Planning and Asian Style Picnic Brunch

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody!

hollywoodkitchen in General Chowhounding Topics

Planning and Asian Style Picnic Brunch

Hi,

I'm planning an Asian style picnic brunch for about 40 people and I am wondering if any of you have suggestions on what to serve. So far, I am thinking of cold soba noodles and a green papaya salad. Any other suggestions for fun finger food that can be served room temperature, can be made in advance and can sit around on a buffet table for a couple of hours and still hold up well?

Thanks!
HK

hollywoodkitchen in General Chowhounding Topics

Blueberry filled poundcake

I was thinking of doing your second suggestion (the first one wouldn't give me that liquid blueberry center I am hoping for. I am just wondering if doing this would make the mixture sink to the bottom or if the liquid extracted from the cooking blueberries would get absorbed into the cake.

hollywoodkitchen in Home Cooking

Blueberry filled poundcake

Hi,

I had an amazing cake at a cafe in Vermont last week. It was blueberry poundcake which looked like it had fresh blueberries baked into it, but when we cut into it, a blueberry filling poured out of it (the consistency of fresh blueberry pie filling). It was amazing and I was wondering if anyone has experience making a cake like this. The only recipes I can find are for fruit-filled layer cakes or fruit-filled cupcakes where you cut a hole in the top and add fruit filling before frosting. I want to be able to bake it as one piece but keep the blueberry center liquidy. Any recipes/advice?

Thanks!

hollywoodkitchen in Home Cooking

Firmer Cream Cheese Frosting

Hi,

I am making coconut cupcakes for a wedding and I need a cream cheese frosting that won't melt and get drippy if it sits at room temperature for 1/2 a day. Any recipes?

Thanks!

hollywoodkitchen in Home Cooking

Color of anise

Hi,

I am making some anise flavored macarons and I was wondering what people think the color of something anise flavored should be. I am thinking green but then maybe people will expect mint. I thought of blue, but perhaps that's just weird??? I would love some suggestions for both the macaron and the filling colors.

Thanks!

hollywoodkitchen in Home Cooking

Bulk Almond Flour?

The almond meal is for a large batch of macarons.

hollywoodkitchen in Los Angeles Area

Bulk Almond Flour?

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I didn't need 25 pounds, only five but I am working on a very limited budget for a party. I ended up buying some cheap almond and blanching, peeling and grinding them myself. It was a lot of work - may have just been worth it to buy the $10/pound bags.

hollywoodkitchen in Los Angeles Area

Bulk Almond Flour?

Hi,

I am looking for bulk almond flour or almond meal somewhere in LA - or just really cheap. The store near me sells it for $10/lb but I need a lot of it.

Alternatively, if anyone knows where I can buy bulk (preferably blanched) and unsalted almonds, that would work as well.

Thanks!

hollywoodkitchen in Los Angeles Area

Looking for passion fruit paste or puree

Hi,

does anyone know where in Los Angeles I can find passion fruit puree or paste?

Thanks!

hollywoodkitchen in Los Angeles Area

Gelatin to liquid ratio (Kosher)

Hi,

I am making a gelee with kosher, fish based gelatin. Is the ratio of liquid to gelatin the same as with Knox gelatin?

hollywoodkitchen in Home Cooking

How much invert sugar should I use?

Hi,

I am making a grape sorbet that won't be served until a week later. I don't want it to get icy so I bought some invert sugar as I understand that this helps sugar from crystalizing and making the sorbet too hard. I am wondering if anyone knows how much invert sugar I should use in a quart of sorbet? Does this replace all the sugar or just some of it?

hollywoodkitchen in Home Cooking

mini tartlet pans

Those are nice, but they are assorted - I'm looking for a pack like that with a single shape.

hollywoodkitchen in Cookware

mini tartlet pans

Hi,

I need 200 tartlet pans (about 2.5 inches in diameter) and the tartlet sets I keep finding online are all assorted. Does anyone know where to find large sets of tartlet pans that are a single shape?

hollywoodkitchen in Cookware

non-assorted mini tartlet sets

Hi,

I need 200 tartlet pans (about 2.5 inches in diameter) and the tartlet sets I keep finding online are all assorted. Does anyone know where to find large sets of tartlet pans that are a single shape?

hollywoodkitchen in Los Angeles Area

How soon can you roast the turkey?

Hi,

I am making Thanksgiving this year - more or less single-handedly. In my small oven, I can really only fit in one thing at a time. I am thinking of first roasting side vegetables, then the turkey, then the stuffing. (other guests are bringing dessert). My question is: how long can the turkey sit out after it has been roasted? Can it sit for a couple of hours?

hollywoodkitchen in Home Cooking

Thanksgiving Vegetable sides

I am always a huge fan of any roasted vegetable - brussel sprouts are great, as is roasted chunks of buttercup squash. Also, Martha Stewart Living (Nov. 2008) has a recipe for Braised Red Cabbage that looks beautiful and the recipe seems both simple and flavorful.

hollywoodkitchen in Home Cooking