apuginthekitchen

Jan 17

Molasses Ginger Whoopie Pies With Ginger/Tangerine Buttercream

Whoopie Pies

This is an unofficial Bake Together with Abby Dodge, it came about after an email to Abby from the great Greg Patent author of many wonderful cookbooks including one of my favorites Baking In America you should also visit his blog The Baking Wizard (aptly named) for some great baking tips and wonderful recipes. Greg was excited about Abby’s Bake Together concept and had made his variation of her delicious Whoopie Pie recipe in her newly released cookbook Mini Treats And Handheld Sweets. she let us all know that if we wanted to we could do the same and make a variation of the recipe.

Whoopie!

Molasses Ginger Whoopie Pies With Ginger Tangerine Cream Cheese Butter Cream
Makes 24 filled whoopie pies

For the whoopies
2 cups (9 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp allspice
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar +1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (Abby used 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or paste)
1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temperature minus 1 tbs

1 tbs molasses

Make the whoopies

1. Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Line three cookie sheets with parchment or nonstick baking liners.

2. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt in a medium bowl until well blended and no lumps remain. Put the butter and sugars in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until well blended and smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until just blended between additions. Add the vanilla with the last egg. Stop to scrape down the bowl and the beater as needed. Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just blended. Stir molasses into buttermilk and add the buttermilk and mix until just blended. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix on low speed until just blended.

3. Using a 1-tablespoon mini scoop, shape the dough into balls and arrange about 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake, one sheet at a time, until a pick inserted in the center of one whoopie comes out clean, 9 to 11 minutes. Move the sheet to a cooling rack, let the whoopies sit for 10 minutes, and then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.

Make the filling

4 oz cream cheese at room temperature

4 oz softened unsalted butter

3-4 cups confectioners sugar

1/2 tsp powdered ginger

Zest from 1 tangerine (I used satsuma tangerines)

Cream the cream cheese and butter, add confectioners sugar a cup at a time, add the ginger and tangerine zest beating until smooth and spreadable.

Assemble the whoopie pies

Turn half of the cooled whoopies over so they are flat side up. Spoon a slightly rounded 1 tablespoon of the filling onto the center of each whoopie. Top with the remaining whoopies, flat side down. Press gently on each cookie to spread the filling almost to the edge. Roll the edges of the whoopie pies in colored sprinkles, if desired. Whoopies can be served immediately, chilled for 30 minutes or refrigerated up to 2 days. They are best when served slightly chilled.

Jan 16

15 Comments

I Can’t stop,More Awards

When I worked on my post last night I clamored to list blogs that I love and visit all the time, I want to mention a few more blogs that are beautiful and full of great recipes. So in the interest of making this brief here are a few more blogs that I love and are deserved of awards. There are so many great blogs I couldn’t stop with the ones mentioned in the previous post. You have to visit these also, they are amazing. How can I just pick a few when there are so many that are so wonderful. You can pay it forward if you like but no obligation I just wanted to add you because I admire and love your blogs. I think it’s important for everyone who visits here to get to know you also.

A Taste Of Wintergreen

Sisterhood or brotherhood

Jan 15

16 Comments

So Grateful- An Award Giving And Receiving

Wonderful award

I want to thank Veena whose wonderful blog Vina’sdeliciousrecipes is always a source of inspiration, and for awarding me the Sisterhood the the World Bloggers Award. We are all linked by our passion for cooking and creating and being able to visit each others sites links us with those halfway around the world. Thank you Veena, I truly appreciate this, please visit her blog you will find amazing and delicious recipes and cultural information.

Here are the 10 questions.

What is your favorite color? green and pink
Your favorite animal? dog
Your favorite non-alcoholic drinks? hot cocoa
Facebook or Twitter? twitter
Your favorite pattern? paisley
Do you prefer getting or giving presents? Giving
Your favorite number? 5
Your favorite day of the week? friday
Your favorite flower? peony
What is your passion? cooking, my dogs,my family,my work

Bloggers I would like to nominate:

The Healthyflavor

The Healthy Epicurean

Lilly Sue’s Bites and Brews

Yummy Chunklet

Go Bake Yourself

The Kat & the Falling Leaves

Food Thoughts to Share

Pale Yellow

Two Dogs In The Kitchen

Yorkes Girl

Petit4chocolatier

I admire and visit all of these blogs all the time, each one is full of great recipes, is informative and beautiful. If you choose to pay it forward , link to this post please. Just letting you know I love your blogs and admire your work.

Jan 14

25 Comments

DIY Almond Milk

Almond Milk

I know this is probably nothing new to many of you but for me if was a revelation, making your own almond milk is easy and yields (IMHO) a product so superior to the commercially prepared milk, I honestly was blown away. It’s my new obsession and I use it everyday in shakes or on cereal or as a snack. I researched several websites to see how it is done and tried a few different methods, I made a few changes to the recipes I saw online. You need raw almonds, bottled or filtered water, a sweetener is optional, as is flavoring and salt (preferably sea salt). I decided that I like it with just a touch of sweetener and vanilla. I probably use a little less water to make it than other recipes because I like it rich and creamy. It is delicious, nutritious and a real treat. I always used soy milk in my morning shakes but not anymore. This morning I had a banana, date shake made with the almond milk and it was heavenly. I used the leftover pulp to make some granola this weekend and it was great I have to try to think of ways to use it right now it is sitting in my freezer in ziplock bags. If any of you have any ideas on what to make with the pulp please let me know. You will need raw almonds of course, filtered or bottled water, cheesecloth or a nut milk bag and thats it. There is no real formula you can add or subtract from the amounts in this recipe. This is how I like to make it.

Preparation:

3 cups raw almonds

6 cups filtered water

Place almonds and water in a lidded container and refrigerate for 24-48 hours.

Making the Milk:

drained almonds

5 cups water

sweetener (Optional)

Flavoring (Optional)

pinch of sea salt

Drain the almonds in a strainer, add to vitamix or food processor, add 5 cups bottled or filtered water, sweetener (I used 1 1/2 tsp organic cane sugar) optional flavoring (I added a tsp of vanilla), and sea salt, blend or process, If using a vitamix 2 minutes will do and if using a food processor 3-4 minutes.

Have doubled cheese cloth or nut milk bag ready over a large bowl, pour into cloth or bag and squeeze, until it is dry. Pour into container and refrigerate until ready to use.

NOTE: My first batch I used cheese cloth doubled, it worked pretty well but I found it was not completely strained, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have a few errant pieces of nuts in your milk. The second batch I used a clean cotton tea towel and it worked like a charm, no nut pieces and it was large enough that I was able to really squeeze it and get every drop of milk. I am going to invest in a nut milk bag very soon.

Jan 12

30 Comments

One Year Ago Today

Today is the anniversary of the first post on my blog, it’s hard to believe it has already been a year since I started this blog. I have learned so much during this time and like to think that I have improved a bit both in content and photo’s but it is still a work in progress. The best part of this little adventure really is the wonderful people I have met, virtually for the most part but I feel like I know so many of you personally. I have come to know and follow so many blogs and I strive to achieve what so many of you have already managed to do. This was my first blog post, a recipe I created for a citrus contest on Food52.

Mixed Citrus Curd

Makes 2 cups

1 each orange, tangerine,clementine, lemon (I used a navel orange and honey tangerine)

2 1/2 tbs zest from the fruits

1/2 cup juice (mixed from each fruit)

6 extra large egg yolks

4 oz unsalted butter cut into pieces (1 stick)

1 1/2 cup sugar

pinch of salt

1 tsp orange zest (added after its cooked)

Instructions:

Zest the fruit and set aside 2 1/2 tbs, juice the fruit, mix together and set aside 1/2 cup. In saucepan add the egg yolks, sugar and a pinch of salt. Beat with hand held mixer until creamy and light. Whisk in the juice and zest and add the butter, cook over medium/ low heat stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Place thermometer in pan, keep stirring. Its done when temperature reads 175, remove from heat. If you don’t have a thermometer cook until thick and it coats the back of your spoon, with your finger make a stripe and if it stays intact its done.

Pour through a sieve into a bowl, add the tsp of orange zest, stir to combine and cover with plastic that sits directly on top of the curd, allow to come to room temperature then refrigerate overnight.

Jan 10

26 Comments

Brown Butter Spiced Ale

The latest Food52 contest was all about beer, I love a challenge and wanted to create a drink using beer that could comfortably be consumed when it’s cold outside. I primarily think of beer as a summer drink. A hot buttered rum came to mind so I set about switching the ingredients so as to use beer instead of rum and water. I thought that an ale would be nice and added browned butter, brown sugar, some spices and a splash of brandy and the result is really quite delicious. It’s a great way to enjoy beer if you live in a cold climate. The bitterness of the ale is offset by the sugar and spice and the browned butter adds a richness reminiscent of a hot buttered rum. I was so pleased that the recipe was chosen to be tested as a community pick and was thrilled to see that it was chosen to be showcased and photographed by the editors at food52. Kukla, one of our outstanding community members tested the recipe and wrote a lovely review. Here is the recipe, I hope you enjoy if you decide to give it a try.

Serves 2

12 ounces ale of your choice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, browned
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
splashes brandy (about 1 tablespoon) per glass
1 Cinnamon stick for garnish

Add butter to small saucepan and melt on medium heat. Cook until butter becomes a light brown and has a slightly nutty smell (approximately 3 minutes). Reduce heat to low and add brown sugar and spices — cook until brown sugar is dissolved and the mixture is paste-like. Scrape into small bowl or ramekin and cover with foil to keep warm.
Add the ale to the same saucepan and heat on medium until hot. Spoon two tablespoonds of the spiced butter mixture in serving glass, pour hot ale into glass and add a splash of brandy (about 1 or 2 tablespoons) and stir. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

Photo by James Ransom for Food52

Jan 8

20 Comments

Banana Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting And Salted Caramel

Banana Cupcake

I have a bunch of over ripe banana’s that need to be used ASAP, I have made loaf after loaf of banana bread and wanted something a little different so I decided to make cupcakes, banana cake is wonderful and something I haven’t made in a very long time. I saw this recipe for the cupcakes and caramel sauce on Martha Stewarts website and it sounded delicious. The homemade caramel sauce with banana cake and cream cheese icing sounds perfect.

I have to confess, I have never made caramel, real caramel before. For some reason I was intimidated by it, maybe it was the bubbling that occurs when you add the cream, or the fear of failure, who knows but I avoided making it until today. I have to admit this caramel sauce is wonderful, delicious and so easy to make, I didn’t even use my candy thermometer I simply went by the color of the caramel and it turned out perfectly. You can make the caramel sauce the day before the cupcakes so it is cooled sufficiently and thick enough to pipe onto the cupcakes. NOTE: I halved the recipe for caramel sauce.

Caramel

Caramel Sauce:

Makes 10 oz of sauce

1 cup granulated sugar

6 tbs unsalted butter cut into tbs size pieces

1/2 cup heavy cream

sea salt (I used Maldon flakes)

In medium size heavy bottom sauce pan add the sugar, turn the heat to medium/high and let the sugar start to melt, when you see that it’s melting start whisking the sugar, it will clump it’s ok keep whisking until it’s completely melted. Let it cook until it turns a deep amber color swirling the pot every now and then. Once it’s a deep amber color add the butter and whisk until sugar is incorporated. Remove from heat and add the heavy cream, whisk until combined and add a pinch or two of the sea salt. Let cool for 20 minutes and then pour into container, it will be thin but it thickens up beautifully.

Cupcakes:

Makes 24 regular size cupcakes or 12 jumbo

3 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
3 large eggs at room temperature
4 very ripe large bananas, mashed (about 2 cups)
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place liners in cupcake tins.

Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.

Reduce speed to low. Mix wet ingredients (bananas, buttermilk and vanilla) in a bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with wet ingredients and ending with dry. Scrape sides of bowl. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each full.

Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 20 minutes for jumbo cupcakes increase cooking time to 25-30 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks

Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese softened

8 oz unsalted butter softened

4-6 cups confectioners sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cream butter and cream cheese in stand mixer using paddle attachment, add the confectioners sugar a cup at a time beating until smooth and spreadable consistency, add the vanilla and mix until combined. Frost cupcakes immediately.

Pipe icing onto cupcakes and drizzle with caramel sauce. Enjoy!

Jan 7

27 Comments

Pasta With Half The Carbs

Half the carbs pasta

Part of my resolution this year is to lose some weight and try to eat more healthful foods. I respond really well to low carb diets and do lose weight pretty quickly but I am a carb addict, I love bread and pasta and rice. Once I get used to eliminating or lowering my carb intake it becomes easy but the first week or so is a bit difficult. I created this dish to ease myself into a reduced carb lifestyle. It’s fresh and very simple to prepare. I use less than half the amount of pasta that I normally would and replaced it with julienned zucchini. The hot pasta is tossed with the zucchini (raw), oven roasted (caramelized) cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic and a nice handful of chopped flat leaf parsley. Finish with the grated or shaved cheese of your choice, I used peccorino romano.

Serves 2-3

10 cherry tomatoes halved

2 cloves garlic

1 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped

1 medium zucchini julienned

1/4 lb pasta (dry or fresh)

2 tbs olive oil plus more to drizzle on tomatoes

salt and pepper to taste

grated cheese of your choice

Heat oven to 350 degree’s place cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves on parchment lined baking sheet, sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper and bake for 15-20 minutes, garlic will be soft and tomatoes soft and caramelized, remove from oven and place in serving bowl mashing the garlic, be sure to include the juice from the tomatoes and any caramelized bits of tomato.

Put a large pot of water to boil, julienne the zucchini and add to the tomato and garlic, add the chopped parsley, olive oil and season. When water has come to a full boil add enough salt so that water tastes salty (about 1 – 2 tbs) depending on how much water you have in the pot, add the pasta and cook until done (al dente), remove from pot and add directly to the zucchini and tomatoes, toss to combine, sprinkle with cheese and serve. If it seems too dry add a little pasta water and/or olive oil to moisten.

Jan 4

31 Comments

Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup hearty and delicious!

Its cold outside and in the winter I really love to have a hot bowl of soup. I love lentils, they are nutritious, loaded with protein, fiber and vitamins, one of natures perfect foods. They are also so easy to make. I usually make the whole package, 2 cups dry lentils and this yields a big pot of soup, for me this is multiple meals and it freezes nicely. I divide into portions, stick them in the freezer. I like to add lots of vegetables, onion, celery, carrot, garlic and parsley. It is a healthful delicious meal as is, but I really love adding kielbasa to my lentil soup there is something about the smoky sausage that adds so much flavor. You don’t have to, this is optional of course. I’m sure all of you have your go to lentil soup recipe, this is mine. I sometimes add kale or spinach to the pot at the end of cooking time.

Ingredients:

2 cups lentils washed and sorted

1 small onion chopped

1 large stalk celery

1 medium size carrot cleaned peeled and chopped

1/2 cup flat leaf parsley chopped

2 cloves garlic chopped

6-8 cups chicken, beef, vegetable stock or water

1/2 lb smoked kielbasa sausage (Optional)

salt and pepper to taste

handfull of Spinach or Kale

Coat the bottom of your pot or dutch oven with olive oil (not too much), heat on medium high and add the onion, garlic, celery and carrot, saute stirring frequently until the vegetables start of soften, add the parsley. Heat the stock if you are using stock. Now add the cleaned lentils, give it a stir and add hot stock or hot water. Cover, bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low. Let cook stirring occasionally for approximately 1 hour or until lentils are softened and cooked through. Watch it carefully, if you think it’s too thick add more water or stock to thin. I threw in some spinach after it was cooked the heat of the soup wilts the spinach. NOTE: If adding Kale you will need to continue cooking for 5 minutes or a little longer. Spinach wilts instantly but Kale is a bit tougher and requires a small amount of cooking time.

Dec 31

6 Comments

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 15,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 3 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.