Food

Entertaining: Cocktails & Crème Brûlée

~ Paris

It always feels a little disappointing a few days into January, once the holidays have officially ended, festive lights and pretty ornaments have been packed away for the next eleven months, and even the excitement of the new year has begun to fade away and the year has simply turned into this year. To find a way of keeping the month feeling fresh and special, I always try to either travel someplace new or entertain at home. This year I decided to kick off January with a girls night paired with cocktails and crème brûlée. This was one of my favorite traditions in college – enjoying rosewater cardamom crème brûlée and girly cocktails at the local lounge, for a ridiculously fun and very feminine night out. 

To recreate this, I purchased crème brûlée from our local bakery and chose to make the ultimate, girly drink – a cosmopolitan – using this recipe {except I’d suggest half the amount of booze and double the cranberry juice since this was a rather potent drink, or with no booze at all like I had it.} The tartness of the drink paired perfectly with the rich dessert, and catching up on our favorite TV shows, as well as one another, made the evening feel that much more special. 



x Paris

White Truffle Oil Parmesan & Portobello Sandwich

~ Paris

Most people who meet me instantly realize I am obsessed with mushrooms {obsessed with a capital O, obviously}. So it’s always been great for me as a vegetarian to find portobello burgers and sandwiches whenever I go out. But I didn’t try white truffle oil until a few years ago {which is olive oil with the white truffle essence}. I instantly fell in love {it is my new official go-to for pastas and pizzas} and decided to try making my classic portobello sandwich using the white truffle oil for my flame roasted mushroom. Paired with parmesan, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and chèvre, it created a flavorful punch to every bite. And well, the white truffle oil infused flame roasted portobello had the most intense flavor which I plan to recreate every time I sauté or serve mushrooms.

White Truffle Oil Parmesan & Portobello Sandwich
 
Ingredients:
1 Portobello Mushroom
2 Tablespoons White Truffle Oil
2 Slices Bread
Spinach
Sun Dried Tomatoes
Parmesan Cheese
Chèvre
Cooking Spray
 
 
Recipe:
1. Over a low flame, toast two slices of bread with a splash of cooking spray. Once toasted, sprinkle each slice with parmesan cheese and broil on high for 1-2 minutes.
2. Add fresh spinach leaves to one slice of bread and sun dried tomatoes to the other.
3. On a high flame, being flame roasting a large portobello mushroom with the white truffle oil. Note: If more oil is required, either add a plain cooking spray {I used canola oil} or more a more indulgent option, add more truffle oil.
4. Once the mushroom is cooked, stuff the middle with the goat cheese and place it in the sandwich.
5. Slice the sandwich and enjoy!
 
x Paris