Grilled Corn Ribs With Aleppo Pepper Butter And Dill

Grilled Corn Ribs With Aleppo Pepper Butter And Dill

Corn ribs are such a fun way to eat the vegetable in summer. All you need is a sharp chef’s knife and a stable surface to cut them into shape. If you’re not confident in your knife skills, grill the cobs whole and slather them with the butter once they’re finished. Aleppo pepper is moderately spicy dried and crushed chili flakes. Serves 6

Ingredients:
Butter
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dill seeds
6 tbsp (90 mL) salted butter, at room temperature
1 tbsp (15 mL) very finely chopped dill, plus more to garnish
1/2 tsp (2 mL) Aleppo pepper
1/2 garlic clove, finely grated on rasp
Ribs
4 corn cobs, shucked
Salt to taste
Lemon Wedges
Finely chopped cilantro to garnish

Directions:
For the butter, heat a small frying pan over medium heat. Add dill seeds and toast, swirling often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat, then transfer to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and finely grind. Transfer to a very large mixing bowl with butter, dill, Aleppo and garlic. Season with salt and stir until well combined. Set aside.

For the ribs, preheat grill to medium-high.

For the corn ribs, carefully cut each corn cob crosswise in half with a sharp chef’s knife. Working one piece at a time, stand halved corn cob vertically with flat base on cutting board. Carefully cut in half lengthwise, then set each half, cut-side down, on cutting board. Cut in half lengthwise again— each cob will yield eight ribs.

Clean and oil grate. Place corn ribs on grill. Cook, turning often, until ribs are lightly charred and have begun to curl, 5 to 7 minutes. Immediately transfer to bowl with butter mixture. Toss until butter has fully melted and coated each rib. Season with salt. Transfer to a serving platter. Squeeze over some lemon and sprinkle with cilantro and more dill. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Homemade Rolls With Cinnamon Honey Butter

Homemade Rolls With Cinnamon Honey Butter

The aroma of freshly baked dinner rolls whets the appetite and is satisfied slathered with the cinnamon honey butter.  One is never enough!  Made quickly and so easy!
Ingredients;
Rolls
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
2 envelopes (about 4 1/2 teaspoons) instant rapid-rise yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons salted butter, softened
Cinnamon Honey Butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Directions:
Heat milk until very warm, but not simmering (about 100°F to 105°F on an instant read thermometer). Turn off heat.

Place 3 cups of the flour, yeast, sugar, 1 of the eggs, and salt in bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook attachment. Add warm milk to the flour mixture. Knead on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, kneading 2 minutes after each addition. Add butter, kneading just until dough is soft and pillowy and begins to pull away from sides of bowl.

Tip: If the dough seems too wet, you may need more flour. Add additional flour in 1/4 cup increments until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl while kneading.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rest 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Remove plastic wrap. Press down center of dough to deflate, then gently fold in edges of dough to form a ball.

Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with no stick cooking spray. Divide dough into 15 equal portions and shape into balls. Arrange evenly in prepared baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rest 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Meanwhile, for the Cinnamon Honey Butter, mix all ingredients in small bowl until well blended and smooth. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Beat remaining egg in small bowl. Brush tops of rolls with egg wash. Bake 16 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush warm rolls with melted butter. Serve with Cinnamon Honey Butter.

Vanilla Bean Cream Tart With Salted Butter

                                                        

Vanilla Bean Cream Tart with Salted Butter Crust

Salted butter provides depth you can’t get from salting alone in this pâte sucrée crust, a perfect base for an ultrasmooth vanilla cream. Think of this tart as a canvas for any seasonal fruits as the months go by. This is a great way to use local currants, gooseberries and even florals like elderflower to showcase the best of summer.
Ingredients:
Vanilla Bean Cream
1 cup (250 mL) whole milk, divided
1 1/4 cups (310 mL) heavy cream, divided
1/3 cup (80 mL) granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped out
2 tbsp (30 mL) cold water
1 tsp (5 mL) unflavoured gelatin
3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup (60 mL) cornstarch
Salted Butter Crust
1 3/4 cups (425 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (125 mL) icing sugar
1/2 cup (125 mL) salted butter, cold, cubed
1 large egg yolk
2 tbsp (30 mL) whole milk
Fresh strawberries and cherries to finish
Directions:
For the vanilla bean cream, set a fine-mesh sieve over a medium-size
bowl. Set aside.

Combine 3/4 cup (175 mL) milk, 1/2 cup (125 mL) cream, sugar,
vanilla seeds and pod in a medium saucepan. Bring just to a simmer
over medium heat, then remove from heat, cover and let steep for 20 minutes.

Once steeped, pour cold water in a ramekin. Sprinkle gelatin overtop, then stir to combine. Let bloom for 5 minutes.

Whisk remaining 1/4 cup (60 mL) milk, egg yolks and cornstarch in a medium-size heatproof bowl until smooth. Return vanilla bean mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Slowly pour vanilla mixture
into yolk mixture, whisking constantly, until combined. Pour mixture back into pot and return to medium heat. 

Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in gelatin mixture until fully combined. Pass through sieve to remove any lumps and vanilla pod. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Cool until barely warm then refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.

For the salted butter crust, combine flour and icing sugar in bowl of
a food processor. Add butter and pulse until fine crumbs form. Add
egg yolk and milk and continue blending until a dough just comes
together, up to 1 minute. Shape into a disc. Wrap in plastic and
refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).

Knead dough a few times to soften, then roll dough on a lightly

floured work surface to a circle about 1/8-inch (3-mm) thick.

Transfer dough to a 9-inch (23-cm) fluted tart pan with removeable

bottom. Gently press into bottom and up sides of pan, overhanging

edges. Trim the edges even with the top by running a rolling pin overtop. Prick bottom

with a fork. Freeze for 15 minutes.

Set tart pan on a baking sheet. Cover shell with a piece of parchment

paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake on middle rack

for 20 minutes. Remove paper and weights. Continue baking until l

ightly golden, 14 to 16 minutes. Cool completely.

To assemble, remove ring from tart pan. Run an offset spatula gently

under pastry to separate from base, then transfer to a plate or serving

dish.Whisk remaining 3/4 cup (175 mL) cream in a large bowl until

soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.

Using same whisk, mix chilled vanilla bean cream in its bowl until smooth (cream will be very thick). Scrape cream into whipped cream and continue whisking until mixture is fully smooth and blended. Scrape into tart shell;

smooth top.

To finish, arrange strawberries and cherries overtop. Refrigerate until

chilled, 1 hour.

Serves 6 to 8

Garlic Fingers With Pine Nuts and Parmesan

Garlic Fingers with Pine Nuts and Parmesan

This scrumptious appetizer is like garlic fingers from your local pizza joint, but with extra pizzazz. The garlic is enhanced with a clever trick of mixing garlic powder into the flour for dusting the dough, while a squeeze of lemon at the end brightens all the flavours. Speaking of your local pizza joint, many will be happy to sell you some uncooked dough for this recipe. Serves 2 to 4
Ingredients:
2/3 lb (300 g) store-bought pizza dough, about 1/2 a standard portion
2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil, divided, plus more for oiling bowl
2 tsp (10 mL) all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1 tsp (5 mL) garlic powder
1 shallot, sliced into 1/8-inch (3-mm) thick rings
1/4 tsp (1 mL) red pepper flakes
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/3 cup (80 mL) grated Parmesan
2 tbsp (30 mL) pine nuts
3 tbsp (45 mL) torn flat-leaf parsley leaves, divided
1 tbsp (15 mL) salted butter
1 garlic clove, grated on a rasp
Lemon wedges (optional)
Directions:
Place dough in a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let stand until it’s soft and pliable, about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit a baking sheet and set aside. Place baking sheet on rack set in bottom third of oven to preheat.

In a small bowl, mix flour and garlic powder until combined. Sprinkle and spread half on reserved parchment and place dough on top. Dust remaining mixture over dough. Press and stretch dough to a rough 8 × 12-inch (20 × 30-cm) rectangle, adding more flour to prevent sticking, if needed.

Toss shallot with 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil and red pepper flakes. Divide shallots evenly over dough. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with Parmesan, pine nuts and 2 tbsp (30 mL) parsley.

Remove baking sheet from oven. Carefully slide parchment with flatbread onto sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven.

While flatbread is baking, heat butter, remaining 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil, grated garlic and remaining 1 tbsp (15 mL) parsley in a small saucepan over low heat. Lightly simmer until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

When flatbread is ready, drizzle garlic oil overtop. Cut into fingers and serve with lemon wedges, if desired. Serves 2 to 4

Loaded Smoked Cheddar and Chili Potato

Loaded Smoked Cheddar and Chili Potato

Turn potatoes into dinner with a simple chili and wickedly good cheese sauce. Smoked cheddar is my favourite burger cheese, but it might be even more delicious on baked potatoes. It’s easier to find than ever, available in blocks at many large grocery stores. 

Ingredients:

4 russet potatoes, about 5 lbs (2.2 kg) total weight

3 tbsp (45 mL) grape-seed, canola or sunflower oil, divided

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

8 oz (250 g) ground beef

1 tbsp (15 mL) chili powder

2 tsp (10 mL) ground cumin

¼ cup (60 mL) tomato paste

1 cup (250 mL) beef broth or water

1 cup (250 mL) canned black or navy beans, drained

Hot sauce to taste

6 tbsp (90 mL) salted butter, divided

2 tbsp (30 mL) all-purpose flour

1¼ cups (310 mL) milk

6 oz (175 g) smoked cheddar, coarsely grated

Pinch cayenne

4 green onions, chopped

Directions:                                                                                     Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). 

Place potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle with 2 tbsp (30 mL) oil; season liberally with salt and pepper. Place directly on centre rack and bake for 70 to 75 minutes or until tender. 

Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; cook onion until golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Add garlic; cook an additional minute. Crumble beef into pan and brown, breaking apart with a fork as you go. Sprinkle chili powder and cumin over, stir in tomato paste and broth. Add beans, bring to a gentle boil and cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until thickened; season with salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Set aside and keep warm. 

In a separate pot over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter; whisk in flour. Slowly pour milk over butter mixture, whisking as you go, until no lumps remain. Bring to a boil and cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Whisking constantly, add cheese in 3 handfuls, stirring between each until cheese is melted before adding more. Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste; stir in cayenne. 

Split top of potatoes and fluff flesh with a fork. Divide remaining 4 tbsp (60 mL) butter between them. Divide roughly half of the cheese sauce between the potatoes, then the chili; top with remaining cheese sauce. Sprinkle each with an equal amount of green onion.

Serves 4

Banana Rum Souffle

Banana-Rum Soufflé

Ripe bananas and spicy dark rum are a match made in heaven, and they make two appearances, both in the soufflé and as a decadent topping. A melting scoop of vanilla ice cream is the proverbial cherry on top. Any leftover caramel bananas are an excellent topping for French toast or pancakes the next day.  Serves 4

Ingredients:

1/4 cup (60 mL) salted butter, divided
2 tbsp (30 mL) granulated sugar
4 firm ripe bananas, divided
1 1/3 cups (330 mL) packed dark brown sugar, divided
6 tbsp (90 mL) dark rum, divided
2 tbsp (30 mL) cornstarch
3 large egg whites
Pinch cream of tartar
Vanilla ice cream to serve 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).

Using 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter, grease four 10-oz (285-mL) ovenproof ramekins, then coat with granulated sugar. Place on a baking tray.

Cut 2 bananas into 1/3-inch (8-mm) thick rounds. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat remaining butter and 2/3 cup (150 mL) brown sugar over medium heat until bubbling and beginning to caramelize, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and reduce heat to low. Carefully add 1/4 cup (60 mL) rum. When bubbling subsides, stir in sliced bananas. Return to low heat and cook to soften, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool.

In a food processor, blend remaining 2 bananas, 2 tbsp (30 mL) rum and cornstarch. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside.

In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until doubled in volume, about 3 minutes. Gradually add remaining brown sugar. Continue beating until firm glossy peaks form, scraping down bowl halfway through, about 3 minutes.

Fold a third of egg whites into puréed bananas then gently fold in rest. Divide between prepared ramekins. Bake until risen, firm and nicely browned, 22 to 25 minutes.

Serve immediately, topped with caramel bananas and scoop of ice cream.  Serves 4

Brown Sugar And Nutmeg Peach Galette

Brown Sugar And Nutmeg Peach Galette

What says summer more than a peach dessert.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup flour

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

¼ tsp baking powder
½ cup salted butter, cold
3 oz cream cheese, cold
1½ tsp apple cider vinegar
3⅓ Tbsp heavy cream
3 cups peaches, sliced
⅓ cup brown sugar
1 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Combine flour, sugar and baking powder in a food processor bowl. Pulse a few times to combine. Slice butter and cream cheese. Add slices 1 to 2 at a time, pulsing a few times after each addition. Add vinegar and cream. Pulse until mixture comes together into a dough.

Lightly form into a ball and place on a piece of plastic wrap. Flatten slightly and wrap securely. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.                      

Remove and place on a piece of lightly floured parchment. Roll dough into a ¼-inch-thick rectangle. Place the dough and parchment on a baking sheet and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Combine peaches, brown sugar and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Toss to combine. Layer peaches on dough, leaving a 2-inch edge around the peaches. Reserve any leftover liquid.

Fold the edges in over the peaches. Bake for 45 minutes.

Brush reserved liquid over top of crust and peaches. Return to oven and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Carmel Corn

                                          

Carmel Corn

This is an excellent recipe for the Super Bowl football game.  

Ingredients:

15 cups popped corn (1/2 cup kernels, unpopped)

2 tablespoons (39g) molasses
1 cup (213g) brown sugar, packed
8 tablespoons (113g) salted butter, cold
1/4 cup (78g) light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions
Preheat your oven to 200°F and line two large rimmed baking sheets (18" x 13") with parchment. Pour the popped corn into a large bowl (at least 6 quarts); remove any unpopped kernels. Set aside.

In a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat cook the molasses, brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Boil the syrup, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until it reaches 250° to 255°F on a digital or candy thermometer. The syrup will darken slightly.

Remove the pan from the heat and add the baking soda; stir well (the mixture will foam).

Immediately (and carefully) pour the hot syrup over the popped corn and stir until the corn is well coated.
Perfect your technique

Spread the hot caramel corn on the sheet pans. Bake at 200°F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and let cool before storing in an airtight container. This recipe doubles and triples well.

Notes:
Want to add a bit of saltiness to your sweet caramel corn? Add 1 cup of roasted, salted peanuts to the bowl of popped corn before pouring on the syrup. Homemade Cracker Jack®!

To make popcorn balls on a stick, omit the baking soda from the recipe. As soon as you can handle the corn without burning yourself, form it into 1-cup balls, inserting a lollipop stick or skewer at one end of each.

Be sure to assiduously remove any unpopped kernels; you'll get most of them by shaking the bowl of popped corn, and scooping out the hard kernels that sift to the bottom. If you don't remove them, the syrup will allow them to adhere to popped kernels, and the next thing you know — ouch! A dental bill.

Best Ever Sticky Buns

 

Sticky Buns

Ingredients
Dough
1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
6 tablespoons salted butter, plus more for greasing pan
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tsp. granulated sugar, divided
1/3 cup warm water (100°F to 110°F)
1 (1⁄4-oz.) pkg. active dry yeast
2 large eggs, beaten
3 3/4 - 4 1/2 cups bread flour, divided, plus more for dusting

Filling
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Topping
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons salted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon salt

Additional Ingredients
1 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped

Directions:
Prepare the Dough: Combine sour cream, butter, salt, and 1⁄3 cup of the granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low, stirring occasionally, just until butter melts, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool to 100°F to 110°F.

Stir together warm water, yeast, and remaining 1 teaspoon granulated sugar in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

Combine sour cream mixture, yeast mixture, and eggs in the bowl of a heavy-duty electric stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. With mixer running on medium-low speed, gradually add 3 3⁄4 cups of the flour, beating until a soft Dough forms and pulls away from sides but still adheres to bottom of bowl.

Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding up to 3⁄4 cup flour, in very small amounts, if necessary to keep it workable. (Dough should be tacky but not sticky.) Place in a lightly greased bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight.

Turn Dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Roll into a 16- x 20-inch rectangle.

Prepare the Filling: 

Stir together brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Sprinkle Filling evenly over Dough rectangle, pressing gently to adhere, leaving a 1-inch border on both long sides. Starting at 1 long side, roll up Dough, jelly-roll style. Using a piece of unflavored dental floss, cut off and discard 1 inch from each end of roll. Cut roll crosswise into 12 (1 1⁄2-inch-wide) pieces.

Prepare the Topping: Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl.

Assemble the sticky buns: Pour Topping into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch metal baking pan. Spread to coat bottom of pan evenly. Sprinkle evenly with pecans. Place rolls, cut side down, in baking pan with sides touching. Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place until rolls double in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Remove and discard plastic wrap from buns. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 22 minutes. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Carefully invert buns onto a serving platter. Serve warm.