Very Peachy Cake

This cake is adapted from Baking from my home to yours by Dorie Greenspan, is very easy to make. The brown sugar coffee cake is flavored with grated lemon zest with a pinch of cardamom. In this recipe it calls for plums and orange zest, but I used peaches and lemon zest instead. The peach halves bake into the batter and has a jammy and dimple appearance on the top of the cake along with a beautiful honey brown color.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Scant 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon (optional)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup flavoeless oil, such as canola or safflower
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
8 purple or red plums ( in the fall, use Italian prune plums), halved and pitted

Preparation
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan, dust the inside with flour, tap out the excess and put the pan on a baking sheet.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom, If you are using it, together.
Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand in a large bowl, beat the butter at medium speed until soft and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and beat for another 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for a minute after each addition. On medium speed, beat in the oil, lemon zest and vanilla. The batter will look very light and smooth, almost satiny. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients, mixing only until they are incorporated.

Run a spatula around the bowl and under the batter, just to make sure there are no dry spots, then scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Arrange the peaches cut side up in the batter-jiggling the peaches a tad just so they settle comfortably into the batter.

Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the top is honey brown and puffed around the plums and a thin knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a rack and cool for 15 minutes-during which time the peaches juice will return to the fruit-then run a knife around the sides of the pan and unmold the cake. Invert and cool right side up.

Braised Brussels Sprouts

I finally became brave once again and tried Brussels Sprouts. About ten years ago while on vacation in the Bahamas was the very first time I tried Brussels Sprouts and thought they were the tastiest things I ever had. When I came back home I went to the market to buy them and try them on my own, the outcome was very disapointing. They tasted nothing like what I tried while on vacation and never tried them again. After many years I came across them in the market and thought I would try them again. This time while searching many cookbooks getting ideas on how to cook them I finnaly realized that the first time I made them I probably over cooked them.
This recipe is very simple it does not have the different ingredients that could be added to Brussels Sprouts like cream, almonds, and nutmeg. I chose a more simple version just to see how they tasted without to much fuss. The outcome was very tasty!

1lb Brussels sprouts
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt
fresh ground pepper to taste

Cut of the base of the Brussels Sprout. Peel off any yellow or bruised leaves. Wash the Brussels Sprouts. Fill a large pot with water just enough to cover the sprouts, cover and bring to a boil add salt, add the Brussels Sprouts and boil for about 6 to 8 minutes. Test for doneness by sticking a fork on the base of the head with gentle pressure. Drain, toss with butter, lemon, and fresh ground pepper.

Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings

I have to admit spinach was not one of my favorite foods when I was little, however my taste for it has changed and now it seems most recipes I look for have spinach in them. These dumplings are perfect if you like spinach, they are light and very cheesy.

2 bunches (10 to 12 ounces each ) spinach or two packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 container (8 ounces) ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
2 cups milk

If using fresh spinach, remove tough stems; wash spinach well. In 5 quart Dutch oven, cook spinach with water clinging to leaves over high heat, stirring, until wilted. Drain. Squeeze dry; coarsely chop. Prepare dumplings: In large bowl, mix spinach, ricotta, eggs, pepper, salt, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and 1/2 cup flour. With floured hands, shape spinach mixture into 2" by 1" ovals.

Meanwhile, fill 5-quart sausepot half-full with water. Heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add dumplings, half at a time.

Prepare white sauces: In 2-quart saucepan, melt margarine over medium heat. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons flour; cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and cook, whisking constantly, until sauce thickens slightly and boils. Remove saucepan from heat; stir 1/4 cup Parmesan. Place dumplings in single layer in shallow 2-quart casserole; spoon sauce over. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan over top. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until sauce is hot and bubbly.

Chocolate Madeleines

According to Wikipedia, a madeleine or petite madeleine is a customary sweet from Commercy, a town of the Meuse département in northeastern France. Madeleines are known by their attractive shell-like shape, which is obtained from being baked in special pans with shell-shaped depressions. Madeleines are cake-like and quite small. The taste is comparable to, but a bit lighter than, pound cake, with distinct butter-and-lemon taste. The Madeleine’s can be made in different flavors including vanilla, lemon, orange, and chocolate. Madeleine pans can be found, even in many places in the United States. Specialty and gourmet cooking stores are all but certain to carry them. If not, there are many websites through which they can be purchased

For my very first time making madeleines, I have to admit they came out pretty good and very easy to make. This recipe was adapted from the cookbook The seven sins of chocolate.

Makes approximately 30 madeleines
1 cup+2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons wildflower honey
1/3 cup milk
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 oz bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled to tepid

Prepare the madeleine batter 24 hours in advance
Heat butter in a pan until it turns a light nut-brown color.
Set aside to cool to lukewarm. Beat the eggs, sugar, honey, and milk with an electric mixer until well combined. Sift together the flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Add to the egg mixture and stir well. Mix in the warm butter and melted chocolate. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
The next day, preheat the oven to 425F. Lightly butter and flour the madeleine molds (unless they are the nonstick variety). Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the batter into each mold. Bake until the madeleines have formed their distinctive hump and are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Unmold onto a wire cake rack and cool completely.

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

I had no time yesterday to cook it looked like it was going to be a pizza night, but when I came home and opened my refrigerator I found all the things I needed for this recipe. It worked out well because I had to use the chicken, I didn't want it sitting in the refrigerator any longer. This meal was perfect over rice and it was done in no time.

2 tablespoon oil
1 pound of boneless chicken breast , cut into pieces
1/2 cup onion chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper or red pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chili sauce
1/4 cup water
1 (14 1/2 oz) can tomatoes, chopped with juice
8 ounces polish or italian sausage, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon oregano
pepper to taste
dash cayenne pepper

Heat oil, saute chicken and sausage for 5 minutes, add onion, green pepper or red pepper and garlic. Saute for a few minutes longer, then add remaining ingredients. Cover, stir, and simmer about 30 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.

Macaroni and Cheese Au Gratin

This version of Macaroni and Cheese adapted from my mother in law is my favorite, its a little different from the regular mac and cheese in texture. I use a cheese called Kasher imported from Turkey which can be found in a Mediteranean market. If you can't find this cheese you can use provolone.

1lb of ziti
1 stick butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
3 eggs
1 lb ricotta cheese
1 lb feta cheese crumbled
1/2 cup shredded provolone or Turkish kasher cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Boil the macaroni drain and set aside. Melt the butter in a sucepan. Add the flour stir until smooth. Reduce to simmer and stir in the milk. Add the eggs one at a time stirring without stopping until the eggs are all added to the mixture, remove from heat and set aside. In a bowl mix together ricotta cheese, crumbled feta cheese and half of the shredded kasher cheese. Stir in the cheese mixture to the cream mixture.
Butter a 9x12 pan and about 4 inches high.
Mix half of the cheese mixture with the pasta. Add the remaing half of the cheese mixture on top of the pasta. Add the parmesan cheese and than the remaining shredded kasher cheese.

Baba au Rhum

Many years ago a European Baker gave me the recipe for Baba au Rhum which I made all the time and each and every time I made the recipe it would come out perfect. As the years went by I lost the recipe, I tried to find it by looking in many cookbooks and the recipes I would find were just not like the one the Baker gave me. Recently, as I was searching the net I came across my lost recipe on Emerill Lagasse from the Food Network. The trick to this recipe is heating the milk to the correct temperature of 110F, mixing in the yeast, and leting it rise until double its size. If the yeast does not rise to double its size the rest of the recipe will not come out as it should.
Baba Rhum is a sponge like cake topped with rum syrup sauce. I thought I would try it in a 9in bundt cake mold, but it can also be made in different size muffin pans depending on how big you want them. The whipped cream compliments this dessert very well because of the very moist consistancy of the cake.

1/2 cup milk

4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1/2-ounce)

2 cups bread flour

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons sugar

Pinch salt

1 teaspoon orange zest

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 unsalted stick butter, melted but not hot

Rum Soaking Syrup, recipe follows

1/4 cup dark rum

Sweetened Whipped Cream

In a small saucepan, scald the milk over medium heat. Remove from the heat and cool to lukewarm (110 degrees F).
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the milk, yeast and 1/2 cup of the flour and let sit until foamy. Stir to form a sponge and let rise until doubled, about 20 minutes.
Beating with the paddle attachments, add the eggs 1 at a time, followed by the remaining 1 1/2 cups of bread flour, the sugar, salt, and zests. When a soft dough forms, slowly beat in the butter to make a smooth dough. Let rest for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter and flour a large baba mold or 9-inch bundt cake pan.
Place the dough in the prepared pan, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until it has nearly reached the top of the mold, about 40 minutes.
Place on a sheet pan and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 30 minutes, or until the top of the baba is golden brown and the sides have begun to pull away from the pan slightly.
Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Set the wire rack over a sheet pan. Using a toothpick or skewer, poke holes all over the top. Pour the warm syrup over the warm cake and let sit until the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
Turn the baba out onto the wire rack and let drain over the sheet pan for 30 minutes. Slowly drizzle the rum over the top in 2 additions.
Transfer to a cake platter or stand.

Rum Soaking Syrup:

3 3/4 cups water

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar

4 teaspoons lemon zest

2 tablespoons orange zest

1 vanilla bean, split in

1/2 lengthwise and seeds scraped

10 tablespoons dark rum

In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients except the rum. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and let stand for 30 minutes. Add the rum.
Strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids. Cover to keep warm for soaking the baba.
Yield: 4 cups

Sweetened Whipped Cream:

2 cups heavy (whipping) cream

2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon dark rum

In a large bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer at medium speed until frothy. Add the sugar and rum and beat until the cream holds soft peaks, being careful not to over beat.
Cover with plastic and refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving.

Greek Tiropita (Puff Pastry with Feta Cheese)

If you ever been to Greece than you probably tasted the Tiropitas. These puff pastry delights, come in a warm buttery flaky pastry filled with feta cheese and are sold everywhere. Last summer while visiting Greece I couldn't help myself but have tiropitas almost everyday. They are usually eaten, for breakfast, and in the afternoon with tea. Tiropitas are best when eaten warm.

2 sheets puff pastry
1 lb feta cheese
2 eggs
pinch of dill or parsley (optional)
1 egg for egg wash

In a bowl crumble feta cheese, eggs and mix well. Cut pastry dough into 4 inches by 4 inches squares. Place one tablespoon of filling in center of each square. Fold into a triangle. Use a fork to to seal and decorate edges. Beat one egg with two tablespoons water, this is for the egg wash to be brushed on the surface of the pastry dough. Place tiropitas in a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes.

Lentil Soup

Here in Massachusetts the weather is starting to get cold. One of my favorite soups for this time of the year is Lentil soup. I grew up with this soup, my mother would make it all the time. Retreiving the recipe from her though was quite a task since she does not measure the ingredients, I guess when you are cooking for a long time you don't need to. By watching her cook I have finally learned to figure out how much of each ingredient she uses.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped

1 cup tomatoes chopped
1 1/4 cup lentils
2 cloves garlic
6 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add carrots, celery, garlic, and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add lentils, tomatoes, water, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to moderate and cook, covered, until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.

Marble Cake

If you like the taste of Grand Marnier than you will like this cake. I have to admit I don't like all the recipes I try, I thought this was too overpowering with the Grand Marinier (I guess I can use less next time) and kind of heavy for a marble cake, but my husband thought it was perfect and he ate the whole thing. This recipe is from The seven sins of Chocolate by Laurent Schott, the cookbook has many different chocolate cakes, chocolate jams, berry chocolate tart, and this are just a few of the recipes which I have to try. For a perfectly smooth batter, all the ingredients have to be taken out of the refrigerator a few hours before making this cake. Instead of the 6 cup fluted pan, I used a loaf pan.

1/2 cup candied oranges, or orange peel, diced
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
1 1/2 cups all- purpose flour
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter and flour a 6 cup fluted-tube pan.
Place the pieces of candied orange in a bowl and pour in 2 tablespoons of the Grand Marnier. Set aside and soak.
Mix the flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and baking powder in a heavy-duty electric mixer on medium speed until very smooth, about 3 minutes.
Add the soaked oranges and mix for another 5 seconds. Divide the batter in half add the cocoa to one half, and mix well.
Drop alternate, irregular portions of the two cake mixtures into the pan to create a marbled effect.
Bake for 45-50 minutes. Check that the cake is done by inserting a wooden toothpick into the center. When it comes out dry, remove the cake from the oven.
Turn out onto a wire rack, and drizzle the cake with the remaining 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier. Cool completely.

Braised Meat With Onions (Greek Stifatho)

This famous Greek dish, also translated as stifatho, is a braised beef with onions. Every family makes it a little differently and it is so typical of rustic Greek mountain cooking. My recipe is adapted from my mother who makes the best styfatho I have tried thus far. This dish is not only very tasty it is very easy to make. While cooking the longer it simmers the more flavorful it becomes.

2 pounds boneless beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 pounds small pearl white onions, peeled and ends cut
4 garlic cloves
1/2 cup dry red wine
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 bayleaves
2 tablespoons tomato paste

Add all ingredients meat, white onions, garlic, wine, vinegar, olive oil, bayleaves, and tomato paste in a deep pot. Add enough water to cover all the ingrediants and stir. Bring to a boil then immediatley reduce to simmer for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally adding water as it evaporates when the stifatho is done cooking there should be little sauce left.

Greek Bean Salad (Piazi)

This bean salad is one of my favorites. It's also very versatile so you can add different beans as the mood strikes! Can be served immediately or refrigerated overnight to allow flavors to combine and marinate in the liquid. In my family gatherings this dish is always present on the table from parties to holidays. When I don't have time to cook I make this dish with a side of rice, its easy, fast, and nutritious. Any leftovers can be regrigerated and it tastes even better the next day.

INGREDIENTS
1 can white kidney beans drained
2 cucumbers, halved lengthwise and sliced
2 tomatoes diced
1 red onion, chopped

4 green onions chopped
kalamata black olives for garnish
1 ounce crumbled feta cheese (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

oil and vinegar

DIRECTIONS
Combine the beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, green onions, salt and pepper. Toss together add oil and vinegar according to taste.

Profiteroles

Ah...yes! Profiteroles are one of my favorite desserts. Unlike the draditional Profiteroles filled with pastry creme, instead this is filled with Ice Cream and topped with home made Chocolate Sauce. Here is a little secret, don't forget to serve a little extra chocolote sauce to allow for that extra indulgence. I will take mine with extra chocolate sauce please! Enjoy!

Choux Pastry
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
8 tablespoons (1 stick butter,
cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
5 large eggs, 1 beaten

Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Bring the milk, water, butter, sugar, and salt to a boil in saucepan. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon for 1 minute.
Remove from the heat and add the 4 eggs one at a time, stirring each one well in.
Using a pastry bag with a 1/2-inch tip, pipe small balls of choux pastry (about the size of a walnut) onto a baking sheet.
Lightly brush the balls with beaten egg.
Bake for 20-50 minutes, until puffed and crisp. Cool completely.

Chocolate Sauce
4 oz bittersweet dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
Bring the milk, cream, and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. Pour onto the chopped chocolate and let stand to melt the chocolate. Add the butter and whisk until smooth.

To Assemble The Profiteroles
Cut each profiterole in half. Fill the bottom half with small scoop of vanilla ice cream and cover with the top half. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
Quickly arrange the profiteroles in individual dishes or on a serving dish, drizzle with hot chocolate sauce, and serve immediately.

Green Curry Shrimp with Noodles

This dish is fast, easy, and has all the exciting flavors of Southeast Asia. The curry paste has lemongrass in it, so if you can't find fresh it will still taste good without it.
Ingrediends
1 cup chopped shallots (about 4)
2 fresh lemongrass stalks (optional), 1 or 2 outer leaves discarded and lower 6 inches of stalks thinly sliced
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro stems
1 to 2 tablespoons bottled Asian green curry paste
11/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (13- to 14-oz) can unsweetened coconut milk (not low-fat)
13/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
(14 fl oz) 3/4 lb dried flat 3/8-inch-wide rice noodles or 1/2 lb dried flat 1/8-inch-wide stir-fry rice noodles
11/2 lb peeled and deveined large shrimp (21 to 25 per lb)
2 to 3 teaspoons Asian fish sauce, or to taste

Preparation
Purée shallots, lemongrass, garlic, ginger, and cilantro stems in a blender with curry paste, sugar, salt, turmeric, and water until as smooth as possible, about 1 minute.
Heat oil in a 4-quart wide heavy pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook curry paste mixture, stirring frequently, until it just begins to stick to bottom of pot, 8 to 10 minutes. Add coconut milk and broth and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 3 2/3 cups, 8 to 10 minutes.
While sauce simmers, cook noodles in a 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water. Drain noodles well and divide among 4 large bowls.
Add shrimp to sauce and simmer, stirring, until just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in fish sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Ladle shrimp and sauce over noodles.

From Gourmet

Most Expensive Steaks

It's a steak with the consistency of foie gras, and it derives from cattle that, according to legend, are fed beer and massaged by human hands. In its uncooked state, the meat is pale--almost white--packed with what Chef de Cuisine David Varley of Las Vegas' Bradley Ogden restaurant calls "an ungodly amount of fat."This marbled delicacy is the produce of Japanese beef cattle, or "Wagyu," raised both in and outside of Japan, and it takes over high-end steak menus internationally. Forbes Traveler spoke with chefs and managers at fine steakhouses worldwide, as well as beef producers, butchers and meat experts, to compile their list of the world's most expensive steaks. Wagyu entrees account for all of our top ten. Read More

Stuffed Cabbage (Polish Golabki)

1 whole white cabbage
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground beef
Salt Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chopped onions
2 cups cooked, long-grain white rice
1 egg
1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley leaves
1/2 cup water
For the sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
2 T tomato paste
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Pinch of sugar
Salt Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chicken stock

Cut the cabbage in half lengthwise and remove the core. Peel a couple of the outer leaves away from the cabbage halves and discard. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cabbage and cook for 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from the water and cool completely. Carefully divide into individual leaves. Set aside. In a large saute pan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the meat. Season with salt and pepper. Brown the meat for 5 minutes. Add the onions. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook for about five minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Remove from the heat and turn into a mixing bowl. Cool slightly. Stir in the rice, egg and parsley. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place 1/4 cup of the meat and rice mixture in the center of each cabbage leaf. Roll up each leaf tightly. Place in a shallow baking pan, add the water and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes.

In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook for 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the stock. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce to a simmer and continue to cook for 15 minutes or until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. To serve, spoon the sauce over the stuffed cabbage.

Boston Creme Pie

As a child I remember Boston Creme Pie being one of my favorite desserts. We had a bakery down the street from where I lived and they had the best pies ever. Although, its been awhile since I tried it I came across the recipe in the Food Network from the Show Sweet Dreams. Boston Creme Pie consists of plain sponge cake layers, filled with cream filling, often topped with confectioner's sugar or thin chocolate frosting.

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sifted cake flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pastry cream, recipe follows
Ganache, recipe follows
Pastry Cream Filling: 2 cups whole, 2 percent fat, or 1 percent fat milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped out
6 egg yolks
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Ganache:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream, boiling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add milk, oil, egg yolks, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed until combined. Beat an additional 3 minutes on high speed and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium to high speed until soft peaks form. Pour the egg yolk mixture over the egg white mixture and fold in. Gently pour the batter into a 9-inch greased pie pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Invert the pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely.

Pastry Cream Filling: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk and vanilla bean to a boil over medium heat. Immediately turn off the heat and set aside to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cornstarch and whisk vigorously until no lumps remain. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture until incorporated. Whisk in the remaining hot milk mixture, reserving the empty saucepan. Pour the mixture through a strainer back into the saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and slowly boiling. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter. Let cool slightly. Cover with plastic wrap, lightly pressing the plastic against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Chill at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. (The custard can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Refrigerate until 1 hour before using.)

Ganache: In a medium bowl, pour the boiling cream over the chopped chocolate and stir until melted. To assemble pie, remove the cake from the pan. Cut the cake in half horizontally. Place bottom layer on a serving plate or board, and spread with the pastry cream. Top with second cake layer. Pour chocolate ganache over and down the sides of the cake. Store in refrigerator.

Creme Brulee French Toast

This is a delicious breakfast French Toast which I made this morning. I prepared everything and essembled a night before and put it in the refrigerator. This morning I took it out and let it stay at room temperature for about a half hour and than baked it. I had a few friends and family over and even though I made a double batch it was finished in no time. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons corn syrup
6 (1 inch thick) slices Hallah
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon brandy-based orange liqueur Grand Marnier
1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and corn syrup, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Pour into a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Remove crusts from bread, and arrange in the baking dish in a single layer. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, vanilla extract, orange brandy, and salt. Pour over the bread.

Cover, and chill at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the dish from the refrigerator, and bring to room temperature.
Bake uncovered 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until puffed and lightly browned.

White Bean and Vegetable Stew

Serves 6 to 8
This vegetarian stew can be made up to a day in advance and reheated—just add the radicchio and the basil purée right before you reheat the stew.

12 ounces dried cannellini or white beans(1 3/4 cups)
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
2 dried bay leaves
small onion(about 4 ounces), thickly sliced
1 tablespoon salt, plus more to taste
lemons
12 baby artichokes(about 1 3/4 pounds) 1 large bunch fresh basil(4 cups loosely packed leaves)
6 tablespoons olive oil
4 large leeks(2 pounds), white and light-green parts only
2 teaspoons minced garlic(from 2 large cloves)
1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1 cup dry white wine
3 small heads radicchio(about 1 pound)

1. Pick over beans, discarding any stones or broken beans, and rinse. Place in a large saucepan, cover with cold water by 2 inches, and bring to a strong boil. Remove from heat, and let stand 1 hour, covered. (Alternatively, beans can be placed in a bowl, covered with 2 inches of cold water, and soaked overnight.)

2. Drain beans, place them in the saucepan, and add enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Tie peppercorns in a small piece of cheesecloth, and add to beans along with bay leaves and onion slices. Return the mixture to heat, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer until beans are very tender, 35 to 40 minutes, adding 1 teaspoon salt about 10 minutes before beans are finished cooking. Remove from heat, set aside, and let beans cool in their liquid. They can be cooked and refrigerated in their liquid up to 2 days in advance.

3. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with cold water. Cut lemons in half, squeeze juice into water, and add lemon halves. Trim about 1/2 inch from tips of artichokes, and pull off tough outer leaves. Trim stems to 1/2 inch, and trim off dark green outer layer of stem. Slice artichokes in half lengthwise if small or in quarters if large. Use a small sharp knife to remove the purple choke from artichokes—if the choke is not purple, it is not necessary to remove it. Place prepared artichokes in the bowl of lemon water. Set aside.

4. Remove basil leaves from stems, discard stems, and wash leaves thoroughly. Drain and lay leaves out on paper towels, blotting away as much water as possible. Place basil in the bowl of a food processor, add 4 tablespoons olive oil, and process until smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer purée to a small bowl, cover immediately with plastic wrap to prevent discoloration, and refrigerate until needed.

5. Cut leeks into 1/2-inch rounds, and place in a large bowl of cold water. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes to rid them of any dirt and sand. Lift out of the water, and drain in a colander.

6. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and cook until fragrant and tender, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Drain artichokes, discarding the liquid and lemons, and add to leeks along with wine. Cover, and cook until artichokes begin to become tender, about 15 minutes. Uncover, and cook until liquid evaporates and artichokes are tender, about 5 minutes more.

7. Meanwhile, cut radicchio heads into 1-inch wedges without removing the core; it will hold the leaves together. Drain cooked beans, reserving cooking liquid. Remove and discard bay leaves, onion slices, and peppercorns. Add beans, 2 cups of the cooking liquid, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper to leeks and artichokes. Cook until beans are heated through and liquid has thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in radicchio wedges, and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the basil purée. Serve immediately with the remaining basil purée on the side. Source:Martha Steward Living

Chocolate-Hazelnut Kisses: Baci D'Alassio



3 cups whole raw hazelnuts
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted plus additional unsalted butter for baking sheets, optional 1/2 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder, sieved
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 or 5 egg whites, at room temperature
3 ounces semisweet chocolate

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the hazelnuts in a single layer in a shallow pan and place them in the preheated oven, turning every now and again, until lightly toasted and the skins begin to blister, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Then, working in batches, rub them between the palms of your hands until the skins loosen and fall away. (This will take some time and not every bit of skin will rub off.) Chop the hazelnuts coarsely.

Using a nut mill, blender, or a food processor fitted with the metal blade, grind the hazelnuts to a fine powder. (If the nuts do become oily, pass them through a sieve to break up any lumps.) Place in a large mixing bowl and stir in the sugar.

Add the butter, cocoa, honey, and vanilla and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Add the egg whites, a little at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add only enough of the whites for the dough to take on the consistency of a loose paste or spritz cookie dough. Do not worry if all of the egg whites are not used.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or grease them with butter. Spoon the hazelnut mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a No. 6 star tip. Pipe out rosettes 1 inch in diameter onto the prepared sheets, spacing the rosettes about 1 1/2 inches apart. You should have about 60 rosettes in all. Let the rosettes sit, uncovered, at room temperature overnight.

Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven until firm to the touch but still moist inside, 8 to 10 minutes. When they are done they will not brown and may even look undercooked, so you must test by touch. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in the top pan of a double boiler placed over simmering water. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Gently turn half of the cookies top sides down on a flat surface and spread about 1/2 teaspoon chocolate on each of the upturned bottoms. As each cookie is coated, press a plain cookie onto the chocolate, bottom side down, to form a "sandwich". Lay the cookies on their sides on a tray or flat plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes to set the chocolate. Store in a covered container, at room temperature, for up to 1 week.
Source:The Il Fornaio Baking Book by Franco Galli

Chicken & Rice Soup with Egg and Lemon (Kotosoupa Avgolemono)
This soup is a favorite with the Greek families. In Greece chicken soup is known as a traditional remedy for colds and for hangovers. The Greek variation of this soup is avgolemono, cooked with, lemon juice, orzo, and eggs.
INGREDIENTS:
1 small chicken
12 cups of water
1 cup of orzo
1 egg yolk
juice of 1/2 a lemon
sea salt
ground pepper
3 tablespoons of olive oil
PREPARATION:

Clean chicken.
Place the chicken in a large stock pot and add water to cover. Bring to a full boil. Skim off any foam that rises to the top. When the foam stops, reduce heat, cover the soup and simmer until the chicken meat is falling off the bone, (depending on weight, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours).
Remove the Chicken from the pot and set aside.

Strain the broth, return to the pot, and bring to a boil. Add the orzo, salt, pepper, and olive oil to the pot, reduce heat, and simmer until the orzo is done, approximately 20 minutes. Remove from the heat.

While the orzo is cooking, bone the chicken and cut the meat into pieces.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolk with one cup of water and add the lemon juice a drop at a time. When the lemon and egg have blended, add cup of soup to the mix pouring very slowly stirring briskly (this process is very important) to blend well. If the hot liquid is added too quickly, the mixture will curdle. When the mix is fully blended, stir the soup and pour in the egg-lemon mixture slowly, and shake the pot gently to distribute. Do not stir.
Add the chicken meat to the soup and serve.

Ricotta Fritta: Ricotta Fritters

1/2 pound almond macaroons
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 pound fresh ricotta
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground cinnamon
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon water
2 cups fine dried bread crumbs
Oil, for frying
Whipped cream
1 cup honey
Confectioners' sugar, for garnish

Preheat the fryer to 350 degrees F. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the macaroons and process until finely ground. Add the sugar, cheese, cinnamon, and 2 of the eggs. Continue to process until incorporated. Form the cheese mixture into small balls, about a tablespoon each. Roll the balls in the flour, coating completely. In a shallow bowl, beat the remaining 1 egg and the water. Dip each ball in the egg wash, letting the excess drip off. Finally, dredge each ball in the bread crumbs, coating completely. Fry the balls in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels. Place a dollop of the whipped cream in the center of each serving plate. Lay the fritters around the whipped cream. Drizzle the fritters with the honey. Garnish with confectioners' sugar.

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse

Most Expensive Restaurants in the U.S. from Forbes.com

Americans are hungrier than ever to eat out. Last month, they spent $36.2 billion in restaurants. This year, they are on track to spend $511 billion, a record high.

Alex: $114 Las Vegas

This French restaurant in Steve Wynn's Wynn Las Vegas now outpaces Picasso as Sin City's most expensive restaurant. Atlantic halibut with borlotti beans, roasted pork chop and veal tenderloin are three signature dishes available à la carte; the tasting menu includes sweet corn custard with caviar, seared sea scallops and foie gras with roasted figs.
For more information, call (702) 248-DINE.

Masa: $446 New York City

This Japanese restaurant, where the sushi is flown in directly from Japan, achieved legendary status almost immediately upon its opening in 2004. With a prix-fixe menu that starts at $400 per person--not including drinks, tax or a mandatory 20% tip--only the best-heeled can make Masa a habit. Bar Masa offers similar dishes, like baby squid with curried salt and Kobe beef with yuzu pepper, at a bargain $15 to $20 each.
For more information, call (212) 823-9800.

The French Laundry: $254 Yountville, Calif.

Some of chef Thomas Keller's iconic dishes have migrated from this Napa Valley locale to Per Se, his outpost in Manhattan, but purists swear that the nine-course dégustation menu in The French Laundry's small stone building is the ultimate experience. The restaurant features American dishes with French influence, like roasted lamb with sweet carrots and pearl onions; reservations must be made two months to the calendar date in advance.
For more information, call (707) 944-2380.

Alinea: $168 Chicago

Alinea chef and owner Grant Achatz trained with Thomas Keller, but left to open the sleek, futuristic Alinea in May of 2005. The mini-dishes, served in a 12-course "tasting" menu or a 24-course "tour," feature ingredients so brightly colored and creatively combined and presented, they are like artful science experiments. Peanut butter and jelly is a peeled grape covered in peanut butter and a paper-thin layer of brioche, and rabbit is accompanied by the "smell of burning leaves." Dessert choices include red pepper taffy and licorice cake.
For more information, call (312) 867-0110.

The Herbfarm: $152 Woodinville, Wash.

This romantic, farmhouse-style restaurant serves nine-course, Pacific Northwest menus that rotate every few weeks to reflect the best seasonal ingredients. Five or six wines will be served with your meal, many of them straight from the 21,000-bottle wine cellar, which features an enormous collection of Oregon and Washington wines. This week, a "Mycologist's Dream"-themed menu will include wild mushrooms from throughout the region.
For more information, call (425) 485-5300.

Read more Expensive Restaurants Forbes.com

REALLY?; The Claim: Microwave Ovens Kill Nutrients in Food

People have long suspected that the radiation microwave ovens emit can destroy nutrients in food. According to most studies, however, the reality is quite the opposite. Read more New York Times.

Halloween Vanilla Shake

These drinks look frightening, but they're actually quite sweet. Melted chocolate painted inside the glass makes the faces. A ghostly white vanilla milk shake is topped with piped whipped cream.

Boo-Nilla Shake How-to:
For 12 faces, place 1/3 cup (2 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on high until melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes; stir. Using a small brush, paint chocolate inside glasses (if it hardens too soon, microwave 20 seconds more). Let set a few minutes before adding shake. Prepare glasses up to a day ahead, but don't fill until ready to serve.

Boo-Nilla Shake Recipe
Makes six 8-ounce servings This recipe can be doubled easily; make it in two batches if it won't all fit in your blender.

1 cup whole milk
2 pints vanilla ice cream
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

1. Blend milk and 1 pint ice cream in a blender until smooth. With machine running, add remaining pint ice cream, 1 scoop at a time; blend until smooth. Pour milkshake into six 8-ounce glasses decorated with chocolate faces, filling them 3/4 full.

2. Put cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add confectioners' sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form.Transfer whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip. Pipe spiral mounds of whipped cream on top of milkshakes. Serve immediately.
Source:Martha Steward Living