How to… Chiffonade
Definitely Devil’s Food Cake with Chocolate Silk Frosting
Ingredients
- 5 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 cup plus 1 T sour cream
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 2 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups cake flour, sifted
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 4 large eggs
- 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened
- 1 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
CHOCOLATE SILK FROSTING
- 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups unsalted butter, slightly softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray and flour 2 nine inch cake pans, line bottom of pans with a parchment liner.
- Melt the chocolate (microwave is fine) and set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, cocoa, and baking soda until it is a smooth paste. Very gradually add the boiling water, whisking until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cake flour and salt and whisk them together. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and vanilla.
- Using an electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until it is light and fluffy, 2 to3 minutes. Add the melted chocolate, which should be pourable but not too hot. Continue mixing until the chocolate is completely incorporated, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs gradually, mixing well after each addition.
- Turn mixer down to medium-low and add the flour in 3 parts, alternating with the liquid mixture. Begin with the flour and end with the liquid. Mix until evenly incorporated. This is a very thin batter, so there isn’t much danger of over mixing it.
- Divide batter into the 2 prepared pans. Bake for about 35 minutes. Cake should almost pull away from the edge of the pan and a toothpick inserted into the center should have a few moist crumbs.
- Cool in pans on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert on a rack sprayed with cooking spray. (top side up)
- Cool completely before frosting.
CHOCOLATE SILK FROSTING
- Because of the high percentage of solid chocolate, this cake keeps best at room temp. It will become hard in the fridge. (though still divine)
- Melt chocolate chips in double boiler or in the microwave. Set aside to cool. In another bowl, sift together the sugar and cocoa powder.
- In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter at medium speed until it’s very light but not too soft, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar mixture and continue to mix on low speed until sugar and cocoa have been well incorporated.
- Add the melted chocolate, vanilla, and salt and mix on medium speed until everything is incorporated and the frosting is smooth and has a good spreading consistency, 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful not to overmix or it will get too warm and runny. (If this happens, just firm up in fridge briefly.) It should be smooth, glossy, and soft enough to spread but still hold a stiff peak. Use immediately or stor in an airtight container at room temp and use within 3 days.
Pita Chips & 4 Way Hummus
Ingredients
PITA CHIPS
- Pita bread
- Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
Hummus Base:
- 1 cup garbanzo beans
- 2 T sesame seeds
- 2 T sour cream
- 3 T olive oil
- 2 T lemon juice
- salt and pepper, to taste
For CILANTRO HUMMUS:
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
For ROASTED GARLIC HUMMUS:
- 1/4 cup roasted garlic
For TOASTED SESAME HUMMUS:
- 2 T toasted sesame seeds
For ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS:
- 1 roasted red bell pepper.
Instructions
Make the pita chips:
- Cut pita bread in half, opening it up.
- Cut each circle into 8 wedges, like a pizza.
- Lay out on a cookie sheet in a single layer.
- Drizzle with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
- (you could get creative with the seasonings if you want here.)
- Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until golden and crisp.
- Make the Hummus base:
- Combine all in food processor until well blended.
- To make one of the other flavors, just add in the additional ingredient.
PERFECT Roasted Vegetable Quiche
PERFECT Roasted Vegetable Quiche
Ingredients
- 6 mushrooms, (about 6 oz.) quartered
- 1 small red onion, chopped small
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped small
- 1 zucchini, chopped small
- 1 roma tomato, chopped small
- 1 T olive oil
- salt & pepper
- 1 tsp herbs de Provence
- pie crust, unbaked
- 1/4 c fresh basil, chopped or chiffonade
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup half and half (you could use 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup milk)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
Instructions
- Lay vegetables on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and herbs de Provence.
- Cook at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.
- Vegetables should be softened but not completely mushy.
- Pour vegetables into pie crust and add basil.
- Whisk together cream, eggs, and parmesan cheese.
- Pour over vegetables in pie crust.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes, until set but not rubbery.
- Serve lukewarm or room temperature.
- And if you’ll excuse me… this piece has my name all over it.
Pie Crust 101
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, COLD
- 4 T ice water, YES, ICE water
Instructions
- Mix flour and salt together in a bowl.
- Cut butter into flour using a pastry blender.
- (Push down and turn)
- Continue until butter is the size of peas or so.
- Drizzle water into bowl, one tablespoon at a time.
- Mix in with a fork after each addition.
- Stop when the dough is just starting to clump together.
- Turn out onto plastic wrap.
- You should be able to press together into a ball.
- Wrap tightly with the plastic wrap, forming a disc.
- Chill in the refrigerator for a half hour to hour.
- Remove plastic wrap and place on a lightly floured mat or counter.
- Using a rolling pin, roll from the middle outwards in all directions.
- Roll out large enough to have a small overhang on pie pan.
- Fold into fours.
- Place in a pie pan, putting the middle corner in the center of the pan.
- Drape into corners of pie pan.
- Using kitchen scissors or a knife, cut around edge of pie pan.
- Crimp edge with fingers.
- if you want some premade ones for the freezer, just make them in disposable pie pans and put in a freezer plastic bag in the freezer.
- And if you want a two-crust pie, just double the recipe and crimp the two edges together after filling the pie and topping with the second crust.
Use your leftover crust, or even double it, and roll out, cut in strips, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 400 degrees until golden and delicious!
Wheatberry Salad
1 c hard winter wheat berries (wheat kernels)
kosher salt
1 c finely diced red onion (1 onion)
6 T olive oil, divided
2 T balsamic vinegar
3 scallions, sliced thin, white and green parts
1/2 red bell pepper, small-diced
1 carrot, small-diced
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Place the wheat berries and 3 cups of boiling salted water in a saucepan and cook, uncovered, over low heat for about 45 minutes, or until they are soft. Drain.
Saute the red onion in 2 T of the olive oil over med-low heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the remaining 4 T olive oil & the vinegar.
In a large bowl, combine the warm wheat berries, onions, scallions, red bell pepper, carrot, 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper. Allow the salad to sit for at least 30 minutes for the wheat berries to absorb the sauce. Season to taste and serve at room temp.
Source: Barefoot Contessa Family Style
Wheatberry Salad
Ingredients
- 1 c hard winter wheat berries (wheat kernels)
- kosher salt
- 1 c finely diced red onion (1 onion)
- 6 T olive oil, divided
- 2 T balsamic vinegar
- 3 scallions, sliced thin, white and green parts
- 1/2 red bell pepper, small-diced
- 1 carrot, small-diced
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the wheat berries and 3 cups of boiling salted water in a saucepan and cook, uncovered, over low heat for about 45 minutes, or until they are soft. Drain.
- Saute the red onion in 2 T of the olive oil over med-low heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the remaining 4 T olive oil & the vinegar.
- In a large bowl, combine the warm wheat berries, onions, scallions, red bell pepper, carrot, 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper. Allow the salad to sit for at least 30 minutes for the wheat berries to absorb the sauce. Season to taste and serve at room temp.
Turkey and Artichoke Panini
Turkey and Artichoke Panini
Ingredients
- Pugliese Style Artisinal bread (Just make sure it’s something firm that will hold up)
- Turkey
- Artichoke hearts
- Havarti Cheese
- Tomatoes
- Red onions, sliced
- Melted butter
Instructions
- Heat your panini press to medium-high heat. (I use my Cuisinart Griddler).
- If you don’t have one, you can use a heavy skillet, and weigh down the sandwiches with another heavy skillet.
- Brush one side of bread slices with butter.
- Layer ingredients on bread, top with another slice. (Buttered side to the outside…. but you knew that)
- Cook sandwiches until seared and cheese is melting. Enjoy!
Posole
This is one of those great comfort food dishes. We love it on rainy days, or whenever we want a simple, inviting meal. It’s also a great “pantry dish” because you use a lot of canned items. I sometimes use leftover shredded rotisserie chicken stashed in the freezer. And for those “fresh cilantro emergencies” I occasionally buy an extra bunch of cilantro and freeze it in a container of chicken stock. Just add to the soup and let it melt in. And feel free to adjust the spices to your families liking. I hope you love it as much as we do.
POSOLE
1 T oil
1 medium white onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 or 3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
29 oz can hominy, drained & rinsed
16 oz tomato sauce
2 c chicken stock
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper
1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro
Saute oil, onion, red pepper, and garlic in a pot.
Add chicken, hominy, tomato sauce, stock, chili powder, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste.
Simmer 30-60 minutes.
Add cilantro and serve.
Serve with: Shredded cheese, sliced green onions, sour cream, tortilla chips, and tortillas or soft wrap bread to dip. (You can also serve with avocado slices, shredded lettuce, olives, or just about anything you’d put in a taco-we just prefer it simple)
Ingredients
- 1 T oil
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 or 3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 29 oz can hominy, drained & rinsed
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- 2 c chicken stock
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- salt and pepper
- 1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Saute oil, onion, red pepper, and garlic in a pot.
- Add chicken, hominy, tomato sauce, stock, chili powder, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer 30-60 minutes.
- Add cilantro and serve.
Serve with:
- Shredded cheese, sliced green onions, sour cream, tortilla chips, and tortillas or soft wrap bread to dip. (You can also serve with avocado slices, shredded lettuce, olives, or just about anything you’d put in a taco-we just prefer it simple)