Cheesecake

This is the final product of many, many test cheesecakes. Special Equipment 10" Spring-form Pan Preheat Oven Preheat to 325°F Ingredients 1 ¼ cups Graham Cracker Crumbs 1 tablespoon Sugar 3 tablespoons Butter, melted 1/3 cup Heavy Cream 2 pounds Cream Cheese, room temperature 1 1/3 cups Sugar 4 Eggs 2 tablespoons All Purpose Flour 2 tablespoons Lemon Zest Preparation Crust Melt butter in a bowl. Combine and add to butter Graham cracker crumbs 1 tablespoon sugar Press mixture into a 10" spring-form pan. Bake for 8 minutes, then cool. Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Filling Beat cream cheese and sugar till smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients, wisk until smooth. Pour filling into spring-form pan. Bake For best results, use a water bath. At minimum a bowl full of water should be placed on the lower oven rack to provide humidity. ...

November 26, 2014

Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting

I first made this recipe to frost a double-layer 9" round chocolate cake. This recipe produced enough frosting to top each of the rounds (filling between the two rounds, plus the top). If it is desired to fill & frost both the sides and top, the recipe could be doubled. Depending on the strength of the flavor of the cherry preserves, you may need more or less. Also, due to the varying consistencies of various preserves, more or less confectioners’ sugar may be needed. Ultimately, the finial consistency of the icing is up to the chef and the intended use. ...

November 26, 2014

Apple Cider Vinegar Pancakes

These pancakes add a new twist on the typical buttermilk + blueberry variety. Special Equipment Pancake Grill/Skillet Ingredients 1 cup milk (skim or 1%) 2 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar 3 tablespoons 1% Greek style yogurt ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour ½ cup whole wheat flour ½ cup barley flour ¾ tablespoon baking powder 2 cups fresh blueberries Preparation In a small bowl, combine the milk and apple cider vinegar; set aside an to curdle. In a medium bowl, whisk egg whites, yogurt and brown sugar. In anther medium bowl, sift together flours and baking powder; add to egg/yogurt mixture. Briefly stir mixture to moisten; add about ¼ of the milk, still to moisten. Continue adding ¼ of the milk mixture, stirring after each addition until smooth. Check the consistency of the batter; it should be smooth and viscous to coat the back of a spoon, but it should not be anything near pasty; on contrary, it should not be runny. Fold in blueberries just enough to distribute in batter. Grill Spoon batter on to pancake grill and bake until done.

November 26, 2014

Crème brûlée

Tried and tested Crème Brûlée. Oh so many batches of Crème Brûlée to make this one work… Special Equipment 6 Ramekins Baking pan, large enough to provide water bath for ramekins Crème Brûlée torch Preheat Oven Preheat oven to 300°F Ingredients 8 Egg Yolks ½ cup Sugar 2 cups Heavy Cream 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract Preparation Whisk In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is thick and pale yellow. Add cream and vanilla; continue to whisk until well blended. Strain into a large bowl, skimming off any solids, foam and/or bubbles. Pour Divide mixture among 6 ramekins or custard cups. Place ramekins in a water bath Bake Bake until set around the edges, but still loose in the center, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cool Remove from oven and leave in the water bath until cooled. Remove cups from water bath and chill for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. Presentation When ready to serve, sprinkle about 2 teaspoons of sugar over each custard. Torch to melt sugar. Re-chill custards for a few minutes before serving.

December 30, 2013

Morrocan Seasoning

This is a Moroccan inspired dry seasoning which can be used as a dry rub (add salt) or as Cous-Cous spice. Ingredients 5 teaspoons ground nutmeg 5 teaspoons ground cumin 5 teaspoons ground coriander 2 ½ teaspoons allspice 2 ½ teaspoons ground ginger 1 ¼ teaspoons cayenne pepper 1 ¼ teaspoons cinnamon Preparation Mix all ingredients

December 30, 2013