Monthly Cooking Thread - May 2021

[Trillian]

These are next on the to try list. Dove came out with a new deeper dark chocolate so I’m chopping them up for cookies next time I bake.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 (11-ounce) bag of chocolate chunks or chips
Flaky sea salt

What kind of chocolate should you use? Well, that’s up to you! Use your favorite here: milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or even dark chocolate.

Start by browning the butter: Cook butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until it foams up and then browns. Remove the butter from the heat immediately and let it cool for 15 minutes.

Next, combine the sugars, salt and cooled brown butter. Mix until smooth, then add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.

Stir together the flour and baking soda and gradually add it to the butter mixture. Mix until it just comes together, but don’t overmix. Fold in the chocolate of your choice.

Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours. I typically shoot for overnight, but you can go as long as 24 hours.

When you’re ready to bake, let the dough sit out at room temperature while the oven preheats. It will be quite hard until it sits out for a bit. Use a medium cookie scoop to portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets. You should end up with right around 24 cookies.

Bake cookies for 12-13 minutes, or until the edges barely start to brown. The centers will appear undercooked; this is what you’re looking for. At this point, you can press some additional chips or chunks into the tops of the cookies and give them each a light sprinkling of flaky sea salt.

Technically both of these steps are completely optional, but I highly recommend them. I promise that sea salt really puts them over the top!

I know you will totally love these Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Just try to stop at one!

https://www.mybakingaddiction.com/brown-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/

[Jamestown1630]

She has also spent a large part of her life - and money - creating a foundation that supports a preserve for exotic cats:

https://shambala.org/about.htm

[Jamestown1630]

Those look good, and sort of butter-scotchy. I like that.

[Jamestown1630]

Hitchcock thought that Tippi was similar to Grace Kelly, but that "Tippi has a faster tempo, city glibness, more humor [than Grace Kelly]. She displayed jaunty assuredness, pertness, an attractive throw of the head. And she memorized and read lines extraordinarily well and is sharper in expression."

Tippi wasn't an 'ice queen'.

[Jamestown1630]

The avocado dip sounds like it would be good!

[Liz]

Colorful, refreshing and easy, pairs traditional Viet spring rolls with an irresistible, creamy peanut dip made with southern-style Duke’s Mayo......
crisp vegetables, fresh herbs, tender shrimp, and delicate rice noodles, add your own veggie.... bean sprouts, lettuce, snow peas, avocado,
fresh basil, mint, or add cooked pork or chicken, tofu and bell pepper.

Spring Rolls 8 clear, edible rice paper sheets ½ lb. cooked, peeled, deveined shrimp, shopped if desired 1 cup grated carrots 2 cups shredded cabbage 1 cup cooked rice vermicelli noodles 1 bunch cilantro, washed Preparation

Spring Rolls: Dip a sheet of rice paper wrapper into a pan of warm water until rehydrated, about 5 seconds. Lay on a clean, flat work surface. 2. Lay a small amount of shrimp, carrot, cabbage, vermicelli and cilantro down the middle of the rice paper sheet. 3. Carefully roll the spring roll burrito-style, tucking in the sides, and folding the closes part of the rice paper towards the opposite end. Use caution when rolling, if rolled to tightly the spring roll will split. 4. Place completed spring rolls on a plate, serve immediately with dipping sauce.

And now for the Irresistible Peanut Dipping Sauce. Duke’s Mayo adds rich flavor and creamy texture to dynamic ingredient that hits each of the five flavor profiles: savory flavor from p/butter, sweetness from honey, earthy and spicy notes from garlic and red pepper flakes, saltiness from soy sauce, and tartness from rice vinegar. The rich flavor is the perfect complement to light and airy fresh spring rolls.

Dipping Sauce: Mix then chill clove garlic, minced ½ cup peanut butter ¼ cup Duke’s Mayonnaise 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar 1 tsp. honey 1 tsp. red pepper flakes 2 green onions, finely chopped

[Liz]

An elegant way to serve big wedges of sweet potatoes roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper, brings out the flavor and
crisps outside.......paired with fresh basil and Triple Cream Brie, and set under broiler a minute, for over-the-top flavor.

ING Sweet Potatoes – 4 medium, peeled Olive Oil – 4 tablespoons Sea Salt – 1 teaspoon Black Pepper – 1 teaspoon, freshly cracked Garlic – 4 cloves, finely minced Rosemary – 1 teaspoon, fresh, finely minced Triple Cream Brie – 4 ½ ounces, with rind, thinly sliced, cut into ¾-inch pieces, chilled Basil – ¼ cup, fresh, rough chopped

METHOD Place wedges on sheetpan; toss with olive oil. Arrange in single layer; s/p. Roast 400 deg 20 minutes. Now turn each
wedge w/ spatula. Bake 5 min. Remove to counter, sprinkle with combined rosemary/garlic; bake 5 min. Remove pan to counter.

FINAL Place baked wedges in oven-proof server. Evenly distribute cheese over;
now broil til Brie is bubbly and melted, 2-3 min. Remove, sprinkle w/ basil, s/p to taste.

Serve immediately.

CHEF NOTES using a cast iron skillet as server lets you go from hot broiler to trivet on dining table.

[Liz]

A new twist on pie-making. A Cinnamon-Roll Pie Crust.
Fill w/ peaches or apples, pumpkin pie filling...whatever.

Cinnamon-Roll Pie Crust/ 9-inch pie crust / 10 servings)

ING tube refrigerated pie crust 4 tb melted butter, ½ cup br/sugar 2 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp vanilla

METHOD On lightly floured surface, roll out pie crust to about ½-inch thickness. Spoon combined butter, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla into center of crust. Spread evenly over entire crust. Starting w/ side closest to you, roll into a tight spiral. Cut spiral into ½" thick pieces.

On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a ¼-inch-thick round. Place pieces in pie plate, overlapping slightly and pressing to seal. (if not sticking together, a little water helps “glue” them.) Continue placing rounds of dough in the pie plate until the entire plate is full; trim any excess hanging over the edge. W/ fork tines press indentations all around the edge. Chill well before filling and baking, according to fave pie recipe.

[lizma2]

Anything with Duke’s Mayo is fabulous. LOL.

Use to cook a lot of Asian food but for about the past 5 years have wandered back into the food I ate as a kid.

Meatloaf (use ground Sun Chips Garden Salsa instead of bread YUM), Chop Suey, Hamburger Stroganoff, Mac and Cheese, etc.

Need to be more adventurous again!

[Liz]

....use ground Sun Chips Garden Salsa instead of bread...

That does sound good.

[Liz]

AWESOME and easy; can triple. Very smooth in coffee or as a coffee ice cream drizzle.
MEGA-YUMS--Add chp caramel nut clusters and serve over over apple cream cheese tart.

Martha’s Salted Caramel Sauce

Melt stick butter, ½ c br/ sugar on med to nascent boil. Offheat add ½ c condensed milk,
tsp vanilla then heat a bit on low/med 3 min. Add pinch salt. Offheat stir smooth, then chill.

CHEF NOTES swap coconut milk from carton (not canned ) for condensed milk
(half was coconut unflavored creamer) and add olivia coconut spread for unsalted butter....
if you cannot have dairy.

[Liz]

Decadent “dessert” drink soothes Thai spice burn. Authentic Thai restaurant recipe to make at home.
Restaurants use authentic Thai tea; yellow food color gives bright orange color w/ vanilla aroma. Panthai brand is used.
Or use black tea; version with pekong black tea bags was great--no brilliant orange color, or subtle hint of sweet vanilla.

THAI ICED TEA

DO AHEAD BTB 4 c water; add cup thai tea mix (or 4 black tea bags). Add 3/4 c sugar; gently stir/dissolve.
Gently boil 3 min. Steep offheat 30 min minimum; then cool. The more concentrated the tea, the better the final taste.

W/ Thai tea mix, strain out tea leaves. Set aside to cool.

W/ black tea bags, LIFTOUT tea bags and set tea aside to cool. Can do to here early in day, then fridge/chill.

ASSEMBLY Layer in glass filled w/ ice, 3/4 chilled Thai tea mix. Top off w/ HnH,
(or coconut milk, whole milk, low-fat milk or sweet/cond/milk). Stir and serve.

[Liz]

Decadent “dessert” drink soothes Thai spice burn. Authentic Thai restaurant recipe to make at home.
Restaurants use authentic Thai tea; yellow food color gives bright orange color w/ vanilla aroma. Panthai brand is used.
Or use black tea; version with pekong black tea bags was great--no brilliant orange color, or subtle hint of sweet vanilla.

THAI ICED TEA

DO AHEAD BTB 4 c water; add cup thai tea mix (or 4 black tea bags). Add 3/4 c sugar; gently stir/dissolve.
Gently boil 3 min. Steep offheat 30 min minimum; then cool. The more concentrated the tea, the better the final taste.

W/ Thai tea mix, strain out tea leaves. Set aside to cool.

W/ black tea bags, LIFTOUT tea bags and set tea aside to cool. Can do to here early in day, then fridge/chill.

ASSEMBLY Layer in glass filled w/ ice, 3/4 chilled Thai tea mix. Top off w/ HnH,
(or coconut milk, whole milk, low-fat milk or sweet/cond/milk). Stir and serve.

[Liz]

How Food May Improve Your Mood
NYT ^ | May 6, 2021 | Anahd O’Conner
FR Posted on 5/12/2021, 3:35:04 PM by BenLurkin

A healthy diet promotes a healthy gut, which communicates with the brain through what is known as the gut-brain axis. Microbes in the gut produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate our mood and emotions, and the gut microbiome has been implicated in mental health outcomes.

The first major trial to shed light on the food-mood connection was published in 2017. A team of researchers wanted to know whether dietary changes would help alleviate depression, so they recruited 67 people who were clinically depressed and split them into groups. One group went to meetings with a dietitian who taught them to follow a traditional Mediterranean-style diet. The other group, serving as the control, met regularly with a research assistant who provided social support but no dietary advice.

But the diet group made big changes. They replaced candy, fast food and pastries with whole foods such as nuts, beans, fruits and legumes. They switched from white bread to whole grain and sourdough bread. They gave up sugary cereals and ate muesli and oatmeal. Instead of pizza, they ate vegetable stir-fries. And they replaced highly processed meats like ham, sausages and bacon with seafood and small amounts of lean red meats.

The diet benefited mental health even though the participants did not lose any weight. People also saved money by eating the more nutritious foods, demonstrating that a healthy diet can be economical. Before the study, the participants spent on average $138 per week on food. Those who switched to the healthy diet lowered their food costs to $112 per week.

The recommended foods were relatively inexpensive and available at most grocery stores. They included things like canned beans and lentils, canned salmon, tuna and sardines, and frozen and conventional produce, said Felice Jacka, the lead author of the study.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...

[Liz]

I read where Duke’s contains a higher ratio of egg yolks than most other commercial mayos, making it richer and creamier.

There’s also hints of tang from vinegar and a touch of paprika.....so they say.

It is why Southern cooking continues to please.

[Liz]

I love your idea of chopping up Dove chocolate bars and adding them to the cookie mix.

And topping the baked cookies w/ more chocolate is truly a sinfully delicious twist.

I read somewhere that a famous chocolate chip cookie sold in stores has a secret ingredient.......

The baker adds the crumbs from Honey Nut Cheerios cereal.

You can’t see it in the cookies......but it does add another layer of flavor.

[Trillian]

It’s the only way i’ve done it for at least twenty years.

When I bake cookie dough in a full half sheet pan, I cover it completely in melted dove chocolate ganache. Then I sprinkle it with nonpariels and cut into squares after it sets. Everyone loves it.

[Liz]

That sounds sensational......chocolate from here to eternity.......yummy.

[lizma2]

If I gave up bacon I would be depressed.

Had Carbonara for dinner tonight.

https://www.food.com/recipe/olive-garden-spaghetti-carbonara-143469

Cut off as much fat as I can before I fry the bacon.

[lizma2]

Grew up in the Chicago area with Hellmann’s.

When I moved to the DC area I noticed Dukes on sale one day. Bought it. Did a side by side taste test with Hellmann’s.

Dukes won biggly!

(Still use Miracle Whip in recipes I got from my Grandma’s)