Baked Soft Pretzels

Do you remember the first time you tasted a warm, pillowy, buttery, salty pretzel? For some of us, that first delicious bite came from an Auntie Anne's. Once the aroma of freshly baked pretzels was detected, it is almost impossible to restrain oneself from following that heavenly scent to the store's door. Many years back, it was equally impossible to say 'no' to my young niece and nephew who always seemed to want a warm pretzel every time we brought them to the mall with us. Twenty something years ago it never occurred to me that I could make fresh baked pretzels at home.

Had I known, Auntie Lynn's Baked Soft Pretzels possibly could have been in contention for their most favorite, most memorable childhood pretzels.

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, wouldn't some freshly Baked Soft Pretzels go perfectly with a bottle of Guinness, hard cider or your favorite ale?  I might be a bit biased, but I say YES they would!

The pretzel dough is made with only six ingredients: bread flour, Kosher salt, instant (rapid rise) yeast, melted European-style butter, and sugar. After the yeast, melted butter and sugar are mixed together and rest for five minutes, bread flour and Kosher salt are mixed in with a dough whisk or wooden spoon. The shaggy dough is transformed into a smooth, slightly sticky ball of dough after about five minutes of kneading in a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook. Shape the dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled (or sprayed) medium sized bowl. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 45-60 minutes (or until doubled in size) in a warm place.

After dividing the dough into eight equal pieces, each piece is rolled out into a rope of approximately 18 inches. To shape the rope into a pretzel, form each dough rope into a "U' shape. Then cross the two ends over each other and fold down to the bottom of the "U" for form a pretzel shape. To get the hang of it, I did a few practice rounds with a piece of string. Once all of the pretzels have been formed, bring the mixture of water, baking soda and sugar to boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and lower each pretzel into the baking soda/sugar solution for 20 seconds per side. The process of dipping the pretzels in this mixture not only alters the pH level of the outside of the dough, it contributes to creating that beautiful brown pretzel finish as well as gives it that much loved pretzel flavor. In other words, you don't want to skip this step.

For a deeper golden brown finish, make an egg wash using one large egg, one large egg yolk and one Tablespoon of water. The egg wash will not only allow the pretzel salt to adhere to the dough, but it will give it a beautiful golden brown sheen. The best salt to use for these Baked Soft Pretzels is coarse pretzel salt as it doesn't melt at high temperatures.

Baking time for the pretzels ranges from 14-16 minutes or until the pretzels are golden brown. After removing the pan of pretzels from the oven, brush them with some melted European-style butter to give them a buttery flavor.

Transfer them to a large platter containing bowls of mustards and/or warm melted cheese. These Baked Soft Pretzels are best when served warm (although they can be reheated). If by chance you have any leftover, place in ziplock bag to keep them fresh. Leftover pretzels are great for making sandwiches.

Once you serve your family and friends some freshly Baked Soft Pretzels, it's highly likely they will be asking you to put them on repeat.  

And these pretzels will definitely put you in contention for the best ever hostess/host. 

Recipe

Baked Soft Pretzels

Makes 8 generously sized pretzels

Ingredients

1 cup and 2 Tablespoons warm water (110-115 degrees F)

2 1/4 teaspoons (9g) instant (rapid rise) yeast

1 teaspoon (6g) granulated sugar

3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted European style butter, melted and cooled slightly

3 1/2 cups (448g) bread flour, plus more for rolling

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

2 quarts water

1/4 cup (72g) baking soda

2 Tablespoons (36g) granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 Tablespoon water

Pretzel Salt for sprinkling

2 Tablespoons unsalted European style butter, melted

Serving suggestions: Grainy mustard, yellow mustard, melted cheese, and beer.

Directions

1. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the water, yeast, sugar, and melted butter. Whisk to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes.

2. Add the flour and Kosher salt. Using a hand held dough whisk or wooden spoon, stir until combined. Dough will be shaggy.

3. Knead in the mixer (using the dough hook) until the dough is smooth, slightly elastic and clears the sides of the bowl (approximately 5 minutes).

4. Remove dough and shape into a ball. 

5. Lightly oil or spray a medium sized bowl. Set the ball of dough in the bowl and tightly cover with plastic wrap. Place bowl in a warm place and let the dough to rise until double in size (approximately 45-60 minutes).

6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees (F.)

7. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll and stretch each piece to a length of rope approximately 18 inches. Note: The dough may be a bit resistant to being stretched. So first shape each piece of dough into a chunky tube shape, then gradually lengthen each piece into a long thin rope.

8. Form each piece into a U shape. Cross the two ends over each other and fold down into a pretzel shape. Place on the baking sheet (leaving at least 2 inches between pretzels). Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.

9. Bring the water, baking soda and sugar to a bowl in a medium sized saucepan. Reduce the heat level to a simmer.

10. Gently place a pretzel on a large spatula and lower into the water for 20 seconds per side. Remove with spatula gently shaking off any excess water. Place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pretzels.

11. Whisk together the egg, egg yolk, and water. Brush each pretzel with the egg wash and generously sprinkle with pretzel salt. 

12. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until golden (rotating tray midway). Remove from oven.

13. Brush each pretzel with some melted butter.

14. Serve warm with some melted cheese and/or assortment of mustards.

15. The baked pretzels are best the day they have been baked and right out of the oven. Use any leftover pretzels for sandwiches and/or reheat in the microwave to warm up for a few seconds.

Notes: (1) Slightly adaptation of Shauna Server's Big Soft Pretzel recipe from the cookbook "Midwest Made: Big, Bold Baking from the Heartland. (2) Pretzel salt doesn't melt at high temperatures, however, some coarse sea salts will. If at all possible, use pretzel salt. (3) If you make the dough into pretzel bites versus pretzel shapes reduce your baking time to 12-14 minutes.

Roast Chicken & Baby Red Potatoes Salad w/ Mustard Vinaigrette

It's hard to believe but this month marks the anniversary of when the world as we knew it changed. Movie theaters (at least in my hometown) are still closed, (legally) eating inside a restaurant has just recently returned, some stores continue to limit the number of people allowed in, depending on the time of day you can expect to wait in line to get into a store, face masks are required everywhere, and drinking from water fountains may soon become a thing permanently remaining in the past. While we can now readily find yeast, flour, chicken, ground beef, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, face masks, and toilet paper, the days of scarcity are permanently etched in our memories. Yet, in spite of the return of stocked shelves, some of us have given serious consideration to becoming hoarders. This has not been a good year for those of us who already had some underlying hoarding tendencies (although who knew we should have been stockpiling toilet paper and hand sanitizer). Coping with this temporary new normal has caused us to reimagine life as we knew it, while still holding on to the belief that things like the days of gathering (without masks) are somewhere out on the horizon. I, for one, can hardly wait to have my family and posse over for a meal (oh the recipes I want to make for them) as well as to reconnecting with friends in person (around food and. beverages of course!).

One of the things going on the top of the list will be this almost effortless Roast Chicken & Baby Red Potatoes Salad w/ Mustard Vinaigrette. Along with a loaf of freshly baked homemade bread. Because if the past year has taught me anything, it's that nothing tastes better than a loaf of great homemade bread. Especially when paired with a really great salad.

And this is a really, really great salad! One taking very little effort (a store bought rotisserie chicken is your new best friend) but with an impressive presentation! It's perfect for lunch yet hearty enough to serve for dinner.

Just like there is nothing like homemade bread, there is nothing like a homemade vinaigrette. Especially this Mustard Vinaigrette. Made with shallots, garlic, two kinds of mustard, sherry vinegar, Kosher salt, black pepper, a pinch of sugar, water, and extra-virgin olive oil this is a highly flavorful, luscious dressing. And it pairs perfectly with the ingredients in this salad.

Thinly sliced radishes and spring greens give this salad some crunch, warm or room temperature baby red potatoes marinated in the vinaigrette add some creaminess, and the shredded rotisserie chicken adds the protein. A bowl of crumbled blue cheese (preferably Point Reyes blue cheese) adds yet another layer of flavor to this delicious, mouthwatering salad. Because not everyone is fan of blue cheese (hard to believe I know), I recommend serving it on the side.

The vinaigrette and potatoes can be made earlier in the day. Shredding the rotisserie chicken while it is still warm is always a good idea. Additionally the shredded pieces of chicken (versus slices) gives this salad such an inviting rustic look.

This Roast Chicken & Baby Red Potatoes Salad w/ Mustard Vinaigrette is the perfect main course salad to serve to both family and friends. And one you don't need to spend all day in the kitchen making. Simultaneously casual and elegant, it is a great weeknight or weekend meal, but it definitely qualifies as a company worthy dish! 

Recipe

Roast Chicken & Baby Red Potatoes Salad w/ Mustard Vinaigrette

Serves 4

Ingredients

Mustard Vinaigrette

1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 medium sized garlic clove, finely minced
3 Tablespoons Sherry vinegar
1 Tablespoon water
Pinch of granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
Several grinds of black pepper
1 Tablespoon smooth dijon mustard
1 Tablespoon Whole-Grain dijon mustard

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Roast Chicken Salad 

10-12 small baby red potatoes (potatoes should be slightly larger than golf balls)

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

4-6 large handfuls of a spring mix 

3-4 pound rotisserie chicken (from your grocery store), meat and skin removed and shredded

2-3 radishes, thinly sliced

Kosher salt

4 ounces of blue cheese (recommend Point Reyes Blue Cheese)

Directions

Mustard Vinaigrette

1. Add all ingredients, except extra-virgin olive oil, into a medium sized bowl and whisk together.

2. Slow whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil until the vinaigrette is emulsified.

3. Use dressing immediately. Can be made several hours ahead. Just cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature. If prepared early in the day or the night before, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Take out at least 30 minutes before serving and whisk before using. 

Roast Chicken and Red Potato Salad 

1. In a medium sized saucepan add the potatoes and cover with cold water. Add a teaspoon of Kosher salt. Bring the water the boil and continue cooking until the potatoes are knife tender (approximately 20 minutes). Remove the potatoes from the pan and set cool slightly before cutting in half.

2. Lightly toss the potato. halves in about 1/4 of the mustard vinaigrette. 

3. Line a large platter with the spring greens. Drizzle with about 1/4 of the vinaigrette. Lightly salt.

4. Place the chicken down the center of the platter.

5. Place the lightly marinated potatoes around the chicken.

6. Scatter the radishes along the side of the platter.

7. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the mustard vinaigrette down the center of the platter. Pour remaining dressing in a small bowl.

8. Crumble the blue cheese and place in a small bowl.

9. Serve the Roast Chicken & Baby Red Potatoes Salad with the sides of blue cheese and remaining dressing. Enjoy immediately.

Notes: (1) Serve the salad with a fresh loaf of bread. Maybe like some No Knead Artisan Bread or Everything but the Bagel No Knead Bread. (2) If you have a mandolin, use it to slice the radishes. (3) I used the Maille dijon and whole-grain mustards for the vinaigrette.

Cadbury Egg & Milk Chocolate Levain Style Cookies

Last month one of my friends suggested or rather I should say convinced some of us to take a thirty day, yet thirty day yoga challenge. Not wanting to be an outlier or a party-poop along with the whispering competitive voice nudging me, I decided I would do it. But after sitting in an uncomfortable pose for the first eight and half minutes of the first session, I wondered if I had the endurance and passion for incorporating yoga into my life every day for thirty consecutive days. Well, today is day 26 and I have stayed the course. With only a teeny bit of whining happening along the way. Incorporating a new daily routine, no matter how good it might be for you, is it's own kind of challenge. Setting aside 25-40 minutes a day to completely focus on one thing isn't easy. Especially for someone who thrives on multi-tasking. In spite of knowing the practice of yoga has great benefits on one's physical and mental health, I thought maybe I would reward myself, in some tangible way of course, when the thirty days comes to an end. I put that out there just in case I needed some added motivation or found myself hitting the proverbial yoga wall. However, with only five days left in this challenge, I know one thing is for certain. There is no other option than to finish this yoga journey. And instead of buying myself something I should probably buy or make something for the person who was the constant encouraging presence throughout this journey.

Maybe a batch of these oversized, thick, chewy, chocolatey Cadbury Egg & Milk Chocolate Levain Style Cookies could be my token of appreciation. What do you think? A worthy expression of gratitude?

Well maybe you would have to taste these crunchy on the outside, chewy and chocolately on the inside cookies first before giving this idea a big thumbs up. Or maybe you would say yes to almost any milk chocolate chip cookie made with those delicious, seasonal mini-Cadbury eggs? Either way, I definitely think you need to make these Cadbury Egg & Milk Chocolate Levain Style Cookies as they are unlike any other cookie you have ever tasted. After just one bite and you might start hoarding bags of mini-Cadbury eggs so you can keep making them after the Easter holiday season.

These Levain Style cookies have a few things in common with the Levain Style Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe shared with you last summer. Although these have a bit more vanilla in them, use almost room temperature versus chilled unsalted butter, use both milk chocolate chips and chopped mini-Cadbury Eggs, are topped with even more halved mini-Cadbury Eggs instead of sea salt, and are made slightly smaller (about 4 ounces instead of 6 ounces each). And the recipe yields eleven (instead of eight) swoonworthy, possibly shareable sized cookies!

Using a large (2 1/4" in diameter) cookie scoop helps to create evenly sized cookies. Weighing your cookie dough balls on a scale helps to ensure they are as close in weight as possible. Evenly sized cookies results in evenly baked cookies. 

After placing one whole mini-egg in the center, I cut some mini-Cadbury eggs in half and pressed them into the top of each ball of dough. Then I wrapped the tray in plastic wrap and let the dough chill for somewhere between two and three hours.

The cookies bake for 20-22 minutes in a preheated 375 degree (F) oven, rotating the baking sheet midway through the baking process.

The cookies are ready to come out of the oven when they are golden brown around the edges and have a few golden spots on top. Somewhere between the 20-22 minute mark, they may still look a little underdone but after being removed from the oven and resting on the baking sheet for 8-10 minutes they will have a perfect crisp exterior and slightly moist, chewy interior.

Here's the spoiler alert on these Cadbury Egg & Milk Chocolate Levain Style Cookies. In spite of what I said earlier along with their size, chances are you won't want to share your cookie with anyone. There is so much going on with these cookies in terms of both flavors and textures, you are destined to be smitten with them.

If you have a favor to return to someone in your life, if you are looking to brighten the day of a friend or even a stranger, if you are looking to return a kindness, or if you have a friend who looks out for your best interests, make and deliver them a batch of these Cadbury Egg & Milk Chocolate Levain Style Cookies. Just make sure to keep one just for yourself. Especially if you are looking to reward yourself for something, for anything. Like maybe for hanging in and finishing strong on a challenge suggested by one of your well-intentioned friends.

Recipe

Cadbury Egg & Milk Chocolate Levain Style Cookies

Makes 11 large cookies

Ingredients

2 cups (260g) all-purpose flour

1 cup (113g) cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 cup (8 oz/226g) unsalted butter, semi-room temperature, cubed (recommend a European style butter)

2/3 cup (134g) light/dark brown sugar combination (see notes)

2/3 cup (134g) granulated sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup (156g) milk chocolate chips (see notes)

1 1/4 cups (220g) Cadbury mini-eggs, chopped

Generous 1/3 cup (80g) Cadbury mini-eggs, cut in half

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions

1. Combine the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt in a medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
2. Using a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat cold butter on low speed until the butter cubes lose their shape (about 30-45 seconds).
3. Beat in the granulated sugar (about 30 seconds)
4. Beat in the brown sugar and vanilla (about 30 seconds). Mixture will be thick and creamy.
5. Mix in the milk chocolate chips and chopped Cadbury Eggs to distribute evenly in the batter (about 30 seconds).
6. On low speed mix in the dry ingredients in three additions. Do not over beat, but there should be no streaks of flour showing.
7. Add in the lightly beaten eggs in two additions. Beat until mixture forms a cohesive dough.
8. Use a large (2 1/4") cookie scoop to divide the dough into 11 balls. Balls of dough will weigh slightly more than 4 ounces each (or 120g). 

9. Press 7-8 Cadbury egg halves semi-evenly and firmly into each ball of dough.
10. Place the balls of dough on a baking sheet, tightly cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
11. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Line two baking pans with parchment paper. 
12. Place 4 balls of the cookie on the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Note: You will be baking one cookie sheet at a time.
13. Bake cookies for 20-22 minutes or until the edges and spots on top are lightly golden. Rotate cookie sheet midway through the baking process. Do not over bake the cookies. Let cookies rest on the cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes. 
14. Remove cookies from baking sheet and place on a cooling rack. Let cool slightly or let come to room temperature before serving. 
15. Store any left over cookies in a tightly sealed container or wrap in a cellophane bag.

Notes: (1) I used a combination of light and dark brown sugars, about a 2/3 to 1/3 ratio. But could also use equal portions of light and dark brown sugar. (2) I used these Guittard Milk Chocolate Maxi Chips as they aren't just delicious, they are oversized. Instead of milk chocolate chips, use chopped milk chocolate. (3) The easiest way to crush the Cadbury Eggs is to put them in a ziplock bag and use a mallet or can to crush them. A sharp knife can be used to cut them in half. (4) I used a little more than one bag of the mini-Cadbury Eggs to make these cookies.

Everything but the Bagel No Knead Beer Bread

Ever since making the No Knead Rustic Artisan Bread last March, I have become something of a bread fussytarian. Granted I have yet to master Sourdough Bread using a starter or making bread the old-fashioned kneading way, but making warm, homemade bread regardless of the technique used feels like a necessary indulgence. Especially these days. Besides it tastes so much better than any loaf of store bought bread. After having just one bite of the No Knead Rustic Artisan Bread last week, one of my friends declared it the best bread he had ever tasted! Yes, comments like those pretty much guarantee a return invite to the dinner table. However, there is just one teeny tiny drawback to that no knead bread recipe. You have to make the dough the day before it's baked. Which makes it one of those must plan ahead kind of breads. Waiting twenty-four hours for a fresh, just baked loaf of bread can feel like an eternity when you have a bread craving. Or if you just happen to let you day get away from you.

So what if I told you, you could be serving an incredibly delicious warm loaf of crusty homemade bread in less than four hours after you or someone in your household has a craving for it. And what if I also told you it has an fabulous crust and a lovely dense, hearty texture? Sound enticing? If you said yes, you are my kind of people. Which would be the kind who subscribe to the 'life is short' way of thinking. 

While this Everything but the Bagel No Knead Beer Bread is made with beer, it's not anything like this Cheddar Cheese Jalapeño Beer Bread or any other bear bread recipes you may have made before. Unlike most other beer 'quick' breads, this one uses instant (not active, but instant) yeast as one of the ingredients. Most other beer bread recipes rely on the use of self-rising flour.

All-purpose flour, Kosher salt, extra-virgin olive oil, a good quality beer, instant yeast, and Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend creates an incredible loaf of homemade bread. One perfect for serving with a bowl of soup, using to make sandwiches, pairing with a great salad, eating slathered with some butter or jam, or simply putting on the dinner table. It's definitely the kind of bread destined to impress your friends and family. 

Unlike active yeast, instant yeast doesn't need to be dissolved in lukewarm water before the dry ingredients are added. It can be mixed in directly with the other ingredients. The beer not only contributes to the leavening but it also makes for a great tasting bread. I used a Belgium Ale but you can use any good quality beer. Note: Darker ales will change the flavor of the bread.

Once all of the ingredients (except the bagel seasoning) are mixed together, the bowl is tightly covered in plastic wrap and allowed to rest in a warm spot for at least 90 minutes but up to 2 hours (until the mixture has nearly doubled in size). Note: Keep your bowl of dough away from any drafts. I like to let the covered bowl rest in the linen closet as it's one of the warmest places in the house.

Like the No Knead Artisan Bread, no kneading is required for this Everything but the Bagel No Knead Beer Bread. Simply turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a round loaf. Once shaped generously sprinkle with the Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend. Note: You will need to lightly press the seasoning into the dough. Transfer to the dough round to a piece of parchment paper and let rest on top of the oven for 30 minutes (the amount of time needed to preheat your cast iron Dutch oven and lid). Put the dough into the preheated Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and place it in the oven. Bake the bread for 30 minutes (covered). After 30 minutes, remove the lid and continue baking the bread for an additional 15-18 minutes (or until the bread is a beautiful golden brown). Remove the bread from the pan and let rest on a cooling rack for at least 15-30 minutes before slicing.

While you won't get drunk on bread made with a bottle of beer, the aroma of the baking bread is intoxicating. 

The bread lovers in your family or in your circle of friends will be smitten with this Everything but the Bagel No Knead Beer Bread. It definitely will not last very long. Literally, a quarter of this loaf was inhaled in less than hour after coming out of the oven. And no, I wasn't the one doing the inhaling! 

Needless to say the Everything but the Bagel No Knead Beer Bread got rave reviews around here! If you are looking to give your bread baking confidence, ego or reputation a boost, make this bread! Seriously, you are going to love making and serving it. And for those of you who consider yourself to be someone living your life closer to the spontaneous end of the continuum, this is the definitely the bread for you! 

Recipe

Everything but the Bagel No Knead Beer Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour, plus more for preparing bread for pan

2 teaspoons instant yeast (recommend Red Star Quick Rise Instant Yeast)

2 teaspoons Kosher salt

1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

12 ounces (355ml) Belgian style white ale or other light ale, room temperature

2 Tablespoons Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend (see notes)

Directions

1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, and kosher salt. Mix together using a wooden spoon or dough whisk.

2. Add in the room temperature beer and extra-virgin olive oil. Stir just until all of the ingredients are combined. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and place the bowl in a warm, draft-free place. 

3. Let dough rest for at least 90 minutes or up to 2 hours (the dough will almost double in size).

4. Generously flour a work surface and very gently slide the dough out of the bowl on the floured surface. Use a rubber spatula or plastic dough scraper around the bowl to release the sticky dough while trying to avoid disturbing the air bubbles as much as possible.

5. Lightly sprinkle the top of the dough with flour. Then gently fold each side into the center of the dough. Carefully flip the dough over so the folds are facing down. Lightly dust your hands with flour and shape the dough into a ball by pulling it toward you a few times. Whatever you do, do not knead this dough.
6. Place the dough, seam side down, onto a sheet a parchment paper. Generously sprinkle with the bagel seasoning (you will need to press the seasoning in lightly into the dough.).

7. Use a sharp knife to make a slash or two on the top of the bread. Place the parchment paper on a bread board or flat pan. Let the dough sit, covered with a kitchen towel, on top of the stove for 30 minutes.

8. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees (F). When the oven has preheated, place your Dutch oven and lid in the oven and let it heat for 30 minutes.

9.  Carefully remove the cast iron pan from the oven. Gently lower the piece of parchment paper holding the dough into the pan. Cover the pan with the lid, return to the oven, and bake for 30 minutes. 

10. Remove the lid from the pan and continue baking the bread for an additional 15-18 minutes or until the crust is deeply golden brown.

11. Let the bread cool for 15-30 minutes before slicing using a serrated knife. 
12. To cut the bread, slice it down the center, then make thick, beautiful perpendicular slices.

Notes: (1) I used the Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend with Sea Salt, Garlic and Onion from Trader Joe's. It's the BEST! (2) I used a bottle of New Belgium Fat Tire, a Belgium-Style Wheat Ale Beer. Remember to make certain your beer is room temperature.

Paper Plane Cocktail

For only the second time in the past eleven months we had two of our friends over for dinner on Valentine's Day. To say I was excited for a 'party of four' gathering would be an understatement. The anticipation of actually making and sharing a meal with friends was akin to awaiting the arrival of a favorite childhood holiday. For five glorious hours, the reality of the world we currently live in, was temporarily suspended as life actually felt normal. Next to spending a week in Colorado this past September, I don't think my spirit ever felt happier. Who would have ever imagined a simple dinner with friends could bring the same kind of joy felt while spending time in one's 'happy' place. If I have learned anything in the past year, it has been appreciating the seemingly simple things. Sharing a meal, going on a hike, being able to run, and/or enjoying an outdoor coffee with friends are the kinds of things I once took for granted. Now they are nothing less than treasured occasions. If only there could be more of them.

Ever since our dinner plans were confirmed, I had been planning everything from the table setting, to the flowers (orchids and tulips), to the menu, to the favors (it was Valentine's Day after all), to the wine (an insane bottle of 2015 Austin Hope Paso Robles), to the 'house' cocktail. The meticulous attention to detail for this Valentine's Day dinner would rival a NASA space mission, overseeing a $200 million dollar budget, or embarking on a multi-million dollar public building project. Let's just suffice to say this pandemic has, for better or worse, changed me. A year ago I would have never even thought to make a 'signature' cocktail when having friends for dinner. Now, I could't imagine not having one. Who knows when we will be able to have our next dinner party. But one thing is for certain. The 'signature house' cocktail is definitely going to be a Paper Plane. It seriously might be one of the best cocktails to have ever been created. Says the girl who in recent years has become a Bourbon lover with enough knowledge to make her dangerous.

As far as cocktails go, the Paper Plane is a relative new one. First served in the Chicago bar "The Violet Hour", known for its' artisanal cocktail, it was created in either the summer of 2007 or sometime in 2008 by New York bartender Sam Ross. With a name inspired by the song "Paper Planes" by M.I.A., the Paper Plane is considered to be a slight riff on the pre-Prohibition cocktail "The Last Word" (made with equal parts cocktail made with gin, lime, maraschino liqueur and Chartreuse). The first rendition of this bright orange cocktail was made with equal parts freshly squeezed lemon juice (the citrus element), bourbon (the spirit), Amaro Nonino (the herbal element) and Campari. But the bitterness of the Campari was almost immediately replaced with the slightly sweeter Aperol. The result is a classic cocktail having a perfect balance of bitter, sour, sweet, and herbal notes. 

If have never heard of the Paper Plane cocktail before, it's possible you have not heard of the Italian liqueur Amaro Nonino either. Made from a base of grappa, Amaro Nonino includes notes of botanicals, alpine herbs, and orange peel. Flavorwise is has notes of sweet and burnt orange, cinnamon, and a hint of burnt caramel. When blended with equal parts of freshly squeezed lemon juice, bourbon, and Aperol, it is a cocktail that goes down really, really, really easy.

When making a Bourbon cocktail, save your top-shelf, sipping bourbons. Bourbons like Blanton's, Pappy Van Winkle, or Basil Hayden are best enjoyed when served neat or maybe over ice. For the Paper Plane you want to use a slightly higher proof, good quality bourbon. One with a 43-46% ABV range will add the kind of heft to this cocktail to give it the perfect amount of body. I used the 10 year old Russell's Reserve Bourbon Whiskey, a small batch bourbon distilled by Wild Turkey, to bring some caramel, spicy, slightly sweet flavor to the Paper Plane.    

Serve the Paper Plane ice cold. Add equal parts of freshly squeezed lemon juice, bourbon, amaro nonino, and aperol to a shaker. Add 10-12 ice cubes and shake energetically for just 15-20 seconds. You definitely don't want to over shake this cocktail or allow the ice to melt. Once shaken, immediately strain and pour into a coupe glass. The stemmed, shallow, broad-bowl coupe glasses are best for serving cocktails served without ice. Which makes it the best, most perfect, sexiest choice for Paper Planes. 

The originally created cocktail didn't have a garnish (unless you consider a homemade paper plane one). But adding a peel of orange ties all of the ingredients together in both a flavorful and symbolic kind of way. 

If you are looking for a delicious, refreshing Bourbon based cocktail having incredible flavor complexity, this Paper Plane is for you. If you are new to the Bourbon cocktail world or an Old-Fashioned aficionado, the Paper Plane may be the cocktail destined to open your world up to a whole new cocktail drinking experience. This quite possibly might replace the Pisco Sour and Mint Mojito as the house cocktail here. No, let's make that a definitely. Because this the Paper Plane is nothing short of cocktail perfection.

Recipe

Paper Plane Cocktail

Makes two 3 ounce cocktails or one perfect 6 ounce cocktail

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 1/2 ounces Amaro Nonino

1 1/2 ounces Aperol

1 1/2 ounces Bourbon (43-48% ABV) See Notes.

Optional garnish: Orange peel or slice of an orange

Directions

1. Add the equal amounts of lemon juice, Amaro Nonino, Aperol and Bourbon to a cocktail shaker.

2. Add in 10-15 ice cubes. Shake energetically for 15-20 seconds. Immediately strain and pour into a coupe glass.

3. Garnish with an orange peel, orange slice or homemade paper plane.

4. Sit back and savor a cocktail having incredible flavor complexity. 

Notes: (1) I used Russell's Reserve Bourbon Whiskey, (45% ALC/VOL, 90 Proof) as I am a big fan of small batch bourbons. But I would also recommend Breckinridge Bourbon Whiskey (43% ALC/VOL or 86 Proof), one having complex flavors that linger on your tongue. (2) You can find Amaro Nonino at any good quality liqueur store. A little expensive but it's worth every penny. (3) I bought these coupe glasses at Crate & Barrel.