Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes

Servings: 8-10
Source: Fine Cooking June/July 2003 pg 51

Ingredients
FOR THE CHOCOLATE BISCUITS:
10 oz (ab 2¼ cups) all-purpose flour
1½
ounces (ab ¼ cup plus 3 Tbsp Dutch-processed cocoa powder, such as Droste
¼ cup granulated sugar; plus about 3 Tbsp for sprinkling
1½ Tbsp baking powder
¾ tsp table salt
4½ oz (9 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into sm pieces
6½ oz semisweet chocolate, grated or finely chopped (the food processor works well); more for garnish
1¼ cup heavy cream; plus about 3 Tbsp for brushing
1½ tsp pure vanilla extract
FOR THE STRAWBERRIES:
5 cup 1/8-inch-thick strawberry slices (from about 3 pints)
1 to 3 Tbsp granulated sugar, depending on the sweetness of the berries
FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM:
1½ cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
¾ tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions
Make the biscuits: Line a heavy baking sheet with parchment. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Toss with a fork to combine. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or a fork until the largest pieces of butter are the size of peas. Add the grated chocolate and toss to combine. Combine the cream and vanilla in a liquid measure. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the cream into the well. Mix with a fork until the dough is evenly moistened and just combined; it should look shaggy and still feel a little dry. Gently knead by hand five or six times to pick up any dry ingredients remaining in the bottom of the bowl and to create a loose ball.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and pat it into an 8-inch square, ¾ to 1 inch thick. Transfer the dough to the parchment-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 425°F. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and trim about ¼ inch from each side to create a neat, sharp edge (a bench knife or a pastry scraper works well, or use a large chef’s knife, being sure to cut straight down). Cut the dough into 9 even squares (about 2½ inches square) and spread them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. With a pastry brush or the back of a spoon, brush each biscuit with a thin layer of cream and sprinkle generously with sugar. Bake until the biscuits look a little dry and are mostly firm to the touch (they should spring back slightly when gently pressed), 18 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the strawberries: Toss the berries with 1 tablespoon sugar and taste. If they’re still tart, sprinkle with another 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar. Let sit at room temperature until the sugar dissolves and the berries begin to release their juices, at least 30 minutes but no more than 2 hours.

Whip the cream: Pour the cream into a cold mixing bowl and beat with a hand mixer until it begins to thicken. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and, using a whisk, continue to beat by hand until the cream is softly whipped or until the whisk leaves distinct marks in the cream; it should be soft and billowy but still hold its shape.

Assemble the shortcakes: While the biscuits are still warm, split them in half horizontally with a serrated knife. For each serving, set the bottom half of a biscuit on a plate. Scoop about 1/2 cup of the berries and their juices over the biscuit. Add a generous dollop of whipped cream and cover with the top half of the biscuit. Top with a small dollop of cream and any garnish the recipe calls for.

Garnish with some grated chocolate and a berry or two and serve.

Make-ahead tips

FOR THE BISCUITS: I prefer to serve the biscuits warm-not hot-from the oven, but you can make them several hours in advance. (You can even bake the biscuits a day ahead, or freeze them for up to three months, although their texture will suffer slightly.) Just before serving, reheat the prepared biscuits in a 200°F oven until warmed through.

FOR THE BERRIES: You can slice the berries hours ahead of time and refrigerate them. Half an hour before assembling the shortcakes, toss the berries with the sugar and let them sit at room temperature.

FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM: Underwhip your cream and refrigerate it, covered, until ready to serve. Then use a whisk to finish whipping.

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Servings: 36
Source: Fine Cooking No. 23 Best of Fine Cooking
Chopping your own chocolate into chunks gives the pieces a welcome lack of uniformity: some bites yield especially big “”chips.”

Ingredients
9½ oz (2 cup plus 2 Tbs.) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp table salt
½ lb (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened at room temp
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup plus 2 Tbsp very firmly packed light brown sugar
2 lg eggs
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
9 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2½ oz milk chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350ºF. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt to blend. Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until thoroughly combined, about 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl again. With the mixer on low speed, slowly blend in the flour mixture until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Fold in the chopped chocolate with the spatula, making sure all the flour and butter are thoroughly combined.

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake until the cookies are golden brown on the edges and slightly soft in the center, about 15 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 1 minute before transferring them to a rack to cool.

The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for to three days.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Servings: —
Preheat: 325°
Source: Gourment, 3/1994
This dough produces a crisp cookie with oats for added texture.

Ingredients
2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
I tsp salt
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 lg eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cup (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
In a bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and oats. In another bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat in vanilla. Beat in flour mixture and stir in chocolate chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto buttered baking sheets and bake cookies in batches in middle of oven 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden. Cool cookies on racks.

Cookies keep in airtight containers 5 days. Makes about 72 cookies.

Chocolate Chip Cake

Servings: —
Preheat: 325°

Ingredients
1/2 lb butter
4 eggs
2 2/3 cup cake flour
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 pk. of choc. chips (8 Ounces) grated or 1 box of semi-sweet squares grated

Directions
Preheat Oven to 325° Bake for 45 Minutes

Separate eggs, beat egg whites and refrigerate

Cream yolks, butter, sugar and vanilla Add milk, flour and 3/4 of the chocolate shavings Fold in egg whites

Pour batter in 9 X 13 pan and then put remaining shavings on.

Chilled Curried Carrot Soup

Servings: 4
Most supermarkets carry Madras-style curry powder, which is the type I recommend. I suggest buying a new can at least every six months-curry powder loses much of its punch over time. The 3/4 teaspoon curry powder here will give you a fragrant soup with mild warmth. If you like things spicier, just add a bit more. Pepitas are olive-green hulled pumpkin seeds which have a delicate, sweet flavor that comes alive when lightly toasted.

Ingredients
2 Tbsp unsalted butter or vegetable oil
1 lb carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1 med onion, chopped
1 lg shallot, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 heaping Tbsp minced fresh ginger
I tsp seeded and minced fresh serrano or jalapeño (ab 1/2 a medium-size chile)
1 tsp ground coriander
3/4 tsp Madras-style hot curry powder
Kosher salt
3 cup homemade or low-salt canned chicken broth or water
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lime juice; more to taste
Freshly ground black or white
pepper
Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
Toasted pepitas or pine nuts for garnish

Directions
Heat the butter or oil in a wide soup pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion, and shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, chile, coriander, curry powder, and a generous pinch of salt. Cook until fragrant, another minute. Pour in the chicken broth, cover partially, and bring to a boil over high heat.

Reduce the heat and simmer gently until the vegetables offer no resistance when mashed against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon, 25 to 35 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Ladle some solids and broth into a blender, taking care to fill the jar no more than two-thirds full. Before turning on the blender vent the lid by removing the pop-out center if there is one, or just open the lid a bit. (Venting prevents the heat from building up inside the blender, which could cause hot soup to spew out all over the kitchen.) For extra precaution, drape a clean dishtowel over the vented lid as well. Purée the soup in batches if needed and then strain through a medium sieve.

Stir in the coconut milk and lime juice; season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill thoroughly. Before serving, thin the soup gradually as needed with up to 1 cup of water and adjust the seasonings. Ladle the soup into bowls or cups.

Garnish with a few cilantro leaves and the pepitas or pine nuts.

Chickpea and Sweet Potato Koftas

Servings: —
Prep Time: 35 min
Koftas are little patties or balls made from ground or mashed vegetables. In traditional East Indian cooking, they are usually deep-fried, and served in a creamy, savory sauce. In this recipe, the koftas are shaped into patties, similar to felafel, then sauteed or baked, instead of deep-fried. These delicious little circles are also quite pretty: a deep shade ofgolden yellow, punctuated by nuggets of bright green peas. For a great lunch, serve them in pitas, with tninced tomatoes and cucumbers and some yogurt. They also taste wonderful topped with Mediterranean Yogurt (page 169).

Ingredients
1 medium-size sweet potato or garnet yam (3/4 pound)
1½ to 2 cup cooked chickpeas (1 15 oz can, rinsed and drained)
1 lg clove garlic
2 scallions, cut into 1″” pieces
2 tsp lightly toasted cumin seeds
1 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
freshly ground black pepper to taste
6 Tbsp unbleached white flour
1 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
vegetable or oive oil for sauteing

Directions
Peel and dice the sweet potato or yam, and cook it in boiling water until soft-about 10 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces. Drain well. (Or cook the whole sweet potato in the microwave until soft, then peel.) You should have about 1½ cups of cooked sweet potato. Transfer to a food processor.

Add all the other ingredients, except the flour, peas, and oil. Puree until fairly smooth. (The mixture might be very thick, depending on the sweet potato or yam, so be patient with this process.) Transfer to a bowl.

Stir in the flour until it is thoroughly incorporated, then gently stir in the peas. Form into large or small patties. To make them uniform and professional looking, use a ¼ -cup measure to scoop up the mixture, then pat each one down until it is about ½ -inch thick and 2 ½ inches in diameter.

Place a skillet over medium heat and add a little bit of oil. When the oil is very hot, add the patties, and saut6 for about 8 to 10 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned and heated through. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

Yield. About 16 2 ½ -inch patties (4 main-dish servings; 6 appetizer servings)
Preparation time: 35 to 40 minutes

“

Chicken, Gaylord’s Tandoori

Servings: 4-8

Ingredients
2 2½ pound chickens
2 cups plain yogurt
½ teaspoons cumin
½ freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger or half the amount dried
1 clove garlic finely minced
1/8 to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt to taste
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ cup chopped white onion
2 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon loosely packed stem saffron or 1/8 teaspoon powdered saffron.

Directions
1. Cut off and discard the small wing tips of each chicken. Using the fingers, pull off and discard the skin of the
chickens.

2. Using a sharp knife, make brief gashes across the grain on both sides of the chicken breasts and legs.

3. Combine in the container of a food processor the yogurt, cumin, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, coriander, ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, saIt to taste, cardamom, and onion. Process to a fine liquid.

4. Pour the mixture Into a mixing bowl and add the chickens. Turn the chickens to coat all over. Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.

5. Remove the chickens from the yogurt mixture at least one hour before cooking.

6. Preheat oven to 500°. Heat a charcoal grill.

7. Heat the milk in a small saucepan and add the saffron. Remove from the heat and let stand 10 minutes.

8. Spoon the saffron mixture evenly over the chickens.

9. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the chickens on it breast side up.

10. Place the chickens in the oven and …garbled….(probably bake for 40 minutes??). Or, cooked entirely on a charcoal grill. To grill them, split the chickens as for broiling. After marinating, place on the grill breast side down. Grill on one side. Turn and continue grilling on the second side until the chickens are thoroughly cooked.

11. Cut the chickens into serving pieces. Put them on the grill and cook briefly on both sides.

Chicken Thighs Baked with Lemon, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

Servings: 6
Source: Fine Cooking August/September 2001
NOTE: Chicken should refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight (see below)In addition to the lemon and fresh herbs, the chicken thighs are flavored with an emulsified mash of garlic, salt, and olive oil, called allioli. I like to garnish each plate of chicken with a spoonful of romesco sauce.

Ingredients
2 lg cloves garlic
Coarse salt or sea salt
3 to 4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
12 chicken thighs, trimmed of fat, rinsed, and patted dry
2 lg lemons, each cut into six ¼ “” rounds
1 bunch fresh rosemary, snipped into twelve 2″” pieces
1 bunch fresh thyme, snipped into twelve 2″” pieces
12 sage leaves
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Using a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic with a large pinch of salt to create a coarse paste (or use a small mixing bowl and the back of a spoon, or mince the garlic very finely on a cutting board). Add the oil very slowly in drops while pounding and grinding the paste, continuing until the allioli is thick, creamy, and emulsified. Put the chicken in a bowl. Rub the allioli all over, including under the skin.

Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Heat the oven to 425°F and set an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Arrange the lemon slices in one layer in a large shallow roasting pan or baking dish (9xl3x2 inches is good). Top each slice with a piece of rosemary and thyme and a sage leaf. Set the chicken thighs, skin side up, on top; sprinkle them generously with salt and pepper. Bake until the skin is golden and the juices are clear, 45 min. to 1 hour.

Sometimes the lemons and chicken produce a lot of juices, in which case you can make a delicious pan sauce. Transfer the chicken (keeping the herbs and lemon slices underneath) to a plate and cover loosely with foil. Tilt the pan to pool the juices in one corner. Spoon off the fat that rises to the top. Set the pan over medium heat (if the pan isn’t flameproof, pour the juices into a small skillet) and scrape up any stuck-on juices. Let the juices boil and reduce so they thicken to a saucy consistency. Drizzle the sauce around, not on, the chicken to maintain the crisp skin.

Chicken Tandoor

Servings: 4-6
Source: Fine Cooking #21, June/July 1997

Ingredients

FOR THE MARINADE:
2-inch piece ginger, peeled
4 large cloves garlic
¼ teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon chill powder
1½ teaspoons table salt
½ teaspoon cumin seeds, ground
¾ cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

FOR THE CHICKEN:
2 to 3 pounds boneless chicken thighs and breasts
¼ cup melted butter or olive oil

FOR THE GARNISH:
½ mild white onion, thinly sliced
½ Cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 or 2 fresh green chiles, thinly sliced

1 lime, cut in wedges

Directions

Make the marinade: In a blender or a food processor, blend the ginger and garlic to a fine paste (you may need to add a little water to make a paste). Add the turmeric, chili powder, salt, cumin, yogurt, and lime juice; process until combined.

Prepare the chicken: Remove the skin from the chicken, leaving some fat. Make a few slits in each piece and transfer to a nonreactive dish large enough for the pieces to lie flat. Pour the marinade over the chicken and stir to coat the chicken thoroughly. Seal with plastic and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours but no more than 12 hours, turning the chicken once.

Grill the chicken: Prepare a charcoal grill with an even layer of coals. While the grill is heating up, take the chicken out of the refrigerator. When the charcoal is red-hot, lay the chicken pieces on the grill about 2 inches apart. Baste with any remaining marinade. Cover the grill, leaving the vents half-open. After about 5 minutes, remove the grill lid and turn over the chicken pieces; they should look slightly charred. Replace the lid and continue cooking for another 5 to 7 minutes. Uncover the chicken, baste it with the melted butter, turn it over, and leave it uncovered for the rest of the cooking time. Baste after 2 or 3 minutes and test for doneness: the meat should feel firm when you press it. Transfer the chicken to a large platter. Arrange the onion, cilantro, chiles, and lime wedges over the chicken and seal the platter with foil. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes to absorb the garnish flavors. Traditional accompaniments are chutney, curried potatoes, peas, raita, and basmati rice.

Orecchiette Pasta with Brocolli Rabe

Servings: 6
Source: Bon Appétit May 1995
In Apulia, women still make pasta at home. Their favorite pasta shape – and the symbol of the region – is arecchiette, or “”little ears””. Called recchie or recchietelle in the local dialect, orecchiette is eaten just about daily, but is prepared a different way in almost every village. The sauces for this whimsical pasta are straightforward and usually contain vegetables, beans or legumes. This recipe is one of the most basic.

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil, including all of the oil in the anchovy tin
4 garlic cloves, minced
12 oz orecchiette or shell pasta
1 lb broccoli rabe, trimmed, chopped
1 entire 2oz tin of anchovies, chopped
parmesan cheese
chile flakes

Directions
Heat oil in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until beginning to color, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until beginning to soften, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add broccoli rabe and cook until pasta is just tender, but still firm to bite, about 3 minutes. Drain. Transfer pasta and broccoli rabe to large bowl. Pour garlic oil over. Add in chopped anchovies and pepper flakes to taste, and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese individually.