Pie Crust

Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart. My first attempt at making pie crust from scratch - used with my Quadruple Berry Pie recipe.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon ice water

Directions:
Pulse flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor until combined. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger pieces remaining, about 5 seconds. Drizzle water evenly over mixture. Pulse until mixture just begins to hold together, about 10 seconds. (Dough should not be wet or sticky.) Press dough into 1 large disk (for mini pies) or 2 small disks (for large pie), and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour or overnight.

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Best chocolate cupcake recipe ever, courtesy of Ghiradelli, found on Martha Stewart's site.

Ingredients:
Cupcakes:
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
5/8 cup whole milk
1/3 cup strong brewed coffee or espresso
1/2 cup (or 1 stick) unsalted butter

Frosting:
6 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Bar, broken or chopped into 1-inch pieces
3/4 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 ounces white chocolate, melted (optional, for decorating)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners or spray with nonstick spray.

To make the cupcakes, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar, and white sugar. Whisk in the milk, coffee, and melted butter. Whisk in the dry ingredients. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake molds, filling them about three-quarters full. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the middle of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and continue to cool on a wire rack to room temperature.

To make the frosting, melt the chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler, or in a heatproof bowl, over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Heat the cream until hot. Remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate. Transfer to a bowl and cool to just warm. Whisk in the butter until smooth. Let sit until it reaches a spreading consistency, about 1 hour. Spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes.

Fit a pastry bag with the smallest plain round tip. Fill bag with melted white chocolate, and use to write on cupcakes.

Double Chocolate Layer Cake

Fabulous birthday cake courtesy of Smitten Kitchen. Cookies in the picture are these Ginger Sugar Cookies.

The recipe below is for 4 10-inch layers filled with raspberry filling and coated in chocolate ganache.  
Ingredients:
Cake layers
3 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut
1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee
3 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups well-shaken buttermilk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
Special equipment: two 10- by 2-inch round cake pans

Ganache frosting
1/2 pound fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 stick unsalted butter

Raspberry Filling
2 10-ounce bag frozen raspberries, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:
Cake Layers:
Preheat oven to 300°F. and grease pans. Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper and grease paper.

Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot coffee. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Into a large bowl sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thickened slightly and lemon colored (about 3 minutes with a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a hand-held mixer). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well. Add sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined well.

Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Cool layers completely in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove wax paper and cool layers completely. Cake layers may be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at room temperature.

Frosting:
Finely chop chocolate. In a 1- to 1 1/2-quart saucepan bring cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over moderately low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, whisking until chocolate is melted. Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth. Transfer frosting to a bowl and cool, stirring occasionally, until spreadable.

Raspberry Filling:
Puree the raspberries in a food processor, blender or immersion blender. Press the puree through a fine-mesh strainer with the back of a spoon, removing the seeds. Heat the puree in a small pot with the sugar and cornstarch until mixture boils, stirring constantly. As it boils, it should quickly thicken.
Let it cool complete before spreading it thinly over three layers. Spread chocolate frosting over top and sides.

Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.

Buttercream Icing for Decorating/Writing:
I used about a fourth of this recipe, found on Leah Cooks Kosher: 
1/2 pound stick butter or margarine, unsalted and at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt (omit if your margarine is salted)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or flavored extract if preferred)
2 pounds (about 8 cups) powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
Food coloring, optional


One Year Ago: Leftover Turkey Soup
Two Years Ago: Turkey Waldorf Salad
Three Years Ago: Southwest Chicken Black Bean Soup

Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Recipe courtesy of Whole Foods.

Ingredients: 
1 cup raspberries
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
To make vinaigrette, combine raspberries, balsamic vinegar and olive oil in a blender. Mix until smooth.

Cranberry and Orange Relish

Recipe courtesy of Real Simple.

Ingredients: 
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup orange juice
16 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 to 3/4 cup orange marmalade
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the ginger and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the sugar, orange juice, and cranberries.

Cook until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir in the marmalade to taste (depending on desired sweetness). Turn off heat. Stir in the pepper and cilantro just before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Onion Rolls

My first bread recipe, courtesy of Real Simple.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium onions, finely chopped
1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
kosher salt
2 0.25-ounce packages active dry yeast
2 large eggs
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more, at room temperature, for the pan
6 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for shaping the dough

Directions:
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, 1 teaspoon of the sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

Place 2 cups warm tap water (105° to 115° F) in a large bowl; sprinkle with the yeast and let stand until foamy, 4 to 5 minutes. Whisk in the eggs, 4 tablespoons of the butter, the remaining ¼ cup of sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the flour and three-quarters of the onions and mix until a sticky dough forms. Brush the top of the dough with the remaining tablespoon of oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Punch the dough down. With well-floured hands, form the dough into 16 balls and place in the prepared pan, spacing evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining quarter of the onions. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 30 to 40 minutes.

Heat oven to 400° F. Remove the plastic wrap and brush the dough with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Bake until the rolls are golden, 18 to 22 minutes (tent with foil if the tops brown too quickly). Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before serving.

Rosemary Pecans

Recipe from Real Simple.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups pecan halves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

Directions: 
Heat oven to 375° F. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir in the sugar, cayenne pepper, and ½ teaspoon salt. Add the pecans and toss to coat. Transfer the pecans to a rimmed baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Bake, stirring occasionally, until toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the rosemary and toss to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

Recipe courtesy of Serious Eats.I made a few alterations based on what I had at home.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 pound ground turkey
1 (14.5 ounce) jar salsa  

1 (14.5 ounce) can red kidney beans 

1 cups (1/2 of a 14.5 ounce can) pumpkin puree
3/4 tablespoons chili powder
1/4 tablespoon cumin 

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cayenne pepper to taste (at least 3 good shakes)
 

Directions: 

Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

Saute the onion, green bell pepper, and garlic until tender, about 10 minutes. Make room in the center of the skillet, add turkey, and brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in salsa, beans, and pumpkin. Season with chili powder, cumin, pepper, salt, and cayenne.

Reduce heat and simmer at least 20 minutes.

Devil's Food Cupcakes with Orange Flavored Frosting

Martha Stewart Cupcakes with Ina Garten Frosting.

Ingredients:
Cupcakes:
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature:
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature:
1/2 teaspoon orange zest:
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract:
1/2 pound confectioners' sugar, sieved:
Orange food coloring (or red and yellow), optional

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.

Melt chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water. In a bowl, stir baking soda into the boiling water; stir this mixture into chocolate. Set aside to cool slightly.

Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until the mixture is light and pale yellow in color. Add eggs, one at a time, and continue to mix until thoroughly incorporated. Add flour and buttermilk, alternating between small amounts of each, and blend well.

Add the melted chocolate and vanilla to the batter, and stir well. Pour the batter into the paper cups, and bake until a cake tester comes out clean when inserted into the center of a cupcake, about 30 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the oven, and allow them to cool briefly in the muffin tin before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely. 

For the frosting, mix the cream cheese, butter, orange zest and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined. Add the sugar and mix until smooth.
When the cupcakes are cool, frost them generously.

Jack-o-Lantern Cheese Ball

Perfect for Halloween, recipe courtesy of Cooking Channel.

Ingredients:

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
3 tablespoons minced onions
1 teaspoon jalapeno, minced (without seeds, unless you want it spicy, then include the seeds)
2 teaspoons cumin
2 tablespoons prepared salsa (your favorite kind will do)
1 nice-looking stem of a bell pepper (reserve the pepper for another use)
12 Doritos, original flavor, crushed
Black bean chips, for serving

Directions:
Put all ingredients into the bowl of a mixer, and blend thoroughly. Form into a pumpkin-like shape, and refrigerate until firm, about two hours. Before serving, roll the cheese ball in crushed Doritos. Arrange the cheese ball on a plate, and press the bell pepper stem into the top — it should like a mini pumpkin stem.

You can serve the pumpkin as-is, or break off pieces of black bean chips to form a Jack-o’-lantern face. The chip pieces should adhere to the pumpkin cheese ball if you gently press them onto it, but you can also stick them on using a very small daub of the cheese ball mixture on the back of the black bean chip features; this will act like glue. Serve the cheese ball with black bean chips, crackers or crudites.

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

Delish recipe courtesy of Food Network.

Ingredients:
Cupcakes:
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon
2 cups sour cream
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, plus a few for garnish

Frosting:
2 sticks butter
8 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
10 to 12 cups powdered sugar

Directions: 
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tins with 24 paper liners.

Mix the flour, soda and salt together in a bowl. Set aside. Add the butter and sugar to a mixing bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Add the eggs 1 at a time and mix thoroughly. Add the vanilla and lemon zest and mix to combine. Add the dry mixture in 3 parts alternating with the sour cream, ending with dry mixture. Stir in the blueberries. Fill the prepared tins two-thirds full and bake 16 to 20 minutes. Cool.

For the frosting: Cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla, lemon zest and juice and blend until combined. Add the powdered sugar gradually until combined. Frost the cooled cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting.

Marinaded Grilled Vegetables

 Great grilled veggie recipe from Cooking Light.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 garlic cloves, minced

Vegetables to grill - I like peppers, zucchini, squash, eggplant and red onions

Directions:
Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl. Slice up vegetables and pour marinade over them in a shallow dish or in a ziploc bag. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Remove vegetables from bags; reserve marinade. Prepare grill. Place vegetables on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 7 minutes on each side or until onion is tender, basting with reserved marinade.

Sour Cream and Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Recipe courtesy of Weight Watchers.

Ingredients:
15 oz roasted red peppers, packed in water, drained (about 2 cups)
1 cup(s) fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup(s) basil, fresh
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste

Directions:
In a blender, combine roasted peppers, sour cream, basil and garlic powder; puree until smooth. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Lemon Basil Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches

Decided to make a special treat with my new ice cream maker for July 4th! Recipe courtesy of SeriousEats!


Ingredients:
For basil chocolate chip ice cream
3 cups half-and-half (or 1 1/2 cups each cream and milk)
3 cups washed basil leaves and stems, lightly packed (about one large bunch)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup sugar
6 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
2 ounces dark chocolate, shaved fine with a vegetable peeler

For lemon butter cookies
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sugar
Zest of three lemons
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups cake flour

Directions:
For basil chocolate chip ice cream: 
In a medium saucepan, bring half-and-half to a simmer, then add basil and salt. Cover and barely simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk sugar into egg yolks until they lighten in color and become thick and ribbon-like.


Transfer dairy and basil to blender, and carefully blend until smooth. (If your blender has a stopper in the center of the lid for adding ingredients, remove it and cover the hole with a few sheets of paper towel—this will keep hot dairy from splashing out at you.) Pour purée through a strainer into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly until thoroughly combined.

Return custard to saucepan over low heat and stir constantly until it coats the back of a spoon and a finger swipe leaves a clean line. Pour custard through strainer into an airtight container. Stir in lemon zest and refrigerate overnight, or at least 6 hours. The next day, churn in ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions. In last minute of churn, slowly pour in shaved chocolate (best kept in the freezer until you need it). Transfer ice cream back to container to freeze for two to three hours, or serve immediately as soft serve.
For lemon butter cookies: 
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter with both sugars, lemon zest, and salt on high speed until very light with little graininess, scraping down bowl as needed. Reduce mixer to medium and add in egg and vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl until fully combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and add flour in three installments, scraping down bowl between each installment.


Using a two-tablespoon scoop, portion out 20 balls of dough on two parchment-lined cookie sheets, leaving as much room as possible for cookies to spread out. Lightly pat into flat disks, then transfer to freezer or refrigerator to firm up for 10 to 15 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate pans 180° and swap positions on racks. Bake for another 10 minutes, or until edges are a firmer, darker brown and a spatula can easily lift a cookie without it drooping. Transfer to cooling racks and cool completely.

Assembling sandwiches: 
For each sandwich, scoop three to four tablespoons of ice cream onto half the cookies. Use a small offset spatula or a knife to spread ice cream flat, then cover with remaining cookies. Serve immediately or wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze. Sandwiches can be served straight from freezer, but ice cream benefits from a 5- to 10-minute thaw on the counter before eating.

Light Chocolate-Chunk Brownies

Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart.



Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower, plus more for pan
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup fat free sour cream
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (2 ounces melted, 2 ounces coarsely chopped)
2 large eggs


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9-inch square baking pan with oil; line with a strip of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides, and brush paper with oil.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda; set aside. In another medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, applesauce, sour cream, melted chocolate, eggs, and oil until combined; add flour mixture, and mix just until moistened.

Spread batter in prepared pan; sprinkle top with chopped chocolate. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes.

Cool completely in pan. Use paper overhang to lift cake from pan; peel off paper, and discard. Cut into 16 squares.

Spicy Chicken Chipotle Sausage with Sweet Corn Polenta

I was looking for recipe to use my Chipotle Chicken Sausage and when I came across this recipe from the 2010 Epcot Food & Wine Festival, I knew I had to try it.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 medium Spanish onion, diced small
2/3 c. corn kernels
1 c. water
1 c. fat free milk
1/2 c. sugar free maple syrup
1/3 c. regular yellow polenta
1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese
coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, to taste
12 oz. Al fresco Chipotle Chorizo chicken sausage

Directions:
Heat olive oil in large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add onion and corn, cook 3 – 5 min. Add water, milk, maple syrup. Bring mixture to boil.

Reduce heat to low, stir in polenta. Cook on low until done, about 20 min, while continuing to stir. Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan cheese. Season to taste.

Broil sausages, slice in half. Serve by spooning polenta into warmed bowls, top with sausage.



One Year Ago: Beef Stew
Two Years Ago: Jam Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Raspberry Glaze

When I remade my hit of a flourless chocolate cake, I wanted to kick it up a notch and found this amazing Chocolate Raspberry Glaze recipe.

Glaze Ingredients:
1/4 cup raspberry jam
6 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate

Directions:
Heat 1/4 cup raspberry jam until loose, and use a pastry brush to brush the warm jam all over the top and sides of the cake. Combine the heavy cream, corn syrup, and chocolate in the same pot and heat over medium, whisking until smooth.

Let stand until thickened, about 30 minutes. Spoon the glaze over the cake, smoothing it over the top and sides with a small metal spatula to cover. Let stand until the glaze firms up, about 1 hour. Slice and serve.



One Year Ago: Chicken Breasts with Mushrooms in a Thyme-Dijon Cream
Two Years Ago: Southern-Style Chicken Stew

Passover Lemon Cheesecake

I was looking to branch out this Passover and discovered this amazing recipe at Epicurious. I loved it - and I don't even like cheesecake!

Ingredients:
For crust
3/4 cup sliced blanched almonds, toasted and cooled
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup matzo cake meal
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

For filling
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F with rack in middle.
Pulse almonds, sugar, matzo cake meal, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl and stir in butter until combined well. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of springform pan. Bake until crust is firm and a shade darker, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool crust completely in pan on a rack.

Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.
Beat together cream cheese and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and add eggs 1 at a time, mixing until incorporated. Mix in zest and vanilla.

Put springform pan in a shallow baking pan and pour filling into cooled crust. Bake until filling is set 1 1/2 inches from edge but center is wobbly, 45 to 50 minutes (filling will continue to set as it cools). Transfer cake in pan to a rack and immediately run a knife around edge, then remove side of pan. Cool completely, 2 to 3 hours.


One Year Ago: Rosemary Mustard London Broil with Wild Mushroom Glaze and White Cheddar and Red-Skinned Potato Gratin
Two Years Ago: Chocolate Caramel Matzah
Three Years Ago: Spiced Butternut Squash Stew with Couscous

Lemon Cakes

Made for our Game of Thrones premiere party - courtesy of Tom Colicchio.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar plus additional for dusting ramekins
2 eggs, separated
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
Pinch kosher salt
2/3 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Finely chopped zest of 1 1/2 lemons

Directions:
Heat the oven to 300. Butter and lightly sugar 6 4-ounce ramekins.

Beat the egg whites until they hold soft peaks then set
them aside.

Sift the sugar with the flour and salt. In a mixer, using the whisk attachment, combine the buttermilk, lemon juice, egg yolks and lemon zest.

Gradually add the flour mixture then fold in the egg whites. Divide the batter between the prepared ramekins.

Place the ramekins in a water bath (set the ramekins in a larger pan; fill the pan with enough hot water to come half way up the ramekins) cover with aluminum foil.

Bake until the cakes rise - about 25 minutes then uncover and continue baking until the tops are lightly golden and the cakes spring back when touched, about 15 minutes more.

Unmold and serve.

Roasted Leg of Lamb With Carrots and Honey-Mint Sauce

So we had a viewing party for the premiere episode of Game of Thrones and I tried my best to make an authentic "medieval" dinner. This recipe courtesy of Real Simple.

Ingredients:
1 lemon, strips of zest removed with a peeler and juice squeezed
6 cloves garlic
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper
1 6- to 7-pound bone-in leg of lamb, at room temperature
3 pounds very small carrots, scrubbed; or regular carrots, peeled and cut into thin sticks
2 cups fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 cup fresh mint leaves
6 scallions, chopped
2 teaspoons honey

Directions:
Heat oven to 400° F. In a food processor, pulse the lemon zest, garlic, 2 tablespoons of the oil, and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper until coarsely chopped.

Place the lamb in a large roasting pan and rub with the lemon mixture. In a large bowl, toss the carrots, 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper; set aside.

Roast the lamb to the desired doneness, 90 to 105 minutes for medium-rare (internal temperature registers 130° F*), adding the carrots to the pan after the lamb has cooked for 50 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Meanwhile, in the food processor, puree the parsley, mint, scallions, honey, lemon juice, the remaining ½ cup of oil, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Serve with the lamb and carrots.



One Year Ago: Chicken Sausage & Pepper Hoagies
Two Years Ago:  Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

Apple Braised Chicken

Adapted from Weight Watchers recipe.

Ingredients:
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, four 4-oz pieces
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 large onion, sliced
2 medium apples, firm, cored and sliced
1 cup fat-free chicken broth
1 cup Mott's Apple Juice
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Instructions:
In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, warm oil over high heat. Toss chicken with flour in a medium bowl, patting off excess. Place chicken in skillet and brown well on both sides. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.

Reduce stove temperature to low and add onion to skillet. Sauté, stirring often, until onion is tender and lightly browned.

Stir in juice, chicken broth, salt, ginger and chicken. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes, adding in apples halfway through.

Yields 1 chicken breast and about 3/4 cup of apple-onion mixture per serving.

Chicken Chili

Adapted from a Weight Watchers recipe.

Ingredients:
2 tsp canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, seeded and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
4 oz chopped green chilies, canned, mild
6 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp Durkee Ground Cumin Seed, or other brand
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp table salt
1 pound uncooked extra lean ground chicken breast, skinless
1 cup salsa, mild, chunky variety
1 cup Ragu Traditional Tomato Sauce
1 cup water
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the chiles, chili powder, cocoa, cumin, cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken and cook, breaking itup with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes.

Add the salsa, tomato sauce, and water; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the flavors blend and the chili thickens slightly, about 1 hour. When serving, sprinkle with the cheese.

Senegalese Peanut Stew with Spinach and Sweet Potatoes

Recipe courtesy of Weight Watchers. 

Ingredients:
1 spray(s) cooking spray
2 medium onion(s), roughly chopped
1 medium green pepper(s), cored and roughly chopped
1/2 pound(s) sweet potato(es), peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
2 Tbsp ginger root, fresh, minced
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
4 cup(s) vegetable broth, reduced-sodium
6 Tbsp peanut butter, natural, creamy-variety
8 cup(s) spinach, leaves, stemmed, packed, chopped

Directions:
Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and set over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the sweet potato and garlic; cook for 1 minute, stirring often. Add the ginger, cloves, salt and cayenne; cook for 30 seconds.

Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the peanut butter until smooth.

Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer slowly, stirring once in a while, until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.

Add the spinach; cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

Yields about 1 2/3 cups per serving.


One Year Ago: Olive Garden Style Salad Dressing and Garlic Bread
Two Years Ago: Moroccan Lamb Chops & Couscous
Three Years Ago: Roasted Red Pepper Soup