Summer Orzo Salad with Grilled Sweet Corn and Brussels Sprouts

Whew! Grad school can take a lot of out a girl! I am happy to report that I have completed my last final, submitted my last paper, and given my last presentation. And this means...on with the making from scratch! 

With a glass of homemade white peach wine in hand, I fired up the charcoal grill in our urban oasis of a backyard. I can hear the unmistakable rhythms of Cumbia music softly murmuring from one of my neighbor's open windows. As I hear little mews coming from my own window above my head, I look up and see my sweet kitten, Lyla, inquisitively watching me as I prepare the grill. Smoldering charcoal is one of my most favorite smells - it smells like summer.

This little gem of a salad is wonderful for this time of year. The flavors are bright, but the balsamic reduction adds a little gusto for when the evening chill kicks in. Personally, I prefer this salad served cold. Also, this dish gets better after a day, so if you are planning on serving it for company, I recommend making it a day ahead of time. If you do not have a grill, you can use your broiler in the oven.

What You'll Need:

• 15 to 20 large brussels sprouts
• 1 ear of sweet corn
• 1/4 purple onion, thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup orzo
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons fresh curly parsley
• salt and pepper to taste
• fresh greens
• parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Prepare your grill. Shuck the corn and cut each sprout in half lengthwise. Place the corn and sprouts over medium high heat and cook until corn is done and sprouts are softened (about 5 minutes for the corn and 15 for the sprouts). Be sure to turn the corn every couple of minutes to ensure even cooking. Remove the corn and sprouts from the grill and let cool. Once the corn has cooled, using a serrated knife, cut the corn from the cob. It's okay if kernels stick together - it adds to the charm of the presentation! Combine the corn, sprouts, and thinly sliced onion in a large bowl. 
2. Next, boil 5 cups of water. When the water is at a rolling boil, add the orzo. Cook for about 8 minutes until al dente. When the orzo is done, drain thoroughly and pour on top of the vegetables. Cover the bowl with a lid. The heat from the orzo will slightly wilt the raw onion and bring out it's sweetness while still maintaining the lovely crispness of texture. 
3. While the pasta is cooking, make the balsamic reduction. In a small sauce pot, cook the vinegar for 5 minutes over medium high heat. After 5 minutes, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stove. The reduction will thicken as it cools, so do not be alarmed if it does not look thick enough after the 5 minutes. Also, this is part of the dressing for the salad, so we do not want a super thick reduction anyway. 
4. Once the orzo is added to the vegetables, add the oil, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to make sure everything is well incorporated. Serve on top of a bed of fresh greens and drizzle the reduction over the salad. Garnish with parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Stuffed With Spiced Apples

Well, we are inundated with about seven feet of snow here in Boston so I figured, it's time to eat a delicious, comforting, doesn't-matter-if-there's-snow-on-the-ground-until-July breakfast. I've posted a recipe for stuffed French toast before (Spiced Challah French Toast Stuffed with Wild Huckleberries and Cream) and I find that no matter how crummy it is outside, the cinnamony goodness always makes me feel warm and toasty. Here, we used preserved apples that we made in the fall, but if you don't have any on hand, you can use a fresh apple (even though it's not 100% seasonal). So put on some good tunes, pull out the skillet and get to cookin', cause it's going to be awhile util any of us can go anywhere!

What You'll Need:

• 3 eggs
• 1/8 cup water
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 pieces of cinnamon raisin bread*
• 1/2 cup preserved spiced apples OR 1 fresh apple, 1/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon maple syrup**
• 4 oz. whipped cream cheese

*If you're feeling particularly ambitious, you can make your cinnamon raison bread from scratch using my recipe for Whole Wheat and Roasted Oat Bread. Just before baking, flatten the dough out and spread 1 cup of raisins evenly on the dough. Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon and sugar (the more the better) and roll the dough into a log. Bake as directed.

**If you need to make your apples, peel and chop your applies into 1/2" cubes. Combine the apples, water, cinnamon, and maple syrup in a pot and bring to a boil. Cook until the apples are soft, about 10 minutes.

1. Combine the eggs, water, and cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk until the mixture is smooth and the yolks and whites are completely combined. 
2. Place a skillet over medium heat. Melt a pat of butter in the skillet to prevent sticking.
3. Dip each bread slice in the egg mixture and make sure it is fully coated. Place coated bread on the skillet and cook until golden brown on the side, about 3 minutes. Flip the bread and cook on the other side until golden brown, about another 3 minutes. 
4. Remove the toast from the skillet. Spread 2 ounces of cream cheese on 2 pieces of the bread. Pile the apples on top of the cheese and place another piece of bread on top. 

Yield: Serves 2

A Maker's Home

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the "maker movement". I've never really thought of myself as a maker, really I'm just someone who likes to cook and make things. Not quite sure what a maker is? Watch the video and if you like Seasons From Scratch, then I'm sure you're probably a maker yourself!

Whole Wheat and Roasted Oat Bread

I love the ritual of baking bread: the blooming of the yeast, the kneading, the rise, the punching down, the second rise, the baking, and finally, the eating. I also love the warm, sweet scents that accompany this ritual. Baking bread can be challenging, and many view it as a chore, but instead, let yourself get lost in the ritual. Be patient. 

This hearty bread has a beautiful crust and soft crumb. The roasted oats give this bread a nutty caramel flavor. Try adding fresh herbs, such as sage or tarragon, when kneading for a more complex flavor.

What You'll Need:

• 4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast*
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 1/3 cup walnut oil
• 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cup white, all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup quick rolled oats

*A word about yeast. When I first began baking bread, I always bought yeast in packages. I often found that my yeast often did not bloom correctly, resulting in flat, stiff bread. I recommend using Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast from the bottle. It's a little more of an investment to buy it in bottle form, but it's actually a better deal and seems to work much better than the packages. 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lay the oats on a cookie sheet and spread evenly. Toast the oats in the oven for 5-7 minutes until fragrant. Remove from oven and let cool.
2. Combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a large bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. This allows the yeast to bloom - it should look foamy, if not, throw it away and start again.
3. Once the yeast has bloomed, add the walnut oil, flours and salt and gently stir with a fork to combine. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth. Knead for an additional 2 minutes, working in the oats as you knead. 
4. Form the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl and cover. Let rise in a warm, draft free spot until the dough doubles in bulk, about 90 minutes.
5. When the dough has doubled, gently punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead gently for 30 more seconds and form into a loaf. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes.
6. While the dough is resting, place a sheet of parchment on a cookie sheet. After the dough has rested, place the loaf on the prepared cookie sheet and cover with a clean towel. Let rise in a warm, draft free spot until it doubles again, about 40-60 minutes (I find the best spot is on top of my preheating oven).
7. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Once the dough has rested, remove the towel and dust the loaf with flour. Using a serrated knife, slash a long line from tip to tip about 1 inch deep. 
8. Place the loaf in the oven and reduce the heat down to 400 degrees. Bake until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, about 35-40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack and enjoy while still warm with freshly churned butter. 

Yield: 1 loaf

Almond Butterscotch Drop Cookies

Firstly, let me apologize for taking a bit of a break from the posting - getting a masters degree really gobbles up your time!

On with the cookies...

For me, drop cookies evoke so many memories. I remember sitting on the bright red countertop, watching my mother make her famous chocolate-chip cookies, eagerly waiting for her to turn around so I could snatch a secret "taste-test". Despite my attempt to stealthily run my finger along the edge of the bowl and quickly pop the dough into my mouth, she always knew what I was up to. And yet she would always pretend to take a little extra time gathering her ingredients or getting the spatula so I could try to sneak one more delicious dollop. 

Drop cookies are homey and rustic, and they also make a wonderful holiday treat. These cookies are extremely easy to make and don't require a lot of time or effort - perfect for holiday parties, a tasty little treat with hot cocoa, or a secret midnight snack. 

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons butterscotch sauce*
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds

*Click the link for a delicious bourbon butterscotch recipe. If you're pressed for time, you can use store-bought butterscotch. 

1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cream the butter, sugar, and butterscotch together in a large bowl until fluffy. 
3. Add the salt, vanilla, and egg and continue to beat until mixture is light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Slowly add the flour and beat until just incorporated, do not over-mix.
5. Add the almonds and with a wooden spoon or spatula, mix until the almonds are evenly incorporated. 
6. Using two spoons (one to scoop the dough and the other to easy it off the spoon onto the sheet), drop about a tablespoon of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, leaving about 2" of space between each cookie. 
7. Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes until golden brown on the bottom. Transfer to a wire rack and enjoy while still warm!

Yield: about 20 cookies

Grilled Peach, Prosciutto, and Rosemary Flatbread with Bleu Cheese and Balsamic Reduction

Peach season is right around the corner and this flatbread is a delicious appetizer for any evening dinner party in the dog days of summer. The sweetness of the peaches with the earthiness of the spinach and rosemary pair beautifully with the saltiness of the prosciutto and the tang of the balsamic reduction. Serve with a bottle of homemade white peach wine.

What You'll Need:

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 1/2 cups white flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 ripe peaches
• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 12 oz. prosciutto
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary
• 1/2 cup crumbled bleu cheese
• Olive oil for brushing the dough

1. To prepare the crust, combine the water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Let the yeast bloom for 5 minutes. Next, add the olive oil, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir with a fork until ingredients are thoroughly combined. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently kneed until the dough is smooth, about 3 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and place the bowl over the dough and let rest for 5 minutes. 
2. While the dough is resting, prepare the peaches and balsamic reduction. Peel and pit the peaches. Cut the peaches into rounds about 1/4" thick. Grill over medium-heat grill on both sides for 2 minutes each or until grill marks appear. Remove from grill and set aside. For the reduction, pour the balsamic into a small sauce pot and simmer over medium-high heat until it has reduced by half, about 5 to 7 minutes. 
3. Once the dough has rested, it is time to make the flatbread. The flatbread itself is grilled and the process needs to go fairly quickly to avoid burning. I have found it is best to use a grill set to low heat, or if using charcoal (like me), let the coals cool a bit before attempting to grill the pizza. Fresh coals burn too hot and will burn your pizza in a matter of seconds.
4. Cut the dough in half (since this recipe is for 2 eight-inch pizzas) and leave the other half under the bowl. Roll out the dough into an 8" round. Using a pastry brush, brush olive oil on one side of the dough. Place the dough on the grill, oil side down and cover with grill lid. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes until grill makes appear on the bottom of the dough. Brush oil on the top of the dough and flip. Next, quickly add the toppings in the following order: peaches, prosciutto, spinach, rosemary, bleu cheese. Cover the pizza and cook until the cheese is melted, about 2 to 3 minutes. 
5. Remove the pizza from the grill and repeat the process to make the second pizza. 
6. Drizzle with the balsamic reduction and enjoy!

Yield: 2 eight-inch pizzas

Spiced Challah French Toast Stuffed with Wild Huckleberries and Cream

Believe it or not, this recipe is actually perfect for a morning campfire breakfast (assuming you have a cooler while camping). Whodathunk you could make such a decadent breakfast while camping? You can mix the eggs ahead of time and cook the toast on a skillet right over an open flame. On your morning trek, pick a few wild huckleberries, bring them back to the campsite and prepare this delicious breakfast.

What You’ll Need:

• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 4 slices of day-old challah bread, 1” thick
• ½ cup fresh huckleberries
• ¼ cup cream cheese at room temperature
• 2 pomegranate pluots, plums, or plumcots for garnish, cut into wedges
• Confectioner's sugar for dusting
• Maple syrup (optional, but highly recommended)

1. Combine the eggs, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl and whisk until the egg yolks and whites are thoroughly combined.
2. Next, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. When the butter has melted, gently coat the challah slices in the egg mixture and lay flat on the skillet. You should hear a slight fizz when the challah touches the hot skillet. If you don’t, your skillet is not hot enough. Cook the toast until golden brown on both sides, about 4 to 5 minutes each side.
3. Remove the toast from the skillet and gently spread the cream cheese on 1 side of 2 of the toasts. It is VERY important that the cheese is at room temperature - if it isn’t it will be too hard to spread and it will glob. Next, spread the huckleberries on top of the cream cheese. Place the undressed toasts on top of the cream cheese and huckleberries (you’re essentially making a sandwich).
4. Finally, garnish with pomegranate pluots (my personal favorite), plums, or plumcots. Sprinkle confectioner’s sugar over top and drizzle with maple syrup.

Serves: 2

Homemade Garden Herb Pasta with Linguica, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Brocolini

 

This past weekend, there was a break in the weather - I mean a significant break. The heavy-handed 95-degree heat gave way to a crisp rain and dense fog that slowly rolled through the pioneer valley. This recipe is perfect for those rare, and often appreciated, chilly summer nights when your appetite comes roaring back from the deep slumber of summer heat.

What You’ll Need:

For the Pasta:

• 1 cup white flour
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• pinch of salt
• 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk

For the Sauce and Vegetables:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 8 oz. smoked Linguica sausage, cut on the bias in ½” rings
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
• ½ cup fresh broccolini, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup dry white wine
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. To make the pasta, place the flour, basil, thyme, and salt in a medium bowl. Combine with a fork until the herbs are evenly incorporated. Make a small well in the center of the flour. Crack the egg and yolk in the center of the well. Using a fork, whip the egg and yolk together, then slowly begin to incorporate the flour. Continue to mix until the dough begins to come together. Form the dough into a rough ball and knead on a floured work surface until smooth, about 8 minutes. Place the dough in a plastic bag or covered bowl and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
2. When the dough has rested, cut it into 8 equal pieces. On a floured work surface, roll each piece out as thin as possible, like a sheet of paper. You should be able to see your hand through it. If you have a pasta machine, you can use that as well. Once your pasta is at the desired thinness, cut it into 1½” by 3½” rectangles. Lightly wet the end of one rectangle and stick the two ends together to form a tube (You can make a different shape if you prefer, this is just the shape I chose).
3. Set the formed pasta aside on a baking sheet. If you do not want to use the pasta right away, you can dry it and store it for later use. Dry it on a baking sheet for 24 hours then store in an airtight container.
4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat.
5. While you are waiting for the water to boil, prepare the sausage and veggies. Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until just translucent and fragrant, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the Linguica and garlic. Cover and cook until the oil from the Linguica is released and colors the onions to an orangish tinge. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and broccolini. Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
6. At this point, the water for the pasta should be boiling. Place your homemade pasta into the boiling water and cook for about 7 minutes until done to your liking.
7. While the pasta is cooking, finish the sauce - bring the heat back up to medium high, add the white wine and herbs. Cook, uncovered, until the wine is mostly evaporated, about 2 or 3 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
8. Strain the pasta and serve immediately with the Linguica and vegetables. Top with shaved Asiago and Parmesan.

Serves 2-4

Avocado Potato Salad

Nothing says summertime quite like potato salad. My husband and I had just had a busy day in the garden: pulling weeds, watering, training our stubborn snow peas to climb, and setting up our calendula flowers for drying. Needless to say, we were exhausted by the time we started to think about dinner. As we sat back with a glass of wine, looking out over our garden and looking at the work we had just done, the only words I could utter were, “potato salad”. We went inside and quickly realized we had no mayonnaise… but we did have an avocado. This recipe was born. Enjoy this delicious twist on a classic with grilled chicken on top of a bed of fresh greens from the garden.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 large yukon gold potatoes, diced into 1” cubes
• 2 large red potatoes, diced into 1” cubes
• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon dill
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Place the potatoes in the oiling water and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
2. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the avocado. Peel the avocados and remove the seed. Place the pulp in a medium bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix with a fork until combined.
3. When the potatoes are tender, strain them through a colander or sieve. Add the strained potatoes to the avocado mixture and mix to coat the potatoes and chill until ready to serve.

Yield: about 3 to 4 pounds

Enroll in one of my workshops or sign up for my Jam, Jelly and Fruit Preserve CSA!

Want to learn how to create your own delicious jams an jellies? Sign up for my workshop to learn the ins and outs of canning fruit. Click here to sign up!

 

I've also started a Jam, Jelly and Fruit Preserve CSA! Now, you can enjoy fresh and tasty jams and jellies by signing up for Sweet Bea's Jam, Jelly and Fruit Preserve CSA. I source my fruit from local farms throughout Massachusetts, from Allendale Farm in Brookline to Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury.

For $175, you will receive 2 jars of jams, jellies, or preserves hand crafted by Sweet Bea herself each month from July through December. We ship them via USPS so you don't have to worry about pick-up dates. Payment is due by June 15th. To sign up, email me at sweetbeashc@gmail.com

Meyer Lemon and Rose Petal Marmalade

I never liked marmalade all that much. I remember my father preparing breakfast for me and my three sisters on a bright, late winter’s morning. He made himself a cup of coffee while he waited for the soft English muffins to pop out of the toaster. He lovingly spread orange marmalade on each side, put them on a plate and handed them to my sisters and me. “You have to try this! It’s delicious!” he said. His father was an English chef, so I suppose the love marmalade is natural. I had one bite and spit it out. I hated everything about it - the bitter sweetness, the chunky rinds, all of it.

Since citrus is so lovely this time of year, and really the only thing in season, I could only get so far without tackling a marmalade. I must admit, I was a little wary of getting back on that horse. I scoured recipes in all my cookbooks and the internet and I finally came across this lovely combination - meyer lemon and rose petals. The meyer lemons are sweeter than their cousins and the rose petals give this marmelade a lovely pink hue.

As I sat down to develop my own recipe, I remembered all the things I hated about traditional marmalade when I was a child. This time, I cut the rinds very thin into small strips. I also scrape off the pith from the rind to get rid of some of the bitterness. After all is said and done, I can say I have been converted. This lovely marmalade is fit for the Queen of England herself. Enjoy it on a sunny morning with a delicious blueberry scone and a cup of earl grey.  

What You’ll Need:

• 2 lbs Meyer lemons
• 3 ½ cups cane sugar
• 1 ½ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons dried rose petals

1. Thoroughly wash each lemon. Using a sharp knife, cut off each end of the lemon. Gently cut along the rind from end to end, segmenting the rind in 4 or 5 pieces – do not cut all the way through, only cut through the rind. Peal the rind from the lemon and set the rinds aside. Cut the lemon in half then thinly slice, removing all seeds. Place the lemon slices in a large bowl. Place the seeds in a small bowl. Next, using a paring knife, gently scrape the pith from the rind and place in the small bowl with the seeds. Thinly slice the rind and place in the bowl with the lemon pieces. Pour the sugar over the lemon pieces and rinds. Stir until the lemons and rinds are evenly distributed and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Let the lemons and sugar sit, unrefrigerated, overnight.
2. The next day, pour the reserved seeds and pith into a jelly bag or a few layers of cheesecloth. Tie into a pouch. Most of the pectin is in the seeds and pith, so we will cook the marmalade with the pith and seeds for the pectin. Place a small, ceramic or glass plate in the freezer – we will use this to test the set of our marmalade later. Next, pour the lemon and sugar mixture into a large saucepot. Pour in the lemon juice.  
3. Place the jelly bag into the saucepot and bring mixture to a boil. Simmer for 35 minutes, making sure the pot does not overflow.  After 20 minutes of simmering, add the rose petals. 
4. After 35 minutes, remove the plate from the freezer and drop a small amount of marmalade on the center of the plate. Place the plate back into the freezer. After 5 minutes, remove the plate and slide your finger along the drop of marmalade – if it is set, it should wrinkle gently. 
5. Pour your marmalade into sterilized jars and seal with sterilized lids and tops. Either process cans in a boiling bath for 10 minutes or use the flip method to seal your jars. Once the jars have sealed, you will hear a loud pop!

Enjoy with scones, crumpets or muffins.

Cinnamon Plumcot and Wild Blueberry Hand Pies

Often I find my winter-self thanking my summer-self - I thank myself for the sewing and the watering and the weeding. For the foraging and the harvesting and, most of all, for the preserving. The moment I open a fresh can of cinnamon plumcot preserves, I am instantly taken back to that warm summer day when I plucked a ripe plumcot from that beautifully gnarled tree and took a big juicy bite. And when I pop a tiny frozen wild blueberry into my mouth, I remember swimming all day at the Pisgah and picking wild blueberries and huckleberries near the waterside. Suddenly, summertime seams not-so-distant, even though I’m covered in 2 feet of snow and ice.

What You'll Need

For the Crust:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

1/2 cup ice water

For the Filling:

1 cup cinnamon plumcot preserves, strained (or fresh plums or pluots, peeled and diced mixed with 1 tsp of cinnamon)

1 cup wild blueberries, fresh or thawed from frozen

juice of half lemon (omit if you are using plumcot preserves)

¼ cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour

1 egg for the wash

⅛ cup raw sugar

1. To make the crust, combine the flour and salt in a large bowl or in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse or stir a few times to ensure the salt and flour are combined. Next, scatter the butter pieces over the flour. If you’re using a food processor, pulse until the mixture resembles cornmeal. If you are doing this the old fashioned way, use two knives or a pastry cutter and “cut-in” the butter until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Next, pour the ice water over the flour mixture and toss with a fork until the dough comes together in one ball. Divide the dough in half, place in a tupperware container and refrigerate for at least one hour or up to overnight.
2. While the dough is resting, let’s make the filling. Combine the plumcots and blueberries and lemon juice (if you are using fresh plumcots, otherwise omit the lemon juice) in a large bowl and toss to combine. Sprinkle the brown sugar and flour on top and toss to coat the fruit. Set aside until you are ready to assemble your pies.
3. Next, in a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork until the yolk and white are thoroughly combined.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
5. Now it’s time to assemble the pies. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out until it is about ¼” thick. Using a biscuit cutter, cookie cutter, or even the rim of a cup, press firmly into the dough and lift up the resulting shape. Be sure to make your cut-outs as close as possible. You only want to re-roll the dough one more time. If you roll out the dough more than twice, it will get gummy and the texture of your crust will suffer.
6. To assemble the pies, place one shape in front of you. Dollop about a tablespoon of the filling on the cut-out. Place another cut-out on top of the filling and using the tines of a fork, gently fresh around the edges to seal the pie and pierce the top of the pie with the fork. Using a pastry brush, brush the egg wash over top and sprinkle with raw sugar.
7. Place the pie on the prepared cookie sheet and repeat until you have used all your dough, or filling (whichever runs out first).
8. Bake the pies for 30 minutes until golden brown on top. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve with French Vanilla or Bourbon Butterscotch Ice Cream.

Yield: sixteen 3” pies

Shortbread Blood Orange Tartlets with Bourbon Butterscotch Ice Cream

“This ice cream kicks the pants off of that new hipster ice cream place that just opened up in my neighborhood!” My sisters came to visit this weekend and I wanted to make them something special...something really special. One of them lives in West Philly and she was mentioning this new “hipster” ice cream place that just opened up in her neighborhood - it’s supposed to be all the rage with unique and off-the-wall flavors combinations. That got me thinking about making ice cream again. I have made many many ice creams and tried many many recipes, and all of them seem to fall short: too icy, too dense, bland, etc. Each of these bad recipes has taught me something about making ice cream in general and finally, with this Bourbon Butterscotch ice cream, I think I have finally developed a winning recipe.

The next issue was the blood orange tartlets. I poured over the internet, searching for inspiration. All citrus-filled tart/pie recipes I found used the citrus in a curd and were served cold. Nobody likes a cold tart with ice cream. Ice cream should be served over something warm so it melts and melds with the treat it is sitting atop. Then I began looking through my stack of old family recipes. I found this recipe given to me by my mother-in-law for maple syrup pie and that got me to thinking…

I think I’ve adapted that favorite family pie recipe into something special, but I’ll let her be the judge of that next time she comes for a visit...

What You’ll Need:

For the Ice Cream

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon molasses

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

2 ¼ cups heavy cream (divided in ¾ cup and 1 ½ cups)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons bourbon

1 cup whole milk

4 large egg yolks

For the Shortbread Tart Crust                                    

1 cup flour

⅓ cup confectioners sugar

⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

½ cold, unsalted butter

1 tablespoon whole milk

For the Blood Orange Filling

2 cups fresh squeezed blood orange juice (about 8 blood oranges)

½ cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons cold water

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1. First, let’s make the butterscotch for the ice cream. In a large saucepot, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the brown sugar and salt. Stir with a spatula until the sugar is completely coated with the butter. Continue to stir for about 5 minutes until the sugar is melted. Make sure you get the corners of the pan as you stir. When the sugar is completely melted, add the cream, vanilla and bourbon. The mixture bubble and fizz violently so be careful not to get it on your skin. Whisk the mixture for 10 minutes and bring it to a boil. While gently whisking, let the mixture boil for about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand while we prepare the custard for the ice cream.
2. Using an electric mixer or whisk, beat the egg yolks on medium speed until thickened and light yellow, about 3 minutes with an electric mixer. Next, heat the cream and milk in a medium saucepot over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear at the edges and the milk starts to steam (this is called scalding). Whisking the egg yolks constantly, pour ¼ of the cream mixture over the whisked eggs yolks. Continue to whisk until the egg yolks are completely incorporated. Return the egg yolk and cream mixture back to the saucepot. Cook and whisk over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes until the mixture can coat the back of a spoon. You should be able to draw a line with your finger through the custard and the line should stay sharp and not ooze back in on itself. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butterscotch. Pour the custard into a tightly sealed tupperware (like pyrex) and refrigerate overnight. The next day, pour the custard into your ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions.
3. Now let’s get down to business - the tartlets. First, let’s make the shortbread crust. Combine the flour, confectioner’s sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor or large bowl. Pulse or whisk a few times to combine the ingredients. Next, scatter the cold butter pieces over the flour. Pulse the mixture or use a pastry cutter to combine until the mixture is very fine and resembles cornmeal. Pour the cold whole milk over the top and stir with a fork until the mixture comes together in one mass. Divide the dough into 4 equal parts. Using for fingers, push the dough into the bottom and sides of 4 tartlet pans. Once the dough is firmly pressed into each pan, place the crusts in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. After the crusts have been chilled, cover them with tin foil and use pie weights or rice to weight down the foil. Place them in the oven for 15 minutes. Take the crusts out and let them cool. Remove the foil.
4. While the crusts cool, let’s make the filling. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine the blood orange juice and sugar in a medium saucepot. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook over medium high heat until it has reduced by ¼, about 5 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water. Once the cornstarch is thoroughly dissolved into the water, add the mixture to the blood orange juice and stir until incorporated. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, on medium heat for 10 minutes. Add the butter and stir until the butter is completely melted. Pour the filling into the tart crusts and place the tarts into the oven. Bake for 10 minutes. When you remove the tartlets, the filling will be VERY hot. It is best to bake them on a cookie sheet so you can remove them easily. Let the tartlets cool for 30 minutes at room temperature and serve with a dollop of the butterscotch ice cream.

Yield: 4 cups ice cream and 4 - 4 ¼” tartlets

Blood Orange and Lavender Curd

I always look forward to blood orange season. These little jewels brighten the starkness of the mid-winter snow and ice. After trudging through the snow, I arrive home with my precious cargo. I take off my snow boots, my snow covered coat and hat and hang them above the heater to dry. I set the oranges in a hanging basket in the window and I begin to search around the kitchen for inspiration. While searching through cupboards, pantry and spice racks, I see hanging above the basket a bunch of dried lavender, plucked from my garden on a warm summer day. After flipping through over 20 curd recipes, I came up with my recipe for Blood Orange and Lavender Curd. This lovely curd is perfect for cakes, pastries, pies, or slathered on a fresh baked piece of rye bread. 

What You'll Need:
zest of 2 blood oranges
1 cup fresh blood orange juice (about 4 oranges should do the trick)
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cups butter, cut into pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons dried lavender flowers
6 egg yolks

1. Place all the ingredients in the top of a double boiler (or do what I do and use a metal bowl on top of a sauce pot filled with about 2" of water).
2. Cook over high heat and whisk until the butter is melted and the ingredients are combined. Once the butter has melted, cook, whisking constantly, for another 10 minutes until thickened. 
3. To test if the curd is done, coat the back of a wooden spoon with the curd and draw a line with your finger. If the curd falls back in on the line, it is not ready. However, if the line stays clear, the curd is ready.
4. Pour the curd over a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl. This curd can be canned and kept for 1 year, or refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Yield: About 3 cups

Golden Beet and Citrus Slaw

When it gets to be 100 degrees in Boston, it seems hard to think straight, let alone cook anything. This lovely little slaw is a breeze to whip up and goes perfectly with grilled steak or chicken. The brightness of the lemon with the earthy spice of the raw golden beet makes this a healthy twist on traditional slaw recipes.

What You'll Need:

2 medium sized beets
Juice of 1 small lemon
6 oz. plain greek yogurt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Grate the beet, either using a food processor or a good old fashioned grater.
2. Combine the grated beet, lemon juice, greek yogurt, and dill in a large bowl and stir until combined.
3. Salt and pepper to taste.

And there you have it! A lovely little slaw that requires next to no effort for those incredibly hot days.

Serves 4

Sweet Potato Danishes with Strained Yogurt Cream

I must say, I've outdone myself. It's not often that I praise the things I make - I always seem to find something that can improve, but these are simply marvelous.

These danishes are deliciously sweet and hearty. The sweet potato is perfect with a hint of spice and brown sugar and the cream is delicately tangy and light. These are the ultimate in rustic breakfast pastry. They do take a little time to prepare, but it is well worth it. Serve them on a snowy Sunday morning with a hot cup of coffee and eggs. For an explanation about Strained Yogurt, check out my previous recipe, Strained Yogurt and Almond Tart.

The dough recipe is courtesy of Williams Sonoma Baking Cookbook.

What You'll Need
For the Pastry:
1 package active dry yeast
1/8 cup sugar
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 whole egg plus 1 yolk
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 to 4 cups all purpose flour

For the Butter Package:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/8 cup all purpose flour

For the Filling:
2 medium or 3 small sweet potatoes
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup heavy cream

For the Topping:
1/4 cup strained yogurt or cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup heavy cream

To make the dough, in a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and a punch of the sugar in warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the remaining sugar, salt, melted butter, eggs, milk and vanilla and mix on medium speed until combined. Add the yeast mixture and then add the flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Mix just until the dough clings together in a rough mass. If it is still very soft, add an extra 1/4 cup at a time until it is no longer sticky.

Turn the dough onto a floured cookie sheet and pat into a rectangle, about 1" thick. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 45 minutes.

While the dough is chilling, make the butter package. Use a rolling pin or the heel of your hand to knead the butter on a work surface. Flatten it and warm it so it is pliable but not mushy, adding the flour as you work to keep it from sticking to your hands. Shape the butter into an 8" by 7" rectangle. If the butter becomes too soft as you work, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator.

Time to laminate the dough. A laminated dough is simply a dough that is created by pressing together alternating layers of pastry and butter. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out into a rectangle, roughly 10" by 16". With the short side facing you, place the butter package on the lower half, leaving a 1" margin. Fold the upper half over the butter and press the sides together. Next, roll the dough out into a 12" by 20" rectangle. With the short side facing you, fold the bottom third up and the top third down, as you would a letter. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Repeat this rolling and folding process 3 more times. After the 4th turn, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight before shaping.

While the dough is chilling, let's make the filling. Bring a large pot of boiling water to boil over high heat. Peel and half the sweet potatoes and place them in the boiling water. Cook until very soft, about 30 minutes. When a fork is inserted in each potato it should go all the way through with ease. Strain the potatoes and place them in a medium sized bowl. Add the sugar, vanilla and allspice and beat with a hand mixer on medium-high speed until mixture is smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.

As the potato mixture chills, in a small bowl, beat the cream until stiff peaks form. Remove the potato mixture from the refrigerator and add a forth of the cream and mix it in to lighten the potatoes. Once fully incorporated, add the remaining cream and gently fold it into the potato mixture until fully incorporated.

Time to form the danishes. Remove the dough from the fridge and cut it into 16 equal pieces. Form each piece into a disk and roll it out until it is about 1/4" thick. Place about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the filling in the center of each disk, leaving about a 2" margin on all sides. Using your fingers, twist the margin of dough along the edges to bring it up to the filling. This is not a science, you can really do whatever you think looks best. Repeat this until all the danishes are formed.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cover the danishes with a warm kitchen or tea towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 45 minutes. Place in the oven until the pastry becomes golden, about 12 to 14 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let cool slightly.

As the danishes cool, prepare the topping. In a medium bowl, combine the strained yogurt or cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth and light. Add the cream and continue to beat until the mixture is very airy. Scoop the mixture into a plastic bag and snip the tip.

Pipe the filling over the danishes - you can do swirls or stripes. Top with a few sliced almonds and powdered sugar.

Whew!

Yield: 16 danishes