Thursday, December 25, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Morning Muffins


On Christmas morning, I like to start off the day with some fruit and something fresh from the oven such as madeleine's, panettone or stolen. Sure, later on there will be bacon, sausages and the works, but I'm talking about early in the morning, with my coffee and presents, I like warm baking.


This holiday I believe I will be turning out Nigella's Christmas Morning Muffins for our little family. Perfumed with the zest from the clementines and sweetened with the juice, these muffins are rightly named. Red cranberries give them some holiday color and as they are full of spices, they give the kitchen a wonderful smell when they are baking.


I'm loving my new cookbook, Nigella Christmas, which was an early present from Danny. (Here Jasmine reviews the cookbook) I'm doing her Stuffed Loin of Pork with Rubied Gravy for Christmas Eve dinner: pork loin stuffed with bacon and cranberries and wrapped in bacon. How amazing is that?!
This is my first Nigella cookbook, and hmm, she really loves her bacon. We'd get along great.


Here's the recipe. I've cut back on the amount of dried cranberries and am temped to throw some dark chocolate chunks in next time. It IS Christmas, after all.

Christmas Morning Muffins
Adapted from Nigella Christmas

Makes 12 large
250g flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
100g sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
dash of fresh nutmeg
2 clementines
approx 125ml milk
75 ml vegetable oil (or melted butter)
1 egg
100g dried cranberries
3 teaspoons demerara sugar (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a muffin with papers and set aside.
Measure the flour baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and spices into a large bowl; grate the zest of the clementines over and combine. If you are doing this in advance, leave the zesting till Christmas morning.
Squeeze the juice of the clementines into a measuring jug and pour in the milk until it comes to the 200ml mark.
Add the oil or butter and egg, and lightly beat until just combined.
Pour this liquid mixture into the bowl of dried ingredients and stir gently until well combined.
Fold in the cranberries, then spoon the batter into the muffin tins. Sprinkle with demerara if desired.
Bake for 20 minutes or so until tops are firm to the touch.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Wedding Bells


Congratulations to Terrie (Mom/Grandma T) and Walter on your marriage!

We love you and wish you every happiness together as you turn the page on this new chapter in your lives.

All our love,
Danny, Aimée, Noah & Mateo

Friday, December 19, 2008

DIY: Panettone


I probably should be doing something else right now like packing a healthy snack for tomorrow's little ring bearer, or ironing his baby brother's wedding pants. The clock is ticking toward midnight and I'm going to have bags under my eyes and ugly fingernails at tomorrow's family wedding, because instead of being responsible, I am bringing you this panettone.


I just couldn't wait to share this recipe; it was so much fun to make, every step of the way! Translated from Italian and meaning 'big bread', this panettone was a thrill to make at home. Once I had found the right baking mould (thanks to Ares Cuisine $.99 each), I was set. While there's nothing particularly exotic about the ingredients, the process of bringing them together--the lemon zest, the rum-soaked raisins, and all those eggs--was an intoxicating rush for a home baker like me. (and it wasn't because I was sampling the rum, either)


Turns out it was a bit of a photographers dream too...It posed so prettily, even when sliced open to reveal it's creamy interior. This wedge disappeared pretty fast with my cup of tea. Luckily the recipe makes a big batch, so there's some in the freezer for Christmas morning.


Panettone

Adapted from Canadian Living
Servings: 2 large loaves, 24 slices each


1/4 cup (50 ml) brandy or rum
3/4 cup (175 mL) golden raisins

1/2 cup (125 mL) candied mixed peel

1/2 cup (125 mL) candied citron

8-3/4 cups (2.175 L) all-purpose flour (approx)

1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar

3/4 cup (175 mL) warm milk

2 pkg active dry yeast (or 2 tbsp/25 mL)

6 eggs 6 egg yolks
1 tbsp (15 mL) each grated orange and lemon rind

1 tbsp (15 mL) vanilla
1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) salt

1-1/2 cups (375 mL) unsalted butter, softened

Preparation:
In a glass measuring cup, microwave rum at high for about 20 seconds. Add raisins and let stand until plump, about one hour. Drain and reserve raisins.
In small bowl, combine raisins, candied peel and citron. Add 2 tbsp (25 mL) of the flour; toss to coat. Set aside.
In separate bowl, dissolve 1 tsp (5 mL) of the sugar in warm milk. Sprinkle in yeast; let stand for 10 minutes or until frothy.
Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, orange and lemon rinds and vanilla until combined; stir into milk mixture.
In large bowl, stir together 4 cups (1 L) of the flour, remaining sugar and salt. With wooden spoon, stir in egg mixture all at once. Add butter all at once; stir until blended. Gradually stir in remaining flour to make soft somewhat lumpy dough.
Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface; knead for about 8 minutes or until soft, smooth and elastic, adding up to 1/3 cup (75 mL) more flour if needed. Lightly dust with flour; cover with tea towel and let rest for 5 minutes.
Flatten dough into 15-inch (38 cm) circle; top with raisin mixture. Fold dough over mixture; pinch to seal. Knead for 2 to 3 minutes or until raisin mixture is evenly distributed. Place in large greased bowl, turning to grease all over. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, 1-1/2 to 2 hours.


Grease two 2 lb (1 kg) coffee cans or panettone moulds. If using cans, line bottoms and sides with parchment paper to extend 1 inch (2.5 cm) above top; wrap outsides and bottoms with double thickness of foil.
Punch down dough; turn out onto lightly floured surface. Divide in half; roll each into ball. Place, seam side down, in can. Cover and let rise in warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours.

With serrated knife, cut X on top of each loaf. Bake on baking sheet on lowest rack of 350ºF (180ºC) oven for about 1 hour or until knife inserted in center comes out clean, covering tops lightly with foil if browning too quickly.
Let cool in cans on rack for 1 hour. Remove from cans by gently pulling paper; let cool completely on rack.


Tip: Baking panettone in a variety of can sizes is not traditional but does allow you to share some of this splendid treat with those at the top of your gift list. For small panettone, use 10 to 28 oz (284 to 796 mL) cans. Make ball of dough small enough to fill can just under halfway. Let rise as in recipe; bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Cookies and More Cookies


I feel like I risk sounding redundant if I continue to write about how busy things are around here, but such is the case! We're on the home stretch toward the holiday, but I feel like it's been Christmas for weeks already. A few things that have been occupying my time over and above the usual holiday craze are...
--My small bake sale fundraiser that I organize every year with a friend raised over $500 that we will put toward providing food for needy families in our area.
--Noah made his theatrical debut as a shepherd boy in our church's children's Christmas musical. After weeks of practice, he sang and did the actions, but also behave rather mischievously on stage, much to mama's chagrin and the audience's delight.
--Christmas parties are well under way and I've enjoyed reconnecting with some old friends, not to mention dressing up and going out. (People do this all year long, apparently?)
--And then, sandwiched between two snowfalls, my annual cookie swap quietly came and went.


How nice to be well-stocked with an amazing assortment of baking! All the cookies were stellar and I was even introduced to a few new ones. Ginger-Lime Buttons, anyone? Yum!
It would have been hard to top last years' highly organized exchange that made the local paper, but this year was just as memorable. While I waited for the girls to arrive, I brewed my usual batch of mulled cider and set out platters to receive the cookies; I was reminded of what an easy party this was to host! I was so relaxed, as were the guests, and the afternoon slipped away rapidly as we ate cookies and chatted.
Many thanks to the girls who came out! We'll see you next year!

I'm hoping these photos will distract you from the fact that I have no cookie recipe for you. I know, I know, but by now, I'm sure you've either got your baking done or at least have your recipes picked out--you don't need mine, right?

Just a week to go until Christmas! There are some great things coming to this blog in the next few days so stay tuned.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

All Gingerbread, All the Time


I absolutely love gingerbread. If I had to pick a favorite holiday cookie, gingerbread would win without question. It probably stems from my childhood and good memories of baking and decorating cookies to my heart's content. Every step is special, from the measuring of the spices for the dough, to the rolling and cutting of playful Christmas shapes, and perhaps the most fun of all, the detailed icing work.

This year I opted to make and decorate gingerbread trees. My heart just hasn't been into elaborately decorating men ever since that fateful Christmas several years ago when my brother-in-law ate the heads off of every single one of my styling GQ gingerbread men as they were drying. It was quite the massacre, no one survived and a small part of me died that day.
Of course I made some little guys for Noah to decorate and for ornaments for a wreath, which you can see later in the post.


This year I decided to forgo making an elaborate gingerbread house like I have in Christmases past. In light of a family wedding on December 20th, and the busyness that inevitably surrounds that event combined with the usual Christmas rush (Rehearsal! House guests! Gift shopping! and Me-oh-my-what-will-I-wear?), I'm cutting back on my holiday baking so I don't burn out before the big day. Still, Christmas without gingerbread just isn't an option, so I set aside some time to make sure we had a healthy stash.
Noah joined me on this task--which turned it into an adventure-- and at the end of the day I was thrilled with our assortment of gingerbread cookies. Stars! Mittens! Trees! Hmm, isn't it funny how things take longer even though you have an adorable 'helper'?


Already a pro from his snowflake sugar cookies, Noah had no trouble dressing up these little gingerbread men while I decorated the trees and mittens. I don't have a photo, but his cookies turned out so cute, I think I'm going to have to shellac a few to keep forever. Maybe I'll make a necklace or something.
Oh no! Not more crafts!
Speaking of getting crafty...


...I've been at it again. For the little effort it took, I was pretty happy with how this simple holiday wreath came out. I bought the greenery at Reno Depot for like $8, I think, and dressed it up with a few small gingerbread men. Honestly, these little fellows make my whole living room smell like gingerbread. It's heaven.
Before I forget, thanks for all your 'get-well' comments! We are all feeling much better and I am waking up with much less of a man-voice now.

And now for the recipe!


This is a new one for me, but I absolutely loved it. I like my gingerbread with a snap to them, but not jaw-breakingly rock-hard. These were perfect. I used Martha's recipe for royal icing, which calls for meringue powder. I recommend using this over egg whites if you are decorating with/for children.

Gingerbread Cut-out Cookies

This recipe is from Nick Malgeiri who has this to say about it:
"Of course you don't have to cut these cookies into any particular shape, but if you want to make gingerbread people this is the recipe to use. And these cookies are ideal for decorating... A bonus: this dough is so tender that you can roll and reroll the scraps without having to worry that the last batch of cookies you roll will be tough. This recipe makes a lot of dough, but it's easy to halve if you need less.
Check out the original recipe and other great recipes on his super comprehensive website.

Makes about 24 large cookies, depending on the size cutter used (Aimee's note: I probably got 8 or 9 dozen small cookies)

5 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

2/3 cup molasses

2 cookie sheets or jelly roll pans lined with parchment or foil


1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, spices, salt and baking soda. Stir well to mix.

2. Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until well mixed, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating smooth after each addition. Scrape down bowl and beater.

3. Lower speed and beat in about half the flour mixture. Beat in all the molasses then scrape bowl and beater. Add the remaining flour mixture, about 1 cup at a time, and beat after each addition until it has all been absorbed.

4. Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the dough a final mixing with a large rubber spatula. Scrape half the dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap and press it to about a 1/2-inch thickness. Wrap the dough securely and repeat with the remaining dough. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours or for up to 3 days.

5. When you are ready to bake the cookies, set racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.

6. Unwrap one of the pieces of dough and cut it in half. Rewrap one of the halves and return it to the refrigerator.

7. On a floured surface, roll the dough until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Use a floured cutter to cut the cookies. As they are cut, place the cut cookies on the prepared pans with about 1 inch between them on all sides. Repeat with remaining dough. Save, press together, and reroll scraps (they don't need to be chilled before rerolling).

8. Bake the cookies until they become dull and dry looking and feel slightly firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 12 to 15 minutes. If you overbake the cookies, they will be very dry. Slide papers from pans onto racks to cool.

9. Store the cooled cookies between sheets of parchment or wax paper in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting cover.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Mulled Cider and Muddled Thoughts

We were off to such a good start around here with our Christmas preparations, but a vicious head cold has rendered the wee ones and I useless. You know you're sick when the everyday motions become huge hurdles, and you congratulate yourself on having two babies fed and dressed by 11:00 AM. Thank goodness the Christmas cards are almost done, the boxes of goodies mailed to loved ones far away, and the shopping taken care of, or I'd really be freaking out. Still, pray that I shake this, because I have a bevy of baking to attend to.

On a happier note, we had the prettiest blanket of snow blow in today. With the wind whipping around the eaves, swirling the fast-falling flakes, I was happy to have a mug of this hot spiced apple cider to keep me warm.


Look at the fragrant ingredients that make this cider so aromatic: cinnamon, cloves, star anise, bay leaves, ginger and lemongrass. Mmm, it's practically a cure for a cold in itself.
My husband likes this cider as sweet as it can be, but if I'm offering it to children, or drinking it while sick as I am now, I prefer to pass on the brown sugar. Feel free to spike it if you like, I won't say I pass on that!


Mulled Cider (makes 5 cups)
(Adapted from In Praise of Apples by Mark Rosenstein)

4 cups fresh apple cider
1/4 cup light brown sugar, tightly packed (optional)

1 cinnamon stick

4 whole cloves

1 star anise

1/2 teaspoon peeled, sliced, fresh ginger

1 stalk lemon grass, bruised (or 1 sliced lemon)

1/2 bay leaf


Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan. Place over medium heat, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Strain and serve.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

A Change for the Better: Sour Cream Chocolate Cake

Sour-Cream Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate-Peanut Butter Ganache: if you think that's a mouthful, you should taste this cake.

I like dependability in a recipe. I like knowing the outcome is going to be exactly as good as it was the last time. Although my culinary training helps me deal with most curveballs thrown my way, I don't like surprises when I am in the kitchen.
For years I've had a chocolate cake recipe as trusty as an old friend. You've seen it in the form of wedding cakes, mini cupcakes and baby shower cakes. It's an adaptable one-bowl chocolate cake, easy to prepare and always comes out moist and delicious.
However, as reliable as that cake may be, it's a tad boring, and today I'm tossing out the recipe because I've fallen in love with something new.


Yep, my old standby chocolate cake has been usurped by this irresistible Sour-Cream Chocolate Cake. This cake proves that change can be good, even great! First spotted over at Smitten Kitchen, it was love at first sight and all I needed was an excuse for that first bite. Fortunately I didn't have to wait too long for a birthday to come up and a gang of us demolished this cake in a matter of minutes. I didn't even get a photo of a slice. Guess I'm going to have to make it again soon to get one, because it's a gorgeous layer cake.


OK, so peanut butter lovers out there--watch out! This cake will knock your socks off.
Here's how it comes together: Three ultra-tender, very dark rounds of sour-cream chocolate cake are layered with a sweet and salty cream cheese/peanut butter frosting. The towering masterpiece is covered with more of this decadent frosting, then smoothed and chilled. Meanwhile, dark chocolate and more peanut butter is melted into a rich ganache, which is then drizzled, nay, slathered, over the top of the layer cake. How does that sound?


As Deb puts it, this cake is intense. A small slice is sufficient and although the recipe says it serves 12 -16, I pleased about 24 people with it.
For another occasion I turned this recipe into cupcakes and they were great. (pictured below) I dipped a few in the glaze, but mostly just decorated them with the peanut butter frosting. In cupcake form, these treats pack quite the wallop and if you are trying to diet before the holidays, watch out as they could become your latest vice!

Sour Cream-Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
recipe from:
Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes
inspired by: Smitten Kitchen (thank you, thank you!)

Makes an 8-inch triple-layer cake; serves 12 to 16-generously.

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup neutral vegetable oil, such as canola, soybean or vegetable blend

1 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs


1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanut brittle (optional)


1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of three 8-inc
h round cakepans. Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment or waxed paper and butter the paper.
2. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk to combine them well. Add the oil and sour cream and whisk to blend. Gradually beat in the water. Blend in the
vinegar and vanilla. Whisk in the eggs and beat until well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and be sure the batter is well mixed. Divide among the 3 prepared cake pans.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Let cool in the pans for about 20 minutes. Invert onto wire racks, carefully peel off the paper liners, and let cool completely. (These cakes are very soft. I found them a lot easier to work with after firming them up in the freezer for 30 minutes)


4. To frost the cake, place one layer, flat side up, on a cake stand or large serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup cup of the Peanut Butter Frosting evenly over the top. Repeat with the next layer. Place the last layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
Once the cake is fully frosted, chill it again and let it firm up. The cooler and more set the peanut butter frosting is, the better drip effect you’ll get from the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze.
5. To decorate with the Chocolate–Peanut Butter Glaze, put the cake plate on a large baking sheet to catch any drips. Simply pour the glaze over the top of the cake, and using an offset spatula, spread it evenly over the top just to the edges so that it runs down the sides of the cake in long drips. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to allow the glaze and frosting to set completely. Remove about 1 hour before serving. Decorate the top with chopped peanut brittle if desired

Peanut Butter Frosting
Makes about 5 cups

10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably a commercial brand (because oil doesn’t separate out)

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and
fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl often. Continue to beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Add the peanut butter and beat until thoroughly blended.


Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/2 cup half-and-half

1. In the top of d double boiler or in a bowl set over simmering water, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup. Cook, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half, beating until smooth. Use while still
warm.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Playing with Pumpkin: Pumpkin Pie Fudge


In case you have any leftover pumpkin puree from all those Thanksgiving pies, here's one last recipe idea to help use it up and then I'll stop with the onslaught of pumpkin posts already!

Let me just say, it was not my idea to combine pumpkin with fudge, but rather a request from a good friend who remembered having it as a child and it was 'the best thing ever'.
I had my doubts.


So despite my reservations and although Dave is my arch-nemesis in the game Settlers of Catan, I couldn't say no to his request and went searching for recipes for pumpkin fudge. This one on Allrecipes reminded me of last year's Killer Crack Peanut Butter Fudge, and I decided to give it a shot.

The result was...Meh.
It had the perfect fudge texture, I couldn't complain about that, but the pumpkin flavor was SO strong, TOO strong--and I love pumpkin! I couldn't figure out what exactly it was about this fudge that I did not like--in fact I almost convinced myself that I DID like it, but after it had sat around for a few weeks (gulp), I had to be straight with myself.

"Self" I said, "Fudge is lucky if it lasts 24 hours in this house. Face it. You hate this fudge."


Now, why would I give you this recipe? Because taste is subjective and some people loved this fudge. No, not just people who were tying to get on my good side, but real pumpkin pie connoisseurs (you know who I am talking about). So this recipe is for you. You're welcome.

Oh and you were probably wondering, did my friend Dave like it? Was it everything that he remembered and more?
Um, not so much.
Incidentally, today is his birthday though, so Happy Birthday, Dave!


Pumpkin Pie Fudge

2 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 cups white sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 cup white chocolate chips

7 ounces marshmallow creme
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Line a 9x9 inch pan with aluminum foil, and set aside.
2. In a 3 quart saucepan, heat milk and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
3. Mix in pumpkin puree and cinnamon; bring back to a boil. Stir in marshmallow creme and butter. Bring to a rolling boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 18 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, and add white chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until creamy and all chips are melted. Pour into prepared pan. Cool, remove from pan, and cut into squares. Store in a cool, dry place.

Playing with Pumpkin: the Series.

Part One:Chocolate-Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

Part Two: Pumpkin Muffins with Golden Raisins

Part Three: Pumpkin Spice Cake

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