Monday, February 16, 2009

02.14.09: be mine!

valentine's day 2009



02.12.09-02.13.09 : commuting




Westport to Boston, en route

02.07.09 : spicy


"killer" roll- spicy tuna, shrimp, topped with tuna and jalapeno - Wasabi, Dartmouth

Saturday, February 7, 2009

02.07.09 : saturday brunch



spicy bloody mary at Masa - South End, Boston

Monday, February 2, 2009

01.30.09 : stromboli / calzone



prosciutto, salami, spinach, ricotta stromboli/calzone.

*RECIPE:
store-made pizza dough
fat-free ricotta cheese
salami
prosciutto
baby spinach leaves
reduced-fat shredded four cheese mixture
olive oil
tomato sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
Split package of dough in half and roll out each portion flat.
Spread light layer of tomato sauce if making Nate-calzone style. I like my sauce on the side.
Layer salami and prosciutto and smear ricotta cheese over cold cuts. 
Top with spinach and light sprinkle of season and four cheese mix.
Roll jelly-roll style for stromboli OR just fold over once for calzone.
Brush on light coating of olive oil, sprinkle of four cheese, and Tuscan seasoning.
Place on foil-lined cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown or until it is crusty to your liking.
Enjoy!



02.01.08 : cupcakes




Guinness chocolate cupcakes, filled with bittersweet fudge ganache, topped with Bailey's Irish Cream frosting and shaved Lindt dark mint chocolate.

*RECIPE:

cupcakes:
1 cup Guinness
1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1.5 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
ganache filling:
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp butter, room temperature
frosting:
2 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
4 tbsp Baileys Irish Cream

cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tin with liners. Bring Guinness and  1 cup butter to summer in large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add Guinness-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter among cupcake liners, filling them 3/4 of the way. Bake cake until tester inserted into center come out clean, rotating them once front to back if your over bakes unevenly, about 17 minutes. Cool cupcakes on a rack completely. 

filling: Chop the chocolate and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until summering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then stir until smooth. If this has not melted the chocolate, return it to a double-boiler to gently melt what remains. Add the butter and stir until combined.
Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped. Meanwhile, cut centers out of the cupcakes. Put the ganache into a piping or plastic bag and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

frosting: Whip the butter with an electric mixer for several minutes until light and fluffy. Slowly add powdered sugar until sweet to taste. Add Baileys and whip until combined. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle shaved chocolate. 

Enjoy!