Cookies, Desserts

Sweet Potato-Pecan Pie Bars

Makes one 9-in by 13-in pan Sweet potato custard and bourbon-flavored pecan topping make this the perfect fall treat. Ingredients Shortbread Crust 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar 6 oz (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt Sweet Potato Filling […]

Cookies

Tahini Kiss Cookies

Makes about 32 cookies These tahini cookies are inspired by the classic peanut butter kiss cookie, with the slightly more savory (and nut-free!) flavor of tahini. We used semi-sweet chocolate to offset the sweetness in the cookies, but you can use whatever chocolate you like best. Ingredients 1 cup tahini […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Tempering Eggs for Smooth Custards and Creams

Tempering is a technique that allows you to add eggs to a hot liquid without scrambling them. We see tempering in recipes for crème brûlée, vanilla sauce, pastry cream, and some savory cooked egg dishes. The technique itself is simple but fast-moving, and it requires some preparation before beginning to […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

The Blending Mixing Method

The blending method, sometimes called the straight method, is the most basic and straight-forward mixing method, used for mixing quick breads and simple cakes. The blending method consists of making two mixtures, one with the wet ingredients and one with the dry, then combining (or blending!) the two together. 1. […]

Pies and Tarts

The CIA Apple Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie They say if you love somebody, you give them diamonds—but we think if you truly love someone, you bake them a pie. This classic apple pie is a crowd-pleaser no matter what table it lands on, and friends and family will taste the love in each […]

Chef's Blog

Tips for the Perfect Fruit Pie Without a Recipe

In a moment of introspection, it has occurred to us that “pie season” is sort of a disingenuous concept. We are currently in the thick of summer pie season, but also, we are on the tail end of late spring pie season. And before we know it, it will be […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Troubleshooting: Powdery Film on Chocolate

You’ve had that bar of baking chocolate in the pantry for months, and maybe you’ve just grabbed it for a recipe and noticed it looks a little… off. Maybe there’s a powdery film on the surface, or the whole thing looks a little cloudy. Not quite like the creamy chocolate […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Try New Things: Rhubarb

There is a lot to love about spring: spring break, warmer weather, flowers (maybe not the allergies!), but most of all, the food! Spring is one of the best times of year for fresh produce, mostly just because we’ve been missing it so badly all winter. Sweet green peas, asparagus, […]

Cookies, Desserts

Turtle Bars

Makes one 9-in by 13-in pan You can use any nuts to finish this bar—pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, or even a mixture. Ingredients Shortbread Crust 2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar 7 oz (14 tablespoons) unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt Brownie Filling […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Using Malt in Breading Baking

Malted barley is called for in many of our bread recipes (as malt syrup) because of its impact on the dough. Malt is made by separating the enzymes that break down starch into sugar from cereal grains, usually barley. Many flours are treated with malts at the mill, but organic […]