Saturday, April 3, 2010

Paska Bread


Easter means paska for my extended family. Paska is a soft and eggy sweet bread similar to brioche. Traditionally it is baked in the round topped with icing and colorful nonpareils (my sister in law does it this way) but we like it spread with a bit of butter and sprinkled with sugar.

Paska Bread
Makes 4 to 5 loaves depending on size

2 packages dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
sprinkling of sugar

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water, let sit at least 10 minutes for yeast to develop.

2 cups milk
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
6-8 eggs (depending on size), beaten well
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
6-8 cups flour

Scald milk, add butter and cool to lukewarm. Add sugar to eggs, beat thoroughly and add to warm milk. Add yeast mixture as well as vanilla extract and salt. Add enough flour to make a smooth dough, knead well.

Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 2 hours). When dough is light, shape as desired (braid or place in coffee can or honey pot as traditionally done). Let rise again until light (about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours).

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. We spread slices with butter and a light sprinkling of sugar.
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Monday, March 29, 2010

Daring Bakers March '10 - Orange Tian


Snuck this one in just under the wire. I'd actually forgotten about it until I saw another Daring Baker post about hers. Panic! I quickly whipped mine up yesterday.

The only change was using a Seville orange marmalade I'd made a short time ago (from Simply Recipes) instead of the marmalade recipe listed below. Seville orange marmalade is truly an acquired taste. I myself don't like it, but Matt, my mother in law and my nephew do. They tell me the bitterness is a trait of Seville orange marmalade; I don't think I'll ever choose it for my toast, though.

Orange Tian. I would make this again but using the method for marmalade as listed in the recipe. Very pretty assembled dessert with numerous components that might turn a few people off the recipe: pâte sablée (a cookie, put simply) for the base; also an orange marmalade, caramel sauce and whipped cream. All of the components could be prepared ahead of time, however, and assembled shortly before serving.

Both Matt and I enjoyed this dessert. It's very refreshing, light, and clean tasting. Absolutely stunning visually, and because it's assembled as individual servings, it would make for a perfect ending to a lunch or dinner party.


Orange Tian
Alain Ducasse's Cooking School of Paris

Makes 6 individual desserts


Pâte Sablée

2 medium egg yolks at room temperature
6 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, ice cold and cubed

1/3 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder


Marmalade

1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

1 large orange for orange slices

cold water

5 grams pectin

granulated sugar: the same weight as the weight of the orange slices once cooked


Orange Segments

8 large oranges


Caramel

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons orange juice


Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

3 tablespoons hot water

1 teaspoon gelatin

1 tablespoon icing sugar

1 tablespoon orange marmalade


For the pâte sablée: put the flour, baking powder, butter and salt into a food processor.
In a separate bowl, add the egg yolks, vanilla and sugar and beat with whisk until mixture is pale. Pour egg mixture into the flour mixture in the food processor. Process this combined mixture until the dough just comes together. If the dough is too crumbly, add a few drops of water and process until dough forms a ball. Shape into a disc, cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes in refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350F.


Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick circle.
Using the same size cookie cutter as your molds will be, cut out circles of dough and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until cookies are golden.

For the marmalade: finely slice the orange. Place the orange slices in a medium sized pot filled with cold water. Simmer 10 minutes. Discard the water and refill with fresh cold water. Blanch another 10 minutes. Repeat 3 times, changing the water each time. This process removes the bitterness from the orange peel.
Once blanched, drain slices and let cool. Once cooled, mince finely. Weigh the slices and measure out the same amount of granulated sugar.

In a pot over medium heat, add the orange slices, sugar, orange juice and the pectin. Cook until the mixture reaches a jam consistency, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set in refrigerator.

For the orange segments: cut the oranges into segments over a shallow bowl and reserve the juice. Add segments to the bowl with the juice. Learn how to segment an orange over at Suitable For Consumption.


For the caramel: place the sugar in a pan over medium heat.
Once the sugar begins to bubble and foam, slowly add the orange juice. As soon as the mixture starts boiling, remove from the heat and pour half the mixture over the orange segments.Reserve the other half of the caramel mixture to be spooned over assembled dessert.

For the whipped cream: in a small bowl, add the gelatin and hot water, stirring well until the gelatin dissolves. Let the gelatin mixture cool to room temperature while making the whipped cream.


Combine the cream in a chilled mixing bowl. Whip the cream using a mixer on low speed until the cream starts to thicken. Add icing sugar. Increase the speed to medium high and whip till the beaters leave visible but not lasting trails in the cream.
Add the cooled gelatin slowly while beating continuously. Continue whipping until the cream is light, fluffy and forms soft peaks. Transfer to a bowl and fold in orange marmalade.

To assemble: ensure you have room in your freezer for a small baking sheet of desserts.
Line a small tray or baking sheet with parchment. Lay out 6 cookie cutters or molds onto the sheet. Drain orange segments on towels. Have marmalade, whipped cream and baked pâte sablée ready to use.

Arrange orange segments at the bottom of each cookie cutter or mold. Arrange snugly, how you would arrange slices apples for a tart. This will be the top of your dessert so ensure it is decorative.


Top the orange segments with two spoonfuls of whipped cream and spread gently so it fills the cookie cutter or mold in an even layer. Leave 1/4 inch at the top for the pâte sablée.


Spread a small amount of orange marmalade evenly on each pâte sablée and carefully place that side onto the whipped cream, pressing gently to compact.
Place desserts into freezer to set for 10 minutes.

Run a small knife around each cookie cutter or mold to ensure the dessert will unmold easily. Place a serving plate on top of each dessert and flip over. Carefully remove the cookie cutter and add a spoonful of warmed caramel sauce. Serve immediately.




The 2010 March Daring Baker’s challenge was hosted by Jennifer of Chocolate Shavings. She chose Orange Tian as the challenge for this month, a dessert based on a recipe from Alain Ducasse’s Cooking School in Paris.

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Monday, March 22, 2010

NYT Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies


Run, do not walk, run to the store and purchase any ingredients you may need to make these cookies. You'll have to wait at least 24 hours before baking them but the sooner you get started, the sooner you can blow your mind with what I think is finally, finally the ultimate chocolate chip cookie.

They
look exactly how I've always imagined my chocolate chip cookies to look. And they taste exactly how I've always imagined they should taste . Oh good heavens. Seriously. Just chewy enough thanks to the bread and cake flours plus the requisite chill time; they have the right amount of crispness around the edges and the dark chocolate disks rather than chips? Perfection.


NYT Chocolate Chip Cookies
New York Times
Makes 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons cake flour
1 2/3 cups bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 pounds dark chocolate disks

Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside. Using a mixer (hand or stand), cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Do not skimp on the beating time. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Drop in chocolate and incorporate without breaking pieces.

Press plastic wrap against the dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. The dough can also be used in batches at that point, keeping the remaining dough refrigerated up to 72 hours. To bake, preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or Silpat and set aside. Scoop generous golf ball sized mounds onto the baking sheet, making sure to turn any poking up chocolate pieces on the horizontal - this makes for a more attractive looking cookie.

Bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Rotate baking sheet halfway through baking time. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes then transfer cookies to the wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough. Eat warm, at room temperature or even frozen.


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Friday, December 18, 2009

Gingerbread Bears


Another Christmas cookie for gift giving - gingerbread men. This is Dorie Greenspan's fabulous gingerbread recipe: it's traditional in taste, and the texture of the baked cookie is variable depending on how you like your gingerbread (bake less for a softer, chewier cookie and the suggested time for a firmer cookie).

Spice Roll Out Cookies
Bon Appétit
Makes 60 small or 20 large cookies

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, allspice, nutmeg, mustard, and cloves into a large bowl. Beat the butter in a second large bowl at medium speed until smooth.

Add brown sugar to butter and beat 1 minute. Add the molasses and beat until fluffy. Add egg and beat until well blended, about 1 minute. At low speed, beat in vanilla. Add the flour spice mixture and beat till just blended.

Form dough into ball and divide in half. Form halves into balls and flatten into disks. Wrap separately in plastic and chill until firm; 4 hours to 2 days.

Preheat oven to 350F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Work with just 1 disk at a time, leaving the other chilled, roll out the dough between 2 sheets of wax paper to 1/8 inch thickness for small, 2 inch cookies and 1/4 inch thickness for 3 to 4 inch cookies.

Using whatever cookie cutter you prefer, cut out cookies and transfer to parchment lined sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. If the dough becomes too soft to work with, place in freezer on waxed paper lined sheets for 5 to 10 minutes. Use scraps to re roll and cut more cookies until all scraps are used.

Bake until cookies are firm on top and slightly darking around edges, about 8 minutes for smaller cookies and 12 minutes for larger cookies. Cool completely on rack.

Decorate with royal icing, then sprinkles or other decorations, if desired. Let stand till icing is set.


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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Homemade Caramels


We're including handmade caramels as one of the gifts we're giving this Christmas. This recipe? Solid gold. The caramels are silky soft, absolutely delicious, and completely addictive.


Candy making is definitely a love it/hate it affair. Candy making is time consuming. I hand wrapped every.single.caramel. It was a labor of love.

I think it was worth it.

There are just a few simple rules to follow for this failproof caramel recipe:

1. use a candy thermometer,
2. have all of your ingredients and equipment at the ready, and
3. ensure your sugar stays in the middle of the sauce pan so as to avoid crystallization

On to the recipe.

Failproof Homemade Caramels
Givers Log
Makes about 60 (I cut my caramels approximately half the size of AmberLee's, so I got 120+)


2 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup butter, unsalted
1 teaspoon vanilla

Line a standard size baking sheet with parchment paper. Allow parchment to rise up the sides rather than just lining the bottom of the sheet.

Cut butter into small cubes and melt over low heat in a medium size sauce pan.

Add and mix sugar, corn syrup and condensed milk. Remember to pour sugar in center of pan, and if any sugar crystals stick to the side of your pan, brush them down with a damp pastry brush.

Cook and stir on medium high heat until boiling, then clip your candy thermometer to the side of pan. Do not allow the thermometer to touch the bottom of the pan.

Reduce heat to medium or a temperature which allows for a steady, moderate boil. Stir often.

When the thermometer reaches 244F (this will take approximately 30 minutes), remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour the caramel into your prepared baking sheet - use caution! This is a very hot mixture.

Allow to cool overnight then use a pizza cutter to slice into desired slices. Another idea (but one that I have not tried) is using mini cookie or hor doeuvres cutters to create shaped caramels. Wrap each caramel in wax paper and twist the ends to close.

I found that cutting worked best for me after the caramels sat overnight, then spent some time in the freezer. I also froze the cut caramels prior to wrapping as they are quite soft when room temperature.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Best Sugar Cookies Ever


The quintessential sugar cookie. I think it's one of the trickiest cookies to bake simply because everyone has their own idea of how a sugar cookie is supposed to taste or what the textures is supposed to be like. Mine are either dry and crumbly, or they're a perfect crumb with hardly a flavor to speak of. The sugar cookies that make me cringe are the ones you see so covered with decorative icing that the cookie goes undetected.

This particular sugar cookie recipe turned out to be a huge winner - it was the first time I've tried this cookie recipe and I've already made it twice - that's over 150 cookies
. They are tender and almost chewy. The vanilla comes through just enough to give the cookie great flavor without overpowering and they are delicious even without frosting - we haven't actually had them with frosting yet.

We'll definitely be including these in our handmade Christmas gift baskets.


Granny's Sugar Cookies
Recipezaar

Makes approximately 84 cookies


1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups butter, softened (do not substitute!)

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar


Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream sugar and butter till fluffy; add eggs and vanilla, beat well.


Combine dry ingredients and gradually add to creamed mixture till completely blended. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes.


On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters dipped in flour to prevent sticking. Transfer cookies to a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until just faintly golden around edges. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on wire racks. Decorate with frosting if desired.


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