French Silk Pie

Happy Valentine's Day! I love love, and I love chocolate, so let's dive right in.

Ever since my visit to Chicago's Bang Bang Pie, I have been obsessed with french silk pie. I've been told it's a classic diner pie , but this girl has been to her fair share of diners, and no french silk in sight! It's just as well; the first time you have french silk pie has to be a straight up experience, not just another dessert.

People are always likening the things they really, really like to Heaven. You know what I mean? "That massage I just got? HEAVEN." "That shoe place is like HEAVEN." "Those dogs kisses on my mouth? HEAVENNN." It's become so overused. But let me tell you something right now: the only thing better than this pie once it's completely chilled and set, is the actual moment of euphoria that is finding extra filling in the mixing bowl once the pie shell has been filled. That unset, chocolate mousse filling is actual Heaven on Earth. It's silky (hence the name!), chocolaty beyond belief, creamy, and lighter than air. It's silky, chocolaty, creamy air on a spoon. I will not tell you how much of it I ate before I could finally snap myself out of it to transfer the pie to the fridge before there was nothing left but crumbs in a disposable tin. If it wasn't already destined to be dessert at a Valentine's Day party, this french silk pie, along with its identical twin pie brother, would've been gone SO FAST with no regrets.

Alas, they were promised for many other tummies besides mine, so I had to let them go.

There better be leftovers.

What You'll Need:

For the Crust: 60 Vanilla wafers, finely crushed 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled For the Filling: 3/4 cup superfine sugar 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

To make the crust: Place your freshly crushed vanilla wafers, cinnamon, and melted butter into a medium sized mixing bowl, and stir together until all ingredients are completely combined.

Pour your mixture into a 9 inch pie plate and press the bottom and sides to create an even layer. You may end up with a little extra once you're finished.

Bake your crust for 10-15 minutes until it's golden brown. Once removed from the oven, set it on a cooling rack to cool completely, then place in the refrigerator until you need it.

To make the filling: Place eggs and sugar in a medium saucepan, continuously whisking together on medium-low heat. You'll know that your mixture is ready when it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. This should take 5-7 minutes. While your mixture is cooking, melt the chocolate.

Stir your melted chocolate into the mixture, and continue to stir until it's smooth. Remove from heat, and let it completely cool.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a bowl with a hand mixer, or with a wooden spoon), beat your butter until it is light and fluffy. Add your cooled chocolate mixture, and continue to mix until everything is fully combined. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally.

In a separate bowl, beat together your heavy cream and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Fold your newly whipped cream into your chocolate mixture and mix until it's light and fluffy. (I've found that it's sometimes necessary to help the process by mixing it with a rubber spatula for a few seconds to make sure all of the chocolate is incorporated.)

Remove your chilled crust from the refrigerator, and fill with chocolate filling. (You may end up with some extra filling at the end. I find it best to eat with a spoon). Refrigerate for 4-6 hours (or overnight). Once ready to serve, top with some homemade whipped cream, and enjoy!

SOURCE: Spoon Fork Bacon

Forks up! Everybody have some pie.

Egg-in-a-Hole

Boy, was I in need of some quick, easy, quality cold-weather comfort food.

This is a cute little dish that I just discovered as I continue my foray into the egg world beyond scrambled. Growing up, we had scrambled eggs with a little salt,, a little pepper, and shredded cheese if you played your cards right. But now, as an adult, I've come to realize that there's a whole world beyond scrambled eggs, and I intend to find it. The fantastic news is: It takes five minutes to make.  Make it for breakfast, make it for a light lunch, or make it for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. It'll pick you up reallll good.

Melt about a tablespoon of butter in a skillet or frying pan. Make sure it's melted all the way and spread out before placing your bread in the pan.

Crack one whole egg into the hole you've made in your bread using a small biscuit cutter (or a small glass). Wait 30-45 seconds before trying to move your bread. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.

Flip that baby over, and salt and pepper again. Give it another minute. Make sure that bread is soaking up every last bit of the butter in the pan. This bread is crispy, buttery, and what many of my dreams are made of. Make sure your egg yolk jiggles to the touch, but remains intact.

Eat It up!

It sure is cold up here in the Midwest (and around the country, I've heard!). Sometimes you need a good piece of bread and egg with tons of butter to make you feel just right. Right?

What You'll Need:

• 1 Slice of Bread (Your choice)
• 1 Tablespoon of Butter
• 1 Large Egg
• Salt to Taste
• Pepper to Taste

1. Press hole in the center of the bread using a small biscuit cutter or small glass.

2. Heat skillet or frying pan on medium-low heat, and melt your butter.

3. When the butter has melted completely and has spread out, place your bread in the skillet. Crack your egg straight into the center of the hole of your bread. Sprinkle the egg with salt and pepper to taste. Be sure to wait 30-45 seconds before attempting to move your bread.

4. After a minute, flip your bread over with a spatula, then sprinkle salt and pepper again to taste.

5. Make sure your bread is soaking up all of butter in the pan by moving it around the skillet if you can. Let your bread and egg cook until the yoke feels soft to the touch, but remains intact.

SOURCE: The Pioneer Woman 

Why didn't I know about this sooner?

Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

I spend a lot of time looking up really complicated recipes, because I want to challenge myself. But lately, I haven't felt like doing really involved recipes. Maybe it's because  the single-digit temperatures have left me craving comfort over complication. Or maybe, I just have too much cereal in the house.

It's been two weeks since I've made anything for my work chums, which means it's been two weeks since I've practiced my baking. Life has kept me a little busy, and by the time I get a free moment, it's time for bed. But honestly, when you're really passionate about something, you'll find the time. So I carved a few hours out to get myself back into the swing of things. And what better way to get more practice in, than with yummy, crunchy rice krispie treats? But oh no, not just those standard treats you find the recipe for on the back of the cereal box, no. Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats are a much-needed twist on an old classic. They're like your cool first cousins from Chicago with the same last name as you, but they're way more popular, even with your group of friends.

What's great about these is that the taste is not different, but rather enhanced. Brown butter is a sneakily powerful ingredient. Sure, it's the same as butter, but with a slight twist that takes something basic, and gives it the depth that it's always deserved. And to top that all off, sea salt helps to bring the flavors out even more. If you're a sweet and salty type of person, then this is for you. I will not tell you how many I've had for fear that your jaw will fly open and never close. I'm just glad I have hungry co-workers, because the few that I saved for the house, did not last in the house for very long.

What You'll Need:

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 8-inch square cake pan
• 1 10 ounce bag of marshmallows
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt (plus more for sprinkling!!)
• 6 cups of Rice Krispie cereal (buy on 12 oz box)

Butter (or coat with cooking spray) the bottom and sides of the cake pan. Lay a piece of wax or parchment paper on top, making sure that it properly sticks to the corners and edges.

In  a large pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. It will melt, then start to foam, and crackle. Once the crackling has subsided, the butter will start to turn a golden color. After a few moments, your butter will start to brown, and should give off a wonderful, nutty aroma. Stir frequently, scraping up any brown bits that are hanging out at the bottom. Do not leave your butter unattended. Brown butter will turn to burned butter in very little time. And no one likes burned butter.

As soon as the butter takes on a nutty color, turn the heat off and stir in the marshmallows. The residual heat from the melted butter should be enough to melt them, but if it is not, turn it back on low until the marshmallows are smooth.

Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the salt and cereal together. Quickly spread into prepared pan. If you're like me, you love the salty-sweet contrast. Evenly sprinkle on as much extra sea salt as you please.

Let cool, then cut into squares, or whatever shape you're feelin'.

SOURCE: Smitten Kitchen 

HAPPY BAKING!

Grown-Up Mac and Cheese

People of Earth: I am here to tell you that there is life beyond Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. That being said, sometimes it's just more comforting (and less time consuming) to throw a pot of classic Kraft on the stove with whole milk and a little extra cheddar, but for the sake of this post, we're going to go to the next level.

What sets this mac and cheese apart in one thing: Béchamel Sauce. Just four ingredients: flour, butter, milk, and salt. And it absolutely makes all the difference in the world. What it does, is add a bit of depth to the cheesiness. It's smooth, creamy, and, mixed with the cheese, the shining light in this classic dish. But keep in mind: you have to do a bit of multi-tasking to make this sauce. While the butter is melting, you have to watch the milk which should bubble, but not boil. And the very second that the butter is melted, you have to add the flour and whisk with all your might. Pay attention while you make it, and the reward will be huge.

Look how rich and creamy that is! The only thing keeping me from diving face first into this pot was my fear of severe burns. That's the only thing.

The wonderful thing about having a recipe for basic mac and cheese is that you can add in your favorite ingredients. For this, I decided on tons of spinach and turkey bacon. The only way you'll get me to eat my vegetables is with cheese (Is that the Midwesterner in me? I'm not sure.), so bring on the spinach...so long as there's a cup of cheddar chasing it into the pot.

To me, an essential part of your basic mac and cheese is that satisfying crunch. Toasted panko is perfect for this. About 1/2 sprinkled on top is just enough to add a little extra texture. Try it. You'll like it.

Last but not least, don't forget to pop this perfection in the oven for ten minutes. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Is it time for dinner yet?

Grown-Up Mac and Cheese with Spinach and Turkey Bacon

Ingredients:

Béchamel Sauce:

•  3 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt or 1 teaspoon table salt

Bread Crumb Topping:

• 1/2 cup panko (Japanese Bread Crumbs)

Mac and Cheese:

• 1/2 pound dried elbow pasta
• 2 cups Mac Sauce
• 1 1/2 cups grated aged white cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 4 strips of turkey bacon, chopped
• 3 cups baby spinach (But the amount of greens is really up to you!)

Béchamel Sauce Directions:

Heat the milk in a pot over medium heat until it just starts to bubble, but is not boiling, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.  (Tip: while the milk is heating, get your flour ready!)

Heat the butter over medium heat in a separate, heavy-bottomed pot. When the butter has just melted, add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture turns light brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Slowly pour the warm milk, about 1 cup at a time, into the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly. It will get very thick when you first add the milk, and thinner as you slowly pour in the entire 3 cups.

Once all the milk has been added, set the pot back over medium-high heat, and continue to whisk constantly. In the next 2 to 3 minutes the sauce should come together and become silky and thick. Use the spoon test to make sure it’s ready. To do this, dip a metal spoon into the sauce-if the sauce coats the spoon and doesn’t slide off like milk, you’ll know it’s ready. You should be able to run your finger along the spoon and have the impression remain. Add the salt.

The Mac Sauce is ready to use immediately and does not need to cool.

Toasting the Bread Crumbs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F

Place the bread crumbs on a baking sheet and set in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the crumbs have turned a golden brown. Set aside.

 Preparing the Macaroni and Cheese:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F

Cook the pasta according to box instructions. Drain, rinse the pasta with cold water, then drain again.

While your pasta is cooking, now’s a good time to cook your bacon and spinach. What I like to do is: start cooking the bacon first. Once almost cooked through, I add the spinach to the pan. Tip: wring out your spinach as best as you can after rinsing, and before adding to the pan of bacon. It’ll sizzle.

Add the sauce and both cheeses to a large, heavy-bottomed pot and cook over medium heat. Stir until the cheese is barely melted, about 3 minutes. Slowly add the cooked pasta, stir, and continue cooking while stirring continuously until the pasta is hot and steaming, another 5 minutes. Add in the bacon and spinach, and stir. After fully incorporated, remove from heat.

Spoon the mac and cheese into an oven-safe dish, making sure it’s evenly spread. Sprinkle the panko crumbs on top.

Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until it starts bubbling on the edges.

Remove from oven, and dig in. You earned it!

Dish serves 4.

SOURCE: Very loosely adapted from the Mac + Cheese Cookbook: 50 Simple Recipes from Homeroom, America's Favorite Mac and Cheese Restaurant 

Is there such a thing as too much cheese? Answer: No, absolutely not.