French Fridays with Dorie: Mustard Bâtons
April 22, 2011 at 8:13 pm | Posted in french fridays w dorie, groups, other savory, savory things | 12 CommentsTags: baking, snacks
If you are looking for one of the easiest hors d’oeuvres ever, then look no further than Mustard Bâtons. Not only are they dead easy, they’re dead tasty, too. Take some ready-made puff-pastry, smear it with strong Dijon mustard and fold it over to encase the mustard. Then cut it into strips, eggwash and sprinkle with seeds or salt or pepper or whatever and bake until golden, crispy and flaky. Voilà! Enjoy with a glass of wine.
For the recipe, see Around my French Table by Dorie Greenspan (it’s also here on Dorie’s site). Don’t forget to check out my fellow francophiles’ posts!
Tuesdays with Dorie: A Tourtely Apple Tart
April 19, 2011 at 12:01 am | Posted in groups, pies & tarts, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 12 CommentsTags: baking, dessert, tarts
Thinner than your typical apple pie, this double-crusted Tourtely Apple Tart has a gently spiced, chunky applesauce sandwiched between layers of sweet tart dough. Since sweet tart dough is a cookie-like crust, the damp filling makes it soften up over time– in a very appealing way. Something about it reminded me of the Cranberry Shortbread Cake we made a while back. I think the way bumpy top crust drapes over the apple chunks is just beautiful. I look forward to making this again in the peak of apple season.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan or read The Whimsical Cupcake, as it was Jeannette’s pick this week. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Coffee-Almond Ice Cream
April 15, 2011 at 1:39 pm | Posted in ice creams & frozen, sweet things | 5 CommentsTags: coffee, ice cream
For about two seconds during last year’s holiday season I helped out in a little shop that specializes in a certain sweet made with egg whites. As part of prep, a couple of days a week I’d have to separate nine flats of eggs…the whites were saved, but there was no use for the yolks. There are 30 eggs in a flat, so you can do the math on the number of yolks that went into the bin each time I did this. Is that not horrifying?!? I actually felt pain when I would dump that giant bowl of fatty yellow gold in the garbage. So, one day I asked to take some home and walked off with enough yolks for about eight batches of ice cream (or curd or pastry cream or whatever). I portioned them up and froze them for later. If you’ve never frozen extra yolks before, this link will give you some good tips on how to stabilize them for sweet preparations.
When I made last week’s Coffee Ice Cream Tart, I thought it was the perfect excuse to defrost some of those yolks and churn up my own ice cream. There are recipes for coffee ice cream using instant espresso power and recipes using whole or ground beans. I went the ground beans route and just used my normal drinking coffee, which is a not-too-acidic medium roast bean that I grind myself. A quick steep of the beans in hot milk gives the backbone for the base, which is also flavored with almond extract. The coffee-almond combination is a real winner in my books, but if it doesn’t sound like your thing, just swap vanilla extract for the almond and leave out the toasted almonds at the end of churning. This ice cream is great with chocolate sauce!
Coffee-Almond Ice Cream– makes about a quart
1 3/4 cups whole or 2% milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided
pinch of salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup coarsely ground medium roast coffee (measured after grinding)
5 large egg yolks
1/2 t almond extract
about 1/8 t xanthan gum (optional; helps keep ice cream scoopable)
3/4 cup (3 oz) sliced or slivered almonds, toasted and cooled
-Heat the milk in a medium saucepan until it reaches 190-200°F (steaming but not boiling). Stir in the ground coffee and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the coffee to extract as much liquid as possible, and remeasure the milk. If necessary, add a touch more milk to reach 1 1/2 cups.
-Put the coffee infused milk, 1/2 cup of the heavy cream, a pinch of salt and about half of the sugar in a medium saucepan, stir and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, pour the remaining 1 cup of cream into a large bowl or measuring cup and set a mesh strainer over the top. Ready an ice bath in a bowl large enough to hold your other bowl or measuring cup.
-In a separate medium bowl, vigorously whisk together the egg yolks with the other half of the sugar. Slowly pour the warm liquid into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
-Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula (the temperature should be about 175°F). Vigorously whisk in the xanthan gum, if using, and quickly pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cold cream. Mix in the almond extract, then cool over your ice bath, stirring occasionally until the base is room temperature or cooler.
-Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator (at least four hours, but overnight is better), then pour the chilled base into your ice cream maker and churn. Just as your mixture is reaching the end of its churn time, add in your sliced or slivered almonds to incorporate.
-Transfer to a resealable container and place in the freezer until firm enough to scoop.
Tuesdays with Dorie: Strawberry-Rhubarb Double Crisp
April 12, 2011 at 12:01 am | Posted in cobbler/crisp/shorties, groups, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 53 CommentsTags: baking, dessert, fruit
We’re in that weird in-between time of year when there really isn’t any good fruit here. The rhubarb has still not made its long-awaited (for me anyway) appearance at my Greenmarket, and the leftover apples just look like they’ve been banging around in storage for the last few months. This Strawberry-Rhubarb Double Crisp is so tasty that I wanted to make it again this past week before TWD posting, filled with whatever, but I couldn’t find any fruit that really spoke to me. Luckily, I do have a crisp to show you…one that I made at the end of last May, when the rhubarb was still around and the strawberries were red through and through. The combination made for an intensely colored and flavored fruit filling.
If you’d like to know what the heck a “double crisp” is, it’s a crisp with a topping AND a crust…so that makes it double good. In addition to the usual suspects like oats and nuts, this crisp mix has a gingery zip to it, which I king of dug, but if it’s not your thing, simply leave it out.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan (it’s also here on NPR’s site) or read Teapots and Cake Stands, as it was Sarah’s pick this week. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Coffee Ice Cream Tart
April 5, 2011 at 12:06 am | Posted in ice creams & frozen, pies & tarts, sweet things | 14 CommentsTags: baking, ice cream, tarts
It’s been awhile since we’ve made a Dorie ice cream concoction. Well, allow me to make up for lost time by presenting you with a slice of Coffee Ice Cream Tart. While you could very successfully use softened store-bought coffee (or any flavor, for that matter) ice cream in this tart, I went ahead and made my own. I have lots of yolks in the freezer, and anyway, ice cream is one of my favorite things to make. The ice cream is jazzed up with almond slices and extract, and the coffee-almond combo is a good one. Add a little chocolate and it’s even better. The crust was a little iffy, though, and it looks like several of us felt this way. Mine sliced fine, but it was awfully hard to get through the frozen crust with a fork. I had to resort to picking it up and eating it. Not terrible, but maybe I just prefer ice cream cakes to tarts?
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan or read Domestic Deep Thought, as it was Jessica’s pick this week. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Lora Brody’s Chocolate Cherry Torte
April 1, 2011 at 4:51 pm | Posted in cakes & tortes, sweet things | 14 CommentsTags: baking, cake, chocolate
I know that it’s technically spring, but the weather here seems to have missed the memo. I was hoping that the light snow called for in this morning’s forecast was just an April fool’s joke, but, alas, it was for real. Rhubarb and ramps have gotta be just around the corner, though, so I’m going to take these (hopefully) final chilly days to squeeze in some of the heavier desserts I won’t be in the mood for soon. Things like this dense, rich Chocolate-Cherry Torte.
I think this was my husband’s dream cake….chocolate, almonds and cherries…all his favorite things together in one. I loved the fudgy texture of the cake itself, and, of course, the chocolate ganache glaze. The thin layer of marzipan in between the cake and glaze was a nice flavor touch. This isn’t a difficult cake (in fact, you can make the batter in the food processor), but there are a few steps from start to finish. A fun project for a chilly day spent inside!
Lora Brody’s Chocolate Cherry Torte- makes 8 to 12 servings
adapted from The Essential New York Times Cookbook by Amanda Hesser
Steph’s Note: You can use semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, depending on how sweet you’d like the cake to be. I found jarred Morello cherries at Trader Joe’s. I used marzipan in lieu of almond paste here.
for the cake:
3 T finely ground fresh bread crumbs
one 24 oz jar pitted Morello or sour cherries
6 oz dark chocolate
12 T softened unsalted butter, plus some for greasing pan
2/3 c granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t almond extract
1/2 c ground almonds
2/3 c flour2 T confectioner’s sugar
8 oz almond paste (or marzipan)
for the glaze:
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tsp. instant espresso powder
8 oz. dark chocolate
-Preheat oven to 350°F; put rack in center of oven. Butter a 9″ or 10″ springform pan. Add the breadcrumbs and shake pan to coat bottom and sides. Shake out the excess. Drain cherries well and set aside.
-Melt chocolate in double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally.
-Put the butter and sugar into a mixer or food processor and blend until light and creamy. Add one egg and mix well. Then add second egg and mix well. Add the extracts. Add the melted chocolate and mix gently or process in a few quick pulses. Mix in the almonds and the flour, and finally, the remaining egg.
-Pour and scrape the batter into prepared pan. Smooth top with a spatula. Arrange cherries in close concentric circles on top (the entire surface should be covered) and press them gently into batter so just the tops are showing. If the surface is uneven, smooth it out with a wet spatula. There may be a few cherries leftover.
-Bake for 50 minutes to one hour. Don’t overbake. The cake may look dry on top, but will be moist inside. Remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
-Put a length of waxed paper on flat surface and sprinkle with confectioner’s’ sugar. Work the almond paste into a flat round and turn it in the sugar. Cover with the second sheet of waxed paper and roll out into a circle the diameter of the cake. It should be quite thin (about 1/16th”). Take off top layer of waxed paper.
-Using the cake pan as a guide, cut out a circle that will fit the top of the cake exactly. Save extra pieces to patch any torn part or use for decorations. Cover the cake with the almond-paste round.
-To make the glaze, bring cream and coffee to a slow boil in heavy sauce pan. Take it off the heat and add the chocolate; stir gently until the chocolate is melted with no lumps (you can strain it if lumpy). Let the glaze cool briefly, until spreadable. Thin it with 1-2 t hot water if it’s too thick.
-Place cake on a rack over a sheet of waxed paper to catch drippings. Pour a thin layer chocolate glaze over the cake spreading it with a spatula. It should cover the top and sides of cake. Chill the cake briefly and and a second coat. Decorate if you wish (you can make roses or cut-outs from any almond paste scraps).
-This cake will keep unrefrigerated in a cool place for 2 days. It can be refrigerated, but the glaze will lose shine.
Please note that the publisher, W.W. Norton, sent me a copy of this book…but I would have bought it anyway!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Pecan Powder Puffs
March 29, 2011 at 12:01 am | Posted in cookies & bars, groups, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 12 CommentsTags: baking, cookies
Even if you’ve never heard of a Pecan Powder Puff, you probably already know what’s up with these cookies. You’ve likely seen (and tasted) them under one of their other aliases: Russian tea cakes, Mexican wedding cookies, etc. Something that goes by that many names sounds a little sneaky, but if you like nuts, they are really one of the nicest little cookies you’ll come across.
These little puffs are full of ground pecans (although you could certainly use walnuts or almonds in their place). They get their sweetness mostly from a liberal coating of powdered sugar….preferably enough powdered sugar to make you cough a little bit…know what I mean? They are crumbly, but melt in your mouth. If it’s still chilly enough where you live for hot cocoa, the two are a perfect match. I wish I’d made them a little bigger. I wish I’d made more of them. *sigh*
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan or read Buttercream Barbie, as it was Tia’s pick this week. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Honey-Nut Brownies
March 22, 2011 at 12:01 am | Posted in cookies & bars, groups, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 15 CommentsTags: baking, dessert
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve flipped through the book and wondered what this Honey-Nut Brownie would be like. Well, now I don’t have to wonder anymore. If, for you, the word “brownie” immediately calls to mind a rich, fudgey square of chocolatey goodness, then you may want to adjust your mindset a bit if you go off to make these. There is still goodness, but it is more cakey than fudgey, and tastes more of honey than chocolate. There is a little chocolate in the base, but “blondie” may be a better description here. A few extra chocolate chips in the batter and a quick ganache icing on top will boost the cacao factor, though, if that’s what your after.
Even though the texture is on the cakey side, it’s still chewy, I guess thanks to the honey. It occurred to me that slicing these brownies in half and sandwiching them with vanilla ice cream might be tasty. That’s what I did with half of my tray (I iced the other half with ganache). They weren’t firmed up by photo-time, but I assure you, they were pretty good!
I used Tremblay Apiaries’ Summerflower Honey and almonds in my brownies. For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan or read Suzy Homemaker, as it was Suzy’s pick this week. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
Tuesdays with Dorie: Citrus-Currant Sunshine Muffins
March 15, 2011 at 12:01 am | Posted in breakfast things, groups, muffins/quick breads, tuesdays with dorie | 21 CommentsTags: baking, breakfast, muffins
Muffins– two weeks in a row! I actually made and ate last week’s muffins two+ years ago, so I was glad to have another batch pop up this week. These may look as sunny and yellow as last Tuesday’s, but that’s because of orange and lemon instead of corn. A good citrus kick keeps these muffins from being too sweet, so you don’t feel so guilty having them for brekkie. I swapped out spelt flour for about a third of the AP, just to health them up a bit more. And if my currants look a little purple, it’s because they’re actually dried wild blueberries. I would have used currants if I had them, but blueberries go well with the citrus anyway.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan or read Bella Baker, as it was Lauryn’s pick this week. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
And, in case you missed it, Olive Oil Citrus Cake is another good way to brighten your day with Vitamin C.
Whiskey-Soaked Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake
March 13, 2011 at 3:53 pm | Posted in bundt cakes, cakes & tortes, simple cakes, sweet things | 9 CommentsTags: baking, cake, chocolate
I’m not an Irish girl (although with my reddish hair and fair skin, you can’t imagine how often I’m asked), but I’m still up for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. I’m long done with the overcrowed pub thing though, so this year I’m going to get my booze on with Melissa Clarke’s Whiskey-Soaked Dark Chocolate Bundt instead. It is loaded with a whole cup of whiskey, Jameson Irish in this case, and if you like this sort of thing, it is amazingly good. The crumb is tight and not fluffy, but instead of being a dense chocolate cake, the texture is soft as velvet.
If you read through the recipe, you’ll notice that the cake isn’t meant to be frosted. It truly doesn’t need it, but my cake needed it. You see, I decided to ignore the direction to flour my Bundt pan. Usually a good spray is all I need to get a clean release, but when I went to turn this cake out the entire outer layer stuck to the pan. Crappola. I patched back what I could (and ate what I couldn’t!), and then whipped up a quick gancahe to spackle and hide my goof. I think I did a good job with the reconstructive surgery– I can barely tell.
Bottoms up!
Whiskey-Soaked Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake- makes 10 to 12 servings
adapted from Melissa Clark’s fabulous book In the Kitchen with A Good Appetite
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, more for greasing pan
2 cups all-purpose flour, more for dusting pan
5 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/4 cup instant espresso powder
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup bourbon, rye or other whiskey, more for sprinkling
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
confectioners’ sugar, for garnish (optional)
-Grease and flour a 10-cup-capacity Bundt pan (or two 8- or 9-inch loaf pans). Preheat oven to 325° F. In microwave oven or double boiler over simmering water, melt chocolate. Let cool.
-Put espresso and cocoa powders in a 2-cup (or larger) glass measuring cup. Add enough boiling water to come up to the 1 cup measuring line. Mix until powders dissolve. Add whiskey and salt; let cool.
-Using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until well combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract, baking soda and melted chocolate, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula.
-On low speed, beat in a third of the whiskey mixture. When liquid is absorbed, beat in 1 cup flour. Repeat additions, ending with whiskey mixture. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes for Bundt pan (loaf pans will take less time, start checking them after 55 minutes).
-Transfer cake to a rack. Unmold after 15 minutes and sprinkle warm cake with more whiskey. Let cool before serving, garnished with confectioners’ sugar if you like.
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