Periodically during the year, the wonderful Cantor at my synagogue does a musical Shabbat service for Friday evening, featuring a full group of musicians and a musical theme. I usually volunteer to bake desserts for the evening; I like to challenge myself to bake desserts that, in some way, represent the theme.
Everyone has a couple of go-to dessert recipes, things that are easy to whip up and crowd favorites. For many of us in America, this includes chocolate chip cookies (usually the Toll House recipe with or without slight variations; personally I follow the recipe except use only one stick of butter – recipe gets raves and it’s a little healthier) and brownies.
There is a lot of debate when it comes to brownies, mainly between whether melted chocolate or cocoa is better. There are good reasons for both, and many recipes actually call for both to take advantage of those reasons.
Several years ago we had an Israeli-themed dinner at the synagogue, and I was in charge of making the desserts. A couple of weeks ago, we had a Jerusalem-themed event, and I ended up making the same set of desserts again, because I enjoyed them so much.
One of the recipes is these Tahini Cookies from Yotam Ottolenghi, who is amazing. Another are these Kadorei Shokolad (Chocolate Balls), which my Israeli friends agree are wonderful and traditional. I rolled half of the balls in desiccated coconut and the other half in nonpareils; both are wonderful, and they give color and contrast to the cookie trays. I scoop the balls using a #60 cookie scoop [I own two different ones, I’m so addicted to cookie scoops!], a dozen or so at a time. I roll them smooth, coat in the desired coating, then put in the fridge to harden once I’ve finished the batch, otherwise they’ll be a little too soft. Continue reading “Syrup Soaked Orange Semolina Cake”
My love of Valentine’s Day goes easily back to elementary school days. I remember making containers to hold candy for my family, and sneaking them into their rooms at night. The first year, my friend and I were taking sewing classes, and I remember sewing a heart-shaped pillow with a pocket for candy on it. One year, I took sponges and cut small heart shapes out of them, and sponged pink and red hearts on plain white paper. I cut the paper into strips and wove baskets out of them.
It’s been many years since I’ve been that creative, but I still really enjoy baking for my friends and family. And for the last four or five years, the employees club at work (of which I’m on the board) has done a Valentine’s-themed bake sale.
Many times, I find recipes just like everyone else – the Internet. I don’t always change anything, or fuss with them in any way. I wanted a way to share some of these recipes with you all, without attaching a full blog post to something that may not need it. Hence, “What I’m Cooking.”
I have no idea how often this feature will run, but hopefully it will be a glimpse into my life, and provide links to good food. Today’s post is about the food I made to bring to a New Year’s Eve party at a friend’s. Normally I won’t bring this much, but there had been a couple of cookie recipes I’d been eyeing, and I figured this was the perfect opportunity. Unfortunately, I was rushing to get there, and didn’t make the time to take hardly any photographs, for which I apologize!
For the last couple of years, when Halloween rolls around, I start craving these Candy Corn Macadamia Nut Blondies. I don’t remember how or why I found that recipe, but it’s been a hit every time I’ve made them. Several times I’ve even made batches for Valentine’s Day, using the Valentines candy corn. It makes an incredibly sweet bar that is reminiscent of fudge – I’ve often described it as fudge with a bit of flour.
Sometimes, though, it seems a bit TOO sweet, if such a thing can be said. This week at work, we had a Halloween-themed chili cook-off, and as with years before, I decided to make a batch of candy cane blondies. Instead of making my standard recipe, I wondered if I could make them more “blondie”-like and a little less fudge-like, thinking it might make them a bit more balanced. Continue reading “Candy Corn Macadamia Nut Blondies”
