butter

Hibiscus-Vanilla Bean Shortbread

Heart Shaped Shortbread
By jgreghenry Published February 1, 2012
Prep time: 120
Yield:1 (Servings)

Ingredients:

  • 1 c unsalted butter at room temperature

  • 0.5 c plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 0.5 t kosher salt
  • 2 T dried hibiscus petals
  • 0.5 t vanilla extract
  • 0.25 vanilla bean, scraped

  • 2 c cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.25 c raw demerara sugar (if choosing the log option)
  • 1 egg white mixed with one tablespoon water for wash (optional)

Directions

In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and salt and cream a bit further, just until combined.


Using a mortar and pestle, grind the dried hibiscus into a rough, not too uniform powder. Mix it in to the butter mixture followed by, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean seeds, each seperately. At a low speed, mix in the flour until the dough is uniform. It will be quite crumbly. Wrap the dough as a flat disc and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.



Roll the dough to 1/2 inch thick and lay between two pieces of parchment. Alternatively, roll the dough into a 1 1/2 to 2-inch log and roll the log in demerara sugar. Freeze the sheet or log for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 325ºF.

Remove the dough and cut into desired shapes using cookie 1 to 2-inch cutters such (stars for the Holidays, hearts for Valentines day etc) while still frozen. Or slice the demerara crusted log into 1/2-inch slices. While still frozen, space the cookies on parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 1/2 an inch of space between cookies. Lightly brush the cookies with the well mixed egg wash for a shiny look, optional.

Bake the cookies for 15 minutes. Rotate the sheet pans and bake the cookies for an additional 8 to 12 minutes, until evenly golden brown.

Notes:

Dried hibiscus can be found in some Latin and Asian specialty markets. Dried rose petals (or hibiscus) from your own garden could be substituted.

Source: Adapted from Peels Restaurant & Bakery NYC

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Buffalo Dipping Sauce

sweet potato fries
By jgreghenry Published January 27, 2012
Prep time: 45
Yield:1 (Servings)

Ingredients:

  • 0.25 c unsalted butter, melted
  • 0.25 c sriracha hot saucesauce
  • 2 T tabasco sauce
  • 1 T cider vinegar
  • 1 T ketchup
  • 1 t vegetable oil for parchment
  • 2 large sweet potatoes, skins on, scrubbed and cut into 4-inch sticks, each 1/2 inch thick
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1 t kosher salt
  • 0.5 t fresh rosemary leaves, finely minced

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees with racks in the upper and middle positions. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and rub with oil.

Prepare the Buffalo Dipping Sauce: Whisk melted butter, sriracha sauce, tabasco sauce, vinegar & ketchup together in a bowl. Set aside.

Prepare the fries: Put sweet potatoes in a microwave-safe container, cover, and microwave 2 minutes. Stir gently, cover, and microwave 1 to 2 minutes more until pieces are pliable. Let rest 5 minutes covered; pour onto a platter to cool.

In a large bowl, whisk egg whites until frothy, add salt and rosemary, and whisk to blend. Working in batches, toss the sweet-potato pieces in the seasoned egg whites, letting the excess liquid drip back into the bowl. Place in a single layer on prepared baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes, then flip pieces over with a spatula. Rotate baking sheets from front to back and from one rack to the other. Bake until dark golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately with the Hot Buffalo Dipping Sauce on the side.

Source: Adapted from Martha Stewart

Asiago Mac and Cheese Pie with Truffled Potato Crust or Timballo di Maccheroni

27 Jan 2012
Asiago Mac and Cheese with Truffled Potato Crust

I have a not-so-classic Asiago Mac and Cheese Pie with Truffled Potato Crust for you today that could pass for a geography lesson, or maybe even a life lesson. It may seem like a simple but comforting baked pasta, but unique ingredients and an international pedigree make it something more too.

This "pie" is dense with penne pasta, creamy Wisconsin Asiago cheese and Tuscan kale. I have given it an Idaho potato crust that is scented with truffle oil. I call it a non-traditional pie, but it's really a variation on timballo di maccheroni, a traditional drum-shaped baked pasta dish from Naples and the surrounding Campania region of Italy. Some few years ago, in a movie called "Big Night," the preparation of a timballo di maccheroni was featured in a big way. It made a big impression on audiences. Me included. Recipes for timballi proliferated and suddenly the dish came to the attention of Americans. Since then I have made some variation many, many times. But the more I make it the more it becomes (at least in my mind) another great take on good ole Mac & Cheese. Another example of cross-cultural culinary calisthenics.

Sippity Sup Continues »
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Sippity Sup is Dark (Chocolate Truffle) Today

17 Jan 2012
chocolate truffle

I'm sorry. I know you came here today expecting something. After all, I'm a pretty regular blogger. I sorta stress out if I go more than two days without a new post.

But Sippity Sup is dark today. Very dark. That's right. There is nothing here and you are not reading these words.

Because starting midnight tonight (tomorrow? oh that's so confusing) you won't find any of the usual gorgeous photos or genius recipes on Sippity Sup, for 24 whole hours.

Instead, you'll be greeted with a message about anti-piracy bills (which you are reading now) that are topics of heated debate in the U.S. Congress– stirring opposition from tech companies in Silicon Valley and support from media companies in Hollywood.

Wikipedia, one of the highest-traffic sites on the Internet, will also shut down for 24 hours (copy cats) in protest of these laws. Their website says it would make it very difficult– maybe impossible– for community websites (such as Sippity Sup) to continue to operate.

The blackout starts at 12 a.m. ET on Wednesday. So you're probably not reading this now...

But I hate to leave you hungry so how about some deeply chocolate totally DARK truffles to hold you over? GREG

Thanks to CNN for all the facts I quoted here, practically word for word...

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Root-A-Toot-Toot-A-Baga: Rutabaga Puree

12 Jan 2012
rutabaga

Rutabagas are delicious. Especially this Rutabaga Purée with Brown Butter & Mascarpone. Let's just get that out of the way right now. Because no matter what I say about rutabagas from here on out, they're delicious. I love (and respect) them.

But you have to admit, rutabagas have a funny sounding, cartoonish name. The kind of name Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn or some other rascally Loony Tunes character might root-a-toot-toot about. So, you see, it's easy to make fun of them. Besides, rutabagas are silly looking too. Really silly looking. I'm sorry but it's true.

Let me tell you a funny story. I was in the market recently, checking out with just a few items. I hadn't bothered to get a basket and was sorta balancing a few awkward items in my hands. Oh, and I had a great big rutabaga tucked under my arm too. When it came time to pay, the cashier pointed under my arm and asked, “What’s that?” 

“A football”, I said. Well she laughed so hard she almost cried. At first I thought to myself, rather smugishly. "Gosh I'm funny". Then I realized it wasn't me that was so funny, she wasn't laughing at me. It was the rutabaga that had tickled her funny bone so completely.

Take a look, it's true– rutabagas are big ole monstrosities. The dirigibles of the veg world. The sheer audacity of their size, only adds to their irony. Because rutabagas aren't just delicious and hilarious. Nope. Rutabagas are really, really cheap. Meaning not only do they get laughed at, these root-vegetable monsters are often relegated to filler, whose only purpose is to bulk up a casserole, or stretch out some watery soup. But I bet if you'd just stop laughing long enough to taste a rutabaga you'd root-a-toot-toot too! GREG

 

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