June 2012
3 posts
THE BEST BUTTERMILK WAFFLES
                                      MAKES 3-4 The secret to great waffles is a thick batter, so don’t expect to pour this one. Make toaster waffles out of leftover batter—undercook the waffles a bit, cool them on a wire rack, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze. Pop them into the toaster for a quick breakfast. INGREDIENTS 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon cornmeal (optional) ...
Jun 3rd
1 note
Glazed Salmon
                                      Serves 4 Use center-cut salmon fillets of similar thickness so that they cook at the same rate. The best way to ensure uniformity is to buy a 1 1/2- to 2-pound whole center-cut fillet and cut it into 4 pieces. Prepare the glaze before you cook the salmon. If your nonstick skillet isn’t ovensafe, sear the salmon as directed in step 2, then...
Jun 3rd
Crepes with Sugar and Lemon
                                        Serves 4 Crêpes will give off steam as they cook, but if at any point the skillet begins to smoke, remove it from the heat immediately and turn down the heat. Stacking the crêpes on a wire rack allows excess steam to escape so they won’t stick together. To allow for practice, the recipe yields 10 crêpes; only eight are needed for the filling. INGREDIENTS ...
Jun 3rd
April 2012
4 posts
Baked Pie Shell
                                     WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Any fresh fruit pie recipe needs a flaky, buttery crust to contain all of the fresh fruit being used. For a pie dough recipe that bakes up tender and flaky and rolls out easily every time, there is a magic ingredient: vodka. Using vodka, which is just 60 percent water, will give you an easy-to-roll crust recipe with less gluten and...
Apr 24th
Croissants
                                        Makes 22 croissants Twelve croissants are baked first; the remaining 10 can be frozen. The croissants take at least 10 hours to make from start to finish, but the process can be spread over two days. We strongly encourage using high-protein all-purpose flour, such as King Arthur, and European-style butter (we like Plugrá). If the dough retracts or softens...
Apr 24th
Perfect Scrambled Eggs
                                      Serves 4 It’s important to follow visual cues, as pan thickness will affect cooking times. If using an electric stove, heat one burner on low heat and a second on medium-high heat; move the skillet between burners for temperature adjustment. If you don’t have half-and-half, substitute 8 teaspoons of whole milk and 4 teaspoons of heavy cream. To...
Apr 10th
1 note
Easier Fried Chicken
                                       Serves 4 A whole 4-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces, can be used instead of the chicken parts. Skinless chicken pieces are also an acceptable substitute, but the meat will come out slightly drier. A Dutch oven with an 11-inch diameter can be used in place of the straight-sided sauté pan. INGREDIENTS 1 1/4 cups buttermilk  Table salt  Dash hot...
Apr 10th
March 2012
4 posts
Juicy Pub-Style Burgers
                                         WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Few things are as satisfying as a thick, juicy pub-style burger. But avoiding the usual gray band of overcooked meat is a challenge. We wanted a patty that was well-seared, juicy, and evenly rosy from center to edge. Grinding our own meat in the food processor was a must, and sirloin steak tips were the right cut for the job....
Mar 23rd
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
                                        Makes 16 cookies Avoid using a nonstick skillet to brown the butter; the dark color of the nonstick coating makes it difficult to gauge when the butter is browned. Use fresh, moist brown sugar instead of hardened brown sugar, which will make the cookies dry. This recipe works with light brown sugar, but the cookies will be less full-flavored. For our...
Mar 3rd
2 notes
Chicken Pot Pie
                                      Serves 6 This recipe relies on two unusual ingredients: soy sauce and tomato paste. Do not omit them. They don’t convey their distinctive tastes but greatly deepen the savory flavor of the filling. When making the topping, do not substitute milk or half-and-half for the heavy cream. INGREDIENTS Filling 1 1/2pounds  boneless, skinless chicken...
Mar 3rd
3 notes
Chicken Piccata
Serves 4 If you like, use thinly sliced cutlets available at many supermarkets. These cutlets don’t have any tenderloins and can be used as they are. INGREDIENTS 2  large lemons 4boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds), preferably kosher or Bell and Evans, rinsed, dried thoroughly, trimmed of excess fat, and prepared according to illustrations below  Salt and...
Mar 2nd
13 notes