At Home with Kim Vallee

GIFT IDEAS, Gift WRAP | November 5, 2009

Wrapping Ideas for Your Holiday Baked Goods

Every year, my husband and I baked our batches of holiday cookies. They become our signature hostess gifts during the Holidays. I make sure to select a beautiful reusable container. It is part of the gift. Naturally, I am always on the lookout for new ways to wrap my baked goods. It became a tradition. I [...]

CAKES and baked goods, ENTERTAINING | October 27, 2009

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How to Make Spider Web Icing

To conclude today’s marathon on Halloween treats, I am leaving you a link to a tutorial I spot on Bake at 350. You can learn how to make this awesome two-color spider Web icing. The technique is demonstrated on cookies but it could be adapted for decorating cupcakes. Bridget of Bake at 350 is a source [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | October 6, 2009

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Pan-Baked Lemon-Almond Tart by Mark Bittman

I told you yesterday that I plan to dress a dessert table à la Amy Atlas for my husband’s birthday. Consequently, I started a hunt for tasty and rapid-to-bake desserts that fit my color palette. Since I believe every menu needs an array of textures, I add the mix of textures to my requirements. I will try [...]

COOKBOOKS, DINING | October 5, 2009

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Salty Sweets by Christie Matheson

Balancing salt and sweet is popular with chefs. Simply think of caramels with fleur de sel or molten chocolate cake served with olive oil. I am in the middle of organizing my husband’s birthday party. This year, I decided to try to make a dessert table à la Amy Atlas. Since there will be lot of sweets, [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | July 17, 2007

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At last, my muffin presentation

This post is long overdue since I announced it last May. But I was unable to find in Montreal the right baking tools until now. I phoned and visited many specialty stores without success so far. I almost gave up but I wanted it so bad that I have all the facts. What is so special [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | April 28, 2007

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Follow up to my No-Knead Bread story

The Pain Maison from Eric Girard has many holes on it as you can see on the picture. You cannot compare this bread to the texture of a baguette; that is two different things. The recipe produces a rustic bread loaf with a crispy crust. Rustic bread is often better toasted, which makes this recipe perfect [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | April 27, 2007

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No knead bread 101: Michael Smith vs Olive & Gourmando baker home recipes

Bread machine and kneading are obsolete with the latest crave for no-knead bread recipe. Since the New York Times published an innovative No knead bread recipe last November adapted from Jim Lahey’s recipe at Sullivan Street Bakery, everyone made its own version. I discovered the technique a couple months ago while watching a TV series called [...]