2-Layer German Chocolate Cake

I made my first-ever layer cake today!  We're celebrating my dad's 60th birthday this weekend, and his favorite cake is German Chocolate.  I can see why people prefer making box cakes because it did take a few hours, including cooling time, but it was worth it.

The main ingredients in this cake are German's sweet chocolate, coconut and pecans.  It's quite rich, and the "Kraft Kitchen Tips" on the recipe I followed had me laughing. 

• "This beloved and classic 3-layer cake is the perfect choice for a special occasion. Plan ahead and eat accordingly before enjoying a slice of this cake." 
• "Enjoy this rich, classic BAKER'S recipe. A small amount goes a long way so keep tabs on portions." 

Having never made a layer cake before, I consulted The New Best Recipe by America's Test Kitchen because I love their step-by-step illustrations.  Here are some tips I found helpful on pages 848-853.

Parchment Rounds -

• Trace the bottom of your cake pan roughly in the center of a sheet of parchment paper.  Fold the traced circle in half and then in half again, then cut just inside the outline of the quarter circle.  The resulting rounds of parchment will exactly fit in your pan.

Portioning Layers -

• To ensure that you put equal amounts of batter in each cake pan, use a kitchen scale to measure the weight of each filled pan.

Frosting Layer Cakes -

• To anchor the cake, spread a dab of frosting in the center of a cardboard cake circle.  Center the first layer of cake on the cardboard, bottom-side down. 
• To frost, place a large blob of frosting in the center of the cake and spread it to edges with an icing spatula.  Push the filling into place, as opposed to scraping it.
• Using a second cardboard circle, slide the second cake layer, bottom-side up (place the cardboard on top of the cake layer and flip it), on top of the frosted bottom layer, making sure the layers are aligned.  Then, press the cake firmly into place. 

While browsing online for German chocolate cake recipes, I came across a photo I liked on Joy of Baking, and decorated the top of my cake in a similar fashion.  I recommend pulling out the most intact pecan halves before chopping them for the frosting.

2-Layer German Chocolate Cake

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients (16 servings)

Cake

• 4 oz package German's Sweet Chocolate
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 eggs, separated
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup buttermilk

Frosting

• 2 egg yolks
• 6 oz evaporated milk
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/3 cups (3.5 oz) sweetened coconut
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans (5oz package, if you want to decorate with pecan halves)

Instructions

Cake:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cover bottom of two (9-inch) round pans with parchment paper and spray sides with cooking spray. To cut parchment rounds, trace the bottom of the cake pan on a sheet of parchment paper. Fold the traced circle in half and then cut just inside the outline of the circle.
• Microwave chocolate and water in large microwaveable bowl on high for 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after 1 min. Remove from microwave, and stir until chocolate is completely melted.
• In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt.
• In mixer bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form, then transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• Next in the mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then add melted chocolate and vanilla, mixing until incorporated.
• Next add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended after each addition. Finally add egg whites, stirring gently until well blended and then pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean. Remove from oven to wire racks, and immediately run a small spatula around cakes in pans.
• Leave cakes in pans and cool for 15 minutes, then remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
• Spread coconut-pecan frosting between cake layers and on top of cake, leaving the sides exposed.

Frosting:

• In a large saucepan, add egg yolks, milk and vanilla. Then whisk until well blended.
• Add sugar and butter, then cook over medium heat for 12 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, then add coconut and pecans. Mix well.
• Cool to desired spreading consistency.

Recipe adapted from: Kraft Foods

• Original Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate Cake and Coconut-Pecan Frosting

Powered by Recipage

Kitchen Gifts for a Wedding Registry

I had the pleasure of spending Christmas with my brother and his fiancée who asked me to recommend some kitchen items for their wedding registry.  I frequently get asked for these types of recommendations because people know I've purchased a ton of kitchen stuff over the past few years.  Therefore, I wanted to share the list I created for them. 

A wedding is a great time to replace hand-me-downs and cheap kitchen items purchased during college days. It's also a good idea to register for big ticket items, because even if the item isn't purchased, many stores offer a discount on remaining registry items.  It's the perfect way to spend the gift cards that you're bound to get.

Basics-

CIA Measuring Spoons - I love these measuring spoons because they're nicely weighted, the measurements don't wear off, and the set includes sizes not found in other sets, such as 1/8 teaspoon.

Fox Run Measuring Cups - I've tried three different sets of metal measuring cups, but this plastic set is still my favorite.  I really like the leveler that comes with the set, but not the egg separator.

Oxo Can Opener - Such a simple kitchen gadget that can make such a big difference.  Our former can opener took super-human strength to turn, so this one has been a welcome replacement.

Oxo Mixing Bowl Set - Prior to buying these bowls, I used a set of Anchor Hocking glass bowls from Target, which I still use as well, but I much prefer these lightweight Oxo bowls with the nonskid base.

Oxo Vegetable Brush - This works really well for scrubbing vegetables such as potatoes when you want to keep the nutrient-rich skin on.

CDN Kitchen Timer - I ordered this timer after preparing a Thanksgiving-style meal a year ago and realizing I had no way to time multiple dishes.  In fact, I'd really like to get another one because there are times when I'll have three things going that need to be timed.

Oxo Silicone Pastry Brush - The durability of silicone brushes compared to standard pastry brushes is fantastic, and silicone is so much easier to clean!

Chicago Cutlery Knife Set - Our knife set was one of our favorite surprise wedding gifts because until then we had no idea how bad our hand-me-down prior set of knives were.

Oxo 5-Pound Food Scale - We bought this to replace a scale without a pull-out display and it's so much better.  I also like this scale because its flat, as opposed to our previous scale that was the shape of an inverted bowl.

Oster Electric Wine Opener - If you drink wine, I highly recommend that you consider this wine opener a basic necessity for your kitchen.  Especially if you've ever struggled to open a bottle with a traditional cork screw. 

Small Appliances -

KitchenAid 5 Quart Stand Mixer - Chris thought I was crazy when I added a stand mixer to our registry.  He thought it was too expensive and that it was something I wouldn't use very often.  His co-workers gave it as a group gift, and I've used it at least once a week since then.

KitchenAid 12-Cup Food Processor - I use my food processor more than I ever thought I would.  I initially bought it to replace a smaller 4-cup version, but I've found that I can do so many things with the larger version such as grating zucchini.  Note, if you purchase this on Amazon there is a dramatic price difference in colors.  Currently black is $100 and chrome is $230...I purchased chrome for $170 a year ago.

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker - This is definitely not an essential kitchen item, but I had so much fun making ice cream this past summer that I have to recommend getting one.  I also think it's better than some of the other small appliance wedding gifts such as quesadilla makers and margarita blenders.

Presto Belgian Waffle Maker - I love this waffle maker because it makes gorgeous inch-high waffles in only 3 minutes!  It flips 180 degrees, but locks in a vertical position, so it doesn't take up any more room than a standard waffle maker.

Pots & Pans -

Cuisinart Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set - We received this pan set as a wedding gift in 2005, and we've had no problems with any of the pans.  This is a great basic set, and there are only a few additional pans I would recommend getting (as listed below).

Kitchen Essentials from Calphalon Nonstick Jumbo Frying Pan - This pan works well for so many different recipes.  It can even be used in place of a wok, if you don't have one.

Kitchen Essentials from Calphalon Nonstick 11" Griddle - We have only ever used this pan to make pancakes and crepes, but pancakes are essential for weekend breakfasts, so I think this pan is essential :)

Cooking-

Oxo Salad Spinner - Prior to buying my first salad spinner, all of my lettuce came prewashed in a bag.  Fresh lettuce is so much better, and a salad spinner is an essential tool for drying your favorite lettuce (red and green leaf for me).  It also works well for drying berries.

CDN Quick-Read Thermometer - I bought this thermometer to replace one without an auto-off feature, and it works very well. 

Cuisinart Immersion Blender - This is the perfect tool for pureeing soups.  I also like it for making individual smoothies and shakes.

Rubbermaid High-Heat Scrapers (9.5", 13.5") - I use to use wooden spoons exclusively for stirring while cooking until I noticed that they cook with these scrapers on America's Test Kitchen.  I really like them, and recommend both the 9.5" and the 13.5" sizes.

Microplane Zester/Grater - Technically one side of a box grater serves the same purpose as this tool, but I much prefer the size and shape of the Microplane tool for zesting oranges and grating ginger.

Oxo Potato Masher - I bought this to replace a flimsier masher, and true to the Oxo name, I've been very pleased with the replacement.

Baking -

9-inch Chicago Metallic Round Cake Pans - I bought three of these to make layered cakes after seeing a recommendation on America's Test Kitchen, and they really are fantastic pans.

Progressive International Heavy Duty Nut Chopper - There are many ways to chop nuts (Ziploc bag with a rolling pin, cutting board and chef's knife) but I really like this nut chopper for the job.  Even better, the base of the chopper has measurements so you know when you've reached 1 cup of chopped nuts.

Wilton Mini Muffin Pan - I have two mini muffin pans and I much prefer the Wilton one because of the slight handles on each end of the pan.  It's annoying to try and retrieve a mini muffin pan from the oven with no place to grab the pan.

Calphalon Nonstick Cookie Sheet - I love these cookie sheets.  I have four to ensure that I can keep batches of cookies going.

Oxo Pastry Blender - This is essential for making pie crust and baking powder biscuits.  I formerly loved my Pampered Chef one, but it broke in less than a year, and I'm currently loving the Oxo version I bought to replace it.

Oxo Cookie Scoops (small, medium and large) - I use these scoops more than I every thought I would.  Just last week I was portioning out ravioli filling with them.  They are perfect for ensuring equal size cookies, muffins, cake pops, etc.

Oxo Cake Tester - $5 probably seems steep for something that can be accomplished with a toothpick.  However I prefer using this cake tester, especially if I'm testing the doneness of a deeper baked item, since toothpicks are often quite short.

Wilton Silicone Spatulas - These flexible spatulas are great for baking in general and especially for tasks such as scraping down the sides of a mixer bowl.

Storage Containers -

Pyrex Glass Storage Containers - A nice variety of sizes for baking, and for storing leftovers.  They're made of nonporous glass that won't stain nor absorb odors.

Oxo 10 Piece Pop Container Set - These containers are expensive, but I promise they are well worth it.  I started with the 10-piece set and then bought more individually once I figured out which sized worked best for each pantry item.  Here's what I use mine for...

4 quart - flours
2.4 quart - sugars, corn meal
1.5 quart - oats, rice, lentils

2oz Baby Food Containers - It probably seems wrong to request something identified as "baby food containers" on a wedding registry, but these containers are ideal for storing sauces such as pesto.  I've cracked a couple lids by dropping a frozen container, which I don't think would happen with Tupperware, but this set is a lot cheaper and that's the only issue I've had.

Pampered Chef -

Stainless Mesh Colanders - Love this nesting set of three colanders (8", 10" and 11" diameters).  They're stored right beside my nested set of mixing bowls, and I use them daily.

Juicer - This is the only juicer I've ever owned, so I can't compare, but I've had no issues with this one.

Garlic Press - We have owned several garlic presses, and this is by far by favorite!  The little cleaning tool is really handy, and it works well for ginger too.

Pastry Mat - I use this mat every time I roll out dough.  I previously owned a Tupperware pastry mat that was terrible because it curled up.  This one lies flat every time, and the nonskid silicone ensures that it stays in place.  I highly recommend buying a nylon knife too...I learned the hard way that you cannot use a regular knife on this mat (cookie cutters are ok though).

Nylon Knife - An essential tool for cutting in nonstick pans.  Also great for cutting on pastry mats...see note above.

1-Cup and 2-Cup Prep Bowls - I love these bowls for two main reasons.  When chopping ingredients, you can easily tell when you've reached the desired quantity because each bowl has measurements on the side (similar to glass measuring cups).  Also, they're great for storing leftover prepped ingredients, such as taco toppings because you just pop the lid on.

Lessons in Making Ravioli

As a follow-up to my previous post about my first time making ravioli, I wanted to share a few things I learned during my second attempt.

Lesson #1 - The type of ravioli filling that I made the other day should be cooked the same day it's made (or frozen inside ravioli).  Not only did it taste terrible when we cooked it the next day, but an off flavor always gets me worried about food poisoning. 

Lesson #2 - Small cookie cutters work well for cutting ravioli shapes out of the scrap dough.  My favorite were the little Christmas trees I made.  However, I filled some too full and the seams didn't seal which led to ravioli exploding in the boiling water.

Lesson #3 - Substituting whole-wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour worked really well. All the photos you see below are of ravioli made with the half whole-wheat flour dough.

Lesson #4 - A pastry mat is great for rolling out the pasta dough, but once it's rolled out it should be transferred to cutting board.  I cut two holes in my pastry mat, while attempting to trim the edges of the square raviolis.

Lesson #5 - The best way to freeze ravioli, is to place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and then place them in the freezer until they're frozen solid.  Then you can transfer them to a freezer-safe container. 

I really liked cutting ravioli with a medium-sized biscuit cutter because it was faster than using the press, and the size is smaller than a body pillow, which a friend on Facebook said about the size of my square ravioli :)

The square ravioli are 3x3 inches, and the round ravioli are 1.5 inches in diameter.  Below is a photo of round ravioli I made using the first batch of dough made with only all-purpose flour.

Spinach & Three Cheese Ravioli

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients (12 servings)

Dough

• 6 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup water

Filling

• 15oz container ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach, finely chopped
• 1 large egg
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Sauce

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 1/4 tablespoon dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano

Instructions

Dough

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the flour, add the eggs and water, then mix. Mixture should form a stiff dough. If you can't get all the flour hydrated into a dough, add more water until you can form a nice firm but sticky dough.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 3 to 4 minutes until it is smooth and stretchy. With a pasta machine, or by hand, roll dough out to desired thinness.
• Although you can roll out the ravioli sheets immediately, letting the dough rest for 20 minutes or more allows the proteins in the dough to relax and makes rolling much easier. Rest the dough covered under the mixing bowl so it won't dry out too much.

Filling

• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.

Sauce

• In a small saucepan melt butter, add garlic and saute until cooked. Add dried oregano and dried basil and stir until heated through. Serve warm.

Recipe adapted from: Dough-All Recipes, Filling-Food Network, Sauce-All Recipes

Powered by Recipage

Spinach & Three Cheese Ravioli with Garlic Butter Sauce

We bought a ravioli stamp at Glorioso's Italian Market this summer, but did not attempt homemade ravioli until tonight.  I'm still shocked at how well they turned out! 

 

Step 1 - Make Pasta Dough

I followed the Basic Pasta Recipe on All Recipes, doubling the original recipe.  It was quite simple to make, but until I started kneading the dough I was worried about how dry the dough was.

Step 2 - Make Ravioli Filling

We had Gruyere in our fridge, so I opted for a Spinach and Three Cheese filling from a Food Network recipe.  I followed the recipe exactly with the exception of subbing Gruyere for mozzarella.

Step 3 - Roll Out Pasta Dough

I now understand why people own pasta machines.  I found the dough to be really hard to roll out, so I enlisted the help of my husband.

 Step 4 - Cut Ravioli

I cut the dough slightly larger than the stamp, then added a tablespoon of filling.  Top with another cut piece of dough, stamp, trim the edges and you've made ravioli!

 Step 5 - Cook Ravioli and Sauce

After bringing water to a boil, I cooked the ravioli for 3 minutes.  At the same time, I melted butter with garlic, oregano and basil for the sauce.  The sauce recipe I followed also came from All Recipes.


Step 6 - Enjoy!




I was worried that dinner would take forever, but from start to finish it only took 1.5 hours.  I thought that was pretty good considering I've never made homemade pasta, much less ravioli, before.  A ravioli stamp is only a few dollars, so if you have the strength to roll dough, I highly recommend trying it.

Spinach & Three Cheese Ravioli

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients (12 servings)

Dough (for 48 ravioli)

• 6 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 6 cups all-purpose flour (or half whole-wheat flour)
• 1/2 cup water

Filling (for 48 ravioli)

• 15oz container ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach, finely chopped
• 1 large egg
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Sauce (for 16 ravioli)

• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano

Note: You will also need a biscuit cutter, ravioli stamp or something similar to shape the ravioli.

Instructions

Dough

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the flour, add the eggs and water, then mix. Mixture should form a stiff dough. If you can't get all the flour hydrated into a dough, add more water until you can form a nice firm but sticky dough.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 3 to 4 minutes until it is smooth and stretchy. With a pasta machine, or by hand, roll dough out to desired thinness.
• Although you can roll out the ravioli sheets immediately, letting the dough rest for 20 minutes or more allows the proteins in the dough to relax and makes rolling much easier. Rest the dough covered under the mixing bowl so it won't dry out too much.

Filling

• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.

Sauce

• In a small saucepan melt butter, add garlic and saute until cooked. Add dried oregano and dried basil and stir until heated through. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

• This filling should be used the same day it is made.  You can freeze any leftover ravioli by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once frozen solid, transfer to a freezer-safe container.

Recipe adapted from:

• Dough-All Recipes, Filling-Food Network, Sauce-All Recipes

Powered by Recipage

Leek Soup with Potatoes & Carrots

So far, I have loved every leek soup I've tried.  I think it's because the flavor of leeks is perfect for soups.  The recipe I made for dinner tonight comes from Mark Bittman's book "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian."

I chose this recipe because it utilized three CSA items - leeks, potatoes and carrots.  The original recipe does not call for the soup to be puréed, but after trying the soup straight by the book, I got my immersion blender out.  I love the creamy texture that puréeing gives soup.

Leek Soup with Potatoes & Carrots

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients (4 servings)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 medium potatoes, washed well and cut into small pieces
• 3 leeks, white and light green parts only, well washed and sliced into thin rings
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 5 cups vegetable stock

Instructions

• Heat oil over medium heat in a stockpot.
• When the oil is hot, add the vegetables and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.
• Add the stock and cook until the vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Purée the soup in a blender or with an immersion blender, if desired. I puréed approximately 75% with an immersion blender, because I wanted some remaining chunks of potato.

Recipe adapted from: How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman (page 106)

Powered by Recipage

How to Remove Pomegranate Arils (Seeds)

I'm loving the newest trick I recently learned for removing pomegranate arils.  It's quick and easy...slightly messy, but still better than other methods for removing the seeds.

1st Step -

Cut pomegranate in half around the equator (top to bottom does not work as well). 

2nd Step -

One at a time, hold the outside of each half over a bowl and bang lightly with the back of a spoon.  Within a few seconds, most of the arils will have fallen out.  This step can be slightly messy, so I highly suggest doing this with the bowl placed in a sink.

3rd Step-

With your fingers, break apart the pomengranate skin to remove any remaining arils.  Then place seeds in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

This dip is one of my favorite appetizers for a party.  I made it today to bring to a holiday party at Chris' co-worker's house and I'm planning to make it again for New Year's Eve.    

Pitas and melba crackers are great with this dip, and the pitas are even better if they're warmed for 3 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

This recipe is really easy to make and only requires a few ingredients.  Any brand of Alfredo sauce will work, but I especially like Newman's Own.

My favorite trick for draining spinach is to press it between two plates to squeeze the water out.  After you defrost the spinach (either in the microwave or overnight in the fridge), you place the spinach on a plate, then stack another plate on top (same side up) and press the plates together over the sink.

After you bake the dip, I recommend transferring it from the baking pan to a mini slow cooker.  Mine was half full, so I estimate that you could fit a double batch in the mini size.  Then keep the slow cooker on the warm setting during the party.

Artichoke & Spinach Dip

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients (serves 12)

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 15 oz jar Alfredo pasta sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine all ingredients in an 8x8 inch baking dish.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Transfer dip to a mini slow cooker to keep warm for serving.

Recipe adapted from: All Recipes

Powered by Recipage

Peppermint Crunch Cookies

I'm not a big fan of candy canes, but my friend made cookies last Christmas with crushed candy cane decorating the tops and they were fantastic.  So when I saw Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips at the grocery store, I knew I wanted to try making cookies with them this holiday season.

I followed the recipe on the back of the package and I'm really happy with how the cookies turned out.  Chris tried a tiny bite and said "yuck, it tastes like a candy cane."  The peppermint flavor is a bit strong, but I still think these cookies are great. 

If you're unsure about peppermint cookies, you could just use the baking chips to decorate the top of each cookie instead of adding 1 1/2 cups of baking chips to the dough.  That would result in much milder flavor, yet the cookies would still look festive for the holidays :)

Peppermint Crunch Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes per batch

Ingredients (60 cookies)

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon. baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup sweetened grated coconut
• 1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 1 1/2 cups (10oz package) peppermint baking chips (I used Andes Peppermint Crunch)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cream the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
• Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
• On low speed, add baking soda, salt and then flour. Mix completely.
• Stir in oats, coconut, pecans, and peppermint baking chips.
• Roll 1-inch balls (I used a small cookie scoop to measure the dough), and place on a cookie sheet two inches apart.
• Press each ball down lightly with your hand, and then sprinkle some of the remaining chips on top of each cookie.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly brown being careful not to overbake.
• Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes. Note: cookies may not look completely cooked, but they will continue to cook on the pan.

Recipe adapted from: Andes

Powered by Recipage

Roasted Winter Vegetables with Cheesy Polenta

After receiving many winter squash in my CSA boxes over the past few weeks, I finally used the last of it for dinner tonight.  It was my second time making this recipe and I loved it just as much as the first time. After prepping the cauliflower and butternut squash, it's fairly simple to make, which is my favorite type of recipe.

Although the current 50 degree weather doesn't feel like it, winter is here and my final CSA box of the season arrives tomorrow.  It's going to be a long winter without farm fresh vegetables from HighCross Farm.

Roasted Winter Vegetables with Cheesy Polenta

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 4 cups cauliflower florets
• 4 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (1 1/2-inch chunks)
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup cornmeal
• 2/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Toss cauliflower, squash and onion in a large bowl with oil, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and salt. Then spread on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Roast, stirring once, until tender and browned in spots, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine broth and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil.
• Slowly whisk in cornmeal and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until smooth.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until very thick and creamy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in cheese; remove the polenta from the heat. Serve the vegetables over the polenta.

Recipe adapted from: Eating Well

Powered by Recipage

Pomegranate and Orange Salad

I love making this salad in December because oranges and pomegranates are two of the only fruits in season.  It's also a festive looking salad that would be a great addition to a holiday dinner or brunch.

I learned a new trick in my cooking class last week, which makes me want to make more pomegranate recipes.  I previously soaked pomegranates in water to release the seeds, but it turns out you can simply tap each half with the back of a spoon and the seeds easily fall out.  Love this trick!

Pomegranate and Orange Salad

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: N/A

Ingredients (4 servings)

• 1 tablespoon pomegranate juice
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• salt & pepper
• 1 large pomegranate
• 1 large navel orange (or 2 small blood oranges)
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup toasted walnuts (optional)
• 5 cups baby spinach leaves (or leaf lettuce)

Instructions

• To make dressing, combine pomegranate juice, orange juice, red wine vinegar, and olive oil in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to mix well. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Cut pomegranate in half. Hold one half in your hand, with the seeds facing a medium bowl. With the back of a spoon whack the outside of the pomegranate until all the seeds falls out.
• Cut top and base from each orange, then remove the skin and white pith. Cut between membranes to separate the segments.
• In a medium bowl, combine spinach and about one-third of the dressing and toss to coat. Add half of the blood orange segments and half of the pomegranate seeds, and gently toss.
• Divide salad among four plates. Top with remaining orange segments and pomegranate seeds. Then add feta cheese and toasted walnuts, if desired. Serve immediately.

Powered by Recipage

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Peanut butter and chocolate seem to be universally loved, so I always make peanut butter cup cookies each holiday season.  They are a great addition to a Christmas cookie tray, especially because they're pretty easy to make.

After baking the cookies, I removed them from the mini muffin pan and placed each cookie in mini baking cups.  I bought these particular red and green ones at Target.

The only trick to this recipe is remembering to remove all the wrappers from the mini Reese's peanut butter cups before the cookies come out of the oven because they need to be pressed in immediately.

You may want to store the Reese's in the freezer because they tend to melt in a warm kitchen, when holiday baking is in progress.

I've found that there are rarely 40 peanut butter cups in the package, so you'll likely have a few cookies without candy at the end. This is my preference, of course, since I hate chocolate.

I didn't think I was a fan of peanut butter cookies until I tried this recipe sans peanut butter cup. I absolutely love them and make them year-round with no peanut butter cups :)

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

Ingredients (40 cookies)

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 40 mini Reese's peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
• Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
• Roll into 40 1-inch balls (I use a small Oxo cookie scoop) and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
• Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball.
• Once the cookies have fully cooled, remove from pan (I use a paring knife to help lift them).
• Store in the refrigerator or freezer to prevent cookies from getting dry.

Source: All Recipes

Powered by Recipage

Celery Root & Apple Salad

Each time I get a celery root in my CSA box I wonder what I'm going to do with it.  I have a favorite recipe for almost every other item I receive, and now I finally have a favorite celery root recipe. 

Chef Robert De Nicola of Bon Appétit taught this recipe in a recent cooking class that I attended.  The only change I've made from his original recipe is to double the amount of apples.

Chef Robert showed us different "plating" options which I attempted to recreate tonight.

The stacked apples looked a lot better when he assembled them.

Celery Root & Apple Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: N/A

Ingredients (6-8 servings)

• 1 lb celery root (celeriac)
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
• 4 Granny Smith apples
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons chives, chopped

Instructions

• Peel and cut the celery root into julienne strips.
• Peel and core apples. Cut into thin slices and toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Add celery root and apples to a large bowl.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, chives, mustard and pepper.
• Fold the mayonnaise mixture into the apples and celery root until coated evenly.

Recipe adapted from: Chef Robert De Nicola - Bon Appétit

Powered by Recipage