Some Many Recipes, So Little Time

I may have a food blog addiction.  I am currently following over 20 different food bloggers on a daily basis.  Logging into my Google Reader and getting the daily rundown is now part of my routine.  I follow bloggers that write about everything from clean eating (Gracious Pantry) to baking (Brown Eyed Bakers) to vegan (Engine 2 Diet) to breads (Wild Yeast) and a little bit of everything in between.   When I see a recipe I want to try I will copy the URL into an email and then email it to myself.   Recently, I discovered that I had a large number of recipe emails.  So, here is a list of Summer recipes you should give a try:

Smitten Kitchen: Tzatziki Potato Salad: a new twist on a summer classic.

Mississippi Kitchen: Layers of Love Torte: a calorie BOMB but I sent this to my brother because it looked like something he would devour and still stay incredibly skinny (I hate him for this).

Annie's Eats: Mexican Lasagna: a little odd to mix mexican and italian but I sent this to my friend CT.  It totally looked like something she would enjoy.

Brown Eyed Baker: Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: I will make these.  Yum!

Let me know if you give any of these a try.  I'd love to hear how the recipe turns out for you.

Cookbook Shopping Spree

I recently went on a bit of an Amazon.com shopping spree for some new cookbooks.  I only bought three new books but they are three thick, intense books full of some really great recipes and even better insight.

Here is what I bought:

The Bread Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart
This is a textbook on how to make unbelievable bread.  I first came to know Peter Reinhart's recipes when I made his Blueberry Bagels from scratch.  The bagels were so good I nearly shed a tear.  Reinhart's book is filled with beautiful images, easy to understand instructions and great insight into the science and chemistry of baking.

How to Cook Everything- The Basics by Mark Bittman
Mark Bittman is one of my all time favorite food writers.  I follow his column in the New York Times and have made countless recipes he has recommended.  What I really like about Bittman is that he always has a good story behind the food he is cooking.  Also, Bittman's push for a more responsible food philosophy is something I respect.  This cookbook on the basics is just that: basic.  However, it covers a wide variety of food, techniques and preparations and is something no kitchen should be without.

The Complete America's Test Kitchen Cookbook
America's Test Kitchen is one of my favorite shows on television. (Thank you PBS!).  Their scientific approach to recipes and food is fascinating to me.  Additionally, since every recipe is tried, tried, and tried again in the test kitchen before printed in this book you are almost guaranteed a foolproof recipe.  The book also includes the Test Kitchen taste tests and product recommendations to ensure you buy the best of everything from chocolate chips to stockpots.

I strongly recommend all three of these books.  If you have any additional recommendations for me, please send them my way!

Flappers

Last weekend, JQ, Lukey and I had breakfast at Colossal Cafe in St. Anthony Park (website found here).  It is the cutest place owned by one of our former high school classmates.  My review of her place, "oh. my. gawd!"

If you are in the tri-state area you need to make your way to Colossal!  Everything was amazing.  The space is cute, the people are friendly, the coffee is strong (and there are self-serve refills!), all the food is homemade delicious and the menu is filled with great cafe/diner comfort foods.  There was one item in particular that I have seriously been thinking about ever since we left.  That item is the Flapper.

A Flapper is a yeasted pancake.  It is lighter than a normal pancake and has much more flavor.  I also thought the texture was far superior.  Instead of being soggy like a normal pancake, this held its form and had something like a crust on it.  I consider myself somewhat of a pancake connoisseur and will rate these Flappers as the best darn pancake EVER.

Here is a recipe I came across for yeasted pancakes.  I am going to attempt to make these at home but will definitely also return to Colossal very soon.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart

• 
  

• 1 1/2 cups milk

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 1 package active dry yeast

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• 3 large egg yolks

Directions

Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until lukewarm ( or microwave for about 20-30 seconds). Transfer milk to a large bowl, and stir in sugar and yeast. Let stand until creamy, about 5 minutes.


Whisk in flour, salt, butter, and egg yolks until batter is smooth (don't overstir). Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Transfer bowl to a warm place (I always use my unheated oven); let dough rise until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours)


Heat griddle to 375 degrees. Using a 2-ounce (1/4-cup) ladle, pour batter onto griddle, creating several pools, 2 inches apart. Cook pancakes until bubbles form on the top and the edges are slightly dry, about 3 minutes. Using a spatula, flip pancakes; cook until golden on bottom, about 1 1/2 minutes.  Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve warm.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Hola!

Saturday is Cinco de Mayo! That is the fifth of May for those of you who are not bilingual....
I will be spending the day brewing cerveza with my hermano Lukey and attending a few fiestas.

Here are some great recipe recommendations to celebrate the day:

Margarita Spritzer: from Skinny Taste, this is a lower calorie adult beverage.  It looks very refreshing and a little strong.  If you make these, remind your guests to sip.

Bobby Flay Guacamole: this recipe makes a lot of Guac' and yet I still have never left a party without the bowl licked clean.

Carnitas: if you are cooking for a crowd try this recipe from Pioneer Woman.  The spicy pulled pork is so good in a tortilla with some crunch napa cabbage and salsa on top.  This is also a very low maintenance recipe.

Margarita Cookie Bars: a very festive baked good!

Cilantro Lime Fish Tacos: I originally posted this recipe for a lenten Friday option but it is good year round.

Chicken Salsa Chili: another great make ahead option.  Serve this with some tortilla chips and cilantro.

¡Salud!

Trader Joe's Cookie Butter

Yesterday, during my weekly visit to Trader Joe's, I found the ever elusive Speculoos Cookie Butter.  As the shelf was still well stocked, I bought two jars.

Cookie Butter is a peanut butter or nutella replacement.  Instead of a nutty flavor, Speculoos Cookie Butter tastes like gingersnap cookies mashed into a smooth spread.  If you ever fly Delta airlines the Biscoff cookies they give out have a similar flavor. It is a good, rich, molasses flavor with just enough sweetness.

Since acquiring my very own jar of cookie butter I have been eating it on pretzels, graham crackers, with apple slices and on toast.  It is only 90 calories a serving so is a low calorie alternative to peanut butter but still really delicious and satisfying.  I've also come across a variety of baking recipes that feature this cookie butter as a star ingredient and hope to give those a try soon.

So, keep your eyes out and snag yourself a jar of Speculoos Cookie Butter.