02-15-10
Butter Buttermilk Biscuits (Regular, Lemon-Poppy, Herb-Gruyere, Cranberry-Walnut)
Makes ~15 biscuits
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter—10 tablespoons cut into 1/2-inch cubes and chilled, 2 tablespoons melted
1 cup buttermilk, chilled
Flaky salt, such as Maldon, for sprinkling
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425° and position a rack in the lower third of the oven. In a large shallow bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and fine salt. Add the chilled butter and use a pastry blender or 2 knives to cut the butter into the flour until it is the size of peas. Stir in the buttermilk just until the dough is moistened. Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Turn the dough out onto the surface and knead 2 or 3 times, just until it comes together. Pat the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick disk.
Using a floured 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter, stamp out biscuit rounds as closely together as possible. Gather the scraps and knead them together 2 or 3 times, then flatten the dough and stamp out more biscuit rounds. Pat the remaining scraps together and gently press them into a biscuit.
Transfer the biscuits to a large baking sheet and brush the tops with the melted butter. Lightly sprinkle the biscuits with a few grains of flaky salt and chill until firm, about 10 minutes.
Bake the biscuits for 20 minutes, or until golden. Let the biscuits cool slightly on the baking sheet before serving.
Make Ahead:
The unbaked biscuits can be frozen: Freeze biscuits in a single layer and transfer to a resealable plastic bag for up to one month. Bake straight from the freezer, adding a few minutes to the cooking time.
Biscuit Variations:
Sweet Lemon-Poppy
These lightly sweet biscuits are delicious served warm for breakfast, with a slathering of strawberry or raspberry jam.
Whisk 1/4 cup sugar with the dry ingredients. Stir in the grated zest of 1 lemon and 1 tablespoon poppy seeds just before adding the buttermilk. Sprinkle with sugar.
Herb-Gruyère (Pictured Above)
The herb-and-cheese combination is infinitely variable: Try cheddar and minced chives or chopped rosemary and Parmesan.
Stir in 1 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves, 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped sage leaves and 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese just before adding the cold buttermilk.
Savory Cranberry-Walnut
With crunchy nuts, sweet- tart cranberries and sautéed shallots, these make fantastic bread for turkey sandwiches.
Stir in 1 minced, sautéed shallot along with 1/2 cup each chopped dried cranberries and chopped toasted walnuts and a pinch of pepper just before adding the buttermilk.
06-21-09
Stir-Fried Beef, Broccoli, and Yams
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
3 tablespoons oyster sauce*
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 1-pound flank steak, cut in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 1/2 tablespoons Asian sesame oil, divided
4 cups broccoli florets (about 8 ounces)
1 8-ounce yam (red-skinned sweet potato), peeled, cut in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices
2 teaspoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
Directions;
Stir first 4 ingredients in small bowl until sugar dissolves. Set sauce aside. Place beef in large bowl; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add cornstarch and toss to coat.
Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in large wok over high heat. Add beef mixture; stir-fry until no longer pink outside, about 3 minutes. Transfer beef mixture to medium bowl. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet. Add broccoli, yam, and ginger. Toss to coat; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add sauce. Cover, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook until vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes. Add beef mixture. Toss until sauce coats beef, about 1 minute. Serve.
06-21-09
Curried Carrot Salad with Nonfat Yogurt
Makes 4 to 6 Servings
Ingredients:
3/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 large green onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 to 1 teaspoon curry powder
1 pound carrots, peeled, coarsely grated
1/4 cup dried currants
Directions:
Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Add carrots and currants; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
03-15-09
Beef Fried Rice
Makes 2 Servings
Ingredients:
1/3 pound(s) sirloin steak, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 tablespoon(s) plus 1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon(s) Asian sesame oil, plus a few drops
Dried red-pepper flakes
3/4 cup(s) long-grain rice
1/2 bunch watercress (about 5 ounces), tough stems removed
1/2 egg, beaten to mix
1 1/2 tablespoon(s) cooking oil
1 scallions including green tops, chopped
Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine the sirloin with 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil and a pinch of red-pepper flakes. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in the rice and boil until just done, about 10 minutes. Drain the rice and return it to the pot.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick frying pan over moderately high heat. Put the beef mixture in the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and just cooked, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove. Put the watercress and the teaspoon of soy sauce in the pan and cook until the watercress is just wilted, about 30 seconds. Remove.
3. Reduce the heat to moderate. Put a few drops of sesame oil in the frying pan. Add the egg to the pan and cook until just done, about 30 seconds. Remove from the pan and cut into thin strips.
4. Heat the cooking oil in the pan over moderately high heat. Add the scallions and 1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the cooked rice to the pan and heat, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, the beef, watercress and egg. Heat, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Drizzle the remaining teaspoon of sesame oil over the top.
5. Wine Recommendation: A California merlot, with its plum flavor and undercurrents of chocolate and herbs, makes a rich accompaniment to the beefy rice. As always with California wines, try to find one that is lightly oaked; a heavy oak taste tends to overwhelm food.