Zebra Cookies

Last weekend a dear cousin (more like a big sister) gave birth to her first baby. As this sweet little girl entered the world and officially made Amy a mother, I waxed nostalgic about my own childhood. I’ve shared recipes from the Alpha-Bakery Cookbook before, but there’s something about the next generation arriving that makes me want to pore over the memories of my own.

And so I made zebra cookies.

These whimsical treats live up to their name when cut out with a horse-shaped cookie cutter, but I don’t own one and probably won’t buy one. (I don’t really like horses… shhhhh!) So they’re rectangular zebras. As seen here.

The assembly process for these cookies isn’t too difficult, but I like to visualize things, so here you go:

1) Form each section of dough into a ball.

2) Roll each ball on a floured surface into a 9-inch by 9-inch square.

3) Cut each square into three strips and cut the strips in half so you end up with six rectangles.

4) Carefully stack each rectangle, alternating in color, until you have a tall brick. Press down firmly as you stack so all the layers adhere. Wrap and chill in the refrigerator.

5) Slice the brick into 18 slices, each one about 1/4 inch thick.

6) Cut each slice in half, transfer to a parchment-lined cookie sheet, and bake.

7) Enjoy!

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• 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup cocoa

Cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in egg and vanilla until well combined. Stir in powdered sugar, flour, and salt just until dough comes together. Remove half of dough and set aside. Stir cocoa into the remaining half of dough until well combined.

Form each flavor of dough into a ball, and then roll each ball on a floured surface into a 9-inch by 9-inch square. Cut each square into three strips and cut the strips in half so you end up with six rectangles.

Carefully stack each rectangle, alternating in color, until you have a tall brick. Press down firmly as you stack so all the layers adhere. Wrap the block of dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375° F. Cut block of dough crosswise into eighteen slices, each one about 1/4 inch thick. Either cut out a zebra shape using a cookie cutter, or cut each slice in half and transfer to a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges just start to brown. Cool on rack.

Makes 36 cookies.

Source: The Alpha-Bakery Children’s Cookbook.

Cherry-Basil Soda

For a long time, I hated cherries. Perhaps it was due to an unfortunate maraschino ruining a perfectly good ice cream sundae, or just one lick of a dreaded cherry lollipop when I was expecting strawberry, but as a young girl I detested the things. Of course, I hadn’t tasted real cherries.

A few years ago I finally tasted sweet cherries for the first time, and it was love at first bite. They remind me of tiny little plums, bursting with juice that’s a perfect balance of sweet and tart.

Yesterday I learned a neat trick for pitting cherries, and I just have to share it with you. After removing the stem, I used a closed star frosting tip (Wilton 27 to be exact) to push the pit out the bottom of the cherry. So much easier than trying to use a knife!

Armed with an abundance of cherries and a quick and easy way to remove their pits, I set out to make something light and refreshing: cherry-basil soda. It’s the perfect way to welcome summer!

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• 2 cups fresh cherries, rinsed and pitted
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 8 basil leaves, chopped
• sparkling water or club soda

Combine the cherries, sugar, and basil in a bowl and stir. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Using a blender or food processor, blend the cherry mixture (including the syrup at the bottom of the bowl) until smooth. Pour through a fine mesh sieve and discard the remaining pulp.

Mix cherry syrup with sparkling water to taste. (I like to use 1 oz. syrup for every 5 oz. sparkling water.)

Makes approximately 12-16 oz. syrup.

Source: Slightly adapted from Gluten-Free Girl.

Roasted Beet and Arugula Salad

Despite feeling a little bit like Dwight Schrute every time I eat one, I adore beets. I’ve only ever eaten them at a restaurant or out of a can, so roasting fresh beets was high on my list of new cooking skills to master.

It’s pretty simple, actually. Just pull off the greens, lightly scrub the skin, wrap each beet individually in tinfoil, and roast until tender. Preparing beets this way brings out incredible sweetness and makes them a perfect addition to salads, or perhaps just eaten by the spoonful.

Plus, the color is absolutely beautiful! Even if it makes your kitchen look a bit gruesome.

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• 4 medium beets
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbs. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper
• 4 oz. baby arugula, rinsed and dried
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese

Preheat oven to 400° F. Remove tops from beets, scrub them lightly under water, and dry. Wrap each beet in a square of tinfoil and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast for 50-70 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a knife. Remove from oven, unwrap each beet, and let stand for 10 minutes, or until cool enough to handle. Carefully peel beets using a knife or vegetable peeler, and cut each one in half. Slice each half into about 6 wedges.

Meanwhile, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss the warm beets with about half of the vinaigrette. Toss the remaining vinaigrette (or however much you desire) with the arugula. Place arugula on a platter or in a bowl and top with the almonds, goat cheese, and beets. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 6.

Source: Slightly adapted from Foolproof by Barefoot Contessa.

Paglia e Fieno

This dish made me happy for a number of reasons. It has a whimsical name: paglia e fieno, which means “straw and hay” in Italian. It let me try my hand at making green(!) pasta for the first time, which was accomplished simply by mixing 1/4 cup of puréed arugula to my regular pasta recipe. It let me learn about the existence of gorgonzola dolce, a sweet and milder version of that lovable (albeit pungent) cheese. And finally, this dish thrilled me because within one bite, it had soared to the top of Gabe’s favorite recipe list.

As I was tasting the pasta and adjusting the final seasonings, I declared blissfully, “Oh! This is company food!” Of course, that prompted Gabe to ask concernedly, “Does that mean you sometimes serve me food you wouldn’t serve to company?”

Of course not, darling.

I always aspire to make delicious food, but there are those dishes that aim to impress, and this one is something special.

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• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, divided
• 4 oz. prosciutto, sliced into 1/2-inch strips
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 4 oz. gorgonzola dolce, crumbled
• 8-10 oz. fresh fettucine or tagliatelle*
• 2 cups (about 8 oz.) frozen peas, thawed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
• salt and pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Melt 1 Tbs. butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add prosciutto and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until crisp. Remove from pan and let drain on a paper towel-covered plate. Heat remaining 1 Tbs. of butter in the same pan, and sauté onion for 5-6 minutes, or until soft. Stir in garlic and cook one minute. Add milk and gorgonzola and stir until the cheese has melted. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until sauce has thickened.

As soon as you reduce the sauce to a simmer, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Drain pasta and add to pan with thickened gorgonzola sauce. Stir in prosciutto, peas, parmesan, salt, and pepper, and serve.

Serves 6.

* The name of this dish derives from the colors of pasta traditionally used: green and yellow. Any type of noodle will work well here, but fresh is always best.

Source: Slightly adapted from Foolproof by Barefoot Contessa.

Nutrition facts (per serving): 390 calories, 17.5 g fat, 37.8 g carbs, 2.8 g fiber, 20.1 g protein.

Chilled Spring Pea and Mint Soup

Sometimes I feel there’s this imaginary divide in my brain between “regular” cooking and “fancy” cooking. Regular cooking is the sort of throw-it-together meal that happens on a busy weeknight, like sandwiches or quesadillas, while fancy cooking involves an extensive ingredient list or a dish that I would be more likely to order at a restaurant than make myself. For whatever reason, chilled soup always seemed to be fancy cooking for me. Do people actually make cold soup, or is it just something to be served in tiny little cups as an amuse bouche at the beginning of a rather expensive meal?

Surprise! It turns out chilled soups are nothing more than regular soups with an ice bath thrown in for fun. I made this lovely, fragrant pea soup this week and served it for dinner with a homemade baguette and ricotta cheese. It was a quick and easy meal that certainly felt special. Plus, we dined al fresco, which is “fancy cooking” for outside on the balcony in the late evening sun.

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• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 lb. fresh or frozen peas
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1/4 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves
• salt and pepper, to taste

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes, until soft. Stir in peas and sauté for 2 minutes. Add stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Stir in mint leaves, then blend using an immersion blender until smooth. (You can also use a regular blender, just do it in batches.) Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour soup into a bowl over an ice bath and cool, stirring occasionally. Finish chilling soup in the refrigerator, then serve.

Serves 6.

Source: Williams-Sonoma Cooking for Friends.

Nutrition facts (per serving): 130 calories, 4.9 g fat, 17.1 g carbs, 4.2 g fiber, 4.5 g protein.

Homemade Mint Oreos

A couple weeks ago I was watching The Colbert Report, and Stephen Colbert had Michael Pollan as his guest. I’ve always been a fan from afar, wanting to read his books but never taking the time to do so, so I was glad to have the chance to see Pollan “in person.” (Plus it was fun to watch him interact with the hilarious absurdity of Stephen Colbert.) One thing Pollan said stuck with me: “The most important thing about your diet is not a nutrient but an activity: cooking… As long as a human being is cooking for you, and not a corporation, you’re fine.”

The basic idea here is that most Americans won’t take the time to make French fries or ice cream at home– or there’s no possible way to make things like Cheetos from scratch– so cooking more means we’ll automatically eat less junk food. But even if you’re like me and love the challenge of making homemade versions of things like oreos, it’s so much better to be making them than buying them. Fewer pseudo foods and harmful chemicals and more control over ingredients and portion sizes can only be a good thing.

So with that in mind, here’s a recipe for homemade mint oreos. They’re not too difficult but do require some time and effort. If we all had to pull out the cookie sheets every time we wanted an oreo, we’d be a lot better off.

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Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt

Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/8 tsp peppermint extract, or to taste
• 2 Tbs. milk or heavy cream
• green food coloring
• 1 oz. dark chocolate (optional)

Make cookies: Cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. Add flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt, and mix on low speed until just combined. Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the freezer for 30 minutes or the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350° F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out dough onto a lightly floured surface until very thin– about 1/8 inch. Cut out using a round cookie cutter; I used one 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Carefully transfer cookies to the baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes or until crispy but not burnt. Let cool on a wire rack.

Prepare frosting: Beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well on medium speed. Add milk or cream and beat until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in peppermint extract to taste (start with 1/8 tsp. and add more if it’s not minty enough) and add green food coloring. Using a fine grater, grate the chocolate bar over the frosting and stir to combine. (This will give it lovely little flecks of chocolate.)

Assemble oreos by sandwiching two cookies around a smidgen of frosting.

Makes approximately four dozen cookies, although the amount will vary based on the size cookie cutter used.

Source: Cookies from My Kitchen Addiction. Mint chip frosting a Lingonberry Jam original, using a basic buttercream recipe from Wilton. 

Sea Salt and Black Pepper Crackers

When I was little, my sisters and I would spend all summer playing outside. We’d roam through the woods, splash in the creek, and frolic in our tree fort. So much play to get in each day meant we couldn’t possibly come inside for lunch.

One of my funniest memories has to be when this dutiful big sister decided to pack the most desirable of kid lunches for her younger sibs: lunchables. But our (very wise) mother didn’t let us buy them too often, so I improvised. I filled three plastic containers with little squares of cheese, sliced summer sausage, crackers, and a handful of m&m’s. And then I labeled each one with a riff on our names: Kristable, Brynnable, and Erinable.

Yeah, weirdo alert.

I smiled at this memory last week while making homemade crackers. As I pulled the crispy little squares from the oven, I had a sudden desire to eat cheese and sausage and go running to a swing set. With sea salt and cracked black pepper, these crackers are a bit more sophisticated than the ones of my childhood, but that doesn’t mean I have to be. :)

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• 2 cups flour
• 1 Tbs. sugar
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Tbs. cold, unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup milk

Note: This dough also comes together quickly in a food processor if you don’t want to mix by hand.

Preheat oven to 450° F. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and a small dash of salt and pepper. Grate the butter into the bowl using a small cheese grater. Gradually stir in milk. When dough comes together, knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 5-6 minutes. Let dough rest for 15 mins before rolling.

Roll out half of the dough very thinly (1/16 inch if possible) onto an inverted nonstick cookie sheet. Score lightly with a fork and cut into squares using a pastry or pizza cutter. Sprinkle with sea salt and more black pepper. Bake for about 10 minutes or until brown, removing the outer crackers if they start to brown too quickly. Let cool on the pan for a couple minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with second half of dough.

Makes approximately 100 crackers.

Source: Slightly adapted from Lemons and Anchovies.

Nutrition facts (per 10 crackers): 125 calories, 2.9 g fat, 21.2 g carbs, 0.7 g fiber, 3.3 g protein.