Chocolate Easter Eggs with a Surprise
On March 30, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerI have always loved those giant chocolate eggs from Italy. This time of year they line the shelves of my local Italian market. Large and hollow, a handful of small candies tossed in the cavernous hole, and wrapped in bright mylar paper. Easter basket ready. The real joy is breaking through the chocolate shell to see what goodies lay within. This year, i am giving the Easter Bunny a helping hand. Extra special chocolate filled with toys and jewels; hand chosen for each recipient.
Imagine the joy and surprise when these beautiful eggs are cracked open.
trinkets
toys
and
jewels
tumbling out
A happy easter indeed.
If you want more details on how to make these leave a comment or drop me a line at sixtyacrebaker(at)gmail(dot)com
Antelope Guisado
On March 27, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerOnce a year Mike indulges in a good ol’ fashioned boys on the hunt, Hunt. The kind where they pack in meals, stoke a fire for warmth, group lug fresh kill, and walk for hours, in wet woods. Apparently it is a bonding experience. I am happy my husband hunts. What makes me more happy? He doesn’t care to have me by his side. We have a deal. He field dresses whatever he takes down and i will butcher & cook it. I find antelope to be mild, extremely lean and quite delicious. It is perfect for this spicy chili-esque stew.
Antelope Guisado
1 Tbs olive oil
2lbs antelope meat–in 1″ cubes
1 small white onion–chopped
1 red jalapeno–finely chopped
1 green jalapeno–finely chopped
1 pasilla chile–chopped
3 cloves garlic–coarsely chopped
1 tsp ground chipotle pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 bottle lager (or your favorite beer)
14oz can whole peeled tomatoes
Preheat oven to 350F. Heat dutch oven over medium heat. Add olive oil and onions. Cook onions until they begin to brown on the edges. Add the meat and saute until beginning to brown. Toss in the green jalapeno, red jalapeno, pasilla, and garlic. Give it a good stir. Add the cumin, oregano, salt and pepper and cook for 3 minutes more. Add the beer and tomatoes, give another good stir. Cover, remove from heat and place in the oven for about 2 hours. Take a look at about 1 1/2 hours to make sure all the liquid has not evaporated. If it has, add a bit of water. You want the guisado to be a bit loose, but not soupy.
Serve with tortillas, a bit of sour cream and a sprinkling of cilantro
*this would be equally good with lamb, beef or pork
Roasted Radish and Bacon Tartine
On March 22, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerNot so long ago, I roasted radish for a delicious salad. I loved it, but Mike did not. I wondered how a veggie lovin’ girl and a meat lovin’ guy could agree on radish. A radish referendum, if you will. Here it is. Radish mellowed by roasting; spiced with a sauce of its greens, layered on a toasted whole-grain raft and joined by bacon and soft goat cheese.
Shamrock Vase
On February 26, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerThis is a simple little craft using bottles, glue & baker’s twine
(about 50 yards per bottle)
Paint a bit of glue on a clean bottle and wind green baker’s twine
around
and
around
and
around
until you can’t go around any more
I mostly did mine in one layer, pushing the twine together to eliminate gaps. I added a bit of felt for a touch of whimsy and to make it st. paddy’s day-ish.
Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
On January 30, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerMayberry-esque after school tales of warm cookies and cold milk, aren’t mine. In my world cookies were for Christmas; fruit, yogurt, and cheese were snacks. I never quite developed a sensory memory for the ubiquitous toll house. Instead of invoking memories of backyard tag, championship games, and mom with flour dusted apron, I’ve been a bit bored by them. >em>Until Now. This is not my recipe. It came to me by way of a third-party. I have been told it was created by Cook’s Illustrated. It doesn’t surprise me in the least bit. This cookie is filled with notes of toffee, enough salt to tease your palate, the bite of bitter chocolate and manages to be both soft and crispy. The recipe is a bit fussy, but worth it. trust me….
Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes 16
from cook’s illustrated and only v.slightly changed
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
14 Tbs unsalted butter–divided
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar-firmly packed
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
3/4 cups toasted walnut halves
Heat oven to 375F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda in a bowl and set aside. Heat 10 Tbs of butter in a skillet over medium heat, swirling continually, until it becomes a dark golden brown and it smells a bit toffee like. This should take about 3-5 minutes…the larger the skillet, the quicker the reaction. Remove from heat and pour butter into mixing bowl. Add the remaining butter and stir until it is melted. Add the sugars, salt and vanilla to the bowl and hand-whisk until mixed well. Add egg and egg yolk and whisk until smooth and begins to lighten in color a bit. Let rest for 3 minutes. whisk again for 30 seconds and let rest for 3 minutes. Do this procedure 2 more times. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir in the flour mixture so that it is just combined–do not over-mix. Stir in chocolate and nuts. Scoop out large balls (about 3 Tbs) onto to the parchment, placing about 2″ apart. Bake for about 10-14 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned. Cool on wire rack.
*the original recipe calls for table salt, semi -sweet chips or chunks and chopped pecans or walnuts. i prefer kosher salt, bittersweet (60-70% cocoa solids) and large pieces of walnut which is why i inserted them into the recipe. try it both ways and decide for yourself!
Shaved Zucchini
On January 22, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerSometimes after a long weekend of heavy eating, I’ll prepare something really simple. This dish, bright and light, comes together rather quickly.
Shaved Zucchini
4 medium zucchini-about 4 cups
2 garlic cloves–peeled and smashed
2 Tbs olive oil
1/2 tsp dry thyme
zest from 1 lemon
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
Shave the zucchini using a vegetable peeler. Make long strips and shave until you reach the heavily seeded part. turn and begin again. In the end, you will have a core. discard. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add the whole, but smashed garlic and let it brown. Remove the garlic (you are using it just to flavor the oil) and toss in the zucchini. Toss continually and allow the zucchini to cook through…this will take about 5-10 minutes. Add zest, thyme and lemon juice. Taste for seasoning–add salt and pepper to taste.
Heart Palmiers
On January 11, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerWe have neighbors with fabulous taste. Crown molding, silver service, art gallery lighting kind of taste. I almost wonder if Mike and I are their pro-bono friends. While residing in California, we rang in London’s new year together. Complete with champagne, caviar, and crown roast. Imagine my horror, as I catch from the corner of my eye, Mike, in all his glory with hands full of palmiers. With flaky crumbs falling to his beard and a smile as broad as his shoulders he was complimenting the hostess on her fabulous dessert. Turning to me, he gave a grand wink and said “you should make these”. So I did.
Simple Easy Heart Palmiers
1 sheet puff pastry–cold but not frozen
2 Tbs unsalted butter–melted
2 Tbs granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup granulated sugar for dipping
Place puff pastry on a sheet of parchment. In a small bowl, mix together the 2 Tbs granulated sugar and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Using a pastry brush, brush the butter evenly covering the entire piece of pastry. Evenly and liberally sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top of the butter. Measure or eye the center of the puff pastry and gently score with the dull end of a knife (do not cut through). Starting on one end, tightly roll the dough to the center. Roll the opposite end to the center, forming what looks like a scroll. Gently press together, and if you would like an exaggerated heart shape, pinch the bottom to a point. Wrap in parchment and/or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill. After 1 hour and up to 24 hours, preheat the oven to 375F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a saucer or shallow bowl. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice crosswise in 1/4″ sections. Reshape as necessary, then dip both sides in the sugar. Place on parchment paper approximately 1″ apart. bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Allow to cool a bit, but not fully before removing from the parchment. The sugar will cause them to stick if they cool too much. Allow to finish cooling on a wire rack.
Pizza Hand Pies
On January 6, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerWe had spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner last night. Simple but delicious. Lunch today? The sauce with a little cheese and a slice of pepperoni, for good measure. All sandwiched between two hearts of puff pastry.
Heart Pizza
makes 4
2 sheets of puff pastry-cold but not frozen
1/2 cup pasta or pizza sauce
4 pieces of pepperoni
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
Use a cookie 3″ heart or other cookie cutter to cut out 8 pieces. Place 1/2 of the pieces on a lined cookie sheet. Heap with pasta sauce, sprinkle with parmesan and place a piece of pepperoni on top. Cover with the remaining pieces of dough. Using the tines of a fork, press around the edges to seal. Place in a 400F oven until golden brown and puffy (about 20 minutes).
The Start to 2012 and Honey Roasted Carrots
On January 1, 2012 by sixtyacrebakerHappy New Year! A well worn phrase with genuine intent. I find when spoken, it is always with a positive lilt; rarely a tone of indifference or sarcasm. No gifts to buy, no religious or political schism. Just the turn of the calendar giving us all a chance to
review
renew
resolve
For 2011 my goals were: I will not judge in disappointment, as I am confident I too fall short of expectations others place on me. Rather than toss the years of the past I will carry them forward both as fond memories and retrospective caution. And I will eat more fruit.
For 2012, I have chosen a theme: dust Yourself Off. Simply, bootstrap mechanics. Get up, wipe off the dust, and give it another go. And. Eat more vegetables.
Honey Roasted Carrots
2 dozen small carrots-washed, peeled and trimmed
2 Tbs honey
1 Tbs white balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp toasted whole cumin seeds
Warm the honey and vinegar to thin. Toss the carrots in the mixture and place on a lined sheet pan. Sprinkle with cumin seeds. Place in a 350 oven and cook until soft and caramelized, about 30-35 minutes. I also like to serve these, with some tooth to them, as a crudite with dip. You only need to cook them until they are softened but not colored–about 25 minutes. They are delicious with a simple tahini/soy sauce dip.
Chocolate Dipped & Walnut Stuffed Figs
On December 29, 2011 by sixtyacrebakerWe really didn’t eat a lot of desserts when I was a kid. After dinner a pot of coffee was brewed and bowls of fresh fruit and nuts were heaved to the table. One particular treat, at holiday time, was freshly cracked walnuts stuffed into dried figs. This year I gave the treat a little update, by dipping the figs in bittersweet chocolate. A sweet with benefits.
Walnut Stuffed Figs
12 dried figs
12 large walnut halves-toasted
bittersweet chocolate-melted and tempered
Using a sharp knife, make a split in the fig without cutting all the way through
Stuff a walnut into the fig and close it completely. Dip in chocolate and allow the chocolate to harden at room temperature. You can store these at room temperature or the refrigerator.