Archived entries for recipes

English Muffin Bread

This recipe takes about as much effort as mixing together ingredients for pancakes. It’s so easy, so delicious, and I am determined to make it at least every two weeks because it’s a new staple in our house.

I got fantastic results using 1% milk and Eagle Mills natural unbleached all-purpose flour.

English Muffin Bread

Adapted by Jay Kim from English Muffin Bread

I used 1% milk and Eagle Mills natural all-purpose unbleached flour for my first try, and got fantastic results. I also didn’t use the corn meal and the crust was still just perfectly crunchy.

1 cup milk
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 tbsp salted butter
3 cups flour
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 ounce (2 1/4 tsp) yeast

Directions:

Grease loaf pan, or use non-stick loaf pan.

Measure milk and water into a small pot, and heat gently on stove along with butter until the butter melts and the liquid is very warm, but definitely not simmering/boiling.

Measure and add flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and yeast together in bowl.

Add 2/3 flour mixture to an electric mixing bowl with flat beater attachment. Add liquid/butter slowly in thin stream. Once mixed then add rest of flour and mix until combined. (Don’t overbeat).

Add bread dough to loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap lightly oiled on one side (to prevent batter from sticking when you lift it off). Place in warm, dark area from approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

After the dough has risen, place in oven for 25 minutes. Should be a light, but not too dark brown when you take it out.

It’s actually the best once it’s cooled down, sliced, and each piece is individually toasted.

Summer Fruit Cake

This recipe is good for any summer fruit that’s juicy, ripe, and begging to get baked. I know it’s just past labor day, but it still feels bright and sunny and there’s a wide selection of local produce here in Seattle.

Personally, I just baked this *three* times in the past month using slices from 2 ripe peaches, and I think it’s even better than the plum version!

Summer Fruit Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Scant 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup organic sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup flavorless oil, such as canola or safflower
Grated zest of 1 orange or 2 lemons
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Fruit topping options:
1) 8 purple or red plums, halved & pitted , OR
2) 2 sliced ripe peaches

Directions:
Preheat over to 350°F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan (I used a 9 x 13 rectangular pan), then dust bottom and sides of pan lightly with flour.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

Working with a mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until it’s soft and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and beat for another 3 minutes, then add the eggs, one at a time, and beat for a minute after each egg goes in. Still working on medium speed, beat in the oil, zest and vanilla; the batter will look smooth and creamy, almost satiny. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients, mixing only until they are incorporated.

Scoop the batter into the floured and buttered pan. Arrange the fruit slices evenly on top of the batter, and press each piece of fruit into the batter about halfway.

Bake 30 minutes, then check on the cake. Keep baking, if needed (maybe 5-10 more minutes) until the top is a golden brown.

Almond and Orange Tart

I really, really love this tart. It’s easy and absolutely delicious.

I can’t explain how wonderful it is to have a dessert that is perfectly sweet, lusciously fruity, and slightly macaroon-like. It gets more delicious after a night of sitting on the table. My husband took a slice to work two days in a row to have with his coffee – and he works right next to some great pastry shops!

Almond and Orange Tart

Adapted from The Organic Seasonal Cookbook

Crust:
One pre-made pie crust, put into tart shell. (My fav pie crust recipe coming soon!)

Filling:
1 orange or 3 clementines (work with what you have! :)
1 star anise
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup almond meal

Preheat oven to 350.

Put your citrus fruit in a pot and fill with water until covering the fruit. Add the star anise to the water. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook about 1/2 hour. Remove cooked and softened fruit, and cut open to remove the seeds.

Add citrus fruit, almond meal, beaten eggs, butter, and sugar in a food processor. The butter will melt because of the warm fruit. Process until all ingredients are pureed.

Spoon puree into tart shell. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool at least 30 minutes.
Excellent the next day!

Hearty Poblano Stew

My first exposure to the poblano pepper was not romantic. It was also not novel, unique, wholesome, or flavorful.

It was on a frozen Rick Bayless “Frontera” pizza I got from Whole Foods a few years ago.

The opinion on the pie from all gathered was “pretty good – for a frozen pizza”. I remember the consistency of the peppers, slightly chewy and watery as vegetables frozen and then shocked to life at 450 degrees are apt to weep at their fate. Oh, these poor peppers cried, we had so much more to live for than this! But I do remember something about the flavor as wonderfully different, mercifully due to those poblanos.

Continue reading…

Black Sesame and Green Onion Tofu

I’ve always been such a fan of sesame seeds, whether sprinkled on bread, used in salad dressings to give a nice texture, or as the base product in such staples as tahini or halva. Yum. But black sesame seeds, that’s another story! Having never tried to use them in a home recipe before, I bought a small amount of seeds at World Spice Market in Pike Place Market.

Regarding preparing tofu at home: I was vegetarian for many years, and I want to share these two bits of knowledge I learned. First of all, if you want to make tofu extra sponge-like, freeze it first and then thaw it before marinating. It changes the texture so that it’s able to soak in flavors more. This is, of course, if that’s what you’re going for ;) Secondly, tofu on its own won’t really get a nice crunch. You can fry it until it’s dark brown, you’ll just have a very dry outside. Just apply a very light coating of cornstarch on the outside of the tofu. It’ll brown beautifully and will soak up more flavor from whatever you’re frying it in!

Black Sesame and Green Onion Tofu

1 package firm tofu
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp tonkatsu sauce
4 green onions
1 tbsp black sesame seeds
1/4 cup cornstarch

Cut the tofu into approximately 1×2 inch cubes.
Mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, and tonkatsu sauce and pour over tofu in a bowl. Let marinate 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, chop the bottom half of the green onions into small slivers.
Spread the cornstarch on a plate, and lightly coat the tofu pieces with the cornstarch.
Heat up a pan on high heat with a little canola oil. Place the tofu in the pan, and fry until medium brown and crispy. Turn individually to brown other side.

Garnish with black sesame seeds, green onions, and a quick dash of tonkatsu sauce.

Goes great with vegetables and rice also mixed with the sesame seeds!

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