Food Lush

Cookie Making Quirks

By Julie

In planning (as Nora mentioned, only 4! baking days left until Christmas) the bacchanalia that is Christmas cookie baking, I start by making sure I have the basic ingredients on hand - flour, sugar, eggs, butter. Wait, butter?  Or margarine? But what if the old family recipe calls for oleo, a fairly bizarre name for Crisco (but so much better than lard, which it easily could have been in an old family recipe)? There are decisions to be made here.

It always makes me feel better if I can find a way to lighten up a recipe, so if I can get away with substituting light margarine or even applesauce for butter or oil, I will. Sometimes this fails spectacularly, but most of the time, it works just fine. (Except for cupcakes. If you are making cupcakes in those little paper cups, applesauce will make the cake stick like you super-glued them.) But in a few cases, I have particular preferences. Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies really need to have butter (or light butter if you have that and it shaves a little of the guilt off). Snickerdoodles taste best with butter flavored Crisco. I cannot give you a reason why other than that I have experimented over the years and these have yielded the best results (they also disappeared the fastest).

I wish you all wonderful luck and perfect humidity for all your holiday treat-making endeavors. I also hope you don't make my mistake of mixing up baking soda and baking powder and coming out with flat hockey pucks that will break your teeth. Enjoy!

Do you have any rituals or funky tricks for holiday baking?

Last Minute Gifts for your Favorite Foodie

By Nora    

Guys, Christmas is less than a week away (I KNOW), and even thought I feel like i'm pretty much ready for it to be here, I always find myself scrambling on the 23rd looking for last minute gifts for people I may have forgotten about. So, I was thinking yesterday about possible last minute gifts ideas, specifically for people who love food and cooking, just in case I get to that point and need something thoughtful, FAST.  So, if you find yourself in the same position come this weekend, here's some ideas:

1) A gift card/certificate to a restaurant you KNOW they've always wanted to try (and possibly a night of babysitting if it's hard for them to get out to dinner)!  I can't think of a more thoughtful gift than giving a friend a reason to get out and enjoy themselves (without the kids!). It doesn't have to be for a lot of money either---I think just the gesture and the offer of your time so that they can have some time alone is very generous.

2) The promise of a cooked meal delivered to their house (written inside a holiday card). This is in line with the restaurant gift card, but perhaps it's during a time when that person really, really needs to be at home but doesn't have the time or energy to think about dinner. Maybe it's just a dish of baked ziti, some garlic bread, and a bottle of wine.  But I can't TELL you how much this would mean to me!

3) A box of chocolates paired with a chocolate-themed movie (Chocolat!) and a bottle of chocolate-appropriate wine. This will require you going out to buy these items, but you can probably do so fairly easily and it's a creative and fun gift that people will think you put a lot of thought into!

4) A pan of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. This will go over BIG. I just made 9 pans last night and stuck them in the fridge/freezer specifically for baking this weekend.

{Photo courtesy of ME! At midnight last night!}

I plan to deliver them warm so that people can dive right in, if they want. It took some effort to make them, certainly, but you can do it in a night and then bake them the next morning.

Still need other gift ideas? Don't forget to check out the Food Lush Gift Guide!

I wish you all a stress-free, happy holiday!!

Healthy Holidays - Strategies for Holiday Eating

by Sarah Anne

I'm going to apologize in advance for this one, folks. Just call me Debbie Downer. I'm cool with it.

With all the AMAZING baking tips, tricks and recipes floating around this great place currently, I feel a little bit like a killjoy coming in and trying to 'healthy' up the holiday season. While I don't completely eschew holiday baking and big plates of carbs covered in gravy, I do have to give myself a bit of a pep talk before going into situations ripe with vice. I've been working very hard for several months on my fitness and just am not ready to see it go to waste. Or, to my waist!  

Now, don't think I am holier than thou or perfect at all. I love sweets. I'm a fan of champagne, gin and wine and as you know, I love food in general. I am about to spend two weeks with my in-laws where there are copious amounts of the most delicious butter tarts and melt-in-your-mouth shortbread, and the wine flows freely. I just thought I'd share some of the strategies I try to use.

1. Eat your veggies.  Eat them for breakfast, at lunch, and as much as you can during the day so that when the evening comes, your body will be full of awesome nutrition and you won't feel the guilt of a couple drinks and snacks you might not always eat. There really is no fun in avoiding great cheeses, different wines, and great baking. So, I do what I can to even the score and often have a pile of veggies for breakfast, and salads for lunch. Bonus is, the fiber keeps you full and you'll probably indulge less anyway!

2. Drink water. Stagger your tasty beverages with some lemon water, or a great bubbly crack. Maybe, even try a non-alcoholic drink recipe to share like this one. Perhaps just a little cranberry and soda with lime. The water will help keep you full, keep you hydrated and will help prevent those awful hangovers that only seem to get worse with age. Anyone here feel like they can't have more than a single bevvy before they'll feel it in the morning? Yeah hi. My name is Sarah and I'm getting old.  So try some water to help you feel better all around. Headache free and alert during the stressful times!  

This is my current favourite bubbly (besides the best kind). Perrier Pink Grapefruit!

(source)

3. Bring your own.  I think this is a great tip not just for holidays when you're trying to eat healthy, but if you have a different set of dietary needs than others. Gluten free. Vegan. Paleo, etc. Bring a dish or two to share with everyone.  That way, you'll be sure to have healthy options for yourself, and also, you'll be introducting your delicious ways of eating to friends and family in an atmosphere that is welcoming and open.  I love offering to help cook meals, or dishes to share, as I get to share my 'tweaks' on things and I always know I'll have options.

4. Soup or salad first! I try to do this when I'm eating out, sometimes at home, and often at gatherings like Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I'll fill up on a healthy option like salad, or a broth based soup before digging into the rest of the spread. It helps me feel great about what I'm eating, and gets me a good dose of veggies and fiber before overloading on mashed potatoes and stuffing. Not that I do that or anything.

These salads all look AMAZING and would be great to bring along or try during your gatherings!

Kale, Cabbage and Carrot Salad with Maple Sesame Vinaigrette (Source)

Roasted Kabocha Spinach Salad with Orange Honey Pistachio Vinaigrette (Source)

5. Remember that you have a choice.  Just because you ate a fistfull of sugar cookies for breakfast, doesn't mean your lunch has to go sideways too. Make each choice on its own and don't get down on yourself for going a little overboard. Just promise yourself you'll make a better choice the next opportunity and keep on truckin'. 

Do you have any tips or tricks you use to stay on the straight and narrow? Do you indulge at all, or do you do your best to stay away? Do you just not worry about it this time of year? 

In the end, it's a time for family and celebration so don't go too hog wild and restrict yourself like crazy. I'd rather remember the fun times letting loose with family than the amazing turtle cheesecake I didn't taste. Truly. Be gentle on yourself, try to maintain, and enjoy yourself!

Holiday Staple: Chex Mix

by Jess M

Every Christmas pretty much my entire life has included Chex Mix. We have always made it from a recipe my mom cut out of a magazine sometimes in the 80s. I'm pretty sure that piece of paper still exists, in the green metal recipe card tin my mom kept in the cabinet. For my bridal shower, my sister included a copy of that recipe for my own collection. Over the years the recipe on the boxes has changed but I stick very closely to my own version of the snack.

For reference: "The Original Chex Mix" recipe from Chex.com (picture those quotation marks as air quotes from me because it's not *actually* the original from the 1950s).

Also the Wikipedia article, with a link to the original ad for Chex Mix which appeared in Life Magazine in 1952.

Jess's version of Chex Mix (based on a circa 1980s magazine cutout, with my own modifications)

1/2 c melted butter

3 T Worchestershire sauce

2 t Season All seasoned salt

8 c any Chex cereal (I prefer corn and rice)

1 c pretzels

1 c peanuts

Measure out cereal, pretzels and nuts in a gallon ziploc bag. Melt butter, mix with the worchestershire and seasoned salt, and pour over the cereal mixture. Seal the bag and shake it until all the pieces are evenly coated.

Microwave: Pour contents into a large microwaveable bowl, cook on high 5-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. 

Oven: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Spread the mix onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Cook for 40-50 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Cool on paper towels.

It freezes well, so if you can make a whole bunch at a time, you can put it away for later, but it doesn't really last all that long in my house.

~~~

 Last year, Caitlin's dad shared their family's recipe for Cereal Mix.

Pigs in a blanket and other upcoming appetizers

by Caitlin

Notice how I cleverly avoided titling this "Holiday appetizers," "Christmas appetizers," or "New Year's appetizers"? But consider this the ole bait & switch. I do love a good hors d'oeuvre, and I think this can be considered the season of the appetizer. And the season of the cocktail, cookie, baked good, giant meal, and anything else you want to justify indulging in.

I've got a few menus and meals to plan for, and I can't stop thinking about pigs in blankets. A few years ago on a whim I decided to make some (for the first time ever) for a party my husband and I were throwing. He'd just made his own duck breast prosciutto, was plotting a fancy cheese plate, and didn't see a place for pigs in a blanket on our snack table. Guess what was the first to go? Apparently people just can't resist processed meat products wrapped in processed pastry, especially when you offer them something to dip them in. They've become a favorite once-or-twice-a-year indulgence for me ever since, and this is the perfect time of year for them. 

Photo: me

Last year I felt much more virtuous buying cans of crescent rolls and Morally Superior Hot Dogs* at Whole Foods. They didn't have Humane L'il Smokies* at the overpriced hippie grocery store, so I bought regular sized Virtuous Hot Dogs* and cut them into L'il Smoky size. It worked great. Press some poppy or sesame seeds on the top to show you mean business. 

*Not the actual names.

Photo from browneyedbaker.com

In the past I've also had great success with buffalo chicken dip (again using Virtuous Chicken because chicken in a can = ew), and I am currently contemplating Things That are Wrapped in Bacon. Contenders: water chestnuts, scallops, dates stuff with goat cheese. 

Photo from sheknows.com

Yep, I think we've got a winner.

Do you have any fun appetizers planned? What are your feelings on pastry wrapped meat products?

Christmas Eve dinner

by Elsha

We don't have a set meal we make on Christmas Day. Often we have ham, but not always. In fact, this year we're having prime rib. However, we do have a set meal for Christmas Eve: soup in bread bowls. We usually make two kinds of soup, and we like to change it up, but we've been having soup in bread bowls on Christmas Eve for years now. 

I love this tradition. There's something about such a simple meal before all the celebrating on Christmas. We don't make any side dishes, or any dessert (although there are often cookies around), just soup and bread. It's an easy meal to prepare, (especially if you buy the bread bowls), which is definitely a good thing on Christmas Eve! It's a tradition I'm sure we'll continue for years to come.

What do you have for Christmas Eve dinner?

Quail for Christmas

by Tara

I was going to make duck for Christmas, but my butcher shop only offers whole ducks, and I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with a whole duck. Plus, it’s just my little family (three of us, including a two-year old) for dinner, so I didn’t want to have the leftovers from a whole duck.

So I decided to get quail instead. I bought four whole quail, and… now I’m completely lost. I mean, I’ve eaten quail; we used to have it for every Christmas dinner when my grandmother was alive if my grandfather had a good hunting day before the holidays. But she didn’t keep recipes for things like that, and I have no idea what I’m doing. Thank the heavens for the Internet, right?

This recipe from Simply Recipes looks good. And easy!

This recipe at Epicurious uses wine, so that’s more leftover for me to drink.

This one at Jules Food looks good. I don’t like oranges, though, so that might be a problem?

I love blackberries, and I’m thinking the balsamic and blackberry combo in this recipe from Jenn’s Cuisine would be delicious.

My husband doesn’t like stuffing (WEIRDO), or I’d be all over this recipe from Food Network:

I wonder if I could talk my husband into a stuffing made with Andouille sausage from a recipe created by Emeril? Possibly.

This recipe from Food Network might be the winner. Anything wrapped in bacon tends to top my list.

(Photo from: Food Network.com)

Have you ever made quail? Have a recipe that will help me out?

Holiday Baking Odds and Ends

by Elissa

I'm now nearing the end of my annual holiday bakefest. I think all the butter, flour, and sugar have gone to my head, so please excuse the somewhat fragmented post. Here are a few things I've learned this year.

Are you planning to decorate Christmas cookies this year? I attempted to make my own cookie icing this year, and am happy to recommend this recipe. 

My artistic skills are admittedly terrible, but this icing was pretty easy to work with and looks great. And it only requires 4 ingredients (I would at least double, if not triple the recipe; I also added some extra milk to get it to come together).

I am so delighted with Katie's idea for cookie packaging. I ordered a bunch of the boxes and they are perfect.

They hold plenty of goodies (pictured here: molasses cookies, brown butter rice krispie treats, and fleur de sel caramels). And they look great with just a simple ribbon on the outside, plus there are no worries about spilling.

And finally, I wanted to share the swiss chard miracle that occurred at our house last week. Both of my kids are pretty good eaters (knock wood), but leafy greens are still a tough sell. I offer them but don't make a fuss if the kids refuse, which is my general strategy when it comes to food. Last week we were having swiss chard sauteed with garlic and soy sauce, quinoa, and fried eggs (idea courtesy of Dinner: A Love Story). I fixed my plate (with plenty of chard), and was getting ready to make a plate for my son with a small serving of chard on the side. He demanded to take my plate and proceeded to polish off a large serving of chard. While not related to holiday baking, I'm using it to assuage my conscience as he consumes large quantities of baked goods.

And that's all I've got right now. Hope that you all have lots of delicious holiday treats coming your way!

 

Baking Bucket List: Bûche de Noël

by Maura

Years and years ago (circa 2008), I didn't cook. If it didn't involve butter, flour, and sugar, I didn't make it. I baked and that was it. Ironically, I was 10lbs thinner, but that is neither here nor there. I was so into baking that I was even part of a group called the Daring Bakers. Each month, I would participate in a baking challenge with hundreds of other bakers. I made eclairs, opera cakes, Julia Child's French bread, apple strudel, and lemon meringue pie, among other recipes. You can see some of them on my now-defunct blog, MauraLessa (fka AnonymousNY).

(Image credit: bonappetit.com)

The one challenge I regret I did not tackle was the Bûche de Noël. A traditional French dessert served around Christmas, the Bûche de Noël is an impressive accomplishment. Also known as a Yule Log, the Bûche de Noël is a vanilla genoise cake with chocolate butter cream icing, rolled into a log. The outside of the cake is frosted with chocolate icing and decorated to look like a tree log. Many other types of cakes and fillings can be used, but genoise and chocolate butter cream is traditional. 

(image credit: epicurious.com)

There are very few things I have an interest in baking these days; as I get older, I prefer savory over sweet. However, I will one day make a Yule Log for Christmas.

Have you ever made a Bûche de Noël? Do you have any desserts on your baking bucket list?

Need Another Cookie to Add to Your Holiday Arsenal? Try Biscotti!

By Nora    

By now you're probaby either A) Freaking out that there's only 11 days left until Christmas; B) Sick of hearing about how there's only 11 days left until Christmas; or C) SO excited that there's only 11 days left until Christmas.  Regardless of your answer, I imagine that in the next 11 days you have a lot of items left on your to-do list, and if one of them is baking cookies, then I have a suggestion to make your life 10 times easier.  MAKE BISCOTTI. 

Seriously, every time I make biscotti I am surprised at how easy it is, and how many cookies I get out of the effort, and how it makes me seem like such a baking professional when I deliver them to my cookie recipients. I made Sesame Orange biscotti the other day, and it took me about 3 minutes to mix the ingredients and then about an hour total to cook them (including a 10 minute in-between cooling process before you cut them). And then if you want to fancy them up, dip them in chocolate (white or dark!)!  And if you want to get really crazy, after you dip them in chocolate, add some sprinkles! Or coconut! Or extra chocolate! (Sorry. There's 11 days left until Christmas. I'm a little loopy) I also once made Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti (example in photo) which was cool because it had the red/green element that made them extra Christmas-y.

{Photo courtesy of Kitchenartistry.com}

But here's my recipe for Sesame Orange Biscotti. And it is legitimately MY recipe, because I used a basic biscotti formula and added the sesame and the orange zest myself. 

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs + 1 egg white

1/2 teaspoon orange zest

3 tablespoons sesame seeds

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Combine vanilla, eggs and orange zest and add to flour mixture, stirring until well-blended (dough will be dry).

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 7 or 8 times. Shape dough into a 16-inch-long roll, and sprinkle sesame seeds over the top of the roll. Press lightly so they adhere. Put the roll on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray or covered with parchment, and flatten roll to 1-inch thickness.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Remove roll from baking sheet to a wire rack, and let cool 10 minutes. Cut roll diagonally into 24 (1/2-inch) slices, and place, cut sides down, on baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 325°, and bake 10 minutes. Turn cookies over, and bake an additional 10 minutes (cookies will be slightly soft in center but will harden as they cool). Remove from baking sheet; let cool completely on wire rack.