Phew!!!!!! I’m exhausted and its only 12:40
I produced and brought in everything I needed to though and for the most part it turned out well (the tarte was not as dark as I had hoped it would be) and now I’m ready to work out then lay by the pool and plan my grocery list! I started this morning making the tarte tatin. Its very easy really: just chop 3 pounds of granny smith apples, saute in butter and add sugar to make a caramel then put a pie crust on top and stick in the oven for about half an hour. The hard part is making sure it’s dark enough (mine wasn’t) and inverting it from pan to plate. I’m sure it tastes great and I have to remind myself that a tarte tatin is typically a more rustic, throw-together apple tart than a pretty manicured perfect-looking thing.
For the potstickers, since I made the sweet potato filling ahead of time all I had to do this morning was stuff and wontons and simmer them gently for a few minutes. I wrote a note to my client saying that all she had to do was quickly saute them in 1 tbsp of oil then serve immediately with the dipping sauce I included (a sweet and spicy soy sauce from the Moosewood Celebrates cookbook as well). I included toothpicks for easy party fare!
Some delicious sweet potato filling for my wontons!
All packaged up and ready to go out! (thanks Kelly for the cute paper!!!)
All in all, I think it went well for my first time. I tend to be pretty hard on myself when I cook for others… am a bit of a perfectionist to say the least! I’m sure it will get easier and less stressful as I keep catering! I printed out little “business cards” for Karen to hand out at the party that said my name and “vegetarian and vegan catering” on them. I hardly think I would have enough time to do this more often, but its a fun thing to do and makes extra cash!!
I ate a quick and light lunch today of a toasted Ezekiel english muffin with hummus, cucumber and red pepper and sprinkled with soy feta cheese. I also had a pear on the side. I’m planning on working out right now then making a big smoothie to take down to the pool with me while I study for my practical and plan my (very short!) grocery list for next week. Short because as of a week from today, I am officially on spring break!!!!!!!!
ps- cute catering plates are from target and were only $2.99 each!!!!! Totally cute and I hope I get them back (I’m sure I will since I work with her!)!!!
BethT
March 21, 2008 at 4:59 pmWow!! Could you post either/both of those recipes or remind me where you found them if they are copyrighted?
And I made your mom’s cabbage the other night – AWESOME!!! And I don’t really even like cabbage :p
Meghan
March 21, 2008 at 5:00 pmwow, Jenna, everything looks delicious! Those sweet potato pot sticker/dumpling things look especially enticing. I hope your last week of school goes very well!
Romina
March 21, 2008 at 5:03 pmWhat a beautiful tarte tatin! An those pot stickers look restaurant-quality. =) Great work!
Cara
March 21, 2008 at 5:12 pmIf i had a party to cater and you were nearby I would definitely use you! Mmm.
melissa-little runner
March 21, 2008 at 5:22 pmYou’re like a vegan Giade de Laurentis! She got her start in catering also! Happy Friday Jenna.
jenna
March 21, 2008 at 5:31 pmBeth,
There’s no recipe for the tarte tatin….seriously all you do is saute 3 lbs of sliced apples with some butter and sugar til it caramelizes than top with a pie crust and bake at 400 for about 20 minutes or so til the crust is brown. Invert on a plate. The potstickers are from the Moosewood Restaurant Celebrates cookbook, which I LOVE! I’ve had the cookbook for years and years and it never fails me!
Julz
March 21, 2008 at 5:35 pmJenna! What are you talking about??? Your Tarte Tatin looks GORGEOUS! I looove it’s rusticity too. Really it evokes French Country Side and is beautiful, so don’t worry! Oh and I added you to my blogroll! I hope that’s all right?
Katie
March 21, 2008 at 5:35 pmHey Jenna! Nice work on the tarte tatin-it looks delicious!
Any word on the recipe from your mom for the BBQ chicken? I told my guests I had a wonderful recipe and I don’t want to disappoint!
Sorry for being such a bother!
jenna
March 21, 2008 at 5:37 pmKatie,
My mom is actually out of town but will be back tomorrow!!!! Hope that’s alright?!
Katie
March 21, 2008 at 5:45 pmDo you think she’ll be able to put it up tomorrow morning? I was planning on having it tomorrow night for dinner and if I remember it takes 6-7 hours to cook?! Sorry, I’m a little frazzled getting everything ready…company is so stressful! haha
Kelly L.
March 21, 2008 at 5:46 pmGlad you liked the paper! I saw it and was like “HEY, I know that paper!” Have a great day Jenna!
Annie
March 21, 2008 at 6:11 pmHey Katie,
I actually saved the recipe for the BBQ Chicken, I would have posted it sooner but didnt relize it wasnt saved in Jennas recipes. I made it for my birthday and served it on Wheat buns from traders joes and they were sooo good. Enjoy!
Slow Cooked BBQ Pulled Chicken
Makes 4-6 servings.
1 and 1/2 lbs. skinned and deboned chx thighs.
1 Tbl olive oil
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 Tbl Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbl cider vinegar
1 Tbl yellow mustard
1 tsp ground red pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
-Brown chicken 4 minutes on each side in 1 tbsp. hot oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Remove from heat and place in a slow cooker.
-Combine ketchup and next 6 ingredients. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on High for 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low, and cook 5-6 hours.
-Remove chicken from sauce; shred chicken. Stir shredded chicken into sauce. Spoon mixture onto buns
Mel H
March 21, 2008 at 6:13 pmHey katie! i just found jenna’s recipie I printed off!
Shredded BBQ chicken
1 and 1/2 lbs skinned and deboned ckn thighs
1 tlb olive oil
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tbl worcestershire sauce
1 tbl cider vinegar
1 tbl yellow mustard
1 tsp ground red pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
Brown ckn 4 min on each side in 1 tbl hot oil in a large skillet over med- high heat. Remove from heat and place in slow cooker.
combine ketchup and next 6 ingredients. Pour over ckn.
Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low, and cook 5-6 hrs.
Remove ckn from sauce, shred ckn. then stir shredded ckn into sauce. Spoon mixture into buns, serve over salad or coleslaw
makes 4-6 servings
Hope that helps!!
Mel H
March 21, 2008 at 6:14 pmhaha Annie! Great minds think alike!
Annie
March 21, 2008 at 6:18 pmHa we must have posted at the same time..Did you make them? I would love to make em again, but never feel like waiting 5 hours…even tho its super easy haha
Katie
March 21, 2008 at 6:19 pmAhhh! Thank you so much Mel and Annie! That is such a relief; you’re lifesavers! And Jenna–tell your mom her recipe is obviously fantastic!
Ryan
March 21, 2008 at 6:48 pmYour catering business looks like a ‘sweet’ success!! Proud of you, it looks really good!
Ashliqua
March 21, 2008 at 7:41 pmJenna,
Congrats on your catering job! Looks like it was a success.
I wanted to let you know that I adapted your banana walnut waffles into banana walnut pancakes this morning and they turned out delicious! Following your suggestion to up the liquid content, I added slightly more oil and a little water, plus a little vanilla extract for good measure. I made them for my boyfriend’s birthday breakfast and he loved them too! So thanks alot! 🙂
Ashley
arimcg
March 21, 2008 at 7:46 pmIt all looks really good – great idea to give out business cards, i’m sure you’ll get a ton of calls!
Joane
March 21, 2008 at 7:48 pmThat BBQ recipe sounds really good and EASY! That’s what I like!!
I love those sweet potato wontons!! They look too good to eat!
erica
March 21, 2008 at 8:03 pmJenna, your tarte tatin and pot stickers look divine! Yum! Congrats on the catering job, you definitely contributed some fabulous food!
VeggieGirl
March 21, 2008 at 8:15 pmthe tarte and pot stickers are GORGEOUS!! you’re going to ROCK that catering job, girl!! :0)
VeggieGirl
March 21, 2008 at 8:15 pmoops! I meant to say “I knew you’re going to ROCK that catering job, girl”