Basil Blondies

I have a coworker who lives on a farm and brings a mini farmer's market to the office every couple weeks. It's a great way to get some produce and try new things! A while back, she brought in several varieties of basil, lemon and cinnamon being some of them. Instantly my mind started spinning with ideas of how to incorporate these unique flavors into sweet treats. This is how the basil blondie came to life.

I used lemon basil which, if you've never encountered it, has a very strong lemon perfume especially after rubbing the leaves together. The flavor though is distinctly basil, however. Interestingly enough, these blondies taste like lemon and basil which is unique yet irresistible, however, I leave the recipe open ended for you to use whatever basil you have on hand and/or add lemon zest to get the lemon flavor. I also added optional white chocolate chips to this recipe, as I think it would be a great addition for some extra texture.

Basil Blondies

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 C sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 C AP flour
• 1/4 C basil, finely chopped
• 1 tsp lemon zest, optional
• 1/2 C white chocolate chips, optional

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, spray a 9"x9" glass pan with oil.
2. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar. Add in the egg, vanilla, and salt, stirring until combined.
3. Add the flour, then fold in the basil and white chocolate, if using.
4. Pour the batter into the pan, then bake for 20-25 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned and the center is set.
5. Cool on a wire rack and cut when cool.

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finished project: chocolate stout cake

It took almost two years, but I finally got around to baking something on my list: chocolate stout cake. I originally spotted this recipe a while back, bought the Guinness, and then neglected to make any movement on the project. Just a few days ago I found another recipe for the cake and coincidentally had everything I needed to make it. Off I went! Cracking open that beer this morning (for the cake, not drinking!) felt very satisfying in that I finally finished what I set off to do so long ago.

I baked my stout cake in an 8 inch springform pan and enjoyed a nice slice tonight after dinner. Was it worth the wait? YES. Moist and rich, it was satisfying even to a non beer fan like myself. Most will make its way to the freezer and be enjoyed for many weeks to come.

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Banana Cake

When I heard Momofuku had released a baking cookbook (momofuku milk bar), I had to check it out from the library. I love Momofuku for their compost cookie recipe and was curious to try out something new. Of all their recipes, Banana Cake seemed most accessible, plus I had super ripe bananas ready to be used! I made the recipe by weight, not wanting to dirty several measuring cups and spoons along the way. I also made a couple substitutions, my version below.

Banana Cake

Ingredients

• 85 g butter, softened
• 200 g sugar
• 1 egg
• 110 g buttermilk
• 20 g coconut oil, melted
• 2 g vanilla
• 225 g (about 2) ripe bananas
• 225 g all purpose flour
• 3 g baking powder
• 3 g baking soda
• 2 g salt

Method

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a baking pan (approx. 9" x 11" works).
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy and light in color. Add the egg and mix completely.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, then slowly add to mixer. Mix at medium speed for about 5 minutes, until fluffy and fully incorporated.
4. Add banana at low speed.
5. Add remaining ingredients on low until just incorporated.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing out the surface and tapping on counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until cake is puffy and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before slicing.

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Baking by Weight

Helpful site for baking by weight!

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipe/master-weight-chart.html

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Cookie Troubleshooting

Homemade cookies can be challenging. Sometimes your standby favorite cookie recipe(s) can be finicky, who's ever baked a batch and been disappointed when they were too flat or browned too much? Not to mention when trying out a new recipe, it's difficult to know whether the results will be worth it.

I stumbled upon this website which troubleshoots 10 cookie problems and how to correct the issue! (Scroll down to the "Problems" section.) Of course, by the time you've reached many of these results, it's too late to salvage that batch of dough, but at least you'll know for next time. Time to make a batch of cookies!

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monster cookies!

Monster cookies are perhaps my favorite type of cookie. Where else can you get delicious peanut butter, chocolate, and oatmeal bound together by sugar and fat? These things have been on my cooking bucket list for quite some time now; last year I had dreams of turning the momofuku compost cookies into monster cookies, but I never got around to it. Maybe my next batch? Anyway, thekitchn posted this brilliant flourless monster cookie recipe that I finally whipped up with some slight tweaks:

Peanut butter: Maranatha No-Stir Crunchy PB

Mix-ins: 1C M&Ms + 1/2C white chocolate chunks + 1/2C dark chocolate chips

I use a medium sized cookie scoop to form my cookies, then press them down slightly on the pan into fat disks. This method yielded me about 2.5 dozen cookies, plus several big gobs of cookie dough ;)

My other trick with all cookie dough is to freeze the dough into premade disks flat on a cookie sheet, then store them in a big ziploc bag in the freezer. This way I don't bake more cookies than I can eat at a time, plus I have easy access to fresh baked cookies anytime! Throw em on a cookie sheet when ready (still frozen) and cook for a few minutes longer than the original recipe.

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zucchini brownies

It's zucchini time again. This year I've been over run with them from my CSA, definitely something I wasn't expecting. I was out-zucchini'd week one when I tried them lightly marinated in a vinaigrette which was too reminiscent of recipes I've had for several years. And then I saw a link to a recipe for zucchini brownies! Being a chocoholic, I couldn't resist.

I took my favorite parts from two recipes and made a couple of my own additions and they turned out great! Moist and a tad bit chewy, just how I like them :) These things are highly addicting, I basically ate a third of a pan in the span of an afternoon. Beware!

Zucchini Brownies

1/2 C vegetable oil

1 1/2 C sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

1/4 C cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp fresh ground cardamom

2 C grated zucchini

1 C almond flour

1 C AP flour

1 1/2 C chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray a large glass baking dish with oil and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except the flours and chocolate chips until well blended.
3. Fold in flours, then chocolate chips.
4. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Next time I make these, I will try using all almond flour, as this gave it a nice density and texture. This would make it egg and gluten free, and just a couple tweaks away from being vegan!

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Momofuku's Compost Cookies

I was intrigued when I saw David Lebovitz post about them...really, Bugels in cookies?! But honestly, the picture for Momofuku's Compost Cookies had me at "hello"; slightly puffy, golden brown, and crackly on top, one look and you know they've got to be incredible. Or a master of disguise. Luckily, my rendition is quite fabulous if you ask me. For my add-in ingredients I used the following:

Baking ingredients:
chocolate chips
white chocolate chunks

Snack ingedients:
chocolate covered Pocky
chocolate/goo filled Easter eggs
cheddar sesame sticks
salt and pepper potato chips (thown in just to say "I did it!")

I also made the full sized, 6oz cookies which bake up to the size of a salad plate and are HUGE. Will I be making these cookies again? Probably, but with a different twist. I'm thinking Midwest style monster cookies :)

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an unintentional hiatus

I've been meaning to post something in the past two months, I promise. I'd like to think that things got crazy, but really I got lazy. I've got a growing stack of recipes, but my latest cooking expedition is what really got me on here. If you read the 101 Cookbooks blog, no doubt you saw these chocolate puddle cookies inspired by Nuvrei bakery in Portland's Pearl District.

I just made a half batch of them...and wow. I can't tell if the cookies are overly sweet or not. It's honestly hard to tell. The outside has a slight crunch and inside is a delicious, chocolatey cookie studded with walnuts. A bit rich on their own, pair them with a glass of milk and you'll go back for at least one more. I know I did.

The cookies are really easy to make, though you might not have all the ingredients on hand (who has three cups of walnuts or a pound of powdered sugar laying around?), but I think its worth planning for. And the best part? This is the first cookie recipe I've made in a while that came out perfectly in the first batch! I'll definitely be making these again :)

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Basic Vegan Muffins

I recently found a great vegan blog that has a ton of baked goods. I'm not vegan, nor do I intend to become vegan anytime soon, but I do like the idea of cutting out some animal products. And hey, if it tastes good, why not?!

I made these brownies this weekend, though I admit, not vegan. Using margarine sounds kind of gross, so I instead used butter. The pumpkin gives them a nice fudginess that I love, though there is a slightly strange taste that goes along with it.

My other recipe is for vegan muffins and really, they are just as good as "normal" muffins.

Basic Vegan Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 3 medium apples, peeled and shredded
• 1- 1/4 cups oat milk
• ¼ cup oil
• 1 citrus fruit (lemon or orange), zested and juiced
• ½ cup dried fruits
• ½ cup walnuts, chopped

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two muffin tins (I used one regular and one mini).
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, combine shredded carrot, shredded apple and milk and mix until well-combined. Add oil, citrus zest and juice.
3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in two batches until just combined. Fold in dried fruit and chopped walnuts.
4. Fill muffin tins 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
5. Turn out onto a rack to fully cool.

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The Key to Good Cookies...

I've inadvertently "tested" it myself dozens of times. It's a hard lesson to learn and adapt to, and it'll vary depending on the recipe--the texture/moisture, recommended oven temperature, baking sheet used, etc.

What am I talking about? Not over-baking your cookies!

Someone brought in cookies to work this morning and of course I grabbed one. I'm partial to my own cookies above a lot of others, but these were delicious. The secret? They were perfectly baked, still nice and moist in the middle.

My advice is to watch those cookies closely, as there is a very fine line between perfect and overcooked. Martha Stewart advises to cook until golden around the edges but still soft in the middle, leave on the sheet for a couple minutes, then remove to a rack to cool completely.

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Kabocha Muffins

Kabocha = Japanese pumpkin

It's one of my favorite Japanese dishes: delicious, tender, sweet pumpkin simmered in dashi stock with some sugar and perhaps some soy thrown in. I always had big portions of the stuff at "home" in Japan. And let's not forget the oh so delicious tempura fried variety over a bowl of rice. Kabocha is still my favorite part in ten-don and I will gladly trade it for my shrimp. Yum.

I found some kabocha seeds at a local Japanese grocery store, planted them, and now have several pumpkins to consume. So far I've gone through one (as they are supposed to "ripen" for a few months after harvesting) and tried a few recipes.

You can find kabocha at your local grocery store in the fall. If it's not available, you can substitute any kind of cooked fall squash with equally tasty results.

Kabocha Muffins

Ingredients

• 55g butter, softened
• 55g brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 180g kabocha, cooked and mashed
• 110g buttermilk
• 110g whole wheat pastry flour
• 15g baking powder

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line or grease a muffin tin and set aside.
2. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add in the egg and pumpkin and stir until combined. Stir in the buttermilk.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder, then fold into the wet ingredients until just blended.
4. Scoop batter into muffin tin about 2/3 of the way up. Bake for 17 minutes until golden and cooked through.
5. Turn out onto a rack to cool.

Makes 12 muffins.

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Simple Cinnamon Roll Filling

I was watching Everyday Italian the other day and Giada was making hazelnut cinnamon rolls. Now, I am not a fan of hazelnut but got to thinking how good walnuts might be in its place. Next thing you know, I'm making cinnamon rolls with apples, cherries, and walnuts.

One of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had, if not the best, were those a coworker brought in at work. Let me tell you, they were so good I think I ate three of them (and they were HUGE)! There's no way I'll ever get that recipe and I'd be lucky to stumble across anything as good.

If you're not into making bread dough, try store bought dough as Giada recommends. Otherwise, any sweet dough will do. Roll out your dough into rectangles.

Simple Cinnamon Roll Filling

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• Dash vanilla extract

Optional mix-ins:

• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
• 1/4 C dried cherries or cranberries, diced
• 1/4 C walnuts, chopped

Method

1. Mix ingredients thoroughly in a bowl. Add optional mix-ins, if desired.
2. Spread evenly onto dough, then roll, cut, and bake as normal.

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Stollen

When it comes to desserts, David Lebovitz is someone I trust unconditionally. His blog is good, his information great, and recipes phenomenal. Last time I was looking around his site, I saw his recipe for stollen and just had to make it. And hey, 'tis the season, as they say. Mine turned out deliciously and look surprisingly just like his.

I looked around for other stollen recipes but they all seemed to use candied fruits (more like a fruitcake) and that just wasn't appealing. Then I was going to blend recipes, but they used varying ingredient amounts with different yields. In the end, I basically followed his recipe, so I'll just link it here. Of the slight changes I made:

• Substitute Grand Marnier for the rum to soak the fruits
• Omit the candied ginger (due to its extreme price) and citrus peel (due to its apparant unavailability at grocery stores around here)

My only complain is not knowing when the bread is done cooking. Sure, he suggests using a digital thermometer, but come on, it's bread! Mine ended up being slightly overcooked I think, but delicious none the less. The recipe makes four loaves which makes it great for gift giving!

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Bagels

I had my first cheese bagel the other week and was blown away by how delicious it was. I decided I needed to make my own, as spending $1.50 for an impulse snack seems unnecessary, especially since bagels are so easy!

Here is my favorite bagel recipe: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/homemade_bagels

I've made this recipe several times, last time I believe was around Mother's Day for brunch. They are really easy to make, especially if you have experience working with yeast, as this can sometimes be tricky.

To make these "cheese bagels", simply sprinkle with shredded cheddar after brushing with egg, and bake for the specified time.

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Japanese Style Cheesecake

This recipe comes from a Japanese cookbook, 大人のお菓子. If you've ever had Japanese desserts, they are complete different from anything else--light, perfectly proportioned, not too sweet, and absolutely delicious!

After five failed attempts to make this cheesecake properly, cheesecake #6 turned out perfectly. Tenacity pays off, my friends.

Japanese Style Cheesecake

*This recipe is yields one 6" round cheesecake. If you use a larger pan, you may need to double or even triple the crust recipe to accommodate.

Ingredients

Crust:

• 50g graham cracker, crushed to bits (1/4 C)
• 20g butter, melted (1.5 tbsp)

Filling:

• 200g cream cheese, softened (7 oz)
• 90g creme fraiche or sour cream (1/2 C)
• 80g sugar (1/3 C)
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp cream
• 10g cake flour (2 1/4 tsp)
• 1" vanilla bean, split and seeds removed (or 2 tsp vanilla extract)

Method

To make the crust:

1. Crush the graham crackers into pieces in a plastic bag.
2. Combine and mix with butter until well blended. Press into the bottom of the baking dish to form the crust.
3. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes while you prepare the filling.

To make the filling:

1. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white and remaining sugar until stiff peaks form (this may take a few minutes with an electric mixer, be warned).
2. Gently fold 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture into the egg whites until just blended. Fold in remaining cream cheese.

To finish the cheesecake:

1. Carefully pour the cream cheese filling over the prepared crust, smoothing the top.
2. Place cheesecake on the middle rack of a preheated, 340 degree oven. On the lower rack, place a baking dish filled with a few inches of water to provide moisture.
3. Bake for about 40 minutes at 340 degrees, then reduce the heat to 320 and bake for an additional 20 minutes. At this point, the cheesecake should be cracked on top and slightly "jiggly".
4. Remove cheesecake and allow to cool on a rack.

The cake is perfect by itself, but add a spoonful of berry jam or sauce (try blueberry lemon or strawberry black pepper!) for a real treat :)

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Blueberry Rhubarb Crisp

Continuing the blueberry theme...this is the best blueberry dessert I have EVER eaten. I'm already freezing blueberries and rhubarb so I can make this all year. The best part is the simplicity of it; you mix up some crumble topping, toss the fruit with some standard pantry items, throw into the pan, and bake!



Blueberry Rhubarb Crisp
Bob's Red Mill Baking Book

Topping
¼ cup unbleached white flour
¼ cup soy flour
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
5 tbsp butter, chilled and diced

Filling
1/3 cup sugar
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 cups rhubarb, diced into ½ inch pieces
2 cups blueberries

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9x9 inch baking dish.
2. For the topping, combine the flours, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Add the butter and work it into the flour mixture until crumbly. Refrigerate while making the filling.
3. In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Add the rhubarb and blueberries, tossing well.
4. Spread the mixture in a prepared baking dish. Sprinkle topping over the fruit and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the topping is brown and the fruit is bubbling. Serve warm.

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blueberry muffin throwdown

What's a blueberry muffin throwdown, you ask. It is inspired by Bobby Flay's show, Throwdown, where he studies someone's signature dish, perfects it, then shows up to challenge them in a competition. I'm taking two blueberry muffin recipes, comparing them side by side, and selecting a winner based on which embodies the spirit, if you will, of a blueberry muffin. And may the best recipe prevail.

A. Blueberry Muffins, from Gourmet Magazine (via Food Network)

I found this recipe earlier in the week from a basic recipe search on Food Network. It was rated with 4 stars and sounded pretty simple. So I went ahead and made it.


3/4 C butter, softened
1/2 C vanilla sugar
1/2 C sugar
3/4 C milk
1 egg
1 3/4 C flour, sifted
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C blueberries (I used frozen)
1-2 tbsp flour (reserved for the blueberries)

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Grease or line a muffin tin; set aside.
   
2. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add in the egg, mixing well, then slowly add in the milk. Blend completely.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the butter mixture until just blended.
4. Toss the blueberries with flour to coat, then fold into the muffin batter.
5. Fill the muffin tin to nearly the top nearly to the top. Bake muffins for 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Turn onto a rack to cool.
   

I found this recipe (as originally written) a real hassle, so I revised it a tiny bit to be less fussy (and added my own spin with the vanilla sugar and more blueberries!). Blending the milk into the butter/sugar was a soupy nightmare, I'm surprised the muffins even turned out as muffins.

The end result, though, is a very sweet, almost cake-like muffin that I thought was a bit sparse in terms of the blueberries. I really like a lot of blueberry in my muffins, otherwise what's the point of a blueberry muffin? The muffins also fall apart easily which make them a bit hard to eat.


B. Double Blueberry Muffins, from Gale Gand (via Food Network)

I've had this recipe in my arsenal for a few years now. Always super simple, always delicious. Like the above recipe, it is also rated with 4 stars on Food Network.


1/2 C butter, softened
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 C blueberries (I used frozen)
2 C flour
1/2 C milk
1-2 tbsp flour, reserved for blueberries
1 tbsp sugar, reserved for muffin tops

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease or line a muffin tin, set aside.
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, then vanilla, baking powder, and salt.
   
3. Mash 3/4 C of the blueberries and blend into the batter.
4. Add 1 C of the flour, mix well, then add 1/4 C of the milk and mix well. Repeat and mix until just blended.
   
5. Toss the blueberries with flour to coat, then fold gently into the muffin batter.
6. Fill the muffin tin with batter, then sprinkle muffin tops with the sugar.
7. Bake for 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let muffins cool in the tin for 20-30 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

These muffins have a nice blueberry flavor throughout and a nice texture. I enjoy mine as a nice mid-morning snack with tea.


And the winner is...



B! I prefer this more traditional blueberry muffin for its texture, taste, and appearance. Not to mention it is really easy to make. If I were big on muffins, I'd probably use this recipe as a nice base to experiment with.

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Semolina-Citrus Turbinados

The best way to spend a Sunday? In the kitchen of course! A friend and I made these wonderful cupcakes, along with citrus turbinado sugar cookies and chicken stock of all things. Sadly I don't have the recipe for the cupcakes myself. But the general idea is steeping the milk in earl grey tea. We whipped up a quick lemon cream cheese frosting to finish.


I recently spotted a natural sweetener cookbook--Sweet!--at the library on the new arrivals wall and instantly grabbed it. The gorgeous cover photograph really sealed the deal. When I did take a look inside, I had to buy it. The Semolina-Citrus Turbinados are the second recipe I've tried from it and I haven't been disappointed.

Semolina-Citrus Turbinados from Sweet!

1 C turbinado sugar (Sugar in the Raw brand is everywhere)
zest of 1 orange
1 C flour
3/4 C semolina flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cubed
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 egg

In a food processor, pulse the sugar and orange zest. Add flours, baking powder, and salt and pulse until blended. Add the cold butter and pulse until you have a bread crumb like texture. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and lemon juice; add to the food processor, running the machine until the dough forms a ball.

Knead the dough a bit, divide, and form into two 1 1/2" logs. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350. Slice the dough into 1/4" rounds and place onto a nonstick cookie sheet. Be sure to leave enough room for the cookies to spread a bit. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Keep an eye on them because the sugar may burn quickly. Transfer to a rack to cool. After cooling, spread icing on top of cookies, if desired.

To make the icing:

2 oz cream cheese at room temp
2 tbsp orange juice
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
orange zest, if desired

Whisk the cream cheese and orange juice (and orange zest, if using) until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar and mix well.

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Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

I can't resist cookies. And these ones are pretty fantastic.

Espresso Cookies

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