Steamed Pudding with Hard Sauce

The past two days have gone by so quickly I am tempted to say it all feels like the holidays were a complete blur. But that sentiment would not truly reflect the memories permanently etched in my memory and all created over the course of a few days. At least for me, there is a frenetic hecticness to the holidays that can be simultaneously energizing and exhausting. But I wouldn't trade the two completely different and competing feelings for anything (well maybe I would give up some of the exhaustion). We are a family whose Christmas holiday is best described as one having a myriad of old traditions mixed in with the creation of new ones (wondering if the family can survive a second annual healthy competition checkers tournament next year). As the oldest sibling I love being the one to have the Christmas dinner. Fortunately my sister and brother have indulged me in this more often than not. And so in return for this gift they have given me I have tried to make the meal as well as the day as memorable as possible. Because at some point it is the experiences we have, not just the gifts we receive that remain with us (although receiving no gift at all might be one of those things stays with you for awhile or at least makes you wonder 'was I that bad this year?').

It was during the holidays, in the home of a very good friend, more than twenty five years ago that I first saw and tasted the Steamed Pudding with Hard Sauce. This feast for the eyes was as delicious as it was simply beautiful. Needless to say it was a memorable experience, one that I have tried to make a part of my Christmas dinner tradition.

I had all good intentions of posting this recipe yesterday but time kept getting away from me (yes, I know the road to 'hell' is paved with good intentions). But time may not be the only reason for the posting delay. It is one I will shamelessly admit to you now that uses a cake mix. Yes, it's true, I don't always follow the 'everything has to be from scratch' rule all of the time. Every once in awhile I do make something 'semi-homemade'. And as part of this culinary confession I must also admit that up until now I have always been a little reluctant to share this recipe (even though someone shared it with me) because I hadn't wanted everyone to know of my little rule deviation or spoil their experience of thinking they were having a Dicken's era confection. But after giving it some thought and in keeping with the spirit of the holidays, I thought I should be a little more giving and a little less guarded (selfish was the word I was thinking of actually).

I have used antique steamed pudding molds as well as my Williams-Sonoma non-stick steamed pudding mold in the making of this chocolatey confection. I don't believe Williams-Sonoma still sells these molds, however, a quick search on the internet showed they were still for sale out there. In spite of the fact that the Williams-Sonoma mold has a non-stick surface, I always, always spray it with a cooking oil and then lightly flour (a lesson learned the hard way one year).

So what is the secret ingredient that I have been so reluctant to share? Well, it is a regular 15.25 box of Devil's Food cake mix (not a pudding in the cake mix). Yes, a cake mix that transforms into something one would not think came from a box.

The cake mix ix made in accordance with the package directions and poured into the prepared mold. In a pot larger than the mold, you add enough water on the bottom to cover 1/3 of the pan. I use my All-Clad pasta pot but any large stockpot with a lid will work. The pudding mold is sealed and placed in the water where it is cooked on simmer for 90 minutes. It is important that the pot has a good lid as you do not want the steam escaping. Before I began using my All-Clad pan I had a pot where I had to place weights on top of the lid to ensure the steam would not escape. This worked, but I was always worried the weights would fall off and someone would get hurt (that someone being me).

Periodically check to see if you need to add more water (always add very hot water so you don't reduce the temperature of the water) as it is important to maintain a certain amount of water in the cooking process.

After 90 minutes, the steamed pudding is removed from the pot and placed on a cooling rack (remember to also remove the pudding lid) for about 15 minutes before you unmold. You don't want the cooked 'pudding' to cool for more than 30 minutes or it may be difficult to unmold (another painful lesson learned one year). The steamed pudding will still be slightly warm when you carefully unmold.

The hard sauce is kind of like a frosting served on the side. Made of unsalted butter, almond extract, milk, confectionary sugar and a pinch of sea salt, it is the perfect accompaniment to the steamed pudding. Some will prefer to enjoy the Steamed Pudding all on its own while others will like the contrast of pudding and hard sauce flavors on their palate. Personally, I like the Hard Sauce with this steamed pudding. The hard sauce can be made early in the day, but allowed to sit out for at least one hour before serving so it still has a hard, yet creamy consistency.

Serve the Steamed Pudding warm or at room temperature. If you make it early in the day but want to serve it warm, simply reheat on low in the microwave. Whether you make it for Christmas or for any other occasion, it will be one of those memorable desserts. And whether or not you choose to keep its' ingredients a secret the first time you serve it to family and friends is all up to you. Just remember, sometimes a little mystery is a good thing (at least for a little while).

Recipe 
Steamed Pudding with Hard Sauce (a recipe shared by a very dear friend along time ago)

Ingredients
Steamed Pudding
A 15.25 ounce box of Devil's Food Cake Mix (made in accordance with package directions). Hint: Do not use the pudding in the mix cake mix.

Hard Sauce
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons almond extract
2 Tablespoons whole milk
1 to 1 1/2 cups confectionary sugar (added gradually)
pinch of sea salt 
Optional: Add one teaspoon of chopped crystallized ginger for a gingered hard sauce.

Directions
Steamed Pudding
1. Pour prepared cake mix into a prepared (oiled and floured) steamed pudding mold.
2. Place mold in a deep pot. Put enough water in pot so it covers 1/3 of the mold. Place lid on pot and simmer for 90 minutes. Periodically check to make sure you have enough water in pot. If you need to add more, make sure the water added is hot.
3. Remove steamed pudding, remove lid and place on a cooling rack. After 15 minutes carefully unmold onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Hard sauce
1. In a small bowl, mix together the unsalted butter, almond extract, milk, pinch of sea salt and 1 cup of confectionary sugar until well blended and smooth. If hard sauce is too creamy add up to an additional 1/2 cup of confectionary sugar. 
2. Serve immediately or refrigerate. If refrigerated, allow to sit out at least one hour before serving. Restir the hard sauce.

In the first annual checker tournament this year, I lost in the second round to my youngest brother. I allowed myself to get distracted and suddenly went from potentially winning to losing. So before the final championship round took place we all sit down to dinner. At the end of dinner I said to my brother's friend how sorry I was that this would be the last time she would be invited to the Christmas dinner. After a planned short pause, I said 'that would be because my youngest brother didn't allow his oldest sister to win the checker's match.' I really, yes really was teasing (partly because as being the hostess I didn't think I should win any tournament, particularly one I created and wrapped the prizes for), but we are a wickedly competitive family, particularly when playing games with one another. Where that competitiveness came from I do not know, but I am convinced it is in our DNA as it appears to have passed down through the generations (although the younger generation has turned this competitiveness, thankfully, toward athletics and academics).

I think we all create or sustain a certain competitive spirit in our families. Whether it is ensuring that everyone gets the 'same or equal' number of gifts (a delicate balancing act for parents) or reinforcing loyalties to certain sports teams by buying their paraphernalia or attending sporting events or supporting family members in their competitive endeavors or even matching one's wit against anothers, possessing a certain level of competitiveness can be a good thing. Like most things it is all about finding the right balance of healthiness and unhealthiness. I am glad we are a family that can play together and against one another without any serious casualties (don't think for a moment there isn't a fair amount of teasing that takes place when one 'loses'). But I can predict now that next year my even more competitive than I sister will ask if we are having the Christmas checkers tournament again as she will not want to go into any game again not having played it in years. Next to being competitive we can sometimes be a little predictable. None of my siblings would have ever predicted the Steamed Pudding with Hard Sauce wasn't completely made from scratch. Just like too much competitiveness, too much predictability isn't always a good thing either.

A Rich Hot Chocolate

Starbucks once served a rich thick hot chocolate drink they called Chantico, described as a 'drinkable dessert'. The first time I drank this wickedly delicious, rather decadent concoction was on a warm day in San Antonio (where warm is really warm). We were walking along the Riverwalk and decided to stop at the Starbucks to get something to drink. A cup of hot chocolate wasn't what we were going in for but the idea of drinking a hot liquid chocolate was too much to pass up. Seriously, in just one sip I thought I had time traveled back to the time of the Mayans and Aztecs where chocolate (in a hot liquid form) was considered food for the Gods. Taking this temporary fantasy a little further, I thought maybe my love for this rich hot chocolate was connecting me to an inner Mayan Princess.

Thank goodness the serving size was small (I think it was only 6 ounces) as had it been any larger it would not be an indulgence but an over the top, almost too much extravagance. Yet ever since having that hot chocolate (it has since been discontinued by Starbucks) nothing I tasted seemed to compare or at least come close to putting me into such a chocolate intoxication, fantasy inducing state. Then one day I came across a recipe for a classic hot chocolate created by Mindy Segal, former pastry chef at MK (one of my most favorite restaurants in Chicago), and now owner of Mindy's Hot Chocolate (an award winning restaurant, dessert bar). Like the Starbuck's Chantico, it is rich, thick and served in small portions. Sometimes a little goes a long way to satisfy a craving, to create a sense of euphoria, or to make you want to scream with pure childlike delight.  Suggesting just a little of something is a good thing might seem a little out of character for me as I have been known be a proponent of the mantra 'more is a good thing'. However, one can't be predictable all of the time.

Milk chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, whipping cream and whole milk are combined to make a hot chocolate to die for (in the figurative sense, although one sip and you might literally feel you have died and gone to heaven). This hot chocolate is so delicious it would be insane to wait for a cold day or night to enjoy it. If you have rules about when you drink hot chocolate, after you taste this, I have a feeling you will break them.

The quality of chocolate matters when making the base for the hot chocolate. (Doesn't quality almost always matter, particularly when making something with chocolate?) I like using Callebaut chocolate for the base (usually available at Whole Foods), however, Scharfenberger, Guittard, Valrhona and even Ghiradelli all make great quality milk and bittersweet chocolates. The milk and bittersweet chocolates are finely chopped, placed on a baking sheet and placed in the freezer for approximately one hour.

Working in two batches, the frozen chopped chocolate is placed in a large food processor and pulsed until fine, even as possible granules. (During one of the batches add a pinch of Kosher salt.) Be careful not to over process as the chocolate could begin to melt from the heat of the food processor. Transfer the chocolate granules to a covered jar or container.

To make a cup of rich hot chocolate, heat 1/3 cup of whipping cream and 1/3 cup of whole milk in a small saucepan to just a boil (you will see a few bubbles). Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup of the chocolate granules. Allow to sit without stirring for 5 minutes.

Whisk the chocolate into the cream/milk mixture until smooth. Return to a low heat to rewarm the hot chocolate, stirring often. I have found that after the chocolate melts in the heated cream/milk mixture and is then whisked, it becomes a little lukewarm.

Pour the reheated hot chocolate into a mug, add an oh so slight pinch of sea salt and top with a homemade marshmallow. Then sit back, enjoy and savor this incredibly decadent, almost dessert like, hot chocolate. 

Recipe
A Rich Hot Chocolate (an oh so slight adaptation to Mindy Segal's Hot Chocolate recipe)

Ingredients
Hot Chocolate Master Blend
1 1/4 pounds high quality milk chocolate finely chopped
6 ounces high quality bittersweet chocolate finely chopped
pinch of Kosher salt

One cup of Rich Hot Chocolate
1/2 cup of the hot chocolate master blend
1/2 cup whipping cream 
1/2 cup whole milk
an oh so slight pinch of sea salt
1 marshmallow (homemade if you can find them or make them)

Directions
Hot Chocolate Master Blend
1. Place finely chopped chocolates on a baking sheet and freeze for approximately one hour.
2. In a large food processor, process half of the mixture to fine, even granules. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with remaining mixture. (Do not process too long or chocolate may begin to melt from the heat.)
3. Store Hot Chocolate Master Blend in a tightly covered jar. Use as needed.

One cup of Rich Hot Chocolate
1. Bring 1/3 cup whole milk and 1/3 up whipping cream to just a boil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan. Remove from heat.
2. Add 1/2 cup hot chocolate master blend to hot milk mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes (do not stir).
3. Whisk until smooth. Return to heat on low to rewarm (mixture will cool slightly when taken off the heat). 
4. Pour hot chocolate into mug and add an oh so slight pinch of sea salt. Top with a homemade marshmallow. Sip slowly and enjoy.

The other day I spent almost an entire afternoon wrapping presents. When I shared how I spent part of my day with one of my friends she said 'What the hell did you buy?' It was a rather fair question, but for once there was no relationship between the number of gifts bought and the time spent wrapping them. I tend to fuss over the wrapping of gifts as much as I fuss over picking them out. Like food presented beautifully on a plate or the table, even the simplest of gifts seem to be transformed when beautifully wrapped. It's that little attention to detail that for me says 'you matter' just as much as the gift itself matters.

One year I remember making wrapping paper where everyone's package had their initials stamped on them (those Martha Stewart days are over or on hiatus for awhile). Another year I had found some beautiful antique blue velvet ribbon to use for the packages of gifts of friends (I have become a little more selective over the years over my ribbon choices for gifts after I saw the antique ribbon bunched up in the paper and thrown in the garbage). And then I once found the most beautiful three inch wide thick ivory satin ribbon. It was almost too beautiful to cut (but then why does one buy ribbon if not to cut it?)  So one Christmas I decided to wrap the gifts for my childhood best friend with it. The next Christmas that same piece of ribbon reappeared as it was used to wrap the gifts she had given to me. And for more than ten years, this single piece of ivory satin ribbon went back and forth on our gifts to one another each Christmas. (I may be the one responsible for misplacing that piece of ribbon thus bringing an end to what became a tradition for awhile). But for all of those years that single piece of ribbon made ordinary gifts seem extraordinary. And isn't that how we all want our friends and family to feel when we give them a present? Even a box of coal might go from being thought of as not such a great thing to receive as a gift to a fun, good, maybe even memorable one (or least you would hope so), especially if it is wrapped in pretty paper.

Viennese Finger Biscuits (Raspberry Filled)

When I hear the words 'stop yourself' or 'relax', I invariably know they are being directed at me (no matter how many other people are in the room). I always hear them, but often behave in ways that make the sender of these messages think I am ignoring them. And truth be told, I sometimes am (I silently wonder when they would just give up and allow me to be me or sometimes I just allow my eyes to widen when I hear those words). Why I am sharing all of this with you? Because even though I have already made a myriad of holiday cookies and confections, I cannot seem to stop myself from making another one (well I really can but don't want to). And because I have convinced myself there is no such thing as 'too much' sugary or chocolately cookie bliss during the holidays (or I am just a glutton for punishment).

Quite possibly these Viennese Finger Biscuits will actually put you in such a state of bliss that you too will be thankful you ignored either those external or internal voices saying 'stop yourself'. As a bonus, there are actually five different ways of making these biscuits (otherwise known as cookies on this side of the Atlantic Ocean). They can be dipped in chocolate only, they can have a wonderful buttercream filling and be assembled like a sandwich cookie (then dipped or not dipped in chocolate), or they can have a layer of your favorite preserves to go along with the buttercream filling (then dipped or not dipped in chocolate). In other words, the possibilities in how you assemble these cookies are endless. Since I tend to skew to the too much end of the continuum, I decided to make them two ways: with buttercream filling and dipped in chocolate and with raspberry preserves, buttercream filling, and dipped in chocolate. And sometimes I like giving others a choice.

The idea of simplifying the holiday baking lasted less than 24 hours with the making of these cookies. While not hard to make at all (seriously), there are several steps in the assembly process. Of all of the cookies I have made this holiday season, this one by far is off the charts as far as taste and presentation goes. They are rich, buttery and chocolatey. They are rule of three cookies amplified. If cookies were a form of currency these would be Franklins.

The dough is made up of only five ingredients: unsalted butter, vanilla, confectionary sugar, all purpose flour and self-rising flour. The use of self rising flour eliminates the need for any other leaveners (i.e., baking powder).

With the exception of the vanilla, all of the dough ingredients are weighed (we are back to the Thomas Keller style of baking).  The more I bake cookies with weighed versus measured (in cups) ingredients, I  become more and more convinced that weighing ingredients make for a more consistent, more perfect cookie.

In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, the unsalted butter and confectionary sugar are beat until light and fluffy. After both flours are mixed in, the vanilla is added. When everything is all blended you end up with smooth, thick dough. Important Note: The quantity of ingredients in the dough will yield approximately one dozen cookies. I strongly urge you to double the dough recipe (the filling ingredients do not need to be increased). If using a pastry bag to form the cookies, divide the doubled dough in half  (once you make these cookies you will understand why).

I used a pastry bag to form the Viennese Finger Biscuits (which was more of a workout than I thought). I don't have a cookie press (and don't want one), but if you have one, you might want to consider using it (unless of course your have good hand strength and want to burn a few extra calories). Using a medium star tip, the dough is formed into an even number of 2 1/2 lengths. The cookies will be sandwiched together so it is important to make your cookies as uniform as possible.

The Viennese Finger Biscuits are baked in a preheated 350 degree (F) oven for approximately 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom. Allow the cookies to remain on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack. Allow to cool to room temperature before spreading on the filling and/or preserves.

The buttercream filling for these cookies is made up of confectionary sugar, unsalted butter and vanilla. There will be enough filling for two batches of cookies. In addition to the buttercream filling you can also use some of your favorite preserves. My favorite is raspberry, but any berry preserve would work well. And for dipping the cookies I recommend using a dark chocolate.

Using an offset spatula or butter knife, carefully spread the buttercream filling on one side of a cookie. If you are making the buttercream and preserve variation, you will spread the preserves on the side of a second cookie. There is substance to these cookies, however, I urge you to be gentle when spreading on the buttercream. The last thing you want to do is break one of the cookies because you will end up with less finished cookies. 

Once you have decided which variation of the cookie you are making, you will bring two cookies together to form a sandwich (which is why it is important to have your dough lengths as uniform as possible).

Once the Viennese Finger Biscuits are assembled they are dipped in melted dark chocolate (milk chocolate doesn't seem to work here, but white chocolate would). The dipped cookies should be placed on a piece of parchment paper. Once the chocolate has set, transfer the cookies to a covered tin or serve immediately. During the holidays I often refrigerate my baked cookies and bring them to room temperature before serving. The refrigeration process seems to keep them fresher longer.

There are not enough words to describe how incredible these biscuits are, so I will simply say they are wicked (as in the good and not bad kind of wickedness). They are more than worth the time and effort that goes into making them. If there was ever a cookie to leave on the plate for the man in the red suit and white beard, then the Viennese Finger Biscuits would be the ones. You are bound to leave a lasting impression and pretty much guarantee he will be making an appearance next year. If you have someone in your life telling to you 'stop yourself' or 'relax', they will be eating their words once the take a bite of this cookie. 

Recipe

Viennese Finger Biscuits (Raspberry Filled) - (slight adaptation made to a recipe shared by Caroline Dooley, an Irish baker)
Makes 8 (good sized) sandwich cookies - Make smaller for a larger. yield

Updated December 2022

Ingredients
Dough (strongly recommend doubling this recipe as a single recipe yields only a dozen cookies)
15 Tablespoons (7 ounces/212g) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 ounces (58g) confectionary sugar
4 ounces (112g) self-rising flour
4 ounces (112g) all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Buttercream (not necessary to double the buttercream as there will be enough for two batches of biscuits)
6 Tablespoons (3 ounces/85g) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 ounces (174g) confectionary sugar
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

Chocolate (If doubling the dough, you will need to double the amount of chocolate)
4 ounces (112g) dark chocolate (recommend the Ghiradelli dark melting chocolate wafers)

Preserves

4 ounces (112g) raspberry preserves

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the all purpose, self-rising flours and salt until well blended. Beat in the vanilla.
4. Using a medium sized pastry bag with a medium to large star tip, pipe 2 1/2 inch lengths of dough.
5. Bake biscuits for approximately 15-18 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Let the biscuits remain on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a cooling rack and allow to cool to room temperature.
6. To make the buttercream icing, beat the confectionary sugar, vanilla and unsalted butter until smooth and creamy. The icing should be room temperature to ensure ease of spreading on the biscuits.
7. Spread the buttercream icing on the bottom on one biscuit. Place an un-iced biscuit on top to create a sandwich.
8. If using preserves, very lightly spread your favorite preserve on the bottom of a plain biscuit. Bring the buttercream iced and preserved spread biscuits together to form a sandwich.
9. Melt dark chocolate over a double boiler. Dip one end of the biscuit into the melted chocolate. Place dipped biscuit on a baking pan or cutting board lined with parchment paper. Allow the chocolate to set.
10. Transfer finished biscuits to a covered tin (if not serving immediately) or arrange on a platter.

Over the course of the past 'first' year of saltedsugaredspiced.blogspot.com, I have shared a variety of cookie, brownie, bar and candy confections with you. In retrospect I showed my affinity for chocolate and sea salt and yet managed to share recipes where butter, sugar and nuts were the focal points. My list of personal favorites changes from time to time and season to season, so I thought it best for you to have the complete linked list rather than share only the 'Lynn favorite at the moment list'.

The holidays are busy enough, so to save you some time as you make your baking and gift giving decisions the linked list below prevents you from having to search through the blog to find them. Hopefully you can turn this 'gift of time' into time spent baking or relaxing (for those of you who know the concept)!

Amy's Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies with Seal Salt, No Nuts
Chocolate Covered Cashew Clusters
Chocolate Covered Oreos, Sea Salted
Chocolate Whoppers
Cinnamon Glazed Pecans
Coconut Balls aka Better than a Mounds Bar
Cowboy Cookies
Decadent Chocolate Brownies
Decadent Magic 8 Ingredient Bars Served Chilled
Fruit and Nut Chocolate Bark with Sea Salt
Irish Shortbread
Meltaways
Over the Top Rice Krispie Treats
Sea Salted Caramels
Sea Salted White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Blondies
Sugar Meringue Walnuts
Sugar Saucers
Sweet Dream Cookies
White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Molasses Cookies
White Chocolate Dipped Pistachio and Dried Cherry Cookies
White and Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Meltaways

While I was on the treadmill at the fitness center this morning, trying hard to not pay too much attention to the distance gauge (so I didn't sabotage myself), I decided to focus my eyes on the television instead (a great distraction in keeping me from constantly checking how much further I was from my goal for the day). Somewhat serendipitously I caught the tail end of a segment about simplifying the holidays. Most of us fall somewhere along the two camp continuum, the too-much-have-to-do-it-all-perfectly camp and the relax-and-actually-enjoy-the-holidays camp. I haven't yet fully incorporated the concept of relax into my operational vocabulary, so I am one of with try do it all tendencies (shifting this pendulum remains a life goal). After my workout I had intended to bake some holiday cookies (one rather easy but with a myriad of steps). However, the simplification segment changed all of that. Instead I remembered I had a recipe for probably one of the simplest of all holiday cookies, the Meltaways, and that would be the one I would bake instead.

They are a 1 on an easy scale of 1 to 10, but a 9 on the deliciousness scale of 1 to 10. The only reason I am not giving them a 10 is that they do not contain chocolate (chocolate has a way of tipping the deliciousness scale for me). Meltaways are so aptly named, for the obvious reason, they literally melt in your mouth. They are a dense, yet not dry shortbread-like cookie containing toasted pecans and dusted with confectionary sugar. These would definitely fall into the visions of sugar plums cookie category.

It is a wonder I even found this recipe even thought I had probably written it for the tenth time on a piece of paper. I don't commit any recipes to memory and seem to often lose or rather temporarily misplace recipes (probably because they are not well organized). But it wasn't just getting my hands on the Meltaway recipe, it was being able to read it. Thankfully I must have written it when my handwriting was a little more legible (I have caused more than my fair share of administrative assistants to go temporarily insane trying to read my handwriting).

The simplicity of the Meltaways comes in its' ingredients as well as its' assembly process. Cake flour, unsalted butter, vanilla, toasted pecans, salt and confectionary are all you need to make these mouthwatering cookies. With the exception of cake flour, you probably have all of these ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator.

I will go on only a short rant about toasting your nuts before using them in any cookie dough. Toasting brings out the flavor of the nut and really does transform how your finished cookie will taste. The pecans in the Meltaways are first toasted and then finely chopped. When the amounts of nuts of relatively small, like 3/4 cup in this case, I like chopping them myself rather than using a food processor. One less thing to clean and then you don't miss out on the incredible aroma that comes from chopping them. There are a million recommendations for toasting pecans. I bake them at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes, which is long enough to bring out their flavor without burning or drying them out.

In most recipes calling for sifted flour, you sift after you measure the flour. But for this cookie, you sift first then measure. The use of cake flour makes for a very tender cookie. If you don't use cake flour on a regular basis, this cookie is worth adding it to your pantry.

Now for the super easy assembly part. Cream the unsalted butter, vanilla and one half cup of confectionary sugar. Gradually mix in the (sifted first, measured second) cake flour and salt. Mix or stir in the finely chopped toasted pecans. Your cookie dough is now finished. How simple is that? Because this dough is on the dense side, the cookies do not spread when baking. I generally prepare two parchment paper lined baking sheets but bake each baking sheet separately.

You can drop the dough by the teaspoonful on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or you can use a small ice cream scoop. If you use a spoon to drop the cookies, they will look like little mountains and when you use an ice cream scoop they will resemble little snowballs. Today I went for the snowball look.

These cookies are baked in a preheated 450 degree oven for approximately 7 minutes. I check for the light brown doneness on the bottoms of the cookies at 6 1/2 minutes. Then I decide how much longer I want to return them to the oven (which is anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds). The bottoms of these cookies brown up faster than the tops of the cookies, so always, always check the bottom to test for doneness. Baking at such a high temperature means your baking time isn't long and sometimes 30 seconds too long is enough to burn them.

While the cookies are baking have a strainer or sifter ready with confectionary sugar. As soon as the cookies are finished baking, transfer them to a cooling rack and then lightly dust with the confectionary sugar. You want to dust these cookies while they are still warm. Due to their size, they will cool relatively quickly.

Allow the confectionary sugared cookies to cool to room temperature before plating or transferring to a tin. I would suggest you make these cookies on a day when you don't have too many cookie stealing fingers hovering near the kitchen as this recipe makes approximately three dozen cookies. However, after you sample one or two of them while they are still warm, you will have slightly less than that amount (such a small reward for creating these delectable little bites of goodness and for shifting the holiday cooking baking needle in the direction of simplifying!).

Recipe

Meltaways (makes approximately 3 dozen little bites of deliciousness)

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter room temperature

1/2 cup sifted confectionary sugar, plus more for dusting

1 teaspoon Vanilla

2 1/4 cups cake flour (measured after sifting)

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a standing mixer or using a hand held mixer, cream together the butter, vanilla and confectionary sugar.

3. Add the salt and sifted flour into the butter mixture (add in gradually).

4. Stir in chopped toasted pecans.

5. Drop by teaspoonfuls or scoop into balls using a small ice-cream scoop. Place baking sheet in center of oven. Bake for approximately 7 minutes, checking at 6 1/2 minutes. The bottoms of the cookies should be lightly browned.

6. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and dust with confectionary sugar.

7. Allow to cool and plate or store in a covered tin or container.

The weather here has turned wickedly cold. I am not dreaming for a white Christmas (snow is already on the ground), but a slightly warmer holiday. I would be happy with temperatures in the 40s which isn't really warm, but at a certain point the perception of warmth is all relative. And a 40 degree day in the winter can feel downright balmy, except for those of you who grew up in or live in the warmer climates. Somehow I am thinking 40 degrees and balmy would not be words you would use in the same sentence.

Just like weather our perceptions of many things is all relative, usually based on our past experiences or expectations. How each of us views or approaches the holidays also changes as we get older or wiser (with age not a factor). Some of us move away from wanting gifts for ourselves toward having gifts given to others on our behalf. Sometimes I wish the ethic of humanitarianism came into my life at a much younger age. I have a friend who began teaching and emulating this value to her children when they were very young. It wasn't just when she started this, it was her year over year consistency. As a result, this importance of humanitarianism is one that remained with them. Yet beyond instilling a philanthropic ethic in her children, she permanently altered their perception of the concept of receiving to include not just tangible, but the equally important intangible gift of knowing you made a difference in the life of someone else. Whether or not we had role models in our life that shaped our perception of receiving, it is never too late to start shifting either ours or those of family members.

A Savory and Hearty Frittata

The first time I made the Hearty Frittata was when I was having a friend visit for the weekend. I wanted to make something different or I should say a memorable, amazing flavor, beautiful dish. The frittata made with challah bread, eggs, sharp cheddar cheese, mild Italian sausage, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, green onions and a little bit of half and half seemed to have it all and all in one dish! Not only did it turn out to be memorable and beautiful, it was a frittata that went beyond my delciousness expectations. Finding the perfect recipe to replace that same old, same old breakfast casserole or the incredibly delicious but insanely rich custard based french toast casserole was like finding the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I am probably the first person (okay maybe second or third) to run out and buy a new kitchen tool or gadget if it is called for in a recipe. Yet, for some reason when I found this frittata recipe (it called for a frittata pan) I showed restraint (something that happens a little too infrequently). Instead, I thought the recipe was easily adaptable to being baked in a cast iron pan. Okay, there are probably some of you don't have a cast iron pan, but I would urge you to run out, show no restraint, and get one! Why? Because it meets the 'rule of three'. The cast iron pan can withstand high temperatures, can be used for more than just making frittatas, and makes any dish presentation worthy. Convinced yet?

Whether served hot out of the oven, warm or at room temperature, the frittata was both filling and slightly addictive. The kind of addictiveness that happens when your stomach feels full but your mouth says 'I am not finished yet'.

The original recipe called for brioche. However, more often than not, finding it is a bit of a challenge. Unless of course I want to drive to three or four stores. I can be a little ingredient obsessive, but I have my limits. Challah is so much more readily available (usually found in the first grocery store I go to) and it works perfectly in this frittata. On the other hand, fresh eggs (my recently acquired ingredient obsession) are no longer readily available in the midwest where I now live. So while visiting friends in Rhode Island this past weekend I was over the top giddy to have scored fresh eggs (the ones with the deepest of yellow almost orange yolks) from my favorite chicken farmer. Of all of the purchases made over the course of several days, the eggs were hands down my most favorite (this wasn't the first time I brought back two dozen fresh eggs on the plane with me and it won't be the last). No, you don't need fresh eggs for this frittata, you only need ten large ones.

There are three cups of toasted bread cubes in the frittata. The loaf of Challah will yield almost double this. Any unused toasted bread cubes can be stored for use at a later time or you can just toast as much of the bread as you need.

Once the toasted bread cubes have cooled, they are mixed into with the eggs, half and half, cheese and green onions. The bread cubes need to be completely submerged as it is important for the bread be able to absorb the liquid. The entire mixture is covered and refrigerated for an hour.

Eight ounces of mild Italian sausage are sautéed in one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil until browned. Once browned the sausage is removed and placed on a paper towel to drain.

There are layers and layers of flavor in this frittata. A Spanish onion is thinly sliced and caramelized while mushrooms are sautéed until lightly browned and tender. When getting ready to assemble the frittata, the cooked vegetables are mixed with the sautéed Italian sausage, returned back to the pan and cooked until just heated through (about 1 to 2 minutes).

Remove the pan from the heat before mixing in the egg/cheese/bread mixture. Working quickly, stir until the sausage and vegetables are well distributed. In the preheated 350 degree oven the frittata is baked for 30 to 35 minutes or until it is puffed and lightly browned. I used a 10 inch cast iron pan to make this frittata. Baking time might change if you use a larger pan.

What I love about this frittata is that it can be served hot or warm and is still rather tasty at room temperature. So if you have never made a frittata before, let this be the one you make for your family and friends. This is one savory, satisfying and beautiful dish. And it might just make you give up your standard breakfast casserole recipe.

Recipe

Savory and Hearty Frittata (slight adaption to the Lodge Brunch Frittata recipe shared by Williams-Sonoma)

Ingredients

3 cups of brioche or challah bread with crust removed cut into 1 inch cubes 

10 large eggs, room temperature

1/4 cup half and half

1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion, both green and white parts (about 2-3 green onions)

6 ounces freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese 

8 ounces mild Italian sausage

1 medium sized spanish onion, thinly sliced

8 ounces Baby Bella mushrooms, thinly sliced

3 Tablespoons and 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil (divided)

Kosher salt and black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spread bread cubes on baking sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until the bread cubes are lightly golden. Allow to cool. (Note: Can be made a day ahead. Put cooled bread cubes in a sealed plastic bag.)

3. Lightly beat the eggs. Add half and half along with a pinch of Kosher salt and pepper. Mix until blended.

4.  Add cooled bread cubes, cheese and green onions to egg mixture mixing to ensure the bread cubes are fully coated. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

5. Add 1 Tablespoon of extra-virgin olive to the skillet turning the heat to medium high. Add mild pork sausage and cook until sausage is lightly browned (about 8 to 10 minutes). Remove sausage and place on a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.

6. Add a Tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet turning heat to medium high. Add onions and cook until onions are caramelized (stirring frequently). Takes 12-15 minutes. Remove onions and set aside.

7. Add a Tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet turning heat to medium high. Add mushroom and cook until lightly browned and tender. About 8-10 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.

8. Mix together the cooked sausage, caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms in the skillet. Cook until heated through (about 1 to 2 minutes).

9. Pour in egg/bread mixture and stir until sausage/vegetable mixture is evenly distributed.

10. Place in the preheated 350 degree oven and bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until top is lightly browned and puffed. Note: Another sign of doneness - the center of the frittata should bounce back.

11. Remove from oven and serve. Can be served hot, warm or at room temperature.

Note: Sausage, onions and mushrooms can be made a day ahead. Cover and place in refrigerator. Reheating may take slightly longer than 1 to 2 minutes.

Years back when I was first began buying antiques I became friends with someone who imparted her years of buying and collecting wisdom with me. Wisdom which ultimately guided most of my furniture purchases. We were at an antique show in Maryland (a whirlwind antique buying weekend trip) when I found a painted blanket chest. I was on the hunt for one and was bound and determined to come home with one. So when I found a blanket chest in original paint I was ecstatic. That is until my friend Randi said 'so where are you going to put that orange painted blanket chest?' I shared I wanted for the family room (but really I just wanted it). Then she said 'where else could you use it?'  Taken back a little by the question, I responded to her question with a question 'Why would I have to think about where else to use it?'. 

And that's when she imparted her 'rule of three' wisdom with me. 'If you can't think of three different uses or places in your home for a piece of antique furniture (beds don't fit this rule), think long and hard before buying it, especially if it comes with a large price tag. But if there are three different uses or places for it, don't even think twice, it is something you should buy', she said. 

Needless to say I didn't come home with the orange painted blanket chest that weekend (thankfully in retrospect) but rather I came home with the 'rule of three' wisdom that guided many of my subsequent antique furniture purchases. I have since tried to generalize this wisdom to other things, things even as small as buying a cast iron pan or in hiring a staff member. I don't follow it religiously (you know the old exception to the rule rationalization), but when I do, I have never regretted the purchase or the decision.