August 28, 2008

Glazed apple lattice coffee cake (Пирог-плетенка с яблоками)


Glazed apple lattice coffee cake (Пирог-плетенка с яблоками)

This rich dough takes a couple of hours to rise—just set it aside and forget about it.
My personal notes:
- for dough: I mixed 2 tablespoons warm water, 1 teaspoon flour, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 package active dry yeast.
- for filling: I mixed apples with 2 tablespoons sugar, added 2 teaspoons bread crumbs and 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
- instead of cookie crumbs I used bread crumbs and it works just fine.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Dough:
2 tablespoons warm water (105°F to 115°F), 1 package active dry yeast, 1/2 cup whole milk, 6 tablespoons sugar, 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced, room temperature, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 large egg yolks, 1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 2 to 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

Filling:
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, 6 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar, 1 1/4 pounds Golden Delicious apples (about 3 medium), peeled, cored, quartered, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices, 1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel, 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg Nonstick vegetable oil spray, 1/3 cup finely crumbled vanilla wafer cookies or soft ladyfingers

Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons (or more) orange juiPreheat oven to 375°F. Bake cake uncovered until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Gently run spatula under cake to loosen from foil. Cool 30 minutes.For glaze:Mix powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons orange juice in small bowl to blend, adding more juice by 1/2 teaspoonfuls if too thick. Drizzle glaze over cake. Cut crosswise into slices. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

For dough: Place 2 tablespoons warm water in small cup. Mix in yeast. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 6 minutes.Stir milk, sugar, butter, and salt in medium saucepan over medium-low heat just until sugar dissolves and butter melts (mixture should be just warm). Scrape milk mixture into large bowl; cool to lukewarm if necessary. Whisk in yeast mixture, egg yolks, orange peel, and spices. Add 2 cups flour; mix with rubber spatula until dough comes together. Turn dough out onto floured work surface. Knead until smooth and silky, sprinkling with more flour by tablespoonfuls as needed, about 6 minutes. Place in clean large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and kitchen towel. Place in warm draft-free area; let rise until light and almost doubled in volume, about 2 1/2 hours.

For filling: Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add brown sugar. Cook until thick grainy sauce forms, about 1 minute. Mix in apples. Cook until apples are tender and sauce is reduced to glaze, tossing often, about 7 minutes. Mix in all grated peel and spices. Cool filling at least 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.Place large sheet of foil on work surface; spray with nonstick spray. Turn dough out onto foil. Roll out to 14x12-inch rectangle.

Sprinkle cookie crumbs in 4- inch-wide strip down center, leaving 1/2- inch border at top and bottom. Arrange apples with any juices atop crumbs. Starting 1/2 inch from each long side of apples, cut straight to edge of dough at 1-inch intervals, making about 13 strips on each side. Fold dough strips alternately and on slight angle over filling, forming lattice. Seal open ends of dough.Slide foil with dough onto large rimmed baking sheet; trim foil overhang. Cover cake loosely with plastic and towel. Place cake in warm draft-free area; let dough rise until light and puffy, about 1 3/4 hours.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake cake uncovered until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Gently run spatula under cake to loosen from foil. Cool 30 minutes.For glaze:Mix powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons orange juice in small bowl to blend, adding more juice by 1/2 teaspoonfuls if too thick. Drizzle glaze over cake. Cut crosswise into slices. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.


Recipe from Bon Appétit October 2007

August 26, 2008


Do you want a woman-boss?..

Recently some numbers came out of Pew Research center Let's believe these numbers will bring some GOOD changes for the world. Make sure, not every woman can be a good leader. Be aware of the bad ones (from personal experience)!

August 24, 2008

Quick pickled peppers


Quick pickled peppers

Total time: 20 minutes, plus pickling time
Servings: Makes about 4 cups

8-10 whole peppers, 1 1/2 cups rice vinegar, 3 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly smashed, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, 1 small onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick, 2 to 3 whole chiles de arbol or other small dried red chile (optional)
1. Cut a thin lengthwise slit on each side of each pepper to allow the brine to penetrate.
2. In a medium saucepan, simmer the vinegar with 2 cups of water, the garlic, salt, sugar, oregano, peppercorns, onion and dried chile, if desired, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Blanch the peppers in a large pot of boiling water until they begin to soften and the color just begins to fade, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the peppers and pat dry with a kitchen towel; do not rinse them.
4. Place the peppers, still warm, in a large nonreactive container with a cover and pour the vinegar solution over them. Seal tightly and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
Закусочный маринованный перец

8-10 целых перцев, 1 1/2 чашки уксуса, 3 зубца мелко нарезанног чеснока, 2 чайных ложки соли, 1 столовая ложка сахара, 2 чайных ложки сухого орегано, 1/2 чайной ложки черного перца-горошка, 1 головка мелко нарезанного лука, 2-3 штуки сухого острого перца (по желанию)

Разрезать перец на 2 части.
В небольшой кастрюле смешать уксус с 2 чашками воды, чеснок, соль, сахар, орегано, перец и лук. Закипятить, оставить на огне еще в течении 3-4 минут.
Тем временем бланшировать перец в горячей кипящей воде в течении 2-3 минут. Отцедить воду, подсушить перцы.

Уложить перцы в стеклянную банку и залить приготовленным горячим рассолом. Дать остыть и поставить в холодильник на 8-10 часов.

Recipe from Los Angeles Times

August 23, 2008

Old-fashioned yiddishe salad with fresh cucumbers and boiled eggs


Old-fashioned Yiddishe salad with fresh cucumbers and boiled eggs

2 fresh cucumbers pared and sliced to desired thickness, 4 boiled eggs, 1/4 cup sour-cream, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, salt and pepper, some dill for decoration.

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover completely with cold water. Bring water to a boil. Cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, and cool. Peel eggs. Chop into eighths, and transfer to a medium salad bowl.

Add cucumbers to eggs and onion. Mix in mayonnaise and sour-cream. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Decorate with chopped dill.

Салат из свежих огурцов и яиц

2 свежих огурца, 4 яйца, 1/4 чашки сметаны, 1/4 чашки майонеза, веточки зелени, 1/4 чашки мелко нарезанного красного лука, соль и перец по вкусу.

Огурцы очистите от кожицы и нарежьте небольшими полукружочками.Яйца отварите вкрутую, остудите, очистите и мелко порубите. Все приготовленные продукты смешайте, добавьте майонез и сметану, посолите, поперчите и перемешайте. Готовый салат выложите в глубокую салатницу и перед подачей на стол украсьте веточками зелени.

August 21, 2008

Едим дома....


Все хотят домашней еды, все хотят быстро, вкусно и без лишних хлопот... Если ее знаменитый муж обожает ее стряпню, может быть и мы найдем интересные рецепты.

Я готова выслушать Ваше мнение...

August 18, 2008

Easy Blueberry Corn Muffins



Easy Blueberry Corn Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 cups corn meal, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt,
1 cup skim milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 egg, beaten, 1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine dry ingredients; make a well in the middle. Combine wet ingredients and pour into dry ingredients, add blueberries. Stir just until the dry mixture is moistened and no lumps remain. Do not overmix.

Pour batter into prepared pan or spoon into muffin cups. Bake 25 to 30 minutes for muffins. Muffins are done when tops are beginning to brown, edges are golden, and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Кукурузные кексы с черникой

На 12 кексов

1-1/4 чашки муки, 3/4 чашки кукурузной муки, 1/4 чашка сахара, 2 чайные ложки разрыхлителя, 1/2 чайной лижки соли, 1 чашка молока, 1/4 чашки растительного масла,
1 яйцо, 1 чашка ягод черники

Нагреть духовку до 350Ф. Приготовить формочку для выпечки кексов.

Смешать муку, кукурузную муку, соль, сахар, разрыхлитель. В центре сделать углубление и влить масло, яйцо и молоко. Все перемешать и добавить
чернику. Раслить тесто по формочкам и поставить в духовку. Печь 25-30 минут до полной готовности.



Original recipe for corn batter from Quaker

August 15, 2008

Apple-Zucchini Bread


Apple-Zucchini Bread
2 loaves, 16 servings per loaf
3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (optional), 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 3 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup cooking oil,1/2 cup honey, 1 cup shredded apple, 1 cup shredded zucchini, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Directions
1. Grease the bottoms and about 1/2 inch up the sides of two 8x4x2-inch loaf pans. Set the pans aside.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs. Stir in sugar, oil, and honey. Stir in apple, zucchini, and vanilla. Fold in the flour mixture until just moistened (don't overmix). Fold in the nuts, if you like. Spoon the batter into the prepared pans.
4. Bake in a 325 degree F oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center of each loaf comes out clean. Cool loaves in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen the edges and remove the loaves from pans. Cool completely on the wire racks. Makes 2 loaves, 16 servings per loaf.
Медовый кекс с яблоками и кабачками
3 чашки муки, 1 столовая ложка корицы (по желанию), 1 чайная ложка соли, 1 чайная ложка соды, 1/2 чайной ложки разрыхлителя, 3 яйца, 1 чашка сахара (можно меньше), 3/4 чашки растительного масла,1/2 чашки меда, 1 чашка натерных яблок (1 яблоко среднего размера), 1 чашка натертых кабачков (1 небольшой кабачок), 1 столовая ложка ванильного экстракта, 1 чашка мелко нарезанных орех (по желанию)

Приготовить формочки для выпечки кексов.В небольшой миске смешать муку, корицу, соль, соду и разрыхлительВ большой миске хорошо перемешать яйца, сахар, масло и мед.

Добавить яблоки, кабачки и ванильный экстракт. Порциями добавить сухую мучную смесь и перемешать.
Нагреть духовку до 325Ф. Поставить формочки с кексом и печь 50-55 минут. Вынуть и остудить.

August 13, 2008

The Best Opinion I found so far: "Why men like John Edwards cheat"


Rabbi Shmuley Boteach - Sunday, 10 August, 2008
From Jerusalem Post

The outrage over John Edward's admitted affair with a filmmaker transcends what we have seen with most recent sex scandals. This partly results from his repeated denials of the affair. Much more important, of course, is the fact that it took place while his wife was battling cancer. The two of them had already dealt with the tragedy of losing a teenage son, and the public is furious that Edwards caused his wife, who agreed to campaign for him even after being diagnosed with incurable bone cancer, more pain.
Why, people want to know, do men who have it all like John Edwards throw away their blessings? Why, when they have wives who will do everything for them, is it still never enough? The answer is that men who cheat do not do so because they don't love their wives but because they hate themselves. It's not that their wives are uncaring but because their perforated sense-of-self is immune to affection. Were their wives to shower them with all the love in the world, it would simply seep through the broken shards of their shattered egos.
When asked about the affair last year by the media, Edwards denied it, saying, "It's completely untrue, ridiculous. I've been in love with the same woman for 30-plus years and, as anybody who's been around us knows, she's an extraordinary human being, warm, loving, beautiful, sexy and as good a person as I have ever known. So the story's just false."
The form of his denial should have been a red flag. Men do not refrain from cheating because they have special wives, but because they have a commitment to moral behavior and righteous action.

Men today feel like failures. Immersed as they are in a hyper-competitive culture that makes them feel like they are valuable only through external achievement, they nurse a lifelong feeling of anonymity and insignificance. That gnawing insecurity becomes the very engine of their success. Thus, they reason to themselves: If I become a rich trial lawyer and get invited into high society, I'll be important. Oh wait. That happened and I still feel like a failure. Time to become a senator. Okay, I did that, and I still don't feel fulfilled. Let's go for the gold, president. But all that attention and power will never make these men feel like they matter because it's being pumped straight into a black hole. There is no bottom to their low self-esteem.
ONCE YOU make a man's ego dependent not on the love he gets from his family but on the adoration he gets from crowds, he transfers the locus of his self-esteem away from his intimate circle to a fickle public. His need for public validation becomes an addiction. The wife cannot make him feel good about himself because, he reasons to himself, if he is a great big nothing, the woman dumb enough to marry him, however virtuous and accomplished, is an even bigger loser than he is. The wife is unwittingly punished for her devotion.
And that's where you see great men becoming susceptible to affairs. It is specifically the woman to whom they are not married, the one that has not been devalued through a merger with a failure, that can make him feel consequential.
Edwards practically admitted as much in the statement he released admitting to the affair: "In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up - feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself."
The egocentrism and narcissism to which he confesses are always the hallmark of the broken American male who mistakenly believes that ephemeral attention is an adequate substitute for intimate love. Fractured males always beat themselves up, whether they succeed or fail. The irony, of course, is that he was always special. He always had a wife and children who loved him. But like so many successful men, it still wasn't enough to make him feel unique. No, it took the adoration of the crowds and the compliments of complete strangers, to make him feel unique.
Why not his family? Because men who feel like nothing see their families as impoverished extensions of their own nothingness. They requite external validation to become a somebody.
AMERICA WITNESSED the same tragic error with Bill Clinton. The most powerful man in the world needed the ego boost of feeling desirable to a 20-something intern. External accoutrements, however grand, are always a poor substitute for authentic self-regard. Elliot Spitzer followed suit by throwing his career away with a high-class call girl. A woman who is so desirable that a night with her can set you back a thousand dollars can make a guy feel like a million bucks.
Far from judging Edwards, my heart goes out to him. His is an American tragedy. Every day hundreds of millions of Americans go to work believing that what they do in the office will be more central to determining success than what they do at home, that impressing the boss is more important than keeping your wife off Prozac and your kids off the streets. But are you a success in life if the people who mean the most to you think the least of you?
When Edwards announced in a press conference that he would continue seeking the nomination of the Democratic party for president despite his wife's metastasizing cancer, Elizabeth Edwards, who is universally admired by Americans, announced that she supported the decision because she did not want her children to believe that they had to give up their lives when faced with difficult battles.
True enough.
But perhaps an even more important lesson to the convey to our children is that what will truly make them special in life is not becoming president but being committed and loving family members who always put each other first.

August 12, 2008

Do you want to be?...


Recently Forbes-magazine published a VERY interesting article, which can be interesting for those who like cooking and baking and especially for those who like to be in front of the camera.

Enjoy reading