• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: about twelve 3 1/2-inch pancakes
•  View printer-friendly

If you like pancakes, you’ll adore these. Tender and truly ethereal, I can’t count how many times I’ve made them and each time I hear the same words from those at the table: “These are the best pancakes I’ve ever had.” And feel free to use this same size batter to make three crisp standard-size waffles, using a half cup of batter for each. This could vary, though, depending on your particular appliance.

I’ve written this recipe requiring the use of buttermilk, since, hands-down, buttermilk makes the best-tasting pancakes with the lightest, most tender texture. If you don’t always have liquid buttermilk in the house, I suggest keeping a supply of dry buttermilk in your pantry, so you can just reconstitute it. This recipe doubles perfectly.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

Special Equipment

• Triple-mesh wire sieve
• Batter whisk or a wide blending fork
• Electric griddle (optional but helpful for maintaining correct temperature for cooking pancakes)

For the pancakes:

• 1 1/2 cups Buttermilk Pancake Mix, or see the end of this recipe
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 1 extra-large egg
• 2 tablespoons flavorless vegetable oil, plus more for brushing
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, cooled to just warm
• 1/2 rounded cup plump ripe blueberries (optional)

1. To assemble the batter: Place 1 1/2 cups of the prepared pancake mix into a bowl. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, egg, vegetable oil, water and melted butter. Gently stir the wet ingredients into the pancake mix, using a batter whisk or a wide blending fork, until thoroughly mixed, being careful not to overwork the batter. 2. To cook your pancakes:heat a nonstick griddle or a large nonstick skillet and, when hot, brush the surface lightly with vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, pour or ladle several 1/4 cup portions of batter onto the hot surface, leaving 1-inch of space between them and, if desired, scatter several of fresh blueberries on top and cook over medium-high heat, until bubbles appear on the surface, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a thin wide spatula, flip each pancake over and cook on the other side, until golden, about 1 minute. Remove the pancakes to a warmed platter and repeat with the remaining batter. Serve pancakes immediately after the cooking, in individual stacks, with softened butter and warmed pure maple syrup.

If you don’t have the pre-assembled pancake mix:

Per each batch of pancakes, whisk together 1 1/2 cups plain cake flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/3 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar. Sift this into another bowl and continue with the recipe above.

Timing is Everything: For pancakes on busy weekday mornings, do this:

The night before: Combine all of the wet ingredients except the melted butter and refrigerate the mixture, well covered. Measure your dry mix and place it in a covered bowl on your counter. Put your griddle on a turned off burner and put a small covered bowl containing a little vegetable oil next to the stove, with a pastry brush.

In the morning: Remove the wet ingredients from the refrigerator. Melt the butter and, when just warm, add it to the buttermilk mixture. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, using a batter whisk (be gentle, but no dry pockets should remain). Leave the bowl of batter covered, at room temperature, until you’re ready to cook. When ready, ladle the batter onto a hot, greased griddle, as directed.

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

For the mix :

• 14 cups plain (not self-rising) cake flour
• 6 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

For a single batch of pancakes (can be doubled):

• 1 1/2 cups cake flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 1 extra-large egg
• 2 tablespoons flavorless vegetable oil, plus more for brushing
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, cooled to just warm
• 1/2 rounded cup plump ripe blueberries (optional)
• Maple syrup or powdered sugar, as an accompaniment
• Assorted fresh berries (optional)

From the supermarket shelf:

• Plain, unleavened cake flour (If making the mix, you’ll need two boxes.)
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Fine table salt
• Granulated sugar
• Powdered sugar (only if not using maple syrup)
• Flavorless vegetable oil
• Maple syrup (optional)

From the refrigerated section:

• Extra-large eggs

From the dairy case :

• Buttermilk
• Unsalted butter

From the produce aisle :

• Assorted ripe berries (optional)

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• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: two large free-standing braids, or three 8 x 4-inch loaves
•  View printer-friendly

This recipe is very special to me; it was my “signature” bread at the very beginning of my culinary career. Traditionally, in the Jewish religion, braided challah is eaten with dinner every Friday to celebrate the Sabbath. Symbolically, the woven, knobby shape of the braid is meant to reflect the forever winding and sometimes bumpy road of life. I thought you’d enjoy knowing the easy step-by-step professional formula for making a six-strand braid at home.

Following are the directions to make two voluptuous six-strand braided loaves, or three 8 x 4-inch loaves with or without raisins. This challah dough is not parve. If Kosher and using for a meal that contains meat, make the changes suggested in the recipe.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information. And, if making yeast bread is new for you, you can go to this page on “Food Matters A to Z,” to learn about how things work. You can also check out the previews of my Pizza video and/or my Country White Bread video to see if you’d like to watch them in their entirety

Special Equipment

• 8-quart mixing bowl, for rising the dough
• Wooden surface for kneading
• Pastry scraper
• A good pair of hands!

For the challah dough:

• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted, for the dough, plus 3 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup sugar, for the dough, plus a pinch of sugar, for the yeast
• 1 tablespoon mild-flavored honey
• 2 cups mixed light and dark moist raisins (optional)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• Up to 6 cups high-protein bread flour, including flour for dusting
• Medium-ground cornmeal, as needed, for sprinkling
• Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, caraway seeds and/or kosher or sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
• Egg Glaze: 1 egg beaten with 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water

Ingredients note: If wanting to prepare a Kosher (parve) challah, one that can be eaten with both meat and dairy, substitute water (or try coconut milk) for the milk and use an equal amount of non-dairy (stick) margarine for the butter or use corn oil, reducing it to 1/3 cup).

1) To set up to make the dough: Use some of the melted butter to grease the interior of an 8-quart mixing bowl. Set that bowl aside. Spread two overlapping sheets of plastic wrap near the greased bowl and brush some of the butter onto the wrap.

2) To make the dough and rise it twice: Warm the milk in a 1-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium low heat. Pour the milk into a large mixing bowl and add 8 tablespoons of melted butter. Stir in 1/3 cup sugar along with the honey and the raisins, if using. Let the milk cool to lukewarm. Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water with a pinch of sugar and allow it to become bubbly, about 3 minutes. Add the dissolved yeast to the warm milk mixture, along with the eggs. Stir with a wooden spoon, to break up the eggs, then stir in enough flour, cup by cup, to create a somewhat stiff, shaggy mass, that’s no longer easily stirred.

Using a sturdy rubber spatula, scrape the mass on to a floured surface and knead it until you’ve created a dough that’s smooth and elastic, adding only as much additional flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking. Place the dough into the greased bowl and brush the top with more melted butter. Cover the bowl with greased plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot, until doubled, 2 to 2 1/2 hours (dough with raisins will require the longer rise). Uncover the dough and punch it down, with several swift swats with the back of your hand. Turn the dough over in the bowl and knead, gently, to redistribute the yeast. Recover the bowl and let the dough rise again, until very light and billowy, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

3) To shape braided loaves: Preheat the oven(s) to 375°F. Line 2 large shallow baking sheets with parchment paper and sprinkle the paper with cornmeal. Gather your choice of seeds, if using, and place them next to the bowl of glaze. Turn the fully risen dough out onto your lightly floured work surface and divide the dough in half using your pastry scraper. Cover one half, while working with the other. (If not working with a double oven, refrigerate half of the dough, in its original bowl, covered.)

Divide one half of dough into 6 equal pieces and roll each piece into a strand, about 10 inches long, with tapered ends and slightly chubby centers. (Use extra flour, only as necessary, to keep dough from sticking.) Position the strands vertically in front of you and pinch the ends farthest from you at the top, together, attaching them. Number the strands from 1 to 6, starting at the strand to the far left. (See braiding technique below.)
Please print the following procedure and read it carefully before beginning. Keep these instructions within easy view, as you shape your braided loaves.

Braiding Steps: Spread the strands, so they all have some space between them, staying connected on top. Number the position of each strand from 1 to 6, starting at the far left. (No matter how the strands are arranged the numbers stay the same.)

1) Take strand #6 and bring it over to become #1.
2) Strand #2 goes over #6 and becomes #6.
3) Strand #1 goes across and over strand #3, and becomes #3.
4) Strand #5 goes over #1 and becomes #1.
5) Strand #6 crosses over #4 and becomes #4.
6) Repeat steps 2 through 6 (not # 1) until you reach the bottom of the strands.

When you reach the bottom of the braid, pinch the ends together to secure them. Tuck the ends on both sides, underneath the braid, plumping it nicely. Place the braid on one of the baking sheets and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise for 20 minutes. (If working with a double oven, repeat this same procedure with the remaining half of dough. If not, wait until the first loaf enters the oven to remove the second half from the refrigerator and shape that braid.)

After a 20-minute rise, uncover the braid and brush the dough, all over, with the egg glaze. Leave the loaf uncovered, for the remaining 5 minutes. Just before baking, give the dough another coat of glaze and, if desired, sprinkle the top, decoratively, with one or more type of the seeds. Sprinkle the top lightly with salt, if desired, and bake the braid(s) at 375°F, until golden and the loaves feel light and sound hollow when lifted and tapped on the bottom, 35 to 40 minutes. As the dough bakes, it will expand, exposing new, unglazed dough. To prevent uneven browning, check the braids 20 minutes after they enter the oven and, working quickly, brush any whiter parts of dough with some reserved glaze. Quickly sprinkle those sections with some seeds, if using, and continue to bake, until done. (If braids ever seem to be over-browning, before being cooked through, cover them loosely with aluminum foil (shiny side up), uncovering for the last 2 minutes of baking.)

SANDWICH LOAF VARIATION: Make the dough, as directed and, after the second rise, you’re ready to shape your loaves.

1) To shape, rise and bake the loaves: Brush three 9 x 5-inch loaf pans with melted butter and set them aside. Turn the risen dough out on to a lightly floured surface and knead it gently and briefly. Use your pastry scraper to divide the dough into three equal portions and cover them while working with one at a time. Roll one piece into an 8 x 10-inch rectangle, with one short end close to you. Starting at the top short end, that’s furthest from you, roll the dough down snugly towards you. After each revolution, use the thumb on your working hand to press down and connect the interior wall of the roll to the bottom of the dough. When you reach the bottom, pinch the last inch of dough onto the roll, so it adheres. Working with one end at a time, press each coiled spiral of dough, in toward the center of the log. Pinch the top and bottom outer rims of dough together, elongating this part slightly, and attach it to the bottom seam, rounding off and sealing each end.

Lay the loaf, seam side down in a prepared loaf pan and use your hands to gently plump and correct the shape. Cover the loaf with a clean kitchen towel and repeat this same procedure with the remaining dough. Let the loaves rise for 45 minutes, in a draft-free spot.

To bake loaves: Preheat the oven to 400°F if using metal pans, and 375°F if using glass. Just before placing the loaves into the hot oven, brush the tops with melted butter. Bake the loaves in the middle of the oven, with 1 1/2-inches in between them, for 30 to 35 minutes, covering loosely with aluminum foil (dull side up) for the last 10 minutes, if becoming overly brown. Remove the loaves from the oven and turn them out of their pans, onto wire racks. Give the bottom of each loaf a good tap on its bottom, which should sound hollow. If not, put them back into the oven (on a shallow baking sheet) for a few more minutes. When done, remove the loaves from the oven and, for the softest crusts, brush the tops with more melted butter. Let the loaves cool completely, on wire racks, before slicing.

A word about oven space: If all three loaves won’t fit in your oven, bake two risen loaves at once, while the third rises in the refrigerator, covered. When the first two loaves enter the oven, remove the third from the refrigerator, letting it rise until the desired volume is achieved. Bake as directed.

Timing is Everything

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: 2 large oblong free-form loaves
•  View printer-friendly

Dark, with a hauntingly savory-sweet flavor, these loaves are just delicious. I had such fun coming up with this recipe for “the perfect Pumpernickel bread” for the amazing Julia Child. Although some of the ingredients are unusual, as an ensemble, they work beautifully. The prune puree and yogurt are used strategically to keep these loaves extra moist and tender (and their taste is not detectable). For the most springy texture (a dough more a bouncy mouth-feel), substitute water for the yogurt. And don’t stop kneading until you feel real “resistance” at the center.

Speaking of kneading–although I make yeast breads by hand (which is a truly aerobic experience), you can also use a heavy-duty mixer, starting with the paddle attachment and then switching to the dough hook once the mixture starts to become glutinous. I do suggest, however, that you always finish any yeast dough by hand-kneading. That’s the only way to truly know if your dough has developed sufficient elasticity.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

Special Equipment:

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 tablespoons melted butter, for greasing
• 2 cups plain yogurt, at room temperature or, as a substitute, use tepid water (warm to the touch)
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened and cut into small cubes
• 1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup prune lekvar (also called prune butter: available in most well-stocked supermarkets with jams and preserves)
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 1/2 squares (2 1/2 ounces) unsweetened chocolate, broken
• 2 tablespoons ground caraway seeds
• 1 1/2 tablespoon whole caraway seeds
• 1 tablespoon fine table salt
• 2 1/2 packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• Pinch of sugar
• 3 1/2 cups coarse rye meal (if unavailable, substitute medium rye flour)
• Up to 6 cups high gluten bread flour, including flour for dusting and shaping
• Glaze: 1 egg white beaten with 1 teaspoon water
• Topping: sesame seeds and/or caraway seeds (optional)
• Cornmeal (medium ground), for bakers peel

1) To set up: Brush an 8-quart bowl with melted butter and set aside to rise dough. Take out your pastry scraper, another large mixing bowl and a wooden spoon.

2) To assemble dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, cubed butter, shortening, lekvar and molasses. Dissolve instant espresso in 1 cup boiling water and pour into a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add broken chocolate and melt chocolate in espresso over very low heat until smooth, stirring frequently. Add to mixing bowl with powdered and whole caraway seeds and salt. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water with a pinch of sugar until creamy and pour into mixing bowl along with the rye meal. Stir to combine well. Using a wooden spoon, briskly stir in enough bread flour, 1/2 to 1 cup at a time, until you create a mass that’s not easily stirred, but not dry. Turn the mass out onto a floured wooden board and knead until smooth and elastic, adding only as much flour as necessary to prevent dough from sticking to your work surface and hands. In the beginning of the kneading process, this dough will feel quite “pasty” because of the rye flour. As always, use a pastry scraper while kneading to scrape dough off the board cleanly as you continue to knead in a sufficient amount of flour.

3) To rise dough twice: When dough is smooth and elastic, place it in the buttered rising bowl. Cover bowl with buttered plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Let rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in bulk, about 2 1/2 hours. Punch down dough with several swift swats from the back of your hand to deflate dough totally. Turn over dough, cover and let rise again for 1 1/2 hours.

4) To shape oblong loaves: Turn out fully risen dough onto a lightly floured board and use the blade of your pastry scraper to divide dough in half. Work with half the dough at a time, keeping the other half covered. Lay two clean kitchen towels on your counter and sprinkle them with bread flour. Roll dough half into a 7×10-inch rectangle. Starting at the short end farthest from you, roll dough toward you, pinching to seal as you go. Pinch to seal the ends and tuck under to attach to the bottom seam. Rotate and plump dough to finish shaping and place shaped loaf (seam side up) diagonally on a prepared towel. Form a sling by joining the corners of the towel farthest from the loaf. Secure the joined towel points within a closed drawer (in a quiet area) so the loaves hang undisturbed in their slings for 45 minutes.

5) To set up for baking loaves: While bread is rising, position the rack in the second or third lowest shelf in the oven and, if using a sheet of quarry tiles or a pizza stone, place it on the rack. On the rack below this, place a heavy-bottomed, oven-proof pan, which will preheat along with the tiles. Sprinkle a baker’s peel or a flat cookie sheet with cornmeal. Thirty minutes before the end of the rise, preheat oven to 450o F. If not using tiles or a stone, brush or spray 1 or 2 large (preferably dark steel) shallow baking sheets with vegetable oil and sprinkle interior with cornmeal. After mixing egg white and water, pour into a small medium-mesh sieve into another bowl to remove excess coagulation and any bubbles created while mixing. Place glaze next to your work surface.

6) To slash and glaze loaves: Working with one loaf at a time, carefully release slings and gently turn out loaves from towels (smooth side up) onto the prepared baker’s peel or baking sheet at least 3 inches apart. Use your hands gently to plump loaf into a neat shape. Using a sharp serrated knife or a razor, slash tops of each loaf three times horizontally, going 1/3 inch deep into the dough. Using a pastry brush, paint tops and sides of loaves (excluding slashes) generously with glaze.

7) To bake loaves: Just before inserting the dough into the hot oven, carefully pour ¾ cup warm water into the pan beneath the rack used to bake the loaves, then shut the door while you go get the loaves. If baking with tiles, insert the peel all the way to the back of the oven and with one swift jerk pull out the peel, leaving loaves on the hot tiles (preferably with three inches between them). If not using tiles or a stone, place loaves into the hot oven on their baking sheets as directed. Bake loaves at 450o F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 F and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on wire racks to cool thoroughly before slicing, 2 to 3 hours

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: 10 large bagels
•  View printer-friendly

Homemade bagels are very different from store-bought bagels, which are too doughy for my taste; I always end up scooping out the center. This recipe, which I have truly labored over, produces bagels that are lighter and crisper with infinitely more flavor. I’m really quite prejudiced since I have worked on these bagels for many years, perfecting the shaping process. I’ve learned, through a lot of trial and error, that the secret to creating and keeping the correct bagel shape through rising, boiling and baking is to make the hole disproportionately large, when shaping. Because the bands of elasticity are so strong (because the flour used is so glutinous), the shaped dough has a tendency to rise up, not out. This can cause the hole to disappear if too “appropriate” looking at the onset.

As for texture, the choice is yours. The chewiest bagels are made with just water, but the taste is a bit richer with milk; a combination of the two will also produce a fine bagel. Using liquid barley malt extract instead of (or in addition to) sugar in the dough also gives bagels their unique hint of sweetness (and yeast just loves barley malt!). Look for it in gourmet or health food stores. And for best results, I bake my bagels on a large clay stone, but you can use a dark steel baking sheet instead. Please don’t be afraid to try this recipe; I’ve already made all the mistakes for you!

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information. And, if making yeast bread is new for you, you can go to this page on “Food Matters A to Z,” to learn about how things work. You can also check out the previews of my Pizza video and/or my Country White Bread video to see if you’d like to watch them in their entirety. And, finally, to read my blog, which has lots of detailed “bagel making” photographs, click here.

Special Equipment

• 5-quart mixing bowl, for rising dough
• Wooden surface, for kneading
• Pastry scraper
• Set of quarry tiles or large pizza stone or shallow dark steel baking sheet
• Stainless steel skimmer or large slotted spoon
• Wooden baker’s peel or a flat cookie sheet, only if using quarry tiles or a stone
• Cornmeal Sweeper, only if making successive batches of bagels using tiles or a stone

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
• 2 cups tepid water or any combination of slightly warmed milk and water to equal 2 cups, plus 1/4 cup tepid water, for yeast
• 3 rounded tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar or 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon liquid (not dry) barley malt extract, plus 1/4 cup sugar for when boiling the bagels
• 1 tablespoon fine table-salt
• 1 to 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, optional
• Up to 6 cups high-gluten flour, including flour for dusting (I prefer to use “super-gluten” flour, which I purchase at my neighborhood pizza place. If unavailable, use a supermarket brand of bread flour)
• For the boiling water bath: Boiling water, as needed, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon baking soda

Remaining Ingredients:

• Cornmeal or a combination of cornmeal (preferably medium-ground), poppy and sesame seeds, for baker’s peel
• Vegetable oil or spray, for baking sheet (only if not using a baking stone)
• Glaze: 2 egg whites, at room temperature, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water
• 6 ice cubes and a small splash of water, for baking
• Optional Toppings
• Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, caraway seeds
• Kosher or sea salt
• Minced onions sautéed in a little vegetable oil
• Dried garlic chips or dehydrated onions reconstituted in some hot water until softened

Recipe instructions:

1) To set up: Brush the interior of a 5-quart mixing bowl with melted butter and set aside for rising the dough.

2) To assemble liquid mixture: If using milk, heat in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat until just warm throughout. Pour the milk into a large mixing bowl and add shortening and 1/2 cup lukewarm water. (If the milk became too hot, let it cool until just warm.) If not using milk, pour the 2 cups lukewarm water into a mixing bowl and add the shortening (no need to melt). Dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup lukewarm water with a pinch of the sugar. When yeast is creamy and starts to bubble, add to mixing bowl with 2 tablespoons of the sugar or the barley malt extract, salt and black pepper, if using.

3) To complete and knead the dough: Briskly stir in enough flour, a cup or so at a time, to make dough that is not easily stirred in the bowl. Turn out the dough onto a floured wooden board and knead in a brisk push, fold and turning motion, until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Add only as much additional flour as necessary to keep dough from sticking to your hands and work surface. As always, use a pastry scraper while kneading to scrape dough off the board cleanly as you continue to knead in a sufficient amount of flour.

4) To rise the dough: Place the dough in the buttered bowl. Brush top of the dough with more melted butter, and then cover with buttered plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 1 hour (or up to 2 1/2 hours for an extremely light and flavorful bagel). Uncover bowl and punch down dough with several swift swats with the back of your hand. Recover bowl and refrigerate dough for 4 hours or, preferably, overnight (and up to two days!!).

5) To set up for shaping bagels: Position the rack to the lower third of the oven. If using a large pizza stone, place it on the oven rack and sprinkle a baker’s peel generously with cornmeal and, if desired, a combination of seeds (poppy, sesame and caraway). Otherwise, brush or spray a large dark steel shallow baking sheet with vegetable oil and sprinkle the interior as described above. Place an (empty) heat proof pan on the rack underneath the tiles or stone. Preheat oven to 500o F at least 30 minutes before you plan to shape, boil and bake bagels. (If working with a double oven, preheat the second oven as well). Pour the prepared egg-white glaze through a small medium-mesh sieve into another bowl to remove excess coagulation. Set the glaze next to your work surface. While the oven preheats, bring one or two large pots of water to a rapid boil. Lay a clean kitchen towel on each of 2 shallow trays or baking sheets (for 10 bagels) and sprinkle the towels lightly with flour.

6) To shape bagels: Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Punch the chilled dough down, with several swift blows, until totally deflated. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board. Using the blade of a pastry scraper, divide the dough in half. I recommend baking only 5 bagels at a time (per oven) so each has enough space around it to bake properly. If not working with a double oven, place half of dough back in bowl, cover and refrigerate. Divide each half of dough into 5 equal pieces (for 10 in all). You’ll work with 1 piece at a time, keeping the remaining pieces covered with a towel. Shape one piece of dough into a very tight, round ball by drawing dough up and pinching it at the top. Keep pinching and pulling upward, always keeping ball on a lightly floured board to prevent sticking. The ball should be perfectly round with the exception of a little knot of pinched dough on top. Turn ball (knot side down) and flatten gently. Push your index finger through the center of dough (right where the knot was). Gently stretch the hole, while being careful not to tear the rim, until hole measures about 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter (the hole will shrink after rising and baking). As each bagel is shaped, place it on the prepared towel-lined trays spaced 2 inches apart. Cover bagels with another clean towel.

7) To boil the bagels: Add 1/4 cup sugar and the baking soda to the pot of boiling water. Bring 1 tray of risen bagels over to the stove and carefully lower 2 to 4 bagels into the water (one at a time). Bagels should be able to sit freely in the water without touching and will expand in the water. Once the bagels rise to the top of the pot, continue to boil for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side, turning with a large round slotted skimmer or a large slotted spoon. After bagels have cooked on the second side, remove them with spatula (draining water) and drain on a kitchen towel (smoothest side up). Repeat with the remaining bagels

8) To glaze and top the bagels:  Place bagels (again, smoothest side up) on the prepared baker’s peel or baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, paint boiled bagels with egg-white glaze. Don’t worry if the glazed bagels seem wrinkled; this will smooth in the oven. When all of the bagels have been boiled and positioned on the peel or baking sheet, brush tops and sides of bagels once more with glaze. Sprinkle the desired toppings on each bagel or just glaze and leave plain. (Try not to let the glaze fall into puddles around bagels or into hole as this makes bagel dough stick to the peel. (Having the egg whites at room temperature and straining, helps remove their clumsy gelatinous quality.)

9) To bake the bagels: Just before baking, place the ice cubes and a few tablespoons water into a cup and pour this into the pan that sits below the baker’s stone. If using tiles, place baker’s peel all the way to the back of the hot oven and with a swift jerk; remove the peel, leaving the bagels on the hot tiles (or place baking sheet on hot oven rack). Reduce oven temperature to 450o F and bake for *25 minutes (see note); turn oven off and allow bagels to sit there for 5 minutes. Open oven and allow bagels to sit in oven for 5 minutes more. Remove bagels to wire racks when uniformly golden and crisp. Cool thoroughly before storing.

Note: If working with a convection oven, bake the bagels at 450 for 20 minutes. Keep the rest of the instructions the same.)

10) To prepare the oven for the remaining batch of bagels (if not using a double oven): Before reheating the oven to 500o F, sweep away any excess cornmeal and seeds from the tiles and onto a baking sheet to discard, using a cornmeal sweeper. (This is to prevent burning and smoking.) Preheat the oven, boil, and glaze, top and bake remaining bagels as described above.)

11) To store: Store cooled bagels to be served on the day of baking in a paper bag. Store the remaining bagels in a jumbo-sized, heavy-duty plastic bag, at room temperature. Bagels also freeze well in well-sealed freezer bags. To thaw, remove from the freezer the night before and allow bagels to thaw, overnight, in the sealed bag.

Bagel Chips

Don’t throw away your day old-bagels! Instead, slice, butter and bake them for a delicious cracker! Using a sharp serrated knife, cut bagels into 1/4-inch slices; lightly spread them with softened butter (or extra-virgin olive oil) mixed with herbs of your choice, and sprinkle with coarse salt. Place on a wire rack set inside a shallow baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 375o F oven until crisp throughout and golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight tin. (Bagel chips made with olive oil and dried herbs will be less perishable than those made with butter and fresh herbs.)

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

For a batch of bagels:

• 3 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
• 2 cups tepid water or any combination of slightly warmed milk and water to equal 2 cups, plus 1/4 cup tepid water, for yeast
• 3 rounded tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar or 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon liquid (not dry) barley malt extract, plus 1/4 cup sugar for when boiling the bagels
• 1 tablespoon fine table-salt
• 1 to 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, optional
• Up to 6 cups high-gluten flour, including flour for dusting (I prefer to use “super-gluten” flour, which I purchase at my neighborhood pizza place. If unavailable, use a supermarket brand of bread flour)
• Cornmeal or a combination of cornmeal (preferably medium-ground), poppy and sesame seeds, for baker’s peel
• Vegetable oil or spray, for baking sheet (if not using a baking stone)
• Glaze: 2 egg whites, at room temperature, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water
• 6 ice cubes and a small splash of water, for baking
• Optional Toppings
• Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, caraway seeds
• Kosher or sea salt
• Minced onions sautéed in a little vegetable oil
• Dried garlic chips or dehydrated onions reconstituted in some hot water until softened

From the supermarket shelf:

• Solid vegetable shortening
• Sugar
• Fine table salt and black peppercorns
• High-gluten bread flour (preferably a “super gluten” flour from the pizza shop and, if not, you can go to: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/ for a large assortment of types of flour)
• Cornmeal (medium-ground)
• An assortment of seeds (sesame, poppy, caraway)
• Dehydrated minced onions (plain or toasted)
• Dehydrated minced garlic
• Vegetable oil (only if not using a baking stone and if using sautéed fresh onions as a topping for the bagels)

From the produce aisle:

• Yellow onions (if using a fresh onion topping for the bagels)

From the dairy case:

• Unsalted butter
• Milk (only if planning to use milk in your bagel dough)

From the refrigerated section:

• Active-dry yeast
• Eggs or just whites (for egg-white glaze)

Specialty ingredients:

• Liquid barley malt extract (available in all health food stores and in some well-stocked supermarkets.)
• Pretzel salt (optional as a topping): You can find this at this website: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: one 12-inch centerpiece or two coil-shaped challah loaves
•  View printer-friendly

Following, are the directions to build and amazing centerpiece that’s made of highly glazed raisin challah bread and it’s just perfect for the center of your holiday table. I make this every Rosh Hashanah but it’s just as awesome for the universal New Year’s Day dinner or brunch. Because the centerpiece is so beautiful, I like to keep it uncut. And, because it’s so delicious, I always make a second dough to slice and serve (also with raisins) and shape that into two coiled loaves, which is the traditional shape for Rosh Hashanah. This is because, although the more usual braided (knobby) shape is mean to reflect the interwoved (and sometimes bumpy) road of life, for New Year’s, it’s a smooth knob-less shape that’s created in hopes for a happy (bump-free) year ahead.

In this recipe (down below) I’ve provided instructions for plain and savory coils of dough, along with a photo of what a baked loaf looks like after being baked with an assortment of savory toppings (I call it my “Everything” Challah) Here’s also a link for making those beautiful six-strand braided loaves, which (with or without raisins) are another magnificent addition to the table. This challah dough is not parve. If Kosher and using for a meal that contains meat, make the changes suggested in the recipe.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management or Knowledge is Power for more information.

Special Equipment:

• 8-quart mixing bowl, for rising the dough
• Wooden surface for kneading
• Pastry scraper
• A good pair of hands!
• 12 inch spring-form pan (for the centerpiece)
• Small heatproof (stainless) bowl (or use an empty metal can) for the center of the ring of dough
• Aluminum foil (preferably nonstick) for the outside of the bowl or can
• 2 large shallow baking sheets (for coil-shaped loaves)
• Parchment paper
• Pastry brush

For the raisin dough:

• About 11 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, including butter for brushing
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup sugar, plus a pinch of sugar, for the yeast
• 1 tablespoon mild-flavored honey
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• 4 extra-large eggs
• 2 cups supple raisins (mix light and dark)
• Up to 6 cups high-protein bread flour, including flour for dusting
• Glaze: 1 egg beaten with 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water
• Medium-ground cornmeal, as needed, for sprinkling
• Vegetable spray, as needed (for the raisin bread centerpiece)
• Sesame seeds, for sprinkling (optional)

Ingredients note: If wanting to prepare a Kosher (parve) challah, one that can be eaten with both meat and dairy, substitute water (or try coconut milk) for the milk and use an equal amount of non-dairy (stick) margarine for the butter or use corn oil, reducing it to 1/3 cup).

To get ready to assemble the dough: Use some of the melted butter to grease the interior of an 8-quart mixing bowl. Tear off two long sheets of plastic wrap and slightly overlap them, on your counter. Brush the plastic with melted butter (this will be used to cover your bowl of dough, once assembled). Take out your pastry scraper. Submerge 4 whole eggs in a bowl of hot tap water and let them steep, for 10 minutes.

To assemble the dough and rise it twice: Heat the milk, in a 1-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, over medium low heat. Pour the milk into a large mixing bowl and add 8 tablespoons of melted butter (stir it first to make sure to get an adequate amount of milk solids). Stir in 1/3 cup sugar along with the honey and raisins. Let the milk cool to lukewarm. Meanwhile, dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water with a pinch of sugar and allow it to become visibly active, about 3 minutes. Add the dissolved yeast to the warm milk mixture, along with the tepid eggs. Stir with a wooden spoon, to break up the eggs, then stir in enough flour, cup by cup, to create a somewhat stiff, shaggy mass, that’s no longer easily stirred.

Using a sturdy rubber spatula, scrape the mass on to a floured surface and knead it, using a brisk push, pull and folding motion, for about 5 minutes, or until you’ve created a dough that’s smooth and elastic, adding only as much additional flour as needed, to keep the dough from sticking to your hands and work surface. At the first signs of stickiness, use your pastry scraper to cleanly remove the dough off your kneading surface. Then lightly flour both, your hands and the work surface and continue to work the dough until you are satisfied with the texture. Place the dough into the greased bowl and brush the top with more melted butter. Cover the bowl with the greased plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot, for 2 1/2 hours. Uncover the dough and punch it down, with several swift swats with the back of your hand. Turn the dough over in the bowl and knead, gently, to redistribute the yeast. Recover the bowl and let the dough rise again, for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until very light and billowy.

To shape, bake and present a challah centerpiece: First make your glaze. Use a fork to beat the egg with the yolk and water. Strain this through a small wire sieve, making it easier to apply with a pastry brush. Set the glaze aside. Brush the interior of a 12-inch nonstick spring-form pan with melted butter and sprinkle the interior with cornmeal. Tilt the pan to coat the greased surface, then tap out any excess meal. Cover the exterior of a 2-cup capacity stainless steel bowl with nonstick aluminum foil (dull or nonstick side out), tucking the edges into the bowl, so the foil fits flush with the outer surface. Spray the foil with vegetable spray and place the bowl in the center of the prepared pan, domed bottom up. Place the pan to one side of your work surface. (Alternatively, take the wrapper off of an empty 28 ounce can and wrap the outside with nonstick foil. Spray the foil and place in the center of the prepared pan, as previously directed.)

Turn the fully risen dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and, using a pastry scraper, divide the dough into 10 equal pieces. Keep all of the pieces covered, while working with one piece at a time. One by one, shape only nine of the pieces into round buns by gathering up the sides of the dough, and pinching at the top. Do this over and over, creating a smooth taut round of dough with a pinched end, on top. Place each round, as it’s shaped, smooth side up (pinched side down) in the prepared pan, surrounding the small bowl. Leave about 1/4 inch of space in between each bun. Divide the last piece of dough into three equal pieces and roll each one into a long skinny strand. Braid the dough, like you were braiding your hair, starting at one end and finishing at the other. Pinch the loose ends together, then lift the braid and carefully elongate it (being careful not to tear it). Drape the braid around the inside of the buns, surrounding the exposed bowl, pinching the ends together, securely. The top of the foil-covered bowl should remaining exposed, in the center of the circular braid. Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise for 45 minutes, before baking.

Preheat the oven to 375oF. Ten minutes before the end of the rise, uncover the pan and brush the exposed dough with the egg glaze. Let the pan sit, uncovered, for 10 minutes, then reapply the glaze and sprinkle the top of the dough with sesame seeds, if desired. Bake the challah centerpiece, until cooked through and deep golden, 40 to 45 minutes, covering the pan loosely, with aluminum foil (shiny side up) for the last 10 minutes, if becoming overly brown.

Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Carefully run a table knife around the edges of the pan making sure the bread is free from the sides. Open the spring-form latch and, while holding the pan in your working hand, lift the bread up, releasing the sides. Place the bread, still on the bottom disc, on the rack to cool further. When cool, run a knife under the bread, where it meets the pan’s disc andslide it off. Gently pry out the bowl, (or can) which should come out easily. If at all challenging, use a knife to cut around the bottom edge, then pull the bowl out. Place the bread on a large circular platter and insert a tiny bowl in the center, gently pushing it down, so it’s secured.

To help ring in a “sweet” New Year, fill the little bowl (the size will vary depending on the space created in the center) with honey and surround the centerpiece with either Seckel pears or lady apples. Place the platter in the center of your dressed table and, at dinner, pass an additional basked filled with sliced raisin challah, (instructions will follow) and accompany the bread with some softened salted, homemade butter and extra honey, to drizzle.

Plain Challah Variation:

Keep everything the same, omitting the raisins. If making two braids or rounds, after they rise, glaze as directed and sprinkle the top with one or both with a combination of seeds (like poppy, sesame or caraway). And, or top with some reconstituted dehydrated toasted onions and garlic. Sprinkle the top lightly with salt and bake, as you would the raisin dough. To make a centerpiece, using a plain dough, use a 10-inch spring-form pan.

Savory Challah Variation:

When assembling the dough, reduce the sugar to 2 tablespoons, omit the honey, add 1/2 cup thinly sliced chives, 1/2 cup room temperature freshly grated Reggiano-Parmigiano cheese (for braids or loaves) or 1 cup cheese, when making Brie en croute. After assembling the dough, reduce the first rise to 2 hours and the second rise to 1 hour and 15 minutes. If making a Brie en croute, after the first 2 hour rise, punch the dough down, cover the bowl and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours and as long as twenty-four hours, before shaping. This dough must be chilled, if being using to encase a wheel of cheese. If using this savory version to be baked in loaf pans, it should be at room temperature. And, if making savory loaves or braids, follow the previous topping instructions, for a plain dough.

The following shaping instructions can be applied to the raisin, plain and cheese versions of the dough.

To set up for shaping coiled loaves: Preheat the oven to 375F. Line 2 large shallow baking sheets with parchment paper and sprinkle the paper with cornmeal. Gather your choice of seeds, if using, and place them next to the bowl of glaze. Turn the fully risen dough out onto your lightly floured work surface and divide the dough in half, using your pastry scraper. Cover one half, while working with the other. (If not working with a double oven, refrigerate 1/2 of the dough, in it’s original bowl, covered.) Roll one half of dough into a strand about 18 inches long. (Use extra flour, only as necessary, to keep dough from sticking to your hands and work surface.) Position the dough horizontally in front of you and create a coil (like a snake that’s curled around itself) and pinch the end of the dough onto itself, securing it well. Place the coil on one of the baking sheets and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise for 20 minutes. (If working with a double oven, repeat this same procedure with the remaining half of dough. If not, wait until the first loaf enters the oven, to remove the second half from the refrigerator, to shape half.)

After a 20 minute rise, uncover the braid and brush the dough, all over, with the egg glaze. Let the loaf sit, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Just before baking, give the dough another coat of glaze and, if desired, sprinkle the top, decoratively, with one or more type of the seeds. Sprinkle the top lightly with salt, if desired, and bake the braid(s) at 375oF oven until golden, and the loaves feel light when lifted, and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom, 35 to 45 minutes. As the dough bakes, it will expand, exposing new, unglazed dough. To prevent uneven browning, check the loaves 20 minutes after they enter the oven and, working quickly, brush any whiter parts of dough with some reserved glaze. Quickly sprinkle those sections with some seeds, if using and continue to bake, until done. (Cover the top of the braids, loosely, with aluminum foil (shiny side up) if loaves begin to become overly brown before being cooked through, uncovering for the last 2 minutes of baking. (Please expect the shape of each baked loaf to be somewhat irregular; it’s part of their charm!)

And, to see what a loaf of coiled dough looks like before and after baking….

Here's a shaped coiled loaf that's risen and just about to get glazed and topped...

Here's the loaf baked with an assortment of savory seeds and with reconstituted dehydrated toasted onions and garlic!

To cool and serve: Let the loaves cool on wire racks before slicing and serving.

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted, for the dough, plus 3 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup sugar, for the dough, plus a pinch of sugar, for the yeast
• 1 tablespoon mild-flavored honey
• 2 cups mixed light and dark moist raisins
• 2 1/2 teaspoons fine table salt
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• Up to 6 cups high-protein bread flour, including flour for dusting
• Medium-ground cornmeal, as needed, for sprinkling
• Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, caraway seeds and/or kosher or sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
• Egg Glaze: 1 egg beaten with 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water

From the supermarket shelf:

• Bread flour
• Granulated sugar
• Active dry yeast
• Medium-ground cornmeal
• Honey (mild-flavored)
• Raisins: light and dark (only for raisin challah)

From the spice section:

• Assorted seeds: sesame, poppy, caraway (optional)
• Kosher or sea salt
• Table salt

From the dairy case:

• Milk (whole or lowfat)
• Extra-large egg

From the produce section:

• Chives (only for the savory variation)

From the cheese section:

• Best quality Parmesan cheese (only for the savory variation

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: 12 muffins
•  View printer-friendly

These muffins are extremely light, tender and not too sweet! And when baked within insulating paper liners and wrapped individually in pliable plastic wrap, they stay soft and tender for days after baking. To enjoy these blueberry muffins throughout the year, flash-freeze fresh blueberries at the end of July and beginning of August when they are most abundant and voluptuous–some are so large, they resemble grapes! And because there’s nothing like the taste of a freshly baked blueberry muffin first thing in the morning, follow my Timing Tips and provide yourself and family with a delectable (and aromatic) way to start your day! Oh, and if using frozen blueberries, don’t thaw them first. You will need to bake the muffins a bit longer to account for the colder temperature of the batter when entering the oven.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

Special Equipment

• 12-cup standard-sized muffin tin, preferably nonstick
• Paper muffin liners (optional)
• Nutmeg grater (optional)
• Batter whisk or wide blending fork

For the muffin batter:

• Melted butter or nonstick vegetable spray, for muffin tin (use vegetable spray if setting your tin up the night before baking)
• 3 ½ cups bleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (preferably freshly grated)
• 1 1/4 cups cultured buttermilk
• 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2/3 cup flavorless vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups plump fresh blueberries or unthawed frozen berries
• 1 to 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar or vanilla sugar, for topping

1) To set up: Preheat the oven to 400o F. If not using paper liners, brush with melted butter or spray the interior of a 12-cup nonstick muffin tin. Even if using paper liners butter or spray the tops of the tin, in between each muffin cup.

2) To assemble batter: Place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl and combine thoroughly using a whisk. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs, vegetable oil, brown and white sugars and vanilla. Mix well, making sure that there are no lumps of brown sugar). Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and, using either a batter whisk or a wide blending fork, combine the mixture gently but thoroughly. Gently, fold in the blueberries using a rubber spatula and take care not to overwork the batter or rupture the berries.

3) To bake: Spoon batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup and mounding the top (using all of it). Sprinkle tops generously with some granulated sugar. Place the tin into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 325F and bake for 5 to 7 minutes more or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center and the tops are golden and crisp. Remove from the oven and place the tin on a wire rack. Cut in between each muffin (where the edges merged during baking), carefully lift out the muffins and stand them on a rack to cool. Allow muffins to settle for 10 minutes before enjoying warm.

4) To store: Muffins to be served on the day of baking should be placed on a tray and, once cool, covered with aluminum foil. Those to be stored for the next day should be wrapped individually in pliable plastic. Either way, they should be stored at room temperature.

Freshly Baked Muffins for Breakfast

The night before, combine all of the wet ingredients, cover well and refrigerate. Whisk together all dry ingredients and leave at room temperature. Line tins with paper liners and spray tops of tins.

In the morning, preheat oven, re-mix the wet ingredients and then gently combine this with the dry ingredients and then fold in berries. Fill tin, pop into the oven and set your timer for 20 minutes.

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

For the muffin batter :

Ingredients

• Melted butter or nonstick vegetable spray, for muffin tin (use vegetable spray if setting your tin up the night before baking)
• 3 ½ cups bleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (preferably freshly grated)
• 1 1/4 cups cultured buttermilk
• 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2/3 cup flavorless vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups plump fresh blueberries or unthawed frozen berries
• 1 to 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar or vanilla sugar, for topping

From the refrigerated section

• Extra-large eggs

From the dairy case

• Buttermilk
• Butter (if not using vegetable spray to spray the tops of the tin)

From the produce aisle

• 1 dry pint, plus ½ pint fresh blueberries

From the supermarket shelf

• Vegetable spray
• Paper muffin liners
• Bleached, all-purpose flour
• Double-acting baking powder
• Baking soda
• Table salt
• Light brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Pure vanilla extract
• Flavorless vegetable oil

From the spice section

• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg (preferably whole, to be ground by you)

From the frozen food section

• Frozen blueberries (only if fresh is unavailable), you’ll use these straight from the freezer. Secure the bag shut and store any unused berries in the freezer.

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: 24 pita chips
•  View printer-friendly

Here’s a great way to enjoy some delicious chips without the guilt! Use these to scoop up your favorite dips and spreads (try them with my silky, smooth and oh-so-savory White Bean and Garlic Dip!), or just enjoy them out of hand, as a mid-afternoon snack.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

Special Equipment

• Large shallow baking sheet
• Wire cooling rack
• Pastry brush

For the Pita Chips:

• 2 large pita rounds (with pockets), cut in half and each half opened, for a total of 8-half moons.
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through a garlic press
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 2 generous tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon aromatic dried oregano, crumbled
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated best-quality Parmesan cheese

1) To set up to bake pita chips: Preheat the oven to 375° F. Press 2 cloves of garlic through a garlic press directly onto your cutting board. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt over the garlic. Using the blade of a sharp 8-inch chef’s knife, mash and scrape the garlic with the salt until you create a paste. Scrape the garlic paste off the board and place it into a small bowl with 2 generous tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon crumbled oregano and a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper. Mix well with a fork.

2) To season the pita wedges: Use a pastry brush to brush the mixture lightly on the outside surface of the bread. Stack them (seasoned side up) and cut the stack into 3 wedges for a total of 24 seasoned pita triangles and arrange (seasoned side up), on a wire rack within a shallow baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Bake until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes.

3) To serve and store: Let the chips cool on the rack until just warm, and then pile them into a bowl and serve. Store any leftover chips in an air-tight tin.

Timing is Everything

• The pita chips can be made 2 days ahead and kept at room temperature in an air-tight tin

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

• 2 large pita rounds (with pockets), cut in half and each half opened, for a total of 8-half moons.
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through a garlic press
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 2 generous tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon aromatic dried oregano, crumbled
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated best-quality Parmesan cheese

From the supermarket shelf:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 bag large pita rounds (white or whole wheat)

From the spice section:

• Dried oregano
• Crushed red chili flakes
• Kosher or sea salt
• Black pepper (preferably whole, to grind at home)

From the produce section:

• 1 head garlic

From the cheese section or dairy case:

• 1 wedge best-quality Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: 34 muffins
•  View printer-friendly

These muffins are small, incredibly moist and absolutely the best-tasting bran muffins I’ve had yet (and I’ve never met anyone, at any age, that didn’t adore them). This recipe is purposely large so you can keep the batter in the refrigerator for (at least) three weeks and create fresh-baked muffins in the morning, afternoon or anytime you choose. As a matter of fact, this batter seems to bake even better when it’s cold–straight from the fridge! And, although most muffins are at their best on the day of baking, the texture of these stay perfect for days… This recipe is a real winner.

Special Equipment

• 6 and/or 12-cup standard-sized muffin tins, preferably nonstick
• Paper muffin liners
• Electric mixer
• Batter whisk or wide blending fork
• Medium-sized ice cream scoop, holding 1/4 cup liquid (optional)

Ingredients

• Vegetable spray, for the muffin tin
• 4 cups bran cereal with raisins
• 1 1/2 cups unprocessed wheat bran
• 1 quart (4 cups) cultured buttermilk
• 2 generous cups bite-sized pitted prunes, halved or quartered, or larger pitted prunes, cut into the size of large raisins
• 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 level tablespoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 (rounded) teaspoons double-acting baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoon fine table salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 2 cups packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
• 2 extra-large eggs
• 1/3 cup flavorless vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the optional topping:

• Mix granulated sugar with toasted wheat germ, in the ratio of 1 to 2 (use half as much sugar to wheat germ). Per each 12 muffins, you will need about 1 scant tablespoon sugar with 2 scant tablespoons of wheat germ.

1) To set up: If planning to bake some or all of the muffins right away, preheat the oven to 400 F. (If using a black muffin tin or a convection mode, preheat to 375o F.) Spray the tops of one or more 6- or 12-cup nonstick muffin tins with vegetable spray and line the cups with paper liners.

2) To assemble the batter: Place bran cereal, wheat bran, buttermilk and cut prunes into a large mixing bowl and stir well to combine. Set aside so the cereal has a chance to absorb the buttermilk. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream shortening with brown sugar and molasses. Add eggs, 1 at a time, combining well after each addition. Add vegetable oil and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and mix once more. Scrape this mixture into the bowl with the swollen bran mixture. Stir well. Pour the flour mixture on top of the wet ingredients and, using either a batter whisk or a wide blending fork, gently but thoroughly combine the batter.

3) To bake: If including the topping, mix the granulated sugar with wheat germ and set aside. (I often make a larger batch and store what I don’t use in the refrigerator, covered. That way, when I want to make more muffins, using the cold batter, I already have my topping made.) Generously fill a medium-sized ice cream scoop with the batter and place uniform portions into each muffin cup, filling just to the top. Alternatively, use a spoon to fill each cup. Sprinkle the topping generously over the muffin batter. Place into the preheated oven and bake 22 to 25 minutes; if using a black muffin tin, after 20 minutes, reduce temperature to 350 F and bake for 2 to 5 more minutes, covering loosely with aluminum foil (shiny side up) if the tops are becoming overly brown. If using a convection mode, bake at 375F for the entire time. Muffins are done when they reach just a bit past the top of the tin, are a deep brown color, and a toothpick will come out just clean when inserted into the center. (Don’t over-bake; the muffins will continue to cook from residual heat, once removed from the oven.)

4) To invert, cool and serve: Remove tin to a wire rack and place another rack on top. Invert muffins onto the wire rack and let them cool upside down (These muffins will not have large domed tops.) Serve warm or at room temperature.

5) To store the batter: If not baking all the muffins at once, place the remaining batter into a heavy-duty container with a tight-fitting lid. Label and date the container and refrigerate. Spoon directly from the refrigerator into prepared muffin tins and bake as directed. The batter should remain good for at least 3 weeks under refrigeration. Also, if you ever run out of batter when filling your tin, just fill the empty cups 3/4 full with very hot tap water and your muffins will bake just fine.

6) To store leftover muffins: Once cool, the muffins can be placed on a tray and covered with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature (they will stay moist and perfect for days, but won’t last that long!)

SHOPPING LIST for Prune and Raisin Bran Muffins

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

Ingredients

• Vegetable spray, for the muffin tin
• 4 cups bran cereal with raisins
• 1 1/2 cups unprocessed wheat bran
• 1 quart (4 cups) cultured buttermilk
• 2 generous cups bite-sized pitted prunes, halved or quartered, or larger pitted prunes, cut into the size of large raisins
• 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 level tablespoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 (rounded) teaspoons double-acting baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoon fine table salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 2 cups packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
• 2 extra-large eggs
• 1/3 cup flavorless vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: serves 6 to 8
•  View printer-friendly

As far as my family and friends are concerned, this recipe produces scones that are unsurpassed. The biscuit mix has been specifically designed to make scones that are lighter than most with a very tender, slightly cake-like crumb. If you use my timing strategy at the end of this recipe, you’ll see that making scones is truly a snap!

For the pre-baking glaze:

• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoon heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the scones:

• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons orange juice (or thawed frozen orange juice concentrate)
• 1 extra-large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons minced orange zest (the colored part only)
• 2 cups prepared Baking Powder Biscuit Mix (or see below for single recipe)
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small dice
• 1/2 rounded cup dried (but supple) currants
• Unbleached all-purpose flour, as needed, for dusting
• Powdered sugar for dusting or for making a post-baking glaze, optional

1. To set-up: Prepare the glaze: Using a fork, combine the egg, cream, sugar and vanilla. Pour this through a medium-mesh sieve into another bowl and set it aside. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a flat (not cushioned) cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. To assemble the scones: Combine the cream, orange juice, egg, vanilla and zest in a 1-cup liquid measuring cup. Whirl the biscuit mix and sugar in the work-bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, to combine well. Add the currants and pulse to distribute evenly. Drop the cold diced butter into the work-bowl and use the pulsing button to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it looks like coarse meal.

Uncover the bowl and pour in most of the liquid ingredients (reserving only about 2 tablespoons) and, after attaching the cover, pulse just until the batter seems cohesive (don’t overwork it). If the mixture seems at all dry, add the remaining liquid and pulse it in. (Scone dough should be moist, but not overly wet. If your dough is uncomfortably wet, just use a bit more flour on your hands and work surface.)

Turn the mass of dough out onto a lightly floured surface and, with lightly floured hands, knead the dough gently, about 8 or 9 times. Use a scraper, when necessary, to help lift the dough off the work surface, if wet in certain areas.

Pat the dough into a 1-inch thick round and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet.

Using a sharp chef’s knife, cut the dough into 6 or 8 wedges. Wipe off the knife, after each cut, and sprinkle the blade with some flour. Repeat this cutting procedure, going into the original lines and, when the blade reaches the bottom, rock the blade (by its handle) back and forth to widen the space in between each wedge. Do this several times, if necessary, until there’s between 1/8 and 1/4-inch between the wide part of each wedge. Of course, this space will be much narrower at the center.

Use a pastry brush to remove any excess flour on the dough, then brush the tops with the prepared glaze. Sprinkle the tops with sugar and bake for 20 minutes.

Then remove the sheet from the oven and, using a clean, sharp chef’s knife, cut in between each wedge, wiping off the blade after each cut. If necessary, go over your cuts until sure that all the wedges are completely separate. One by one, place a narrow metal spatula underneath each wedge and pull it away from the rest, giving them all total exposure to heat.

Place the sheet back into the oven and reduce the temperature to 375°F. Bake for 5 minutes more. Cool the wedges completely, on a rack.

3. To garnish and store scones: Before serving, if desired, give the tops of the scones a light dusting of powdered sugar. Or, to make a glaze, place 2 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar in a bowl and whisk in a couple of tablespoons of water—just enough to make a very thick mixture that falls back on itself in a ribbon, when the whisk is lifted from the bowl. If too thin, add more sugar and if too thick, add a few droplets more of water. Using the whisk, drizzle the glaze whimsically over the tops of the fully cooled scones. Allow the glaze to set for 1 to 3 hours, uncovered. After that, when no longer sticky, the scones can be individually wrapped. Store scones at room temperature, in an airtight container or individually wrapped with plastic wrap.

4. If you don’t have the pre-assembled Baking Powder Biscuit Mix:

For each batch of scones:

• Mix 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour with
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• Whisk well and follow the rest of the recipe

5. Timing is Everything

For fresh-baked scones first thing in the morning:

The night before: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the biscuit mix and sugar in the bowl of your food processor and leave it there, with the lid on. Place the currants in a bowl, on the counter. Cut the butter into dice and leave it in the refrigerator, covered. Mix the cream, orange juice, zest, egg and the vanilla together and leave it in the refrigerator, covered. Assemble your egg glaze and refrigerate it, covered. Place a few tablespoons of sugar in a little bowl, for sprinkling, and leave it on your counter.

In the morning: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut the butter into the dry mixture, mix in the currants, add the wet ingredients, and follow the remaining instructions.

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

For the mix:

• 14 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

For the pre-baking glaze:

• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoon heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the scones:

• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons orange juice (or thawed frozen orange juice concentrate)
• 1 extra-large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons minced orange zest (the colored part only)
• 2 cups prepared homemade Baking Powder Biscuit Mix (or see ingredients list above)
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small dice
• 1/2 rounded cup dried (but supple) currants
• Unbleached all-purpose flour, as needed, for dusting
• Powdered sugar for dusting or for making a post-baking glaze, optional

From the supermarket shelf:

• 1 10-pound bag, plus 1 5-pound bag unbleached, all purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Fine table salt
• Baking powder
• Vanilla extract
• Dried currants
• Powdered sugar

From the refrigerated section:

• Extra-large eggs
• Orange juice (only if not using frozen orange juice concentrate)

From the frozen food section:

• Frozen orange juice concentrate (I prefer this to using orange juice)

From the dairy case:

• Heavy cream
• Unsalted butter

From the produce section:

• Navel orange

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: One 9 x 5-inch loaf
•  View printer-friendly

I hope you’ll become very familiar with this banana bread recipe; it’s probably the best there is and, when made in its simplest form, it’s one of the easiest recipes for banana bread. You’ll notice several ingredients listed as “optional.” This is to accommodate your mood, timing agenda or particular audience. I’m also hoping that this recipe will encourage you to use those “now or never” bananas. You know—the ones that are probably sitting in some cozy corner of your kitchen, right now, ready and waiting!

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information. Enjoy.

Special Equipment

• Food processor to make the optional topping (or use a plastic bag and a rolling pin)
• One 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, preferably nonstick
• Nutmeg grater (only if including nutmeg)
• Electric mixer with a paddle attachment
• Blender to purée bananas (or use a wide blending fork or a potato masher)

For an optional topping:

• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup finely chopped toasted nuts (blanched almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts and/or pecans)

For the banana bread batter:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter for the loaf, plus 1 generous tablespoon butter, melted, for brushing
• 1/2 cup raisins (mix light and dark); optional
• 1 cup hot tea (use a regular tea like Tetley); only if using raisins
• 2 cups bleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon fine table salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg (optional)
• 1 cup sugar (all granulated or mix half packed light brown sugar and half granulated)
• 2 extra-large eggs, made tepid by steeping them, whole, in hot tap water for 15 minutes
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 large, very ripe bananas

1. To set up: If you want to apply a topping to the banana bread, place those ingredients in either the bowl of a food processor or in a plastic bag and pulse to combine or roll over the ingredients, using a rolling pin. Set the topping aside, for now. Unwrap the stick of butter, cut it into cubes and put it in the bowl of your electric mixer. Cover the bowl and let the butter sit at room temperature, so it can soften. (To hurry this along, you can put a hot, wet, folded kitchen towel underneath the bowl. Don’t melt the butter, however.) Brush a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with melted butter and set it aside. Place the raisins in a bowl, if using, and pour the hot tea over them. Let them steep until supple, about ten minutes, then lift the raisins out, lay them on paper towels to drain. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. To make the banana bread batter: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and spices, if using them. Cream the butter with the sugar in the bowl of your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment. When very light in both color and texture, add one of the tepid eggs and, while beating on a medium speed, let the egg become totally homogenous with the creamed mixture, before adding the next egg (give it at least 2 minutes of continuous beating after adding each egg). Beat in the vanilla. Leave the machine on while you purée or mash your bananas. Purée the bananas or mash them well with either a wide blending fork or an old-fashioned potato masher. When smooth, pour the purée into the batter while the machine is continually running. Stop the machine and, using a large rubber spatula, scrape the batter off the sides and up from the bottom of the bowl. Beat briefly again, then stop the machine. Add all of the flour mixture and, while mixing on a slow speed (pulse at first to avoid flour flying out from the bowl) combine the ingredients well without over-mixing. If using raisins, fold them in now, using the rubber spatula.

3. To bake the banana bread:Pour all of the batter into the bowl and smooth the top with a table knife or a small off-set icing spatula. If using the topping, sprinkle all of it over the top of the batter. Bake the banana bread in the preheated 350°F oven for 50 to 55 minutes. (See the note below this step.) Remove the pan from the oven and place on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run the dull side of a table knife around the sides of the pan. If you’ve used a topping, place a piece of wax paper on top of the loaf and then place another wire rack on top and invert the banana bread. Lift the pan off the loaf, then invert the loaf again, right side up, discard the paper and let it cool. (If not using a topping, the wax paper is not necessary, just place the rack directly on top of the loaf and invert, as directed.)
Note: When the banana bread is done, a tester will come out clean when inserted deeply into the top-center of the loaf.

4. To serve and store: Banana bread is best if left to cool completely before slicing. To store, once cool, either place on a platter under a domed lid, or wrap the loaf well in pliable plastic wrap and slip the loaf into a large heavy-duty plastic bag. Either way, store the banana bread at room temperature.

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

For an optional topping:

• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup finely chopped toasted nuts (blanched almonds, walnuts and/or pecans)

For the banana bread batter:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, for the loaf, plus 1 generous tablespoon butter, melted, for brushing
• 1/2 cup raisins (mix light and dark); optional
• 1 cup hot tea (use a regular tea like Tetley); only if using raisins
• 2 cups bleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon fine table salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg (optional)
• 1 cup sugar (all granulated or mix half packed light brown sugar and half granulated)
• 2 extra-large eggs, made tepid by steeping them, whole, in hot tap water for 15 minutes
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 large, very ripe bananas

From the supermarket shelf:

• Granulated sugar
• Small bag nuts (blanched almonds, pecans or walnuts: only if including the nut topping)
• Tea (regular and only if including raisins)
• Raisins: light and/or dark (only if including them)
• Bleached all-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Table salt
• Pure vanilla extract

From the spice section:

• Cinnamon (optional)
• Nutmeg (preferably whole, but this is an optional ingredient)

From the produce section:

• Really ripe bananas (buy in advance and let sit at room temperature until they reach a very ripe stage.

From the refrigerated section:

• Extra-large eggs

From the dairy case:

• Unsalted butter

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: serves 8 to 10 generously
•  View printer-friendly

To me, this garlic toast recipe is like a favorite pair of shoes. I always pull it out when I want to feel comfortable. In addition to serving them before dinner, with cocktails, they are also a wonderful partner for a salad, a soup meal or a casual supper. When serving these toasts for cocktails, broil them about five minutes before your guests are due to arrive, since the aroma from both, the sizzling garlic and the parmesan cheese provides an awesome way to welcome your friends. Also, if planning to serve the toasts on a platter with further embellishments on top (try my Savory Mushroom Spread, a real family favorite!) don’t apply them until your guests arrive. Usually, after pre-broiling the toasts on both sides, I turn them over so the cheese side is up and I just keep the broiler on. That way, when my guests arrive, I can just run them under intense heat, to freshen things up.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

Special Equipment:

• Large shallow baking sheet

• For the garlic toasts:
• 1 stick butter, softened or use ½ cup Garlic Confit oil or extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf Italian parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (optional)
• ½ teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 10 slices of best-quality, crusty Italian bread with sesame seeds, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
• About ½ cup freshly grated best-quality Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1. To assemble your garlic butter or oil: Combine the softened butter or oil with the garlic, parsley, basil, if using, and crumbled oregano. Season with pepper.

2. To assemble the garlic toast, in advance of broiling: Spread a thin layer of the compound butter on both sides of the bread slices and lay them on a shallow baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops, only, with the grated cheese and grind on more pepper.

3. To broil the garlic toasts: Position the oven rack close to the heat source and preheat the broiler. A few minutes before you’re ready to serve, broil the bread, turning once, until golden on both sides. After broiling the second side, turn the slices over, so the cheese-side faces up. Serve hot, piled and passed in a linen-lined basket as an accompaniment to soups or salads, or as a bed for a savory toppings.

Timing is Everything

• The garlic butter can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator, well covered, for a week. If using oil, three days. If using butter, you can also freeze it for up to 1 month.

• Thaw the butter until very spreadable before using.

• If your bread is very fresh, the garlic toasts can be fully assembled, but not toasted, two days ahead, and stored in the refrigerator, securely covered. Let the slices come to room temperature before broiling

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

• 1 stick butter, softened or use ½ cup Garlic Confit Oil or extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf Italian parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (optional)
• ½ teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 10 slices of best-quality, crusty Italian bread with sesame seeds, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
• About 1/2 cup freshly grated best-quality Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

From the supermarket shelf:

• Crusty Italian bread or a French baguette, or pocket-less pita bread, for the garlic toast
• Dried oregano
• Extra-virgin olive oil (if not using Garlic Confit oil or butter)

From the produce section:

• Garlic (2 heads)
• Flat-leaf Italian parsley

From the dairy case:

• 1 stick butter (if not using extra-virgin olive oil or Garlic Confit oil)
• Wedge of Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: sixteen two-inch triangles; serves 8
•  View printer-friendly

Your kids won’t be the only ones who instantly gobble up these chubby, slightly sweet, airy puffs of golden dough. In most cases, the first bite will expose a deep pocket, which becomes the perfect scoop for the luscious sauce of curried dishes. Now, the tricky part: The oil must be hot enough or the dough won’t puff correctly, and if the oil is too hot, the dough can easily burn because the sugar makes it sensitive to heat. A few darker spots, though, add to the overall flavor. After you make these once or twice, you’ll get the hang of it. And, whether or not they puff, these taste great. Oh, and I don’t use a cast iron skillet to fry these, because I find the darker heat-retentive interior makes it more likely to cause the dough to scorch.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

Special Equipment

• Sifter or triple-mesh wire sieve
• Wooden surface, for kneading
• Pastry scraper
• Tapered rolling pin
• Frying thermometer (optional)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder
• 2/3 to 3/4 cup very warm tap water (almost hot)
• Flavorless vegetable oil or light peanut oil

1) To assemble the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except the water and oil. Whisk to lighten and thoroughly mix. Sift into another bowl. Slowly pour in the water, while using the fingertips of your other hand to blend the wet and dry ingredients.

2) To knead the dough: Begin to knead dough (inside the bowl) until it forms a mass. Turn out mass onto a lightly floured wooden board and continue to knead in a push, fold and turning motion until smooth, elastic, and not sticky. If necessary, as you work dough, lightly dust board with additional flour to prevent sticking. If dough sticks during kneading, use a pastry scraper to remove it cleanly from the board. Cover dough and allow it to rest and relax for 15 to 30. If desired, dust the dough with a bit of flour and wrap in un-greased plastic wrap. This way, the dough can rest for up to 1 hour, without forming a skin.

3) To cut and roll the dough: Using a pastry scraper, cut dough into 4 equal sections. Shape each section into a smooth ball and cover the remaining balls while you work with 1 at a time. Flatten 1 ball of dough and roll it out on a lightly floured board until 5 to 6 inches in diameter and about 1/4 inch thick (not too thin or thick). Using a pastry scraper, divide the circle of dough into 4 equal wedges and cover while you roll and cut the rest. When completed, you will have 16 pieces in all.

4) To set up for frying: Line a tray or shallow baking sheet with a double thickness of paper toweling. Line a serving basket with a pretty napkin. Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a 12-inch skillet until 365o F. If not using a thermometer, the oil should shimmer but never smoke; add a small piece of bread and, if it quickly sizzles and turns golden, the oil is ready. Adjust oil while frying to avoid burning.

5) To fry: One at a time, ease some of the triangles (in batches) into the hot oil, allowing each to sit free without touching another. Within 30 seconds, the dough should begin to puff through the center (the size of each puff will vary). Cook on the first side until uniformly golden but not burnt, 1 or 2 minutes, then turn triangles over and fry on the other side, going for the same color.

6) To drain and serve: Remove each batch and drain on prepared paper towels. Continue to fry the remaining triangles of dough and serve hot.

Timing is Everything:

• Although, for best enjoyment, these puffs should be served soon after frying, you can combine and sift your dry mixture early in the day (or days before needed). Give the mixture a good swish with a whisk before adding water.

• The dough can be fully assembled an hour ahead of being cut, rolled and fried, and kept covered with un-greased plastic wrap, at room temperature.

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

• 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder
• 2/3 to 3/4 cup very warm tap water (almost hot)
• Flavorless vegetable oil or highly refined peanut oil

From the supermarket shelf:

• Unbleached, all-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Fine table salt
• Double-acting baking powder
• Flavorless vegetable oil or highly refined peanut oil (like “Planters”)

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: about eight two-inch biscuits
•  View printer-friendly

Unlike yeast dough, which requires tough and persistent kneading by the cook, hands that touch biscuit dough have to be much gentler. For the tenderest biscuits, each kneading movement must be lighthearted and superficial, with the goal of just making the dough cohesive enough to be rolled (or patted) out. Homemade biscuits are usually a bit irregularly shaped after baking. Resist the temptation to work the dough aggressively, in the hopes of making the dough smooth. Most people would take a lopsided biscuit over a tough one any day. Whether sitting next to a mound of hot scrambled eggs at breakfast, or sharing the spotlight with a succulent roast chicken at dinner, these biscuits quickly become a family tradition, and one that always instills a wonderful sense of comfort and warmth.

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

For the biscuits:

• 2 cups prepared Baking Powder Biscuit Mix (or see below for single recipe)
• 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small dice
• About 1 1/3 cups heavy cream
• Additional all-purpose flour, as needed, for dusting
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, to glaze biscuits
• Softened butter and/or jam, for serving

1. To set up: Line a thin, flat cookie sheet with ungreased parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. To assemble the dough: Place the biscuit mix into either a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the cubed butter and, if not using a machine, cut the butter into the dry mix, using a hand-held pastry cutter or your fingertips. If using a food processor, pulse the diced butter with the dry mix. Either way, blend until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Pour 1 1/4 cups of the heavy cream into the bowl of dry ingredients.

If working with a food processor: add the cream to the work bowl and give it several quick pulses, just until the dry mix is thoroughly moistened and able to be turned out and handled.

If making biscuits by hand: Use a wide blending fork to, gently but thoroughly combine the wet and dry ingredients without overworking the mixture. As some of the flour becomes moistened by the cream, push that section of the dough to one side of the bowl and continue, until the dough resembles a moist, shapeless mass. (If dough seems too dry, add the remaining tablespoon or so of cream.)

3. To cut biscuits: Turn the mass out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it very gently, about 8 or 9 times, until it holds together (see the introduction of this recipe for more information.) Using a wooden rolling pin or a lightly floured hand, roll or pat the dough out to a thickness of about 1 1/2-inches. Using a floured 2-inch biscuit cutter, cut out as many rounds as possible, using a “straight down, up and out” motion. Lay the rounds on the prepared baking sheet and gather the scraps so you can gently knead them just to smooth the surface. Pat or roll the dough out again and cut out more rounds.

4. To bake: Brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter and place the sheet into the center of the preheated oven until they have risen high and turn light golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve hot, with softened butter and/or jam.

5. If you don’t have the pre-assembled Baking Powder Biscuit Mix:

For each batch of biscuits:

• Mix 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour with
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• Whisk well and follow the rest of the recipe

Timing is Everything The unbaked biscuits can be prepared 24 hours ahead and refrigerated, covered well with plastic wrap. For best texture, bring the chilled dough close to room temperature before brushing with butter and baking.

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

For the mix:

• 14 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

For the biscuits:

• 2 cups prepared Baking Powder Biscuit Mix (or see below for single recipe)
• 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small dice
• About 1 1/3 cups heavy cream
• Additional all-purpose flour, as needed, for dusting
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, to glaze biscuits
• Softened butter and/or jam, for serving

From the supermarket shelf:

• 1 10-pound bag, plus 1 5-pound bag unbleached, all-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Fine table salt
• Baking powder
• Jam (for serving)

From the dairy case:

• Unsalted butter
• Heavy cream

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: about 6 cups
•  View printer-friendly

Although this dough is very quick to put together, I’ve attached 2 ½ muscles for this recipe is because I want to stress to you that each quarter of dough needs to be rolled very thin before being cut and then fried. Don’t worry, though, since the added flavoring ingredients (the seeds, ground minced dehydrated onions, etc.) all help to sever the tough strands of gluten developed while kneading. If new to making and rolling dough, I suggest you watch the Video of me making these fried noodles which are, by far, the best I, or anyone who’s had them, have ever eaten

Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

Special Equipment

• Spice grinder
• Wooden surface, for kneading
• Pastry scraper
• Large pot or electric deep-fat fryer
• Deep-fry thermometer
• Large perforated utensil (called a “spider”)

Ingredients For the Chinese noodles:

• 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 rounded teaspoon salt
• 2 rounded tablespoons each: beige and black sesame seeds
• 1 rounded tablespoon pan-toasted dehydrated minced onions, cooled and finely ground (toss in a hot, dry skillet, over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until golden but not burnt)
• 1 tablespoon dehydrated minced garlic, finely ground
• A few grinds of black pepper
• 2/3 to 3/4 cup cool tap water
• 3 to 4 quarts flavorless vegetable oil or a highly refined peanut oil, for frying

1) To make the Chinese noodles: Whisk together the flour, salt, sesame seeds, ground dried onions, garlic, and pepper in a medium-sized mixing bowl. While combining the ingredients, with your working hand, add only enough water to create a moist (not wet) shaggy mass of dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured wooden board and knead it, using a firm, brisk and deliberate push-fold-and-turn motion, until the dough is firm, smooth and elastic. If the dough ever feels sticky, add a little additional flour. Cover the dough with a clean, dry kitchen towel and let it relax for 30 minutes, for easier rolling.

2) To set up to fry, if using a saucepan: Pour in enough oil to half fill a wide, heavy-bottomed 8-quart saucepan and attach a deep-frying thermometer securely to the side of the pan. Don’t allow the mercury tip to touch the bottom. Heat the oil over medium-high heat, to 375oF. If using a frying basket, let it heat in the oil.

3) If using an electric deep-fryer: Pour oil to the designated line and heat according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Line a large wire-mesh rack and a deep roasting pan with paper towels and place them near the stove, but at a safe distance.

4) To roll, cut and fry the noodles: Uncover the dough and, using the blade of a pastry scraper, cut the dough into 4 equal pieces. Keep the rest of the pieces covered, as you work with one piece at a time. On a lightly floured board, roll out one piece of the dough into a very thin (not more than 1/16-inch thick) rectangle. As you roll, occasionally turn the dough over and dust both the board and the dough with flour. When very thin, lay dough in front of you with one of the short ends closest to you.
Dust the top lightly with flour, spreading it out evenly with your hand and roll up the dough (going away from you) into a loose jelly-roll. Using a sharp serrated knife, slice the roll into 1/4-inch slices. Lift each slice and let it unravel, draping it over the inside of your nonworking hand. When finished, if the oil is not hot enough, lay those noodles to the side, in a loose pile, covered with a clean kitchen towel. Roll and cut the remaining dough this way.
When the oil reaches the desired temperature, carefully ease a single pile of raw noodles into the hot oil and immediately (and gently) stir and separate them, using a long two-pronged fork. The noodles will quickly “balloon up,” and little blisters will appear on their surfaces. Fry the noodles until they’re golden on the bottom, about 2 minutes (a little longer in an electric fryer), and then carefully turn them over with the long fork to fry on the other side, about 2 minutes more. When done, the noodles should be golden, light textured and perfectly crisp. Don’t let them get overly dark, or they can taste burnt. Using either the fry basket or a long-handled wire-mesh tool, such as a spider, transfer each batch of cooked noodles from the oil to the paper-lined rack. Shake to remove excess oil, and then pile them in the prepared roasting pan.

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

For the Chinese noodles:

• 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 rounded teaspoon salt
• 2 rounded tablespoons each: beige and black sesame seeds
• 1 rounded tablespoon pan-toasted dehydrated minced onions, cooled and finely ground (toss in a hot, dry skillet, over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until golden but not burnt)
• 1 tablespoon dehydrated minced garlic, finely ground
• A few grinds of black pepper
• 2/3 to 3/4 cup cool tap water
• 3 to 4 quarts flavorless vegetable oil or a highly refined peanut oil, for frying

From the supermarket shelf:

• Unbleached, all-purpose flour
• Fine table salt
• Beige and black sesame seeds (look in the Asian section for the black ones)
• Dehydrated minced onions (preferably toasted)
• Dehydrated minced garlic
• Black pepper
• Flavorless vegetable oil or a highly refined peanut oil (like “Planters”)

Comments (0)

• Scale of Muscle:
• Yield: One 10 1/2 inch round, serves 8
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This recipe is pretty basic, except for the addition of sautéed chopped onions. But to this, you may add a myriad of other ingredients, depending on your mood and who you are feeding (see variations). For the most interesting texture, use medium-ground (not fine) cornmeal. And cultured buttermilk is the secret ingredient to making the best-tasting, crispest, (yet incredibly tender) cornbread. (Buttermilk is the secret to so many different recipes that I’ve lost count!) Using an old-fashioned, well-seasoned cast iron skillet ensures the crispest, most authentic results. Today, you can even buy pre-seasoned cast iron pans. In a pinch, a heavy round cake pan will do. Any time I’ve suggested a tool, a piece of equipment, or a culinary term that’s unfamiliar to you, you can go to Kitchen Management for more information.

Special Equipment

• Wide blending fork or batter whisk
• Sifter or triple-mesh wire strainer
• 10 1/2-inch (1 1/2-inches deep) well-seasoned or pre-seasoned cast iron skillet or heavy 10-inch round cake pan (2 inches deep)

For the cornbread batter:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup minced yellow onion
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups medium-ground yellow or white cornmeal
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 cups cultured buttermilk, at room temperature
• 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons clarified butter or solid vegetable shortening
• Softened butter, for accompaniment

1) To set up: Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet or heavy cake pan on the center shelf of the oven. (If using a cake pan, brush or spray the sides with flavorless vegetable oil.) Preheat the oven to 425o F.

2) To sauté the onions: Heat a small skillet over medium heat with 1 tablespoon butter. When melted and bubbling, add minced onion and sauté until softened and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add some freshly ground black pepper, remove from heat and set aside.

3) To assemble the batter: Place cornmeal, flour, baking soda, salt and sugar in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Using a whisk, combine well and then sift into another bowl. Pour buttermilk into a separate bowl; add lightly beaten eggs and cooled sautéed onions and mix well. Pour buttermilk mixture and sautéed onions into the bowl with the dry mixture and add melted butter with another grind or two of fresh black pepper. Using a wide blending fork or a batter whisk, gently combine mixture until there are no dry pockets.

4) To bake: Place clarified butter or solid shortening into the preheated pan while it remains in oven. Close oven door and allow the fat to liquefy and become hot (1 minute). Open the oven door and carefully (using oven mitts!) pull the rack holding the skillet toward you. Using a rubber spatula, somewhat quickly (so the oven doesn’t cool) pour cornmeal mixture into the hot skillet (the batter should sizzle furiously). Push the pan back into the oven and close the door. Bake until firm but not overly dry and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the bread, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile warm your serving plate.

5) To invert and serve: Carefully remove pan from oven and run a knife around its circumference. Place a flat cookie sheet or a wire rack over the top and invert bread onto rack. Immediately invert once more onto a warmed serving plate so bread is right side up. Cut into wedges and serve hot with softened butter.

Timing is Everything

• The dry ingredients can be mixed, sifted and left in a covered bowl days before needed. Just give a good swish with a whisk to combine and lighten before assembling.
• Although batters leavened only with baking soda should be baked soon after being assembled, this batter can be fully combined, covered and left at a comfortable room temperature for up to 1 hour before pouring into the preheated skillet. Or, for best results, simply combine the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another and refrigerate the latter–hours ahead. Add the sautéed onions to the wet ingredients and allow them to sit out at room temperature for 1 hour before combining wet and dry ingredients (along with melted butter) just before baking.

Cornbread Variations

The sautéed onions can be omitted. Or, while sautéing the onions, add 1 or more of the following: 1/3 cup minced red or green bell pepper; 1 chopped, stemmed and seeded jalapeño chili pepper and/or 1/3 cup chopped hard sausage (andouille, or pepperoni, or chorizo, with the casing removed); you can also sauté 3 pieces bacon, until crisp, drain and coarsely chop. Then sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings instead of the butter and add chopped bacon when assembling butter. Another variation is to sauté 1/3 cup crumbled fresh sweet or hot Italian sausage in a bit of olive oil until golden; pour out any accumulated fat and add onions and 1 clove of minced garlic.

Clarified Butter
To clarify butter, slowly melt 2 or more sticks of unsalted butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan (preferably one with a spout) over low heat, without stirring, until totally liquefied and the milky residue that’s fallen to the bottom of the pan becomes light golden and gives off a nutty aroma. Remove the pan from heat and let the butter settle for 15 minutes. Using a fine-mesh skimmer or a small shallow spoon, remove any white foamy substance that sits on top of the butterfat. When no milky solids remain on top, carefully pour the pure, yellow butterfat through a fine-mesh skimmer or a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, leaving any toasted residue behind. Expect to lose up to a quarter of your original volume, after straining. Store clarified butter in the refrigerator in a securely shut container for up to 6 months.

SHOPPING LIST

At-a-Glance Reminder of Ingredients

For the cornbread batter:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup minced yellow onion
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups medium-ground yellow or white cornmeal
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 cups cultured buttermilk, at room temperature
• 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons clarified butter (see recipe) or solid vegetable shortening
• Softened butter, for accompaniment

From the supermarket shelf:

• Unbleached, all-purpose flour
• Medium-ground yellow cornmeal
• Baking soda
• Fine table salt
• Granulated sugar
• Black pepper

From the produce aisle:

• Yellow onion

From the refrigerated section:

• Extra-large eggs

From the dairy case:

• Buttermilk
• Unsalted butter (for the batter, to clarify and for serving)

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