Peppermint Bark - Version 2

Tomorrow marks the official first day of winter. With the Winter Solstice marking the day with the fewest hours of sunlight, it feels more like the Winter Solstice has instead decided to infringe on the days leading up to it (at least around here anyway). The gray cloudy skies, the rare sightings of the sun, and the absence of snow is making it seem more like spring rather than winter will be arriving here in the midwest. The balmy weather forecast for the days leading up to Christmas are one of those unexpected, welcomed gifts from Mother Nature. Or maybe this is a sign I should be paying much closer attention to the climate change and global warming issues that seem to be dominating all political conversations except those in the presidential debates. However, at the moment my energies and attention are focused elsewhere, so I guess I will have to get up to speed in 2016.

When I went to make Peppermint Bark this past weekend I decided to make a slightly different version than the one I shared with you last year at this time. Taking a bite of the Peppermint Bark samples being handed out at Williams-Sonoma inspired me to make a few tweaks.

There are very subtle differences between last year's recipe and this one. Although if I was forced to choose between the two, I am might choose this one.

Dark or semi-sweet chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint extract (not oil), and crushed candy canes create one of the holidays most refreshing confections. With simple recipes, the quality of ingredients matters. In other words, do not use the bags of chocolate chips you put into your cookies as they are contain stabilizers that don't allow them to achieve the silky, shiny melted chocolate taste and look this bark needs.

You can crush your own candy canes (a good way to take out some of the holiday stress), use prepackaged peppermint crunch chips, or use a combination of both.

For this version of the Peppermint Bark, I reduced the amount of peppermint extract from 1/2 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon and mixed in four (4) ounces of crushed candy canes into the white chocolate. The remaining two (2) ounces of crushed candy canes were sprinkled on top of the melted white chocolate. Incorporating some of the crushed candy canes into the white chocolate gave this bark a great texture.

Some recipes call for chilling the bottom layer of dark or semi-sweet chocolate in the refrigerator before pouring on the melted white chocolate, however, if too chilled the two layers may not adhere to one another. So my advice is to not chill the bottom layer, but rather let it partially set up sitting out on a counter as the room temperature bottom layer of chocolate will bond better with the 'warmer' melted white chocolate.

After the white chocolate layer was sprinkled with candy cane/peppermint chips, you have two options. Allow the Peppermint Bark to set up in the refrigerator (for approximately 10 minutes) or allow it to set up on its' own. To create less random sized pieces of Peppermint Bark, cut into desired shapes and sizes  before the bark has fully set up using a thin, sharp knife. After cutting the bark into pieces, either return the tray to the refrigerator to allow each piece to fully firm up or allow it to set up on its' own by putting the tray in a cool place before plating or packaging. In some families, Peppermint Bark is an expected holiday tradition, one where it wouldn't be the 'holidays' without it. Sort akin to the 'I am dreaming of a White Christmas' expectation all of us who grew up in the midwest have come to count on and remember. If by any chance there is not any snow (expected or not) for your holiday, at least make sure you have a platter of some of this Peppermint Bark.

I am almost certain this is my only blog post for the week (although stranger things have happened). If all goes well for this year's holiday meal, next week's recipes will shift from candies and confections to 'real food'.

Merriest and happiest of holiday wishes to all of you! "May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window be open to great possibility." (Mary Anne Radmacher) 

Recipe
Peppermint Bark - Version 2
Updated December 2021

Ingredients
16-18 (452g- 508g) ounces dark or semi-sweet chocolate (55-62% cocoa), coarsely chopped
16-18 (452g- 508g) ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped

6 ounces (173g) crushed candy canes, divided (e.g., 6-12 medium sized candy canes) OR 6 ounces of packaged crushed peppermints (like Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips or Brach's Crushed Candy Canes)
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract (recommend Nielsen-Massey Pure Peppermint Extract)
Optional: Edible white glitter flakes

Directions
1. Line an 15"x 10" baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Over a pot of simmering water, melt the coarsely chopped dark or semi-sweet chocolate. Pour onto prepared baking and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Allow to partially set (but do not refrigerate).
3. Over a pot of simmering water, melt 12-14 ounces of the coarsely chopped white chocolate. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 4 ounces of white chocolate to temper mixture. 
4. Stir in peppermint extract and 4 ounces of crushed candy canes. Stir until combined. Pour evenly over the partially set dark or semi-sweet chocolate. Carefully and evenly spread using an offset spatula.
5. Immediately sprinkle remaining two ounces and glitter flakes (if using) evenly over the white chocolate. 
6. Place pan of peppermint bark in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and cut into desired shapes using a sharp knife. Or place the pan of peppermint bark in a cool place to partially set up. Note: Peppermint Bark is easier to cut into shapes before it has completely hardened.
7. Allow the Peppermint Bark to fully set before plating or packaging. Store Peppermint Bark in a tightly sealed container.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

This week, time has gotten completely away from me. As the holidays get closer, I am absolutely convinced time is more of an illusionary concept than the absolute one described in Isaac Newton's first law of space and time. Somewhere in the recesses of my high school physics memory lie the concepts associated with Einstein's theory of relativity. But rather than getting myself tripped up explaining the technical aspects of this theory (high school was a lifetime ago) just know it asserts time happens differently depending on who we are and what we are experiencing at any given moment (e.g., time moves more quickly as we age). In years past, all of the shopping got done, presents got wrapped, packages were sent, baking kind of-sort of was finished, and the holiday meal was made and served. However, at the moment I am seriously beginning to wonder if everything on my long list will get checked off in the whirlwind week ahead. I just need time to slow down. If only that was possible.

It wasn't in my plan this week to make a 'new' cookie, let alone try to attempt to as artfully as possible capture the beginning to end baking process (just in case a rich brownie like cookie made with three kinds of chocolate, rolled in two different sugars, and finished with a sprinkling of sea salt isn't enticing enough for you). This may partially explain why I can't seem to get anything done around here. Some distractions are harder to resist than others. And these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are the kind of distractions we should all recklessly abandon our will power and control over our time for.

Of course, the making of any new cookie means comparing multiple, similar recipes all claiming to be the BEST ever, the prettiest, the most chocolatey, and the most scrumptious. After investing even more time into the making of a new cookie (there is no such thing as doing things simply), I narrowed my options down to two. One shared by "Baked' fame cookbook authors and pastry chefs Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito and one by Cook's Illustrated. As luck would have it, there would be some fundamental differences in the ingredients and the baking process between two recipes for a Chocolate Crinkle-like Cookie. There seemed to be some room to merge various aspects of the two of them and possibly make a nuanced contribution of my own.

The idea of using only dark brown sugar to give the cookie a 'more complex, tempered sweetness with a bitter molasses edge' to compliment the chocolate appealed to me. So instead of going with a granulated sugar/brown sugar combination in the cookie dough, I decided to go with Cook's Illustrated dark brown sugar only recommendation. The amount of espresso powder used ranged significantly between the two recipes (1 teaspoon to 4 teaspoons). I could have split the difference between the two amounts, but 1 1/2 teaspoons just made the most sense and would be enough to deepen the chocolate flavor. Both recipes used unsweetened cocoa, but one used a dark semi-sweet (60-72% cocoa) and the other used unsweetened chocolate. With several bars of Scharffen Berger 62% semi-sweet chocolate siting in the cupboard, the decision seemed to be predetermined. There were a few more ingredient differences I needed to reconcile before deciding on the assembling and baking process. Once the number of eggs to be used, how much baking powder and kosher salt to use, and whether or not to use baking soda decisions were made I was (almost) ready to start baking.

After first melting the coarsely chopped semi-sweet chocolate and butter and before combining with the espresso powder, the mixture is removed from its' heat source, mixed until the chocolate is smooth, and allowed to cool. Measuring out the remaining ingredients and getting your standing mixer ready is more than enough chocolate cooling time. Once the eggs and dark brown sugar are thoroughly mixed and the vanilla is blended in, the slightly cooled chocolate mixture is added. The sifted dry ingredients are added all at once. Adding a half cup of miniature chocolate chips to the batter was a last minute decision. While these are a somewhat optional ingredient, I will add them with rather than after the sifted flour ingredients are added to the batter as this is a very thick dough (one you don't want to dry out with over mixing). Cook's Illustrated recommended the batter simply rest for 10 minutes, whereas the Lewis/Poliafito recipe called for chilling the dough for at least 2 but up to 24 hours. The density of dough didn't seemed to call for a 2 hour chill time. Thirty (30) minutes seemed long enough as the dough had completely set up and was still able to scooped without difficulty.

Not only did I want a cookie that tasted insanely delicious, I wanted one that if put in a Miss Cookie Universe pageant it would have the best chance of being crowned the winner. Rolling the cookies first granulated sugar and then in confectionary sugar gave these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies an almost perfect crackly finish (thank you Cook's Illustrated for this recommendation).

If there is one thing you should hope to find under the tree this year, consider asking for a set of some really good ice cream scoops (if you don't have them) as they are almost one of those must-have kitchen tools. Especially if you want your cookies uniform and don't want a pan of cookies in various stages of baked doneness.

Dough balls that are 1 to 1 1/4 inch in diameter will yield anywhere between 22 and 24 cookies. Because the cookies spread, no more than 11 or 12 cookies (spaced apart by at least 1 inch) should be put on the baking pan before going into a preheated 325 degree (F) oven.

Baking time for cookies ranges from to 12 minutes (my baking time was 12 minutes). The baking pan is rotated midway through the baking process. Testing 'dark' cookies for doneness is always a bit of a challenge. To test for this cookie's doneness, you are looking for their edges to start firming up but will still have a slightly soft center.  Because the cookies remain on the baking pan for 5 minutes after being removed from the oven, the cookie will continue to 'bake', so it is important to not over bake them.

After the Chocolate Crinkle Cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, they are transferred to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool to room temperature before plating or putting into a container. If not eaten shortly after they are cooled, store the cookies in a tightly sealed container (they will be at their best for up to 2 days after baking). Adding a light sprinkling of sea salt is another optional recommendation. Although once you taste them with and without salt, I am pretty certain you won't see the sea salt as optional. Just be sure to sprinkle on the sea salt when you remove the baked cookies from the oven.

If you have room in your holiday baking schedule to add another cookie, add this one. If you don't have time, figure out a way to make some (sleep is over-rated). These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are decadent, addictive, and immensely satisfying. They are also Miss Cookie Universe winning worthy as they are beautiful both the inside and out. They have also just become my new favorite cookie.

'The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship." Ralph Waldo Emerson Of the thousands of quotes on friendship, there are some that truly speak to the significance of those relationships grounded in the enduring mutual love and respect shared between two people. This quote by Emerson is one of them. These are the words you want to share with someone you value and hope will always remain as a close friend. They are not meant to put distance or limits on a friendship, but rather serve to validate how deeply a friendship has touched not only one's heart, but one's soul. Whether you are the giver or receiver of words having such a profoundly beautiful sentiment to them, they are neither time nor situation bound. So as you think about what gifts to give to your most treasured friends this year, think about gifting them with Emerson's words as the holidays seem to lend themselves to bringing the purest of joys to those whose unselfish gift of friendship has shaped you in innumerable ways. These seemingly simple words could make this the most glorious Christmas for both of you.

Recipe

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies (inspired by the recipe for Exceedingly Chocolaty Cookies shared by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito)

Makes 22-24 cookies

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups (163g) all-purpose flour

2 Tablespoons (18g) unsweetened cocoa powder

7/8 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

6 ounces (170g) dark chocolate (60-72% cacao), coarsely chopped (recommend Scharffen Berger Semi-Sweet 62% Chocolate, however use any semi-sweet or dark chocolate containing 60-72% cocao)

4 Tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter, slightly softened, cut into chunks

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder (recommend King Arthur's Espresso Powder, but most instant expresso powders should work)

3/4 cup (150g) dark brown sugar, firmly packed

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips (optional but good)

1/2 cup confectionary sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Optional: Sea salt for finishing

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a medium sized bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 

3. Melt butter and coarsely chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until almost completely melted and combined. Stir in espresso powder. Remove from heat and continue stirring until chocolate has completely melted. Allow to cool.

4. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat eggs and dark brown sugar together on medium speed until smooth (approximately 3-4 minutes).

5. Add vanilla and beat again until incorporated.

6. Scrape chocolate mixture into the bowl and beat until combined. Scrape down sides and bottom of the bowl.

7. Add flour mixture. Beat on low speed until flour is just incorporated but some streaks remain. Add miniature chocolate chips and finish mixing until flour is incorporated (do not overmix). Note: The miniature chocolate chips are optional, however, because this is a very thick batter, add them in with the sifted flour mixture if using.

8. Cover bowl and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

9. Put granulated sugar and confectionary sugar into two separate bowl.

10. Using an ice cream scoop, form the dough into balls approximately 1 - 1 1/4 inch in diameter. 

11. Roll dough balls first in granulated sugar, then in confectionary sugar. Place on prepared baking sheet (11-12 cookies per sheet).

12. Bake, rotating baking sheets halfway through the baking time, until cookies begin to firm up along the edges (approximately 9-12 minutes). Note: Cookies will still be slightly soft in the center, giving them a moist brownie-like texture).

13. After removing cookies from the oven, lightly sprinkle with sea salt.

14. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Allow to cool to room temperature.

15. Store cookies in a tightly sealed container. Note: Cookies are at the best if eaten within 2 days of baking.

Some of the ornaments hung on one of the Christmas trees this year.

Orangettes aka Chocolate Covered Candied Orange Peels

Growing up I was mesmerized by the books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Of the many memorable stories told in each of her books, one particular Christmas scene has remained with me."Laura was wondering about the orange before her...she had once eaten part of an orange, so she knew how good an orange tastes." And after the party she couldn't help but say, "Oh, Ma, each one of us had a whole orange!' (Little Town on the Prairie) Reading Laura's elation over the gift of single piece of fruit not only gave my twelve year old heart a perspective on what it meant to be grateful, I began to understand the importance of showing genuine gratefulness, even for the smallest of kindnesses. Many years later I would learn of some of the symbolic significances behind the giving of oranges at the holidays. Now, as soon as December arrives, there is always a large glass bowl filled with clementines sitting on the counter or gracing a table. This year I decided it was time to find another way of incorporating oranges into the holiday season and into some of this year's gifts. Could there be anything more perfect than Orangettes?

Candied fruit has a storied history. Ancient Romans preserved fruit using honey more than 2,000 years ago. In the 14th century, candied fruits discovered by Europeans traveling to the Middle East became one of the confections brought back to France where they immediately gained in popularity. During the 18th century, candied lemons and oranges were some of the most sought after and elegant sweetmeats found in the larger cities in Colonial America. The imported citrus fruit and sugar used in the making of these candied jewels, sometimes called 'orange and lemon chips' made these early confections rare and costly ones. Today, these aromatic, flavorful, glistening candied orange peels dipped in chocolate are called Orangettes.

In the spirit of full disclosure I must tell you the making of candied orange peels is, well, slightly time and labor intensive. Oranges have to be peeled, sliced, blanched three times, drained, trimmed, blanched once more, simmered in a sugar syrup until they have a translucent quality, lightly tossed in superfine (caster) sugar, and dried all before they are either again rolled in sugar or dipped in melted chocolate. Please know after a single bite of this swoon-worthy confection your selective memory will come to your rescue and you will suddenly find yourself championing the adage 'nothing worth having comes easy'. It may be a losing battle to think your willpower is strong enough to keep you from eating only one piece of this candy perfection. But don't think of this loss as giving up. Think of it more as giving in to one of life's pleasures.

Years ago I searched for, found, and ultimately made some Orangettes. But for whatever reason I did not save that recipe (code for I couldn't find it). So again I had to go on the hunt. Only this time, I felt like I was on a never ending pilgrimage. After an exhausting search through cookbooks, reviewing online recipes with their accompanying comments, and watching several YouTube videos, the choice of oranges along with both the sugar syrup ingredients and process for making the Orangettes seemed to be all over the map. For a brief moment I thought about abandoning this journey. But for better or worse, giving up has never been one of my virtues (although circuit exercises continue to push me to the brink of raising the white flag).

Thin or thick skinned oranges? Thick won here making either Navel or Valencia oranges the best options. Cut or peel the orange rinds? I went with cutting them as there are more length and width options for the finished peels. A one to one sugar to water ratio, a two to one sugar to water ratio or some other ratio variation for the simple syrup? My head was spinning. I chose the 2-1 sugar to water ratio for some unexplainable reason. Add corn syrup or freshly squeezed lemon juice to keep the simple syrup from crystalizing? Lemon juice won out. But more on all of this keeper of a recipe later.

How thick or thin you make the strips of orange peel is a personal preference decision. Larger oranges as well as how you cut the oranges will influence the length of the strips. Scoring the orange from end to end or first cutting each end of the orange before scoring and removing the peel were both options used. My preference was for scoring the orange from end to end as it yielded longer strips of the rind.

Blanching the orange rinds removes any trace of their bitterness. In a wide, deep pan the orange rinds are covered with cold water. After the water is brought to a boil, the rinds continue to boil for two (2) minutes. After draining the pot of rinds, the rinds are blanched two more times (for a total of 3 at this point). After the third blanching, the peels are drained and cooled to the point where they can be handled.

Using a sharp pairing knife, the rinds are trimmed, leaving as much of the pith as desired. Be careful to not trim too much as the pith is what retains the sweetness once the peels are candied. The trimmed rinds are then blanched in cold water (bringing the total number of blanches to 4) and then drained. Note: If you cut your rinds into wide strips or you chose to leave more of the pith on, blanch for a 5th time.

A simple syrup made of two cups of water, four cups of granulated sugar, and two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice are cooked until the sugar dissolves. The drained orange rinds are added, the mixture brought to a boil, and then reduced to a simmer.

The rinds cook for 60-90 minutes or until the peels look glassy and slightly transparent.

The rinds are removed from the syrup and placed on a drying rack.

After approximately 30 minutes the cooked rinds can be lightly tossed in caster (superfine) sugar and then returned again to the cooling rack. They will be very sticky at this point. Tossing the rinds in the sugar to assist in the drying process is an optional step, however, it makes them much easier to handle the next day when either dipping in melted chocolate or rolling in granulated sugar.

Allow the orange rinds to dry overnight on a cooling rack.

Orangettes can be completely or partially dipped in either semi-sweet or milk chocolate. The amount of chocolate you need will be dependent on how many orange peels you have candied as well as if they are completely or only partially dipped.

Melt two thirds of the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water. Once melted, stir in the remaining one third of the chocolate (chopped) to temper. Tempering the chocolate enables it to retain a shine when it sets. Place the strips of orange rind on parchment paper to dry after they are dipped in the chocolate. If the orange peel strips partially dipped, the undipped portion can be sprinkled with granulated sugar after the chocolate has set. The dried overnight orange peels are equally delicious simply tossed in granulated sugar. Store and/or package Orangettes in sealed containers or in cellophane bags tied with a beautiful ribbon.

Don't let the number of steps involved sway you away from making these blissfully ambrosial confections. Once you have experienced the deliciousness of a glistening Orangette, you will never look at an orange rind or the gift of an orange the same again. Of all of the gifts you give this holiday season, there may be none more symbolic of gratitude than these simple chocolate covered candied orange peels. Or a more delicious new tradition.

Recipe
Orangettes aka Chocolate Covered Candied Orange Peels (inspired from a compilation of candied orange peel recipes)

Ingredients
5-7 large Navel or Valencia oranges (find the ones having the thickest rinds)
4 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water
2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
Caster or granulated sugar for finishing (recommend India Tree's Caster Sugar)
1 1/2 pounds of semi-sweet or milk chocolate, chopped
Optional: Additional granulated sugar for rolling undipped or partially dipped orangettes

Directions
1. Wash oranges. Using a sharp knife, score the peel of the oranges into four wedges. Peel the thick skin wedges away from the fruit, discarding any of the loose pith fibers. Flatten each orange wedge and cut into strips in widths of preference. Note: Strips cut less than 1/4 inch may break when dipping in chocolate or rolling in granulated sugar.
2. Place orange rind strips in a wide, deep pan. Cover with cold water. Once the water comes to a boil, continue to boil for 2 minutes. Drain orange rinds. Repeat the blanching process two more times using fresh cold water each time. 
3. Trim some of the pith away from each of the rinds without going all the way down to the rind as the pith is what retains the sweetness once the peels candied.
4. Combine water, granulated sugar, and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a wide, deep pan. Over medium heat, cook until sugar dissolves. Add trimmed orange rinds and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and continue cooking for 60-90 minutes (or until rinds appear glassy and translucent). 
5. Using tongs, remove the strips of orange peel from the syrup and place on a wire rack to drain and cool (approximately 30 minutes).
6. When peels are cool enough to touch lightly toss in caster (superfine) sugar and return to a clean wire rack. Allow to air dry overnight.
7. Place two-thirds of the chopped chocolate in a bowl over simmering water. Once melted, stir in the remaining one-third of the chocolate to temper. Dip the strips of orange peel in the melted chocolate. Place on a sheet of parchment paper and allow chocolate to harden (set). Dipping options: (1) completely dip the entire orange rind; (2) dip half of the orange peel, allow chocolate to harden (set) and sprinkle granulated sugar on other half of the orange peel; or, (3) roll dried orange peels in granulated sugar. 
8. Store in an airtight container or sealed cellophane bag at room temperature for up to 4 weeks or in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Note: Don't throw away the candied orange syrup. Use it in your cocktails or drizzle over cake or ice cream. Store this incredibly delicious syrup in a covered jar in the refrigerator.

Chicken Casserole

Finally, the house is finished being decorated for the holidays. Or at least I have given myself permission to stop. Up next on the list of things to do is to begin planning Christmas dinner (a menu more than likely that will undergo multiple revisions), begin shopping for gifts (am still waiting for some inspiration), and put together packages of homemade cookies and candies for friends (am still deciding what to make this year). For me, Christmas means finding a balance between honoring traditions (aka expectations) and adding elements of surprise. Some of the best gifts I have ever received were not the ones I had hoped for (don't we all have shared and unshared wish lists?). Instead, they were the ones only someone who cared, who was really paying attention would give. For St. Nicholas Day this year, my stocking was filled with a gift card to my 'new' favorite coffee shop, some new running gloves, and a set of copper measuring cups. These thoughtful, perfect unexpected presents made me scream with delight and weep.

Gifting is an art, a reflection of our ability to remain attentive to what matters to our family and friends. If I could re-do some of the gifts given to my niece and nephew over the years, I would replace 'things' with 'events' as the stories we tell (and embellish) have come from the time spent and travels with one another rather than from the 'material' gifts received (the 8th grade graphing calculator graduation present may be one of the few exceptions). What I have learned over the course of my life thus far is that gifts from the heart are some of the best ones, because they are not always the ones money can buy. Gifts of 'time', ones like spending time together or the putting of time into the making of a gift, are priceless treasures.

'Tis the season for holiday parties, gatherings, dinners, luncheons, and potlucks. Other than making certain you have plenty of alcohol (or at least a really good scotch and vodka) and a supply of your favorite red and white wines, having an easy, not time intensive, make-ahead main course to go along with all of the appetizers and holiday cookie platters makes entertaining (almost) stress-free. 

Enrolled in a doctoral program many years ago is when I first met Kristina. At the time she was the wife of one of my cohort members and as I subsequently learned, she and I had pledged the same sorority while in the college (the first time around). Little did she or I know at the time but Kristina would ultimately become my doctoral dissertation advisor, the person responsible for pushing me to finish what I had started. Although I can't remember when I first tasted her PiPhi Chicken Casserole, I recall asking if she would share the recipe. Recently while searching for Chicken Casserole recipes, I remembered I had Kristina's recipe, somewhere. All I had to do was find it.

Feeling some degree of culinary confidence after reading dozens of chicken casserole recipes, I decided to take a few liberties with the original shared recipe yet stay true to the basic elements. 

Rotisserie chickens might be one of the best things to come into the grocery store in the last decade. They also happen to provide all of the meat needed for this casserole. After removing the skin, the meat is simply torn off and shredded. If you have ever done this before, you know how much easier it is to do when the rotisserie is still warm. (Note: Buy only a rotisserie chicken you have tasted before as there is a great deal of variability in their moistness and taste.)

Since the casserole was made with onions and celery, I thought why not replace the canned mushrooms with fresh ones. And while I was at it, increase their presence from four ounces to eight.

In two to three tablespoons of unsalted butter, the minced onions and celery are cooked for several minutes or just until they begin to soften. After adding the sliced mushrooms to the pan, the entire vegetable mixture continues to cook for additional 3-4 minutes or until the mushrooms begin to slightly soften.

Okay, this is the point in the recipe where I may lose some of you. Before you make up your mind, please know I had done a fair share of chicken casserole research which had caused me to (briefly) consider making an ingredient replacement change. Many of the chicken casserole recipes I came across were made with a homemade white sauce. This one uses a can of cream of mushroom soup (Yes, I know this is the second recipe on the blog this year using a canned soup.). After weighing the options between the two I decided to use the cream of mushroom soup (and you should too!). Combined with mayonnaise, some dry white wine (strongly recommend using a Pinot Grigio), grated white aged cheddar cheese (Cabot's Farmhouse Reserved Aged Cheddar is amazing), kosher salt, and pepper, the soup is a necessary ingredient for creating the most delicious binder for this casserole.

The shredded chicken and sautéed vegetables are mixed into the wine/soup/mayonnaise mixture and spooned into a lightly buttered casserole dish.

Adding a buttered Ritz cracker crumb topping seemed to be a characteristic of many of the chicken casserole recipes claiming to be Southern in tradition I found in my search. Whether this is true or just an over generalization on my part, I thought it would bring some added flavor and further crunch to this Chicken Casserole. Note: I kept the water chestnuts in this casserole, but omitted the half cup of slivered almonds. If you want even more crunch, add the almonds.

The chicken casserole can either be placed in a preheated 350 degree (F) oven and baked for 40-45 minutes or it can be covered, placed in the refrigerator, and made later in the day (or even the next day). 

Served with some wild rice, a beautiful salad, and of course, some white wine, you have one of the most flavorful, perfect, impressive meals. And it is almost effortless to make. No one will guess it is made with a rotisserie chicken and a can of cream of mushroom soup (and you don't have to tell them if you don't want to!). There are a lot of flavors and textures going on in this Chicken Casserole. It is rich without being heavy as well as has elements of creaminess and crunch. It is everything you wish a Chicken Casserole would be. This may be one of the most versatile Chicken Casseroles you will ever make. It is perfect for a luncheon, dinner party, or holiday buffet; it is the kind of dish you want to bring to a potluck; it is the casserole you should bring to the home of a neighbor or friend in need of some comfort food; or simply a dish you want to make for your family as a way of showing some of your love for them. 

The weeks ahead can feel hectic, leaving some of us feeling as if we are being pulled in a million different directions. Yet how we spend the time we have or the time we make is really what this holiday season and life are all about. "Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what gives meaning to life." 

Recipe
Chicken Casserole (inspired by Kristina Hesbol's PiPhi Chicken Casserole recipe)

Ingredients
1 Rotisserie Chicken, skin removed and meat shredded while chicken is still warm (about 4 to 4 1/2 cups)
1 medium yellow onion, minced
2-3 stalks of celery, minced
8 ounces Baby Bella mushrooms, sliced 
2-3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
1 cup mayonaise 
4 ounces white aged cheddar, grated (strongly recommend Cabot Farmhouse Reserve Aged Cheddar)
1/2 cup dry white wine (recommend Pinot Grigio)
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
6 ounces Ritz Crackers, crushed
6-7 Tablespoons unsalted butter
Optional: 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Lightly butter a 9"x13" casserole dish. Set aside.
2. In a large skillet, melt butter. Add onions and celery and sauté until slightly softened (approximately 3-4 minutes). Add sliced mushrooms and cook until mushrooms have slightly softened (an additional 3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise, white wine, salt, pepper, grated cheese and water chestnuts.
4. Add shredded chicken and sautéed vegetables and mix thoroughly.
5. Spoon chicken mixture into the prepared baking pan.
6. Melt 6-7 Tablespoons unsalted butter. Add crushed Ritz crackers. Mix until all butter has been absorbed into the cracker crumbs. Spoon crumbs over the chicken casserole.
7. Bake chicken casserole (uncovered) for 40-45 minutes or until top is lightly browned and casserole is bubbling on the edges. Remove from the oven. Allow to sit at least 5 minutes before serving.
Notes: (1) The chicken casserole can be assembled early in the day or the night before, covered, and refrigerated. Before baking remove oven for 30 minutes before placing in the oven. (2) If you do not want to buy or have access to a store-bought rotisserie chicken, roast a whole 3-4 pound chicken.