Month: June 2015

Cherry Liqueur

Published on by Dawn4 Comments

Cherry Liquor

I am writing this with a big smile on my face – I am relaxed and happy – and looking forward to my husband joining us on this adventure.  Oh, and did I mention how VERY THANKFUL I am to my incredible team who is allowing me to have this break?  I swear two weeks in, and I am already a new person.

As you can tell, I haven’t been blogging, but that is because there is so much to do and see here!  Also – if you have followed my blog for quite some time, you know that I don’t love cooking in other people’s kitchens.  Even though we are here for a long time, the kitchen is not mine, and I the supplies are limited.  Another big factor is the heat…it is very hot here, and we do not have air conditioning.  So I am trying to be very careful about not using the stove or oven very much.  We have been eating very simple dinners of bread, charcuterie and cheese – and a nice salad.  I must say, it has been a welcome change.

Before I left though, the cherries were in full bloom at our house.  As with every year, we are always trying to figure out new ways to use them – last year’s cherry butter was a huge hit, but I just didn’t have the time to do any jamming before I left.  Sad as that may sound… This year I have to give the credit to my husband – he came up with the idea to make cherry liqueur, and I thought it was brilliant!  He even found the recipe on Serous Eats, and then I took over.  Fortunately I was able to have a little taster the night before I left – and OMG this stuff is amazing!!  So easy to make, and look at the color – it is screaming cherries.  It is sweet and absolutely delicious. My husband has been enjoying it while we are enjoying our own delicacies – but he promised to save me a bottle so we could experiment with cocktails when I am home.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups Bing cherries, pitted
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 1/2 cup vodka
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick, broken

Preparation

Put the pitted cherries at the bottom of a sealable glass jar and muddle them with a wooden spoon or muddler to release some juice. Drain the juice into a separate container and set aside. Then add the brandy, vodka, and cinnamon stick to the muddled cherries. Seal and shake the jar. Let steep for one week at room temperature away from direct sun, shaking every few days.

Combine the reserved cherry juice, sugar, and water in a pan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool. Once the syrup is cooled, add it to the steeping jar, seal, and shake. Then let it steep for an additional 2 to 5 days. Strain through fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into glass jar or bottle. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Cherry Liqueur

Dutch Baby Pancake

Published on by Dawn4 Comments

Dutch Baby

Everyone deserves a break every once in a while – and there are those breaks that are definitely worth waiting for.  After 17 years of working for the same company, I am getting one of those breaks.  My job is not just work – it is all consuming.  I do things with my kids, and take time to write this blog – as a means to get away.  But to be honest, I am never really get away.  It is always in the background of pretty much everything I do.  But not this summer.  I am heading out on an adventure with my two girls, and my husband will join us later.  It will just be us for the summer.  Work will be left behind, waiting for me to engage again in the fall.

To say that this year has been a lot to handle would be an understatement.  After years of being consistent on this blog, I finally had to set it aside for a longer periods of time.  My breaks in the kitchen have been few and far between – but I hope that will change this summer – and if it doesn’t, it is because I am having too much fun doing something else.  Spending time exploring a wonderful city – eating and walking all day.

Last summer was the last time I really spent time cooking – and I made this Dutch Baby Pancake at my mother’s house – I was in such a hurry to take a picture that I didn’t even remember to sift the powdered sugar on top.  Then in a instant, the whole thing was gone – inhaled by my children.  Yes, it was that good.  Now, I am not posting this because it is a beautiful picture – but I couldn’t let this sit in the queue any longer.  With Father’s Day next weekend, I wanted to give you something that will make the father’s in your life happy.  We will be definitely be missing ours!

On Friday, my team made me a farewell video…it was absolutely amazing.  It was hilarious – but the words completely hit the mark.  It’s time to let it go…

Ingredients

  • 1-2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cup skim milk
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoons melted butter, cooled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • powdered sugar

Preparation

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450.  Brush surface and sides of a large oven-proof 12-inch skillet generously with the canola oil.  Place skillet on over rack and heat until oil is shimmering, about 10 minutes.
 
Meanwhile, combine flour, cornstarch, lemon zest and salt in a large bowl.  Whisk eggs in another bowl until frothy and light, about 1 minute.  Whisk milk, butter, and vanilla into eggs until incorporated.  Whisk one-third of milk mixture into flour mixture until no lumps remain, then slowly whisk in remaining milk mixture until smooth.
 
Remove skillet from oven and carefully pour the batter into heated skillet and bake until edges of Dutch Baby are deep golden brown and crisp, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately, along with powdered sugar for generous sprinkling over the pancake.
For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Dutch Baby