TORONTO CHRISTMAS MARKET

 

it's that time of year again.. the toronto christmas market! this year was the first time i finally went (& actually got in)! last year, we walked ALL the way to the distillery district (which is really far, trust me..), only to find out there was an hour line up! to avoid a similar incident this year, we went on a weekday. there was beautiful christmas lights everywhere, hot cider, arts & crafts, giant german pretzels & most importantly the biggest christmas tree ever! ok, maybe not as big as NYC's but pretty close! hope you ejoy the photos, including my little grinch of a dog who was not feeling the christmas spirit that day! xo

thank you so much to gentle fawn for providing these beautiful clothes! check them out here. it is my absolute favourite clothing label!

CRACK PIE

 

say crack again.. CRACK! ok i couldn't not quote mean girls! anyways, this weekend i decided to tackle momofuku's crack pie. i actually have yet to go to momofuku and have the famous crack pie [it is on my spring to do list], but this recipe turned out so good, i can only imagine the real thing! it looks a little lengthy but the actual process is so easy. you basically just make one giant oatmeal cookie, and then crush it up into a pie crust. the filling is a cross between a sugar pie and a butter tart filling. it is definitely on the sweet side, but than again it is called "crack pie". AND if you are wondering why my pie has a fox design in the middle, it is my favourite animal and nothing more! here we go...this recipe has been adapted from the momofuku cook book:

INGREDIENTS (makes two ten inch pies)

oat cookie:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  1. in the bowl of a stand mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. add egg and vanilla, and continue to mix until even lighter and fluffier.
  3. add flour, oats, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
  4. spread out on one big cookie sheet (to make one giant cookie) and bake at 350 degrees until the edges begin to brown.
  5. remove from oven and let completely cool before continuing on

crust:

  • 1 giant oat cookie, cooled
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  1. crumble up oat cookie with your hands, until it becomes a sandy, coarse, texture.
  2. add sugar, salt, and butter, and mix until the crumbled cooking begins to stick together.
  3. separate between two pie dishes, and old into a cruse shape.

filling:

  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup cold heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 egg yolks [egg white omelette in the morning anyone?]
  1. in the bowl of a stand mixer, add the sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch and salt.
  2. add the melted butter and blend until ingredients are evenly mixed.
  3. add the vanilla and heavy cream, mixing until the cream is even dispersed.
  4. add all the egg yolks at once and mix until the batter becomes glossy, but be careful not to over mix!
  5. divide mixture evenly into the two prepared pie plates.
  6. bake at 350 degrees for exactly fifteen minutes, once the time is up, reduce oven to 325 degrees and open the oven door until this temperature is reached.
  7. once the oven reaches 325 degrees, close oven door and bake for 10-15 minutes longer (pie will still be very jiggly, but the edges should be browned)
  8. let cool and room temperature, then freeze over night.
  9. dust with powdered sugar and add whatever fun design you desire!