Peach Pillow Biters

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Don’t even bother getting dressed because extreme gratitude is now officially a thing.

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

1/4 cup vegetable shortening, cold and cut into cubes

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup buttermilk, cold

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 ripe peach, sliced thin

1 cup raspberries

1/4 cup buttermilk, for burshing

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Cut in shortening and butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Use your hands to break the fat cutes into the dry ingredients.  Some of the fat bits will be the size of peas and some fat bits will be the size of oat flakes.    In another bowl, combine egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat lightly with a fork.  Add the liquid to flour mixture all at once, stirring enough to make a soft dough.

Turn out onto a floured board and knead about 15 times.  If the butter has warmed too much in the making of the dough, shape the batter into a dish, wrap in plastic wrap, and let rest in the fridge for 15 minutes.  If the butter is still cool, shape the dough into a disk and, on a well floured surface, roll dough to a little less than 1/2-inch thickness.  My dough was about 12-inches long and 10-inches tall.  The dough will be rolled just thinner than a biscuit dough that you would cut biscuits from.

Brush half of the rolled out dough with buttermilk.  Arrange peach slices, in a single layer, across the buttermilk moistened dough.  Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Carefully fold the empty side of dough over the peach sliced layer.  Press gently together.  Add a bit of flour to your hands and press the edges of the dough in, creating more of a rectangle shape than a half circle shape.  Using a floured knife, slice dough into eight even pieces.

Place dough on prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 1/2-inches of room around each scone for spread while baking.  If dough has warmed, and feels mushy, place in the fridge for 20 minutes to rechill.  Remove from the fridge.  Brush each scone top with buttermilk, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar.

Bake scones for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.  Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.  Scones are best served warm, on the day they’re made, with soft butter.

I used this recipe.

Chocolate Balls to the Wall

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I went balls out on these.

INGREDIENTS:
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 cup brandy

Coatings:
1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa powder, finely chopped nuts, and/or toasted coconut, for coating truffles

Chocolate Shell:
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine

DIRECTIONS:

Place the 10 ounces of chocolate and butter in a medium size glass mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir, and repeat this process 1 more time. Set aside.

Heat the heavy cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture over the melted chocolate mixture; let stand for 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir gently, starting in the middle of bowl and working in concentric circles until all chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth and creamy.  Stir in the Chambord. Pour the mixture into an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Using a melon baller, scoop chocolate onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Place the cocoa powder, nuts, and/or toasted coconut each in its own pie pan and set aside.

Melt chocolate.  Do not allow the chocolate to go above 94 degrees F. If you do, the coating will not have a nice snap to it when you bite into the chocolate. Once you have reached the optimal temperature, adjust the heat to maintain it.

Remove the truffles from the refrigerator and shape into balls by rolling between the palms of your hands.

Dip an ice cream scoop into the chocolate and turn upside down to remove excess chocolate. Place truffles 1 at time into the scoop and roll around until coated. Then place the truffle into the dish with either the cocoa powder, nuts or coconut. Move the truffle around to coat; leave truffle in the coating for 10 to 15 seconds before removing. In the meantime, continue placing the chocolate-coated truffles in the cocoa or other secondary coating. After 10 to 15 seconds, remove the truffle to a parchment lined sheet pan. Repeat until all truffles are coated. Allow to set in a cool dry place for at least 1 hour; or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Truffles are best when served at room temperature.

I attempted this recipe with some minor tweaks.

Better than Oatmeal Cookies

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If oatmeal and blueberries had a fight, this would be the result.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 cup coconut

DIRECTIONS:

  1. In a bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine oats, flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the blueberries. 
  2. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.

I altered this recipe.

Catso, Svegliati Muffins

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Made with espresso, chocolate, and marscapone, these muffins will wake you the f*ck up….but in Italian so it sounds nicer.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 (8 oz.) package mascarpone cheese
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup finely ground espresso beans
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I like a lot of chocolate chips)

DIRECTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Beat mascarpone cheese and butter together until fluffy. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla.
  • Combine the flour, espresso, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Stir flour mixture into wet mixture until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
  • Spoon batter into 12 prepared lined muffin cups.  Filling them until they are almost full. I filled mine up all the way and had no problems with overflowing. They made a nice full muffin top.

Bake for about 20 min or until the top is golden brown.

I altered this recipe.

Sugar & Spice & Everything Niece

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When my nieces come to visit I have to make something that reflects just how sweet and spicy they are.

INGREDIENTS

Coating

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

Puffs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon table salt

½ teaspoon mixed spices

½ cup sugar

1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing muffin cups

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup buttermilk

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 12 standard size or 30 miniature muffin cups, or line cups with paper liners.

In a small saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat, stirring frequently, until brown bits form on the bottom and it smells nutty. Remove from heat and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 2/3 cup sugar and cinnamon.

Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg together in a medium bowl and set aside. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Mix in 1/3 of flour mixture, followed by 1/2 of buttermilk, repeating again and finishing with the flour mixture. Mix only until combined.

Spoon into prepared muffin cups, filling only 3/4 of the way. Bake standard sized muffins for 20 to 25 minutes. When finished, muffins will feel springy to the touch and a tester inserted into the center will come out clean. Transfer them in their pan to a wire rack.

As soon as you feel you’re able to pick one up, take your first puff and roll the top and upper edges in the browned butter. Let any excess butter drip off for a second before gently rolling the butter-soaked cake top in cinnamon-sugar. Transfer puff to wire rack to set and repeat with remaining puffs. Eat warm.

Original recipe appeared here. I changed it a bit.

Black and Blueberry Bars

Blueberry

 

The day after you get a tattoo you feel kinda beat up.

INGREDIENTS

Filling

  • 3 cups fresh blueberries
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Crust and Topping

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick melted butter

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Then line a 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

For filling, in a medium saucepan, stir together blueberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often to reduce until mixture is thick and the berries break down, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, for crust and crumble, in a medium bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, orange zest, baking soda, and salt. Add melted butter to blend well. Reserve 3/4 cup for topping.

Press remaining mixture firmly in bottom of pan to form crust. Spoon filling in an even layer. Sprinkle with remaining topping.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool before cutting.

I altered the original recipe.

 

Boss Blueberry Scones

scones

 

If you think you’ll find a better scone recipe, you are high.

Ingredients

1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour

1 cup (120 grams) whole wheat flour

Zest of 1 lemon, finely grated

3 tablespoons raw light brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

5 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small bits

1 cup fresh blueberries

2/3 cup (150 ml) milk (always use whole milk, everything else is boring)

1 large beaten egg

1 tablespoon coarse sugar for finishing

Directions

Heat oven to 400°F (205°C). Use a silpat or baking sheet lined with parchment.

In a large bowl, combine flours, zest, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add cold butter and work into the flour mixture until the biggest pieces are the size of small peas with either your fingertips or a pastry cutter.

Stir in blueberries, then milk, mixing only until large clumps form. Use your hands to reach inside the bowl and gently (so gently) knead the mixture into one mass. The more you knead, the wetter the dough will get as the blueberries break up, so work quickly and knead only a few times, if possible.

Transfer dough to a well-floured counter and shape it into a roughly 1-inch tall disc. Cut into 8 wedges. Transfer wedges to prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart. Brush the tops of each with egg, then sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, until scones are golden brown on top. Serve warm.

This recipe original appeared here. Thanks Smitten Kitchen.

Very Berry Summer Cake

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One of the few recipes that can replace sex.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for pie plate

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon table salt

1 cup (plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar for top of cake)

1 large egg

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pound of mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are suggested)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Butter a 10-inch pie pan or 9-inch deep-dish pie pan.

Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until pale and fluffy with an electric mixer, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla until just combined. Add dry mixture gradually, mixing until just smooth. Pour into pie plate.

Arrange berries on top of batter, as closely as possible in a single layer. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

Bake cake for 10 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake cake until golden brown and a tester comes out free of wet batter, about 50 minutes to 60 minutes.

Let cool in pan on a rack. Cut into wedges. Serve with lightly whipped cream.

This can last for a couple days covered but I guarantee it won’t last that long.

Original recipe appeared here but I changed it. Thanks SmittenKitchen.com