Walnut Banana Bread

I live in a frozen tundra now. Dangerous wind chills, icicles, and snow are turning me into a hermit. The mere thought of having to leave the house has me frozen in place. Looking at the inventory of food in the house it looks like my diet will consist mostly of oatmeal, eggs, nuts, dark chocolate, wine, and a fresh baked loaf of Walnut Banana Bread if I was forced to remain in hibernation for some indefinite period of time. Not exactly bad options for a hermit living in the return of the ice age. 

Apparently my stint as an ice cream scooper at Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors during college may have foreshadowed my new stint as a Banana Bread recipe maven. The recipe for this Walnut Banana Bread puts me 26 recipe versions away from reaching the magical 31. Having posted the Spiced Pecan Banana Bread recipe just three months ago, I should probably lock the doors (and throw away the key) to the banana bread test kitchen for awhile for so many reasons. But mostly importantly because we all need time for this one to receive more than its' fair share of some well deserved love and attention.

I either learn something new each time I made a new recipe or come to realize technique matters as much as the quality of the ingredients. Being reminded how the best results often come from the use of the simplest techniques is the kind of lesson we all need to (re)learn every now and then.

All you need to make this Walnut Banana Bread is a bowl and spoon. In other words, there is no need to pull out the mixer. And rather than combine all of the ingredients at once, as is in the case of most quick breads, the wet ingredients (egg, melted butter, vanilla, and mashed bananas) are mixed together before the dry ingredients are added in. Mixing the wet ingredients first helps to ensure you don't over mix the dry ingredients. Which generally results in a bread with a dry, tough, dense crumb. If you use a heavy hand when making a banana bread, you end up with a not so great heavy bread. While using a lighter hand gives you a moist, tender, perfectly textured one.

I could have made this banana bread with chopped chocolate instead of the walnuts or with both chocolate and walnuts. Instead I decided to go the toasted walnut route. To toast your walnuts, place them directly on a baking sheet (no parchment paper) in a preheated 350 degree (F) oven for 10 minutes. Let cool completely and coarsely chop.

Adding a banana on top of the Walnut Banana Bread is one of those finishes that make simple look extravagant. And when combined with topping the banana bread and sliced bananas with some sparkling or sanding sugar, you are stepping into heavenly territory. But sprinkling a little more of either sugar on top of the bananas after the bread bakes puts this Walnut Banana Bread in a league of its' own. Definitely deserving of a four star rating. Skip the bruleeing part, and you have the 3 1/2 star version.

So you might be wondering, which of the five banana breads now posted to the blog is my favorite? I will answer it by saying this one is my current favorite. It would be the one I would want to take with me to Siberia, the Arctic Circle, Antarctica, the top of Mount McKinley, or here in Chiberia. Spring is just 49 days away. This Walnut Banana Bread won't last that long. I hope I do.

Recipe
Walnut Banana Bread 
Makes one 9" x 5" loaf

Ingredients
5 overly ripe bananas, divided
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (8 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 generous teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup walnut halves, toasted, and coarsely chopped
Optional: 1 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips
Optional: 1 - 2 Tablespoons Sanding or Sparkling sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a 9" x 5" inch metal loaf pan with parchment paper. Butter any exposed sides. Alternately line only on the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment cut to fit. Spray the sides of pan with vegetable spray. Set aside.
2. In a medium sized bowl, mash 4 bananas with a fork.
3. Add eggs, vanilla, and melted butter. Using a large spoon, stir to combine.
4. Add in the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir just until combined and no streaks of flour remain. Do not over mix.
5. Gently fold in the chopped walnuts. (Or chocolate chips if using)
6. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with an offset spatula or back of a large spoon.
7. Cut the remaining banana in half lengthwise. Carefully place on top of the banana bread.
8. Sprinkle with sanding or sparkling sugar, if using. 
9. Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake for 60-75 minutes or until golden brown, rotating the baking pan midway through the baking process. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clear.  Note: My baking time was 62 minutes.
10. Remove banana bread from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Allow to rest for 20 minutes before removing from the pan and slicing.
11. Serve in thick slices.
12. Cover the cooled banana bread with plastic wrap or aluminum foil if not serving immediately. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator. Warm slices in the toaster or in the microwave before serving.

Notes: (1) To send this Walnut Banana Bread further over the top, sprinkle on some additional sanding/sparkling sugar over the banana slices. Using a kitchen torch, brulee the sugar.  (2) Four bananas should yield about 1 1/2 cups of mashed bananas. If it's a little more, don't worry. But if it's a lot less, add more mashed banana.

Triple Berry Dutch Baby

If anyone would have asked me if I had plans for posting any new recipes for Dutch Babies I would have said anything is possible. However, with one savory and five sweet Dutch Baby recipes already posted to the blog I would have silently thought it wasn't likely to happen anytime in the foreseeable future. But strange things happen when you put your conscious and subconscious thoughts out in the universe. Over the past several weeks, I had been visually bombarded with images of Dutch Babies. Or at least my eyes kept being drawn to them. Which led me to wondering if I should tinker with my existing recipes. Even though all of the Dutch Baby recipes already in existence on the blog are all really, really good ones, maybe I could make one even better than really, really good?  Maybe. Like some say, anything is possible.

There were many similarities between all of my Dutch Baby recipes. The amounts of flour and amount of milk always had the same proportions. If one was 3/4 of a cup, the other one was as well. I had previously used as little as 1/2 cup and as much as 3/4 cup of each. The number of large eggs used ranged from 2 to 3. While the amount of sugar was as little as 2 Tablespoons to as much as 1/3 cup. There was minimal variability in the amount of vanilla, salt, or butter used. Could changing out some or all of the amounts of the key ingredients result in an even better Dutch Baby? The question was which one or which ones should change. If I approached this scientifically I would have had to make more than a dozen Dutch Babies, keep detailed notes on the obvious and subtle visual differences between them, and hope my taste testing palate was sensitive enough to differentiate between all of the variations. This would not be that kind of scientific endeavor. 

Instead I would look for inspiration from other recipes, then use my Dutch Baby experiences and preferences to guide my recipe change decisions. 

After all was said and done, I ended up increasing the number of large eggs from 3 to 4, decreasing the amounts of milk and flour to 2/3 cup, decreasing the amount of sugar to 1 Tablespoon, and increasing of vanilla to 2 teaspoons. This Dutch Baby would be topped with some softly whipped heavy cream and sifted confectionary sugar. And then with not one, not two, but three kinds of fruit. Blueberries, blackberries, and luscious, slightly luxurious, intensely flavorful seedless stemmed Amarena cherries.  The cherries alone would make this an off the charts Dutch Baby.  Although if the pancake turned out to be a bust, even the cherries wouldn't be able to save it.

I have learned a few things over the years of making Dutch Babies. Mixing the pancake ingredients in a blender for no less than 45 seconds but up to a minute is one of three essential keys to its success. Pouring the batter into a hot cast iron skillet with melted butter really does make a difference. Keeping the oven door closed for the first 15 minutes of baking time helps ensure it won't deflate before its' done baking.

One one last bit of Dutch Baby wisdom. Before placing it in a preheated 450 degree (F) oven, position your rack in the middle of the oven.

Baking time for this Triple Berry Dutch Baby ranges from 20-25 minutes. While it's baking in the oven, whip your heavy cream and get your fruit ready. You want to be able to put the finishing touches on it almost immediately after you remove it from the oven.

Visually this Triple Berry Dutch Baby is a swoonworthy feast for the eyes. Taste wise you might find yourself momentarily speechless. Although don't be surprised if there are some at your table doing their best imitation  of that memorable restaurant scene from "When Harry Met Sally". Only there won't be anything fake about their table performance. Seriously, this is a really, really, really, really good Dutch Baby. Even without the amarena cherries. However, if you have never tasted these cherries before, you are in store for a cherry eating euphoric experience. You will be as obsessed with them as you will be with this Triple Berry Dutch Baby.

There is almost nothing more impressive than being served or serving a Dutch Baby for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or even dinner. And there is almost nothing easier to make. The magic created with a few simple ingredients (eggs, butter, flour, sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk) will definitely have you believing anything is possible. 

Recipe
Triple Berry Dutch Baby (inspired by multiple sources)
Serves 3-4

Ingredients
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
4 large eggs, room temperature
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla 
1 Tablespoon caster or superfine sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 pint each of fresh blackberries and blueberries
16 ounce jar of Amarena or Luxardo pitted cherries
2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks
Confectionary sugar for dusting

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees (F). Place rack in the center of the oven.
2. Melt two tablespoons of butter and set aside for use in the batter.
3. In a blender, combine the eggs, milk, sugar, flour, vanilla, salt, and slightly cooled butter. Pulse for 45 to 60 seconds or until batter is smooth and there are no traces of flour lumps. Set aside.
4. Place the other two Tablespoons of the unsalted butter in a 10" cast iron pan. Put pan in the oven to enable the butter to melt. Check pan at the two minute mark. If not completely melted, check again in every minute until the butter has melted. 
5. Once the butter has melted, immediately pour the batter into the hot skillet and close the oven door. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the pancake is lightly browned and fully puffed along the edges as well as in parts of the center. Note: Do not open oven door during the first 15 minutes of baking.
6. Remove the Dutch Baby from the oven. Sprinkle with confectionary sugar. Top with the lightly whipped cream, and fruit. Serve immediately.

Notes: (1) I used Trader Joe's Amarena Cherries for this Dutch Baby. (2) A 10" inch cast iron skillet (measuring the bottom interior surface) is the perfect sized pan for this Dutch Baby.

Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal North Pierhead Light, Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin (2019)

Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake

Every time I see some incredulously captivating, droolworthy landscape photos I have a strong urge to pack up my car, channel the inner Ansel Adams lying somewhere within, and go on a solo photography adventure journey. A backroad road trip with a plan subject to detours, preferably one heading west. However, I usually manage to repress those impulsive thoughts, convincing myself without some sort of plan this might not be such a good idea. In a perfect world this would happen if I had driver who could stop on a dime, figure out how to park on the narrowest of roads, had the patience of Job along with the endurance of an ultra-marathoner, enjoyed drinking red wine, and was an engaging dinner companion. Clearly I am not expecting too much. So until such time I get the courage or good fortune to live out this fantasy, I need to keep finding other ways, ones relatively closer to home, to feed my insatiable need to capture landscapes and nature with my camera. What about you? Do you have some yet to be realized dreams? 

As you ponder that question, maybe you should sit back and enjoy something deeply chocolatey. Like maybe a slice of this Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake. Whether paired with a tall glass of milk or cup of coffee, eating cake made with not one, but three kinds of chocolate, is bound to bring irrepressible glee to your day. Could you pass up the chance to experience chocolate bliss?

If you are someone who gives yourself permission to indulge in chocolate, either in moderation or with reckless abandon, you absolutely need to have this Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake in your life. And guess what? The recipe makes not one, but two loaves! Which means you have one to save for later, share, or gift!

Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake is made with unsweetened cocoa and bittersweet cocoa and studded with semisweet chocolate chips. If that wasn't enough chocolate ecstasy, the addition of instant espresso (or instant coffee) and dark brown sugar in the cake batter further deepens the flavor of chocolate.

Assembling all of the ingredients before you begin baking anything, especially this Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake, makes such a difference. Taking out the eggs end butter the night before makes an even bigger difference.

I made only a few changes to Ina Garten's Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake recipe. I used instant espresso instead of instant coffee; used Ghiradelli unsweetened cocoa instead of Pernigotti cocoa; used bittersweet chocolate chips instead of chopping up a bar of bittersweet chocolate; toasted the walnuts before baking; and, topped the loaves with a small handful of chocolate chips before they went into the oven. 

The only thing I didn't do, but should have, was waiting for the cake to cool to room temperature before slicing it. But I didn't want to wait. So instead of beautiful smooth slices of cake, I ended up with both slices and crumbs. Note: The slices from the completely cooled to room temperature Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake were perfect.

The cake loaves bake in a preheated 350 degree (F) oven for 45-55 minutes. My baking time was closer to 50 minutes.

For as much chocolate as there is in this cake, it's not overly sweet, not overly rich. Yet it is deeply satisfying and more than enough to satisfy any craving you may have for chocolate.

I wouldn't be surprised if you go to bed dreaming about this Triple Chocolate Loaf Cake and wake up wanting a slice. 

Recipe
Triple Chocolate Loaf (inspired by Ina Garten's recipe for Triple Chocolate Loaf Cakes in her cookbook "Cook Like a Pro: Recipes and Tips for Home Cooks")
Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients
1 cup (16 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup boiling water
5 ounces (142g) bittersweet chocolate chips or roughly chopped chocolate
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon instant espresso or instant coffee
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, plus a small handful, divided
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
3 extra-large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line two 4" x 9" or 4 1/2 x 8 1/2" loaf pans with parchment paper. Spray pans with vegetable oil. Set aside.
2. Sift two cups of flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
3. Boil one cup of water. Pour into a 2 cup measuring cup. Add in bittersweet chocolate, instant expresso and cocoa powder. Stir until chocolate has melted. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes.
4. In a medium sized bowl, combine the semisweet chocolate chips, chopped walnuts and 2 Tablespoons of flour. Stir and set aside.
5. In the bowl of standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter, granulated sugar and dark brown sugar until fluffy (approximately 3 minutes).
6. Add in the eggs one at a time, beating until each is incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl between each egg addition.
7. Add the flour and chocolate mixture in thirds, beginning with the flour. 
8. Fold in the chocolate chip/nut mixture with a spatula.
9. Divide the batter equally between the two loaf pans. Smooth the tops with an offset spatula. Sprinkle the small handful of chocolate chips over the top.
10. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a tester inserted into the loaves comes out clean. Turn the pans midway through the baking process. Note: Baking time was closer to the 50 minute mark, but began checking for doneness at 45 minutes.
11. Remove from oven, set on a cooling rack for 30 minutes before removing the loaves from the pans. Cool to room temperature before slicing.
12. Cut and enjoy! Store the chocolate loaves covered either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. 

Notes: (1) If you are keeping the second loaf for yourself, wrap with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. (2) I used Ghiradelli's unsweetened cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate chips and semisweet chocolate chips. 

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse (1868), Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, Wisconsin (2018)

Herb Crusted Roasted Chicken

Recipes for Roasted Chickens are like recipes for Chocolate Chip Cookies. There are a bazillion of them. They come and go in our lives with irregular regularity. Some stay for long periods of time, while others are merely placeholders until the next 'best' one comes along. And even when we find 'the' one we fall deeply, madly in love with, our faithfulness is tested with each new roasted chicken recipe we come across. Even Ina Garten, who has made a countless number of chicken dinners for Jeffrey, has developed more than a handful of roasted chicken recipes over the years! Proof or rather reassurance that there is room in our lives for more than one roasted chicken recipe! 

When I first made "Roasted Chicken with Pan Gravy" (a take on Ina Garten's Perfect Roast Chicken recipe), I was smitten. It was everything I wanted a roasted chicken to be. Moist, flavorful, and consistently reliable. Then I came across Ottolenghi's recipe for "Roasted Chicken with Sumac, Za'atar and Lemon" and I was bewitched by the flavors a chicken roasted in 'exotic in my world' spices took on. Then somewhere along the way I was beguiled by Thomas Keller's Roasted Chicken recipe and I felt certain this was the roasted chicken unicorn. How could anyone not be lured into making the roasted chicken beating out seven other recipes to earn the distinction of Buzzfeed's "Best Roast Chicken of All Time". For varying reasons, I have loved all of these roasted chicken recipes.

So when a recipe for a very herbaceous chicken roasted at both high and medium heats came across my Instagram feed, I was intrigued. Was there room in my life for another roasted chicken? Spoiler alert: Yes, there was.

As with most recipes I come across, I kept true to most, but not all, of the ingredients and techniques. I decided I would not change the ingredient amounts for the herbs and seasonings. Nor would I change the cooking temperatures and times. However, instead of roasting the chicken whole on a rack, I would spatchcock it (i.e., remove the backbone), roast it flat in a cast iron pan, and let it rest for up to 20 minutes (instead of 10) before carving it.

If I told you this was the best roasted chicken I had ever tasted, well, considering all of my aforementioned musings, my credibility may be in question. So I will simply tell you this melt in your mouth, deeply flavored, moist Herb Crusted Roasted Chicken has earned a permanent place in my roasted chicken life. No more roasted chicken recipe surfing for me! (scout's honor) And, if my last meal included a roasted chicken, this would be the one. I am absolutely 99.9% certain of it!

On a cold winter's day, the aroma of an herb crusted chicken roasting in the oven is intoxicating. Great food does not need to be complicated or made with expensive, hard to find ingredients. It needs only to be beautifully presented and incredibly flavorful. In borrowing from words recently written by one of my friends, ordinary can indeed be extraordinary. This Herb Crusted Roasted Chicken is proof of it.

Recipe
Herb Crusted Roasted Chicken
Serves 4

Ingredients
1 Tablespoon dried sweet basil
1 Tablespoon dried Greek oregano
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
5 to 5 1/2 pound whole chicken
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Optional, but highly recommended: Slices of a baguette for mopping up the juices

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees (F).
2. In a small bowl, mix together the basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
3. Spatchcock the chicken (i.e., remove the back bone). Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
4. Spread the herb mixture evenly over the top of the chicken. Place chicken in a large cast iron pan or on a baking sheet. Drizzle half of the melted butter over the chicken.
5. Roast the chicken for 25 minutes. 
6. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees (F). Baste with remaining melted butter. Roast for an additional 40-50 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees (F) and/or the juices run clear when the chicken is pierced. Note: Continue basting the chicken with pan juices and melted butter every 15 minutes.
7. Remove chicken from oven, reserving drippings. Place on a cutting board and let rest for 15-20 minutes (or up 30 minutes if you like serving warmer than room temperature chicken).
8. Cut and slice the roasted chicken. Place on a platter and serve. Reheat the drippings and pour over the chicken. Sit back and savor every bite!

Notes: (1) If you have never spatchcocked a chicken before, this video will show you how. (2) If I made one big mistake when I made this Herb Crusted Roasted Chicken, it was not having a baguette or fresh no knead rustic artisan bread to mop up the drippings. It was a crime to leave those drippings on the platter!

Tortellini in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce

The weekend brought the return of snow and the first appearance of frigid temperatures. The kind of weather best enjoyed from the comfort of a warm house, the luxury of sitting with a good book near the fireplace, and the indulgence of savoring one's favorite foods. Having made a late Friday morning trip to the grocery store and welcoming the arrival of "Where the Crawdads Sing" early Friday evening, my body and soul had almost everything it needed. 

So while some of you were spending time deciding which things in your closets and drawers "sparked joy" and which could be discarded, I was finding pleasure in making an Herb Crusted Roasted Chicken and this Tortellini in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce. Both of which were relatively simple to make, elegant in their presentation, and definitely sparking euphoria on the palate. 

Prior to the Christmas holidays I went on the hunt for a scrap of paper holding a very old Bon Appetit recipe for Tortellini with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce (attributed to Baci Italian Restaurant in Huntington Beach, CA). It had been quite awhile since I had made it, but the memory of its' deliciousness was permanently engrained in at least three of my senses. After spending about a half hour going through all of my unorganized piles and folders of saved recipes, my mission was a success. Ensuring a memorable holiday meal for my family. The elation at finding the recipe was enough to temporarily quell my anxiety over the repeated failed attempts to bring some order to my recipe chaos. However, the day my relatively strong visual memory leaves me will be when I will finally no longer be able to procrastinate decluttering and letting go of decades of saved recipes.

In retrospect, I should have made the Tortellini in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce the 'star' of our Christmas dinner. Instead I forced it to compete with a Pork Tenderloin with Porchetta Rub, Spinach Stuffed Shells, Florentine Peas with Guanciale, and salad. Not ignoring the lesson learned from the holiday dinner, I paired this Tortellini in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce with only a Herb Crusted Roasted Chicken. It was the perfect coupling. 

There are three basic elements to this recipe: (1) the herby panko topping, (2) the sauce, and (3) the pasta. Not only does this dish take less than thirty minutes from start to finish, it may be one of the easiest pasta dishes to make. In spite of its' simplicity, the Tortellini in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce is a four star worthy pasta dish. With a combination of textures and flavors giving rise to the most celestial of meals, it is destined to impress your friends and family claiming to be connoisseurs and aficionados of Italian food. 

Because there are so few ingredients, their quality will have the most significant effect on its' success. When this recipe was first published, there was an extremely limited availability of 'fresh' pasta in the grocery stores. And the difference in taste between 'fresh' and 'frozen' tortellini is as significant to the difference between night and day. Additionally, access to good quality cheeses has also improved greatly over the years. Whether you use a softer gorgonzola or blue cheese, you want it to be creamy, milky, and silky. The Gorgonzola I used at Christmas was a little more piquant, crumbly, and firmer but the Blue Cheese I used this past weekend would be best characterized as a dolce version. Both created deeply flavored sauces, but if I had to lean in one direction or the other, I would skew to a Dolce Gorgonzola or Blue Cheese (see recommendations below).

Use either a cheese tortellini or a spinach and cheese tortellini. I am partial to the latter from both visual and taste perspectives. Most of the 'fresh' tortellini found in the refrigerated section of the grocery stores cook in approximately four minutes. I found a cooking time ranging between three and three and half minutes yielded a pasta somewhere between al dente and done. 

The gorgonzola cream sauce is made with only three ingredients: (1) cheese, (2) heavy whipping cream, and (3) freshly grated nutmeg. Although there is only about 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg in the sauce, it definitely enhances both the creaminess texture and taste of the finished sauce. It definitely does not overpower depth of flavor from the gorgonzola (or blue cheese). As tempted as you may be to leave it out, I would encourage you not to.

The luscious, velvety, warm sauce is mixed in with the hot, drained tortellini and topped with the herbed panko (or bread) topping, then placed in a preheated 450 (F) degree oven for five to six minutes. Just long enough for the topping to become lightly toasted.

If you are looking for an incredibly indulgent pasta and one delivering big on flavor, it is this Tortellini in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce. I won't lie to you. Compared to other pasta dishes this one is on the richer side. Served as a main course with only a salad or a side of protein (for those who like balance in their lives), it is the perfect dish for an epic dinner party, holiday party, or intimate gathering. And, if by chance, you are looking to make a fabulous Valentine's Day dinner, make this Tortellini in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce. Served with a great bottle of wine (or two) and finished off the meal with some Kahlua Affagado Sundaes and, well, everyone will be talking about your dinner for days, weeks, maybe even a lifetime.

Recipe
Tortellini in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce (inspired by a recipe found in Bon Appetit a very, very long time ago)
Serves 4-6 as a main dish, up to 8 as a side dish

Ingredients
Topping
1/2 cup panko or fresh bread crumbs
1 teaspoon freshly chopped oregano (or 1/2 teaspoon ried oregano)
1 teaspoon freshly chopped basil (or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil)
1 generous Tablespoon of grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Tortellini and Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/3 pound good quality (soft) Gorgonzola or Blue Cheese (such as Gorgonzola Piccante Gelmini or Point Reyes Blue Cheese), crumbled
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 1/4 pounds fresh cheese or spinach and cheese tortellini, (See Notes)

Directions
Topping
1. Mix all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Tortellini and Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees (F).
2. In a medium-sized saucepan, simmer whipping cream, cheese and nutmeg, stirring frequently until cheese melts and sauce is slightly thickened (approximately 10 minutes).
3. Cook tortellini until al dente (if fresh, approximately 3 to 3 1/2 minutes). Drain thoroughly and transfer to 9" x 11" baking dish (preferably cast iron or one that can tolerate high heat).
4. Pour cheese sauce over the tortellini, stir to coat.
5. Sprinkle the topping evenly the tortellini. 
6. Bake until the top is lightly toasted, approximately 5-6 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Notes: (1) If at all possible, look for fresh tortellini found in the refrigerated section in the grocery store. I used Rana's Spinach and Cheese Tortelloni and cooked it for approximately 3 1/2 minutes. (2) I found the Gorgonzola Piccante Gelmini at an Italian Speciality store and the Point Reyes Blue Cheese at Whole Foods).  Given the choice, I would either choose a younger gorgonzola or the Point Reyes Blue Cheese. (3) Any leftovers heat up beautifully in the microwave. (4) I made some changes to the ingredient amounts  from the original Bon Appetit recipe. Increasing the amount of whipping cream from 1 3/4 cups to 2 cups, increasing the amount of cheese from 4 ounces to 5-5 1/2 ounces, decreasing the amount of nutmeg from 1/4 teaspoon to 1/8 teaspoon, increasing the amount of pasta from one pound (16 ounces) to one and a quarter pounds (20 ounces), and using fresh instead of dried herbs in the topping.