Open The Oven & Take A Look

Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-12-21T09:46:00.012-05:00

Everyone including myself is always on the search for the perfect chewy chocolate chip cookie! After many tries at recipes I flagged on the Internet, from a few of my many cook books and from friends, I turned to my collection of Cook's Illustrated magazine. I think I found (for now) what I believe to be the best recipe out there. They key to this recipe is using melted then cooled butter. Melting the butter separates the fat and water allowing the flour proteins to grab hold of the water forming elastic gluten sheets within the cookie. The result is the perfect chewy yet tender-crisp cookie. Enjoy!

Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

recipe from Cook's Illustrated American Classics 2008

Ingredients

2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour (2 cups plus 2 tablespoons)
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (1 1/2 sticks)
1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus one yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Whisk flour, salt and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

3. In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, mix butter and sugars until blended. Mix in egg, yolk and vanilla until combined. Add dry ingredients & mix until combined. Stir in chips to taste.

4. Roll scant 1/4 cup dough into ball. Holding dough ball using fingertips of both hands, pull into two equal halves. Rotate halves ninety degrees and with jagged surfaces exposed, join halves together at their base forming a single cookie, being careful not to smooth dough’s uneven surface. Place formed dough onto baking sheets with parchment, about nine dough balls per sheet.

5. Bake, reversing cookie sheets’ positions halfway through baking, until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy, 15 to 18 minutes (start checking at 13 minutes). Cool cookies on baking sheet.

Magnolia Cupcakes

2008-08-16T15:31:00.010-04:00

When my husband and I were invited to our little cousin's 3rd birthday party last week, I knew it would be the perfect time to try out that famous Magnolia cupcake recipe that everyone talks about! Although they were a huge hit with everyone, in my opinion (having had the real thing) they were OK...nothing to flip over!

Magnolia Cupcakes

from: The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

CUPCAKES:

1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.
In a small bowl, combine the flours. Set aside.
In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about three-quarters full. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
Cool the cupcakes in the tins for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

VANILLA ICING

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding

2008-06-22T09:08:00.008-04:00

I've been dying to try this recipe ever since I saw Mama Paula make this on her television show but there never seemed to be the perfect time especially since the hubby and I started our new exercise and diet regime (10 pounds down! whewww hewww!) Ahhhem sorry that was the attention whore side getting the best of me. Anyway! When my newly married cousins (who are now expecting!!! There I go again!) invited us over for dinner today, I knew I had to come up with something special for dessert. Knowing Joey LOVES anything banana and knowing Paula never disappoints, I knew this would be the perfect recipe! I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one!

Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding

From: The Lady & Sons Just Desserts by: Paula Deen

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies

6 to 8 bananas, sliced 2 cups milk

1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Long Overdue Update! Decorator's Dream Cookies

2008-04-06T15:14:00.006-04:00

I just realized today that it's been OVER a month since I last updated this blog....all for a good reason, I promise!

Quick recap:

You see, marriage + starting a new job + house hunting + the love of baking = not enough time in the day multiplied by a few (or more) extra pounds on the tush. Not good. So i'm proud to say that I have just completed my 2nd full week of "Core" and i'm feeling great! However, this does mean no more baking for a while or until the next family function rolls around. Not to worry though, I do still have lots of photos and recipes to blog about from the past. So here's one that I managed to pull up.

I made these cookies for a bridal shower for a very close friend of mine. It was actually my first attempt at roll-out cookies...not bad right? I just need to work on my royal icing piping skills! This recipe comes from a The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion cookbook given to me by my lovely sister for Christmas along with the awesomist cookbook holder EVER!

Decorator's Dream Cookies

from: The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion

1 cup unsalted butter

2 cups confectioners' sugar or glazing sugar

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia

1 large egg

3 1/2 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, corn syrup, salt, and flavoring until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg. Add the flour, and beat until smooth. Divide the dough in half, wrap it well, and refrigerate for 1 hour.Take the dough out of the refrigerator, and flour your work surface and the dough. Roll it out very thinly (about 1/8-inch thick), using flour to keep it from sticking to the table or rolling pin. Cut out shapes, transfer to ungreased cookie sheets, and bake them in a preheated 350°F oven until just slightly brown on the edges, or until they feel firm, about 8 to 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for several minutes, or until they're set. Transfer them to a rack to cool completely.Cookies may be iced after baking, or sprinkled with sugar before baking. Or sandwich them together, using jam or frosting, to make linzer cookies.

Yield: about 4 dozen 2-inch cookies, or 1 1/2 dozen larger decorated cookies.

Raspberry Crumb Cake

2008-03-02T11:34:00.005-05:00

Wahhhoooo for me!!!! I recently left a job that I was at for almost 10 years this past December. Tough decision, but it had to be done. Starting a new one though was even tougher! It had been a long time since I was "The New Girl." Oh my god! Was I going to fit in? What would they think of me? What if I had nothing in common with anyone? I had formed such a close bond with some of my former co-workers, most of whom I consider very close friends, and was terrified that I wasn't going to "connect" as well with my new colleagues. Boy was I totally wrong. I was welcome with open arms from the first moment I stepped foot into the office. We hit it off instantly! A huge weight was lifted from my shoulders...two weeks of anxiety gone!

Of course one thing we all bonded over the most was food. I went from one office of four of us talking food & recipes all day, to an office of over ten of us who love food just as much. I fit in like a glove. We take every opportunity we can to celebrate something, whether it's a birthday, holiday or snow day...food is everywhere! There goes that elliptical my husband and I bought after the holidays.

Which brings me to this recipe. While celebrating an office birthday, a fellow co-worker made the most delicious crumb cake I had ever had. Moist, crumbly, buttery with the perfect amount of raspberry...holy lord I had to have the recipe. I even brought a piece home to my husband to try. His eyes crossed when he took his first bite, and with not many bites after because he managed to gobble it down in less than 4.

The next day I was given the recipe, and to my surprise, it used a boxed mix as the base. I'm more of a "from scratch" kind of gal. This totally goes against everything I believe in and had I not tried it for myself, I probably never would have given this cake a chance. Yes! "Doctored" boxed cake mix CAN produce tasty desserts! Who knew?

For the Cake:

1 boxed vanilla cake mix prepared according to package

Crumbs:

(if you like more crumbs, this crumb recipe easily doubles)

1-1/2 cups of flour

1 tsp baking powder

1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of light brown sugar

1 cup butter

Filling:

Seedless raspberry jam ( I like to use the one that comes in a squeezable bottle, it's easier to spread.)

Directions:

Prepare cake mix according to directions on the box and bake for 20 min.

Mix all the ingredients together until crumbs form. If the mixture does not hold well together add a bit more butter!

Take your cake out after baking for 20 min. and squeeze about 10-12 ounces of the jam on the partially baked cake. Let it sit for about a minute while the jam warms through, then spread the jam evenly on the cake. Top with the crumb mixture and continue to bake an additional 20 minutes. Once completely cooled, dust with powdered sugar.

Tag, I'm it! Twice!

2008-02-16T14:13:00.004-05:00

To say that I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached would be the biggest understatement! Not only was I tagged today by Rachel @ Good Thymes & Good Food but when reading her comment, I realized I was also tagged by Nikki @ Pennies on a Platter too....a few days ago! I'm sorry Nikki! Please forgive me! So because of my screw up, i'm going to post 10 facts about myself instead!

Rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

5 Facts about Me...actually 10.

1. I think i'm the only person in the world that does not watch "Lost."

2. I cringe at the thought of jarred tomato sauce.

3. I do all the cooking and my husband washes all the dishes. It's the one chore I dread the most.

4. I have a mild case of OCD. Before I go to bed: door locks, window locks and stove knobs have to be checked and all drawers must be closed fully as well as all closet doors (not even opened a crack). Oh and I make my hubby do it all! He He.

5. I can't brew a good cup of coffee.

6. 5 months after I got married I got 2nd degree burns on my right hand in a cooking accident! I learned my lesson!

7. I rock at Guitar Hero.

8. I'll never pass on a cookie especially Oreos.

9. I turn into a lunatic when I drive.

10. I excerise with a 5 pound hula hoop. I can hula for 25 minutes straight!

I would like to tag:

1. Nina @ Nina's Kitchen
2. Dori @ The Foodie Fashionista
3. Emiline @ Sugar Plum
4. Jenny @ Jenn's Jumpin Kitchen (fellow Jersey Gal!)
5. Emily @ Rediscovering The Joy Of Cooking

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

2008-02-06T20:28:00.001-05:00

My husband and I got married in September of 2006 and up until then, the only baking I did was from a boxed cake mix or a premade roll of cookie dough. It's amazing what getting married does to some people. I managed to turn into one hell of a domestic diva...or as my husband calls me, Betty Crocker. Having a huge wedding in September doesn't leave much in your budget for Christmas shopping in December! I decided to pass up on all the crazy holiday shopping one goes through in the hopes of finding the perfect gift for fellow friends and family. I kept my christmas shopping to a minimum and decided that instead, I would pack up an assortment of homemade cookies as gifts. This also gave me the opportunity to start working on MY holiday baking list.....and what will be my list 30+ years from now when i'm baking for my grandkids! It's important to have the perfect recipes right? Anyway, I came across this one on allrecipes.com by accident (don't ask me how.) I know it's not your typical christmas cookie, but I only decided to give it a try because I actually had ALL the ingredients at home in my pantry and I was extremly bored and felt like I needed to bake. I was so happy I did. Not only are they fabulous, but they're so easy to make and did I mention fabulous? They also hold up very well....perfect for those holiday trays!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

recipe from allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

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 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Sift 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.
Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan (see note below!)

Note...make sure you allow them to cool for about 10-15 minutes before you try to remove them from the pan or else see below!

Foodie Blogroll!

2008-01-26T18:16:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to announce that I am now part of the Foodie Blogroll! For anyone not familiar with what it is, it's a wonderful "community" of food blogs put together by Jenn of The Left Over Queen. If you love food as much as I do, you MUST take a look at some of the blogs listed (and try your hardest not to lick your computer screen!)...some of them are out of this world! For those interested, the blogroll is listed on the right hand side of this page. Enjoy!

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

2007-12-30T19:10:00.001-05:00

I can't help but think of my father whenever I see or eat pistachios. My father can easily polish off an entire bag of them. He'll sit in front of the TV late at night when everyone else is in bed with a dish towel in front of him and he would begin cracking away at each individual shell one by one. And every morning I was sure to find a nice little happy trail of shells leading to the garbage can as well as a few left over on the rug where he sat. What a mess!
I have since gotten married and moved out. And as much as I complained then, having to clean up that mess, I sure do miss being at home with him. His love of the pistachio has rubbed off on me and now my husband. So when I looked in my pantry one day and saw this HUGE bag sitting in front of me, I knew I had to do something about it! I grew tired of eating just a plain pistachio and wanted something "close to home." Being from an Italian family, we always had biscotti around the house so when I saw this recipe on epicurious.com I knew it was the perfect solution. I tweeked the original recipe a bit. And i'm very happy with the results. I cut down both amounts of pistachios and cranberries, omitted the aniseed and added a bit more lemon peel. I was able to satisfy my craving and send the rest home to dad! Enjoy!

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

Ingredients:

2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1-1/2 tablespoon grated lemon peel

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries

1/2 cup shelled natural unsalted pistachios

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 1 large baking sheet with parchment paper. Sift first 3 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl to blend well. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in lemon peel & vanilla. Beat in flour mixture just until blended. Stir in cranberries and pistachios (dough will be sticky). Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Gather dough together; divide in half. Roll each half into 15-inch-long log (about 1 1/4 inches wide). Carefully transfer logs to 1 prepared baking sheet, spacing 3 inches apart.
Bake logs until almost firm to touch but still pale, about 30-32 minutes. Cool logs on baking sheet 10 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.

Carefully transfer logs still on parchment to cutting board. Using serrated knife and gentle sawing motion, cut logs crosswise into generous 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place slices, 1 cut side down, on remaining 2 prepared sheets. Bake until firm and pale golden, about 9 minutes per side. Transfer cookies to racks and cool.

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time! Peanut Butter Jelly....

2007-12-16T18:10:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I decided to participate in the "What's Cooking Nestie Recipe Exchange" hosted by Katie of Good Things Catered. Basically everyone submits a tried and true recipe and in return everyone receives back a recipe that they are supposed to make and blog about. I was happy to get the recipe I did! I had just "flagged" this one in my December 2007 issue of Cooking Light Magazine. Being a huge fan of anything peanut butter, this was the perfect recipe to try for one of those wintery cold Sunday nights when you just want to sit in front of your TV, veg out and eat homemade cookies.....then pack up ALL leftovers and send with my husband to his job Monday morning! My butt & thighs will thank me later!

Note: Please read the recipe fully before baking. I have noted alterations that I made

Peanut Butter & Jelly Thumbprints

Cooking Light Magazine

Yield: 36 cookies

(alterations in the original recipe will be starred)

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter **** I'm a smooth PB gal!

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking spray

7 tablespoons seedless raspberry preserves

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Preparation

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and salt, stirring well with a whisk; set aside.

Place sugars, peanut butter, and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating on low speed just until combined.

Lightly coat hands with cooking spray. Shape dough into 36 balls (about 2 1/2 teaspoons each). Place balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Press thumb into center of each dough ball, leaving an indentation. Cover and chill 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°. (*** I have made many thumbprint cookies in my day, so instead of baking first then filling with the preserves as the recipe states below, I baked my cookies pre-filled with the preserves. I never tried the other method, I just know this one works very well for me. Do as you please!)

Uncover dough. Bake at 350° for 14 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove cookies from pans, and cool on a wire rack.

Place preserves in a small microwave-safe bowl, and microwave at HIGH 20 seconds, stirring once. Add juice, stirring until smooth. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon preserves mixture into the center of each cookie.

Tequila Christmas Cake

2007-12-08T11:53:00.000-05:00

Ingredients:

1 cup of water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
Nuts
1 bottle tequila
2 cups of dried fruit

Sample the tequila to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the tequila again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try another cup...just in case. Turnoff the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the frigging fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the tequila to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or some fink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fallover. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the tequila and wipe counter with the cat.

CHERRY MISTMAS!

Virtual Housewarming!

2007-12-05T20:41:00.000-05:00

I'm very new to this whole food blogging thing and I've come across quite a few in the past few months. But I'll never forget the first one I ever came across. That would be Peabody's! I was in awe of not only her vast collection of recipes, but of her writing style and most of all, her photos. Her pictures will make anyone want to lunge into their computer screen and grab hold of her latest creation.

Due to some family and work related issues I was facing recently, I haven't had the time to catch up on some bookmarked blog posts. So it wasn't until early this evening I saw that Peabody was hosting a potluck style "virtual" housewarming party for her new home. I knew I wanted to "bring" something! With an almost empty refrigerator and a few minutes before I had to run out for some overdue Christmas shopping, I was able to put together a little appetizer. I'm bringing some bruschetta....so not something I would typically bring to a housewarming party (I'm more of a baker than a cook!). I apoligize in advanced because I can do so much better than this, but I didn't want to miss this one!

Peabody, congrats on your new home! Enjoy!!!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

2007-12-05T18:55:00.003-05:00

When it was time to bake something for our Thanksgiving dessert table, I knew I wanted to stay away from your traditional pumpkin/apple/pecan pie (even though I also made some pecan pie cookies, see below). I knew red velvet was the way to go. I have always been a fan, but wasn't sure my family had ever even heard of it. I was quite surprised, however, when people were asking..."Who made the red velvet cupcakes?" Again, it's not something my family normally had around any of our holidays and get togethers, but it was received well.
I've tried other recipes in the past, but when a fellow co-worker brought in a few of her cupcakes to sample, I knew it was THE recipe to use. With striking bright red coloring sharply contrasted by a velvety white cream cheese frosting, and a very subtle...and I mean subtle!... chocolate flavor, it's fun to eat as well as to look at. There is only one word to describe this confection and that is ....FABULOUS! I hope you enjoy!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Paula Deen (original recipe here)

For the cupcakes:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

For the cupcakes:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Pasticciotti

2007-11-27T21:19:00.001-05:00

This pastry is one of my mom's favorite. Every bite reminds her of her life back in Sicily before she and most of the family moved to the states. During a recent baptism reception at the Brownstone in Paterson, my mom filled her plate with at least 5, and everytime she put another in her mouth, she recalled a different memory. I knew then that I wanted to try to re-create these for her. The perfect opportunity came up mid-November, and one night when I had the house to myself and no one to complain about the mess that I knew I was going to make, I got working on creating what I knew my mom would really enjoy and appreciate.
Overall, the end result was fantastic! The pastry shell turned out delicate and moist and the filling, with subtle hints of vanilla and lemon, was perfectly creamy and not too sweet. However I knew I did well when after my mom's first bite, called over my Zia Lucia (our family master baker) to show her what I did. Her thumbs up, as well as my mom's, mean the world to me, and that's just what I got with this recipe. Enjoy!

The following recipe is used as a "filler" for many Italian desserts. It makes about a quart and a half of filling.

Crema Pasticciera
(Basic Pastry Creme)

Recipe from La Cucina Siciliana di Gangivecchio by: Wanda and Giovanna Tornabene with Michael Evans

1-1/2 quarts milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Peel of 2 large or 4 small lemons, cut in one long strip each
8 large egg yolks, at room temperature
2-1/4 cups of sugar
2/3 cup cornstarch

Over low heat, slowly bring the milk, vanilla and lemon peel to a boil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, stirring occasionally.
Beat the egg yolks and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the cornstarch and blend well.
Remove the milk from the heat and discard the lemon peels. Little by little, beat 3/4 cup of the hot milk into the eggs.
Slowly stir the egg mixture into the remaining milk in the saucepan, constantly stirring. When it is thoroughly incorporated, return the pan to high heat and let the crema boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until thick and creamy.

Side note: This recipe is easily cut in half. Crema pasticciera keeps well in the refrigerator for one day.

Pasticciotti

Recipe from "Concy" da Forum di Coquinaria: Pasticciotti
Non-translated version can be found here with step-by-step photos.

500 grams of flour
250 grams sugar
150 grams shortening
3 eggs
The peel of one lemon, finely grated
1/2 packet of lievito bertolini
1 recipe of crema pasticciera

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the flour on a large flouring board. Place the shortening in the middle of the flour and with your hands slowly incorporate them together. Mix in the lievito. Make a "hole" in the middle of the flour mixture and add in the eggs, sugar and grated lemon peel. Slowly mix in the flour mixture working your way from the inside of the hole to the outside, eventually forming a ball of dough. Wrap the dough and refrigerate for a half hour.

After refrigeration, roll dough to a 6/7mm thickness. Cut out the necessary sizes needed for the tart shells you are using. Place the dough in the tart shell and gently press in to make sure all nooks and crannies are filled. Put enough of the crema pasticciera in the shell to almost fill it to the top, do not fill completely! Cut out another shape of the dough large enough to cover the shell, and seal shut cutting away the dough that is left over. Brush the tops with some milk and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-22 minutes. When cool to the touch, remove from tart shells. When completely cool, dust with powdered sugar.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

2007-11-22T08:10:00.000-05:00

Pecan pie....or not!

2007-11-21T23:03:00.001-05:00

Two of my favorite things in life are:

1. Cookies!!!!

2. Pecan Pie

oh and 3...my husband of course! Sorry Enz!

My love of the common cookie is beyond measure. I mean what is there not to like about cookies? Your options are endless...crispy or chewy, chocolate or vanilla, topped or filled, dipped or sandwiched, bite-sized or super sized, topped with jam, filled with peanut butter, rolled in sprinkles, dredged in powdered sugar...I can go on and on! I freaking LOVE cookies and you will probably notice that most of my blogging will consist of cookies! Anyway back to my point! When I came across a recipe combining my two "loves" I knew it would be the perfect addition to our dessert table for this Thanksgiving. This recipe does not disappoint! Buttery, chewy & gooey, it's as close as you can get to a pecan pie while still keeping it simple and less traditional.

Cookie Ingredients:

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Filling Ingredients:

1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 p firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine all cookie ingredients except flour and baking powder in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking powder. Beat until well mixed. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Make indentation in each cookie with thumb; rotate thumb to hollow out slightly.Combine all filling ingredients in small bowl; fill each cookie with 1 rounded teaspoon filling. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.

I Think I'm Over The Rainbow....Cookies!

2007-11-19T21:59:00.001-05:00

OK so I've had enough! I mean don't get me wrong they ARE phenomenal! But 2 batches in 2 days time is a bit much. Plus it took me over an hour last night to scrub off the red food coloring that EXPLODED all over me...not fun! Don't worry...not all went in my belly! My first batch (see below) was my last trial run just to make sure I perfected the recipe. That batch was then brought over to my aunt's house for the Feast of St. Martino. Batch number 2 is for my husband's lovely co-worker, Tian. She fell in love with them last year when I sent a tray of my homemade cookies to his place of employment and asked if I could bake her a few. Though I didn't get the chance to then, short notice (3 days before the holiday), I had the perfect opportunity to bake them for her for Thanksgiving. Tian, I hope you enjoy!

Holy Rainbow Cookies Batman!...errrr ummm I mean Shrek!

2007-11-18T15:38:00.001-05:00

Growing up these cookies were a treat for my family. Because of time needed to make these, they were usually only served around the holidays. And by the time us "little" ones made it to the dessert table, they were gone...eaten...or snagged up by a few of my aunts that loved to hoard up (Is hoard even a word?) and package some food to take home for leftovers before everyone else got a chance to finish eating....which aunts they were...well i'm sure some of my cousins reading this know who they are! I decided enough was enough! I found a few recipes for these delectable little treats and after a few trials, I came up with the perfect recipe. And don't say I didn't warn you! The first time making these I guarantee your going to want to ripe your scalp off, but don't despair ladies and gentlemen! It gets easier after your first run and in no time you'll be popping these cookies out like something stuck between Mama's teeth. Ewwww sorry! I grossed myself out with that one. Enjoy!

Rainbow Cookies

Ingredients

4 large eggs

1 cup sugar

1 (8-oz) can almond paste

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

35 drops red food coloring
35 drops green food coloring

1 (12-oz) jar apricot preserves, heated and strained

7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate chopped

Preparation

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13- by 9-inch baking pan and line bottom with wax paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 ends, then butter paper. Beat eggs in mixer fitted with whisk attachment at medium-high speed. Add 1/4 cup sugar a little at a time. Transfer to another bowl.

Switch to paddle attachment, then beat together almond paste and remaining 3/4 cup sugar until well blended, about 3 minutes. Add butter and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add almond extract and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low, then add flour and salt and mix until just combined. Mix in egg mixture.

Divide batter among 3 bowls. Stir red food coloring into one and green food coloring into another, leaving the third batch plain. Set white batter aside. Chill green batter, covered. Pour red batter into prepared pan and spread evenly with offset spatula (layer will be about 1/4 inch thick).
Bake red layer 10 to 11 minutes, until just set.

Using paper overhang, transfer layer to a rack to cool, about 15 minutes. Clean pan, then line with wax paper and butter paper in same manner as above. Bake white layer in prepared pan until just set. As white layer bakes, bring green batter to room temperature. Transfer white layer to a rack. Prepare pan as above, then bake green layer in same manner as before. Transfer to a rack to cool.

When all layers are cool, invert green onto a wax-paper-lined large baking sheet. Discard paper from layer and spread with half of preserves. Invert white on top of green layer, discarding paper. Spread with remaining preserves. Invert red layer on top of white layer and discard wax paper. Cover with plastic wrap and weight with a large baking pan. Chill at least 8 hours.

Remove weight and plastic wrap. Bring layers to room temperature. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Keep chocolate over water. Trim edges of assembled layers with a long serrated knife. Quickly spread half of chocolate in a thin layer on top of cake. Chill, uncovered, until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes. Cover with another sheet of wax paper and place another baking sheet on top, then invert cake onto sheet and remove paper. Quickly spread with remaining chocolate. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

Cut lengthwise into 4 strips. Cut strips crosswise into 3/4-inch-wide cookies.

Cooks' note:Cookies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper or parchment, in an airtight container at room temperature 2 weeks.