Cakery Friday: Millet Pancakes

I just may be a little obsessive compulsive, so when I find a food that I like, I occasionally over-do it. When I was 7, I would only eat at restaurants that served caesar salad, for example.

When I discovered the millet pancakes at Cafe Orlin, I knew there was a problem in the making. Cafe Orlin is an adorable Middle Eastern restaurant located in Manhattan's East Village on Saint Mark's Place {and I highly recommend adding it your list of places to go in NYC, especially for brunch!} I made it a personal quest to figure out what exactly was in their delicious pancakes, and try to replicate for the blog. I tried a few different recipes the pst few weeks, and this seems to be the closest to the millet pancakes from Cafe Orlin. I stress closest, because I'm not sure mine will ever truly compare!

Gather all of the ingredients * you can find millet at any grocery store, typically located in the grain section, near the rice. I purchased mine at Whole Foods *

And as an added bonus, millet is packed with B vitamins and nutrients and contains no gluten!

In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup of millet, 2 cups of buttermilk and 1/2 cup of water to a boil, stir briefly.

Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons agave nectar, 1/3 cup nonfat yogurt, and 2 tablespoons flour. {Not exactly the most appetizing photograph, but I swear the final result is delish}

In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil on medium-high heat. Drop the millet mixture into lumps about 3 inches in diameter and press with the back of a spoon to spread the batter more evenly.

Allow the pancakes to fry for 4-5 minutes on each side, turning once for a total of 8-10 minutes.

For a little added bonus you can add any pancake friendly mix-in.. I chose to make a few with vegan chocolate chip which are delicious!

Serve with good quality maple syrup!

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe click here: Millet Pancakes.htm

Happy Pancake Making!

xoxo,

Ali

Life Films

Recently, one of my {amazing} Papery & Cakery customers told me about a new concept in the field of wedding videos. Instead of just hiring a wedding videographer for the wedding weekend, she was creating a documentary for her daughters big day. The plan was to preview the film for all of the guests at the wedding itself. The film is a documentary of the love story of the bride and groom. The Mother-of-the-Bride was giving this film as her wedding gift to the bride and groom. I was intrigued by the concept and took down the name of the company. Then, amongst a crazy week, I forgot about it altogether.

Flash forward to last week, when I found my little post it about Life Films and spent an entire night watching them with some Ben & Jerry's and a box of tissues {oh so cliche}.

The concept is for Life Films to create a timeless keepsake. It isn't just for weddings though. Life Films will create a documentaries for things like: the tale of how you met your significant other and fell in love; a celebration of your parents, or your family history, or even the first year of your baby's life. Weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, engagements, birthday, family reunions, memorials, family history--you find the occasion or purpose worth commemorating and Life Films will document it.

But this isn't just some cheesy montage video set to music {give me a little more credit... I was crying tears of joy for these videos}. Instead, the documentary includes personal interviews, footage and of course photos and music. Life Films will capture it all and bring it to life. They will travel to locations to do interviews {they came to Florida to work on this particular wedding}, and work with you to personalize the music, photos and footage. In the end, you are working with a team of artists--documentary filmmakers who will create this one of a kind memento.

I'm relatively certain that Life Films isn't the only company who is offering this service. If you have documentary film experience {or a loving friend who does} it is definitely a concept worth looking into. I'd love to hear your suggestions and recommendations for other vendors.
What an amazing gift!

Happy watching {with some Kleenex and Phish Food}.

xoxo,

Niki

Sweetiepie Restaurant

For months I have been dying to try out Sweetpie Restaurant in New York City's West Village. Finally, this weekend I was able to make my way over. It is so adorable! The restaurant was filled with Mom's and their daughters and everyone was in pink! My friend and I were definitely the only twenty-somethings and stuck out like a sore thumb in our black outfits {it was a rainy New York Saturday, who wears anything but black????}.

Gwyneth Paltrow was even quoted saying "Sweetiepie is my new favorite find for grown up/kid hybrid paradise!"

They offer afternoon tea parties! They serve a prix fixe menu including a variety of teas, tea sandwiches and tea cakes!

This photograph is of owner Julie Janklow with her son August at Sweetiepie with the $75 Sweetiepig ice cream sundae: with sponge cake, mixed berries, bananas, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate sauce and five ice cream flavors.

Sweetiepie has an adorable back room that is ideal for birthday parties or baby/bridal showers!

Their menu features a wide variety of child-friendly items like peanut butter and jelly and grilled cheese sandwiches and even many more sophisticated items. Their dessert menu is extremely extensive {duh} and mouthwatering.

I would most highly recommend taking a trip over to Sweetiepie on your next visit to New York City!

xoxo,

Ali

Rome Florence and Paris... oh my!

Cole and I are taking a big trip over the pond to Rome, Florence and Paris in the near future. I'm literally tingling with anticipation.

I have been given lots of advice for things to do, places to shop and delicious meals to eat from friends, but my theory is that I can never have enough. I am dying {and begging} for your suggestions. Please let me know your recommendations of things to do {or not to do} in these amazing cities. You know we love to eat--especially at hidden local gems! In exchange for your advice, I promise for some incredible blog posts about the trip. Is that fair enough?

Ok, to sweeten the deal I will bring back a special package of Laduree macaroons to whoever offers up my favorite suggestion {restaurant, shop, museum, etc.}. I will personally mail them to you. {Obviously, Laduree is on the Paris short list!}

Also, I'm already struggling when I think about what to pack. A few years ago I took a trip to Europe with Ali and lost my suitcase. {Did I mention I had packed everything I owned in that bag?} I never ever got the bag back. I would say that I am most certainly scarred for life? Needless to say, this notorious overpacker will absolutely not be checking a bag. How brilliant is this idea from Habitually Chic to pre-plan and photograph outfit choices?!? I'm hoping to be this prepared.

Comment on the post or email your suggestions to niki@paperyandcakery.com and start dreaming about those macaroons....

xoxo, au revoir & arrivederci!

Niki

Shoe Art

Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”

Apparently the shoe buyers at Saks Fifth Avenue were listening this season.

It's been too long since I featured shoes {and my weakness for them}. Time to revisit my favorite high-heeled {or platform, wedge and flat} friends!

These seem more like a work of art than shoes, but that makes them even more oh-so-fabulous!

{Don't worry Cole, I am only looking....}

xoxo,

Niki

Cakery Friday: Sally Albright's Apple Pie

When Harry Met Sally is one of my classics. It's Niki's absolute favorite movie ever. We knew that movie week had to culminate in one of the most famous movie/food scenes ever: with Sally Albright's Apple Pie... well, maybe not exactly a pie but a Charlotte. Sally, couldn't really make up her mind anyways.

Sally Albright: I'd like the chef salad please with oil and vinegar on the side, and the apple pie a la mode.

Waitress: Chef and apple a la mode.

Sally Albright: But I'd like the pie heated, and I don't want the ice cream on top. I want it on the side, and I'd like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream, but only if it's real. If it's out of the can, then nothing.

Waitress: Not even the pie?

Sally Albright: No, just the pie, but then not heated.



Instead of apple pie, I made mini-apple charlotte's. They are a {somewhat} healthy dessert option, especially if you opt to use whole wheat bread!

Gather all of the ingredients {bread not photographed}.


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Peel, core and thinly slice 3 golden delicious apples.

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter, 1/4 cup sugar and 6 tablespoons orange juice in a deep pot over medium-high heat.



Add the sliced apples to the pot and cook, stirring frequently for 10 minutes, until the apples are tender but still maintain their shape.



Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of dried fruit *whichever type you prefer, {I used a mixture of raisins and dried prunes} along with 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon grated orange zest.



Melt 5 tablespoons of butter in a bowl. Pull out 16 slices of very thin sliced, firm, white {or wheat} sandwich bread, with crusts trimmed. I used Pepperidge Farm whole wheat bread. Using a small biscuit or cookie cutter, cut a circle from 3 slices of bread.





Brush butter onto one side of each circle and place the circle, buttered-side down, into each cup in a cupcake tin.



Cut the remaining bread slices into thirds and brush with butter. Line each cup with 9 bread rectangles placed vertically, buttered side against cup. The bread will extend over the top of the cupcake tin. {the photo below explains it better}.





Divide the apple mixture over the bread among the cups. Fold the bread over the filling, gently pressing to seal together. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.



Allow the Charloettes to cool in the pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. Lift them carefully from the cups using an offset spatula.



If desired, stir together melted ice cream with one tablespoon of rum {I mean, why not add rum?} and serve on the side.

For a printer friendly version of this recipe click here: Mini-Apple Charlotte's.htm

This will have all of your friends saying, "I'll have what she's having."

xoxo,

Ali

Harry Burns: there are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.

Sally Albright: Which one am I?

Harry Burns: You're the worst kind. You're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.