Month: September 2017

“Stir Like Crazy” Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

THE BEST! Originally made by Quinn at Marn’s bday in Tahoe 😉 Get that stir on!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 14 Tbsp (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup chopped, toasted pecans (optional – but DO IT!)

STEPS

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large (18- by 12-inch) baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
  2. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.
  3. Add both sugars, salt, and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny.
  4. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using), giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.
  5. Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use #24 cookie scoop). Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets, 8 dough balls per sheet. (Smaller baking sheets can be used, but will require 3 batches.)
  6. Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

Pil Pil

Our favorite dish from Southern Spain! Gambas al Pil Pil!

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked medium shrimp, peeled, deveined
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 (1-inch) piece dried red chili pepper, seeded or 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Pinch paprika
  • Pinch Cayanne Pepper
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

Directions

  • Place shrimp in bowl; sprinkle with coarse salt and toss. Let stand 15 minutes. Pat dry. Heat oil in medium skillet over high heat. Add garlic, and dried pepper and stir. When garlic browns, discard it and the dried chili. Add shrimp; stir until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to serving dish with the oil. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley.
  • Serve with bread!

The BEST Whole Wheat Pancakes

Super delicious! Great with added cinnamon and chopped up apple!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1-1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 TBS honey
  • 2 TBS melted butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1-3/4 cups milk

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until mixed well.
  2. In a small bowl, light beat the eggs, vanilla, honey, and melted butter.
  3. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients and stir.
  4. Add milk and mix well, but do not over-mix.

To cook pancakes:

  1. Preheat griddle to 325 degrees and melt enough butter to cover cooking surface.
  2. Spoon batter onto griddle and allow to cook for a few minutes until slightly bubbly on top and then flip. Cook for a few more minutes.
  3. Serve with butter and warm maple syrup.

Slow Cooked Pulled Pork – Yum!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon (6g) kosher salt
  • 5 tablespoons dark brown sugar (2 1/4 ounces; 65g)
  • Large pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1g) ground fennel seed
  • 1 tablespoon (6g) paprika
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 whole bone-in or boneless pork butt (5 to 7 pounds; 2.25 to 3kg)
  • 1 cup ketchup (8 ounces; about 225g)
  • 1/2 cup dark molasses (4 ounces; about 115g)
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) high-quality liquid smoke, such as Wright’s (see note above)
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) brown mustard
  • 2 teaspoons (10ml) hot sauce
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) cider vinegar, divided
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion, finely minced (about 6 ounces; 170g)
  • 1 cup (240ml) bourbon
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock or water

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lower position and preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Combine salt, sugar, cayenne pepper, coriander, fennel seed, paprika, cumin, and black pepper in a small bowl and mix until homogeneous. Season pork with 2 to 3 tablespoons spice mixture, making sure to rub it on all sides. Reserve remaining spice mixture.
  2. Whisk together ketchup, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, mustard, hot sauce, and half of cider vinegar in a medium bowl. Whisk in remaining spice mixture. Set aside.
  3. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add pork and cook, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 5 minutes total. (Pork will brown fast because of the sugar. Do not let it burn.) Add onion and cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until softened, about 2 minutes.
  4. Turn off burner and add bourbon. Relight burner. Carefully ignite the bourbon with a long match or lighter. (Stand back and make sure there is nothing flammable above it; it will produce tall flames.) Let cook until flames die out, about 2 minutes.
  5. Add half of sauce mixture and chicken stock or water. Cover Dutch oven, transfer to oven, and cook until pork is just starting to turn tender, about 4 hours. Remove lid and continue cooking until a knife or fork shows very little resistance when twisted inside the meat and a dark bark has formed, about 1 hour longer.
  6. Transfer pork to a large bowl, reserving liquid in pot. Using a ladle, skim off excess fat and discard. Add reserved sauce and remaining vinegar to pot and whisk to combine. When pork is cool enough to handle, shred with two forks.
  7. Transfer shredded pork to pot and toss with sauce. (If making ahead to serve over the course of several meals, store pork and sauce separately, adding sauce only to the portion you are serving immediately.) Season to taste with more salt, sugar, liquid smoke, or cider vinegar. Serve.