Friday, September 28, 2018

Apple Rosette Frangipane Tart #AppleWeek #Sponsored

This post written by me on behalf of Imperial Sugar, a sponsor of #AppleWeek. 
Products for recipe development and review were provided; prizes were donated for the giveaway, 
and this page may contain affiliate links.

Phew! What a week! So many apples creations from the #AppleWeek crew. And many, many thanks to Carlee of Cooking with Carlee for organizing this fantastic event.


In case you are just finding this now, I posted several recipes through the event: Seared Steak with Envy-able Apples, Grilled Cheddar Cheese with Apples and Hatch Chile Hot Sauce, Baked Chai-Spiced Apple Chips, Apple Butter-Glazed Chicken Wings, Bulgogi-Inspired Oven Beef Jerky, and Gingered Apple Triffles. So much delicious fun.

Don't forget to check out the prizes and enter the giveaway on my kick-off post. And let's start with the final collection from the other bloggers...

Saturday Recipes

Apple Rosette Frangipane Tart

This is one of those desserts that looks impressive while not being that difficult to create. I will admit that my rosettes aren't picture perfect, but they get the idea across...and they are tasty.

Ingredients
Tart Crust
  • 1-1/2 C flour
  • 1/2 C ground almonds
  • 1/2 C powdered sugar (prefer Imperial Sugar)
  • pinch of salt
  • 3/4 C butter
  • 2 to 3 T water
  • 2 to 3 T vodka (use whatever alcohol you want - or more water)
Frangipane
  • 1 C ground almonds
  • 1/4 C granulated sugar (prefer Imperial Sugar)
  • 1/4 C powdered sugar (prefer Imperial Sugar)
  • 2/3 C melted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 t pure vanilla extract
  • 1 t pure almond extract
Rosettes
  • 4 apples, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 C honey
  • sugar for garnish, if you like
Procedure

Tart Crust
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix the flour, ground almonds, powdered sugar, and salt together; rub in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

Alternatively stir in water and vodka, if using, until the mixture forms a ball. Roll out between two pieces of parchment paper. Press gently into a tart pan. Prick crust with a fork to prevent bubbling. Bake for 20 minutes at 350, or until a light golden brown. In the meantime, make the frangipane.


Frangipane
Mix everything together to form a paste. Once the tart crust is cooked, spread a layer of frangipane over the bottom. Bake for 20 minutes. While the frangipane is baking, prepare your rosettes.


Rosettes
Thinly slice the apples with a mandolin slicer.


Lay the slices in a row and roll them to form rosettes. Press the apple flowers into the partially baked frangipane. Repeat until the pan is full. Drizzle with honey and return to the oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before removing the tart from the mold.


Remove tart from the pan. Sprinkle with some sugar for "sparkle", if you like. Slice and serve.


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*Disclosure: I received products for recipe development and generating social media traction. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the manufacturers of this product or the organizers of #AppleWeek.
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Crispy Tortilla Bean Soup #PrettySimpleCooking

Excerpted from A Couple Cooks | Pretty Simple Cooking: 100 Delicious Vegetarian Recipes to Make You Fall in Love with Real Food by Sonja Overhiser and Alex Overhiser. Copyright © 2018. Available from Da Capo Lifelong Books, an imprint of Perseus Books, LLC, a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

It's soup season! And the weather definitely took a turn towards the chilly side as soon as September 21st arrived. Funny how that works. Just yesterday I went to work with a scarf and boots! Okay, no comment on the lack of make-up, please. Moisturizer with sunscreen is about all that I manage most days. This is just to show you that Fall has hit on the central coast of California.


So, as we head into Fall - and Sonja and Alex have launched their monthly Pretty Simple Cooking Club - I was excited by their pick of Chipotle Black Bean Soup that appears on pg. 175 of their cookbook A Couple Cooks - Pretty Simple Cooking: 100 Delicious Vegetarian Recipes to Make You Fall in Love with Real Food by Sonja and Alex Overhiser.*

I already made a Pretty Simple Greek Salad. Hopefully I'll have time this week to try the Creamy Vegan Potato Chowder (pg. 180) and Cherry Almond Breakfast Cereal (pg. 22). We'll see.

Before I get to the recipe, I have to share a funny story. A few bites in, this was our discussion...

D: Mom, I am going to offer you a sandwich critique.
C: I didn't make any sandwiches.
D: No, I am going to give you a critique sandwiched between two compliments. Okay? Ready?
C: Ready.

So, he liked the variety of beans I used (compliment). He thought it needed more corn kernels (critique). And he liked all of the toppings I offered (compliment). That's not too bad.


So, my version isn't as quick and easy as using canned beans, canned tomatoes, and frozen corn. But in the sense that the Overhisers are urging people to fall in love with real food, I think this version of the recipe fits the bill.


I loved that I got to use beans from Rancho Gordo, peppers from High Ground Organics, and tomatoes from Serendipity Farms...all local-to-me favorites.


Best of all, though, the Enthusiastic Kitchen Elf plucked some fresh oregano from his garden for me. And I am so excited to make my own crispy tortilla strips. I know it's silly, but I've never done that before and it was a revelation.

Ingredients serves 10
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • olive oil
  • salt for sprinkling
  • 1 organic onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup diced peppers (I used three smaller organic peppers)
  • 2 to 3 organic tomatoes, diced
  • 4 to 5 cloves garlic, peeled and pressed
  • 2 Tablespoon fresh oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 pound beans, soaked and pre-cooked (results in approximately 4 to 5 cups, I used half and half Domingo Rojo and Scarlet Runner beans)
  • 2 ears corn, husked and kernels cut from cob
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 ripe avocados, diced for garnish
  • lime, for serving (I used calamansi, a Filipino lime)
  • fresh cilantro for garnish


Procedure

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the tortillas in half, then slice into 1/2" wide strips. Place them in a mixing bowl.


Toss to coat with olive oil and turn out onto a parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until browned and crispy. Set aside.


In a large souppot or Dutch oven, heat a splash of oil. Stir in the onions and peppers. Cook until the onions are softened and beginning to turn translucent, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic and stir to coat with oil. Season with cumin, paprika, and oregano. Add in tomatoes and cook until they have lost their shape, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

Add in the beans and corn kernels. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 to 30 minutes - until the broth has thickened slightly.


To serve, ladle soup into individual bowls. garnish with crisped tortilla strips, cubes of avocado, fresh cilantro, and a slice or two of lime or calamansi.


I'm not sure I'll get to the other #PrettySimpleCooking club picks for September. But I will jump back in with the October recipes soon. 


Oh, and for fun, I paired it with a Kölsch-style beer from local-to-me Discretion Brewing. Cheers!

*This blog currently has a partnership with Amazon.com in their affiliate program, which gives me a small percentage of sales if you buy a product through a link on my blog. It doesn't cost you anything more. If you are uncomfortable with this, feel free to go directly to Amazon.com and search for the item of your choice.


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A Fall Tradition: Picking Apples and Pears


Yesterday my mom invited us to join her for apple picking at her friend's property. Apple picking has been a Fall tradition since the boys were little. I'm thinking those apples in his hands might be about the same size...just twelve years' difference.

 

And I found this picture from a 2007 apple pie-making session. I was a little surprised that I have a 3-year-old a knife. Hmmm...


So, this year, one of my best friends and her two boys joined us.


We picked tons and tons of apples and pears! It was nice to share our tradition with them...


And we're looking forward to sharing an apple pie with them this weekend. They worked hard for those fruits.

Do you have a family tradition of going apple picking this season? 
What's your favorite apple recipe?
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Thursday, September 27, 2018

Gingered Apple Trifles #AppleWeek #Sponsored

This post written by me on behalf of Nairn's, Rodelle Vanilla, and Swiss Diamond, 
sponsors of #AppleWeek. Products for recipe development and review were provided; 
prizes were donated for the giveaway, and this page may contain affiliate links.

What a week it has been! I hope you're enjoying the bushel of apple recipes that the #AppleWeek crew has going. And many, many thanks to Carlee of Cooking with Carlee for organizing this fantastic event.


Please be sure to check out my introduction post and enter the giveaway.

Friday Recipes

 Gingered Apple Trifles

This recipe, and variations of it, have long been a family favorite. Years ago I adapted from a traditional Norwegian recipe for an apple triffle, Tilslørte Bondepiker. For this post, I am featuring some of the sponsor products and ingredients from Nairn's, Rodelle Vanilla, and Swiss Diamond.* While I did use a mandolin slicer for the apples, I peeled them with my new Swiss Diamond paring knife...and it quickly replaced my previous paring knife in my knife block. Love it!

Ingredients

  • 6 organic apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 2 to 3 T granulated sugar
  • 3/4 C water
  • ½ t vanilla extract (prefer Rodelle Vanilla)
  • ½ t ground ginger
  • ½ t ground cardamom
  • 1 t ground cinnamon
  • 8 cookies (I used gluten-free oat graham from Nairn's with candied ginger)
  • ½ C heavy whipping cream

Procedure

In medium skillet, combine sliced apples, sugar, water, vanilla extract, ground ginger, ground cardamom, and ground cinnamon. Cover and cook till the apples are very soft.

Crumble 4 of the cookies into coarse crumbs. And whip the cream until soft peaks form.

To assemble: Place 1 to 2 T apple compote in the bottom of an individual serving dish or glass. Add 1 to 2 T whipped cream. Add 1 t cookie crumbles. Repeat layers until the dish is full. Garnish with a whole oat graham. Serve immediately.


Find the Sponsors
On the web, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram

Swiss Diamond
On the web, on Facebook, on Twitter

 On the web, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram

*Disclosure: I received products for recipe development and generating social media traction. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the manufacturers of this product or the organizers of #AppleWeek.
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Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Bulgogi-Inspired Oven Beef Jerky #AppleWeek #Sponsored

This post written by me on behalf of NordicWare, a sponsor of #AppleWeek. 
Products for recipe development and review were provided; prizes were donated for the giveaway, 
and this page may contain affiliate links.

Another great list of recipes for #AppleWeek! I am so grateful for Carlee of Cooking with Carlee for organizing this fantastic event and gathering a wonderful line-up of event sponsors. I have bushels and bushels of recipes that I can't wait to try. How about you? Have you been inspired this week?


Please be sure to check out my introduction post and enter the giveaway.

Thursday Recipes

Bulgoki-Inspired Oven Beef Jerky

We love beef bulgogi. I was first introduced to bulgogi when I was in college in Berkeley and my parents came to visit. We were looking for somewhere casual to eat and stumbled across a food court just a block away from campus. I was a vegetarian at the time, but my dad ordered bulgogi; my mom opted for the bibimbap; and I went for the jap chae. The restaurant became a family favorite and every time my parents visited, we went there. Eventually I was drawn back to being an omnivore and came to love bulgogi, too. Yum.

When I have time, I make my own. But there's a Korean restaurant in town that is my go-to with my own family when we need a delicious, filling dinner. When I walk in, the owner greets me and asks, "Bulgogi and Jap Chae?" Yes, please!

So, when I received the Oven Crisp Baking Tray that I used from NordicWare* for this event, I decided to try my hand at a bulgogi-inspired oven beef jerky. Suffice it to say that recipe testing was crucial to this recipe. I tried three times before I got the temperature and time ratio correct. Then I did it twice more...just to be sure! This recipe uses apples to tenderize the meat during the marination process.

Ingredients

Jerky
  • 2 to 3 pounds thinly sliced sirloin (here's a secret: I get the butcher to slice it for me!)
  • Also needed: Oven Crisp Baking Tray or baking sheets with cooling racks nestled inside of them

 Marinade
  • 6 T gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
  • 3 T organic dark brown sugar
  • 2 T rice wine (mirin)
  • 1 T toasted sesame oil
  • 1/2 organic onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled and pressed
  • 1 organic apple, peeled and grated (traditionally it's made with pears, but I tried it with apples a few times before posting this)
  • 1 t fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1/8 t ground black pepper
Procedure

Marinade
Whisk together all of the ingredients for the marinade. Place the meat in a container (I used a flat, lidded glass container) and pour the sauce over the top. Hopefully the meat is completely submerged. If not, you'll need to turn the meat every couple of hours. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for, at least, 6 hours.

Jerky
When you're ready to oven-dry the jerky, remove beef from the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. If your oven thermostat allows, preheat oven to 175°F. Mine has a bottom temp of 200°F, so I set it at that, then leave the door propped open during drying.

Brush oil on the oven tray or wire racks and line the inside of the pans with foil for easier clean-up

Remove the meat from the marinade and gently blot away any excess marinade with paper towels. Arrange the meat strips side-by-side across the trays or racks, leaving a little bit of space between strips.

Place the trays in the oven and cook until completely dry. The drying time varies greatly with the thickness and moistness of the meat...and also how chewy or dry you like it. At 200°F with the door propped open on my oven, mine took just 2 hours. The time depends on the thickness and moistness of the meat and how chewy you want the jerky to be. 

It should be dry, darker in color, and break gently when bent. If it snaps when you bend it, it's overdone. And remember: the jerky will firm up as it cools. 

Blot any residual moisture from the jerky with paper towels and cool completely on the racks before storing. You can store the jerky in an airtight container. I have read that beef prepared this way will last 2 to 3 months. But my batches never lasted more than three days with the happy omnivores noshing on them whenever they walked by the kitchen!

Find the Sponsor
On the web, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram

*Disclosure: I received products for recipe development and generating social media traction. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the manufacturers of this product or the organizers of #AppleWeek.
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