Buckeye Cake

Buckeye Cake

One of my favorite bites of the entire year is a Buckeye at Christmas time.  Creamy peanut butter enrobed in chocolate ganache and usually eaten right out of the fridge, the cool temperature somehow enhances the experience of the texture.  I recently purchased the cookbook Baked Elements and a cake called an Oopsy Daisy cake caught my eye.  Milk Chocolate cake, peanut butter filling and vanilla peanut butter frosting.  I loved the idea of a chocolate peanut butter cake, but didn't feel like they'd gone as far as I wanted with the peanut butter.  I wanted it to be equal parts dark chocolate and peanut butter, like a buckeye.  Here's what I came up with.  No less than 3 people told me that its the best cake they've ever eaten.  This is the kind of nice thing that people do say, and it may or may not be true, but one thing for sure.  This cake is really really good and it is made of that magnificent combination of chocolate and peanut butter, so I'd say you can take it on good authority that it rocks, on that fact alone.

Chocolate cake

(Make 2 9" cake layers or 24 cupcakes, can be cut in half if desired for less cupcakes)

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup very high quality cocoa powder

2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1.5 teaspoons fine sea salt

3/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 cups cool water

Spray your cake pans with pan spray and line the bottom with a round of parchment cut to fit.  Spray parchment and flour the whole pan, dusting off any excess.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together dry ingredients and then whisk in wet ones till batter is fully mixed and no lumps are left.   Divide batter evenly among pans, using a baking scale if you have one to ensure equality, or just eyeball it as best you can.

Bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, until cake is set and a toothpick dipped in the center comes out clean.  Cool on racks for 20 minutes and then remove from pans and 

Peanut butter filling and frosting

1.5 cups softened butter

2 cups creamy peanut butter 

2 - 2.5 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons bourbon (optional - but I really recommend it)

3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (or to taste - and really, you should taste)

Spicy, Salty, Toasty, Sweet

Sometimes, economy leads to wonderful inventions.  In cooking, I think that happens more often than many other places.  In Italian cooking for example, yesterdays leftover bread could become panzanella, pappa al pomodoro and ribollita.  Yesterdays leftover herbs, stray vegetables and a heel of cheese find their way into frittata.  I love that.  I often plan meals that way and some interesting dishes result, with varying degrees of success.  This week, I applied this idea to a treat for Zack to take to work and game night and a rather delicious cookie emerged.  He was pretty insistent I share it with you.

My baking bowl is usually pretty full of fun options.  Different types of chips, dried fruits, nuts, coconut, etc, but it has gotten pretty low of late.  In the bowl were some golden raisins from January (you gotta love that shelf life) and a little bag of leftover white chocolate chips (from Christmas baking no less).  There was oatmeal on the shelf and plenty in the spice cupboard.  This is how it all came together and it was real good.  My base recipe for cookie invention almost always riffs off one of the most perfect cookies you'll ever eat.  I use it's method and ratios to guide me (usually I make a 1/2 batch of dough as compared to the linked recipe) and have fun with it.  You can find another cookie invention here.  Give cookie invention a try!  It's fun. :)

Toasted Oatmeal, Golden Raisin and White Chocolate Spice Cookies
Makes about 2 dozen 2.5" cookies

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon bourbon
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cups old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup golden (or regular) raisins
1/2 - 2/3 cup white chocolate chips
Flake salt or fleur de sel to finish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread old-fashioned oats on a baking sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes until nicely toasted.  Allow to cool.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients - flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, kosher salt and baking soda.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugars for 5 minutes, scraping down the sides a couple of times.  Now beat in egg and bourbon until well combined.

Add dry mixture and mix until just combined.  A few streaks of flour are just fine at this point.  Add cooled oats, raisins and white chocolate chips, mixing just 10 seconds or so until all incorporated.

At this point, you need to chill the dough for an hour or for optimum flavor - overnight.

Scoop out the dough using a medium size levered ice cream scoop or a large spoon.  Press down slightly so its not too dome shaped.  For this cookie, this is helpful to ensure it bakes evenly.  Sprinkle cookie lightly with flake salt or fleur de sel.  Skip this salt on some of the cookies if you aren't sure you'll love it.  We do!

Bake for 9-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Cool on wire racks.  Wonderful warm after 10 minutes and every minute after that.

Sweet Potato "Nachos" - A Texas recovery food

Zack and I recently returned from a wickedly delicious trip to Texas for our 9th anniversary.  When you tell people you are going to Texas for your anniversary, you get some wierd looks and a lot of "hmmm, what made you choose THAT location?"  Well, let me tell you.  We visited Austin, San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country and had an epic foodapalooza!  Not to mention the wonderful and unique sense of place that is only Texas and then again, each city and region is so individual too.  

In Austin, we wondered along South Congress and had a very rare experience for us.  Enjoyable shopping!  Very interesting stores - local and well curated and no chains.  We both got some new duds that we're really happy with.  Our dining over 3 days ran the gamut from the un-freaking-believable Trailer Park taco and Green Chile Queso at Torchy's Tacos, to the refined and delicious Japanese flavors at Uchiko, to spending 3 hours in line for the alledged best BBQ in Texas at Franklin  Certainly incredible, the best I've had!  Highly recommend all these experiences.  We also had one of the best burgers of my life at a strange Zombie dive bar on the 6th street promenade.  Casino el Camino's Amarillo burger will be burned in my taste memory for a very long time.

In San Antonio, we stayed on the absurdly touristy but still mildly pleasant Riverwalk. 

San Antonio is home to massive amounts of Tex Mex and Mexican food and lots of it is mediocre from what I've been told.  Fortunately we had great recommendations from a friend and hit up Soluna for phenomenal enchiladas and Acenar for nachos.  One of our favorite spots in San Antonio is the Pearl complex, home of the Culinary Institute of America San Antonio.  Great shops and restaurants and a Saturday Farmers Market.  Kinda felt like being in the Bay area actually.  I also ate a ridiculous muffin top at Broadway Daily Bread.  Late nights were all about the downstairs lounge at the Hotel Havana.  So dark and sexy that I could barely see the Banana Bread French Toast with Cajeta ice cream and caramel crusted pecans that I ordered for dessert.  That's okay.  I could taste it.  and it was transporting.  

Hill Country Texas is home to something you may find surprising.  Wine Country - and lots of it.  We meandered the adorable main street of Comfort, Texas and tried Bending Branch Winery's tasting room.  The Tannat grapes in the eponymously named wine they make are grown only in Texas and is deeply reminiscent of raisins and finished for days.  Each sip of this wine was slightly different and not always pleasant, but quite an experience. Enough to check a bag so we could bring home a bottle. Fredricksburg is just 30 minutes from Comfort and lined with dozens and dozens of Texas style shopping and restaurants.  Too touristy and busy for our taste but fun nonetheless.  The Museum of the Pacific War there was incredibly well done.  We didn't even go in and we were impressed.

Overall, Texas, we do heart you, and look forward to returning one day.  

Now, I'm sure you're not confused about why I'm eating sweet potato nachos today.  Texas was not kind to our waistlines.  All worth it, but I came home truly craving vegetables and nothing but.  Still craving those Tex Mex flavors though, I took some inspiration from a great recipe from my friend Ashley and we've eaten it twice in a week.  They are really delicious.  I would honestly rather eat them than regular nachos.  At least this week.  Give um a try!

Sweet Potato "Nachos"

Serves 2 for a main course and 4 as a side

3 large sweet potatoes

1 tablespoon olive oil (or more if you want)

kosher salt (I like a lot of salt)

1 can black beans (or skip these if you wish)

1 garlic clove

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Pickled red onions

Pickled Jalepeno

Greek yogurt or sour cream

Chopped Cilantro

Pepitas

Cojita cheese, if you wish

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise and then crosswise and then into skinny wedges.  Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons kosher salt.  Spread on baking sheet and baked for about 45-50 minutes, turning once.  They should be soft inside and crispy and brown in parts outside.  Feel free to broil them for a couple minutes at the end if you want more crusty bits.

While they are roasting, make your black beans.  In a food processor, dump a can of drained, rinsed beans, 1 garlic glove, 1 teaspoon cumin, 5-6 pickled jalepenos, a generous pinch of salt and whatever else you'd like.  Puree to a desired smoothness.  

To serve, warm the beans and split them between two plates. (or serve them family style on a platter). Top each with half the roasted sweet potatoes and sprinkle (in whatever quantity you desire) with pickled red onions, jalepenos, sour cream, cilantro, pepitas and cojita, or honestly, WHATEVER you want!  Enjoy!

Inspired by India

What next?  In so many quiet moments throughout the day, it is quickly where my mind goes.  On January 27th,  I returned from eleven days in India.  The first eight of them were spent visiting the ministry sites of an organization called Share in Asia.  It began 18 years ago as the American arm of a 70 year old ministry based in Southern India.  They plant churches, build and run orphanages and schools in the poorest areas as well as widows homes and lepers homes .  They participate in mercy outreach of every kind.  Each day of those eight I saw desperate need and overwhelming joy, often in the same moments. Children laughing with joy as they ate what may be their only good meal that day, provided by the school.  Girls orphaned by the Indian ocean tsunami of 2004, beaming with smiles as they danced and sang, secure in the provision of their orphanage.  It is the children that hit us the hardest.  They are the most vulnerable.  We can't judge them, which would create distance from their plight.  They are the clearest victims, yet with the purest thankfulness.  And it was at the orphanages and schools of Share in Asia that I saw the most hope.

My husband Zack has traveled to Haiti on a mission in the past and offered me some knowing advice before I left; ”Remember, God hasn't blessed you to feel guilty."  Those words floated in my mind as I faced so much need.  So why has God blessed me?  Why do I have everything I need and more?  I am blessed to be a blessing.  We all are.  I've known this for a very long time - it is how my parents lived.  I have haltingly and very imperfectly operated from this perspective for most of my adult life.  But India brought a whole new application of that truth.  In India, my eyes saw poverty and need on a whole new level, coupled with the power of help and hope to change lives, and the impact of relatively small contributions of time and money. I'll never be able to unsee these things.  I'll never get the little girl out of my mind.  We pull off the bumpy, crowded road to buy a snack of fresh coconut and we meet her. She is 2, maybe 3.  She lives in a tent made of a tarp with her brothers and sisters. I don't know where her parents are.  She has no clothes.  We buy them all giant wedges of watermelon for pennies.  She stares over the top of hers, its wider than her precious head.  Eyes fixed on mine while she eats.  Here she is with the other children.

Every child is precious.  Made in the image of God with dignity, value and worth.  If I have blessing, is it not for her?  Is it not for whomever God puts before me?  For my husband, for my friends, for family, for the hurting and needy in my own community and now, for Indian children in orphanages and schools half way around the world.  I cannot begin to help them all, that much is obvious.  But I can take a step, make a change, choose to bless.

So, a few days ago, I had an idea.  A little way to help, for now.  Valentine's Day is coming up.  Ostensibly, this day is about love.  Share the Love began running through my mind.  A pop-up shop selling Valentine's treats maybe? A Valentine's gift shop?  NO!  Valentine's Day gift boxes!  Each box would contain lovely things to give someone you love on Valentine's Day, AND the love would be shared!  Every donation would go to blessing the orphans I met and fell in love with in India.  Their orphanage is in a flood prone area and was recently damaged. Their bathrooms are incredibly spare and simple.  There are so many needs.  I can't adopt those children and bring them home with me, but can I adopt their orphanage? Can I inspire others to join me in this?  I don't know where this is all leading or if its just one holiday and one effort, but I'll start right here.  I can take this step.

So, this Valentine's Day, love your Valentine well AND share the love with an orphanage in need. Every penny of your donation for this Valentine's Day gift will go to the Share in Asia Tsunami Orphanage in Southern India. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE!  This fundraiser earned more than $1800.00 for the Share In Asia Tsunami Orphanage!  Thank you to everyone who cared and gave!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHARE THE LOVE FUNDRAISER

Your fully tax-deductible suggested donation of $60 includes this gift.  (additional $20 suggested for delivery)

A Valentine's Day gift box filled with lovely things...

• Fresh cut tulips wrapped in festive tissue
• Homemade treats from me and my friends: Chocolate truffle cookies, Peanut butter chocolate bon-bons, Indian chai-spiced shortbread hearts
• Choice of:  Sozo wine, French Sparkling Apple Cider or Gourmet Coffee Beans
• A picture of the children and note of thanks for Sharing the Love
• Set in a box with lovely packaging
• A custom note from you

NOTE:  The deadline for box ordering is passed, but if you'd still like to donate any amount, that would be so amazing.  Go to www.shareinasia.org 

I'll be sure to keep you all posted on how this goes!  

Fall Flavors: Chanterelle, Leek and Speck Pizza

I'm working on a project right now that asked me to share a signature dish.  I had a a big ole moment of pause about this, because I feel like I'm always moving on to new things and not settling on any one signature.  Zack had no such hesitation however.  Pizza!  Pizza!  And you know, he's right.  Not any particular pizza, but just really good pizza, using whatever is currently inspiring.  Pizza is a palette for so many possibilities.  Right now, chanterelles are in season.  Don't miss the opportunity to cook with this rich early mushroom while you can!!  I made this pizza the other day with leftover ingredients from a day of recipe testing and then recreated it for my project.  It really is so absolutely delicious that I had to share!

Chanterelle, Leek and Speck Pizza

1 ball of pizza dough, rested and risen.
1/2 cup ricotta (homemade if you have 10 extra minutes - its so amazing)
2 tablespoons butter
8 ounces chanterelle mushrooms, brushed clean and roughly chopped
1/3 cup thinly sliced leek rounds, the white or pale green part only
4 very thin slices of speck (a smoked cousin of prosciutto)
5 fresh chives, chopped in 1 inch pieces
parmesan
extra virgin olive oil
fresh cracked black pepper

An hour before dinner, place an oven rack on the top rungs of your oven.  If you have a pizza stone, place it there.  Preheat your oven to 475 degrees.

Thirty minutes before dinner, add butter and a drizzle of olive oil to a skillet over medium high heat. Add your chopped mushrooms, a generous pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper and allow to cook for ten minutes, stirring only once or twice.  You want nice browned mushrooms, so let them sit and don't fuss with them too much.

Meanwhile, with nice floured hands, form your pizza dough into a round, stretching or rolling it to desired thinness.  Dust a pizza peel with corn meal and place your dough on the peel.  Spread with ricotta, add leeks and cooked chanterelles.  Grind some fresh pepper over and drizzle olive oil.

Slide your pizza onto the pizza stone with a quick motion.  If you've used plenty of corn meal it will slide right off onto the hot stone.  Alternatively, you could bake this on a baking sheet.

Bake for 5-7 minutes at 475 degrees.  Then turn your broiler on high and broil for 2 minutes, then using tongs or hands with oven mitts, rotate your pizza front to back and broil for another 1 minute.  Remove from oven when its got some nice dark color.

Finish immediately with the thin slices of speck, finely grated parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil. Sprinkle with fresh chives.  Serve hot or at room temperature.

Meini, Italian Semolina Honey Buns

I eat a lot of inspiring things...especially lately.  I'm deep in the process of assisting my dear friend Ashley write her first cookbook (of what I am SURE will be many) .  I help her in a number of ways, but the best one is cooking her food.  Every Tuesday or so, we spend the day working on the cookbook.  I cook from her recipes and she styles and photographs the food.  This food is inspiring.  It is delicious.  I LOVE THIS JOB.  But as you might imagine, I can't share these recipes with you.  You're going to have to buy the book.  You are really really going to want to buy the book.

So what I'm telling you is, I haven't been cooking many recipes that aren't for the cookbook, you know, recipes I can actually share.  But, on Sunday night, I wanted to bake something.  I get that itch a lot.  I got out a cookbook my Aunt had given me a while ago (thank you Aunt Ruth - its a gem!).  It's a book on Italian baking by the original head baker at Il Fornaio.  Zack and I started looking through it and it was so inspiring.  I was excited to try the breads and intrigued by a few strange cookies.  This thing called a Meini really jumped out.  It's called a bun in the recipe, but is really more of a cookie in its method, though its less sweet.  The ingredients are most likely in your pantry, with the exception of semolina, but you could use regular corn meal no problem.  Just whirl it around in your food processor for a couple minutes to grind it more finely.

The process was a little odd, so I've modified it slightly for you.  I baked these buns and took a warm bite, not expecting too much.  WHAM.  A wonderful cake like texture, a rich buttery, cornbread flavor licked with lots of floral honey.  It really surprised and delighted.  I couldn't wait for Zack to try it.  "wow" he says.  Then I needed Zack to bring some over to Ashley (who lives blocks away) so she could try it.  A text comes 10 minutes later.  "What?!!  These are magic." it says.  "Wouldn't they be an amazing base for a raspberry shortcake?" says the next.  "Genius!" I say!  Anyway, you get the point.  This is a very tasty and versatile bun.  It is sweet enough to be a part of a dessert;  not sweet enough to truly be a cookie (IMHO), so enjoy it with your morning coffee and call it breakfast, and savory enough to enjoy with a soup or salad.  Overall a special find.  And, as with any baked good, best about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven.

MEINI, ITALIAN SEMOLINA HONEY BUNS
adapted from The Il Fornaio Baking Book
Makes 12 2.5" round buns

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, or 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup semolina flour
1 1/2 sticks of butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3-4 tablespoons honey - your best one
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons whole milk (or 4 of you don't use the amaretto)
1 tablespoon amaretto (optional but gooooood)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the tops
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup powdered sugar, in a sieve

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, semolina and salt into a bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of your Kitchenaid or a large bowl and electric beaters, cream together the butter, sugar and honey on medium speed until fluffy, light and pale in color, scraping down sides a couple of times.  This takes 5 minutes.  Continue to beat and add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl.

Reduce speed to low, add half of the flour mixture and beat until the dry ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.  Beat in the cream, milk, amaretto and vanilla.  Continue to mix on low speed, add the remaining flour mixture and beat until a soft dough forms, about 2 minutes.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface.  The dough will be sticky but try not to incorporate too muck flour as you shape the buns.  Form the dough into a circle and then cut it into 12 equal wedges.  Dust your hands lightly with flour and roll each wedge between your palms into a round golfball-sized sphere.  Place this on the baking sheet and flatten slightly into a disk about 3/4 inch thick.

Lightly brush the top of each disk lightly with water and then sprinkle with sugar.  Once all the disks are brushed and sugared, sieve the powdered sugar over the tops.

Bake the buns in the preheated oven until the tops begin to crack and the rim of each bun is light golden brown, 14-16 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool completely on baking sheet.  Store in a covered container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cakes

This past week was pretty priceless.  I got to fly to Hawaii to meet my new nephew.  His name is Liam, and he is so beautiful and whole and precious, what a blessing!  Every baby is.  He was born to my youngest brother Andrew and his wife Melissa.  He is a Navy coreman stationed with the Marines on an enormous base near Kailua, Oahu.  He married such a freaking spectacular woman in Melissa, adding another amazing sister-in-law to our family.  For three days, my Mom and I cooked for them.  We did a few other things, but didn't even go to the beach!  It was cuddle time and cooking time and it was everything I could have hoped.  For the last night of the short trip, I wanted to cook a special celebration dinner and I went all out.  I asked Melissa to choose the dessert - she has a sweet tooth that rivals even mine.  She requested something I made around this time last year, for a classic St. Patricks Day feast Zack and I threw - sticky toffee pudding.  Near as I can tell, a pudding is a catch all term people in the United Kingdom use for a dessert. This is a cake made with dates, and a wonderful deep dark toffee sauce.  It absolutely must be served with vanilla ice cream or lightly sweetened whip cream.  It is stupid good.  and just in time for St. Paddy's day!  Make it friends!

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING CAKE
adapted from David Liebovitz
4-8 individual or 1 large pudding cake

For the toffee sauce
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup dark brown sugar or muscavado if you can find it
1/4 cup molasses (use only 2.5 tablespoons if you use muscavado sugar)
5 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon whisky or bourbon
generous pinch of salt (and more to taste)

For the date cake
6 ounces pitted dates,  chopped
1 cup water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups (175g) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
4 tablespoons (55g) unsalted butter
3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350F and butter an 8 1/2-inch (24cm) porcelain soufflé dish (or similar-sized baking dish.).  You can also make these individual as I prefer to do.  4 8oz ramekins (as I did), 6 6oz ramekins or 8 4oz ramekins. 

To make the toffee sauce:  Make the toffee sauce by bringing the cream, dark brown sugar,  molasses and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring often to melt the sugar.  Lower heat and simmer, stirring constantly for about 5-7 minutes, until the mixture is thick and well coats the spoon. Turn off the heat and whisk in the butter and bourbon.   NOTE:  If the sauce separates, you can fix it by whisking in another couple tablespoons of cream.  Pour half the sauce into the prepared soufflé dish or divide between ramekins and place in the freezer, and reserve the other half of the toffee for serving.

To make the cake:  In a medium saucepan, heat the dates and water.  Once the water begins to boil, remove from heat and stir in the baking soda.  Set aside for a few minutes.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, or by hand, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, at least 4 minutes.  Gradually beat in the eggs, then the vanilla. (Don’t be alarmed if the mixture looks a bit curdled.)

Stir in half of the flour mixture, then the date mixture, then add the remaining flour mixture until just mixed. Don’t overbeat the batter.

Remove your chosen baking dish/s from the freezer and divide the batter in between.
Baking times:  You are baking until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached.
ONE  8 1/2 inch dish: 45-50 minutes
FOUR 8oz ramekins: 35-40 minutes
SIX 6oz ramekins: 30-35 minutes
EIGHT 4oz ramekin: 25-30 minutes

Remove the cakes from the oven, and let cool slightly before serving but they are best served warm!

ENTERTAINING NOTE:  I prepped all the components of this cake before dinner and actually made it after.  I love doing this.  It gives time for guests to relax and digest before dessert and builds anticipation.  Draws that whole wonderful experience out!  To make the pudding in advance, bake the cake without the toffee in the bottom. Let cool, then cover until close to serving time. Poke the cake about fifteen times with a chopstick. Distribute half of the sauce over the top, as shown in the photo, cover with foil, then re-warm in a 300F  oven, for 30 minutes.

Serving: Top with ice cream, lightly sweetened whip cream and additional warm toffee sauce.