VIDEO: Presenting the ham daiquiri (you read that right)

Perhaps you've heard of the candied bacon martini? Well, make way for the ham daiquiri.

--Rene Lynch
On Twitter @renelynch

VIDEO: Oatmeal crispies and a reader question for the test kitchen

 

A reader, Dot Goldish, wrote to the L.A. Times test kitchen about this recipe for Oatmeal crispies, which comes from the new cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks, by blogger Ree Drummond, and had the following question:

You say to remove the cookies from the baking sheet immediately. Does that really work?... In any event, they're wonderful cookies. I make them often and keep a bag of baked cookies in the freezer.

Dot, the cookies will be a bit fragile just out of the oven, but we do remove them immediately using a spatula, where they cool (and continue to crisp) on a rack. Hope this helps.

-- Noelle Carter

RELATED:

O Pioneer! A profile of 'The Pioneer Woman' blogger Ree Drummond

More recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen

Join us on Twitter @latimesfood and Facebook @latimesfood

VIDEO: Making the spicy mac and cheese app served at the Purple Palm

 

The Purple Palm restaurant in the Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs offers up a Spicy Macaroni and Cheese appetizer, of all things. One of our readers loved it -- and asked Times test kitchen director Noelle Carter to get the recipe. Here it is. And be sure to check out the video, above, of Noelle making the dish.

They're still toasting 'Sideways' in Santa Barbara wine country

 

Not everyone is feeling the economic crunch. Check out this story in today's Business section about one area in California that is doing just fine, thank you very much:

In the wine country north of Santa Barbara, the global economic crisis has drained wine sales, sapped tourist spending and siphoned away hotel profits.

But five years after the Santa Ynez Valley was featured in an Oscar-winning film, the region is still feeling the upside of "Sideways." The offbeat comedy about the wine-soaked adventures of two hapless buddies drew crowds of connoisseurs to the region's wineries, vineyards and restaurants.

And to the delight of merchants and wine makers, the continued popularity of the 2004 film has helped soften the blow of the worst recession in a generation. Visitors continue to snap up maps that mark the wineries and restaurants shown in the film. Even today, tourists request the same hotel room and restaurant booths where the movie's bottle-tilting heroes, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), sleep, eat and drink -- a lot. Read the rest of the story here:

VIDEO: Sending out an S.O.S. for the brownies at Boudin Bakery at South Coast Plaza

 

There is a possibility that the L.A. Times will not publish tomorrow. That's because everyone in the building has been talking about these brownies, instead of working at putting out the paper. Well, maybe I am exaggerating just a bit. But I can't remember the last time a recipe caused such a stir. And it's not just inside the building -- the recipe has been topping the most e-mailed list all day, too. I'm sure a lot of that had to do with the show-stopping photo taken by Times Staff Photographer Kirk McKoy -- you can see it below in all its fudge-y, chocolate-y glory. 

The recipe came to our attention when Mindy Morse of Los Angeles wrote to Times Test Kitchen test manager Noelle Carter, and submitted a request for our Culinary S.O.S. column: "Could you possibly get the recipe for the brownies at Boudin Bakery at South Coast Plaza?" Morse wrote, adding: "They are the most delicious brownies I have ever tasted!" 

Noelle got the recipe, and adapted it for the home chef. You can also watch video, above, of Noelle making the brownies in the Test Kitchen during a segment for our sister TV station, KTLA. Here's the recipe, Mindy! Enjoy! 

And check out other recipe requests we've been able to answer, here.

Photo credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

VIDEO: Making a fig frangipane tart

 

Consider this an excuse to stock up on fresh figs: Make a fig frangipane tart --Rene Lynch

Kiss My Bundt Bakery's Red velvet cake recipe

Our selfless quest for the best red velvet cake led to the acquisition of Kiss My Bundt Bakery's recipe, which has become a favorite with many of our staff. Owner Chrysta Wilson says it's based on a recipe she learned years ago from her aunt, when, as an 8-year-old, she was baking cakes in her Easy Bake Oven.

Her bakery is celebrating its 1-year anniversary, and the recipe (which follows below) will be included in her upcoming cookbook "Kiss My Bundt Cookbook," due out November 2009.

Yup! It's amazing! Almost as amazing as her maple bacon bundt cake. Only wish I'd asked for both recipes....

VIDEO: Putting those seasonal fruits to sweet use

 

Sold? Here's that recipe to peach and blackberry crisp. You can find more of our recipes at latimes.com/recipes. Bookmark it. We add new recipes all the time.

--Rene Lynch

Video: KTLA

Nuevo Mexico is open for business in Portland, Ore.

Since writing a story about the convergence of rock music and foodie culture, I've gotten quite a few e-mails pointing me in the direction of further examples of musicians-turned-chefs. And just now a friend sent me a link to an episode of Vendr.TV that chronicles street-food-fanatic host Dan Delaney, testing  the food served at the food cart Nuevo Mexico in downtown Portland, Ore. I mentioned the cart, which was opened by former Shins drummer Jesse Sandoval, in my story but wasn't aware that it was already open.

In the clip, Sandoval appears in the window of his little bright red-and-yellow trailer, handing sopapillas to customers, expounding on the importance of chilies to New Mexican cooking and talking about his newfound understanding of the "food cart subculture."

In a post about the video, the music-news website Pitchfork takes note of the fact that in the clip the Shins is never mentioned. Either Delaney didn't realize how important the band was (not likely), or Sandoval is sensitive about his dismissal from the band (likely).

-- Jessica Gelt

Photo: The Shins, with ex-drummer Jesse Sandoval at right

Credit: Brian Tamborello

$10,000 to Twitter about wine? It's a 'Really Goode Job'

 

In a sign of the cyber-crazed times, Sonoma County winery Murphy-Goode is on a nationwide hunt for someone to fill its “Really Goode Job.” The successful applicant will earn $10,000 a month to Tweet and use other social media skills to generate buzz about its reds and whites. Read more here.

Above: Applicant No. 678, Richard Standifer of Miami Beach, hopes to score extra points by drinking wine from a Vikings helmet. (Murphy-Goode's David Ready is from Minnesota, home of the NFL's Vikings.)

Photo credit: YouTube