Chef's Blog

How-To: How To Make Italian Meringue

Italian meringue is often called for in recipes because it’s versatile, easy to make and of course, delicious. It can be used to frost cakes and pies and it makes a great addition to mousses. You just need a couple of ingredients and a few tips and tricks and you […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Ingredient Spotlight: Dates

When you are food-minded, thinking about dates makes your heart flutter for a very different reason. Luckily, the dates we have in mind are a bit less awkward and nerve-wracking than the romantic kind. Dates, which are the fruit of the date palm, are one of nature’s sweetest creations. You […]

Cakes

Italian Buttercream

Makes about 6 cups Italian buttercream starts with a very stable meringue, making it creamy and light, but also very sturdy. It is almost impossible to mess this recipe up, so don’t panic. If your buttercream appears melted, it means it’s too warm. Place the whole mixing bowl in the […]

Desserts

Jelly Donuts (Sufganiyot)

Makes 10 donuts Whether you save them as a special Hanukkah treat or enjoy them year round, there is no wrong reason to eat a jelly donut. Use any jelly or jam that you like best, or fill the donuts with dulce de leche, vanilla cream, or chocolate-hazelnut spread. Ingredients […]

Desserts

Lemon Curd

Makes about 1 1/2 cups A curd is a fruit juice-based custard. Though lemon is popular, you can replace the lemon juice in this recipe for lime juice, clementine juice, or any other slightly tart fruit juice. Ingredients 6 large egg yolks 3/4 cup sugar (divided use) 3/4 cup (1 […]

Desserts

Lemon, Ginger, Barley Pudding with Raspberries

Makes 6 servings If you love rice pudding, then wait until you taste this barley version that offers you all of the creaminess that you love with some extra whole grains and a little less of the not-so-good-for-you ingredients. For a more traditional flavor, leave out the ginger and skip […]

Cookies, Family Fun, Free Recipes

Linzer Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen cookies Ingredients 3/4 lb (3 sticks) unsalted butter 1 1/4 cups sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch salt 2 eggs 3 cups cake flour 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 cups fine cake crumbs or plain dry bread crumbs 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 1/2 cups […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Make a Fruit Crisp Without a Recipe

Sometimes you just need. dessert. NOW. And when that moment strikes, there is one easy solution: Make a fruit crisp! Call it a crisp or a crumble, but the bones are the same. Fresh or frozen fruit baked under a crispy, crumbly, slightly sweet topping made from the most basic baking […]

Family Fun

Make Rugelach at Home for a Hanukkah Treat

Rugelach are the perfect little treat to have any day of the year, but they are a must-have at Hanukkah! Cookies made by rolling dough around a slightly-sweet filling like jam, chocolate, or even poppy seeds, rugelach are a favorite Jewish tradition. And what’s even better is that these cookies […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Making Chocolate Curls to Dress Up Dessert

Chocolate shavings and curls are the simplest way to finish a show-stopping cake or other special occasion dessert. To create chocolate shavings and curls, you need a good-sized block of chocolate at room temperature. You can use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate for your curls. Look for larger […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Making Marzipan Shapes

In many parts of the world, sweet shops produce dazzling marzipan confections shaped and colored to look like fruit fresh from the tree and an array of other tempting shapes. Although the town of Lübeck in Germany is credited with making some of the best marzipans in the world, it […]