Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread

While having lunch in the city, one of my friends asked a question that went something like this 'Do you ever feel pressure making a meal when everyone's expectations are exceedingly high?'. It took me a few seconds to wrap my head around that question as I knew there was a compliment in there somewhere. He happens to be one of those friends who has the uncanny ability to remember every meal, every course, every beverage ever served here while making you feel like everything was the 'best' ever. However, after giggling for a few seconds my first answer was a simple one. No I don't. But then I went on for a bit. The beginning and end of the meal were always things I thought were really, really, really good. Because like a really good book, everyone remembers how it starts and how it ends, but not everyone remembers everything in the middle. The middle, aka main course, is where I usually take the most risks or try out new recipes on family and friends. Yes, I really do make and  serve things made for the 'first' time but only to family and/or friends, almost never for people who have had a meal here. They would be the ones who only remembered what happened in the middle! But his simple question got me thinking. And not just about making meals at my house or having meals in the homes of my friends.

One of the downsides of being the one who usually gifts friends with homemade food is that it's rare for me to receive a gift coming out of anyone else's kitchen. So when I do, I am thrilled to death! Over the Christmas holidays I actually received two of these gifts! Which happens to be two more than I received all year! And ionically these homemade love gifts came from friends living in Colorado. The first was a jar of incredibly delicious homemade pickles and its' recipe. I can hardly wait for the return of pickle season to start making them as I love pickles! The second was a loaf of Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread. One we inhaled in record time, but one without an accompanying recipe. A recipe I had to have. After there wasn't a reply to my first request, I made a second one. Persistency is my middle name and patience is a virtue I haven't completely embraced.

The Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread happened be made my the wife of my doctoral college roommate, my dissertation advisor, a PiPhi sister, and my friend. So I knew my chances of getting the 'secret' recipe from the woman who has been working tirelessly to earn tenure at a university at the young age of almost 70, to launch a national network with rural education leaders, and to help her doctoral students finish their dissertations (just to name a few), were pretty good, in spite of how busy she was. Based on how insanely delicious and slightly addictive the Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread was, I wasn't expecting the recipe I received. Because absolutely nothing about the look, taste, flavor, or texture of this bread said 'semi-homemade'. I was beyond thrilled to discover it was! Being able to make an unfussy recipe for a Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread tasting like it came from a high-end bakery had me feeling deliriously happy. It felt like I was gifted twice by the same person.

In spite of having a passion for baking from scratch, I secretly embrace 'semi-homemade' recipes. Especially ones like this one. Honestly, I don't think there is better recipe for Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread out there. This doctored up version (no pun intended) is the BEST one ever!

It all starts with a box of Cranberry Orange Muffin Mix. The addition of orange zest, fresh orange juice, fresh cranberries (in addition to the cranberries in the mix), and coarsely chopped roasted pecans transforms the mix into the moistest, most flavorful, most beautiful Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread I have ever tasted. Which means you need this bread in your life too!

For the record, I made some very minor changes to Kristina's recipe. I used fresh instead of frozen cranberries (because I had them in the refrigerator), increased the pecans from 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup (because I love a nutty fruit bread), topped it with a thick icing (just because), and finished it with some sugared cranberries (because I can't leave well enough alone). However, this bread is incredibly delicious without the icing or add the sugared cranberries. And if I were sending this bread in the mail, I wouldn't be icing it or adding sugared cranberries either. 

The recipe below for the sugared cranberries gives you more than you need for topping the Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread so you will end up with plenty to snack on! If you have never had them, you are in for a treat!

Kristina's changes of replacing some of the water with fresh orange juice, adding the zest of an orange (Cara Cara are her favorites) along with adding more cranberries as well as pecans seriously take the boxed cranberry orange muffin mix from good to great, from ordinary to extraordinary.

Using an 8" x 4" bread pan lined with parchment paper and sprayed with vegetable oil, the Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread bakes for 50-55 minutes in a preheated 350 degree (F) oven.

If serving this Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread for breakfast I might leave off the icing and sugared cranberries. Well maybe not the icing. But if serving it as a dessert, I would definitely add both of them. This bread has just the right balance of tart and sweet. One without being overly tart or sweet. 

With the start of a new year I know everyone has either resolved or created the intention to more closely watch what they eat. But the rule of 'everything in moderation' makes eating almost anything possible. So when it comes to serving this Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread, cut it in thick 1/2 inch slices. Yes half-inch thick slices. You could always serve someone half of a thickly cut slice, but whatever you do, don't slice it thinly. Just don't.

Fortunately my memory is relatively still intact. Which means I will be remembering all of the gifts I received this Christmas. But when my memory starts to fail me I will never forget the homemade gifts of pickles and Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread received this year as their flavors are permanently imprinted on my taste memory. Who can ever forget a homemade gift?

This is one of those 'quick' breads you can make year round (but maybe not with the sugared cranberries on top). It would make for a thoughtful hostess, birthday, holiday, or housewarming gift; a perfect start to any morning; a lovely dessert to a simple meal; and/or a great mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack. This may be, no it will be, one of the best 'semi-homemade' breads you will ever make. And remember, don't feel compelled to be so forthcoming and reveal your secret recipe so quickly. If your friends and/or family don't ask, then don't tell them. But is they do, please share it with them. Be prepared to see the look of shock on their faces when they learn how easy such a luscious Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread can be to make.

P.S. You should run out now and pick up a handful of boxes of Krusteaz's Cranberry Orange Muffin Mix!

Recipe
Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread (inspired by a recipe shared by my good friend Kristina Hesbol)

Ingredients
1 box of Cranberry Orange Muffin Mix (18.6 oz/525g) - see notes

1/4 rounded teaspoon baking powder 
2 large eggs, room temperature
8 Tablespoons water
2 Tablespoons orange juice
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
1/2 cup (55g) fresh or frozen (unthawed) cranberries (cut in half if the berries are large)
1/2 cup (55 g) pecan halves, roasted and coarsely chopped
Zest from a small orange

Orange Glaze
1 cup (115g) confectionary sugar
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
1 Tablespoon water
1 Tablespoon orange juice

Sugared Cranberries
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
8 ounces (226g) fresh cranberries

Directions
Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line an 8" x 4" metal baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly butter or spray with vegetable oil. Set aside.
2. In a medium-large size bowl, mix together the muffin mix, eggs, water, orange juice, and canola oil. Mix just until blended.
3. Gently stir in the fresh cranberries, the cranberries that came in the muffin mix (do not drain), the pecans and orange zest. 
4. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with an offset spatula.
5. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until done. Note: Baking time could be as long as 65 minutes.
6. Transfer to a cooling rack. Let bread completely cool, if topping with the glaze.
7. In a medium sized bowl, add in the confectionary sugar and butter.
8. Bring the one tablespoon of water and one tablespoon of orange juice to boil. Pour it over the confectionary sugar and butter. Whisk until smooth and creamy. 
9. Remove the bread from the baking pan and place on serving platter. Pour over the orange glaze. Top with sugared cranberries, if using. Let the glaze set before slicing into 1/2" thick slices.
10. Store any leftover bread in the refrigerator to maximize it's freshness or store covered in plastic wrap at room temperature

Sugared Cranberries
1. In a medium sized saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. 
2. Remove from heat and add in the cranberries. Stirring to ensure all of the cranberries are coated.
3. With a slotted spoon transfer the cranberries to a cooling rack set over a large sheet pan.
4. Let the cranberries set for 5 minutes. Note: They should still be a little sticky.
5. Pour the remaining cup of sugar into a bowl or onto a plate. Toss the cranberries into sugar mixture until they are completed coated.
6. Set the coated cranberries onto a pan lined with parchment paper or let sit in the sugar until ready to use.

Notes: (1) Recommend using the Cranberry Orange Muffin Mix made by Krusteaz. The mix contains a tin of cranberries which were also used in this bread. (2) A half cup of water is 10 Tablespoons. Instead of saying use 1/2 cup less 2 Tablespoons of water, I thought it would be easier to break out the water and orange juice into Tablespoon measurements. (3) When slicing the bread, use a long sharp not, not a serrated knife. (4) If you can't bring yourself to make anything not baked from scratch, this Cranberry Nut Bread is really good too.

Steamed Chocolate Pudding with Peppermint Hard Sauce

The holiday decorations have not yet been put away and there are a few Christmas cookies and confections left or rather I should say hidden from view, stored safely away in tins. In less than twenty-four hours a new day, new week, new month, new year, new decade arrives. There is barely enough time for me to get my final blog post for the year, for the month, for the decade up. But I am bound and determined to share the recipe for this Steamed Chocolate Pudding with Peppermint Hard Sauce with you before midnight arrives and before the chaos of dismantling and packing up all of the Christmas treasures begins. Normally I like to get the house back to "normal" before the new year arrives, but having spent a couple of days being tourists and having an early New Year's celebration in the city (Chicago) with friends means the decorations return to the attic will just have to wait. For the past couple of years the four of us have gone up to Door County (Wisconsin) to ring in the new year, but life events caused what turned out to be a fabulous change in plans. If the good fortune and luck we had on our adventures in the city are a prelude to what lies ahead in 2020, I can hardly wait for the new year, new decade to begin. 

While I generally make steamed pudding for the holidays, I have decided it will now be, should now be making appearances throughout the winter. I am thinking the steamed pudding would make for a lovely Valentine's Day dessert, birthday 'cake', end to a dinner with friends, or treat after going to see a movie like the newly released film "Little Women". Sans the Christmas sprinkles and change from a peppermint hard sauce to an almond flavored hard sauce, Steamed Pudding could shift from being a traditional holiday dessert to year-round one, at least around it should be around here. Considering this is a somewhat non-traditional recipe for a traditional dessert, there isn't anything preventing me and/or you from making this gorgeous, delicious traditional dessert throughout the year. 

Not only did our New Year's relatively new tradition change this year, so did how we celebrate Christmas Day. New puppies for my sister and nephew were responsible for an adjustment to our usual much beloved celebration. So instead of opening gifts, having dinner, and watching the annual Christmas movie with a dessert intermission here at our house, we had dinner at my sister's, then traveled back to our house for everything else. I was slightly disappointed when I realized we wouldn't be having the epic, traditional day here as I love having Christmas here. But we couldn't leave two new puppies alone for nine hours and I wouldn't have been able to remain calm with four dogs running around here. As it turned out, the day turned out to be perfect. Proof that changes to long standing traditions can be a really good thing. Although I am secretly holding out for a return to tradition next year!

While it's called a pudding, it really is more cake-like in texture. At least this Steamed Chocolate Pudding with Peppermint Hard Sauce is. In keeping with the theme of change at Christmas I altered the version I had made in years past. Instead of the side of an almond flavored hard sauce I served it with a peppermint flavored hard sauce. And wow, it was amazing! I almost added peppermint extract to the pudding (cake) too (maybe next time), but added in vanilla and some instant espresso instead. Lastly I drizzled some peppermint glaze over the top of the steamed pudding along with topping it with some sprinkles and crushed candy canes. Even my family who has always loved the 'traditional, original' one I had served for Christmas went crazy for this one!

No one and I mean no one will know you made this steamed pudding with a box of doctored up cake mix. And you shouldn't tell them! For a rich chocolatey steamed pudding use a Devil's Food Cake mix (and not one with pudding in the mix). The addition of the vanilla and instant espresso helped to deepen the flavor of chocolate further. Why I had never thought of that before is anyone's guess.

I have used both vintage and a non-stick steamed pudding mold. My non-stick mold was bought at Williams-Sonoma many, many years ago. Today you can find some available at specialty cooking stores or online. Regardless if your mold is or isn't non-stick, it is critical the pan is buttered (or sprayed with vegetable oil) and floured before the 'cake' mixture is poured into the mold. Equally important is having a mold with a tight fitting lid as you don't want water or steam getting into it as well as placing the filled mold into a pan of water brought to the boiling point. 

You definitely want a large dollop of the hard sauce served with a slice of the steam pudding. This peppermint version is insanely delicious.  

In year's past I have served the steamed pudding 'naked'. But this year I drizzled it with a peppermint glaze and topped it some crushed candy canes and holiday sprinkles. Those puddles of glaze on the cake platter were swoonworthy!

Many serve steamed pudding warm, but I like serving it room temperature. If you serve it warm, forget drizzling it with the glaze as it will melt.

Steamed pudding goes back to 17th century England. I believe this slightly decadent 21st century version would be as beloved back then as it is today. If by chance you happen to love chocolate, you will be smitten with every bite of this Steamed Chocolate Pudding with Peppermint Hard Sauce. And you needn't have to wait until next Christmas to make it. Note: The recipe for the Steamed Pudding with Hard Sauce shared with you six years ago can be found here. 

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy new year, new decade! And as the new year begins, always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.

Recipe
Steamed Chocolate Pudding with Peppermint Hard Sauce

Ingredients
Steamed Pudding
15.25 ounce box of Devil's Food Cake Mix (not one with pudding in the mix)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon instant espresso
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon peppermint hard sauce

Peppermint Hard Sauce
8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2-3 Tablespoons whole milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 1/2 cups (173g) confectionary sugar
Pinch of sea salt

Peppermint Glaze
1 cup (115 g) confectionary sugar
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
2 Tablespoons boiling water
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
Optional: Sprinkles and/or crushed candy canes

Directions
Steamed Pudding
1. Fill a large deep pan (pasta pots work best) will enough water that it will cover 1/3 of the steamed pudding mold. Begin heating the water to the boiling point. Note: The water needs to be hot when you set the filled mold in.
2. Butter (and/or spray with vegetable oil) and flour a steamed pudding mold. Set aside.
3. Prepare cake according to directions on the box but add in the vanilla and instant espresso.
4. Pour the cake mix into the prepared mold. Top with and secure the lid, making sure the mold is tightly sealed.
5. Place a folded (thin) dishtowel on the bottom of the pot before carefully place the steamed pudding mold into the water and cover with lid. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 90 minutes. Notes: You don't want the bottom of the steamed pudding mold to touch the bottom of the pan. Periodically check to make certain you have enough water in the pot. If you need to add more water, it must be hot water.
6. Remove the steamed pudding mold from the water and place on a cooling rack. After 5 minutes, carefully remove the lid and unmold the steamed pudding onto a cake stand or round dish. Note: Steamed pudding can be served warm or at room temperature. I generally serve it at room temperature.

Peppermint Hard Sauce
1. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy (approximately 2 minutes).
2. Add in the milk, peppermint extract, pinch of sea salt and gradually add in the confectionary sugar. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the hard sauce is too thick, add a little more milk.
3. Transfer the hard sauce to a small serving bowl, cover and refrigerate. Should be made at least an hour in advance. Note: If made several hours in advance, remove from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving.

Glaze
1. In a medium-sized bowl add the confectionary sugar. Make a well and add in the butter and peppermint extract.
2. Pour the boiling water of the mixture and whisk until smooth. If your mixture doesn't have a pourable consistency, add a little more boiling water.
3. Pour the glaze over the unmolded steamed pudding. Top with sprinkles and/or crusted candy canes if using. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving and slicing the steamed pudding.

Note: (1) Instead of placing the mold on top of a folded cloth in the pan, make a ring made of aluminum foil and place the mold onto the foil ring. 

Iconic artwork, Edward Hopper, The Art Institute Chicago (2019)

Key Lime Pie

In addition to have the goal of sharing more unfussy recipes in the new year ahead, 2020 could also become the year of the make-over to some of my most favorite, most loved, and most often made dishes. Whenever I make a beloved recipe over and over again I find myself making changes to it. Sometimes there are small, subtle tweaks, sometimes a major overhaul happens. Several of my friends have often accused me of holding out on the "real" recipe when in reality I just haven't gotten around to sharing my changes here on the blog. Why would I even mess with cherished, treasured recipe? Is there no such thing as a sacred recipe? This all sounds a bit blasphemous, right? But what if I told you the revised recipe might even be better than the original? So let me ask you this. Would you rather settle for good enough when you could have better than good enough or even great instead? Let that question sink in for just a minute. 

The Key Lime Pie recipe shared almost seven years ago is one of the most favorite recipes on the blog. After I first served this pie to two of my friends living in Rhode Island, I believe they are both vying for world record for making this luscious, creamy, tart pie. If anyone is going to gasp when they see this post, it will probably be the two of them. And even though I wasn't present during any of their holiday gatherings, I am willing to bet my original Key Lime Pie recipe was on the menu. For the record, I still love the original version of this pie. I just happen to love this one a little bit more.

For those of you who have made the original Key Lime Pie recipe before you might consider the changes made to the revisited recipe as relatively minor ones. And on the surface they kind of are. It will not be until you have the experience of eating this one will you see there were in fact considerable changes made. Particularly to the graham cracker macadamia nut crust to key lime filling ratio. Think 'less is more'. 

One of the issues I sometimes had with the original recipe had everything to do with the graham cracker macadamia nut crust. When I looked at the dessert plates left behind there was almost always big chunks of the crust left behind. Not because it wasn't delicious, but because there was too much of it. Reducing the amount of graham cracker crumbs, macadamia nuts, and butter not only creates a better, even more delicious crust, it creates a much better filling to crust ratio. The focus returns back to where it should be. The key lime filling. The crust compliments rather than competes with the filling.

With regard to the filling none of the ingredients or amounts have changed here. However, how the filling ingredients are blended has. Instead of whisking them all together in a bowl, I found mixing them in a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment created an even creamier filling. A small nuance, but one I believe matters.

In the original version, the graham cracker macadamia nut crust was pressed into a tart pan having a removable bottom. One of the biggest complaints about and/or obstacles to making this pie was the tart pan. Not everyone wanted to go out and buy one. The use of 10" springform pan not only removes this obstacle, it makes for a much easier (and possibly more beautiful) serving presentation. More importantly, using the 10" springform pan also creates a most perfect crust to filling to whipped cream filling ratio. Every bite is heavenly.

Pre-baking the crust is a real game changer for this pie. Not only does it deepen the flavor of the crust, the crust remains in tact when the pie is sliced. In fact, hardly any crumbs are left behind when you slice it! Pressing the crust firmly into the pan is equally important in the pre-baking process. Using a flat bottomed cup (like a measuring cup) to press the crust into the pan works beautifully.

Pre-baking the crust for 10 minutes adds time to the overall cooking process, but those ten minutes make a world of difference. Using a 10 inch springform pan didn't change the baking time after the filling was added. It is still 30 to 35 minutes or just until the filling is partially set. Note: I tend to bake closer to the 35 minute mark.

The longer you chill the baked pie, the better it cuts when serving. Personally I like baking the Key Lime Pie the night before and adding the whipped cream on shortly before serving.

I just happen to like using a pastry bag when topping a pie or cake with lightly sweetened whipped cream (remember I have fussy tendencies), but it can be dolloped on and swirled with a spoon. A pastry bag should not be the obstacle preventing anyone from making this pie.

Top the pie with thin slices of a key lime (or a regular lime) and some grated lime zest or top with fresh berries. However, you finish it, it is quite an irresistible pie. And I am going to go so far as to say it's significantly better than any other store-bought, bakery, or restaurant served key lime pie. You really haven't had the best key lime pie until you have tasted this one! And you deserve to have the best! 

This Key Lime Pie is a year-round pie. Not one you have to wait seasonly to make or one pigeon-holed as a holiday dessert. Which means anytime you have a craving for a creamy, luscious tart pie having an incredibly scrumptious crust, you can make it. I promise this version will get the same rave reviews you got when you made the first version. Although maybe the gushing will go on even longer. And don't be surprised if some ask for seconds. 

Recipe
Key Lime Pie 
Serves 10-14, depending on how you slice it

Updated December 2019

Ingredients
Crust
1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces or 70g) macadamia nuts, roasted and finely chopped
2 1/2 cups (9 3/4 ounces or 275 g) graham cracker crumbs, preferably freshly crushed graham crackers
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
8 Tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

Filling
3 cans (14 ounce size) sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups key lime juice
3 large egg yolks

Topping
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup (58 g) confectionary sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Sliced key limes or fresh berries for garnish
Optional: Finely grated key lime peel

Directions
Crust
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F). Line a 10" springform pan with parchment paper.
2. In a medium sized bowl, combine the macadamia nuts, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Mix to combine.
3. Pour into the prepared pan. Press firmly. Crumbs should come up about 1/2 inch the sides of the pan.
4. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.

Filling
1. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, blend the sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice, and egg yolks until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour the filling into the pan with the pre-baked crust.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until filling is partially set. Remove from the oven and let cool.
4. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

Topping and Assembly
1. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat whipping cream and vanilla until semi-soft peaks form.
2. Add in the confectionary sugar and beat until firm peaks are formed.
3. Remove the key lime pie from the pan and transfer to a cake plate or round platter.
4. Using a pastry bag fitted with a pastry tube, pipe whipped cream onto the pie. Alternately, drop dollops of the whipped cream onto the pie and swirl using a large spoon.
5. Garnish with thinly sliced limes and freshly grated key lime peel and/or fresh berries.
6. Serve and savor!

Notes: (1) I use the key lime juice made my Nellie and Joe's. (2) Always, always make your own graham cracker crumbs.

Harissa-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with White Beans and Spinach

I have always believed cooking and/or baking for family and/or friends is the simplest, most sincere expression of love. For as long as I can remember, making family and friends feel welcomed and comfortable around the dinner table is something that matters to me. Over the years my list of takeaways from the Martha Stewart, in her earlier years, and Ina Garten, ever since I first discovered her, have contributed, in large part, to my own style of having people over. More often than not I tend to make recipes some would consider a little bit on the fussy side. Ones having lots of steps and long list of ingredients. Recipes that challenge me and most importantly satisfy everyone at the table bring me both angst and joy. Finding balance between those two emotions is a welcome challenge. So every now and then when I discover an unfussy recipe that delivers big on both flavor and presentation, I am ecstatic! Because in my world those two things are what really matters most. It's never one nor the other, it's always both. Don't ever let anyone tell you anything different. If by chance I experience more joy than angst in the cooking process, well I border on feeling delirious. To be honest, I don't seem to have a significant number of those 'unfussy' joyful recipes in my repertoire. However, it happens to be high on the list of the things I would like to see change with the beginning of the new decade. Dishes delivering big on flavor and presentation while simultaneously leaving me feeling like a happy energizer bunny. Maybe ending this decade with such a recipe, especially ones with new flavors and even techniques, would give this goal of mine some much desired momentum.

A recipe like this Harissa-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with White Beans and Spinach, an incredibly flavorful pork and beans dish.

If you have already scrolled down to the ingredient list, you might wonder how a dish made with harissa paste and preserved lemons would even qualify as being something unfussy. But it really is. Those two ingredients just happen to be going from slightly obscure to more accessible here in the states. I might go so far as to say harissa paste, a smoky-spicy condiment, is becoming more mainstream than obscure. Harissa paste, a North African condiment, is referred by some as the Sriracha of the Middle East, but having a more complex flavor profile. Made with smoked/roasted red peppers, a myriad of herbs and spices (garlic paste, caraway seeks, coriander seeds, cumin) and olive oil it essentially is a spicy, aromatic chile paste. Store bought harissa paste does have varying degrees of spiciness. Although being new to the world of harissa I was aware there was such a thing a mild one when I first made the Harissa-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with White Beans and Spinach. (See notes.)

What makes this recipe truly unfussy is it's ease of preparation. Searing the pork shoulder before roasting is not necessary. The high heat at the end of the cooking process will give it a nice crispy finish. With an initial roasting time of 3 to 3 1/2 hours, you are not tied to the kitchen. Other than finely chopping the garlic and ultimately slicing the preserved lemon into thin strips, there isn't a whole lot of chopping work going on here.  Sounds pretty easy, right? Well it is!

Using a boneless pork shoulder makes slicing the roasted pork much easier. But when I got home from the grocery store I discovered a bone-in pork shoulder rather than a boneless one was wrapped in the butcher paper. So I deboned it myself and tied up the pork shoulder with some kitchen string. So when buying or ordering a pork shoulder, make sure you ask for boneless! Or rather make sure they hear you ask for boneless! There is more than enough of the harissa mixture, even after liberally slathering all over the roast. After adding water to the pot, the lid goes on and the pot goes into a preheated 325 degree (F) oven. For the next 3 to 3 1/2 hours the magic starts to happen.

When the pork is nearly falling apart tender it's removed from the oven and the beans are added in. The oven temperature is increased to 425 degrees (F). The pot goes back into the oven (this time uncovered) and cooks for another 35 to 45 minutes. Just until the top of the pork is deeply golden brown and beans have soaked up the majority of the liquid.

When this happens, remove the pork from the pan and place on a cutting board to rest for about five minutes. The spinach and preserved lemon is added into the pot with the beans. When the spinach has wilted, the bean mixture is ready.

You can either serve the Harissa-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with White Beans and Spinach on a large platter or right out of the pot. Then get ready to savor every bite. This twist on pork and beans is insanely delicious.

If you are looking to have family and/or friends for a casual, yet incredibly delicious dinner you will definitely want to make this Harissa-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with White Beans and Spinach. Paired with a beautiful salad and some wine, you have all of the makings of a really great, memorable meal. Serve this dish on a cold night and no one will even notice there is a chill in the air.

Looking for a dish to serve on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day? Make this inviting, mouthwatering,  unfussy version of Pork and Beans. It may just be the most perfect end to the year or an even more perfect start to the new year.

Recipe
Harissa-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with White Beans and Spinach (a slight adaptation to Alison Roman's Harissa-Rubbed Pork Shoulder with White Beans and Chard recipe from her cookbook "Nothing Fancy")

Ingredients
4 pound boneless pork shoulder
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 cup harissa paste (See notes)
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups water
2 cans (15.5 ounce size) small white beans, cannellini beans and/or great northern beans, drained and rinsed (Recommend 3 cans of small white beans)
1 large bunch of spinach, stems removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces (See Notes)
1 preserved lemon, seeds removed and thinly sliced
1/2 cup cilantro, tender leaves and stems, coarsely chopped
1 lemon, halved

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).
2. Season the pork with kosher salt and pepper in a large Dutch cast iron oven. 
3. In a medium sized bowl, combine the harissa paste, vinegar, tomato paste, brown sugar, and garlic. Smear he harissa mixture all over the pork, making certain to get in all the nooks and crannies. Keep the pork fat side up. Note: You may have some of the mixture leftover.
4. Add the water. Place the lid on the pot and roast until the pork is nearly falling apart tender (approximately 3 to 3 1/2 hours).
5. Remove the lid, add the beans and season with kosher salt. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees (F). Roast the pork and beans (uncovered) until the beans have soaked up the majority of liquid and the top of the pork is deeply golden brown (approximately 35-45 minutes).
6. Transfer the pork to a cutting board. Let sit for 5 minutes before cutting into 1/2 inch thick slices.
7. Add the spinach and preserved lemon. Stir until the spinach has wilted.
8. Spoon the beans and spinach mixture onto a large platter. Top with the sliced pork. Alternately keep the beans and spinach in the Dutch oven and place the cut pork on top, serving directly from the pot.
9. Scatter with chopped cilantro and serve a lemon alongside for squeezing over. Serve and swoon over.
10. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator. They heat up beautifully in the microwave.

Notes: (1) Instead of using spinach could also use chard. (2) Harissa paste can be found in some grocery stores and at Trader Joe's. This dish is on the spicy but not too spicy. If spiciness worries you, use 1/3 cup of the harissa paste. (3) I used a combination of small white beans and cannellini beans. I would recommend using 3 cans of small white beans next time. (4) Preserved lemons can also be found at some grocery stores and online, but also at places like World Market.

Big Fat 7 Layer Bars

Almost seven years ago I shared a recipe called Decadent Magic 8 Ingredient Bars (Served Chilled) with you. It was a slightly ramped up version of the more familiar, traditional Seven Layer Bars recipe most of us grew up with. But I have something to tell you. I have been holding out on you as this hasn't been the recipe I have been making for the last several years. Yes, I know, this may move me to Santa's naughty list this year.  So I thought it was high time I got around to sharing the recipe for these Big Fat 7 Layer Bars aka the swoonworthy, truly decadent ones. I also wanted to redeem myself and potentially salvage my standing at the North Pole. More than a slightly ramped up Seven Layer Bars, I can honestly say these are better than good, they are incredibly great! Seriously wicked, uber scrumptious, ooh and aah worthy. They should be the only ones we should all be eating. Technically speaking they are more square than bar shaped, but shape isn't what matters most here. It's thickness.

Most bar recipes call for the use of 9" x 12" sized baking pan. This recipe calls for the use of 9" x 9" pan. The smaller pan helps to transform these bars into a chunkier, richer, mind-blowing bite. One earning the distinction as being Big Fat 7 Layer Bars. The bar version of the growing in popularity Big Fat Cookie.

In addition to changing the pan size, there were a number of changes to my earlier recipe. I reduced the amount of crushed graham crackers (the amount went from 3 cups to 2 1/2 cups), replaced unsalted butter with salted butter, mixed the butterscotch and semi-sweet chocolate chips together before adding them to the pan, added flaky sea to finish before baking, increased the amount of coconut, used toasted versus untoasted walnut halves, sprinkled on half of the coarsely chopped walnuts before topping with the sweetened condensed milk while using the other half as the final layer, and increased the baking time (from 35-45 minutes to 45-55 minutes). In other words, these underwent a major overhaul. And when all combined, these changes made for an even more epic 7 layer bar!

Unlike many other '7 layer bar' recipes, the graham cracker crust is pre-baked for 10 minutes in a pre-heated 300 degree (F) oven. Pre-baking deepens the flavor of the graham crackers and helps to ensure the bars stays intact when cut.

Toasting the walnuts before you add them to these bars adds even more flavor. Whatever you do, don't skip this step.

Before putting the bars into a preheated 325 degree (F) oven, top with small handful of semi-sweet chocolate and butterscotch chips and a light sprinkling of flaky sea salt. Baking time will range from 45-55 minutes or until the edges begin to turn a light brown. Note: My baking time was slightly more than 50 minutes.

The bars need to be well chilled in the refrigerator before they are cut. Once at room temperature, cover and chill them for at least 6 hours or overnight. 

Cutting them into 16 squares is akin to serving someone a king-sized candy bar. For some this might be too much, for others it will be just right. For a large gathering you might want to cut each 'large' square in half. I say might with a little hesitation as the more impressive presentation is serving them large!

You will definitely want to make these Big Fat 7 Layer Bars for the chocolate and coconut lovers in your life. They are the unfussiest thing can make, but the most impressive to serve. If you have room in your life for just one more confection to bake for the holidays, you might want to make room for this one. Or if you are teetering on being on the naughty or nice list, you definitely should make them. Although it's a toss up on which list you will end up on after everyone tastes them!

Recipe
Big Fat 7 Layer Bars
Makes 16 big fat bars or 32 half-fat bars (if you must)

Ingredients
Crust
2 1/2 cups (9 3/4 ounces or 275 g)crushed graham crackers (or boxed graham cracker crumbs)
1/2 cup or 8 Tablespoons salted butter, melted and slightly cooled (if not using salted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt)
2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar

Filling
1 1/2 cups (271 g) semi-sweet chocolate or bittersweet (60% cocoa) chips, plus a small handful for the top
1 1/2 cups (271 g) butterscotch chips, plus a small handful for the top
2 1/4 cups (221g) shredded sweetened coconut
2 cans (14 ounce size) sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups (5 1/2 ounces or 156 g), walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped, and divided
Flaky sea salt for finishing

Directions
1.  Mix crust ingredients together.  Press firmly into a parchment paper lined 9" x 9" pan.
2.  Bake crust at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.  Remove and let cool.
3.  Combine the butterscotch chips and chocolate chips in a medium sized bowl. Pour over the graham cracker layer.
4. Sprinkle the coconut over the chips.
5. Sprinkle half of the chopped walnuts over the coconut.
6. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the coconut.
7.  Top with remaining walnuts and the small handfuls of butterscotch and chocolate chips. Press lightly into the sweetened condensed milk. Lightly sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
8.  Increase oven to 325 degrees and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the edges of the bar are lightly browned. My baking time was slightly above 50 minutes.
9.  Remove from oven and and let cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled (at least 6 hours or overnight).
10.  Cut into squares or rectangles. Serve and enjoy. (Any leftover bars can be stored at room temperature or preferably in the refrigerator in a tightly covered container.)

Note: (1) Two sleeves of graham crackers will yield the two and half cups of crushed graham crackers needed for the recipe. Use only the original not honey graham crackers. I used Nabisco Grahams-Original. (2) I have never made these with cinnamon graham crackers but I think the addition of cinnamon to these bars would be seriously delicious.