Showing posts with label Recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recipes. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Dreaming....a stone cabin and hot apple cider

I grew up thinking of snow as a luxury you visit. -John Landis

I fell in love with this cozy stone cabin in the mountains. Doesn't it look like a story book vacation retreat? The only thing I would change is the color of the door. I would paint it red.....
This picture automatically made me think of drinking hot cider in front of the roaring stone fireplace while snuggled under a nice warm blanket. Ahhhh.....


Hot Apple Cider

Ingredients (serves 6)
6 cups apple cider
1/4 cup real maple syrup
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries
1 orange peel, cut into strips
1 lemon peel, cut into strips

Directions
1.  Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.

2.  Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Or better yet, use a cheesecloth bag.  Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.

3.  Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.

4.  Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving, if desired.
 
Enjoy!
 
Recipe from here - check out the reviews for this recipe and variations.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Pancake Bar and Citrus Pancakes

The story behind these photos goes like this. Girl meets Boy.  Girl and Boy have first date over a pancake meal. Girl and Boy decide to get married and have a "Breakfast at Sunset" themed wedding that included a pancake bar.  Pancake Bar = fun brunch idea to steal borrow someday.  Just add different types of syrup, fresh fruit, fresh squeezed orange juice and mimosa's and viola you have yourself an instant breakfast brunch. Talk about a great way to start the day!



I want to go a step further and try a new recipe. Citrus Pancakes sound like yummy goodness plus they also seem easy to make.  If you try them before I do please let me know how they turn out. I hope they are delicious.
Citrus Pancakes
Makes 12, 4-inch pancakes

3 cups pancake batter of your choice
Zest of 2 lemons, 2 limes, or 1 orange (your choice depending on the type of pancakes you want)
2/3 fresh whole milk-ricotta cheese
Peanut oil (for the griddle)
Butter (for griddle and serving)
Warm Grade B Maple Syrup (for serving)*

* Who knew there were different grades of maple syrup? Grade B is a dark syrup. Apparently there is a rating system!

Preparation
1. Stir the pancake batter and zest together in a bowl.
2. Ever so gently fold in the ricotta cheese.  Take care not to destroy its texture.
3. Prepare the griddle.
4. Drop the pancake batter on the griddle according to the instructions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until bubbles appear on almost the entire surface of the pancakes.
5. Turn and very gently tap the pancakes with a metal spatula to make them uniform in thickness.
6. Cook until second side is golden, about 2 minutes, and serve on A-side up.
7. Enjoy your delicious goodness! (I added this one...)

Photos via Green Wedding Shoes; Recipe via Epicurious from the book Eat Me by Kenny Shopsin. Recipe renamed by Mrs. B.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Barefoot Contessa: How Easy is That?

Over the weekend I received the October issue of Glamour Magazine.  Buried at the back of the magazine was a 3 page article entitled "How to Do Anything Better Guide" featuring the new cookbook by Ina Garten due out on October 26.  The article, also available here, features 4 easy recipes from the book that even I could make. And that is saying a lot!

Preorders available on Amazon

One of the recipes included in the upcoming book is White Chocolate Bark. This is one recipe I am definitely going to try.  When I think of chocolate bark I usually think of the chocolate peppermint version which I am not particularly a fan of.  However, I like Ina's version....particularly loving the fall colors of this dessert.


White Chocolate Bark
1/2 cup whole shelled salted pistachios
16 oz. good white chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup medium-diced dried apricots

Step 1.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a pencil, draw an 8” x 10” rectangle on a piece of parchment paper. Turn the parchment paper over so the pencil mark doesn’t get on the chocolate, and place it on a sheet pan.

Step 2.
Place the pistachios in one layer on another sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Step 3.
Place three quarters of the white chocolate in a heatproof glass bowl, and put it in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. (Time it with your watch for accuracy.) Stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula, return it to the microwave for another 30 seconds, then stir again. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is just melted. Immediately stir in the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it’s completely smooth. (If you need to heat it a little more, put it in the microwave for another 15 seconds.)

Step 4.
Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly to fill the drawn rectangle. Sprinkle the top evenly with the cooled pistachios, the cranberries and apricots. Press the nuts and fruit lightly so they will set in the chocolate. Set aside for at least 2 hours until firm, or refrigerate for 20 minutes. Cut or break the bark into 16 pieces and serve at room temperature. Makes 16 pieces.

Enjoy!

Photos and recipe via Glamour Magazine reprinted from Barefoot Contessa: How Easy is That? by Ina Garten. Photographs by Quentin Bacon.