Friday, June 7, 2013

Where to begin!?

Many people ask how I got started in baking.  I got started baking very young with a small cookbook my mother got me that had EASY RECIPES FOR YOUNGSTERS or something like that.  My Mom, always full of encouragement when it came to creative endeavors, hooked me up.  I had real metal cookie cutters and measuring spoons and THE FIRST THING I EVER BAKED WAS...................Biscuits. 
I am, was and always will be A BISCUIT FANATIC!

 

Oh the fluffy, warm, melt-in-your mouth moment of biscuit impact is THE BEST!  Butter and Raspberry Preserves for me please.
 

So here is a super basic biscuit recipe and you should find a little person and teach them how to make them because THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!


2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed 
2 teaspoons baking powder 
1 teaspoon kosher salt 
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into 1/2-inch pieces 
1 cup cold buttermilk
 
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.  ALERT ALERT ALERT!   425 in an uncalibrated oven is dangerous!!!  You may want to do 400 degrees to be safe.
  2. Whisk the measured flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl to aerate and combine. Add the butter pieces and toss to just coat them in the flour mixture. Place the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes.
  3. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, and working quickly so as not to soften the butter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it’s in pea-size pieces. Drizzle in the buttermilk and stir just until a moist, shaggy dough comes together.
  4. Generously dust a work surface with flour. Scrape the dough out onto the surface and dust the top with more flour. Using floured hands, gently pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick circle.
  5. Using a 2-1/2-inch round cutter dipped in flour, cut out as many biscuits as possible (press straight down through the dough—do not twist the cutter, or the biscuits will not rise properly). Transfer the biscuits to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 1 inch apart. Gather the scraps into a ball, pat it into a 1-inch-thick circle, and cut out more biscuits. Repeat as needed until you have 8 total. Discard any remaining dough.
  6. Bake until the biscuits have risen and are golden brown on top, about 15 to 16 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMY!!!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

A Beautiful Salad

Foreign Affairs Wine Bar and Bistro in Manchester - by- the-Sea offers a simple menu.

This is their Chopped Salad. A daily chef's choice of fresh ingredients. This one had beets, shallots, blueberries and herbed goat cheese. It was absolutely lovely.