The Season for Entertaining

Does this cheese platter situation look familiar?  We're more than a week into December, which means the onslaught of holiday parties and cocktail hours is upon us.  Each and every year we're back to the pattern - attempting to get through the month unscathed on the scale while still taking part in the revelry of season.  It can be achieved if you play the game smartly: keeping your eyes on the New Year's resolution prize and staying mindful of just how much booze, brie, bacon-wrapped dates and bourbon balls you're actually downing over the next few weeks.  And as a disclaimer, I love all of the aforementioned items.  I'll be posting tidbits and tactics throughout the month on how to avoid the holiday weight gain, which as studies tend to show, is actually just a single pound for many Americans.  Unfortunately, the catch is that we often don't shed that pound and it turns to 5 or 10 extra pounds as the years pass.  I'll also be posting how I  myself am celebrating the season and what I'm up to in the kitchen (LOTS of good stuff coming after this Friday, trust me).  To start us off, a quick photo above showcasing simple, but elegant entertaining with the cheese board.  Extra little accents can take you a long way - from adding a touch of freshly cracked black pepper to honey, to stacking crostini toasts (slice a baguette and toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes at 350).  Here I've also got a newly discovered delicious cheese Ascutney from Vermont - you'll find it at Whole Foods and New Amsterdam Market - and fresh ricotta to pair with maple-rosemary roasted pears.  I swear they're incredibly easy and will stun anyone who tastes them.  Slice up a pear or two, drizzle with a teaspoon or two of good maple syrup, sprinkle a pinch of fresh rosemary and roast at 375 for about 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown and soft.  All the tastings that are pictured above are displayed on a slate cheeseboard by Brooklyn Slate Company - easy and gorgeous. 
On another note, for all of you who like your cocktails but not all the extraneous holiday calories multiple nights in a row, reach for a glass of champagne when in doubt.  It's a genius call at 85 calories per glass and who doesn't love a little bubbly every now and then?!
Stayed tuned for more recipes this week...a killer osso buco is on tap and is perfect to warm you up on a chilly winter evening.

In the Kitchen :: Pear, Ginger & Cardamom Muffins

Taking some time off to relax by mode of baking always brings back fond memories on a cozy autumn afternoon.  Peering over the countertop as I teeter on my tippy-toes in my mother's kitchen, helping to stir the batter and of course taking a good lick or two of the spatula.  A mix of sugar and spice that fills a room with love and warmth...it certainly takes you back to childhood and makes you appreciate the little things in life.  And thus, the "little" mini muffins above came to be late last week when I was in need of a little comfort and some down time.  One base batter recipe, two variations bursting with fall fruit and lots flavor.  And I will happily report that these muffins are a) made entirely with whole wheat flour - and are still light and moist (a notable feat in baking), b) are lower in sugar with a swap of agave nectar and c) are the perfect portion, mini but satisfying -- one or two and you'll be just fine.  Serve 'em warm with a dab of maple butter or cooled with plain yogurt for a great breakfast and you'll be whisked away to your own blissful autumn moment. 


Whole Wheat Muffins with Pear, Ginger & Cardamom
makes 22 - 24 muffins


6 ounces plain yogurt
1 egg 
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup agave nectar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour *I use King Arthur brand
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 pears, peeled, cored and diced
2 tablespoons candied ginger, minced
turbinado sugar for sprinkling


Preheat oven to 375.  Lightly grease a mini-muffin pan.  
Whisk yogurt, egg, melted butter, agave nectar and vanilla together in a mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk flours, baking powder and soda, salt, cardamom and brown sugar 
Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the wet ingredients.  Mix in the pears and ginger.  
Spoon batter into the muffin cups and sprinkle with turbinado.  Bake for 28 to 30 minutes.  To ensure doneness, stick a toothpick in the center of a muffin, it should come out clean.


Whole Wheat Apple-Cinnamon Muffins

makes 22 - 24 muffins

6 ounces plain yogurt

1 egg 

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup agave nectar

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour *I use King Arthur brand

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

2 apples, peeled, cored and diced

turbinado sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375.  Lightly grease a mini-muffin pan.  

Whisk yogurt, egg, melted butter and agave nectar together in a mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk flours, baking powder and soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar. 

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the wet ingredients.  Mix in the apples.  

Spoon batter into the muffin cups and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.  Bake for 28 to 30 minutes.  To ensure doneness, stick a toothpick in the center of a muffin, it should come out clean.

Post-Thanksgiving Round of Recipes

Better late than never! I decided to test a new round of recipes this Thanksgiving, and I can happily say that they were mighty tasty and didn't last long on the holiday table. Here's a smattering of the dishes I contributed to the meal -- in addition to my mother's infamous stuffing and roast turkey *(which by the way, she did something different this year and roasted the turkey at a super high temp - 450 degrees. the birdie took half the time, about 2.5 hours and was perfectly golden crisp and moist).

Simple Pear and Pecorino Salad

We had so much food this year at the table, but my cousin still insisted I prepare her favorite holiday salad. So, of course, I obliged. Can never go wrong with a few extra greens. I decided to keep things simple though and pared down my standard Thanksgiving salad. Quick and easy, this is a great way to get some fall flavor into a starter salad.

Serves 8

1 1/2 bags mixed greens or baby spinach

2 bosc pears, stemmed and cut into thin slices

Pecorino romano shavings *use a vegetable peeler

for nice thick shavings -- about 3/4 cup worth or enough to sprinkle throughout the salad

Dressing:

1/2 tsp minced shallot

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp Champagne vinegar

3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Whisk dressing ingredients all, pouring olive oil in a slow drizzle until well blended.

2. Arrange salad and drizzle dressing over as needed.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic-Glazed Pecans

Makes 6 to 8 servings

1 pound Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed (cut the sprouts in half if they’re medium to large or leave whole if they’re small)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

salt to taste

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

¼ cup chopped toasted pecans

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.

2. Place the Brussels sprouts in a large bowl. Toss with the olive oil and season with salt.

3. Transfer to a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the leaves are browned. Shake the pan to keep the sprouts from sticking about halfway through.

4. In a small saucepan, simmer the balsamic vinegar with the honey for about 5 minutes to reduce a little. Pour the reduction over the pecans and stir to coat. Toss the glazed pecans with the sprouts.

Pear Tart with Spiced Caramel Sauce

Ask any of my family members, and they'd likely say that this was the best creation of the holiday. Pretty on the table, it's a light dessert that will go super fast (I almost didn't get a slice myself!). I crafted the recipe from two different recipes off of Epicurious.com (I know, it was a pear-heavy holiday for some reason). Acclaimed pastry chef (and James Beard award winner), Karen DeMasco's sable` tart crust might just be the perfect crust with the inclusion of almond flour. I'll definitely be making this one again.

Tart crust:

• 2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk

• In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, and salt.

  In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and confectioners' sugar. Mix on medium-low speed until well combined, about 4 minutes. You can also use a food processor to mix the dough, pulsing on and off for about 2 minutes.

  Mix in the egg and then the yolk, allowing each to be incorporated before adding the next. In two additions, add the flour mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.

  Turn out the dough onto a clean lightly floured work surface. Divide it in half, shape into flattened disks, and wrap each one in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight. (The dough can be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before using.)

  Poached pear topping:

  3 ripe red D'Anjou pears, peeled and left whole

  3 cups water

  1 cup white wine

  Place pears in a large pot with water and wine and simmer at a medium-low heat. Poach for about 20 to 25 minutes until soft.

  Allow pears to cool, stem and slice thinly

  Spiced caramel sauce:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 whole clove
  • 5 cardamom pods
  • 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks

  Put granulated sugar in a 2-quart heavy saucepan and crumble brown sugar over. Melt sugars, undisturbed, over moderate heat until granulated sugar is mostly melted. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until a deep golden caramel. Carefully pour in cream (**note that the mixture will bubble up and caramel will harden slightly**) and stir in clove, cardamom pods, fennel, peppercorns, and cinnamon sticks. Simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved and sauce is reduced to about 1‚ cups, about 10 minutes. Pour sauce through a sieve into a 2-cup measure and cool to just warm.

  Assembly:

  Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Roll out one disc of dough onto a 12" tart pan with removable bottom. Fork a few holes in the crust and spoon a thin layer of the caramel sauce onto the dough. Arrange the pear slices, fanning them in a circle as in the photo. Drizzle additional caramel over top of the pears. Bake the tart for about 35 to 45 minutes until golden brown. Garnish with a few fresh cranberries or crushed almonds.