desserts — Blog — Pear & Pecorino

Cranberry Cheesecake Tarts

Where did this month go? It started out so turbulent, so unsure. The beginning of November existed only in liminal spaces and pockets of time. In short days that slipped into nighttime. And in a new era.

This month, I’ve taken some time to just cook for myself. Without the lingering thought of preparing for photos or chasing the light. Going into my first winter as a natural light food photographer, I’m noticing the changing light. The nuanced tones of blue and grey that seep in. The strongest light that shines through earlier in the day. I wish I could just sit with it for a while, observing the new patterns and subtleties each hour.

Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaNovember 22, 2020cheesecake, cranberry sauce, thanksgiving, thanksgiving leftovers, tarts, dessertsComment

Honey Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Sautéed Plums

As California endures the heatwave, and fire season makes the beloved landscape particularly apocalyptic, I stand in limbo, trying to savor the last of summer while slowly making the transition into earthy autumnal tones. Though I love the bright colors and strong sunlight that these months have pushed me towards, rustic neutrals, ruddy browns, and smoky greens feel more comforting. I'm still finding my footing, tentatively moving my way through the world of styling and photography, grasping at new techniques wherever I can. Stylistically, I'm drawn towards rustic settings that feel less staged, more welcoming and atmospheric. Snapshots of everyday life, with the beauty of fresh ingredients and mundane settings emphasized.

Rambling, I know, but all this to say I'm still honing in on a style, one that is much more clearly expressed in cooler seasons. Still, some of the warmth and atmosphere shines through, and I think I've managed to tiptoe between the seasons.

DessertsIsabellaAugust 23, 2020panna cotta, plums, summer, desserts, honey, vanilla bean Comments

Blood Orange Ricotta and Olive Oil Cake (+ a very happy new year!)

I celebrated New Year's Eve by making this Blood Orange Ricotta and Olive Oil Bundt Cake, decorated with a single sparkler to ring in the new year. I based it on one of my favorite loaves - Orange Ricotta Cake from Giada De Laurentiis - made instead with blood oranges and olive oil. I'm thankful for the blood oranges I spotted in the store for the bit of beauty and vibrant color they add to this cake. Olive oil and ricotta make this cake extra moist and lighter than the usual bundt. The blood orange juice makes for a pretty pink glaze or syrup top of the crisp, caramel-colored cake.

Pistachio Plum Cake (& saving our plum tree)

Today’s recipe showcases some of my favorite summer fruit: plums! I remember summers I would go to the farmers’ market with my family and fill up bags with peaches, apricots, and plums, savoring the stone fruit season while I still could. Sunday farmers’ market hauls would only last a few days, my mom and I devouring at least two each day. However, this year I’ve had trouble finding lots of ripe, sweet stone fruit, so when I finally spotted these deep purple plums, I went a little wild. With no one there to hold me back from filling my bag and memories of past summers I longed for flooding back to me, I came home with over 20 plums. This Pistachio Plum Cake is among the many creations I made with them.

Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaAugust 20, 2019cake, desserts, pistachio, plums, stonefriuit, summerComment

Cherry Cornbread Muffins

As cherry season reaches its end, and we enter this last month of summer, I wanted to share my recipe for Cherry Cornbread Muffins. It's an idea that's been bouncing around inside my head for a few months now; some remnant of a memory of a baked good. A lot of the time, cornbread is flavored with more savory flavors, such as jalapeño or cheddar. For some reason, the idea of cherries stuck with me. The cornbread is a little lighter and sweeter than usual, almost like a fluffy cake. These muffins are packed full of deep red cherries, and topped off with Orange Honey Butter!

Breakfast and Brunch, Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaAugust 8, 2019cherries, cornbread, desserts, summer Comment