Appetizers/Snacks, Breakfast

English Cream Scones with Chocolate Chips

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Buttery Cream Scones flecked with tiny dark chocolate chips.  A spin on Ina’s English Cream Scones, I swapped the currants for chocolate chips.  The exchange is delicious, despite the less authentic approach.  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/english-cream-scones-13126809

This recipe is adaptable, clearly.  The currants are traditional and clearly a popular choice, but the outspoken customer base in my kitchen definitely prefers chocolate to “tiny hard raisins.”  Sorry currants.  

English Cream Scones with Chocolate Chips

Print Recipe
Buttery English Cream Scones with Mini chocolate chips

Ingredients

  • 4 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tbsp sugar plus additional for sprinkling
  • 2 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 3/4 pound cold unsalted butter grated then frozen
  • 4 extra-large eggs
  • 1 cup cold heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons water or milk for egg wash

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • To prep the butter, using a box grater, shred the butter into a pile of shavings, and keep in the freezer while you get the rest of the ingredients going. If you don't have a box grater, a fine dice works fine too.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the 4 cups of flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the butter and mix on the lowest speed until it is well incorporated. Whisk together the eggs and heavy cream and, with the mixer on low, quickly add them to the flour-and-butter mixture, combining just until blended. Toss the chocolate chips with the 1 tablespoon flour, add them to the dough, and mix quickly to distribute the chips through the dough. The dough may be a quite sticky.
  • Dump the dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead quickly to be sure the ingredients are combined. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4-inch thick. You should see lumps of butter in the dough. Cut with a 3-inch plain round cutter and place the circles on two sheet pans lined with parchment paper.
  • Brush the tops of the dough with egg wash. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are browned and the insides are fully baked. Serve warm.

Notes

This is a tweaked version of the Barefoot Contessa's English Cream Scones https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/english-cream-scones-13126809.  I changed several ingredients, swapping mini chocolate chips for the currants, much less salt, a little more sugar, and grated the butter instead of dicing.  
Make ahead: Assemble and cut out scones and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 4 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and bake before serving.
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Sweet

Legendary Lemon Bars

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A legendary dessert with a buttery shortbread base and a tangy lemon curd top.  This is a fan favorite from the Barefoot Contessa archives – worthy of frequent repeats, especially this time of year. 

This recipe comes from one of my favorite Ina cookbooks, Parties, and is something I’ve made for years.  The lemon zesting and juicing is the only laborious part, but it’s worth it.  These bars freeze well too, so you can make them ahead and keep them ready for a party anytime.  

The recipe makes a large batch, and the dense richness of these makes small bites ideal for consumption – this will feed a crowd!  To freeze, do so on a tray, and then wrap individually in plastic wrap – you can also freeze the entire slab if you have room for that. Then cut after defrosting at room temp for about 30 minutes.  

Legendary Lemon Bars

Print Recipe
Legendary lemon shortbread bars from the Barefoot Contessa - the ultimate spring dessert
Course cookie, Cookies
Cuisine American
Keyword lemon bar
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 1/2 pound butter at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Filling

  • 6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp grated lemon zest 4 to 6 lemons
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
  • Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
  • For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.
  • Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Notes

The fan favorite, Ina's Lemon Bars hit all the notes of delicious shortbread base and lemony curd filling - this is the ultimate spring dessert.  https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/lemon-bars
 
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Dinner, Lunch, Salad

Genius Chicken Salad

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A caesar inspired salad with sourdough croutons and chicken thighs.   As the weather turns warmer, this is the kind of thing you want for dinner and lunch the next day, so make extra!

Food52 is a website that has a section of recipes edited by Kristen Miglore that she deems “Genius.”  This is one of them, and I couldn’t agree more.  The dressing doubles as a marinade, and the sourdough slice of bread makes the best and easiest croutons ever – no flipping tiny cubes of bread for even cooking.  GENIUS.  

Per usual, I’ve tweaked this for my own tastes (and that of my kids) by removing the anchovies, replacing that with 2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce. It gives the same salty bite without the fishy taste.  I have made it both ways, and like my version better – it’s also easier than buying a tin of anchovies for just this salad.  

Genius Chicken Salad

Print Recipe
A caesar inspired salad with chicken thighs

Ingredients

  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 cup grated parmesan divided
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • A few small heads crisp lettuces like Little Gem, romaine, or chicories
  • 2 - 4 tablespoons olive oil for cooking both the chicken and croutons
  • 2-3 thick slices of sourdough bread for croutons

Instructions

  • Finely chop the three garlic cloves. Transfer to a medium bowl. Finely grate ¾ cup Parmesan (about 1½ ounces) and add ½ cup to the bowl. Zest half of the lemon into the bowl. Stir in the mayo, soy sauce, Worcestershire ,and Dijon mustard, using a large whisk.
  • Transfer half the dressing to a shallow dish. Pat the chicken thighs dry, season with salt & pepper, then add to the dish and turn to coat.
  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add two tablespoons olive oil when ready. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and juices run clear, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board.
  • Separate the leaves of the lettuces and toss into a big bowl. Squeeze half the lemon (about 1½ tablespoons) over the greens, sprinkle with salt, then toss to combine. Add the remaining dressing and remaining ¼ cup Parm and toss to combine. Thinly slice the chicken. Add to the salad and season to taste with salt and pepper, lemon, and Parm.
  • For croutons, heat the olive oil in the skillet over medium-high (any flaky brown bits leftover from the chicken will add flavor). Add the slices of crusty bread and toast until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and season with salt. Cut into croutons and sprinkle over the salad.

Notes

This salad comes from the Food52 website, where Kristen Miglore showcases what she considers to be Genius Recipes - they have always been foolproof for me, and this one is easy and quick, and deceptively delicious.  The simplicity of the marinade/dressing saves time and makes for easy prep.  The original recipe (tweaked here with a few changes) came from Ali Slagle.  https://food52.com/recipes/87742-not-just-another-chicken-caesar-salad-from-ali-slagle
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Sweet

Iced Lemon Loaf Cake

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A simple delicious buttery lemon cake with loads of flavor, and a DOUBLE glazed topping.  

This recipe is a Barefoot Contessa classic – the original makes two loaves, which I have cut in half as normally one doesn’t need two cakes at once.  It clearly doubles well if you do!  This is a more delicious and preservative free version of a very popular cake at a coffee shop you might be familiar with…  Just saying Ina know best!

Not one, but two layers of lemony glaze make the flavor intense and keeps the cake incredibly moist for days.  This makes a fabulous gift and seems to me the perfect easter brunch treat.

Iced Lemon Loaf Cake

Print Recipe
A simple buttery lemon cake glazed with fresh lemon juice.
Course brunch, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword easter dessert, lemon cake, lemon loaf, mother's day, spring cake
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8 people

Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter room temp
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar divided
  • 2 extra-large eggs at room temperature
  • zest from 3 large lemons about 2.5 Tbsp
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 6 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice divided
  • 6 Tbsp buttermilk at room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

For the Glaze

  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar sifted
  • 2 Tbsp tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 8 x 4 loaf pan, then line it with parchment paper.
  • Cream the butter and 3/4 cup granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the lemon zest.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 2 Tbsp lemon juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Dump the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.
  • Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar with 1/4 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and set on a rack over a sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cake to cool completely.
  • For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and 2 Tbsp lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.

Notes

This recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa - I halved everything to make one cake.  It freezes well and sits well for a few days, though is best when eaten in 48 hours.  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lemon-cake-recipe-1913110
 
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Sweet

Funfetti Sugar Cookies

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Buttery sugar cookies flecked with colorful rainbow sprinkles – the perfect treat for Easter.  My youngest requests a funfetti cake for her birthday every year, so this one’s for you Annie!  Even better than the box mix…

This dough comes together quickly, but is best baking after being chilled for an hour – otherwise they spread too thin on the baking sheet.  Take the time to make ahead, and you can even freeze the unbaked cookies so they’re ready anytime you need a quick treat.

I tested several different recipes for this variation, and this cookie stands out as a simple sugar cookie as well – it would be delicious with a little buttercream on top if you need a reason to dress it up.  

Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Print Recipe
Buttery sugar cookies flecked with rainbow sprinkles
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 20 cookies

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup butter room temperature
  • 3/4 cup plus 1 TBSP granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 extra large egg room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugars on medium high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the egg and vanilla. Mix on low speed until fully incorporated.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined. Do not over mix.
  • Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and stir in the rainbow sprinkles by hand with a spatula or wooden spoon, being careful not to over mix the dough.
  • Using a medium sized cookie scoop, scoop out the dough and place onto one of the prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate uncovered for one hour.
  • Once dough is chilled, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place cookie dough onto lined cookie sheet, spacing 2 to 3 inches apart. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges just begin to turn golden brown and the centers look slightly under baked. The cookies will continue to bake as they cool.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  • Store in an airtight container for several days, or freeze for later.

Notes

This recipe is from the blog Brown Butter Blondie - the dough freezes well and you can also freeze the fully baked cookies - these will make the perfect treat for Easter or Mother's Day!  
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Dinner, Lunch

Spring Green Risotto

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The Ultimate spring risotto with asparagus and peas, from the Barefoot Contessa.  This is one of my all time favorite recipes, and after years on repeat, I’m not tired of it in the least.  It’s the dish my sweet mother-in-law requests more than any other (aside from the lemonade cake!) and I’m always happy to make it – thank you INA!  

This is one of those recipes that doesn’t have room for change.  It’s just that good, and that reliable.  That said, I have figured out over many years of making this, one tiny step of improvement – one I think the Barefoot Contessa would approve of highly.  

Sometimes posting recipes from other cookbooks feels like cheating, but I often have minor changes and try to give credit where it’s due.  This is a good example, except I really don’t change any ingredients.  Just one step in the process.  I dislike blanching green veggies, and fishing out the slivers of ice cubes that reside at the end of the ice bath stage.  

This risotto is so full of fresh green veggies, I use frozen peas here.  Instead of defrosting them ahead of time, I place them in a bowl of cold tap water while blanching the asparagus, and simply add the drained asparagus to the now very chilled ice water bath of slowly defrosting peas.  The result is that the hot asparagus defrosts the peas fully, and the little cold peas shock the bright green color to the asparagus tips!  No lame slivery ice cubes to slide into a risotto without being noticed here…

Ultimately, the genius of this recipe comes from the combined elements of bright green vegetables bathed in silky rice that has the added benefits of nutty parmesan, creamy mascarpone, and loads of spring flavor in the bright lemon juice and zest.  It’s a perfectly balanced gem that deserves the spotlight year round, but especially right now – this screams spring.  

Spring Green Risotto

Print Recipe
the Ultimate Spring Risotto by the Barefoot Contessa
Course dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword risotto, spring risotto, spring green risotto, asparagus
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 3 cups chopped leeks, white and green parts (2)
  • 1 cup chopped fennel (1 bulb)
  • 1 1/2 cups arborio rice
  • 2/3 cup dry white wine (I like pinot Grigio)
  • 5 cups warmed chicken stock or broth
  • 1 lb thin asparagus stalks
  • 10 oz frozen peas (not defrosted)
  • 1 Tbsp grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
  • kosher salt and black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from the 2 lemons above)
  • 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese (you can sub sour cream)
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 3 Tbsp chopped chives, scallions, or microgreens (for garnish)

Instructions

  • To start, prep all your ingredients - risotto is easy to make, but it requires attention frequently enough so that you want everything ready. This includes heating the chicken stock so it's hot when you add it to the risotto - I use a small saucepan on the side, over low heat.
  • Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan or a dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat. Add the leeks and fennel, sautéing for 5-7 minutes until tender. Add the rice, and stir for a minute to coat with the residual fat in the pan, and slightly toast the rice granules.
  • Add the white wine, simmering now over low heat, until fully absorbed, stirring the whole time with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Now start adding ladles of the warm chicken stock, about 3/4 cup at a time, stirring frequently to continue to develop the starches from the arborio. It's not a constant thing - just every minute or so. This process should repeat for a total of about 25 minutes, until the risotto is fully cooked, continuing to add broth as it is absorbed. You will use the entire amount if done properly.
  • Meanwhile, prep for cooking the asparagus and defrosting the peas - this is a simple combined process. First, wash and remove the woody ends of the bottom 1/3 of the asaparagus stalks, and chop the remaining parts into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Bring a small pot of water to a boil, and while you wait, dump the frozen peas into a large bowl filled with some very cold tap water, so you can add the asparagus like an ice bath after blanching. Once the pot of water has come to a boil, salt it (1 TBSP), and add the asparagus pieces to blanche. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, until al dente. Drain, and add to the frozen pea water bowl - this acts like a bowl of ice water, but you don't have to remove the little pieces of ice at the end - the hot asparagus will defrost the peas, and everything is happy at the same time! Drain and set aside.
  • After cooking the rice for about 20 minutes, add the asparagus and pea mixture, along with the lemon zest, 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and 1 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper, stirring to combine. Continue adding the rest of the stock to complete the risotto cooking process.
  • Once the risotto is fully cooked (to al dente), remove the pot from the heat. In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice with the mascarpone, and stir into the risotto with the grated parmesan. Taste for seasoning, and garnish with extra grated parmesan and the chopped chives or scallions.

Notes

This recipe is a Barefoot Contessa killer, from her ubiquitous Back to Basics book, one of my faves.  I have made it countless times, and my only real tweak is a blanching method time saving step of using the frozen peas to shock the asparagus, and simultaneously defrost those little peas - I never liked fishing out the slivers of remaining ice from a cold water bath after blanching.  Now it's one step instead of two!
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Appetizers/Snacks, Breakfast, Sweet

Brown Butter Yogurt Banana Bread with Pecans and Dark Chocolate

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Banana Bread is something everyone loves and has about a dozen recipes for.  I have always made an old recipe using greek yogurt, which closely mirrored this version, which includes the incredible addition of browned butter that this it over the top.  IMO, it’s the ultimate!  Slightly tweaked from the indomitable Molly Bay’s version from her cookbook “Cook This Book”, which is a never ending source of inspiration.  

This is a flexible recipe.  I’ve used several kinds of yogurt (vanilla, plain, greek, non-fat, whole milk) and even sour cream in a pinch – it all works. It also transitions seamlessly from bread to muffins – I sometimes use mini loaf pans as well.  I think it would travel well for care packages too!

Brown Butter Yogurt Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate and Pecans

Print Recipe
A deliciously moist banana bread laced with dark chocolate and pecans
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword banana bread
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 10 people

Ingredients

  • 4 over-ripe bananas
  • 10 Tbsp butter (1 1/4 sticks)
  • 2 cups plus 2 Tbsp flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt (I use whole milk plain)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chopped dark chocolate chocolate chips work great too
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a (9 x 5) loaf pan with softened butter, and line with a piece of parchment paper for easy removal after baking. (You can also make this into 16 muffins)
  • Brown the Butter: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, swirling and stirring frequently as it slowly turns golden in color as the milk solids brown - about 6 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  • Mix the Dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups plus 2 Tbsp flour, the baking soda and kosher salt.
  • In another bowl, mash the bananas with a potato masher or a fork, until they are smooth in consistency. Add to that, the brown sugar, vanilla, eggs, yogurt and cooled brown butter. Whisk until everything is combined. Then fold in the dry ingredients, being careful to not overmix. When combined, fold in 1 cup of chopped dark chocolate, and 1 cup chopped pecans (both optional).
  • Pour the deliciously golden batter into the prepared pan, and bake in the center rack for about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Alternatively, this recipe works great for muffins (makes about 16 muffins) which should take 18-20 minutes to bake.

Notes

This recipe is slightly adapted from the indomitable Molly Baz, whose recipe can be found in her cookbook called "Cook This Book"!  Thanks Molly! 
I have made this recipe with both plain and vanilla yogurt, as well as sour cream - all of them work interchangeably and yield delicious results!
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Sweet

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

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Red Velvet cookies with a crunchy sugar crust and a chewy center.  A recipe from Broma Bakery https://bromabakery.com/red-velvet-crinkle-cookies/ is the perfect treat for winter and your valentines!

January is a long month.  A really long one.  Especially in New England.  I think it’s important to treat yourself a little more this time of year – and these cookies are super fast and easy to make.  These would also make a great care package for Valentine’s Day!

When it’s snowy outside, or rainy or just gray and dreary, a red velvet cookie can truly brighten things up.  We got our first snow yesterday, so here you go!  A red velvet version of a chocolate mint crinkle cookie my mom makes at Christmas time every year.  It uses a LOT of red food coloring, so be prepared.  If you want to make them without, they are just as delicious, but I highly recommend using if you have it.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Print Recipe
Red Velvet Cookies with a sugar crust and a chewy center
Course Cookies, Dessert, sweets
Cuisine American
Keyword cookies, holiday, red velvet, valentine
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 16

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temp
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temp
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp red gel food coloring ** you will need more if not professional grade - judge by color of dough
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar for coating
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar for coating

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a stand mixer, combine the butter, brown and granulated sugars, whipping until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla. Add the red food coloring, and keep going until you have a deeply red base. (see note)
  • In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixing until thoroughly combined.
  • Fill one bowl with the granulated sugar and another with the powdered sugar. Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, form about 16 cookies into balls, rolling first in the granulated sugar, then in powdered sugar - coat them completely. Place evenly on the baking sheet - they won't spread a ton. Give them one inch between one another. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until soft but set. Cool on a wire rack, and enjoy for days in a tightly sealed container.

Notes

If you are using store-bought food coloring, be prepared to use a lot of it - the cookies will taste delicious without it, but they won't be red without a significant amount, as the cocoa powder tames it.  I order gel food coloring on amazon or buy in a craft store, which is stronger if you want to make these often.  
These cookies come from Sarah Crawford's Broma Bakery blog: https://bromabakery.com/red-velvet-crinkle-cookies/
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Dinner

Cauliflower Mac with Rosemary Breadcrumbs

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Oven Baked Shells with Cauliflower and Cheddar, topped with Rosemary Breadcrumbs.  A spin on a Jamie Oliver recipe hits all the right notes for January – comfort food with a touch of healthier ingredients.

There’s something overly indulgent about making a simple homemade Mac and cheese (in January, the month of healthier eating?). Somehow it’s all good if a little veg sneaks in to round out the base?  I feel strongly that this is delicious, and worth the effort – it’s health food after all!  I’m making this on Monday and Sunday and anything in between.  It just fits.  

This is a tweaked recipe from Jamie Oliver, a Brilliant British chef who makes real food easy and delicious.  A link to his version is here : https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/cauliflower-recipes/cauliflower-mac-n-cheese/. Mine has a little heat from red pepper flakes, and no fennel.  The thing I love about his approach is using everything you have (the green cauliflower stems included) and wasting little effort in the process (cook the pancetta in the same pan you bake the finished dish in). He’s truly inspiring.

Cauliflower Mac with Rosemary Breadcrumbs

Print Recipe
Oven baked shells with cauliflower and cheddar, topped with rosemary breadcrumbs
Course dinner
Cuisine Italian
Keyword baked pasta, cauliflower pasta.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 3 oz sliced pancetta rounds
  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 1 lb. dried pasta - I like shells
  • 10-12 oz grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 day old baguette, torn into small pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 sprig rosemary, chopped (about 1 Tbsp)
  • olive oil
  • 8 oz creme fraiche
  • parmesan cheese to serve

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425.
  • In a large baking dish, lay the pancetta slices out evenly and bake on the top shelf for about 10 minutes until crisp. Allow to cool a bit.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Trim the outer tough leaves on the cauliflower, and slice the head into four quarters. Remove the tough rind at the base, but keep the quarters in tact with some of the greens attached. When the water is boiling, salt it generously, and add the pasta and cauliflower together to cook according to package directions.
  • Fit the food processor with the grating blade, and grate the cheddar cheese, then set aside. Swap the blades for chopping, and remove the pancetta from the baking dish, leaving any fat behind as a base for the pasta dish. Grind the cooked pancetta with the chopped rosemary and the bread cubes adding about 2-3 Tbsp of olive oil to bring it all together. Set aside to top the pasta before baking.
  • When the pasta is done, remove 1 1/2 - 2 cups of the cooking water to use in the sauce. Drain the cauliflower and pasta, and dump it into the baking dish used for the pancetta. Mash the cauliflower into bite size pieces in the pan. Carefully add the cheddar, the garlic, red pepper flakes, the creme fraiche, and about 1 1/4 cups of the pasta water, checking to see if you need more. Taste for seasoning (I find it usually just needs a few grinds of black pepper, as the salted water does the trick). Top with the breadcrumbs, and return to the oven and bake for about 12 minutes until the mixture is boiling and the crumbs are golden brown.
  • Serve with grated parmesan on the side.

Notes

This recipe comes from Jamie Oliver, a genius British chef who is constantly inspiring me.  This is a balanced pasta that is simple to make and sits well for leftovers.  Jamie Oliver's website is here with his version, which is slightly different from mine:  https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/cauliflower-recipes/cauliflower-mac-n-cheese/
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Dinner

Chicken with Mushrooms

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Seared Chicken in a decadent mushroom cream sauce.  A slight riff on the classic Barefoot Contessa recipe, Chicken with Morels from Barefoot in Paris.  This uses dried shiitakes and is one of my favorite dinners of all time!

I made this dinner for some dear friends last night, and tripled the recipe to feed 18 people.  It is a fail-proof dish that makes everyone happy, and sits in the refrigerator so you can make it ahead and reheat when everyone arrives.  I served it with a green salad and rice, the simplest of sides as this dish is the standout star that needs nothing to back it up.  This would make a great meal for a ski weekend getaway too!

A couple of ingredient notes – the recipe calls for clarified butter, which you can either make (cook the butter until foamy in a pot, let it cool, and pour off the top dark rich butter, leaving the milk solids at the bottom of the pot) or purchase – Trader Joe’s sells it for $5 for 8 oz.  You can also use a combination of 1/2 butter and 1/2 olive oil to reduce the smoke point, which is the whole reason for using clarified butter.  Also, the recipe calls for Madiera wine, but a dry marsala or dry sherry works just as well.  

This recipe first caught my attention about 15 years ago when I saw it in an episode of the Barefoot Contessa where all of her dishes were made 5 days in advance!  This is one of the BEST make ahead meals I’ve ever had and it never disappoints.  

Chicken with Mushrooms

Print Recipe
Seared Chicken Breasts in a decadent mushroom cream sauce
Course dinner
Cuisine French
Keyword Chicken with Mushrooms
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 oz dried mushrooms - any variety works, I like Shitake
  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1/2 cup flour, for dredging
  • 1/4 cup clarified butter (see Notes below)
  • 1/3 cup chopped shallots
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup Madiera wine (a dry marsala or sherry works too)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 8 oz creme fraiche
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Soak the dried mushrooms in 3 cups very hot water, for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • After the mushrooms have soaked and are reconstituted, lift them carefully from the water, leaving any grit or dirt at the bottom of the bowl. Chop finely, and set aside for use later in the sauce.
  • Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper, then dredge through flour and shake off the excess. Melt 2 Tbsp of the clarified butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add three of the chicken breasts to the pan, cooking about 4-5 minutes a side until golden and seared, but not fully cooked through. Remove to an oven proof casserole dish, and cook the remaining chicken in a second batch. You don't want to crowd the pan, to ensure a golden sear on the chicken. Move the chicken to the casserole dish.
  • In the same pan add the rest of the clarified butter and cook the shallots, garlic, and chopped reserved mushrooms, stirring over medium high heat for about 5 minutes. Pour in the Madeira wine, and reduce to about 1/2, cooking for about 4 minutes. Add the creme fraiche, cream, and lemon juice, along with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 3/4 tsp black pepper. Boil until the mixture starts to thicken, about 5-10 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken and bake for 15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through.
  • This dish can be made fully in advance, refrigerated, and then reheated at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. It can sit for several days before reheating, and often tastes better this way.

Notes

This is one of my favorite recipes from the Barefoot Contessa - you can find it in her book, Barefoot in Paris.  I have a few changes and tips for making it easier, and cheaper.  First, her recipe calls for dried morels (I call it chicken with Mushrooms, her title is Chicken with Morels), which are about $20 an ounce.  I have tried all kinds of dried mushrooms, and they all work beautifully - I prefer shiitakes for the texture.  Second, the recipe calls for using clarified butter, which is either expensive, or time consuming to make.  You can buy Ghee (clarified butter) at Trader Joe's (pictured in the blog post) or use a mix of 2 Tbsp butter and 2 Tbsp olive oil, which will make the smoke point higher.  Last - if you can't find Madiera, dry sherry or dry marsala both work great and are a little less expensive.  This is a WIN of a recipe - thanks Ina!
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