tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80846810468175813972024-03-21T20:50:50.192-07:00garrulous gastronomistJess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-19327268556069377362009-01-28T20:09:00.000-08:002009-01-28T23:51:01.995-08:00Dinner<img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0003f93p" width="400"><br />Modified oyako donburi:<br />1 c rice<br />1/2 tub tofu, cubed<br />hoisin sauce<br />oyster sauce<br />sriracha<br />peanut or other oil<br />egg, lightly scrambled<br />Cook rice. Heat sauces (I used ~1/2 tbs each hoisin and oyster, ~1 tsp sriracha) and oils in a frying pan at medium heat then add tofu. Let tofu cook evenly on all sides, but don't worry too much about perfection: just kick it around every few minutes. When nicely browned to taste, pour in egg and cook until firm. Spoon over rice and add bonito flake/nori seasoning and soy sauce.<br /><br />Gingery-sweet:<br />real ginger ale<br />maraschino cherries and syrup (Reed's Extra Ginger or Cock & Bull)<br />bitters<br />candied ginger<br />whiskey (optional)<br />Add a dash of bitters and ~2 tsp maraschino cherry syrup to ginger ale, add cherries and ginger.<br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0003caa4" width="400">Jess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-50599251825784683362009-01-13T22:24:00.001-08:002009-01-28T23:53:32.050-08:00Mexican Chocolate Bread PuddingMexican Chocolate Bread Pudding, as adapted from Recipezaar's <a href="http://www.recipezaar.com/Sourdough-Bread-Pudding-142296">Sourdough Bread Pudding</a><br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0003arct" width="400"><br /><br />4 c cubed sourdough bread, very stale<br />1/2 c chocolate chips<br />2 c plain soy milk (because that's what I had on hand)<br />1/4 c heavy cream (to make up for the fact that I was only adding one, not 1.5, egg yolks)<br />3 eggs<br />1 egg yolk<br />3/4 c sugar<br />2.5 Tbs dark cocoa powder<br />1 Tbs vanilla<br />1/8 tsp ground nutmeg<br />1/4 tsp almond extract<br />1 tsp ground cinnamon<br /><br />Grease a souffle dish or casserole pan and add the chocolate chips and bread cubes. Beat together everything else, then pour into the dish and stir, making sure the bread is all coated.<br /><br />Cover with plastic wrap and let soak for at least two hours, preferably overnight. Then bake at 350°F until the center tests clean, abt 50-60 min.<br /><br /><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00039168" width="400">Jess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-49679735324665957462009-01-06T12:23:00.000-08:002009-01-06T12:26:18.818-08:00Dark Rye BreadDark Rye Bread from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Real-bread-fearless-guide-making/dp/0892861797">Real Bread: A Fearless Guide To Making It</a><br /><br /><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/100_2740.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />1 Tbs active dry yeast<br />0.25 c lukewarm water<br />1.5 c hot water<br />2 Tbs butter, cut into bits<br />0.25 c brown sugar<br />0.25 c molasses<br />2.5 c dark rye flour<br />3 c AP flour<br />1 Tbs salt<br />2 tsp grated Satsuma orange peel<br />0.5 tsp anise seeds, lightly crushed<br /><br />1. Proof yeast in lukewarm water.<br />2. Combine hot water, butter, sugar and molasses in large bowl, stir to melt and dissolve, then cool to lukewarm.<br />3. Add proofed yeast, rye flour and 0.5 c AP flour. Beat until air bubbles form.<br />4. Stir in salt, seeds and peel, keep stirring as you slowly add AP flour until a stiff dough forms.<br />5. Knead on floured board for 8 min until smooth, pliable and firm, or like I did, let the stand mixer work at it with a dough hook until the firm stage. The recipe notes that the dough is VERY sticky until "suddenly it stops, and you know you've won."<br />6. Make into a ball, put into oiled bowl, turn to coat with oil, cover with a dampened towel and let rise in a warm place for 1:40, or until it has doubled in size.<br />7. Punch down, knead briefly and divide into 2 equal leaves and let rise on an oiled baking sheet, covered with a dampened towel. Let rise for another 1:40 or until almost doubled.<br />8. Brush with a water-molasses wash, score and bake in a 350°F oven for 40 min or until bread tests done. About 10 min into baking, spray loaves with water and shut the door. Spray again halfway through baking when you rotate the baking sheet.<br />9. Transfer to wire rack and don't cut until it's cool.<br /><br /><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/100_2741.jpg" width="400" /><br />This worked very well with the broccoli-cheese soup my friend made. It was light, well-crusted and had just enough anise and orange taste to make it interesting.Jess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-23173050430285182642008-12-21T17:30:00.000-08:002008-12-21T20:02:41.398-08:00risotto, demystified<div style="text-align: left;">Wait, don't run away; it's easy, I promise! If you've never made risotto before, I'm here to help.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When I think of risotto, I think of love. It is a dish that is made with care (compared to boxed mac and cheese), and is almost always appreciated by those you make it for. Since the end product has such a rich and creamy consistency, risotto is made with a special kind of rice, instead of long-grain, as it needs a high starch variety that is able to absorb a lot of liquid and release said starch. Arborio is the type I see most often in grocery stores, but there are certainly other kinds of rice (and real Italians would probably have some opinions).</div><div><br /></div><div>Step 1: Heat up some oil or butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 cup of rice and stir to coat the grains with the fat and cook for a minute or two. (Meanwhile, heat up about 2-3 cups of stock in a separate pot and keep it hot for later steps. If I'm lazy I'll just zap some stock in a large pyrex measuring cup for liquids, and continue zapping it to maintain temperature. Adding hot liquid to the cooking rice is important in maintaining the overall temperature of the cooking environment; adding cold stock will halt the absorption process until everything can come back up again, and we want to avoid rollercoasters.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCENdvOX1ROhUfmEi9g4SwWxDpwh6C73lPXn-XdatD2txPQpSkqHk14XsV6zxHDEqhJHAHGjNacPVGrQQ3oh5GFMHpI2o01s1c_PBrDt-WQTU0YVDj0GqD2X3MQvQhZsJW1Nj4VEswkVg/s1600-h/IMG_1162.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCENdvOX1ROhUfmEi9g4SwWxDpwh6C73lPXn-XdatD2txPQpSkqHk14XsV6zxHDEqhJHAHGjNacPVGrQQ3oh5GFMHpI2o01s1c_PBrDt-WQTU0YVDj0GqD2X3MQvQhZsJW1Nj4VEswkVg/s320/IMG_1162.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282430859981153282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>Step 2: Add a good slosh of white wine to the rice. It doesn't have to be great, I usually just use the token mostly-consumed bottle hanging out in the fridge. Stir occasionally until the wine is absorbed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Step 3: Add about 1 cup of hot stock to the rice. Stir every few minutes. You will get a better product if you stand there and stir more frequently, but for everyday purposes I don't think it's necessary. The purpose of stirring is to loosen starch molecules from the surface of the rice grain and distribute it into the liquid component (stock), allowing the rice to uniformly absorb more liquid and release more starch. This is where the creamy consistency develops. </div><div>*A note about heat: you want the risotto to be ever so slightly bubbling, but definitely not boiling. Barely simmering. Otherwise a gooey burnt-on fate awaits!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixethfcFZBDvotz70ZlvSMmoGDrqpo3lFN0ptg9583PnS6bOozahi-cNMOEyDH7s4VdDc8b94TYjjxSH7bbC2Hj7E8xpKboEXPJiZ1DvJ-hiMI-TcCWRrsIncyyF3PCW36MiojOWx8oUk/s1600-h/IMG_1169.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixethfcFZBDvotz70ZlvSMmoGDrqpo3lFN0ptg9583PnS6bOozahi-cNMOEyDH7s4VdDc8b94TYjjxSH7bbC2Hj7E8xpKboEXPJiZ1DvJ-hiMI-TcCWRrsIncyyF3PCW36MiojOWx8oUk/s320/IMG_1169.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282430850877699250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>Step 4: Continue stirring until the liquid is mostly absorbed. Add another cup of hot stock. Continue stirring until almost absorbed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the judgement call. It is traditional to cook the risotto for 17 minutes total since the wine was absorbed. This results in a grain that still has "bite" to it, and is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">al dente</span>. In Italy, a finished risotto is supposed to be "looser," that is, the grains are surrounded by more liquid, than is typically served in the US. Some advocate for the risotto to be removed from the heat a few minutes before it is done and covered so that it can finish by residual heat. Depending on your palate, you may want the grains softer, or what have you.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you don't have a lot of experience, I recommend finishing it yourself, so being involved with it until you think it's ready, instead of covering it up early and hoping for the best. You might have to taste it a lot, but sometimes we have to make delicious sacrifices. Buck up.</div><div><br /></div><div>Step 5: Once you've decided it's ready, remove from heat and add a few pats of cold butter and some finely grated parmesan (or other similar cheese), and stir it all in. Yum! I like to add some more cheese on top when I'm about to dig in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Variations exist as far as the eyes can see. Meat, no meat, veggies, herbs. Another "kitchen sink" medium. I usually sauté some finely chopped onion or mushrooms in the bottom of the pot before I add the uncooked rice. You can add things along the way, or wait to stir it all in at the end. In pictured rendition above, I roasted some cauliflower (drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper, 350 degree oven until lightly browned), chopped it up, and added it to the risotto towards the end. I also added some sage, because I'm going through a slight obsession with this herb at the moment. Also, check the salt! Depending on the stock you've used, the risotto can use a lot of extra salt.</div><div><br /></div><div>The one hairy thing about risotto is that it should be eaten as soon as possible after you've deemed it done! You definitely don't want it sitting around because it will continue to cook and dry out. This is why risotto at large-scale catered events are usually so gluey-horrible! </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope this guide helps! Here's a final rundown of the recipe components in case you don't like the stream-of-consciousness:</div><div><br /></div><div>Roasted Cauliflower and Sage Risotto:</div><div>1 cup arborio rice</div><div>1 cup white wine</div><div>2 cups vegetable stock</div><div>1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped</div><div>1 medium head cauliflower, coarsely chopped, and roasted in 350 degree oven</div><div>1 tsp dry rubbed sage</div><div>butter</div><div>parmesan cheese, finely grated</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJHx8tWo-WPo5reCrjh0BQAz7nt1iL8ENDKItZ8FP_-W4K_wSjQKLJuNbEKstPeHwehXhHNAXYM1upGtY30IyZWgd5yYstvNTd3F4T0xhvDJJP4otA4ezPN8tUstRYLmHftTG9SRvhq8/s1600-h/IMG_1178.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJHx8tWo-WPo5reCrjh0BQAz7nt1iL8ENDKItZ8FP_-W4K_wSjQKLJuNbEKstPeHwehXhHNAXYM1upGtY30IyZWgd5yYstvNTd3F4T0xhvDJJP4otA4ezPN8tUstRYLmHftTG9SRvhq8/s320/IMG_1178.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282430864568776002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-35762453793270438142008-12-21T13:43:00.000-08:002008-12-21T13:46:18.827-08:00Cinnamon-Coconut Cake: Snow Day BakingCoconut-Cinnamon Cake, from <a href="http://www.bigcitylittlekitchen.com/2008/11/24/cinnamon-coconut-tea-cake/">Big City, Little Kitchen</a><br /><br />Preheat oven to 350F and butter a 9" square pan. (recipe calls for a 9-10" Bundt pan.)<br /><br />Toast <b>3/4 c shredded coconut</b> in a dry skillet over medium heat until lightly browned. Don't burn it like I did.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/1toastcinnamon.jpg" width="400" /><br /></div><br />Zap <b>4 Tbs butter</b> and <b>1 c canned unsweetened coconut milk</b> in a microwave until butter is melted. (I halfway melted the butter first, then zapped the milk and butter a little longer.)<br /><br />Beat <b>4 large eggs</b> and <b>1.5 c white sugar</b> until "pale and fluffy" or your hand mixer's arm gives out.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/2mixeggandsugar.jpg" width="400" /><br /></div><br />Add <b>1 tsp vanilla</b> and stir in <b>2 c AP flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon</b> and <b>pinch of salt</b> until just combined. (The cinnamon was double what the recipe called, but we didn't find it cinnamony enough. Double it again!)<br /><br />Then, while continuing to mix, add the coconut milk and butter mixture.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/3combine.jpg" width="400" /><br /></div><br />Scrape into the pan and bake at 350F for 60 min, rotating halfway.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/5bake.jpg" width="400" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/6cool.jpg" width="400" /><br /></div><br />Enjoy!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/7eat.jpg" width="400" /></div>Jess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-83055677574100814482008-12-21T01:54:00.000-08:002008-12-21T16:27:36.285-08:00fancy-lookin chicken<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3yQZfEH4ka6L_yqI6D2t63Tw61FMuQecpk1Zrv4GMTzOS6_2pAH_wrxComnb3pvWf6OIw7LBgk8V_cuBgjDnxPDriYoY1PqK7_Kz-IiKYROxU7kEPFJiGhquuRkJFmoudznCUZmWAOU/s1600-h/IMG_1161.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3yQZfEH4ka6L_yqI6D2t63Tw61FMuQecpk1Zrv4GMTzOS6_2pAH_wrxComnb3pvWf6OIw7LBgk8V_cuBgjDnxPDriYoY1PqK7_Kz-IiKYROxU7kEPFJiGhquuRkJFmoudznCUZmWAOU/s320/IMG_1161.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282192407979284466" /></a><div><br /></div><div>While I'm home visiting my folks, I usually like to cook them a few nice meals. For one, my dad pays me back for groceries, so I can go all out and get the fancy stuff. Also, they have a lovely kitchen (though I may be biased... it is the kitchen I learned to cook in). In any event, I wanted to whip something up for them tonight, but lacking access to a car (and this being a lovely suburban area where the nearest store is a 45 minute walk away), I decided to fridge forage and figure something out.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After a brief search, I found some chicken breasts, feta cheese, jarred (marinated) artichoke hearts, and other assorted goods. It's just begging to turn into stuffed chicken breasts, one of my favorite renditions of this often bland and belittled cut of meat. Not only does it come out completely juicy, but it is a stunning presentation that makes you look like a total kitchen stud, when very little skill is actually required. Let me show you!</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTWMysjJzHgsS1IETJLUF-5qThf3xIPAU6TtMCfR-ipRAXHxB6IVP3E1Rl-gOZCprZ0GnEIZ_kVM0tF8vGOuyoc5-VjkWo9TkEodUqK1yxeVqlwIs0cKN2A5_gjgHrK-QlBHQXNY5PRo/s320/IMG_1163.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282184382574864594" /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>First, lay a chicken breast flat on a cutting board. Take the knife parallel to the board, and make a shallow slit almost down the length of the breast, making it about an inch short on both ends so that you have a pocket. Work your thumbs into the slit (don't be afraid) and peel the meat apart so you enlarge the pocket to almost the other side:</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSijjRPKw8Np0UJbCJnxNOiwFLiREOjc9rDzvqzUXcbEiLOhyW5kxyt6VxFDfUHZS0WMVPFruwx2AcqGpTjfDgamR-TWKfORtnIPL-0Zsx0aiZiPND1NrP7MdvPLWv3gvglIHpnKIvKx0/s320/IMG_1167.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282184380037682274" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So now we need to make a stuffing. This can be almost anything you like. Most people make cheesy based pastes including some aromatic herbs or spices. I like to think of this as "kitchen sink" time, where you can mix up pantry stragglers, small portions of leftovers, whatever flavor combination moves you. Tonight I wanted a mediterranean flavored meal. I was using some chopped onion in a side dish, so I just scooped out some extra I had been softening and added it to the stuffing. It could be just as good with some raw onion. Strong flavors are great because that will infuse the chicken with yummy aromas during the cooking. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is a rough recipe:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mediterranean Chicken Stuffing:</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mix the following in a bowl:</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 cup feta cheese (crumbled)</div><div style="text-align: left;">5-6 fresh basil leaves, chopped</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 Tbsp sun dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/4 cup onion, diced and sauteed to translucent </div><div style="text-align: left;">salt, pepper to taste</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TFJTG2G2qprXYqx5tBu9oLBNjURHi89neD6-Sp-T-IPJbssQJWl9pRqr_2QWfM_fBAnfCKwA1_LtR755ypcKsE-GSYHyw6l57wgV8Udg2NupDBcuCxvJh6Hy4g2jTI2oizXmKjnDVYg/s320/IMG_1170.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282188368721103426" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Take about 1/4 cup of the stuffing, and gently but firmly stuff into the pocket cavity. Make sure it gets all the way in to the back of the space. You don't want to pack it tightly, it should be loose as we'll want to close things up for cooking. Add more or less depending on the space available.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next step is to close up the pocket so all the cheesy goodness stays inside. To seal things up, some people use some cotton string or toothpicks. I had some long skewers on hand, so I coated them in olive oil (otherwise burning ensues, ick) and weaved them back and forth to create a seam:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9-zja4jShHFfHQe88M7OZknX7n5NZwqyszwbJEcj_lLMesGJqNLghHzy2X6npvE-oG-aoAvdgeUQJ8e1vFxVToStZjRebyTMkAbekr-BgdG99viorpe9o_Db5Ee5HfQ51HfiBGK8c3o/s320/IMG_1173.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282188373709174690" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">OK, almost done. That was all the fussy set up work, and really it wasn't so bad, was it? We're on to the last two steps: browning and baking. Simple! Heat up a skillet (bonus if it's oven safe) with little olive oil. Lay the breasts in the pan and cook about two minutes per side, until lightly browned.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGTnq9Hvi99WTECA5o0zj_72dWUz-LZdEDfzZwxSY11OqvzalpW_SxFXKbSICoRed9MseAMIOwM9gSZHXm5Ru1ZhwIyvE-RZX1BAgyA_LasBqA43VtK7St5SKBQmDMpU0gSjHA3MX3SI/s320/IMG_1175.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282188370770663074" /><div style="text-align: left;">After it is nice and seared, either transfer the meat to an oven-safe container, or if using an oven-proof skillet, simply pick up the whole thing and cook it uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 12-15 minutes until the meat is cooked through. If I had leftover stuffing, I sprinkle it over the top before I put it in the oven.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0zG0YhcLROC8X0PMYvploMY6_S-bqxj6d_3EYlaWFQM0M34JfdTRnl-5gbxrotW67Z6xgIVr0tsbYTFoiwped5tZK7ab5VNyhOsQgdjxbSTBV50xqh8gHbAfBYD-H5vwhxxTr8-i9os/s320/IMG_1176.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282188389399847698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once the meat is cooked and the topping is looking melty, remove from oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes. This helps the juices redistribute so it doesn't all come rushing out as soon as you poke it with something sharp.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYwGWpX2F6gcBT7F5UN_uBH0xQg1sbDByu2aIf-moLYWytb3s-HhAEaotS8XrpkK_GaSV3mdS5oUnr8QdsOL_CmsHGSwfWjScXfCcdtL9LiAOqFclZTUavjY5g9acqHqkJdTdmDD7nwk/s320/IMG_1177.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282188393398133090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fabulous!! Seriously, this is a definite crowd-pleaser. I served it with steamed asparagus and a roasted-cauliflower risotto (which I will post about tomorrow).</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-10432230808605329162008-12-05T00:51:00.000-08:002008-12-05T01:02:07.423-08:00How To Make a Pie CrustHere is the promised, tardy, photo how-to on making pie crust. Gretchen likes to use a Cuisinart, but not everyone has the toys she does. The non-electric way is pretty fun, and makes a lot less noise--better for late night baking. <br /><br />This is my favorite pie crust recipe, <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2007/11/cooks-illustrated-foolproof-pie-dough-recipe.html">Cook's Illustrated's Foolproof Pie Dough</a>, which calls for replacing half the water with vodka or some other high-proof hard liquor. I love this recipe because it works via science: gluten makes wheat products such as bread or pie crust chewy, and water is required to form gluten. Therefore, if you remove some of the water, you get less gluten. Vodka allows the dough to be moist and workable without being chewy. <br /><br />Movement like kneading also encourages gluten formation, so most traditional recipes implore you to work the dough as little as possible. The vodka lets you have a bit more breathing room when it comes to rolling, cutting and manipulating the dough. Don't treat it like a good hearty bread dough, but don't treat it like glass either! Pies are supposed to be fun!<br /><br />1. Assemble your ingredients: butter (frozen is best), flour, salt, sugar (optional), water and vodka (put these last in the fridge).<br />Gather your tools: bowl, measuring cups and spoons, masher (potato masher, pastry cutter or...) sturdy fork that could withstand hard ice cream.<br /><br />2. Slice the butter into chunks the size of marbles. Some people grate the frozen butter instead, which is <i>genius</i> but also results in frozen fingers.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002qx9k"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002qx9k" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />3. Combine butter, salt, sugar and half the flour. Cook's Illustrated has you add the other half later. (The photo of this just looked like a snowdrift. I'm sure you use your imagination.)<br /><br />4. Using a potato masher, a pastry cutter, or even your hands, mush everything around until the largest butter chunks are the size of peas and everything is coated with flour.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002rrbh"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002rrbh" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />5. Add the rest of the flour and toss around until the butter is relatively evenly distributed in the flour.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002s84c"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002s84c" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />6. Get the water and vodka out of the fridge or freezer. If you are using the vodka, I'd either mix it with water to start out with or when adding, alternate H2O with EtOH. Either way, it needs to be cold.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002txf5"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002txf5" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />7. Shove all the dough to one side of the bowl and dribble liquid along the side of this slope.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002wzdq"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002wzdq" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />8. Use your fork to drag the moistened dough over to the other side of the bowl and mash like you're combining butter or sour cream into a baked potato.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002x5fh"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002x5fh" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />9. Continue until the whole mass of dough is somewhat evenly moistened. It should be like play-dough in texture, drier if not using vodka or other alcohol in your liquid.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002yh34"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002yh34" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />10. Pat into a ball, flatten into a thick pancake and wrap in plastic or wax paper to chill until you're ready to make the pie. (I don't advise storing it longer than overnight; dough I've left in the fridge for longer than that haven't rolled out nicely.)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002zwka"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/0002zwka" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00030r8s"><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00030r8s" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />All that's left is how to turn the dough into a pie crust, and the puree into pie filling. Stay tuned.Jess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-75580515881149593432008-12-04T19:26:00.000-08:002008-12-04T19:42:28.539-08:00gluten-free dark chocolate torteOver the years, I've become fairly proficient at baking and cooking gluten-free fare; I have a family member afflicted with celiac disease, meaning absolutely no wheat gluten (or barley or rye). At thanksgiving or other family gatherings, I used to make up extra pumpkin pie filling and make a crustless pie for them, or some such rendition of what the rest of us were eating. This still seemed exclusionary to me. I had a friend share an amazing recipe of a blend of special flours that can be used in a 1:1 substitution with all-purpose flour:<div><br /></div><div>2 cups brown rice flour</div><div>2/3 cup potato starch</div><div>1/3 cup tapioca starch</div><div><br /></div><div>This blend is a complete life-saver! I've found these specialized flours from Whole Foods and other natural food stores. Bob's Red Mill makes all of them (plus many more varieties). I've successfully used it in bread recipes, pastry, etc. The results are drier and more apt to crumble than their glutenous counterparts, but it is still surprisingly workable and able to maintain structure. It also lends an interesting taste and textural difference that is a nice break from wheat. Don't believe me? Check out the <a href="http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/chocolate-pomegranate-torte.aspx">Dark Chocolate-Pomegranate Torte</a> I made for thanksgiving:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjik3hC6AeKomCjCWE-IbDCO7_XdsKicx_cGjc8iZp7OZtAGCmeHxL737Ru7SLlVds8tu-9IePKac79fa6Rk9tiXrosULPp55IJhtbX-51Ueiuo2u3DAOUQRujeZdqGAJnLIZOSd4pIK2c/s320/IMG_1037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276145797410015090" /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-92182750385910882008-11-26T00:20:00.000-08:002008-11-26T00:38:35.557-08:00How to Deconstruct a PumpkinThere were sugar pumpkins at the fruit stand today. Since I've been charged with bringing pumpkin pie (and mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce) to my Thanksgiving gathering, I figured I'd take the unknown route, and give a good excuse for a how-to picture post. (I followed <a href="http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9267610">this site</a>.)<br /><br /><b>How-To: Turn a Solid Pumpkin Into Puree</b><br />1. Preheat oven to 350°F, wash the pumpkin and remove stalk.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/3060156687_7f5610be78_o.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></div>2. Using a large knife or, in this case, a cleaver, slice pumpkin in half.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/3060156717_0cefc8216a.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/3060156737_15c4e7f5e4.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></div>3. Scoop out stringy center and seeds. (Put seeds aside for delicious roasting, of course.)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/3060992930_abcd069ca6.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3060156891_16b8c5db04.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></div>4. Fill a pan with 1/2" of water and place pumpkin halves cut-side down.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/3060993102_13cbf6d1c4.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></div>5. Roast for an hour, or until skin pierces easily.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/3060993144_8e1384a433.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></div>6. Remove pumpkin flesh from the skin and food process until smooth.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/3060993288_e669f1373c.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/3060993406_27ce00040b.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></div>Ok, baby food level might have been TOO smooth. That's ok, I'll just mix it in with the less-processed batch.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/3060993496_64e0e9b7b8.jpg?v=0" width="400" /><br /></div><br />Check in after Thanksgiving for the whole pie, and tomorrow for the pie crust.Jess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-60720913679077846662008-11-08T23:23:00.000-08:002008-11-09T09:11:47.484-08:00Baking in MonochromeWe had leftover oranges at work, so I took some home to make <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Orange-Bowknot-Buns/detail.aspx">orange bowknots from Better Homes and Gardens</a>. The sweet, yeast rolls will be excellent for a brunch book group tomorrow.<br /><br />I basically followed the recipe, extending the rises to accommodate slow yeast (probably due to a cold house) and substituting one of the eggs for 1/4 c pumpkin puree. (I was out of eggs.) The pumpkin made the dough delightfully orange!<br /><br />(Click the images for larger ones)<br /><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00023qg8" target=new><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00023qg8" width=300 /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00024zrh" target=new><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00024zrh" width=300 /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00026r7h" target=new><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00026r7h" width=300 /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00027739" target=new><img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/knittinggoddess/pic/00027739" width=300 /></a><br /><br />This recipe made me really realize how much I've grown as a baker in the past two years. The first time I made them with with a friend, the rolls tasted great but the texture was dense, and they weren't appealing cold. These...are proper, fluffy, sweet and orangey rolls. Even though the orange peels were ugly, adding suspicious dark flecks to the dough, even though a few tiny seeds slipped through the strainer, they're <i>tasty</i>. I don't think it's that I'm paying more attention to the recipe--I've always brought my lab technique into the kitchen--I think it's more that I have an idea of what things should be like and I take steps to correct errors before they cause issues.<br /><br />Question for our tiny readership: How much do you guys appreciate process photos? We'll take them as frequently as we remember, but if it annoys you, we can refrain from posting them all. At least, I can.Jess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-65214294563816190652008-10-26T16:31:00.000-07:002008-10-26T21:08:36.003-07:00Oatmeal-Molasses BreadFall makes me want to bake. It's probably the changing leaves, the chill and the all-encompassing wetness that puts me in the mood for homemade soup and bread. Of course, the blazing heat of a PNW summer also makes me want to fire up the oven, so maybe I just really like this hobby.<br /><br />So it's fitting that I chose a bread recipe from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dairy-Hollow-House-Bread-Cookbook/dp/089480751X">"Dairy Hollow House Soup and Bread"</a> book: "Rabbit Hill Inn Oatmeal-Molasses Bread". We seem to be on <a href="http://garrulousgastronomist.blogspot.com/2008/10/molasses.html">a molasses kick</a> at our house.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/oatmealmolassesbread.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/oatmealmolassesbread.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I went a little overboard on the blackstrap molasses, since there were only a few tablespoons left in the bottle and I love the taste. The loaf on the left has that extra molasses kneaded into the dough, and the one on the right just has the molasses smeared on top. (What's the effect of molasses as a glaze? Let's find out!) I also added vital wheat gluten, as I've taken to doing for my bread. If it's added any lift or shelf life, I wouldn't know because I haven't done a non-additive control.<br /></div></div><br />My right wrist is bothersome, so I left the majority of the kneading up to the stand mixer and dough hook. It's a pretty sticky dough anyway.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/oatmealmolassesbread2.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/oatmealmolassesbread2.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /></div>I baked them at 375F for 30-odd minutes, spritzing with water generously and turning halfway through, then pulled them out when their internal temp was 210F. So what effect does a molasses glaze have on a bread? The crust is darker by a good lot, but there aren't other differences that I can tell.<br /><br />They took forever to cool, but are deliciously worth the wait! They're sweet--thanks to the molasses--and like a sandwich bread in texture. The oatmeal didn't survive to lend anything to the texture, except perhaps to make it moister. I love how the molasses is swirled into the kneaded-in dough. It's almost like a cinnamon loaf.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/oatmealmolasses3.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/knittinggoddess/baking/oatmealmolasses3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Jess Is Covered In Flourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882449658395060010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-51327578461969974882008-10-16T18:16:00.001-07:002008-10-22T17:31:09.429-07:00iron chef -- brussel sprouts!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpXIBq4nDmFf8vd3msiWl_KIQLNTh-8UBC7wEsKmUHDpwlCMOudBSxxyjPodfExobdRh3pt5gFlTQkv95RKJxMBz2tDwQAD5IxTU9yTMEtNpDWa9wxi1lRaVoi_rJydEXwimkpM1kqfY/s1600-h/IMG_0737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpXIBq4nDmFf8vd3msiWl_KIQLNTh-8UBC7wEsKmUHDpwlCMOudBSxxyjPodfExobdRh3pt5gFlTQkv95RKJxMBz2tDwQAD5IxTU9yTMEtNpDWa9wxi1lRaVoi_rJydEXwimkpM1kqfY/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257928438040035490" border="0" /></a>Chairman Gretchen says: A la cuisine!<br /><br />In a house of two excellent cooks, iron chef battles are inevitable. We had some extra brussel sprouts lying around and couldn't agree how we wanted to prepare them, so we each made our own rendition. I like mine quickly sautéed over high heat, which keeps them fresh and crispy, with that excellent peppery bite. I've come to learn this is the South American style, where young women are deigned ready for marriage when they learn to slice greens as thinly as possible. Apparently, I have a while. This shredded preparation lets the sprouts cook in about a minute over medium high heat. Bacon was, of course, added.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUv81VI0rP2Wh079A_4eXL6mJ4wGadqKawl0HLyfl3KKYYW_SJIawjMzCAr76WHgCZ23BCIr47M3WuLFrMGJmE0Nc-pfNl3Q51RwtZPq2KaWM49omd1FPaP3cQuinN6ErZQXQXmLQIPA/s1600-h/IMG_0729.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUv81VI0rP2Wh079A_4eXL6mJ4wGadqKawl0HLyfl3KKYYW_SJIawjMzCAr76WHgCZ23BCIr47M3WuLFrMGJmE0Nc-pfNl3Q51RwtZPq2KaWM49omd1FPaP3cQuinN6ErZQXQXmLQIPA/s320/IMG_0729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257927203665423762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jess' preparation was more traditional. The sprouts were halved and tossed with olive oil. Again, bacon was added. They were baked until soft and roasty. Yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_i0sKvyzC14L5xgdtfvS5BbWWcR8Tn5VagdKKP9lUAaIzTdRd5YO9qlx9S3_PV4YXbEJBi9hJIE9H_sSXhw6IXy9Az_lJIx_YChZP13rRHAm0i8r9HeRERJsdfWaNVhQlu72EmJ2RFY/s1600-h/IMG_0736.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_i0sKvyzC14L5xgdtfvS5BbWWcR8Tn5VagdKKP9lUAaIzTdRd5YO9qlx9S3_PV4YXbEJBi9hJIE9H_sSXhw6IXy9Az_lJIx_YChZP13rRHAm0i8r9HeRERJsdfWaNVhQlu72EmJ2RFY/s320/IMG_0736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257927526666478482" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-75962236911803049992008-10-16T16:45:00.000-07:002008-10-16T17:21:36.967-07:00little cakesI like challenges. I like trying difficult recipes just to see if I can do them. It seems that once you have built up a set of core techniques and fluency with recipe language, there aren't many things you can't do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCi5WyOUXsogd1ZTOmeM4MhtK66G-6koy6G8RYEaxGCZt_L4qYcApReLcb6Bu5VdFSo7hstuMnXYePeL6rz6Oc3wmxGml5ekGE0N5AegKsvbjA58MgeoZJRqYSVmzk5hXQ6L2UJ6KKsAk/s1600-h/IMG_0863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCi5WyOUXsogd1ZTOmeM4MhtK66G-6koy6G8RYEaxGCZt_L4qYcApReLcb6Bu5VdFSo7hstuMnXYePeL6rz6Oc3wmxGml5ekGE0N5AegKsvbjA58MgeoZJRqYSVmzk5hXQ6L2UJ6KKsAk/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257909353198115282" border="0" /></a><br />When my mother emailed me this recipe for <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/12/humpy_madeleine.html">madeleines</a> (ahem--lemon-glazed madeleines) I knew this was my next opponent. I had been schlepping the fancy pans around with me for years, and never had the courage to use them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuTAVCn48MLBpXUXNrUQt7bK22ArlQ2gZI-9p4fJEhZy3_ZYfow0WFIWeKf0KP5Lr88Dyx_d2BG4cvJ137ME0y7x8bE8g4jbqsFBher2V6xM0eCRq2JquxYCvUTHK0E9QIOVBFd5nXFk/s1600-h/IMG_0869.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuTAVCn48MLBpXUXNrUQt7bK22ArlQ2gZI-9p4fJEhZy3_ZYfow0WFIWeKf0KP5Lr88Dyx_d2BG4cvJ137ME0y7x8bE8g4jbqsFBher2V6xM0eCRq2JquxYCvUTHK0E9QIOVBFd5nXFk/s320/IMG_0869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257909593175168002" border="0" /></a><br />Oh my. Warm from the oven, they were divine. I had planned to bring these to a friend's farewell party, but I doubt they will last that long. I might just make a fresh batch tomorrow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY24K0E9qL654za_cHgsppI9Wlh1a6845cCOJbK5dDnWFyZ0o6ofPkY4nycX8faFbdKkfjmV3mID3KmeyzhU3iiBQPpdNGc4NzFjoSbClac6ouxjiNDzJCppDg6nSKnIvZMnMKZaPUNNk/s1600-h/IMG_0870.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY24K0E9qL654za_cHgsppI9Wlh1a6845cCOJbK5dDnWFyZ0o6ofPkY4nycX8faFbdKkfjmV3mID3KmeyzhU3iiBQPpdNGc4NzFjoSbClac6ouxjiNDzJCppDg6nSKnIvZMnMKZaPUNNk/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257910336298233186" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-13876485843601935512008-10-16T16:11:00.000-07:002008-10-16T17:22:34.845-07:00harvestOur house has been completely inundated by tomatoes this season. We have about five cherry tomato plants in our side yard that just don't know when to stop! I've even had enough to make tomato sauce from scratch... twice! That's a lot! I was too busy eating to take pictures of the finished product, but it was so good I wanted to share the recipe, adapted from the indelible Marcella Hazan (<span style="font-style: italic;">The Classic Italian Cookbook</span>):<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">2 lbs fresh ripe tomatoes, halved lengthwise<br />1/2 cup olive oil<br />medium-sized sweet onion, finely minced<br />~1/4 tsp granulated sugar</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">~2 tsp salt<br />1 small can tomato paste (totally cheating)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A few sprigs of fresh oregano, stems discarded.<br /><br />1. </span></span></span></span></span></span>wash tomatoes, then cut in half. Simmer in a covered saucepan for 10-15 minutes until flesh softens.<br />2. Purée tomatoes in food mill or food processor. If using the processor, push the purée through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds and skin.<br />3. Add the olive oil to a clean saucepan, add the onion and sauté until just translucent. Add the tomato purée, paste, sugar, salt, and oregano. Cook uncovered at a steady simmer for 40 minutes or until desired consistency. Check seasoning and adjust as needed. Add some fresh leaves of oregano right at the end for color.<br /><br />Since I used cherry tomatoes as the base (Roma is more traditional), I added less sugar. Also, cherry tomatoes have a higher ratio of gooshy seed:usable flesh, so I added the tomato paste to thicken things up. This was not in Maricella's original recipe. Also, she calls for the classic <span style="font-style: italic;">Mirpoix</span> (holy trinity) of onion, carrot, and celery. I personally don't enjoy veggie chunks in my pasta sauce, so I only used the onion. I also like oregano in my tomato sauce, so in that went.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXdo86HddQzPBOSvWPanwLMnxiBOR82sPRTyjjVVqUpxQpVmpFy58csecFlGvU1pqEruinRTtFMlPnVTYsqVQOV4BXfBV2-Ba2-W_2U8Xw_jqrZl1DLjvjCY1duQIO4K_4ljvflvpy7Y/s1600-h/IMG_0867.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXdo86HddQzPBOSvWPanwLMnxiBOR82sPRTyjjVVqUpxQpVmpFy58csecFlGvU1pqEruinRTtFMlPnVTYsqVQOV4BXfBV2-Ba2-W_2U8Xw_jqrZl1DLjvjCY1duQIO4K_4ljvflvpy7Y/s320/IMG_0867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257901417850883218" border="0" /></a><br />Like I said, the sauce was polished off before photographic evidence could be collected, so here's a picture of the tail-end of the harvest. I had to use three times this quantity for the sauce. Also, the zucchini and raspberry plants found the energy to give us a small sample.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-51698820507730297012008-10-16T16:00:00.000-07:002008-10-16T17:23:06.441-07:00molassesOK, molasses cookies typically mean "winter" to me, but I could not resist! I was craving their fabulous spiciness and wanted the house to smell glorious. In my family, there are two competing recipes, one from my maternal grandmother's family, and one from my paternal great-grandmother. I will be comparing them later, but since the recipes are tucked in my mother's recipe box, I used this recipe for <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/MOLASSES-CRINKLES-231214">Molasses Crinkles</a> (Gourmet, 2004).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbfp6BPR5pedueuWBtjSIUAOR0GrUXmxrAKxxYfOW294knAjh4ObfUjTuinb2b7lCcenwH7H6VHde2-8V9TjrKeAVluJ4-o-DfVa5A4oaRy1yg_UX94t0eWopA5uFDQkXaU5Q6jlgNEE/s1600-h/IMG_0878.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbfp6BPR5pedueuWBtjSIUAOR0GrUXmxrAKxxYfOW294knAjh4ObfUjTuinb2b7lCcenwH7H6VHde2-8V9TjrKeAVluJ4-o-DfVa5A4oaRy1yg_UX94t0eWopA5uFDQkXaU5Q6jlgNEE/s320/IMG_0878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257892221833293250" border="0" /></a><br />As anticipated, the house smelled amazing for hours. However, I let half the dough soften too much on the counter, causing the second batch to spread too thin during the baking. Despite being shapeless blobs, they were still chewy and delicious.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-6690850249575884932008-10-16T15:36:00.000-07:002008-10-16T16:00:04.958-07:00autumnThis year I could not wait for fall weather to come around. We had (in my opinion) a rather wimpy summer, with a poor berry harvest and uninspiring stone-fruit crop. I just wasn't excited anymore. So when nights started crisping a few weeks ago, I could hardly contain my enthusiasm. I immediately dusted off the Crock Pot and made some beef stew and whole-wheat bread. This was my first attempt at a whole-wheat loaf, and I was pretty pleased with the results. I made one loaf plain, and two loaves as cinnamon/current whole-wheat. A few slices left out overnight to stale made excellent french toast!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD6mPof0OFQO3kL1leX9LkkjgepHfzVT_8M4hCvZyR15wkdZFU8bGARyTS6_TO4dhhDF79NNUO4p1y0ilabq9iN5iKUixzdmf4jztO7lXNiwFyzz4b6t6_VPLSvB4hItbQfEukIWsInE/s1600-h/IMG_0886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD6mPof0OFQO3kL1leX9LkkjgepHfzVT_8M4hCvZyR15wkdZFU8bGARyTS6_TO4dhhDF79NNUO4p1y0ilabq9iN5iKUixzdmf4jztO7lXNiwFyzz4b6t6_VPLSvB4hItbQfEukIWsInE/s320/IMG_0886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257888769091211730" border="0" /></a><br />This is the cinnamon variety (note the brown "swirl"...I've got to practice that swirling technique). Not much left. I got the recipe for Basic Whole-Wheat Bread and variations from <span style="font-style: italic;">Real Bread: A fearless guide to making it </span>by M. Baylis and C. Castle (pg 69).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-53016300637027573312008-08-11T23:11:00.000-07:002008-10-16T17:23:43.114-07:00old cakesJust to stretch my arms a bit, I'm putting up some delicious cakes that have been made in the last year. Of course, I'm including the old <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/CHOCOLATE-STOUT-CAKE-107105">Chocolate Stout Cake</a> (Bon Appétit, Sep '02), but with raspberries between the layers in addition to the chocolate ganache. If you can believe it, this is what a half-recipe looks like:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lTGjM0hrUDHjhNpmfDsmYCXSWbfgNDWrholJB9ZwoSknaSXqqvh_9bltA6YGSsHLL0Srp2i16BSmcKyTmnmpinVlFwT93Gmu9jGcGgMbTzxI02UNv8IxNO4umw4plg4slX0YLNGxTu4/s1600-h/IMG_0285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lTGjM0hrUDHjhNpmfDsmYCXSWbfgNDWrholJB9ZwoSknaSXqqvh_9bltA6YGSsHLL0Srp2i16BSmcKyTmnmpinVlFwT93Gmu9jGcGgMbTzxI02UNv8IxNO4umw4plg4slX0YLNGxTu4/s320/IMG_0285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233519737474268834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've made this particular recipe at least 10 times in the last three years. It has become one of those trademark recipes that people frequently ask me to make for birthdays or parties (I am always more than happy to oblige). I've tweaked many components, such as making cupcakes (amazing) or adding raspberries. I've even made it with near-beer for a mormon friend (blackstrap molasses helped mimic the deep stout flavor, and yes, I know the alcohol cooks off). I have plans for a large-scale experiment with four types of stout, the results of which will no doubt be posted here.<br /><br />Another memorable cake was the <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/GINGER-CAKE-WITH-CRYSTALLIZED-GINGER-FROSTING-104515">Ginger Cake with Crystallized Ginger Frosting</a> (Bon Appétit, Dec '00), an easy way to use up the jar of crystallized ginger stashed in my pantry. My friend and I had too much fun with the decoration. I enjoyed the deep flavor of this cake, like a more sophisticated gingerbread. The warmth of the ginger was definitely appreciated during the colder weather.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepH0n8Rm21MFnPQuUS8idFjlrFwgc0h0YdST7_P5cFDeJtdwptZaAZc-CChAraNS4FAZtV73bhDM1hTGYF0LwbSEIU3aWUKS4j3GfviEwdseMGdtELtaeMUpKU_WU74jkJoia5gFUZHA/s1600-h/IMG_0163.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepH0n8Rm21MFnPQuUS8idFjlrFwgc0h0YdST7_P5cFDeJtdwptZaAZc-CChAraNS4FAZtV73bhDM1hTGYF0LwbSEIU3aWUKS4j3GfviEwdseMGdtELtaeMUpKU_WU74jkJoia5gFUZHA/s320/IMG_0163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233518969807922434" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084681046817581397.post-60881086122352973772008-08-11T17:30:00.000-07:002008-08-12T00:01:43.184-07:00This blog was created, on this eleventh day of August, 2008, as a repository for my various kitchen adventures.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0