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Grilled Sweet Cheese Sandwiches with Rosemary Chocolate Soup and Raspberry Puree

12/6/2022

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Serves 4
 
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (bar or chips)
½ cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1 ½ teaspoons chopped rosemary
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
12 ounces frozen raspberries, thawed with juices
¼ cup granulated sugar
8 slices Pepperidge Farms white sandwich bread
8 ounces room temperature cream cheese
4 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

  1. Combine heavy cream, milk, and rosemary in a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. While the cream mixture is simmering place the chocolate in a medium bowl and set a strainer over it. Pour the rosemary cream over the chocolate, pressing the rosemary to extract more flavor. Let sit without stirring for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate. Add the vanilla and stir until the chocolate is smooth. Keep warm.

  2. Place thawed raspberries and sugar in a bowl and let sit until the sugar is dissolved. Stir to combine. Press the sweetened berries through a strainer over a small mixing bowl to remove the seeds. Set the sauce aside.

  3. Combine cream cheese and honey in a bowl and blend until creamy. Spread the sweetened cream cheese onto four slices of bread and top with the remaining four slices. Brush both sides of the sandwiches with melted butter. Cook the sandwiches on a griddle until each side is golden brown. Remove and cut each sandwich diagonally into quarters and serve with small bowls of the warm chocolate soup and raspberry sauce for dipping. You can grill the sandwiches and refrigerate them whole for up to one day. Warm the sandwiches in a 300-degree oven, cut and serve with the warmed soup and sauce for dipping.
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Chocolate Ganache

12/6/2022

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Chocolate ganache is the start of something special. You should always have ingredients on hand for this versatile confection. Truffles, chocolate glaze, whipped frosting, cookie filling, the possibilities are endless! Liz's truffles are a must.
Makes 2 cups of ganache
8 oz bittersweet chocolate bar or chips (60-70%)
1 cup of heavy cream or whipping cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tsp vanilla
  1. If using a bar chocolate, chop the chocolate using a serrated knife.
  2. In a heavy bottomed saucepan heat the heavy cream over moderate heat until steaming.  Do not boil. If the cream is too hot when you add the chocolate it may seize (separate). Remove the pan from the heat.
  3. Add the chopped chocolate and butter to the hot cream and stir until the chocolate is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the vanilla.
 
 
Using your Ganache:
 
To frost as a glaze:
     Cool the ganache for 5 minutes (a few minutes longer if you want thicker glaze), then place your cake on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet. Slowly pour the ganache over the cake and spread with an off-set spatula to cover top. Let it drip down the sides. Cool in refrigerator for ½ hour and repeat with remaining ganache.
     If making cupcakes, cool the ganache for 5 minutes (a few minutes longer if you want t thicker glaze),dip the tops of the cupcakes into the ganache and refrigerate to allow ganache to set up. Repeat for thicker coating if desired.
 
Warm ganache is perfect for:
Glazes, filling tarts (then it cools for a thick, fudge-like filling), chocolate dip or fondue, topping for ice cream, cream puffs, and other desserts.
 
To make a spreadable or whipped frosting:
         Pour the ganache into a medium bowl, cover, and allow to cool to room temperature until set, about 1 hour. Gently whip until desired, spreadable consistency then spread with a knife or off-set spatula.
To whip your ganache into a piping frosting, use a handheld or standing mixer, whip room temperature ganache for 2-3 minutes until it is light and fluffy.
 
Perfect for fillings:
Layer cakes, tarts, profiteroles, macarons and sandwich cookies, truffles
  
Flavoring your ganache:
After the chocolate and cream is mixed but still warm, mix in your flavors. 
 
Extracts: 1/2 teaspoon of mint, 1 teaspoon orange, or 1 teaspoon of coconut. 
Liquors: 1 tablespoon of whiskey, brandy, Baileys, or Grand Marnier
You can also add a teaspoon of espresso powder, a pinch of salt.
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Quintessential Apple Pie-Kate McDermott

12/1/2022

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Apples (from Liz): Choose a few types of apples, one that is sweet and one that is a bit tart, one soft, and one that holds its shape. Granny Smith or Honey Crisp are tart, crisp apples that combine well with Cortland. I throw in a Macintosh or two as well. Your local farm stand may have heritage apples you can choose from.

Makes one double crust apple pie using a 9 1/2 inch deep-dish pie pan
​1 recipe double crust pie dough-see recipe 
About 10 cups heritage apples (about 6 large apples)-(leave skin on) quartered and cored, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices, or chunk them up into pieces you can comfortably eat. 
1/2 cup sugar or more to taste. 
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 gratings of nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1 tablespoon artisan apple cider vinegar or 1-2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1-2 tablespoons calvados or other apple liqueur (optional)
1/2 cup flour
1 recipe double-crust pie dough (ingredients above)
1 knob butter, the size of a small walnut, cut into small pieces for dotting the top of the filling
1-2 tsp sugar, for sprinkling on top of the pie

Egg Wash
​1 egg white plus 1 tablespoon water, fork beaten

  1. Slice the apples in 1/2-inch-thick slices, or chunk them up into pieces you can comfortably get into your mouth. 
  2. In a large mixing bowl put the apples, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, vinegar, calvados, and flour, and mix lightly until most of the surfaces are covered with what looks like wet sand.
  3. Pour into an unbaked pie crust, mounding high and dot with butter.
  4. Roll out second crust and place on top; crimp edges with a fork.
  5. Cut 5 vent holes.
  6. Paint with egg white wash.
  7. Sprinkle some extra sugar evenly on top.
  8. Cover the pie and chill in the refrigerator while you preheat your oven to 425F.
  9. Place the pie into your preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
  10. Reduce heat to 375F and bake for 40 minutes longer. Check to see that the filling is bubbling beneath the vent holes. If you don't see the filling bubble, bake 5-10 minutes longer or until the filling bubbles.
  11. Remove from the oven and cool for at least 1 hour.
"The Quintessential Apple Pie" from Art of the Pie: A Practical Guide to Homemade Crusts, Fillings, and Life by Kate McDermott, copyright © 2016. Reproduced with permission of The Countryman Press/W.W. Norton.

Notes:
Freeze your raw pie and cook another time. Wrap the raw pie in plastic wrap. Freeze. To bake, place the frozen pie on the counter while you preheat your oven. Place in the oven and cook as directed. Add 15-20 minutes to your baking time. Check to see if the filling is bubbling out of the vent wholes. If not, add 5-10 minutes and check again. If the filling is bubbling, remove the pie from the oven and cool as directed.

Liz's Pie Variations:
Pear Cranberry Pie-6 cups pears, 4 cups fresh cranberries (1 bag), 3/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger. Follow the recipe as written.

Apple Blueberry-Substitute some apple for fresh or frozen blueberries. If using frozen, do not thaw before making your filling. ​
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Pie Dough-Kate McDermott

11/18/2022

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The following recipes are from the best selling cookbook author Kate McDermott. I recommend her books "Art of the Pie"  and "Pie Camp". I also suggest you follow and subscribe to Kate's Substack. When you subscribe you are invited into her kitchen to take online classes with her. ​You'll love her. She's a peach!

​Master Recipe Roll-Out Dough-Kate McDermott

Makes enough for a double crust pie 
​
2 1/2 cups (363g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (224 g) chilled fat of your choice, cut into tablespoon-size pieces (butter, lard, leaf lard)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (120ml) ice water plus 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) more as needed.

  1. Make sure all the ingredients are chilled.
  2. Put all ingredients but the ice water in a large bowl.
  3. With clean hands, quickly smoosh the mixture together, or use a single blade mezzaluna or pastry blender with an up and down motion, until the ingredients look like cracker crumbs with lumps the size of peas an almonds. These lumps will make your curst flaky. Don't coat all the flour with fat. You should still see some white floury places in the bowl when you are finished. Work quickly so that the dough still feels chilly when you are done. 
  4. Sprinkle 5 to 6 tablespoons of the ice water over the mixture, fluffing and tossing lightly with a fork as you do.
  5. Sprinkle over more water as needed, a tablespoon at a time, and fluff with a fork after each addition until it holds together. When the dough looks shaggy in the bowl, you are getting close. give some of your dough a firm handshake and see if it holds together. If it does, go on to step 6. If it doesn't, add a bit more water if needed for the dough to come together. the dough should feel moist without feeling tacky. 
  6. Form and pat the dough into a big ball. If it feels a little dry on the outside, dip your fingers into some ice water and pat them on the outside of the dough in a few places. Don't get it so we that it is sticky. The dough should feel like cool clay and firm yet pliable as when patting a baby's bottom. 
  7. Divide the dough in half and make two chubby disks about 5 inches across.
  8. Wrap the  discs separately in plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to three days.
 
“Master Recipe Roll-Out Dough" from Pie Camp: The Skills You Need to Make Any Pie You Want by Kate McDermott, copyright © 2020. Reproduced with permission of The Countryman Press/W.W. Norton.

Liz's notes:
You can freeze your dough for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before using. I have thawed on the counter as well-just be sure the dough is well chilled before rolling out.
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Roll Out Your Dough-Liz's instructions
  1. Bring out your refrigerated dough disks and let them sit until they feel slightly soft to touch.
  2. Place a rolling mat or piece of parchment paper on your counter, or use a light dusting of flour on the area you will be rolling out your dough. Keep more flour handy for dusting while you roll out your dough.
  3. Always roll the dough out from the center of the disk. Lift and turn your disc as you work and lightly flour if you need. Roll out your disk until the circle of dough is 2-inches larger than the diameter of the top of your pie pan. Turn your pan over onto the rolled out dough and measure to be certain.
  4. To place the dough into your pie pan, drape the dough over your rolling pin and gently lift and place the pin at the half-way mark of the pie pan. Gently unroll and carefully settle the dough into the pan. Trim to leave 1-inch overhang of dough. Fill  and bake according to your recipe.
Liz's notes:
Save all of your dough scraps to make some sweet or savory dough treats. I freeze all my dough trimmings and bake these yummy treats for my family. Go here for some ideas: Food52
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Election Cake-A New England Tradition

11/6/2022

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Election Cake is a New England tradition from the 1700s. Women baked this delicious fruit and nut cake to encourage voter turnout. The cake recipe originally came from England with the early colonists. This yeasted cake is similar to fruit cakes, they could weigh as much as 12 pounds! This version is trimmed down in size but still draws a crowd.
Makes 1 Bundt cake or two 8 1/2 -by-4 ½-inch loaf pans
 
2/3 cup warm water
2 packages (4 ½ teaspoons) active dry yeast
3 2/3 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing pan
2 large eggs, beaten
2 cups brown sugar (light or dark), firmly packed
1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup whole milk w/1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (I like Everland vanilla and buy it at HomeGoods. You can also purchase online)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups raisins or chopped dried dates (dried cranberries, cherries, apricot, or figs, or combination)
1 cup pecans, chopped or walnuts or almonds

  1. Pour the warm water into a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top. Stir, then let stand for 5 minutes to dissolve. You should see some bubbles on top.
  2. Add 1 cup of the flour to the yeast and mix until blended. You can use a mixer if you like. If so, use the paddle attachment.
  3. Add the butter and mix until smooth. Add the remaining flour (except 1 tablespoon), eggs, brown sugar, butter milk, vanilla extract, baking soda, spices, and salt. Beat for 3 minutes.
  4. In a small bowl, toss the raisins and pecans with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour until coated, then stir them into the batter until evenly distributed.
  5. Using pastry brush, evenly coat the Bundt pan with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Pour the batter into the pan. Cover with a towel and let rest for 1 ½ hours. The batter will rise slightly
  6. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pan in the middle of the oven and bake the until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour and up to 1 hour 15 minutes.
  7. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Turn the cake out onto a wire rack and let cool completely before serving.

Optional Glaze: 
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice (or bourbon if you like that!)
Lemon zest
Chopped nuts
  1. Whisk together the confectioner's sugar and lemon juice in a bowl until smooth.
  2. Let your cake cool completely then drizzle on your glaze. Let sit for 5 minutes then top with zest and chopped nuts. ​
Optional Sweetened Sour Cream Topping
16 oz Sour Cream (full fat)
2-3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I like Everland vanilla and buy it at HomeGoods. You can also purchase online)
  1. Combine the sour cream, sugar to taste, and vanilla in a bowl and stir to blend. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.


Notes:
Dried fruit: use any dried fruit you like. Dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries, dates, figs, apricot. If using dried cherries, dates, figs, or apricots, chop to the size of raisins. 
Nuts: use pecans, walnuts, almonds, or pistachios. Chop before adding.
Zest: add 1-2 teaspoons lemon or orange zest to the batter.

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Sweet Potato Apple Crisp

10/26/2022

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Makes one 9X13  or 9X9 pan to serve 8

*8 large assorted apples (see apple note below) cored and cut into slices-yes, leave the peels on!
1 large, sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes1/3 cup sugar2 tablespoons all-purpose flour2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Crisp Topping1 ½ cups oats (old fashioned)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour or ground flaxseed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar-light or dark
¼ cup sugar
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
 
Sweetened Sour Cream Topping
16 oz Sour Cream (full fat)
2-3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I like Everland vanilla and buy it at HomeGoods. You can also purchase online)
 
  1. Preheat the oven to 375˚.
  2. Place the cubed sweet potato into a saucepan of water. Bring to a simmer and cook potatoes until just tender, about 5-8 minutes. Drain the sweet potatoes.
  3. Toss the sliced apples with the sugar, flour, and apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Place half of the sliced apples into your pan then place the cooked sweet potatoes to cover evenly. Place the remaining apples over the sweet potatoes.
  4. In a bowl, combine the oats, flour or flaxseed, cinnamon, and sugars and toss until combined. Using your hands, work in the butter until the mixture comes together in moist crumbs. Spread oat topping evenly over the apples and sweet potatoes. 
  5. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until the crumb mixture is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.
  6. To make the sour cream topping, combine the sour cream, sugar to taste, and vanilla in a bowl and stir to blend. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

* Apple combinations:  Texture is an important part of a tasty apple crisp experience.  Combine apples that are both crisp and soft when cooked.  Honey Crisp/Cortland, Granny Smith/Macintosh, Spartan/Cortland. You can add or substitute other like fresh or frozen blueberries, cranberries, and rhubarb.
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Liz's Apple Crisp w/Vanilla Sour Cream

10/26/2022

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Here is my version of apple crisp. I hope you love it!
A few notes about my recipe:

  • I do not peel my apples. I know this sounds crazy, but it saves lots of time and effort and the skins soften during the baking. Give it a try and see what you think. 
  • Spreading your apples over a larger surface creates a greater topping-to-apple ratio. I use a 9x13-inch baking pan. If you prefer a more apples-to-topping apple crisp, bake your crisp in a 9x9-inch pan.
  • When its apple baking time, I choose a variety of different apples to combine in my recipes. I combine varieties that are firm, soft, tart, and sweet all baked together under a pie crust or crisp topping. 
  • Did you know that apple crisp can be baked and then frozen? You can also prepare several batches of the topping and freeze them to use any time you feel like making an apple crisp or other fruit crisp. 
  • Change up your crisp! Take out 2 apples and replace with cubed and steamed sweet potato. Or, replace 2 apples with 2 cup frozen or fresh blueberries.
  • One last tip, traditionally apple crisp is served plain but I love to serve it with a dollop of sweetened sour cream. However you prepare or serve your apple crisp remember to visit Hollis’ farmstands for the best apples in New Hampshire!  
Makes one 9x9-inch or one 9x13-inch crisp
½ cup dark brown sugar
1 ½ cups quick oats
1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold
8 large apples-assorted types of apples. Combine varieties that are firm, soft, tart, and sweet.
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Sour cream topping:
16 oz sour cream (whole fat-no skimping here!)
2-3 tablespoons sugar-more if you like
1 1/2  teaspoons vanilla extract (I love Everland vanilla-I buy it at HomeGoods but you can also buy online)


  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 
  2. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to combine. Cut the butter into 8 pieces. Using your fingertips rub the butter and the dry ingredients together until all the ingredients are no longer dry.
  3. To prepare the apples, quarter, core, and slice the apples into 1-inch-thick slices. I like to use a 12-blade apple slicer to do all the work. I do not peel the apples. Leaving the peels on saves      time and the skin of the apples will soften when cooked. You can peel your apples if you prefer.
  4. Combine the apples, sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a large bowl and toss. Place the apples into a 9 X 13-pan or 9 x 9-inch pan. I prefer to use an au gratin or rectangular dish that provides more surface area. This gives more topping-to-fruit ratio. 
  5. Cover the apples with the crisp topping.
  6. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the apples are cooked and soft and bubbling. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
  7. Combine the sour cream topping ingredients in a bowl. Taste for sweetness as you like. 
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Sponge Cake

5/4/2022

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​Source: Savoring Hollis, 2005
Submitted by: Eleanor Whittemore-Hollis Evening Circle of Home & Family
Location: page 97
Recipe Note from Eleanor: “This is a recipe that my mother, Estelle Hardy, used for birthday cakes. One year I tried making it for my son’s birthday. When I took the cake out of the oven, it was the most beautiful cake I had ever made. I put it on the shelf while I tended my child. I went back and the cake was a mass of eggs stuck to the pan. I forgot to put the flour in!!!”
 
Makes one 10” tube pan with removable bottom. 
Note: the original recipe says "ungreased tube pan". I followed that and after letting it rest for an hour upside down, I took a flexible knife or frosting spatula and ran it around the edges. I removed the sides of the pan and then ran the knife under the cake. Is was fine. 

½ cup sugar
2T water
6 egg yolks
1 tsp grated lemon rind
1 T lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
6 egg whites
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cream of tartar
½ cup sugar
1 cup sifted cake flour (I used all-purpose flour)
 
Combine ½ cup sugar with water and egg yolks and beat with rotary beater until mixture is very thick and forms soft mounds. 
Blend in lemon rind, lemon juice, and vanilla. 
Beat the egg whites with the salt until foamy. Add cream of tartar and beat until egg whites are stiff but not dry. Fold in ½ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. 
Combine egg yolk mixture and egg white mixture carefully, then fold in the flour, 2 tablespoons at a time.
Pour into an ungreased tube pan and bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes, until light brown. Cool in inverted pan for 1 hour.
 
Variation: 
Add 2 teaspoons rose water with the vanilla
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Scripture Cake

4/10/2022

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Community Cookbook Recipes from the Heart of Hollis-1912 to present
Recently, I pulled out my small collection of Hollis community cookbooks and began turning the pages. It was like stepping back in time. These endearing books were created by Hollis community groups as fundraisers and sold at various festivals and Old Home Days celebrations. Each book is a collection of tried-and-true family favorites, potluck specialties, and social hour regulars. The recipes provide a peek into a place and a time like a culinary historical record. Ingredient lists, cooking instructions, and recipe themes all tell part of a larger story about the times in which the recipes were created and give a glimpse into the lives of the home cooks who filled the pages with their favorite recipes.
Scripture Cake
Source: D.A.R. Cook Book Second Edition
Submitted by: Minnie Colburn
Location: page 40
 
First, a little bit about scripture cake. Scripture cake was popular in the latter part of the nineteenth century, especially in the southern Appalachians.  The cake was meant as a way to teach young girls baking and Bible verses. The recipe is designed almost as a scavenger hunt through the bible. Only ingredient quantities were listed with the bible verses. The baker needed to go through the bible to find the ingredients to complete the recipe. I know you’ll enjoy this recipe. It makes two loaves, one to keep and one to share. Enjoy!
 
1 cup butter- Judges 5:25 
3 cups sugar-Jeremiah 6:20
6 eggs-Isaiah 10:14
3 1/2 cups flour- 1 Kings 4:22
1/2 teaspoon salt-Leviticus 2:13
2 teaspoons baking powder-Amos 4:5 (Liz added because it was missing from the recipe)
Sweet Spice to taste- 1 Kings 10:10 (Liz used ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp cloves, ¼ tsp ginger)
1 cup water-Genesis 24:17
2 cups raisins- 1 Samuel 30:12
1 tablespoon honey-Exodus 16:31
1 cup almonds-Genesis 43:11
 
Follow Solomons advice for making good boys and you will have good cake-Prov. 23:14
 
Below are Liz’s instructions.
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Butter 2 loaf pans. 
  3. Mix the butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and spices. Add to butter mixture; beat at low speed until well combined. Add the water and combine.
  5. Stir in raisins, honey, and almonds.
  6. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Bake in until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean, about 45-50 minutes.
  7. Cool in pans 15 minutes; invert onto wire rack to cool completely. Best if prepared 1 day before serving. Store cake covered at room temperature.
 
Liz’s Notes:
  • This cake can be baked in a 12-cup non-stick Bundt pan. Butter well and increase baking time to 60 minutes. Check with a wooden pick. 
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Lemon Pie

4/10/2022

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Community Cookbook Recipes from the Heart of Hollis-1912 to present
Recently, I pulled out my small collection of Hollis community cookbooks and began turning the pages. It was like stepping back in time. These endearing books were created by Hollis community groups as fundraisers and sold at various festivals and Old Home Days celebrations. Each book is a collection of tried-and-true family favorites, potluck specialties, and social hour regulars. The recipes provide a peek into a place and a time like a culinary historical record. Ingredient lists, cooking instructions, and recipe themes all tell part of a larger story about the times in which the recipes were created and give a glimpse into the lives of the home cooks who filled the pages with their favorite recipes.
Lemon Pie, Self-frosting
Source: D.A.R. Cook Book Second Edition
Submitted by: Mrs. Charles Eastman
Location: page 26
 
One cup sugar, one tablespoonful butter creamed with sugar, add two tablespoonsful flour, juice and grated rind of one lemon, yolks of two eggs beaten, one cup milk. Last add two beaten whites, folded into the mixture. Cook till firm. 
 
Liz’s Notes:
This is a lovely tasting lemon pie; not too sweet and not too lemony. The whipped egg whites create a lovely caramelized top layer. 
 
  • Use an 8” or 9” pie pan. 
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the baking rack in the middle of the oven.
  • For the pie crust, I used one disk of my favorite pie dough recipe. Roll out the dough to 14 inches. Place into the pie pan. Roll and crimp the edge. 
  • When I prepared this recipe I found that the butter and sugar did not cream. That’s okay. I just stirred together the sugar, butter (room temperature), flour, lemon juice, and zest until well combined. Then I added the yolks and milk and combined. 
  • I used large eggs.
  • I used heavy cream instead of milk and I liked the creaminess of the pie. You can use either cream or milk. If using milk, use full fat.
  • Whip the egg whites until firm.
  •  Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove and cool. Serve with whipped cream if you like. 
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Midnight Cry Brownies

3/15/2022

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Recipe by: Jael McHenry-The Kitchen Daughter 
 
1 stick butter-salted or unsalted
½ cup cocoa powder
1 tablespoon espresso powder
3 large eggs
1 cup raw sugar (or ½ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup brown sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon coarse salt or flaked salt

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line an 8x8-inch pan with foil. Brush lightly with neutral oil or melted butter and set aside.
  3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan. When melted, stir in the cocoa powder and espresso powder until well combined. Remove from the heat of the stove to allow to cool a bit.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs well. Add the sugar slowly while whisking. The eggs should thicken up as you whisk. The whisking is pushing air into the eggs.
  5. Add the chocolate mixture slowly while continuing to whisk. 
  6. Stir in the flour and vanilla. Stir just enough to incorporate. Over mixing at this point will flatten the batter. 
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with the coarse salt. Place the pan into the oven. Bake for 25 minutes. Test with a toothpick. It should come out clean. If needed, add a few more minutes to the baking time. Remove from the oven and let cool. I love these brownies warm, but you should serve them as you like. 
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Air Fryer Brownies

1/12/2022

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Serves 6
 
½ cup all-purpose flour
6 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup plus 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
 

  1. Prepare a 7-inch baking pan by generously buttering the bottom and all sides. Set aside.
  2. Preheat your Air Fryer by setting the temperature to 330 degrees Fahrenheit and allowing it to run for about 5 minutes while you prepare your brownie batter.
  3. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl and stir until thoroughly combined.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth out the top.
  5. Place pan into your preheated Air Fryer and bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick entered in the center comes out mostly clean. Don’t worry if it’s a little moist, it will firm up perfectly once it cools.
  6. Remove and allow to cool in the pan before removing and cutting.
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Berries and Whipped Cream

12/22/2021

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When selecting berries for this delicious low-carb dessert, remember that not all berries are the same with regards to carbs. Raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries are the lowest in net carbs, 5 g per 3.5 ounce serving. Blueberries are more than double the amount of carbs at 12g. For a more complete guide to fruit carbs go to dietdoctor.com. 
Both fresh and frozen berries will taste delicious in this recipe. Let your fresh berries com to room temperature for better flavor. If using frozen berries, thaw them before using. 
Serves 4
10 ounces of mixed fresh or frozen berries at room temperature-raspberries, blackberries, strawberries
1 1/3 cup heavy cream-keep very cold 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  1. A cold bowl and cold cream will help to whip the cream faster. Pour the heavy cream into a large, metal mixing bowl. Add the vanilla. Using an electric mixer or mixing by hand, whip until firm peaks form. The whipped cream should still look soft and pillowy. Be careful not to over whip. 
  2. Divide the whipped cream into small serving bowls.
  3. Evenly divide the berries and place on top of the whipped cream. Serve.
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Apple Tarte Tatin

12/15/2021

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Makes One 10” tart
 
½ recipe Art of Pie “Basic Pie Crust” or 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, defrosted in the refrigerator.
5-6 firm apples, peeled, cored, and quartered-Granny Smith or Golden Delicious-if using pears, Bosc pears work very well
1 tsp. cinnamon
¾ -cup plus 1 Tbs sugar            
4 Tbs unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon of water

  1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a baking rack in the middle of the oven. 
  2. Roll the pie dough into a 10-inch circle. Place it onto a plate, cover, and place into the refrigerator until ready to add to the tart. If using a sheet of puff pastry, unfold it and place into the refrigerator until ready to use. 
  3. Toss the apples with the cinnamon and 1Tbs of sugar. 
  4. In a 10-inch cast-iron pan or other oven proof skillet, heat the remaining ¾ cup sugar over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has turned a dark amber. (Check for color by drizzling some onto a white plate.) 
  5. Add the butter to the pan and stir it into the caramel until melted and smooth; be careful, as the butter will make the caramel sputter. 
  6. Remove the pan from the heat. Starting on the outside of the pan, carefully set the apple quarters in the caramel, arranging them in a circle so that they all face the same way.  Set them very close to one another, trying to get as many as possible into the pan.  Fill in the center of the pan with as many of the remaining apples as will fit.  
  7. Put the pan back on the heat and allow the apples to cook on top of the stove for about 5 minutes.  
  8. Remove the pan from the heat.  Place the cold pastry dough over the apples, tucking the edges into the sides of the pan.  Work carefully so as not to burn your fingers, but also quickly so as not to melt the dough. 
  9. Brush the dough with the beaten egg and immediately put the pan in the oven.  
  10. Bake for 15 minutes.  Lower the temperature to 375 degrees and bake until the crust is browned, and the caramel is bubbling around the edges of the pan, another 15-20 minutes. 
  11. Carefully remove the tart from the oven and cool it on a rack for about 20 minutes.  Invert the tart onto a serving platter.  If any apples stick to the underside of the pan, simply return them to their rightful spot on the tart. 
  12. Tarte Tatin is best served right away, but it can stand a room temperature and be reheated briefly in the oven, if that suits your schedule better.

 
 
 
 
 


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Apple Galette w/ Apricot Jam

11/22/2021

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A note on your apples: When choosing apples for your tart, select apples that have red, green, and yellow skins. If you prefer to use all one apple color that will be beautiful too! Be sure to choose a selection of apples that will hold their shape in baking and offer a variety of flavor. 

Supermarket Variety Options
Combination #1: Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and Cortand
Combination #2: Granny Smith, Braeburn, and McIntosh

Farm stand Variety Options
Combination #1: Suncrisp, Stayman Winesap, and Northern Spy
Combination #2: Pink Lady, Johna Gold, and Mutzu
_________________________________________________________
Galette Dough
Go here for the perfect dough. This recipe will make enough dough for 2 galettes or one pie with a top and bottom crust.
For a gluten free option I will send you to Kate McDermott's recipe. And, here is a link to the her video to help you prepare her gluten free dough.

Galette Filling
1 Granny Smith apples
1 Golden Delicious apple (or other yellow-skinned apple)
2 Cortland apples
1/3 cup apricot jam
1 disk of Art of the Pie Master pie dough (recipe here)
1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
 

  1. Heat oven to 400°F . Turn your baking pan over and place the parchment paper onto it. You will assemble your galette here.
  2. Cut each apple in half from top to bottom. Core the apples with a melon baller or paring knife. Place the apples cut side down on your cutting board. Using a sharp paring knife, slice each half into ¼ inch thin slices (keeping each apple half together). Repeat until all the apples are sliced. Remove the end slices of each apple. Using two hands, hold a sliced apple half and press from the center pieces to the outside pieces, fanning the slices outward into a line. Do the same with the other half of the apple. Join both lines of apple slices together to form one line. Do this with the remaining apples.
  3. To assemble your galette: On a floured counter, roll the dough out into a large round-ish shape, about 14 inches across. Place your rolling pin at the center of your rolled dough. Fold the dough over your rolling pin and gently lift and transfer it to the parchment paper in the pan.
  4. Place the apricot jam onto the center of the dough. Spread the jam outward leaving a 2-inch border uncovered.
  5. Place your alternating colors of fanned apples onto the apricot filling starting from the center out. Place them snuggly up against each other. Fill in the gaps at each end with any remaining apples.
  6. Fold the border over fruit, pleating the edge as you go. Brush egg wash onto the folded crust. Sprinkle the apples and the crust with the sugar.
  7. Bake the galette for 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the apples are gently bubbling. Remove the galette from the oven and slide onto a wire rack to cool for at least 20 minutes. Try to slide the parchment paper out from under the galette for cooling. This will keep the bottom crust crisp. Serve warm or at room temperature. Fruit galettes keep at room temperature for a few days and up to a week in the fridge.
 
Variations
  • Pear Galette option: you may use ripe pears in place of apples. Bosc and Bartlett (both red and green) ar both excellent for pies when ripened. If using pears, purchase them 3 days before class and allow to ripen at room temperature.
  • Almond filling option: Instead of apricot jam under your apples or pears, try this easy and delicious almond filling. Almond filling
  • Cran-Raspberry filling option: If you have leftovers of your cran-rasperry sauce use them in your next galette! 1/3 to ½ cup of sauce is all you need. Cran-Raspberry Sauce
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Chaffles

11/16/2021

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These delicious “chaffles” are a low-carb version of traditional waffles. Honestly, I don’t think you will be able to taste the difference. The texture is similar too. Hot out of the waffle maker, the waffle is soft. Let your waffles cool on a rack and they will crisp up and be perfect as a substitute for sandwiches and toasted bread.
For cheese, I prefer to use shredded part-skim, low moisture mozzarella cheese. The mild flavor is perfect for both sweet and savory chaffles. Feel free to bump up the flavor with other cheeses like cheddar, swiss, Monterey Jack, and feta or goat cheese. Pre-shredded cheese usually have added starch to prevent the cheese from sticking in a clump in the package. I prefer to shred my mozzarella to avoid this additive. I use a 4-inch waffle maker by Dash. If you use a traditional sized Belgian waffle maker, double the recipes below.
Basic Chaffle
Makes four 4-inch chaffles

2 large eggs
1 cup mozzarella, grated
½  cup almond flour
½  teaspoon baking powder
 
  1. Preheat waffle maker. Be sure to preheat fully or your chaffles will stick to the waffle maker.
  2. Combine all the batter ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. You can also place the ingredients in a food processor or blender and mix.
  3. Place ¼ cup of batter onto the hot waffle maker for each chaffle. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the waffle maker indicates your chaffle is done (a light should come on). Be patient and do not open the waffle maker until the waffle is cooked.
  4. Serve hot or place onto a cooling rack for crisper chaffles that can be used for sandwiches or other recipes that usually call for sliced bread.
Sweet Chaffle
Makes four 4-inch chaffles

2 large eggs
1 cup mozzarella, grated
½  cup almond flour
½  teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon low-carb sweetener
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
 
Follow directions above to cook.

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Variations

Savory Variations: Use the Basic Chaffle recipe and add to it-
  • Spinach and Feta Chaffle: 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, 1 package frozen spinach(thawed with water squeezed out), ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese, 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (dill, basil, parsley, or chives).
  • Lemon Herb Chaffle: 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ¼ cup fresh herbs (dill, basil, cilantro, parsley, or chives)
  • Smoked salmon and cream cheese. Sprinkle w/Everything Bagel seasoning.
  • Poached eggs with ham and hollandaise sauce.
  • Turkey, avocado, and tomato with homemade fail-proof mayonnaise.
  • Guacamole and salsa with cheese.

Sweet Variations: Use the Sweet Chaffle recipe and add to it-
  • Orange Cardamom: 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1/8 teaspoon of cardamom (or cinnamon)
  • Chocolate Chaffles: ¼ cup melted butter, ¼ cup cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons flax meal or coconut flour, 1 teaspoon low-carb sweetener or 1 tablespoon sugar.
 
Dips and Sauces:
  • Chocolate dipping sauce: 2 ½ ounces dark chocolate, 1 teaspoon coconut oil -melt the chocolate and the coconut oil together in the microwave and serve warm.
  • Vanilla Whipped Ricotta: 4 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon low-carb sweetener or 1 teaspoon sugar. Whip in a food processor.
  • Cran-Raspberry sauce: recipe here
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Seven Lists Easy-but-Memorable

8/25/2021

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​Recipes by Julia Turshen Small Victories The entire book is filled with easy, delicious recipes. I love her 'seven lists". They will give you so many quick, easy, and memorable ideas. Here are a few.

​

Seven Bites to Have w/Drinks
 
Affordable Caviar:
Top good potato chips w/small spoonful of crème fraiche (or sour cream) and salmon roe and sprinkle with chopped chives. Be sure to make these just as you eat them and not ahead of time (the chips will get soggy). You can also put out bowls of crème fraiche and salmon roe next to a bag of chips and let your friends assemble their own.
 
My favorite Hors D’Oeuvre Ever:
Put sliced chorizo in a cast-iron pan, set it under the broiler until the slices are hot and slightly crisp, and then drizzle with Spicy Honey-see recipe below
 
Spicy Honey
¾ cup honey
¼ cup red wine vinegar
2 tsp kosher salt    
2 tsp red pepper flakes
In a small saucepan over high heat, stir together the honey, vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and let the honey mixture come to room temperature. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Spin-Offs:
Drizzle on a pepperoni pizza
Drizzle on chicken, pork or ribs
Drizzle on roasted carrots and sweet potatoes
Spread ricotta on toast and drizzle on the honey
Drizzle on cooked bacon
Serve with biscuits and butter
 
Seven Desserts
 
Peaches in Cold White Wine
Slice ripe peaches into halves or wedges (you can peel them first if you like) and put them into individual glass dishes. Cover with cold white wine (or rose) and refrigerate for about 1 hour before serving
 
Sweet Focaccia
Press the dough into a generously buttered sheet pan and drizzle with more melted butter. Dollop with ricotta cheese and sliced peaches (or plums or pitted cherries) and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake at 400 degrees until the exposed dough and fruit are browned and the juices are bubbling, about 25 minutes.
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Almond and Sweet Cherry Galette-Smitten Kitchen

7/20/2021

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Recipe from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman. I love this book and I know you will too. Every recipe I have tried has been delicious!
 
Pastry
Go to the recipe at Smitten Kitchen for Deb's dough recipe or you can use 1/2 of the dough recipe from The Art of the Pie. I prepare the entire recipe from Art of the Pie and freeze one of the dough rounds for later use.
 
Filling:
1/3 cup sliced, slivered, or coarsely chopped almonds, blanched if you can get them 
1 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 large egg white
1 pound sweet cherries, any variety or a mix of varieties-I pitted mine

​To Finish:
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon water
1 tablespoon coarse sugar
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting


Make pastry: the dough should be refrigerated for at least an hour before you use it in this recipe.
Make filling: finely grind almonds and flour in a food processor. Mix in sugar, butter, and extract, then egg white. Blend until smooth. Cover and chill until needed.
 
Prepare galette: preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a floured work surface, roll the dough out into a 12-inch round. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the almond filling evenly over the bottom of the galette dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Scatter the cherries on top. Fold the border over the filling, pleating the edge to make it fit; the center will be open. Whisk egg yolk with water, brush crust with egg wash mixture and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake galette until the filling is puffed and the crust is golden brown, about 30 – 40 minutes, rotating front to back halfway through for even browning.  Cool, and serve with dusted powdered sugar, ice cream, and toasted slivered almonds.
 
 
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Herb Simple Syrup

5/12/2021

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Enjoy these herb syrups in lemonade, limeade, cocktails, coffee drinks, tea, drizzled over fruit, and cakes.

1 cup sugar (honey can be used instead of sugar)
1 cup water
1 cup mint
  1. Combine the sugar and water in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes. 
  2. Turn off the heat and add the mint leaves. Cool to room temperature. Strain and discard the mint leaves.
  3. Add to a drink to taste.
  4. Store your syrup in the refrigerator in a covered jar or squeeze bottle. Store for up to 2 weeks. 

Variations: Prepare as above using different herbs 
  • Basil syrup- 1/2 cup basil leaves
  • Lavender syrup- 1 tablespoon lavender petals (not leaves)
  • Chamomile syrup- 1 cup of chamomile flowers-use flowers that have just opened 
  • Rosemary syrup- 1 tablespoon leaves
  • Lemon verbena syrup- 1/2 cup leaves
  • Cilantro syrup- 1 cup leaves and stems
  • Lilac syrup- 2 cups flowers-use flowers that have just opened 
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Classic Cheesecake-Instant Pot

5/11/2021

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1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons butter melted and cooled, plus additional butter for buttering the pan
1lb cream cheese, full fat-room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
¼ cup sour cream-full fat
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons sugar

  1. Generously butter the inside of a 7-inch round springform pan. Mix the graham cracker crumbs and the melted butter in a medium bowl, then pour this mixture into the prepared pan. Press this mixture evenly across the bottom and about halfway up the sides of the pan to make a crust.
  2. Put the cream cheese and sugar in a food processor, process until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, processing each until smooth. Open the machine, scrape down the inside, and add the sour cream. Cover and process until smooth.
  3. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Process again until smooth — and again, stop the machine and scrape down the inside. Add the flour and process for 1 minute. Pour this mixture into the prepared crust in the pan (it will rise above the crust on the sides). Do not cover the pan.
  4. Pour 1 1/2 cups water into a 6-or 8-quart Instant Pot. Set a trivet in the cooker. Make an aluminum foil sling, set the filled springform pan on it, and use it to lower the pan into the pot. Fold down the ends of the sling so that they do not touch the batter in the pan. Lock the lid onto the pot. Press Pressure cook (Manual) on High pressure for 25 minutes with the Keep Warm setting off.
  5. To make the sour cream topping, combine 1/3 cup sour cream with 2 teaspoons sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.
  6. When the machine has finished cooking, turn it off and let the pressure return to normal naturally, about 20 minutes. Remove the lid. Use the sling to transfer the hot springform pan to a wire rack. Using a paper towel, blot off any water on top of the cake.
  7. While the cheesecake is still hot, spoon the sour cream topping onto the cake and spread evenly over the top.
  8. Cool the cheesecake for 15 minutes, then refrigerate for 1 hour. Cover and continue refrigerating for at least 1 more hour or up to 2 days.
  9. To serve, uncover and run a thin knife between the pan and the cake. Unlatch the sides of the pan and open it to remove the cake inside. If desired, use a long, thin knife to slice the cake
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Magic Chocolate Mousse

4/17/2021

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I cannot take credit for this incredibly delicious and easy chocolate mousse recipe. This recipe appears on my favorite recipe website Food52. Follow this link to read how this amazing recipe came to be.

Serves 4
3/4 cup (6 ounces) water
8 ounces chocolate (we used 70% bittersweet — choose a high-quality chocolate you love)
ice cubes
whipped cream for topping (optional)
Optional flavoring:brewed espresso, orange liqueur, raspberry liqueur, orange bitters, brewed Earl Grey Tea, 

  1. Simply pour water into a saucepan (which will be improved from the gastronomic point of view if it is flavored with orange juice, for example, or cassis puree). Then, over medium-low heat, whisk in the chocolate. The result is a homogenous sauce.
  2. Put the saucepan in a bowl partly filled with ice cubes (or pour into another bowl over the ice—it will chill faster), then whisk the chocolate sauce, either manually with a whisk or with an electric mixer (if using an electric mixer, watch closely—it will thicken faster). Whisking creates large air bubbles in the sauce, which steadily thickens. After awhile strands of chocolate form inside the loops of the whisk. The whipped chocolate should look like soft pudding. Pour or spoon immediately into ramekins, small bowls or jars and let set. Top with whipped cream and serve.

Flavoring your mousse:
Replace some water with an equal amount of the optional flavoring listed above. Try different flavored liqueurs or tea. I often replace 2 ounces of water with 2 ounces of orange liqueur. If you are using the bitters, add 3-4 drops. 

Note: Three things can go wrong. Here's how to fix them. 
  1. If your chocolate doesn't contain enough fat, melt the mixture again, add some chocolate, and then whisk it again. 
  2. If the mousse is not light enough, melt the mixture again, add some water, and whisk it once more. 
  3. If you whisk it too much, so that it becomes grainy, this means that the foam has turned into an emulsion. In that case simply melt the mixture and whisk it again, adding nothing.
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Roasted Fruit on Mascarpone Toast

2/9/2021

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Serves 4
2 cups hulled strawberries, cut in half
2 cups dark purple grapes
1 dark purple plum, cut into 8 wedges
1 small orange, cut into 4 wedges
¼ cup butter, melted
¼ cup honey
1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
¼ cup pistachios, roughly chopped
Four slices of artisan bread, cut in half and toasted
1 cup mascarpone cheese
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees with a rack positioned in the middle of the oven. 
  2. Spread the fruit out on the baking pan in a single layer, drizzle the butter and the honey over the fruit. Sprinkle with salt. Place the pan into the oven.
  3. Roast the fruit for about 15-20 minutes, the fruit should soften and the juices should mingle with the butter and honey on the bottom of the pan. Remove the pan from the oven and cover to keep warm.

  4. Spread each piece of toasted bread with mascarpone cheese. Leave a depression in down the middle of the cheese. Spoon the roasted fruit onto the center of the cheese. Squeeze the orange onto the fruit. Sprinkle with pistachios. Serve warm.
The roasted fruit can be covered and warmed up to serve.

Other fruit combination:
Black plums, pears, peaches, black grapes
Peaches, strawberries, blackberries
Pineapple, banana, strawberries
Figs, peaches, grapes
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Creme Brûlée  Tart-What to do with lots of egg yolks!

2/5/2021

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When making a chocolate soufflé or chocolate mousse you end up with lots of extra egg yolks. Here is a wonderful recipe for a simple, yet elegant tart. I made mine in a 7" tart pan because that is the size pan I own. A smaller tart left me with about 1 1/2 cups of extra custard. I put the custard into a large ramekin and baked it in a water bath along with the tart. I did not do the caramel on top-I ran out of time! I was still so delicious!
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Crème Brûlée Tart
BY MELISSA ROBERTS GOURMET OCTOBER 2008
YIELD: 8 servings
Recipe Link
INGREDIENTS
​For tart shell:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 to 5 tablespoons ice water

For custard filling:
1/2 vanilla bean 1
1/4 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup whole milk
4 large egg yolks
1 whole large egg
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1/8 teaspoon salt

Equipment:
a 9 1/2-inch round fluted tart pan (1 inch deep) with a removable bottom pie weights or dried beans a small blowtorch

​
Make tart shell:
  1. Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl (or pulse in a food processor).
  2. Blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse) until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size lumps of butter.
  3. Add 3 tablespoons water and stir into flour (or pulse) until incorporated.
  4. Gently squeeze a small handful of dough: If it doesn't hold together, add water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) aer each addition. Do not overwork dough or pastry will be tough.
  5. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 portions.
  6. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough into a ball, then flatten into a 5-inch disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
  8. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 13-inch round.
  9. Fit dough into tart pan and fold overhang inward to reinforce side. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
  10. Lightly prick bottom of shell all over with a fork, then line with parchment or foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until edge is pale golden and side is set, 20 to 25 minutes.
  11. Carefully remove weights and parchment and bake shell until golden, 10 to 15 minutes more.
  12. Remove tart shell from oven and reduce temperature to 300°F.

Make filling:
  1. While shell bakes, split vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape seeds into a heavy medium saucepan with tip of a paring knife.
  2. Add pod to saucepan with cream and milk. Heat over medium heat until hot, then let steep off heat 30 minutes.
  3. Whisk together yolks, whole egg, 6 tablespoons sugar, and salt in a quart measuring cup, then whisk into cream mixture until smooth.
  4. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve back into measuring cup.
  5. Put tart shell (in pan) in a 4-sided sheet pan. Put in oven, then pour custard into shell. Bake until just set but still slightly wobbly in center, 30 to 35 minutes (custard will continue to set as it cools).
  6. Remove tart from sheet pan and cool on a rack 30 minutes.
  7. Remove side of pan and cool to room temperature, about 1 hour more. Just before serving, sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar evenly over top of tart.
  8. Move blowtorch flame evenly back and forth just above top of tart, avoiding crust, until sugar is caramelized and slightly browned. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Cooks' Note: •Dough can be chilled 1 week. •Tart, without caramelized top, can be made 1 day ahead, then chilled (loosely covered once cool). Gently blot any moisture from surface before caramelizing
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Chocolate Souffle/Chocolate Mousse

2/2/2021

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This recipe is easy to execute and rich in flavor. Credit for the recipe goes to Serious Eats. Serious Eats is a recipe website that carefully explores each recipe they publish. 
This recipe makes a delicious chocolate mousse too! Chocolate mousse and chocolate soufflé are very similar recipes. Mousse is served cold and soufflé is baked and served hot. Both are delicious! If you want to serve this recipe as a mousse, simply divide it into coupe glasses and refrigerate for 4 hours. Serve cold with whipped cream.

Key steps to remember for soufflé:

  • With just 2 of us at home, I have been cutting recipes in half. This recipe worked perfectly as a half recipe.
  • I used 7 oz. coffee cups and they worked perfectly fine but the soufflé's did not rise as high over the rim because they were taller than a 4 oz ramekins. You can fill a 7oz cup to the top but you will need to bake the soufflé's longer. 14-15 minutes worked for me. Be sure your coffee cups can be put in the oven before using. 
  • When buttering your molds it is easiest to brush melted butter onto the bottom and up the sides. Then coat with your sugar.
  • After the chocolate is melted be sure to leave it over the water bath. Keeping the chocolate warm is important for when it comes time to fold in the whipped egg whites.
What do I do with all those extra yolks?!!!  I made a creme brûlée tart. Click here for more ideas.

For the Ramekins:
Softened unsalted butter, for greasing the ramekins (approximately 3 tablespoons)
Granulated sugar, for coating ramekins (approximately 3 tablespoons)

For the Soufflés:
2 1/2 ounces (about 1/4 cup; 70g) heavy cream and/or whole milk
1 3/4 ounces 68-71% dark chocolate, chopped (about 1/3 cup; 50g)
1 3/4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped (about 1/3 cup; 50g)
1 3/4 ounces (1/2 cup; 50g) Dutch process cocoa powder
3 1/2 ounces (scant 1/2 cup; 100g) water-warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whites from 8 large eggs, straight from the fridge (8 3/4 ounces; 250g)
3 1/2 ounces (1/2 cup; 100g) granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) with the convection fan turned off and oven rack in center position. Liberally butter the interiors of eight 4-ounce ramekins, making sure to butter right up to the upper edge of the rim of each ramekin. Sugar the buttered insides evenly, tapping out excess, and set ramekins aside.
  2. ​Place 2 1/2 cups water in a 3-quart sauce pan on the stove over medium heat. In a large, heat-proof bowl that will sit comfortably on the pot without toppling over or touching the water below, combine cream and/or milk, dark chocolate, and unsweetened chocolate. Whisk gently until chocolate is melted, cream and/or milk are fully incorporated, and a smooth ganache has formed.
  3. Turn off heat, then carefully whisk in cocoa powder, water, and vanilla extract until smooth. Leave bowl atop pot of hot water, off the heat, to keep the ganache warm.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on high speed until they become foamy, about 20 seconds. Reduce mixer speed to medium and gradually add sugar and salt, then return to high speed and whisk the egg white mixture until firm, glossy, smooth peaks form, about 2 minutes.
  5. Using a silicone spatula, stir about 1/4 of the egg whites into the chocolate ganache until thoroughly incorporated, to lighten it. Then gently but thoroughly fold in the remaining egg whites, taking care not to deflate the mixture, until no visible whites remain. As soon as there are no more unincorporated whites, spoon soufflé mixture into prepared ramekins just to the top, then even the tops with an offset spatula. (You may prepare soufflés up to this point, and bake later; see note.)
  6. Evenly space ramekins on a rimmed half-sheet tray and bake in the center of the oven for 12 minutes for soufflés that are wet on the inside, or 13 to 14 minutes for ones that are drier. The soufflés will have risen tall above the rims of the ramekins and look dry on top. Serve immediately.
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Cherry Chocolate Bread Pudding-Instant Pot

12/8/2020

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Serves 6
1 1/2 cups water
1 Tablespoon butter, softened
3 eggs, beaten
½ cup sugar
1 ½ cups half- and- half or whole milk 
½ teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*4 cups bread or croissant cubes (stale bread works best. See *note below if using fresh bread) 
1/3 cup dried cranberries, cherries, or raisins
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
 
*Note on bread: If the bread is fresh spread the cubes out on a baking sheet. Put the pan in a 325 degree oven and toast for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until dry. If your bread is already dry or stale, skip this step.

  1. Generously butter a 7-by-3-inch round baking pan or soufflé dish (1.5 quart). If you plan to remove the pudding from the pan for an attractive presentation, cut out a round of parchment paper and place it in the bottom of the buttered dish. 
  2. Place the bread cubes to a large bowl; add the dried cranberries and chopped chocolate and toss to combine. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, half-and-half, salt, and vanilla. Whisk until blended.
  4. Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes and stir gently until the bread cubes are well-coated. Spoon the bread mixture into the prepared baking pan.
  5. Pour 1 1/2 cups of water into a 6-quart Instant Pot.
  6. Butter a 10 or 12-inch sheet of foil. Cover the pan of bread pudding tightly with the foil (buttered side-down). Place the pan in a baking sling or on the steaming rack. Carefully lower the pan and sling or rack into the pot.
  7. Lock the lid in place and set the steam vent to the sealing position. Choose the manual setting (or pressure cook button), high pressure, and set the time for 44 minutes. When the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
  8. Release the remaining pressure and remove the lid. Remove the bread pudding to a rack. Let the pudding stand for about 5 minutes. Remove the foil.
  9. If desired, when the bread pudding is cool enough to handle, run a knife around the side of the pan and carefully remove it to a serving plate. Alternatively, spoon the warm pudding into bowls.
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