Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Depending on who you listen to the Pumpkin Spice Craze is either still a thing we get excited about or it's become so normalized we no longer wait with bated breath for the arrival of our favorite Pumpkin Spice coffee beverages. Either way, Pumpkin Spice has now become synonymous with the fall.  Considering how much has changed in the last six months, it's a blessing of sorts that it wasn't one of the things cancelled or impossible to find this year. Although some have said canned pumpkin puree is going to be the new toilet paper in the weeks ahead. But I am getting ahead of myself. Canned pumpkin puree and Pumpkin Spice are two very different things. One of them is made with pumpkin and one isn't. 

Pumpkin Spice isn't a 21st century creation. Depending on which source you believe pumpkin (pie) spice was referenced in recipes either as far back as the late 1700s or in late 1800s. While there are variations in and proportions of the spices used in Pumpkin Spice, the most common combination includes cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. Nowadays you can buy it in a jar, but it's probably more economical to make your own (see Notes below). 

The onset of cooler temperatures is usually my trigger to starting making some of my favorite baked pumpkin (spiced) confections. Like Pumpkin Spice Bars with Cream Cheese Icing, Pumpkin Bread with Maple Drizzle, Brown Butter Pumpkin Spice Cake, or Maple Glazed Mini-Pumpkin Doughnuts. For as many pumpkin spice recipes as there are posted to the blog (eleven, soon to be twelve), surprisingly there hasn't been one for pumpkin spice muffins or pumpkin spice whoopie pies! Considering the last muffin recipe posted called for the use of a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, I thought a muffin recipe requiring only a couple of bowls, some whisks, and a spatula would be a nice change of pace. In other words, these muffins are uncomplicated, almost effortless, easy, and trouble-free. Exactly the kind of muffins we all need right now. And unless you can't find any pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) at the grocery store, there isn't anything stopping you from making them.

What makes a good Pumpkin Spice Muffin? To start, it should be one having just the right amount of sweetness. The combination of granulated sugar and dark brown sugar give this muffin that 'you know it when you taste it' level of sweetness. Second, it should be tender and moist but have a crunchy muffin top. The canola oil, the additional egg yolk, and a little bit of whole milk help deliver the perfect muffin texture. And lastly, it should be one where the aroma of the spices hit your sense of smell before you actually taste them. A generous amount of Pumpkin Spice and cinnamon will bring joy to your pumpkin spice loving palate. But what about the muffin top crunch factor? I'm getting there.

Dry ingredients and wet ingredients are first mixed separately with a whisk. Both are combined and blended with a spatula, thus eliminating the risk of over mixing or creating a muffin without that bakery style perfect texture.

The streusel topping helps to give the Pumpkin Spice Muffins some muffin top crunch and even more flavor. This streusel has a bit of a cookie like texture to it which serves to put these muffins over the top in terms of appearance and flavor. 

Be generous when sprinkling on the streusel topping. You should use almost all of the streusel mixture, leaving maybe only two Tablespoons left behind. 

Like all of the other muffin recipes shared recently, this follows the two different oven temperature baking approach. Six minutes at 425 degrees (F) followed by 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees (F). This baking technique helps to give the muffins their beautiful rise without risking either being under baked or drying out.

If there was ever a Pumpkin Spice Muffin to get the fall season off to a great start, it would be this one. 

Just because we may not be entertaining as much as we used to doesn't mean you shouldn't be baking up a batch of these Pumpkin Spice Muffins. Wrap them up and deliver to friends. Although do save a few for yourself. Waking up in the morning to the sight of these muffins will be a most welcome start to the day. Or maybe you want to savor one later in the morning or in the early afternoon with a cup of coffee or tea for a mid-day Pumpkin Spice boost. As long as you have (stockpiled) cans of pumpkin puree in your cabinet, it's possible you will be making them well into the winter months. Because some things need to stay around as long as possible.

Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients

Muffins

1 3/4 cups (228g) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

2 teaspoons Pumpkin Spice

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

15 ounce (475g) can of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 cup (200g) granulated sugar

1/2 cup (100g) dark brown sugar

2 large eggs, 1 large egg yolk

1/2 cup canola (or vegetable oil)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 Tablespoon whole milk

Streusel Topping

3/4 cup (98g) all-purpose flour

1/4 cup (50g) dark brown sugar

2 Tablespoon granulated sugar

1/4 cup (25g) old-fashioned oatmeal, plus more for sprinkling on top of muffins

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/4 cup (27g) pecans, coarsely chopped

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

Directions

Streusel Topping

1. In a medium sized bowl combine all of the streusel ingredients. Using either a fork or your fingers, blend the mixture together until it is crumbly. Set aside.

Muffins

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F). Line a muffin tin with cupcake papers. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, Kosher salt, Pumpkin Spice and cinnamon. Set aside.

3. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, oil, vanilla, and milk until completely blended.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold with a spatula until completely blended.

5. Using a large ice cream scoop fill the cupcake papers almost to the top.

6. Generously sprinkle streusel over each of the muffins. Lightly sprinkle with some additional oatmeal.Press the streusel down ever so lightly into the batter. 

7. Place the muffin pan on a baking pan and bake the muffins for 6 minutes.

8. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees (F) and continue baking muffins for 25-30 minutes or until the muffins are done. To check for doneness: they will either be firm to the touch or a toothpick inserted into the muffin comes out clean.

9. Remove the muffins from the oven. Let sit in muffin pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

10. Allow the muffins to cool completely before serving.

Notes: (1) To make your own small jar of Pumpkin Spice combine the following ingredients together: 3 Tablespoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon allspice, and 1 teaspoon of cloves. (2) I like storing my muffins individually wrapped in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. Either let them come to room temperature before eating or pop them in the microwave for 20 or so seconds to warm them up.

Double Chocolate Chunk Muffins

Happy September! From the official end of summer and beginning of fall, to the much beloved back to school rituals, to the shift away from humid temperatures, to apple season, to the emerging return of autumnal colors in the landscape, and yes, even to my (milestone) birthday, September has always been my favorite month of the year. Not even the reality of living in a Pandemic for last six months can spoil the month. For at least thirty days I am going to give myself a reprieve and spend more time focusing on what's right in the world rather than what's no longer 'normal' about it. Not even a broken arm will stop me from enjoying my favorite month or hold me back from going on a much anticipated adventure in the mountains. For those of you who have spent any time in this space or with me, you know I have had my whining and WTF moments. But this month, only good vibes, positive vibes will be allowed. And as far as recipes go, well you might see things containing only those ingredients that bring me joy. Things like chocolate.

 

In the spirit of "more is almost always better" what better way to start the month on the blog than with a recipe for moist, decadent, bakery style Double Chocolate Chunk muffins. 

The chocolate chips on top of the muffin are simply are a prelude to the chunks of chocolate awaiting inside. Dutch-processed cocoa and strongly brewed hot coffee not only further deepen the rich chocolate flavor, they help to create a perfect richly chocolatey muffin. 

Just imagine the jolt to the start of your day if you had a Double Chocolate Chunk Muffin for breakfast! Or maybe you would rather have one for a mid-morning of mid-day pick me up snack. Look no further than these muffins to completely satisfy your craving for something sweet.

Chocolate and cocoa are not the only ingredients contributing to these sinfully delicious muffins. The use of canola oil and sour cream help to keep the muffins moist. The use of an extra egg yolk adds density and moistness to the muffin. Because vanilla is a flavor enhancer be certain to use a good quality one. Like vanilla, salt is also a flavor booster. Unless a recipe calls for sea salt, I always use Kosher salt when baking. The baking powder helps to increase the volume of the baked muffin as well as lighten its' texture. Together all of the ingredients come together to create the most beautifully textured and flavorful muffin.

Similar to the Banana Nut Streusel Muffins, these muffins begin baking in a preheated 425 degrees (F) oven (for only 6 minutes) before they finish baking in a 350 degree (F) oven (for 16-20 minutes). That blast of high heat helps to activate the leavening power of the baking powder creating a beautiful dome top to the muffin. But unlike those muffins, the batter for the Double Chocolate Chunk Muffins gets a short rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. This relatively short rest period further helps to create a muffin with a high end bakery finish.

These muffins are ridiculously, sinfully good. They fall somewhere on the muffin and cupcake continuum. Meaning you could easily justify eating one for breakfast or simply savoring it as a dessert/snack. For those of you who consider yourselves chocoholics, you absolutely need these Double Chocolate Chunk Muffins in your life. 

When you make a batch of these muffins, spread the joy and share them with friends and/or family. I feel compelled to tell you it might be a tad dangerous to keep all of them in your house. Unless, of course, you freeze them. Because they will be calling out to you!

Recipe

Double Chocolate Chunk Muffins

Makes 14 regular sized muffins

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups (217g) all-purpose flour

3/4 cup (75g) Dutch processed cocoa, divided

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/2 cup strongly brewed hot coffee

1 cup (200g) granulated sugar

1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil

2 large eggs and 1 large egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 cup sour cream

2 1/2 cups (425g) dark chocolate or semi-sweet (at least 53% cocoa) chocolate chips, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F). Line a muffin tin with cupcake papers. Set aside.

2. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup (25g) of cocoa, the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and Kosher salt. Set aside.

3. In a small bowl whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup (50g) of cocoa and the hot coffee until smooth and slightly thickened.

4. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the sugar, oil, eggs, egg yolk and vanilla for approximately one minute.

5. Add in the cocoa mixture. Beat just until incorporated.

6. Beginning with the flour mixture, add the dry ingredients and sour cream in a total of five additions (3 for the flour, 2 for the sour cream). Mix until additions are just incorporated. Be careful to not over beat.

7. Add in 2 cups (340g) of the chocolate chops. Mix until blended. 

8. Cover the batter with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

9. Using a large ice cream scoop, fill the cupcake papers just a smidge below the top.

10. Generously sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup (85g) of chocolate chips on top.

11. Place the muffin pan on a baking sheet and insert into the preheated oven. Bake for 6 minutes. Then immediately reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees (F) and continue baking for another 16-20 minute or until muffins have risen and are slightly firm to the touch. A toothpick inserted into the muffin should come out clean. Do not over bake or the muffins will be dry.

12. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Allow muffins to cool to room temperature.

Notes: (1) Unless you have a 15 cup muffin tin you will need to bake the remaining 2 Double Chocolate Muffins after the first dozen have baked. (2) Use good quality chocolate chips. These Dark Chocolate Morsels from Nestle are my current favorites. (3) Wrap in cellophane bags, tie with a string or ribbon and share with friends. (4) Baked muffins can be stored in the freezer for up to two months. Place muffins in individual freezer plastic bags. (5) Muffin ingredients inspired by a recipe from Gaby Dalkin in her cookbook "What's Gaby Cooking: Eat What You Want: 125 Recipes for Real Life". Baking process inspired from multiple sources.

Double Chocolate Pudding

One of my favorite childhood food memories involves eating a warm spoonful of made-on-the-stovetop (instant) boxed chocolate pudding. Everyone in the family liked theirs chilled in the refrigerator, except me. So not surprisingly I was the one who always volunteered to wash the pudding pot. After licking it clean of course. Kosto was the only brand of instant (chocolate) pudding mix kept in our pantry. Without any basis for comparison I thought it was the best chocolate pudding in the whole world!  And in spite of expanding my chocolate pudding horizons over the years, to this day I still have an occasional craving for the pudding of my childhood. All I can say is there are some things which defy logic and are completely inconsistent with my fussy palate. 

Easy enough to make on a whim, yet unpretentiously fancy enough to be dinner party worthy, Double Chocolate Pudding is everything a memorable chocolate pudding should be. I can only imagine how mind blowing this pudding would have tasted to my eight year old self. So trust me when I tell you this Double Chocolate Pudding doesn't taste anything like the instant stop top cooked boxed version. 

Any meal where chocolate is involved always feel a bit decadent. Being able to satisfy one's sweet tooth with spoonfuls of rich, creamy, deeply chocolatey deliciousness is nothing more than a simple indulgence. While this Double Chocolate Pudding isn't as effortless (or as good) as opening up a box of instant pudding, it's neither time-consuming nor complicated. A couple of whisks, a bowl, a spatula, and a heavy bottomed saucepan is all you need to make it. And the best part is it comes together in less than twenty minutes!

Dutch-processed cocoa, cornstarch, Kosher salt, and instant espresso (to further deepen the flavor of chocolate) are sifted together before the heavy cream is slowly whisked in. The mixture will be very, very thick, however, it will loosen up ever so slightly when the egg yolks are added. After heating the milk and sugar together in a heavy saucepan, half of it is whisked into the chocolate/cream/egg mixture. Then it all goes back into the saucepan. Once the mixture comes to a boil, the heat is reduced to low and the pudding is whisked for another 90 second to 2 minutes (or until it has beautifully thickened). The chocolate chips and vanilla are whisked in as soon as the pudding is removed from the heat. Note: Most of the chocolate chips will melt, but some pieces will remain, adding an expected surprise in some of the spoonfuls of pudding.

Immediately pour the hot pudding into four to six serving cups, glasses, or ramekins. 

If you don't like a skin to form on the top of your pudding, place a piece of plastic directly on the warm pudding. If you are going to be topping the pudding with some freshly whipped cream, I would suggest skip using any plastic wrap. 

The Double Chocolate Pudding can be made early in the day and topped with some freshly whipped cream right before serving. 

To gussy the pudding up a bit more give it a light dusting of cocoa powder and/or some shaved chocolate. And as a finishing touch, top it with a fresh cherry! 

This Double Chocolate Pudding is silky smooth, luscious, drool worthy, and intensely chocolatey. Without hesitation, it is the ultimate chocolate lovers comfort dessert food. 

Seemingly unassuming, a dish of this Double Chocolate Pudding, served slightly warm or chilled, is destined to impress your family and friends!

Recipe

Double Chocolate Pudding

Makes 6 smallish/just about perfect or 4 larger sized servings

Ingredients

Chocolate Pudding

6 Tablespoons (44g) Dutch-processed cocoa

3 Tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon instant espresso

1 cup heavy cream

2 egg yolks (from large eggs)

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 ounces (60g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

3 Tablespoons confectionary sugar

Fresh Cherries, for garnish

Directions

1. In a medium sized bowl, sift together the Dutch-processed cocoa, instant espresso, Kosher salt, and cornstarch.

2. Slowly pour in the heavy whipping cream and whisk until there are no visible lumps. Note: This mixture will be very thick.

3. Whisk in the egg yolks until the mixture is well blended. Set aside.

4. In a medium sized saucepan, heat the milk and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat when small bubbles start forming around the edges of the pan. Once the bubbles form pour half of the mixture into the cocoa/cream mixture. Whisk until smooth. Note: 

5. Pour the milk infused mixture back into the saucepan. Return saucepan to heat and bring mixture to a boil (while whisking constantly).

6. As soon as the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and continue whisking for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. The mixture will be thick and glossy.

7. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and chocolate chips. When the chocolate chips have (mostly) melted, pour the pudding into small bowls, glasses or ramekins. Let cool for about 10 minutes before transferring to the refrigerator. Allow the pudding to chill for at least an hour or up to 8 hours before topping with whipped cream. OR alternately serve the pudding slightly warm.

8. In a medium sized bowl, whip together the heavy whipping cream and confectionary sugar until peaks (not stiff) form.

9. Spoon whipped cream on top of the puddings (or use a pastry bag to pipe the whipped cream). 

10. Lightly sift some Dutch-processed cocoa over the whipped cream. Top with a cherry (if using) or top with shaved chocolate.

11. Serve immediately.

12. Puddings will be good in the refrigerator for 2-3 days (if they even last that long).

Notes: (1) If you don't want your puddings to have a skin on them, press pieces of plastic directly on the warm pudding. (2) Not all of the chocolate chips will melt when added along with the vanilla. Not to worry, you want some of them to remain to give your pudding an added element of surprise.

Homemade Nutty Granola w/ Dried Cranberries & Cherries

Until last week I had been on a running injury free streak for almost two years. But all that changed when I tripped while running on a sidewalk. With less than a quarter mile to go before my run was over I went airborne and fell hard. Breaking the fall with my hands saved my face, my knees, and my Lululemons, but as it turned out I broke my left arm. Something I discovered well after I finished the run and had it x-rayed at an immediate care center. In retrospect, the whole incident must have caused me to go into a state of shock because nothing else explains why my doctor-avoiding self decided to go to the hospital. This is one of those injuries I keep reminding myself could have been worse. I could have been in a cast instead of a sling, I could have broken my wrist, or I could have broken both arms. This kind of thinking helps me feel better for about a few milli-seconds everyday. As well as put an end to the pity party I gave myself the day of the fall. My long awaited hiking trip in Colorado will be here in a little more than three weeks. Which gives me some time to figure out how to navigate with one arm as well as how to move this healing process along. While there are no miracle cures out there (yes, I looked), there are a few things one can do to help it along (yes, I searched for some medical advice on the internet)! 

As it turns out, nutrition is one of those things playing a key role in how quickly or slowly broken bones heal. Foods high in Calcium (milk, cheese, yogurt, nuts...) as well as Vitamins D (fish, eggs, and dairy...) and C (tomatoes, oranges, lemons...) will influence bone strength. With their complex carbohydrates and proteins, oatmeal is another one of those foods having a high number of health benefits, including but not limited to, giving your body an energy boost. Being reminded of the therapeutic values of certain foods along with being personally motivated to heal as quickly as humanly possible, was more than enough to compel me to create this seriously delicious Homemade Nutty Granola w/ Dried Cranberries & Cherries. Made with just one hand, this two thumbs up granola may be the one best thing to come from having a broken arm!

Loaded with almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and dried (Door County) cherries, this vanilla and cinnamon flavored granola is crazy good. Maple syrup, honey, and dark (yes, dark) brown sugar deepen the granola's splendidly awesome flavor.  With oat bran and wheat germ added to the old-fashioned oats, this is one of those healthier kinds of granola! 

Homemade Nutty Granola w/ Dried Cranberries & Cherries couldn't be easier to make. Heck, it can even be made using only one arm! In a large bowl, the old-fashioned oats, wheat germ, oat bran, almonds, walnuts, pecans, and sunflower seeds are mixed together. After the maple syrup, honey, dark brown sugar and canola oil are brought to a boil, the vanilla, cinnamon, and Kosher salt are added in before this luscious mixture is poured over and mixed into the oat mixture. To give the granola an added crunch (and even more protein) a whisked to soft peaks egg white is folded in. Yes, the secret to a chunky, crunchy granola is an egg white! As the egg white acts as a kind of glue to bind the oats together. Pressing the baked granola down immediately after it comes out of the oven is also key to creating those beautiful clusters of granola.

Baking time for the granola ranges between 45 and 50 minutes. For the first 30 minutes the granola is baked at 250 degrees (F). For the last 20-25 minutes the oven temperature is increased to 300 degrees (F). Once the granola reaches that beautiful lightly golden brown stage it comes out of the oven. After lightly pressing the baked granola down it needs to cool to room temperature before it's broken into chunks. The granola will still feel slightly moist after it bakes. Not to worry, it will dry out and firm up as it cools.

The dried cranberries and dried cherries are added after the granola comes out of the oven. I happen to love those dried fruits but feel free to use whatever combination of dried fruits you love. Or make an over the top version of the Homemade Nutty Granola w/ Dried Cranberries & Cherries by adding in a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips!

There are so many things that take this Homemade Nutty Granola w/ Dried Cranberries & Cherries over the top. From being loaded with nuts, to the added nuttiness coming from the toasted wheat germ and oat bran, to the hint of maple sugar and cinnamon sweetness, it's a hearty, healthy, ambrosian granola. Seriously better than anything you could buy in the store. To say that I am now obsessed with this loaded with healing powers granola would be an understatement. Already I am thinking bags of this uber yummy, oaty, nutty granola will be going into my holiday cookie and candy boxes this year. 

Recipe

Homemade Nutty Granola w/ Dried Cranberries & Cherries

Ingredients

4 cups (360g) old-fashioned oats

3/4 cup (92g) wheat germ 

3/4 cup (80g) oat bran

1/2 cup (72g) sunflower seeds

1/2 cup (113g) whole almonds

1/2 cup ( 58g) pecan halves

1/2 cup (56g) walnut halves

1/4 cup (50g) dark brown sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup canola oil

1 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

3 ounces (85g) dried cranberries (a little more than 3/4 cup)

3 1/2 ounces (100g) dried cherries  (a little more than 3/4 cup)

1 large egg white, whipped to very, very soft peaks

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees (F). Line a large rimmed baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds. pecans, and walnuts.

3. In a medium sized saucepan, combine the dark brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, and canola oil. Bring to boil. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla, cinnamon, and Kosher salt.

4. Pour over the oat mixture. Stir to combine.

5. Add the lightly whipped egg white. Stir to combine.

6. Transfer mixture to baking pan.

7. Bake for 30 minutes at 250 degrees (F), tossing the mixture every 15 minutes.

8. Increase oven temperature to 300 degrees (F). Continue baking for 20-25 minutes or until the mixture is lightly golden brown (it may still be slightly moist, but it will dry as it cools).

9. Remove pan from the oven and press the mixture down with your hands. This will help create clumps when you break the cooled granola apart.

10. Top with dried cranberries and cherries. 

11. Let granola cool to room temperature. Break the granola apart into various sizes of clusters (not all of the granola will cluster). Mix the granola with the dried fruit.

12. Store the granola in a tightly sealed storage container or wrap in cellophane bags tied with string/ribbon. Granola will be good for at least 2-3 weeks.

13. Serve granola with milk or yogurt. Top a bowl of ice cream with a handful of granola or just eat it as a snack!

Notes: (1) Use your favorite dried fruit. Use all dried cranberries, all dried cherries, raisins, dried apricots and/or a combination of them. (2) In addition to dried fruit add in semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 1 cup) for an even more decadent version. (3) The recipe can easily be doubled. Divide mixture between two large baking pans. If you are lucky enough to have a double oven, put a baking pan of granola in each oven. If you only have a single oven, rotate your two baking trays halfway through the baking process. (4) This recipe was inspired by multiple sources including , but not limited to, this granola recipe on All Recipes and Deb Perelman's Big Cluster Maple Granola recipe from her "Smitten Kitchen" cookbook.

Grilled Peach Salad with Honey Ricotta and Prosciutto

Last Sunday we had our first dinner party with friends in six months. For someone who loves to entertain, who loves bringing people together around good food, those six months felt more like six years. To say that I was excited to finally have some company would be an understatement. When planning the menu I vacillated between making all familiar dishes and taking the risk to include at least one new, untested, untasted recipe. Specifically the recipe for a Grilled Peach Salad I had been wanting to make ever since receiving and drooling over my signed copy of Julien Perry's "Washington Wine and Food: The Cookbook". A gift from some very thoughtful, generous friends who live in the Pacific Northwest. In retrospect, I should have trusted my instincts, taken the risk, and made that salad. Because in all seriousness this may be one of the BEST salads I have ever had in my many decades long life. It wasn't just one of the most swoonworthy salads ever, it was screamworthy. 

So why didn't I make this Grilled Peach Salad? Well, there were two reasons. One of the appetizers served included some Whipped Honey Ricotta and this salad had ricotta as one of its' elements. Two consecutive courses with ricotta sounded like overkill. The second thing giving me pause was the Fresno chile, one of the ingredients in the marinade and dressing. Having never tasted a Fresno chile before I didn't know its' heat level was similar to a jalapeno, although the Fresno chile has a bit more of kick. Or that it had a fruitier, smokier taste, adding more complex flavors to finished dishes. And as good as the description of the recipe sounded "...the caramelized sweetness of grilled peaches providing a clean contrast to the ricotta and Marcona almonds", my spiciness hesitancy and reluctance at experimenting at a long awaited gathering held me back. 

Had I been able to dismiss those things, I genuinely believe everyone at the table would have been blown away by this Grilled Peach Salad. And even forgiven me for serving them a meal with ricotta redundancy.

To get perfectly sized peach wedges, first cut each peach in half. Then cut each peach half in half, then each half in half. Are you with me? By doing this, you will end up with 8 evenly sized wedges from each peach. Note: The recipe for the Grilled Peach Salad with Honey Ricotta and Prosciutto is amenable to adjusting both upward and downward. 

The marinade for the peaches will be used to make the dressing, so be sure not to throw it away after the peaches have marinated for 30 minutes. Note: You can make the marinade several hours ahead, but don't add in the peaches until 30 minutes before you are ready to assemble the salad.

Letting the peaches marinade in a flat bottomed dish helps to ensure they marinate evenly.

Grilling the marinated peaches over high heat slightly caramelizes them as well as amplifies their flavor with the added smokiness. Scallions (or green onions) not only become caramelized when grilled, their onion flavor shifts from a strong raw bite to a more tender, sweeter, subtler onion flavor. 

The only real substantive change made to the inspiration recipe was adding some honey. in addition to the olive oil, to the ricotta. If you can, make your own ricotta (recipe linked below in notes) as it is significantly better than anything store bought. Suggesting slightly increased amounts of the fresh herbs used as well as finishing the salad with some flaky sea salt (versus Kosher salt) were merely subtle changes. But every element, every ingredient in this salad matters. To leave any one of them out would significantly alter it's incredible delectability and savoriness.

Some salads lend themselves to be being served on a platter, but this one is best when individually plated. The extra effort you put into assembling this salad is a small price to pay for the reaction your friends and family will have to its' impressively stunning presentation. But it's the interplay of flavors and textures from each of the salad's intriguing elements that makes it one of the most divine salads to have ever been created. 

Serve the Grilled Peach Salad with Honey Ricotta and Prosciutto with a chilled white wine, preferably one from Washington. 

As much as I like to change my menu whenever friends return here for a meal, I am seriously considering making this Grilled Peach Salad with Honey Ricotta and Prosciutto my signature house salad. At least as long as peaches are in season.

For those of you mourning the loss of going out regularly to dine at your favorite restaurant(s), this salad will definitely help to assuage your longing. Eating at home and being able to comfortably invite a small group of friends for a meal might actually be a silver lining in this ever changing new normal. The  intimacy of a great home cooked meal with friends gathered around your table is unlike anything you might experience in a restaurant. 

With peaches now in season, it could not be a more perfect time to make this magnificent, swoonworthy, sumptuous salad. And, if by chance you needed a reason to invite friends or family over for a meal, this is more than reason enough. Once you taste the flavors in this salad, you will understand why it ranks up there with the BEST salads ever.

Recipe

Grilled Peach Salad with Honey Ricotta and Prosciutto (slight adaptations to Jason Wilson's Grilled Peach Salad with Ricotta and Prosciutto as shared in Julien Perry's "Washington Wine and Food: The Cookbook" )

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons good quality honey

1 1/2 Tablespoons of Sauvignon Blanc

3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

3 teaspoons Kosher salt, divided 

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon finely chopped Fresno chile (See notes)

4 large skin on yellow peaches, pitted and cut into wedges (See notes)

1 cup homemade honey ricotta or whole milk store bought ricotta mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey

5-6 scallions

2-3 cups baby arugula

10-12 mint leaves, torn into pieces

5-6 large basil leaves, torn into pieces

8 thin slices of prosciutto

1/2 cup of Marcona Almonds

Flaky sea salt for finishing

Directions

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine honey, 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of Kosher salt, black pepper, and chile. Add peaches, mix to coat and set aside for 30 minutes to marinate. Note: The marinade can be made several hours ahead. Cover and keep at room temperature.

2. In a small bowl add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil to the honeyed ricotta. Mix well until mixture has a slightly creamy texture. 

3. Preheat grill to high heat. Note: Grilling can be done on a grill pan placed on the stove top or on a grill.

4. Remove peaches from the marinade but reserve the marinade!

5. Grill peach wedges for 45-60 seconds on each side or until grill marks on each side. Transfer grilled peaches to a large platter.

6. Grill scallions for 2-3 minutes on each side or until they have grill/char marks. Remove any of the severely charred (blackened) green tops after transferring to a cutting board. Cut charred scallions into large chunks.

7. To the reserved marinade, add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, the remaining 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt, and the scallions. Mix to combine to create the dressing.

8. In a large bowl, mix together the arugula, mint, and basil. Toss with only 1-2 Tablespoons of the dressing. You don't want to overdress the greens. 

9. On individual plates, spread about 3 Tablespoons of the ricotta on one side of the plate (do not spread too thin); add a large handful of the arugula/herb mixture; arrange peaches (4-6 wedges per plate); and add 2 rolled pieces of prosciutto. Lightly drizzle with the remaining dressing. Note: You might not use all of it.

10. Sprinkle about 8-10 marcona almonds on top of the salad. Finish with some flaky sea salt.

11. Serve with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or a great Grenache Blanc.

Notes: (1) Recommend removing the seeds of the Fresno chile before finely chopping. (2) Peaches need to be ripe but not too ripe. After cutting each peach in half, cut each half into 4 wedges. Each peach will yield 8 wedges. (3) The recipe for homemade ricotta can be found here. To make the Honey Ricotta for this recipe add only one teaspoon of honey and one Tablespoon of olive oil per cup of ricotta. If not using a homemade ricotta use only a whole ricotta.

Giant Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

A two day loss of power combined with hot, humid weather was almost enough to deter me from baking this past week. In spite of being intrigued by a Peanut Butter Cookie recipe shared by one of my running friends, the planned six mile Saturday morning run along with having our first dinner party (in six months!) with friends, had me thinking it might be weeks before these Giant Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies were created. However, my desire to satisfy my sweet tooth as well as surprise my running friends with a post run treat motivated me to concoct a recipe for what would turn out to be one of those drop the mic, seriously delicious, jumbo sized cookies. 

There are peanut butter cookies and then there are peanut butter cookies. These Giant Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are in a league of their own. Four inches in diameter with a thickness of about a half of an inch, they are everything a scrumptious, satisfying peanut butter cookie should be and then some. Loaded with chocolate chips and topped with flaky sea salt these are the kind of cookies screaming to be paired with a tall glass of ice cold milk. If you love peanut butter and chocolate, these are the cookies you need, you absolutely must have in your life.

Big enough to share with a friend, nibble on for hours, or just inhale in one sitting, this is my new favorite peanut butter cookie! Heck, it's one of my top three favorite cookies!

There are many things giving this cookie its' almost epic-like status, but there are two things in particular worth noting. The first is the use of dark brown, not light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar brings notes of caramel and molasses to a cookie. Resulting in giving it an incredibly robust flavor. Additionally, dark brown sugar (when it interacts with baking soda) increases the rise on the cookie and deepens the cookie's baked color. If there was ever a cookie where light brown and dark brown sugar were not interchangeable, this would be the one. The second notable thing about this recipe is the amount of (more is better!) and kind of chocolate chips (at least 53% cacao) used. Initially I debated about whether to use larger sized chocolate chips or chop up a bar of my favorite dark chocolate. Having now tasted them with chocolate chips, I will reserve chopping chocolate for my favorite chocolate chip cookies.

Using a large (2 1/2 inches in diameter) cookie scoop helps to create fifteen evenly sized and weighted (about 4 1/2 ounces each) balls of cookie dough. Because the dough is a little on the softer side, they definitely need to be chilled (at least four hours) before going into the oven. 

Baking time ranges from 15-17 minute or until golden around the edges and top of the cookie. For a crispier edged cookie, your baking time will skew toward the 17 minute mark. Keeping the cookies on the baking sheet for at least ten minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack helps to crisp up the cookie's exterior even more, yet still keeping their interior slightly soft. 

Deeply flavorful, bakery style beautiful, perfectly textured, and seriously satisfying would be how I would describe these Giant Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. What I am trying to say is that you really, really do need these irresistible giant cookies in your life. And sooner rather than later. I definitely hope you will be as enamored with them as I am!

Recipe

Giant Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 15 giant four inch in diameter cookies 

 

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups (325g) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup (240g) peanut butter (see Notes)

1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar

1 cup (200g) dark brown sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla

20 ounces (567g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

Flaky sea salt for finishing

Directions

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and Kosher salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.

2. In the bowl of standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter for approximately one minute.

3. Add in the granulated sugar and dark brown sugar. Beat until light and fluffy (approximately 4-5 minutes).

4. Beat in vanilla. 

5. Beat in eggs, one at a time until well blended. 

6. Beat in peanut butter.

7. Remove 45 chocolate chips, then mix in the remaining chocolate chips.

8. Add the flour mixture in two additions. Mix until well blended. Do not over beat.

9. Divide dough into 15 equal sized balls (4 1/2 ounces or 127g). Think of them as an oversized golf ball. Place balls of dough on a baking sheet. Press 3 additional chocolate chips into the tops of the cookie balls. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours.

10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

11. Place 6 balls of dough on a baking sheet. Press cookies down very slightly (just removing the top dome). Lightly sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Bake one sheet of cookies at a time.

12. Bake 15-17 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for at least 10 minutes. Then remove and transfer to a cooling rack.

13. Pour a big glass of milk and enjoy! Then wrap some up and share with friends!

Notes: (1) Use a creamy peanut butter not a natural peanut butter. I used JIF creamy peanut butter.  (2) Using dark brown sugar adds a deep molasses flavor, caramel undertones, a deeper color, and crispness to the cookies. Do not use light brown sugar. (3) I used a 2 1/2 inch in diameter cookie scoop for form the balls of dough.