Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Top 10 Desserts Everyone Should Make

Having a go to dessert is crucial for any dinner party.  Check out these top ten desserts from apartment therapy that everyone should know how to make.  What is your go to dessert?

What are the desserts you know by heart? The sweets you make over and over, to the point where you barely need the recipe? Dessert can be a special treat to end a meal, or a simple comfort during a tiring week, and we have a few we love enough to memorize. These are often the simplest and the easiest to remember, like a batch of warm chocolate chip cookies or that light-as-a-feather one-ingredient ice cream.

Others of these sweets have a classic elegance, like the chocolate layer cake that your friends always beg you to make for their birthdays, or that most perfect of all desserts: panna cotta. Here are 10 desserts, big and small, that we think are worth knowing by heart.


Chocolate Layer Cake
A "by heart" dessert really means two kinds of recipes to us: Those that are so easy that they barely require a recipe, like One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream and fruit poached with wine and spice. And then the recipes that are maybe a little trickier — like a good pie crust or a batch of ice cream — but that we make so often that the process feels intuitive.
Both kinds of desserts form the bedrock of our dessert repertoire. Know how to make a pie crust and you can whip up a galette or a fruit-filled pie on a whim. Memorize the formula for a creamy panna cotta and you have an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert whenever you need one. The process for making a chocolate cake is more or less the same for any kind of cake — take this muscle memory with you as you take on new recipes. And so on with just about every recipe on this list.
What desserts do you know by heart? Which ones do you think are essential for the home cook to know?
    TOP ROW
  • 1
    How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies - You just can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies. With this version, you don't even need a mixer.
  • 2 Chocolate Layer Cake - Does a chocolate cake sound intimidating to you? It shouldn't! This fluffy, tender, and deeply chocolatey cake is ready in about an hour and couldn't be easier.
  • 3 One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream - Yup, that's right. Frozen bananas whizzed in a food processor are a dead ringer for vanilla ice cream. Take a look at our 5 favorite flavor variations when you feel like switching it up.
  • 4 How to Make Panna Cotta - This is Faith's ultimate dessert for everything from a weeknight treat to a big dinner party. It's easy, it's elegant, and it's endlessly adaptable.
  • 5 Roasted Strawberry Goat Cheese Squares on Puff Pastry - This is the perfect example of what you can make with a package of puff pastry in the freezer. If strawberries aren't in season, go for apples, a few black berries, or any other ripe fruit — even just a dollop of jam and a sprinkle of nuts!
Chocolate Wafer Icebox Stacks

    BOTTOM ROW
  • 6 How to Make a Pie from Start to Finish - Knowing how to make a good pie crust is one of those essential skills that's always handy to have in your back pocket. And it's not as intimidating as you might think!
  • 7 Chocolate Wafer Icebox Stacks - These ¨ber-simple little cakelets are more delicious and more addictive than they have any right to be. Just trust us on this one. Switch it up with different cookies or by flavoring the whipped cream.
  • 8 How to Make Ice Cream at Home - Use this base to add any other flavorings your brain can imagine — fresh blueberries, a swirl of chocolate fudge, candied nuts, peppermint... Plus you can still make ice cream without an ice cream maker.
  • 9 How to Make a Fruit Crumble with Any Kind of Fruit - No matter the season and no matter the fruit, a fruit crumble is always there for you.
  • 10 Honey and Spice Poached Pears - Last but not least, we have poached fruit. It's amazing how decadent a simple piece of fruit can feel once you've poached it in a little simple syrup or leftover wine with a handful of spices. The method in this recipe applies to any tree fruit you have in the kitchen — apples, apricots, peaches, plums... You get the idea!

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Advice for the College Senior

Are you a college senior?  Congratulations on making it this far!  You may think the hard work is over, but you still have a whole year that could determine your future.  Check out these ten things to avoid as a college senior.  You can learn more at Campus Explorer.

 

1. Skipping Classes

Choosing to skip classes could mean missing valuable information for upcoming tests. And don’t forget to think ahead to university classes: Information you’ll need for your major in your college program may be covered during a high school lecture you miss.

2. Thinking Second Semester Grades Don't Count

Many universities look at your second semester grades, so keep that GPA up and keep taking those AP/IB and honors classes. Admissions departments at many colleges and universities have been known to rescind the acceptance letters of students who drop their tough classes or let their GPA sink dramatically due to senior slump.

3. Falling for “Senioritis”

A bit of restlessness during your senior year is to be expected, but don’t let yourself lose motivation, procrastinate or slack off completely. Letting yourself get physically or emotionally run down can ruin your senior year and make you less prepared for getting a college degree.

4. Getting Too Overwhelmed

Senior year means juggling everything from the prom and parties to college essays and AP tests. You’ll get through it all if you take a step back and prioritize your time: Make lists and timelines to keep track of all of your deadlines and make sure you get it all done.

5. Confusing Your Priorities

Planning for college doesn’t mean you can forget about your current obligations. In class, that means making sure your transcript is full of good grades in all of your subjects, not just the ones you think are easier or more relevant to your intended degree. Outside of class, that means not dropping your extracurricular activities or work if those activities will benefit you financially or personally.

6. Forgetting to Study

Keep up on your assignments, even after a tough week. While you’re taking time off, there’s another student going for your spot at the schools you’re applying to who isn’t. When you feel less motivated to study, remind yourself that every good grade gets you closer to finding a college that offers a great program in the major you want. Keep your eyes on the prize!

7. Mismanaging Your Time

Be realistic about your current workload. While you know how long it takes you to write a paper or study for a test under normal conditions, all the pressures of senior year could make you work more slowly or give you more distractions. To stay on top of your assignments, calculate how long you think something will take you, and then double it. Triple it, if time allows. That way you’ll have ample time to get your work done even if something comes up for the colleges you’re applying to.

8. Daydreaming About Your Future Too Much

Your mind now might be wandering, thinking around about degrees, majors, MBA programs, possible careers, study abroad and many other things. These are all exciting future possibilities, but don't forget the here and now. Devoting too much time daydreaming when you have homework and reading to do could seriously curtail those future plans.

9. Blowing Off “Less Important” Work

Don’t be fooled by the idea that a second paper or a midterm quiz doesn't make that much of a difference. Everything counts. Even if something is only worth ten percent of your grade, take it seriously. That extra ten percent might be what pushes you into a college slot over the next applicant.

10. Failing to Use Available Resources

Teachers know about all the challenges you’re facing during this busy time, and many of them are nice enough to offer extra help during the second half of senior year. This help can be in the form of extra office hours, a review of topics covered, study guides, sample exams, or other tools to help you improve your grade. Take advantage of them.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A Great Fall Brownie Recipe

Do you always make the same brownies for dessert?  Check out this great recipe for double chocolate cherry recipes. 

I have my go-to brownie recipe and I generally don't mess around with it. If I'm going to make brownies, it's what I reach for. But then there are days (like today) when there are dried cherries in the pantry and I begin to wonder what would happen if I jammed a few different kinds of chocolate, some quinoa flakes, and said dried cherries into one pan of brownies? The answer: something quite wonderful.

 

In the most recent issue of Cooks Illustrated, they featured a Classic Brownie recipe, discussing in great length what makes them different. I tend to be of the camp that thinks, "What's new under the sun when it comes to brownies?" but the thing that caught my attention was the mention of cake flour. The recipe testers insist, "Cake flour makes tender brownies with a delicate chew." I was intrigued.

As you well know, there are many different kinds of brownie folks out there. There are the fudgy folks, the cakey folks, and the chewy folks — and all of you who fall in between, happily straddling one or the other. I tend to prefer a pretty fudgy, rich brownie, but I also love them to have a bit of a chew and that nice crackly layer on top. So I decided to give it a go with cake flour. I amped up the quantity of chocolate that I usually use, relying on both chopped chocolate and cocoa powder, and experimented with one of my new favorite ingredients: quinoa flakes.

If you're not familiar with quinoa flakes, you can find them in a box at most well-stocked grocery stores (I buy Ancient Harvest brand); they're essentially quinoa that's been pressed flat into quick-cooking flakes. Many folks use them as a speedy warm breakfast cereal, but I've been folding them into cookies and quick breads lately. And now brownies. I love quinoa flakes because they're an easy way to get an extra little hit of protein in unexpected places and they don't change the taste or texture of a recipe very much.

While this recipe has a few unexpected ingredients, it doesn't stray far from simplicity. That's one of the things I love about brownies: you should be able to whip them up in under 30 minutes. Always. I don't believe even the most deluxe brownie recipes warrant multiple dirty bowls or kitchen thermometers. I don't really even believe in sifting the dry ingredients, actually. So these brownies reflect my desire for a simple, decadent brownie — yet one into which we can sneak a few grains and dried fruits when the urge strikes. Enjoy!

Quick recipe note: I used chocolate feves for this recipes — they're essentially nice, round disks of dark chocolate that make it easier when it comes to baking as you can eliminate all that chopping. But use whichever chocolate you really like. A nice dark chocolate is my preference.

Double Chocolate Cherry Quinoa BrowniesServes 9-12

3/4 cup dried cherries
1 cup cake flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces dark chocolate (between 60-72% is ideal), finely chopped
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for pan
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 cup quinoa flakes
1/4 cup confectioners sugar, to top

Soak the cherries in warm water for at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours. This will help plump them up nicely.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9x13-inch square baking pan (or spray with a little cooking spray)

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the two flours, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. Set aside.

Combine the chopped chocolate and butter into a small saucepan and warm over low heat until the mixture is melted completely and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the sugar and the eggs on medium speed until quite pale and aerated, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add 1/3 of the dry ingredients, mixing just long enough to incorporate them. Add 1/3 of the butter/chocolate mixture and mix to combine. Repeat, until the dry mixture and butter/chocolate mixture are both fully incorporated. Turn off the mixer and fold in the quiona flakes by hand. Drain the cherries and fold them in as well.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly using a spatula.

Bake for 27-30 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted into the center and comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it. Cool at room temperature for at least 45 minutes before slicing. Using a fine-mesh sieve of sifter, sprinkle the tops with a little powdered sugar before slicing. 


For more information see The Kitchn.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

15 Tips for Better Dorm Food

As you may know, it's back to school season, and that means that ramen packages will be flying off the shelves in no time. This article checks out some great simple recipes in the spirit of back to school, but we think you'll like them too! Check out "15 Back to School Recipes & Tips for Better Tasting Dorm Food"
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TOP ROW
  • 1 Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake - Yammie's Noshery - Yeah, cake in mugs are kind of ridiculous, but when you're craving something sweet this peanut butter chocolate one should do the trick. 
  • Scrambled Eggs in the Microwave - They won't hold a candle to the ones on the stovetop, but might be better then the cold eggs sitting in the cafeteria
  • Overnight Oats - This is so easy to do, plus great for when you're on the go in the morning. 
  • Steam Broccoli in the Microwave - Sneak some veggies from the cafeteria and make something a little healthy as a snack or to add to microwave pasta. 
SECOND ROW
  • 1 Make Instant Ramen Taste Better - Radical Possibility - If instant ramen is inevitable in college, you might as well switch it up every once and awhile. 
  • 2 Grilled PB&J - Everyday Occasions - The easiest trick of them all! Grilling your PB&J is life changing. If you don't have a panini press at school, I've heard of people "grilling" it with their clothing iron. That's right. 
  • One Bowl Microwave Macaroni and Cheese - Minimal effort involved. 
  • 4 Three-Ingredient Cereal Bars - Undressed Skeleton - Take your favorite cereal from the dining hall and use it to make these easy breakfast bars. 
  • "Roast" Garlic in the Microwave - Mhmm das right, you can even "roast" garlic if you want to live it up. 
BOTTOM ROW
  • 1 Brew a single cup of coffee - Instructables - Because sometimes you just want one cup of coffee and it's like 2am and everything else, including coffee shops, are closed. 
  • Make Foamed Milk in a Microwave for Coffee - Because if you're going to go through all the trouble of making that single cup of coffee at 2am, you might as well make some milk foam for it too. 
  • 3 Ramen Noodle Trail Mix - May Squared - This recipe techincally requires a stove, but you could just throw all the ingredients together into a bowl and call it a day. 
  • Make Polenta in the Microwave - Get fancy with your study group. 
  • Toast Nuts in the Microwave - Necessary snack item made better with a microwave. 
(Images: As Linked)
Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/back-to-school-recipes-tips-for-better-tasting-dorm-food-193941
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