Snowstorm Sweet and Spicy Chili

It's blowing something fierce out there.
The snow is piling up in drifts.
We are, as we say in Maine, hunkering down.

And I love it. Because I had absolutely nothing planned.
Isn't that fabulous? The day after Christmas is a perfect day for a storm.
New books, new toys, and a new Le Creuset dutch oven. In kiwi. Yay!

The Patriots are smacking around the Buffalo Bills and there's chili simmering on the stove.
Later I plan to catch up on my taped episodes of Grey's Anatomy. Read a few chapters of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, snuggled under a big down comforter.
Does it get any better than that?

Here's the perfect chili for a night like this. It's way different than your everyday chili. Just take a look at the list of ingredients and you'll realize that right off. It's a little sweet. And it's a little spicy. (Or a lot spicy if you want.) Guys love this chili. I'm pretty fond of it too.

The recipe comes from my friend Tracy, a rock star in the eyes of the football team (her son plays with mine), and many others in town. I'm not sure where she got it, so I can't give full credit for its origins. I've changed it up just a little and I'm sure you will too.


Sweet and Spicy Chili


1/2 lb. ground pork

1 lb. ground beef (as lean or fatty as you like)

1 small onion, diced

2 Tbsps. vegetable oil

2 cans diced tomatoes

2 Tbsps. chili powder

2 Tbsps. ground cumin

2 Tbsps. garlic powder

1 Tbsp. dried thyme

1/2 cup molasses

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 can Guinness

2/3 cup barbecue sauce (this is where you can go spicier or sweeter)

1 can red kidney beans, drained

1 tsp. crushed red pepper

salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in stock pot or dutch oven. Saute onion until softened.
Add pork and beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it browns. When the meat is cooked through (no pink remaining), drain off any excess fat. Add all the rest of the ingredients.
Stir well, and simmer for an hour. Season to taste.
Enjoy while watching a snowstorm.

You can find more yummy (and indulgent) recipes at Fat Camp Fridays!

All I Want for Christmas Is...

A kitchen that cleans itself. Including a dishwasher that miraculously empties during the night.

An oven that heats evenly. Oh wait, I mean an oven that actually works.

Summer tomatoes, year 'round. Blueberries too.

A Le Creuset dutch oven.

A nice wine that won't give me a headache in the morning.

Cookies without guilt.

A lemon tree in my backyard.

A chocolate tour with David Lebovitz.

The ability to eat all the bread I want and never gain an ounce.

A couple of new restaurants in town. A really good Chinese place would be nice. One that delivers.

An IT person on call 24/7 to answer my questions/problems.

An extra hour or two each day, just for  reading.

A cake plate with a domed cover.

A few more blog followers and more Facebook fans for Mignardise.

And while we're at it...world peace.

What do you want for Christmas???

Double Dark Chocolate and Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

How's that holiday cookie baking thing going for you?

How many pounds of butter have you blended into little nuggets of joy? Is there powdered sugar in every possible crevice of your kitchen? Is your head spinning with all the cookie possibilities?

Are we having fun yet?

If you detect a note of sarcasm in this post, you're not mistaken.
It goes without saying that I love to bake (yet...I said it). But not so much under pressure. The gazillion cookie recipes out there make me feel a bit frantic. What if I miss a really good one? And to be honest, I prefer making brownies and cakes.
I have loads of admiration for those who can produce beautifully decorated sugar cookies, using all kinds of fancy techniques and sparkly sugars. Oh to be an artist like that!
Maybe in my next life.

What's coming out of my kitchen is simpler on style, but no less delicious  - maybe even more so.
Especially if you like adore chocolate.
These cookies were pretty easy to make, and by using a very small ice cream scoop, they all came out the same size. They are absolutely packed with deep chocolate flavor, and in case that wasn't enough, I added a dollop of Nutella and a white chocolate drizzle.

Double Dark Chocolate Thumbprints
adapted from Fine Cooking


6 oz. (1 1/2 cups) all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

4 oz. (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 oz. (1/2 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted if lumpy

3 large eggs

3/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract

3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and slightly cooled

1/2 cup Nutella

1/2 cup white chocolate chips, or chopped white chocolate, melted (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment or nonstick baking liners (Silpat).

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar and cocoa powder on medium speed until well blended, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds after each addition. Add the vanilla along with the last egg.
Continue mixing on medium speed for another minute, until well-blended. Add the cooled melted chocolate and mix until just blended, about 30 seconds.
Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until well incorporated, about 1 minute.

Using a 1 Tbsp. measure or a mini ice cream scoop, drop tablespoons of the dough onto prepared cookie sheets, about 1 1/2" apart. Bake until cookies are puffy and the tops are cracked 11-13 minutes, rotating cookie sheets half way through. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, use the rounded side of a 1/2 tsp. measuring spoon to make a small, deep imprint in the center of each cookie. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
At this point, you can fill the cookies right away or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

To make the filling, place Nutella in a small, microwaveable bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds until slightly softened. Using a small spoon, carefully spoon a bit of Nutella into the center of each cookie.

If you'd like to decorate them with the white chocolate drizzle, place white chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Melt in microwave, in 30 second intervals, until smooth. Transfer to a small plastic bag, pushing chocolate into a corner . Snip of a tiny corner of the bag, and squeeze out the white chocolate onto the cookies. Allow to set before stacking or storing cookies.

Layered Peppermint Brownies

I'm not sure how peppermint became the predominant flavor of the holiday season.
Does anyone know?

Not that I'm complaining.
Peppermint and chocolate are a favorite flavor combo. Like peppermint stick ice cream with hot fudge. Or chocolate peppermint bark. And York peppermint patties.

These layered peppermint brownies were a hit when I made them last weekend.
One batch got wrapped up and sold at a church fair.

Some were served at the book store as a special treat for browsing customers. And the last batch was taken to a potluck party, where they were consumed almost immediately. I heard people were searching for more.

I got this recipe from Our Best Bites, another great food blog. I'm just providing the peppermint and chocolate layers here, for you, along with the instructions.
Their recipe contains a brownie base, but really, you can use any brownie recipe you like as the base. You might have heard; I'm partial to the Baked brownie. The Katharine Hepburn brownie is also a fudgy (and quick) choice. And heck, if you want to use a boxed mix, that's your business.
Just make sure your pan of brownies (9 x 13") is completely cool. I recommend putting them in the refrigerator for at least an hour before frosting. I also recommend lining the pan with foil, making it easy to remove the brownies and then cut them.

Bookstore customers, party goers and church fair friends, here you go. Now you can make them whenever you like.

Peppermint Icing


2 cups powdered sugar

4 Tbsp. butter, room temperature

1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

1 Tbsp. milk, plus a little extra

red food coloring

Combine all icing ingredients and beat with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. You may need to add a bit more milk to get a spreadable consistency. Spread icing evenly over chilled brownies, then return pan to fridge for another hour.

Chocolate Glaze


1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate)

6 Tbsps. butter

Place chocolate and butter in microwaveable bowl. Melt in microwave, in 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until completely smooth.
Spread on chilled peppermint icing layer.

At this point, I sprinkled on some chopped up Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses, to add more mint flavor and a little texture. Press them lightly into the chocolate, then return to fridge to harden.
It was definitely the way to go!

Detox Chicken Soup

I don't know about you, but right about now my stomach can't handle much more.
The past week or so has been a food fest the likes of which I haven't enjoyed since the birthday blowout last July. Thanksgiving was all deliciousness and butter, with a side of bacon and cheese.

Then there was 3 days in New York city that included visits to Economy Candy, Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, Dylan's Candy Bar and Pulino's.

I need a break. Because we all know what's ahead...

Cookies.
Latkes.
Cookies.
Egg nog.
Cookies.
Fudge.
Cookies.

So my gift to you today is a nice, light soup you can put together quickly. It's soothing on the tummy and a great break from all the rich treats that define this time of year. Keep this one on your back pocket for when you're feeling a bit rundown and in need of some detox.

Lemon Chicken Soup
adapted from Cook's Country


6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or homemade stock if you're one of those people)

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, seasoned with salt and pepper

1 medium onion, chopped

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 tsp. minced fresh thyme

3/4 cup orzo*

2 Tbsps. fresh parsley, chopped

3 Tbsps. freshly squeezed lemon juice

3 large egg yolks (save the whites for breakfast tomorrow)

Bring broth to a boil in a large sauce pan. Cover and set aside.

Heat oil in stock pot or Dutch oven. Cook the chicken until lightly browned on both sides. Transfer to a plate. Lower heat , add onion and carrots, cooking until softened and lightly browned, 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the hot broth, making sure to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
Add thyme, orzo (or other pasta) and chicken. Cover and simmer over low heat until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
Transfer chicken to a cutting board and continue simmering soup, covered, until pasta is tender. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Off heat, stir in chicken and parsley.
Whisk lemon juice and egg yolks together in a small bowl. Continue whisking constantly and gradually ladle 1 cup of the hot soup into the egg mixture. Add egg mixture back into soup. Reheat over low for one minute, season with salt and pepper. Serve.

* I used these egg flakes instead of orzo. If you can find them, they're really good. Orzo is great and if you prefer rice, that's fine too. You just might have to cook it a little longer.
Also, I think a handful of baby spinach leaves would be a nice (and healthy) addition when the soup reheats.

Giving Thanks and Book Winner

It may not seem as exciting to you as it is to me, but the thing we are most thankful this year is:

That's my boy, front and center, holding the trophy, #51.
So please indulge me while I brag for a moment, then we'll get to the food.
These guys have only been a varsity team for 4 years. In that time, they've gone from a completely winless first season to state champions. We're all grateful for their determination and team spirit. No team wanted this more than they did.
We're extremely grateful to the fabulous and dedicated coaches, to the support of our community and school, and the parents who fed them well every week before games.
 If you're REALLY interested (and it's ok if you're not), you can read more here.

It's turkey day minus one today.

That means a full day of prep work - trimming Brussels sprouts, peeling carrots, making pies, toasting bread for stuffing, chopping leeks and shallots. If this all gets done today, tomorrow will be a breeze. Just get that turkey in the oven and finish the rest of the dishes, while sipping a nice pinot noir and snacking on rosemary roasted cashews.
Easy, right?
I'm sure you have your menu all set by now, but if you're looking for some guidance, here are links to some of the recipes I'm using...

Cider-Brined and Glazed Turkey from Epicurious

Northwestern Wild Mushroom Stuffing, an old favorite from Bon Appetit

Brussels Sprouts with Crisp Proscuitto, from Cooking Light

Cranberry Salsa

Yeah, I know this is the lazy blogger's Thanksgiving post, but I've been otherwise occupied.
See above.
All will be back to normal now that the season is over.
Yeah, right...

The winner of the Maine Mapmaker's Kitchen book is Linda, of How to Cook a Wolf.
Linda, please send me you address in an email and the book will be on its way to you. Congratulations!

Another thing to be grateful for? YOU,  my wonderful readers.

Thanks so much for sticking with me, offering encouragement and support. I hope you know how much I appreciate each and every one of you. 

I wish you all a very happy and delicious Thanksgiving!

Maine Mapmaker's Kitchen Apple Spice Scones and a Giveaway

For those of you unaware, I work part time at a small, independent bookstore, here in my small Maine town.
It's always been a dream of mine to work in a bookstore. so when this opportunity came up, I was thrilled.
It's the perfect job for me.
Talk about books. Recommend books. Look at new books.
Visit with customers, about half of whom I know. Many others become friends. Read books, when there are no customers.

And sometimes I get to meet the authors too.
For a small town, we actually have a number of authors who live here or nearby.
There's Lily King, whose most recent book, Father of the Rain, is a bestseller.
We also have Melissa Senate, who has a new book out called The Love Goddess' Cooking School. An irresistible title if there ever was one.
Debra Spark, author of Good for the Jews, lives in the next town over and comes in occasionally.
And Ken Nye is a local poet, who reflects lovingly on dogs, Maine and family.

Last week Jane Crosen stopped in. She's a mapmaker and cookbook author.
Jane draws detailed maps of Maine places by hand. If you have ever tried to draw a map by hand then you know how difficult this can be. Her maps are elegant in their simplicity and clarity.
One of them hangs over my daughter's bed in her college room, in landlocked Colorado.

Maine Mapmaker's Kitchen is her cookbook and it's an eclectic collection of creative and healthy recipes. There are lots of notes about growing food, variations on recipes and practical advice.
 When she stopped in at the store, I blurted out, "My readers would love this! Can you donate one for me to giveaway?"
I don't think I even gave her a chance to think about it. She put her signature inside and handed the book to me. Thanks Jane!

Soooo, if you'd like to have this book for your very own, leave me a comment on this post.
Have you been to Maine? Where? If not, where would you most like to visit? And of course, what would you eat?

How about apple spice scones?

The recipe comes from Maine Mapmaker's Kitchen. As scones go, these are relatively healthful, with not too much butter, lots of whole grains and chunks of apple. The texture is nice and light.  I added an apple cider glaze because I'm that kind of girl. (The kind who likes sweets.)
Note: Instead of the individual spices listed here, I used about 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice. I am also the kind of girl who is a little lazy.

Apple & Spice Scones


2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour

2/3 cup all purpose flour

1/3 cup oat flour

1/4 cup whole oats or toasted wheat germ

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/4 tsps. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/8 tsp. ground ginger

3 Tbsps. chilled butter, cut into small pieces

3 Tbsps. canola oil

1 cup small-diced apple

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)

1/3 cup milk + 1 Tbsp. yogurt (plain or vanilla)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 large egg

1/3 cup sanding, or coarse, sugar (optional)

Combine dry ingredients (flour through spices) in a large mixing bowl. Rub butter into mixture using your fingers, until you get the texture of coarse crumbs. Add canola oil and work in evenly, then add chopped apples and nuts (if using).

Preheat oven to 375. Grease 2 cookie sheets, or line with silicone baking liners (Silpat).
Measure milk and yogurt into measuring cup, add vanilla and egg, then whisk until well-blended. Pour into dry ingredients and stir briefly, just until flours are moistened.

Form balls of dough, one at a time, and press the tops into sugar (if desired). Place on baking sheet and flatten top slightly. Bake 18-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and place on cooling racks. When cool, you can top them with the cider glaze if you want.

Mix 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar with 2 Tbsps. apple cider. Mix until smooth.
A little cinnamon sugar wouldn't hurt either.

Perfectly Delicious Black-Bottom Banana Bread

Perfection is ineffable.

Click here if you don't know what that means.

We food bloggers are always either looking for the perfect recipe or claiming to have it.
There are so many variations of the same thing - what makes one perfect and another slightly less perfect?
What about taking personal taste into account?

I might like a chewy, gooey chocolate chip cookie. You may prefer yours crispy. Or cakey (why you would though is a complete mystery to me). Same with brownies. This is my favorite. It might not be yours, but to me it's chocolate perfection.

Currently I am in search of the perfect way to roast a turkey. Every magazine tells me "the best way ever".  Really? What about last year's suggestion? Is it now imperfect? Is the method outlined in Bon Appetit truly superior to the one in Fine Cooking? Should I give each one a test run in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving? Or just go with the one that suits my idea of how turkey should be?

It's not my intention to turn cooking into a soul-searching exercise, but there are really so many unanswered questions.
It exhausts me and my little brain.

So much in fact that I had to step back from the whole thing and bake a banana bread.
Is it the perfect banana bread?
Maybe, if you like chocolate with your banana.
Maybe we I should stop worrying about perfection and just concentrate on deliciousness.
If you're with me, try this.
It's extremely delicious. And a little different than your average banana bread.
Perfectly enjoyable with your coffee while perusing magazines in search of the perfect Thanksgiving.

Black-Bottom Banana Bread
adapted from The Family Kitchen

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

3 medium very ripe, or overripe bananas

1/2 cup sour cream

2 large eggs

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

3 heaping tablespoons high quality cocoa powder

Topping:

1/4 cup flour

3 Tbsps. whole oats (not quick-cooking)

3 Tbsps. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3 Tbsps. butter, softened

1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour (or spray with baking spray) sides and bottom of 9" loaf pan. (If using an 8" loaf pan, there will be extra batter - you could put it in a ramekin or two and bake it up.)
Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add sour cream, eggs and bananas. Mix until well-blended.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet.
Split the batter, placing half in a separate bowl. Sift the cocoa powder into one half and mix well.
Pour chocolate batter into prepared pan, smoothing top. Top with regular batter.

Place all the topping ingredients in a bowl and mix with a fork until crumbly. Spread evenly over top of loaf.

Bake on center rack for 55-60 minutes (mine cooked a bit longer), or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out cleanly. Cool at least 20 minutes before removing from pan.

Eat Your Greens! Spaghetti with Swiss Chard, Bacon and Pinenuts

The farmers' market is still going strong.
All kinds of squash, hardy greens, Brussels sprouts, potatoes and other root vegetables have taken over.

These vegetables may not hold the same glamour as a juicy, ripe tomato or jewel-like berries.
But they're what we have this time of year, so let's make the best of it.
Recipes using squash and apples are all over the blogosphere, but I've seen few for dishes with Swiss chard.
Which is unfortunate, since chard is one of those nutrition powerhouse foods, ranking right behind spinach. It helps regulate blood sugar, is high in fiber and packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
This recipe can teach Popeye a thing or two. It's a delicious way to incorporate chard into your diet. Or try it with any other hardy green. Even those who turn up their noses at "leaves" (that would be my middle kid) like this because of the bacon involved. The small amount of brown sugar doesn't hurt either.

Spaghetti with Swiss Chard, Bacon and Pine Nuts
adapted from The Boston Globe


3/4 lb. spaghetti

2 tsps. balsamic vinegar

2 tsps. soy sauce

2 tsps. brown sugar

1 large bunch of Swiss chard, leaves removed from stem, stems saved

1/2 lb. bacon, chopped

1/4 cup pine nuts

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 Tbsps. unsalted butter

salt and pepper

In a small bowl, combine vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar.

Bring a large pot of water to boil, and cook spaghetti while preparing the rest of the dish.

Cut or tear Swiss chard leaves into 2 to 3" pieces. Wash and dry them well. Rinse the stems and slice them into 1/4" pieces.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high flame. Add chopped bacon and cook until crisp. Remove from pan onto a plate lined with a paper towel (to drain excess fat). Add pine nuts to bacon fat that's left in the pan. Cook until they're lightly browned, 1-2 minutes. Keep an eye on them because they could burn quickly. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to plate with bacon.

If the pan starts to look dry, add a bit of olive oil. Then add Swiss chard stems, salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir fry for a few seconds.

Add the chard leaves and a generous pinch of salt. Using tongs, toss the leaves in the pan for about a minute or just until wilted. Scrape the balsamic mixture into the pan, stir well, and remove pan from heat.
Fold in bacon and pine nuts, then add drained pasta to pan. Add butter and toss until melted. Serve from pan or transfer to large serving bowl.

Cranberry Salsa

I have a Halloween hangover.

What do they put in candy corn anyways? Crack?

Once you get started with it, it's nearly impossible to stop.

But the good news is, I have something for you that's also addictive, but MUCH better for you.

In fact, it's downright healthful.

Cranberries have anti-cancer properties, are high in antioxidants and loaded with vitamin C.

That's all just fine, but the bottom line here is the deliciousness of this salsa.

It's got that sweet-tart thing going on, with a little spiciness and lots of crunch. Eaten with a candy corn chip, you get just the right hit of salt too.

It was a a snap to make. And I'll be whipping up more at Thanksgiving. It'll be just right for snacking on in the afternoon, before turkey.

Now put down the candy corn and go make...

Cranberry Salsa

12 oz bag of cranberries

1/2 red bell pepper

1/2 onion

1 Granny Smith apple

1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar, depending on your taste

1-2 Tbsps. chopped jalapeno pepper, again depending on how spicy you like it

Zest of one lime

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1/3 cup apple cider or apple juice

Cut pepper and onion into large chunks. Place them in food processor along with the cranberries. Pulse several times until the mixture is chopped finely. It's ok if some larger pieces remain.

Remove from food processor and place in a medium bowl. Mix in sugar, jalapeno, lime zest, cilantro and cider. Combine well. 

Serve with tortilla chips.

Thanks David, for this recipe. Love it. Don't know why I waited so long!

Candy Corn Cookies

What's your favorite Halloween candy?
I'm a Butterfingers lover (see this post for proof), Junior Mints fan and Raisinets snarfer.

For many it's not Halloween unless there's a big bowl of candy corn.
Did you know candy corn comes in all kinds of flavors now? I sent my daughter-in-college a bag of s'mores flavored candy corn. (Haven't gotten a report back yet.) I like the caramel flavored kind. They taste a little strange at first, but by the third one, you're hooked.

Here's another kind of candy corn all together.
Cookies!

These are easy to make and very cute. The taste is a classic butter cookie. You can flavor them with vanilla (which my kids would have preferred), almond extract or the orange zest the original recipe calls for. I've seen many recipes for these cookies, but Cathy at Wives With Knives posted this one and it seemed the simplest to me.

Candy Corn Cookies
adapted from Wives With Knives


1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 Tbsps. orange juice plus 2 tsps. orange zest
OR
1 1/2  tsps. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. salt

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

 food coloring: yellow, orange (or make orange with yellow and red)

sanding sugar (optional)

Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, until light and fluffy. Add egg, orange juice and zest (or vanilla). Mix well.
In another bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda, mixing well with a whisk. Add to butter mixture and mix until well combined.
NOTE: I do this a little at a time so the dry ingredients don't fly out all over the place.
Divide dough into three equal parts. Add yellow food coloring to the first part and blend well. Add orange food coloring (or mix of yellow and red) to the second part, blending well. Be sure to use plenty of food coloring as the colors fade when baked. Leave the third part plain.

Line a loaf pan with parchment or wax paper. Press the yellow dough evenly into the bottom of the pan. Press the orange dough evenly over the yellow, then press the plain dough on top of that. Wrap the paper around the dough and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

When ready to bake cookies, preheat oven to 375.
Remove dough from pan and paper. Slice into 1/4" slabs. Cut each slab into triangular pieces as shown.

Dip one side into sanding sugar, if desired (it adds a nice sparkle) and place on parchment or silicone lined cookie sheet. Bake for 7-9 minutes, or until lightly browned on the edges.

Winners All Around

As I sit in my little office (aka sunroom) I was just about to write up the souffle and the giveaway winner.

But I am interrupted by the beauty out the window.

It is one spectacular morning in Maine!

The colors across the river are brilliant and vivid in the sunlight. Russet and gold balanced with evergreen, crimson and pumpkin against a blue-gray sky. Every now and then I catch a quick glimpse of the eagle that makes its home in a nearby tree. Seagulls laze in the shallow water of low tide.

As the saying goes...the way life should be.

The photos don't really do it justice. You'll just have to come visit me.

And now  - back to your regularly scheduled food blog post.

.

So where's that EASY button?

I need it 'cause I made a souffle last night and I can't get over how little effort (and skill) it took.

Just goes to show that sometimes the things you fear the most aren't really scary. Maybe it's because they sound fancy and French. Or it's just because you've never done them before. 

Either way, don't fear the souffle!

(Which, by the way, means "breath" in French.)

It was magically light and puffy. I could have eaten the whole thing but was nice enough to share. 

If you've never made a souffle before, I urge you to give this one a try soon.

And there's no need to wait for a special occasion. 

Spinach and Gruyere Souffle

from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food

2 Tbsps. unsalted butter (plus more for use in the baking dish)

1/3 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

5 oz. fresh spinach, washed and trimmed if necessary

2 Tbsps. all purpose flour

3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsps. whole milk

1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, grated

2 large eggs, separated plus 2 more egg whites

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Butter a round 1-quart tall-sided baking dish (mine was slightly larger and it didn't make a difference), then dust with breadcrumbs, shaking out any excess. Set aside.

In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsps. water over medium-high heat. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a strainer or colander. Press to release liquid.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, until bubbling. Add flour and whisk until a paste forms. Continue to cook until pale blond in color, 2-3 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking continually until lumps are gone and the mixture thickens, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer souffle base to a large bowl.

In a food processor, pulse spinach and egg yolks until coarsely pureed. Add 1/4 cup of the souffle base into spinach mixture. Pulse until blended. Stir spinach mixture into remaining souffle base.

In a medium bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat 4 egg whites and a pinch of salt on medium high speed, until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. In 2 additions, gently fold egg whites into souffle base.

Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake until souffle is tall, lightly browned and firm to the touch, about 35 minutes. Avoid opening the oven during the first 25 minutes of baking.

Serve immediately.

Then pat yourself on the back.

I want to thank everyone who left a comment (or two) during my blog-i-versary week. Regulars and lurkers - I love hearing from you all. It makes me feel like I'm not writing into void. Thanks for sticking with me!

I wish I could give you all a prize. 

But there's just one reader who won the Fresh From Maine cookbook and Mignardise apron. 

The winner is...

Jayne! 

Send me your address in an email or a message on Facebook and I'll have the goods shipped to you as fast as I can. Readers, Jayne lives in Sweden and from what I understand, is a phenomenal bread baker and cake maker. Maybe she should have her own blog.

The Marshmallows Need Work, but the Kunefe Was Delicious

Recently, I challenged myself make to three new recipes (new to me).
Bread - done, done, and done.
Made three loaves. I am the new superhero of the family.

Marshmallows were next. Not quite what we had hoped for.

They're a bit....odd. Bland, springy, flat. Maybe too much gelatin?

So I did what any sensible person would do.

 Covered them in chocolate.

I'll try making marshmallows again some time, with a different recipe.

Souffle is up next.

But meanwhile, my cooking group got together this weekend and the theme was eastern Mediterranean, meaning Turkish. Our hostess had spent some time there and is enamored of the food, the spices and unusual flavors. The recipes were all from Ana Sortun's book Spice.

The use of spices is central to the full, rich flavors of this type of cooking. Za'atar, sumac, cardamom and oregano are featured prominently. Eggplant, yogurt, cheeses and nuts are also essential.
I was assigned dessert.

So apparently I can't do something as simple as marshmallows, but I can make an esoteric eastern Mediterranean dessert that I don't know how to pronounce.

Can you say kunefe? (There's supposed to be an umlaut above the u).

When given the recipe, I admit I was less than thrilled. 

I'm much more of a chocolate cake kind of girl, but as I've said before, this cooking group gives me a  chance to spread my culinary wings.

I accepted the challenge and went in search of whole green cardamom pods, buffalo mozzarella and kadafi.

(By the way, when I googled kadafi, I'm sure you can guess what came up. Hint: terrorist.)

Throughout the entire cooking process, I remained skeptical of the outcome.

 The ingredients were strange. The dessert wasn't pretty. I wasn't excited to serve or eat it.

A dollop of mascarpone and a sprinkling of chopped pistachios made it presentable.

Well, knock me over with a peacock feather.

The surprisingly delicious kunefe was the highlight of the evening. 

If you're interested in making this unusual, but easy, dessert, you can click here. Or you can look for Spice: Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean. It's a beautiful book and a wonderful introduction into old world cuisine.

I'll be in the kitchen re-working those marshmallows.