Monday, May 31, 2010

- Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES


1⅓ c unsalted butter, cold
1½ c light brown sugar, packed
1 c white sugar
2 large eggs, cold
1 T vanilla
3¾ c flour
1¼ tsp table salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°.

Using a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars starting on low speed and working your way up to high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes once you reach high speed. Scrape the bowl and beater. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat on low until blended. Beat on high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl and beater.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add this to the butter mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just blended; the dough will be stiff. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough about 2 inches apart onto two ungreased baking sheets. Bake until the bottoms are golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes (see note). Remove sheets from the oven and immediately remove cookies to a rack to cool.

Notes:

1. The baking time is from the original recipe but I make bigger cookies and that increases the baking time (mine took around 19 minutes).

2. I am always trying new chocolate chip cookie recipes (see my previous posts) and in terms of simple ingredients and method, these are right up there with the best!

- Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

BANANA CUPCAKES WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING


Cupcakes:

1¼ c flour
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
2 very ripe bananas, peeled
½ c sour cream
1½ tsp vanilla
¾ c white sugar
½ c unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk

Frosting:

1½ c icing sugar
1 - 8 oz package cream cheese, at room temperature
½ c unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ c smooth peanut butter (do not use old-fashioned or freshly ground)
Chopped lightly salted roasted peanuts (optional)

For cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350°.

Line 12 standard muffin cups with paper liners. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl to blend. In another medium bowl, mash bananas with a fork until smooth. Mix sour cream and vanilla into bananas.

Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and egg yolk and beat until well blended. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with banana-sour cream mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating just until blended after each addition. Divide batter among prepared muffin cups.

Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center of each comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to rack and let cook completely.

For icing:

Sift icing sugar into a large bowl. Add cream cheese, butter and peanut butter. Using electric mixer, beat mixture until smooth. Spread frosting over top of cupcakes, dividing equally. Sprinkle lightly with chopped peanuts, if desired.

- Tomato Basil Capellini

TOMATO BASIL CAPELLINI


½ c olive oil
2 T chopped garlic
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
4 pints cherry tomatoes
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
2 T chopped fresh parsley

2 T kosher salt
Splash of olive oil
¾ lb Capellini pasta
1½ c freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for 2 minutes on low heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until soft but not mushy. Remove from heat and add the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, basil and parsley to the pan.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to the boil, add the salt, oil and pasta. The pasta takes only a few minutes to cook because it is so fine so keep your eye on it. Once cooked, drain and add directly to the pan. Toss ingredients, sprinkle on cheese and toss again.

Notes:

1. The recipe was a real surprise. I am used to heavy sauces on pasta and made this with caution but I will really surprises - this was great!

Monday, May 10, 2010

- Maple Roasted Bacon

MAPLE ROASTED BACON


1 lb good quality bacon
3 T good quality maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400°.

Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and spray liberally with Pam. Arrange the bacon in one layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon begins to brown. Remove the pan carefully from the oven and brush the bacon sliced with the maple syrup. Bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until the bacon is a warm golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and serve warm.

- Potato Basil Frittata

POTATO BASIL FRITTATA


8 T (1/2 c) unsalted butter, divided
2 c peeled and ½ inch diced boiling potatoes (Yukon Golds)
8 extra large eggs
15 oz ricotta cheese
¾ lb Gruyère cheese (see note)
½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp finely ground black pepper
¾ c chopped fresh basil leaves
1/3 c all purpose flour
¾ tsp baking powder

Serves 8

Preheat oven to 350°.

Melt 3 T butter in a 10 inch oven proof pan (I used my well-seasoned cast iron pan) over medium low heat. Add the potatoes and fry them until cooked through, turning often, 10 to 15 minutes. Melt the remaining 5 T of butter in a small dish in the microwave.

Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a large bowl, then stir in the ricotta, Gruyère, melted butter, salt, pepper and basil. Sprinkle on the flour and baking powder and stir into the egg mixture.

Pour the egg mixture over the potatoes and place the pan in the center of the oven. Bake the frittata until it is browned and puffed, 50 minutes to an hour. It will be rounded and firm in the middle and a knife inserted in the frittata should come out clean. Serve hot.

Notes:

1. Made this yesterday for Mother’s Day and I really liked it. I am not a fan of Gruyère so I used a mixture of it, cheddar and mozzarella. It turned out great and what an easy thing to make when you are having company!

Monday, May 3, 2010

- Cauliflower, Tomato and Green Pea Curry

CAULIFLOWER, TOMATO AND GREEN PEA CURRY


1 small cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 ½ c green peas (I used frozen)
4 T oil (or ghee if you have it)
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp crushed garlic
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
¾ tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 T madras curry powder
2 tsp sugar
½ tsp cardamom
¾ c yogurt (or sour cream)
2 large tomatoes, cut into thin wedges

Steam the cauliflower and peas until tender. Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion, garlic and ginger over medium heat until soft and golden. Add the turmeric, coriander, curry powder, sugar, cardamom and yogurt and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cauliflower and peas and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with rice.

Note:

If you don’t want rice you can add cooked potatoes cut into small chunks.

- Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PECAN CHEESECAKE

2 c vanilla wafer crumbs
1/3 c butter, melted
14 oz pkg Kraft caramels
6 oz can evaporated milk
1 c chopped pecans, toasted
2 - 8 oz pkgs cream cheese, softened
½ c white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
½ c semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of a 9” springform pan and bake for 10 minutes. In a heavy saucepan, melt caramels with milk over low heat, stirring often until smooth. Pour over crust and top with chopped pecans. Combine cheese, sugar and vanilla and beat on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in melted chocolate and pour over pecans. Bake for 40 minutes. Cool and loosen cake from time of pan. Chill.