Thursday, October 8, 2009

Pot Roast

Practically everyone has their own pot roast recipe... some use Coca-Cola and Lipton soup mix (good, if a little salty), while others swear by cream of mushroom soup. This one, which is a nod to the Italian stracotto, is simplicity itself, yet upscale enough for company. My niece, Meg, makes her pot roast with a London Broil so it's not so fatty (and likes to add flour to the wine for a thick sauce). Certainly feel free to use whatever cut you're comfortable with (and may happen to be on sale).

Be sure to buy a little larger roast, because leftovers make the most wonderful French dip. Cut open a soft sub roll and cover one side of the roll with shredded meat. Top with a handful of shredded whole milk mozzarella or Jack cheese. Wrap sandwich in aluminum foil and warm for about 10 minutes in a 400 degree oven, or until cheese is nicely melted. While the sandwich heats, reduce the pan sauce to the desired taste and consistency for dipping. Perfect with oven roasted potato wedges.

Pot Roast

2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 to 3 pound beef roast
4 whole garlic cloves, smashed
1/2 bottle red wine (Merlot or Cabernet)
1 cup beef or chicken broth
2 large sprigs of fresh thyme
3 carrots, cut into 2-inch lengths
4 to 6 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered
House seasoning to taste
cornstarch (if desired)

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle roast liberally with House seasoning. Sear meat on all sides until nicely browned. Add in garlic, sauteing very briefly. Pour in wine and 1 cup of stock. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until meat is tender, turning halfway through. Add in carrots and potatoes, cooking until also tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. Serve.

Note: If you find the pan sauce is too thin, add in a slurry of 1 or two teaspoons of cornstarch dissolved in an equal amount of water. Heat until slurry is incorporated and sauce has the consistency of gravy.

House Seasoning

1 cup salt
1 1/4 black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder

Combine seasonings in an airtight container.

Oatmeal Apple Cookies

Nothing says autumn like apples. And, if you're like me, you never tire of the classic oatmeal cookie. This one, adapted from a Domino sugar recipe, has lovely caramel undertones from the dark brown sugar. Definitely a keeper.

Oatmeal Apple Cookies

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups rolled oats
1 tart apple, peeled and finely chopped (such as Granny Smith)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Using a stand mixer, combine butter and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add in eggs and vanilla. Add in flour mixture and rolled oats separately, blending well. Stir in chopped apples.

Using a cookie scoop, drop dough onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges but still slightly soft in the middle.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Pies Have It

When asked what my daughter would like for her birthday in August, she responded enthusiastically with one word: "Pie!" And, with such an abundance of summer berries, how could I refuse her small request?

I never thought of myself as a pie person, per se. I remembered my sister, Sue, making the most delicious peach pie when I was a child. And, she would always save me those little scraps of dough, sprinkled lightly with cinnamon and sugar and baked until golden... bless her. But, other than that, I always much preferred a cookie or slice of cake for dessert. Well, after tasting that berry pie, complete with homemade crust adapted from The August/September 2009 issue of Taste of the South, I had a change of heart.

As scrumptious as it was, I may have to give a nod to the apple pie I made a few days ago, using a recipe adapted from The Joy of Cooking. The crust was so light and flaky, with its lovely balance of butter and shortening... truly near perfection. While some prefer an all-butter recipe, I don't know that a shortbread-like crust belongs. I can't wait to make another pie, this time with crisp, tart apples and perhaps a crumble topping.

Mixed Berry Pie

1/2 recipe Jim's Majic Pie Dough (aged overnight)
5 cups mixed berries (such as blueberries and blackberries)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
3 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 overflowing cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Roll out the dough into two equal-sized crusts and line a deep dish pie pan with one.

In a large bowl, combine the fruit with the butter, cornstarch, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon. Allow to stand for 15 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and cover with the remaining crust. Seal edges and cut decorative vents in the top crust.

Bake pie on the upper rack for 20 minutes. Then, reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and move pie to bottom rack. Continue baking until filling is bubbling through the vents, about 45 minutes. Cool completely before serving.

Jim's Majic Pie Dough

3 cups flour
1 1/4 cups shortening
1 egg
6 to 8 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine the flour and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.

Combine egg, water, vinegar and salt, beating lightly.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add in the liquid ingredients. Work the dough just until a ball forms. Divide dough into 4 balls and cover loosely with a cloth or plastic wrap. Refrigerate until needed, aging dough overnight for fruit pies or only a few hours for pecan or cream pies. Makes 4 single or 2 double-crusts.

Apple Pie

1 double crust
5 cups sliced apples
3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 teaspoons
2 to 3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, plus 1/8 teaspoon
pinch salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Line a 9-inch pie pan with 1/2 of the dough. Mix the apples, 3/4 cup sugar, flour, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and salt. Allow to stand for 15 minutes, mixing occasionally so apples can soften slightly.

Pour filling into the bottom crust. Dot with butter before covering with top crust. Cut decorative vents into crust. Sprinkle with remaining sugar and cinnamon.

Bake pie for 30 minutes. Then, reduce oven temperature to 350 and slip a baking sheet under the pie. Bake until the juices have begun to bubble through the vents, 30 to 40 minutes more. If the crust gets too brown during baking, cover edges with aluminum foil or a silicon shield. Allow pie to cool completely before serving. The crust is best the day it's baked, but the pie will keep for several days at room temperature.

Pie Crust Cockaigne

2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons sugar (or slightly more to taste)
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup shortening, chilled
6 tablespoons ice water, plus up to 1 tablespoon

Sift together the flour, sugar and salt. Cut the shortening and butter into the flour mixture until it has the consistency of cornmeal. Blend in the water until until a dough just begins to form. Be careful not to overwork the dough, leaving dots of butter and shortening throughout. Divide the dough; shape into disks and cover with plastic wrap until ready to use. When rolling out on a floured surface, work quickly and handle dough minimally to ensure a flaky crust.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Lime-Blackberry Icebox Pie

What says summer more than an icebox pie? With those long, warm days now a memory, I'm recalling just such a dessert I made a few weeks ago. Adapted from the November 2008 issue of Food & Wine, I opted to add a bit more gelatin for texture and make the jam component with half of the sugar, since one cup seemed too much for even my sweet tooth.

Lime-Blackberry Icebox Pie

2 cups blackberries
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons powdered gelatin
2 tablespoons boiling water
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons lime zest
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 9-inch graham cracker crust

In a saucepan, simmer the blackberries for 10 minutes, stirring to prevent scorching. Stir in the sugar and cook until the mixture is thick and jammy, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.

In a heatproof bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water; let stand until softened and cooled. In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the condensed milk, cream, lime zest, lime juice and gelatin until soft peaks form. Spread the cooled blackberry jam over the crust; top with the lime cream and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until firm. Serve.

Traditional Graham Cracker Crust
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted

Mix ingredients until combined. Press firmly onto the bottom and sides a 9-inch pie pan. Freeze for at least 30 minutes before using.

Pasta with Heirloom Tomatoes & Fresh Ricotta

Sure, those tomatoes at the store look lovely, but most have no flavor. So, wait until you've got a couple of handfuls of red, orange and yellow gems before making this recipe, adapted from On Top of Spaghetti. I used a few tablespoons of sweet onion instead of shallot and a little less olive oil, as well as omitted the sherry vinegar, and the results were spectacular.

Pasta with Heirloom Tomatoes & Fresh Ricotta

1 cup fresh ricotta
1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced shallot or sweet onion
2 to 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 pounds ripe heirloom tomatoes
3 to 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup mixed herbs, chopped (basil, thyme, chives, fresh oregano)
1 pound pasta
salt and pepper to taste
Fresh Grana Padano (optional)

Mix the ricotta and parsley, along with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.

In another small bowl, mix the shallot or onion with vinegar; allow to soften and get a little more mild while the pasta cooks. Core and dice the tomatoes. Just before the pasta is done, combine the tomatoes, olive oil, herbs, onion and vinegar. Check for seasoning.

Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and toss with the tomato mixture. Put a large spoonful or two of ricotta on each serving of pasta. Garnish with Grana Padano, if desired.

Fresh Ricotta

While you can easily get a quality whole milk ricotta cheese at your local market, there's something to be said for making it at home. This ricotta tastes so good, you'll be tempted to eat it right out of the cheesecloth, with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Some recipes call for lemon juice and heavy cream, but you'll have a time trying to get ultra-pasteurized heavy cream to curdle, no matter how much acid you use... and that's often all that's available at some grocers. Keep in mind that with this recipe, adapted from Michael Chiarello, you'll only get about 1 1/2 to 2 cups ricotta total, so consider making a double batch.

1/2 gallon whole milk
2 cups buttermilk

Pour the milk and buttermilk into a large nonreactive saucepan. Cook over high heat, stirring the mixture frequently to prevent scorching. Once the mixture is warm, stop stirring. As the milk heats, curds will begin to rise and clump on the surface. As the curds begin to form, gently scrape the bottom of the pan with a rubber spatula to release any stuck curds.

When the mixture reaches 175 to 180 degrees on a candy thermometer, the curds and whey will separate. Remove the pan from the heat. Slowly ladle the curds into a sieve lined with cheesecloth placed over a large bowl. Lift the sides of the cloth to help the liquid drain and try to avoid pressing on the curds. Allow the ricotta to drain until the dripping stops, approximately 15 minutes.

Place ricotta in an airtight container. Refrigerate and use within 1 week.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Orzo Vegetable Bake

I have been blessed with a mother that has never met a vegetable she doesn't like. In fact, she can't have too many at a meal. Well, this recipe, from Relish, has plenty for her tastes and is even hearty enough to be served as a main dish. I used a carrot instead of a zucchini for a splash of flavor and texture, and opted for herbs de Provence instead of Italian seasoning (a la Giada).

Orzo Vegetable Bake

1 pound asparagus, trimmed
2 to 3 bell peppers, sliced
6 green onions
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 large carrot
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 garlic clove, crushed (or more to taste)
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 cup orzo
2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut asparagus and green onions into 1 to 1 1/2-inch long segments. Using a vegetable peeler, create ribbons with the carrot. Place vegetables in a 13 by 9 baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, herbs de Provence, salt and pepper. Toss well. Roast 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large saucepan. Add orzo and sauté until brown. Add broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until liquid is absorbed.

Add orzo to roasted vegetables. Mix well. Sprinkle pine nuts and cheese over top. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Toffee Blondies

Speaking of sisters, I thought it would be fun to bake a new kind of blondie for one of mine. Well, this one from The Neelys was almost too rich for her tastes. She managed to make them last for more than a couple of days... a new record (just teasing, Liddy).

Toffee Blondies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup creamy Jif honey peanut butter
1 cup chopped chocolate covered toffee

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 13 by 9 glass pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang; spray with nonstick baking spray.

Whisk flour and salt together in a small bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, using a mixer, cream butter and both sugars together until light and fluffy. Slowly add eggs, 1 at a time, until thoroughly combined. Add milk, vanilla extract and peanut butter; continue to mix. Incorporate dry mixture into wet mixture in 3 separate additions. Using a spatula, fold in chocolate covered toffee bits.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the center rack of the oven for approximately 40 minutes. Remove when toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.