strawberry margarita love pie!

A month or so ago I bought an electric mini-pie maker but got so busy with work that I never had a chance to really try it out.

But TODAY… I’m gonna be a pie making fool.

First pie of the day was aptly named by the singer because it tastes like love… dipped into strawberry margaritas (lol).

What you’ll need:

for the dough
1 1/4 cup – All Purpose Flour
1 tbsp – Sugar
1/4 cup – Unsalted Butter (cut into cubes)
3 tsp – Margarine (or Vegetable Shortening)
3-5 tbsp – (very cold) Water

filling
(1) Lemon
(12) Strawberries
3 tbsp – Sugar
Pinch of Salt
1 tbsp – flour

+ Frozen puff pastry (should defrost approx. 40 min before use)
+ Nutella (optional)
+ Electric Mini-pie Maker (I’m sure this recipe will work fine as a regular sized pie… but not sure what the conversions would be. The dough recipe makes (1) 9-9 1/2 in round… so if you wanted to cover the pie you’d have to make two batches.)

Start by making your dough. Combine the flour, sugar and salt into a bowl and mix together. Then using two knives, a standing mixer or hand mixer add in the margarine and butter. Once it’s properly mixed in, it’ll look a bit like cornmeal. Slowly add in the water until the dough roughly comes together (I’ve found that I need 3-5 tbsp’s of water… sometimes 7). Turn the dough onto a floured surface and work it into a 5″ disc. Plastic wrap the yumminess and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Side Note: Yes, the 2 hours are necessary. I’ve been impatient and just rolled out the dough right away and after it crumbles and breaks as you’re trying to roll it out or place it in the pan… you’ll cry and wish you just waited those two hours. I made my dough the night before so I wouldn’t have a chance of getting impatient.

For the filling, begin washing and patting dry your strawberries then cutting and removing the stem. If you’re making the mini-pies I’d suggest cutting the larger strawberries into 6 parts.

Put the cut strawberries into a bowl and add about a tsp of lemon zest, and using the same lemon squeeze the juice—about 2 tbsp—into the bowl (make sure you don’t get any seeds).

Add your sugar and toss all together.

Turn on your pie-maker or over to preheat then roll out your pastry dough. Cut out 4 small rounds for the tops of your pies, flour and set a side. Pull your pie dough out of the fridge and start to roll it out on a floured surface. You’ll want it at a thickness of about 1/8 of an inch. Cut out large rounds for the bottom of your pie.

Immediately begin placing them into your pie maker (if your dough begins getting too soft, it will crumble while cooking… put it back in the fridge for at least 10 minutes before rolling it again on a floured surface) and put a bit of filling into each pie. Don’t worry about putting too much… trust me.

Cover with the puff pastry, close your pie maker and let “bake” for about 9 minutes.

Once fully cooked, remove from the pie maker, plate and serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with nutella for that extra bit of sweet.

Happy pie eating!

recipe adapted from: mini pies by abigail johnson dodge

life, love, a recipe & the rest.

Wowzers… been a while right?

What can I say? Just around the time of my last post, I booked a project which rolled into another project… and then another and another and before I knew it I was 5 months in & 13 jobs deep. It was a roller-coaster of a summer to say the least. After months of work, sleepless nights and a few tears I came away with new friends, a great sense of accomplishment and a store of new experience. I actually feel a tinge of confidence in my work now. I don’t come in to a new office with an unsettling fear that I will fail and disappoint the people who hired me (along with those who recommended me). It’s kind of great.

So now where am I?

Professionally, I’m working on a new project with a new PM and new Producer and entirely new crew. It’s a bit strange to come on to a set and not immediately recognize 50+ faces but… that’s the name of the game in commercial production (I was just spoiled by my golden summer).

Personally, I’m spending most of my free time playing video games on a couch I’ve grown extremely comfortable laying on, reading cooking blogs (smittenkitchen.com, amateurgourmet.com & thekitchn.com are my current favorites), and missing my family. All of the siblings are now spread out across the country with the singer and I still in LA, the actor in Davis, the photographer in Chicago and the baller (and littlest of all of us) studying her brain out in Tennessee. What’s worse than us all being spread out? It will be the first Christmas that we can’t all be together. In the past, there were times when some of us were in the Philippines for the holidays but this is truly the first time we don’t really have a choice in the matter. I love this time of year but this really will be a bittersweet Christmas.

“]

my amazing family (mia: photographer, baller & gopher)

Ok, enough sap for one evening.

The real reason I thought about posting is because of a picture of huevos rancheros I posted on facebook this past weekend. Backstory: On Sunday, I was whipping up the boyfriend’s favorites for breakfast (french toast, corned beef & hash + fried eggs) when I was at a loss as to what to make for myself. We’ve really been into Chopped lately so he decided to throw a “secret ingredient” at me which I had to use in my meal (though I really think he was just trying to get rid of something he bought by mistake). It was a can of El Pato’s salsa de chile fresco which translates to “roasted fresh chile salsa”.

After I popped open the can & tasted its contents [pretty much tastes like tomato sauce with a very large kick], all I wanted was to bring back memories of my mini-trip to Mexico and have huevos rancheros for breakfast. Not to toot my own horn, but they turned out pretty good. And apparently other people thought so too! Ever since I posted this picture, I keep getting messages about the recipe. So here goes…

Typically huevos rancheros is made with fried corn tortillas, fried eggs & tomato-chili sauce. Mine? I made it with whatever I currently had in the kitchen. This is a super simple recipe that involves cooking 4-separate parts which is then combined together on a plate.

Ingredients:
1 can of salsa de chile fresco
2 eggs
1 large flour tortilla
1 can of refried black beans
shredded monterey jack & cheddar cheeses
1/2 medium yellow onion (chopped)
butter
vegetable oil

Pre-heat the oven to 500ºF. Or if you’re not fussy like me, just set it to a high-broil. You’re just toasting tortilla’s after all.

Sauce:
I started by melting about a teaspoon of butter in a 3qt sauce pan. Once the butter had fully coated the bottom, I added the chopped onions and sautéed until tender then added the can of salsa de chile fresco. Bring sauce to a simmer and leave uncovered to reduce the sauce and thicken it. Alt: If you don’t care for onions, pour that bad boy into a microwave safe bowl and heat till warm.

Tortillas:
Cut up the tortilla into triangular bite-sized pieces. Toss them on to a baking sheet and pop ‘em in your pre-heated oven for about 10 to 15 minutes until they crisp and brown. Alt: For extra crispy tortillas, sprinkle them with a bit of olive oil & salt to taste then mix with hands before toasting in oven.

Beans:
In a small skillet, coat the bottom with a bit of vegetable oil (I use stainless steel this is necessary but for you teflon folks, a teeny bit of PAM spray should do it) then add your can of refried beans (I prefer the black variety). Once it begins to soften, add a small handful of the shredded cheese. Continue heating until cheese melts, stir in & set aside.

Eggs:
This already a super heavy meal… so I used a non-stick pan with the teeniest bit of oil (I poured some on a paper towel and spread it on the fry pan), cracked two eggs in, added some salt & covered on medium-low heat until the whites were fully set. Alt: Poach em’, fry em’, boil em’—do it your favorite way… whatever’s clever loveys!

Plate:
Start with the tortillas — put them on the plate so that they sort of cover the bottom. Cover with the heated refried beans and then lay on those eggs. Pour the sauce over everything then sprinkle on a handful of shredded cheese.

ena's not-so-typical huevos rancheros

¡Provecho!

Knight with Shining Blackberry

So, no more music video on Monday which I’m a little thankful for. I didn’t really feel ready to take on a whole project by myself considering my short time working in the production world. Thankfully, a knight with shining blackberry came and saved me. His keyed weapon drawn, he found a person to relieve me of my position thus saving me from a pretty frustrating predicament. Lol, forgive my geekiness, I’m feeling kinda silly tonight.

I have a new, NEW project starting in it’s stead which is a better rate, and better dates… but is also super hush hush so that’s all I can say about that. :)

This little issue tonight kind of reminded me exactly what I look for from the people I surround myself with. It’s not contacts (though that did help tonight) since I’m relatively good at finding those on my own, nor is it money since I’m quite equipped to procure those green papers myself and neither is it entertainment since I can pretty much entertain myself in an empty room with white walls as long as my brain and therefore imagination is in working order.

I do, however, LOVE the people who come through and help me out in a jam. I rarely ask for help and when people take the time to put that little bit of effort in for me, words can’t really express how much I appreciate it and I know for certain I will never forget it. So thanks knight. I’ll always remember that I owe you one. ;)

And now an evening of fun and frivolity with my little sisters Ash & Abs.

I make for a pretty cute damsel tonight if I do say so myself.

Down Days… yeah, right.

Any time I put it out to the universe that I’m taking a few days off and I begin planning a camping trip or looking for flights to NY… White Town’s Your Woman rings in my ears, calling me to answer my mobile and listen to someone ask for my availability for that one project I just can’t resist. Today was no different. I had planned on taking the next week and a half-off to get myself back in order, see my friends and generally have a life that exists outside of the production world, but I got a call today to work on my first project as a Production Manager! Granted, my last job in Seattle definitely felt like a managing job, though it didn’t include the title.

So while I don’t really have a break at least I get to start work on a music video as a PM, right? I have three more days of downtime and I intend on taking full advantage. Today was spent hanging and running errands with one of my favoritest people, the ballin’ basketball player Ashley, and apart from building my kit, I’m hoping the days leading to Monday will be just as relaxed and productive as this Thursday was.

I’m still a little burnt from Seattle [note the eye bags] and the quick 2-day wrap on 2 jobs, but I’ll be back to business soon.

Now off to the gym to recharge and relax! Ciaooo!!!

Bleeerrrrrrrrrrg!

Looong day in Seattle town.

Having a whiskey double at the hotel bar and seriously considering a second. Also made friends with the boys to my left and right just so I am not drinking by myself.

They are laughing at me as I type this… but I’m cool with it.

Bye folks. Here’s to a smooth as silk shoot tomorrow.

(I’m so getting wasted at approx. 11pm tomorrow night.)

P.S.
Riddle me this: is it blerg or blurg?????

Day Two: Saucy Seattle

Don’t get it twisted… I’m working as hard as I always work on this Seattle job (my motto: work hard… play harder: therefore, work extremely hard), but this city is turning out to be crazy fun. Mind you, it’s because I’m working with extremely awesome people. Everyone here has been so great to me and listens to what I have to say. It’s usually hard being the only girl in a group of grown men—with their own quirks and ways of doing things—but on this job I’m happily surprised that people take me seriously.

It’s a running joke in NY that I told everyone I was 33 and that people actually believed me (or so I told myself). I even had a guy—who had nothing to do work and that’s all I’ll say on that—believing for a few months that I was 28. He only found out the truth of my age after I slipped up on my little white lies.

I guess it’s strange for a woman to age herself, but it helped me get a few more votes of confidence in my ability (though I think it’s ridiculous that it’s sometimes necessary). In any case, I find no need to lie here. It seems as though people are confident in what I can accomplish and handle… which I think is limitless as long as you put some trust in me. That might be a little boastful… but hey, the one thing I never doubt about myself is my ability to get things done… and done well.

In any case, ROCK ON SEATTLE.

You’ve gained a new fan.

Hello Seattle.

Traveling for work this week. I landed in Seattle early evening and I’ve got to say, despite the rain, this is one gorgeous city. I had dinner with four grown men and tonight we FEASTED to say the least. I can definitely boast that I held my own during the meal considering we pretty much ordered enough food to feed a small country… two 38oz porter house steaks, a pork chop, fried pig ears (no, I’m not kidding), creamed brussel sprouts, deviled DUCK eggs, oysters, grilled asparagus, corned dogs (using kielbasa!), a banana split (with a hidden brownie), fried apple fritters and ice cream sandwiches—and that’s just what I REMEMBER. We definitely ordered more than that and I think it’s safe to say that we ate the restaurant’s entire kitchen stock. Did I also mention that this place is AMAZING and gets all of it’s food locally? If you’re ever in the Seattle area, make sure to check it out: Local 360.

And now I’m back in my hotel room waiting for sleep to take over. I’m dead tired but wide awake at the same time.

This is actually my very first time having a hotel room all to myself. It’s both fun and strange, but I think I’ll cope.

Goodnight world. See you when the sun comes up.

The Humble Bundle is Back!

Gamer friends: support these four awesome indie games by purchasing the Humble Frozenbyte Bundle.

You can pay what you want and also decide how your payment is dispersed between the developers of the games, charity foundations and even organizers of the Humble Bundle. I’ve only tried Trine & Shadowgrounds but both are very well produced and the graphics are entirely slick.

The fantastical side of me LOVES Trine:

You play as three characters, the first being an elfish looking thief, a sneaky looking wizard and a rather large warrior. She’s agile, gorgeous and relatively easy to control. The game in general is physics based and as far as I’ve gotten entirely enjoyable. The world within the game is amazingly beautiful. It kind of reminds me of how I felt the first time I saw Avatar. People may have their qualms with the plot line of the film, but you can’t deny the absolute detail that went into the creation of Pandora. Obviously Trine is not the same as the million dollar virtual world created in Avatar, but it’s spectacular in it’s own right.

Shadowgrounds on the other hand is one of those hearts stopping games (at least for me) in which I’m afraid to turn the corner lest some alien jumps and bites my head off. The game isn’t as terrifying as the usual shooter games since the angle of the camera is overhead as opposed to first person. If you’ve ever played Solomon’s Keep on the iPhone or Zenonia on the android, the movement is similar though much more polished. The graphics even more so.

Like I said you can pay what you want, so support this multi-platform, DRM-free collection of great games. If you only have a Mac like me, be aware that one of the games—Jack Claw—is only available on PC. Splot is still in development and will be available for download as soon as it’s finished.

If you’re a cheap-o and don’t want to pay for them, just send me a message and I’ll give you a download link to my dropbox because even if your stingy, I still want you to try out these games. They’s the bomb, yo.

_{For more information about the Humble Bundle, you can read more about them on their wiki page.}

Shopping & the Insecure Monster

Everyone has those days when they’re feeling kinda “eh”, right? The Bridget Jones days. The “oh-lord-when-did-I-turn-into-Cartman” days.

Well… on those days I tend to find myself out buying new clothes because my inner bully tells me that nothing I have in my closet fits right, looks good, etc., etc. Seeing as losing weight takes a lot longer than purchasing clothes that fit, I find myself scouring the racks at my favorite stores for fabrics and fits to flatter and/or cover what I think of as gross jelly across my waist, or curdling thighs, or those floppy, flabby things I call my arms.

Don’t get me wrong. I usually don’t think this way… but like I said everyone’s got a little fat bastard in them, and I am no exception.

In any case, I usually come home with an arm full of new purchases and the credit card gods crying tears of joy over the offering I’ve just laid at the throne of capitalistic glory. The problem with this whole scenario is that on average, even on the days when I’m not feeling so fat & disgusting, I typically buy clothes that are a size larger than I am because I think they’re more comfortable. So by that token, when I’m feeling bubba-tastic, I end up buying things that are 2-sizes too big; though admittedly on these days I usually think I actually fit that size.

Unfortunately reality checks in and much like today, I’m left wandering around, constantly grabbing at the waist band of my shorts and/or pants so that they don’t droop past my bum. No joke: I did the duck waddle a few times today in an attempt to keep them from falling off. NOT a good look.

* le sigh *

I really liked the shorts I bought, too. So much so that I bought them in 4 different colors. Guess I’ll be calling my Lola soon to tailor my new clothes.

Lesson learned? Probably not.

_{P.S. Lola = grandmother}