Month: August 2021

Chocolate ganache is a luxurious and rich frosting, used for anything from Bundt cakes to cupcakes. It’s super easy to make with just a few ingredients and minutes of hands-on time. A dark chocolate ganache at its core is a warm heavy cream and chocolate stirred together. The type of chocolate you use can be substituted depending on your preference. You can also alter the consistency by adding more or less cream to better suit the dessert you’re using it with. Prep time: 10 minsCook time: 3 minsRest time: 30 minsTotal time: 43 minsYield: 4 cups ganache Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces, 354 milliliters) heavy cream 16 ounces (453g) semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 tablespoons brandy, cognac, or vanilla extract Directions: Heat the heavy cream: Pour the heavy cream into a small saucepan set over medium heat, until steam begins to rise, 2-3 minutes. You want the cream to be hot, but do not allow the cream to boil.If it does happen to boil, make sure you cool the cream down for 5 minutes before adding it to the chocolate. Alternatively, use a microwave-safe measuring cup and microwave on high, until steaming, about 1 1/2 minutes. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips: Into a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the chocolate chips. Pour the warm cream over the chocolate chips and allow the cream to sit and melt the chocolate for 10 minutes. Do not stir it. Add the liquor (or flavoring): Add the brandy, cognac or vanilla extract to the bowl of chocolate and whisk the mixture until very smooth.If you find that chocolate lumps remain, pop the bowl into the microwave, and heat it for 30 seconds, 15 seconds at a time. Whisk the ganache until smooth. How to get a pourable glaze: Allow the ganache to sit for 15 minutes (or until it reaches 90°F) stirring every 5 minutes with a whisk, for a pourable, glaze consistency. How to get a pipeable frosting: Allow the ganache to cool for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, for a thicker, pipeable frosting. Once the ganache has reached this stage, it will hold a peak when you lift your spatula or whisk from it.At this point, you can also whip it with an electric hand mixer on high. It will go from a dark chocolatey-brown ganache to an airy, light brown color. Frost a cake: This recipe will frost a 3 tiered, 8-inch cake. If you have left over frosting stir it into warm milk for a cup of hot chocolate. Source: Simply Recipes

Quesadillas can be made in a variety of ways with practically anything in your refrigerator. Creamy avocado and savory black beans are a perfect combination. They’re easy to make and kid-friendly for a weeknight dinner. You can prepare the black beans, peppers and onions a night or day before. Just keep them covered in the refrigerator. Prep time: 10 minsCook time: 15 minsTotal time: 25 minsServings: 4 servings Ingredients: For the avocado mash: 2 large or 3 small avocados Juice of 1/2 lime Pinch of kosher salt For the quesadillas: 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 cup red onion, sliced into 1/4-inch half moons 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 3/4 teaspoon coriander 1/2 yellow, red, or orange bell pepper, deseeded and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces Juice of 1/2 lime 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 4 8-inch flour tortillas 1 cup queso fresco, crumbled or grated 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated To serve: Sour cream Pico de gallo or salsa Directions: Make the avocado mash: In a small bowl, mash the avocado with a fork, and add a dash of kosher salt and the juice of half a lime. You want it to reach a consistency that feels close to guacamole—a little chunky, but still spreadable. Set aside. Cook the veggies and beans: In a cast iron skillet or other large, heavy skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook, stirring every minute or so, until the onion starts to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the salt, cumin, oregano, and coriander, stirring until the onions are completely coated.Add the bell pepper and stir to combine. Cook for another 3 minutes, until the peppers just begin to soften. Add the lime juice and black beans and stir the whole mix together. Cook for about 2 minutes, just to warm the black beans through. Warm the tortillas: Heat the second tablespoon of olive oil in a separate skillet or grill pan over medium high heat. Add 1 flour tortilla and let it heat up for a minute or so. Using tongs, flip the tortilla over, and repeat the process for the other side, until you see a couple of bubbles welling up in the center of the tortilla. Assemble the quesadilla: Layer the filling, then the avocado, and then the cheese—about 1/4 cup of each, but if you want more go for it! Cook the quesadilla: Fold the tortilla over to seal the quesadilla. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until it’s crispy, and the cheese has melted. Repeat the process for the other quesadillas, although if your skillet is large enough you can make two at a time in the same skillet. Serve the quesadillas: Cut the quesadillas into triangular portions and serve with sour cream, avocado, and/or the pico de gallo, if desired. Quesadillas are best served and eaten immediately. Source: Simply Recipes

Satay or sate is typically a dish with marinated meat or poultry, threaded onto skewers and charred over a grill. This recipe is the vegetarian spin, featuring tofu rather than meat. The tofu absorbs the marinade and remains tender even on the grill. It’s served along with a spicy peanut sauce made of common ingredients. If you’d like a completely vegan recipe, replace the fish sauce with soy sauce in the marinade. Prep time: 25 minsCook time: 10 minsTotal time: 35 minsServings: 5 to 7 servingsYield: 20 skewers Ingredients: 1 (14-ounce) block extra-firm tofu 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated on a microplane or minced 2 large cloves garlic, grated on a microplane or minced 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow curry powder 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 2 teaspoons sriracha 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup coconut milk Salt, to taste Vegetable oil, for the grill 2 tablespoons roughly chopped cilantro (optional) 20 (10-inch) bamboo skewers Directions: Soak the bamboo skewers: Soak the bamboo skewers in water while preparing the tofu and peanut sauce. Drain, cut, and dry the tofu: Drain the tofu from its packaging and cut into 10 slices (about ⅓-inch thick) along the shortest edge so they look like little decks of cards. Cut each slab in half to create narrow strips of tofu.Lay the tofu in a single layer between two stacks of paper towels. Press down to absorb any remaining liquid. Transfer tofu strips to an 8×8-inch baking pan. Make the marinade: In a small bowl, whisk the ginger, garlic, curry powder, turmeric, fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, and sriracha until smooth. Pour half the marinade into a separate medium bowl and set aside. You will use it to make the sauce. Add sesame oil to marinade and coat tofu: Add the sesame oil into the small bowl with the marinade, whisk to combine. Drizzle the marinade with the sesame oil over the tofu, making sure to flip the tofu strips over to coat all the sides. While the tofu marinates, make the peanut sauce: Add the peanut butter and coconut milk to the marinade you set aside in the medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add an extra 1/2 teaspoon or more sriracha if you want a spicier sauce. Prepare the grill: You always want to start with a clean grill. If using a charcoal grill, get the coals going until covered in ash and then spread them out.If using gas, open the lid and light it. Set it to medium heat. Close the lid and give it 10 minutes to preheat with the lid closed, aiming for 350 to 400° F. Spear tofu onto skewers and season: While the grill heats, carefully spear the skewers through the center of the tofu strips. Season all sides of the tofu skewers with salt to taste. Brush grates with vegetable oil: Just before putting the skewers on the grill, brush the grate with vegetable oil or rub with an oil-soaked paper towel using a pair of metal tongs. Grill the tofu skewers: Lay down the skewers, cover the grill, and cook until the tofu shows distinct grill marks and lifts off the grate with relative ease, about 5 minutes.Flip skewers, with the aid of a metal spatula if needed, and grill until well-marked and easy to lift, another 4 to 5 minutes. Garnish and serve: Transfer skewers to a platter. Garnish with cilantro, if desired, and serve with the peanut sauce. Source: Simply Recipes

These ricotta berry parfaits are easy to make and don’t taste too sweet, making them the perfect casual summer dinner treat. The cream cheese with honey and lemon adds an extra bit of creaminess to the ricotta. Use any glasses you have such as tumblers, champagne glasses or any clear dessert dish. You can make these in advance and refrigerate until needed. Prep time: 15 minsTotal time: 15 minsServings: 4 servings Ingredients: 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into chunks and softened to room temperature 2 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) whole milk ricotta cheese 3 tablespoons strawberry jam 4 cups mixed fresh berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and sliced strawberries 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios (for garnish) Mint leaves (for garnish) Directions: Make the ricotta cream: Combine the cream cheese, honey, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice and vanilla in a mixing bowl, and beat with an electric mixer for 1 to 2 minutes on medium speed, until light and fluffy. Beat in the ricotta until smooth. Glaze the berries: Use a spatula to push the jam through a fine mesh strainer into a small mixing bowl; this will remove any tiny seeds in the jam. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice to the strained jam and mix until smooth. Add the berries and stir to coat them. Assemble the parfaits: Into four dessert glasses or bowls, layer 1 to 2 tablespoon of the berries and 2 to 3 tablespoons ricotta mixture. Repeat, ending with berries on top. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios, and garnish with mint leaves.The fruit and ricotta can be layered into dishes and refrigerated for up to a day. Sprinkle with pistachios and mint until just before serving. Source: Simply Recipes