Whole-Wheat Walnut and Raisin Biscotti

I was invited to my first ever cookie exchange. I have baked cookies before, but this week I did not really feel like making cookies, specifically getting the hand mixer out, creaming the butter, and forming the little balls that eventually become cookies. Any other week but this: I have been working a lot of long hours and we have another late night ahead of us.

What to do?

After going to Bux (a.k.a. Starbucks), I was inspired when I saw the biscotti. I have made biscotti before and I remember that it was fairly easy (no making little balls). I had to find a recipe that did not require creaming since the Chocolate-Walnut Biscotti that I made before did.

I found this recipe (again) from Martha Stewart on Walnut and Raisins Biscotti. This seems to be perfect. It used whole wheat flour (so it should be healthier), does not use butter, and used walnuts (which are in season). Also, no creaming needed.

For your convenience, I copied Martha’s recipe below with very minor revisions (I prefer using parchment paper). Let me know what you think.

Whole-Wheat Walnut and Raisin Biscotti

Slightly revised recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour, spooned and leveled
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for work surface
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnut
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Parchment paper or Non-stick spray, for baking sheet

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put parchment paper on a baking sheet or brush a baking sheet with oil; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; stir in walnuts and raisins. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and vanilla. Add to flour mixture; stir just until combined.
4. On a lightly floured surface, with floured hands, pat dough into a loaf about 1 inch thick, 2 1/2 inches wide (and about 7 inches long); transfer to baking sheet. Bake until risen and firm, 20 to 25 minutes; cool completely on sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
5. Place loaf on a cutting board, and using a serrated knife, cut diagonally into 1/4 inch-thick slices; place slices in a single layer on sheet. Bake, turning once, until dried and slightly golden, 25 to 30 minutes; cool completely.

Verdict

I love this recipe and may make it the template for my biscotti recipe. Based on my previous experience, I made two smaller loaves instead of one big one. My husband – the biscotti addict – loves this too. I had to make brownies to supplement my biscotti because we were both nibbling on it. I may make a version replacing the raisins with chocolate chips. That actually sounds great with coffee or hot chocolate.

Martha also added a note that this will last 30 days in an airtight container. Perfect if you’re baking it on the weekend and your exchange is later in the week. I doubt that it will last 30 days though – It is almost gone!!!

But at least… here’s my haul from the cookie exchange: a fair trade I think.

Note: I am taking a mini-blogging break for the holidays to concentrate on eating, er… cooking.

Enjoy the holidays, and see you mid-January with new culinary adventures and mis-adventures.

Bonne année et bonne santé. Bon appétit.

My “Mix and Match” 5 in 5: Pan-fried Salmon and Arugula–Apple Salad in Lemon Dijon Dressing

I think it’s time for another 5 in 5 post. Now that it is the holiday season and one may be spending time in the mall looking for that perfect holiday meal (or in traffic trying with the people trying to get to the mall), a nice, healthy but quick and easy meal for dinner would probably be appropriate.

While at I was on my home just recently, I decided to stop at Whole Foods to get something for dinner. This beautiful piece of Wild Salmon caught my eye and thought it would be perfect for dinner. However, shortsighted me only bought the salmon (and some Hint Water) in an effort to beat the traffic. Also, I thought we have a lot of veggies at home… at least that is what I thought.

So I got home and only found: arugula, green apples, couscous, lemon, Dijon mustard, and some pantry staples. I looked through Michael Symon’s "5 in 5" cookbook for ideas and did not find much that would match this combination. It's like a (good) Chopped basket.

So, what’s a mad scientist, er… cook to do?

I can't resist a beautiful fillet like this.

I decided to Mix and Match: Grilled (or in my case, Pan-fried) Salmon seems to be the best option. I saw then Arugula and Apple Salad with Lemon Dijon mustard (originally with the Pork Schnitzel) in Page 168 and that seems to be a good match. Salmon plus Lemon Dijon Mustard sounds really good together. I complemented it with Lemon Couscous (inspired by page 199), so I attempted some version of it as my starch for the evening. I figured the citrus will work well with the salmon.

The Salmon and Lemon Dijon dressing did go well together.  The couscous seemed to be a bit under-flavored (since I did not stick to the recipe).  Overall, it was still a very yummy meal. My husband and I shared the fillet, and it was just right.

You can find the recipes in Michael Symon’s 5 in 5 cookbook. There are so many delicious options in that book, so I know you’ll find your own mix and match.

Chef Symon, thanks again for a delicious meal!

Discovery Weekend: Coastal Gourmet Adventures at Half Moon Bay

My husband and I usually spend our Thanksgiving weekend exploring - either locally, a long drive, or somewhere in between. After enjoying cooking on our Thanksgiving Day, we still had three full days off. We took advantage of this to get away. We’ve been working hard and deserved a few days off.

We decided to go to Half Moon Bay this time around. It’s one of my husband’s favorite destinations. He loves being close to the ocean, the antique stores, and of course, the dining.

The dining opportunities are excellent in Half Moon Bay. Through the years, we’ve enjoyed our favorites and tried new places. Here’s a sampling from our weekend adventure. 

Crab cakes from The Distillery

Moss Beach Distillery. This is our favorite spot for brunch and usually our first stop in our trips to HMB. Brunch is at the formal dining room, but the patio is great for munchies like calamari and wine while sitting by the fire and enjoying the great views since the Distillery sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Do watch out for the ghost of the Blue Lady. Every time I go to the ladies room, I freak out at every unusual sound.

Meyer Lemon Parfait from Pasta Moon

Pasta Moon. This Italian restaurant is a downtown staple, and has been there for a long time. I started with the Florentine bread soup, my husband had the mussels, and we  shared a huge, tasty pork chop. My husband said is the pork chop is the best he has ever had. I ended my meal with a beautiful Meyer Lemon Parfait: delicious. Ironically, on our visit, we did not get pasta. It must be a sign to return.

Half Moon Bay Coffee Company and Café. Come for the coffee, stay for the desserts. They have a gorgeous selection of desserts. My husband was tempted by the Key Lime Pie. I just had a Gingerbread biscotti with my fabulous soy latte (word of warning: the latte kept me going until dinner time). HMB Coffee also serves breakfast and lunch if you want to stay downtown.

Cafe Mezzaluna's Pastry Selection

Café Mezzaluna at Princeton-By-The-Sea. The casual sister to the more formal restaurant a few blocks away. This is a great spot for breakfast, especially before a kayak adventure, or lunch after one. For breakfast, you can have your choice of omelets, frittatas, quiches, savory crepes, and pastries. For lunch, you can enjoy paninis and most importantly, gelatos.

New Leaf Community Market.  Although this is not truly dining, I think this market is awesome. It has locally sourced fruits and veggies and the highest quality of natural products. Their stores are mostly here in Northern California, and I cannot wait to visit my closest one.

Brussel Sprouts grew this way?

Our other staples are The Half Moon Bay Brewery and Duarte’s Tavern. We did not visit the Brewery this time, but did trek to Pescadero to visit Duarte’s to have cioppino. Duarte’s was so good it deserves its own post. Watch out for it in the next few weeks.

Half Moon Bay also has some awesome farmer’s stalls and markets. We often take advantage of these and get fresh fruit, veggies, and even honey. This weekend, we even got a medieval weapon… err, a huge Brussel sprout stalk. It was almost 3 feet long, really.

Mad About Minis: Mini Pumpkin Pie

I can’t let pumpkin season pass by without attempting to make a mini-pumpkin pie. I love pumpkin pie, but usually we just get a small pie (about 6 inches in diameter) and it lasts us about 2 days. Pumpkin pie will definitely be a great candidate for a mini.

Plus, since its National Pie Week this week, I thought it would be appropriate to blog about pie.

A mini pie, of course.

Of course, I never made a pie before. I just ate ‘em.  And a lot of them.

Wait, does pizza count?

My first challenge is the filling. I have never made pumpkin pie before, so I really am not sure what is in it. I researched recipes, including single serve ones. I found that lot of them are fairly similar in ingredients and proportion, so the recipes were relatively easy to combine. In my first attempt, I think I used too much filling for my 3 inch ramekin (oh, what a dilemma). I adjusted, and my second attempt had a better proportion.

The next challenge is the crust. There was no single-serve recipe for crust, so finding an adequate crust is the challenge. I first considered using an Oreo crust, but I don’t think that chocolate and pumpkin is a good combination. I also tried a vanilla wafer and butter crust, but that hardened in the baking process.

I finally settled on a cinnamon graham cracker crust. I did not add that much to it, just a little butter for moisture and a tiny tiny pinch of salt. I think this is the best option for this pie; it just turned out a bit crumbly. I was hoping that it would somewhat hold.

Here’s what I have. I think it’s great.  It's not too sweet (since I try not too put too much sugar, even agave nectar). I am also a bit conservative on the salt. This was just right for me.

It may still use some improvement, especially around the crust. I would love to hear what you think.

Mad Gourmet’s Mini Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

Filling

• 2 Tbsp of pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp of flour
• 1.5 Tbsp of milk  (4 ½ tsp)
• 1 1/2 tsp (1/2 T) of sugar/maple syrup/agave
• Generous pinch (about 1/16 tsp) of pumpkin spice
• Generous pinch (about 1/16 tsp) of cinnamon
• Tiny pinch of nutmeg
• Tiny pinch of salt
• whipped cream (optional, but why not?)

Crust

• Cinnamon graham crackers, crumbled
• 1 1/2 tsp of butter
• Pinch of salt

Instructions 

1. In your ramekin, combine all pie ingredients well.
2. Microwave for 30 seconds on medium high. Stir.
3. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes until sides firm up.
4. Put in mini pie in the refrigerator to firm up for at least an hour (Think of this as contemplation time).
5. Serve with whipped cream.

Mad About Minis: Single-serve "Frosted" Vanilla Cupcake ... with sprinkles

I’ve been in a cupcake mode lately. We’ve been out and about in our Discovery Weekends and been encountering cupcake shops everywhere. Thank goodness for mini cupcakes; otherwise, I’d gain ten pounds.

In an effort to have a healthier cupcake and just limit myself to one, I looked for a single serving option. I found Shape Magazine’s online article on Delectable Deserts for One, and the vanilla cupcake seems to be a good start.

The advantage of this recipe is you probably have all the ingredients handy. The one thing that I usually do not keep is applesauce, but if I just made a batch of applesauce muffins, I am sure to have some left. I also used less butter and compensated with more applesauce. I may continue to reduce the ratio.

I am also used to baking single-serve muffins (see my low-fat chocolate banana muffin), so cupcakes should not be a huge transition. However, I did read once that the difference between a cupcake and a muffin: a muffin goes "Thud" when thrown at the floor. I take this as a challenge to get a cake like consistency to the cupcake.

Also, for these mini or single-serve recipes, use your toaster oven or the microwave. I am not that big on microwaved cakes, but if you don't have a toaster oven, use your nuker. It takes too much energy to heat up the big oven for this.

Single-serve "Frosted" Vanilla Cupcakes

Adapted from Shape Magazine's Delectable Desserts for One and Sally's Baking Addiction's Vanilla Cupcakes for Two

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 TBSP all-purpose flour
• 1 TBSP + 2 tsp unsweetened applesauce 
• 1 TBSP egg whites
• 1 TBSP skim milk (I used unsweetened almond milk) 
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1 TBSP whipped cream or prepared frosting (optional)
• 1 teaspoon sprinkles (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat toaster oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with one liner.
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together applesauce and sugar until combined. Stir in butter, vanilla, and milk.
3. Add flour and baking powder and mix everything together well.
4. Spoon batter into cupcake liner and bake for 27 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
5. Frost and add sprinkles, if desired.

  

Verdict

Baked cupcake in ramekin...Nothing wrong eating it here.

Making this cupcake is so easy. It also spreads that yummy baking aroma all over the kitchen that drives my husband nuts. We ended up sharing the cupcake.

My husband loved this cupcake. It does have a very vanilla flavor. I am hoping that baking it in the toaster oven saved energy compared to turning on your big oven, but it did take a long time. Think of it is as contemplative time – to see if you really want to eat the entire cupcake.

HELP WANTED: How to bind Butternut Squash-Tofu Patties?

I often have some leftovers from my Slow-cooked Butternut Squash recipe. Leftovers are great: it makes the meal the next day easier; often sometimes much easier. Plus, the cleanup is minimal if you just heat it as is. However, sometimes I do get tired of it and like to transform them for variety.

I have been working on making butternut squash-tofu patties. I figure that this would be great as a sandwich or a starter especially for Meatless Mondays. The sweetness of the squash with the protein from the tofu is a great combination for a sandwich, especially with 21-grain bread. Also, if you are fortunate enough to have some quinoa or kale, adding these would add texture and more protein. Kale would even add some color.

Promising beginnings, but...

I do think I need some help.  The patties are delicious, but I am having some problems binding them. My first three patties fell apart, but I was able to salvage two of them for the photo op.

I suspect that the pan may not be hot enough. I am also thinking for my next batch I may add some breadcrumbs, maybe 1/4 cup, to make it easier to bind.

Butternut Squash-Tofu Patties

Makes about 5 patties

Ingredients 

• 1/4 block of tofu (I use extra-firm), mashed roughly with a fork
• 2/3 cup leftover butternut squash (from Slow-cooked Butternut Squash recipe)
• 1/3 cup of quinoa, cooked (optional)
• 1/4 cup of egg whites (or 1 egg)
• Salt, pepper, and garlic powder (to taste)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Heat a large skillet, grease the base lightly with oil.
3. Fry the tofu-squash mixture in small patties (I use my 1/3 cup to measure)
4. Make a few and keep warm on a hot plate until all the mixture is cooked.

 Let me know what you think. I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Slow-cooker Maple-Butter Butternut Squash

Served with corn and meatless meatballs

It is officially fall. And for me, that means winter squash: all sorts of them. I have not really worked much with the different types of winter squash in the past; I primarily stuck to what I knew, like spaghetti squash and something that vaguely resembled the squash that I enjoyed growing up in the Philippines (They say it's Pumpkin, but I don't think so). I AM excited this season to try out different varieties.

That said, one of my favorite squash dishes to prepare is a variation of “Maple-Butter Acorn Squash, Slow Cooked” from Kate Heyhoe’s Cooking Green book. I bought this book a year ago and have been trying to incorporate practices from this book in my cooking routine.  One of the techniques that she suggested was to use our crockpots or slow-cookers more, since these are more energy-efficient than using the oven or the cooktops. They “also consume less electricity than an incandescent light bulb”.

All done - ready to be served.

So, I brought the crockpot out…

This recipe also appealed to me since it sounds fairly simple. However, I am somewhat intimidated with slicing squash (of any type), so I decided to just get pre-packaged diced butternut squash. It is widely available and cheaper this time of the year.

Again, in the interest of not violating any copyright laws, I am not publishing the recipe. All I can say is that it contains maple syrup, some butter, salt, and not too much water. I really enjoy this recipe: I would combine it with some grains (barley or quinoa is my favorite) and some protein (vegetarian or not) to make it a complete meal. I love preparing this for Meatless Mondays (as seen in the first photo).

Or add some greens like kale

She also did suggest to experiment with flavors. I once combined it with yams and parsnip, but the maple flavor did not come through as much. I am thinking of changing up the spices, using chile, just garlic and butter, or even bacon next time.

I may even make the squash and green bean recipe that I enjoyed in my childhood…. but in a crockpot.

We’ll see.

Discovery Weekends: Sweet Taste of the Tropics At Plumeria Flours

I finally had a chance to redeem a gift certificate from Plumeria Flours. It was a gift from a friend of mine (Thanks Sengita Warich!) and after a long hard work week, I felt it was about time to redeem it.

Plumeria Flours has a cozy shop tucked away in a strip mall near Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza.  One of their specialties is square tropical-flavored cupcake, which is what my gift certificate was good for – six of them! OMG, I do not think I can finish six cupcakes!

They had four flavors available that day: Mango, Papaya, Guava, and Kona Coffee. Since my favorite fruit is mango, I got two mango cupcakes. Also, two Kona Coffees, and one each of the papaya and guava. I think of the bunch, Kona Coffee is my favorite: good coffee flavor complemented by a mocha frosting. Yummy. My next favorite: you guessed it – mango. The cupcakes were topped with a thin layer of whipped cream frosting, appropriately flavored of course. This ratio was okay for me, since I usually do not like too much frosting. However, I felt it could use just a tad more. The frosting may not be enough for most people though, but there was more than enough cake, which I think is the most important part.

I was disappointed that they did not have Haupia cupcake that day. Haupia is a traditional coconut-milk based dessert or snack. It has a similar consistency to gelatin, but richer. Haupia is one of my favorite snacks while I am in Hawaii and reminds me of being in Hawaii.

Another specialty item is their chocolate covered and plumeria decorated Oreos. I did not see any while I was there, perhaps because it was late on a Friday afternoon. If you check out Plumeria Flour’s website, you can see how gorgeous these cookies are (The website did say that it is Out-of-Stock).

However, the caramel popcorn was very tempting and quite inexpensive too. I think $6 per bag. The popcorn had names like “Kalua Pig”, “100% Hapa”, “Humuhumunukuapua’a”. The names reflect the flavor: “Kalua Pig” was Bacon Caramel and “Humuhumunukunukuapua’a” (the Hawaiian state fish, a type of triggerfish) was Seaweed infused, if I remember. I don’t remember what “100% Hapa” was made out of… but I did remember discussing the contradiction in the name (“Hapa” is a pidgin Hawaiian word derived from the word “Half” … so, go figure, 100% = Half?).  Anyway, with six cupcakes, I decided it maybe prudent to save popcorn for a later trip.

For the fall, Plumeria Flours have limited hours: only Wednesday – Friday, 10 am – 5:30 pm. You can catch them at different Polynesian events in the San Francisco Bay Area. Check them out at PlumeriaFlours.com.

October Oatmeal and Oatbran Pumpkin Muffins

I can’t let October to pass by without making something with pumpkin. I am still obsessed with oats and need muffins (even though, I baked that gigantic batch last week). One problem: I have not worked with canned pumpkin before.

I found a great recipe at AllRecipes.com. It had the perfect name: October Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins. However, since I do have a huge batch of banana muffins, I decided to half the recipe.

Also since I am now also obsessing on oat bran, I decided to substitute some of the oats with oat bran. It just gives a hint of fiber! I also remembered the Chia Seeds this time for that touch of Omega-3.

I know this may look like a lot of ingredients, but I usually have most of these in my pantry. And I listed subs in case you don't have oat bran, whole wheat flour, etc. It will simplify the recipe. Also, especially this time of year, I usually have maple syrup handy - something I got accustomed to while vacationing in Pennsylvania.

October Oats and Oatbran Pumpkin Muffin 
Adapted from October Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffin from AllRecipes.com

Made about 10 muffins in a regular muffin tin

Ingredients: 

• No-stick cooking spray
• 1/4 cup + 2 TBSP whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 TBSP all-purpose flour (or just use whole-wheat flour)
• 2 TBSP of oat bran (or just add more oats)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Generous pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree (I used Trader Joe’s Organic Pumpkin)
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 TBSP maple syrup (or just use more brown sugar)
• 1/4 cup (or more) of walnuts (optional)
• 2 TBSP of butter, melted (optional – should just be 1 T (maybe its why its so moist)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon of chia seeds (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Soak oats in the almond milk.
3. Whisk oat bran, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
4. Stir oats mixture (from step 2), pumpkin puree, milk, egg, and maple syrup into the dry ingredients until batter is smooth;
5. Fold in walnuts and chia seeds in the batter.
6. Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups, filling them to the top.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes; set aside to cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Verdict

Pumpkin muffin and friends

This is very good and very pumpkin-y. It’s very moist too, but maybe it’s because I put too much butter. I usually have peanut butter with my muffins, but these are so tasty that one does not really need it. I do know someone who would eat it with PB.

Next time, I think I’ll try it with white chocolate chips. That would be a great decadent twist... or a potluck treat for our Halloween party.