Amy Morris

Deep Fried Cadbury Creme Egg

No matter how bored you are, is it a good idea to deep fry your Easter candy?

We're always wondering what they'll come up with next when it comes to fried food. I thought I had heard it all after deep fried butter.

But have you ever thought of deep frying candy in your Easter basket?

If you haven't, don't worry. We have put it to the test for you in all its sugar coma glory.

Come to think of it, why hasn't anyone tried deep frying all their Easter candy before? Sure, many have done Peeps, but what about the rest?

We found out there may be a reason for that. Some candy did not fry well at all, while others did okay.

Amy Morris

Coconut Macaroons

Do you have a good Coconut Macaroon recipe for Passover?

Coconut macaroons are known for two things: First, they make a great Passover dessert because they do not require flour, which is forbidden during this eight-day holiday celebrating the Jews' exodus from Egypt. (During the escape, as the story goes, there was no time to let bread rise, so they wound up with crackers; hence, the tradition of not eating leavened bread or related foods during Passover. This year the holiday begins after sundown on April 6.)

Second, the coconut macaroon is one of the easiest cookies you'll ever make. The recipe is so simple, especially compared to its counterpart, the French macaron.

I suggest sticking to the coconut version. They are moist, caramelized coconut balls that will be such a big hit, you won't come home with any leftovers. In that case, make two batches: one to keep at home and one to give out.

One of the things I realized while making these is that the recipe is pretty much foolproof. You could misread the instructions, like not whip the egg whites or accidentally add the ingredients out of order, and your batch of cookies will still be good.

What's not to love about that?

Amy Morris

Guinness Chocolate Cake

Nothing says St. Patrick's Day more than Guinness beer. I couldn't think of a more perfect way to finish off your corned beef dinner than with a good Guinness chocolate cake topped with an orange glaze. What the heck--drink the beer with dessert too. They go well together.

Amy Morris

Mini Purple Velvet Cupcakes

For this post, I made miniature purple velvet cupcakes. They are scrumptiously bite sized for easy consumption -- and they are adorable plated on a platter to pass around.

Amy Morris

Caramel Popcorn

Welcome to our new(ish) column, "Ask the Pastry Chef," by Amy Morris, a pastry sous chef at J&G Steakhouse. Have a question for Amy? Leave it in the comments section.

With Caramelpalooza coming up this Friday, I'm suddenly caramel-obsessed! Can I make caramel popcorn without having to bake it?

We all love simple recipes, and the less work involved is even better. I tried a couple of recipes that made a caramel out of brown sugar and I ended up not becoming a fan.

Understandably, these recipes should be easier because you don't have to worry about burning the sugar. But, after you made the caramel and coated the popcorn, in the oven it went. That's another step that I felt isn't necessary if the sugar is cooked well the first time.

Easiest way to accomplish that is to use good old regular granulated sugar.

Amy Morris

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Welcome to our new(ish) column, "Ask the Pastry Chef," by Amy Morris, a pastry sous chef at J&G Steakhouse. Have a question for Amy? Leave it in the comments section.

This week's question: How Do I Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries?

Chocolate covered strawberries are perfect for Valentine's Day. Around this time, you'll see them readily available at your local grocery store. However, the last time I checked the price, I have to admit that I winced. If you don't have the time and are willing to pay extra, then having them ready to go is perfect for you. But, if you do have the time and are willing to do a little extra work, then you can save your money towards a great dinner instead.

Dark chocolate is the best choice when choosing chocolates, but if you prefer, milk or white chocolate will work as well. I recommend buying dark chocolate in the 60% range. Ghirardelli sells a 60% bittersweet chocolate that is available almost anywhere or any top rate brands will work the best. I don't recommend getting cheap chocolate. Chocolate is basically one of the two main ingredients and it's important to get  a chocolate that tastes good. You will be able to taste the difference!

The first project to tackle when making these strawberry delights is to temper your chocolate. This process is much easier than it sounds and you don't need to be an expert to be able to do this. The tempering process is recommended if you want to get that crisp crunch from your chocolate when you bite into your strawberry. If this step is skipped, it will appear less glossy and more than likely will be soggy.

There are a few tempering processes that can be done, but the easiest one to follow is the seeding method. Tempered chocolate is added to melted chocolate. It is then slightly cooled till it reaches the desired temperature. Don't worry, after you've read over the process this will make much more sense and before you know it, you'll be an expert!

Amy Morris

Bench Scraper

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What are 3 indispensable tools for pastry?

There are many directions to go with this question. Tools for making a cake, bread, chocolates...etc, you can see that depending on the specialization there are numerous tools to choose from. Instead of concentrating on one area I think it will be more beneficial for me to suggest basic hand tools that are used in pastry every day, no matter what the project may be. You will see that these tools can be used for a multitude of things.

3. Bench Scraper--
This tool has a large flat stainless steel blade with a plastic or wood grip to hold onto it with. Essentially this tool is used how it sounds and you can use if for many purposes. If you don't have a canvas pastry cloth this tool will help you clean your counter effortlessly. Scrape the bench scraper across the counter and easily discard bits of flour into a bowl or garbage can.

Other uses include cutting dough and/or lifting food from one surface to another. The fun doesn't end there! This is an essential tool to smooth out frosting on a cake while you
are spinning it on a cake turner. The end result is a smooth even finish. Like everything else, there are sizes to choose from, but a 6'' by 3'' is the perfect mid-size for any project. These are also available online or through a bakery supply store.

Amy Morris

Great-great gradmother Hutchinson's caramel cinnamon rolls

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This week's question for our pastry chef: Why can't I get my great-great-grandmother's cinnamon roll recipe to work?

The winter holidays are focused on traditions, many of which take place in the kitchen. Mastering an old family recipe can make or break a special meal -- so I took my friend seriously when she asked for help in making her favorite recipe work.

A friend asked for my help in figuring out her great-great-grandmother's cinnamon roll recipe. Her mother would make these rolls from heart and in mass quantity for the whole family. It reminded me of my mother and how she would dole out her own cinnamon rolls over the holidays, also.

Amy Morris

​Welcome to our new(ish) column, "Ask the Pastry Chef," by Amy Morris, a pastry sous chef at

Today's question: Can you tell me about these different kinds of flour I see on the grocery shelf?

The kind of flour you choose can significantly change the result of what you're baking. Or, it may produce only subtle nuances--it all depends on what you're making. Here's a quick breakdown to help you decide what you need.

Get all the flour-y details after the jump.