Everything (But the Kitchen Sink) Cookies

I have been having some serious cravings for a cookie loaded with chocolate and nuts, but I have quite the mish-mosh of ingredients on hand. After the cravings didn't subside, and Mikey started getting them too, I just decided to throw whatever I had into the batter and the results were outstanding!
These cookies are not for the faint of heart as the ingredients list (at least of my own mix-ins!) is overwhelming, to say the least, but the flavor! Oh the flavor is stupendous! So many textures and tastes! Every bite is something new! Enjoy these with a big mug of milk.

Everything (But the Kitchen Sink) Cookies

makes 2 dozen cookies

ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 3/4 cup salted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp vanilla paste
• 4 cups of mix-ins (I used chopped semisweet chocolate, chopped bittersweet chocolate, chopped white chocolate, chopped pecans, and sliced almonds)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flours, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars for a couple of minutes until thoroughly combined. Add in the whole egg, yolk, vanilla extract, and vanilla paste and beat until combined. Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Stir in your desired mix-ins.
4. Scoop 2-3 tablespoon sized onto the prepared baking sheets about an inch apart. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool further.

A Valentine's Feast Part 2- Dark Chocolate Souffles with Cardamom Crème Anglaise

This is Part 2 of my Valentine's Day feast that I made for my boyfriend Mikey and I. This is the dessert! The main course can be found in Part 1.

The Souffles turned out fantastic which was especially exciting since they are the first souffles that I have ever made, but it's the Crème Anglaise that really stole the show! I loved the sweet sauce with the bittersweet souffles! I will absolutely be making these again. I loved how easy it was for me to just make them ahead of time and then just pop them in the oven when we were ready for them! The best part is, you can just pour the Crème Anglaise into an ice cream maker and it will turn into glorious cardamom ice cream- which I have not yet tried, but am certainly looking forward to with our leftover custard.

Oh, also, WHY HAVE I NEVER COOKED WITH CARDAMOM BEFORE?! Seriously... it may be my new favorite spice.

Dark Chocolate Souffles

recipe from here

ingredients:

• 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup + 3 tbsp caster sugar
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 large egg yolks
• 5 large egg whites
• 1/4 tsp coarse salt
• Cardamom Crème Anglaise (see below)

1. Place the chocolate and butter in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of the sugar, flour, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
3. In a small sauce pan, bring the milk and vanilla to a boil. Gradually whisk the hot milk mixture into the sugar mixture until combined. Return mixture to sauce pan and cook over medium-high heat until a thick paste forms, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Scrape this mixture into the bowl with the butter and chocolate and stir until the chocolate is melted. Finally, add in the egg yolks and stir until the mixture appears shiny and creamy (This can be made up to 2 days ahead of time; press plastic wrap onto actual surface of souffle base and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing with recipe.)
4. Butter eight 3/4 cup souffle dishes and dust with sugar. Set aside on a rimmed baking sheet.
5. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or by hand with a hand-held mixer), beat the egg whites until frothy. With the mixer running, add in the 3 tbsp of sugar, and then the salt. Beat just until soft peaks form.
6. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate souffle base until well combined. Gently fold the remaining egg whites in just to blend (it's okay if some white streaks still remain).
7. Divide the batter among the prepared dishes (this can be done 2 hours ahead of time; let stand at room temperature until ready to bake). I filled mine only about 3/4 of the way full so they wouldn't puff over the sides too much.
8. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
9. Bake the souffles on a baking sheet until puffed above rim of dish and edges are set, about 12 minutes. The tops should be flat. Serve immediately with Cardamom Crème Anglaise.

Cardamom Crème Anglaise

recipe from here

ingredients:

• 2 tbsp whole green cardamom pods, crushed
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1/4 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 4 large egg yolks

1. Place the cardamom pods with seeds in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Stir until pods brown, about 5 minutes. Add milk, cream, and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Scrape the vanilla seeds out of the bean and into the pan. Add in the scraped-out bean. Bring mixture to a boil.
2. Whisk the egg yolks and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a medium-sized bowl. Gradually whisk in half of the hot milk mixture, tempering the egg yolks. Pour everything back into the sauce pan and stir over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon- do not boil (when you run your finger across it, the custard should not run).
3. Cover the mixture and chill until cold, about 3 hours. Strain into a medium pitcher, cover, and refrigerate (this can be made up to 2 days ahead of time).

There are a bajillion delicious calories in this dessert :D.

A Valentine's Feast Part 1- Filet Mignon with Mushroom Brandy Sauce and Mashed Potatoes with Pancetta and Leeks

I like to make Valentine's dinner for Mikey and myself because I think it's more special than going out. Last year I made an Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb, Hasselback Potatoes, Lemon-Butter Green Beans with Pine Nuts, and Mocha Pots de Crème. It turned out delicious but I was still fairly new to cooking and I recall feeling pretty stressed. This year I decided to take on a bit more since I'm now more comfortable in the kitchen. I chose recipes that I could prepare a couple of hours ahead and just let stand at room temperature until I was ready for them. It made everything so much simpler!

The meal (FEAST!) was so incredibly good. I was actually really surprised by how wonderful it all turned out! It was truly a special treat and I think that Mikey honestly appreciated a lot :).  

The sauce for the filets was to-die-for. It would be good on anything and I loved how it soaked into the potatoes. Oh the potatoes! Let's just talk about those babies for a second. They had a nice woody flavor from the time that complemented the mushrooms in the sauce in a beautiful way. The pancetta imparted such a tasty savory flavor that paired nicely with all of the veggies within the potatoes (BTW these potatoes got my boyfriend eating both leeks and zucchini which he hates!). They were the perfect accompaniment to the juicy filet (which I perfectly cooked to a glorious medium-rare despite the fact my thermometer would not read anything besides 100 degrees). I HIGHLY recommend this meal, and just wait until you see dessert (coming in Part 2)!

Filet Mignon with Mushroom Brandy Sauce

recipe adapted from here

ingredients:

• 2 filets (I got a 6 ounce for me and an 8 ounce for Mikey)
• coarse sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup chopped shallots
• 2 big handfuls crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tsp dark brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup low-sodium beef stock
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• fresh chives, to garnish

1. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add in the shallots and mushrooms and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the brown sugar and stir for about a minute. Add in the chicken broth, beef stock, and brandy and simmer until the sauce is reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Add in the cream and stir. (This sauce can be made 1 day ahead. If making ahead, cover at this point and chill until ready to use.)
2. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Melt the other tablespoon of butter in a medium to large skillet over high heat. Add in the steaks and sear on all sides, DO NOT TOUCH STEAKS WHILE SEARING (I seared mine for about 4 minutes per side, and then just quickly seared the edges). Transfer steaks to a plate and and top with aluminum foil to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. 
4. Pour the sauce into the skillet that you just cooked the steaks in and be sure to scrape up and browned bits in the pan. Bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
5. Serve steaks with Mashed Potatoes with Pancetta and Leeks (below), spoon sauce over top, and garnish with chives.

Mashed Potatoes with Pancetta and Leeks

recipe slightly adapted from here

ingredients:

• 12 ounces yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled (this doesn't look like a lot but it's more than enough for two people)
• 3 ounces sliced pancetta, chopped
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup chopped leeks, white and pale green parts only
• 3/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 cup carrot, diced into 1/4 inch pieces
• 1/3 cup zucchini, diced into 1/4 inch pieces
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook potatoes in a pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, saute pancetta in a large skillet over medium- high heat until crisp. Remove from skillet and set aside on a small plate.
3. Add one tablespoon of the olive oil to the same skillet. Reduce the heat too medium-low and add in the leeks and dried thyme. Saute until the leeks are tender, about 5 minutes. Add in the carrot and saute for another 4 minutes. Finally, add in the zucchini and saute about 1 minute longer, until veggies are crisp-tender.
4. Drain the potatoes. You can peel them now too if you wish but I like my mashed potatoes with skin-on. Return the potatoes to the same pot, add in the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and mash away! Stir in the pancetta and vegetable mixture and season with salt and pepper. (This can be made up to 2 hours ahead of time. Keep at room temperature until ready to use and then reheat over low heat.)

No calorie calculations for this meal :)! Valentine's Day is a day for indulging.

TKO's for Valentine's Day!

So, TKO's may actually stand for Thomas Keller's Oreos, but I think it should stand for Total Knock Outs because man-oh-man these are sinfully good! I decided to alter them a bit for Valentine's Day and cut them into heart shapes and dyed the filling pink (aw).
These seriously are so unbelievably delicious. I wouldn't say that they really taste like Oreos at all (another reason they should be called "Total Knock Outs" and not Thomas Keller's Oreos!), but something even better! The crisp salty, chocolate cookies complement the creamy white chocolate center so delectably! 
Plus, they make a pretty cute Valentine's Day treat! Serve these with a nice big glass of milk and give in to your sugary cravings.

How completely GORGEOUS are these photos?! My brilliant boyfriend Mikey took them :)

TKO's

recipe from Thomas Keller's Essence of Chocolate through here

ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups + 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 15 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into 3/4 inch cubes at room temperature
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces white chocolate, chopped
• gel food coloring (optional)

I think it's clear who took these photos, lol- yours truly.

1. For the filling: In a small sauce pan, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from heat and add the chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute and then whisk until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl and let stand at room temperature for 6 hours to thicken up.
2. For the cookies: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt on low speed. With the mixture running, add in the butter, a piece at a time. After about 2 minutes, the mixture should start to cling together in pebble-sized pieces. At this point, stop the mixture and transfer the dough to a surface (I poured mine onto a counter covered in wax paper).
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your baking sheets with either silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside.
4. Separate the dough into two pieces and roll each piece of dough out between two pieces of parchment paper to 1/8 inch thick. Stamp out shapes using cookie cutters. Place 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating half-way through. Remove from oven and cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. 
6. To assemble: Lightly whip the white chocolate cream to aerate (add in your food coloring now if using). Transfer the filling to a pastry bag and pipe roughly 1 1/2 tsp onto the center of one cook and top with another, pressing down lightly until the filling comes to the edges.

Like I said before, you won't find any calorie counts for holiday treats here. That just wouldn't be right!

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

I've been really wanting to try my hand at baking and decorating sugar cookies for a while now and I thought around Valentine's Day would be the perfect time because a) I would have a theme, and b) I can give them as gifts! I'm shipping these out ASAP :) (yes they will be a bit late for the holiday but I doubt the recipients will mind much once they see/taste them)!

I think they turned out really nice! I know they aren't as pretty as those of someone who is more experienced, but for my first time I think they look great.

Oh, and besides looking cute, they taste great too! I attribute that to the 2 tablespoons of brandy in the dough, yummm!

Make these for your sweetie this Valentine's Day; you won't regret it (and if you do, you are free to come here and tell me all about it, ha ha)!

Thanks to my Valentine, Mikey for these beautiful pictures. I need him to teach me to take better photos myself, hah!

Sugar Cookie Dough

recipe from Martha Stewart

ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp brandy
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar for about 5 minutes. Add in the egg, brandy and vanilla and mix until combined.
3. Add in the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and separate into two equal sections. Roll each into a ball and flatten into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheets with silicone mats of parchment paper and set aside.
6. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters and place cookies onto prepared baking sheets an inch apart.
7. Bake only until barely lightly-golden- about 10 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Royal Icing

recipe adapted from Joy of Baking

ingredients:

• 440g (4 cups) confectioners' sugar
• 30g (3 tbsp) meringue powder
• 1/4-3/4 cup warm water (make sure to have two consistencies of icing- one stiffer for lining your cookies, and one runnier for flooding)
• gel food colorings

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or you can do this by hand with a hand-held beater), combine the sugar and meringue powder. Add in the water and beat on medium to high speed until glossy and stiff peaks form- 5 to 7 minutes. You can add more water or sugar to get the consistency you desire.
2. Stir in the food coloring in small batches (as a reminder, a tiny, tiny bit goes a long way with gel food colorings- we're talking pin pricks here).
3. Transfer stiffer icing to piping bags for lining cookies and squeeze bottles for the runnier flooding icing.

*This icing needs to be used right away or stored in an airtight container since it hardens when it is exposed to air.

No calorie counts for holiday treats. C'mon you can indulge a bit ;) Just don't overdo it :P