Fig Newtons

Here we are! Fig newtons, homemade! Not that I have anything against Nabisco :) I wanted to try out this awesome recipe I spotted at Beantown Baker and while I was not a lover of a fig newtons, my wonderful Aunt Nancy is a big fan. So for her birthday, I gave them a try!

Dough
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon or orange zest
1 large egg white
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling
2 lbs fresh figs
1/4 cup sugar
Juice of half a lemon


1. Cream the butter, sugar and zest in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, for 2-3 minutes on medium speed. Scrape the sides of the bowl.

2. Beat in the egg white and vanilla.

3. Next, add the flour and beat on low speed until the dough comes together.

4. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight (the longer the better). I took mine out after about an hour and a half and it was way too soft.

5. While the dough is chilling, cut the figs in half and scoop out the seeds and pulp with a spoon. In a medium sauce pan, combine figs, sugar, and lemon juice. Mash mixture a few times with a potato masher or fork.

6. Cook mixture over medium-high heat until bubbling and sugar has dissolved; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes, until it has reduced by about one-third and is beginning to gel. Set aside until completely cool.

7. Place racks in middle and lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

8. Here's the tricky part, at least, it was for me. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to a 12 x 16 rectangle. Cut into 4 equal strips, each 12 x 4 inches. Spoon a line of filling down the center of each strip. I had a little too much dough for the amount of filling and since I'd rather have super stuffed fig newtons, I threw some jam in the excess dough. Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges together. Using a serrated knife, slice each log on the diagonal into 10 cookies. Place each cookie on the parchment-lined baking sheets, seam side down.

9. Bake, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, for 12-15 minutes, until golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a rack.

They turned out great and I will definitely make these again!

Eggplant Parmigiana Stack-Ups

My family is a big fan of the traditional eggplant parmigiana, but I was looking for a way to make it different. So I looked for some kind of eggplant parmigiana "stacks" and found a recipe from Chef Fabrizio Carro on Martha Stewart's website and ended up with a very yummy dinner.

Eggplant Parmigiana

3 medium eggplants (not more than 4-inches in diameter), sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 cup flour
4 cups canola oil
1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, chopped
6 ounces grated Pecorni Romano cheese (Original recipe called for Grana Padano, but this is what I had on hand)
3 oz grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup packed basil leaves
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper
4 cups Tomato Sauce Recipe (below)


1. Lay eggplant slices in a single even layer on a rack set over rimmed baking sheets; generously season with salt. Let stand 15 minutes to release excess moisture; pat dry with paper towels.

2. Place flour in a shallow dish; dredge eggplant slices in flour, shaking off excess. In a large pot, heat canola oil to 300 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches, add eggplant slices to hot oil and cook, turning once, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain; repeat process with remaining eggplant.

3. Place mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, and Parmesan cheeses in the bowl of a food processor; process until just combined. Add basil leaves and olive oil; process until well combined. Season with fine sea salt and pepper and transfer to a disposable pastry bag.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set six 4-by-3-inch round ring molds in a large shallow baking dish. Place a dollop of tomato sauce at the bottom of each ring mold. Top with a slice of eggplant. Cut a small hole from the bottom of the pastry bag and pipe a layer of cheese mixture on top of eggplant. Top with another dollop of sauce, followed by another slice of eggplant. Repeat process until you have reached the top of the ring mold or have created four layers, ending with a slice of eggplant. Top with a little tomato sauce.

5. Transfer to oven and bake until cheese is melted and eggplant is warmed through, about 15 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully transfer filled ring molds to individual serving plates. Carefully remove ring mold before serving.


Tomato Sauce

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 onions, sliced
2 (28-ounce) cans San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes
1 cup fresh basil leaves
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent, 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Add tomatoes and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally and taking care not to let sauce stick to the bottom of the pot, about 2 1/2 hours.

3. Remove from heat and, using an immersion blender, blend until smooth, adding basil leaves as you blend. Alternatively, working in batches, you can transfer tomato sauce to the jar of a conventional blender, adding basil leaves as you blend.

4. Season with salt and pepper and reheat to use immediately or let cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to use, 3 to 5 days.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe taken from Stephanie Cooks

I saw these cookies on another wonderful food blog recently and, with just seeing the title, all I could think of was, "Boy would my husband LOVE these cookies!" (Truth be told, there are many recipes that get that reaction from my mind. I actually have a favorites tab dedicated to a list of foods Robert would get excited to eat.) These cookies have chocolate, peanut butter, and well it's a cookie so what's not to love!

1 stick butter (softened)
1/2 cup peanut butter ( I used smooth, but chunky would be great too)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar (I didn't have any brown sugar on hand so I mixed 1/2 cup white sugar with 2 tbsp molasses)
1 egg
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I used min kisses!)


1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cream butter, peanut butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl.

3. Add the egg and continue to beat until fluffy.

4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

5. Slowly add dry mix to peanut butter mix while beating.

6. Stir in chocolate chips.

7. Drop dough by teaspoon onto lightly greased cookie sheets and bake 10- 12 minutes. Cool on baking racks.

This was Robert's special cookie. He made the last one triple the size!

Bracciole

My grandpa requested that my Mom and I make bracciole for him like my Grandma used to. I don't know if ours was as good as hers, but everyone ate it so fast I'm thinking we did ok!

Bracciole

1 1/2 lb flank steak (usually labeled bracciole meat)
6 tbsp Parsley leaves (roughly chopped)
8 garlic cloves (minced)
4 tbsp of olive oil
salt and pepper to season
4 tbsp grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Tomato Sauce
Pasta



1. Lay out the bracciole on wax or parchment paper. Pound with a meat mallet.

2. Season both sides generously with sea salt and pepper. Sprinkle with olive oil.

3. Spread garlic on top of the bracciole evenly across the entire piece. Scatter grated cheese on top of garlic.


4. Pile on the parsley! Be sure to cover the whole steak!


5. Now the tricky part, roll it up tight enough not flop over and fall apart, but loose enough to let the sauce and flavors mix well.

6. Secure with baker's twine. My Mom and I had a good time making different designs/knots with the twine!


7. Heat dutch oven on stove top to medium-high heat. Place your braccioles in carefully and continue turning to brown on all sides. The inside does not need to be fully cooked, because it will continue to cook in the sauce. Add water if necessary to keep the meat moist.

8. When fully browned, cover with tomato sauce and reduce to medium-low heat and let cook slowly for 2- 2 1/2 hours. This slow cooking will keep the bracciole tender. I used a tomato sauce similar to this one from an earlier post, except I used whole peeled tomatoes and pureed them in a blender and added onions and red wine.

9. Serve braccoile and sauce over pasta!

Banana Raisin Bread

Banana bread is a great comfort dessert or snack for any day of the week! My husband loves it for a quick morning breakfast on weekdays before work! Enjoy this simple and tasty recipe!

3 Bananas, well-ripened
1 cup of sugar
1/3 cup corn oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup raisins
2 cups water (for soaking raisins)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)


1. Heat water to a boil in microwave or on stovetop. Turn off heat and add raisins. Set aside for about 15 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a potato masher.

3. Mix all other ingredients together. Stir until well combined.

4. Remove plumped raisins from water and pat dry with paper towels. Fold into batter.

5. Pour into a loaf pan and bake at 350 for one hour and fifteen minutes.

6. Let cool, slice and enjoy!