by bobbienoto | Dec 21, 2011 | Candies, Home, x
Truffles are one of my favorite guilty pleasures; in fact Sydney was barely walking when she had her first truffle. She adored the truffles so much she shared a truffle with my closest nephew. She proclaimed they were to die for and he must try one. My nephew, who was...
by bobbienoto | Dec 20, 2011 | Candies, Home, x
For eight nights the celebration of Chanukah will last, each night a special prayer will be said as the candles are lit. There are total of nine candles, the Shamash is to light the eight candles known as the festival of lights, beginning on the 25th day of the...
by bobbienoto | Dec 20, 2011 | Candies, Home, x
Holiday time is filled with glistening lights, beautifully decorated towns, and inviting city streets. It also happens to be the time Sydney and I raise the baking bar; it is the time of year we spend hours upon hours designing exquisite desserts that challenge the...
by bobbienoto | Dec 16, 2011 | Candies, Fruit Desserts, Home
I have always wanted to create the delicate glacé whole orange; the correct and proper instructions seem to be a vaulted secret. There is a wonderful confectionery market in Nice France, The Confiserie Florian; they have almost every type of glacé fruit...
by bobbienoto | Dec 12, 2011 | Cakes, Home, x
While organizing my pantry I found a christmas tree cake pan, I just could not resist preparing a tree cake or 4. I love this time of year, Sydney and I bake our hearts out and give treats to everyone we know. I relish watching friends and family as they realize a...
by bobbienoto | Dec 11, 2011 | Cookies and brownies, Home, x
There is something about the crisp clean snow and the smell of warm gingerbread cookies baking in the oven that screams the holidays are here. The week after Thanksgiving is when Sydney and I start the gingerbread baking; hot apple cider and gingerbread cookies warm...
by bobbienoto | Dec 6, 2011 | Creations, Home, Pastries and Viennoiseries, x
It is thought of that Stollen originated in 1329 as a result of a contest offered by the Bishop of Nauruburg. Bakers in the Dresden region produced a wonderful bread baked with the finest butter, sugar, raisins, candied citron and other specialty ingredients....
by bobbienoto | Dec 6, 2011 | Creations, Pastries and Viennoiseries, x
Some traditions in our family are 7 to 9 generations old, while others are only a year or two. Traditional stollen joyously came into our lives last year, the moment Sydney realized almond paste was rolled into the center, it became an instant favorite. We created it...
by bobbienoto | Dec 3, 2011 | Bobbie talks Blogging, Home, Tarts and Pies, x
Sydney and I are blessed with a plethora of readers, some who have enjoyed sharing family stories, and treasured family recipes. A week or so ago a regular reader, Carolyn K surprised us with her family’s traditional pecan pie. Carolyn wrote how once a year she...
by bobbienoto | Dec 2, 2011 | Cakes, Creations
It seems I become nostalgic every year, luckily Sydney has embraced our family tradition. During the time between Thanksgiving and New Years we bake a plethora of cookies, cakes, pie, and pavlovas. Cranberry cake has joined the Noto tradition in 2001; Christmas that...
by bobbienoto | Nov 30, 2011 | Home, Tarts and Pies, x
The original Almond Apple Pie was not decorated with almond pasty dough; I realized I had unevenness after I placed the dough in the pan. I, of course was going to continue and blind bake the dough, but I obsessed about the aesthetic perception for the entire baking...
by bobbienoto | Nov 29, 2011 | Creations, Home, Tarts and Pies, x
Wow! Thanksgiving was brillant; coming down with the flu not so much. I had planned to bake this pie on Saturday, but my body would not cooperate. This is turning into a tradition (not the flu) baking this Almond Custard Apple Pie and decorating the house. DF and...
by bobbienoto | Nov 21, 2011 | Candies, Home, x
Many years ago, about fifteen to be precise, Sydney and I began preparing a special treat bag to hand out to our family and friends that have joined us in our Thanksgiving celebration. I love the look in each person’s eyes when they realize Sydney and I have...
by bobbienoto | Nov 18, 2011 | Cakes, Creations, x
Every year on Thanksgiving I awake early, about 5:00 A.M. No need to gasp, I go for a five mile run and then meet Sydney in the kitchen for coffee and some breakfast as we write a cooking/baking schedule to guide us during the day and turn on The Today Show (Until...
by bobbienoto | Nov 16, 2011 | Creations, Tarts and Pies, x
As I mentioned in the previous blog this tart recipe has been in my husband’s family for generations; I did completely change the custard and originally the pears were only an accent. I am almost sure each generation has added their mark. Since Sydney adores...
by bobbienoto | Nov 15, 2011 | Creations, Tarts and Pies, x
Sydney’s favorite Thanksgiving dessert is a Caramelized Pear Tart, an old family recipe that we have tweaked to our liking. I was blessed to inherit a plethora of DF’s Italian family recipes when we became engaged. I can remember spending countless hours...
by bobbienoto | Nov 14, 2011 | Creations, Fruit Desserts, Home, x
Cranberry sauce, is almost on every Thanksgiving table, it is expected. I remember, the first Thanksgiving I hosted as DF’s wife. I was excited, a little nerves, and meticulously designed a menu. I have to admit I was a tad neurotic, nothing could go wrong, and...
by bobbienoto | Nov 13, 2011 | Home, Savory
Thanksgiving for us is more than just a holiday dinner; we thoroughly enjoy preparing the entire event. The highlight is Thursday Thanksgiving morning; we turn on The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and begin to prep our turkey. We generally start our feast at...
by bobbienoto | Nov 11, 2011 | Cakes, Home, x
Our Boston Cream Pie has 3 layers and a chocolate glaze The traditional Parker Hotel Boston Cream Pie has a chocolate fondant top with a white chocolate spiral. Both DF and Sydney are not found of chocolate fondant. Sydney and I chose to substitute the chocolate...
by bobbienoto | Nov 10, 2011 | Cakes, Home, x
Yesterday I shared DF’s birthday cake recipe and little history about why a cake is called a pie, The Boston Cream Pie. I must confess I still do not understand why the Parker Hotel (in Boston, Massachusetts) would continue to call this delicious cake a pie....
