Sunday, 30 May 2021

Oprah’s Favorite Brownies from Baked Bakery NYC

Oprah’s Favorite Brownies from

Baked Bakery NYC

 

Recipe from: Baker By Nature

 

11/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons Hershey’s Unsweetened cocoa

11 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

1 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1 inch cubes

1 teaspoon espresso powder (I omit this)

11/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

5 eggs. at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare a 9 x 13″ baking pan with butter or cooking spray, then line parchment paper and butter or spray that as well.

 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and cocoa powder, set aside.

 

In a heat proof bowl put the chopped chocolate, the butter and the espresso powder, place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the butter and chocolate are melted and well combined and smooth.

 

Turn the heat off and leave the bowl over the water, add both sugars and whisk until combined. Then remove the bowl from the water and let cool to room temperature.

 

Once chocolate mixture is room temperature, 3 room temperature eggs and whisk until combined. Add the last 2 eggs, whisk until combined, then whisk in the vanilla extract.

 

DO not over-beat the batter or the brownies will be cake like and not fudgy.

 

Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture, with a rubber spatula fold the flour mixture into the chocolate, until just a bit of the flour is visible.

 

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, ROTATE the pan after 15 minutes, then bake for another 15 minutes.

 

Bake only until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs attached. Let cool on a wire rack.

 

Then remove from pan, cut into squares and enjoy!

Wednesday, 10 March 2021


My friend, Candice Wendt is trying to cook less meat and more plant based food, though who is to say meat is not plant-based, now that I think of it. 

Still, I, too love the recipes that are based on vegetables.  


Arta

Thursday, 11 February 2021

Velvet Torte

 

David Camps had a chocolate attack and said that he knew if I had been there, I would have been able to help him get through it.

Here is a recipe that will take care of all chocolate attacks in the world.  

What  you will need to have in your home first is the callebaut chocolate which you can buy at Superstore in the bulk bins.  Just do it.  Have some at home and then make sure you have the other ingredients.  This is what  you do the day before.  Then the day of, follow this recipe, David Camps and you will think that I was there

VELVET TORTE

4 C chocolate cookie crumbs (Oreo-type)
5 T unsalted butter,
10 oz (280 g) semi-sweet chocolate, preferably Callebaut, finely chopped
1 ¼ C (300ml) whipping cream
1 large egg
1 egg yolk

Combine crumbs with the melted butter and press into a tart pan with a removable bottom. Cover sides and bottom of the pan. Bake at 350 for 5 min. Let cool. Makes one 11 in. tart shell.

Place chocolate in a heat proof bowl. Heat cream in a pot until almost boiling (look for bubbles on the edge of the pot). Immediately pour cream over the chocolate and let sit two minutes, then whisk gently to mix and to ensure that all the chocolate has melted. Lightly beat the egg and egg yolk then stir into the chocolate. Add to cooled tart shell. Bake at 350 for 15 min. Remove from oven – at this point the tart will not appear set or firm. It will set as it cools. Refrigerate to store, serve at room temperature.

NB: a 400 g box or Oreo cookie crumbs = 3 ½ C – this is enough for the shell. Still use 5 T of butter.

A tart pan with a removable bottom (NOT a spring form pan) is needed for this. But BEWARE how you handle the pan – the bottom is not secure. I use a small wooden board to transfer the pan to and from the oven. 

To serve the tart push the bottom of the pan up and place the tart still on the bottom on a nice plate. I usually beat the leftover whipping cream with a little vanilla and wee bit of sugar to dab on the top. Superstore sells the Callebaut chocolate in nice small nuggets in the bulk section. This tart will serve 10 – 12 people. It is very rich- serve very small wedges!

Friday, 29 January 2021

Miso Chicken

 Photo Credit: ANN STRATTON
Glen told me that he had a recipe for Miso Chicken and that it was delicious, worth making many times.  Perhaps he will put that recipe up here.

Epicuious has an excellent recipe for that at this spot: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/miso-chicken-238345

We used a different recipe, I think from the NYTimes but I can no longer access it-- too many tries this month.  At any rate, I think any recipe will do.  I thought about trying it because we have large amount of Miso in our kitchen. 

Arta


Tuesday, 19 January 2021

Moong Dal Recipe

I wanted to use a a picture of the our dal
as irt showed up in the pot, or as 
we were cooking it.
I was too late. 
All I could get this show from the fridge.

Rebecca and I were out looking for an internet recipe to use up a large package of moong lentils.  Below is the recipe we used.  

Always there are some abbreviations.  We had no dried red chili's and indeed no fresh green ones.  And Rebecca added a few handfuls of chopped spinach at the end, for she like that.

We are putting the recipe here, for we may want to go out and use it again and add the heat that the recipe asked for.

But we have no complaints with how it tasted as is.

Moong dal Recipe (Stove top and Hot Pot) from Swasthi's Recipes.

Arta

Wednesday, 30 December 2020

Red Quinoa Salad with Peanuts

Red Quinoa Salad with Peanuts

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

This red quinoa salad bowl is infused with Asian flavors. With the addition of roasted crunchy peanuts, it is irresistible.

Course: Salad
Cuisine: Gluten Free/Vegan
Keyword: asian salad, Gluten-free, gluten-free vegan, quinoa salad, vegan
Servings: 2 -4 servings
Author: Joyce @ Light Orange Bean
Ingredients
For Salad Bowl
  • ½ cup uncooked red quinoa well rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup raw peanuts or roasted peanuts
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 1/3 cup diced red pepper
  • ½ cup packed finely chopped parsley leaves
  • 1-¼ cup 6 oz diced seedless cucumber
For Dressing
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter crunchy or creamy
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon chili oil
  • 2 teaspoons agave nectar
Instructions
  1. Add well-rinsed and drained quinoa to saucepan with water. Heat saucepan over high heat and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for approximately 13 minutes.
  2. The cooked quinoa will be a little bit watery. Pour it over a fine-mesh strainer and drain the excess water if necessary. Transfer quinoa back to saucepan and let it rest and cool for 5 minutes.
  3. While quinoa is cooking, preheat oven at 350 °F. Lightly coat peanuts with canola oil and roast in oven for 10 minutes. Let the peanuts cool for 10 minutes.
  4. Combine all dressing ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
  5. Mix cooked quinoa, parsley leaves, cucumbers, red peppers, and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Add dressing and gently toss together.
  6. This salad can be served immediately. It tastes even better if refrigerated for one hour.

 

Red Quinoa Salad Bowl with Peanuts

Wednesday, 23 December 2020

Chinese Orange Chicken

                 CHINESE ORANGE CHICKEN

Not even Panda Express can beat this homemade orange chicken!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced

FOR THE MARINADE

  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha, or more, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

DIRECTIONS:

  1. To make the marinade, whisk together chicken broth, orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, orange zest, Sriracha, ginger and white pepper in a large bowl.
  2. In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken and 2/3 cup of the marinade; marinate for at least 30 minutes, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade, discarding the marinade.
  3. Heat remaining marinade in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and stir in 2 tablespoons cornstarch combined with 2 tablespoons water. Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened about 1-2 minutes; keep warm.
  4. Working one at a time, dip the chicken into the eggs, then dredge in remaining 1 cup cornstarch, pressing to coat.
  5. Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan. Working in batches, add chicken and fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; discard excess oil.
  6. Serve chicken immediately, tossed or drizzled with the marinade, garnished with sesame seeds and green onion, if desired.

Adapted from Cooking Classy