Crispy Baguettes

Normally I buy baguettes if I need them. But why not bake them myself? When I have a passion for bread baking, I need a good baguette recipe. And here it is. Not a classic white baguette, but with a little addition of whole wheat and rye for extra flavor. It turnt out to be fantastic. 

Getting the perfect crust on bread is a science. But I think I cracked the code. Steam we need steam, and folding the baguettes and you will get the perfect perfect oven spring and crust.

Makes 3.

Ingredients:

• 30 g live yeast (3 teaspoons dry yeast)
• 420 ml water, lukewarm 
• 1¼ teaspoon salt
• 50 g whole wheat flour
• 50 g dark rye flour
• 450 g all-purpose flour

Directions:

Dissolve the yeast in the water. Add flours and salt, and knead the dough for about 8 minutes. 

Let the dough rise covered in room temperature for about 1½ hours.

Divide the dough into 3. Fold the dough into it self and shape it to a ball, building up the surface tension. Place the ball smooth surface down on a flour dusted surface. Let the dough rest covered for 10-15 minutes.

Fold it a third over and seal the edge with a light press with the lower palm. Flatten again. Fold the other edge over and seal again.

Repeat this. Turn the seal downwards. Gently roll the baguette from the center and out. Tempering the ends a bit. 

Place baguette on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or on a baguette baking sheet.

Let the baguette rise for another 20 minutes. 

Preheat the oven to 450℉ (230 ℃). Place a old baking sheet on the lower rack in the oven.

Make 3 diagonal slashes in each baguette with a wafer or a sharp knife.

Bake the baguettes in the middle of the oven.

Splash about ¼ cup of water in old baking sheet, and close the oven quickly. You need the steam to get the best oven spring and crust. 

Bake the baguettes for about 15-18 minutes, until golden.

Let the baguettes cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Pear Tart

Pear Tart

Today is Pi-Day/π-Day. This Pear tart or pie is my contribution to this nerdy π-Day. The lines between a tart and a pie are kinda blurry. The biggest difference is whether it's served directly from the pan its baked in. 

This pear tart have been a go-to dessert growing up, and a family favorite. Its easy to make in advance and bake when needed. You can replace the fresh pears with canned pears or other fruits.

Makes 1 tart.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 pears, peeled and cut in halves
• egg wash 
• sugar for sprinkles

Dough:

• 150 g butter, cold, salted
• 240 g all-purpose flour
• 125 g sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 æg
• 1 tablespoon water

Remounce:

• 50 g butter, room temperature
• 50 g sugar
• 50 g grated marzipan

Directions:

Dough:

Mix the butter in the flour, sugar, and ginger in a stand mixer. Add the egg, vanilla paste and just enough of the water so the dough starts to lump together. Form the dough into 2 discs and wrap it in plastic wrap, and let it rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Remounce:

Mix the sugar and marzipan well. Add butter little by little until it’s just incorporated. Set remounce aside.

Preheat the oven to 400℉/200℃.

Divide the dough in 2. Roll the dough out, to fit the tart-pan you are using. (there should be enough dough for a 9" (22 cm) round pan).

Gently place the rolled out dough, make sure getting into the corners, without making any holes in the dough. Cut of all the excess dough. Put into freezer for about 5 minutes.

Spread the remounce in a thin layer on the dough. Place the pears halves in the pan, and cover with a dough lid. Pinch the lid closed at the edges. Brush with egg wash and spinkle with sugar.

Bake the tart for about 40 minutes.

Serve the tart warm with a good vanilla ice cream on the side.

Enjoy!

Lemon Risotto with Scallops

Lemon Risotto with Scallops

We have something with risotto and scallops in our house. It is a great luxury you normally will get at a restaurant. But you can easily make it at home. Just make sure to have every ingredients prepared and ready to go. By making it at home you are sure to get the risotto perfectly al dente, creamy, and seasoned to your tasting. 

This risotto can be an appetizer or a full meal. 

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

• 6-9 scallops

Risotto:

• 40 g butter

• 2 small shallots, finely diced

• 175 g arborio rice

• 120 ml (½ cup) white wine

• 850 ml chicken stock, heated

• 40 g grated parmesan

• 1 lemon, zest and juice

• salt & pepper to taste

• parsley, minced for a sprinkle on top.

Directions

Heat butter in a sauté pan, sauté the onion until translucent. Add rice and cook while stirring, until all the rice are coated and they start to crackle. 

Pour in the wine, and let it simmer lightly until the wine is absorbed. 

Start adding a small ladleful hot stock at a time, letting the rice absorb the liquid before adding more. You want the risotto to cook for a low simmer, stirring constantly. Cook the risotto for about 25 minutes, until the rice are al dente, and they have a little bite, without being crunchy.

Add lemon juice, lemon zest and parmesan and cook till its melted making the risotto nice and creamy. Season the risotto with salt and pepper to taste. 

Heat a skillet over high heat, add oil and butter. When the fat begins to brown and smoke sear the scallops for 1½ minutes on each side. The scallops should have a ¼-inch golden crust on each side, while being translucent in the center. Place the scallops on top of the risotto and sprinkle with more lemon zest and parsley.

Serve Immediately.

Enjoy!

Chardonnay Shrimp Pasta

Chardonnay Shrimp Pasta

I have to come clean. I love pasta - Big Time! And I do not discriminate, I love all pasta equally.

I love the taste, texture and how it is soaking up sauce. I do crave pasta.

When we have pasta for dinner, I have to plate it up in serving sizes, no family style pasta in my house. 

We went to BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse as one of the first places when we just moved to the US. And I fell in love with their chardonnay shrimp pasta. And whenever we went back there this was my go-to meal. But at one point BJ's discontinued this yummy pasta dish, and I had to try to make my own version. 

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

• 2-3 servings spaghetti, boiled al dente

• 1 shallot, diced

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 4 slices bacon, diced

• 12-16 shrimps, peeled and deveined

• 1 cup (2.4 dl) chardonnay (I used a Picchetti 2014)

• 1 cup (2.4 dl) heavy whipping cream

• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary

• 2 tomatoes, deseeded and diced

• a little handful chopped parsley

• 1 lime, the juice from

• ½ cup (1.2 dl) grated parmesan cheese

• a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, optional

Directions

Cook the spaghetti.

Cook the bacon. I cooked it almost crispy in the microwave oven, and then diced it. Set aside, letting it drain on a paper towel lined plate.
Melt butter and a splash of olive oil in a sauté pan, sauté the shallot until translucent. Add garlic and shrimp and sauté until the shrimp start to take color. Add wine, cream, rosemary, bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes till the shrimp is tender.
Add cooked spaghetti, diced tomatoes, parmesan, lime juice and parsley, and let it heat through for about a minute. 
Serve immediately sprinkled with some parsley and red pepper flakes.
Enjoy!

Walesstang - Choux Pastry Cake

Walesstang - Choux Pastry Cake

Danes like their sweets and their cakes. All baker's shops in Denmark have cream and custard filled cakes (like medaljer), usually placed in a chilled rack in their window. The walesstang/choux pastry cake were one of the cakes you would find there.

I can't remember getting this kind of cake growing up, but during my time working at a baker's shop, I sold a lot of them. 

Makes 3-4 cakes.

Ingredients:

Vanilla custard:

• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2½ dl (little over 1 cup) milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
• heavy whipping cream, whipped

Cream puff (choux pastry):

• 600 ml water
• 200 g butter, salted
• 250 g all-purpose flour
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
• 6-7 eggs

Toppings:

• vanilla custard
• whipped cream
• blackcurrant jelly (or another jelly)
• fresh fruit
• chocolate shavings

Directions:

Vanilla custard:

Beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale in color. Whisk in the cornstarch and vanilla paste.

Heat the milk to a slow boil, set aside. 

While whisking vigorously drizzle the warm milk into the egg yolk mixture, just a tiny bit at a time at first. Once you’ve added about ¼ of the milk, you can add the rest in a thin steady stream, whisking constantly.

Pour the mixture back in the saucepan and reheat it over medium heat. Whisk constantly until it starts to boil and is thickened. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl.  Sprinkle with sugar or press some plastic wrap against the custard so it won't form a pudding skin. Chill the custard completely in the refrigerator.

When the custard is cold, whip the heavy whipping cream. Fold the whipped cream in the custard a little at a time till you get the desired taste and texture. 

Cream puff (choux pastry):

Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200℃). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Put water and butter in a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. In a bowl sift flour, baking powder and salt. When the butter is all melted add all the flour at once, and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. Lower the heat and keep stirring until a dough is formed and it pulls away from the sides of the pan and is slightly shiny. 

Keep beating the dough with the wooden spoon until slightly cooled, about 2 minutes.  

Beat all the eggs in a bowl. Add a little of the beaten eggs, incorporating it thoroughly before adding more. Add the egg in small amounts until you have a thick paste but not runny at all.

Choux pastry raw.

Using a star tip pipe 3-4 zigzag 2-inch log,  like you see on the right, onto the parchment paper lined baking sheets.

Bake the puffs for 25-30 minutes, until they are puffed up and golden brown.

DO NOT open the oven while baking the choux pastry, it will cause them to deflate.

Let the puffs cool completely on a wire rack

Decorate the pastry with custard, whipped cream, jelly, fruit and chocolate. 

Serve a slice of the walesstang with a cup of tea or coffee.

Enjoy!