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Grilled salmon fillets with sun-dried tomatoes

If you love all things
butter
this {Pageturner Ecookbook} is for you

293 recipes
Almond crisps with glazed almonds
Almond génoise
Almond pie crust
Almond tartlets
Annelise lemon cookies
Apple and oat scones with cinnamon
Apple cake with hot butterscotch sauce
Apple cheese crisp
Apple coffee cake
Apple crêpes
Apple crunch
Apple herbert
Apple pie cragwood
Apple pudding
Apple sauce cake
Apple tart alsacienne
Apple-butterscotch pie
Apple-cranberry crisp with warm toffee sauce
Apricot frangipane tart
Apricot purses on a cloud
Apricot-orange shortbread bars
Armagnac toffee sauce
Asparagus cheese soufflé
Asparagus sauce
Asparagus strudel
Asparagus with Parma ham and roasted pepper coulis
Asparagus with truffle broth
Baked fiddleheads
Baked pears
Baked salmon fillets
Baked salmon in the swimming position
Baked whole salmon
Bakers chocolate cookies
Baklava
Banana bran muffins
Basic crepes
Béarnaise sauce
Bechamel sauce
Best homemade dinner rolls
Best pancakes
Blarney stone cookies
Blueberry butter
Blueberry cinnamon pancakes
Blueberry gingerbread
Blueberry scones
Bourbon chocolate cake
Braised blueback with white wine sauce
Braised endives in beer
Braised onions
Brioches
Broccoli au gratin
Broiled pompano with noodles
Brown sauce
Bulgur stuffing with mushrooms
Buttermilk pancakes
Cajun salmon fillet grenobloise with angel hair pasta
Caramelized apricot tart
Caramelized figs with fudge sauce
Caramelized onion biscuits
Caramelized pear upside-down cake
Caramelized pear-cranberry strudel
Celery root and mashed potatoes
Cheese beignets
Cheese sauce
Cheese soufflé
Cheese wafers
Cherry pie crumb bars
Chewy oatmeal cookies
Chicken liver mousse
Chocolate and raspberry fontaines
Chocolate banana cake
Chocolate cake for birthday cake
Chocolate cake nancy
Chocolate chips cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate genoise
Chocolate Irish whiskey cake
Chocolate orange torte with raspberry coulis
Chocolate peppermint shortbread cookies
Chocolate-dipped macadamia cookies
Choux pastry - pâte á choux - cream puff dough - cream puff pastry
Christmas chocolate dipped maple log walnut cookies
Christmas mince pies
Cider apples
Cinnamon rolls version 1
Cinnamon rolls version 2
Coconut squares
Coffee cake cupcakes
Colcannon cakes
Cookie christmas tree
Corn bread stuffing
Country apple cake
Cramique brioche
Cranberry apple cobbler
Cranberry apple pecan bars
Cranberry pistachio biscotti
Cranberry shortbread
Cream cheese and wild blueberry pound cake
Cream cheese cranberry loaf
Cream puff wreath
Cream puffs
Creamed spinach
Creamy cauliflower purée
Creamy mashed potatoes
Crêpes
Croissants
Cronuts - croissant and doughnut
Cuchaule - saffron bread recipe
Cup cakes with vanilla and chocolate icings
Date squares
Double apple cake
Doughnut muffins
Dried tomato and fennel stuffing
Dutch apple pie
Easter bunny cake
Easy pie dough
Egg in a hole
Eggplant soufflé
English apple pudding with rum sauce
Espresso chocolate chip cookies
Festive shortbreads
Figs tart
Financiers
Fish velouté sauce
Flaky pie crust
Flambeed bananas
Flamed apples
Flax bran muffins
French apple tart
French toast
Fruit cobbler
Fudge sauce
Galette des rois frangipane
Ganache
Garlic-roasted potato skins
German spaetzle
Ginger molasses cookies big and soft
Gingerbread and cranberry torte
Gingerbread house
Gingerbread trees with lemon icing
Gingersnap cookies
Glazed holiday stars
Gnocchi parisienne
Graham cracker crust
Grilled salmon fillets with sun-dried tomatoes
Gruyere and parsley omelets
Hokkaido brioche
Hollandaise sauce
Irish cream sandwiches
Irish mist brownies
Irish shortbreads
Irish soda bread
Irish whiskey cake
Irish whiskey date cake
Italian stuffing with sausage
Kedgeree of salmon with sea asparagus
Krumkake cannoli
Lacy almond-orange cookies
Lemon curd
Lemon custard squares
Lemon krumkake
Lemon lavender cookies
Lemon meringue bites
Lemon pound cake loaf
Lemon shortbread cookies
Lemon souffles with macademia nut sauce
Lemon squares
Lemon squares
Lemon tart with walnut crust
Lemon-cranberry pound cake
Lemon-glazed candied-ginger cookies
Lemony lemon pound cake
Liége belgian waffles - gaufres de liége
Light buttermilk pancakes
Lime curd and almond tart
Lime meltaways
Linzer cookies
Madeleines
Maple blueberry muffins
Maple wafers
marionberry pie
Mashed butternut squash
Melting moments
Meringue apple tart
Meringue baked apples
Mini sweet tart shells
Naan
Nanaimo bars
Napoleon of peekey toe crab and apple
No Bake chocolate cookies
Nutty peach crisp
Oatmeal lace cookies
Oatmeal raisin cookies
Oatmeal toffee cookies with dried cherries
Old fashion rice crispies chocolate cookies
Old fashioned gingerbread cake
Onion and cheese frittata
Orange cake 1
Orange soaked cake
Palmiers
Panettone
Parker house rolls
Parmesan and thyme crackers
Pate sablée
Pâte sucrée
Peach and cream dessert
Peach cake pudding
Peach cobbler #1
Peach crisp
Peanut butter coconut pudding
Peanut crisps
Pear apple crisp
Pear tart tatin
Pecan crescents
Perfect roasted turkey
perfect white cake
Pizzellis
Plum crumb cake
Plum frangipane tart
Poached eggs florentine
Pogne de romans
Polenta fries
Pompano almondine
Pompano meuniere
Pompano with mango beurre blanc
Poppy seed chocolate torte
Potage parisien
Potato anna
Potato cake
Potato macaire
Potatoes fondantes
Praline lace cookies
Profiteroles
Puree of celery root
Quick and easy pie crust
Quick pastry crust
Raspberry delight
Raspberry pie
Raspberry squares
Red wine sauce
Rhubarb cobbler
Rhubarb crumb bars
Rhubarb pound cake
Rhubarb sponge pudding
Rice crispies cakes
Rillettes of salmon
Risotto with mushrooms asparagus and spring peas
Rose macarons
Russian Tea Cakes
Sables normands
Salmon burgers with herb aïoli
Salted butter caramel
Sauce beurre blanc
Sautéed potatoes
Scotch shortbread
Scrambled egg feuillete
Scrambled eggs
Shamrock Four-Leaf clovers cookie
shortbread cookies with Nutella
Shrimp scampi
Smoked salmon and lobster Lorne cottage
Smoked salmon crêpes au gratin
Smoked salmon napoleons
Smoked salmon terrine
Snickerdoodles
Soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies
Soft polenta
Sole meuniere
Sour cream-maple bread
Strawberry-topped lime mousse tart
Sugar cookies
Swedish ginger cookies
Sweet cookie dough
Sweet potato gnocchi with sage and brown butter
Talmouses
Tarte tatin
The best hash brown patties
The pan-seared salmon
The perfect omelette
The perfect roast chicken
The stars shortbread cookies
Toffeed pears
Tomato confit and marinated tomatoes served on a crispy tart
Traou mad shortbreads
Upside-down peach cake
Vanilla wafers
Vatrushki cream cheese buns
Walnut crescents
Walnut white chocolate snowball cookies
Warm chocolate torte
White butter sauce
Whole grain soda bread
Wild blueberry flan
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A hamburger consists of a cooked patty of ground meat, seafood, or vegetarian foods, usually placed between two slices of a bread roll. Hamburgers are often served with lettuce, bacon, tomato, onion, pickles, cheese, and condiments such as mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, and relish. There are many types of burgers with significant variations.

Almond crisps with glazed almonds  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
Glazed almonds:
1 1/2 teaspoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup slivered almonds
1 1/2 teaspoons Amaretto liqueur

Dough:
1 cup all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 small egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons Amaretto liqueur

sugar for top
powdered sugar ( optional )
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For glazed almonds:
Melt butter in heavy small skillet over medium heat.
Add almonds and amaretto and stir until almonds are golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Cool on paper towels.
For dough:
Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets. Sift 1 cup flour with salt into small bowl.
Using electric mixer, cream butter with 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy.
Blend egg and Amaretto. Add flour and mix until dough binds. (Dough will be sticky).
Divide dough in 30 pieces. Roll each between palms in balls, dusting hands with flour if necessary. Set on baking sheets, spacing 2 -inches apart.
Fill small bowl with water.
Mound sugar on plate. Dip bottom of 2 1/2 -inch round glass into water then into sugar. Press glass onto one dough ball, flattening into 2 1/2 to 3 -inch round.
Repeat with remaining dough. Sprinkle rounds lightly with sugar. Gently press several glazed almond slivers into each round in flower pattern.
Bake until edges of cookies are golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Cool on rack. Just before serving, dust cookies with powdered sugar if desired.

Almond génoise  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

Cakes can be filled with chocolate butter cream, Mocha butter cream or chocolate mousse filling.
  • Ingredients
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon sugar
1/3 cup almonds, ground
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line 2 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper. Butter and flour bottom and sides.
Whisk whole eggs and sugar in an electric mixer. Beat until triple in volume. In another bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar to form soft peaks. Add sugar while beating. Fold egg whites into whole egg mixture. Fold in ground almonds, flour and butter. Distribute batter between the two pans. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until lightly brown and springy to touch. Cool in pans and unmold over racks.

Almond pie crust  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chilled butter
1 tablespoon cold water
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Blend first 4 ingredients in food processor until nuts are finely ground.
Cut butter into pieces and add to flour mixture. Process until it resembles coarse meal.
Add enough water and blend until dough clumps together. Wrap in plastic and chill for 20 minutes.
Roll out and transfer to tart pan with removable bottom. Freeze crust 30 minutes.
Bake crust for about 15 minutes. Cool, Reduce oven to 325 degrees. Bake crust until lightly brown.
Use pie crust for fresh fruit tarts or meringue tarts
Spoon vanilla custard in bottom of crust, cover with fresh fruit, and glaze.

Almond tartlets  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 recipe sweet cookie dough
1/2 cup apricot preserves
4 1/2 ounces soft butter
4 1/2 ounces sugar
4 egg yolks
4 1/2 oz almond powder
2 teaspoons Kirsch
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Glaze


  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Roll cookie dough very thin.
Line tiny tartlet molds with the cookie dough.
Cover the bottom of each tartlet mold with 1/2 teaspoon apricot preserves.
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light in color. Beat in the egg yolks one at the time. Stir in almond powder, Kirsch, and cornstarch.
Spoon the mixture into the tartlet shells until half filled. Bake for about 20 minutes or until tartlets are golden brown. Glaze.

Annelise lemon cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup soft butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup flour
1/3 cup raspberry jam
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolk and lemon juice. Beat. Mix in flour to form a ball.
Shape dough into small balls. Arrange on baking sheet. Using a teaspoon, make a small crater in each ball.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes .Cool cookies on rack.
Fill holes with jam.
**An alternate method is to dip cookie dough balls into egg white and ground nut before baking.

Apple and oat scones with cinnamon  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes

Scones keep, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 1 day. May also be kept in freezer
  • Ingredients
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1 1/3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, plus more for topping
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups diced Granny Smith apple (2 apples cut into generous 1/4-inch cubes)
2/3 cup cold buttermilk, plus more for brushing
Raw turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk together flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or rub in with your fingers. (The largest pieces should be the size of small peas.) With your fingertips, flatten butter pieces into small disks. Add apples and buttermilk, stirring until dough just comes together.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Pat dough into a 6-by-8-inch rectangle, and cut into twelve 2-by-2-inch squares with a floured knife. Place about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Brush tops with buttermilk, and sprinkle with raw turbinado sugar and oats. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 22 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool on sheets for 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Apple cake with hot butterscotch sauce   Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/4 cups chopped dates
1/2 cup Calvados or apple cider
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups grated peeled apples
3 cups flour
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves


Hot Butterscotch Sauce

Makes 2 ½ cups

1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup butter
1 1/3 cups light cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 13x9-inch cake pan. Heat dates and Calvados, covered until bubbly; simmer for 1 minute. Let cool.
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
Beat in eggs, one at a time: stir in apples and date mixture. In separate bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and cloves; gently stir into apple batter just until mixed. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in centre.
Serve cake warm with Hot Butterscotch Sauce. Recipe adapted from Canada Living October 1990 Georgian Bay restaurant The Spike & Spoon.

Hot Butterscotch Sauce

In saucepan, bring sugar, syrup and butter to boil; stirring; boil for 3 minutes. Stir in cream and bring back to boil. Remove from heat; add vanilla.

Apple cheese crisp   Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 tablespoons grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/3 cup soft butter
1/3 cup flour
5 large tart apples
1/3 cup cider



  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, combine grated sharp cheddar cheese,
brown sugar, nutmeg, soft butter and flour.
Peel, core and slice large tart apples. Arrange in a buttered pie dish.
Pour cider over apples. Crumble flour mixture over.
Bake for 40 minutes or until apples are soft.

Apple coffee cake  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
For topping:
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Batter:
2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup peeled grated apple
  • preparation
In a mixing bowl, combine the topping ingredients, mix well and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder,
baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Beat eggs, sour cream, and melted shortening in a small bowl.
Stir into dry ingredients and mix just until blended. Stir in apple.
Spread evenly in a greased 9-inch-square pan. Sprinkle topping over batter.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Apple crêpes  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
For crêpes:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla or rum extract

For apple mixture:
6 large baking apples
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup Calvados or apple brandy
1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • preparation
Crêpe batter:
In a medium bowl, combine flour, oil, eggs, egg yolks,
and 1/2 cup milk, beating until blended and smooth.
Add remaining milk, whisking until batter is smooth.
Strain batter into a clean bowl. Refrigerate, covered, for 2 hours or longer.
Melt the butter over low heat, and mix into the crêpe batter.
Flavor with vanilla or rum extract.

Apple mixture:
Peel apples. Core and slice thinly. Melt butter in a non-stick frying pan.
Add apple slices. Sauté for 2 minutes over high heat.
Add brown sugar and Calvados or apple brandy.
Sprinkle cinnamon over cooked apples. Transfer to a bowl.

Make apple crêpes:
Heat a 7-inch non-stick skillet until a drop of water sizzles and rolls off.
Pour in 2 tablespoons of batter, rotating pan to cover bottom of skillet evenly.
Spoon 2 large tablespoons of prepared apple mixture over crêpe,
spreading evenly over surface of crêpe.
Pour enough batter to cover apples. Cook for a minute.
Flip the pancake. Use a spatula if necessary. Cook till brown.
Transfer apple crêpe to a greased baking tray.
Continue cooking remaining crêpes.
Can be prepared 2 hours ahead.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Finish baking crêpes until apples are soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
Place a crêpe on each plate.
Top with vanilla ice cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Serve at once.
Note: as an alternative, use half apples, half pears.

Apple crunch   Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
For butter crunch:
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
For apple mixture:
6 apples
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Butter crunch:
Combine ingredients of the butter crunch in a mixing bowl.
Spread one half over bottom of 8 by 8- inch baking pan.
Bake until light brown, about 15 minutes.
Apple mixture:
Peel, core and slice apples. In a large mixing bowl, combine apples,
brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and melted butter.
Spoon apple mixture over butter crunch .
Bake at 350 degrees until apples are cooked and tender.
Sprinkle remaining crunch on top. Bake to brown topping, about 10 minutes.
Serve at room temperature.

Apple herbert   Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 large baking apples
2 teaspoons raisins
2 teaspoons soft butter
2 teaspoons sliced almonds
4 teaspoons melted red currant jelly
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup dark rum
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut apples in halves horizontally, remove core.
Combine raisins, butter, sliced almonds, and melted red currant jelly.
Spoon in core of apple halves.
Sprinkle a mixture of sugar and cinnamon over apples.
Pour a splash of dark rum over apples.
Bake till tender.

Apple pie cragwood  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 9-inch pie crust and more for lattice top
4 cups cooking apples, peeled and sliced
2 teaspoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
4 ounces Calvados or Brandy

for custard:
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons flour
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 ounces melted apricot
1 beaten egg
  • preparation
Preheat oven at 400 degrees.
Line pie crust in a 9 inch pie plate. Peel, core, and cut apples into wedges.
Melt butter in a saute pan. Add apples. Cook for 2 minutes. Mix in the cinnamon, sugar, and Calvados and cook apples until tender. Transfer to a large bowl to cool.
To prepare the custard:
combine the sugar, flour, lemon zest, cream, eggs, and vanilla.
Pour over apples and blend well. Pour mixture in pie crust.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Top with the melted apricot jam.
Decorate top of pie with strips of remaining dough into a lattice work.
Brush with a beaten egg. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 20 minutes, until pie is golden brown.
Allow pie to cool, then serve at room temperature.

Apple pudding   Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
9 large tart apples
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon lemon rind
1 teaspoon butter

Topping:
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
6 teaspoons cold butter
1 cup milk
1 egg
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Butter a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Peel large tart apples.
Core and slice. Layer slices in bottom of dish.
In a bowl, combine apple juice, maple syrup, ground cinnamon,
ground cloves, grated nutmeg, dark brown sugar, and lemon rind.
Pour the mixture over apples. Dot the surface with butter.
Topping:
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon.
Add cold butter and process to a coarse meal.
Stir in milk. Drop dough onto apple filling.
Brush with a beaten egg.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until soft in the center.

Apple sauce cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup apple sauce
3/4 cup raisins
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and egg. Add molasses. Stir in dry ingredients, apple sauce, and raisins.
Bake in a buttered-floured 8-inch square dish 40 to 45 minutes.

Apple tart alsacienne   Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
For the crust:
4 ounces butter, soft
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 egg
2 pounds baking apples

Filling: 1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Crust:
Mix butter with flour, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and egg to make a dough.
Roll and line an 9-inch pie plate.
Peel apples. Core,slice into small slivers and arrange in crust. Bake for 20 minutes.
Filling:
In a mixing bowl, combine milk, sugar, flour, cornstarch, eggs, vanilla.
Pour over apples. Continue baking at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.
Combine icing sugar with cinnamon. Sprinkle over pie. Serve warm or cold.

Apple-butterscotch pie  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
Basic Pie crust for a Double-Crust Pie
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup half-and-half
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
7 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch wedges
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons cornstarch
grated zest of 1/2 lemon
grated zest of 1/4 orange, optional
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees .
In a small saucepan, stir 3/4 cup of the brown sugar and
the half-and-half over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from the heat and add the butter and the vanilla.
Stir until the butter melts. Set the butterscotch mixture aside to cool completely.
In a medium bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice.
Add the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, the cornstarch, lemon zest,
and the orange zest (if using), cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the larger disk of dough into a
13-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Fold the dough in half.
Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan, and gently unfold the dough to fit into the pan.
Sprinkle the bottom of the dough with the flour.
Fill the pie pan with the apple mixture.
Pour the cooled butterscotch mixture over the apples.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the remaining pie dough into
a 10- to 11-inch round about 1/8 inch thick.
Fold the dough in half, and gently unfold over the apples to cover the filling.
Using scissors or a sharp knife, trim the edges of the 2 pie crusts to a 1-inch overhang.
Pinching the 2 crusts together, fold the dough under itself so the edge of
the fold is flush with the edge of the pie pan.
Flute the crust around the edges of the pan.
Cut a few slits in the top crust so the steam can escape.
Bake until golden brown and the juices are bubbling (look into the slits to check), about 45 minutes.
Cool completely on a wire cake rack.

Apple-cranberry crisp with warm toffee sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes

Rich toffee sauce adds lavishness to this tart autumn-fruit crisp.
  • Ingredients
Toffee Sauce:
1/4 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Apple Crisp:
8 cups peeled and sliced apples
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen whole cranberries, cut in half
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
6 tablespoons melted butter
  • preparation
1. For toffee sauce; measure water into a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan. Add sugar and butter; do not stir! Measure out whipping cream, set near the stove along with vanilla.
2. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil without stirring. Let bubble briskly for 5 to 7 minutes or until the sugar begins to change color. Swirl pan gently on the unit until the color becomes deeply golden. Avert your face (as hot steam rapidly rises) and near the side of the pan, pour in whipping cream. Stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Slide pan off heat; stir in vanilla. Cool until lukewarm before pouring into a container; sauce thickens as it cools. (Once cooled, sauce can be covered and refrigerated for up to a week.) Warm sauce in a small saucepan or briefly in the microwave before serving.
3. For crisp, evenly spread fruit in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or pan. Stir brown sugar with flour and cinnamon; mix in oats. Pour in butter; stir until crumbs form and topping is evenly moistened. Spread over fruit.
Bake in preheated 350ºF (180ºC) oven 40 minutes, or until fruit is soft when tested with a skewer. Crisp is delicious warm or at room temperature. (If made ahead, cool, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Warm, uncovered, in a 350ºF (180ºC) oven for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.)
To serve, pour about 1 tablespoon of toffee syrup onto each serving plate, cover with a portion of the crisp and drizzle a bit more sauce overtop.

Apricot frangipane tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 recipe Pate sablée

For the frangipane:

6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup almond flour
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 tablespoons flour

12 small apricots, (2 lb) halved and pitted
Confectioners' sugar, for garnish

  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Recipe of Pate sablée

Beat butter and icing sugar until pale and creamy. Beat in egg. Add almond flour, and beat until just combined. (Frangipane can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week.)

Spoon frangipane into cooled tart shell, and smooth with a spatula. Let stand for 10 minutes. Bake until set, about 15 minutes. Let cool.

Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a pan of water to a boil. Lightly score bottoms of apricots. Add apricots to boiling water, and blanch to loosen skins, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to ice-water bath to stop the cooking, about 1 minute. Remove apricots, and gently peel. Cut in quarter, and remove pits.
Arrange apricots in concentric circles, sitting upright with the cut side on a slight angle.
Bake until browned, about 50 minutes. Let cool.
Remove the tart ring; dust with icing sugar and serve.

Apricot purses on a cloud   Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 sheets of phyllo dough, 12 by 17 inches
1/4 cup melted butter
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
4 slices pound cake, 2 inches squares by 1/2 inch thick
16 apricots halves
8 mint leaves, 4 chopped and 4 reserved for garnish
For sauce:
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon peppermint liqueur or drops of peppermint extract
4 chopped mint leaves
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Brush the sheets of phyllo with melted sweet butter.
Dust sheets with 3 tablespoons confectioner's sugar, and stack the three sheets.
Quarter the phyllo sheets.
Place a 2 inch square, 1/2 inch thick slice of pound cake on each square. Arrange 2 apricot halves on each cake square, stem down.
Brush strawberries with melted butter, sprinkle each square with 1/2 teaspoon chopped mint.
Gather the edges of each phyllo quarter to encase the apricots, leaving a 2-inch opening in center of phyllo purse. Brush the outside with melted butter.
Dust with confectioner's sugar.
Bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes until purses are golden brown.
Sauce: Combine vanilla ice cream, heavy cream, peppermint liqueur or drops of extract, and 4 chopped mint leaves. Stir until soft and creamy. Refrigerate.
Spoon the mint sauce on plates. Place a purse on each plate. Garnish with mint leaves.

Apricot-orange shortbread bars  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

The bars have a base of shortbread and are filled with apricot jam with Grand Marnier, and almonds
Can be prepared ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.
  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups apricot preserves
3 tablespoons orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 oz (1/4 cup) almond paste, crumbled
1/2 cup sliced almonds, divided
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Butter a 9 by 9 by 2-inch metal baking pan; line bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper, extending over sides. Butter parchment. Mix preserves and orange liqueur in small bowl; set aside.
Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Beat in almond extract. Add flour and salt; beat just until blended. Transfer 1 cup of dough to another small bowl; add crumbled almond paste and mix with fingertips until small clumps form. Mix in 1/4 cup sliced almonds; set aside for topping.
Press remaining dough evenly onto bottom of prepared pan. Spread preserves mixture evenly over. Using fingertips, coarsely crumble topping over preserves, then sprinkle 1/4 cup almonds over. Press topping lightly into preserves.
Bake shortbread until top and crust edges are golden brown, about 1 hour. Cool completely in pan on rack. Using parchment paper as aid, lift shortbread from pan. Cut shortbread into 4 equal strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 small bar cookies.

Armagnac toffee sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:5 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes


This recipe originally accompanied
Prune Kumquat Sticky Pudding with Armagnac Toffee Sauce .
  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons Armagnac
  • preparation
In a heavy saucepan simmer cream with butter and brown sugar, stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove pan from heat and stir in Armagnac. Sauce keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week. Reheat sauce before serving.

Asparagus cheese soufflé   Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter, soft
1 tablespoon flour
2 cups 1-inch pieces asparagus tips and tender stems
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
5 eggs
1 cup grated imported Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Brush the interior of 2 4-cup soufflé molds with the softened butter. Dust the bottom and sides with flour. Set aside.
Bring a kettle of salted boiling water to a boil, drop in the pieces of asparagus, and cook until tender. Drain and cool under cold running water. Purée in a blender. Save in a bowl, cover and set aside.
In a heavy saucepan melt the butter. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon and cook over low heat for 3 minutes. Add the milk. Cook over medium-high heat while whisking until sauce becomes thick and bubbly.
Transfer the sauce to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper and nutmeg.
Separate the eggs. Mix egg yolks and cheese in the thick cream sauce. Stir in the asparagus purée. (can be prepared 2 hours in advance up to this point.)
In an electric mixing bowl, whip the egg whites with cream of tartar until the whites are firm fluffy. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the cheese mixture.
Pour soufflé mixture into mold.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. after 10 minutes Soufflé should rise two inches or more above mold. Serve when ready.
I serve cheese soufflé with tomato basil sauce or melted brie.

Asparagus sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
12 asparagus spears
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 small scallions (green onions), chopped
to taste, salt and ground white pepper
2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • preparation
Cut asparagus in halves. Discard the woody parts. Cut spears into 1-inch pieces. Cook in salted boiling water until tender, about 6 minutes. Melt butter in a skillet. Add asparagus, scallions, salt and pepper to taste. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Puree mixture in a blender. Put through a strainer. Heat in a saucepan with the cream, and keep warm until needed.

Asparagus strudel  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes

Serves 8 as appetizers
  • Ingredients
1 pound asparagus spears
2 medium leeks, white parts only
1 tablespoon chopped shallot
6 ounces melted butter
8 ounces grated Gruyère cheese
3 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons chopped fresh snipped chives
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
dash cayenne pepper
12 sheets packaged phyllo pastry
Tomato coulis
  • preparation
Trim and cut asparagus into 1-inch lengths. Blanch in salted boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and chill in cold water. Drain on pat dry. Reserve in a bowl.
Slice leek across thinly and wash thoroughly. In a non-stick pan, melt 2 ounces of the butter. Sauté leeks and shallots in butter until transparent.
Add to the asparagus together with grated Gruyère cheese, eggs, chopped fresh parsley, chopped fresh dill, chopped fresh snipped chives, salt, fresh ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lay 1 leaf of phyllo on work surface. Brush with melted butter. Continue until there are 6 buttered layers. Place half of the asparagus mixture along one short end, tuck ends in and roll up jelly-roll fashion. Place on a buttered baking sheet.
Make second strudel with remaining phyllo, butter and filling, and place on same baking sheet.
Brush rolls with any remaining butter. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden. Cool lightly and slice into 2-inch pieces. Serve as appetizer with fresh tomato coulis.

Asparagus with Parma ham and roasted pepper coulis  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 red bell peppers
5 teaspoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
to taste, coarse salt and pepper
36 spears of asparagus
6 thin slices of Parma
4 sheets of phyllo
3/4 cup melted butter
6 teaspoons dry breadcrumbs
1 cup baby arugula leaves
  • preparation
Pepper coulis:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub peppers with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Place them on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes or until almost charred. Remove and place in plastic container with a lid to steam and cool. When cool enough to handle, push off the skins and remove stems and seeds. Place peppers in food processor fitted with metal blade and puree along with the vinegar, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and 1 tablespoon water. Season to taste.

Wash asparagus. with a sharp knife, trim bottoms to make spears of equal length. Place the asparagus in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and refresh. Pat dry. Toss with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Cut the ham in half lengthwise.
Hold 3 asparagus spears together. Wrap one strip of ham around the center of the asparagus bundle and set aside. Continue making bundles until you have 12.
Carefully lay one sheet of phyllo dough on damp towel. Lightly brush it with some of the melted butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon bread crumbs. Butter another sheet and place on top of the crumbled sheet. Using a very sharp knife, carefully cut the phyllo sheets, from top to bottom, into 6 strips. Roll one phyllo strip around the center of an asparagus-ham bundle. continue until you have prepared 6 bundles. Repeat the process with the remaining phyllo sheets, butter, crumbs, and 6 remaining asparagus bundles. Place bundles on baking sheet . Bake for 9 to 12 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown.
Toss arugula leaves with remaining teaspoon of oil. Place a tablespoon or more of pepper puree in center of each plate. Cross 2 asparagus bundles over the puree. Garnish with a few arugula leaves and serve immediately.

Asparagus with truffle broth   Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:8 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/4 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup peanut oil
2 1/2 ounces chopped black truffles
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • preparation
In a small bowl, whisk together stock, oil and truffles.
In a deep 10 -to 12-inch skillet bring 3 inches salted water to a boil and cook asparagus until crisp tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain asparagus. Pat dry. Transfer to a serving dish and toss with butter.
Spoon truffle broth over asparagus and season with salt and pepper. Serve asparagus warm or at room temperature.

Baked fiddleheads  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 pound fiddleheads, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup cream
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • preparation
Wash fiddleheads.
Cook in boiling salted water for ten minutes, until partly cooked.
Make a sauce by melting the butter; into which stir the flour, a pinch of salt, the chicken stock and cream.
Then stir in the egg yolks and finally the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until all the cheese melts.
Do this over a low heat.
In a buttered oven-proof dish put the fiddleheads carefully in layers. Pour sauce over each layer; sprinkle a little Parmesan on each layer of sauce.
Cover the top layer of fiddleheads with sauce and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
Bake until sauce is bubbly.

Baked pears  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
8 ripe pears
1 cup light brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup dark rum
1 cup sour cream

  • preparation
Peel pears, quarter, and core. Place in a round baking dish.
Sprinkle brown sugar on top.
Dot with butter. Pour rum in bottom of dish. Cover with foil Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Remove foil, baste and bake until pears are cooked and tender. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Baked salmon fillets  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup soft unsalted butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped chives
2 teaspoons grainy Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
to taste salt and pepper
4 6-ounce salmon fillets, boned
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, mix butter, half of the lemon juice, chopped chives, mustard, lemon peel, salt and pepper until well blended.
Line a baking sheet with foil. Rub one tablespoon of mustard-chive butter over foil. Place fillets skin side down on foil and spoon about one teaspoon of lemon juice on each fillet. Season with salt and pepper.
Top each fillet with one tablespoon of mustard-chive butter. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

PRESENTATION

Using a slotted spatula, place the fish fillets in the center of warm plates. Spoon the chive-butter sauce over. Serve hot.

Baked salmon in the swimming position  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes

A wonderful recipe for a whole salmon and a perfect presentation. A 6 to 8 pound salmon is ideal for this recipe.

Served cold, and decorated with shrimp and cucumber scales



  • Ingredients
one 6 to 8 pound salmon, whole
to taste salt and pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups water
3 cups hollandaise sauce (see recipe)
  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. The whole salmon with the head and tail should be fresh or completely thawed, cleaned, scaled, and washed under cold water. Season the cavity of the fish with salt and pepper. Use the largest baking sheet that will fit in the oven. Line the baking sheet with heavy foil. Place the salmon on the baking pan in the 'swimming position'. Curve the tail of the fish for a more dramatic effect. Wrap the tail and the head of the salmon in buttered sheets of foil. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Pour the lemon juice, white wine, and water in the pan. Brush the surface of the salmon with melted butter.
Measure the salmon across at its thickest part.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes per inch thickness. Baste the fish occasionally. Make sure that the pan juices do not dry out. Add more water if necessary. When the salmon is done, remove from the oven, cover with foil, and keep in a warm place. A few minutes before serving, remove the foil around the head and tail of the salmon. Peel away skin on both sides of the fish. If the fish was lying flat on the tray, it would be difficult to remove the skin off the bottom fillet. Scrape away the dark fatty layer adhering to the flesh. To transfer the whole salmon on a serving tray or platter, use four wide spatulas. One person slides two spatulas under the head and below, another slides the other two spatulas under the tail end and higher.
Synchronize the transfer of the whole salmon onto a serving tray or platter. Cover the fish with foil. Pour the pan juices in a small, heavy saucepan. Reduce the juices to one half cup. Pour and strain over the salmon. Garnish the platter with lemon baskets and parsley. Serve with hollandaise, parsleyed potatoes, and spinach, or green beans.

Baked whole salmon  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes

This recipe is suitable for a small whole fish, from 3 to 6 pounds. Attention salmon angler: If your catch of the day is a grilse or a small salmon, you found the right recipe. See also recipe for Baked-salmon-in-the-swimming-position

  • Ingredients
one 5 pound whole dressed salmon
to taste salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups water
2 tablespoons soft butter
4 tablespoons flour
6 medium mushroom caps
1 ounce butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. The whole salmon with the head and tail should be fresh or completely thawed, cleaned, scaled, and washed under cold water. Season the cavity of the fish with salt and pepper. Use the largest baking sheet that will fit in the oven. Line the baking sheet with heavy foil. Place the salmon on the baking pan in the "swimming position". Curve the tail of the fish for a more dramatic effect. Wrap the tail and the head of the salmon in buttered sheets of foil. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Pour the lemon juice, white wine, and water in the pan. Brush the surface of the salmon with melted butter.
Measure the salmon across at its thickest part. Bake 12 minutes per inch thickness. Baste the fish occasionally. When the salmon in done, transfer to a large serving platter. Remove skin from both sides. Cover with foil, and keep in a warm place. Strain the cooking liquid and reduce to two cups. Combine the butter and flour to form a smooth paste called beurre manié. Whip the mixture into the boiling stock to make a creamy sauce. Season to taste. Pour any juice from the platter in the sauce. Reduce the sauce to a medium-thick consistency. Pour a small amount over salmon. Saute the cleaned mushroom caps in butter and lemon juice.

PRESENTATION
Starting at tail end, use a fish knife and fork to cut the top fillet into serving size portions. Slide knife between the fillet and bone to lift the portions. Arrange each portion in the center of warm plates. To serve the second fillet, lift off tail and pull backbone away from flesh, removing the head all in one piece.The fillet is now boneless and easy to serve. Free skin from portions before serving. Spoon the sauce over salmon. Top with a mushroom cap. Serve with small parsleyed potatoes, and vegetables.

Bakers chocolate cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:14 minutes


  • Ingredients
16 squares Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

  • preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Coarsely chop 8 squares of the chocolate; set aside.
Microwave remaining 8 squares of chocolate in large microwavable bowl on high 1-2 minutes.
Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in sugar, butter eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder.
Stir in reserved chopped chocolate and nuts. Drop by 1/4 cupfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are puffed and feel set to the touch. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Baklava  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
8 ounces clarified butter
18 phyllo leaves
2 cups finely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup honey
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Select a baking pan the size of the phyllo leaves.
Spread 2 phyllo leaves over the bottom of pan. Brush with butter. Sprinkle with walnuts.
Repeat the same process with the remaining ingredients ending with filo leaves.
Cut the top with a sharp knife about 1/2 -inch deep to make 1 1/2 -inch squares or diamonds.
Bake for 40 minutes. In a saucepan combine, sugar, water, lemon juice and honey.
Boil for 5 minutes and pour over the whole surface of cut baklava.

Banana bran muffins  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup mashed bananas
1 tablespoon molasses
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup natural bran
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup raisins
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream butter, sugar, molasses then add bananas.
Add all dry ingredients with egg and buttermilk. Whisk until batter is smooth. Pour batter in greased muffin tins.
Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Basic crepes  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

The crepes can be stuffed with an endless variety of ingredints and rolled. Cut across into bite-size as appetizers.
  • Ingredients
2 cups + 3 tbsp (500ml) whole milk
4 large eggs, beaten
3 tbsp (45g) unsalted butter, melted
2 cups (250g) All-purpose Flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp (12g) of white sugar
1 tbsp (15ml) Rum or 1 tsp of vanilla extract

To Cook
2 tbsp softened butter
  • preparation
1. Place the milk and eggs in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
2. Add the butter, rum or vanilla and whisk it in.
3. Place the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
4. Add about ¾ – 1 cup of the liquid and mix gently to form a smooth paste.
5. Add the rest of the liquid and mix to form a smooth, watery batter. You can put it through a fine meshed strainer, and it will come out lump-free.
6. Cover the batter and let it rest for at least 20 – 30 minutes. The batter can be kept in the refrigerated for a day.
Cooking the Crepes
1. Preheat a 10-inch non-stick pan over medium heat.
2. Brush butter on the heated pan.
3. Always mix the batter first, before you make each crepe.
4. Pour ¼ cup of the batter into the hot pan, and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Swirl and spread the batter along the edge of the pan first and then fill the middle with the remaining crepe batter. Make sure the batter is as evenly spread as possible.
5. Place the pan back on the heat to let the crepe cook.
6. cook the crepes until the edges are starting to brown become a little crisp (about 40 seconds). Flip the crepes over and cook for a further 10 – 15 seconds on the other side until the crepes has turned light brown Repeat until all the batter is used up.
7. Stack the cooked crepes on a plate. Cover with film wrap when cold. When ready to use, you can warm them up gently in a frying pan withor without butter.

Béarnaise sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1 ounce Shallots, chopped
2 teaspoons Tarragon leaves
6 egg yolks
1 1/4 pounds butter, clarified*
1/3 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon Parsley , fresh chopped
1 teaspoon tarragon, chopped
  • preparation
Combine the shallots, vinegar, and tarragon in a saucepan and reduce by three-fourths. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Strain, if you wish.
Combine the vinegar mixture with egg yolks in a medium-sized, stainless steel bowl. Using a wire whisk, beat well. Place the container containing the egg/yolk acid mixture in a pan or bowl of water (such as a small double boiler) that is at a simmering temperature of 180 to 190F (82.2 to 87.8C). Continue whisking the yolk/acid mixture and heat to a temperature of 150F (65.6C). The mixture must be stirred or whisked constantly and the temperature measured frequently by an accurate thermometer. Immediately remove the pan containing the yolk/acid mixture from the hot-water heat source. The mixture should be creamy. Cool slightly.
Slowly and gradually beat the clarified butter into the yolk acid. Add the butter drop by drop at first to disperse the butter oil and create an emulsion. As the emulsion forms, the butter can be added in larger amounts. (If the sauce becomes too thick to beat before all the butter is added, beat in a little warm water.) Adjust seasoning with salt and cayenne pepper.
If necessary, thin the sauce with a few drops of warm water. Mix in the parsley and tarragon. The final pH is 4.2.
Storage Keep warm [100 to 120F (43.3 to 48.9C)], not hot, for service. This Béarnaise sauce can be held at 100 to 120F (43.3 to 48.9C) as long as the quality allows. There is no food safety problem because of the pH.

*Note: To clarify butter for this recipe, place 1 1/4 pounds butter in heavy sauce pan. Melt butter over moderate heat. Skim froth from the surface. Carefully pour off clear melted butter into another container, leaving the milky liquid and salt (if salted butter was used) on the bottom of the pan.

Bechamel sauce   Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes

Also called CREAM SAUCE or WHITE SAUCE
This basic French white sauce is made by stirring milk into a mixture of butter and flour, called roux. The thickness of the sauce depends on the proportion of flour and butter to milk.
The amount of flour determines the thickness of the sauce.
For a thin sauce: 1 tablespoon each of butter and flour per 1 cup of milk;
a medium sauce: 2 tablespoons each of butter and flour per 1 cup of milk;
a thick sauce: 3 tablespoons each per 1 cup of milk.
Béchamel, the base of many other sauces, was named after its inventor, Louis de Béchamel, a steward to Louis XIV's.
  • Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/4 cups milk, heated
salt and freshly ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • preparation
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste cooks and bubbles a bit, but don't let it brown - about 2 minutes.
Add the hot milk, continuing to stir as the sauce thickens. Bring it to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste and nutmeg; lower the heat, and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes more.
Remove from the heat. To cool this sauce for later use, cover it with wax paper to prevent a skin from forming.
Cheese Sauce. Stir in 1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese during the last 2 minutes of cooking, along with a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Best homemade dinner rolls  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:2 hours

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cups warm milk
2 tablespoons instant dry yeast
¼ cup white granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
6 tablespoons salted butter, softened
2 large eggs
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon melted butter
  • preparation
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm milk, yeast, sugar, salt, butter, and eggs.
Add in 5½ cups of flour. Using a dough hook, turn the mixer on to a low speed. Once the flour starts to incorporate into the dough, increase the speed to a medium range. Slowly add the remaining ½ cup of flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. The dough mixture should be slightly sticky and soft. Add more or less flour until the dough reaches the desired consistency. The amount of flour you add in bread making is always an approximation and you should go by feel.
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased mixing bowl. Cover with a towel and let rise 90 minutes.
Lightly grease a baking sheet. Punch down the dough and form into 24 rolls. Place on the greased baking sheet in six rows of four.
Cover and let rise 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake the rolls for 12 to 14 minutes, until lightly browned.
Remove rolls from oven and brush with melted butter.
Serve the rolls warm, or to cool, let rest on the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Once cooled completely, store in a plastic bag.

Best pancakes  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


For an extra-special breakfast, try adding any of the following ingredients to your favorite pancake batter.
– Sliced bananas
– Sliced peaches or pears and ground cardamom
– Apples, sliced and sauteed in butter, with ground cinnamon
– Fresh raspberries or blackberries
– Fresh sliced strawberies or wild strawberries
– Poppyseeds and lemon zest
– Shredded sweetened dried coconut
– Dried cherries and raisins plumped in fruit juice
– Chocolate chips
– Chopped toasted walnuts, pecans, or granola
  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
3 tablespoons melted butter
  • preparation
Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whip in eggs and milk. Mix in melted butter. Allow batter to rest at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.

Cook pancakes on a hot greased griddle or a large non-stick frying pan.
It is time to flip pancake when the batter surface is covered with little breaking bubbles. Serve with real amber maple syrup.

Blueberry pancakes:
Sprinkle blueberries over the batter immediately after pouring it on the griddle or pan.
Sautéed pears or apples:
Peel, core and thinly slice 2 pears or 2 apples. Melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add fruit, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar. Sauté until fruit is soft, about 6 to 8 minutes. If using apples, sprinkle with cinnamon. The fruit may be mixed in the pancake batter or serve warm as topping.

Other fruit can be added to batter immediately after it is poured on the griddle: wild strawberries, raspberries, sliced bananas, toasted nuts, granola or raisins plumped in fruit juice.
Luscious toppings:
- cranberries: Place 1 cup whole cranberries and 1 cup maple syrup in a medium saucepan. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes to allow cranberries to pop. Serve warm.

.- honey and spice: Warm 1 cup honey, 4 star anise, and 4 cinnamon sticks in small saucepan over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Use warm over pancakes. The mixture keeps up to a week in an airtight container.

Blarney stone cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 24

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:16 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups finely chopped dry roasted peanuts



  • preparation
Heat oven to 350°F. Combine powdered sugar, butter, egg and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until light and fluffy (2 to 3 minutes). Reduce speed to low. Add flour; beat until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes).
Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls. Beat egg yolks and water with fork until well mixed in small bowl. Dip balls of dough into beaten egg yolks, then into peanuts. Place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 12 to 16 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly in center.

Blueberry butter  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 10 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 sticks sweet butter, softened
1/2 cup fresh blueberries, chopped
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • preparation
Combine all ingredients in blender.
Whip until light. This is great on pancakes, waffles

Blueberry cinnamon pancakes  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes

In the Nordic countries the berries are mostly bilberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, and sea buckthor
  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter or shortening, melted
2 lightly beaten eggs
1-1/4 cups fresh blueberries
  • preparation
Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Add milk, shortening and eggs. Mix lightly and stir in blueberries.
Spoon batter onto lightly greased hot griddle. Cook on both sides, turning once.

Blueberry gingerbread   Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:35 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, soft
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup molasses
1 egg
2-1/2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup hot water
  • preparation
Cream butter. Add sugar and molasses. Beat until light. Add egg and beat well.
Sift dry ingredients together and use a small amount to coat berries. Add remainder alternately with hot water to first mixture, beating until smooth. Fold in floured blueberries.
Bake in greased and floured 13-inch by 9-inch 3-inch pan at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.
Serve hot or cold with blueberry sauce.

Blueberry scones   Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes

cold butter, grated on a box grater makes the mixing process easy.
  • Ingredients
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh blueberries
2/3 cup cold butter, grated
2 eggs
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
½ cup milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
1/4 cup lemon juice

Glaze:
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and combine mixture until crumbly. Add fresh blueberries.
Whisk together eggs, buttermilk or yogurt,milk, lemon rind and juice; drizzle over dry ingredients, tossing with a fork until mixture clumps together. Turn out onto floured surface. With floured hands, form into ball, kneading about 8 times.
Place on parchment paper-lined lightly floured baking sheet. Pat into 3/4-inch thick circle; cut into 8 wedges. Do not separate.
Glaze: Brush with lemon juice; sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden. Serve warm with Wild Blueberry Preserves and Devon Cream.
Variation. Blueberry Scones:
Gently toss 1 cup fresh blueberries with dry ingredients just before adding egg mixture. Increase lemon rind to 1 tablespoon.
Adapted from Canadian Living Magazine

Bourbon chocolate cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes

Delicious and rich chocolate cake. Definitely worth to splurge on good chocolate!
This mousse-like cake really does melt in your mouth. It can be baked up to a day before serving and stored lightly wrapped at room temperature.
  • Ingredients
11 oz. semisweet good quality chocolate, chopped
6 oz. (12 Tbs.) unsalted butter
6 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 oz. (1/4 cup) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup bourbon
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. kosher salt

For serving:
1 cup heavy cream
1 to 2 Tbs. granulated sugar
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
  • preparation
Position an oven rack on the middle rung and heat the oven to 350°F.

Butter a 9×3-inch round cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment and butter the parchment. Set the cake pan in a roasting pan large enough to accommodate it.

Melt the chocolate and butter over a double boiler. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
With an electric mixer (a stand mixer with the whip attachment or a hand mixer), beat the egg yolks with the brown sugar on medium speed until very pale, thick, and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed, add the chocolate mixture, and mix just to combine. Add the flour, mixing just to combine and scraping the bowl as needed. Blend in the bourbon and vanilla. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
In a clean mixing bowl with clean beaters, beat the egg whites with the salt on high speed until they hold soft peaks, 1 to 2 minutes. With a rubber spatula, fold one-third of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, and then gently fold in the remaining whites. Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan.
Set the roasting pan on the oven rack and add enough warm tap water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake until the top feels set, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the cake pan from the water bath and run a paring knife around the inside of the pan (or the inside of the parchment collar) to loosen the cake and then let the cake cool completely in the cake pan on a rack. When the cake is completely cool, loosen the sides once more with a paring knife. Cover the cake with a serving plate and invert the cake onto the plate. The bottom of the cake is now the top. Peel off the parchment. (Don’t worry if the surface looks a little ragged; you’ll be dusting with confectioners’ sugar).

To serve: In a chilled bowl, beat the cream and sugar to medium-soft peaks. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners’ sugar, slice, and serve each slice with the whipped cream.

Braised blueback with white wine sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes

The blueback salmon can be a small Artic char, a Pink Pacific salmon or and Atlantic grilse, all weighing between 3 to 5 pounds.
  • Ingredients
2 tablespoon butter
5 medium shallots, peeled, minced
1-5 pound whole dressed salmon
3 cups dry white wine
to taste salt ground white pepper
1 bouquet garni
2 tablespoon butter
3 slices white bread
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 egg yolks
1 cup heavy cream
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Melt two tablespoons of butter in a saucepan. Add the minced shallots and cook until golden. Spread into a baking pan large enough to hold the salmon.
Scale salmon. Wash under cold water. Pat dry. Place the whole fish, lying flat on the baking pan. Season the cavity with salt and pepper. Add the bouquet garni. Dot the fish with the two tablespoons of butter. Cover the pan with aluminum foil, and bake Measure the salmon at its thickest part. Bake 12 minutes per inch thickness. Baste the fish occasionally. While the fish is cooking, remove the crust from the bread. Cut the slices into triangles. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Fry the bread triangles in oil until golden brown on both sides. Remove from pan and keep warm. When the salmon in done, transfer to a large serving platter. Remove skin from the top side. Cover with foil, and keep in a warm place. Strain the cooking liquid and reduce to two cups. Beat the egg yolks with the cream. Pour into the reduced hot cooking liquid and whisk over low heat until the sauce thickens lightly. Do not boil the sauce as it may separate. Season to taste.

PRESENTATION
Starting at tail end, use a fish knife and fork to cut the top fillet into serving size portions. Slide knife between the fillet and bone to lift the portions. Arrange each portion in the center of warm plates. Before serving the bottom fillet, lift off tail and pull backbone away from flesh, removing the head all in one piece. Bottom fillet is now boneless and easy to lift into serving size portions. Free skin from portions before serving. Spoon the sauce over salmon. Garnish each plate with two slices of fried bread.

Braised endives in beer  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
12 medium endives
1/2 cup butter
1 cup beer
1 tablespoon sugar
2 chicken bouillon cubes
ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup shredded gruyere
1/4 cup melted butter
  • preparation

Remove any bruised outer leaves from the endives, leaving the heads intact. Trim the bases and tips and wipe with a damp cloth.
Melt butter in a large skillet.
Arrange endives in the skillet in a single layer. Cook over medium heat to brown the endives on all sides.
Add beer, sugar, and bouillon cubes.
Cover and simmer 20 minutes or until tender. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Transfer endives to a gratin dish. Reduce cooking liquid to 3 tablespoons. Sprinkle endives with bread crumbs and shredded cheese.
Pour any remaining liquid from the endives in the skillet over the endives. Pour melted butter over the endives.
Bake endives until golden brown. Serve immediately.

Braised onions  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 15 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 pounds onions, thickly sliced
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon liquid honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste
  • preparation
In a saucepan of salted boiling water, cook onions for 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to 6-cup casserole.
Mix together ketchup, water, honey, butter, mustard, salt and pepper; pour over onions.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until onions are tender and glazed

Brioches  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:1 hour

Cooking time:20 minutes

Brioches can also be made with loaf pans.
  • Ingredients
1/4 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F)
1/4 cup warm whole milk (110°F to 115°F)
3 teaspoons active dry yeast (measured from two 1/4-ounce envelopes)
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs, room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar
6 oz unsalted butter, room temperature

1 large egg beaten to blend with 1 teaspoon water (for glaze)
  • preparation
Combine 1/4 cup warm water and warm milk in bowl of heavy-duty mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Sprinkle yeast over and stir to moisten evenly. Let stand until yeast dissolves, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
Add flour and salt to yeast mixture. Blend at medium-low speed until shaggy lumps form, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Beat in sugar. Increase mixer speed to medium; beat until dough is smooth, about 3 minutes.
Reduce speed to low. Add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until blended after each addition, about 4 minutes (dough will be soft and silky). Increase speed to medium-high and beat until dough pulls away from sides of bowl and climbs paddle, 8 to 9 minutes.
Lightly butter large bowl. Scrape dough into bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until almost doubled in volume, about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.
Gently deflate dough by lifting around edges, then letting dough fall back into bowl, turning bowl and repeating as needed. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill, deflating dough in same way every 30 minutes until dough stops rising, about 2 hours. Chill overnight. (At this point, use the dough to make 12 brioches, or 6 brioches and 1 tart, or 2 tarts.)
Butter 12 standard (1/3-cup) muffin cups. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces; cut each piece into thirds. Roll each small piece between palms into ball. Place 3 balls in each prepared cup (dough will fill cup).
Place muffin pan in warm draft-free area; lay sheet of waxed paper over. Let dough rise until light and almost doubled (dough will rise 1/2 inch to 1 inch above top rim of muffin cups), 50 to 60 minutes.
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Place muffin pan on rimmed baking sheet. Gently brush egg glaze over risen dough, being careful that glaze does not drip between dough and pan.
Bake brioches until golden brown about 20 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool 10 minutes. Remove brioches from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Broccoli au gratin  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 pounds broccoli, cleaned, cut into 2-inch florets
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
4 cups boiling milk
salt and pepper to taste
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
1 teaspoon melted butter
  • preparation
In a kettle of salted boiling water, cook the broccoli flowerets for 3 to 4 minutes, or until tender.
Drain broccoli, and plunge into ice cold water to stop the cooking.
Drain broccoli. Pat dry, and transfer to a buttered 2-quart baking dish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a saucepan, cook the onion in 3 tablespoons of butter over moderate low heat, stirring until it is softened.
Stir in the flour and cook the roux over low heat, stirring, for 3 minutes.
Add milk and whisk over moderate heat until the sauce thickens. Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and grated nutmeg.
Pour the sauce over broccoli. Sprinkle the cheese over the sauce. Pour butter over cheese.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.

Broccoli with cheddar sauce:
A variation of this recipe uses the cream sauce with the addition of 2 cups grated cheddar cheese, and dry breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top of broccoli.

Broiled pompano with noodles  Print Recipe

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

The pompano may be successfully grilled in a cast iron ridged pan over heat heat.
In Boca Grande, Florida, this excellent recipe was a favorite, not in the local restaurants but in the private social circles of the island beach mansions. The delicious pompano is served over pasta and a sauce . Another chefdecuisine.com creation.
  • Ingredients
SAUCE *
1 lemon, juice and zest
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, crushed and finely chopped
1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
FISH
2 (8 ounce) pompano fillets, skinned, boned and cut in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 pound Fettuccine or spaghettini cooked al dente and drained
  • preparation
Finely grate the clean lemon to make zest, and juice the lemon. Set aside.
In a small pot, whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, wine, shallot and garlic.
Cook over high heat until reduced to half. Remove from heat, cool slightly. When lemon mixture is warm, cut in butter and whisk together. Add parsley and season with salt and pepper. Set the sauce aside.
Heat grill over high heat.
Brush pompano fillets with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill fish for 4 minutes per side, until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork.
Heat and toss pasta with half of the lemon butter
Arrange pasta on a platter, place fish on top of pasta and spoon remaining lemon butter sauce over. Serve immediately .

* The sauce can also be a fish velouté sauce

Brown sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 16

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:2 hours

Also known as Espagnole Sauce
  • Ingredients
For Sachet:
1/2 bay leaf 2 parsley stems (no leaves)
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 clove garlic
1 piece of cheesecloth, cut into a 6-inch square
1 piece of butcher's twine, cut 12 inches long

1 small onion, peeled
1 carrot, peeled
1 stalk celery
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons additional butter
6 cups beef stock or bouillon, room temperature
2 ounces tomato puree
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper

  • preparation
1. To make sachet, place the bay leaf, parsley stems, thyme and garlic in the square of cheesecloth. Gather up the corners and twist together. Using just one end of the string, tie the sachet closed. The other end of the string (the long end) will be suspended from the handle of the saucepan.
2. Cut the onion, carrot and celery into medium (1/2-inch) dice. Set aside. Mince garlic.
3. Heat the 1/2 cup butter in small saucepan until hot. Whisk in the flour (to a paste consistency) and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 5 to 6 minutes until mixture (roux) bubbles, turns light brown in color and has a nutty aroma. This is called a dark roux. Set aside.
4. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in heavy, 4-quart stockpot over medium heat.
5. Add the onion, carrot and celery. Saute the vegetables, stirring often, for about 5 to 6 minutes or until well browned. Add minced garlic and saute another 1 to 2 minutes.
6. Add the cooked roux to the vegetables, stirring to combine.
7. Gradually, pour in the brown stock and then the tomato puree.
8. Tie the pre-made sachet to one handle of the stockpot, letting it dangle in the liquid.
9. Bring to a boil, skimming off any impurities from the surface, as needed.
10. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 2 hours, skimming the surface occasionally, until the sauce is reduced to about 1 quart.
11. Untie sachet. Then pour sauce (and sachet) into a fine strainer or china cap lined with cheesecloth. Use a ladle or spoon to gently press any remaining vegetables through the strainer. Discard the sachet.
12. Season to taste with salt and white pepper, if desired.
13. Set over a double boiler filled with warm water until ready to serve. Or cool completely, then cover and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to I week. Sauce may also be frozen for up to 3 months. Makes about 1 quart.

VARIATIONS
Demi-glace:
A brown stock is simply a stock made with roasted bones, rather than bones that have only been rinsed and/or blanched prior to use. To make a brown stock, you can use roasted beef or veal bones or roasted chicken bones. In this recipe, we are calling for a brown stock made with roasted beef bones.
Place 4 cups Brown Stock and 4 cups Brown Sauce/Sauce Espagnole in a heavy, I-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the sauce is reduced by one-half. Remove from heat. Pour sauce through a fine strainer or china cap lined with cheesecloth. Allow to cool completely. Then cover and store n the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Sauce may also be frozen for up to 3 months. Makes 1 quart

Bordelaise Sauce: Place 1 cup red wine, 2 minced shallots, 1/4 teaspoon crushed black Peppercorns pinch of thyme and 1/2 bay leaf in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and then reduce to medium heat. Cook for about 33 minutes or until reduced by three-fourths. Add 1 quart Demi-glace (see above) and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and strain through a line strainer (or cheesecloth). Cut 2 tablespoons butter into small pieces and drop them, one at a time, into the sauce while stirring constantly to combine. Serve immediately. Makes about 4 cups.

Madeira Sauce: Place 1 quart Demi-glace (see above) in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 30 to 45 minutes until reduced to 1/2 cup. Add 1/4 cup Madeira Wine, stirring to combine. Serve immediately. Makes about 4 cups.

Mushroom Sauce: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy saute pan over moderate heat. Add 1 minced shallot and saute for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Add 1/2 pound sliced mushrooms and continue sauteing until brown. Add 1 quart Demi-glace (see above) and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon dry sherry and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Serve immediately.

Bulgur stuffing with mushrooms  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 1/2 cups boiling water
2 cups dried porcini mushrooms
1 cup dried morel mushrooms
2 cups fresh shiitake mushrooms, chopped
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
5 cups chicken broth
2 1/2 cups bulgur, (coarse)
1 cup packed fresh flat leafed parsley, chopped
  • preparation
In a bowl, pour boiling water over mushrooms, and soak 30 minutes or more. In a 4-quart saucepan, sauté onion in butter over moderate heat, stirring until softened.
Add broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in bulgur and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Remove porcini and morel mushrooms from water, squeezing out excess liquid, and reserve soaking liquid. Rinse mushrooms to remove any grit and coarsely chop.

Strain reserved liquid through a fine sieve or cheese cloth. In a large bowl toss together bulgur mixture, mushrooms (porcini, morels, shiitake), 1/2 cup strained soaking liquid, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Cool completely.

Buttermilk pancakes  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus
1/2 teaspoon for griddle
  • preparation
Heat griddle to 375 degrees.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, and 4 tablespoons butter; whisk to combine.

Heat oven to 175 degrees. Test griddle by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If water bounces and spatters off griddle, it is hot enough. Using a pastry brush, brush remaining 1/2 teaspoon of butter or reserved bacon fat onto griddle. Wipe off excess.
Using a 4 ounce ladle, about 1/2 cup, pour pancake batter, in pools 2 inches away from each other. When pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around edges, about 2 1/2 minutes, flip over. Cook until golden on bottom, about 1 minute. 4. Repeat with remaining batter, keeping finished pancakes on a heat proof plate in oven. Serve warm.

Cajun salmon fillet grenobloise with angel hair pasta  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 ounces butter
2 pounds fillet of salmon
1 tablespoon white wine Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon See recipe for fish seasoning
1 teaspoon dry oregano
2 tablespoons capers
8 ounces angel hair pasta
2 ounces butter
1 cup See recipe for White Butter Sauce
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Butter a baking dish large enough for the salmon fillet. Extract all bones from the fillet. Rinse under cold water and pat dry. Place the salmon fillet skin side down in the baking dish. Season with the white wine Worcestershire sauce, onion salt, fish seasoning, and oregano.
Bake the salmon for 10 minutes.
Brown under a hot broiler for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle capers over the fish.
Cook the angel hair pasta in salted boiling water according to the directions on the package.
Drain the pasta, and toss in butter.
PRESENTATION
Divide the salmon fillet into equal portions. Arrange each portion on a hot plate. Top with capers and cooking liquid.
Garnish with the steaming pasta. Serve with the white butter sauce.

Caramelized apricot tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons whipping cream
9 fresh apricots, halved, pitted, or 18 canned apricot halves in extra light syrup well drained
1 9-ounce sheet frozen puff pastry thawed
  • preparation
Preheat to 425°F. Combine 1/2 cup sugar if using canned apricots (or 3/4 cup sugar if using fresh apricots) and 2 tablespoons water in heavy small saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.
Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber, about 8 minutes.
Add butter and cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir over low heat until any caramel bits are dissolved. Immediately pour caramel into nonstick 10-inch-diameter ovenproof skillet; swirl to cover bottom of skillet. Carefully place apricot halves, rounded side down, tightly together atop caramel.
Roll out puff pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 12 1/2-inch square.
Using 12-inch tart pan bottom or platter as guide, cut pastry into 12-inch round. Place puff pastry round atop apricots in skillet.
Gently press down pastry around apricots at edge of skillet.
Bake tart until pastry is puffed and deep golden, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 1 minute.
Cut around edge of pastry to loosen. Place large rimmed platter atop skillet.
Using oven mitts as aid, hold skillet and platter tightly together and invert, allowing tart and syrup to fall onto platter.
Carefully lift off skillet. Rearrange any apricots that may have become dislodged. Serve warm.

Caramelized figs with fudge sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:10 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 ½ Tbsp unsalted butter,
½ cup sugar
¼ tsp coarse salt
12 fesh figs, halved lengthwise)
Fudge sauce (recipe below)
Vanilla ice cream
  • preparation
In a medium shallow bowl, stir together sugar and salt. Press the cut side of each fig into the sugar mixture to coat.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add butter to melt. Add sugar-covered figs, cut side down, and cook until sugar and juices caramelize, about 3-4 minutes. As figs caramelize, turn them over.
Remove from heat and add lemon juice, gently swirling to combine.
Transfer to a serving dish. Serve with the fudge sauce and vanilla ice cream.

For the fudge sauce:

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup light cream (half and half)
3/4 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
In a medium pot, combine the brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and cream. Bring to boil on high heat for 2 minutes.
Add the heavy cream. Bring to boil, simmer for 8 minutes. Keeps well refrigerated for a week.

Caramelized onion biscuits  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 tablespoons butter
1 medium diced onion
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
6 tablespoons vegetable shortening or butter
1/2 cup milk
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fry diced onion in butter until caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Combine cooled onions, flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Rub in vegetable shortening or butter. Mix in 1/2 cup milk. Gently knead dough. Pat out to a 1-inch thickness.
Cut into round or square biscuits. Place in a greased 9-inch pan so that they touch. Brush melted butter over. Bake until well browned, about 20 minutes.
Serve with BLACK BEAN SOUP

Caramelized pear upside-down cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 15 minutes

This recipe is adapted from Fine Cooking
  • Ingredients
2 ounces unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces (4 tablespoons)
about 1 pound medium firm-ripe Bosc pears

For the Cake:
6 3/4 ounces unbleached all-purpose flour (1-1/2 cups)
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened (8 tablespoons)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs

Basic Caramel:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • preparation
1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9x2-inch round cake pan (don't use a springform pan, as the caramel might leak out during baking). Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment and butter the top of the paper.
Make the Topping:

1. Peel, core, and cut the pears lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange the pear slices on the bottom of the pan in a circle around the edge, overlapping them slightly, with the pointed ends towards the center. If necessary, cut a little off the pointed ends to make the slices fit better. Or if the pear slices don't reach all the way to the middle, arrange a few of the shorter slices in the center to cover the bottom of the pan.
2. Make the Basic Caramel according to the directions. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the 4 tablespoons of butter one piece at a time, until they are completely melted. Carefully pour the hot caramel evenly over the pears (it should spread over the pears and onto the bottom of the pan).

Make the Cake Batter:

1. Sift the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, and salt into a medium bowl. Stir to combine. In a small bowl, stir together the milk and vanilla.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Turn the mixer to medium and slowly add the brown sugar. Increase the speed to high and continue to mix until lightened in texture and color, 2 to 3 minutes total. Reduce the speed to medium and add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Reduce the speed to low and alternate adding the flour mixture and milk mixture in five additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix each addition just enough to incorporate, as overmixing will lead to a tougher cake. Scrape down the sides of the bowl one last time and mix briefly to blend well.
Bake the cake:

1. Spoon the batter in large dollops over the pears and smooth it into an even layer with an offset spatula. Bake the cake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Turn a cake plate upside down on top of the cake pan and, using pot holders, carefully invert the cake pan onto the plate.
Basic Caramel:

1. Fill a cup measure halfway with water and put a pastry brush in it; this will be used for washing down the sides of the pan to prevent crystallization. In a heavy-duty 2-quart saucepan, stir the sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup cold water. Brush down the sides of the pan with water to wash away any sugar crystals.
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, occasionally brushing down the sides of the pan, until the mixture starts to color around the edges, 5 to 8 minutes.
3. Gently swirl the pan once to even out the color and prevent the sugar from burning in isolated spots. Continue to cook until the sugar turns medium amber, about 30 seconds more. (Once the mixture begins to color, it will darken very quickly, so keep an eye on it.)

Caramelized pear-cranberry strudel  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 large ripe pears
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 sheets phyllo pastry
icing sugar
  • preparation
Toss fresh cranberries with cornstarch. Reserve.
Peel pears; core and chop into bite-size pieces.
Melt two tablespoons of the butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add pears and toss to coat in butter. Sprinkle with sugar and add fresh cranberries. Cook, tossing, until pears are golden and cranberries are beginning to split.
Stir in dried cranberries, orange peel, ginger and cinnamon. Cool to room temperature.
Melt remaining butter. Spread a sheet of phyllo on counter and brush evenly with butter. Add remaining layers, brushing liberally with butter between each layer. Leaving a 1-inch border along one of the short sides of the pastry and at top and bottom, spoon the pear mixture in a band down the side of the phyllo.
Fold over the edge and roll to encase fruit. Brush all edges with additional butter and press together to fully encase fruit.
Turn phyllo bundle so that the seam side faces down on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Brush remaining butter over top.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice three vent holes in strudel using a sharp knife. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden .
Cool pan on a rack. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Serve sliced at room temperature or warm.

Celery root and mashed potatoes  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 celery root (about 1 pound)
4 medium potatoes, peeled
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • preparation
Fill a large bowl with ice water and add lemon juice. With sharp knife, peel celery root; cut into 2-in chunks, dropping them into the water and lemon juice as you go. (This stops the celery root from discoloring.)
Cut potatoes into 2-in chunks. Drain celery root. In large saucepan, combine celery root, potatoes, garlic and enough water to cover them. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, 20 minutes or until celery root and potatoes are very tender. Drain well; return vegetables to saucepan. Place over low heat to dry out slightly, shaking saucepan occasionally.
Heat butter and cream in small saucepan; transfer to large bowl. Add vegetables to cream mixture and cream until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste; stir in parsley.
Transfer to heated serving dish; serve immediately.

Cheese beignets  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

may also be served as hors d'oeuvres.
  • Ingredients
1 cup water 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 cup flour
4 large eggs
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups parsley sprigs, cleaned and dried
2 cups tomato basil sauce
oil for deep frying
  • preparation
In a medium saucepan, heat water and butter to a simmer. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon over low heat until mixture no longer sticks to pan and forms into a ball. Remove from heat.
Beat eggs in thoroughly, one by one until mixture is smooth. Mix in the cheese and seasonings.
Transfer cheese mixture to a mixing bowl.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees. Carefully fry half of the dry parsley sprigs for about 10 to 12 seconds.
Transfer to a plate on a paper towel. Repeat with remaining parsley. Season with salt.
Spoon about 5 or 6 tablespoons of the cheese mixture into the oil. Do not crowd as they double in size and self rotate while cooking. Fry for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper.
Keep beignets in a warm oven while frying the remaining. Arrange the warm cheese beignets on a platter with the fried parsley.
Serve with hot tomato basil.
Note: If served as hors d'oeuvres, fry teaspoonfuls of the cheese mixture.

Cheese sauce  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
  • preparation
Melt the butter in a saucepan. Whisk in the flour. Add the milk and whisk until sauce is thick.
Mix in egg yolk and cook over low heat for 2 minutes. Add cheese. Stir over low heat until melted. Remove sauce from heat. Season with salt and pepper and nutmeg.
Pour the sauce in a container and cover with buttered wax paper. Heat before serving.

Cheese soufflé  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon flour

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
5 eggs
1 cup (4 oz by weight) grated Swiss cheese
1 cup (4 oz by weight) grated cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Brush the interior of 2 4-cup soufflé molds with the softened butter. Dust the bottom and sides with flour. Set aside.
In a heavy saucepan melt the butter. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon And cook over low heat for 3 minutes. Add the milk. Cook over medium-high Heat while whisking until sauce becomes thick and bubbly. Transfer the sauce to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Separate the eggs.
Mix egg yolks and cheeses in the thick cream sauce. (can be prepared 2 hours in advance up to this point.) In an electric mixing bowl, whip the egg whites with cream of tartar until the whites are firm fluffy. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the cheese mixture.
Pour soufflé mixture into mold. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. after 10 minutes Soufflé should rise two inches or more above mold. Serve when ready. I serve cheese soufflé with tomato basil sauce or melted brie.

Cheese wafers  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
1/4 teaspoon Aromat seasoning
1 cup flour

  • preparation
Preheat oven at 325 degrees. Process cheese with the flour. Add butter and spices and process until dough forms a ball. Scrape the side of bowl, and process for a few more seconds to blend.
Roll the dough into 2-inch thick cylinder. Wrap in wax paper. Chill. Slice into 1/4 -inch slices. Place on sheet pan lined with wax paper.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until wafers are crisp. Cool on rack.

Note: I also roll cylinder in ground almond.

Cherry pie crumb bars  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:35 minutes


  • Ingredients
½ cup Unsalted Butter Melted (cooled to room temperature)
½ cup Granulated Sugar
1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
½ teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ teaspoon Salt
2 cups Fresh Cherries (pitted, each sliced in half)
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375℉.
Line a square 8" baking pan with parchment paper. Butter the sides and bottom of lined pan. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together cherries, cornstarch and lemon juice.
2 cups fresh cherries,1 Tablespoon cornstarch,1 Tablespoon lemon juice.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together melted butter and sugar.
½ cup unsalted butter melted,½ cup granulated sugar
Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and stir with a fork until the mixture resembles crumbs.
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour,½ teaspoon baking soda,½ teaspoon baking powder,¼ teaspoon salt
Reserve ¾ cup of mixture.

Press remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of prepared pan.
Spread cherry filling over the crust.
Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over cherries.

Sprinkle sugar over crumb topping.
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Bake bars for about 25 minutes OR until the top is golden.
Cool completely before cutting.

Chewy oatmeal cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cup quick oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

  • preparation
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease baking sheet.
Combine shortening, light brown sugar, egg, milk and vanilla in large bowl and beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended.
Combine oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and cream together with mixer at low speed until just blended.
Stir in raisins and nuts.
Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough 2" apart onto baking sheet.
Bake at 375'F. for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove to foil on counter top.

Chicken liver mousse  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
12 ounces chicken livers
2 ounces butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1 cup milk
1 ounce dry sherry wine
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup strong aspic
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream .
  • preparation
Remove connective tissue from the liver. Melt butter in a sauté pan, add onions and garlic and sauté until soft and translucent.
Add all other ingredients except cream. Cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Whip cream to medium stiffness. Remove bay leaves from liver mixture. Puree the liver mixture in a food processor until smooth.
Pour into a large bowl and fold in the whipped cream.
Immediately pour into molds and chill.
Dip molds in hot water and unmold chicken liver mousse. Serve as hors d'oeuvre or appetizers

Chocolate and raspberry fontaines  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

This recipe comes from the restaurant Daniel in New york City .
Crispy phyllo packages stuffed with warm, bittersweet chocolate ganache topped with raspberries. The recipe can be prepared 6 to 8 hours in advance.
  • Ingredients
Ganache:
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 teaspoons raspberry brandy (eau de vie de framboise)
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
8 sheets phyllo dough, 10 by 20 inches
1/2 cup sweet butter, melted
1 recipe cocoa sponge cake (see recipe) or commercial pound cake
1 pint raspberries
  • preparation
Ganache:
Place the chocolate in a bowl. Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan and pour over the chocolate. Stir to melt.
Add 2 tablespoons of the raspberry brandy, and combine until smooth. Set the chocolate ganache to cool.
Syrup:
Combine 1/3 cup of water in a small pot; add confectioners' sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the raspberry brandy. Remove the syrup from heat.

Cut the cocoa sponge cake or commercial pound cake into 12 disks 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick with a cookie cutter.
To assemble:
spread 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface, brush with a tin coating of the melted butter, dust with sifted confectioners' sugar, and cover with a second sheet.
Brush with melted butter again and dust with sugar. Cut the rectangular phyllo dough into 3 equal strips, about 6 1/2 inches wide by 10 inches long.
Place a disk of chocolate cake in the center of each strip and moisten each disk with a little of the raspberry syrup. Cover each disk with a generous spoonful of the ganache and place 8 to 10 raspberries on top.
First, fold one end of the phyllo dough over the raspberries and then the other, tucking under to form a small closed purse fully encasing the chocolate and the raspberries.
Repeat this process until you have made 12 packages.
Brush each one with butter and refrigerate (or freeze) until ready to bake.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the packages on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with more sugar.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Keep warm.
Top each fontaine with the remaining raspberries and serve hot

Chocolate banana cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:60 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs, beaten
3 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup cocoa
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup boiling water

Frosting:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In an electric mixer, cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and bananas.
Mix well. Sift cocoa, flour, soda and salt. Add alternately with buttermilk while whisking.
Mix in boiling water. Bake in a 13 by 9-inch ungreased pan 50 to 60 minutes.

Cool and cover with frosting.

Frosting:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until sauce comes to a boil.
Remove from heat. Add vanilla, and frost cake while icing is hot.

Chocolate cake for birthday cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
For the cake pans:

1 tablespoon soft butter
2 tablespoons flour

For the cake:
1 cup milk, divided
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, grated
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1. Butter and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of the milk and the grated chocolate. Stir until chocolate is melted. Set aside to cool then add the vanilla.
3. Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer. Separate the eggs. Keep the whites in a mixing bowl, and stir the yolks into the butter-sugar mixture, and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Stir the baking soda into the remaining 1/2 cup milk. Whisk into the butter-sugar mixture until creamy.
4. Combine flour and baking powder in a bowl.
5. Beat the egg whites in an electric mixer until they hold stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites alternately with flour into the butter mixture. Finally fold in the melted chocolate-milk mixture. Pour half of the batter into each of the two prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until the center springs back when pressed lightly.

Chocolate cake nancy  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
8 ounces (2 sticks) sweet butter
12 ounce dark semi sweet chocolate
10 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
10 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put chocolate and butter in a saucepan. Melt over low heat.
Beat egg yolks and sugar in an electric mixer until mixture is light and lemon colored. Add vanilla, and continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the chocolate-butter mixture and blend well.
Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until stiff and fold in the chocolate mixture.
Line the bottom of two 9 inch cake pans with a sheet of parchment paper.
Butter and flour the bottom and sides of pan.
Pour the mixture in the pan.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until center is firm.
Let the cake stand on a rack for 10 minutes. Unmold on a rack.

Chocolate chips cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) soft butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi sweet chocolate
1 cup chopped walnuts
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the butter, sugars and vanilla. Add eggs and beat until light. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Fold in the above mixture. Stir in the chips and walnuts.
Line cookie sheet with brown paper. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop out equal amount of cookie mix unto sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Slide paper with cookies on a cool surface.
Another quick and efficient method is to pipe the cookies through a pastry bag without a tip in the end of bag.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room
temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract


  • preparation
Note: Using a heaping teasspoon of the dough you get 48 cookies.

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Grease 2 baking sheets with butter.
Put the confectioners' sugar into a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl, using a wooden spoon, stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add 1 egg and beat on medium speed until blended. Add the other egg and vanilla and beat until blended.

Turn off the mixer and add the flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended.
To form the cookies, using a teaspoon, scoop up a rounded spoonful of dough. Scrape the dough off the spoon into the palm of your hand. Roll the dough into a ball. Roll the ball in the confectioners' sugar until covered. Place 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake about 12 minutes until tops are puffed and crackled.
(Do not over bake. Cookies are soft when hot but firm and chewy when cool. ) Remove to rack to cool. Store tightly covered up to 3 weeks with wax paper between layers.

Chocolate genoise  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 tablespoons (42 grams) hot melted unsalted butter
1/2 cup (65 grams) cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup (30 grams) unsweetened regular or Dutch-processed cocoa powder
4 large eggs
2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Butter, or spray with a non stick spray, a 9 inch (23 cm) round cake pan and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.

Sift the flour with the salt and cocoa powder.

In a heatproof bowl whisk together the eggs and sugar. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Whisking constantly, heat the eggs and sugar until lukewarm to the touch (this will take about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and transfer the mixture to the bowl of your electric mixer. Beat on high speed (about 3-5 minutes) until the egg mixture has cooled, tripled in volume, and looks like softly whipped cream (the batter will fall back into the bowl in a ribbon-like pattern). Beat in the vanilla extract.
Then sift about one-third of the flour mixture over the whipped eggs and gently fold in using a large rubber spatula or whisk. Fold in half of the remaining flour, and then fold in the rest. (Do not over mix or the batter will deflate). Take about 1 cup of the batter and fold it into the hot butter mixture.
Then, with a spatula, gently fold the butter mixture completely into the egg batter. Pour into your prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake until the cake shrinks slightly from the edges of the pan and the top springs back when lightly pressed (about 20 - 25 minutes). (A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.) Cool on a metal rack.
When the cake has cooled completely, run a small knife around the edges to release the cake. The genoise will keep two days in the refrigerator or it can be frozen for a couple of months.

Chocolate Irish whiskey cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 14

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
Cake:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups strongly brewed coffee
1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp. Irish whiskey
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the sauce:

1/2 stick (2 oz) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup 15% light cream
1/4 cup Irish whiskey

  • preparation
The cake
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
In a medium saucepan, add coffee, whiskey, butter, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Place over moderate heat and whisk until butter has melted. Remove from heat and add the sugar. Whisk until incorporated. Pour mixture into a large bowl and let cool slightly.
Whisk together eggs and vanilla extract and gradually pour into chocolate mixture. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Mixture will be very thin.
Pour batter into a greased and floured bundt pan.
Bake for 45-55 minutes.

The sauce:
In a heavy saucepan combine butter and brown sugar. Bring to a boil for 3 to 5 minutes until thick and bubbly. Add the cream, boil while stirring about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove pan from heat and stir in Irish whiskey . Sauce keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week. Reheat sauce before serving.

Turn the cake out and poke holes all over the surface and very slowly drizzle 1 1/2 cups of the sauce over the cake . Wrap in foil and let cool completely. Store in an air-tight container.

Chocolate orange torte with raspberry coulis  Print Recipe

Serves: 14

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 eggs
sifted unsweetened cocoa powder

Raspberry coulis:
1 package frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon orange liqueur
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line bottom on 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
Over simmering water, melt together butter, chocolate, sugar and orange juice, stirring to blend.
Remove from heat; stir in liqueur and vanilla. Let cool; whisk in eggs, one at a time.
Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until edges are slightly crusty and middle is just set. Let cool on rack.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.
Raspberry coulis:
Purée raspberries in food processor; press through sieve to remove seeds. Stir in sugar, and liqueur.
Invert cake onto serving plate.
Sift cocoa powder over cake and garnish with raspberries. Slice and serve with raspberry coulis.

Chocolate peppermint shortbread cookies  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:7 minutes


  • Ingredients
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled slightly
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup mini real semi-sweet chocolate chips

Frosting Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 drop green food color

Drizzle Ingredients:
1/2 cup mini real semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening


  • preparation
Heat oven to 375°F. Combine all cookie ingredients except flour and 1 cup mini chocolate chips in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low. Add flour; beat until mixture forms a dough. Stir in 1 cup mini chocolate chips by hand. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each ball to 1 1/2-inch circle with bottom of glass dipped in flour.
Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until set. (DO NOT OVER BAKE.) Let stand 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely on wire rack.

Combine all frosting ingredients in small bowl. Beat at low speed until smooth. (Add additional milk, one teaspoonful at a time, for desired frosting consistency.)
Frost cooled cookies. Place cookies onto waxed paper. Place 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth (60 to 90 seconds).
Drizzle thin lines of chocolate over frosting with teaspoon. Let stand until chocolate is set (at least 30 minutes).

Chocolate-dipped macadamia cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup (4 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest plus 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted and finely ground
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped



  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
Add egg yolk, lemon zest and juice, and salt and beat until combined; beat in nuts. With mixer on low, add flour and beat just until combined, 2 minutes.
Form dough into a 4 1/2-inch-long log, wrap in plastic, and freeze until firm, 30 minutes. Cut into 1/4-inch slices, transfer to two parchment-lined baking sheets, and freeze 5 minutes.
Bake until golden at edges, 14 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool completely on wire racks.
Melt chocolate. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate; transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Chill until set, 10 minutes.

Choux pastry - pâte á choux - cream puff dough - cream puff pastry  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

The Mother of all recipes!
The recipes, beignets, crab puffs, Cream puffs, éclairs, Gnocchi, gougères, Paris-Brest, profiteroles, swans, Saint Honoré have the same recipe in common.
Call it choux pastry, pâte à choux, cream-puff dough or cream-puff pastry, this French recipe is the base of the above-named recipes and other recipes favored by chefdecuisine.com. Pâte à choux is cooked on top of the stove. You don't want to tamper with this jewel recipe. Pâte à choux is truly the Mother of all recipes. Only puff pastry can match the uniqueness of Pâte à choux.
The best tips for the success of Pâte à choux are simple:


1. Make sure the butter is cut into small pieces so it's completely melted by the time the water comes to a boil. Avoid the loss of water through evaporation as it would affect the results.


2. Add the flour all at once and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon. The mixture looks clumpy but quickly thickens into a mass that pulls away from the side of the pan.


3. Breaking and whisking the eggs in a bowl prior to beating in the dough is the best way to make Pâte à choux.


4. Gradually beat in eggs thoroughly with a wooden spoon. We favor the use of an electric mixer when the recipe is doubled, or made in larger quantities. After every addition, the mixture breaks into slippery lumps, and quickly thickens back together.


5. Finally, a pastry bag is the easiest way to shape the dough into small mounts, finger shaped éclairs or rings for St. Honoré.


Tap down slightly with a finger dipped in water before baking.
When piped or spooned into little mounds and baked, the dough inflates to three times its size, forming crisp, hollow puffs.


Pastry cream and Chantilly cream are standard fillings for desserts cream puffs and éclairs.
The fillings can vary from smoked salmon mousse, caviar, egg salad and other fillings that make delicious hors d'oeuvre profiteroles. The addition of grated Emmenthal cheese to the dough makes delicious beignets as hors d'oeuvre or appetizer.
  • Ingredients
1 cup water
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon sugar plus 1/8 teaspoon salt (for sweet)
or 1 teaspoon salt (for savory)
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
  • preparation
Recipe can be doubled.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Bring water, butter, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat, while stirring to melt butter. Remove from heat. Add flour all at once and cook over medium heat, beating with a wooden spoon until mixture pulls away from side of pan and dough forms a ball, about 1 minute.
Remove from heat and add eggs 1 at a time, beating well with wooden spoon after each addition.
A standing mixer can be used to add eggs. Use within 2 hours.
Bake according to the selected recipe like
beignets
crab puffs
Cream puffs
Choux pastry swans
éclairs
Gnocchi
gougères
Paris-Brest
Profiteroles
Saint Honoré.



Christmas chocolate dipped maple log walnut cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

These little maple logs are delicious and a great idea for Christmas. Children love dipping the ends in chocolate.
  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple flavoring
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
3 tablespoons warm milk
3/4 cup ground walnuts
  • preparation
In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and maple flavoring.
Combine the flour, oats and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
On a lightly floured surface, shape dough into 1/2-in.-wide logs. Cut into 2-in. pieces. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 325° for 15-18 minutes or until set and very lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Mix melted chocolate and milk; stir until smooth. Dip one end of each cookie into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Roll in walnuts. Place on waxed paper until set.

Christmas mince pies  Print Recipe

Serves: 24

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cooking time:25 minutes

Mince pies can be made ahead, frozen and reheated as required.
Fruit mince will keep for months in an airtight container in refrigerator. The flavors will intensify the longer it is left before using.
  • Ingredients
300g (2 cups) plain flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
6 1/2 oz 185g unsalted butter, chopped
55g (1/4 cup) sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
2 egg yolks
1-2 tbsp lemon juice
1 egg white, whisked

for the cranberry studded mince- makes about 600ml / 2½ cups

2 oz - 60 ml brandy, rum or ruby port
2 1/2 oz - 75 grams soft dark brown sugar
11 oz - 300 grams cranberries, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves
3 oz - 75 grams currants
3 oz - 75 grams raisins
1 oz -30 grams dried cranberries
finely grated zest and juice of 1 clementine
2 tbsp brandy
3 drops almond extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons honey

  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 F - 190°C .
Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Rub in butter using fingertips until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Add egg yolks and enough lemon juice to bring ingredients together to form a dough.
Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Halve, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. Roll out one pastry half between 2 sheets of baking paper until 1/4 inch or less, 3-5mm thick. Using a 2 1/2 inch (6.5cm) fluted round cutter, cut out 12 rounds, reserving leftover pastry. Place rounds into one of the prepared pans. Spoon 2 teaspoons of fruit mince into each. Repeat with second pastry half and fruit mince.
Re-roll scraps of pastry and cut into small stars. Top each pie with a star. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with extra sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Leave to cool completely in pans. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Make the mince fruit in advance.
In a large pan, dissolve the sugar in the brandy, rum or ruby port over a gentle heat. Add the chopped cranberries and stir. Add the cinnamon, ginger and cloves, currants, raisins, dried cranberries and the zest and juice of the clementine. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes, or until the fruit has broken down and has absorbed most of the liquid in the pan.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Add the brandy, almond extract, vanilla extract and honey and stir well with a wooden spoon to mash the mixture down into a paste.

Cider apples  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter
2 large golden delicious apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 Cortland apples, peeled, cored, sliced
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup apple cider
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • preparation
Melt butter in heavy skillet. add apple slices. sprinkle with sugar. Stir.
Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring from time to time, for 4 to 5 minutes.
Stir in apple cider and cinnamon.
Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender.
Remove cover and boil until syrup begins to thicken.
To serve:
Spoon warm apples into compote dishes.
Top each serving with a small scoop of frozen yogurt.
Delicious served over Brown sugar Pound cake.

Cinnamon rolls version 1  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 1/2 cups flour

Filling:
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon or more if you like
1/2 cup melted butter

Glaze:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 or 4 tablespoons of milk.
  • preparation
Cream shortening, sugar and egg. Add the dry ingredients and milk alternately.
To assemble the cinnamon rolls:
On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into as large a rectangle as possible (until the dough is about 1/8 inch to 1/4 thick).
Soften the butter and spread evenly over surface of dough. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture on the melted butter.
Starting with the longer side (it is a rectangle, so pick one of the longer sides) roll the rectangle into a tube. Pinch the edges to seal.
With a sharp knife, slice the tube into 1 inch thick slices.
Place on a non-stick cookie sheet (or a cookie sheet coated with baking spray).
Bake the rolls at 400°F until golden brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes then transfer on a rack to cool.
Glaze:
Cinnamon rolls are wonderful if treated with this glaze:
Mix 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar with 3 or 4 tablespoons of milk.
Drizzle on cinnamon rolls after they have cooled for about 5 minutes.

Cinnamon rolls version 2  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
Makes 12

2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
5 tablespoons soft butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
  • preparation
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add shortening and mix with a spoon. Add milk. Stir mixture to form a ball. Roll out on a floured surface into 9 by 16-inch rectangle.
Spread butter over surface of dough. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over butter.
Roll up dough on a floured surface into a cylinder. Cut into 12 even rounds.
Place into greased muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove onto cookie rack to cool. Store and seal in a cookie tin.

Coconut squares  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoon sugar
1 14-ounce can condensed milk
2 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla


  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine the graham cracker crumbs with the butter, cocoa powder and sugar.
Press the mixture in an 8 -inch by 10 -inch pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Mix the remaining ingredients. Spread on crust.
Bake at 375 degrees about 15 minutes, or until brown.
Refrigerate until cool. Cut into squares.

Coffee cake cupcakes  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:30 minutes

Cooking time:35 minutes

try the batter with cranberries & chopped pecans.
Recipe inspired by Tori Avey toriavey.com/
  • Ingredients
Streusel Ingredients
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tbsp melted unsalted butter

Cupcake Ingredients
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt, room temperature
1 tsp almond or vanilla extract

Glaze Ingredients
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 1/2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp melted butter
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Streusel
In a small mixing bowl, use a fork to mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the chopped pecans and melted butter. Continue mixing with the fork until the sugar and pecans are fully mixed and evenly moistened by the butter. Reserve; this is your streusel topping.
Muffins batter
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cut the butter into cubes and place them in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on low speed, then medium, to cream the butter for a minute till it becomes light and airy.
Slowly add sugar to the bowl and beat for 2-3 minutes more, increasing the speed gradually and scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula periodically, until the color becomes lighter and the sugar is fully integrated into the butter.
Beat in the eggs, then the sour cream, then the almond or vanilla extract.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet and stir till evenly moistened. Do not over-mix.
Line a cupcake tin with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Fill each tin halfway with batter. I've found the easiest way to do this is with a small ice cream scoop-- use one small (not heaping) scoop per tin.
Sprinkle 1 1/2 tsp of streusel onto the top of the batter in each tin.
Fill the tins the rest of the way with batter, all the way to the top of the tin (another small ice cream scoop of batter in each tin).
Sprinkle 1-2 tsp of streusel on the top of each cupcake.
Bake the cupcakes for 30-35 minutes till they test clean with a toothpick or skewer. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
Glazing:
When ready to frost, make your vanilla glaze. In a small mixing bowl, sift the powdered sugar.
Add the rest of the glaze ingredients. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients till a creamy frosting forms. You want the consistency of thick honey; if you need a little more moisture, add milk a few drops at a time. Just a drop can take it from a thick honey to a runny texture, so add with care.
Line a glass with a plastic bag, wrapping the edge of the bag around the outer rim of the glass. This will help you fill it with frosting. Use a spatula to scoop the frosting into the bag.
Place cupcakes on top of a piece of parchment paper or paper towels to catch drips.
Work the frosting into the corner of the bag and snip off a small corner with scissors. Gently squeeze and drizzle the frosting in a zig-zag pattern across the top of the cupcakes.
Let the frosting dry for at least 30 minutes to set (it may take longer depending on the weather).


Colcannon cakes  Print Recipe

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage
  • Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds mealy potatoes
3 cups thinly sliced Savoy cabbage
1/4 cup light cream
salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits and softened


  • preparation
1 Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1-inch pieces. In a saucepan cover the potatoes with salted water and simmer them, covered, for 15 minutes, or until they are tender. While the potatoes are simmering, in a steamer set over boiling water steam the cabbage for 5 minutes, or until it is tender. Drain the potatoes in a colander, force them through a ricer or the medium disk of a food mill into a bowl, and stir in the cream, the cabbage, and salt and pepper to taste.

2. Fry the onion in the butter over a moderate heat until it is soft and beginning to brown.

3. Using a spatula, press half the potato and cabbage mixture in an even layer on to the onion and fry for 4-5 minutes until it is well browned and crispy underneath.

4. Cut the mixture into 4 quarters with the spatula or palette knife and turn them over carefully so that the crispy bit is uppermost. Press the remaining potato and cabbage mixture on to the first layer and after a few more minutes, cut and turn again.
5. When the bottom is again browned, you will have a crispy top, a crispy bottom, and a crispy layer in the middle.

Cookie christmas tree  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

This edible centerpiece is a great family project. Have each person decorate some of the cookies and then assemble into your own personalized masterpiece.
  • Ingredients
3/4 cup slivered almonds
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Frosting
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

  • preparation
Place almonds into food processor bowl fitted with metal blade. Cover; process until finely ground. Combine almonds, flour and salt in bowl; set aside.

Combine 1 cup butter and sugar in bowl; beat until light and fluffy. Add egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, lemon zest and almond extract. Continue beating, scraping bowl occasionally, until well mixed. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed until well mixed.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into ball; flatten slightly. Wrap each in plastic food wrap, refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm.

Heat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough, one-half at a time, on lightly floured surface (keeping remaining dough refrigerated) to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out 3 each of 6 graduated sizes of star-shaped cookie cutters (18 cookies total). Bake similar sizes of cookies together on ungreased cookie sheet 8-12 minutes or until edges are just beginning to brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack. Cool completely.

Combine powdered sugar and 1/3 cup butter in bowl; beat at low speed until well mixed. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and enough milk for desired frosting consistency.

Frost and decorate 1 large cookie as desired. Secure decorated cookie to serving platter with 1 teaspoon frosting. Place about 1 teaspoon icing in center of cookie. Repeat frosting as desired, decorating and securing same size cookie on top, turning it slightly so points of star are offset from previous cookie. Repeat, continuing to stack cookies in graduated sizes, reserving 1 small cookie. Stand reserved small cookie up to form tree topper, securing with frosting.

Corn bread stuffing  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped, cooked poultry giblets*
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning or ground sage
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 cups dry bread cubes
4 cups dry corn bread cubes
1 to 1-1/3 cups chicken broth or water
  • preparation
In a frying pan cook celery and onion in butter until tender; remove from heat. Stir in giblets, poultry seasoning or sage, pepper and salt.

In a large mixing bowl place dry bread and corn bread cubes; add the onion mixture. Drizzle with enough broth or water to moisten, tossing lightly to mix.
Transfer to a 2-quart casserole. Cover and bake in a 325 degree F oven for 40 minutes or until heated through.
Or, use to stuff a 10- to 12-pound turkey; see directions for Classic Roast Turkey.)

*Note: To cook giblets: Rinse giblets and neck. Refrigerate liver until needed. In a medium saucepan place the remaining giblets and neck. Add enough lightly salted water to cover. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add liver and simmer 20 to 30 minutes or until tender. Remove giblets and finely chop. Discard neck. Strain broth. Chill giblets and broth until needed.

Country apple cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 teaspoons milk
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon dark rum
1 pinch salt
3 large baking apples
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream in an electric mixer soft butter, sugar, and vanilla.
Mix in milk, flour, cornstarch. Beat in eggs one by one.
Stir in baking powder, rum, and salt.
Spoon in an 8-inch buttered round mold. Peel and slice 3 apples.
Stick slices in batter.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes.

Cramique brioche  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:2 hours

Cooking time:40 minutes

A Belgian speciality, this raisin bread is ideal for breakfast or as a snack, cold or toasted,
  • Ingredients
530g strong white flour
85g sugar
12g salt
1 x 11g sachet of dry yeast
50ml milk
5 eggs
210g softened butter
140g raisins
  • preparation
In a bowl, mix the flour, salt and sugar.

Mix the yeast into the warm milk, pour into the bowl then add the eggs and the softened butter.

Knead until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. Add the raisins. Mix again until you have an even consistency.

Bring the dough into a ball, put it back in the bowl and cover with a cloth. Leave to rest in a warm place for one hour until the dough has doubled in volume.

Divide the ball into equal parts and shape them into small balls, then put them in a cake tin or on a baking sheet, cover and leave to rest for two hours.

Bake for about 40 minutes in an oven preheated to 180°C (350F) and keep an eye on them towards the end of the cooking time.

Cranberry apple cobbler  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
1 (12-ounce) package cranberries
1 1/2 cups apple juice
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
10 cups sliced peeled apples

Topping:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2/3 cup milk
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In heavy saucepan, bring cranberries, apple juice, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg to boil over medium heat; cook, stirring, until thickened.
Spoon into 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Arrange apples over cranberry mixture, overlapping to fit.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Topping:
Combine flour, all but 1 tablespoon of the sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until in coarse crumbs. Drizzle with milk, stirring until in pebble-size chunks. Drop by spoonfuls onto apples.
Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Note:
Apples that hold their shape well in this recipe . Golden Delicious, Idared, Mutsu (Crispin)and Northern Spy.

Cranberry apple pecan bars  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:35 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
For the Crust

Nonstick cooking spray or vegetable oil, for pan

1 cup toasted pecans (3 1/2 ounces)
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt (we use Diamond Crystal)
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

For the Filling

8 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (2 cups)
2 ounces dried apple rings, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
5 ounces pitted Medjool dates (12), coarsely chopped (1 cup)
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons fresh juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (we use Diamond Crystal)
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • preparation
Prep pan:
Coat the bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottom and two sides with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang; spray parchment.

Make crust:
In a food processor, pulse the toasted pecans until finely chopped. Add sugar, flour, and salt and pulse to thoroughly combine. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles the texture of crumbly wet sand but holds together when squeezed between your fingers.

Form crust in pan and chill:
Firmly pack 2 1/2 cups of the mixture evenly on the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of the prepared pan. Chill crust until firm, about 30 minutes in the refrigerator or 10 minutes in the freezer. Refrigerate remaining mixture until ready to use.

Preheat oven and bake crust:
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Prick bottom of the chilled crust at 1-inch intervals with a fork. Bake until set and darkened slightly, 22 to 23 minutes.

Make filling:
While the crust bakes, combine all filling ingredients in a saucepan with 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the mixture thickens to a sticky, jam-like consistency, 7 to 9 minutes.

Spread filling over crust; add remaining crust on top:
Pour hot fruit mixture over warm crust and spread evenly to edges with an offset spatula. Squeeze remaining pecan crust mixture between your fingers to form clumps and sprinkle evenly over fruit mixture.

Bake, cool, and cut into bars:
Bake until fragrant and crumble topping turns golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely in pan set on a wire rack. Run a knife between the crust and pan along the two sides without parchment. Use parchment overhangs to transfer to a cutting board and cut into bars to serve.

Storing Cran-Apple Bars
The bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Cranberry pistachio biscotti  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter, cooled
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/2 cup shelled pistachios
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar; gradually add butter and vanilla.
Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into egg mixture to make soft sticky dough. Add cranberries and pistachios; mix with spoon, then with floured hands, until dough is smooth and fruit and nuts are evenly distributed.
Turn dough onto a floured surface and press into ball. Divide in half; shape each into 7-inch log.
Flatten to 4 inches wide with slightly rounded edges. Place logs about 4 inches apart on greased large baking sheet.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until firm to touch. Let cool for 10 minutes on baking sheet.
Transfer logs to cutting board; with sharp knife, cut on slight diagonal into 3/4 inch slices.
Arrange slices upright, about 3/4 inch apart on baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
Bake slices for 20 to 25 minutes, or until firm and dry.
Let cool. (may be stored in airtight containers for 4 days.)

Cranberry shortbread  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:8 minutes

Delicious, tender, buttery shortbread.

When storing a log of cookie dough in the fridge or freezer, put it in a plastic tube or the empty paper towel roll that you've cut down the middle. It helps to keep the round shape and prevents the flat side you might get after it rests for awhile.


  • Ingredients
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • preparation
With an electric or stand mixer, beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. With mixer on low speed, add flour, mixing just until a dough forms. Stir in cranberries
Divide dough in half; place each half on a sheet of foil plastic wrap. Gently roll each into a 1 1/2-inch-diameter log. It will be about 12 inches long. Wrap tightly in the plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap logs; with a serrated knife, slice dough 1/4 inch thick Arrange slices, about 1 inch apart, on baking sheets.
Bake until lightly golden around the edges, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cream cheese and wild blueberry pound cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature or thick Greek yogurt
4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 cup wild blueberries
  • preparation
Heat the oven to 325 degrees.
Spray a loaf pan that's about 8x5x3 inches with a nonstick coating. Combine together the flour, baking power, and salt until well blended.
With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until pale. Sprinkle in the sugar and beat well until slightly fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl well. Add the eggs one at a time beating well until blended. With the mixer on low, add the flour, vanilla and lemon zest and mix well. Fold in the blueberries.
Transfer the batter into the loaf pan and bake until the cake is golden brown, and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake, about an hour.
Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes and then invert the pan on a cake rack and tap to release cake. Cool completely on a rack before serving.

Cream cheese cranberry loaf  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Butter, cream cheese, and eggs blend better when at room temperature, creating a smooth batter.

Don’t Overmix: Overmixing can result in a dense loaf. Stir just until the ingredients are combined.

Toss cranberries them in a tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter.

Test for Doneness: Ovens vary, so check the loaves with a toothpick at the 60-minute mark
  • Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour: Provides structure for the loaf.
2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen): Adds a pop of tartness and vibrant color.
1 1/2 cups sugar: Sweetens the batter and balances the cranberries.
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature: Adds richness and moisture.
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, room temperature: Gives the loaf a creamy, tender texture.
4 large eggs, room temperature: Binds the ingredients together and adds richness.
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor with a subtle sweetness.
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda: Helps the loaf rise.
1/2 teaspoon salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
  • preparation

Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) and lightly grease two 9×5-inch loaf pans with butter or non-stick spray.

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light and fluffy. This step ensures a smooth and tender batter.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until combined.

“Adding the eggs one at a time ensures the batter stays smooth and emulsified.”

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the loaf dense.

Gently fold in the cranberries, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.


Divide the batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula.

Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Remove the loaves from the oven and let them cool in the pans for at least 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Cream puff wreath  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 3 hours

Cooking time:20 minutes

Making cream puffs is easy. The dough comes together quickly on the stovetop, so be sure to have all of the ingredients ready before you start. For a splash of colour, you can garnish the wreath with fresh bay leaves and sugared cranberries (made by tossing fresh or frozen berries in egg white then granulated sugar).
Recipe adapted
from The Canadian Living Test Kitchen
  • Ingredients
1 cup (250 mL) water
1 tsp (5 mL) granulated sugar
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1/2 cup (125 mL) unsalted butter, cubed
1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
4 eggs
2 tbsp (30 mL) icing sugar

Peppermint Filling:
1-1/3 cups (325 mL) whipping cream, (35%)
10 oz (283 g) white chocolate, chopped
1 tsp (5 mL) peppermint extract
  • preparation
Peppermint Filling:
In small saucepan, bring cream to boil; pour over chocolate in heatproof bowl,
stirring until melted. Stir in peppermint extract. Loosely cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2
hours. Using electric mixer, whisk until thickened and soft peaks form (do not overbeat).

Cream puffs:
In saucepan, bring water, granulated sugar and salt to boil over medium-high heat, stirring. Stir in
butter until melted. Reduce heat to medium-low; add flour all at once and beat with wooden spoon
until dough comes cleanly off side of pan but lightly films bottom of pan.
Transfer to stand mixer with paddle attachment; beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in
eggs, 1 at a time, beating each until thoroughly incorporated. (Or remove saucepan from heat; with
wooden spoon, beat in eggs, 1 at a time.)
Using piping bag fitted with 3/4-inch (2 cm) star tip, pipe dough, 2 inches (5 cm) apart, into 1-1/2-inch
(4 cm) circles, about 1/2 inch (1 cm) high and dragging tip toward you to create tip of leaf, onto 2
parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
Bake in top and bottom thirds of 400ºF (200ºC) oven, switching and rotating pans after 8 minutes,
until golden, 14 to 16 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350ºF (180ºC); bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off heat; open door
slightly and let dry in oven until cool enough to handle. Remove to racks; let cool completely.
Cut each leaf in half horizontally. Spoon filling into each bottom; replace top. To serve, arrange leaves
on large platter with points facing outward to resemble wreath. Dust with icing sugar.

Cream puffs  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
4 large eggs

For filling:
2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 tablespoon instant vanilla or chocolate pudding
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a saucepan. Stir in flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon over low heat until mixture no longer sticks to pan and forms into a ball. Remove from heat. Using an electric mixer, beat eggs in thoroughly, one by one. Beat mixture until smooth. Spoon cream puff mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a plain tube and pipe the equivalent of a tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheet leaving 3 inches apart.
Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven to 350 degrees and continue baking until puffed, golden brown and dry.
FILLING:
Whip the cream with sugar and instant vanilla pudding until stiff. Fill the puffs with cream using a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tube. Other fillings can be used (ice cream, chocolate or vanilla pudding).

Creamed spinach  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 pounds cooked spinach, chopped
to taste salt, pepper, grated nutmeg
5 ounces butter
1 cup heavy cream
12 puff pastry fleurons (crescent-shaped puff pastry)
  • preparation
In a saucepan, heat the spinach with butter. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
Meanwhile, boil the cream until it is reduced to half. Arrange spinach in a dome on serving platter.
Pour cream over. Surround with fleurons. Serve hot.

Creamy cauliflower purée  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 medium head cauliflower, cut up into florets
4 cloves crushed garlic
1/3 cup 1% buttermilk or low fat sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp butter
  • preparation
Steam or boil cauliflower and garlic until soft. Drain, add buttermilk, light butter, salt, pepper and purée with a hand blender or regular blender.

Creamy mashed potatoes  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream, light cream or milk
4 ounces unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • preparation
Peel the potatoes and cut into uniform 1/2-inch pieces. Place into a 4-quart saucepan and cover with cold water by at least 1-inch.
Cover, set over high heat and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, remove the lid, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the potatoes can easily be crushed with a pair of tongs,
approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Drain in a colander.

Put the cream, butter, salt and pepper into the now empty 4-quart saucepan and place back over
the heat until the butter has melted.
Remove from the heat and set a food mill fitted with the smallest die, on top of the pot.
Add 1 cup of potatoes at a time to the mill. Once all of the potatoes have passed through the mill, stir to combine.
Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Serve immediately.

Crêpes  Print Recipe

Serves: 3

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

Crepes can be dressed up with sweet or savory toppings and flavorful fillings
Prepare the batter accordingly.
For savory Variation: Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs to the egg mixture.
For sweet Variation: Add 2 additional tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of your favorite liqueur to the egg mixture.

  • Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 large eggs
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • preparation
In a blender, combine flour, sugar, salt, milk, eggs, and butter.


Puree until mixture is smooth and bubbles form on top, about 30 seconds. Let batter sit at least 15 minutes at room temperature (or refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 1 day; whisk before using).

Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium. Lightly coat with butter. Add 1/3 cup batter and swirl to completely cover bottom of skillet. Cook until underside of crepe is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
Loosen edge of crepe with a rubber spatula, then quickly flip the crepe. Cook 1 minute more. Slide crepe out of skillet onto a plate and repeat with remaining batter. (Coat pan with butter as needed.)

Croissants  Print Recipe

Serves: 20

Preparation time: 4 hours

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
For the sponge:

1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water
2 cups (9 ounces by weight) all-purpose flour

For the croissant dough:
1/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup milk
6 tablespoons sugar
2 packages (4 1/2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups (11 1/4 ounces by weight) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 3/4 ounces unsalted soft butter
10 ounces unsalted butter, chilled
1 egg for egg wash

  • preparation
For the sponge:
In an electric mixing bowl, stir the warm water and yeast together. Allow to foam for 5 minutes.
Mix in the flour at low speed. The dough will be sticky. Cover and let rest for 12 hours at room temperature.
For the croissant dough: In a mixing bowl, combine water, milk, and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Stir in the yeast to dissolve and allow to foam for about 3 minutes. Add the remaining sugar, flour, salt, soft butter and the sponge. Knead with the dough hook for about 10 to 12 minutes. (If working by hand, knead for 15 minutes.)
Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to double in bulk in a draft-free area at room temperature, about 1 hour.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle 12 by 14- inches. Place the dough rectangle on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic and freeze for about 30 minutes to get the consistency of chilled butter. Roll the 10 ounces of chilled butter between plastic sheet to form a rectangle 12 by 7 inches.
Square up rectangle with a spatula or dough scraper. Position the butter rectangle on one side of the dough. Fold the rest of dough over butter and seal edges to seal in butter. Roll out the dough into a 10 by 20-inch rectangle. Fold one-third of the dough towards the center. Fold the other third over the two layers. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Repeat the rolling and folding process twice more and chill. Finally, on a floured surface, roll the dough into a 19 by 25-inch rectangle. Cut the dough into 20 even triangles.
Use a template for accurate measurements. To roll the crescents, start at the base and roll towards the tip. Finish the roll so that the tip is underneath the croissant.
Curve the end of each croissant and brush with egg wash. (May be frozen at this time). Arrange croissant on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
Let them rise uncovered at room temperature or until doubled in bulk. Bake the croissants at 375 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.

Cronuts - croissant and doughnut  Print Recipe

Serves: 7

Preparation time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

Cronuts are a mix between a croissant and a doughnut/donut, and are delicious sweet treats created by Dominique Ansel.

  • Ingredients
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (105 degrees F/41 degrees C)
1 teaspoon fine salt
2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar, or more to taste
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 pound all-purpose flour
8 ounces European-style (low-moisture) butter at room temperature, divided

6 cups grapeseed oil for frying, or as needed
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons milk, or as needed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract


The Cronut, sold at Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo, NYC, is a cross between a croissant and a donut. It is made from a croissant-like dough that’s fried in grape-seed oil. Then the baker inserts a creamy filling in the middle. Finally, the Cronut’s rolled in sugar, then the top is glazed with frosting flavors like rose vanilla or lemon maple.
  • preparation
Place yeast into the mixing bowl of a large stand mixer. Whisk in warm water and let stand until a creamy foam forms on top, about 5 minutes. Add salt, sugar, milk, 2 tablespoons melted butter, vanilla extract, egg, and nutmeg. Whisk mixture thoroughly. Pour flour on top of liquid ingredients. Place mixing bowl onto mixer.
Attach dough hook to mixer and knead on low speed until dough comes together in a ball and becomes soft and sticky, about 3 minutes. Dough will stick to the hook and pull away from the side of the bowl.
Transfer dough to a floured work surface, knead 2 or 3 times, and shape into a ball. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for 20 minutes to let gluten relax.
Remove dough from refrigerator, unwrap, and dust lightly with flour. Roll out into a 9x18-inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Evenly spread 6 tablespoons softened unsalted butter onto the middle third of the dough. Fold one unbuttered third over the buttered third and press lightly; spread remaining 6 tablespoons of unsalted button on top of that third. Fold remaining third over the first (buttered) third. Transfer dough onto a sheet pan, cover lightly with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and refrigerate 20 to 30 more minutes for butter to become firm. Sprinkle dough lightly with flour as you work if it becomes sticky.
Return dough to floured work surface and pat very gently into an 8x14 rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Fold outer thirds over center third as before; roll out into an 8x14-inch rectangle again. Keep edges of rectangle as straight as possible. Fold in thirds as before. Cover dough lightly with a kitchen towel, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Roll the dough out to about 3/8 inch thick. Cut dough in half crosswise. Leave half on a lightly floured work surface; refrigerate other half of dough until needed.
Use a sharp 3-inch circular cutter to cut 8 circles of dough from piece on the work surface. Use 1-inch size cutter to cut the donut holes out of the dough circles.
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and sprinkle lightly with flour. Arrange cronuts and holes onto prepared baking sheet. Let rise in a draft-free, warm place (such as an unheated oven) until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Once dough has been made, cut, and dough has risen continue on to fry and glaze your homemade cronuts.
Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or a deep saucepan over medium heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Carefully lift a cronut and gently drop into oil. Fry 2 at a time until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side. Cronuts will puff up as they cook. Drain on racks over paper towels; let cool.
Whisk confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a shallow bowl until glaze is smooth and slightly runny.
Pick up a fried cronut and gently dip the top in glaze; return to rack and let stand until glaze has set, about 15 minutes.
Alternate version: For higher-rising cronuts, roll out finished dough (see Part I) into an 8x12 inch rectangle. Fold dough in thirds and roll out into a rectangle about 3/4 inch thick. Cut out 6 cronuts and holes, using a 3-inch round cutter and a 1-inch small hole cutter.
Line baking sheet with waxed paper and dust paper lightly with flour. Place cronuts and holes onto prepared baking sheet and let rise in a draft-free place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Carefully pick up and gently drop cronuts, 2 at a time, into the preheated oil. Fry 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side. The extra fold and making the dough thicker will result in taller cronuts than before. Let fried cronuts drain on racks.
Dip tops of cronuts in glaze as described above, and let cool on racks to let glaze set up.

Cuchaule - saffron bread recipe  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:1 hour

Cooking time:35 minutes

Geographical location: Canton of Fribourg.
Origin: Fribourg, 16th century
Origin of the name: from the Fribourg dialect "kûchola"
Although traditionally served with butter and Benichon mustard, cuchaules can also be used as burger buns.
  • Ingredients
550 g bread flour (2.1/3 cups)
80 g (2.5 oz)sugar
1 tsp salt
1 to 2 pinch saffron powder
½ cube yeast or 2 1/4 teaspoons usually for most active dry yeast single packs in the North America
60 g (2 oz) butter, melted and warm
3 deciliter of milk (3 deciliters=1 1/4 cups)
2 eggs, beaten separately
  • preparation
Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup warm milk and a teaspoon sugar. After 5-10 minutes, the mixture should be foamy.
Mix flour, sugar, salt and saffron in an extra-large mixing bowl.
Add yeast to flour mixture and stir.
Add milk and warm melted butter and stir.
Add saffron and one egg and mix well.

Knead until it forms a soft, smooth dough and it no longer sticks to sides of bowl.
Let it rise until it doubles in volume, about 2 hours.

Put dough onto floured working surface, and shape it into two round breads.
Cover baking sheet with wax paper and place loaves on baking sheet.

Use a knife to form a criss-cross pattern on the top of each loaf.
Let dough rise a second time at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 180° C. (360° F)
Use a pastry brush to coat each loaf with the remaining beaten egg and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool before cutting.

Cup cakes with vanilla and chocolate icings  Print Recipe

Serves: 16

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
Cupcakes:
1 large egg
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sifted cocoa powder (optional for chocolate cupcakes)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup hot water

Icings:
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons sifted cocoa powder (optional for chocolate icing)
2 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt


  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and make sure the oven rack is in the center position.

Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cups, and place 4 paper cups inside a second muffin tin. Add 2 tablespoons of water to each of the remaining empty muffin wells.

Combine all the cupcake ingredients in a bowl, adding the water last. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the lined muffin cups. Bake until risen and golden in color and a toothpick inserted into the center of 1 cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

To make the icing, combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Blend with a hand-held mixer until smooth and creamy.

Remove from the oven and carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Using a small spatula or butter knife, spread either Vanilla or Chocolate icing onto each cupcake (using about 2 tablespoons per cupcake).

Date squares  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter

For filling:
1 1/2 pounds pitted dates
1 cup hot water
1/4 cup sugar pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare filling first. Combine dates, hot water, sugar and salt together in a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat until dates are soft and water is absorbed; add vanilla and let cool.
Stir flour and baking soda together; add to oatmeal and brown sugar and mix well.
Work in butter with fork until mixture is crumbly. Spread 1/2 the mixture in bottom of greased 9" square pan and pat down; cover with cooled date filling.
Pat 1/2 of remaining mixture on top; then sprinkle over lightly with remainder.
Bake for 35 minutes.

Double apple cake   Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 Granny Smith apples
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 2/3 cups sifted cake and pastry flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
2/3 cup applesauce

Topping:
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel, core and thinly slice apples. Beat sugar and butter until crumbly.
Beat in egg. Beat in yogurt and vanilla.
Combine flour, ginger, baking powder, baking soda and salt;
fold into butter mixture alternately with apple sauce.
Spoon in lightly greased 9-inch springform pan.
Arrange apples in overlapping concentric circles on top.
Topping:
Combine sugar, water and cinnamon; brush over apples.
Bake for 40 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
Let cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes. Remove side of pan;
let cool completely.

Doughnut muffins  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
For Muffin Batter
1 cup milk (low-fat is fine)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons grated nutmeg
For Muffin Topping
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2-1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a standard-size muffin pan generously with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine milk and lemon juice in a measuring cup and set aside.
In a stand mixer or large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until just mixed in. Stir in the vanilla.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Stir with a whisk until well combined.
Using a rubber spatula, mix a quarter of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Then mix in a third of the milk mixture. Continue mixing in the remaining dry and wet ingredients alternately, ending with the dry. Mix until well combined and smooth, but don't over-mix. The batter will be very thick.
Scoop enough batter into each tin so that the top of the batter is even with the rim of the cup. (I like to use an ice cream scoop with a wire scraper for this.) Bake the muffins until firm to the touch, 25-30 minutes. Set pan on rack to cool for a few minutes.
In the meantime, prepare the topping: melt the butter in a small dish and combine the cinnamon and sugar in another small dish.
When the muffins are cool enough to handle, use a pastry brush to paint the top of each muffin with butter, then sprinkle generously with cinnamon-sugar. If you have cinnamon-sugar left over, sprinkle muffins again. Serve warm, or cool on a rack and wrap airtight. Store at room temperature. Reheat muffins briefly in microwave for that fresh out of the oven taste.

Dried tomato and fennel stuffing  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
10 cups diced country style bread
11/2 pounds fennel bulbs
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup drained oil-packed dried tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch dice
3 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
  • preparation
Preheat oven at 325 degrees.
Toast bread cubes on a baking pan until just dry. Trim fennel bulbs, discarding stalks.
Dice stalks into 1/4-inch dice. In a large skillet, melt butter; cook fennel over moderate heat for about 15 minutes. Simmer tomatoes in chicken broth for 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, toss together all the ingredients. Cool. May be made a day ahead.

Dutch apple pie  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
Pie Crust
1¼ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening or butter , chilled
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
4-5 tablespoons ice water

Apple Filling
5 large Granny Smith apples (about 2½ pounds)
4 large McIntosh apples (about 2 pounds)
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup heavy cream

Streusel Topping
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted


  • preparation
1. For the pie crust: Process the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor until combined. Add the shortening or butter and process until the mixture has the texture of coarse sand, about 10 seconds. Scatter the butter pieces over the flour mixture; cut the butter into the flour until the mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse crumbs, with butter bits no larger than small peas, about ten 1-second pulses. Sprinkle 4 tablespoons of the ice water over the mixture. Continue to pulse until the mixture comes together in a loose ball. Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.

Note: If you do not have a food processor, use this method to make the pie dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt. Scatter the shortening and butter over the dry ingredients and, using a pastry blender or your fingers, work the fat into the flour mixture until it looks like coarse sand. Then sprinkle the water over the mixture and use a fork to incorporate until it is evenly moistened and the dough will hold together when pinched between your fingers.

2. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Roll the dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 12-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Ease the dough into the pan corners. Trim the dough edges to extend about ½ inch beyond the rim of the pan. Fold the overhang under itself; flute the dough or press the tines of a fork against the dough to flatten it against the rim of the pie plate. Refrigerate the dough-lined pie plate until firm, about 40 minutes, then freeze until very cold, about 20 minutes.

3. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and hat the oven to 375 degrees F. Remove the dough-lined pie plate from the freeze, press a doubled 12-inch piece of heavy-duty foil inside the pie shell, and fold the edges of the foil to shield the fluted edge; distribute 2 cups ceramic or metal pie weights over the foil. Bake, leaving the foil and weights in place until the dough looks dry and is light in color, 25 to 30 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and weights. Continue baking until deep golden brown, about 12 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.

4. For the apple filling: Peel, quarter, and core the apples; slice each quarter crosswise into pieces ¼ inch thick. Toss the apples, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl to combine. Heat the butter in a large Dutch oven (or pot) over high heat until foaming subsides; add the apples and toss to coat. Reduce the hat to medium-high and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until the Granny Smith apple slices are tender and the McIntosh apple slices are softened and beginning to break down, about 10 minutes.

5. Set a large colander over a large bowl; transfer the cooked apples to the colander. Shake the colander and toss the apples to drain off as much juice as possible. Bring the drained juice and the cram to a boil in the now-empty Dutch oven over high heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and a wooden spoon leaves a trail in the mixture, about 5 minutes. Transfer the apples to the prebaked pie shell; pour the reduced juice mixture over and smooth with a rubber spatula.

6. For the streusel topping: Combine the flour and sugars in a medium bowl; drizzle with the melted butter and toss with a fork until evenly moistened and the mixture forms many large chunks with pea-sized pieces mixed throughout. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the pie filling. Set the pie plate on a baking sheet and bake until the streusel topping is deep golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature and serve.

Easter bunny cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cooking time:35 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 package Yellow Cake
1 cup water
1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
3 large eggs

Butter Cream Frosting (recipe below)
2 cups coconut
Red licorice strips
Jelly beans



Butter Cream Frosting
4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 to 6 tablespoons milk

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine powdered sugar, shortening and vanilla. Slowly blend in milk to desired consistency.
2. Beat on high for 5 minutes, or until smooth and creamy.
  • preparation
1. HEAT oven to 350°F.
Prepare cake according to package directions using the water, oil and eggs.
Pour into two 8-inch round cake pans. Bake as directed. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely.

TURN one cooled cake layer upside down. See image sketch for details:
Mark center of cake with toothpick. Measure about 2-inches in from two sides of cake lining up the toothpicks. Using the tip of a sharp knife, lightly draw a 2-inch wide x 6-inch long oval, football shape, to make the ears. Cut with a serrated knife. The middle part of the layer will be the "bow tie" for the bunny.
easter_cake_sketch


PLACE whole cake layer in center of large tray. Place ears and bow tie, rounded side up, to make bunny. Frost entire surface and sides of cake, connecting the pieces together with frosting. Sprinkle with coconut. Cut licorice pieces for mouth and whiskers. Cut jelly beans in half for eyes, nose and bow tie.
TIP To make green "grass" around bunny, toss an additional 1/2 cup coconut with a few drops of green food coloring until desired color. Place around base of bunny.

Easy pie dough  Print Recipe

Preparation time:10 minutes

Makes dough for 1 double crust pie or 2 single crust pies
Dough can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw before using.
  • Ingredients
2 1/2 cups (300 grs) all-purpose flour
1pinch of salt
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and frozen 15 minutes
1/2 cup chilled solid vegetable shortening, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, chilled
  • preparation
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter and shortening and pulse until coarse, pea-sized crumbs appear, about 10 seconds.
With the machine running, add vinegar and 1/4 cup ice water and process until the dough just holds together, about 30 seconds.
Squeeze a small amount of dough between your fingers and if it is very crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time (2 tablespoons maximum). Do not over process.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and push together into a rough ball.
Knead a few times to combine, then divide into two equal balls.
Flatten each ball into a disc with smooth edges, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

Egg in a hole  Print Recipe

Serves: 1

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 slice white bread
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste

  • preparation
Brush bread with melted butter on both sides and cut a hole about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, in the center of bread slice.
Put the bread in a large skillet over medium heat, break an egg into the hole, and cook until done, turning once. You may also fry the cut out piece of bread at the same time.
This recipe is a children's favorite.

Eggplant soufflé  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon flour
1 eggplant, about 1 pound
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
2 teaspoons flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 1/2 cups milk
salt and freshly ground pepper
6 eggs yolks
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
6 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
marinara sauce, or tomato sauce
  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Brush the interior of a 6-cup soufflé mold with the softened butter.
Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise. Place on a baking sheet. Brush eggplant with a teaspoon of olive oil.
Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until eggplant is soft to touch. Remove the eggplant from the oven. Scrape away the inner pulp and discard The skin. Chop the pulp. There should be about a cup. Cover and set aside.
In a heavy saucepan heat the remaining oil. Add the onions and garlic. Cook briefly while stirring, until onions are wilted. Stir in the flour and cornstarch. Add the milk. Cook while whisking until sauce becomes thick. Tranfer the Bubbly sauce to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper and chopped parsley. Mix egg yolks, and eggplant pulp into the thick cream sauce.
Using an electric beater, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff And glossy. Do not overbeat. Gently fold into cream sauce mixture. Pour and scrape the mixture into the prepared soufflé mold.
Place on a baking sheet. Cook in the middle of the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Heat marinara sauce or tomato sauce. Serve with the soufflé.

English apple pudding with rum sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 min

Cooking time:35 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 medium green apples
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Rum sauce:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons dark rum
  • preparation
Preheat oven at 400 degrees.
Core apples (do not peel). Put through food processor.
Cream butter, sugar and egg. Add apples and mix well. add dry ingredients.
Spoon into buttered glass dish or souffle glass dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes in a water bath.
Serve with rum sauce.


Rum sauce:
Combine butter, sugar and cream in a saucepan.
Cook over low heat 8 to 12 minutes, then add vanilla and rum.
Cool and serve with cake.

Espresso chocolate chip cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:14 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups golden brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
4 teaspoons instant espresso powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease two cookie sheets. Blend together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
Beat, butter, sugar, egg, espresso powder and vanilla until well blended. Mix in dry ingredients.
Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing well apart.
Bake cookies until brown on top, about 14 minutes.

Festive shortbreads  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup soft unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees .
Using an electric table-top or hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients and form a ball with the dough.
Chill for 2 to 3 hours. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on cookie sheet.
Press ball with a cookie stamp to form a design. Bake 20 to 25 minutes . Cookies should not brown.
Cool on wire rack. Decorate cookies with frosting piped through a pastry tube.
Store in air-tight container in a cool place.

Figs tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 pound puff pastry dough
2 pounds fresh figs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
8 4-inch round tart molds
Garnish with whipped cream
  • preparation
Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
Cut 8 5-inch pastry circles, and line molds with the circles. Prick dough with a fork and chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Cut the figs in 3/8 inch slices. Arrange the slices slightly overlapping on the pastry rounds so that they just reach the edge of the pastry.
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar evenly over each tart and dot the top with butter.
Bake until the pastry is thoroughly browned and the surface of the figs is lightly caramelized, 20 25 minutes.
Serve warm with whipped cream.

Financiers  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
3/4 cup ( 3 1/2 ounces by weight) almond powder
2/3 cup ( 3 1/2 ounces by weight) all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
8 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
5 1/4 ounces melted butter
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except butter. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed.
Gradually pour in the butter while stirring. Mix well. Butter tiny molds. Spoon mixture into molds about 3/4 full.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Unmold while hot. Cool on racks.
Coconut financiers: replace almond powder with coconut flakes
Chocolate financiers: substitute 2 oz cocoa powder to 2 oz flour

Fish velouté sauce  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

Velouté is one of the mother sauces of classical cuisine. It can be made with any white stock, but this version, the fish velouté, is made with fish stock.
Makes 1 quart
  • Ingredients
6 cups fish stock (see recipe Fish stock )
2 oz clarified butter
2 oz all-purpose flour
  • preparation
Heat the fish stock to a simmer in a medium saucepan.
Meanwhile, in a separate heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the clarified butter over a medium heat until it becomes frothy.

With a wooden spoon, stir the flour into the melted butter a little bit at a time, until it is fully incorporated into the butter, giving you a pale-yellow-colored paste. This paste is called a roux. Heat the roux for another minute or so to cook off the taste of raw flour.

Using a wire whisk, slowly add the hot fish stock to the roux, whisking vigorously to make sure it's free of lumps.

Simmer for about 30 minutes or until the total volume has reduced by about one-third, stirring frequently. Use a ladle to skim off any impurities that rise to the surface.

The resulting sauce should be smooth and velvety. If it's too thick, whisk in a bit more hot stock until it's just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Remove the sauce from the heat. For an extra smooth consistency, carefully pour the sauce through a wire mesh strainer lined with a piece of cheesecloth.

Keep the velouté covered until you're ready to use it.

Flaky pie crust  Print Recipe

Serves: 14

Preparation time: 10 minutes

This recipe makes enough dough for two crusts.
  • Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold butter, cut into pieces
5 tablespoons cold water
  • preparation
In a food processor, combine flour, salt, sugar,vanilla, butter and mix on pulse. Add water.
Pulse to blend until dough becomes a ball. Do not overprocess.
Wrap in plastic and chill for 20 minutes. Roll out and transfer to pie plate.

Flambeed bananas   Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons butter
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup dark rum or bourbon
4 medium bananas, peeled and cut in halves
2 teaspoons butter
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
  • preparation
In a saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, and lemon juice.
Heat to melt butter. Add 1/4 cup rum.
Fry the bananas in butter until golden brown. Pour sauce over, and cook until tender.
Arrange bananas on a serving dish. Heat remaining rum. Ignite and pour over bananas.
Sprinkle with toasted almonds. Serve with rum and raisin ice cream, or cinnamon ice cream.

Flamed apples  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 large apples
1 ounce butter
4 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons apricot preserves
4 teaspoons Calvados or brandy
Vanilla ice cream
  • preparation
Peel, core, and cut apples into small wedges.
Melt the butter in a large frying pan. Add apples with the sugar.
Sauté until sugar starts to caramelize.
Mix in the apricot preserves.
Continue cooking for a minute, then add the Calvados or brandy.
Ignite and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Flax bran muffins  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
3/4 cup wheat bran
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup flax meal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1 cup skim-milk buttermilk
1/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup apple butter
1 large egg white
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • preparation
Set rack in upper third of the oven; preheat to 425 degrees.
Coat 12 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Stir together bran, flour, flax, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in raisins, dates and dried apricots.
Whisk together buttermilk, molasses, apple butter, egg white, oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened; do not over mix.
Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Turn the muffins out onto a rack and let cool before serving.

French apple tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
Serves 8

1 recipe never-fail pie crust
1 cup thick apple sauce
5 large baking apples
2 ounces melted butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup apricot jam
1 tablespoon kirsch or water
  • preparation
Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 10-inch shallow flan pan with a removable ring.
Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin.
Freeze any leftover dough for future use.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Peel and core the apples. Slice into very thin slices.
Cover and spread pie crust with apple sauce. Arrange sliced apples over apple sauce.
Brush apples with butter and sprinkle sugar over apples. Bake the tart at the lowest rack for 30 to 40 minutes or until apples are tender and golden brown.
Remove the tart from the pan and transfer to a rack. In a small saucepan, melt apricot jam with Kirsch or water.
Strain apricot over apple. Spread evenly to form a glaze. Serve at room temperature.

French toast  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into bits
8 large eggs
4 cups milk
2 tablespoons vanilla
2 tablespoons dark rum
1 loaf challah (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch-thick slices and ends discarded
4 cups corn flakes
cinnamon sugar made by stirring together 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Accompaniments:
maple syrup of whipped cream pecans and/or berries
  • preparation
Clarify butter: In a small heavy saucepan melt butter over low heat. Remove pan from heat and let butter stand 3 minutes. Skim froth and pour butter through a sieve lined with a double thickness of rinsed and squeezed cheesecloth into a bowl, discarding milk solids in bottom of pan.

In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, and rum. Transfer half of mixture to a large shallow baking dish (about 13 by 9 by 2 inches) and soak half of bread slices 10 minutes.
Turn slices over and soak 10 minutes more. In another large shallow baking dish spread half of corn flakes and coat soaked bread slices on each side, transferring to a tray. Soak and coat remaining slices with remaining egg mixture and corn flakes in same manner.
Preheat oven to 250°F.
In a large heavy skillet heat 2 tablespoons clarified butter over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook 2 or 3 slices (or as many as will fit in one layer) 3 minutes on each side, or until puffed and golden brown. Transfer French toast as cooked to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven.
Cook remaining slices in remaining butter in same manner. Sprinkle French toast with cinnamon sugar and serve with accompaniments.

Fruit cobbler  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

Because this is served in the skillet in which it was made, it's better to make the cobbler the same day it will be served.
  • Ingredients
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
4 cups fresh or defrosted fruit, such as blackberries, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, plums, cherries or apricots
1 cup sugar, or more as needed1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch fine salt
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the butter in a large (10- to 12-inch) cast-iron skillet (you could also use a metal or ceramic casserole or gratin pan) and place in the oven so the butter melts; this should take 5 to 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the fruit in a mixing bowl. Use a potato masher to mash it just enough so that the pieces release some of their juices. If the fruit is tart, sprinkle a little sugar on top.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the cup of sugar, the milk and vanilla extract, stirring to form a smooth batter.
Remove the skillet from the oven. Carefully pour the melted butter from the skillet into the batter, stirring to combine, then pour the batter all at once into the skillet (it should begin to puff and set around the edges). Add the fruit and its juices to the center of the batter.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the crumb comes out mostly clean. Serve warm, straight from the skillet.

Fudge sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup light cream (half and half)
3/4 cup heavy cream
  • preparation
In a medium pot, combine the brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and cream. Bring to boil on high heat for 2 minutes.
Add the heavy cream. Bring to boil, simmer for 8 minutes. Keeps well refrigerated for a week.

Galette des rois frangipane  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

This is traditionally eaten around Epiphany in France, where you can get it in all bakeries. A small porcelaine figure (the 'fève') is placed in the frangipane and the person who gets it becomes king and wears a paper crown

  • Ingredients
1 pound puff pastry

Filling
4 ounces ground almonds
4 ounces icing sugar
4 ounces butter at room temperature
4 large eggs
2 oz flour
1 tablespoon dark rum
1/4 cup slivered almonds

1 fève (optional)

  • preparation
For the filling: Combine the ground almonds, sugar and butter until smooth.
Add three of the eggs, flour and rum: mix until combined.
Stir in slivered almonds.
Preheat oven 375°F (190°C).

To assemble, divide the dough into two equal parts.
Roll out one part to form a 10 inch circle and place on a baking sheet.
Spread the filling on the pastry leaving a rim, about half an inch wide, all the way around. Put in a porcelaine figure (feve) if you have one. Brush the rim with egg.
Roll out the rest of the dough to form a 9 inch circle. Place on top of the filling.
Pinch together the pastry at the edges, making sure that it is well sealed. Brush the top with the remaining egg. Make a few slits in the center of the pastry.
Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes.
Serve warm.

Ganache  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes

Use the ganache to glaze The Cocolate Cake recipe
  • Ingredients
12 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream
1 stick (4 ounces) butter
  • preparation
Break the semi sweet chocolate in a bowl. In a saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Pour it over the chocolate, stirring until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and well blended.
Cool mixture, then add the butter while mixture is still liquid. Allow to cool completely to set the ganache. Do not refrigerate.

Garlic-roasted potato skins  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 40 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 pounds russet (baking) potatoes (6 to 8 medium)
1 medium head garlic
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350° F. Prick each potato once or twice with a fork. Cut off and discard top fourth of garlic head, then wrap garlic tightly in foil. Bake garlic and potatoes on same rack in lower third of oven until potatoes are tender, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
Remove potatoes from oven and cool on a metal rack 15 minutes. Continue to bake garlic until tender, about 15 minutes more, then cool in foil on rack. While garlic cools, halve potatoes lengthwise, then quarter each half (to form short wedges).
Scoop out potato flesh (reserving it for another use), leaving 1/4-inch-thick potato skins. Increase oven temperature to 425°F. Squeeze garlic into a small bowl, discarding garlic skins, and mash to a paste with butter, salt, and pepper using a fork.
Divide garlic paste among potato skins (about 1/2 teaspoon each), spreading evenly, then roast skins in a large shallow baking pan (1 inch deep) until golden and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

German spaetzle  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:25 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

From the Swabia region of Southern Germany comes the traditional German Spaetzle.
  • Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg , optional
4 large eggs
1/2 cup milk or water + more as needed (milk produces a richer Spaetzle)
butter for serving
  • preparation
Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. whisk the eggs into a small bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the eggs in it. Add the milk (start with using slightly less and add more as needed). Attach a dough hook to the stand mixer and "knead" the dough for 16-20 minutes, or until bubbles appear. A thick batter yields results.
Bring 2 quarts of lightly salted water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Using a Spätzle maker of your choice (such as the Spätzle press), press the noodles into the simmering water and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles float to the top. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the noodles to a colander, and then transfer the noodles in a large bowl of ice water. Drain the noodles again, toss with some melted butter and serve warm.
Make Ahead: The Spaetzle can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days and then reheated. Melt some butter in a large skillet and toss the Spätzle in it to heat through.

Ginger molasses cookies big and soft   Print Recipe

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
1/2 teaspoon clove (optional)
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 extra-large egg
1/4 cup regular unsulphured molasses
granulated sugar (for coating cookie dough before baking)
vegetable oil cooking spray (for coating) (optional)
  • preparation
Heat oven to 375 degrees with the rack in the center. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves into a medium bowl. Set aside. Cream the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl with mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. With mixer on medium speed, beat in the egg and molasses, then increase the speed to high and beat about 1 minute longer, until the mixture no longer looks curdled. Scrape the sides with a rubber spatula several times while mixing.

Mix in the flour mixture on low speed. The batter will be rather stiff. Place some granulated sugar on a small plate or saucer. Use a 1/4 cup ice cream scoop or a measuring cup to form 1/4-cup portions of dough. (Spray the cup or scoop with the optional non-stick vegetable spray to make it easier to release the dough.) Transfer the dough to your hands and roll each portion into a rough ball, then roll each ball into the sugar. Place six sugared balls on each baking sheet, spacing them evenly, because they will spread during baking.

Dampen your fingers with water and press down lightly on each cookie to flatten it a little and dampen the top. Refrigerate one filled baking sheet while the other bakes. Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies have spread and are firm to the touch. Rotate the sheet 180 degrees halfway through the baking time. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet.

Note: This dough can be frozen for slice-and- bake cookies. Just roll into a log 2-1/2 inches thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and then in foil. Can be stored in the freezer up to 6 months.

Gingerbread and cranberry torte  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
confectioners' sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch round cake pan with removable sides.
In bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add molasses, egg, until well blended. In a small bowl, combine flour, ground ginger, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and ground clove. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternating with sour cream. Spread batter in pan.
Drop spoonfuls of cranberry sauce on batter. Bake cake 40 to 45 minutes or until center of cake is firm. Cool in pan for 10 minutes.
Remove from pan. Sift confectioners' sugar around edge of cake.

Gingerbread house  Print Recipe

Serves: 1

Preparation time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup light molasses or dark corn syrup
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water
For assemblage and decoration:

Melted white chocolate or Royal Icing (recipe follows)
Gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired
Directions
Gingerbread House:

  • preparation
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda together until the mixture is smooth. Blend in the flour and water to make a stiff dough. Chill at least 30 minutes or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut paper patterns for the gingerbread house:

Two rectangles 3 by 5 inches, to make the front and back of the house. Two rectangles, 3 by 5 1/2 inches for the roof. Two pieces for the ends of the house, 3 inches wide at the base, 3 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 5 1/2 inches from the bottom. Four smaller rectangles, 1 1/2 by 1 inch for the roof and sides of the entryway. And one piece 2 inches wide at the base, 1 1/2 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 2 1/2 inches from the bottom for the front of the entryway.

Roll gingerbread dough out to edges on a large, rimless cookie sheet. Place paper patterns onto the rolled out dough. With a sharp, straight edged knife, cut around each of the pieces, but leave pieces in place.

Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15 minutes until dough feels firm.

Place patterns on top of the gingerbread again and trim shapes, cutting edges with a straight-edged sharp knife. Leave to cool on baking sheet.

Place royal icing into pastry bag with a writing tip and press out to decorate individual parts of house, piping on decorations, windows, door, etc., as desired. Let dry until hardened.

Glue sides, front and back of house together at corners using royal icing. Place an object against the pieces to prop up until icing is dry (it only takes a few minutes).

Glue the two roof pieces to the pitched roof line of the house. Then, similarly, glue the sides and roof of the entryway together with icing. Attach the entryway to the front of the house.
Continue decorating the house, glueing on gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired.

Royal Icing:
1 pound (3-3/4 cups) powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
2 large egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon almond extract, vanilla or lemon juice
Mix all of the ingredients together using an electric hand mixer, until the icing is smooth and thin enough to be pressed through a pastry bag with a writing tip. Add more lemon juice, if necessary.

Gingerbread trees with lemon icing  Print Recipe

Serves: 20

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes

Drizzles of lemony icing and sprinklings of sanding sugar give these simple gingerbread triangles their Christmas tree appearance and holiday flair.
  • Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses

FOR THE ICING:
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
Sanding or coarse sugar (optional)
  • preparation
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high until creamy, 3 minutes. Add egg and beat to combine. Add molasses and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat until combined. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour (or up to 3 days).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. With a sharp knife or cookie cutter, cut dough into small 2-inch-wide triangles. Arrange triangles, 1 inch apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are firm and golden at edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.

Make icing: In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and confectioners' sugar and whisk until smooth. Drizzle icing over cooled cookies and sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired.

Gingersnap cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 18

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes

The recipe for these ultra thin ginger snaps originated from the restaurant Chez Panisse
Note that slicing the frozen cookie dough as thin as possible, the thinner the cookie, the crispier it will be, and including the 1/8 of a teaspoon of ground black pepper that the recipe calls for. Black pepper is an odd ingredient to add to a cookie.


  • Ingredients
8 oz unsalted butter
1 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 small eggs or 1 1/2 large eggs
1/3 cup molasses
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

  • preparation
Cream butter until soft; add sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, and beat until fluffy. Add molasses and beat until well-mixed.

Sift the dry ingredients; add to the mixture, 1/3 at a time. Mix only until the dry ingredients become incorporated.

Line a 9" x 5" loaf pan with plastic wrap, so that some hangs over the outsides. Press the dough into the bottom of the pan. Pack it tightly, and try to make the top as level as possible. Cover the dough with the plastic overhangs. Freeze until very firm.

Unwrap and remove dough from the pan. Slice brick into thin slices, no more than 1/8". Place on a parchment or Silpat-lined sheetpan (space at least an inch apart) and bake at 350 degrees until the edges turn dark brown, 7-12 minutes. Check the oven for doneness after 7 minutes.

Glazed holiday stars  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt

For the glaze:
2 tablespoons light cream
2/3 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup thick raspberry jam
  • preparation
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla until fluffy.
In another mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; blend into creamed mixture until well-blended.
Gather dough into a ball and divide into two flat rounds. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate at least an hour or up to one day. Dough can be frozen for up to two weeks.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured work surface to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Using a 3-inch star cookie cutter, cut out cookies and place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
(Gather scraps of dough, chill and roll again). Using a small 1-inch star cookie cutter, cut centers out of half of the cookies. Bake cookies 13 to 15 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges. Transfer cookies to rack.
To make glaze, mix cream and sugar in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
Dip the warm cookies with the cut-out center into glaze or use a brush to glaze. Sandwich 2 glazed cookies together. Let icing set for one hour.
Melt raspberry jam. Cool. Place a small star cutter in center of sandwiched cookies. Pour about 1/2 teaspoon of the raspberry in each cookie center. Let set util firm.

Store cookies in covered container, separating layers with waxed paper, no more than 1 day at room temperature or up to 2 weeks in the freezer.

Gnocchi parisienne  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cups milk
4 ounces butter
8 ounces all purpose flour
7 medium eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 ounces grated Swiss cheese
1 double recipe Recipe of Cream sauce
4 ounces grated Swiss cheese
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium saucepan, boil the milk with the butter. Remove from heat then add the flour all at once stirring continuously.
Mix in the eggs one at the time.
Stir in the salt and cheese.
In a large saucepan, boil 2 quarts of salted water. Spoon the mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a large plain pastry tip. Squeeze the mixture out and as it comes out, use a small knife to cut into small pieces and drop in boiling water.
Cook for 2 minutes. Transfer to cold water and drain when completely cold.
Spread the gnocchi in one layer in a large baking dish. Pour the warm cream sauce over.
Sprinkle with cheese. Brown in oven until golden brown and bubbly.

Graham cracker crust  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:8 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/4 cups Graham cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
  • preparation
Combine crumbs and sugar in medium-sized bowl. Stir in melted butter until thoroughly blended.
Pack mixture firmly into pan and press firmly to bottom and sides bringing crumbs evenly up to rim.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 8 minutes.
Cool, chill and fill and use according to recipe.

Grilled salmon fillets with sun-dried tomatoes  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 salmon fillets with skin on (6 ounce portions)
3/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, finely chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash original blend seasoning
Pam cooking spray for high temp cooking
Aluminum foil
  • preparation
Remove salmon fillets from refrigerator and allow them to reach room temperature.

Make topping: In a small bowl, combine sun dried tomatoes and butter. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

Preheat grill or cast iron griddle to medium heat. Brush fillets with grapeseed oil and season with Mrs. Dash seasoning.

Generously spray cooking surface with cooking spray. Place fillets on the grill, skin side up. Grill side without skin for approximately 2-3 minutes, watching carefully not to burn.

Flip to skin down side and grill for 3-4 minutes. Cover with foil until skin is crispy.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place generous portion of sun dried tomato topping on top of fillets. Heat for another 6-7 minutes, until sun dried tomatoes begin to crisp.

Serve immediately.

Gruyere and parsley omelets  Print Recipe

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 large eggs
3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon dried fines herbs or dried salad herbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1/2 cup (packed) grated Gruyère cheese (about 2 ounces)
  • preparation
Beat eggs, 2 tablespoons parsley, 2 teaspoons water, dried herbs, salt and pepper in small bowl to blend.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of egg mixture (about 1/2 cup) to skillet. Cook until eggs are just set in center, tilting pan and lifting edge of omelet with spatula to let uncooked portion flow underneath, about 2 minutes.
Top half of omelet with 1/4 cup cheese.
Using spatula, fold other half of omelet over cheese; slide out onto plate. Repeat with remaining butter, egg mixture and cheese. Sprinkle omelets with remaining 1 tablespoon parsley.

Hokkaido brioche  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:2 hours

Cooking time:30 minutes

Hokkaido milk bread is quite simply the fluffiest, softest, lightest, most pillowy cloud of deliciousness thanks to a simple technique involving a roux starter known as tangzhong.
  • Ingredients
Tangzhong
• 20 g (3/4 oz) strong white bread flour
• 75ml (6 tbsp) water
• 1 tbsp whole milk
Dough
• 350 g (scant 3 cups) strong white bread flour
• 7 g (2 tsp) fast action yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 60 g (scant 1/3 cup) sugar
• 1 tbsp milk powder
• 1 egg
• 120 ml (1/2 cup whole milk
• 30 g (2 tbsp) softened butter
• 1 egg beaten with a splash of milk, to glaze
  • preparation
To make the tangzhong:
Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan, and whisk until no lumps remain.
Place the saucepan over low heat, and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until thick and the whisk leaves lines on the bottom of the pan, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Transfer the tangzhong to a small mixing bowl or measuring cup and let it cool to room temperature.

To make the dough
1. Place the flour in a large bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with a dough hook) and add the yeast to one side, the salt, sugar and milk powder to the other (if the salt is added on top of the yeast it can kill it), stir to combine.
2. Whisk together the cooled tangzhong, egg and milk and add it to the dry ingredients. Mix everything together until it forms a soft, shaggy dough. If you are kneading by hand, turn the dough out onto a worktop and knead for 5-10 minutes until it starts to feel smooth and a little less sticky (it will still be very sticky), add no more than a spoonful of flour while you are kneading, the dough is meant to be sticky! The best way to knead a wet dough by hand is to stretch it up away from the worktop (it will stick), then slap it back down, make sure that you pull from a different section each time and keep a dough scraper handy. If you are using a stand mixer, mix for 5 minutes or so until the dough is smooth.
3. Add the butter and mix until it is fully incorporated, continue to knead until the dough is very elastic and begins to come away from the worktop (or sides of the stand mixer bowl) cleanly. It should pass the windowpane test - stretch the dough with your hands, you should be able to stretch it to a very thin, almost transparent membrane without it tearing. This can take up to 20 minutes of kneading, especially by hand.
4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with clingfilm, leave to rise for 1-2 hours until well doubled in size. Alternatively, place it in the fridge to rise overnight. If you refrigerate it, the following day let it come up to room temperature for about half an hour before continuing.
5. Line an 8.5x4.5in (or thereabouts) loaf tin with greaseproof paper. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and fold it in on itself a couple of times. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, divide it in to four equal pieces and roll each one into a ball.
6. Roll each ball out into a long oval, fold one third of the oval over the middle (from the side, not the top), then the other third over the top to form a long, narrow packet. Roll over the seam to flatten it, then roll it up from one end to make a fat sausage. Repeat with the other balls of dough then arrange them in the loaf tin, seam side down.
7. Loosely cover with oiled clingfilm and leave to rise until at least doubled in size, this can take 1-2 hours (mine took nearly 2). If you press the dough gently with a finger the indentation should spring back slowly but remain visible. If it springs back quickly it needs to proof for a little longer. Preheat the oven while the dough is rising to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
8. Brush the top of the dough with some of the beaten egg then bake on the lower middle shelf of the oven for 30-40 minutes until well risen and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, the internal temperature should reach 94C/200F on a probe thermometer. Cover the bread with foil partway through baking if it starts to get too dark.
9. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely before slicing.

Hollandaise sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes

Hollandaise sauce is an emulsion of egg yolk and liquid clarified butter, usually seasoned with lemon juice, salt, and a little white pepper or cayenne pepper. In appearance, it is light yellow and opaque, smooth and creamy.
  • Ingredients
5 egg yolks
1 tablespoon lemon juice
12 ounces butter
to taste salt, ground white pepper, cayenne pepper and
Aromat seasoning
  • preparation
Clarify butter over medium heat.
Whisk egg yolks and lemon juice together in a stainless steel bowl. Place the bowl over top of a double boiler. Do not allow the bowl to touch the water as it will overcook the egg yolks. Slow, progressive heating is best when making hollandaise sauce.
Whip the yolks until they reach a creamy consistency. Remove from heat.
Slowly pour warm butter into the yolks, whipping continuously to blend. Add seasonings to taste.
The sauce will keep, covered, in a warm place for at least 30 minutes.

Irish cream sandwiches  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:8 minutes


  • Ingredients
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 to 3 teaspoons Irish cream liqueur**

Topping ingredients:
Powdered sugar, if desired


  • preparation
Combine 3/4 cup butter and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour, cocoa and salt.
Beat until well mixed. Divide dough in half; shape each half on lightly floured surface into 8-inch long square log with 1 1/2-inch sides.
Wrap in plastic food wrap; refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight).
Heat oven to 325°F. Cut logs into 1/4-inch square slices with sharp, serrated knife. Place squares 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until set.
Combine powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter in small bowl. Beat at low speed, adding enough liqueur for desired spreading consistency.
Spread about 1 teaspoon filling on cookie, top with second cookie. Press together gently. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.
**Substitute 2 to 3 teaspoons very strong brewed coffee.

TIP: Make sure not to slice the cookie dough too thick or the cookies will not be crisp.

Make Ahead: Prepare cookies as directed; cool completely. Freeze in airtight container up to 1 month. When ready to use, thaw cookies completely. Prepare filling and assemble cookie sandwiches as directed.

Irish mist brownies  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

A fudgy brownie, layered with mint butter cream and drizzled with chocolate.
  • Ingredients
Brownies Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs

Filling Ingredients:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
5 drops green food color
2 drops yellow food color

Drizzle Ingredients:
1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened baking chocolate, melted


  • preparation
Heat oven to 350°F. Melt 1/2 cup butter and 2 squares chocolate in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (4 to 6 minutes). Stir in all remaining brownie ingredients until well mixed. Spread into greased 8-inch square baking pan.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until brownie just begins to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely.
Combine all filling ingredients except chocolate in small bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Spread over cooled bars.
Drizzle with melted chocolate. Cool completely; cut into bars. Cover; store refrigerated.

Irish shortbreads  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes

melt-in-your-mouth Christmas or St. Patrick's Day treat.

  • Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. With the mixer on low, slowly add flour. Continue mixing until dough comes together to form a ball.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface; roll out dough to about 1/4-inch thickness, dusting rolling pin with flour as necessary to prevent sticking.
Here are 2 methods to form the cookies:
Method 1
Using a 2 1/4-inch round, fluted cutter, cut out dough. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. Gather up any scraps, gently re-roll, and repeat cutting process. Take care not to overwork dough.
Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until shortbread just begins to turn golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Shortbread may be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Method 2
Knead well and divide dough into 2 equal portions. Press into 2 ungreased 8-inch round tart pans with removable bottom.
Bake 30-40 minutes or until golden.
Remove from oven, sprinkle lightly with sugar; cut into pie-shaped wedges. Store in airtight containers.

Irish soda bread  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:35 minutes

A traditional Irish-inspired round quick bread made with buttermilk and currants or raisins.
  • Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cold butter
1 1/4 cups buttermilk*
1/2 cup currants or raisins

  • preparation
Heat oven to 375°F. Combine all ingredients except buttermilk and currants in large bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk and currants just until moistened.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead gently 10 times. Shape into ball. Place onto greased baking sheet. Pat into 6-inch circle.
Cut 1/2-inch deep “X” in top of dough with sharp knife. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

*Substitute 4 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to equal 1 1/4 cups. Let stand 10 minutes.

Irish whiskey cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 16

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 30 minutes

Based on a recipe from Downey's restaurant in Philadelphia.

Note: Since Meg Downey shared this adaptation of the family recipe in 1982, most boxed cake mixes have been reformulated to yield moister (pudding-in-the-mix type) cakes. For that reason, the original amount of pudding mix has been reduced by half.
  • Ingredients
one 18.5-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 (3 5/8-ounce) box vanilla instant pudding mix (see note)
1/2 cup whole or low-fat milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup Irish whiskey
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup (4 ounces) coarsely chopped black walnuts
FOR THE GLAZE
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup Irish whiskey
1 tablespoon water
  • preparation
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 10-inch tube pan, preferably nonstick, or bundt pan with nonstick cooking oil spray.

Combine the cake and pudding mixes in a small bowl.

Combine the milk, oil and whiskey in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer; beat on low speed until mixed well. Add the dry ingredients and beat until smooth, then add the beaten eggs in several additions until well combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes until slightly thickend. Turn off the motor and add the walnuts, stirring by hand. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 75 to 90 minutes, being careful not to let it get too brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool in the pan.

For the glaze: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar, whiskey and water, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Pour one-third of the glaze over the hot cake in the pan. Let cool on the wire rack for 1 hour, then remove from the pan and invert so the cake is upside down on a plate; pour one-third of the glaze over the cooled cake, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 days. The next day, unwrap the cake, invert onto a second plate and pour half of the remaining glaze over the cake; recover tightly with plastic wrap; this process allows the glaze to flavor the cake evenly. On the next day, repeat the process, using the remaining glaze.

Irish whiskey date cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:35 minutes


  • Ingredients
For the cake:
¾ pound dates, pitted and chopped
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1½ tablespoons baking powder

For the sauce:
10 oz (2½ sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 cup heavy cream
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 tablespoons Irish whiskey
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 cups Sweetened whipped cream, for serving
  • preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9 x 2-inch round cake pan.

Place the dates in a deep saucepan with 1¾ cups of water. Bring to boil, stirring a little to break up the dates. Allow to simmer 1 minute. Off the heat, stir in the baking soda (it will bubble up!). Set aside.

Meanwhile, in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla, scraping down the mixing bowl. (It may look curdled.) Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer still on low, slowly add it to the batter. With the mixer on low, add the hot date mixture in two batches to the batter, scraping down the bowl. The batter will be runny but don't worry! Stir in the baking powder, which will also bubble up. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, combine the butter, brown sugar, heavy cream and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 minute. Off the heat, stir in the bourbon and vanilla and pour into a 2-cup heat-proof glass measuring cup. Set aside.

As soon as the cake is done, poke holes all over it with a toothpick. Pour one cup of the sauce evenly over the cake while still warm and allow it to soak in for 30 minutes. Turn the cake out bottom side up onto a flat serving plate and pour one more cup sauce on top. Cool completely.

Serve at room temperature with sweetened whipped cream and remaining whiskey sauce.

Italian stuffing with sausage  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium celery ribs with leaves, chopped
2 medium red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. crushed hot red pepper
12 ounces day-old, crusty Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 7 cups)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
8 tbsp unsalted butter(1 stick), melted
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 cups Homemade Turkey Stock or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth, or as needed
  • preparation
1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until it loses its pink color, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the basil, oregano, salt, and crushed red pepper. Transfer to a large bowl.
2. Add the bread and cheese and mix well. Stir in the butter, wine, and enough of the stock to moisten the dressing, about 1 cup. Use to stuff the turkey, or place in a buttered baking dish, drizzle with an additional ½ cup stock, cover, and bake as a side dish.

Kedgeree of salmon with sea asparagus  Print Recipe

Serves: 10 to 12

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

A colorful dish using fresh and smoked salmon, decorated in yellow, white and green.The recipe can be cut in half.

Sea asparagus, also known as Salicornia has a salty, crunchy brininess.
The plant grows in protected salt marshes on all continents except Antarctica.
To cook sea asparagus, blanch the plant in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes,
then shock it in a bowl of ice water.
Once you have your blanched sea asparagus, all you really need to do is dress them with your best olive oil and add a little lemon juice, balsamic vinegar or other acidic component, plus a few grinds of black pepper.

  • Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter
5 medium chopped scallions
2 cups sour cream
3 tablespoons curry powder
2 pounds salmon, poached
1 pound smoked salmon, diced
2 cups converted rice
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
6 hard cooked eggs
1 tablespoon onion, chopped
2 tablespoons soft butter
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
8 sprigs fresh parsley

1 cup lemon butter




  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt the butter in a saute pan. Add the scallions and cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Add the sour cream and curry powder. Mix well.
Flake the boneless and skinless cooked salmon. Combine with the diced smoked salmon.
In a separate pot, stir the rice with the chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook over medium heat until the liquid is almost absorbed.
While the rice is cooking, separate the egg yolks from the whites. Chop the egg whites.
Reserve. Chop the egg yolks and save for garnish.
Combine the rice and the salmon mixture. Mix in half of the egg whites. Butter a deep casserole dish large enough for the rice mixture. Spoon the salmon-rice mixture into the casserole dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

PRESENTATION

Unmold the kedgeree unto a serving platter. Garnish the top with rows of the chopped egg yolks, chopped onion, and chopped parsley. Garnish the platter with sprigs of parsley.
Serve with the lemon butter.

Krumkake cannoli  Print Recipe

Serves: 15

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

Krumkake is a thin, delicate embossed cookie of Norwegian origin. Typically the cookie is rolled into a cone while still warm and flexible. It can be served plain or filled with whipped cream or ice cream.

A classic Krumkake Iron with a traditional embossed pattern is used to make the wafers.
Also, see Pizzellis.
  • Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoons vanilla
  • preparation
Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy.
Stir in the remaining ingredients until smooth. Cook on a krumkake iron to form wafers.
Serve them cut in wedges, or while wafer is hot, shape into a cup over a glass or similar container. Store in an airtight container.
Spoon fruit, ice cream or chocolate mousse into cup.

Lacy almond-orange cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:8 minutes,

Anise seeds add a hint of licorice to these pretty lace crispy cookies made of ground almonds. Orange zest adds a citrus aroma.
Recipe adapted from Everyday Food.
  • Ingredients
1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds
3/4 teaspoon anise or fennel seed
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in middle and lower thirds. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a food processor, pulse almonds and anise seed until coarsely ground. Transfer mixture to a small saucepan. Add butter, sugar, honey, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high, stirring once to combine ingredients as butter melts. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in flour and zest. Working quickly, drop batter by teaspoonfuls, 2 1/2 inches apart, on sheets.
Bake until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.

Lemon curd  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
4 eggs
1 cup lemon juice
  • preparation
Melt butter in a double boiler. Add sugar, grated lemon rind, lemon juice. Stir to melt sugar.
Beat eggs in a mixing bowl until frothy.
Mix into lemon mixture. Return to double boiler, and cook and stir until thick. Ladle into jars, cover, and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate.

Lemon custard squares  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
CRUST:

1 cup flour
1 cup Graham wafer crumbs
1 cup coconut
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened

FILLING:
1 can (300 ml) condensed milk
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup lemon juice

TOPPING:
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Bottom crust:
Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well together. Press one half into an 8-inch square pan. Save remaining half of crumb mixture for the top.
Filling:
In a mixing bowl, combine milk, egg yolks and lemon juice. Beat 1 minute. Spread over bottom mixture.
Topping:
Beat egg whites and sugar until it reaches the consistency of meringue. Spread on top of filling. Spoon remaining crumbs mixture over top. Bake for about 25 minutes and until top is brown.

Lemon krumkake  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • preparation
Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy. Stir in the remaining ingredients until smooth.
Cook on pizzelli machine to form wafers, or while wafer is hot, shape into cup over a glass or similar container.

Lemon lavender cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 tsp. dried French lavender buds
3 cups flour
2 tsp. fresh grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp. water, as needed

Frosting:

4 Tbsp. well softened butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. milk or cream
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. dried French lavender buds, crushed
  • preparation

In a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind up the flowers for batter until a fine powder. Set aside.


Preheat oven to 350˚. Whip the butter until creamy, then add the sugar and whip until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla, lemon juice, lemon zest, lavender and mix well. With the mixer on low, add the flour and salt until well combined. Add the water, a little at a time, until the dough is just able to be shaped into two 12 " long log, about 3" in diameter. Wrap the logs in parchment, and chill for 2 hours or longer, or freeze over night.

Prepare the frosting before baking. Whip the butter until creamy, then whip in the sugar. As you are whipping it, add the vanilla and milk/cream until smooth, thick and creamy. You may need more than the tablespoon to get it to the right consistency. Add the crushed lavender flowers and mix well. Set aside.

Line baking sheets with parchment or wax paper. Slice up the cookie log into 1/4 inch slices with a serrated knife. Place them on a cookie sheet, a couple inches apart. Bake about 8 min. or so, just until the edges are starting to brown. Let cool on the baking sheets, then transfer them to a cooling rack. Once completely cool, frost with a thin layer of frosting.
You may wish to use a few extra crushed buds for garnish on top. Store the cookies in an airtight container between sheets of parchment paper.

Lemon meringue bites  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
For lemon curd
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs
12 tartlet shells
For meringue
3 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
  • preparation
Make lemon curd:
Cut butter into pieces and in a heavy saucepan cook with zest, lemon juice, and sugar over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved and mixture just comes to a simmer.
In a bowl whisk together eggs and whisk in lemon mixture until combined well.
Transfer lemon curd to pan and heat over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until it just begins to simmer. Pour lemon curd through a fine sieve into a bowl and cool slightly.
Chill lemon curd, its surface covered with plastic wrap, at least 2 hours, or until cold, and up to 3 days.
Fill tartlet shells in baking cups with lemon curd. Chill tartlets, covered, 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400°F.
Make meringue:
In a bowl with an electric mixer beat whites and cream of tartar until they hold soft peaks. Gradually add sugar, beating until meringue holds stiff peaks.
Transfer meringue to a pastry bag fitted with 1/2-inch plain tip and pipe meringue 2 inches high onto each tartlet, completely covering lemon curd.
Bake tartlets in middle of oven 3 minutes, or until meringue tips are just browned, and cool in cups on racks.
Chill tartlets in airtight containers at least 2 hours, or until cold, and up to 1 day.
Keep tartlets chilled until ready to serve.

Lemon pound cake loaf  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
grated rind of 2 lemons
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup milk
Glaze:
juice of 2 lemons mixed with
1/2 cup icing sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter and flour two 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pans.

In an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add lemon rind.
Combine flour, salt and baking powder. Mix into creamed mixture alternately with milk.
Transfer to prepared pan.
Bake 40-45 minutes.
Prick holes in top of hot loaf and pour glaze over. Cool 10 minutes in pan.
Unmold on platter.

Lemon shortbread cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 20

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/4 sticks) butter, softened
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons white sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl of an electric beater, combine flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, butter, lemon peel and lemon juice.
Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (2 to 3 minutes.) Shape the dough into a 14 by 1-inch cylinder.
Roll in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Wrap in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm.
With a sharp knife, cut the log into 1/4-inch thick slices. Place one inch apart on cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until set. (Cookies will not brown.) Cool on racks. Store in an airtight container.

Lemon souffles with macademia nut sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:16 minutes

These soufflés are great served individually after a fish entrée.
Recipe can be doubled if necessary.

  • Ingredients
For the molds:
1 tablespoon soft butter
1 tablespoon superfine sugar

For the soufflé mix:
3/4 stick (3 ounces) butter
1/3 cup flour
1 1/3 cups scalded milk
1/3 cup sugar
6 eggs, separated
1 tablespoon lemon peel, grated
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 recipe Macademia nut sauce (see recipe)

MACADEMIA NUT SAUCE

Recipe can be doubled or quadrupled if necessary.

serves 6 to 8
1/2 cup macadenia nuts
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier, or Cointreau
1/2 cup light cream


  • preparation
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter six 6-oz individual soufflé molds. Sprinkle the bottom and sides of molds with superfine sugar; shake out excess. Place dishes on a baking sheet.
In a heavy bottom saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the flour until smooth. Pour in the milk, and whisk over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Mix in the egg yolks and sugar. Mix in the lemon peel and juice. (I first grate the lemons for the peel, then make the juice with the grated lemons.)
The mixture can be made 3 to 4 hours ahead. Cover with plastic wrap.
In an electric mixing bowl, combine egg whites with the cream of tartar. Beat at high speed until thick and firm. With a rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the lemon mixture. Spoon the soufflé mixture into the prepared molds. Fill up to the rim, and level the mixture with a small spoon or spatula. Bake for 12 to 16 minutes. Sprinkle with icing sugar.
Serve with Macademia nut sauce.

MACADEMIA NUT SAUCE

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend at high speed until the sauce is smooth and medium thick. Transfer to a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Serve with lemon soufflés.

Lemon squares  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 35 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

For filling:

3 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/2 cup lemon juice
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix flour, butter and confectioners sugar. Press evenly in ungreased 8x8x2 inches pan, building up 1/2-inch edges.
Bake 20 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, beat remaining filling ingredients until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Pour over warm crust. Bake about 25 minutes or until center is firm. Cool. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar. Cut into 25 1-1/2-inch squares.

Lemon squares  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup flour
2 eggs, large
2 tbsps lemon zest
2 tbsps lemon juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

For the tart lemon glaze:
4 tbsps lemon juice
8 tsps lemon zest
1 rounded cup powdered sugar


  • preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with butter and set aside.
3. Zest and juice two lemons and set aside.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixture fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour, sugar, salt, and softened butter until combined.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined.
6. Pour it into the flour mixture and beat for 2 mins at medium speed until smooth and creamy.
7. Pour into baking dish and bake for 23-25 mins, should turn golden around the edges.
8. Allow to cool completely before glazing. Do not overbake, or the bars will dry.
9. Filter the powdered sugar and whisk with lemon zest and juice.
10. Spread 1/2 the glaze over the brownies with a rubber spatula and let glaze set.
11. Spread 1/2 the glaze over the bars, and let it set.
12. Cut into bars and serve.

Lemon tart with walnut crust  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 35 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 ounces butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup walnuts, finely ground
1 cup flour

Filling:
4 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup heavy cream
  • preparation
Beat the butter, sugar and egg yolk in an electric mixer.
Mix in the flour. Stir in the walnuts, mixing until dough comes together. Cover dough and chill.
Lightly oil a 9 1/2 inch tart pan. Roll dough to 1/3-inch thickness. Arrange in pan. Trim to fit.
Line crust with foil or parchment paper and weight with beans or pie weights.
Bake at 400 degrees until edge is light golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the beans and foil, and continue cooking until bottom is dry, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar. Add lemon juice and cream. Whisk until combined. Strain mixture into crust.
Bake tart at 350 degrees until filling is set, about 25 to 30 min. Cool at room temperature. Serve at room temp. or chilled.

Lemon-cranberry pound cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:60 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons grated lemon rind
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen, coarsely chopped

Glaze:
1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt or tube pan.
Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in vanilla and lemon rind. Combine flour, baking powder and salt.
Gradually add dry ingredients into mixture alternately with milk just until blended. Stir in cranberries.
Spoon batter into pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Combine the icing sugar and lemon juice until sugar dissolves.
Pierce cake all over with toothpick.
Spoon glaze evenly over top of cake.
Let cool on rack before removing from pan. Wrap and store at room temperature a day before serving.
If you prefer to make two loaves, divide batter between two 8 1/2x4 1/2 inch loaf pans.
Cake freezes well.

Lemon-glazed candied-ginger cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:14 minutes

Source : adapted from Martha Stewart.com
  • Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Salt
6 ounces (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped candied ginger
1 large egg
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup water
  • preparation
Sift flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt into a bowl. Cream butter and brown sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add ginger, and beat for 2 minutes.
Beat in egg and vanilla until well combined. Add flour mixture, and then beat on medium-low speed until dough just comes together.

Shape dough into two 1-inch-thick disks. Wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 3 days).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out 1 disk on a lightly floured surface to inch thickness, and cut out 2-inch circles. Place the rounds 1/2 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Roll out and cut scraps. Refrigerate rounds for 10 minutes.

Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are set and edges are light gold, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer parchment with cookies to wire racks. Let cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough. (Cookies can be stored for up to 3 days.)

Whisk confectioners' sugar, lemon zest and juice, honey, water, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the cooled cookies. Let stand until glaze is set, at least 20 minutes. (Glazed cookies can be stored overnight.)

Lemony lemon pound cake   Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes

Refreshingly tart and fragrantly lemony all the way through from the moist rich crumb to the hard lemony drizzle on top.
  • Ingredients
1 cup butter (227g)
1 cup sugar (215g)
2 lemons, zest of
3 eggs
1 3/4 all purpose flour (218g)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp milk

Lemon Sugar Syrup
1/2 cup sugar (100g)
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Lemon Zest Drizzle
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar (180g)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
zest of one lemon
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Butter a 9-inch by 4-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on both sides to allow you to pull cake from pan when done.

Add cubed butter, sugar and zest of two lemons to mixing bowl and beat at high speed until very light and fluffy. Add in eggs, one at a time, beating in thoroughly each time.

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add the half of flour mixture to butter egg mixture and mix at low speed until just combined. Add in milk and mix in. Add in the rest of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Pour into pan and smooth top. Bake 45 mins or until a knife stuck in comes out clean.

While cake is baking make the Lemon Sugar Syrup. Combine sugar and water in small pot and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Let cool to room temperature, then add in fresh lemon juice.

Leave the cake in the baking pan once out of the oven. Use skewer to poke holes through to cake bottom at 2 inches intervals. Pour about 1/2 -3/4 cup of sugar syrup over the cake, using a brush to help the syrup settle evenly. Let the cake sit in the pan until completely cool and syrup absorbed.

While cake is cooling make the Lemon Zest Drizzle. Shift powdered sugar into mixing bowl. Add lemon juice and zest and whisk until smooth.

Use a sharp knife to loosen cake from sides of pan and lift out using parchment paper overhang. Remove paper and place on serving plate. Pour drizzle evenly over cake and let set for 10-15 mins or until hardened.

Liége belgian waffles - gaufres de liége  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes

7 grams instant yeast = 1/4 ounce instant yeast = 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast = 21 grams fresh yeast


Pearl sugar (or sugar grains) makes all the charm of Liège waffles, because it brings crispness and gives an exceptional flavor to this waffle.

  • Ingredients
375 g of flour
180 g warm milk
30 g fresh baker's yeast or 1 tablespoon instant yeast
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon of fine salt
30g brown sugar
200 g softened sweet butter
250 g of pearled sugar
  • preparation
 In the bowl of the robot,mix the milk and the yeast.
    Add the flour, eggs, sugar brown sugar, a pinch of salt and knead to obtain an elastic paste.
    Add the butter and knead gently to incorporate the butter and have a homogeneous mixture.
    Cover the dough with film wrap and let the dough rise for 2 hours in a warm place.
    When the dough has at least doubled in volume, deflate and incoporate the pearled sugar.
    Using a pastry brush, grease the hot waffle plates.
  Spoon a large spoonful of dough into the waffle maker.
    Close the waffle iron and cook +/- 3 minutes until golden brown.

Light buttermilk pancakes  Print Recipe

Serves: 2

Preparation time:10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes

Makes 8 pancakes each 4″ in diameter. Recipe may be doubled
  • Ingredients
Pancakes dry Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp fine sea salt

Pancakes wet Ingredients:

1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 Tbsp light canola or olive oil, plus more as needed
  • preparation
In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix to combine.
In a separate medium mixing bowl, mix buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until blended. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk everything together by hand until just moistened.
While whisking, gradually add melted butter and stir until incorporated. The mixture will still be slightly lumpy. Do not overmix.

Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, or a griddle between 325-350˚F.
Add 2 Tbsp oil. Preheat the oven to 200˚F. for the cooked pancakes.

Add about 1/4 cup or a 2 oz ice cream scoop full of batter to the skillet for each pancake and cook about 3 minutes per side. Flip once the pancakes are golden brown on the first side and you see bubbles forming and popping on the surface.
Transfer pancakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in a 200˚F oven for up to 45 minutes or until ready to serve.

Lime curd and almond tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
For crust:
2/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
1/4 cup unsalted butter, soft

For filling:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 large eggs
1/2 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon grated lime zest

For compote:
3 cups bing cherries, diced
1 cup diced fresh pineapple
1/2 cup diced mango
2 diced apricots
2/3 cup raspberries
1 teaspoon sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Make crust:
Butter a 9-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim. Mix to a fine powder in a food processor, almonds, sugar, and salt. Combine with wafer crumbs and butter. Mix well. Line the bottom and sides of pan with the crust mixture.
Bake 10 minutes to a deep golden color.
Make filling:
In a heavy saucepan, cook sugar, butter, cornstarch, eggs, and lime juice over moderate heat, whisking until thickened and bubbly. Stir in zest and cool.
Filling may be made 2 days ahead. Spoon filling evenly into crust. Cover surface with buttered round of wax paper. Chill for at least 1 hour.
Make compote:
In a bowl, toss compote ingredients and let stand for 15 min. Remove sides of pan, and transfer to a plate.
Serve with the compote.

Lime meltaways  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:13 minutes

These cookies are perfect with margaritas or with a cup of tea.
  • Ingredients
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
Finely grated zest of 2 limes
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt


  • preparation
Put butter and 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add lime zest and juice and vanilla, and mix until fluffy.

Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl. Add to butter mixture, and mix on low speed until just combined.

Divide dough in half. Place each half on an 8-by-12-inch sheet of parchment paper. Roll in parchment to form a log 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Refrigerate logs until cold and firm, at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove parchment from logs; cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Space rounds 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake cookies until barely golden, about 13 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. While still warm (but not piping hot), toss cookies with remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Linzer cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes

For Valentines' Day, Make heart-shaped
Linzer cookie
  • Ingredients
1 cup (150 grams) whole almonds (blanched or natural)
2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) salt
Zest (outer yellow skin) of one small lemon
1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon (5 grams) pure vanilla extract
2 large (40 grams) egg yolks
Topping:
1/2 cup (60 grams) confectioners' (Icing or Powdered) Sugar
1/2 cup (120 ml) Raspberry or Black Currant Jam, well stirred
  • preparation
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) with the oven rack in the center of the oven. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake about 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from oven and once the nuts have cooled, place in a food processor, along with 1/4 cup (50 grams) white sugar, and process until finely ground.
In a separate bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, cinnamon, salt, and lemon zest.
In the bowl of an electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and remaining 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract and egg yolks. Finally, beat in the ground almonds and then the flour mixture. Divide the dough in half, cover each half with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm (30-60 minutes, or up to two days).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Remove one ball of dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch (.5 cm) thick. Using a 3 inch (7.5 cm) cookie cutter (round, square, heart, etc.) cut out the cookies. Place the cookies about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out the centers of half of the cookies on the baking sheet. Reroll any scraps and cut out the remaining cookies. Repeat with the second ball of dough. (Note: If you find the cookies are soft, place the baking sheets with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to chill the dough. This will prevent the cookies from spreading and losing their shape when baked.) Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Assemble Cookies: Place the cut out cookies on a baking sheet and lightly dust the tops with powdered sugar. Spread a thin layer of jam on the bottom surface of the full cookie (top of cookie will face out). Place the cut-out cookie on top and gently sandwich them together. Using a small spoon or a piping bag, fill the cut-out with a little more jam.
The filled cookies will soften when stored. If you want the cookies to stay crisp, assemble the day of serving. The assembled cookies can be stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for several days.

Madeleines  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
grated zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 ounces unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup milk

for the madeleine molds:
softened butter and flour

  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Brush the Madeleine molds with the softened butter. Dust with flour, then invert the mold to remove any excess of flour.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the sugar and eggs and beat with a whisk until creamy.
Add the lemon zest, flour and baking powder, and vanilla and whisk until blended.
Beat in the softened butter and then the milk. Set the mixture aside for 10 minutes.
Spoon the batter into the molds, filling each mold to the rim. Bake the madeleines for 12 to 15 minutes.
Unmold onto a cake rack and let cool.
Madeleines can be stored up to a week in an airtight container.

Maple blueberry muffins  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup fresh blueberries

Streusel topping:
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Grease a 12 cup muffin pan.
Streusel topping:
Stir together brown sugar, almonds, butter and cinnamon. Set aside. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In separate bowl, whisk together egg, maple syrup, milk and butter; pour over dry ingredients. Evenly sprinkle with blueberries; stir just enough to moisten dry ingredients and distribute blueberries. Spoon into muffin cups, filling two-thirds full.
Sprinkle with streusel topping .
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until tops are firm to the touch. Let cool in pan on rack for 3 minutes.
Transfer to rack and let cool completely.
Adapted from Canadian Living Magazine.

Maple wafers  Print Recipe

Serves: 16

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup melted butter, cooled
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon maple extract
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine shortening, butter, sugar, egg and maple extract.
Beat until thick and creamy. Combine the flour, cream of tartar and baking soda, and beat into the creamy mixture until smooth.
Using a teaspoon, spoon a teaspoonful onto a buttered baking sheet. Press with a wet glass bottom.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool and transfer to a rack.

marionberry pie  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 25 minutes

Marionberries, a type of blackberry hybrid developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Oregon State University, are glossy, black-purple, conical berries with a somewhat tart flavor (though sweeter than the traditional blackberry). The voluminous annual early summer crop results in abundant marionberry pies, jams, jellies and more sweet-tart concoctions. Once the cooked berries have turned a reddish color, you'll know your pie is done, complete with a sweet crumb topping to balance the berries' tartness.
  • Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup shortening
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Filling:
5 1/2 cups marionberries (if marionberries are not available, blackberries can be used)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup cornstarch

Topping:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Pinch kosher salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces

Vanilla ice cream, for serving
  • preparation
For the crust:
Put the flour, granulated sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a couple of times to mix. Add the shortening and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is coarse and a few pieces of butter are still visible. Add the apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons ice water. Pulse to combine. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough just comes together. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.
Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface about 11 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick, to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Place in the pie pan, trim and decoratively crimp the edges. Refrigerate while preparing the filling.
For the filling:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup marionberries with the granulated sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and cook until the berries begin to burst and the mixture is saucy, 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Allow to cool slightly. Combine the remaining 4 1/2 cups marionberries with the cornstarch in a large bowl. Add the cooled marionberry mixture to the bowl and gently fold them in.
For the topping:
Combine the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar and salt. Cut in the butter pieces using a pastry blender or your hands to form large crumbs.
Pour the filling into the prepared pie shell. Sprinkle the crumbs over the filling.
Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and continue baking until the crust is golden brown and the filling is thick, dark red and bubbly, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool completely before slicing. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Recipe courtesy of Treva Chadwell

Mashed butternut squash  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 (3 pound) butternut squash
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of pepper
  • preparation
Peel and cut squash into cubes. In large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook for 20 minutes or until tender.
Drain and return to pot. Mash with butter, salt and pepper.

Melting moments  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Mix flour, cornstarch, and sugar in a bowl. Blend in butter to form a soft dough.
If dough is too soft to handle, cover and chill.
Shape into 3/4-inch balls.
Roll in coconut.
Place 1 1/2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Meringue apple tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 9-inch unbaked pie shell
3 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 teaspoon butter, in small pieces
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 ounces powdered sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Fill the pie shell with apple slices. Scatter dots of butter over apples.
Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake until apples are cooked.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until medium stiff.
Continue beating and gradually add the sugar. Beat until firm.
Cover pie with meringue. Bake until meringue is golden brown.
Cool. Serve at room temperature.
I like it with cinnamon ice cream.

Meringue baked apples  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 large baking apples
2 ounces butter
3 ounces sugar
3 egg whites
4 ounces powdered sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel, and core the apples leaving the stem end closed.
Cream the butter with sugar.
Fill cavity of apples with butter mixture. Arrange in a baking dish.
Bake until apple are tender.
Beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until medium firm.
Gradually, add the sugar and continue beating until stiff.
Coat the apples with meringue.
Bake till brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Serve hot or cold.

Mini sweet tart shells  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
For this recipe you will need two mini-muffin pans, each containing twelve 1 3/4 x 1-inch cups.

2 1/4 sticks (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons ice water
1 teaspoon vanilla
  • preparation
Cut butter into bits. In a food processor pulse flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt until combined well and add butter, pulsing until mixture resembles coarse meal.
In a small bowl whisk together yolks, ice water, and vanilla until combined well and add to flour mixture, pulsing until incorporated.
Form dough into a ball and divide into 2 pieces.
Form each piece into a ball and flatten to form disks. Chill disks, wrapped separately in plastic wrap, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Form 1 dough disk into twenty-four 1-inch balls, keeping remaining disk wrapped and chilled.
Press dough balls into bottoms and up sides of twenty-four 1/8-cup mini-muffin cups (about 1 3/4 inches across top and 1 inch deep).
Trim any overhang with a knife and prick bottoms of shells with a wooden pick.
Chill shells 15 minutes, or until firm. Bake shells in middle of oven 12 minutes, or until golden, and cool in cups on racks.
Gently loosen shells with a knife and remove from cups, reserving shells for mini fruit tartlets and other confections.
Tartlet shells may be made 2 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

Naan  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time:40 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

You can prepare the dough in advance, just put it in the refrigerator instead of letting it rest for ½ hour. Before using, bring it back to room-temperature (½ hour will do).
  • Ingredients
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour (5.65 oz / 160 g)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon milk (50 ml)
2 tablespoons butter (1 oz / 27 g)
1/4 cup plain whole milk yogurt (2 1/3 oz / 65 g), you can also substitute greek yogurt or even sour cream
Optional: melted butter for brushing (Butter-Naan), 2 cloves of garlic, cut lengthwise (Garlic-Naan)
  • preparation
1. Mix flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl.
2. In a small saucepan, heat milk together with butter (in small pieces), until butter has melted. You can also do this in a microwave. Let the milk cool down slightly.
3. In a big bowl add yogurt and stir in warm (not hot!) milk until smooth.
4. Gradually, add the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon, until the ingredients come together.
5. With your hands, knead to a smooth dough. It’s best to first knead the dough in the bowl and later transfer to a lightly floured surface and keep kneading. If the dough is still sticky, add a little more flour.
6. Let the dough rest for ½ hour on a lightly-floured surface and put the empty bowl upside-down on top of it. Alternatively, let it rest in the bowl, covered with a lid or cling wrap. The longer the dough rests, the softer it gets and the easier it will roll out.
7. Split dough into 4 equal parts (it's best to use a kitchen scale), shape each into a ball and roll out.
8. Rotate the dough-disk while rolling, and flip it over occasionally. Sprinkle with flour every now and then, so it will not stick to your rolling pin or surface. When finished, the Naan should have an oval shape, 6’’ x 9’’ large and about 1/8 inch thick.
9. Preheat skillet or pan to medium high heat – but don’t add any oil.
10. Pick up the Naan, remove excess flour by slapping the dough between your hands and put it into the pan. Cook until bubbles have formed on top and the bottom side gets lightly nicely browned. Then flip, and cook until done, about 1 minute.
11. Wrap the ready Naans in a kitchen towel or place on a plate and cover with a kitchen towel or aluminum foil keeping them warm while baking the rest. That will also make the Naans really soft.
12. For Butter-Naan, brush each flatbread with melted butter, for Garlic-Butter-Naan rub bread with garlic cloves first and then brush them with butter. Enjoy!

Nanaimo bars  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:8 minutes

The Nanaimo bar is a dessert item of Canada origin popular across North America. It is a bar dessert which requires no baking and is named after the west coast city of Nanaimo, British Columbia.
  • Ingredients
bottom layer
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
5 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg, beaten
1 3/4 cups Graham crackers crumbs
3/4 cup fine coconut
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

second layer
1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons instant vanilla custard powder
2 cups icing sugar

third layer
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
  • preparation
bottom layer:
Melt butter, sugar, and cocoa in a heavy saucepan.
Add beaten egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat . Stir in crumbs, coconut and walnuts.
Press firmly into ungreased 9 by 9 inch pan.
Second layer:
Cream butter, milk, custard powder and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.
Third layer:
Melt chips and butter over low heat. Cool. When cool but still runny, spread over second layer. Chill in refrigerator. Cut into 36 squares.

Napoleon of peekey toe crab and apple  Print Recipe

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes

Recipe adapted from Le Bernadin, New York NY
  • Ingredients
3/4 pound peeky-toe or jumbo lump crab meat
1 Granny Smith apple
1 vine-ripened tomato
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon thinly sliced fresh chives
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 1/2 tablespoons sour cream
2 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 tablespoons milk
freshly ground white pepper

For tuiles:
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
1/2 cup rice flour
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/3 cup egg whites (from about 3 large eggs)
1/4 cup heavy cream

Garnish:
julienne strips of tomato,
sliced fresh chives, and curry powder

  • preparation
Pick over crab meat to remove any bits of shell and cartilage and if using lump crab meat lightly shred.
Peel and core apple and cut enough into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon.
Peel and seed tomato and cut enough into 1/4-inch dice to measure 1/3 cup. Reserve 1 tablespoon each diced apple and tomato for sauce and in a bowl combine crab meat, remaining diced apple and tomato, 1 tablespoon chives, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise, and 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, tossing to combine well. Chill filling.
In a bowl whisk together milk and remaining tablespoons lemon juice, sour cream, and mayonnaise and stir in reserved diced apple and tomato, remaining teaspoon chives, 1/2 teaspoon curry powder, and white pepper and salt to taste. Chill sauce while making tuiles.
Make tuiles:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small saucepan melt butter over moderate heat and cool slightly. In a bowl whisk together flours, sugar, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg and whisk in whites until just combined. Whisk in cream until just combined and whisk in butter until just combined. On a baking sheet spread 2 teaspoons batter in an arc shape. With a pastry brush spread batter into a 5-inch-long arc, about 1 1/2 inches wide.
Make 3 more arcs with some of remaining batter in same manner, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Bake tuiles in middle of oven until bubbly, crisp, and golden, 3 to 5 minutes.
Carefully transfer tuiles with a thin spatula to a rack to cool and make more tuiles in same manner. (There will be enough batter to make about 26 tuiles, more than you need for the napoleons; leftovers may be used as an hors d'oeuvre.)
Spoon 2 tablespoons filling onto a plate and top with a tuile. Make 2 more layers with 4 tablespoons filling and 2 tuiles. Make 3 more napoleons in same manner. Drizzle sauce around napoleons and garnish with tomato, chives, and curry powder.

No Bake chocolate cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes

Fun and easy to make with my kids Enjoy eating and baking them.
  • Ingredients
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup half and half or 15% cream
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup coconut flakes
2 cups quick oatmeal
  • preparation
In a thick bottom saucepan, combine sugar, cream, butter, vanilla and salt. Bring to a boil. Let boil for 3 minutes.
Stir in the cocoa powder.
Remove from heat and mix in the coconut and oatmeal.
Line a buttered cookie sheet with spoonfuls of the mixture.
Refrigerate. Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutty peach crisp  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
1 can (29 ounce) sliced peaches, undrained
1 package Betty Crocker Super Moist Butter Pecan Cake Mix
1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

  • preparation
Heat oven to 325 degrees F.
cut peaches into thin slices. Layer all ingredients in an ungreased rectangular pan (13x9x2). Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until top is golden brown.
Let stand at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm or cold, and if desired, top with whipped cream or cool whip, or ice cream.

Oatmeal lace cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

These crunchy cookies are wonderful on their own or when paired with your favorite ice cream.
Light and crisp oatmeal cookies make a pleasant alternative to heavier treats. Dip them in melted chocolate for a decadent, lacy crunch.
* see more comments below

  • Ingredients
1/2 cup all-purpose flour 6 1/2 tablespoons or (2 oz or 60 gr by weight)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup quick oats (NOT old fashioned)
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tbsp. heavy cream
2 tbsp. light corn syrup
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
  • preparation
1. Heat oven to 350°, 177 degrees C., gas 4.
Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; add oats, butter, cream, corn syrup, and vanilla, and mix until evenly combined.
2. Using a 1⁄4-tsp. measuring spoon, drop balls of dough 4 inches apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets or a Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat. Press the dough to a 1 1/2-inch round shape. Bake until spread and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let stand for a minute until firm enough to remove from baking sheet. Cool on rack.
*
The Oatmeal lace cookies recipe is one well researched by our team @wefacecook.com. The recipe is accurate. Be advised that many of the recipes 5 millions+ on google are mostly a guess evaluation and have not been tested giving disappointing results. For example, if you try those recipes made with ground almonds found on well-travelled sites, you will surely get “rock-tooth-braking” cookies. Others just do not produce the real lace cookies effect.
We have tracked the origin of the recipe. It is Scottish and arrived in Canada Gaspé Coast in Québec with the immigrants.
Follow the recipe as explained (accuracy in the measurement of flour is very important); and you will be happy with the results. Moreover, The cookies can be shaped into cups, and rolled into circular/round tubes.

Oatmeal raisin cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup Nestle's Quick powder
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
12 ounces miniature semisweet chocolate chips
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Into a bowl sift together flour, baking soda, and salt and stir in oats. In bowl of a standing electric mixer beat butter with sugars until light and fluffy.
Beat in Nestle's Quick until combined well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat in vanilla.
Add flour mixture, beating until just combined, and stir in chocolate chips.
Arrange rounded tablespoons of dough about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and bake in batches in middle of oven 12 minutes, or until golden.
Transfer cookies to racks to cool.

Oatmeal toffee cookies with dried cherries  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

A recipe adapted from marthastewart.com.
This oatmeal-cookie dough can be baked immediately, refrigerated for one to two days, or frozen for up to a month.
  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light-brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup toffee pieces, (5 1/2 ounces)
  • preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together flour and baking soda, and set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice during mixing.
Add egg, and mix on high speed to combine. Add vanilla extract; mix to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the sifted flour a bit at a time on a low speed until well combined. Add oatmeal, cherries, chocolate, and toffee pieces; mix to combine.
Divide dough into three equal portions, and roll into logs using plastic wrap, approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter. To bake, cut logs into 3/4-inch pieces. Bake on parchment-lined baking sheets, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and transfer to a baking rack to cool.

Old fashion rice crispies chocolate cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups rice crispies
1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together, butter and sugar. Beat in the egg.
Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Gradually mix into the creamy mixture.
Stir in rice crispies and chocolate chips. Spoon mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip.
Squeeze onto a cookie sheet about one inch apart.
Bake for 10 minutes. Transfer onto a rack and cool.

Old fashioned gingerbread cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:55 minutes

This recipe has stood the test of time, is trusted by generations of bakers, and it couldn’t be simpler to make. Enjoy this old fashioned gingerbread cake while it’s warm, with caramel sauce poured over, or vanilla ice cream (or both). It’s also delicious plain or with butter.
This recipe is adapted from crosbys.com
  • Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup soft butter
3/4 cup Crosby’s Fancy Molasses
1 egg
1 cup boiling water

For the Molasses Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp. Crosby’s Fancy Molasses
1 cup plus 3 tbsp. 35% cream (whipping cream)
1 tsp. pure vanilla
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 F
Grease and flour an 8”x 8” square pan (or line the pan with parchment paper.) *
Sift together dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Add the butter, molasses and egg and beat for two minutes.
Add the boiling water.
Beat for another two minutes and turn into prepared pan.
Bake 50-55 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
Molasses Caramel Sauce

Over medium heat, melt the butter, brown sugar and molasses in a heavy bottom medium size pot. (The pot needs to be tall enough to allow for foaming.)
When the mixture is incorporated, slowly add the cream.
Boil for 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Onion and cheese frittata  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
8 large eggs
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
3 large fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
3 large fresh sage leaves, minced
1 tsp. minced fresh rosemary
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup thinly sliced onion
1 cup diced Fontina cheese
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400°. Whisk first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl; set aside. Heat oil in a medium ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté until soft, about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in egg mixture. Spoon diced cheese evenly over.
Cook until frittata begins to set, about 2 minutes. Place in oven; bake until just set, 7-9 minutes. Slide the frittata onto a platter. Cut into wedges; serve hot or at room temperature.

Orange cake 1   Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
6 ounces butter
6 ounces sugar
3 eggs
6 ounces all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 ounces concentrated orange juice
3 ounces water

ICING:

6 ounces icing sugar
3 ounces concentrated orange juice
3 ounces water
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter and flour a 9-inch mold. Cream butter and sugar.
Whisk in the eggs one by one. While beating the cake batter, gradually add the flour mixed with the baking powder, alternating with the orange juice and water.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Unmold on platter.

ICING:

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan.
Boil, and pour over hot cake.

Orange soaked cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
For the cake:

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
10 oz. (2-1/4 cups) all-purpose flour; more for the pan
1 Tbs. vanilla extract
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup canola or other mild-flavored oil (check for freshness before using)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 oz. (12 Tbs.) unsalted butter, softened; more for the pan
1-1/2 Tbs. finely minced lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
3/4 cup strained fresh orange juice
5 large eggs


For the syrup & glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar, divided
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed


2 Tbs. dark rum
1 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
  • preparation
Heat the oven to 350F. Butter and flour a 10-inch tube pan or 12-cup bundt pan.

To make the cake:
Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and soda into the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Add the butter and mix on low speed until fine crumbs form. Change to the whisk attachment.
With the machine running on medium speed, whisk in the oil, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and orange juice.
Whisk in the eggs one at a time and then increase the speed to high and whisk the batter until light, about 3 minutes,
scraping the sides of the bowl if necessary.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.

To make the syrup and glaze:
While the cake bakes, whisk together in a small bowl the orange juice concentrate, butter, rum, and 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar.
When the cake is done, set the pan on a rack to cool for 5 minutes. With a thin skewer,
poke the cake all the way through to the bottom of the pan in several places.
Pour 1/3 cup of the syrup over the cake and let stand for 1 hour before removing the cake from the pan.
(At this point you can wrap the cake in plastic and hold for up to 3 days at room temperature; in fact, the flavor only improves.)
Cover the remaining syrup with plastic and store at room temperature.

When ready to serve, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar into the remaining syrup.
Set the cake on a rack over a baking sheet and pour the glaze over the cake.
Let stand for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Palmiers  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

Also known as Pig's ears or elephant ears (over-sized palmiers).
  • Ingredients
1 pound puff pastry dough (2 rectangle sheets)
1 tablespoon soft butter
1/2 cup superfine sugar
  • preparation
Thaw the puff pastry if frozen. Roll one sheet of dough on a lightly floured work surface to 1/4-inch thick. Spread butter over surface of pastry.
Sprinkle with one half of the sugar. Roll second pastry sheet to the same size as first. Place on top of first. Sprinkle remaining sugar over whole surface.
Fold as sketched bringing the ends to within 3/4 inch of each other. Repeat this folding as shown.
Slice into 1/4-inch- thick "palm leaves". Put leaves on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15 minutes. Turn cookies over with a spatula.
Continue baking until golden brown. Transfer palmiers on a rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.

Panettone  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time:2 hours

Cooking time:1 hour

This typical Italian dessert would have been the creation of a young baker whose name was Tony. To charm his Milanese girlfriend, he invented this dessert, that became "pan di Toni", the panettone
  • Ingredients
1 package (1 tablespoon) dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup water
1 pound all-purpose flour
4 ounces sugar
6 ounces unsalted butter, softened
6 eggs
1/4 cup lemon peel, diced
1/4 cup orange peel, diced
1 cup raisins
  • preparation

In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water and sugar. Stir well and allow to raise in a warm place. In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, combine flour, yeast mixture, sugar, butter, eggs. Mix dough at low speed until it becomes elastic and smooth and does not stick to sides of bowl.
Shape dough into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until triple in volume. Punch the dough. Again shape into a ball.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
To bake the panettone, I use an empty 2 pound coffee can lined with buttered brown paper.
On a floured surface, work the lemon and orange peel and raisins into the dough.
Drop dough in the prepared mold. Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Let dough rise at room temperature until triples in volume. Brush dough with warm milk.
Bake about 55 minutes to 1 hour.

Parker house rolls  Print Recipe

Serves: 20

Preparation time: 45 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 tablespoons warm water (105-110°F)
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4-oz package active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup whole milk
2 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 to 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • preparation
Stir together warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and yeast in a small bowl and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
Melt 3/4 stick butter in a small saucepan. Add milk and heat to lukewarm. Stir together yeast mixture, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, butter mixture, bread flour, and salt in a bowl with a wooden spoon until combined well, then stir in enough all-purpose flour to make a slightly sticky dough that forms a ball.

Butter a large bowl. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, kneading in more all-purpose flour if dough is too sticky, 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic but still slightly sticky. Form into a ball and put in buttered bowl. Turn to coat with butter, then let rise in bowl, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Butter a 13- by 9-inch baking pan. Divide dough into 20 equal pieces and roll into balls. Arrange evenly in 4 rows of 5 in pan and let rise, covered loosely, in a warm place 45 minutes, or until almost doubled in bulk. Make a deep crease down center of each row of rolls using length of a floured chopstick or side of a ruler. Let rolls rise, covered loosely, 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°F.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cool slightly. Brush tops of rolls with butter and bake in middle of oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let rolls cool in pan on a rack 5 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool to warm.

Parmesan and thyme crackers  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • preparation
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter for 1 minute. With the mixer on low speed, add the Parmesan, thyme, salt, and pepper and combine. With the mixer still on low, add the flour and combine until the mixture is in large crumbles, about 1 minute. If the dough is too dry, add 1 teaspoon water.

Dump the dough onto a floured board, press it into a ball, and roll into a 9-inch log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 4 days.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the log into 3/8-inch-thick rounds with a small, sharp knife and place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 22 minutes, until very lightly browned. Rotate the pan once during baking. Cool and serve at room temperature.

Pate sablée  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

The French often use this classic crust for tarts. The Pâte Sablée is rich and crumbly, (Sablé is the French word for sandy).
If the dough feels too firm when you're ready to roll it out, let it stand at room temperature for a few minutes. If, on the other hand, the dough becomes soft and sticky while rolling, don't hesitate to re-chill it until it becomes easier to work with. Better to rechill than to add too much flour, which will damage the delicate, crisp texture of the dough.
Bake the tart shell in a 9- to 9 ½-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and fluted sides about 1 to 1 1/8 inches high.
  • Ingredients
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
  • preparation
1. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes; mix in vanilla. Add the flour and the salt, and mix on medium-low speed until just combined and crumbly, about 15 seconds (do not overmix).
Pat the dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days, or freeze up to 1 month.

2. Unwrap dough; lightly flour large sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap and place dough in center. Roll out dough and line tart pan. Freeze dough 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, adjust one oven rack to upper-middle position and other rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 375 degrees. Place chilled tart shell on cookie sheet; press 12-inch square of foil inside tart shell and fill with metal or ceramic pie weights.
Bake on lower rack 30 minutes, rotating halfway through baking time. Carefully remove foil and weights by gathering edges of foil and pulling up and out.
Transfer cookie sheet with tart shell to upper rack and continue to bake until shell is golden brown, about 5 minutes longer.
Use this tart shell for fruit tarts, and pies that do not require baking as the shell is already cooked.

Pâte sucrée  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

The French often use this classic crust for tarts. The sweet pastry pie crust known as Pâte Sucrée is light and crisp. If the dough feels too firm when you're ready to roll it out, let it stand at room temperature for a few minutes. If, on the other hand, the dough becomes soft and sticky while rolling, don't hesitate to rechill it until it becomes easier to work with. Better to rechill than to add too much flour, which will damage the delicate, crisp texture of the dough.
Bake the tart shell in a 9- to 9 ½-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and fluted sides about 1 to 1 1/8 inches high.
  • Ingredients
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon cold cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour for dusting
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon table salt
4 ounces, 1 stick cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • preparation
1. Whisk together yolk, cream, and vanilla in small bowl; set aside. Pulse to combine 1 1/4 cups flour, sugar, and salt in bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade. Scatter butter pieces over flour mixture; pulse to cut butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse meal, about fifteen 1-second pulses. With machine running, add egg mixture and process until dough just comes together, about 25 seconds. Turn dough onto sheet of plastic wrap and press into 6-inch disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or freeze up to 1 month.
2. Unwrap dough; lightly flour large sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap and place dough in center. Roll out dough and line tart pan. Freeze dough 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, adjust one oven rack to upper-middle position and other rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 375 degrees. Place chilled tart shell on cookie sheet; press 12-inch square of foil inside tart shell and fill with metal or ceramic pie weights. Bake on lower rack 30 minutes, rotating halfway through baking time. Carefully remove foil and weights by gathering edges of foil and pulling up and out. Transfer cookie sheet with tart shell to upper rack and continue to bake until shell is golden brown, about 5 minutes longer.
Use this tart shell for fruit tarts, and pies that do not require baking as the shell is already cooked.

Peach and cream dessert   Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes


  • Ingredients
Crust:
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup brown sugar

Add melted butter to crumbs and sugar. Reserve 1/2 cup.
Press into 9 by 13" pan.
Filling:
2 14-ounce cans sliced peaches (Reserve juice plus water to make 2 cups)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
8-ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup whipping cream
  • preparation
Combine peaches, juice, water, sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Heat and stir until it thickens. Let cool. Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until fluffy.
Beat cream until stiff. Fold into cream cheese mixture. Spread half of mixture on prepared crust.
Spoon thickened peaches on top. Spread second half of cheese mixture over top. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs and chill.

Peach cake pudding  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
8 cups peeled, thickly sliced peaches
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

topping:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1/3 cup milk
  • preparation
In bowl, combine peaches, sugar, juice and nutmeg.
Spoon into 11 X 7 inch baking dish.
Topping:
In bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in orange rind and vanilla.
In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Stir half into batter; stir in milk, then remaining flour mixture.
Spread over fruit.
Bake in 375 oven for 50 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Peach cobbler #1  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
8 cups peeled, thickly sliced peaches
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

topping:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1/3 cup milk
  • preparation
In bowl, combine peaches, sugar, juice and nutmeg.
Spoon into 11 X 7 inch baking dish.
Topping:
In bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in orange rind and vanilla.
In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Stir half into batter; stir in milk, then remaining flour mixture.
Spread over fruit.
Bake in 375 oven for 50 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Peach crisp  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
Filling Ingredients
3 lbs ripe but firm peaches (6-7), peeled, pitted, and sliced into 3/4″ wedges.
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch salt
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of ground nutmeg
Crumb Topping
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
6 tablespoons cold butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Serve with vanilla or peach ice cream
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 F.
For peach filling, gently combine peaches and sugar in a large bowl and let stand for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. Drain peaches in a colander set over a large bowl, reserving the peach juices. Whisk 1/4 cup of the drained peach juice, cornstarch, lemon juice, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in small bowl. (Save the rest of the excess peach juice in a smoothie or reduce over medium heat until concentrated and serve with the peach crisp )
Toss juice mixture with peaches and transfer to an 8 or 9 inch square pan that’s been buttered or sprayed with cooking spray.
For topping, combine oats, brown sugar, flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon and either grate the cold butter with a large-hole cheese grater, or cut it into small cubes and use your fingers to crumble the mixture together. Sprinkle topping evenly over pan.
Bake for about 30 minutes. The topping should look golden brown, crisp, and bubbly around the corners. Let cool to lukewarm before serving. Spoon over ice cream.

Peanut butter coconut pudding  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup soft butter
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup molasses
2 cups white flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
grated rind of 1 orange
3 1/2 ounces flaked coconut
  • preparation
In a bowl, mix peanut butter, sugar and butter. Stir in egg. Add milk and molasses. Stir in remaining ingredients. Grease and flour a 1 1/2 quart steamed pudding mold or soufflé mold. Fill with pudding mixture and cover loosely with a piece of greased foil. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a pan of water into the oven. Place pudding into water and bake for 1 hour. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Tap to loosen and invert onto serving platter. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, hard sauce or custard sauce.

Peanut crisps  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts ( 5 ounces)
1 stick ( 4 ounces) butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a food processor, pulse the peanuts until finely ground.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in the egg well.
Stir in the ground peanuts, then stir in the flour and baking powder until just combined.
Drop heaping spoons of the batter about 2 inches apart on large ungreased cookie sheets. Bake the cookies, 1 sheet at a time, for about 8 minutes, until golden brown.
Let the cookies cool on the sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cooled cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Pear apple crisp  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes

Pears and apples team together in the Fall for this easy crisp dessert
  • Ingredients
6 cups chopped, cored and peeled pears
2 cups shopped, cored and peeled apples
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Topping:
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/3 cup salted butter melted
  • preparation
Topping: In small bowl, whisk together oats, sugar, flour and nutmeg; drizzle with butter, tossing with fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over pear mixture.

Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 45 minutes until the topping is golden brown. Remove from the oven, place on a wire rack, and allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, room temperature, or cold. Cover leftovers and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Pear tart tatin  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cans (1-lb, 14-oz size) pear halves
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon butter
1 9-inch puff pastry circle
1 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Drain pears. Caramelize sugar with ¼ cup water until golden brown.
Pour caramel into the bottom of an 8½-inch round baking dish. Arrange pears, rounded side down on caramelized sugar.
Top with a second layer. Dot with butter. Bake 25 minutes. Bake pastry circle for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Place circle over pears.
Place serving plate over the top of pastry circle. Invert; remove baking dish.
Whip cream with sugar until firm. Garnish pears with whipped cream rosettes.

Pecan crescents  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour confectioner's sugar to coat

  • preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy.
Add pecans and mix until blended. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour just until blended.
Wrap dough and chill until firm enough to handle, at least 2 hours. Have cookie sheets ready.
Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. On lightly floured board, form each piece into a 1/2 -inch thick rope, then cut into 1 1/2 -inch lengths.
Taper ends. Then bend into crescent shapes. Place 1-inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 12-15 minutes until light golden and firm. While warm, roll in confectioners' sugar to coat.
Let cool on racks. Store tightly covered up to 3 weeks.

Perfect roasted turkey  Print Recipe

Serves: 18

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:4 hours


  • Ingredients
1 18-pound fresh turkey
About 12 cups of your favorite stuffing
8 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature (1 stick)
Salt and freshly milled black pepper
2 1/2 quarts Homemade Turkey Stock, or more as needed
unsalted butter, melted as needed
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
OPTIONAL:
1/3 cup port, dry sherry, or bourbon
  • preparation

1. Position a rack in the lowest position of the oven and preheat to 325° F.
2. Reserve the turkey neck and giblets to use in gravy or stock. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat the turkey skin dry. Turn the turkey on its breast. Loosely fill the neck cavity with stuffing. Using a thin wooden or metal skewer, pin the neck skin to the back. Fold the turkey's wings akimbo behind the back or tie to the body with kitchen string. Loosely fill the large body cavity with stuffing. Place any remaining stuffing in a lightly buttered casserole, cover and refrigerate to bake as a side dish. Place the drumsticks in the hock lock or tie together with kitchen string.
3. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Rub all over with the softened butter. Season with salt and pepper. Tightly cover the breast area with aluminum foil. Pour 2 cups of the turkey stock into the bottom of the pan.
4. Roast the turkey, basting all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan (lift up the foil to reach the breast area), until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh (but not touching a bone) reads 180°F and the stuffing is at least 160°F, about 4 ¼ hours. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 ½ cups at a time. Remove the foil during the last hour to allow the breast skin to brown.
5. Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before carving. Increase the oven temperature to 350°F. Drizzle ½ cup turkey stock over the stuffing in the casserole, cover, and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a heatproof glass bowl or large measuring cup. Let stand for 5 minutes, then skim off and reserve the clear yellow fat that has risen to the top. Measure ¾ cup fat, adding melted butter if needed. Add enough turkey stock to the skimmed drippings to make 8 cups total.
7. Place the roasting pan in two stove burners over low heat and add the turkey fat. Whisk in the flour, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the turkey stock and the optional bourbon. Cook, whisking often, until the gravy has thickened and no trace of raw flour taste remains, about 5 minutes. Transfer the gravy to a warmed gravy boat. Carve the turkey and serve the gravy and the stuffing alongside.

perfect white cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

Recipe can be doubled.
Bring all your ingredients to room temperature or even a little warm (eggs, milk, butter, ) to ensure your batter does not break or curdle.
Use a scale to weigh your ingredients for accuracy.
  • Ingredients
4 oz (125g) unsalted butter room temp
7 oz (200g) sugar
3 large egg whites room temp
7 oz (200 g) All Purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
5 oz milk room temp
1 oz vegetable oil
  • preparation
Preheat your oven to 335ºF. Cover the bottom of one 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper. Butter and flour bottom and sides of cake pan.
Combine milk, oil and extracts and set aside
Combine flour, baking powder and salt and set aside
Place butter in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and cream until smooth. Sprinkle in sugar and then mix on high until light and white (about 5 minutes).
Add the egg whites at room temperature one at a time to the butter mixture while mixing on low and let fully combine after each addition before adding the next.
Add in 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the egg/butter mixture and mix on low until just combined. Then add in 1/2 of the liquids, then dry, then liquids and the rest of the dry.
Mix until just combined.
Add batter into prepared cake pan and bake at 335º F for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.
Let cool ten minutes then turn out cake onto a cooling rack. Wrap warm and place into the freezer to flash chill. This locks in the moisture. Once cool but not frozen you can then trim off the brown edges of the cake and frost as desired. Chill cake.

Pizzellis  Print Recipe

Serves: 15

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

A Pizzelle is a traditional Italian sugar cookie served plain or rolled into a cone and filled with fruit or ice cream.
They can be formed into cups by draping the freshly cooked hot pizzelli over the bottom of a small glass or a similar container. They can also be shaped into ice-cream cones. See also Sicilian cannoli recipe
  • Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoons vanilla
  • preparation
Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy.
Stir in the remaining ingredients until smooth. Cook on an electric pizzelli machine to form wafers: Preheat pizzelli maker.
Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter onto the center of the baking surface.
Close iron and gently squeeze together.
Bake for about a minute.

Cookies are baked when golden brown.
Remove from the iron with a spatula and roll-up into a cone, using the wooden rolling cone tool included. Remove and allow to cool.
Serve them cut in wedges, or while wafer is hot, or shape into a cup over a glass or similar container. Store in an airtight container.
Spoon fruit, ice cream or chocolate mousse into cup.

Plum crumb cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
18 large Italian plums
4 ounces butter, unsalted

3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
3 egg yolks
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Topping:
1 1/4 cups flour, all purpose
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
4 ounces unsalted butter
  • preparation
Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Rinse, and pit plums. Cut in halves and set aside.
Butter a 10 inch round cake pan, 2 inch deep with a removable bottom.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the butter, and sugar until creamy.
Add egg and egg yolks until creamy and light. Beat in vanilla.
Stir flour and baking powder into the batter.
Spread batter in prepared pan.
Arrange plums on batter, cut side up in concentric rows, overlapping slightly, leaving a margin of about an inch around the edge.

Topping:
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon.
Rub mixture to coarse crumbs. Melt butter and stir in.
Scatter crumbs over plums.
Bake for 1 hour or until center is firm.
Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes.

Plum frangipane tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 10 minutes


  • Ingredients
For pastry:
1 recipe Quick and easy pie crust

for frangipane:
3/4 cup toasted almond slivers
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons flour
1 large egg
1 teaspoon Brandy
1 pound pitted plums

  • preparation
Pastry:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough inch thick to fit an 8 inch fluted removable-bottom tart pan. Cover with parchment paper, fill the center with weights, and bake until the edges start to brown. Remove weights and paper. Bake crust for 15 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool.
For Frangipane:
Mix almonds in a food processor to obtain a powder. In a mixing bowl, beat 1/2 cup sugar and butter until smooth. Mix in almonds and flour. Add egg and brandy and blend well. Spread evenly in crust. Overlap plum slices atop filling, covering completely. Sprinkle plums with additional sugar.
Bake tart until filling is brown and set and plums are tender, about 50 minutes. Cool on rack at least 15 minutes. Serve tart with sweetened whipped cream.

Poached eggs florentine  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

Hollandaise may be substituted with cream sauce. Sprinkle with grated Swiss cheese and brown under broiler.
  • Ingredients
10 ounces fresh or frozen spinach
1 cup medium-thick cream sauce
6 toasted muffin halves
6 artichoke bottoms, cooked
1 cup Hollandaise
6 poached eggs
  • preparation
Cook and drain spinach, pressing dry. Mix spinach with cream sauce. Spoon cream spinach over toasted muffins.
Place steamed artichoke bottoms on top of spinach. Top with the hot poached eggs. Spoon the warm hollandaise sauce over eggs.

Pogne de romans  Print Recipe

Serves: 14

Preparation time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes

The uncommon ingredient in the Romans loaf, is orange flower water, a distillation of the blossom of the bitter orange tree.
  • Ingredients
For Starter:
2 teaspoons dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (105-115 degrees F.)
1 cup flour

For dough:
6 cups flour
6 eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup rum or brandy
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons water
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup orange flower water (0r 4 teaspoons orange extract)
8 ounces soft butter

glaze:
1 egg
1 teaspoon milk
  • preparation
Cut two 16 inch round parchment paper disks to fit under each pogne. Butter each disk. Place on baking sheet. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water.
Stir in flour to make a soft dough. Let dough rise in covered bowl at room temperature (70-75 F) to double in bulk. On a working surface, form a well with 1 1/2 cups flour. Break 4 eggs in center. Bring the flour and eggs together to form a mass.
Turn dough to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat 2 to 3 minutes at medium speed.
Batter will be smooth and light golden yellow. Add, rum or brandy, sugar and 2 teaspoons water. salt and orange flower water and stir in.
Gradually add butter while mixing. When all the butter has been stirred in, add remaining eggs and blend well at medium speed. Knead the rest of flour, one cup at the time until dough is soft and elastic. Form dough into a ball. Return to the large bowl. Cover with plastic.
When the starter has developed, it is added to the larger ball of yellow dough. Place the yellow dough on the working surface and flatten. Spread the starter dough over it. Fold over the yellow dough to envelop the starter dough.
Work and knead together to form a smooth dough with no streaks of color remaining. Place dough in a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and leave at room temperature until nearly doubled in volume. Turn dough onto work surface.
Divide into 2 pieces. Form each into a ball. Flatten the ball so the pogne is about 8 inches in diameter.
Press a thumb down in the center. With the fingers, open a hole about 4 inches across. Place pogne on the prepared paper disk on baking sheet. Repeat for second piece. Cover with wax paper and let rise at room temperature free of draft for about 21/2 hours. Brush with glaze. With a razor blade, make 3 connecting cuts on top of each pogne to form a triangle.
Bake at 350 degrees until crust is a deep glistening brown.

Polenta fries  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time:10 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

polenta or cornmeal
They're used interchangeably. Yet polenta is a dish, and cornmeal is an ingredient — often the main ingredient in that dish. Hailing from northern Italy, polenta was originally a meal of any grain, coarsely ground and slow-cooked in liquid until softened.
  • Ingredients
1 cup quick-cook polenta (190g)
3 ⅓ cups chicken or vegetable stock (800ml)
4 tbsp butter (60g)
½ cup freshly grated parmesan (30g)
2 sprigs fresh rosemary finely chopped
2 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp salt
Pinch of pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
  • preparation
Add the stock to a medium sized pot and bring to a boil.
Once boiling turn the heat down to a simmer and slowly add the polenta whilst stirring until all the polenta is fully incorporated.
Next, add the butter, parmesan, herbs and salt and stir until the butter has melted and the polenta has thickened slightly (2-3 minutes).
Pour the cooked polenta into a lined baking dish (10x8 inch) and spread it out evenly. Let the polenta cool completely then chill in the fridge covered with plastic wrap for 1-2 hours or overnight.
Pre-heat the oven to 430F/220C.
Once chilled and completely set, remove the polenta from the tray and cut into fries.
Place the fries on a baking tray and brush with olive oil. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Serve as a side or appetizer.

Pompano almondine  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup sliced almonds
6 fillets of pompano, boned
1/2 teaspoon salt pepper
1/4 cup flour
6 ounces butter
3 ounces oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
lemon slices
  • preparation
Spread sliced almonds on a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Skin the pompano fillets. Wash under cold running water. Season both sides with salt and pepper . Dredge in flour.
Heat 2 ounces of the butter and oil in a large skillet and brown the fish. Turn the pompano and cook until the flesh is tender. Arrange the fillets on a serving platter.
Melt the remaining butter in a clean frying pan until brown. Add the lemon juice to melted butter and pour over the fish.
Sprinkle with the parsley and sliced toasted almonds.
Decorate with lemon slices. Decorate with lemon slices and serve immediately.

Pompano meuniere  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
6 fillets of pompano, boned
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup flour
6 ounces butter
3 ounces oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
6 lemon slices
  • preparation
Skin the pompano fillets. Wash under cold running water. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Dredge in flour.
Heat 2 ounces of the butter and oil in a large skillet. Brown the fish on one side.
Turn the pompano and cook until the flesh is tender. Arrange the fillets on a serving platter.
Melt the remaining butter in a clean frying pan until brown. Add the lemon juice to melted butter and pour over the fish.
Sprinkle with the parsley. Decorate with lemon slices.
Decorate with lemon slices and serve immediately.

Pompano with mango beurre blanc  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
6 fillets of pompano, boned
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup flour
6 ounces butter
3 ounces oil

For mango beurre blanc:

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons dry white wine
2 tablespoons shallots, finely chopped
1 tablespoon heavy cream
4 ounces unsalted butter, cold
salt and ground white pepper to taste
1 tablespoon orange juice
2 tablespoons puréed mango
  • preparation
Skin the pompano fillets. Wash under cold running water. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Dredge in flour.
Heat 2 ounces of the butter and oil in a large skillet and brown the fish. Turn the pompano and cook until the flesh is tender. Arrange the fillets on a serving platter. Keep hot.

Mango beurre blanc:
In a small heavy pan, boil the vinegar, wine and shallots until all liquid is reduced. Add the cream, and re-boil until completely reduced.
Whisk in the cold butter, a few pieces at the time. The sauce thickens and becomes creamy. Stir in the orange juice and mango puree.
Note:
do not overheat the sauce, as the sauce separates and loses its creamy texture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep the sauce warm over a pan of warm water. Serve as soon as possible.

Poppy seed chocolate torte  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:45 minutes

30 minutes
  • Ingredients
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup poppy seeds, ground (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 tablespoons flour
powdered sugar
whipped cream
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Generously butter and flour 9-inch springform pan.
Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring chocolate until smooth.
Remove chocolate from over water.
Cool chocolate 10 minutes. Beat 3/4 cup sugar, butter and vanilla extract to blend.
Add egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add melted chocolate; beat until just combined. Mix in poppy seeds.
Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.
Fold half of beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture.
Fold flour into remaining beaten whites. Fold egg white mixture into chocolate mixture.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Spread to level.
Bake until tester inserted in center of torte comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer pan to rack and cool completely.
Remove pan sides.
Sift powdered sugar over torte. Serve with whipped cream.

Potage parisien  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes

Leek and potato soup
  • Ingredients
1 pound leek, white part only
3 ounces butter
3 quarts chicken broth
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and diced
2 ounces butter
1 cup croutons
  • preparation
Wash and mince leeks. Heat butter in a large frying pan. Add leeks and sauté over low heat. Do not color.
In a large saucepan, combine leeks, chicken broth, and potatoes. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Serve hot with croutons.

Potato anna  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:50 minutes


  • Ingredients
8 large baking potatoes
1/3 cup clarified butter
To taste salt and pepper
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Peel potatoes and trim to conical shapes. Slice into 1/8-inch thick slices, using a mandoline slicer.
Butter a non stick heavy round mold or a non stick frying pan with a metal handle, about 6 inches across and 2 inch deep.
Arrange potato slices in an even circular pattern. Season and brush with melted butter each layer of potatoes until mold is filled. Cover and bake until potatoes are cooked and well browned.
Unmold on a serving platter like a cake. Cut into 6 equal wedges.

Potato cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
5 pounds potatoes
5 slices bacon
4 ounces butter
2 ounces chopped onion
to taste salt
  • preparation
Boil the potatoes in their skin in salted boiling water.
Peel potatoes when cool then grate coarsely.
Cut bacon slices across into small pieces. Fry until crisp. Saute onions with butter.
Add the potatoes and bacon bits. Season with salt. Mix well while turning the potatoes. Brown both sides of the potato cake and serve hot.

Potato macaire  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 30 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 pounds baking potatoes
4 ounces butter
To taste salt and pepper
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Wash and dry potatoes. Pierce skin before baking. Bake potatoes for about one hour, or until the inside of potatoes is cooked.
Cut potatoes lengthwise, Remove pulp and reserve in a mixing bowl. Break the pulp with a fork; season with salt and pepper, and mix in 4 ounces butter.
Lightly oil 2 small potato Anna molds or 8 4-inch round by 2-inch molds. Divide the potato mixture between molds to form two potato cakes.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Unmold on platter. Serve hot.

Potatoes fondantes  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
5 pounds potatoes
4 ounces butter
1 quart chicken broth
salt to taste
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel and wash potatoes. Shape into the size of whole walnuts. Wash and put in a roasting pan in one layer.
Cover the potatoes half way with the broth. Bring to a boil on top of the stove. Add 2 ounces butter.
Place in the oven. Cook until potatoes are tender. Brush occasionally some melted butter over potatoes. Season with salt.

Praline lace cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 35 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

These delicate cookies are great by themselves with a nice cup of tea or coffee. And can be shaped into cups while they are still hot and pliable and filled with fruit, mousses, etc.
  • Ingredients
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 ounces (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • preparation
In a small bowl, combine the pecans and flour. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and stir the dry ingredients into a pan. Transfer the batter to a bowl and stir occasionally until it thickens into a dough and is cool enough to handle, about 25 minutes.

With moistened hands, roll the dough into various size balls, depending on whether you're making cookies, cups or coronets (see below). Place on ungreased baking sheets, 3 to 7 inches apart, depending on size-they spread quite a bit.
Bake about 12 minutes, or until the active bubbling subsides.
Place the baking sheet on rack and let cool until the cookies are firm enough to lift with a flexible metal spatula.

Profiteroles  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

Profiteroles are small cream puffs.
  • Ingredients
1 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
4 large eggs

For filling:
2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 tablespoon instant vanilla or chocolate pudding
  • preparation
Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a saucepan. Stir in flour all at once. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture no longer sticks to pan and forms into a ball. Remove from heat. Beat eggs in thoroughly, one by one. Beat mixture until smooth. Spoon cream puff mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a plain tube and pipe the equivalent of a teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheet leaving 2 inches apart. Bake until puffed, golden brown and dry about 15 to 20 minutes.
FILLING:
Whip the cream with sugar and instant pudding until stiff. Fill the small puffs with cream using a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tube. Other fillings can be used (ice cream, chocolate or vanilla pudding).

Puree of celery root  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds potatoes
3/4 pound celery root
salt to taste
4 tablespoons butter
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 cup hot milk
  • preparation
Peel and quarter potatoes. Put in cold water. Peel celery root. Cut into chunks.
Cook potatoes and celery in a kettle with salted boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes.
Puree through food mill. Whip in butter, nutmeg and hot milk.
Serve hot.

Quick and easy pie crust  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 5 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups All Purpose flour
1/2 cup (4 ounces) cold butter
1/4 cup cold water
1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)
  • preparation
In a food processor, process all ingredients until dough clumps together. Roll out dough on a floured surface and transfer to 9 inch tart pan.

Quick pastry crust  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:5 minutes

Make several disks of dough at once and freeze what you don’t need. For best results, use a grater to coarsely shred the butter.
For a Sweet Pastry Crust, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of fine sugar.
  • Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter,frozen and grated
1 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon fine salt
3 tablespoons ice water, approximately
  • preparation
1.In the cold bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, flour, and salt. Mix on slow speed just until the butter is blended with flour
2.Add just enough of the water to moisten the dough enough so that it forms a ball.
3.Remove the dough from the bowl, gather the dough together with your hands and flatten it into a disk. Enclose in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the butter to firm and the gluten to relax. (This dough may also be frozen.)
4.Roll the dough out to 1/8- to ¼-inch thick.
5.Fold the pastry in half and carefully position it over a tart pan. Unfold, carefully easing the pastry into the corners of the tart pan
6.Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to reset the butter
7.To prebake the shell, line the pastry carefully with foil and fill the liner with aluminum pie weights or dried beans
8.Bake at 425º for 10-20 minutes, remove the liner with the pie weights (also called a “blind”), and continue baking for 4 minutes for a partially baked crust or for 10 minutes for a fully baked crust. The bottom should be totally set and the pastry beginning to color. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
Makes just enough dough for a 9- to 10-inch, shallow, removable-bottom tart pan or regular depth pie pan.

Raspberry delight  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar

3 egg whites
1 pgk (8 ounces) (300 g) raspberries in syrup, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 pint whipped cream
  • preparation
Mix the flour, butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl to obtain a crumbled mixture
Spread unto a baking pan.
Bake in 350 degree oven, stirring often until golden brown. Press half of the crumb mixture in bottom of a 10-inch springform pan.

In bowl of an electric stand mixer, combine egg whites, raspberries, sugar and vanilla.
Whisk on medium speed until mixture is thick and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
Fold in the whipped cream and spoon into pan.
Level mixture with a spatula. Spread remaining crumb mixture over. Freeze for about 6 hours, or until firm.
Serve with raspberry sauce.
Recipe by Hanne Barter

Raspberry pie  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 recipe never fail pie crust
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons melted butter
4 cups fresh raspberries
  • preparation
Roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, drape it over a rolling pin, and fit it into a 9-inch shallow pie pan.
Press the dough firmly into the pan and cut off any excess with the floured rolling pin. Save leftover dough for top.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch and a pinch of salt. Gently blend in raspberries and melted butter.
Fill in prepared pie crusts. Cover top with pie crust, or lattice. Pierce hole in center. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Cool on rack and refrigerate.

Raspberry squares  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons icing sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 cup raspberry jam
1 egg
1 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons melted butter
2 cups angel flake coconut
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar and butter. Beat in the egg and milk.
Spoon and press into a buttered 9-inch square pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Spread raspberry jam over warm crust. In a medium mixing bow, beat the egg with brown sugar, melted butter. Stir in the coconut.
Spoon evenly over raspberry jam.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until lightly brown.

Red wine sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 ounces butter
1 small minced carrot
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1 bay leaf
4 parsley stems
1 pound fish bones
2 teaspoons crushed peppercorns
2 cups red wine
1 cup fish stock or vegetable bouillon
1 teaspoon Knorr seafood stock mix
  • preparation
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom saucepan. Add the carrot and onion, and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the thyme, bay leaf, parsley stems, fish bones and peppercorns.
Cover and steam for 10 minutes over medium heat. Pour off the excess butter. Add the wine and fish stock.
Reduce over medium heat for 10 minutes. Season with Knorr seafood stock mix. Bring the sauce to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
Strain the sauce through a fine strainer, pressing the bones to extract all the sauce.
Serve this sauce with baked and poached salmon.

Rhubarb cobbler  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
6 cups diced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Topping:
3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch salt
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup milk
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine rhubarb, sugar, flour, and cinnamon.
Place in a greased 9-inch by 2-inch deep in a baking dish.
Bake uncovered for 15 minutes.
Topping:
In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Add butter and milk stirring just to form a dough.
Drop tablespoons of dough on top of rhubarb.
Bake at 400 F for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream if desired.

Rhubarb crumb bars  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:25 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

Rhubarb and strawberries are a great match. You can substitute half the rhubarb with an equal weight of quartered berries.
Recipe adapted from http://www.marthastewart.com/ using double the amount of rhubarb.
  • Ingredients
FOR THE STREUSEL
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus room-temperature butter for pan
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
FOR THE CAKE
1 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon light-brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Butter and flour parchment and pan, tapping out excess flour.
2. Make streusel: Whisk together butter, brown sugar, and salt. Add flour and mix with a fork until large crumbs form. Refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Make cake: In a medium bowl, combine rhubarb, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup flour. In another medium bowl, whisk 3/4 cup flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs, one at a time. With mixer on low, beat in vanilla, then flour mixture. Spread batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle with rhubarb and top with streusel.
4. Bake cake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool completely in pan. Using paper overhang, lift cake from pan. Cut into 16 bars.

Rhubarb pound cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:30 minutes

Cooking time:70 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup sugar

FOR CAKE BATTER:
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • preparation
For Rhubarb:
In a small saucepan, combine rhubarb and sugar. Cover and cook over very low heat until rhubarb is tender.
Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Drain, discarding liquid. Let cool to room temperature.
For Cake Batter:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Sift flour, salt and baking powder together.
Beat butter until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Whisk eggs and vanilla together and add to butter mixture. On low speed, add flour mixture. Using a rubber spatula, fold in rhubarb. Pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth with a spatula and make a lengthwise split i inch deep to minimize splitting.
Bake until cake is browned and a tester comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Unmold and let cool right side up on a wire rack.
(Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Taste)

Rhubarb sponge pudding  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:35 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 pound (about 3 cups) rhubarb, cut in 1-inch pieces
1/3 cup Golden Syrup (or substitute maple syrup)
½ cup room-temperature butter, diced
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, beaten together
¾ cup self-rising flour
  • preparation
Method
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Place rhubarb in a well buttered deep-dish 9-inch pie plate or ovenproof gratin. Drizzle syrup on top.
Beat butter and sugar together in a bowl with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs.
Gently fold in flour. Spread mixture on top of rhubarb.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Serve while still warm with custard, whipping cream or ice cream.

Rice crispies cakes  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups miniature marshmallows or 40 large
6 cups rice crispies
  • preparation
In a medium saucepan, combine butter, vanilla, and marshmallows.
Melt over medium heat while stirring with a wooden spoon.
Remove from heat, and mix in rice crispies.
Spoon and press into a 9-inch square pan .
Cool and cut into cakes.

Rillettes of salmon  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

The combination of fresh and smoked salmon well seasoned with a variety of condiments and herbs bring a rich flavor to this hors d'oeuvre.
Can be prepared a day in advance. Recipe can be doubled.
  • Ingredients
8 ounces fresh salmon, cooked
8 ounces smoked salmon
1 teaspoon shallots, minced
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon capers
1 teaspoon cognac
1 teaspoon lemon peel, grated
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
8 slices pumpernickel or 4 dozens blinis
  • preparation
Remove any skin or bones from the cooked fresh salmon. Put in a mixing bowl of a food processor. Mix to a smooth paste. Cut smoked salmon into small dices.
Add to the fresh salmon paste together with shallots, soft butter, parsley, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, capers, cognac, lemon peel, and ground white pepper. Mix thoroughly.
Spoon salmon mixture into small crock or serving bowl. Refrigerate for an hour. Serve with thin slices of pumpernickel or blinis.
PRESENTATION
Place the salmon rillettes in the center of a round serving paltter. Arrange the pumpernickel bread circles, and or small blinis.

Risotto with mushrooms asparagus and spring peas  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:25 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

The use of the oven is much more preferable to stirring and the recipe turns out into a creamy texture.
  • Ingredients
3 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
5 cups vegetable broth
1 1/2 cup arborio
rice
8 oz pound sliced Cremini (baby portobello) mushrooms, debris rinsed from mushrooms and drained
1 small bunch of fresh asparagus spears (about 1 pound)
1 cup fresh English peas
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
1/2 cup light cream
1 tablespoon tamari
1 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, for ten minutes, then add the minced garlic. Cook for another 2 to 4 minutes, until the onions are well browned. Deglaze with the wine and continue cooking for 2 more minutes.
Add 4 cups broth and stir in the rice. Cover the pot and bake until rice is tender and cooked through, about 35 to 40 minutes.
Prepare the mushrooms. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Add the cleaned, sliced mushrooms to the pot with a dash of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are darker in color, fragrant and have soaked up most of their own juices, about 10 minutes.
Prepare the asparagus by snapping off the tough ends and discarding them, then slicing the spears into 1-inch long pieces. Cook the asparagus in boiling water for 5 minutes. Add the peas and cook 2 to 3 more minutes. Drain the asparagus and peas in a colander.

Remove the pot from the oven. Pour in the remaining hot broth, cream, asparagus, peas, Parmesan, butter, tamari, salt, and a generous amount of pepper. Stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Stir in the mushroom mixture and any remaining juices. Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide into bowls and top with a generous sprinkling ofparsley.

Rose macarons  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 egg whites - aged at room temperature for 3 days (measure 57 g after aging - I’m using 55 g eggs)
70 g ground almond powder
113 g icing / confectioners’ sugar
21 g super fine sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp rose water essence

Rose water buttercream filling:
90 g unsalted butter – room temperature
3/4 cup (100 g) icing / confectioners’ sugar
28 g (1 oz) white chocolate – melted
1 1/2 tbsp. rose water essence
  • preparation
1. In a food processor, add in icing sugar, ground almond powder and pulse for 30 secs into fine powder.
2. Put the mixture through a sieve and remove any lumps. Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, add in egg whites, cream of tartar. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, whisk until foamy.
4. With the mixer on low speed, add in the sugar slowly and whisk until soft peaks.
5. Drizzle in rose water essence and turn up the mixer to high speed. Continue to whisk the meringue until stiff peaks.
6. Add in pink color gel by using a stick or skewer.
7. Turn on the mixer and mix until the color is well combined.
8. In 3 batches, fold the meringue with a spatula into the icing sugar and almond powder.
9. It should resemble a lava-like texture. When you raise the spatula, the batter should flow down slowly and perfectly okay if it breaks in between.
10. Pipe the meringue onto a baking tray lined with non-stick baking sheet.
11. Rap the tray a few times on the counter to remove air bubbles. Use a skewer to break up large air bubbles.
12. Set it to dry at room temperature for 45 – 60 mins or in an oven preheated at 40C for 15 mins.
13. While waiting, prepare the buttercream filling by creaming the butter and icing sugar together till light and fluffy.
14. Add in melted chocolate and rose water essence. Continue to whisk for another 1 min.
15. Fill the buttercream in a piping bag.
16. Check the meringue by gently touching the skin of the meringue. It should be dry to the touch.
17. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 305F (150C) for 15 minutes.
18. Cool them on a wire rack completely before piping the buttercream filling.
19. If making ahead, store the cooled macaron shells in an air-tight container.
20. Macarons always taste better the next day so you could make them a day in advance and store them in air-tight containers before serving.
21. If you are staying in humid environment, store them in the fridge.

Russian Tea Cakes  Print Recipe

Serves: 16

Preparation time:30 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes

From a history perspective, the connection to Russia is unclear. It seems they may have originated in Europe as a popular snack with tea, hence “tea cake”, then they migrated to Mexico with European nuns where they became a popular wedding cookie. They are now also very popular in the U.S. at Christmas time
the cookies come in a variety of names:
Mexican Wedding< Cookies
wedding cookies
Mexican Cookies
Italian cookies
Pecan balls
Anginetti
Polvorones
Snowball Cookies
Pecan snowball Cookies
Noel Nut Balls


These buttery melt-in-your-mouth cookie balls go by many names in recipe collections, including Mexican Wedding Cakes. They always contain finely chopped nuts and are twice rolled in powdered sugar. A holiday favorite.
Toasted coconut can also be added to the dough.


  • Ingredients
1 cup butter softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, macadiam)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar
  • preparation
Heat oven to 400ºF.
Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

Sables normands  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:18 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 cups flour
8 ounces cold butter
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup angel Flake coconut or ground nuts
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut butter into small pieces. In a food processor, mix butter and flour to a crumble. Add egg yolks, vanilla, salt, baking powder and sugar.
Mix until ingredients are just blended. Shape dough into a cylinder 1 1/2 inch diameter. Roll in coconut or nuts.
Chill until dough is firm. Slice into 1/4 inch thick slices and bake for about 18 minutes or until golden brown.

Salmon burgers with herb aïoli  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 small cloves garlic
salt
1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh chives
2 Tbs. finely chopped fresh dill
1-1/2 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1/8 tsp. cayenne
Freshly ground black pepper

5 brioche, hamburger or Kaiser buns, 1 cut into large cubes, the other 4 split
1 lb (2 cups) skinless salmon fillets, skinned and boned, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter

  • preparation
Mash and chop the garlic with a pinch of salt. Transfer the garlic to a small bowl and stir in the mayonnaise, chives, dill, mustard, lemon juice, cayenne, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and salt to taste. Set the aïoli aside.

In a food processor, pulse the cubed bun into crumbs. Set aside 1/2 cup of the crumbs and save the rest for another use. Pulse the salmon until coarsely chopped, about 5 pulses. Transfer the salmon to a medium bowl and stir in 3/4 cup of the aïoli, the reserved breadcrumbs, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Shape into four 1-inch-thick patties.

Heat 2 Tbs. of the butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When melted and hot (but not smoking or brown), add the patties and cook until they are firm and each side is crisp and golden-brown, 3 to 5 minutes per side.

Brush melted butter on the insides of the split buns. Put the buns on a baking sheet, butter side up, and toast under the broiler until light golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Serve the burgers on the buns, spread with the remaining aïoli.

Serve with Spinach Salad.

Salted butter caramel  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:5 mintes

Cooking time:12 minutes

Variations: For a chocolate caramel cream, add a few squares of chocolate
  • Ingredients
120 g (4 oz) caster sugar (super fine sugar)
60 g (1/2 stick) semi-salted butter
20 cl (7 oz ) of liquid cream, whole (35%)
  • preparation
1. Heat the sugar alone in a stainless-steel saucepan over medium heat. Cook without stirring until it melts and caramelizes.
2. Gradually add the butter then the cream, mixing vigorously with a whisk to avoid lumps.
3. When the preparation is homogeneous, continue cooking for 5 minutes and remove from the heat. The caramel is still liquid but it will harden as it cools.
4. Pour into a small jam jar and let cool. Store in the refrigerator.

Variations: For a chocolate caramel cream, add a few squares of chocolate.

Sauce beurre blanc  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes

Serve this sauce over broiled, poached and baked fish and shellfish.
  • Ingredients
1 cup dry white wine
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
2 1/4 cups heavy cream
3/4 pound butter, cut into cubes
to taste salt and pepper
lemon juice
  • preparation
In a medium saucepan, combine wine, vinegar and shallots. Reduce over high to approximately 1/2 cup. Add cream and bring to a boil and reduce to a sauce consistency.
The sauce should coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in the butter in small batches.
Season with salt, white pepper and lemon juice.

Sautéed potatoes  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 pounds small potatoes, red, or yellow
1/2 cup clarified butter
1/2 cup oil
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
  • preparation
Wash potatoes. Boil in a pot of salted boiling water until tender. Drain potatoes in a colander. Set aside to cool.
Peel potatoes. Slice into 1/4-inch slices.
Heat butter and oil in two frying pan. Add sliced potatoes. Fry and turn potatoes over medium heat until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving platter.
Sprinkle with parsley.

Scotch shortbread  Print Recipe

Serves: 16

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 pound salted butter, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners sugar
3 1/2 cups all- purpose flour
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy.
Gradually add flour 1 cup at a time until thoroughly blended.
Roll out to about 1/2-inch thickness and cut into fingers.
Prick shortbread with a fork and sprinkle with a little extra sugar.
Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown,
Cool, and serve.

Scrambled egg feuillete  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:40 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 pounds fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
1 ounce finely chopped shallots
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled
thyme, bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
8 individual puff pastry shells (available frozen)
2 ounces butter
16 eggs
salt and pepper
2 ounces butter
For garnish: parsley

  • preparation
Make the tomato sauce:
Cook shallots over low heat with oil. Add tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While sauce is simmering, cook pastry shells according to directions on the package.

For the eggs:
Beat eggs with a whisk. Strain in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a large non stick frying pan. Pour eggs in pan. Cook over low heat while stirring constantly until eggs are creamy. Mix in the butter.
Spoon eggs into the warm pastry shells. Place pastry cover on top of eggs.
Garnish with parsley. Serve with the tomato sauce.

Scrambled eggs  Print Recipe

Serves: 2

Preparation time:2 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes


  • Ingredients
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon milk, cream, plant milk, or water
2 tablespoons butter, for the pan
Sea salt and fresh black pepper
1 tablespoon Chopped fresh chives, optional, for garnish
  • preparation
Crack the eggs into a medium bowl and add the milk, cream or water. Whisk until smooth and combined, with no streaks of egg white remaining.
Brush a small nonstick skillet with olive oil, or melt a little butter in a small nonstick skillet. Bring to medium heat.
Pour in the eggs, and let them cook for a few seconds without stirring. Pull a rubber spatula across the bottom of the pan to form large, soft curds of scrambled eggs.
Continue cooking over medium-low heat, folding and stirring the eggs every few seconds. Scrape the spatula along the bottom and sides of the pan often to form more curds and to prevent any part of the eggs from drying out.
Remove the pan from the heat when the eggs are mostly set, but a little liquid egg remains. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped fresh chives, if desired.

Shamrock Four-Leaf clovers cookie  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
Cookie ingredients:
1 cup Butter, softened
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour

Glaze ingredients:
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract, if desired
Food color, if desired
Decorator candies, sugars, etc., if desired
  • preparation
Combine all cookie ingredients except flour in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (3 to 4 minutes). Reduce speed to low; add flour. Beat until well mixed (2 to 3 minutes).
Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours).
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/4-inch thickness.
Cut rolled dough with a shamrock cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Cool completely.
Combine powdered sugar, water, 1 tablespoon butter, corn syrup and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in small mixer bowl; beat at medium speed until powdered sugar is moistened (1 minute). Continue beating until mixture is smooth, adding additional water if necessary, to reach desired glazing consistency. Tint with food color, if desired. Glaze cooled cookies. Add decorator candies, if desired. Let stand until glaze hardens (6 hours or overnight).

shortbread cookies with Nutella  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes

The filling for the shorbread cookies may be other than Nutella and small pieces of chocolate, soft chopped dates, or chopped prunes.
  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (150 g) all purpose flour
1/2 cup (50g) cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 oz (125g) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons Nutella or semi sweet chocolate bits
1/2 cup ground coconut flakes
1/3 cup melted seedless raspberry jam
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor. Mix for a minute to form a ball. Transfer to a work surface to gather all the dough. Place in a covered bowl and refrigerate 30 minutes.
(You may also use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to accomplish the same results).
Divide the chilled dough into 20 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Make an indentation in each ball and spoon about 1 teaspoon of Nutella or chocolate bits inside. Close the dough over the filling, making sure dough is covering the filling on all sides, and pinch the top to seal the cookie. Roll to shape evenly into round or oval shapes.
Place cookies on cookie sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool on the pans. Brush cookies with jam and sprinkle with coconut.

Shrimp scampi  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:5 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

May be served with angel hair pasta
  • Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter, cubed
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium shallot, diced
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 ½ pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • preparation
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, shallot and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring frequently about 2 minutes.
Add shrimp; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pink and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in parsley, lemon juice and lemon zest.
Serve immediately.

Smoked salmon and lobster Lorne cottage  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

I created this recipe in the ideal surroundings of a salmon fishing camp, on the Grand Cascapedia river, on the Gaspé coast in Québec, Canada, where salmon and lobsters abound.
  • Ingredients
2 envelops unflavored gelatin
1/3 cup cold water
1 cup parsley, chopped
1/2 up dill, chopped
1/2 up tarragon, chopped
1/2 up chives, chopped
2 ounces butter, softened
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 pound lobster chunks, cooked
8 ounces smoked salmon, sliced
to taste salt and pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon aromat seasoning
  • preparation
Dissolve the gelatin in water. In a mixing bowl, combine the parsley, dill, tarragon, chives, butter, cream cheese, and mayonnaise. Melt the gelatin over low heat. Stir in the herb mixture.
Combine the lobster chunks with the green sauce. Arrange the smoked salmon slices on a sheet of film wrap in a 12 by 8-inch rectangle.
Spoon the lobster-herb mixture over the smoked salmon to form a log about a foot long. Lift the film wrap, and enclose the smoked salmon in the lobster mixture.
Twist both ends of the roll. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours, or until the roll is firm.
Remove the film wrap. Place the roll on a cutting board, and slice into -inch slices.

PRESENTATION
Arrange two slices of the smoked salmon and lobster roll on cold plates. Serve with cucumber salad, and tomato slices. Decorate with lemon baskets or wedges.

Smoked salmon crêpes au gratin  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes

The smoked salmon is rolled into light and thin crêpes, then broiled and served with creme fraiche.
The crêpes can be made a day ahead, stacked, covered in film wrap, and refrigerated.
  • Ingredients
for the crêpe batter:
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 pound smoked salmon, sliced thin
1 cup creme fraiche
to taste salt and ground white pepper
1 tablespoon melted butter, for the serving dish
  • preparation
Prepare the crêpe batter:
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, eggs and milk. Whisk the ingredients until smooth. Let the batter rest 30 minutes at room temperature.
Make the crêpes. Use a 5-inch crêpe pan to make the crêpes. Heat the pan over medium heat. Coat pan with a little melted butter. Pour in 2 tablespoons of batter, tilting the pan to coat the bottom.
Cook the crêpe until golden brown (check the color by lifting the edges of the crêpe with a metal spatula). Then flip the crêpe with the spatula and cook the other side.
Transfer to a plate and cover with a sheet of parchment paper or foil. Repeat the same procedure until all crêpe batter is used.
Stack the crêpes as they are made.
Cut the salmon into 2-inch-long strips, about 1/4 inch wide.
Preheat the broiler. Brush a baking serving dish with the tablespoon of melted butter.
Lay the crêpes on a flat surface. Divide the strips of salmon between the crêpes, forming a line down the center of each.
Roll the crêpes into cylinders and arrange side by by side seam side down in the dish.
Season the crème fraiche with salt and pepper to taste and spoon over the crêpes.
Broil until the top is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Smoked salmon napoleons  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
for the sauce:
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 cup clam juice or fish stock
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 large egg yolks
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill

for the napoleons:
6 phyllo pastry sheets
6 tablespoons melted butter
8 ounces smoked salmon, thinly sliced
4 teaspoons minced onion
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
8 cups sliced yellow endives
  • preparation
for the sauce:
In a heavy medium saucepan, boil the vinegar and shallots until almost no liquid remains. Add the clam juice, or fish stock, and the oil. Simmer to reduce to 1 cup.
Whisk the egg yolks. Gradually whisk in the simmering sauce. Return sauce to pan; stir over low heat to thicken. Do not allow the sauce to boil. Strain into bowl. Mix in the dill.
Set aside in a warm area.
for the napoleons:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Unroll the phyllo dough. Place one sheet on work surface. Brush with butter. Top with second sheet. Brush with butter. Continue the same procedure with the remaining four sheets.
Cut phyllo into twelve 4 1/2 by 2-inch rectangles. Place on a baking sheet, and bake for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer plyllo sheets to a rack lined with wax paper; cool.
Place four phyllo sheets on work surface.
Cover each with slices of smoked salmon. Sprinkle with pepper. Sprinkle each with 1/4 teaspoon onion.
Spoon 1 teaspoon of the warm sauce cover. Top each with another phyllo rectangle, then salmon, pepper, and onion. Spoon 1 teaspoon over. Top with remaining phyllo rectangles.
Make a dressing by whisking the oil and vinegar.
Season with salt and pepper. Add the endive, and toss.

PRESENTATION
Divide the salad among 4 plates.
Top each with one napoleon. Serve, passing remaining sauce separately.

Smoked salmon terrine  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:5 minutes

Layers of smoked salmon and spinach mixed with cream cheese and butter are molded and chilled. This dish may be prepared a day or day in advance.
  • Ingredients
1 pound fresh spinach, stems removed
4 ounces cream cheese
4 ounces butter, softened
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
salt, ground pepper to taste
1 pound smoked salmon, sliced thin
2 bunches watercress or mache
1/2 cup vinaigrette dressing
16 slices toasted french bread

  • preparation
Wash the spinach thoroughly in two or three changes of cold water. Cook in salted boiling water for about 4 minutes. Plunge the spinach in ice cold water. Drain and squeeze the excess of water out of the spinach.
Combine the cream cheese, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco in a food processor. Mix to a smooth paste. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Lightly butter the sides of a 1 1/2 quart terrine or a rectangular cake mold. Then, line the mold with parchment paper. Cover the bottom and sides of the mold with slices of smoked salmon. Spoon the spinach mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a medium size plain tube. Pipe a 1/4-inch layer of the spinach mixture over the bottom of the terrine or mold and smooth evenly.
Arrange a layer of smoked salmon over the spinach mixture. Continue to alternate layers of spinach and salmon, ending with salmon. Cover with film wrap, and refrigerate at least three hours.
Invert the terrine or mold onto a cutting board. Remove the layer of parchment paper, and slice the terrine into 1/2-inch slices with a knife that is dipped in hot water for each cut.
PRESENTATION
Toss the clean salad with the dressing. Divide the salad between the cold plates, and arrange in the center of the plates. Lay two slices of the salmon terrine over the lettuce in each plate.
Garnish with lemon wedges. Serve with toasted bread.
Note:
Marinated avocado slices may also be used as garnish with the terrine of salmon.

Snickerdoodles  Print Recipe

Serves: 15

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs; beat well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.
Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; mix well. In small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll balls in sugar-cinnamon mixture. Place 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Immediately remove from cookie sheets.

Chocolate snickerdoodles
One-half cup unsweetened cocoa can be substituted for 1/2 cup of all purpose flour.
Bake at 400 degrees for 6 to 9 minutes.

Soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies  Print Recipe

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1½ cups butter, softened
1½ cups sugar, plus more for rolling
½ cup molasses
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. salt
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt, and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until combined. Add in the molasses and eggs and mix until incorporated.
Slowly add in the flour mixture to the bowl of the stand mixer and mix until all is combined.
Fill a small bowl with about ¾ cup granulated sugar.
Using a medium-sized cookie scoop (or 1½ tbsp.), form dough into balls then gently roll them in the granulated sugar. Place onto baking sheets, about 2-inches apart. Repeat until all the cookie dough has been used up.
Bake for 10 minutes (they will still look soft and undercooked but they cook while they cool and you want them to stay soft and chewy so remove them!) then let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Soft polenta  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons butter
coarse salt
white pepper
1 cup quick cooking polenta
1/4 cup creme fraiche
  • preparation
Place stock in medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Add butter and salt and pepper to taste.
Slowly add polenta, stirring constantly to keep lumps from forming. Lower heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes, or until polenta is thickened and cooked.
Remove from heat and whip in the creme fraiche. Season to taste.

Sole meuniere  Print Recipe

Serves: 2

Preparation time:10 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes

The original Sole Meunière in France is made with Dover Sole. Fillets of lemon sole, flounder or even scallopine of halibut are ideal for this simple recipe.
  • Ingredients
1/2 cup all purpose flour
4 sole fillets (each about 3 to 4 ounces)
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or canola oil
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter

sauce
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Lemon wedges
  • preparation
Step 1
Place flour in a large plate or dish. Rinse fish; pat with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of fish with salt and freshly ground pepper. Dredge fish on both sides with flour; shake off excess. Place on platter.

Step 2
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until oil is hot and shimmers. Add butter; quickly swirl skillet to coat. When foam subsides, add fish and cook until golden on bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully turn fish over and cook until opaque in center and golden on bottom, 1 to 2 minutes. Divide fish between 2 warmed plates; tent with foil. Pour off drippings from skillet; wipe with paper towels.

Step 3
Place skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter; cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in parsley and lemon juice (sauce may sputter). Spoon sauce over fish. Serve with lemon wedges.

Sour cream-maple bread  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour


  • Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at
room temperature
3/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup sour cream
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • preparation
Preheat an oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a loaf pan 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 2 3/4" high also called 1lb loaf pan

In a small bowl, stir and toss together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a bowl, using a whisk, beat the butter until smooth, then slowly add the maple syrup, whisking constantly. Whisk in the sour cream and egg. Stir in the pecans. Add the flour mixture and stir until just blended.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes, then turn the loaf out onto the rack and let cool completely.

Strawberry-topped lime mousse tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes


  • Ingredients
For crust:
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup whole almonds, toasted
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
2 teaspoons cold water

For filling:
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup chilled whipped cream, (divided into 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup)
5 ounces white chocolate
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream

Topping:
3 12-ounce baskets strawberries, washed, hulled, sliced
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
  • preparation
Crust:
Preheat oven at 375 degrees.
Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until nuts are ground. Add butter cut into small pieces, and mix until dough has a fine texture. Blend in enough water until mixture forms a ball. Press dough evenly over bottom and up sides of tart pan. Freeze crust for 30 minutes. Bake until golden brown for about 30 minutes.
Filling:
In a small bowl, combine the lime juice and gelatin. Let stand for 10 minutes to soften. Bring 1/4 cup cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Stir in the white chocolate. Add gelatin mixture; stir to dissolve. Mix in peel. Chill until cold and beginning to thicken but not set, stirring often.
Whip sugar, sour cream and remaining 1/2 cup cream to medium-stiff peaks.
Fold whipped cream mixture into the white chocolate mixture. Spoon mousse into crust.
Chill until mousse sets, about 2 hours.
Arrange berries atop the mousse.
Melt jam in small saucepan over low heat. Brush jam over strawberries to glaze.

Sugar cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 20

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
white sugar or colored sugar decors
  • preparation
Mix confectioners' sugar, butter or margarine, egg, vanilla and almond extract.
Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Roll into big ball and wrap in plastic wrap and let chill for at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Divide dough into halves.
Roll each half 3/16 inch thick on lightly floured board. Cut desired shapes with 2 to 2 1/2 inch cookie cutters.
Sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake until edges are a light brown, 6 - 8 minutes.

Swedish ginger cookies  Print Recipe

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:8 minutes

The cookies can be baked ahead and kept, stored between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container, for up to 2 weeks, or frozen up to 1 month.
  • Ingredients
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dark corn syrup or molasses
1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Pearl sugar (for dusting) optional
  • preparation
In a large bowl, blend together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.

In a small saucepan over moderate heat, warm the corn syrup or molasses and orange zest. Add the butter and sugar and continue warming, stirring occasionally, until melted. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Add the egg and whisk to combine. Pour over the flour mixture and stir to combine. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in a double layer of plastic wrap, and chill overnight.

Arrange racks in the upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with nonstick baking mats, such as Silpats, or parchment paper.

Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out a portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface to a 1/4 inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut the dough into desired shapes, such as circles, stars, hearts, bells, gingerbread men, and Christmas trees. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets and sprinkle with the pearl sugar. Bake, switching the cookies between the upper and lower racks and rotating the baking sheets about halfway through baking, until the edges are just beginning to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Watch the cookies carefully to make sure they don't get too brown.

Let the cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to let cool completely. Continue rolling and cutting out the rest of the cookie dough and baking the cookies on cooled baking sheets

Sweet cookie dough  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes


  • Ingredients
2 1/4 sticks (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons ice water
1 teaspoon vanilla
  • preparation
Cut butter into bits. In a food processor pulse flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt until combined well and add butter, pulsing until mixture resembles coarse meal.
In a small bowl whisk together yolks, ice water, and vanilla until combined well and add to flour mixture, pulsing until incorporated.
Form dough into a ball and divide into 2 pieces.
Form each piece into a ball and flatten to form disks. Chill disks, wrapped separately in plastic wrap, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
Use as needed in making tartlets.

Sweet potato gnocchi with sage and brown butter  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

Make-ahead: the gnocchi can be boiled up to 4 hours ahead, and kept at room temperature.
  • Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, red skin variety
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted, plus up to 1/2 cup for kneading
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 350F/175C. Poke a few holes in each sweet potato to let steam escape, then place them on a baking sheet. Bake them until they're tender, about 45 minutes.
2. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel them and pass them through a ricer, or a food mill with a fine grate.
3. Place the puree in a large bowl and add the flour, 2 tablespoons of the sage, the salt and pepper, nutmeg and the cheese. Mix gently until just combined.
4. Flour a work surface and scoop the dough out onto it. Dust the top and sides of the dough lightly with flour, and perhaps rub some flour between your hands so that they don't stick to the dough.
5. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece under your palms so that it forms a long rope. [The original recipe says that the ropes should be about 1 inch wide and 20 inches long, but your mileage might vary.] Go ahead and sprinkle the dough with a bit of extra flour if it's sticking. Cut the rope into 1-inch segments, and roll each segment over the tines of a fork to form the characteristic indentations. (Use a gnocchi board if you're lucky enough to have one.) Collect the formed gnocchi on a baking sheet.
6. When you've finished forming the gnocchi, bring a large pot of water to boiling and salt it generously. Drop several gnocchi into the boiling water (you'll need to work in batches so that you don't crowd the pot). Cook them for about 10 seconds after they rise to the surface. This could be only a couple of minutes, or up to five minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked gnocchi to a clean baking sheet, and cool completely.
7. Place a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat and add the butter. Melt the butter and cook it, swirling occasionally, until the milk solids have turned a lovely chestnut color and smell nutty, about 5 minutes. If you plan to add fried sage leaves as a garnish, go ahead and fry them.
8. Once the butter has browned, add the remaining chopped sage and turn off the heat. The mixture will bubble up, so don't be alarmed.
9. Add the gnocchi to the sage butter, place over medium-high heat, and cook until the gnocchi are heated through, about 5-6 minutes. You might have to do this in batches, in which case it's useful to have the oven preheated to 300F/150C so that your earlier batches don't get cold. Divide the gnocchi and sauce among bowls, garnish with sage leaves (if desired), and serve.

Talmouses  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:35 minutes


  • Ingredients
50g butter
25g flour
25 cl of milk
2 eggs
150 g Comté cheese, cut into small dice
grated nutmeg
400g puff pastry
2 thin slices of ham (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
  • preparation
Make a roux with 25 g of butter and the flour.
Moisten with the milk, mix carefully; quickly bring to the boil and cook for 3 minutes over low heat.

Let the béchamel cool down, mix in one egg yolk, the diced Comté cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Cut the rolled-out puff pastry into 4 discs 16 cm in diameter

If using ham, Cut the slices of ham in half.

Crack the second egg into a bowl, beat with a fork until golden brown.

Using a brush dipped in this egg wash, brush the edges of the discs of puff pastry.

Place a ½ slice of ham in the center of each disc of dough.

Place on top 1 large spoon, 1/4 - of the cheese preparation.

Bring the discs on three sides towards the center to give a tricorn shape. Seal the three sides well. Gild with egg.

Place each talmouse on the baking sheet, leave to firm in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes.


Heat the remaining butter in a frying pan, sauté the mushrooms, sprinkle with the chopped shallot, salt and pepper, and cook briskly until the water has completely evaporated.

Remove the talmouses from the refrigerator, brush them completely with the egg wash.

Bake in the oven preheated to 240°C - Th 8, until the pastry is flaky and golden, about 35 minutes

If necessary, lower the oven temperature and cover the talmouses with aluminum foil at the end of cooking.

Arrange each talmouse on a warm plates. Serve hot.

Tarte tatin  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes

History of the recipe.

The legendary caramelized apple pie is baked upside-down.
Originally from Sologne, France, in the 19th century, the Tarte Tatin owes its name to two sisters: Caroline and Stéphanie Tatin. According to the versions, the legend tells that the recipe would be the result of a clumsiness (the pie would have been reversed and cooked upside down), of an oversight (the apples would have cooked too long) or would be simply the reproduction of an old solognote specialty. Anyway, victim of its success, the tart became a welcome in Paris in 1926. Served for the first time at Maxim's restaurant, the dessert has since become a classic French dessert!

  • Ingredients
The apples:
Use Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Grannty Smith or King of the Pippins, the same as Reine des Reinette, Golden Winter Pearmain, Golden Pearmain, or Clarkes Pearmain, a popular 19th century apple, very widely grown in Europe at the time, and versatile for culinary and dessert uses.

Ingredients for 8 people:
8 to 10 apples
150 g (5oz) of unsalted butter
150 g (5oz) superfine (caster) sugar
200 g (7oz) of pie crust dough or puff pastry
cinnamon powder (optional)
Accompaniment:
whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional)
Equipment used : A Ø 28 cm (11-inch) Tatin pie mold or a deep copper or stainless flan dish, Spatula, rolling pin, White round serving dish Ø 33 cm(13-inch)
  • preparation
To make this pie tatin recipe, start by preparing all the ingredients.
Peel the apples. cut them in quarters and remove the cores and seeds with the tip of a paring knife.
In a tart tatin mold, put the butter to melt over medium heat. Add the sugar. Mix gently with a spatula until both ingredients are well mixed.
Make a brown caramel. Let the caramel color to a light golden brown. Remove from fire. (Be careful not to let it darken too much, it will give a bitter taste to your pie.)
Arrange the half apples very tightly in the warm caramel. Keep them upright. Pack them well.
Add cinnamon (optional).
Cook for ten minutes over medium-high heat. Thus, the apples will begin to cook and they will be well mixed with caramel.
Sprinkle flour over your work surface. Roll dough with a rolling pin 3 or 4 mm (1/4-inch) thick into a disc slightly larger than the diameter of the dish.
To make sure of the size of the dough disc, I use here a pie circle that is slightly larger (2 to 3 cm) (¾ to 1-inch) than the tarte tatin mold, and I cut the dough all around.
Lift the dough circle and gently place it on the still hot apples.Tuck the dough edges protruding into the mold. Do not hesitate to push them with your fingers.
With the tip of a paring knife, make a small chimney so that water vapor can escape during cooking.
Bake in a hot oven (180-200 ° C) (350–375 F) for 20 to 25 minutes until apples are completely cooked and the crust is golden brown. This cooking time may vary from oven to oven. The dough is cooked when the caramel starts to rise on the sides. When finished, remove the pan from the oven.
Cover with a serving dish with a light border to collect the juice.
At the same time, catch both dishes with two dry cloths and turn the set in a fast but controlled movement.
Beware of splashing!
Lift the baking dish still hot and you can finally discover this delicious apple tatin tart. Preferably serve warm with a tablespoon of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The best hash brown patties  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time:

Cooking time:10 minutes

This recipe can be multiplied to feed a crowd. The hash browns will stay crunchy for an hour at room temperature and reheat well in the oven.
  • Ingredients
1 pound organic russet potatoes, peeled
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 small garlic clove, grated or minced
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons corn or peanut oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
ketchup
  • preparation
Line a microwave-safe bowl with a paper towel and set the box grater in the bowl.
Working quickly, so the potatoes do not have a chance to oxidize, grate the potatoes into the bowl.
Give them a gentle press into the paper towel, then remove the paper towel. Add the salt and baking powder and mix with hands. Microwave the potatoes for 90 seconds. Add the garlic and pepper and mix again.
Melt the butter with the oil in a 12-inch cast iron or other nonstick skillet over medium heat. Divide the potato mixture into four equal portions and press each between hands to form an oblong ½-inch-thick patty. Lay the potato patties in the hot fat and cook without moving for 3 minutes. Flip and cook an additional 3 minutes. If pan looks dry, add a little more oil.
Flip and rotate the patties so they color evenly and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Serve with ketchup.

The pan-seared salmon   Print Recipe

Serves: 2

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:12 minutes

A Simple, quick weeknight meal. Can be doubled
  • Ingredients
two 8-oz salmon fillets with skin on
Brine: 3 Tablespoons of salt dissolved in 4 cups of water
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 recipe Sauce beurre blanc
Steamed red potatoes.
parsley for garnish
  • preparation
Immerse the salmon fillets in the cold brine for 15 minutes. Make the sauce while the salmon is in the brine.
Remove from the solution, pat to dry the excess moisture ensures that the fillets will cook to a golden brown.

Start the fillets skin side down in a cold oiled pan allows the interior to start cooking through gently; then, when the pan is fully hot, flip the fillets so that a crust can form on the flesh side and the fish can finish cooking through, about 10 minutes for a 1-inch thick fillet. Remove the skin.
Serve with steamed potatoes and beurre blanc.

The perfect omelette  Print Recipe

Serves: 1

Preparation time:2 minutes

Cooking time:3 minutes

Variations:


• Florentine Omelette – Sauteed mushrooms with chopped baby spinach leaves.



• Bacon and Cheese – Crispy air fryer bacon and melted cheese are a perfect match or Use plain Grated cheese.



• Veggie Omelette -Diced and sauteed bell pepper and onions, seasoned with a little salt and pepper.



• Garnishes – add a little freshness with chopped chives or parsley, halved cherry tomatoes, and diced avocado with a sprinkling of salt and black pepper.




Note that the omelettte dries quickly and does not keep well, cook and serve without delay.

  • Ingredients
3 eggs
fine salt and ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons clarified butter
  • preparation
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs salt and pepper with a fork until the eggs are foamy. The bubbles will give your egg more rise and become puffy as it cooks.

Cook the omelet
Heat a well-seasoned or non-stick steel frying pan over medium heat, with rounded edges and of suitable size, for example 18 cm for 3 eggs. Add the butter and let it melt gently. When it turns blond, pour in the eggs all at once.

For a rolled omelette, mix the mixture using the fork with a continuous circular motion, while applying a back-and-forth motion to the pan to distribute the liquid over the entire surface.
Cook as desired. Manage the intensity of the heat to avoid too rapid coagulation, otherwise the omelet will form wrinkles and color too much.
Cook as desired:
Runny: the visible surface of the omelet remains liquid,
Soft: the surface is just coagulated,
Well cooked: coagulation is complete over the entire thickness. At this point, you may add your selected garnish if desired.
Once the cooking level has been reached, tilt the skillet with the handle sharply upwards, to lower the pan towards the opposite edge, fold the upper edge of the omelet towards the centre, in the shape of a half-moon. Gently tap the handle to slide the omelet along the pan and fold the lower edge thus freed up to finish rolling it.
Finish shaping the omelette with the fork to give it a spindle shape, fold the ends slightly towards the center to round the tips.
Slide the rolled omelette into the lightly buttered serving dish, seam side down. The best thing is to hold the plate tilted with one hand, and strongly tilt the pan with the other, until the omelet turns by gravity.

The perfect roast chicken  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

Another tip for perfect roast chicken is the the brining method. It is done for a few hours the day before (leaving a chicken in salt water), and after a quick dunk in boiling water. It's left to dry overnight in the fridge. Cooking is then done the second day.
  • Ingredients
3 1/2 lb (1.5kg) chicken
1 lemon/lime/any small citrus (optional)
Salt & pepper
Butter/olive oil

  • preparation
Buy the best chicken you can afford

Preheat oven to 450-460 F. (240 C).
Pour boiling water over the chicken as it lies in the sink.
Season well with sea salt and black pepper.
Cut the citrus fruit in half and place in the chicken cavity.
Rub butter/olive oil liberally over the skin
Place in the oven then IMMEDIATELY turn down temperature to 350 F (180 C).
Roast for one hour, basting once after 30 mins.
When done, remove from the oven and the bird can go straight to table.

The stars shortbread cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:18 minutes

These cookies are truly the stars for the holidays. They are simply delicious.
  • Ingredients
1 cup (1/2 pound) butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
2 teaspoons oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups (8 ounces by weight) all-purpose flour
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar in an electric mixer. Add the remaining ingredients and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a star pastry tube.
Pipe the equivalent of a teaspoon onto cookie sheets. Bake 18 20 minutes.
Transfer cookies to racks. Cool. Store in an airtight container

Toffeed pears  Print Recipe

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
For the poached pear:
1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
Zest from a lemon
4 firm, not quite ripe Bosc, Barlett or Anjou pear, peeled, quartered and cored

For the toffee:
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 star anise, broken into pieces
1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked whole peppercorns
Vanilla ice cream
  • preparation
For the poached pear:
In a medium saucepan, heat the wine, sugar, lemon juice and water, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium and bring to a gentle simmer.
Add the lemon zest and juice and pear quarters and simmer gently, turning occasionally, just until the pears are tender and cooked through.
Remove from the heat; set aside to cool slightly. Transfer the pear quarters to a plate. Discard the poaching liquid or reserve for another use.
For the toffee:
Pat the pear quarters dry. In a small skillet over medium heat, heat the honey and butter, stirring constantly, until the butter melts. Add the allspice, cinnamon, star anise and peppercorns and heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is combined and bubbles.
Add the pear quarters and cook, without moving, until they are slightly seared on one side, about 3 minutes. Cook, turning every few minutes, until the pear pieces are seared on all sides, and well coated with toffee, 3 to 5 minutes more.
Remove the skillet from the heat; remove and discard the star anise. The toffee should have reduced slightly to a glaze.
To serve, transfer 2 pear quarters to each plate, drizzle with the remaining toffee and immediately top with ice cream, which will melt into the sauce. Serve immediately.

Tomato confit and marinated tomatoes served on a crispy tart  Print Recipe

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 30 minutes

Recipe adapted from chef Alain Ducasse
Serve this beautiful starter with Champagne or sparkling wine.
Tomato confit.
  • Ingredients
Tomato confit
2 1/2 pounds large plum tomatoes, quartered lengthwise, seeds and membranes removed
4 large fresh thyme sprigs
3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Marinated tomatoes
1 pound large plum tomatoes
2 large fresh thyme sprigs
2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 1/2 cups (or more) olive oil
Crust
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter (preferably European style), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons (about) water, room temperature
1 egg yolk, beaten with 1 teaspoon water to blend (for glaze)
Salad topping
8 cups loosely packed assorted mixed greens, including arugula and frisée
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shaved with vegetable peeler (about 1/2 cup)
6 large fresh basil leaves
  • preparation
For tomato confit:
Preheat oven to 300°F. Oil large rimmed baking sheet. Arrange tomatoes on baking sheet. Scatter thyme sprigs and garlic cloves over. Drizzle with 1/2 cup olive oil, then sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
Bake tomatoes 45 minutes. Turn tomatoes over; continue to bake until tomatoes shrink slightly but are still plump and moist, about 1 hour longer. Cool completely. Peel off skins. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.)
For marinated tomatoes:
Bring large pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes; blanch 30 seconds. Drain. Cool tomatoes. Peel, quarter, and seed tomatoes. Cut away membranes. Transfer tomatoes to glass jar or bowl. Add thyme, garlic cloves, and salt. Pour enough oil over tomatoes to cover. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)
For crust:
Blend flour and salt in processor. Using on/off turns, cut in butter until coarse meal forms. Add 2 egg yolks and 1 tablespoon water; process just until moist clumps form, adding more water if dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured parchment paper to 12-inch round. Transfer parchment with crust to baking sheet. Pierce crust all over with fork; brush with egg glaze.
Bake until crust is golden brown, about 27 minutes. Cool crust completely on parchment on baking sheet.
For salad topping:
Toss greens with oil and sea salt in large bowl. Place crust on platter. Arrange greens atop crust, leaving 1-inch plain border.
Starting at outside edge and working toward center, alternate tomato confit and marinated tomatoes in slightly overlapping concentric circles atop greens. Top with Parmesan shavings.
Garnish with basil leaves. Cut into wedges and serve.

Traou mad shortbreads  Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
1 large egg yolk
6 oz super fine sugar
3 oz whole milk
9 oz salted butter, softened
14 oz flour by weight
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • preparation
Mix the butter and sugar in a mixer until creamy .
Combine egg yolk and milk and mix in the butter-sugar.
Add flour , baking powder and butter; mix and knead the dough for 5 minutes by hand but without excess.
Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and spread to a thickness of 1/4 inch
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut the dough with greased 2 1/4-inch circles.
Arrange the circles with the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake 12minutes, then unmold the cake .
Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container !
In the Biscuit manufacturing Company of Traou Mad in Pont Aven they mark each cake with a stamp before baking.

Upside-down peach cake  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:55 minutes

   
  • Ingredients
8 ripe peaches (fresh, canned or frozen)
3 teaspoons soft butter
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) soft butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt
melted apricot glaze or strawberry jam
  • preparation
Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Blanch and peel 8 ripe peaches. Cut in halves. Or use canned or frozen peaches. Slice 1 inch thick.
Butter a 9-by 1 1/2-inch round cake pan with 3 tablespoons soft butter, and sprinkle with 1/2 c. sugar over butter. Arrange peaches close together in a circle in the pan.
In an electric mixer, cream 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) soft butter with 1/2 cup sugar. Beat in 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Sift together 1 1/4 cup cake flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and a pinch salt and combine into butter sugar mixture.
Gradually stir in flour batter over peaches, smoothing top.
Bake cake 55 minutes to 1 hour, or till brown.
Cool on rack for 10 min.
Invert on a platter. Brush peaches with melted apricot glaze or strained strawberry jam. Serve with whipped cream.

Vanilla wafers  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:10 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon rind lemon
3/4 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Grate the lemon to get the lemon rind. Cream butter and sugar until light. Add beaten egg and vanilla.
Mix in the flour and lemon rind. Spoon mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4 -inch plain tube.
Pipe small amounts of batter onto the cookies sheets leaving 2 -inch space between each.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Vatrushki cream cheese buns  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:50 minutes

Cooking time:30 minutes

Vatrushki are sweet pastries made with a yeast dough and filled with cheese filling.

  • Ingredients
1 cup milk (250 ml)

2.5 cups (250 gr) cups all purpose flour

1/2 stick (50 gr) of melted butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup (100 gr) sugar

2 tbsp of sour cream

1 pack (7 gr) dry fast action yeast

2 tsp of oil

1/2 tsp of salt



For the filling :

8 oz (250 gr) farmers cheese -dry cottage cheese or ricotta cheese

8 oz (250 gr) cream cheese

1 egg

1 tbsp of vanilla extract

2-3 tbsp of sugar

1-2 tbsp of flour

raisins ( optional)
  • preparation

Mix dry yeast with luke warm milk, sugar and mix well. Set aside for 15 minutes so yeast starts to activate.

Into a large bowl, add milk and yeast mixture, eggs, melted butter, sour cream and half of the flour. Mix the dough and then add the rest of the flour with salt. Sprinkle flour onto working surface; Kneed the dough for a minute. If its too wet, add more flour. Place the dough back into the oiled bowl. Cover and leave to raise and double in size for an hour or more depending on the kitchen temperature.

Whisk cream cheese, cottage cheese, egg, vanilla, sugar and flour together for the filling. Optionally, you can add raisins to the filling. I used half and half.

Once the dough has risen, place on the floured surface, pinch a small ball and roll into a flat shape. Place them onto the baking sheet. Using a small glass, press the center of each ball to create an indent in the middle. Fill each hollow with a filling. Leave to raise for another 30 minutes.


Brush dough with egg wash.

Bake in preheated oven at 350F (180 C) for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
serve hot or at room temperature.

Walnut crescents  Print Recipe

Serves: 24

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time:18 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups soft butter
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon extract vanilla
2 1/4 cups ground walnuts
1 1/2 powdered sugar


  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix flour and cinnamon. Beat butter, syrup, and vanilla in a bowl, at medium speed until well blended.
Stir in flour mixture and walnuts. Cover.
Refrigerate until chilled.
Shape dough by rounded teaspoons into 2 -inch long rolls.
Place on cookie sheet, and shape to form crescents.
Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire rack roll in powdered sugar.

Walnut white chocolate snowball cookies  Print Recipe

Serves: 20

Preparation time:15 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes

Original recipe: Canadian Living
  • Ingredients
3/4 cups walnut halves
1 1/4 cup icing sugar
1 cup butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups white chocolate chips
  • preparation
Line rimless baking sheets with parchment paper or leave ungreased; set aside.

In food processor, whirl walnut halves with 1/4 cup (50 mL) of the sugar until finely ground.

In large bowl, beat butter until fluffy; stir in nut mixture, then vanilla and salt. Stir in flour, 1 cup (250 mL) at a time. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; stir in. Shape by heaping teaspoonfuls (5 mL) into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls. Arrange, 2 inches (5 cm) apart, on prepared pans. Cover lightly; chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

Bake in top and bottom thirds of 325?F (160?C) oven, rotating and switching pans halfway through, until bottoms are golden, about 22 minutes. Let rest on pans for about 3 minutes.

Sprinkle remaining icing sugar into shallow wide bowl. Working with about 6 cookies at a time, place, rounded side down, in sugar; roll to coat all sides. Place, right side up, on racks to let cool.

Press icing sugar through sieve to sift. Roll cookies again. (Make-ahead: Layer between waxed paper in airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.)

Warm chocolate torte  Print Recipe

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time:20 minutes


  • Ingredients
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, such as Caillebaut, or Valrhona, coarsely chopped
10 ounces sweet butter, soft
9 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
5 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
confectioners' sugar for dusting
  • preparation
Preheat oven at 300 degrees.
Butter the inside of 10 3 1/4 -or 4-by 1-inch rings.
Use empty 6-oz pineapple cans, with tops, bottoms, and labels removed or use circles of same diameter. Set rings on a buttered baking sheet.
Melt chocolate on low heat or in double boiler. Set aside to cool. Cream the butter in an electric mixer. Beat in the cooled chocolate.
In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with 6 teaspoons sugar until lemony colored. Beat in the chocolate mixture.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar to form soft peaks. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar and beat at high speed to hold soft peaks. Fold in the chocolate mixture.
Fill rings 1/2 full. Recipe can be made 3 hours ahead to this point.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Set baking sheet on a rack to cool. After 10 minutes.
Twist rings and remove from the tortes.
Transfer to dessert plates. Dust with sugar. Serve with ice cream. Drizzle with bittersweet chocolate sauce.
Bittersweet chocolate sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine 5 oz bittersweet chocolate with 1 1/4 cups warm water. Melt chocolate on low heat.
Away from heat, whisk in 2 teaspoons sweet butter. Cool and refrigerate.

White butter sauce  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time:15 minutes


  • Ingredients
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons dry white wine
2 tablespoons shallots, finely chopped
1 tablespoon heavy cream
8 ounces unsalted butter, cold
to taste salt and ground white pepper
  • preparation
In a small heavy pan, boil the vinegar, wine and shallots until all liquid is reduced. Add the cream, and re-boil until completely reduced.
Whisk in the cold butter, a few pieces at the time. The sauce thickens and becomes creamy.
Note: do not overheat the sauce, as the sauce separates and loses its creamy texture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Keep the sauce warm over a pan of warm water. Serve as soon as possible.

Whole grain soda bread  Print Recipe

Serves: 8

Preparation time:20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour

Bread can be baked 2 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.
  • Ingredients
1/4 cup millet flour
1/4 cup quinoa flour
1/4 cup amaranth flour
1 cup old-fashioned oats, plus 1 Tbsp for topping
2 1/4 cups buttermilk, divided, plus more for brushing
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for pan
4 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, plus 1 Tbsp for topping
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons molasses
  • preparation
1. Mix millet, quinoa, amaranth, 1 cup oats, 1 cup buttermilk, and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl. Allow the sticky mixture to rest 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil an 8"-diameter cast-iron skillet or cake pan.
In a large mixing bowl, mix whole wheat flour, ground flaxseed, salt, baking soda, and 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, soft butter, molasses, 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, remaining 1 Tbsp. oil AND the prepared oat mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough is smooth, homogenous, and still slightly sticky.

3. Form dough into a ball and place in prepared pan. Brush with buttermilk; top with more oats and sunflower seeds. Cut a large X into the top and bake until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of loaf registers 190°F, about 1 hour or longer. Let cool in pan.

Wild blueberry flan   Print Recipe

Serves: 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time:1 hour 20 minutes


  • Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling:
5 cups wild fresh or frozen blueberries
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind
2 cups sour cream
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter and sugar until blended. Beat in egg and almond extract. In separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt; pour over batter and stir until blended. Pat over bottom and 2 inches up side of greased 10-inch springform pan. Set aside.
Filling:
Toss together blueberries, liqueur and lemon rind; scrape over crust. Whisk together sour cream, egg yolks, sugar and almond extract; scrape evenly over blueberries. Bake for 1 1/4 hours or until crust is golden and crisp. Let cool in pan on rack. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until chilled. Remove side of pan.
Cut into wedges to serve. For an added touch, pipe whipped cream over tart and decorate with thin candied orange strips and almond slivers
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Measures of non liquid ingredients



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Weight of specific 'ingredients in grams

Ingredient

1 cup

3/4 cup

2/3 cup

1/2 cup

1/3 cup

1/4 cup

2 tablespoons
All-purpose wheat flour 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
All-purpose sifted wheat flour 110 g 80 g 70 g 55 g 35 g 27 g 13 g
White sugar 200 g 150 g 130 g 100 g 65 g 50 g 25 g
Powdered sugar/Icing sugar 100 g 75 g 70 g 50 g 35 g 25 g 13 g
Brown sugar normally packed 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 23 g
Corn flour 160 g 120 g 100 g 80 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Cornstarch 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Rice (not-cooked) 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Macaroni (uncooked) 140 g 100 g 90 g 70 g 45 g 35 g 17 g
Couscous (uncooked) 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 22 g
Quick oatmeal (uncooked) 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Table salt 300 g 230 g 200 g 150 g 100 g 75 g 40 g
Butter / Margarine 240 g 180 g 160 g 120 g 80 g 60 g 30 g
Shortening 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Fruits and légumes chopped 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
chopped walnuts 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Nuts /ground almonds 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Fresh bread crumbs (not packed) 60 g 45 g 40 g 30 g 20 g 15 g 8 g
Dry bread crumbs 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Parmesan grated 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Chocolate chips 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 38 g  19 g
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