Irish Coffee

When you live in the midwest you are well aware of the fact you are living in a four season section of the country. And for the most part, you completely embrace and look forward to the changes each season brings. If you didn't, you would probably consider moving. Yet, in spite of seasonal knowledge and life experience, some of us can't help but remain eternally hopeful the seasons won't be characterized by weather extremes, record setting hot or cold temperatures, and/or unusually high amounts of precipitation regardless of the season. In other words, we want the impossible. Days having only the most optimal seasonal conditions. For some (of us) who like to run outdoors even in the winter, cold weather is refreshing, but double digit below zero temperatures can make running arduous. A run with snowflakes falling from the skies is definitely preferable to one in a torrential downpour. If that wish list doesn't already seem a bit unrealistic or one expecting too much from Mother Nature, particularly during a midwestern winter, well I might as well go all out and add one more. Like wishing there wouldn't be any icy roads and snow packed paths. There that's it. Three simple wishes.

Apparently I am slowly turning into one of those conditional winter warriors. Meaning I love running in the winter when I like the conditions. Because at my age, the thought of slipping and/or falling is slightly worrisome. At the moment I am nursing an overuse injury. As a result I have barely run outside during the last several weeks. At this point, I am so anxious to return to running I don't even care what the weather is, what the road conditions are like, or whatever else Mother Nature throws at me. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't whine an ever so slight amount. I would. However, after experiencing that return to running euphoria, my selective memory would conveniently appear.

The one thing you can't ignore or rationalize away after running in arctic cold weather is the chill your body feels. A change of clothes, a hot shower, or a cup of hot coffee can all take the chill off. But the best anecdote came from one of my friends. She sent a group of us a photo of the mugs of Irish Coffee she made after last weekend's run. Needless to say this photo put all of us under a Irish Coffee spell.

Having recently seen a post for an Irish Coffee recipe from the Dead Rabbit. Described as bringing the Irish Pub into the 21st century and winning the 2016 Drinks International Award for the World's Best Bar, I thought surely the mixologists at the Dead Rabbit were experts in making Irish Coffee. There were several links claiming to have the Dead Rabbit's Irish Coffee recipe. All were made with Irish Whiskey, hot coffee, whipped cream, and demerara syrup. However, there were some differences in each of the recipes. They ranged in the recommended amounts of alcohol (ranging from 1 1/4 ounces to 1 1/2 ounces) to the sugar to water ratios in the demerara syrup. But still, the idea of making Irish Coffee with a sugar syrup, one made with demerara sugar, was more than intriguing. 

What is demerara sugar? Described as a natural cane sugar with a fairly large grain and pale amber color, demerara sugar brings a deeper flavor than regular granulated sugar. Demerara sugar has long been available in the United Kingdom and has been a relative new 'sugar' import to the states.

Instead of a 1 to 1 ratio of sugar to water, this demerara syrup was made with a 2 to 1 sugar to water ratio. (I used 1/2 cup of demerara sugar and 1/4 cup of water.) The sugar and water are combine and cooked over a medium heat until the sugar melts. I made more of the demerara syrup than I needed, but since it keeps covered in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks, nothing was going to prevent me from making Irish Coffee when the urge struck me.

What would an Irish Coffee be without lightly whipped cream? 

Instead of grating fresh nutmeg over the lightly sweetened whipped cream, I crumbled up a Cadbury Flake chocolate bar. If you can't find one, grate some milk chocolate.

Instead of making this Irish Coffee with Irish Whiskey, I used Bailey's Irish Cream.  I have a feeling they would doubly lethal (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) if made with Irish whiskey. Not just because I love the flavor of Bailey's, but I am not an Irish Whiskey expert. Which means I wouldn't know which of the 12 best Irish whiskeys to choose. I certainly could ask my Irish friends for a 'best' recommendation, but I have a sneaking suspicion there are as strong allegiances to Irish whiskey as there are to Irish football, rugby, and soccer teams. 

I may be somewhat biased but this was the best Irish Coffee I have ever had. Seriously. Not that anyone needs a reason to have an Irish Coffee, but somehow wishing for cold winter days or nights seems justifiable. Just promise me you won't wish for arctic cold, double digit below zero winter weather temperatures. Some of us want to use running in the cold as a reason to have an Irish Coffee or two to warm up.

Recipe
Irish Coffee (a slight variation recipes attributed to the Dead Rabbit's Irish Coffee Recipe)

Ingredients for a Single Serving
1 1/2 ounces Bailey's Irish Cream (or your favorite Irish whiskey)
4 ounces freshly brewed coffee
1/2 ounce demerara sugar syrup
2 Tablespoons lightly whipped, lightly sweetened whipped cream
Optional garnish: Shaved chocolate or a crumbled Cadbury Flake chocolate bar for an Irish Coffee made with Bailey's; grated nutmeg for one made with Irish Whiskey.

Directions
1. To make the demerara syrup: In a small pan, combine 1/2 cup of demerara sugar with a 1/4 cup of water. Heat until the sugar dissolves. Pour into a heat proof jar. Use as needed. Store unused demerara syrup in the refrigerator. 
2. Pour the Bailey's Irish Cream in a heat proof glass. 
3. Mix together the hot coffee and demerara syrup and then pour into the glass with the Irish Cream. Stir gently.
4. Pipe or place large dollops of the slightly whipped cream over the top. Sprinkle some shaved chocolate or some pieces of a Flake bar over the whipped cream.
5. Serve immediately.

Notes: (1) Instead of using Bailey's Irish Cream, use Irish Whiskey. If using whiskey, use 1 1/4 ounces to 1 1/2 ounces. (2) A half cup of heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks will be enough for two servings of the Irish Coffee. I like to lightly sweeten the whipping cream using a 1/2 cup of whipping cream to 1 Tablespoon of confectionary sugar ratio. (3) The demerara syrup will keep for 2-3 weeks stored in the refrigerator. (4) If you love Irish Coffee, consider splurging on some clear tall glasses. They really aren't that expensive. (5) You can demerara sugar at many grocery stores. I like India Tree's demerara sugar.

Nathanael Greene Homestead, Coventry, Rhode Island (November 2017)

Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake

"Those who never change their minds, never change anything." When I began this blog five years ago, I was using my cellphone camera to take the photos. It took me more than a year to make the switch to using my Canon as I had somehow convinced myself my photos were good enough. In retrospect, my powers of rationalization were operating at a delusional level. In spite of having a number of photography books, it wasn't until I took a photography class that I began to learn how to better optimize the functions on my camera. While I have yet to harness the power of the digital camera, I am in a better place than I had been but not to the place I envision. Somewhere along the way in this blog's evolution, I learned how to use Photoshop to edit my photos. As expected, the more I learned, the more I realized just how much I really don't know. I continue to wonder what my photos might look like if my knowledge level increased and if I took the plunge to purchase better editing software. Truth be told, it has been much easier to stay in the 'good enough' place than to go beyond my comfort zone. But I have come to realize the time has come for me to move beyond making the best of the 'good enough place' and head into uncharted territory. 

It's kind of a long story but I had lunch last week with a brother of a friend. Someone I had never met before. Over the course of an almost three hour lunch I learned about him, gained some knowledge about my camera (thank goodness he too uses a Canon), and listened as he talked about how his recent photo editing software purchase completely changed his photos (and here I naively thought his camera alone created the magic!). Although I didn't run right home and purchase this editing software, I left feeling as if all of the stars had aligned in order to gently 'push' me in that direction. It's inevitable there will be a new learning curve in my immediate future. Needless to say I am both excited and anxious. Not only to see how the quality of my photographs might change in the year ahead, but how much my perspective will change. I may or may not let you know when these 'shifts' happen. Well, that's not exactly true. More than likely I will share my trials and tribulations.

I have made this Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake twice in the last several days. The first time I accidentally tipped the cake platter. Before my very eyes I watched in what seemed like slow motion a beautiful, perfect cake slide onto the kitchen floor. Shortly after letting out a blood curdling scream and a few expletive deletives, I went into a temporary state of shock. After being in this more than ten second altered state, I picked up the unsalvageable splattered cake and set it back on the cake stand. Not because I was going to serve the cake or worried that the ten second rule police were going to descend into my house, but because I felt the need to mourn it. 

As distraught as I was over the loss of this Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake, I was determined to make it again. Keeping my fingers crossed the second time would be the charm.

The inspiration for this Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake came from the very talented blogger and photographer extrarodinaire Cenk Sonmezsoy. Someone who self describes himself as an obsessive home cook recently added new cookbook author to his resume. The only changes I made to his incredible bundt cake recipe was adding more chocolate in the form of miniature chocolate chips. Could this decadent, deeply chocolatey, rich, moist cake have been just as good in its' original Double Chocolate version? Probably yes. But considering there may be a chocolate shortage in the next 40 years, we might as well indulge our love of chocolate as often and as much as possible until then.

Bittersweet chocolate and Dutch-processed cocoa account for two of the chocolates used in this cake. Semi-sweet chocolate came in the form of the miniature chocolate chips, turning this bundt cake into a trifecta of chocolates!

After creaming the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, the eggs are added in one at a time. The dry ingredients and chocolate/cream/espresso mixture are added in alternately beginning and ending with the flour. Note: Beat each egg for one minute and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure the eggs are completely incorporated into the butter/sugar mixture.

The dry and wet ingredients can either be added to the butter/sugar mixture with the mixture on the lowest speed or folded in by hand using a spatula. I used the mixture for both additions of the chocolate mixture and for the first two additions. The last and final addition of the flour was folded in with a spatula. The miniature chocolate chips, if you are adding, are folded in last.

Successfully removing a bundt cake from the bundt pan begins with the pan's preparation. Although all of my bundt pans are considered non-stick, I always lightly spray them with a vegetable spray versus using a butter/flour application. If there was ever a bundt pan to turn an ordinary bundt cake into an extraordinary one or an extraordinary bundt cake into a spectacular one, it would be due in large part to this 10 cup capacity Heritage Bundt Pan from Nordicware. 

Smooth the top of the bundt cake with an offset spatula or spoon before putting in a preheated 325 degrees (F) or 160 degrees (C) oven.

The recommended baking time for this cake is 50 to 55 minutes, however, my baking time was closer to the 60 minute mark. Whether this was because I placed my my baking rack in the upper third versus in the center the oven, I can't fully explain why my baking time was longer. However, I would encourage you to begin checking your cake for doneness at the minute mark to ensure it isn't over or under baked.

Once the cake completely cools, you can make the chocolate ganache. In addition to adding some sea salt to the ganache, I also added two tablespoons of corn syrup. If the ganache is too thin to pour over the cooled cake, allow it to set for at least five minutes. The additional time will allow the ganache to thicken slightly but still remain pourable. 

There is enough ganache to pour over the entire cake, however, I decided to use about half if it. 

If you ice your cooled bundt cake on a platter instead of a cooling rack, place pieces of parchment paper under the cake to catch any of the icing drippings so none of it goes to waste. Additionally, the parchment paper will help prevent your platter from turning into a chocolate mess.

I poured the ganache on this cake twice to have as much build up of chocolate as possible. After the first pour, I let it set up for about five minutes before pouring on more. Note: Using a pitcher to pour the ganache on the bundt cake gives you the greatest amount of control over its' flow and direction.

Allow the ganache to complete set before serving. You won't have to wait more than thirty minutes. This Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake is as close to dessert perfection served as as a simple, unadorned slice. But should you want to send it over it's heart racing chocolate edge, serve a cake slice with some of the remaining ganache (slightly warmed and poured over), lightly whipped cream, and/or vanilla ice cream.

After just one bite of this swoonworthy Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake you will immediately begin t plan how to get every cake morsel off of your plate without completely abandoning your table manners. This cake is so moist, so decadent, so deeply chocolatey, one generous slice is more than enough. And I don't say that often.

Recipe
Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake (slight changes to the Double Chocolate Bundt Cake shared in Cenk Sonmezsoy's cookbook "The Artful Baker: Extraordinary Desserts From an Obsessive Home Baker")

Ingredients
Cake
14 Tablespoons (200 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
5 ounces (140 g) bittersweet (70% cacao) chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup (50 g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla
1/2 cup (120 ml) espresso or strong brewed coffee
1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream
2 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 3/4 cups (350 g) granulated sugar 
4 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup (96 g) miniature chocolate chips (optional)

Chocolate Ganache
5 ounces (140 g) dark (60% cacao to 70% cacao) chocolate, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup (180 ml) heavy whipping cream
2 Tablespoons caster or granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons corn syrup, optional

Optional for serving: Lightly whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream

Directions
Cake
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F) or 160 degrees (C). Prepare a 10 cup bundt pan. Set aside. Note: Butter and flour or lightly spray the pan.
2. In a medium sized bowl combine the bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder.
3. Over medium-high heat, bring the espresso and whipping cream to a boil, stirring occasionally (about 3-4 minutes). Pour over the chocolate and cocoa powder. Whisk until the chocolate complete melts. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Set aside. 
4. In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy (approximately 2-3 minutes).
5. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy (approximately 3-4 minutes).
6. Add eggs in one at a time, beating each egg for one minute before adding the second. Scrape down the bowl at least twice to ensure all of the ingredients are evenly blended.
7. Reduce speed to low, add in 1/3 of the flour mixture. Mix only until incorporated. Add 1/2 of the chocolate mixture, mixing only until incorporated. Add another 1/3 of the flour, mixing only until incorporated. Add remaining 1/2 of the chocolate mixture, mixing only until blended. Remove bowl from stand and add in remaining 1/3 of the flour mixture. Fold in using a spatula. When fully incorporated fold in the miniature chocolate chips if using. Note: Be sure to scrape down sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure all of the ingredients are incorporated.
8. Scrape cake mixture into prepared pan. Smooth top with an offset spatula or spoon.
9. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Yes, this is a big baking time range. Just be careful to not under or over bake. 
10. Allow cake to rest for 10 minutes on a wire rack.
11. Invent cake pan onto a cake plate or platter. Allow to cool completely before pouring on the ganache.

Chocolate Ganache
1. Put chocolate in a small heat proof bowl.
2. In a small sauce pan, bring cream and sugar to almost a boil. 
3. Pour half of the hot cream mixture over the chocolate and stir until blended.
4. Add the remaining hot cream mixture and stir until chocolate completely melts. Stir in vanilla, sea salt, and corn syrup for approximately 4-5 minutes. Allow the ganache to sit for 5-8 minutes slightly thicken before pouring on cake.
5. Pour into a pitcher and pour over the cake. Note: Place strips of parchment paper around the bottom of the cake to catch the ganache drippings. 
6. Serve cake at room temperature and enjoy!

Notes: (1) The cake will be good for up to three days, if covered. To extend it's life, store covered in the refrigerator. (2) There is enough of the ganache to cover the entire cake, however, I used only half of the ganache to ice the cake. The remaining ganache was covered and chilled. You can slightly warm the chilled ganache to drizzle over cake when served or use to pour over ice cream. Whatever you do, don't throw it away. (3) The use of miniature semisweet chocolate chips in the cake batter and corn syrup in the ganache is completely optional. (4) I made the espresso using instant espresso mixed into hot boiling water.

 Anderson Warehouse Graffiti, Ephraim, WI  - Door County (December 2017)  - The original warehouse built in 1858 and destroyed by a fire in 1880 was rebuilt. The warehouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mixed Greens Salad with Karen's Vinaigrette

After spending more than a month on what seemed like a butter, sugar, chocolate baking binge, I thought the first post for 2018 should skew to the healthier end of the food continuum. Not to worry, I haven't given up my sweet tooth or passion for baking. More than likely the year ahead will bring an abundance of 'sweet' recipes! With so many new recipes to try, tweek, and revisit, I am looking forward to seeing how saltedsugaredspiced.blogspot.com evolves in the year ahead. It's hard to believe this blog is beginning it's sixth year! For those of you who have been on this journey with me from the beginning or jumped in later, I thank you! So much has changed in my life and in the world over the course of the past five years, it is only natural this space should continue to change as well. My goals for the year ahead are both simple and lofty. But more on that in a subsequent blog post.

Rather than celebrating the new year at home, we traveled up to chilly northern Wisconsin with some friends this year. We packed up our cars with enough clothes, games, food, and alcohol to last us well beyond the long holiday weekend. Having been up there more than a half dozen times in the past couple of years, I was the 'designated' tour guide. The perfect role for someone with Type A personality tendencies. Double digit below zero wind chills thwarted our plans to take a hike through a state park. Which meant most of our sightseeing was done 'in the car' rather than 'on foot'. However, there were plenty of memorable moments as we drove around to the iconic sites of the area. Including, but not limited to, taking in the full moon setting over a cherry orchard at dusk, enjoying the beauty of rural winter landscapes, having a moment of panic when one of us went missing, and being the recipients of the random of act of kindness from a stranger who stopped to help get us 'unstuck' from an icy incline. Having the car slide into the frozen bay wasn't on the trip's itinerary. Not only would it have ruined the day, I would have never had the chance to taste a mixed greens salad tossed in a slightly tart, slightly tart, incredibly delicious vinaigrette. 

We decided early on we would have a more intimate, home cooked new year's eve dinner rather than spending it with strangers in a restaurant. And considering our early in the day and subsequent new year's day roadside assistance incidents, it was probably a good idea we weren't out on roads that night. After enjoying some appetizers and prosecco, we feasted on filet mignons browned and roasted on a cast iron skillet (doesn't everyone travel with a cast iron skillet?), this lasagna bolognese, and a Mixed Greens Salad tossed in a vinaigrette to die for. It was the most scrumptious, yummiest, divine new year's eve dinner ever. Every course was memorable, but for me the most memorable was the salad made and brought by my friend Karen. The vinaigrette was unlike any I had ever had before.

Not counting the pinches of kosher salt and pepper, Karen's Vinaigrette is made with only three ingredients: raspberry balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and olive oil. It was slightly tart, slightly sweet, surprisingly light, and definitely one of the most refreshing vinaigrettes to grace a salad. After one bite, I hoped she would be willing to share her recipe with me.

As far as salads go, particularly this salad, there aren't any hard and fast rules about the quantity of mixed greens, green onions, dried cranberries, roasted almonds, mandarin oranges, and blue cheese to use. You only need to figure out which proportions make for a satisfying salad. The ingredient list below for the salad are simply a guideline. If you like more of anything, add it. But before adding all of salad ingredients to the mixed green, lightly dress the mixed greens with the vinaigrette. Note: I used only half of the vinaigrette and served the rest in a small pitcher alongside the finished salad.

If at all possible when making this salad, buy a block of your favorite blue cheese (mine is Point Reyes Blue) and make your own crumbles. Freshly made crumbles are the creamiest and most flavorful.

The mandarin oranges work incredibly well in this salad. But if you aren't a fan or want to change this salad up a bit, slices of Honey Crisp apples would be equally delicious. Note: Before adding the dried cranberries to the salad I mixed them with about a tablespoon of the vinaigrette to soften them just a bit.

Next to its' flavorfulness, is this salad's versatility. It paired perfectly with the filets and lasagna bolognese, but it would also be a great precursor or accompaniment to chicken, pork, all types of grilled meats. We had it with some grilled chicken this past week and there wasn't a bite left of the salad.

If you are looking to infuse more greens to your diet this year, add a new salad to your table, bring some savory balance to your sweet life, or wow your family and friends, make this Mixed Greens Salad with Karen's Vinaigrette. In addition to all of the memories created and photos taken on this trip, Karen's Vinaigrette was absolutely the best 'souvenir' I brought home. 

Recipe
Mixed Greens Salad with Karen's Vinaigrette (recipe shared with me by my friend Karen Byrne)

Ingredients
Vinaigrette
1/4 cup Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar (I used the Raspberry Blush Balsamic Vinegar by Alessi.)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup olive oil
Kosher salt
Pepper

Salad
5 ounces mixed greens
1-2 green onions, white and green parts, thinly sliced on the diagonal
1/4 cup whole almonds, roasted in the oven
1/4 cup whole dried cranberries tossed with 1 tablespoon of the vinaigrette
2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (I used Point Reyes Blue Cheese, but use your favorite)
Half of a 11 ounce can of mandarin oranges, drained
Kosher salt
Black Pepper

Directions
Vinaigrette
1. In a glass jar or bowl, combine the  Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar and maple syrup.
2. Slowly whisk in olive oil until the mixture thickens and emulsifies. Season with a kosher salt and black pepper. Place extra vinaigrette in a small pitcher and set aside. (Or if making early in the day, cover and refrigerate.)

Salad
1.  Place salad greens on a serving platter. Lightly toss with half of the vinaigrette. Lightly season with kosher salt and pepper.
2. Sprinkle the onions, almonds, dried cranberries and blue cheese evenly over the greens.
3. Arrange the mandarin orange slices on top of the salad.
4. Serve along with the remaining pitcher of the vinaigrette and enjoy! 

Notes: (1) I like to toss the salad dressing with greens only and then topping with the other ingredients. If you like tossing it all together at once, would recommend you wait to add the blue cheese and mandarin oranges until you plate the salad on your serving platter. (2) Use a good quality maple syrup (Grade A or Grade B), but feel free to use your everyday olive oil for this dressing. (3) If you like your salad with more cranberries, almonds, green onions, blue cheese, and/or mandarin oranges, go for it. The proportions I shared here reflect my preferences. (4) If at all possible, break up a block of blue cheese to make your crumbles rather than use prepackaged blue cheese crumbles to give your salad more texture. Gorgonzola would also work well in this salad. (5) If you don't like mandarin oranges, slices of apple (i.e., honey crisp) would also work well in this salad. (6) To soften the dried cranberries, toss then in tablespoon of the vinaigrette before adding to the salad.

Winter orchards and farms in Door County, Wisconsin (January 2018)