Year: 2021

Try this delicious recipe for a sweet tart cookie with a rich, tender crumb. Almonds take this dessert to the next level with fragrant warm notes of toasted nuts. Prepare these for a memorable occasion the whole family will love. Yield: 2 dozen Ingredients: 1/2 cup whole, skin-on almonds 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam 1/2 cup powdered sugar Directions: Toast the almonds. Toast the almonds in a small frying pan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside until cooled completely, about 20 minutes. Make almond flour. Place the cooled almonds and 1/2 cup of the flour in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and process to a fine meal. Add the remaining 1 3/4 cups flour and salt, pulse to just combine, and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar. Place the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. (Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer and a large bowl.) Beat on medium speed until fluffy and lightened in color, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the egg and vanilla beat on medium speed until well-combined, about 1 minute. Add the flour. Stop again and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Divide the dough. Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the dough a few stirs with a rubber spatula, scraping the bottom of the bowl, to ensure that all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions, about 4 1/2 ounces each. Chill the dough. Press each piece of dough into a 5×7-inch rectangle. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Roll the dough. Working with 1 piece of dough at a time, remove the dough from the refrigerator and unwrap. Sandwich the dough between two pieces of parchment paper and roll out to 1/4-inch thick. Cut the cookie bottoms. Use a 2-inch regular or fluted round cutter to cut as many rounds from the dough as possible. Place 12 rounds on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and chill for 30 minutes. Repeat rolling and cutting the dough scraps, chilling the dough if it becomes too soft to get a clean cut. These rounds will be the bottoms of the cookies. Cut the cookie tops. Roll the remaining rectangle of dough out like the first. Use the 2-inch cutter to make rounds again, then use a 1-inch cutter to make a hole in the center of each round. Remove the center rounds (these can be baked off separately); these will be the tops of the cookies. Place the tops on another parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat rolling and cutting any dough and scraps and chill the cookie tops for 30 minutes. Heat the oven. While the cookies are chilling, arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat the oven to 350°F. Bake the cookies. Bake the cookies until lightly golden-brown, 9 to 11 minutes. Cool completely before filling. Fill and decorate. Spread each cookie bottom with 1 teaspoon of raspberry jam and top with a cookie top. Use a fine-mesh strainer and sprinkle the tops of the cookies with powdered sugar just before serving. Source: the Kitchn

Skip standing by the stove and let your oven do the work with this french toast casserole recipe. You get all the best parts of a classic french toast with less effort. Try this out for this weekend’s breakfast, just make it and refrigerate overnight. Ingredients: For the Casserole: 1 large loaf good-quality French loaf, sourdough, ciabatta, or challah (enough to yield 10 cups of chunks of bread) 1/2 cup (45g) chopped pecans 5 large eggs 1 1/2 cups whole milk 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar Zest from one medium orange (optional) 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt For the topping: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3 tablespoons (40g) dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of salt Optional topping for serving: Dried cranberries Powdered sugar Maple syrup Directions: Preheat the oven to 375F (190C). Place an oven rack in the center position. Slice the bread into 1-inch slices and then cut them into 1-inch cubes. You can also tear the bread apart with your hands. Leave the crusts on. Layer the bread and pecans in a baking dish: Lightly grease a 2-quart (if you want thicker slices) or 3-quart baking dish (if you want thinner slices) with cooking spray or butter. Add enough bread cubes to cover the bottom. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of pecans on top. Continue layering the bread chunks and pecans. Prepare and add the custard: In a small bowl, whisk the eggs together. Add the milk, sugar, orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and salt, and mix well. Pour the egg and milk mixture evenly over all the bread chunks. (I found it easier to pour the mixture into a large measuring cup with a spout first before pouring the mixture over the bread.)At this point, the casserole can be baked right away, or covered and refrigerated overnight. Drizzle with topping: In another bowl, mix the melted butter with the brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Using a spoon, drizzle the mixture evenly over all the bread chunks. Bake the casserole for 35 to 45 minutes. I baked mine for about 38 minutes. Leave the casserole in the oven longer if you want the chunks of bread on the top to be more brown and crunchier. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle dried cranberries and dust powdered sugar on top, if you like. Serve with maple syrup at the table. Source: Simply Recipes

Acai is a great fruit packed with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Try this recipe containing unsweetened frozen puree for a delicious flavor with slight olive oil notes. Add the classic toppings for a bowl loaded with fiber. Ingredients: Two 4-ounce packets unsweetened frozen acai puree 1 medium banana 1/2 cup blueberries 1 tablespoon honey 3 tablespoons granola 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes Directions: Break the frozen acai up a little by slapping the sealed packets on the countertop or hitting them with a meat mallet. Blend the berries with 1/2 the banana, 1/4 cup of the blueberries and the honey in the blender, stopping to stir and break up the mixture as needed, until it’s the consistency of a thick smoothie; transfer to a cereal bowl. Slice the remaining 1/2 banana. Arrange the slices, the remaining 1/4 cup blueberries, granola, pomegranate seeds and coconut flakes in neat piles or rows on top of the acai. Source: Food Network

Bake a delicious strawberry tart with a sweetened mascarpone base. The combination of balsamic vinegar and sweetened strawberries is a perfect match for those who haven’t tried it. Learn how below. Prep time: 1 hour 30 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes Yield: serves 6 to 8 Ingredients: Tart Shell 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed 1 egg whisked Filling and Glaze 2 lbs strawberries, stemmed and quartered 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 Tbsp orange zest, divided 1 teaspoon lemon juice 12 ounces mascarpone cheese (can also use 8 ounces mascarpone mixed in with 4 ounces of ricotta or 4 ounces of whipped cream) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar) 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (substitute a teaspoon of lemon juice if you don’t have balsamic) Directions: Roll out puff pastry sheet to 15×5 inches or 12×12 inches. Place on a baking sheet. Fold the edges over to form a border. Prick bottom of pasty with tines of a fork. Chill for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F. Use a pastry brush to brush on egg wash over exposed surfaces. Place in hot oven and cook until nicely browned all over, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven to a rack, let cool completely. Macerate strawberries in sugar: Gently combine strawberries, half of the orange zest, and the granulated sugar in large bowl so that the strawberries are coated with sugar. Let sit to macerate for 30 minutes. Make mascarpone base: Mix together the mascarpone cheese, confectioner’s sugar, the remaining orange zest, lemon juice and the vanilla in a medium bowl until well combined. Refrigerate until needed. Make strawberry balsamic glaze: After the strawberries have macerated for 30 minutes, place a sieve over a bowl and drain the liquid out of the strawberry mixture into the bowl. Take that strawberry liquid and put it in a small saucepan. Add a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to the saucepan, and bring to a boil on medium high heat. Boil until the liquid has reduced to the consistency of syrup, remove from heat and let cool. Assemble the tart: Spread the mascarpone mixture over the bottom of the tart shell. Arrange the strawberries on top of the mascarpone mixture. Use a pastry brush to brush on the balsamic glaze. Sources: Simply Recipes