Cookies

Orange, Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Biscotti

Makes 24 cookies Ingredients 3 cups bread flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 5 eggs 1 1/4 cups sugar 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 1/4 cups chopped macadamia nuts 1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest 1/2 cup melted chocolate, for drizzling (optional) Directions Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Sift […]

Desserts

Panna Cotta

Makes 5 servings You can flavor panna cotta with many things, including vanilla, cracked coffee beans, lemon zest, cardamom pods, or anything else you fancy. For different flavors simply add the flavoring ingredient to the milk and let infuse for about 30 minutes while it is heating and then strain […]

Desserts, Pies and Tarts

Panna Cotta Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie When it is too hot to turn on the oven, this cool and creamy vanilla cream pie is perfect. For just a bit of kick, pair it with fresh strawberries or raspberries seasoned with a splash of aged balsamic vinegar. Ingredients Graham Cracker-Crumb Crust, baked and […]

Desserts

Pastry Cream

Makes about 2 cups Pastry cream, which is essentially vanilla pudding, is incredibly versatile. It is commonly found as a filling in eclairs or as the base of a fresh fruit tart, but you can also use it for trifles, as a layer cake filling, in a cream pie, or […]

Pies and Tarts

Pâte Sucrée

Makes 1 pound 8 ounces Ingredients 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour Directions Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, about 5 to 10 minutes or until pale in color. Add […]

Desserts

Peanut Brittle

Makes 1 thin sheet Brittle is some of the easiest candy to make, and the pay-off is unbeatable! This basic version uses peanuts, but you can substitute any nuts, especially roughly chopped almonds, cashews, or macadamia nuts, or even sesame seeds, pepitas, or oats. Add smoked sea salt or cocoa […]

Breakfast and Brunch, Cakes, Desserts

Pear Cake

Makes 10 to 12 servings This is a simple cake that is good for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Bosc pears are a good choice because of their lower water content. Make sure they are perfectly ripe. Consider swapping out the cinnamon for ground cardamom for a variation. Ingredients 1 […]

Cakes

Pear Skillet Cake

Makes 12 servings Ingredients 2 cups cake flour 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground mace 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 2 Bartlett pears, peeled and cored 2 egg […]

Desserts, Family Fun

Peppermint Bark

Makes one 10×15-inch sheet Ingredients 8 ounces (1/2 cups) candy canes (crushed) 1/8 teaspoon peppermint oil 8 ounces (3/4 cup) dark chocolate, tempered, or dark chocolate candy melts, melted 8 ounces (3/4 cup) white chocolate, tempered, or white chocolate candy melts, melted Directions Line a 10×15–inch sheet pan with parchment […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Picking Apples for Baking

Over 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States, and of those, only about 100 are grown commercially. This means that the best apple for baking in your region might be different than the best apple halfway across the country. But there are some basic guidelines you can […]