Classic Brownies

1 cup (4 oz) pecans or walnuts chopped
1 ¼ cup cake flour
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking powder
5 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped *(their recipe calls for 6 oz)
12 Tablespoons butter
2 ¼ cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325. Line the inside of a 9x13 pan with foil. Push in to corners and up sides of pan, fold any excess over the outside of pan. Spray with Pam.
If using nuts, spread on baking sheet and bake 5-8 minutes.
Whisk to combine flour, salt and baking powder in bowl.
Melt chocolate and butter in large heatproof bowl, or in double boiler. I use my gas range on the lowest setting. Gradually whisk in sugar. Add eggs, one at a time. Whisk in vanilla. Add flour in three additions. Folding in. Make sure not to over mix.
Transfer mixture in to pan. Sprinkle nuts on top. Bake until toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. 25-35 minutes. When cooled, lift brownies out of pan by foil. Flatten out overhang foil and cut.


Cooks magazine did a whole write up on making the perfect brownie in March/ April 2004. They analyzed everything that goes in to making the perfect brownie-from the type of flour (cake flour yields a softer texture), to the baking of the nuts, and placing them on top, instead of inside the batter, to insure the nuts were still crunchy, and not soggy. These are my type of people!

*I made these a few times, before I changed to 5 oz…I like the chocolate flavor to be a little less intense in brownies.

Si

Gingerbread with Lemon Butter Sauce

Cake:

2 ¼ cups flour
¾ cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup sour cream
1 cup butter
¾ cup dark molasses
2 eggs

Sauce:
1 cup sugar
½ cup butter
¼ cup lemon juice
Powdered sugar

Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cloves in a large mixing bowl. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add molasses and sour cream. Mix well. Spoon batter into a greased 9”x13” baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean.

To prepare sauce, mix sugar, butter and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Pour boiling sauce over hot cake, immediately after removing from oven. Cut in squares or wedges and serve while still warm. Add whipped cream for topping.

**I also like to saute thinly sliced apples with sugar to serve with this cake. About 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar to one medium size apple. Peel and slice the apple thin, toss in a teflon pan with the sugar over medium/ med high heat until the sugar is carmelized.

Grandma Franz's Almost German Potato Salad

Grandma Franz is my Aunt Diana’s Mother, who is German. She makes this delicious version of German Potato salad, which uses pickle juice instead of vinegar, and has mayo included in the dressing.


White or red potatoes, about 12-15 small
8-12 eggs
Dill pickles, about 3 large or 6 small chunked
Dill pickle juice
Best Foods Mayo – NO LIGHT ALLOWED
Salt
White Pepper

Wash the potatoes, no need to peel or cut. I like the small ones about half the size of your fist, if you can get them. Not the tiny ones in the small mesh bags, but the next size. If not the larger size work . Cook the potatoes in boiling water until soft, and the peels start to crack and pull away, about 30-45 minutes.

Hard boil the eggs, peel and cut in to quarters.

Drain the water from the potatoes, cut the potatoes in to half or quarter if they are the bigger size.

While they are still hot, pour pickle juice on top and salt the potatoes generously. I use about ½ to ¾ cup of juice. Start with ½, and see how much is absorbed. If you add too much the salad turns out soupy, instead of creamy.

Add the eggs and pickles. While still warm add the mayo, about a cup at a time, mix gently, add more mayo until desired consistency.
Salt and pepper to taste. This salad is best served warm or at room temperature.

Movies in the News

I saw 21, Smart People and Nim's Island recently, I liked them all with Smart People being the biggest surprise. 21 is slick and pretty and takes you away from your otherwise boring life. Nim's Island is great for kids and Jodie Foster actually doesn't take herself so seriously which is refreshing. Smart People is funny and sweet, with snappy dialogue and characters that are all too familiar. See them and let me know what you think.

Short Ribs Provencale with Creme Fraiche Mashed Potatoes

2 tablespoons (or more) olive oil
6 pounds meaty beef short ribs
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrots, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
12 whole garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tablespoon dried herbes de Provence*
2 cups red Zinfandel ( I used red or burgundy cooking wine and reduced the amount to 1 1/2 cups)
2 1/2 cups canned beef broth
14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 bay leaf
3/4 cup water
24 baby carrots, peeled
1/2 cup Niçois olives,** pitted
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 325°F.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle ribs with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add ribs to pot and brown well, turning often, about 8 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer ribs to large bowl.
Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings from pot or add oil as necessary to measure 2 tablespoons. Add onion, chopped carrot, and celery and cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are soft, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, flour, and herbes de Provence; stir 1 minute. Add wine and 2 cups broth; bring to boil over high heat, scraping up browned bits. Add tomatoes with juices and bay leaf. Return ribs and any accumulated juices to pot. If necessary, add enough water to pot to barely cover ribs. Bring to boil.
Cover pot tightly and transfer to oven. Bake until ribs are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours 15 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, then refrigerate uncovered until cold. Cover and keep refrigerated. Bring to simmer before continuing.)
Add remaining 1/2 cup broth, peeled baby carrots, and Niçois olives to pot; press carrots gently to submerge. Cover, return to oven and continue cooking at 350°F until carrots are tender, about 15 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Transfer short ribs and carrots to platter. Tent with foil to keep warm. If necessary, boil sauce to thicken slightly. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over short ribs. Sprinkle with parsley.
* A dried herb mixture available at specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some markets. A mix of dried thyme, basil, savory, and fennel seeds can be substituted.
** Small brine-cured black olives; available at Italian markets, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets.

CREME FRAICHE MASHED POTATOES
3 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, quartered
2/3 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 25 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes to pot. Add crème fraîche and butter; mash until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (Potatoes can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm over low heat, stirring frequently.)
Bon Appétit

Past Favorites

Okay, I am so excited about this--especially because I lose my favorite recipes. I get them out of my book to cook and forget to put them back. One that I've lost is Si's recipe for short ribs--I've lost it and want to be able to cook this--spectacular recipe of the year--again! I also loved Tinker's sauce for lamb and would love that too. I promise to post as well. Thanks so much Corrine for putting this all together.

Recent Trip to Vegas

So, I went to Vegas recently and stayed at the Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa. It was worth the money. Few hotels are, but this one was. The rooms were clean, the beds comfortable and the grounds beautiful. The pool was perfect for both families and couples. The pool has a sand beach side were little kids were playing in the sand. It also has a deep end were people were swimming and a shallow end were lawn chairs were placed in the water so people could sunbathe. The lounges were terrific because they were the size of double beds w/mattresses and pillows. Further, there was plenty of shade for those of us who don't sunbathe.

Now, to the important part, the FOOD. Because we spent more money on the rooms, we ended up spending less money on the food. The hotel is located in a outdoor mall area with several chain restaurants. We went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory which was fine. Frankly, I think the cheesecake is the best thing there. I got the tuxedo cheesecake and really liked it. We also ate at the Elephant Bar which was good. About a step and a half up from Applebees. I expensive meal was at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant Postrio located in The Venetian. I ordered the Kobe beef sliders, the linguine with clams and the tiramisu. Everything was very tasty but nothing that blew me away. I think I like the beef sliders the best tho. The service was very good.

We also went to see the show LOVE at the Mirage which I thought was a rip-off. I think the show was ill conceived and boring. The flow of the show was incongruous and the staging was distracting. Both KA and Mystere are far better productions and are worth the money. So, this is a case to not spend your hard earned money on LOVE. xoxo-- Tink

L i m e C e v i c h e w i t h S h r i m p

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and diced
1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
1 TBS. olive oil
1 pound shrimp, cooked and peeled and cubed
3 scallions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced on the bias
1 cucumber, cut into matchsticks
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1 avocado, cubed
salt and fresh ground pepper

*In a glass bowl, combine lime juice, jalepeno, ginger, and oil. Add shrimp and toss. Cover with plastic and chill overnight, or over an hour, stirring occasionally.
*Add remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Toss and serve.

I love this blog!

Hi Girls. I can't wait for our next Recipe Club. Are we really waiting until summer? I am a little embarassed that most of the recipes on this site are mine...I'm not even in the top 10 greatest cooks in our group. Love you all, Sara

Sara's Sunday Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Gravy

2-1 lb. Pork Tenderloin
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 lb mushrooms
1 onion
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth

Chop onion, and slice mushrooms. In a Dutch oven, brown pork in melted butter and oil. Remove from pan. Sautee mushrooms and onion. Add flour, whisk till smooth. Add chicken broth. Place meat back into pan. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hour.