Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Bacon

Fasten your seats belts, this a recipe you'll make again and again.  I've been making it so long, I'm not even sure where the recipe came from. This recipe is a standard in my Autumn Soup class.  It's easy, and SO good.  My friend Meghan gave the recipe to a local restaurant and asked them to make it for her bridal shower.  People loved the soup.  Even those not too keen on squash soup.  It can be a fancy appetizer course or a casual supper.   The bacon and apple make it sweet, salty and savory.  It's got Fall written all over it. 

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Here are the top three reasons I love this soup (as pictured above):

1.  I love butternut squash

2.  I love leeks, onion, and garlic

3.  Can I love more things?   Bacon, Sour Cream and Apples

To start your soup, find a nice big pot, and fry the bacon strips in the bottom.  Place the bacon on a plate with a paper towel, to drain and cool.  Then chop into little garnishing pieces and set aside.   If you have a lot of drippings, pour some off.  Keep about 1/2 - 1 Tablespoon in the pan.   Add a little olive oil if you need it, and then add the onion, garlic,  and leeks.  Cook until the onions are looking clear.  Now add the chunks of squash, the apple, chicken stock, water and a bay leaf.   Add some salt and pepper, and simmer.  Fifteen minutes.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Just 15 minutes, and your squash should be tender.

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 The soup after the simmer, ready for the blender.

Here's where you can be creative.   If you like your soup chunky, you could mash it, or use an immersion blender to make it smoother but chunky.  I'm a smoooooth soup person.  Think liquid velvet.  I use my VitaMix and whirl it to smooth.  You could also use a food processor or blender.   Just please be careful.  The soup is very hot, and any of the tools can spew soup without warning.

After you've arrived at your desired consistency, Ladle your pretty soup in a bowl and garnish with sour cream/Greek yogurt/creme fraiche, the bacon pieces and even some diced apple.

To print this recipe, click HERE

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Bacon 

2 slices bacon

1 medium onion, chopped

1 large leek, chopped (both white and light green parts)

1 - 2 garlic cloves

1 bay leaf

1  1/2 pounds butternut squash, seeded and chopped into 1 inch pieces (about 1 medium/large)

1-2 apples (seeded, peeling and chopped)

2 cups chicken stock

1/2 cup water for thinning soup

Sour cream, Greek yogurt or Creme Fraiche for garnish

In a stock pot or large pan, cook the bacon until crisp and drain.  Reserve 1 T fat.  Crumble/coarse chop the bacon.

Cook the onion, leek and garlic in the reserved fat.  Stir until softened.

Add the squash, apple, bay leaf, stock and 1/2 cup water.  Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the squash is very tender.  Discard the bay leaf.   Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Transfer soup to blender and puree in batches.   Transfer pureed soup to a clean saucepan.  Adjust seasonings as desired. 

Either whisk in 2T of sour cream or ladle soup into bowls and garnish.  Add bacon to the top of the soup and serve.  Makes about 4 1/2 - 5 cups.

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Bagels! Baking with Julia

I'm not sure how to spell it, but all I can say is Ei-yi-yi!  This recipe had it's moments, but I'm happy to report that they're really good. This week's Baking with Julia recipe is bagels.  I was driving last week and heard a public radio interview of the book helping us know what to make from scratch, and what to buy already made.   About half way through this recipe, I thought I clearly knew the bagel answer.  Buy them.   When they came out of the oven, so pretty and delicious... it's a coin toss.   It was worth the effort and fretting.

Our host this week is Heather, from Heather's Bytes.  She'll have the recipe, and her tips and tricks at her blog.

When I was in college I had three roommates.  We loved to cook - make that experiment.  There were a lot of firsts.  Quiche, soups, ethnic recipes, pretzels, breads...and bagels.  I don't remember the bagels being bad, nor good.  They must have been college student edible.  It was fun to revisit bagels again.  This time with a few more skills and baking experience.

The dough went to together easily.  The rise was right on time, and into the fridge went the dough.  So far so good.   After the chill, I started with stock pot of water, added the baking soda/sugar and began shaping the bagels.  The dough is sticky and tricky to get into the balls.  I never did quite master the twirl, but I got them into the boiling water.   As they boiled, they puffed and looked like squishy dumplings.  As they were bubbling away,  I was getting ready to tell you about my disaster.   I'm happy to report that  after I put them in the oven, the texture evened out, and the surface began to look like a bagel, a REAL bagel.  The timing was perfect, and out of the oven they came.    The inside texture was nice, and the taste was really good.

 

If you're a bagel lover and looking to try something fun, give the recipe a try.  Top them with your favorite sesame, poppy or crunchy seed and enjoy!

Cranberry Walnut Pumpkin Loaf - Baking with Julia

This recipe is the essence of autumn.  Our host this week is Rebecca from This Bountiful Backyard.  Rebecca will have the recipe on her site when you're ready to make is extra special treat.

The cranberries proved to be a little more difficult to find than I expected.  I went into the grocery expecting to find a huge pile of bags.  Not one.  I checked the frozen fruits, none. I went back to the clerk and asked about cranberry whereabouts.   She told me "it's not cranberry season."  What?  It's fall for crying out loud, and it's Cranberry Festival in Warrens, WI.  How can they have cranberry festival without cranberries?   I mentioned my dilemma to my friend who just by luck had some frozen in his freezer.   I only needed 2/3 cup, so we were back in business.

cranberries

The title of the recipe sounds like a quick bread, doesn't it?   It's not.  It's a yeast bread.  It rises once, then into the fridge overnight.   After a long wake up (3-4 hours) to warm to room temperature, it's then shaped and rises one more time.   The actual hands-on time was about 15 minutes.  Please don't let the long resting times scare you.   It's well worth the wait.

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The recipe mentions using the dough hook to combine the dough like brioche.  This gave me an idea.   Since I don't have any little pans, making the loaves the bread in the style of brioche in brioche pans might just work.   After the long overnight rise, I divided the dough into 4 large portions, and 6 smaller.

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After the second rise, the autumn brioche were ready for the oven.

When they first came out of the oven, there was a moment of panic when I tugged on the sweets balls of bread and they showed no signs of wanting to release from the brioche pans.  Never fear, after a few minutes of cooling they popped right out the tins.

I really like the flavor of the bread.   Very subtle pumpkin flavor, nice texture with the walnuts, then bang!   A burst of cranberry.   I added a smear of butter when I tasted mine.   Then I had an idea (flash!).   Orange goes so well with all the ingredients, how about an orange butter to go with the bread?  I know, there's plenty of butter in the recipe, but it just needs a little something.    I thought about making slices of French toast, and using the orange butter, with some maple syrup.   Doesn't that sound great?   Or, even better... cubing the bread and making a wonderful bread pudding for brunch.   The options are endless.

Here's my recipe for Orange Butter.  It's SO good on the pumpkin bread.  Just refrigerate if you don't use it all right away.

To print this recipe, click HERE

Orange Butter

1/2 stick (4 T) Salted butter, at room temperature

zest of 1 orange

3 T powdered sugar

Combine all the ingredients together, and serve.

Orange butter

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Chicken Basquaise with Shepherd's Bread

We've got a chill in the air, and it's time for thick soups and stews.  Today's recipes are truly a salute to late summer.  Our CSA has provided us with a bounty of peppers and tomatoes, and I'm happy to put them to use in the Chicken Basquaise recipe.   I also had the treat of using a locally grown chicken.   This recipe is great because you can make it with only chicken thighs or wings if you like.  The meat will simmer and be nearly falling off the bone when it's served.   I decided to serve ours over brown rice.  What's Basquaise, you ask?   It means in the style of the Basque region.   A region on the border of France and Spain.  The foods are unique, simple and hearty.  Chicken is browned and combined with a onions, garlic, tomatoes, white wine, and thyme.  The vegetables are simmered first, until tender, then the chicken is added. the mixure simmers for 45 minutes, until the chicken is tender.   I let mine simmer longer, for "falling off the bone" tenderness.

For a little extra punch and flavor of the region, you can add a pinch of chili powder.

Summer vegetables

I had a blast peeling and chopping the tomatoes.  They were SO juicy and flavorful.   I had to take a picture as they were almost ready to drip off the cutting board.

Chopped Tomatoes

On to the bread.  This recipe is absolutely delicious.  Serve it with any meal, make toast, make crostini, just make this bread!  Be patient, though.  It's sticky and a tad bit tricky.   I know you can do it!

 As I read through Basque recipes, I learned the shepherd would place bread dough in a special iron pot and bury it in the coals of his campfire in the morning.  After tending the flock all day, he would return to the pot of bread, which  would be ready.   The first piece would be cut from the top and given to the sheep dog.   Since my dogs are herders (in need of a herd), this is for them.  They didn't get any bread, but were very interested.  The aroma and flavor of this bread is amazing.  I didn't add the sage, but I know it would add great flavor.

To print this recipe, click HERE

Basque Shepherd's Bread

Yield: 1 Loaf

SMALL LOAF

3/4 c  Water

1 T Olive oil

1  3/4 c  Unbleached all-purpose flour

1 T Sugar

1 tsp Dried sage

1 tsp. To 1 tsp. salt - to taste

1 1/2 tsp Active dry yeast --- or---

LARGE LOAF (or 2 smaller loaves)

1 1/4 c  Water

2 T Olive oil

3 c  Unbleached all-purpose flour

4 tsp Sugar

2 tsp Dried sage

1 tsp To 2 tsp. salt - to taste

2 tsp Active dry yeast

Add all the ingredients together in a bowl, and mix well with a wooden spoon.  When dough is no longer shaggy, turn out onto the counter, cover with the bowl, and allow it to rest about 5-10 minutes.   Then, using a bench scraper to help, pull the dough toward you, fold over the top, pick up the dough and slap (upside-down) on the counter surface.  Repeat until the dough no longer sticks to the counter.    The dough will be smooth, very loose, and a little sticky.  Use a dusting of flour to help shape the dough into a ball.  Allow the dough to rise for about an hour until doubled.   I used a baguette pan, and made a long loaf shape which was contained by the sides of the pan.   You could use a cast enamel pot or bread pan to contain the bread.   Allow the bread to rise a 2nd time for about 45 minutes.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, or until the loaf is golden brown and the internal temperature is 180 degrees F.

Here's the whole meal, tender chicken, aromatic vegetables in very flavorful broth, and warm wonderful bread.   Let me know how your bread turns out!  Stop by soon, I have a great apple dessert recipe for you.

Chicken Basquaise

Whole Wheat Bread

Grown up flavors.  Greek yogurt, Russell sprouts, spinach, rutabaga.   I may need to add whole wheat bread to the list.  I'm old enough to have grown up on white bread.  No, not the "W" bread, but white bakery bread.  We'd stop by Lanes and have a few loaves sliced for the week.  I really don't remember seeing whole wheat bread until college.  I can't say I loved it at first bite.    My roommates and I tried to make it, and it was a much better door stop than bread.   Over the years, I've grown to like it.  In fact, I prefer it now.  Fortunately, little kids today see plenty of whole grain breads. I'm assuming they've acquired a taste for them.   I've learned the key to making is good hydration of the flour and plenty of kneading. This summer, we've been making whole wheat bread each week for the farmers' market using a recipe from the Great River Mill.  Our recipe uses both whole wheat and 7 grain flour, and lots of honey.  Here's another twist on whole wheat bread using whole wheat and white wheat flour.

Our Baking with Julia recipe this week is wonderful whole wheat bread.   I don't want to scare anyone who might want to try this as the first bread they make.  I think white bread is a little easier to start with, but this one is very forgiving and you should get good results with the recipe.

To get started, you'll need the recipe.  It's in Baking with Julia, or join this week's hosts are Michele of Veggie Num Num, and Theresa of The Family that Bakes Together.   Just head to their sites, and you'll find the recipe.

Now on to assembling all the ingredients.   You'll need both all-purpose and whole wheat flour.  I'm crazy about Great River Milling Company.  It's here in Wisconsin near La Crosse.   You can go to the mill and pick up big bags, or better yet, you can have it sent to you via Amazon.  They have it set up so the shipping is free for the 25# bags.   I'm not getting a commision, promise!     The Great River Whole Wheat flour is organic and a perfect texture.   If you don't have the time or inclination to use this flour, pick up a bag of whole wheat flour at your local grocer.  For the all-purpose flour, be sure that it's unbleached and unbromated.

The recipe also calls for malt syrup, commonly used in brewing.  If you can't find it, you can use molasses, corn syrup, or just skip it.   The aroma is wonderful and it helps to condition the dough.  Look at the gorgeous color!

The dough will go together very nicely.  Remember, that adding water to flour creates gluten.  Gluten is the structure that holds the CO2 the yeast gives off as it metabolizes the sugars in the dough.  Kneading and rest develop the gluten.  Be sure the check that you've got good gluten develpment by gently stretching a small piece of dough.  You should see a translucent "window" of dough.  If the dough rips, rest the dough, then keep kneading.

I used my kneading machine for about 4 minutes, then rested the dough (autolyse), added the salt and finised kneading by hand.  I added about 1 cup more water than the recipe called for .  I like to work with dough that has more hydration.  You'll find the perfect hydration for you.  I'm sure the recipe will work well as written.

The dough rose according to the schedule and shaped easily into the pans.  I made a double batch so I had four loaves, each weighing about 775 grams or about 1.7 pounds.  Good hearty loaves!

 After an hour, and bread had risen to about 1 - 1 1/2 inches over the top of the pans.  Into the oven it went.  My loaves backed for 45 minutes to reach an internal temperture of 180 degrees F.   They easily released from the pans to cool.   The knobby loaf in the back had lots of bubbles under the surface.  Not pretty, but still delicious!

 Time to slice the bread...  Enjoy, and talk to you soon!

Rich Chocolate Cake (plus... a treat for gluten-free bakers!)

There's a chill in the air, and it's time to start baking!  Something warm, comforting and delicious.  Here's just the dessert.  You'll love this one!  I made this cake for Gary about 25 years ago. (and ever since...)   It was a surprise for a his birthday.   We weren't really even dating yet, but I think this may have  sparked the flame.   Our friends just celebrated their 45th anniversary and I made this for them.  It's very romantic, and perfect for a party.  The best news... I substituted Cup 4 Cup gluten free flour, for the wheat flour.  It worked perfectly.  No one could tell the difference including me.    Here's the recipe that will make you a star as the holidays roll in. Everyone I know loves this cake.  It's dense, very chocolatey, and even appeals to those who claim not to really like chocolate.  You can serve it at room temperature  or cold.   Invite friends because one cake goes a very long way since it's so dense.   The ingredients are pretty simple.   Melted chocolate, butter, a dozen eggs, sugar and some flour.    I bet I had you at melted chocolate.   I used Cocoa Barry 58% French chocolate.   Use any bittersweet/semisweet you like.   Just not milk, it will be too sweet.

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My Lost Crates box this month from Joy the Baker, included vanilla beans, vanilla extract and a big bag of Cup 4 Cup gluten free flour by Thomas Keller.  When Chef Keller does something, it's always great.  The flour looks and feels like wheat flour.  No funny taste, smell or texture.  I would highly recommend going finding some right away and giving it a try.  If you have a moment, follow the link to Lost Crates.  It's always a surprise and very fun!

To print this recipe, click HERE

Dark Chocolate Cake

14 ounces semisweet chocolate (the darker, the better

12 eggs, separated

2 cups granulated sugar

3  1/2 sticks butter, softened

1 cup unbleached flour, sifted (or 1 cup Cup 4 Cup flour)

Confectioner's Sugar for serving

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.  Butter and sugar an 10 inch spring form pan.  Tap out any excess sugar.

Break or chop the chocolate into small pieces and melt in microwave or in a pan placed over another pan of barely simmering water.  Stir until smooth, and cool slightly.  Be careful not to burn the chocolate.

Beat the egg yolks and sugar until they are pale and light yellow.  When you lift the whisk or beater over the mixture, there should be a ribbon of the mixture that falls from the beaters  and gently lays on top of the egg/sugar mixture.  Add the chocolate and mix thoroughly.  Stir in the butter, and flour.

In another bowl, beat the egg whites until they are stiff.  Spoon a spoonful of the chocolate mixture into the egg whites and mix.  Then add the egg whites to the chocolate mixture, folding very gently until mixed.  Be very careful not to overmix, or deflate the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan (it will come close to the top) and set on the rack (middle rack) and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes.  A cake tester or toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the center of the cake.  The cake will rise and crack, but will settle as it cools.   Cool on a rack for 15-20 minutes, then release the ring of the springform pan.  Allow the cake to cool, then refrigerate until cold.  It's best to wait until the cake is cold to remove the bottom of the springform.

To serve sift with powdered (confectioner's) sugar, and some whipped cream, if desired.   Makes 20 servings (small... but rich)

Adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook.

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Here's the cake on it's pedestal at the anniversary get-together.  I wish you could smell it... it's SO good.

I'd love to hear how your cake turns out!     Cheers.

Nectarine Upside Down Chiffon Cake

this is my invariable advice to people:  Learn how to cook, try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and have fun.   Julia Child.  From My Life in France.

This has been my mantra for the past week getting ready for this recipe..   Learn from your mistakes, try something new, have fun, try new recipes, have fun... be fearless.  Got it!

As one of this week's Tuesday's with Dorie recipe hosts, my job is to provide the Nectarine Upside Down Chiffon Cake recipe, and give you the best tips and tricks I can.  Marlise, from The Double Trouble Kitchen, is your other host. I've been wanting to be a host for a long time.   I'm so happy to provide you with the recipe and be one of the "blogs of the month"!  It takes me back to being the child in school who got to pass out the graham crackers, or put up the calendar numbers on the bulletin board.    When I saw the title, my first reaction was, chiffon?  Oh boy...     I really wanted, and hoped it would be fine on the first try.  After all, I'm supposed to know what I'm doing and be able to teach others.   Time for some fun and fearlessness.

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This is a grand, big girl/boy recipe.  It's a  boeuf bourguignon of desserts.  Multiple steps, a few tricky details, and magnificent results.   I know you can do it.  Follow the recipe and the tips, and you'll have a great, fancy dessert to share.

The first step was to find a 10" spring form pan.   I rummaged through my collection of pans, got out the ruler to measure, and ta-da... check.   Don't be tempted to use a smaller pan.  The recipe just fits into the 10" model.   If you must, just don't put all the batter into the pan.   It will be almost to the top.

This recipe used the last of my vacation peaches.  What a perfect recipe for such wonderful fruit.   The recipe calls for nectarines, so what's the difference?  Peach fuzz.   I popped the peaches in boiling water, counted to 20, rinsed under cool water, and slipped off the peels.   They were juicy, and perfect for the recipe.

You'll start the recipe by melting some of the butter in the bottom of the pan, adding brown sugar, and arranging the sliced fruit on top of the sugar.  Not so bad at all.   Be sure to wrap your pan in foil so the butter doesn't drip on to the floor of your oven when the cake goes in.  Even with the best foil work, you may still have drippage.

Butter Sugar Fruit Layer

Now on to the streusel.  I used chopped pecans instead of almonds, and didn't toast them before adding them to the other ingredients.   Add the ingredients to the food processor and pulse until you have nice clumps of streusel.  The baking time of 12 minutes was perfect.  The kitchen smelled great!   Warm, buttery and delicious.

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The third step is the chiffon batter.   You'll be making a classic French meringue.  Be sure your egg whites are in an extra clean bowl, free of any yolk specs.  You may want to place the bowl over another bowl of warm water to gently warm the egg whites.  They'll whip faster and fuller than if they're cold.

What makes this French meringue?   Since the cake will be baked, the egg whites are not  heated as they are in Swiss Meringue.  The sugar in French meringue is not cooked (that's Italian meringue!).   This meringue is medium peak egg whites whipped together at the end with sugar until shiny and firm.   This is the easiest of meringues, but still requires special attention.   Once your meringue is shiny, and firm, you'll fold it into the yolk mixture.

To fold:  Hold your spatula perpendicular to the surface.  Cut straight in and down, then follow the edge of the bowl, up and over the top allowing the whites and yolk mixture to gently fall from the spatula.  Gentle!  Rotate the bowl, about 1/4 turn and repeat.  It will take several folds.  The batter should be light and homogeneous.

Place 1/2 of the over the fruit, add all but a few tablespoons of streusel, then add and smooth the remaining batter over the streusel.   The chiffon cake recipe states that it should be for 45-50 minutes.   I checked mine at 45, 55...65...75...85...90... minutes.   At this point, I was worried sick, and making plans for a redo, and writing the story in my mind about how I had tried and failed at this classic dessert.  Remember... be fearless and have fun!   Just past  1  1/2 hours of baking, the cake was firm to the touch and the toothpick came out clean.  The surface was golden brown, but I had no idea of what the fruit and sugar were going to look like at the bottom.   In another 25 minutes, I'd find out.

Puffed and fully baked

Twenty five minutes later, I attempted to release the springform ring.  The edges were stuck and I was about to rip the cake.  Whoops!   I used a butter knife to gently release the cake from the side of the pan.  It released perfectly, and was ready for the flip.

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You can see the little dimples from the bottom of the spring form pan.  A sprinkle of streusel and the beautiful chiffon cake was finished.

To print this recipe, click HERE

Nectarine Upside-Down Chiffon Cake

For the Topping:

1/2 stick (2 oz) unsalted butter

1 cup, packed brown sugar

3-4 ripe medium nectarines (the number will depend on size), each cut into 8 pieces

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Cut the butter into 3 or 4 chunks and toss them into a 10 inch springform pan that's 3 inches high.  Place the pan directly over medium-low  heat and melt the butter, tilting the pan so that the butter covers the bottom evenly.  Remove the pan from the heat and scatter the brown sugar evenly over the butter, patting it down with your fingertips.  Arrange the nectarine pieces in concentric circles over the sugar.  For a fancier effect, alternate the way the nectarines face from circle to circle.  Wrap the bottom of the pan in aluminum foil to catch any butter that might drip during baking and set the pan aside.

For the Streusel:

1/4 cup unblanched whole almonds

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1/2 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup quick cooking oats, (not instant)

Put the almonds on an ungreased jelly roll pan and bake them until golden brown and fragrant.  About 10-15 minutes.  Stir frequently so that they toast evenly.  To test for toastiness, break on open, it should be light brown in the center.  Cool the almonds before proceeding.

Line the jelly-roll pan with parchment paper and keep at the ready.

Put all the struesel ingredients, including the almonds, into the work bowl of the food processor fitted with the metal blade and pulse just to mix the ingredients and chop the almonds and butter.  The mixture will be rough and crumbly.  Spread the streusel out on hte pan and if you'd like to have a few largish lumps for textural interest, squeeze some the streusel lightly between your hands and then break the big clumps into smaller bits.

Bake the streusel for 10-15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until golden brown.  Transfer the pan to a rack an cool while you make the cake.  Keep the oven at 350 degrees F.

For the Cake:

1  1/2 cups sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

4 large eggs, separated

1/2 vegetable or safflower oil

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

2 large egg whites

Ice cream or whipped cream, for serving (optional)

Sift together 1 sup of the sugar, the flour, baking powder, and baking soda onto a sheet of parchment or waxed paper; add the salt.

In a large bowl, whisk together the yolks, oil, and lemon juice until blended.  Gradually add the dry ingredients to the yolk mixture, whisking all the while; set aside.

Beat the 6 whites in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or work with a hand-held mixer.  At low speed, beat the whites until thy're foamy and form very soft peaks.  Increase the mixer speed to medium -high and gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating until the whites are thick and shiny and hold peaks.  (If you run a finger through the whites, it should a leave a smooth, even path.)  Fold about one third of the whipped egg whites into the yolk mixture to lighten  it, then turn the yolk mixture into the whites and fold it in gently but thoroughly.

Baking the Cake:  Pour and scrape half of the batter into the fruit-lined pan.  Smooth the top, using an offset spatula, and sprinkle ever the streusel, keeping a little in reserve for decoration the finished cakes.  Top with the remainder of the better, smoothing it with the spatula, an place the pan on a jelly-roll pan.  Bake in the 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove the cake to a cooking rack and let it cool for at least 25 minutes before inverting onto a cardboard cake round or a serving platter.

Serve the cake with ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream if desired and a sprinkle of the remaining streusel.

Storing: The cake is best served just warm or at room temperature the day it is made.  However, you can cover the cake and keep i t at room temperature over-night.

Makes 8-10 servings.   Contributing baker, Mary Bergin

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The cake is just as it's described in Baking with Julia.  It's  light, buttery and delicious.  The streusel and peaches were a perfect pair.  I hope you'll try this recipe.   Try a new recipe, be fearless and have fun!

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Snickerdoodles

Happy Labor Day!  No matter what or how you're celebrating, happy day to you. Is it really time to stop wearing white pants and put away summer purses?  Is that still a rule?

Here in Wisconsin, many schools start after Labor Day.  It was mostly due to farming, but now it's mostly due to tourism wanting to keep  high school and college employees through the holiday weekend.  My college student employees are starting an returning to school this week.  I'll miss them very much.   I loved their bright, happy, eager and always cool personalities.   Their absence will give me time to rid my vocabulary, of really,  and seriously-right?  I guess those are better, than like!

I'd like to sent them off with some cookies.  They've all got the bug to bake, and now they can stop by anytime to grab the recipe.  Here's a good, old fashioned, get-a-glass-of-milk cookie,  Snickerdoodles.

Snickerdoodles

The cookies made by whipped together soft butter and sugar, adding the vanilla and cinnamon, then the egg.

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After the butter and sugar are creamed/whipped together, add the cinnamon and vanilla.  Adding it now will increase the flavor of the two spices.  Then add the egg, and mix well.

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Lastly, add the dry ingredients, and stir to mix.  Don't overmix, you want your cookies to be crisp and crumbly, not bready.

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Now into the frig for 1/2 hour.  Please don't skimp on this part.  If you do, the cookies will spread too fast and be a big mess on the baking sheet.  The chill will slow them down and they'll be just right.   If you wait to turn on your oven, you'll have no other choice than to wait!   Roll the dough into little balls, and then roll in cinnamon and sugar.

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Then into the oven for 10-12 minutes.   I like mine more on the crunchy side so I went with 12 minutes at 375 degrees F.  Let them cool as long as you can stand it, and enjoy!  Have a great school year or wherever your life may be taking you.  Thanks to Jess, Orla, Phoebe, and Stacey for a fabulous summer!

To print this recipe, click HERE

Snickerdoodles

3 cups flour

2 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1  3/4 cup sugar (divided)

2 sticks (16 Tbsp) butter, unsalted at room temperature

5 tsp cinnamon (divided)

1  1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

In a standing mixer bowl, or with a hand mixer beat the butter and  1 1/2 cups sugar until it's pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes, then add 2 tsp cinnamon and vanilla and beat about 1 minutes longer.  Scrape side of bowl a few times to make sure all the butter is combined.  Add the eggs and mix completely.

Add the dry ingredients and stir gently to combine.  Don't overmix.  Refrigerate the dough while the oven is preheating.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  Center the rack.

Roll the dough into walnut (1 TBSP) sized balls, and roll in the remaining sugar and cinnamon, which you've mixed together.

Set on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.  Move to a wire rack to cool, then store in an air tight container for up to three days.

Makes about 48 cookies.  Adapted from Saveur, The New Comfort Food.

snickerdoodles

Minted Zucchini Tagliatelle with Cucumbers and Lemon

I love ribbon.  Satin, paper, wired, grosgrain.  It doesn't matter the kind.    In my pastry kitchen I have spools and spools on a dowel to tie around cake boxes.  Each ribbon is "frenched" to add the little notch at the end.  Love it.   Add tissue paper and a nice sticker and I'm all yours.  When I read the title to the recipe, I honestly thought that we were going to make a pasta dish.  Oh contraire!  The tagliatelle are ribbons of zucchini.   It was going to be just plain fun to make.  Fun and really pretty.  Plus, it's fresh, healthy  and so lovely! Poor zucchini.  It gets mispelled, and is one of the vegetables we're happy to see... for awhile.   Then they end up in the office breakroom in a pile looking for good homes.  Sometimes they even end up on your doorstep!   With the help of a mandolin, the zucchini in this recipe is sliced into gorgeous ribbons.  With the addition of  simple lemon viniagrette, cucumbers, mint and lemon the ribbons become a beautiful salad.  This week's French Fridays with Dorie recipe makes the zucchini the star.  No mock apple pie, bread, pizza, just simple pretty zucchini.

I feel badly that I can't post the Around My French Table recipes on Fridays.  If you've been following my blogs each Friday, you might want to take the plunge and buy the book - or check it out from the library, if you don't already have it.  It's going to be a classic and I promise you won't be disappointed. Good news.  I'll be making it up to you next Tuesday.  It's a surprise!

When we were in San Francisco, in Chinatown, a shop keeper gave Gary a demo of some super sharp and cool garnishing tools.  He bought three and has been eager to give them a try.  Once I finished with my recipe he asked if he could use the left over pieces.  A few minutes later he brought me the pretty carvings to garnish my plates.   So pretty!

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The best tool for making the ribbons is a mandolin.   It's a razor sharp blade to pass the vegetables over.  I have great respect for mandolins.   Injuries from them are deep, fast and almost always require a visit to the ER.   They may perfect for the ribbon making, but only with the guard and slow careful movements.  I'll tangle with the box grater, but never the mandolin.   I got it out, was extra careful, and look at how great the zucchini turned out!

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Embrace the gifts of zucchini, and enjoy the bounty of the summer harvest!

Stay tuned for a great dessert next week!

Peach Melba

Welsh Rarebit, Steak Diane, Pavlova and Peach Melba.  All recipes we've heard of and maybe some of us can describe.  Last week, the Around My French Table/French Friday's with Dorie group made Peach Melba.  I was thinking of something crunchy.  Perhaps in the Melba toast family.   What is it you ask?

Think about the best peach you're ever tasted, with fresh raspberry sauce, over ice cream... with just a touch of liqueur. Yes, that's it.

Fresh peaches are poached in simple syrup with vanilla bean, then cooled and chilled.  While the peaches are chilling, the berries are pureed and combined with just a bit of the syrup.  It's that easy.

Once the sauce and peaches are ready, spoon over vanilla cream and add some sliced almonds.  The scent of the vanilla is amazing.  I used St. Germain, and elderflower liqueur rather than the Chambord that was suggested in the recipe.   I don't think you can go wrong with either.   As summer transitions into fall, this is the perfect summer comfort food.   I hope you'll try it, and enjoy the sweetness of this classic.

Salsa of the Tropics

This is a great time of year.  Gardens are pumping out tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and spicy jalapenos just to name a few garden favorites.  I've got a favorite recipe for you.  It calls for mangos, but today I used peaches.   You can mix it up and use both if you have them.   It's SO easy!  All you have to do is chop. Peaches will be the theme for the next week of so.   We made a road trip to North Carolina last week and picked up 12 boxes.  We were in Asheville last year at this time and discovered the farmers' market, and the rows and rows of peaches.  This year we made the journey to fill the car.  I guess it kind of makes them local... to someone!   I can happily report that all the boxes found homes.

Ready for the Heat

With the peaches that were a little bumped and bruised, I made the salsa.  Feel free to adjust the heat with the jalapeno.   I like to serve this with tortilla chips, but it's also great on pork tenderloin... hot off the grill.

Ingredients for perfect salsa

To print this recipe, click HERE

Salsa of the Tropics

  Based on recipe from Great Good Food

1-2  mangos, chopped (or 2 peaches)

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 cup chopped green, red  or yellow bell pepper 1/2  teaspoon salt- or to taste 5-6  cup plum tomatoes, chopped

1 TBSP cumin 1 medium red onion, chopped

1 chopped jalapeno pepper

1-2 tsp. Sugar

1 TBSP vinegar

Stir together all the ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Cover and chill  a few hours before serving.

Peach Salsa and Chips

Popovers

Beef Wellington, check.   Blue cheese Souffle, check.  Graham crackers, check.   These are all things I've made in the last year that I've always wanted to try.  Call it a culinary bucket list of sorts.  What's on your list?   Maybe it's simply roasting a chicken.  No one will make fun of you.   Give it a try.   What's the worst thing that can happen?  Frozen pizza?

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I can't believe that this is the first time I've ever made popovers.  In the past I've tried to make the Dutch/German puffy pancakes without much success.  It seemed like a popover was in the same mystery family, so I've always found another option.  Today was the day.  Thanks to Baking with Julia and the Dorie Greenspan Tuesdays with Dorie group, Popovers made it on the calendar.

Much to my surprise, they were easy!  A quick brrrrr in the blender, 45 minutes in the oven and ta-da!  Tasty, dreamy popovers.  And without gooey centers, I might add.

The ingredients are super simple.  Flour, eggs, milk, salt and a butter.  The usual suspects.

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 When all the ingredients are at room temperature, they get a quick brrrrr in the blender.  I've always wanted to include an overhead blender shot, so here it is!

Blender with popover batter

I don't own a popover pan, so I opted for the muffin cups with 1/4 cup batter in each cup.  I very skeptically put the pans in the oven and walked away.  Then walked back and turned the oven light on.  This was too good to miss.   After a few minutes the popovers started to pop, and I knew I was in business.  Twenty-five minutes later, I reduced the oven temperature and waited for the finished beauties.   They were crisp, light, and best of all... not gooey in the middle.   I split one open, spread a little more butter and drizzled it with honey.  Why was this the first time I'd made these?    I hope you'll go to Paula's blog, Vintage Kitchen Notes, or Amy's blog, Bake with Amy to find the recipe and give popovers a try.

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Now on to the next new-to-me recipe...  I think it might be pretzels using real lye!  Stay tuned.

Soupe a la Victorine (Bean and Leek with Egglant & Tomato Garnish)

vegetable guilt.  What is it?  It's the feeling you have when your CSA box arrives before you've finished the vegetables from the week before.   Some of your lettuce is squishy, with a few squash looking ready for compost.   Never fear.  I've got a recipe for you to use your extra eggplant, tomatoes, onions, and even those white beans from the winter.

This recipe was adapted from Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.   She considered this a peasant soup.  I like it because it bridges the seasons.  You use fresh summer ingredients, but have the earthy, warm flavors that help you coast right into Autumn.  This is a great soup to add sausage, ham or bacon to.  Freeze the soup, and add the meat of your choice later.

The recipe starts out with Northern Bean in a quick boil and soak.  While they're soaking, wash and I mean wash the leeks.  Everything is going to be pureed, so you can dice the leeks then rinse under running water.   There's nothing worse than skimping on this part, then getting a sandy bite of soup later.

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With butter and olive oil, cook the leeks until they're translucent and tender.  I added sage, thyme, salt and pepper to them while they were cooking.  When the beans are finished, add the leeks to the bean & water and simmer partially covered for 1 and 1/2 hours.  Julia is very exact.  Once the soup base has simmered, carefully puree the mixture until smooth.   Be careful- hot soup and blenders don't aways play well together.

Egglant

While the base is simmering, peel, dice and salt the eggplant.  You'll also peel, seed, and dice the tomatoes.  Be sure to save the juice.   To easily peel a tomato, heat water to simmer.  Make an X  on the bottom the tomato and gently drop into the water for about 30 seconds.  Lift out with a slotted spoon and rinse under cold water.  The skin should slip right off.   Then, cut in half, and run your index fingers in the seed pockets to remove the seeds.  Then... dice!

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To print this recipe, click HERE

Soupe a la Victorine

(Purée  of  White Bean Soup with Eggplant and Tomato)

Adapted from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Julia Child

About 4-6 cups

For the Beans:

1 quart water

1/3 cup Great Northern Beans

In a big enamel pot or stock pot, Bring the water to a boil, add the bean and boil for two minutes, then cover and remove from the heat.  Let rest for one hour

For the Soup Base:

2 cups leeks or leeks/onions

2-3 T oil or butter

2 bay leaves

1/2 tsp each of thyme and sage, dried or 2-3 springs fresh

10-12 peppercorns

1 1/2 tsp salt

Cook the leeks and onions in the butter/oil  until soft and translucent.  Add to the beans (with their water) and add the herbs.  Cook for 1 1/2 hours covered slightly.  When the base has finished simmering, purée in a blender, food processor or  with an immersion blender.

To finish the Soup:

1 1 pound eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch dice

1 pound or about 3 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch pieces with the juice saved.

4 large cloves of garlic, minced

1 1/2 tsp salt

2-3 T olive oil

2-3 cups chicken or vegetable broth

2-3 T fresh herbs for garnish (parsley, chives, thyme)

Sprinkle the salt over the Egglant and let it stand for about 20 minutes.  Pat dry.  Heat the oil in a large skillet and sauté the Egglant until light brown.  Add the garlic and tomatoes.  Simmer the mixture for about 15 minutes or until the eggplant is tender.

Thin the leek/bean mixture with the stock to desiredconsistency, then add the eggplant/garlic/tomato mixture.  Simmer for about 5 minutes, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.  Then serve, adding the fresh herbs to the top.  Your could also add sliced browned sausage, or kielbasa.

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Heat a enameled dutch oven or frying pan the oil until it's hot.  Add the eggplant and toss to give it a nice brown crisp outside.   Add the tomatoes, and the garlic.  Simmer for about 15 minutes, or unti the egglant is nice and tender.   Add this mixture to the pureed soup base and adjust the seasonings.   I needed to add a little more salt and lots of pepper.  To serve, garnish with fresh herbs such as sage, thyme or chives.

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Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

simple pleasures are the best.  

Don't you love finding a little cash in the coat hanging in the closet for months?  A bouquet of garden zinneas?  Someone holding the door open for you with a smile.    I've got a short, sweet simple pleasure of a  recipe for you.   Cherry tomatoes are popping everywhere.   We  eat them like candy around here.  I didn't think they could get any better.  Here's how--   Pick up a pint or two at your market and you're half way there.   No, you're more than half way there.

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Slice them in half, then toss with just a litte bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, then roast at 200 degrees for about 1 1/2 hours.  Your house will smell great, and you'll have rich gems to toss in pasta, on a pizza, or chill for the top of a salad.

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It's so easy, and the results are SO good!

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To print this recipe, click HERE

Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

2 pints cherry tomatoes

1-2 T olive oil

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.  Slice tomatoes and toss with oil, and scatter in a single later on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.   Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake for 1 and 1/2 hours or until tomatoes are wrinkled and fragrant.   Cool and store in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.

Cafe Style Grated Carrot Salad

Think about your best friends and the first time you met them.   Was it at work?  At school?  On a bus? I have a dear friend, Kim.   For those who have heard me speak of her, you may think her name is Myfriendkim.   She lives in Michigan which is way too far away.   We met the very first day of pastry school, in Paris.  Everyone was nervous and waiting for orientation to begin.  There were about seven Japanese young women, a Turkish woman, another from Brazil plus a few Americans.  As we waited,  we made our hesitant introductions to one another.  When it came to her turn, she told the group.  "I'm a mom and I want to learn how to bake.  I've stayed at home, planned vacations, and I love to eat bon-bons".    She was honest, sweet and had a killer sense of humor.  I had to get to know her.

At the end of the morning after we had been assigned our uniforms and lockers, as we chatted, she asked if was in Paris alone.   I told her, yes, and that was staying in a hotel about a 15 minute walk away.  She told me that she had been to Paris several times and knew it well.  We went back to class and as we were packing up for the day, Kim invited me to join her for dinner.  She hates to eat alone.   Little did she know that I had been glued to my hotel room for the past four days.  I had terrible jet lag, a constant stomach ache and was still shaking off the fake taxi that had scammed me out of most of my cash.   I eagerly accepted and we walked back from school to my hotel a few blocks away to change clothes & make a quick call home, then to hers and then to dinner.  She had a knowledge of Paris that was amazing.  We were going out to eat... at night... I had made a friend!

Where does the Carrot Salad fit in to this story you ask?   Kim picked out the perfect restaurtant.   Chartier.  It's grand, yet casual.  The waiters were bustling about dressed in black vests, white shirts and floor length aprons.  I was awe struck.   We talked and laughed about our husbands, dogs, families and our love of food.  As we ate, she told me the history of Chartier.  It was a workingmen's lunch room.   The walls are lined with small drawers where they kept their napkins and forks.   We ordered Carrot Salad as a side for our Steak au Poivre while we laughed and talked even more. After some much needed nourishment, the jet lag and stomach ache were gone  and I was thrilled to be in Paris.

I've never forget that meal, or how I meant Kim.

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This week's French Friday's with Dorie recipe is simple.  Grate the carrots, add a quick dijon dressing/vinaigrette then toss with a few raisins.   Our CSA box had a big bag of carrots last week.  Orange, purple and yellow.  They were a little tough to grate, and yes, I did knick a knuckle - shoot! The carrots were more like chips than grates.  The salad is fresh, bright and a great treat for any lunch or supper.

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Warm Grilled Scallop, Nectarine and Corn Salad

It's been such a great month so far.   We've traveled to fun places and just hosted a wedding reception.  It was a belated reception!  The sweet couple got married last summer in the Rockies, then celebrated with friends here in Wisconsin this summer.    While I was supposed to be writing and posting the French Friday's With Dorie post, I was elbow deep in decorating, baking, fluffing pillows, and turning our yard into a summer party wonderland.  Before I tell you about the salad, I have to get you a peek at the party. With the help of my friends and florists extraordinaire, Jennifer and Scott, we clustered BIG grapevine balls and hung them from the tent ceiling.  Our friend, Paul, made a door frame which held an old door we found in our garage when we moved in.  It was the perfect entryway for our guests.

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So what does a pastry chef make for her step-daughter's weddding reception?  PIE!  Another friend, Diane and I made pie, pie, and more pie!  It didn't take very long to make 17 pies.  Cherry, Peach and Blueberry.  I'll save crust and pie filling for another post...

Back to the salad... Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan is the source of this recipe.   The scallop salad was a big hit as we were racing around running last minute errands.  The scallops got to ride home on ice, and waited patiently for lunch time.

Instead of using fresh corn, I had some corn, still on the cob on the freezer.  I let it defrost lightly and removed it from the cob.  It was slightly soft, but nice and cold for the salad.

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Instead of the grill, I heated my grill pan, and seared the nectarines, then wiped the pan, added some oil and seared the scallops.   It went together SO quickly!  A quick dressing for the corn salad and lunch was ready!   I would have to say that the basil coulis preparation was one of the best parts.   The fragrance and texture of the delicate garnish was amazing!

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Here's to summer, good friends, sweet babies, families, and happy Marriages!

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And P.S.... Happy 100th Birthday, Julia Chld!

Berry Galette

just like becoming an expert in wine, you learn by drinking it, the best you can afford. You learn about great food by finding the best there is, whether simply or luxurious. The you savor it, analyze it, and discuss it with your companions, and you compare it with other experiences.  Julia Child.

Thank you Julia, that's just what we're doing.  Sampling, baking, cooking then photography and writing all about it to share and learn from one another's experiences.   If she only knew what a great impact she made on all of us.

This summer I've been making galettes with peaches and pears for the farmers' market.  The crust is a simple pate brisee, with frangipane (baked almond cream) and sliced fruit.   They'so so tasty and sell out right away.   This week's Baking with Julia galette is slightly different.  This one is made with berries, and no filling.   The crust is made with flour and cornmeal, making it crunchy and very earthy.   If you 'd like to follow allow and make a galette, Lisa of Tomato Thymes in the Kitchen and Andrea from The Kitchen Lioness  will have the reicpe written on their blogs.   The best part about this recipe, is you don't need a fancy schmancy tart ring or pan.   Just a baking sheet and some parchment paper.

The dough goes together quickly in the food processor.  I found it to be a little dry so I added about 1 T of water.  I also used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.  After a good chill, it was very nice to roll, and shape. I used strawberries, blueberries, blackberries.

After 40 minutes of baking, the galette was golden and so wonderfully fragrant!  I feel like I should have added a little more sugar to the top.  The crust doesn't have a lot of sweetness, and it could have been just little sweeter.  I did really like the additional of cormeal. the earthy crunchy texture was perfect for the freeform beauty.    HOpe you enjoy this one!  Your friends will love it!

Tomato Cheese Tartlets

First things first.  I know it's wrong, but I like to spell tartlet, tartlette.  It just seems more fitting for a small French pastry. Smell is such a huge part of taste.  If you're stuffy, nothing seems to taste good.    There are some smells that make you happy with just a whiff.   This recipe combines those  fragrant and delicous ingredients.  Basil, fresh tomatoes, garlic, baking puff pastry, and goat cheese.   I went out to the tomato patch to check on the progress, and ta-da!    I picked about a dozen San Marzanos.  These are amazing little guys.  They look like a Roma, but are even meatier, and more flavorful.  They're that tomato of choice for wood-fired pizza makers in Italy.   They're one the key ingredients in Pizza Margherita.    Don't you love the smell of tomato plants?

And the basil...what a punch!

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Wait!  For those of you who just read the word puff pastry and are ready to move on, please stay.   You'll be using a sheet of pastry that you can purchase at the grocery.  All you'll need to do is thaw and unfold it.  Here's your chance to make a beautiful tart that will look like you spent all day.   You could if you wanted to, but you don't have to.   Sometime we'll make puff pastry together.  It takes time, but it's really worth it.

This recipe is part of the French Fridays with Dorie online cooking group.  The recipe comes from Around My French Table, by Dorie Greenspan.   I'll walk you through the basic steps, just in case you don't have a copy.

First you'll open your thawed box of pastry and unfold it.  Find a bowl or cup that's about 3-4 inches in diamenter and trace four circles.  If the puff pastry has tears where is was folded, gently smoosh it together.  Not too hard though.    Once you have your circles, move the dough to a baking sheet, covered with parchment, and poke with a fork.   This keep the puff pastry from puffing too much.   A way to make sure the dough puffs evenly is to set another sheet of parchement paper and a baking sheet or cooling rack on top.   The dough will still puff and be flaky, just nice and even.

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Here's the dough! Super simple.

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After you've removed the puff from the oven, let it cool.  It should be nice and golden.

Puff Pastry Circles

Now on to the pesto.  I filled the food processor with basil, garlic, and pine nuts.   Gave it a whirl, when I realized that I didnt' have any parmesan cheese.  Another oops!   No problem.  There's going to be cheese on top, so I added the drizzle of olive oil and had a great tasting topping for the tarts.   Here's the recipe I made:

To print this recipe, click HERE

Basil Pesto 

2-3 cups basil leaves

1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts

2-3 tsp chopped garlic

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (apparently optional)

1/2 cup olive oil, or to desired consistency

salt and pepper to taste

Pulse the basil, garlic, nuts and cheese until to forms a chunky paste.  Drizzle in olive oil until pesto is desired consistency.  Season to taste.

It's so easy!  However, we're in the together and I don't want you to miss out on this tart.   You can buy pesto, and it will be fine.   You can find it in the refrigerated department or the condiment aisle.

Now be creative.  Put a big dollap of pesto on each tart.  Then, slice the tomatoes, and cheese.  If you have one big tomato, place a big 'ol slice on the tart.   I had smaller sized tomatoes, so I made a pinwheel around the tart.   I used both goat cheese and fresh mozarella.  I put the goat cheese around the edges, and the mozarella in the middle, in case it oozed.   Once they were all assembled, I baked mine for about 5 minutes until the cheese looked melted, then I popped the pan under the broiler for about 15 seconds.  WATCH carefully, they will brown and burn very quickly.

Tomato Cheese Tart

The easiest part of all... Find three friends.  Make a salad, pour a glass of wine and enjoy!

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Lemon Barley Pilaf

Whew!  It's been a busy week, and I'm late in getting this post off.   This is an Around My French Table recipe and part of the French Fridays with Dorie blogging group.  You know the drill for these recipe.  We're asked not to post the recipe, but you can find it in the book.   Just in case you don't have to book, I have good news for you.   August will mark Julia Child's 100th birthday month.   To celebrate, I'll be blogging some of her most famous recipes with some stories, fun facts and quotes from our dear Julia.    Any requests?

Well back to the pilaf... I love barley and was very interested to try the recipe.   My friend Jane makes a great salad with barley and tuna.  It's so good on a hot summer day.    I simmered the barley on the stove, and carefully added the chopped vegetables just as Dorie suggested so they didn't overcook.

The pilaf was tasty, and make a nice side dish with the grilled corn salad and salmon with dill and lemon.