The Holiday Thread

[QueenofWrapDress]

I am VERY partial to apples, that apple pie sounds to die for.

I forgot to take pictures of my cookie boxes, but I come back from the holidays with a little tip: the channel I took the Basque cheesecake recipe from (BTW a complete winner, people asked for 2nds and 3rds. I dubbed it ugly cake though, it was kind of therapeutic for a perfectionist like me to let go and accept this cake is supposed to look scraggly ) has something they call "goo" from various berries, and they use it to fill their cakes and cupcakes. It's any kind of berry (they've made it with strawberry, raspberry, blueberry so far - frozen is fine) cooked for 20 to 30 mins with 1/4 of the berry weight in sugar, than passed through a sieve. I made raspberry goo as a sauce to go with the cheesecake, and when cold it was like a loose and - due to the lower amount of sugar - very fruity jam. I would totally make a batch for a special breakfast again, I just don't think it will keep ages (again due to the low amount of sugar).

 

[Jktgal]

I'm a novice at baking but I recently baked a couple of pre-holiday cranberry, walnut, chocolate and zucchini cakes for a friend who is getting over a surgery. It was my first time trying out this recipe and it turned out well and was relatively easy too.

I've never heard of zucchini in cakes, and just googled some recipes. I LOVE zucchini (and cranberry. and walnut. and chocolate lol). @_Moravia_ do you have a recipe that you use?

 

[_Moravia_]

I've never heard of zucchini in cakes, and just googled some recipes. I LOVE zucchini (and cranberry. and walnut. and chocolate lol). @_Moravia_ do you have a recipe that you use?

Yes, I will PM it to you!

 

[bellecate]

Bread fresh from the oven I make bread every 3 or 4 days. For my next time I’d like to try a new recipe I found for Japanese Milk Bread. It’s made using Tangzhong. Anyone here ever made it or have any tips for making it?

 

[Queenofeverything]

Bread fresh from the oven View attachment 5720960I make bread every 3 or 4 days. For my next time I’d like to try a new recipe I found for Japanese Milk Bread. It’s made using Tangzhong. Anyone here ever made it or have any tips for making it?

I always bake bread with a kind of tangzhong, they are moist and keep fresh for a long time. I never use a recipe but something like this: oats, course rye, whole wheat grains ( maybe 100-200g each) and I pour over 1,5 Litres of boiling water and stir it in. When it’s cool enough to take the fresh yeast I use another litre of water, all purpose flour (about 1,5 kilograms)and a bit of salt with the yeast and knead everything together. This is enough for four loaves of bread.

 

[QueenofWrapDress]

Long time no see...strawberry season is coming to an end in Germany, so I wanted to share this very typical strawberry cake. Thin shortcrust pastry, Viennese sponge, pastry cream, two pounds of strawberries and red glaze, finished with toasted almond slices and chopped pistachios.

 

[JenJBS]

Ordered this on Etsy. Since there is already Halloween decor going up in a a few stores, and I want to make sure there is more than enough time for her to embroider and send this... Anyone else starting to think of the fall holidays yet?

 

[cregsim]

Anyone chartered a boat while on vacation? How was your experience?
I've been chatting with the G3 Boats Customer Service on the site and everything seem to be legit and easy.
Still i am a little worried if i can manage that (i have a boat license for up to 10m)

 

[Mrs.Hermess]

Our kitchen is completed after being under construction for months. I am ready to cook!!!! Baking something this week. Any easy suggestions Are happily welcomed! I am ready for the holiday season.

 

[880]

Our kitchen is completed after being under construction for months. I am ready to cook!!!! Baking something this week. Any easy suggestions Are happily welcomed! I am ready for the holiday season.

Congratulations! After two years of construction, we have a move in date of late September, so I am thrilled for you!
I would love to see a pic of your holiday ready kitchen

some of the quickest (5 minutes with a mixer or by hand) recipes I have in my holiday repertoire
smitten kitchen infinitely adaptable blondies https://smittenkitchen.com/2006/11/blondies/
The Perfect Kitchen batter cobbler https://threemanycooks.com/recipes/sweet-treats/peach-cobbler/
The 5 minute sorbet to compete with gelato https://food52.com/recipes/17877-david-lebovitz-s-chocolate-sorbet
but Lebovitz’s devils food cake ice cream or white chocolate ice cream goes fast too. . .
For thanksgiving, everyone LOVE’S the minimal, no egg required , burnt caramel https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2000/06/ice-cream-for-beginners/378253/
mochiko rice flour (I buy four packs at a time for this) https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/84857/ono-butter-mochi/
A tiny trick to make the best biscuits https://food52.com/recipes/15432-shirley-corriher-s-touch-of-grace-biscuits
King Arthur or maida Heatter https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/blueberry-buckle-coffee-cake-recipe
if you have a slim shiny loaf pan only https://madaboutmaida.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-kings-pound-cake.html
smoked almond brittle https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/smoked-almond-brittle
NY’s city bakery https://app.ckbk.com/recipe/book22546c05s001r017/a-bunch-of-nuts-in-a-tart
pie crust recipe (all the cream cheese and add vodka not cream for an easy roll out) https://natashaskitchen.com/flaky-cream-cheese-pie-crust-recipe/
i add cocoa nibs https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/fudge-brownies-recipe
my secret ingredient is cocoa Barry cocoa powder (recommended by Stella Parks of Brave Tart and Food Lab

ice cream for beginners:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
diamond kosher salt
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups whole milk

burn the sugar in a stainless four quart saucepan (shake the pan but do NOT stir)
when it starts to blacken and darken, add the heavy cream, salt and milk,
simmer (you can stir now) until the sugar smooths out
chill mixture (aging overnight is best)
pour into ice cream maker of your choice

nice for both fruit tarts and chocolate desserts

 

[Mrs.Hermess]

Congratulations! After two years of construction, we have a move in date of late September, so I am thrilled for you!
I would love to see a pic of your holiday ready kitchen

some of the quickest (5 minutes with a mixer or by hand) recipes I have in my holiday repertoire
smitten kitchen infinitely adaptable blondies https://smittenkitchen.com/2006/11/blondies/
The Perfect Kitchen batter cobbler https://threemanycooks.com/recipes/sweet-treats/peach-cobbler/
The 5 minute sorbet to compete with gelato https://food52.com/recipes/17877-david-lebovitz-s-chocolate-sorbet
but Lebovitz’s devils food cake ice cream or white chocolate ice cream goes fast too. . .
For thanksgiving, everyone LOVE’S the minimal, no egg required , burnt caramel https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2000/06/ice-cream-for-beginners/378253/
mochiko rice flour (I buy four packs at a time for this) https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/84857/ono-butter-mochi/
A tiny trick to make the best biscuits https://food52.com/recipes/15432-shirley-corriher-s-touch-of-grace-biscuits
King Arthur or maida Heatter https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/blueberry-buckle-coffee-cake-recipe
if you have a slim shiny loaf pan only https://madaboutmaida.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-kings-pound-cake.html
smoked almond brittle https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/smoked-almond-brittle
NY’s city bakery https://app.ckbk.com/recipe/book22546c05s001r017/a-bunch-of-nuts-in-a-tart
pie crust recipe (all the cream cheese and add vodka not cream for an easy roll out) https://natashaskitchen.com/flaky-cream-cheese-pie-crust-recipe/
i add cocoa nibs https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/fudge-brownies-recipe
my secret ingredient is cocoa Barry cocoa powder (recommended by Stella Parks of Brave Tart and Food Lab

ice cream for beginners:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
diamond kosher salt
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups whole milk

burn the sugar in a stainless four quart saucepan (shake the pan but do NOT stir)
when it starts to blacken and darken, add the heavy cream, salt and milk,
simmer (you can stir now) until the sugar smooths out
chill mixture (aging overnight is best)
pour into ice cream maker of your choice

nice for both fruit tarts and chocolate desserts

Oh my goodness! This is pure joy for me! Thank you so much. I am going to try to do one this week. Your reply has made me hungry. Any one of them sound perfect to me. Thank you for such a generous response.

Congratulations on your near completed renovation! It can be tolling. We moved during covid and needed to do kitchen, office, master baths. Kitchen/office are finally finished after what felt like an eternity. I love to cook and entertain- really looking forward to friends and holidays. Our kitchen was a major redo- now I am so happy I have three ovens in main kitchen (have two more in other kitchen in house). I think I over did it.
I also want to try some of the beautiful dishes posted above!!!

 

[880]

Oh my goodness! This is pure joy for me! Thank you so much. I am going to try to do one this week. Your reply has made me hungry. Any one of them sound perfect to me. Thank you for such a generous response.

Congratulations on your near completed renovation! It can be tolling. We moved during covid and needed to do kitchen, office, master baths. Kitchen/office are finally finished after what felt like an eternity. I love to cook and entertain- really looking forward to friends and holidays. Our kitchen was a major redo- now I am so happy I have three ovens in main kitchen (have two more in other kitchen in house). I think I over did it.
I also want to try some of the beautiful dishes posted above!!!

I forgot to add yeasted or sourdough starter recipes, but I am sure you have your own. I feed my starter sometimes with a bit of buckwheat. I do cooks illustrated dinner rolls for thanksgiving, and I do prefer a yeasted coffee cake to regular. SAF instant yeast bc I hate to proof. Your kitchens sound amazing and I am in total envy of your multiple ovens! Due to arcane pre war building board restrictions, I could not have more than one oven, and no electric oven, (I use large breville toaster ovens to supplement). I did get central air compressors, two sub zeros and dishwashers, and a washer dryer by giving up all but one bathtub and some other items though. I am really hoping that our contractor meets this final deadline lol. bc after we move we will start gut renovations on our first place. I’m sure you know how it is. Forgot to add that I strain the ice cream mixtures before chilling completely

blender pao di queijo is a lot faster and easier than gougere if you have mini muffin tins. And good for a bread basket for the holidays. Gourmet magazine has a great dinner roll if you google walnut rye dinner rolls. It has onions cooked in olive oil in it. And, the sourdough foccaccia King Arthur makes great bread crumbs for stuffing combined with Southern cornbread from The Perfect Recipe by Anderson, a former cooks illustrated editor.

 

[jenayb]

@Mrs.Hermess we too just underwent a massive, multi-month kitchen renovation (among other projects at our primary residence) and are finally almost done, save for a few finishing touches, so I definitely feel you there. Glad to hear you are through - what a great feeling it is.

I'm afraid I can't top the amazing and thoughtful (as always!) suggestions by the lovely @880 per above, but if I can add some of my holiday favourites for our family...

Some of the sweet options we love:

For Thanksgiving Dessert, Make an Apple Galette

You don’t need a pumpkin pie on the table. What you do need is an apple galette

www.bonappetit.com

This is THE most requested and just stupid-easy recipe - I have to make at least 3 every year for our kids alone. It's delicious but also so forgiving and versatile depending on what type of fruit you wish to use, extra little toppings, what shape it turns out to be, etc.

Chocolate Ganache Tart

This deceptively simple chocolate tart has a press-in nut crust that just so happens to be gluten-free.

www.bonappetit.com

The ultimate staple from my mum growing up and now in our house. Legit not a holiday season without at least one!

Caramelized Honey Pumpkin Pie

A Thanksgiving pie for those looking for something different from last year. Brown butter and caramelized honey give pumpkin pie a whole new twist.

leitesculinaria.com

This is a really interesting, beautiful take on the traditional pumpkin pie - the depth of flavour here is just outrageous. David Leite's entire site is full of some of the best recipes I've ever found, and the wit & humour makes his recipes a joy to read about and subsequently make.

Some savoury options we enjoy:

No-Knead Bread Recipe

Here is one of the most popular recipes The Times has ever published, courtesy of Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery It requires no kneading It uses no special ingredients, equipment or techniques

cooking.nytimes.com

This is, like, THE recipe. Again so forgiving... I do not enjoy bread projects like my mum and others do, so this really ticks the box of just plain DELICIOUS bread without a ton of work.. and woes when I inevitably mess it up.

Spicy Breakfast Strata with Chorizo

This Spicy Breakfast Strata is a delicious breakfast casserole can be made ahead and is freezer-friendly, a host's dream come true.

inquiringchef.com

Amazing, no fuss, and actually requested every year by my in-laws. My MIL is a fantastic cook and if she asks for something, I know it's probably pretty decent. Ha!

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/ancho-pork-and-hominy-stew-52615821

Ok, so - this isn't baked. So perhaps it does not apply, BUT - this has been my absolute go to for winter and fall for more years than I can count, and DANG is it good. The flavours are out of this planet and you can really improvise with different proteins if you want, but pork really is the best if you eat it, and then different veggies.. different levels of heat... etc. It's a great base recipe and, as I type this, I am actually kind of sad that the kids requested steak tonight versus this. Boo.

 

[880]

@Mrs.Hermess we too just underwent a massive, multi-month kitchen renovation (among other projects at our primary residence) and are finally almost done, save for a few finishing touches, so I definitely feel you there. Glad to hear you are through - what a great feeling it is.

I'm afraid I can't top the amazing and thoughtful (as always!) suggestions by the lovely @880 per above, but if I can add some of my holiday favourites for our family...

Some of the sweet options we love:

For Thanksgiving Dessert, Make an Apple Galette

You don’t need a pumpkin pie on the table. What you do need is an apple galette

www.bonappetit.com

This is THE most requested and just stupid-easy recipe - I have to make at least 3 every year for our kids alone. It's delicious but also so forgiving and versatile depending on what type of fruit you wish to use, extra little toppings, what shape it turns out to be, etc.

Chocolate Ganache Tart

This deceptively simple chocolate tart has a press-in nut crust that just so happens to be gluten-free.

www.bonappetit.com

The ultimate staple from my mum growing up and now in our house. Legit not a holiday season without at least one!

Caramelized Honey Pumpkin Pie

A Thanksgiving pie for those looking for something different from last year. Brown butter and caramelized honey give pumpkin pie a whole new twist.

leitesculinaria.com

This is a really interesting, beautiful take on the traditional pumpkin pie - the depth of flavour here is just outrageous. David Leite's entire site is full of some of the best recipes I've ever found, and the wit & humour makes his recipes a joy to read about and subsequently make.

Some savoury options we enjoy:

No-Knead Bread Recipe

Here is one of the most popular recipes The Times has ever published, courtesy of Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery It requires no kneading It uses no special ingredients, equipment or techniques

cooking.nytimes.com

This is, like, THE recipe. Again so forgiving... I do not enjoy bread projects like my mum and others do, so this really ticks the box of just plain DELICIOUS bread without a ton of work.. and woes when I inevitably mess it up.

Spicy Breakfast Strata with Chorizo

This Spicy Breakfast Strata is a delicious breakfast casserole can be made ahead and is freezer-friendly, a host's dream come true.

inquiringchef.com

Amazing, no fuss, and actually requested every year by my in-laws. My MIL is a fantastic cook and if she asks for something, I know it's probably pretty decent. Ha!

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/ancho-pork-and-hominy-stew-52615821

Ok, so - this isn't baked. So perhaps it does not apply, BUT - this has been my absolute go to for winter and fall for more years than I can count, and DANG is it good. The flavours are out of this planet and you can really improvise with different proteins if you want, but pork really is the best if you eat it, and then different veggies.. different levels of heat... etc. It's a great base recipe and, as I type this, I am actually kind of sad that the kids requested steak tonight versus this. Boo.

Now I‘m hungry and want ancho pork and hominy stew. Hugs

ETA: the caramelized honey, brown butter, and heavy cream mixture for the pie sounds so delicious

 

[jenayb]

Now I‘m hungry and want ancho pork and hominy stew. Hugs

Same!