Tuesdays with Dorie: Cinnamon Squares
June 2, 2009 at 2:17 am | Posted in cakes & tortes, groups, simple cakes, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 50 Comments
I’ve often wondered when Cinnamon Squares would have their fifteen minutes of TWD fame. Thanks to Tracey of Tracey’s Culinary Adventures, their time has come.
Chocolate, coffee, and, of course, heaps of cinnamon join forces here to form simple squares of cakey goodness. Add frosting, and it becomes simply outrageous. As an aside, why do I always accidentally stick my finger in frostings, and then notice only after I’ve taken pictures??
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read Tracey’s Culinary Adventures. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Chipster-Topped Brownies
May 26, 2009 at 3:28 am | Posted in cookies & bars, groups, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 37 Comments
OK, so I totally thought that a Chipster-Topped Brownie was a brownie with some chocolate chips scattered on top (what can I say…my mum does that all the time to jazz up plain brownies). It wasn’t until Beth of Supplicious chose them for TWD, and I checked out the ingredient list to see if I needed to buy anything prior to baking, that I saw that they are actually brownies with chocolate chip cookies on top. Whaaat? Dorie, you crazy!
Once I had that sorted, I developed in my head an expectation of what they would be like– specifically, a fudgy brownie base topped with a big, soft, brown-sugary chocolate chip cookie. Chalk it up to an overactive imagination, but oftentimes in life, and in baking, I just don’t get what I expect…this was one of those times. That golden cookie top you see in the picture was actually just a super-crisp, thin crust, and underneath it was a large pocket. It pretty much shattered when I cut into the bars. The piece in the photo was the only one who’s top halfway held together. And apart from that outer shell and the presence of chocolate chips on top and walnuts on the bottom, the two layers didn’t visually appear very distinct. The top did have a different texture than the brownie, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it “cookie-like.” The bottom, though, was most definitely brownie.
I had no problems with the cookie batter, and no difficulty spreading it nicely over the brownie. What went on here, I just don’t know. The bars were tasty, though, and my husband liked them a lot. I probably won’t make them again (even if they had come out the way I’d envisioned, I still prefer my brownies as just plain ol’ brownies), but I am curious to see all the other outcomes from the TWD Blogroll. For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read Supplicious.
Tuesdays with Dorie: Fresh Mango Bread
May 19, 2009 at 2:47 am | Posted in breakfast things, groups, muffins/quick breads, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 48 Comments
This is a recipe that’s caught my eye many times while flipping through BFMHTY, partly because it is directly opposite one of the things I most want to make (that would be Oatmeal Breakfast Bread for those in charge of next month’s selection…hehe), and partly because it just sounds a little wacky. Well, since Kelly of Baking with the Boys picked it for TWD, it’s time to try this wacky stuff out.
When mangos are cheap and easy to find (like they are now), I usually have one on my counter…they’re great for smoothies. So, without even having to make a trip to the store, I was good to go on the star ingredient here. The supporting player, raisins, on the other hand, don’t usually have a place in my home, so I thought I’d play up the tropical flavors of this bread and swapped in a little chopped candied ginger instead. Each piece was a sweet and spicy bite.
So guess what? Mango bread is really not so wacky after all. It’s moist and well-spiced…quite like a muffin, but in loaf form. No pat of butter or slather of jam needed with this bread– just a big cup of coffee, and you’re good to go.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read Baking with the Boys. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Tartest Lemon Tart
May 12, 2009 at 3:47 am | Posted in groups, pies & tarts, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 44 Comments
Have I told you how happy I am that it’s May? One of the best months of the year in New York, if you ask me. I won’t even let all the rain rain we’ve recently had dampen my enthusiasm for a great month. I’m at the Union Square Greenmarket every Wednesday, stuffing asparagus, ramps and sunchokes into my little tote. I’m walking around without a jacket. I’m looking for new flip-flops. And, I’m enjoying another ray of springy sunshine right now– the Tartest Lemon Tart, chosen by Barb of Babette Feasts for TWD this week.
At first glance this recipe may throw you for a loop– it uses the whole lemon. That’s right kids, take everything but the seeds and chuck straight into a blender (try and use an organic lemon if you can)…with sugar, of course. If you’re worried about overwhelming puckeriness, you can follow a suggestion Dorie made here, and blanch the chopped up lemon in boiling water before proceeding with the recipe. I did this, and you never know, maybe my lemon was not so tart to begin with, but the blanching seemed to do the trick of removing any bitterness.
Dorie says in her recipe intro that the lemon filling becomes almost jelly-like in the oven, and I have to say that it kind of reminds me of a soft gumdrop. In combination with the cookie-like Sweet Tart Dough, it’s just stellar. And it’s also quite pretty, in a rustic sort of way. I didn’t feel the need to do much to it…a little powdered sugar on top and some whipped cream on the side. When they come into season, a tumble of fresh berries will be wonderful.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read Babette Feasts. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
As a complete aside, I saw Chef Cheryl Smith while walking down Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn the other day…does anyone remember her from the show Melting Pot from Food Network’s earlier days? I’m totally checking our her restaurant when I get a chance.
Tuesdays with Dorie: Tiramisu Cake
May 5, 2009 at 3:21 am | Posted in cakes & tortes, groups, layer cakes, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 48 Comments
Tiramisu may mean “pick-me-up,” but to me it’s more like “give-me-some,” so I had a smile on my face and a fork in my hand when I saw that Megan of My Baking Adventures chose Tiramisu Cake as this week’s TWD recipe. I’ve made plenty of tiramisu at home– in fact, my version of it is the very first recipe that appeared on this little blog (although I don’t think anyone actually read it!). This one’s a bit different, though…a re-interpretation of the classic dessert into a layer cake.
Rather than ladyfingers, a yellow cake acts as the sponge for an espresso-liqueur syrup (Myer’s rum, in my case). I like my tiramisu full of coffee and full of booze, and while this cake did have great flavor, I do think the layers could have been a bit more saturated with the syrup. (If it looks fully soaked in the top photo that’s only because, when I put the cake away the night before, I brushed the exposed sides with a little extra syrup to keep them from drying out.) I’ll try and figure that out if I make it again (which I probably will)…maybe poking the layers with a skewer before brushing on the syrup, or pouring the syrup into a pie plate and quickly dunking the layers would work?
The frosting, part mascarpone and part whipped cream, was silky smooth and light as a feather. Truly delicious, and easy to work with, too. That smile on my face is still there, just thinking about it.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read My Baking Adventures. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Chocolate Cream Tart
April 28, 2009 at 3:22 am | Posted in groups, pies & tarts, pudding/mousse, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 49 Comments
TWD started April with a Banana Cream Pie, moved on to two intense chocolate desserts and, thanks to Kim of Scrumptious Photography, we ended April with a Chocolate Cream Tart. It’s as if we’ve come full circle, really. Okay, maybe that’s pushing it, but sometimes I think it’s funny how the choices each month shake out.
Chocolate pastry cream with whipped cream on top, all in a chocolate crust– oh my word! I went halvsies with this week’s recipe, and had plenty for six individual-sized tarts. These little guys are super-chocolaty and super-good! R and I ate them in contented silence…then neither of us could move to do the dishes afterward! Some thought that all that chocolate was a bit too much, and opted for a plain tart crust instead. Personally, I wouldn’t change a thing. I was quite happy to try out Dorie’s chocolate shortbread crust recipe, and liked it a lot. I did find, though, that when making the dough, it was a little dry. I had to add a couple teaspoons of milk to get it to come together, but then it was pretty easy to work with.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read Kim’s post. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Four-Star Chocolate Bread Pudding
April 21, 2009 at 2:03 am | Posted in groups, pudding/mousse, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 46 Comments
I’m just back from seriously stuffing myself all over London (I’ll try and tell you more later…you will be either impressed or disgusted by what I was able to pack away in only five short days!), but I still say, “more chocolate, please!” My pal Lauren from A Baking Blog (aka Upper East Side Chronicle) has thankfully obliged by choosing Four-Star Chocolate Bread Pudding for TWD this week.
All the restaurants I’ve worked for have had some version of bread pudding on the menu at some point in time, so it should be old hat. Really, though, I’ve had limited success with making bread pudding at home. It’s my own fault…I usually cut corners with the cream and yolks in an effort to make it a little less fattening, but the end result is a tough, dry let-down. This go-around, I stuck to the recipe…my compromise here was to make just a third. Only a few portions, but each one would have the full effect.
Dorie recommends brioche or challah as the base for this bread pudding. Both yummy, but I happen to have a stash old croissants in the freezer (leftovers from work), so I just used a couple of those. Talk about cutting out that fat– ha! That picture up top may not look too appetizing (it’s just so darn brown), but let me assure you that this is good, squidgy stuff…even with the dried cherries, which I wouldn’t normally go for in a chocolate dessert.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan (it is also here on Leite’s), or read Lauren’s post. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Chocolate Amaretti Torte
April 14, 2009 at 2:55 am | Posted in cakes & tortes, groups, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 40 Comments
Much like the Chocolate Armagnac Cake from last month, I actually made this Chocolate Amaretti Torte while we were still living in Sydney, and I’d been keeping it in my pocket ever since. Hmmm…do we see a pattern here with me jumping the gun on the luxurious chocolate cakes?? I am so glad that Holly chose it for TWD this week, because now I can say out loud that this is one of the best Dorie recipes we’ve made (thank you!)!
Since I was in London last week, I was pretty pleased to have the TWD recipe be one that I’d already made. On the other hand, if I had been home, I would definitely have baked this torte again. It is seriously…soooo…good. And so easy, too, that Dorie dubbed it “fifteen minute magic.” All the ingredients need is a quick whiz in the food processor, and the batter’s done. The cake that comes out of the oven is a low-rider…not very high, but really intensely flavored with chocolate and almonds. (And, by the way, I just used cheapo grocery store armaretti cookies with no problems.) Don’t skip the bittersweet chocolate glaze or the almond whipped cream– with very little effort, you’ll have a dessert that’s fit for a swanky dinner party!
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan (she also has a take on it here on Epicurious), or read Phe/MOM/enon. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Banana Cream Pie
April 7, 2009 at 2:45 am | Posted in groups, pies & tarts, pudding/mousse, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 45 Comments
I’ve had such a busy week, running all over the city after work and on my days off to get errands done for a trip to the UK. I’ll actually be there by the time you read this (so I might not be able to do much commenting on cream pies, unfortunately). I’m Godmother to a friend’s baby boy. His name is Ian, he lives in London and I had lots of bits and pieces to pick up for the Baptism ceremony, which will be at the end of the week. Not to mention that Friday was my birthday, and on Saturday my husband and I went to see a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion, which is currently taping in New York. I’ve listened to the show since I was a kid, so it was fun to see goofy Garrison Keillor do his thing live. And Wynton Marsalis was a guest, so that was a pretty good present, I think.
Of course I still made the time to put together this Banana Cream Pie, Amy’s choice for TWD this week. I’ve said many times before that I don’t like raw bananas, but I like to keep an open mind about trying new things. I’ve never made or even had banana cream pie before, so why not give it a go? I had some homemade pie dough in the freezer anyway (it had been there forever, and I was actually itching to use it up), so the hardest part was already taken care of.
Hey, guess what– I thought this was good (and my husband loved it)! I do have a fondness for cream pies…they are tasty and squidgy, especially fresh, homemade ones. I’m not a banana convert, or anything, so I probably won’t make this one again…raw bananas still are a bit slimy in my book. I did really like the way Dorie uses brown sugar in the custard recipe and sour cream in the whipped cream topping. Yum on both counts there! My personal twist was using a little vanilla bean to flavor both.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read Sing for Your Supper. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll, and happy spring holidays to everyone!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Coconut Butter Thins
March 31, 2009 at 2:11 am | Posted in cookies & bars, groups, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 53 Comments
If Jayne of The Barefoot Kitchen Witch hadn’t chosen Coconut Butter Thins for TWD, I probably never would have baked them. Even though they’re made with some of my favorite things– coconut, coriander and macadamias– they just didn’t sound “substantial” enough for me to have paid them real consideration. I would have missed out, because although they aren’t too fancy, they were just right in so many ways. Just right with lemon curd sandwiched between them; just right with a little bowl of ice cream; just right all on their own. They were golden, crispy, buttery and a little crumbly. Mine didn’t turn lacy like Dorie said they would in her intro description, but that could have been because I parked them in the freezer before baking so they’d hold their square shape.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read The Barefoot Kitchen Witch. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
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