Lemons On (In) a Roll!

  

You'll be on a roll, with this cake! Abby Dodge, who wrote the cookbook The Everyday Baker, stopped by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about My (her) Mom's Lemony Roll Cake. Now here's the scoop, at its core, this is a Lemon-filled sponge cake that has an incredible dessert flavor at home in either a fancy dinner party or a casual get-together. Abby told Tonia that when the cake is hot from the oven, you roll it up to give it the shape of the name.  Abby also says this cake is bursting with flavor, thanks to the goat cheese that's enhanced with the zing of fresh blueberries. That of course, is combined with the decadence of sugar and heavy cream for an amazing treat you'll be sure to enjoy many times over.

LEMON-POPPY SEED ROLL CAKE WITH WHIPPED STRAWBERRY MASCARPONE

Happy Spring everyone and remember that Everyday is a great day for baking!

Abby

Lemon-Poppy Seed Roll Cake with Whipped Strawberry Mascarpone

Makes 8 to 16 servings.

For the cake

Nonstick cooking spray or softened butter + flour, for preparing
the pan

1 cup (7 oz./198g) granulated sugar, divided

1 Tbs. finely grated lemon zest

1 1/2 cups (6 oz./170g) cake flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. table salt

4 large eggs, divided

1/2 cup (120 ml) neutral oil (safflower, canola or vegetable)

1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk

2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp. poppy seeds

Confectioners’ sugar (sifted if lumpy), for dusting (about 1 cup/4 oz./113 g)

For the filling

1 quart (1 lb./454g) medium-sized, fresh strawberries, rinsed and dried

2/3 cup (4 5/8 oz./131g) granulated sugar

1 Tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, chilled

3/4 cup (6 oz./170g) mascarpone

Pinch of table salt

Make the cake

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F (180°C /gas 4). Lightly grease the sides and bottoms of a 13x18x1-inch (33x46x2.5 cm) half sheet pan and line the bottom with parchment. Lightly grease and flour the parchment and lightly flour the sides of the pan.
2. Put 3/4 cup (5 1/4 oz./149g) of the sugar and the lemon zest in a blender or food process and pulse until the zest is finely chopped and the sugar is fragrant. Sift the cake flour into the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mixer (or in a large bowl using an electric handheld mixer fitted with wire beaters), add the lemon-sugar, baking powder and salt and whisk until blended. Add the egg yolks, oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat on medium-low speed until blended. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until lighter in color and thin enough to form a ribbon of batter in the bowl when the beater is lifted, 3 minutes. Add the poppy seeds and mix briefly until blended.
3. Put the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl using an electric handheld mixer fitted with wire beaters) and beat on medium-low speed until foamy. Increasing speed to medium, and beat until whites are opaque and climbing about half way up the bowl (the tracks from the whisk will be beginning to hold their shape) forming very soft peaks. Continue beating while slowly adding the remaining 1/4 cup (1 3/4 oz./50g) granulated sugar. Beat until the whites are thick, shiny and form medium peaks. (The peaks should droop over gently.) Do not over beat or the whites won’t expand during baking and the batter won’t rise as high.
4. Scrape about a quarter of the whites into the flour mixture and, using a large silicone spatula, gently stir until blended. The batter will become lighter and make it easier to fold in the remaining whites. Add the remaining whites and gently fold until just blended with no visible streaks of either the whites or batter. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and, using an offset spatula, gently spread into an even layer. Bake until the cake is pale golden brown and the top springs back when lightly touched, 13 to 15 minutes.
5. While the cake is baking, have ready two long strips of paper towels (two large squares per strip), the confectioners’ sugar for dusting, a fine- mesh sieve, and two large racks.
6. Move the pan to a rack and run the tip of a small knife around the edges to loosen the cake from the pan. Let cool 10 minutes. Sift the confectioners’ sugar over the cake in a generous layer. Cover the top of the cake completely with the strips of paper towels and cover with a rack large enough to overhang the edges of the pan. Gripping both racks with towels and with the sheet pan sandwiched in between, flip the pan and racks to invert. Lift the pan from the cake and carefully peel away the parchment.
7. Beginning on one short (or, to serve 16, long) side, roll up the cake and paper towel layer together. Do this while the cake is still war or it will crack. Arrange, seam side down (the seam will not be directly under the cake but just to the side facing down), on the rack and let cool completely.

Make the filling and assemble

1. Hull the strawberries and cut each in half then each half in half or quarters, if large. You should have about 4 cups of chopped strawberries. Scrape about half of the berries into medium saucepan and the sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved then reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often, until the berries have released their juice and burst when lightly pressed with the spatula, about 6 minutes. Add the remaining berries and cook, stirring, until the syrup is thick and jam-like (you will have about 1 1/2 cups), 6 to 8 minutes. Slide the pan off the heat, let cool completely and refrigerate until chilled. For faster cooling, Scrape into a bowl and set the bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice and a little water, stirring and scraping the sides frequently.
2. Put the mascarpone, heavy cream and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl using an electric handheld mixer fitted with wire beaters) and beat on medium-low speed until blended and smooth, about 1 minute. Increase to medium-high speed and beat until thick enough
to hold firm peaks when the beater is lifted, about 2 minutes. Add the cooled strawberry mixture and, using a silicone spatula, fold until just blended.
3. Carefully unroll the cake and remove the paper towels. It will look a bit wavy, uneven and will be curled at one end. Scrape the filling onto the cake and, using an offset spatula, spread evenly over the cake to within 1/2 inch of one of the short sides, the two long edges and to 1 inch of the remaining short (or long) side. Beginning with the shorter side with the filling almost to the edge, gently roll the cake without the paper towels. Using a long metal spatula, place the cake, seam side down (the seam will not be directly under the cake but just to the side facing down), on a flat serving plate or board. Refrigerate for 2 hours then cover loosely and continue chill for another 2 hours or up to 12 hours before serving.
4. About 30 minutes before serving, remove the cake from the refrigerator. Dust the top of the roll with additional confectioners’ sugar, if desired. Using a serrated knife, cut the cake on alternate angles into wedges about 2 inches thick at the widest end and serve with additional fresh strawberries, if desired.

Why Ask Why? Try Borbon and Vodka Pie!

  

And by spirited, we mean classic spirits like Vodka and Bourbon.  Both are represented in this pie that's perfect for Thanksgiving!  Senior Food Editor Amy Traverso stopped by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about her Bourbon Walnut Pecan Pie that has vodka in the crust!  Amy told Tonia when you make a

pie crust, you typically use water.  Here use  half-water, half-vodka  mix to create a crust that's far more moist than anything you've tried.  Amy says not to worry about getting drunk off the pie, as most of it will burn off during the cooking (that's what pre-dinner cocktails are for, right?)

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Tonia's Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and chilled
• 3 tablespoons ice water
• 2 tablespoons vodka

Instructions

First, make the crust: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Sprinkle the butter over the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter to break the butter into smaller pieces, then use your fingers to smear the butter into the flour. Stop when the mixture looks like cornmeal, with pea-size bits of butter remaining.

Sprinkle the ice water and vodka over the mixture and stir with a fork until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter, knead once or twice to form a ball, then press the ball into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to two days.

Preheat oven to 400° and set a rack to the lower position. Unwrap the dough and place it in the center of a large sheet of parchment paper. Cover with a second piece of parchment. Roll out, working from the center, to a 12-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet of parchment paper and transfer dough, peeled side down, into a 9-inch pie plate, pressing it into the sides. Peel off the remaining parchment and fold under and crimp the edges. Line dough with a piece of parchment paper or large coffee filter and fill with beans. Set the pie plate on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then take the crust from the oven, remove the beans and liner, and reduce oven temperature to 325°. Set crust aside.

For the filling

Ingredients

• 3 large eggs
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons bourbon
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2  cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter, corn syrups, sugar, bourbon, and salt until smooth. Spread the nuts in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared crust, then pour the egg mixture over the top. Set the pie on the baking sheet and bake until set, 30 to 40 minutes.

Stuffing-Sans the Egg

  

So says Chef Billy from Restaurant Associates. He stopped by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about a little different take on stuffing. This year Billy is making a no-egg, dried fruit stuffing with sourdough, and brioche, chopped apricots, dried cranberries, golden raisins, celery, onions, thyme, sage and chicken stock. He told Tonia you don't need the egg to hold the stuffing together, rather just use less chicken stock, make sure the bread is a little stale, and let the mixture absorb the stock longer. He also adds that using brioche gives the mix a very buttery flavor that really goes well with turkey or any dish! Save the eggs for breakfast!

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

One 1/2 pound of sourdough bread, One 1/2 pound of brioche, slightly stale

3/4 cup mixed chopped dried fruit, such as apricots, cranberries and figs

2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

1 large apple, such as Golden Delicious, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 stalks celery with leaves, chopped

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a shallow 3-quart baking dish. Cut or tear the bread into bite-size pieces. Divide between 2 rimmed baking sheets and spread into a single layer. Bake until slightly dry and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely.
2. Meanwhile, melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the dried fruit, sage, thyme, apple, onion, celery, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and parsley and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour into a large bowl.
3. Add the toasted bread to the onion mixture and toss until evenly moistened.Transfer to the prepared baking dish and evenly spread without packing the stuffing down too much. Bake until the top is crusty, about 40 minutes. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and drizzle over the top. Continue to bake until the top is crisp and golden, about 20 minutes more. Garnish with parsley and thyme.

A Curry For The Fall

 

Looking for a light, vegetable-based curry, that packs quite the flavor? Nicki Sizemore, who wrote the new cookbook Fresh Flavors for the Slow Cooker came by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about her recipe for this amazing dish, which is based on red curry paste, onion, garlic and ginger. Nicki says she also uses coconut milk and peanut butter to give it a creamier texture. She uses cauliflower, but Nicki says you can use most other vegetables create this curry, which is nutritious and delicious.

Ingredients

Aromatics

• 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 2 tablespoons red curry paste

Slow cooker

• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce (preferably Red Boat brand)
• 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
• 1 large head cauliflower (2 1/2 pounds), cut into 2-inch florets
• 1 pound red potatoes (about 3 medium potatoes), cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup canned coconut milk, well stirred
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups frozen cut green beans
• 1/3 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts
• 1 tablespoon sriracha
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For serving

• Cooked rice or quinoa
• Coarsely chopped peanuts
• Chopped cilantro
• Sriracha

A Chili Pumpkin Spice

  

It's a real chili for the fall. And the reason it's great for the fall is because it's more a stew with some classic chili toppings, and also pumpkin. Amy Traverso, who's the Senior Food Editor for Yankee Magazine, stopped by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about her Harvest Chili recipe, which she says is made with pumpkin puree and Kabocha Squash. Amy says that last ingredient is pumpkin like but has the texture of a sweet potato. The skin on the squash is very tender so you don't need to chop it.

Yield:

About 6 servings

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 teaspoon chili powder
¾ teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup pumpkin puree
1½ pounds kabocha squash, seeded (unpeeled) and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 (15-ounce) cans white beans, such as northern or cannellini, with liquid
3½ cups chicken or vegetable broth
Avocado slices, cilantro, and sour cream, for garnish

Instructions

Warm the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, then add the carrots, celery, onion, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add the garlic, red pepper, chili powder, cumin, and oregano and cook, stirring often, for 5 more minutes. Add the pumpkin puree and kabocha squash and stir to coat. Cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add the beans and broth, bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, stir, and simmer until the squash is tender, about 30 minutes more. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot and garnish with avocado, cilantro, and sour cream.