Chocolate Chestnut Cake

Ingredients

1/4 dark rum (3 star Ron del Barrilito is a great choice)

1/2 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)

1 8" chocolate genoise cake (recipe follows)

1 recipe chestnut buttercream (

recipe follows)

1 recipe chocolate glaze (

recipe follows

)

Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

pinch cream of tartar

Mix in saucepan, bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Chocolate Genoise Cake

4 tablespoon melted unsalted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (real)

1/2 cup (2 oz) sifted cake flour

1/3 cup ( 1.5 oz) unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Ghirardelli's)

4 eggs

2/3 cups sugar

Preheat oven to 350F.

Butter and flour an 8-9" straight edged (2" height) cake pan and line with parchment paper (NOT wax paper).

Mix vanilla and butter and keep hot.

Sift flour and cocoa powder together and set aside.

Heat eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl over a water bath whisking constantly with a hand-held whisk until eggs are hot to the touch and the sugar dissolves into the egg. Be careful NOT to cook/scramble the eggs! Immediate transfer the eggs to a mixer and beat at medium=-high speed until eggs double to triple in volume and are cool/room temperature (10 minutes?).

Fold flour mixture into eggs using a large spatula.

Fold hot butter mix.

Bake on prepared pan for ~25 minutes.

Chestnut Buttercream

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

2 pinches cream of tartar

1 large egg

6 oz unsalted butter, room temperature.

1/2 canned sweetened chestnut puree

Cook sugar, water and cream of tartar in saucepan until temperature reaches 242F. Meanwhile, in mixer, beat eggs at medium speed until frothy. When syrup reaches temperature, poor onto eggs while mixer is on. Make sure you poor through the side so you don't hit the beaters to avoid splashing. Continue mixing until the egg mixture has cooled to room temperature and doubled in volume. Add butter in 1-tablespoon lumps while mixing until incorporated and the buttercream looks smooth and spreadable. Mix the chestnut puree.

Chocolate Glaze

Prepare AFTER the cake is assembled and is chilling.

8 oz bittersweet chocolate

6 oz unsalted butter

1 tablespoon corn syrup

Melt on microwave (50% power) 1-3 minutes (one minute batches). Be careful NOT to burn it. Cool until temperature reaches 88-90F.

Assembly

Slice cake horizontally into 3 layers.

Mix simple syrup and rum together.

Place top layer upside down and brush with syrup. Spread 1/2 cup of chestnut buttercream. Brush second layer with syrup and then place, moist side down, on top of the buttercream of the first layer. Bursh dry side with more syrup. Repeat with last layer until you have three moist layers of cake with 2 buttercream layer in between. Make sure the layers are symmetrical and even.

Spread remaining buttercream smoothly over the top and sides of teh cake. Don't worry about crumbs sicne you are going to glaze the cake.

Chill the cake for AT LEAST 1 hour before glazing.

Prepare glaze and glaze cake by slowly and evenly pouring and carefully spreading glaze on top and sides. See the following video for glazing cakes. It is difficult but practice makes perfect:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNEScRQePDA

Credit: Alice Medrich

Pecan Tarts/Tartlets

Pâte Brisée Recipe

Makes enough for an open-shell 9" tart or at least 24-36 mini muffin-sized tartlets. Double for a double-crust pie or for lattice work on top.

1 1/4 cups flour
4 oz COLD unsalted butter (1 stick), cut in ~8 pieces
1/2 tsp KOSHER salt (or 1/4 tsp table salt)
1 tsp sugar
1/4-1/3 cup cold water

Mix the flour, salt and sugar in a stainless steel bowl. Add the cold butter (cut into 1/2" blocks). Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter until it resembles coarse meal (the butter chunks are pea size). You can also use a food processor using the pulse feature to get the same effect. Do not overmix! The key here is to keep the butter and flour from blending or you'll end up with doughy, elastic crust.

Add just enough cold water (and no more) and blend quickly with a few strokes using the pastry cutter. The key here is to get the flour mixture to just come together slightly. The dough will seem like it doesn't come together but it will later, trust me!

Turn onto a large piece of plastic wrap, form into a ball and refrigerate for at least 1 hr or more. The colder the dough the easier it is to roll.

Turn onto a floured table and roll out.

Remember to work the dough the LEAST possible; the more you work the dough, the less flaky and more doughy the crust will be! 

Chocolate FillingAdapted from a recipe from Martha Stewart's Pies and Tarts Book4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped4 oz unsalted butter (1 stick), cut in ~8 pieces1 cup granulated sugar1 cup light corn syrup4 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla1 cup chopped pecans

1. Melt the butter in the microwave (2 minutes @50% power). Add chocolate to the melted butter and let sit for 10-15 minutes undisturbed until chocolate is melted. If the chocolate doesn't completely melt, finish in microwave for 30-60 seconds @50% power.
2. In a medium-size saucepan, combine sugar and corn syrup and stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
3. In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Stir in the chocolate-butter mixture until blended. Then whisk in the syrup until well blended. Stir in vanilla and chopped pecans and set aside to cool.

Regular FillingAdapted from Karo Syrup's Classic Pecan Pie Recipe1 cup granulated sugar1 cup light corn syrup3 eggs2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted1 teaspoon vanilla1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1. Whisk together sugar, syrup and eggs until well blended.
2. Whisk in melted butter.
3. Whisk in vanilla and chopped pecans.

Finishing

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Roll out pie dough (pâte brisée) onto tart pan, pie plate. If doing mini tartlets, use a mini-muffin pan and use a round cookie cutter (~2-2.5") to cut dough into small round shells you can put in each mini-muffin hole.
3. Fill pie(s)/tart(s) with desired filling to near top and bake for ~60 minutes or until filling is set for regular pie or tart (9-11" diameter). For mini-muffin sized, bake for 18-20 minutes.

Peach Amaretto Tart

I made this tart for myself on fathers day because I was craving pie with vanilla ice cream. Since southern peaches are starting to creep up to the northeast I figure I make a peach tart.

To keep the crust from getting soggy, I baked the crust by itself and cooked the peaches on a 12" frying pan. I then assembled the tart before service after everything is cool.

Make sure to read the recipes before using them and have all of your ingredients measured and ready to go before starting.

To Make the Sweet Tart Crust

1 1/4 cups of all purpose unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (cut to 1/4 if using already grated, which is, IMO, not worth using)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, very cold

1 egg yolk

1/4 cup very cold water

Put the flour, salt, sugar, and spices in a Cuisinart food processor and pulse until combined. Cut the butter into tablespoon sizes (into 8 pieces) and add to the flour. Pulse 15-18 times until the mixture resembles very coarse meal (don't overdo it). Whisk the yolk into the water and add through the food processor shoot while pulsing until the dough comes together slightly.

Put the mixture in a gallon sized plastic bag and briefly press together with your hands from the outside. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

Remember that you want to work the dough the least possible. The more you work the dough, the less flaky and more doughy it will be. This is because as you knead, you promote the formation of gluten strands. This is why you want to do the opposite when making bread (you WANT to knead your bread dough).

When the dough is cold, roll to 1/8" inch and put in a french tart pan (removable bottom). Put a piece of foil on top and pie weights (or beans) and bake in a preheated 350F oven for 40 minutes. Remove the pie weights and foil, pierce the bottom with a fork a few times (to allow bottom steam to come out and not create bubbles) and bake an additional 10-20 minutes until slightly brown. Watch out, don't burn it!

Cool on wire rack and remove from tart pan when cool.

Reference: http://bakingjournal.blogspot.com/2004/08/pte-brise-recipe.html

To Make the Peaches

3 lb ripe but firm peaches (make sure the stem area does not have a green tinge)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup Amaretto liqueor (Disaronno)

Peel and slice the peaches into wedges. Mix with sugar and cinnamon and cook on 12" frying pan on medium heat. When peach wedges are soft (but not falling apart), strain from the cooking syrup. Add the Amaretto liqueor and continue cooking the syrup until thickens. This might take 20 more minutes. It might bubble so watch it. Also, you don't want it to cook over 240F or it will burn quickly. You don't need a thermometer, just watch it.

Let the peaches and teh syrup cool to room temperature separately.

To Assemble the Tart

Arrange each peach wedge in whatever fashion you like on the tart and the pour (or brush) some of the syrup on top. You migth have to warm the syrup a little if it is too thick to pour or brush. Enjoy with vanilla ice cream.

Best Brownies

Adapted from a Cooks Illustrated brownie recipe.

1 and 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (6 oz)
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate (I used 100% Unsweetened Guirardelli, black label) (Don't go cheap here, this is the main ingredient!)
2 and 1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (NOT the self rising kind)
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup chopped walnuts

9"x13" pan (I used a straight edged aluminum commercial brand)
parchment paper (NOT waxed paper, that melts)

1. Preheat oven to 325F.
2. Cut a piece of parchment paper 9"x13" and place in bottom of the pan. This will help take the brownies out.
3. Optional: Roast the walnuts in the oven for 5 minutes if already chopped, 10 minutes if whole.
4. Chop walnuts after they cool off if not chopped already.
   
5. If you have time, melt butter in a medium saucepan on the stove at low heat. Or, carefully, melt butter on microwave. 2-3 minutes at power 50% will probably do. Make sure you chop the butter in small cubes because butter tends to explode in the microwave when heated.
6. Chop chocolate and put in the melted butter. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes until it is all melted. Mix w/ a spatula. If there are still unmelted chucks, melt on microwave at 30% power using 30 second intervals and mixing in between until all is melted. Do not overheat or the chocolate will burn. It should look nice and smooth and shiny. If it gets gritty you burnt it and it's over.
7. Mix sugar w/ the melted chocolate and butter using a spatula. It will look sort of grainy.
8. Whisk eggs into the mix, one at a time w/ a hand whisk (or even the same spatual will do, it's just harder).
9. Whisk in the vanilla.
10. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt into the chocolate mixture and mix together w/ the spatula until all of the dry ingredients are incorporated. Do not overmix.
11. Place mix into prepared pan, leveling w/ spatula.
12. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over the chocolate mix. You can use the bottom of a measuring cup and lightly press the nuts into the mix, but not too much so that they don't get buried into the mix.
13. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 325F. 25 minutes will yield fudgy brownies, 30 minutes will be more cakey. Over 30 can yield overdone and dry so watch out!
14. Let cool before removing from pan and cutting.
15. Enjoy by themselves or with vanilla or coffee ice cream.

Versatile "sofrito"

In Puerto Rico, we call a pepper/onion/cilantro (or recao) mixture "sofrito" and it is used as a base for almost everything from soups to rice and beans. This one does not use the usual aji dulce pepper. Instead, I opted for cubanelles and spiced it up w/ some chipotle chili powder and cumin.

Spiced Sofrito

1 cubanelle pepper

1 medium yellow onion

6 cloves garlic

bunch fresh cilantro (~1/2 cup, loose, chopped)

1 lime

2 tablespoons olive oil

2-3 tablespoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt (1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons if using Morton, has double the sodium)

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds

Blend all ingredients in the low-chop setting of your blender or process until smooth in your food processor.

Yields about 1 1/2 cups.

Tortillas/Quesadilla Dip

Mix 1 cup of regular sour cream with 2-3 tablespoons of the sofrito. Let sit in the fridge for a few hours to set. Use for dipping anything from veggies to chips or quesadillas.

Grilled Whole Chicken

Wash and pat dry a whole chicken. Cut through the middle of the sternum bone to split both breasts and flatten the chicken for faster grilling. Season generously with the sofrito through cavities and underneath the skin.

Preheat your grill and grill at 350F for 45-50 minutes (about 25 minutes each side). Start w/ the back side first.

Hazelnut Coffee Brownies

Adapted from a Cooks Illustrated brownie recipe.

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (6 oz)
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate (I used 100% Guirardelli, black label)
2 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup finely ground coffee beans (I used a Starbucks whole bean blend, Pike Place, and ground it myself)
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour (NOT the self rising kind)
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped hazelnuts

9"x13" pan (I used a straight edged aluminum commercial brand)
parchment paper (NOT waxed paper, that melts)

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Cut a piece of parchment paper 9"x13" and place in bottom of the pan. This will help take the brownies out.
3. Roast the hazelnuts in the oven for 5 minutes if already chopped, 10 minutes if whole. Chop after they cool off if not chopped already.
   
4. Melt butter on microwave. 2-3 minutes at power 50% will probably do.
5. Chop chocolate and put in the melted butter. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes until it is all melted. Mix w/ a spatula. If there are still unmelted chucks, melt on microwave at 30% power using 30 second intervals and mixing in between until all is melted. Do not overheat or the chocolate will burn. It should look nice and smooth and shiny.
6. Mix sugar and ground coffee w/ the melted chocolate and butter using a spatula. It will look sort of grainy.
7. Whisk eggs into the mix, one at a time w/ a hand whisk (or even the same spatual will do, it's just harder).
8. Whisk in the vanilla.
9. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt into the chocolate mixture and mix together w/ the spatula until all of the dry ingredients are incorporated.
10. Place mix into prepared pan, leveling w/ spatula.
11. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over the chocolate mix. You can use the bottom of a measuring cup and lightly press the nuts into the mix, but not too much so that they don't get buried into the mix.
12. Bake for 25-30 minutes. 25 will yield very fudgy brownies, 30 will be cakey.

Two Great Holidays, Two Great Biscottis

Holidays are a great time for sharing those recipes cherished by our families. Here are two recipes that are great for Thanksgiving and Christmas. One combines the crunchiness of cornmeal with spiced warm flavors of baked pumpkin pie. The other brightens your holiday morning with tangy sweet cranberries. Enjoy!

Cornmeal-Pumpkin Biscotti

2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1 1/2 cups stoneground cornmeal
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped raisins

1 cup canned pumpkin
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  
• Combine the first 9 ingredients (flour to raisins).
• Stir untilwell blended
• Melt the butter and whisk with pumpkin and vanilla extract.
• Whisk eggs into pumpkin mixture.
• Add pumpkin mixture to dry ingredients, stirring until moistened.
• Knead dough into 2 loaves, 14-18" long.
• Place, separated, on cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes.
• Let cool.
• Cut loaves into 1/2" slices (biscotti shaped).
• Place slices back in pan and bake again in a 300 degrees F oven for 15 minutes.
  

Cranberry Biscotti

1 1/3 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1 1/3 cups stoneground cornmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup dried cranberries, rinsed, drained and then chopped
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
zest of 1 lemon

Strawberry Daiquiri Cake

This cake has four basic recipes: the cake, simple syrup, filling and frosting. The recipe uses a European sponge cake called Genoise, which, unlike American sponge cake, contains less sugar and the addition of butter, which gives the cake a crumblier grain for better texture and more moisture. It is also extremely versatile for a light cake as it lends itself to be sliced or cut into shapes without falling apart. The simple syrup, an important ingredient for moistening sponge cakes, adds moisture and sweetness to the cake. The addition of rum and lime to the syrup introduces Daiquiri-like flavors. The filling is a bavarian cream (a cream that uses gelatin for thickening and stabilization) whose flavor, in this case, happens to be strawberry. Finally, the frosting is buttercream made with REAL butter, eggs and sugar. All these put together become a sweet, moist and delicate cake with flavors reminiscent of that famous strawberry daiquiri cocktail.

Once you read this recipe you might think this cake is difficult to make. It really isn't if you follow these four rules of baking:

1. Read the instructions several times before you start. You should be able to recite them. Seriously, read them at least once!
2. Do each part in separate steps over the course of a few days. Believe me, it is impossible to whip this in one day.
3. Put all of your ingredients in front of you before you start doing anything. This means measured and at the right temperature. The French call this mise en place (you might not agree with French politics but you certainly can't argue their mastering of culinary techniques).
4. Do not, I repeat, do not substitute ingredients. There are many reasons for this, from flavor to chemistry, so just don't listen to Betty Crocker when she tells you that margarine is a good substitute for butter. She's full of crock. Worried about the extra calories? Then do like I do: eat a small piece and quickly put the rest away for another time. Then go running.

The recipes for this cake are adapted and/or inspired from many sources. Two standout as my favorites: Alice Medrich's Cocolat (a personal favorite) and Rose Levy's The Cake Bible (a must have just for its arsenal of "building block" recipes and the detailed, scientific explanations behind each).


The Genoise Cake

If you have a Kitchen Aid mixer, this cake will be a breeze to make. If not, you are on your own ;).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2 9"x2" round cake pans with straight edge (e.g. wilton)

To prepare, cut a piece of parchment paper (NOT waxed paper, it will melt!) using the shape of the pan. Then grease (w/ unsalted butter please) and flour the pan. Finally, place the piece of parchment paper inside, on the bottom (yes, over the floured pan).

6 tablespoons of clarified unsalted butter (I use Land O'Lakes unsalted which is arguably the best supermarket bought butter around here)

To clarify, heat butter at low heat. Once melted the butter will separate. There will be yellowy foam on top and some milk solids on bottom. Skim off foam and then, with a tablespoon, transfer as much of the oil as you can to a small bowl (this oil IS the clarified butter), leaving the solid on the bottom. Discard the solids. This will yield approximately 6 tablespoons of clarified butter.

Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and keep warm.

8 large eggs
1 1/3 cup sugar

Using the mixer's whisk with your hand, combine the eggs and the sugar. Heat over a water bath at low heat, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from cooking (you don't want scramble eggs here!). You want to get the eggs and sugar really warm to the touch. They will start to foam (that's when you know it's hot enough). If you are lazy, you can do this over the stove directly (skipping the water bath) but if you've never done this I don't recommend it. Once warm, transfer to mixer and mix on high speed until the eggs triple in volume, are very light and are cool. This will take time, 5-10 minutes of mixing, at least.

2 cups triple sifted cake flour (I use Softasilk brand, the only available at our supermarkets)

With a large rubber spatula, fold about 1/3 of the flour into the egg. The key here is to not leave flour clumps but also doing quick and gently to prevent the egg from collapsing. Remember that the egg is the only leaving agent in this cake. If it drops you are hosed. Repeat until all flour is folded into the egg.

Finally, take the warmed butter/vanilla extract and fold into the flour/egg mixture.

Divide into both prepared pans and bake in preheated oven (remember that preheated instruction!) for 25 minutes, or until the tops are nicely light golden color and slightly raised.

Let cool on racks. Once cool you can remove them from the pan by sliding a knife around the edges (to separate them from the pan) and reverting onto a plate or rack. Peel off the parchment paper from the bottom of the cake which will actually become the top of the cake. Yes, you have two cakes. One will be the top. The other cake you will only use half of it for the middle layer of the cake once you assemble it.

The cakes can be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator.

The Simple Syrup

1 1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
pinch cream of tartar
A few strands lime rind
1/2 cup rum

Combine all ingredients except the rum in a saucepan. Bring to a boil at high heat. Cover and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add rum, cover and let cool. This yields about 2 cups of syrup. You will only need 1 1/2 cups.

You can store this in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Make sure that the container is very clean and seals so that outside odors don't get into the syrup.

The Frosting

This is one of my most favorite frostings because it is very silky and sweet and can stay firm after piping as long as it isn't too hot. You won't find yucky powder sugar nor shortening on this puppy.

2 large eggs
2 egg yolks

Combine eggs in your mixer bowl and, with the whisk attachment, mix at medium high speed until light and fluffy. Stop the mixer and leave the egg mixture there. You'll be puring syrup in it soon enough.

1 1/3 cups sugar
2/3 cups water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Combine sugar, water and tartar in a saucepan and heat on high heat until a candy thermometer registers 242 degrees F. This is crucial. You don't want it a few degrees lower/higher than that or it will ruin the recipe.

When the syrup is ready, start the mixer at medium speed and VERY CAREFULLY pour the syrup into the egg while the mixer is on. Make sure to pour through the side so that the whisk does not splatter the syrup all over the place. The mixing prevents the eggs from getting cooked by the syrup. Once done, mix until the egg doubles/triples in volume and is cool to the touch.

4 sticks of unsalted butter (1 lb) AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Do NOT use salted butter. It will make a very salty nasty frosting, trust me! I did that by mistake once. As I said before I use Land O'Lakes Unsalted butter because I have found it to be the sweetest, grassiest and creamiest of all. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use Price Chopper's brand. It is the most oily and has a nasty, rancid taste. I don't have anything against them (I shop there all the time), but their butter just plain sucks.

When the syrup is cool, lower the mixer slightly and add the butter, one tablespoon at a time, mixing well after each, until all of the butter is incorporated into the syrup. If the mixture looks curdled, just keep mixing, it will all come together at the end.

Optional: 1 tablespoon vanilla or rum

While mixing, add this at the end to impart a slight flavor to the frosting.

The frosting can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed bowl or a plastic zipper bag. Make sure to take it out and let warm to room temperature. You might have to rewhip it a little to bring it to spreading consistency.

The Strawberry Bavarian Cream

You can make the strawberry puree in advance and store in the refrigerator. However, I recommend that the rest of the bavarian cream is done when you are ready to assemble the cake so that the gelatin sets after it is IN the cake.

To make an unsweetened strawberry puree:

1 20 oz bag frozen strawberries (yes, frozen). If you use fresh, make sure they are extremely sun ripened. Then freeze them (you'll need them frozen so that their cell membranes break down and their juices run out of them). Like I said, just stick to the bagged frozen ones.
2 teaspoons of lime juice

In a colander suspended over a deep bowl, let strawberries thaw. Once thawed, press them to extract as much juice from them as you can. You should have over a cup of juice. Transfer the berries to a food processor and the juice to a saucepan. Boil the juice until reduced to about 1/4-1/3 cup. Puree the strawberries in the food processor and add the reduced juice and the lime juice and process until incorporated. This should yield about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of puree.

Now for the rest of the bavarian cream:

1 package of unflavored gelatin (2.5 teaspoons)
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups of heavy cream

Mix about 1/4 cup of strawberry puree w/ gelatin. Let sit for 5 minutes or so. Then microwave for a few seconds, stir, microwave, stir, etc. until the gelatin is complete incorporated into the puree. Stir this into the rest of the puree. Stir in the sugar. The resulting mixture should be cool to the touch (or wait until it cools).

Now whip the heavy cream in a mixer until soft, stiff peaks form. Fold in the puree until incorporated.

Assembly

You've made it this far! Now the fun starts.

Cut the excess round tops of each cake so that both the top and bottoms are straight and not raised. Then cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers. Discard the worst looking layer (that means eat it separately or save it for later). Use the lone layer for between the upper and lower layers of the other cake. This will make a tall 3-layered cake. 4 layers would be too much and might collapse. Remember that the top of the cake will be your bottom. The bottom (where you peeled off the parchment paper from) will be the top of the cake. This is because it is easiest to spread buttercream on that side of the cake.

Take the bottom layer and brush simple syrup, about 1/4 cup on each side of the layer. Place this layer centered on a 9 1/2 - 10" circular cardboard (they can be bought from Michaels). The extra edge can be used as a guide when spreading the frosting. Spread enough strawberry cream on top of the layer to a height of 1/2". Take the middle cake layer, moisten it with simple syrup as you did before and then place it on top of the cream. Press slightly so that the height is even on all sides. Use a spatula to spread the overfilled cream evenly on the side (fill any holes or push in any cream that has come out between the layers). Repeat again, adding cream to the middle layer, moistening the top layer and placing it on top of the cream. The inside of your cake is now assembled. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight to let the gelatin set.

Take the cake out and frost with a thin layer of buttercream. Place back in the refrigerator for at least 1/2 hour to let this layer set. This is called the crumb coat and seals the cake to prevent crumbs from making the frosting impossible to spread. Some of the bavarian cream might mix in on the sides of the cake while spreading this crumb coat. That's ok. It will get covered once you put the final coat of frosting.

Ok, take the cake back out and spread the final coat of frosting on the cake. Use an offset spatula to spread the frosting on the top first, then the sides. Finish spreading by using a pastry scraper to smooth out the frosting surface. You start with the sides, then spread in the excess on the top back into the center.

Use strawberry halves and piped frosting decorations to finish the cake.

You're done!

Walnut "Marzipan"

I came up with this recipe to cloak the following football shaped flourless chocolate cake filled with bittersweet chocolate ganache.

Ingredients

1 cup walnuts
1 cup powder sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 tablespoon walnut oil
water and additional powder sugar (optional, to make dough pliable if too dry or crumbly)


Procedure

Preheat oven to 350F and roast walnuts for 5-10 minutes to release their oil/flavors.
Cool walnuts and then process in food processor (for 5 minutes) until pasty.
Add powder sugar, corn syrup and walnut oil and process until smooth.
Turn onto table and knead until smooth and pliable. Use water and/or additional power sugar to achieve this if necessary. You should end up w/ a dough that can be shaped and/or rolled.

Fruitcake

2 pounds of nuts and dried fruit (4 oz each):

• pitted dates
• dried figs
• candied orange peel (use high quality), rinsed
  
• candied/dried sweet pineapple, rinsed
  
• golden raisins
• regular raisins or currants
• walnut halves
• whole almonds

Dark rum (use high quality oak-aged rum, I use Ron El Barrilito Puerto Rican Rum)
1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon (I use Penzeys Extra Fancy Vietnamese Cassia)
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (don't use the already ground crap)
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (I use Land O'Lakes)
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs

Fruit prep:

• Chop figs and dates to 1/2 inch pieces.
• Chop peel and pineapple to 1/4-1/2 inch pieces.
• Combine all dried fruit and nuts in a plastic bowl w/ cover and add 1/4-1/2 cup of rum (or more).
• Let fruit macerate in rum overnight.
  

Cake:

• Have ALL of your ingredients measured and ready (your mise en place).
  
• Butter a 9x13x2 inch pan and line with buttered parchment paper.
• Preheat oven to 300 F.
• Measure flour into a bowl and add spices, salt, baking power and baking soda. Stir to combine and set aside. This is the dry ingredients.
  
• In the bowl of an electric mixer (I use a Kitchen Aid) combine butter and dark brown sugar and beat at medium speed (#4-5) with paddle attachment until light (3 minutes).
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating smooth and stopping to scrape the sides after each egg.
• Lower the speed and beat in the dry ingredients.
• Drain fruit from room into a large bowl.
  
• Using a rubber spatula, scrape out all of the batter into the drained fruit and fold until the fruit is covered by the batter. At first it will look like there isn't enough batter. Don't worry, eventually all of the fruit will be mixed in.
• Scrape into prepared pan, spread evenly with spatula.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.
• After baked, cool on wire rack.
• Once the cake is cooled, carefully remove from pan, moist w/ rum (~1/4-1/2 cup), and wrap in plastic and then foil. Store in cool place for a few weeks to several months.
  
• To serve, I use a trick for easy cutting. Freeze cake overnight and then cut w/ a very sharp serrated knife. By freezing this prevents the cake from crumbling while cutting. Let thaw after cutting and then serve on platter.
  

Enjoy!

Recipe Credit: Nick Malgieri

Braised Short Ribs

Meat
2-3 tablespoons of canola oil
6-8 lb short ribs (beef), fat trimmed off
generous amount of kosher salt & fresh ground pepper (for meat)

Mirepoix
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped

Aromatics and Liquid

3-6 garlic cloves, minced (don't use a garlic crusher, chop them w/ a knife)
1 tablespoon tomato paste (e.g. Contadina, whatever)

1 bottle (750ml) red wine (something thick and fruity, like Zin or Syrah; I used a homemade Petite Syrah)

4 cups of chicken stock (I use Kitchen Basics or any low sodium stock will do)

1 teaspoon whole white peppercorns (you can use black too)
2 sprigs thyme
2 sprigs rosemary
1 dried bay leaf (medium size)

Finishing
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

• Reheat oven to 300F.
• Trim off fat from the ribs and season generously with salt and pepper.Heat oil in a large braising pan (that can go in oven) in medium heat and sear ribs on all sides (about 8 minutes total). Do them in batches (do not overcrowd) and put them aside when done in a bowl or large dish that can hold the drippings.
  
• Remove all of the leftover fat but 2-3 tablespoons and fry the mirepoix (onion, carrot and celery) for 8-10 minutes on medium heat until nicely browned.
• Add garlic and tomato paste and brown for 1 minute or so.
• Add wine, increase heat and reduce in half (about 8-10 minutes).
  
• Add next five ingredients (stock, whole peppercorns, thyme, rosemary and bay leaf) and bring to a boil.
• Add the seared ribs and drippings back to the pan, make sure it is boiling and placed, covered, in the oven.
• Braise for 2- 2 1/2 hours until meat is very tender and pulls off the bone.
  
• When done, remove the ribs and place in a bowl, covered, to prevent drying. Remove herb sticks from sauce let sauce rest. Skim fat off the top.
  
• You can choose to strain the sauce or keep the mirepoix in it.
  
• Reheat to reduce until thickened. Whisk in butter and remove off the heat. Season w/ salt and pepper if needed (might not need any at all).
• Place each rib(s) on serving plate and pour sauce on top
  

Since I served the dish a day later, I put the sauce and ribs in the fridge. The fat floats to the top and hardens. I then removed it and reheated the meat w/ the sauce. When meat was hot, removed meat again and then finished the sauce. This worked well for me and I was able to do only what I needed.

Mushroom Soup

From Bourdain's Les Halles book. You must try this recipe. It is incredibly simple to make yet it is extremely flavorful.

Prep:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
12-14 ounces button mushrooms (I used 10 oz baby portabella and 4 oz shiitake 'cause that's what I happen to have at hand), whole (stems removed if using shiitake)
4 cups light chicken stock (I used Kitchen Basics Chicken Stock; light sodium chicken broth will probably work but don't tell Bourdain or he'll chase you down!)
1 sprig parsley
salt and pepper
2 ounces of Sherry (the real deal not the crappy salted junk from the market) (I used tawny port because that's what I had, seemed to work well enough for me)

In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat and add the onion. Cook until translucent (a few minutes).

Add the 4 tablespoons of butter and mushrooms and cook for 8 minutes or so, until the mushrooms are sweating. Make sure that the onions do not brown.

Stir in chicken stock and parsley. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat. Simmer for 1 hour or so. The recipe didn't state whether to cover or not, I left it slightly covered. Just make sure it is simmering slowly.

After an hour, remove parsley and blend on high speed IN BATCHES. Make sure that you hold down the cover of the blender VERY FIRMLY or you will be splashed and burned by the mushroom soup. Believe me, it almost happened to me.

Return blended soup to the pot, season w/ salt and peper and bring to a simmer again. Add the sherry and mix well.

Serve immediately or reheat for the next day.

Enjoy!

Lemon Mousse - The Real Deal

This is another recipe from Alice Medrich from her Cocolat book:

1 3/4-2 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (use higher amount when using a mold)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 cup of sugar
4 large eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup heavy cream

Sprinkle gelatin over 3 teasponns of cold water in small container. Set aside for 5 minutes without stirring.

Bring lemon juice, zest and 1/2 cup sugar to a simmer over a nonreactive pan.

PLace egg yolks in small bowl and pour hot lemon mixture over them, whisking constantly to prevent scoarching. Return mixture to pan and cook over low heat stirring constantly to prevent sticking and scoarching. Cook until it begins to simmer and remove from heat. Pour through a strainer into a clean bowl. Whisk in softened gelatin and vanilla. Let cool to room temperature.

In a clean dry mixing bowl whisk egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar while mixing. Beat at high speed until stiff but not dry.

Fold 1/4 beaten egg white into lemon mixture to lighten.

Immediately beat cream in same bowl as egg whites until soft peaks form. DO NOT OVERBEAT or mousse will be grainy. Fold beaten cream and the rest of egg whites into lightened lemon mixture.

Turn mousse immediately into a mold or serving glasses. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Copyright (c) 1990 Alice Medrich

Lemon Mousse - "Low Fat"

The Lemon Mousse portion of the Lemon Mousse Cake recipe from Chocolate and the Art of Low-fat Desserts by Alice Medrich, 1994

• 1 1/2 tsp gelatin
• grated zest of one lemon
• 1/2 cup lemon juice, strained
• 3/4 cup sugar(divided)
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 3/4 tsp vanilla
• 4 large egg whites
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

Sprinkle the gelatin over 3 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl or cup. Set aside to soften, without stirring, for at least 5 minutes. Set a strainer over a large bowl.

Combine the lemon zest, juice, and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Beat the whole egg and egg yolk in a small bowl until light. Beat some of the hot lemon mixture into the eggs. Scrape back into the saucepan. Cook and stir constantly, reaching all over the bottom and sides of the pan to prevent burning, until barely starting to simmer around the edges. Pour the mixture through the strainer set over a bowl. Stir in the softened gelatin and vanilla. Set the bowl in a larger bowl of ice water. Stir and scrape the sides from time to time until the mixture is cool and beginning to thicken. If it begins to set before needed, remove from the ice bath, whisk, and set aside. If it actually sets, place in a bowl of hot water and stir until softened again.

Make a safe meringue: (If you have safe egg whites, you can avoid all the to-do of heating them to 160 degrees.) Bring 1 inch of water to a simmer in a large skillet. Combine the cream of tartar and 4 teaspoons of water in a 6- to 8-cup stainless steel bowl. Whisk in the egg whites and the remaining sugar(1/2 cup). Place a thermometer near the stove in a mug of very hot water. Set the stainless bowl in the skillet. Stir briskly and constantly with a rubber spatula, scraping the sides and bottom often to avoid scrambling the whites. After 1 1/2 minutes, remove bowl from the skillet. Quickly insert thermometer, tilting bowl to cover the stem by at least 2 inches. If less than 160 degrees, rinse thermometer in skillet water and return it to the mug. Replace bowl in skillet. Stir as before until temperature reaches 160 degrees when bowl is removed. Beat on high speed until cool and stiff. Set aside.

Beat cream until it holds its shape but is not too stiff. Set aside.

Fold 1/2 of lemon mixture it the beaten egg whites. Scrape back on top of the remaining lemon mixture. Scrape whipped cream on top. Fold all together. (Can be refrigerated for up to one day).

Grilled Chicken Breasts stuffed with Chevre and Figs

I came up with this simple recipe for grilled chicken breasts stuffed with chevre and figs. There are, however, countless variations on the web. Here it is anyway:

To make the fig stuffing

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 medium shallots, finely chopped
10-12 dried Calimyrna figs, finely chopped
1/2 cup pecans, roasted (optional) and coarsely chopped
1 T chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (fresh, coarsely ground)
1/2 cup ruby port

1. Heat a 7" stainless steel sautee or frying pan.
2. Add olive oil and heat briefly. Add shallots and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
3. Add figs and pecans. Cook for 5 minutes or so until the figs and shallots start caramelizing a little bit.
   
4. Add the rosemary, salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute or so.
5. Add the port. Heat until the port has reduced by half.
   
6. Place the fig mixture in a bowl and set aside to cool.

You should have between 1 1/2-2 cups of fig stuffing.

To make the stuffed chicken breasts

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, fat and tenderloins removed
kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
4 ounces Chevre (fresh goat) cheese, cut into 4-1 ounce slices
8 large toothpicks

1. Heat gas or charcoal grill to medium heat (around 400F). Or preheat oven at 350-400F.
   
2. Trim the fat and tenderloin part of each chicken breast. Using a meat pounder and plastic bag, pound the meat down to 1/4" thick and even size. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
3. Spread 1 ounce of chevre cheese over one of the chicken breasts. Add about 1/3 cup of the fig mixture. The exact amount depends on the size of the chicken breast. You want it to actually close. Close and secure with 1 -2 wooden toothpicks.
4. Repeat with the rest of the chicken breasts.
5. Bake or grill for 15-20 minutes or until done.
   

You can serve these puppies with roasted veggies, roasted shallots, baked or grilled yams, roasted potatoes, whatever...

Note: I used Trevor Jones Jonsey Tawny Port NV which really is more ruby than tawny in fruit flavor, it's cheap but tastes good and comes in a screwcap bottle.

Recipe 34179 --- Brandade De Morue: Main Dish Fish Ocean Salted Cod

http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/recipe.cgi?r=34179

Telegraph | Wine | Readers' recipes: late suppers

Pheasant braised with port and celery

This comes from Toby Gritten and Jake Platt, who are chefs at the relaxed Albion Public House and Dining Rooms in Clifton, Bristol (0117 973 3522; www.thealbionclifton.co.uk). It's great for low-stress autumn dinner parties, as well as late suppers.

Pheasants are just back in season and while a whole bottle of port might seem a little extravagant, you can pick up a bottle from the supermarket or off-licence for a fiver. Port adds a heady flavour to the copious juices, and even if you want to double the quantities, there's no need to increase the amount of port, or the stock, thyme and cream.

Serve with lots of mashed potato (made ahead and reheated) and watercress. (Serves four)

# 1 tbsp olive oil
# 1 pheasant, jointed into eight (get the butcher to do this)
# 2 tbsp flour
# 1 bottle of port
# 1 three-quarter pints/1litre chicken stock
# 4oz/100g pancetta or streaky bacon, diced
# 2 large shallots, finely sliced
# 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
# 1 small bunch of thyme, leaves only
# 1 head of celery, cut into matchsticks
# 1lb/450g chestnuts, peeled (optional)
# 5floz/150ml double cream

Preheat the oven to 130C/250F/gas mark 4. Heat the oil in a large casserole dish. Dust the pheasant pieces with flour, and cook on both sides until well-browned - you may need to do this in two or three batches.

Put the pheasant to one side and pour the port into the hot pan, stirring and scraping the base. Bring to the boil and reduce the port by a third, then add the stock and reduce again by a third. You should have nearly 2 pints/1 litre of liquid left.

In a separate pan, fry the pancetta until it releases its fat, then add the shallots, garlic, thyme and celery. Cook until soft then add to the casserole dish, along with the pheasant pieces.

Place in the oven and braise uncovered for just over one hour. Take out the pheasant and heat the liquid on top of the stove until it has reduced by half, then return the pheasant to the pan and cool.

To re-heat, add the chestnuts and bring to a simmer. Stir in the cream (you may not need it all: add it a bit at a time, tasting as you go) and check the seasoning before serving.

Banana-Rum Macadamia Flambe With Brown Sugar Ice Cream

http://www.mingspantry.com/shopmingsway/banmacflamwi.html

Pot Roast

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/article.asp?articleid=98

From the Burgundy Wine Company

FOR YOUR PLEASURE

Relief and Reds

After weeks of relentless heat and humidity, we are finally seeing the days of summer that we dreamed of last winter. At last we can venture outdoors for picnics and barbecues! As much as I enjoy the crisp and refreshing whites that the heat demanded, I am always delighted to return to reds.

The next time you fire up the grill, try this marinated leg of lamb. Although winter preparations usually call for big, lusty reds, taking it outside will bring a different slant. Serve it with a Mercurey to enhance the "herbes de provence" nuances, with a Givry whose lively acidity will play against the richness of the lamb, or a Côtes du Rhône to accent the earthy quality of the rosemary and thyme.

Slice some tomatoes and goat cheese, toss some white beans with chopped red onion, celery, parsley, olive oil and vinegar, add some roasted peppers and marinated artichokes and you'll have the perfect menu to celebrate easy summer living!

Marinated Leg of Lamb

From your butcher, get a boned and butterflied leg of lamb.

Immerse it in a marinade of red wine, chopped fresh rosemary, the leaves of several sprigs of thyme, several crushed cloves of garlic, salt, crushed black pepper and some olive oil.

Marinate 4 hours or overnight.

Cook on a hot grill, turning often, for maximum crustiness and a medium rare temperature.