recipe years ago when it first came out in Food & Wine Magazine and have made it every Thanksgiving since!  It’s the perfect non-traditional end to one of the most celebrated meals of the year and beautiful to boot!  I love the look of the cranberry glaze on top of the speckled creamy filling and the little golden orange dollops of deliciousness by the way of sweet potato and white chocolate on top!

Brown Butter Custard Pie with Cranberry Glaze
2 teaspoons plain powdered gelatin
Reserved browned butter solids from Cinnamon Toast Crumb Crust (below)
1 cup whole milk
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Kosher salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 cup sour cream
Cinnamon Toast Crumb Crust (recipe below)
3 1/2 ounces white chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup cranberry sauce, pureed and strained

Cinnamon Toast Crumb Crust
2 sticks unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups diced crusts and end pieces from 1 loaf of packaged white bread (10 ounces crusts)

Guess Whoo I am for Halloween!

I love owls! I’ve actually wanted to be an owl for Halloween since I was a Chi Omega in college and finally got around to sewing a costume, so nicely modeled by Haute Papier‘s very own Kate here!  Since it’s Make-It Monday, click below for the how to!

Happy Fourth!

Make-It Monday goes to the kitchen this week for a Fourth of July tart! It’s just perfect (go figure, it’s from Martha)!  Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

For the crust:
5 cups all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons sugar
2 cup (4 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup ice water

For the creme fraiche filling:
2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each), room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 ounces creme fraiche
1 cup confectioner’s sugar

For the tart:
4 ounces semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup apricot jam, for glazing blueberries
1/2 cup raspberry jam, for glazing raspberries
2 tablespoons water
2 pints red raspberries
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
1 pint blueberries, picked over

Egg Warmers

It’s not as if I don’t already have enough to do in getting ready for Easter this weekend, but now I’ve added whipping up some of these.  I couldn’t help but link to this super cute Easter craft since I’m going to rush out to the craft store tonight to get some felt so I can put them over everyone’s eggs on Sunday morning.  Thought you’d enjoy 🙂

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Now that’s a novel idea! Thank you Martha Stewart!

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the perfect dessert… An Ice Cream Float. Make it just like your mom used to, just substitute a bottle of Guinness for that root beer. Fill a large glass with 2 scoops of your favorite vanilla ice cream, then slowly pour the stout over the ice cream. Enjoy!

Walnut Fig Sandwich Cookies

This is a recipe I tested for The Post a few weeks ago that completely surprised and delighted me!  I love figs, but didn’t think I’d like the walnut cookie part as much as I did.  The recipe is very similar to a shortbread, and the nuttiness of the walnuts gave it a rich, graham cracker feel.  It’s a great addition to your Christmas platter!

Walnut Fig Sandwich Cookies

For the cookies

• 1 cup walnut halves, toasted (see NOTE)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups unbleached flour, plus more for working the dough
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour (see headnote)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 large egg

For the filling

• 8 ounces (about 13) dried Calimyrna figs (tough stems removed), chopped (1 1/2 cups)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Peel (without pith) from 1/2 orange
• 1 cup water

Happy Thanksgiving…

I’m headed to Spain for Thanksgiving to visit my little sister, but before I left, I wanted to share this great promo that Haute Papier is running for the next week… Get 150 coasters for the price of 100.  Simply enter the promo code “thankful” when ordering on our website here.   These coasters make a great hostess gift during the holiday season!

Upcoming Food Events

Thanksgiving is a time for celebrating with family and friends while taking in all that we are grateful for…like not having to do the dishes!  If you are thinking of going out this year, here are some fabulous options:

1789 in Georgetown will be featuring delicious options on their seasonal a la carte menu including oyster and applewood-smoked bacon gratin with braised salsify, aged Gruyere and brioche croutons; sweet potato gnocchi with toasted walnuts and much more. There will also be a 3-course menu at $50 if you prefer.  Thanksgiving hours will be 12:00 Noon until 9:00pm.  Call 202.965.1789 for reservations or visit their website for more information.

Buddha Bar will have its famous Peking-Style Peking Duck Dinner in addition to its regular menu.  Call 202.377.5555 for reservations or visit their site.

BGR (The Burger Joint) has a bit more casual fare including their Thanksgiving on a Bun; a turkey burger topped with cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, and cornbread stuffing.  Delicious, right?  Made better only by pairing it with their Pumpkin Pie Shake.  BGR has locations in Old Town Alexandria, Arlington and Dupont Circle.

Darlington House in Dupont Circle will be offering a 3-course Thanksgiving Dinner with a Prosecco toast for $40 per person.  A kid’s version will be available for $20.  For reservations call 202.332.3722

Bibiana has a 3-course menu for $45.  Beautiful items like Juniper crusted Heritage Turkey, Butternut Squash Tortellini, and Apple Financier.  For Reservations call 202.216.9550 or visit their site.

The Bombay Club will see the return of Chef Nilesh Singhvi’s Tandoori Turkey; boneless chunks of white meat, marinated with yogurt, ginger, garlic and fenugreek leaves. The Thanksgiving turkey is offered on Thanksgiving Day 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 5:30 PM to
10:00 PM.  Call 202.659.3727 for reservations.

Cleveland Park’s Ardeo+Bardeo will complete their extensive renovations just in time for their annual Thanksgiving Feast!  This 3-course meal, priced at $45 per person, includes traditional favorites like Hearth Oven Roasted Turkey with chestnut and sage stuffing, mashed potatoes and dried cranberry gravy as well as autumn harvest specialties like Smoked Tea Crusted Domestic Lamb Loin Carpaccio and Roasted Scottish Salmon with sunchoke and butternut squash hash.  For reservations call 202.244.6750

Commonwealth Gastropub in Columbia Heights will offer a family-style Thanksgiving roast from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. for $35 per person.  Dishes include roast turkey with cranberry sauce, roast beef with shallot au jus, and sides such as winter squash gratin, collard greens, and stuffing.  For reservations call 202.265.1400 or visit their site.
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**Pricing quoted do not include beverages, tax nor gratuity. Contact each individual establishment for precise details.

Now, if you would like to entertain in your home but want serve your favorite restaurant dishes, we have something for you, too.  Many area restaurants will make large portions of Thanksgiving favorites that you can take home to heat and serve.  Here a just a few examples:

RIS in the West End will be making side items by the quart to be picked up the Wednesday before our wonderful, gastronomic, national holiday.  Your favorite holiday side items will be available in quart-size containers.  Exact items will be determined in the first few weeks of November…once Chef sees what the farmers have to offer at the market.  For details call 202.730.2500 or visit their website.

The Washington, DC locations of Ruth’s Chris Steak House will also offer large sizes of some of their famous side dishes.  Select from Broccoli au Gratin, Sweet Potato Casserole, Bread Pudding with Whiskey Cream Sauce or their famous Creamed Spinach.  Call ahead for orders to be picked up on Wednesday the 24th  Dupont Circle 202.797.0033 or 9th Street 202.393.4488

Have a Berry Good Fourth!

I love this tart for a Fourth of July picnic… It’s just perfect (go figure, it’s from Martha)!  Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

For the crust:
5 cups all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons sugar
2 cup (4 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup ice water

For the creme fraiche filling:
2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each), room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 ounces creme fraiche
1 cup confectioner’s sugar

For the tart:
4 ounces semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup apricot jam, for glazing blueberries
1/2 cup raspberry jam, for glazing raspberries
2 tablespoons water
2 pints red raspberries
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
1 pint blueberries, picked over