Marlow

A marlow is an old, frozen dessert made in part by melting marshmallows. My guess, then, is that marlow is a contraction of marshmallow, but I can’t promise that that’s correct! I’ve made both chocolate marlow, which tastes like a Wendy’s Frosty, and a banana one, which tastes…banana-y, but you can also leave it just vanilla. It has the texture of a soft ice cream, and somehow the flavor becomes richer once frozen than before.

Ingredients:

  • 30 (regular size) marshmallows
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • flavorings as desired (2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted; 2 well-mashed bananas)
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

Combine the marshmallows and milk in a large saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the marshmallows are completely dissolved.

Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and melted chocolate or banana, if desired.

2 bananas that had been in a bag in the freezer for a while, smooshed.

2 bananas that had been in a bag in the freezer for a while, thawed and smooshed.

 

The banana’s in there!

Transfer to a container and refrigerate until it begins to gel, 30-45 minutes.

Once the marshmallow mixture has begun to set, whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks.

Gently fold the marshmallow mixture into the whipped cream.

chocolate banana Cover, freeze several hours, and enjoy!

The banana one would go delightfully with some fudge sauce!

Marlow

From The New Art of Modern Cooking.

  • 30 (regular size) marshmallows
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • flavorings as desired (2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted; 2 well-mashed bananas)
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

Combine the marshmallows and milk in a large saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the marshmallows are completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and melted chocolate or banana, if desired. Transfer to a container and refrigerate until it begins to gel, 30-45 minutes.

Once the marshmallow mixture has begun to set, whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks. Gently fold the marshmallow mixture into the whipped cream, then cover and freeze several hours.

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Country Bread with Apples

A good way to use up some of the random flours in the pantry, plus an excuse to crack a bottle of sparkling cider, discover it doesn’t have the little plastic lid for re-sealing, and chug half you don’t need for the bread while standing in your kitchen. This bread has a good crisp crust, and the inside is light but sturdy enough to stand up to both slicing and being spread with brie. The cider provides a sort of sharpness to the dough, and the apples, even though you use tart ones, provide some sweetness.

Due to the various rising times, during normal life this bread is probably best started on a Friday or Saturday evening and finished over a leisurely weekend morning, but during lockdown life…does it even really matter?

Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup lukewarm water
  • 1 1/2 cups sparkling cider (such as Martinelli’s), at room temperature
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour (I have white whole wheat, so it’s ok if your dough looks a bit darker colored than mine)
  • 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 2/3 cup rye flour
  • 1 3/4 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 1/4 cups finely chopped green apples, about 1 large Granny Smith apple

In a large bowl, stir the yeast into the warm water and let sit 5 minutes.

Stir in the cider.

Add all three flours and the sea salt, and stir together until it forms a shaggy dough.

Turn out onto a clean surface and knead until it forms a smooth dough.

Grease your bowl, then put the dough in the bowl, rotating to cover lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Remove the bowl from the fridge, placing it in a warm spot, such as the oven with just the light on, until room temperature, about 2 hours.

Gently deflate the dough, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Flour your hands, then flatten the dough. Sprinkle a handful of apples over the dough, fold the dough over the apples, flatten again, then repeat until all the apples have been worked into the dough. Shape the dough into a ball.

Never cut directly on a silpat or you’ll damage the heat-proof coating!

Wash, dry, and grease your bowl, then place the dough ball back in, again rolling to cover lightly in oil, and finishing with the smooth/nice side of the dough ball up. Cover the bowl with a damp towel, then place a dry towel on top. I used just a paper towel for the wet one, it was fine. Return the bowl to your warm place and let rise until the dough is doubled, and a slight indentation remains in the dough if you press it, 2-3 hours.

Deflate the dough and turn back out to the lightly floured surface. Dough may be moist because of the apples. Flour either a banneton (special bread shaping basket), or a bowl lined with a kitchen towel. Shape the dough into a tight ball and place, rounded-side-down, into the banneton/bowl.

Cover again with a damp towel, and let rise until doubled, 1 – 1 1/2 hours.

During the final rise time, preheat oven to 450 degrees, heating a baking stone on the middle rack if you have one. Fill a clean spray bottle with water. Once the dough is ready, remove the baking stone. Dust the baking stone, or a baking sheet, with cornmeal to prevent sticking, and turn the dough out of its banneton/bowl onto it. Cut two 1/2″ deep slashes across the dough with a damp serrated knife.

Place the baking stone/sheet in the oven and quickly spray a handful of squirts of water into the oven. Bake 3 minutes, then crack the door just enough to quickly spray a bit more water. Bake an additional 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 400 and bake another 20-25 minutes. When the bread is a deep brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, it’s fully baked.

Cool fully on a wire rack before slicing.

If you’re newish to bread baking, a few things to know are that both using the baking stone (also called a pizza stone) and adding steam (via your squirt bottle) during baking help produce a crusty bread. Every time you open the oven door, the temperature goes down, so you don’t want to do it just for the heck of things, or because of curiosity. If bread is sliced while it’s still hot, or even warm, lots of the moisture in it escapes as steam, leading to a less pleasant texture once cooled, so if you don’t have enough people around to eat your entire loaf while still lot, it’s better to let it cool entirely before slicing it at all. You can always warm a slice back up in the toaster later! Finally, slashing the surface of the bread just prior to baking means that when the bread expands in the oven, which it will, you’ve already given it ‘fault lines’ to grow open, rather than just having the top split multiple places in squiggly lines as the pressure builds.

Country Bread with Apples

Adapted from NYT Cooking.

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup lukewarm water
  • 1 1/2 cups sparkling cider (such as Martinelli’s), at room temperature
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 2/3 cup rye flour
  • 1 3/4 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 1/4 cups finely chopped green apples, about 1 large Granny Smith apple

In a large bowl, stir the yeast into the warm water and let sit 5 minutes. Add the cider, then all three flours and the sea salt. Stir together until it forms a shaggy dough, then turn out onto a clean surface and knead until it forms a smooth dough. Grease your bowl, then put the dough in the bowl, rotating to cover lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Remove the bowl from the fridge, placing it in a warm spot, such as the oven with just the light on, until room temperature, about 2 hours. Gently deflate the dough, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Flour your hands, then flatten the dough. Sprinkle a handful of apples over the dough, fold the dough over the apples, flatten again, then repeat until all the apples have been worked into the dough. Shape the dough into a ball.

Wash, dry, and grease your bowl, then place the dough ball back in, again rolling to cover lightly in oil, and finishing with the smooth/nice side of the dough ball up. Cover the bowl with a damp towel, then place a dry towel on top. I used just a paper towel for the wet one, it was fine. Return the bowl to your warm place and let rise until the dough is doubled, and a slight indentation remains in the dough if you press it, 2-3 hours.

Deflate the dough and turn back out to the lightly floured surface. Dough may be moist because of the apples. Flour either a banneton, or a bowl lined with a kitchen towel. Shape the dough into a tight ball and place, rounded-side-down, into the banneton/bowl. Cover again with a damp towel, and let rise until doubled, 1 – 1 1/2 hours.

During the final rise time, preheat oven to 450 degrees, heating a baking stone on the middle rack if you have one. Fill a clean spray bottle with water. Once the dough is ready, remove the baking stone. Dust the baking stone, or a baking sheet, with cornmeal to prevent sticking, and turn the dough out of its banneton/bowl onto it. Cut two 1/2″ deep slashes across the dough with a damp serrated knife. Place the baking stone/sheet in the oven and quickly spray a handful of squirts of water into the oven. Bake 3 minutes, then crack the door just enough to quickly spray a bit more water. Bake an additional 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 400 and bake another 20-25 minutes. When the bread is a deep brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, it’s fully baked.

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Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Banana Cake

A big, moist banana cake with a bit of chocolate for dessert-y-ness. I considered putting chocolate frosting on top, but don’t think it needs it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
  • 4 eggs
  • 4 cups cake flour, sifted before measuring
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch salt
  • 4 bananas, mashed
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13″ pan and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until smooth.

Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition.

Add the flour, baking soda, salt, bananas, sour cream, and vanilla and beat until evenly combined.

Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake 45-50 minutes, until the cake passes the toothpick test. Let cool, at least partially, before slicing and enjoying. Let cool completely before covering/wrapping to store at room temperature.

Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Banana Cake

 

  • 2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
  • 4 eggs
  • 4 cups cake flour, sifted before measuring
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch salt
  • 4 bananas, mashed
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13″ pan and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until smooth. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, bananas, sour cream, and vanilla and beat until evenly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake 45-50 minutes, until the cake passes the toothpick test. Let cool, at least partially, before slicing and enjoying. Let cool completely before covering/wrapping to store at room temperature.

 

 

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Caramel Twists

Basically a fancy, crisp, brown sugar/cinnamon-y breadstick, in a way? These require starting the dough the day before, so start today to have dessert to snack on all day tomorrow! (Time means nothing these days, all foods at all times, right? I’m going with it, anyway…)

Ingredients:

Dough:

  • 4 1/2 cups sifted flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 3 egg yolks, beaten
  • 1 cup milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm

Caramel coating:

  • 2/3 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (I skipped these)

Filling:

  • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Room temperature butter

To prepare the dough, combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two knives until the size of small peas.

In a measuring cup/small dish, sprinkle the yeast on warm water, stir, and let sit 5 minutes. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture, then add the egg yolks and scalded milk. Stir until it starts to hold together, then knead until smooth. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease all over, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, take the dough out of the fridge and set aside. Melt the butter for the caramel coating in a microwave safe bowl or small saucepan, then stir in the corn syrup.

Pour half into each of two 15×10″ jelly roll pans, then tilt the pans to cover completely with the butter mixture.

Sprinkle the brown sugar and nuts over the butter mixture evenly.

In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon of the filling.

Divide the dough into 3 equal parts.

One at a time, roll the thirds into a 10×15″ rectangle. Brush the center third lengthwise with room temperature butter, then sprinkle 1/6 of the filling on the buttered center third.

This was a somewhat skimpy 1/6th of the filling – you can do a bit more.

Fold one of the side thirds over the center third, then cover that portion with butter. Sprinkle with another 1/6 of the filling, then fold the remaining third of dough over the top.

Cut crosswise into 1″ strips, then transfer each strip to one of the prepared pans, holding the ends of each strip in both hands and twisting the ends in opposite directions. Press the ends firmly into the pan, to hold in the twisted shape. Place strips about 1″ apart. Allow to rise for 30 minutes in a warm place.

Because I’ll be eating these locked in alone, I put one pan into the freezer after filling the pan. Once frozen, I wrapped the whole mess up pretty thoroughly with plastic wrap, and will eventually let thaw/rise for an hour before baking.

During the rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, get out some heavy duty foil. After 25 minutes baking, quickly cover the pan with foil (overlapping two pieces if you don’t have mega-huge foil), then immediately flip onto a table/counter. Let the pan sit for 1 minute, then lift it off the finished twists. Eat immediately, or cool completely before putting in an air tight container to store.

Caramel Twists

From Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook.

Dough:

  • 4 1/2 cups sifted flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 3 egg yolks, beaten
  • 1 cup milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm

Caramel coating:

  • 2/3 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (I skipped these)

Filling:

  • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Room temperature butter

To prepare the dough, combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two knives until the size of small peas. In a measuring cup/small dish, sprinkle the yeast on warm water, stir, and let sit 5 minutes. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture, then add the egg yolks and scalded milk. Stir until it starts to hold together, then knead until smooth. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease all over, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, take the dough out of the fridge and set aside. Melt the butter for the caramel coating in a microwave safe bowl or small saucepan, then stir in the corn syrup. Pour half into each of two 15×10″ jelly roll pans, then tilt the pans to cover completely with the butter mixture. Sprinkle the brown sugar and nuts over the butter mixture evenly.

In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon of the filling.

Divide the dough into 3 equal parts. One at a time, roll the thirds into a 10×15″ rectangle. Brush the center third lengthwise with room temperature butter, then sprinkle 1/6 of the filling on the buttered center third. Fold one of the side thirds over the center third, then cover that portion with butter. Sprinkle with another 1/6 of the filling, then fold the remaining third of dough over the top. Cut crosswise into 1″ strips, then transfer each strip to one of the prepared pans, holding the ends of each strip in both hands and twisting the ends in opposite directions. Press the ends firmly into the pan, to hold in the twisted shape. Place strips about 1″ apart. Allow to rise for 30 minutes in a warm place.

During the rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, get out some heavy duty foil. After 25 minutes baking, quickly cover the pan with foil (overlapping two pieces if you don’t have mega-huge foil), then immediately flip onto a table/counter. Let the pan sit for 1 minute, then lift it off the finished twists. Eat immediately, or cool completely before putting in an air tight container to store.

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Brown Butter Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies

Tasty little cookies, different than the traditional crinkle cookies. This dough requires refrigerating to get to a texture you can roll into balls, and after getting them rolled and covered in powdered sugar I threw them in the freezer to just cook up a few at a time. (Especially now that we’re all spending more time at home, it’s risky to have tons of cookies sitting around ready to be eaten!)

Ingredients:

  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until melted, than continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until the butter is browned and has a nutty flavor. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

While the butter cools, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the browned butter and the granulated and brown sugars together.

Whisk in the eggs and vanilla until evenly mixed.

Add the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated, then cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with silpats or parchment.

Place the powdered sugar in a small, shallow dish. Roll the dough into small (~1 tablespoon) balls, then roll in the powdered sugar to cover.

Place about 2 inches apart on the lined sheets, then bake 10-12 minutes for soft cookies, or 18-20 minutes for crunchy cookies. Cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Alternately, after rolling the dough into balls and coating in powdered sugar, place on a pan in the freezer for a few hours, then transfer into a large ziplock. When ready to eat, preheat your toaster oven to 300 (not 350!) degrees. Once preheated, transfer a few cookies to a lined pan and bake 18 minutes, then just eat those cookies still hot!

Brown Butter Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies

Marginally adapted from Cookies and Cups.

  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until melted, than continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until the butter is browned and has a nutty flavor. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

While the butter cools, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the browned butter and the granulated and brown sugars together. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla until evenly mixed. Add the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated, then cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with silpats or parchment.

Place the powdered sugar in a small, shallow dish. Roll the dough into small (~1 tablespoon) balls, then roll in the powdered sugar to cover. Place about 2 inches apart on the lined sheets, then bake 10-12 minutes for soft cookies, or 18-20 minutes for crunchy cookies. Cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Couscous Risotto with Chicken and Spinach

Last month’s library cookbook potluck was all dutch oven recipes. This isn’t the one I brought to the event, but it was the one I liked best/thought worth making later at home. I seem to do more fake risottos than real ones, and this is no exception. The couscous gets a bit smooshy-creamy, and is quite nice! You need pearl/Israeli couscous for this, small couscous will give you a whole different mess. (Also, if you’re having trouble finding it, Israeli couscous was in the Jewish-ish section at my supermarket…)

Not the single most photogenic food ever, but…whatever…

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, trimmed and cut into 1″ cubes
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 leeks, white and light green parts, halved lengthwise then sliced into thin semicircles, washed thoroughly
  • 1 1/2 cups pearl/Israeli couscous
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 ounces baby spinach, chopped coarsely
  • 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas (you don’t have to thaw)
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

If you swish your sliced leeks around in water a while, it’s best to then lift them out by hand/slotted spoon into a colander, rather than pour, so that all that dirt at the bottom of the bowl doesn’t just land back on top.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Melt one tablespoon of the butter in a dutch oven over medium-high heat, and brown the chicken on all sides. Remove the browned chicken to a bowl and set aside.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks and couscous and cook, stirring, until the leeks are softened and the couscous is lightly toasted.

Stir in the broth and 1 teaspoon of salt, then bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 12 minutes, or until couscous is tender, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the chicken and any accumulated juices, then recover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about another 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat, then stir in the spinach, cheese, peas, and cream.

Let sit until the peas are warmed and the cheese is melted in, a further 5 minutes, then serve.

Couscous Risotto with Chicken and Spinach

From Cook It In Your Dutch Oven.

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, trimmed and cut into 1″ cubes
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 leeks, white and light green parts, halved lengthwise then sliced into thin semicircles, washed thoroughly
  • 1 1/2 cups pearl/Israeli couscous
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 ounces baby spinach, chopped coarsely
  • 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas (you don’t have to thaw)
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Melt one tablespoon of the butter in a dutch oven over medium-high heat, and brown the chicken on all sides. Remove the browned chicken to a bowl and set aside.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks and couscous and cook, stirring, until the leeks are softened and the couscous is lightly toasted. Stir in the broth and 1 teaspoon of salt, then bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 12 minutes, or until couscous is tender, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the chicken and any accumulated juices, then recover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, then stir in the spinach, cheese, peas, and cream. Let sit until the peas are warmed and the cheese is melted in, a further 5 minutes, then serve.

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Salted Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies use tahini as a replacement for peanut butter to provide a more ‘grown up’ flavor that at first may seem just a bit odd, but quickly becomes a new favorite. The recipe calls for freezing the dough before baking, which is a good plan anyway for those without a big household – just break out the toaster oven and bake up enough for yourself to have a few warm, melty-chocolate treats when you want them!

Ingredients:

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup tahini, well stirred
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 3/4 cups good quality dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • 1 pinch flaky salt for sprinkling

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, tahini, and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla and beat an additional 5 minutes.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl, then add to the creamed mixture and beat on low until just combined.

My dad moved recently, sent me his grandmother’s sifter. It’s actually got weird gross bits stuck in it, probably won’t use it again…

Stir in the chocolate by hand.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment/a silpat. Using a small cookie dough scoop, scoop out the dough into balls and place them on the sheet. Freeze at least an hour, until firm, and then either wrap the whole pan with plastic wrap, or move the dough balls to a plastic bag. Freeze for at least an additional 11 hours, up to 6 months – the (minimum) 12 hours freezing with allow the gluten in the flour to relax, giving a more tender cookie.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Space the dough balls at least 3″ apart on a lined baking sheet and cook until just golden brown on the edges, 13-16 minutes. Sprinkle with a bit of large, flaky salt, then let cool 20 minutes. Without the cooling time, the cookies fall apart pretty easily, but…they still taste the same, so who really cares??

Salted Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

From Food52.

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup tahini, well stirred
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 3/4 cups good quality dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • 1 pinch flaky salt for sprinkling

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, tahini, and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla and beat an additional 5 minutes.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl, then add to the creamed mixture and beat on low until just combined. Stir in the chocolate by hand.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment/a silpat. Using a 2 ounce cookie scoop, scoop out the dough into balls and place them on the sheet. Freeze at least an hour, until firm, and then either wrap the whole pan with plastic wrap, or move the dough balls to a plastic bag. Freeze for at least an additional 11 hours, up to 6 months.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Space the dough balls at least 3″ apart on a lined baking sheet and cook until just golden brown on the edges, 13-16 minutes. Sprinkle with a bit of large, flaky salt, then let cool 20 minutes.

 

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Gochujang Chicken

A good one for a long afternoon, I’ve made this chicken twice now, and will make it again! It’s moist, just a bit spicy, and generally quite delicious! It would probably be easier if you happened to have a second person around at the start, just to handle things while your hands are all chicken-y, but with a bit of soap you can get through it yourself, then have a nearly all hands-free 3 hour cooking time, followed by a great meal! The potatoes and chicken are covered in sauce, and over the 3 hours the juices from the chicken run down to help flavor the potatoes even more.

Ingredients:

  • 1 3 1/2 – 4 pound whole chicken (I did a 5 1/2 pound chicken the second time because that’s what was available, and because it cooks slow and low, it was still cooked through. Just check with a meat thermometer that it’s reached 165* and you’ll be fine!)
  • 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 1 3/4 teaspoons Morton kosher salt, plus more (different salts have different sized crystals, which leads to a different saltiness taste!)
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 tablespoons gochujang
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 whole heads of garlic
  • 1 1/2″ piece fresh ginger
  • 1 1/2 pounds baby Yukon Gold potatoes, or a mix of small potatoes and other root vegetables, cut to approximately 1 1/2″ pieces
  • 1 lime
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 5 scallions

Make sure that you’ve got a rack in the middle of your oven, then preheat to 300 degrees.

Line a cutting board or rimmed baking sheet in foil for easy cleanup, then put the chicken on it and dry with paper towels. Season all over, and inside, with the salt and some freshly ground black pepper. That’s the part that requires the most hand washing if you’re doing it alone!

In a medium bowl, whisk together the gochujang and 1/4 cup olive oil. Remove 3 cloves of garlic from one of the heads, peel them, and grate them into the oil mixture. Peel the garlic and grate it in as well. Whisk together well.

Cut the remains of the garlic head, and the entire second one, in two, cutting the top off the bottom, rather than a side from the other side.

Place two of the halves into the cavity of the chicken, then tie the legs together with kitchen twine. If you don’t have twine, you can poke holes in the skin and finagle the legs through to hold them in place – tried that last week, and it went alright.

Brush half the oil mixture over the chicken, covering it all the way around. Normally when brushing a sauce onto raw meat, you’d want to be careful not to put the meat-contaminated brush back into the remaining sauce, but in this case all the sauce is going to be cooked, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the remaining oil mixture and whisk together, then toss in the potatoes and remaining garlic halves, stirring to coat.

In a 12″ cast iron skillet, place the two oil-covered garlic halves cut-side down in the center, then place the chicken on top of them. Arrange the potatoes around the outside of the chicken – not under. I’ve done this in a dutch oven as well, and that also worked!

Roast the dish for 2 1/2 – 3 hours (with the bigger chicken, probably 3 hours), removing from the oven to rotate the potatoes once or twice.

halfish

all the way

Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest 15 minutes for the juices to settle.

this was the time when I cut holes in the skin to hold the legs in place

Meanwhile, back in the pan, use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to partially crush the potatoes, letting them soak up more of the juices.

Cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice from one half into the potato mixture, as well as the honey. Stir to combine, then taste and add additional salt if needed. Slice the scallions and sprinkle over the potatoes.

Carve the chicken, then arrange the pieces of the potatoes to serve. People can squeeze the remaining lime half over their dishes as desired, and squeeze some of the roasted garlic cloves out of the skins to eat as desired.

I am bad at carving chickens! Oh well.

Gochujang Roasted Chicken

Slightly adapted from Bon Appetit.

  • 1 3 1/2 – 4 pound whole chicken
  • 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 1 3/4 teaspoons Morton kosher salt, plus more
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 tablespoons gochujang
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 whole heads of garlic
  • 1 1/2″ piece fresh ginger
  • 1 1/2 pounds baby Yukon Gold potatoes, or a mix of small potatoes and other root vegetables, cut to approximately 1 1/2″ pieces
  • 1 lime
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 5 scallions

Make sure that you’ve got a rack in the middle of your oven, then preheat to 300 degrees.

Line a cutting board or rimmed baking sheet in foil for easy cleanup, then put the chicken on it and dry with paper towels. Season all over, and inside, with the salt and some freshly ground black pepper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the gochujang and 1/4 cup olive oil. Remove 3 cloves of garlic from one of the heads, peel them, and grate them into the oil mixture. Peel the garlic and grate it in as well. Whisk together well.

Cut the remains of the garlic head, and the entire second one, in two, cutting the top off the bottom, rather than a side from the other side. Place two of the halves into the cavity of the chicken, then tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Brush half the oil mixture over the chicken, covering it all the way around.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the remaining oil mixture and whisk together, then toss in the potatoes and remaining garlic halves, stirring to coat.

In a 12″ cast iron skillet, place the two oil-covered garlic halves cut-side down in the center, then place the chicken on top of them. Arrange the potatoes around the outside of the chicken – not under.

Roast the dish for 2 1/2 – 3 hours, removing from the oven to rotate the potatoes once or twice. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest 15 minutes for the juices to settle.

Meanwhile, back in the pan, use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to partially crush the potatoes, letting them soak up more of the juices. Cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice from one half into the potato mixture, as well as the honey. Stir to combine, then taste and add additional salt if needed. Slice the scallions and sprinkle over the potatoes.

Carve the chicken, then arrange the pieces of the potatoes to serve. People can squeeze the remaining lime half over their dishes as desired, and squeeze some of the roasted garlic cloves out of the skins to eat as desired.

 

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Orange Marmalade Cake

A lightly orange cake with a firm outside, and a very orangey, custardy topping. Unlike last week’s cake recipe from a ’70s cookbook, this one’s from a ’30s cookbook, called, amusingly enough at this point, The New Art of Modern Cooking!

Ingredients:

Cake:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup orange marmalade
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 cup nuts (I skipped ’em)

Orange Cream:

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 5 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 4 egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×9″ pan and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir together.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.

Add the eggs and beat in, then add the marmalade and zest and beat to combine.

Add half the flour mixture and beat until well mixed. Beat in the water, and then the remaining flour.

Add the nuts and stir together. (Or not!) Pour into the pan and spread evenly.

Bake 45-50 minutes, until it browned on the outside and the cake passes the toothpick test. Set aside to cool.

To make the orange cream, combine the sugar, salt, flour, and zest in a saucepan and whisk together.

Add the water and orange juice and stir in, being sure to stir up any flour pockets at the edges, then turn the heat on to medium.

Cook, stirring constantly, until warm. Stir in the butter, then the egg yolks. Continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens to a custard texture, with a big bubble or two coming up from the bottom.

Remove from the heat and beat in the lemon juice. Continue stirring until it’s stopped steaming, then let continue to cool about another half an hour. Spread on the cake, then cool in the fridge until chilled.

Orange Marmalade Cake

Adapted slightly from The New Art of Modern Cooking.

Cake:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup orange marmalade
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 cup nuts (I skipped ’em)

Orange Cream:

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 5 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 4 egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×9″ pan and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir together.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, then add the eggs and beat in. Add the marmalade and zest and beat to combine. Add half the flour mixture and beat until well mixed. Beat in the water, and then the remaining flour. Add the nuts and stir together. Pour into the pan and spread evenly, then bake 45-50 minutes, until it browned on the outside and the cake passes the toothpick test. Set aside to cool.

To make the orange cream, combine the sugar, salt, flour, and zest in a saucepan and whisk together. Add the water and orange juice and stir in, then turn the heat on to medium. Cook, stirring constantly, until warm. Stir in the butter, then the egg yolks. Continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens to a custard texture, with a big bubble or two coming up from the bottom. Remove from the heat and beat in the lemon juice. Continue stirring until it’s stopped steaming, then let continue to cool about another half an hour. Spread on the cake, then cool in the fridge until chilled.

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Sweetheart Party Cake

A summery-feeling cake, this one would be ideal at a backyard lunch, but was also delicious at a gross wintery night gathering as well. It uses gelatin, which may sound weird but works to let you add the juice that comes off of thawed berries to whipped cream, without your whipped cream getting watery and falling off the cake, and without creating any weird jello texture in your whipped cream. Smart! This one doesn’t require much hands-on time, but you do need to plan ahead both to let the berries thaw, and to let the gelatin set.

You could probably make this less lumpy, but…

Ingredients:

  • 1 10 ounce package frozen strawberries
  • 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 9-10” angel food cake

Set your strawberries in a strainer over a bowl and allow to thaw, ideally in the fridge overnight.

Cut the strawberries into small chunks, continuing to collect the juice at it leaks off, then set the chopped berries aside. Add the gelatin to the collected berry juice in a small microwaveable dish, stir briefly, and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Microwave 20-30 seconds, until dissolved. Set aside briefly to cool – not long enough that the mixture begins to congeal.

Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form, then add the sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks form, then fold in the strawberry gelatin and the chopped strawberries.

Cut the angel food cake into 2 layers. Spread the strawberry whipped cream over the bottom layer, add the top layer, and cover completely with the remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Sweetheart Party Cake

Slightly adapted from Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook.

  • 1 10 ounce package frozen strawberries
  • 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 9-10” angel food cake

Set your strawberries in a strainer over a bowl and allow to thaw, ideally in the fridge overnight. Cut the strawberries into small chunks, continuing to collect the juice at it leaks off, then set the chopped berries aside. Add the gelatin to the collected berry juice in a small microwaveable dish, stir briefly, and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Microwave 20-30 seconds, until dissolved. Set aside briefly to cool – not long enough that the mixture begins to congeal.

Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form, then add the sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks form, then fold in the strawberry gelatin and the chopped strawberries.

Cut the angel food cake into 2 layers. Spread the strawberry whipped cream over the bottom layer, add the top layer, and cover completely with the remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

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