Vaccaro's Bakery

Last fall my fiancé (Kevin) and I took a road trip out east. He is originally from New York and my dad is from New Jersey so I have a good chunk of family who still lives there. Kevin was standing up in a wedding just outside of Philadelphia, so we just decided to make a longer road trip out of it. I love road trips; I think they give the perfect opportunity to see so much more of states and scenery. Perhaps it's because that's what my family did growing up, but I do love a good road trip. So, we took a week and half, drove from Illinois to Philadelphia (which we must go back and visit for longer sometime). After the wedding, we drove up to New Jersey for a few hours. I wish we had more time to spend there, but only had a few hours to see my Aunt, Uncle, Grandmother, and Kevin's godmother and stop at one of my family’s favorite bakeries before we had to get on the road and head up to Connecticut for the night. It's called Vaccaro's and we go especially for the crumb buns they make. Whenever our New Jersey side of the family get together we get an obscene amounts of crumb buns from this bakery and they are gone within a matter of hours. Below are some pictures from there. I would like to attempt to make my own crumb buns and test out a few recipes to find the best one. 

Kitchen Tour

I thought I’d snap some pictures of the kitchen we have at the apartment we are at now. It’s not much, but it helps get the job done. Adding own personal touches helps keep it inviting and cozy. What’s in your kitchen that makes it unique to you?

My BFF gave me a yellow recorder for my 30^th birthday. It came with a song book and I figured there would be no better place for it than in with my wooden spatulas. It’s in a place where I can see it and am able to play it for our two cats almost every day. At first it scared them, but now I think they are either used to it, or like it. I think they are just used to it, because when I do play it their ears kind of roll back as if they are hearing a horrible screeching sound. I think I’ll keep the recorder in that spot forever. 

And, of course I put some crayola markers there too so I can leave pretty notes for my fiance.

This little corner has the items I use daily. The flour and sugar tins to the left were my grandmothers. I only have two though and want to get the complete set. I’ve found them on Etsy, but have yet to buy them. There is a scale to the far right which was also hers. I actually do use it to help weigh some of my portions for Weight Watcher points and it works well for this. I think they give the kitchen a vintage look which I love. That wooden cutting board is one of the best gifts I’ve gotten. My future sister-in-law gave it as a Christmas gift. I love it as well and feel like a real chef when I use it.

Olive oil, honey, and sprinkles are out since those are my go to items these days. I am a huge advocate for honey; I believe it can help cure most colds and help actually prevent them from starting in the first place. I usually put some on an English muffin or in my Greek yogurt for breakfast in the morning.  I also keep a large tub of it at work just in case someone isn't feeling well. I give them a teaspoon of honey. People think I go overboard with it, but I've found research stating they used to use it as an antibiotic (back in the old days). I know it still works today…don’t believe me? Just do a little Google search or try taking a little bit every few days yourself. You’ll be amazed at all it can help with. The sprinkles are there because for the past few weeks I have been on a dessert kick of frozen vanilla yogurt and rainbow sprinkles. My favorite!

And, what would a refrigerator be without a few magnets holding up pictures, love notes, save the dates, and a prayer? The prayer is called the Serenity Prayer. I read it every now and then and it seems to help me remember to take a few deep breaths and remember all I have to be grateful and thankful for.

What’s in a name?

As I have been thinking and dreaming of my favorite future children’s names for years, I have done the same for this “bakery.”  My grandma always loved her sweets and desserts. But more than that, she loved spending time with those she loved. After a meal together, she would say, “now it’s time for some coffee and…” Meaning, it’s time for a cup of coffee (or whatever you prefer) and usually a treat to go along with the coffee.  The treat could be anything. But usually, you always have the coffee.

Getting together with friends or family for coffee has always been a way for people to socialize and spend time together. You can walk past any Starbucks or Caribou coffee and see people interacting with others. I have spent countless hours myself meeting up with friends for coffee. This inviting, cozy, social atmosphere is what I would love to have; a place where locals come and the servers know exactly what they want before they enter. A place where mom’s can come with (or without) their children and spend time with their girlfriends. A place where one can come, cozy up on a chair and read a good book for hours. A place where a couple can come for a sweet treat. But, all would come for “Coffee And…”

"The House"

Here is a picture of the front of the house that I dream will one day be my “Coffee And…” It has the sweetest wrap around porch which I envision could have a few tables, chairs, and a hanging porch swing so people can enjoy the fresh air when the weather is nice out. We had a porch swing at the house I lived at in college. It was so soothing; a great place to relax with a good book and a big cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer).

And, here is a side view of the house and the front porch. Check out all the windows! Great for natural light to come through, don’t you think?

This is a picture of a little courtyard which is off to the right side of the front porch. With some TLC and yard work, I think it could be a great place for an outdoor patio.

And this is the lawn in the back of the house. It’s pretty big; this picture only shows part of it. But I keep envisioning starting my own garden back here.  I would love to grow some of my own fruits and vegetables which would be incorporated into some of the recipes and baked goods. Also, how great would a few wooden swings be hanging down from that old, massive tree?

Birthday Treat - Shortbread

I made these a few weeks ago for my mom on her birthday. They are her favorite cookie...shortbread. I added my own little touch of dipping them in chocolate and sprinkling some crushed pistachio nuts on top. They were delicious! 

Chocolate Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients

Shortbread

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups sifted white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour, plus more, for dusting

1/2 teaspoon salt

½ cup Pistachios chopped

Chocolate Ganache

1 cup Semi Sweet chocolate chips

4 Tbsp Butter

¼ cup Heavy Cream

Instructions

- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

- Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until combined.

- On slow speed, beat in flour and salt until combined.

- Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill until firm, at least 2 hours, or overnight.

- Form dough into a 9x13 rectangular cake pan; spread the dough with your fingers to the edges of the pan.

- Bake until just beginning to brown around the edges, about 18 minutes. Turn of the oven.

- Take pan out of oven, and cut into triangles then put the cake pan with shortbread back in the oven that has been turned off to continue cooking and cooling. Keep them in there until the cookies have cooled. You can prop the oven to help them cool.

- After they’ve cooled, place the shortbread on a cooling rack to allow to come to room temperature.

- To make ganache, create a mock double-boiler with a small saucepan and heat resistant bowl. Fill the saucepan with about 1 cup of water and then cover with bowl. Heat until the water is simmering. Add chocolate, heavy cream and butter to the bowl, and stir to combine as the chocolate and butter melt. Once the chocolate has just melted remove immediately from the heat. Dip each cookies end into the chocolate and sprinkle with the chopped pistachios.
- Set on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put in the fridge to cool and harden.

This isn’t meant to be a blog to complain about weight at all, but it’s just a note about me. I am no Skinny Minnie, but yet am not super large. However, I do have to work at it and watch what I eat and exercise regularly. It’s what people should do anyway right? But, I must in order to make sure I stay healthy. It’s not even so much for me to be thin as it is for me to stay healthy, in shape and active. Plus it helps with my mood…always!! When there are those days (or weeks) where I just want to bum around the apartment and eat salty chips or sweets, I remind myself of Newton’s Law of Motion, “an object in motion stays in motion and an object at rest stays at rest.” Of course this theory makes sense to me now and I could not understand it for the life of me when in school!  Anyway, if I want to live a long healthy life (which I do), I must keep active. I want to be one of those old grandmas in fifty years who can keep up and play with grandkids.  A quick 20 minute walk on days when I don’t have the time or motivation for the hour long workout works very well.

I’ve been doing Weight Watchers off and on for at least 10 years. It works! And, I love the recipes they have. I have about ten of their cookbooks and now everything is online and is so user friendly. Often, the recipes contain pretty simple and very fresh ingredients which help them taste wonderful! Even my fiancé will agree that it does not taste like diet food at all.

This is one of the recipes I came across a few months ago on the Weight Watcher website. I made it the original way the first time and since then have mixed up the vegetables and meat I put in it. Last time I put some cut up ham from Easter dinner, spinach, and mushrooms in it…yum!!! And, btw Phyllo dough is super fun to use! I want to try and make more things with it. Plus, a little of it seems to go a very long way; it keeps in the freezer till the next time I need to use it. I’ve been making it recently on Sundays and putting slices into Tupperware to take and heat up for breakfast for the work week. It actually tastes pretty good re-heated and is a low carb, healthy option for the morning.

Phyllo Dough Quiche

2 sheet(s) phyllo dough, cut into three strips each   

3 large egg(s)   

1/4 cup(s) regular egg substitute   

1 cup(s) fat free evaporated milk   

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour   

1/4 tsp table salt   .

1/4 tsp black pepper   

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg   

1/2 cup(s) (shredded) low-fat hard cheese, Swiss, grated   

4oz cooked crisp turkey bacon, diced   

Directions

-       Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray.

-       Lay phyllo dough in pie plate, one piece at a time, coating each layer with cooking spray — dough should cover bottom and sides of dish. Fold in any overhanging corners.

-       Whisk together eggs, egg substitute, milk, flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg.

-       Sprinkle cheese and bacon (or any other vegetables you have cut up) over phyllo dough. Pour in egg mixture and place quiche on a baking sheet. Bake until firm, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool at least 5 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges.

A little history...

Years ago, I was walking around my hometowns down town area and noticed a beautiful old house for sale. I immediately thought it would be the perfect spot for a coffee shop/bakery seeing as our town has no bakeries! We have your typical chain coffee shops and bagel or breakfast restaurants, but there is nothing like going to a real bakery. A place where everything is freshly made that day. A place where you walk in the door and the smell of sugary goodness takes over your brain and makes all things happy in the world. Don't tell me I'm the only one this happens to. Well, I called the realtor (this was back in 2002 before all the handy realtor websites existed) and the house was for sale for "a little over a million dollars." Seeing as how I was maybe 19 at the time and had only a few bucks to my name, I politely thanked the realtor and hung up the phone. Since then, Coffee And...has been a dream.

Last summer, I attended a cooking class at Sur La Table with my mother and a few of her girlfriends.  It was a presentation and demonstration given by the "Chief Baking Officer” for the popular Magnolia Bakery based out of New York City. (BTW, that's what I want to be when I grow up...a Chief Baking Officer).  It was such a fun class and we got to taste test some amazing cupcakes! This class was located within a block of "the house" that I had for years, thought could be my "Coffee And." Before going into this cooking class on this same day, I noticed that "the house" was once again for sale! Now that it was 2012, I had my smartphone and access to handy realtor websites. I looked up "the house" and read that it was for sale for about $500,000!!! Still a heck of a lot of money, but definitely much more doable than a little over a million dollars! I couldn't help but think that this was some twist of fate happening; telling me that I better get moving on this dream of mine or it will never happen.

In January, I wrote a list of about 11 resolutions for 2013. One of my goals or New Year’s resolutions is to start a business proposal for Coffee And...; I have started one, but thought a blog might be a great place to keep track of ideas, thoughts, and recipes.  So, here it goes.