Categories
Breads Breakfast/Brunch Dessert Uncategorized

Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips & Pecan Topping

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    Now that it’s Fall, I’m back in the baking mood, mostly baking with pumpkin. But two sad, black bananas on the counter prompted this recipe today. It’s delicious and moist! Especially when still warm from the oven.

    Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips & Pecan Topping
     
    A twist on a classic
    Author:
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Ingredients
    • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup whole wheat flour
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1½ tsp baking powder
    • 8 Tbsp butter (1 stick)
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 very ripe bananas
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract
    • ½ cup chopped pecans
    • 1 cup large, 60% cacao chocolate chips
    Instructions
    1. Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.
    2. Prepare a 9x5 baking pan with cooking spray.
    3. Mix the dry ingredients and set aside.
    4. Cream the butter and the sugar. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until creamy. Add the two ripe bananas and beat until frothy. Add the vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients until fully incorporated, but don't over mix. Stir in the chocolate chips.
    5. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top. Bake for 50 - 60 minutes until golden brown on top. Let cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pan.

     

      Categories
      Breads Dessert Pumpkin

      Fluffiest Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Maple Buttercream Frosting

        Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Maple Frosting
        Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

        These are the lightest, fluffiest cupcakes ever. It must be the buttermilk, my new favorite baking ingredient.

        Ingredients
        3 cups all-purpose flour
        1 Tbsp baking powder
        1 1/2 tsp baking soda
        1/2 tsp salt
        2 tsp ground cinnamon
        1/4 tsp ground allspice
        1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
        1/4 tsp ground ginger
        1 1/2 cups sugar
        3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
        3 extra large eggs
        1 can (15 ounce) pure pumpkin
        1 cup buttermilk
        Maple Frosting (recipe below)

        1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 24 muffin tons with paper and spray with cooking spray

        2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda,  salt,  cinnamon, allspice n nutmeg, and ginger in a medium bowl and set aside.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter for 3 minutes until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and combine each one well.

        3. In a separate medium bowl, stir together the buttermilk and the pumpkin.  In alternate batches, add the pumpkin and buttermilk mixture and the du ingredients to the butter mixture, combining well after each addition. Spoon batter into prepared cups, 3/4 of the way full.

        4. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to cool completely.

        Maple Frosting: Beat 1 1/2 sticks of softened butter. Add a large slug or two of Vermont Maple Syrup and 1 tsp of vanilla.  Beat until blended. Gradually add 3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar,  beating until creamy and fluffy. Add a tablespoon of milk if you need to soften the Frosting.

        5. Put the Frosting into a piping bag or a ziplock bag with a corner cut off and pipe in circles into the cupcakes. Top with sprinkles.

        Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
        Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
          Categories
          Breads Pizza and Pasta Uncategorized

          Homemade Rye Pizza Dough

            [pinterest]

            Broccoli White Pizza

            My kids (8 and 5) absolutely adore pizza. Not broccoli pizza. But pizza with cheese, a little red sauce (not too much) and shredded grilled chicken. This pizza dough works like a charm. The rye flour gives it a rich, nutty flavor that I absolutely love. Using the Reinhart method of slow rising in the fridge and minimal kneading means I can make it in the morning while we’re all getting ready for the day, have rise in the fridge while we’re at work and school and then voila: it’s ready to go when we return home.

            The trick to making it easy to prepare during the morning rush? A KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer:

            The dough does need to sit out for an hour after being refrigerated, but if you pop it out of the fridge as soon as you walk in the door, it’s about ready to go when the oven is preheated and the fixin’s are ready.

            pizza dough in stand mixer
            Pizza Dough in stand mixer

            Photo by reivax

             

            5.0 from 1 reviews
            Homemade Rye Pizza Dough
             
            Prep time
            Cook time
            Total time
             
            Dark Rye deepens the flavor of this pizza crust. Sweet and nutty, this dough satisfies adults and children alike!
            Author:
            Recipe type: Bread
            Cuisine: Italian
            Serves: 6
            Ingredients
            • 2 cups dark rye flour
            • 2 cups Animo Caputo "00" flour
            • 1 Tbsp honey
            • 2 tsp salt
            • 1 tsp instant yeast
            • 2 Tbsp olive oil
            • 1¾ - 2 cups of warm water
            Instructions
            1. Combine all ingredients with the mixing paddles of your stand-up mixer. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
            2. Swap in dough-hook and need on a medium setting for 5 minutes. The dough will still be rather sticky.
            3. Separate dough into two pieces and place each in an oiled freezer bag. Place the bags in the refrigerator (or in the freezer if you don't intend to use them with 48 hours). When you are ready to use the dough, remove it from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before it's time to bake it. The dough needs to come to room temperature (in the bag so that it doesn't dry out).
            4. Roll the dough out into a large circle on a pizza pan that has been sprayed with a little nonstick cooking spray. Bake in an oven that has been preheated to 450˚F for about 5 minutes. Then add the sauce and toppings and bake for an additional 10 minutes or so.

             

              Categories
              Breads Dessert Pumpkin Uncategorized

              Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

                [pinterest]

                Pumpkin Spice Cupcake
                Pumpkin Spice Cupcake (photo by Shimelle Laine)

                Fall is my favorite time of year and these cupcakes are just what I need to get in the mood. The shadows are lengthening and out here in San Francisco, the air is more humid than usual and it’s warmer. When I lived on the East Coast, the arrival of Fall was all about feeling a cold nip in the air. Here in San Francisco where the summers are freezing, it’s quite the opposite. The weather heats up as the leaves are turning brown.

                Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
                 
                Prep time
                Cook time
                Total time
                 
                Perfect for a Halloween Party
                Author:
                Recipe type: Dessert
                Cuisine: American
                Serves: 24
                Ingredients
                • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
                • 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed firmly
                • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
                • 2 large eggs
                • 1½ tsp vanilla extract
                • 2 cups all-purpose flour
                • 2 tsp baking powder
                • ½ tsp baking soda
                • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
                • 1 tsp ground ginger
                • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
                • ¼ tsp ground cloves
                • pinch of salt
                • ½ cup milk
                • 1½ cups pure pumpkin puree
                • For the frosting:
                • 1 package cream cheese
                • 1½ sticks (12 Tbsp) unsalted butter
                • ⅔ cup light brown sugar
                • 2 tsp vanilla
                • 2 tsp cinnamon, plus extra for garnish
                Instructions
                1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line cupcake tray (24) with paper liners.
                2. In a standing mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar on high speed until fluffy.
                3. Add eggs and vanilla and mix at a medium speed until well blended.
                4. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Add about a third of the dry ingredients to wet, alternating with the milk, until all are incorporated. Add pumpkin puree and mix well.
                5. Fill cupcakes two-thirds full and bake for 18 – 22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
                6. Remove from oven and let stand for a couple of minutes. Then remove from muffin tin and let cool completely.
                7. To make the frosting:
                8. Let the cream cheese and butter soften before creaming them together on high speed with a mixer. Cream in the sugar, vanilla and cinnamon until smooth and light. Chill in the fridge overnight (or at least for a few hours) to let it set.
                9. Spread on cupcakes and garnish with a pinch of cinnamon.

                 

                  Categories
                  Breads Breakfast/Brunch Dessert Pumpkin Uncategorized

                  Pumpkin Coffee Cake Wreath with Pumpkin-Spiced Cream Cheese Filling

                    [pinterest]

                    Pumpkin Coffee Cake Wreath
                    Pumpkin Coffee Cake Wreath

                    I have been having so much fun baking with yeast this month. Today is no exception. I decided I wanted to make a coffee cake type pastry with icing and filling that would feature fall pumpkin flavors. I grew up with Entenmann’s pastries from the grocery store, and I was looking to emulate their various Danish rings with this recipe.

                    I ended up constructing this wreath in two ways. One way was a traditional circle. For the other, I cut little slits all the way around before baking it, and the wring came out a little more decorative – though less tidy. Totally up to you for how to make yours, but the recipe does make 2 loaves, so play with it!

                    Pumpkin Wreath without Slits
                    Pumpkin WreathWithout Slits
                    Pumpkin Wreath
                    Pumpkin Wreath Sliced Open

                    The recipe calls for 2 rises. One for the dough and then another one once the dough is stuffed. If you want to refrigerate your dough after stuffing it, you can refrigerate it overnight, then pull it out, let it come to room temperature, rise and then bake it so it comes out of the oven warm just in time for brunch.

                    I kept this dish nut free because of allergy concerns, but sliced almonds or pecans are a great addition to the topping.

                    Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling
                    Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling

                    5.0 from 2 reviews
                    Pumpkin Coffee Cake Wreath with Pumpkin-Spiced Cream Cheese Filling
                     
                    Prep time
                    Cook time
                    Total time
                     
                    Fall pumpkin flavors infuse this danish ring with yumminess
                    Author:
                    Recipe type: Dessert, Brunch Pastry
                    Serves: 20
                    Ingredients
                    • 1 package dry yeast (2¼ tsp)
                    • ¼ cup warm water
                    • 3½ cups all-purpose flour
                    • ¾ cups canned pure pumpkin
                    • ½ cup milk
                    • ¼ cup butter, melted
                    • 1 Tbsp sugar
                    • 1¼ tsp salt
                    • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
                    • ½ tsp ground ginger
                    • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
                    • ¼ tsp ground cloves
                    • ---
                    • 2 8oz packages cream cheese
                    • ½ cup canned pure pumpkin
                    • 1 cup sugar
                    • 2 Tbsp butter softened
                    • 1 tsp cinnamon
                    • ---
                    • 1 Tbsp butter, melted
                    • ¼ cup sugar
                    • ½ tsp cinnamon
                    • ---
                    • 1 cup powdered sugar
                    • 1 Tbsp milk
                    • ¼ tsp vanilla
                    Instructions
                    1. Dissolve the yeast in warm water in a mug and cover with a plate. Set aside for 5 minutes. When you lift the plate, it should be foamy. If it's not foamy, it means that the yeast is no longer active and you'll have to start over with new yeast.
                    2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the dough hook, combine 3 cups of the flour, the pumpkin, milk, melted butter, sugar, salt, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Once it has taken on a crumbly texture, add the water and yeast mixture and continue mixing with the dough hook until a ball forms. Scrape the sides as necessary to ensure complete mixing. If the dough is sticky and not well-formed, add a Tbsp or so of flour and continue kneading with the dough hook. Knead for 3 minutes on medium speed, adding flour to ensure a springy, well-formed ball.
                    3. Add a tsp of oil to the bowl and knead for 30 seconds. Remove bowl and cover with towel. Set in a warm place and let rise for 45 minutes to an hour until doubled.
                    4. After the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured cutting board. Let rest for 5 minutes, then cut in half.
                    5. To prepare the filling, go back to your stand mixer (wash that bowl), but this time you will use the wire whisk to beat at high speed, the cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Beat for 2 minutes until fluffy.
                    6. Now roll out one ball of dough into a flat rectangle that is about 10x12 inches in size. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough leaving space around the edges. The cream cheese will be about ¼ inch thick. Now roll the long side of the dough up to make a tube. Bend the tube into a circle and press the ends together firmly. If you'd like to try cutting slits in the wreath, go ahead and do so. Repeat with the other ball of dough. You will have left over cream cheese mixture. It can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and used as icing on cupcakes.
                    7. Transfer the rings to a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan sprayed lightly with cooking spray. Cover with a cloth and set in a warm place. Allow them to rise for 45 minutes. (Alternatively, you could cover them in plastic and refrigerate them over night before allowing them to come to room temperature and to rise the next morning)
                    8. Preheat the oven to 375˚F.
                    9. Using a spoon, spread melted butter over the tops of both rings. Use the back of the spoon to coat them evenly. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of each ring. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet before transferring them to platters.
                    10. Once the rings are cooled, make the icing by stirring together the sugar, milk and vanilla in a bowl with a fork or a wire whisk. If the icing is not going to hold the shape of its drizzle, add more sugar to thicken. Drizzle onto the rings and allow the icing to set for 5-10 minutes before serving.

                     

                    Pumpkin Coffee Cake
                    Pumpkin Coffee Cake
                      Categories
                      Breads Breakfast/Brunch Dessert Pumpkin Uncategorized

                      Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns

                        Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns
                        Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns

                        The basis for these Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns comes from a recipe I did during an earlier Pumpkin recipe marathon, when I featured Pumpkin Yeast Rolls. For this recipe, you start by making the dough for the Pumpkin Yeast Rolls and then form smaller balls to dip in melted butter and a sugary cinnamon mixture. Then you mush them into a bundt cake pan for baking. It’s a day’s project, but no one part of the recipe is that difficult, particularly if you have a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer, which does most of the work. These are truly to-die-for. I took them into work and everyone went crazy for them! The pumpkin flavor in the rolls is subtle, so you could make them this way all year long.

                        Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns
                        Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns

                        5.0 from 1 reviews
                        Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns
                         
                        Prep time
                        Cook time
                        Total time
                         
                        Author:
                        Recipe type: Dessert
                        Serves: 20
                        Ingredients
                        • 1 package active dry yeast
                        • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
                        • ¾ cup warm milk
                        • 6+ cups all-purpose flour
                        • 1 tsp salt
                        • ¾ cup unsalted cold butter, cut into small pieces
                        • 1 large egg
                        • 1 (15 oz) can of puréed pumpkin
                        • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
                        • 1 tsp ground ginger
                        • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
                        • ¼ tsp ground cloves
                        • Another Tbsp of melted butter
                        • 1 cup granulated sugar
                        • ½ cup brown sugar
                        • 3 tsp ground cinnamon
                        • ½ tsp nutmeg
                        • 1 cup butter, melted
                        • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
                        • 1½ Tbsp milk
                        • 1 tsp vanilla extract
                        Instructions
                        1. In a coffee cup, mix the brown sugar, yeast and warm milk. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes white becomes foamy and you prepare the flour.
                        2. In the mixing bowl of your stand mixer with the wire whip attached, add 5 cups of the flour and the salt. Set the mixer on Level 2 and add the pieces of butter, one at a time, mixing all the time. Mix until the flour becomes course.
                        3. Add the egg and continue mixing until well blended.
                        4. Change the attachment to the flat beater and add the pumpkin and spices, mixing gently until incorporated.
                        5. Change the attachment again, now to the dough hook. Dump in the cup full of yeast, milk, and brown sugar. Kneading on Level 2 for about 8 minutes, watch as a ball of dough forms. Have a cup of flour at the ready to add 1-2 Tbsp at a time until dough takes on a smooth, springy form that's not sticky. After you've added enough of the flour, let the dough hook continue kneading until the 8 minutes is done.
                        6. Spray a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray. From the dough into a big ball and place in the bowl. Brush melted butter over the ball of the dough. Cover with a dish towel and let rise for about an hour. The dough should double in size.
                        7. In the meantime, make your cinnamon-sugar dip by mixing together in a medium bowl, the sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
                        8. Preheat the oven to 350˚F and spray a Bundt cake pan with cooking spray.
                        9. Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl and set aside.
                        10. Turn the dough out onto a large cutting board and cut the big ball in half. Continue cutting the balls in half until you get down to a size that is about the size of a golf ball. Roll the dough between your fingers so that it forms a little perfect ball. Dip into the melted butter, then roll in the sugar mixture and place in the bottom of a bundt cake pan. Continue rolling, dipping and dredging until all of the little sugar-coated balls of dough are pressed into the bundt cake pan.
                        11. Bake at 350˚F for about 35 minutes.
                        12. Allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes before turning the bundt cake out onto your serving plate.
                        13. With a fork, mix together the confectioner's sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Keep adding sugar until mixture coats the back of a spoon and just drips down slowly. Drizzle over the top of the sticky buns and allows to drip down the sides.
                        14. Serve warm.

                         

                        Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns
                        Pumpkin Pull-Apart Cinnamon Buns


                          Categories
                          Appetizers Breads Breakfast/Brunch Pumpkin

                          Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

                            Pumpkin Zucchini Bread
                            Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

                            The most popular post on this blog, hands down, is My Ultimate Pumpkin Bread post, and one of my personal favorites is my Zucchini Bread post, so now that it’s October, I thought, why not do a mashup? The spices for pumpkin and zucchini bread are so similar, it seems like a marriage made in heaven. And, I’ve been getting a lot of zucchini in my weekly produce box from Full Circle lately.

                            This version came out perfectly moist. Make sure you squeeze the excess water out of your shredded zucchini. Just press between paper towels before adding to the mixture. I used this kind of grater to prepare the zucchini:

                            Play with the sugar to meet your tastes. I’ve tried it with 2 cups and it’s perfect for folks who don’t like their quick breads too sweet. I prefer it with 2 1/2 or even 3 cups of sugar.

                            This recipe makes 2 loaves!

                            Pumpkin Zucchini Bread
                            Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

                            Pumpkin Zucchini Bread
                             
                            Prep time
                            Cook time
                            Total time
                             
                            My two favorite quick breads - in one!
                            Author:
                            Recipe type: Bread
                            Serves: 20
                            Ingredients
                            • 3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
                            • 1 cup whole wheat flour
                            • 2 tsp salt
                            • 3 tsp baking powder
                            • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
                            • 1 tsp ground ginger
                            • ⅛ tsp ground cloves
                            • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
                            • 2½ cups granulated sugar
                            • 2 sticks butter, softened
                            • 4 eggs
                            • 1 cup milk
                            • 1½ cups grated zucchini (about 2 medium zucchini)
                            • 1 15 oz can of pureed pure pumpkin
                            Instructions
                            1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F and spray 2 9-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
                            2. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl (including the sugar).
                            3. In the bowl of a large standup mixer, cream the butter. Then add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until fully incorporated. Add the milk and beat until mixed. Add the pumpkin and zucchini and mix on medium until blended.
                            4. Take bowl away from standup mixer. Add bowl of dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until all is moistened. Do not overmix.
                            5. Bake for 45 - 60 minutes or until top is golden brown and a knife inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

                             

                            Starbucks® K-Cup® Packs
                              Categories
                              Breads Breakfast/Brunch Dessert Pumpkin Uncategorized

                              The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

                                [pinterest]

                                Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
                                Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

                                There’s nothing likely whipping up a little quick bread (muffin, cupcake, bread, whatever) to satisfy the baking need. Mix the wet ingredients. Mix the dry ingredients. Put them together without overmixing, bake and voila! A sweet, sumptuous little treat in no time.

                                October = pumpkin for me, in case you didn’t know. Psst. There are like 40 pumpkin recipes in this blog. I’ve done pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies before, but never pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (or cupcakes as the case may be). Some people love the combo, and I am one of them. These are equally good with or without the icing, I think. So if you can’t be bothered with the icing, don’t be!

                                Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

                                 

                                The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
                                 
                                Prep time
                                Cook time
                                Total time
                                 
                                Yummy pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes - perfect for a Halloween party.
                                Author:
                                Recipe type: Dessert
                                Serves: 18-20
                                Ingredients
                                • 4 eggs
                                • 1½ cups granulated sugar
                                • ½ cup light brown sugar
                                • 2 cups canned pure pumpkin
                                • 1 tsp vanilla extract
                                • 1 cup vegetable oil
                                • 3 cups all-purpose flour
                                • 2 tsp baking soda
                                • 2 tsp baking powder
                                • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
                                • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
                                • pinch ground cloves
                                • 1 tsp salt
                                • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
                                • For the frosting:
                                • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
                                • ¼ cup butter, softened
                                • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
                                • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
                                Instructions
                                1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Prepare muffin tins by either spraying them with cooking spray or lining them with paper liners.
                                2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil. Set aside.
                                3. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
                                4. In three batches, add the flour to the wet ingredients and stir to incorporate. Don't overmix, but incorporate thoroughly.
                                5. Fold in the chocolate chips. Fill muffin cups at least ¾ of the way full. I like to create a big muffin top, so I fill them almost all the way.
                                6. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top and a knife inserted comes out clean. If you have to have two layers of tins in your oven, rotate them halfway through the cooking time for even baking.
                                7. To make the icing:
                                8. While the muffins are baking, you can make the icing. With an electric hand mixer, cream together the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and confectioner's sugar until completely smooth, Allow to chill if need be.
                                9. To ice the cupcakes:
                                10. Once the cupcakes come out of the oven, they will need to cool before you can ice them. Once they are cooled, you can fill a pastry bag with your icing and pipe it out into large concentric circles.

                                 

                                Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
                                  Categories
                                  Appetizers Breads Uncategorized Vegetarian

                                  Rosemary Focaccia

                                    Rosemary Focaccia

                                    I am totally into this focaccia. This recipe has been tested and tested. Use fresh rosemary. Don’t hold back on the oil and salt and eat it while it’s still warm.

                                    Rosemary Focaccia

                                    Ingredients
                                    1/2 cup high quality extra-virgin olive oil
                                    2-4 whole cloves garlic, cracked
                                    2 sprigs of rosemary
                                    1 (1/4-ounce) package rapid rise dry yeast
                                    4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus additional for kneading
                                    2 tsp table salt
                                    2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
                                    1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

                                    Method

                                    For the garlic-rosemary infused olive oil:

                                    1. Heat 1/2 cup of olive oil, the rosemary sprigs and garlic cloves in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat until just starting to bubble, remove from heat and allow to sit and cool for at least 30 minutes or longer.

                                    For the focaccia:

                                    1. Stir together 1 2/3 cups lukewarm water and yeast in bowl of mixer. Add 4 cups flour, 1/4 cup of the rosemary-garlic infused oil, and the table salt and beat with the paddle attachment at medium speed until a dough forms. Replace paddle with dough hook and knead dough at high speed until soft, smooth, and sticky, 3 to 4 minutes.

                                    2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in 1 – 2 more tablespoons of flour for about a minute then transfer to an oiled bowl and turn to coat it with the oil. Let rise, covered with plastic wrap, at warm room temperature, until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

                                    3. Press dough evenly into a generously oiled 15 x 10 inch baking pan. Let dough rise, covered with a kitchen towel, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

                                    4. Preheat oven to 500°F. Stir together rosemary and remaining 3 tablespoons oil. With a fork, make shallow pin pricks all over the dough, then brush with rosemary oil. Sprinkle sea salt over the focaccia. Bake at 500˚F for 5 minutes and then reduce to 475˚F for another 15 minutes or until golden brown.

                                    5. Remove from oven and invert onto a rack and flip over. Eat immediately, if possible.

                                    giggle
                                      Categories
                                      Appetizers Breads Produce Pumpkin Uncategorized

                                      Pumpkin Bolani

                                        Pumpkin Bolani

                                        Pumpkin is kind of an obsession for me, so let me start by proclaiming Pumpkin Month on StreamingGourmet. Some of you may remember 31 Days of Pumpkin from last year. Well, since then, I have found even more pumpkin recipes that think outside the pie, starting with Pumpkin Bolani. Stayed tuned throughout the month.

                                        Recently, I was at the Whole Foods in Mill Valley (the new one), and I wandered over to the cold case looking for something to bring home for lunch. I stumbled onto Bolanis (sometimes spelled, Bulani or Boolawnee). They are similar to Indian paratha, ie, they are flatbreads stuffed with yummy things. Typically Afghani Bolanis are stuffed with leeks, but the ones available at Whole Foods from the company, Bolani: East and West Gourmet Afghan Food, come in four different varieties: Spinach, Lentil, Potato and… wait for it… Pumpkin.

                                        I brought home the pumpkin version and absolutely adored them. They didn’t have that pumpkin pie flavor at all. There was quite a spicy kick, in fact. They are incredibly low in fat and calories, very filling, and happen to be vegan. All pluses for me.

                                        They are available from Bolani: East and West Gourmet Afghan Food. The company is based in Concord, CA, which is just across of San Francisco in the East Bay. You can order their products online and they will ship anywhere in the US. Perishable products are shipped in insulated styrofoam-lined packages and filled with ice packets.

                                        I decided I had better try to recreate them at home and I am here to share with you the results of that endeavor. This does not represent the East and West Gourmet Food recipe (I have not been in contact with them).

                                        Pumpkin Bolani
                                        Makes 4 Bolani

                                        Ingredients

                                        For the pastry
                                        2 Cups All-purpose flour
                                        1/2 tsp salt
                                        2/3 cup cold water
                                        1 tsp olive oil

                                        For the pumpkin filling
                                        1/2 of a 15oz can of pumpkin purée
                                        1/2 tsp salt
                                        1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
                                        2 Tbsp finely diced onion
                                        1/4 tsp (I used 1/2 tsp) minced Jalapeño or Serrano Chili pepper
                                        1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger
                                        1/2 tsp ground coriander
                                        Fresh ground black pepper

                                        Olive oil for frying

                                        Method

                                        1. Mix the flour and salt together in the mixing bowl of a stand-up mixer (if you have one) or just a large bowl. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the water slowly. Add the teaspoon of oil and mix the dough together, kneading it a little until it forms a ball. If the dough doesn’t come together in a ball, add a little bit more water. Once the dough is formed, using the dough hook of your stand-up mixer (or doing it by hand), knead it for 10 minutes. Cover the dough with a cloth and let it rest for 1 hour.

                                        2. In the meantime, prepare your ingredients for the pumpkin filling. Mix together all of the ingredients either in a bowl, or in a food processor to ensure that they are fully blended.

                                        3. Once the dough has rested for an hour, divide into 4 balls. Flour a large, wooden cutting board and roll out the dough into a flat disc with a rolling pin. It should be about 10 inches in diameter and as thin as you can make it. Spread 2-3 Tbsp of the pumpkin mixture on one half of the dough circle, leaving a small border around the edge and the other half empty. Fold over the dough and press it together to form a seal. Repeat for the remaining 3 balls.

                                        4. Heat about ¼ cup of oil in a 12-inch sauté pan over medium-high heat. Make sure that the pan is just hot enough so that the bolani will sizzle when it hits the pan. Brown the bolani about 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown. They can either be served immediately, or for a party, you can slice them into appetizer slices and serve them a little warmer than room temperature.

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