Monthly Archives: October 2010

Join Jennifer Garner at the Kid’s Table & Support Save the Children

I find this a very worthy cause and wanted to help spread the word. Nobody contacted me to do so, but I seen it on another blog and clicked the link to learn more. Please take a few minutes and click the link!  Not only do you help kids in need by clicking on this link, but they also give you a chance to win a daily prize, and a chance at a grand prize too!!  Follow the link or the image for more info!

http://www.maketimeforchange.com/

SET A PLACE AT THE KIDS’ TABLE

Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner are teaming up to support Save the Children and help make sure that more children have access to nutritious foods this holiday season and all year long.

You can join us by setting a place at our virtual kids’ table. When you do, Frigidaire will donate $1* to help kids in need and you’ll be entered for a chance to win the daily prize, $50 toward your holiday spread, and the grand prize, a new Frigidaire Professional® freestanding gas range**.

And make sure to check out our great kid-inspired holiday recipes – they’re sure to be popular with your own kids’ table crowd!

James Beard Celebrity Chef Dinner Coming to Detroit!

The Celebrity Chef Tour is coming to Detroit on November 4th 2010!! Not only does this mean a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to enjoy a spectacular meal by some of America’s top culinary talents, but also a chance to meet the chefs and ask questions!  The November 4th event will take place at Forest Grill, an intimate American-bistro, in the beautiful town of  Birmingham!

The dinner will be hosted by award-winning and nationally recognized chef, Brian Polycn, and will feature celebrity chef Jimmy Schmidt, a
three-time James Beard Award winner. Proceeds will go to benefit the James Beard Foundation – a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating,
nurturing, and preserving America’s diverse culinary heritage and future.

(Chef Brian Polcyn)

If you are a Visa Signature cardholder – just look to see if your Visa
Card says ‘Visa Signature’ across it – you get savings on ticket
purchases.  Your evening includes the unique opportunity to meet the
chefs and engage in a Q&A session after enjoying a reception and a
multiple course dinner with wine and beer pairings. It’s sure to be an
unforgettable evening. Tickets are available now.

Learn more about this evening at: celebritycheftour.com

(Chef Jimmy Schmidt)

Best Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping

This Blueberry Muffin recipe is a real winner. Found online at Cook’s Illustrated, these are worth every bit of fuss to make! I made most of my muffins with the Streusel Topping, leaving a few for my Grand kids plain. I prefer them with the topping and these are truly amazing!

If buttermilk is unavailable, substitute 3/4 cup plain whole milk or low-fat yogurt thinned with 1/4 cup milk.

Best Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping

From: Cook’s Illustrated

Streusel Topping:

3 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar

3 Tbsp. Dark Brown Sugar

Pinch Salt (I used Kosher)

1/2 Cup plus 3 Tbsp. Unbleached All Purpose Flour (3 1/2 ounces)

5 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, Melted and warm

Muffins:

2 Cups Fresh Blueberries (about 10 ounces), picked over

1 1/8 Cup Sugar (8 ounces), plus 1 tsp.

2 1/2 Cups unbleached All Purpose Flour (12 1/2 ounces)

2 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Salt (I used Kosher)

2 Large Eggs

4 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled slightly (1/2 stick)

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Cup Buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla

For the topping:

Stir together sugar, brown sugar, salt and flour in small bowl until combined. Drizzle with warm butter and toss with fork until evenly moistened and mixture forms large chunks with  some pea-sized pieces throughout. Set aside.

For the Muffins:

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray standard muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. (I used cupcake papers.)  Bring 1 cup blueberries and 1 teaspoon sugar to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, mashing berries with spoon several times and stirring frequently, until berries have broken down and mixture is thickened and reduced to 1/4 cup, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.  In another medium bowl, whisk together remaining 1 1/8 cups sugar and eggs until thick and homogeneous, bout 45 seconds. Slowly whisk in butter and oil until combined. Whisk in buttermilk and vanilla until combined.  Using a rubber spatula, fold egg mixture and remaining cup of blueberries into flour mixture just until combined. (Batter will be very lumpy with few spots of dry flour, do not overmix.)

Use an Ice cream scoop or large spoon to divide batter equally among muffin cups (batter should completely fill cups and mound slightly). Spoon teaspoon of cooked berry mixture into center of each mound of batter. Using a chopstick or skewer, gently swirl berry filling into batter using figure eight motion. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over muffins.

Bake until muffin tops are golden and just firm, 17 to 19 minutes, rotating muffin tin from front to back halfway through baking time. Cool muffins in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool 5 minutes before serving.

Yield: Makes 12 muffins

I got 18 Muffins out of mine. But I used the cupcake liners and did not fill my muffins all the way to the top. I filled them about 2/3 full, then sprinkled them with the streusel topping. If I had baked them without the cupcake liners, and just used the tin as directed, I believe I would have had 12 bakery style muffins. These are absolutely delicious!!

Watch the video (different variation, same concept)

Mississippi Mud Pie (B) AKA Muddy Mississippi Cake

As promised, here is the second recipe from Baked Explorations.  In Baked Explorations, the authors’ give their signature Baked twist to famous desserts across the country.  They also give you two ways to make the Mississippi Mud Pie.

The Mississippi Mud Pie (B) AKA Muddy Mississippi Cake, in my opinion was definitely worth the wait!  They created a dreamier, elegant version. A flourless chocolate cake, baked inside a cookie crust, then top it with a layer of silky dark chocolate pudding and finishing it with whipped cream! DELICIOUS!!   I can’t wait to make the rest of the desserts in this book!

Mississippi Mud Pie (b) AKA Muddy Mississippi Cake

by: Baked Explorations

Ingredients:

Crust:

16 oz. Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, such as Oreos (35-40 cookies), crushed

5 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, melted

For the Flourless Chocolate Cake:

4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick) Unsalted Butter

6 oz. good quality dark chocolate (60 to 70%), chopped

2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. Instant Espresso Powder

1/4 Cup Strong Coffee, at room temperature

1/4 tsp. Salt

1 Tbsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

6 Large Eggs, separated, at room temperature

1 Cup Sugar

For the Chocolate Pudding:

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (like Valrhona)

1/4 Cup Cornstarch

1/4 tsp. Salt

4 Large Egg Yolks

2 1/2 Cups Whole Milk

3 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter

2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

3 oz. Good quality Dark Chocolate (60-70%)

Assembly:

Simple Whipped Cream (Recipe Follows)


Make the Chocolate Cookie Crust:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9 inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper and lightly spray the parchment and sides of the pan.

In a food processor, grind the cookies to a very fine crumb. You should have about 3 1/2 cups. Put the crumbs in a small bowl. Pour the melted butter over them and mix with a rubber spatula until well combined.

Turn the crumb mixture into the prepared pan and press it into the bottom and up the sides, leaving about 1/2 inch between the top of the crust and the top of the pan. Use the back of a large spoon to get an even layer of crust. Place the pan in the freezer and let the crust set for about 10 minutes.

Bake the crust in the oven until it is very dry to the touch, about 10 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool.

Make the Flourless Chocolate Cake:

Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Using a double boiler or microwave, melt the butter and chocolate together. Set aside to cool.

In a small bowl, whisk together the espresso powder, coffee, salt, and vanilla. Set aside.

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar until the mixture is light and has almost doubled in volume, about 5 minutes.  Add the chocolate mixture and beat until just combined.  Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix on low-speed for 5 seconds.  Add the coffee mixture and beat until just combined.  Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl and mix on low for 5 seconds.

In a clean bowl fitted with the whisk attachment (or you can elect to do this step by hand if you are feeling strong), beat the egg whites until foamy. Gradually increase the speed to high and add the remaining 1/2  cup sugar, beating until soft peaks form.

Scoop 1 cup of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.  Use a rubber spatula to gently fold in the egg whites.  After about 30 seconds of folding, add the remaining egg whites and continue folding until they are almost completely combined.  Do not rush the folding process, work gently, and take care not to overmix. Pour the batter onto the cooled cookie crust and bake for 38 to 42 minutes, until the cake  is set but still jiggles slightly. It might not appear to be completely cooked. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. (As it cools, the cake will deflate in the center and look sunken. Do not despair, this is just the way it settles.) Tightly wrap and refrigerate the cake for at least three hours or overnight.

Make the Pudding:

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt. Add the egg yolks and whisk until combined. The mixture will look like a thick paste. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly.

In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly to prevent it from burning on the bottom of the pan. Boil for 30 seconds, then transfer it to a medium bowl.  Add the butter, vanilla, and chocolate and whisk until combined.  Continue to whisk for a few minutes more to cool the mixture slightly.  Let the pudding stand for 15 minutes at room temperature. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming, and chill it for at least 3 hours.

To Assemble the Mississippi Mud Pie:

Stir the pudding to loosen it, then pour it onto the top of the cake, making sure to stay inside the cookie crust border. Use an offset spatula to spread the pudding into an even layer. Return the cake to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes while you prepare the whipped cream topping.  Spread the whipped cream across the pudding layer, all the way to the sides, unmold the cake, and serve it immediately.  The cake can be kept, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Simple Whipped Cream:

1 1/4 Cups Heavy Cream

2 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar

Pour the cream into a chilled metal bowl and beat with a chilled whisk for about 1 minute or until soft peaks form. Sprinkle the sugar on the cream and continue whisking vigorously until stiff peaks form.

Yield: About 2 cups whipped cream.

Friday’s Post Running Late – Look for it later today!

I had promised a post from Baked Explorations on Friday. Please forgive me as I have been sick and my daughter moved this weekend. But I got it made tonight and will be posting it tomorrow. (Sunday) My apologies! The dessert will be “Mississippi Mud Pie (B). They make Mississippi Mud Pie two ways! So don’t miss Sunday’s (Later today) Post! It promises to be delicious and chocolaty!