As a kid, the year 2020 was always in our social studies books. I can remember being 8, 9, and 10 and learning all about what the year 2020 would have in store for us: high-tech computers, houses and appliances that talked to you, and maybe....flying cars! Not to mention, the movie Back To The Future was HUGE and it also featured 2020. It was going to be THE YEAR!
My point is, we kids really looked forward to it. 2020 carried A LOT of hype. At the time, 2020 seemed SO FAR away! But, like I said, it was going to be THE YEAR! Until it actually happened. 2020 was NOTHING like we thought it would be. It WAS NOT what we waited for all this time.
It was absolutely a mind-blowing year and one that we will NEVER forget! I mean, we have to hand it to 2020, it will definitely be a year that goes down in the history books.
I am not, however, going to start bashing 2020 and going on about how horrible it has been. It has definitely not been the best year, but I have to count my blessings. I am incredibly thankful for the health and safety of my family, friends, co-workers, and students. I am also beyond thankful for this blog and all of you, as well as the additional time I've had to indulge in my hobbies. I have read more books this year than I've ever read before and I have cooked some amazing food. I have played endless board games with the family and stayed in touch with family and friends more than I've ever been able to before. Since these are the things that matter most, I can honestly say that although 2020 was not what I expected, I truly had a great year.
As this year comes to a close, I am counting my blessings and hoping and praying that 2021 brings healing for all.
2020 was a delicious year! The ten recipes below are are my absolute favorites! They are in no particular order. As always, if you click on the recipe title you will be directed to the original post with the recipe.
Before making Julia's Roast Chicken I was a HUGE fan of Ina Garten's Engagement Roast Chicken (it is a fabulous recipe), but after making Julia's Roast Chicken there is absolutely NO GOING BACK! Julia's recipe is fussy. You have to baste and flip and baste and flip, but it is the juiciest and the most delicious chicken you will ever make. It is definitely THE ROAST CHICKEN recipe!
At the very beginning of the pandemic, I had way too much bread on hand and I needed a plan. Never one to waste, I took my croissants and made this extremely indulgent Caramel Croissant Pudding from the one and only Nigella Lawson. OH MY....this is heavenly! Sticky, crispy, flaky, buttery, and a little salty from the pinch of salt I added, it is one heavenly dessert. You should definitely make this if you have leftover croissants! You should even consider buying croissants and making this, it is incredibly good.
There are a couple of ingredients that I hoard. Pasta is one (I usually have at least 20 boxes). Granola and dried fruit is another. During the pandemic my habit worsened. I was not going to be found without granola, dried fruit and shelf stable coconut milk. Looking for a way to use some up, I stumbled across Bittman's Fruit and Cereal Bars and fell in love. They are SO GOOD and you can change them up according to what you have. I crave these and have made them several times since. I prefer them to ANY and EVERY fancy granola bar out there. Stop paying top dollar for fancy convenience bars and make these instead. They are far healthier and far more delicious!
My dad and I used to snack on green onions and radishes dipped in a little salt when I was a kid. Midway through the pandemic I was homesick for my Dad and I came across this dish. Ina's herby butter is a blend of dill, parsley, green onions, and a splash of lemon juice. When you pair the herby butter with the crusty bread, salt, and the radishes you have a sophisticated snack that anyone would love, me and Dad included! If you love radishes, do give this a try!
There is always at least one potato dish in my top ten favorites of the year and this year's amazing potato recipe belongs to the one and only Ottolenghi! Do you see those big chunks of shallow-fried garlic and potatoes? Holy cow. Do yourself a favor and make this one. Do yourself another favor and double the garlic. Wow, talk about a flavor bomb! Potatoes never had it so good!
We make a lot of chili and this recipe is my current favorite! If you're a chili lover then you definitely need to give this version a try. It is perfectly balanced, just the right mix of meat and veggies and beans (a very important requirement in chili) AND it is so flavorful. Plus, I love that she serves it over Quinoa and Pine Nut Pilaf. Easy, healthy, and delicious...do yourself a favor and try this recipe during chili season!
I love all the recipes in this roundup equally, but if I had to pick a number one favorite, this recipe for Kielbasa with Mustard Dip is the hands down winner. I have made this recipe at least 10 times since I originally shared it. I tell everyone about it and they love it as well. It is EASY and simple. You just saute some kielbasa and whip up a batch of the mustard dip. The mustard dip has the zestiness from the horseradish and it is a wonderful dipper to have on hand. I find myself spreading it on sandwiches and dunking my fries in it. I keep the dip on hand because I absolutely crave it! Definitely make this for any party, (sometime in the future when covid isn't a threat) or safely at home for your family, and watch it disappear!
Mark my words, "I have NEVER made a dessert that was better than this." I mean it. Never! Apples and raisins and bourbon are not my favorite things, but this cake is absolutely incredible. It tastes like something you'd find at the finest bakery or the winning dessert at a fine dining establishment. I was just so impressed with it. Everything about it is total perfection and the bourbon just takes it over the top!
Everyone has their favorite chicken sandwich. Mine is the Fried Chicken Sandwich from Shake Shack, and thankfully for me, it is Jeffrey's favorite (Ina Garten's husband). Ina Garten bought the Shake Shack cookbook and I'm sure she tweaked it to write this magnificent recipe for a Fried Chicken Sandwich with Buttermilk Herb Mayo. She goes over all the basics, right down to the construction of the sandwich and which rolls to buy. This is an insanely delicious sandwich and one that would please the kids, as well as anyone else.
Another good thing about 2020, I tried my hand at making Baked Alaska and it is definitely delicious! Ina's version is made by placing vanilla ice cream (only the good stuff, Haagen Dazs), and Raspberry Sorbet on top of store-bought pound cake and topping it with a meringue. I need to work on my peaks, but this is such a treat! We all loved it!
I'm very partial to sausage with peppers and onions and this recipe, roasting it all in the oven, is THE WAY to go! I highly recommend making this FLAVOR BOMB of a recipe and cooking the entire batch because this makes for a perfect family dinner and the leftovers are incredible.
This is, without a doubt, the very best recipe for making Sausages with Peppers and Onions! I can say this with absolutely certainty because sausage with peppers and onions is one of my all-time favorite meals and I have certainly made my fair share.
I've made sausage with peppers and onions on the stove top and on the grill, but never in the oven. All I can say is...WOW, this dish is THE recipe for sausage, peppers & onions. Throw out all other recipes. This is incredible and is going to be one of my favorite recipes of 2020!
Not only is this THE BEST way to make this dish, but it is also the easiest! Doesn't everyone love a sheet pan dinner?
All you need to do is buy a mix of sausages, 1 pound of sweet and 1 pound of hot. Cut up some bell peppers, poblano peppers, hot peppers (if you like), some onions and garlic, slice up some fennel if you like, coat it in some oil and Italian seasonings and roast it all, separately, for about 20 minutes, before mixing it all, splashing it all with a little white wine, and roasting it for another 20 minutes.
Ina serves her sausages with polenta and I'm sure that's delicious. I served mine with pierogi (that's how we usually eat ours). You could serve this with mashed potatoes or pasta, even rice, I suppose. You could also serve it on a hoagie roll. The sky is the limit really!
There's one more thing about this recipe that makes it a
winner...LEFTOVERS! DO NOT skimp on this recipe or cut it in half
thinking that you can't eat 2 pounds of sausage with peppers and onions!
Yes, you can, and you'll want to! One of the best parts about this
recipe is that you'll have enough for dinner and then you'll have enough
sausage and peppers and onions leftover to make a killer breakfast the
next morning OR mix it with pasta the next night for dinner OR put it in
a hoagie and eat it as a sandwich OR anything else your heart desires. It is extremely versatile AND it will only taste better the next day when the flavors have a chance to
meld overnight!
So, this recipe gets the chef's kiss AND wins the
award for one of my very best recipes of the year! I know that I will
be cooking this time after time after time, and you should too! I VERY
highly recommend it! Thanks, Ina!
I'm so happy to end this year of
cooking with one of my favorite dishes of the year! Next week I will be
doing a roundup of my Top Ten favorite recipes of the year!
Roasted Sausages, Peppers, & Onions
Adapted from Modern Comfort Food
by Ina Garten
Serves 6
2 large yellow onions, cut in 1/2" wide wedges through the core
2 large red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and cut in 1/2" strips
2 large orange bell peppers, cored, seeded, and cut in 1/2" strips
2 large poblano peppers, seeded and cut into 1/4" strips
1 medium fennel bulb, halved, cored, and sliced crosswise 1/4" thick
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed in your hands or
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and freshly ground black pepper
good olive oil
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
1 pound hot Italian sausage
1 pint red cherry tomatoes
1/3 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
1/2 cup julienned fresh basil leaves
Freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese, for serving
Notes: I cut the amount of bell peppers in half and didn't use the fennel or the cherry tomatoes. I also added slices of serrano pepper for heat. I didn't have oregano so I used about 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. All of my changes worked perfectly and I think there is room for you to customize this recipe as you like. The one thing I will say is to take care with how you cut your vegetables. You do want them to be cut like she suggests in this recipe. If they are cut too big, they won't cook down as well and if they're cut too small they could burn.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange two racks evenly spaced in the oven.
Put the onions, bell peppers, poblano peppers, fennel, garlic, oregano (or Italian seasoning), 1 tablespoons of salt, and 1-1/2 teaspoons black pepper in a large (14 x 8-inch), shallow roasting pan. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and toss well. (Don't crowd everything in a smaller pan; the vegetables won't brown.) Separately, on a sheet pan, toss the sausages with 2 tablespoons olive oil and spread them out in one layer. Place both pans in the oven for 20 minutes.
Toss the vegetables and transfer the sausages to the roasting pan. Add the tomatoes. Pour in the wine and roast for another 25 to 30 minutes (I cooked mine only for 20 more minutes and they were perfect), turning the sausages to brown evenly. Off the heat, sprinkle on the basil (I didn't have any so I skipped this step), toss well, taste for seasonings, and serve hot with grated Parmesan on the side.
Some people might think a world like "glob" doesn't sound appetizing. But, if we say Chocolate Peanut Butter Globs it instantly changes things! Right? I mean there are very few things that chocolate and peanut butter don't improve.
When I see the words Chocolate Peanut Butter Globs I think of complete and utter indulgence. After all, if I'm hungry for chocolate and peanut butter I do want globs and globs of it!
This cookie is packed with tons of goodness: melted chocolate, chocolate chips, whole pecans, whole walnuts, and peanut butter chips and it's all nestled in a chocolate brownie-esque type batter that bakes up into one delicious glob.
Also, I couldn't resist. It is 2020 and when asked what kind of cookies I'm making for the holiday I couldn't resist to answer with a simple "globs." It does seem rather fitting, doesn't it?
Chocolate Peanut Butter Globs
Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Foolproof
by Ina Garten
Makes 20-22 cookies
6 tablespoons butter
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 extra-large eggs
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder, such as Medaglia d'Oro*
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole walnut halves
1 cup whole pecan halves
2/3 cup peanut butter chips, such as Reese's
Note: I didn't add the espresso powder because we don't drink coffee and we don't care for the taste of it.
Preheat the oven to 324 degrees. Line a few sheet pans with parchment paper.
In a bowl set over simmering water, melt the butter, 6 ounces of the chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate, stirring occasionally, until just melted. Remove from the heat and cool for 15 minutes.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddles attachment, beat the eggs, espresso powder, and vanilla until combined. Add the sugar, raise the speed to medium-high, and beat for 2 minutes, until the batter is thick and falls back on itself in a ribbon. Set aside.
With the mixer on low, slowly add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture. Combine the 1/3 cup of flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and fold it into the chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula.In another bowl, combine the walnuts, pecans, peanut butter chips, the remaining 6 ounces of chocolate chips, and the tablespoon of flour and fold it into the chocolate mixture. With 2 soup spoons, drop rounded mounds of batter 1 inch apart onto the prepared sheet pans. Bake for 15 minutes exactly. Cool on the baking sheets.
About once a month, my son and I take a ride over to Lexington and visit Shake Shack. My son is gluten free and Shake Shack has a great gluten free burger that he loves. I love their burgers, but I'm a much bigger fan of their Chick'n Shack Sandwich. I love the thick crispy coating on the chicken, the buttermilk herb mayo, with the crisp lettuce and salty pickles. As far as I'm concerned it is THE BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH EVER!
I recently joined a Barefoot Contessa group on Facebook and I noticed they were sharing Ina Garten's Fried Chicken Sandwiches left and right. When I started looking into it I realized that Ina bought the Shake Shack cookbook and recreated the sandwich, sharing the recipe in her Cook Like A Pro cookbook. It turns out that this chicken sandwich is also Jeffrey's favorite chicken sandwich as well.
I'm glad Jeffrey and I have similar tastes. This totally worked out in my favor.
I have been beyond excited to try my hand at this recipe at home. I read the recipe. I watched the video.
NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS RECIPE IT DOES REQUIRE PLANNING AHEAD! THE CHICKEN HAS TO MARINATE IN THE BUTTERMILK MIXTURE FOR AS LEAST 8 HOURS!
Also worth noting: People may chose to alter the way they assemble their sandwich. That is up to them, however, the way you assemble a sandwich affects the taste, so pay attention to the directions below when it comes to assembling. Ina refers to this as flavor build. If you don't assemble your sandwich the same, it will make a difference. Also, buy the very best potato buns you can find!
Now, I don't fry often at home for a lot of reasons, but mainly because you have to fry in batches and it is a chore to keep all the food warm so everyone can eat together at the same time, BUT....Ina keeps her fried chicken pieces warm in the oven and serves them all together, so this can totally be a meal that everyone enjoys at the same time! I found the process worked very well for me!
I find that most people love a good chicken sandwich. My family really enjoyed these sandwiches for brunch right before we decorated the tree (I like to cook. I don't like to decorate, so I've procrastinated). The potato roll is the perfect vessel for the double breaded, and very well-seasoned, extremely juicy and tender fried chicken. The buttermilk herb mayo hits all the right notes and adds so much flavor. Some crisp Bibb lettuce and some salty tangy pickles. This sandwich will have you swooning. The best part is, I don't have to leave the house for my favorite Shake Shack sandwich because this one is even better! Thanks Ina!
Fried Chicken Sandwiches with Buttermilk Herb Mayo
Adapted from Modern Comfort Food
by Ina Garten
Serves 6
For The Sandwiches
2 cups buttermilk, shaken
1 shallot, peeled, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced crosswise
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1 jalapeno pepper (with seeds), halved lengthwise
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
3-1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2-1/2 teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon celery salt
2 (48 ounce) bottles canola oil
6 potato hamburger buns, toasted for serving (buy the best you can find!)*
Buttermilk Herb Mayo (see recipe below)
6 Bibb lettuce leaves
Kosher dill pickles, such as Claussen, thinly sliced, for serving
Buttermilk Herb Mayo
1 cup good mayonnaise, such as Hellman's
2 tablespoons buttermilk, shaken
1 teaspoon good white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoons minced fresh chives
1/8 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
salt and freshly ground black pepper
To Make The Buttermilk Herb Mayo: Whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk,vinegar, scallions, parsley, chives, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. TIP: Sauces are generally best made at least a few hours in advance. It helps the flavors blend and marry.
To Marinate The Chicken: (This Requires At Least 8 Hours): In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, shallot, garlic,jalapeno, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Place the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of parchment paper and with a rolling pin or a meat mallet, pound them until they are evenly 1/2 inch thick. Slice each piece of chicken in half crosswise so you have 2 pieces approximately the same size. Place the chicken in the marinade, making sure each piece is well coated, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to (but not more than) 24 hours.
When Ready To Cook The Chicken: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Set a wire rack on a sheet pan and place them in the oven. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, celery salt, 1 tablespoon salt and 1-1/2 teaspoons black pepper and set aside.
Pour oil into a medium (9-inch round x 4-1/2" high) Dutch oven such as Le Creuset, until it is 2inches deep.Clip on a candy thermometer and heat the oil over high heat tuntil it reaches 350 degrees. Meanwhile, lift the chicken from the marinade, dredge it in the flour mixture, submerge it again in the marinade, then again in the flour mixture, lightly shaking off the excess. Transfer the chicken to a plate or sheet pan until ready to fry.
When the oil is 350 degrees, carefully lower 3 pieces only into the oil with tongs and adjust the heat to keep the oil at 350 degrees. Don't crowd the chicken! Cook for 5 minutes, turning once to brown evenly. With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to the sheet pan in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Sprinkle all the chicken with salt and keep warm for up to 15 minutes, until ready to serve.
To Assemble and Serve: Place the bottom of each bun on a plate, spread with some of the buttermilk herb mayo, then a lettuce leaf, 4 pickle slices, then a piece of chicken. Spread the underside of the top bun generously with more of the mayo and place on top of the chicken, mayo side down. Serve while the chicken is still warm.
Back in the 70's Baked Alaska was all the rage. It must have been THE dessert because I'm pretty sure I remember seeing it on TV and in magazines. I can definitely remember Baked Alaska getting my attention as a kid. The funny name, the glorious mound of meringue with different types of ice cream inside. It looked heavenly to me as a kid and it looks heavenly to me now! However, I never ate Baked Alaska or made Baked Alaska until today, 45 years too late in my opinion!
I'm not afraid to say that I'm a little miffed at myself for waiting so long, too long to try this glorious and heavenly dessert!
There are endless versions of Baked Alaska. I think the version of my youth was made with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream, classic Neapolitan flavors. Ina's version is made with raspberry sorbet and vanilla ice cream.
I will warn you...this recipe took up most of my Sunday. It is time consuming and makes A LOT of very messy and rather sticky dishes, but it is extremely special and we definitely need to treat ourselves right now! Totally worth it!
What you see above and below is my very first attempt at Baked Alaska. Ideally, I'd like my meringue to get a little more color and have some crispy tips, but I noticed that ice cream was melting on the sheet pan so I pulled it out. Once I cut into it I noticed that the ice cream was still perfectly solid inside SO, I'm going to go a little longer the next time. Trust me, I will be making this recipe over and over again until I get it just right!
In summary, I don't know what you see when you picture heaven, but I'm pretty
sure I see a combo of raspberry sorbet with vanilla ice cream, sitting
atop a piece of pound cake, then topped with a fluffy marshmallowy Swiss
meringue that goes crisp and golden on the outside while still being a
little fluffy and cloud-like on the inside, all sitting atop a fresh homemade raspberry
sauce.
Me from a mountaintop: BAKED ALASKA IS AMAZING! MAKE THIS VERSION OR ANY OTHER VERSION DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
Raspberry Baked Alaska
Adapted from Cook Like A Pro
by Ina Garten
Makes 6
For the Ice Cream and Cake
1 (1-pound) store-bought pound cake
1 pint good raspberry sorbet, such as Ciao Bella
1 pint good vanilla ice cream, such as Haagen-Dazs
For the Swiss Meringue
8 extra large egg whites
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh Raspberry Sauce
1 (6-ounce) package fresh raspberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup (12 ounces) seedless raspberry jam, such as Tiptree
1 tablespoon framboise liqueur
For the Cake and Ice Cream: Slice the cake into six 1/2" thick slices. Cut six (2-1/2") circles - one from each slice - with an unfluted round cookie cutter, discarding the scraps. (You can also use a small knife.) Place the cake rounds 2inches apart on a flat dish that will fit in your freezer.
Soften the sorbet and the ice cream just enough to be able to scoop them with a standard 2-1/4" diameter icecream scoop (15 to 30 seconds in the microwave works). Fill half the scoop with raspberry sorbet and the rest of the scoop with vanilla ice cream and place an ice cream ball, flat side down, in the middle of each cake round. Freeze for at least30 minutes, until the ice cream is very hard.
For the Meringue: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. To make the Swiss meringue, place the egg whites and sugar in a heat proof glass bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk the mixture almost constantly, until it reaches 120 degrees on a candy thermometer and the sugar has dissolved (see tip). Pour the mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add the vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt and beat on medium speed for one minute, then on high speed for 5 minutes, until the egg whites form stiff, glossy peaks.
Transfer the cake rounds and ice cream to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Working quickly, spread the meringue with a spoon or small spatula, making lots of peaks all over with the back of the spoon. (You can also use a pastry bag fitted with a large fluted tip and pipe the meringue thickly around each ball of ice cream and cake.) Be sure all of the ice cream is covered with meringue. Bake for 2-1/2 to 3 minutes, until the edges of the meringues are browned, turning the pan once to brown evenly. Transfer to dessert plates, drizzle fresh raspberry sauce around each baked Alaska, and serve immediately.
For the Fresh Raspberry Sauce: Place the raspberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and the framboise into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Pour into a container and chill. The sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week.
I love to cook. I don't love to bake. Baking is precise and subject to things like weather, humidity, and what color shirt you're wearing, or not wearing, that day. Baking is messy. Flour is finicky. Baking also results in dessert, which is my favorite thing to eat and I have zero willpower so, lots of reasons baking isn't my thing.
However, I've spent a good majority of my week off looking at all my Barefoot Contessa cookbooks and there were SO MANY baking/dessert recipes that I want to try! I have to confess that I've been bit by the baking bug. I also have to admit that I thought I was only missing one or two Barefoot Contessa cookbooks in my collections, but upon closer review it was actually more like five! I must rectify this immediately because I need ALL of her cookbooks in my collection. I am obsessed with Ina Garten at the moment.
I was lucky enough to score two bags of fresh Georgia pecans, direct from the pecan farm and I was either making Ina's Maple Pecan Pie or these Pecan Sandies. I would've preferred the pie, but every once in awhile I consider my husband so I let him choose. To say he loves shortbread is an understatement and he also loves pecans so, the Pecan Sandies were his choice. I went with it because then maybe it'll be his pants not fitting instead of mine.
So Pecan Sandies it is and they go perfectly with any holiday table. Not everyone can commit to a slice of pie or cake, but everyone can commit to a cookie. These are delicious, come together with a few ingredients, and are easy to make. A couple things make them stand out from the rest: Ina has you toast the pecans before they are blitzed into the flour and eventually the dough which results in a toastier, more rounded flavor profile. She also uses turbinado sugar in place of white sugar - a delicious twist. And lastly, that beautiful pecan perched on top so that you know what you're eating.
Now, Ina would tell you that quality matters and she is right. We do always want to use the best ingredients. I am more than happy to be using the freshest most delicious pecans directly from Georgia in this recipe, but if you can't then don't stress. I'm sure this recipe is equally delicious with pecans from the grocery store. We can't all be as fussy as Ina.
Pecan Sandies
Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Foolproof
by Ina Garten
Makes 20-24
1 cup pecan halves (4 ounces)
2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temp
1/2 cup demerara or turbinado sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
24 whole pecan halves
Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the 1 cup of pecan halves on a sheet pan and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until toasted. Set aside to cool.
Place the cooled pecans plus 1/4 cup of the flour in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until the nuts are finely ground. Place the mixture in a medium bowl and add the remaining 1-3/4 cups of flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir to combine.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the vanilla and the flour mixture, mixing just until the dough comes together.
Using a small ice cream scoop or your hands, form the batter into balls about 1 inch in diameter (1 ounce on a scale). Place the balls 1 inch apart on sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Press a pecan half into the center of each ball, pressing the pecan halfway down into the cookie. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cookies turn golden brown around the edges. Cool for 5 minutes. Place on a wire rack and cool completely.
Yes, this is my sixth recipe from Ina's latest cookbook, Modern Comfort Food.
I don't feel bad about it.
If there was ever a time for comfort food, this is it. I am pandemic-ed out!
Fra Diavolo means spicy, like the devil, and we love spicy in this household. If I'm at an Italian restaurant then I am most likely going to be having Shrimp Fra Diavolo. However, since we are in the RED for the coronavirus in Kentucky, our restaurants are currently closed for indoor dining and I wouldn't dare risk it anyway, so it is really fortunate that I can make this dish at home.
Now, the good thing is that this dish can be made with ingredients that one would normally keep on hand. Linguine, shrimp (I always have some frozen in my freezer), Rao's tomato sauce, panko breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, onions, and Pinot Grigio. Look, we're in a pandemic, I hope you have some wine. If not, you need hit up a drive thru and stock up.
Ina says that you can make your own Arrabiatta Sauce and I normally would, but I wanted to try the Rao's Arrabiatta Sauce that she recommends in the book. It is about $8.99 a jar, which is absolutely ridiculous, but I'm over Ina and Jeffrey being the only ones good enough for it. The rest of us can enjoy that fancy sauce too.
This dish was perfectly seasoned and had just the right amount of heat. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I would say that I enjoyed it even more because I had the leftover Pinot on the side.
And, it was a good thing I had a few glasses of Pinot because my camera and my computer took a dive while I was trying to write the post so I had to put piece this post together with blown up pics from my phone and a different computer. Isn't that fun? How 2020 of my camera and my computer to take a dive at the same time. I tell ya...2020 can shove it. Now, pardon me while I get back to my Pinot.
Shrimp & Linguine Fra Diavolo
Adapted from Modern Comfort Food
by Ina Garten
Serves 6
3tablespoons butter, divided
1/3 cup panko
8 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
salt and black pepper
1-1/4 pounds large (16-20 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups thinly sliced red onion
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2/3 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
Arrabbiata Sauce, homemade or 1 (24-oz) jar Rao's
1 pound linguine, such as DeCecco
Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium (10 to 11-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the panko and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until nicely browned. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, 1/4 teaspoons salt, and a pinch of black pepper and set aside.
Place the shrimp on a plate and pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the olive oil in a large (11-12-inch) pot over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 4 minutes, until it begins to soften. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for one minute. Add the shrimp in one layer and saute for one minute on each side, until they start to turn pink but are not cooked through. Add the wine and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to reduce the liquid. Stir in the arrabbiata sauce and heat until it simmers. Stir in the remaining 6 tablespoons of parsley with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and turn off the heat.
Meanwhile, fill a very large pot with water, add 2 tablespoons salt, bring to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to the directions on the package for al dente. Reserve a cup of the pasta water, drain the pasta, and add it to the sauce. Toss the pasta, sauce, and shrimp together with tongs or big spoons and allow it to simmer for one minute for the pasta to absorb the sauce, adding enough pasta water to make a nice sauce and coat the pasta. Transfer to a large, shallow serving bowl, sprinkle with the toasted panko, and serve hot.
If you're looking for easy, delicious, make-ahead recipes for Thanksgiving then look no further! You can make the compound butter beforehand and then simply bake the sweet potatoes on the day of. It's easy peasy lemon squeezy and.....so dang delicious.
Yes, I am cooking from Ina's latest Modern Comfort Food again and yes, I am obsessed with it. FOR GOOD REASON! Each and every time I make a new dish it completely blows me away.
These sweet potatoes are just delectable. They are smoky from the chipotle pepper and adobo and sweet from the maple syrup, the flavors are perfectly balanced. I found myself eating one and then another, but that was perfectly okay because I found baby sweet potatoes at Trader Joe's so they were bite-sized morsels of heaven! I literally couldn't stop with them and decided I was going to eat 4 baby sweet potatoes for dinner. Forget the rest. I'm not kidding. These look really simple and a little lackluster, but don't let that fool ya. They are amazing!
So, forget that ooey gooey marshmallow sweet potato mess and try these babies. They are way more healthy and delicious. You can make this with any size sweet potato, just make sure all your potatoes are relatively the same size so they bake evenly, but I really am fond of the baby sweet potatoes.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Orange Butter
Adapted from Modern Comfort Food
by Ina Garten
Serves 6
6 small sweet potatoes*
1 stick butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle pepper (in adobo sauce)
1tablespoon adobo sauce (from the can)
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
salt and freshly ground black pepper
*Note: Chose potatoes that are about the same size so they cook in the same amount of time. Prepare the chipotle butter and refrigerate for up to a week. Bake the potatoes before serving.
Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Pierce the potatoes in several places with a sharp knife to prevent them from exploding in the oven. Place the potatoes on the prepared sheet pan and roast for one hour, until they are very tender when pierced with a knife.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, maple syrup, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, orange zest, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper on medium speed until well mixed. Cut a 12 x 8 " piece of parchment paper and place it on a board with the 12" edge near you. With a rubber spatula, transfer the butter to the parchment paper, roll the butter up and away from you to form a log. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
Cut a slit in the top of each potato and squeeze the ends together to open the potatoes. Sprinkle them with salt and black pepper. Cut the chipotle butter in 12 pieces and place 2 pieces in the opening of each potato. Serve hot.
I am obsessed with your latest cookbook, Modern Comfort Food. In my opinion, it is your greatest work. Your best cookbook. I have bookmarked almost every single recipe in it. A few weeks ago I tried your Kielbasa with Mustard Dip and I have made it four times since then. It has become an all-time favorite. I tell everyone I know about it.
Last week I tried your Seared Salmon with Red Pepper Aioli and Emily's English Roasted Potatoes which were also a hit. If I could get quality salmon easily I would've made that one again as well.
Today I made your Applesauce Cake with Bourbon Raisins and Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting. All of your desserts in the book look delicious, but this one was calling my name the most! I am crazy about cream cheese frosting and your picture in the cookbook made this look so irresistible.
Ina, I don't have the words to tell you how very delicious this cake is. It's absolutely MINDBLOWING. I knew it before I even took a bite. When I saw the luscious bourbon cream cheese frosting dripping over the moist flavorful apple cake I just knew. I took a bite and it was total perfection. It was a good thing I was alone with my slice of cake because I snarfed it down with wild abandon. It was not lady-like whatsoever.
The cake was still slightly warm, with the perfect balance of flavors and incredibly moist. The bourbon was spot on, just a hint of flavor really. The Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting was luscious and dreamy. I think this was, hands down, the best cake I've ever made. I immediately took half to a friend and her family so they could share in the joy.
If there was a mountaintop here in Kentucky, you would find me at the top screaming about how wonderful this cake is. I think EVERYONE should make it a part of the holiday dessert table, from now until the end of time.
Yours Truly,
Kim
Applesauce Cake with Bourbon Raisins
Adapted from Modern Comfort Food
by Ina Garten
Serves 8
3/4 cup golden raisins
2 tablespoons good bourbon, such as Maker's Mark
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for the pan
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the pan
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg*
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves*
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
12 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows*
Whole pecan halves, for decorating
Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from Modern Comfort Food
by Ina Garten
Frosts One 9-Inch Round Cake
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon good bourbon, such as Maker's Mark
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
*Note: 1/2 pound confectioners' sugar is equal to 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons
Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 9x2 inch round cake pan, line with parchment paper,then butter and flour the pan. Tap out the excess flour.
To Make The Cake: Combine the raisins and bourbon in a small bowl, cover, and microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside for 15 minutes.
Place the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. With the mixer on medium, add the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time, and mix until smooth.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the batter, mixing just until combined. Stir in the applesauce. Fold in the raisins (including the liquid) and chopped pecans with a rubber spatula and mix well. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
To Bake The Cake: Bake for 40 to 45minutes, until the top springs back when lightly touched and a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes, turn out onto a cooling rack, rounded side up, and cool completely. Spread the Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting on just the top of the cake (not the sides!) and artfully place the pecan halves on top. Serve at room temperature.
To Make The Frosting: Place the cream cheese, butter, bourbon, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth. With the mixer on low, slowly add the sugar and mix well. Scrape down the sides and stir well with a rubber spatula.
Inspired by my latest cookbook, Ina Garten's Modern Comfort Food, I'm cooking up a meal that I have been dying to try, Ina's Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli alongside her rather fussy Emily's English Roasted Potatoes, which is heaven sent.
If you don't own a copy of Modern Comfort Food yet, what are you waiting for? It is hands down my Cookbook of the Year! It may very well be my favorite cookbook in a couple years. To prove that, I am making four recipes from it this week, which you will see soon, AND I haven't quit making the Kielbasa with Mustard Dip from last week. I made it Sunday for my blog, then I made it again yesterday as a hearty treat before trick-or-treating. Then I ordered some more kielbasa for more grocery pick up today. We are obsessed.
Anyway, back to seared salmon gone all crispy on the outside and tender and flaky on the inside with a garlicky, spicy, creamy and brilliantly hued red pepper aioli that pairs so wonderfully with the salmon and potatoes you'll be swooning. Why haven't I thought of this before? I mean what else can you dip into this magical concoction?
While the salmon is as easy as 1-2-3, Emily's English Roasted Potatoes are as fussy as a colicky baby. Peel the potatoes, cut the potatoes, boil the potatoes, bash the potatoes, dry the potatoes, and finally bake the potatoes on a smoking hot baking sheet sizzling with hot oil before sprinkling them generously with sea salt and parsley. I mean they are super fussy, but they are also super delicious. Flavorful and crispy on the outside but oh so creamy and dreamy on the inside, they are easily worth the fuss.
Dip the salmon and the crispy, creamy potatoes into the spicy red pepper aioli and prepare to be swept off your feet!
Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli
Adapted from Modern Comfort Food
by Ina Garten
Serves 4
2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1 tablespoon (canned)chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers,seeded and chopped
For the aioli: Chop the garlic and chipotle pepper together on a cutting board to make a coarse paste. Place the paste in a food processor, add the lime juice and roasted red peppers, and puree. Add the mayonnaise,1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and process until smooth. Set aside.
For the salmon: Place a large (12-inch), dry cast-iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes. Place the salmon fillets on a board, pat dry with paper towels, and rub all over with olive oil. With the fillets rounded side up, sprinkle them with 1-1/2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon black pepper.
To cook salmon: Place the salmon in the skillet rounded side down and cook over medium-high heat for exactly 2 minutes without moving! Using a large metal spatula,turn the fillets rounded side up and place the skillet in the oven. Roast for3to 4 minutes, until the centers are rare. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil and allow the salmon to rest for 3 to4 minutes for medium-rare or 5 minutes for medium. Serve the salmon hot with the aioli and a wedge of lime for squeezing.
Emily's English Roasted Potatoes
Adapted from Modern Comfort Food
by Ina Garten
Serves 6 to 8
salt
3 pounds large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and 1-1/2" to 2" diced
1/2 cup vegetable oil
sea salt or fleur de sel
minced fresh parsley
Preheat the oven to 425F. Bring a large pot of water with 2 tablespoons salt to a boil. Add the potatoes, return to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 8 minutes. Drain the potatoes, place them back in the pot with the lid on, and shake the pot roughly for 5 seconds to rough up the edges.Carefully transfer the potatoes in one layer to a baking rack set over a sheet pan. Set aside to dry for at least 15 minutes. (They an sit uncovered at room temperature for several hours or in the fridge for up to 6 hours).
Pour the oil onto another sheet pan, tilt the pan to distribute the oil, and place the pan in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, until the oil is smoking hot. Transfer the potatoes carefully into the oil (I use a large metal spatula) and toss them lightly to coat each potato with the hot oil. Evenly spread out the potatoes and lower the oven temperature to 350F. Roast for 45 minutes to one hour, turning the potatoes occasionally with tongs, until very browned and crisp on the outside and tender and creamy on the inside.
Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle generously with 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt and parsley and serve hot.
