Bourbon Balls

Equipment Food processor Mini baking cups and/or – parchment lined baking sheet Ingredients 280 grams (2 ½ cups) vanilla (Nilla) wafers, broken/crushed into large chunks 125 grams (1 ¼ cups) toasted pecans ½ cup bourbon (see note) 120 grams (1 cup) confectioners’/powdered sugar, plus more for rolling ⅓ cup cocoa powder 1 tablespoon honey Flaky/course salt- optional (see note) Preparation In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the cookies and pecans to a fine crumb. In a small bowl, wisk together: Bourbon Confectioner’s sugar Cocoa powder Honey Pour liquid over the cookie/pecan crumbs in the food processor bowl. Pulse in food processor just until combined. Transfer dough to a clean bowl. Cover with a towel (do not cover airtight) and let stand overnight. Roll the dough into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Toss in confectioners’ sugar and salt (optional) then place mini baking cups or on a parchment paper lined pan. Store airtight for a more moist crumb, or store lightly covered to develop a crunchy exterior. If desired, toss with more powdered sugar before serving. Notes For high-proof bourbon, reduce the amount of bourbon measured into a ½ cup measuring cup; add water to make up remaining volume. For a 120 proof bourbon, try ¼ cup each, bourbon and water. To counter the sweetness of the balls, consider adding a flaky or crunchy salt to the finishing confectioners’ sugar.

January 1, 2024

Mushroom Leek Pie

This savory pie is a simple, rustic dish that is perfect as a side dish or a main. Top with a drizzle of balasmic vinegar and a sprinkle of fresh herbs. Serve hot, cold, or room temperature. This pie was an entry to the Porches and Pies pie contest in 2023. Notes This recipe requries one pie shell (half a recipe) of Pâte Brisée. Any mix of fresh mushrooms can be used. I used a mix of oyster and shiitake. While this recipe calls for oat milk, any milk can be used. Yield One - 9 inch (23 cm) pie Ingredients 770 grams trimmed and cleaned oyster and other mixed mushrooms 1 large purple onion 2 to 3 small/medium shallots 3 leeks, white stalk and tender green stalks chopped into ¼ rounds and then thinly sliced 3 to 4 Rosemary sprigs 3 to 4 Thyme sprigs 2 large eggs 80 ml (1/3 cup) oat or other milk 145 grams (5 oz) finely grated parmesan cheese 1 pie shell from Pâte Brisée Preparation Mushrooms In a large, heavy skillet, add: ...

August 23, 2023

Pâte Brisée

This is a very simple pie crust recipe that comes together quickly. The crust is tender and flaky due to the use of vodka (which does not contribute to gluten formation) and plenty of cold butter. It is important to not overwork the dough; the goal is a rough/shaggy looking crust with large chunks of butter throughout. The crust can be used for both sweet (add the sugar as directed) and savory pies (omit sugar). ...

August 23, 2023

Banana Bread

This recipe comes from Popote et Potager, BANANA BREAD Recette facile et anti gaspi. The bread (or cake, depending on your definition) is sweetened only by the bananas and chocolate. The recipe yields a dense, moist bread packed with banana flavor. Yield 1 loaf Special Equipment 1 1.5 to 1 pound loaf pan Preheat Oven Preheat oven to 350°F or 180°c. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Ingredients 5 ripe to slightly over-ripe bananas, peeled. 4 mashed 1 whole, sliced length-wise 2 large eggs 200 grams all-purpose flour 1 packet (7 grams) active dry yeast 100 grams dark chocolate (70%), finely chopped Preparation Butter/flour (I use Baker’s Joy) loaf pan and line the bottom of the loaf pan with parchment paper. In a medium sized bowl, mash 4 of the bananas. Add the two eggs to the mashed bananas and mix well using a whisk. Combine the flour and dry yeast. Sift into the bowl atop the banana/egg mixture. Beat well using a sturdy whisk or heavy mixing spoon. Add the finely chopped chocolate and mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. With the two halfs of the remaining sliced banana, arrange the two halfs, cut-side up, atop the batter. Gently press the banana slices into the batter till set and even. Bake Bake 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Turn out the banana bread from pan and let cool on wire rack. ...

May 26, 2023

Lemon Pudding

This reciepe calls for oat milk, but most other “milk” can be used. Ingredients 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 2 1/2 cups oat milk 3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest Pinch of salt, to taste 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature Method In a medium saucepan, whisk together cornstarch and sugar. Add milk and whisk till smooth. Add egg yolks, lemon zest, salt, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in lemon juice and butter. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Portion into individual serving dishes. Let cool to room temperature. Chill, loosely covered, for two hours. Serve chilled.

September 30, 2021

Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe’s sugar content is minimal to allow the add ins (chocolate chips and cherries) to provide the majority of the sweetness. If omitting the add ins, the sugar content may need to be increased to compensate per desired taste. Preheat Oven Preheat oven to 350°F. Equipment Small skillet Small bowl Large bowl Rubber spatula Two cookie sheets Wire cooling rack Ingredients 57 grams (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter 142 grams (1 cup) all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking soda 100 grams (½ cup) dark brown sugar 100 grams (½ cup) granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ cup Vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg plus 1 large yolk 255 grams (3 cups) old-fashioned rolled oats 75 grams (½ cup) dried tart cherries 85 grams (½ cup) chocolate chips ½ cup crushed toasted pecans Method Brown Butter Place the butter in a small skillet, set over low-medium heat, allowing the butter to brown while preparing the remaining ingredients. Swirl or gently stir the butter every few minutes. The butter has finished browning when the sizzles and crackles stop. Remove from heat to avoid burning. Combine Dry Ingredients In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients: ...

September 6, 2021

7-Grain Muffins

This versatile recipe can be used with a variety of whole grain flours (wheat, spelt, rye), multi-grain cereals, and dried and fresh fruits (cherries, raisins, cranberries, blueberries). Notes Adjust the brown sugar to compensate for the sweetness of added fruits (or not). If using fresh fruit, delay adding until after the 30 minute absorption step. Yield Makes about 12 muffins. Special Equipment Muffin 12-cup tin Muffin cups (if needed/desired) Preheat Oven Preheat over to 400°F Fruits Possible fruit additions. ...

August 2, 2021

Spelt Waffles

This is the base/original version which is plain, simple, and goes great with most traditional toppings. Ingredients 270 grams spelt flour 1 tablespoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 cup oat milk ¼ olive oil, melted butter, or one mashed ripe banana ¾ cup oat milk (more or less as needed) Preparation Preheat waffle iron per manufactures directions; oil iron if needed. Deviations are noted for each ingredient list/version. ...

August 2, 2021

Blueberry Cobbler

This cobbler, which comes from the kitchens of Chez Panisse, prizes the berries above all, using only 1/3 cup of sugar. The dough rounds for the top are placed so they don’t cover all the berries, and the juice from the berries bubbles up around the dough. Source https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9291-chez-panisses-blueberry-cobbler Change Log Increased flour for berries; this may need to be adjusted up or down depending on humidity and water content of berries. Added zest of one lemon Added lemon juice Swapped buttermilk for cream Swapped baking soda for baking powder Added spelt Reduced sugar Equipment 1 ½-quart gratin or baking dish Preheat Oven Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. ...

August 2, 2021

Banana Muffins

This recipe is derived from 7-Grain Muffins and modified include ripe bananas and accompanying spices. Yield Makes about 12 muffins. Special Equipment Muffin 12-cup tin Muffin cups (if needed/desired) Preheat Oven Preheat over to 400°F Ingredients 140 grams (1 cup) seven-grain cereal 2 ripe bananas, mashed 22 grams (1 tablespoon) molasses 64 grams (¼ cup) applesauce 1 ¼ cups buttermilk 115 grams (1 cup) spelt flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground ginger 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 4 cloves, ground ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 egg, slightly beaten Preparation Prep Muffin Tin Place muffin cups in tin. Spray each cup with non-stick cooking spray. Hydrate 7-Grain Cereal In a medium bowl, combine and let stand for 30 minutes: ...

August 2, 2021