Top Posts of 2013

After stuffing myself with hundreds of pounds of barbecue, puffy tacos, doughnuts, and more on a culinary tour of Texas, I decided it would be a wonderful idea to review the year in recipes. Specifically, the most popular recipes I published in 2013. If you're looking for ways to start eating healthy for your 2014 resolutions, you may want to wait a few days until I start publishing new recipes. If you just want some food that tastes delicious, read on. Either way, happy New Year!

13. Raspberry Bars

12. Peach Muffins

11. Croque Poulet

10. Passover Almond Thumbprint Cookies

9. Blueberry Muffins

8. Shrimp and Chorizo Pasta

7. Chocolate Raspberry Coffee Cake

6. Honey Ginger Salmon

5. Asian Broccoli Salad

4. Blackberry Buns

3. Summer Potato Salad

2. Beer & Bacon Pecan Bars

1. Orange Ricotta Cookies

Cranberry Almond Tart

To celebrate the holidays, I decided to make a beautiful festive dessert that is actually pretty easy. It's full of juicy, tart cranberries with a hint of almond liqueur. That delicious filling is topped with crunchy almond streusel, and everything is cradled in a crisp, buttery crust. If you have extra cranberry filling and streusel like I did, just stick everything in some ramekins and bake until golden and bubbly. I'll keep this post short so that you can get right to baking and celebrating, but I hope your holidays are tasty and relaxing!

2 Cups Flour

1 1/4 + 1/6 Cup Sugar

1/6 Cup Dark Brown Sugar

1/4 tsp + Pinch Salt

1 Stick Butter, Chilled

1/2 Stick Butter, Melted

1 Egg Yolk

1 T Lemon Juice

12 oz Cranberries

1/4 Cup Blackberry Jam

2 T Almond Liqueur

1/4 tsp Almond Extract

1/3 Cup Sliced Almonds

Heat oven to 375F. Grease a 9-11" tart pan.

Pulse 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt in a food processor until combined. Add the chilled butter and pulse until small pieces remain. Combine the egg yolk with 1 T cold water and pulse in. Roll out to fit the prepared pan and chill until cold.

Prick the dough with a fork and press on a sheet of foil. Fill with pie weights and bake for 20 minutes or until firm. Remove the foil and weights, then bake for 3 minutes or until just golden. Leave oven at 325F.

Combine 1 cup sugar, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil and add the cranberries; reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the cranberries have popped. Remove from heat and stir in the jam, almond liqueur, and almond extract. Chill until cool.

Stir the remaining flour, remaining sugar, dark brown sugar, and remaining salt together. Add the melted butter and fold in the almonds.

Pour the cranberry filling into the crust. Crumble on the streusel and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

Makes 1 Tart

Snickersnaps

Sometimes I just want a cookie. Sometimes a plain chocolate chip cookie just won't do. Sometimes I want different types of cookies but only want one cookie. Luckily, these snickersnaps solve all those problems. If you haven't heard of a snickersnap, that is perfectly ok. But I'm guessing you've heard of gingersnaps and snickerdoodles. A snickersnap is simply a gingersnap and a snickerdoodle rolled into one delicious bite. Literally.

The gingersnap dough is very similar to the snickerdoodle dough. For the snickerdoodles, I make a basic sugar cookie dough and then roll it in cinnamon sugar before baking. The only difference between these and my usual sugar cookies is that I use shortening instead of butter. It makes the cookies crisp and prevents them from spreading too much. The gingersnaps have molasses and spices, too, but I keep the doughs almost identical so that they bake properly and I don't have a half-raw, half-burnt cookie. All I do after making the doughs is roll some of each together and bake them. They taste like the holidays and make amazing gifts, too.

Snickerdoodles:
1/2 Cup Shortening
3/4 Cup + 3 T Sugar
1 Egg
1 T Vanilla
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 T Cinnamon

Gingersnaps:
3/4 Cup Shortening
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Molasses
1 Egg
2 Cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Ginger
1/4 tsp Cloves

Heat oven to 350F and line cookie trays with parchment.

For the snickerdoodles, beat the shortening and 3/4 cup sugar together. Add the egg and vanilla, then stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar. Combine the cinnamon and remaining sugar. Scoop the dough into about 44 walnut-sized balls, then roll each in the cinnamon sugar.

For the gingersnaps, beat the shortening and sugar together. add the molasses and egg, then stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Roll into about 50 walnut-sized balls.

Roll one ball of snickerdoodle dough with a ball of gingersnap dough until stuck together and slightly swirled. Repeat with remaining cookie dough; there will be a few plain gingersnaps. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.

Makes 50
Recipe Adapted from http://buddingbaketress.blogspot.com/

Eggplant Parmesan Quinoa Casserole

It's definitely comfort food weather. I'm still craving warm, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs dishes, and I found a recipe that fills all of those requirements and it's extremely healthy. Picture the classic Italian dish eggplant parmesan. Cozy, right? Too bad it's loaded with calories. But I made a version that is so much better for you and still tastes just like the original.

This casserole has a quinoa base, as opposed to the pasta you would usually have with eggplant parmesan. Quinoa is basically a miracle. You could probably survive solely on quinoa for a good two or three months (except not really). Unfortunately, it doesn't have much flavor, which is why I drown it in marinara sauce; you can either make your own or use your favorite brand if you're short on time. As for the eggplant, I make sure to salt it and press it to make it less bitter and spongy before I saute it and add it to the marinara. All that's left is the cheese, and I add plenty. Since the rest of the dish is so good for you, I don't feel too bad about stirring in a few pounds or so of mozzarella and parmesan (though the deliciousness probably peaks around a cup or two of cheese).

Everything in the casserole is fully cooked, but I bake it for around 20 or 30 minutes so that the cheese melts, the quinoa soaks up the sauce, and all the flavors combine. You can broil it for a few minutes, too, so that the cheese on top gets golden brown. The dish freezes exceptionally well; I recommend freezing it after baking but before broiling so that it reheats quickly but doesn't burn.

1 Cup Quinoa, Cooked
1 1/4 lbs Eggplant, Cubed
1/2 Onion, Diced
4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
24 oz Tomato Sauce
1/4 tsp Dried Oregano
1/4 tsp Dried Basil
1 1/2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Spread the eggplant on a few sheets of paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Place a few layers of paper towels on top and press something heavy on top of everything. Let sit for 20-30 minutes.

Heat oven to 375F and grease a 9x11" pan.

Heat some olive oil in a skillet. Add the eggplant and cook for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the onion and garlic and cook until eggplant is tender and onions are translucent, about 5 minutes more. Add the tomato sauce, oregano, and basil and bring to a simmer.

Stir the quinoa, eggplant and tomato sauce mixture, mozzarella, and parmesan together. Spread into the prepared pan and bake for 20-30 minutes or until bubbly. Broil for 2 minutes or until golden brown.

Serves 8
Recipe Adapted from The Iron You

Sausage, Bean, & Kale Stew

Now that I am definitely going somewhere freezing for college (go badgers?), I need to start embracing the cold. One of the best ways to cope is to eat and eat a lot. Stews are hearty, warm, and comforting, which makes them one of the best foods for winter, even if winter is currently 70 degrees and muggy.

This particular stew is loaded with healthy stuff: kale, beans, tomatoes, and herbs. There's also a kick from some jalapeno and some spicy Italian sausage. In addition to spice, the sausage makes the whole stew more filling and satisfying. If you want to make the recipe vegetarian or vegan, you can always use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and omit the sausage or use a vegetarian alternative. Even with the sausage, however, this stew is still extremely good for you and your taste buds.

6 Spicy Italian Sausages
2 14.5oz Cans Diced Tomatoes
2 15oz Cans Cannellini Beans, Drained & Rinsed
2 Jalapenos, Minced
4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 Onion, Diced
1 tsp Dried Basil
1 tsp Dried Oregano
1/2 tsp Cayenne
3 Cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock
5 Cups Chopped Kale

Heat some oil in a skillet and cook the sausages until brown and cooked through, about 12 minutes. Remove from skillet and let cool; slice into 1/4" thick coins.

Cook the onions, garlic, and jalapeno in the skillet until tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Put the sausage, tomatoes with juice, beans, and onion, garlic, and jalapenos in a slow cooker. Add the basil, oregano, cayenne, and stock and stir until combined. Cook for 2 1/2 hours on high. Add the kale and cook for another 45 minutes.

Serves 4-6
Recipe Adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

It's barely December, but most of you may or may not be sick of pumpkin by now. But don't worry; I have a recipe that will renew your faith! I know there's a lot of muffin recipes and a lot of cheesecake recipes and a lot of those probably use pumpkin, too. This recipe, however, combines all three of those flavors with a sweet, crunchy streusel topping. Yes, that's right. I made pumpkin cheesecake muffins.

The base is a simple pumpkin muffin: sweet, moist, and delicious. It's basically your excuse to eat cake for breakfast, and you don't even have to break out your mixer. Just combine some eggs, pumpkin, oil, sugar, and a splash of buttermilk and whisk in your dry ingredients. I found a way to make it so much better, though, because I add a dollop of cheesecake filling.

The filling is even easier than the muffin batter; I combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a few drops of vanilla. The whole thing is sprinkled with streusel, which is essentially sweetened, spiced butter with enough flour to hold it together. It bakes up nice and crunchy, the perfect cap to the gooey cheesecake tucked inside those deliciously pumpkin-y muffins.

2 Cups Flour
1 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Allspice
1/8 tsp Cloves
1/8 tsp Ginger
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
 2 Eggs
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Pumpkin
1/2 Cup Oil
2 T Buttermilk
2 T Butter, Melted
4 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/2 tsp Vanilla

Heat oven to 425F and line a cupcake tin with paper cups.

Combine the cream cheese and vanilla, then whisk in the powdered sugar. Scoop into 15 balls and freeze until firm.

Stir 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and the melted butter together until crumbly. Chill until cold.

Sift the remaining flour, remaining cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, ginger, baking soda, and salt together. Whisk the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin, oil, and buttermilk together. Add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.

Scoop the batter into the prepared pan. Press a ball of cheesecake filling into the center of each cup; it may not be entirely covered by batter. Sprinkle the streusel onto each muffin. Bake for 5 minutes, lower the temperature to 375, and bake for 12 minutes or until cooked through.

Makes 15
Recipe Adapted from Culinary Couture

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Yes, I made brussels sprouts, the icky green vegetable that everyone loves to hate. They can smell pretty bad and, yes, there is such a thing as being too healthy because too-healthy things usually don't taste good. But these do. As a picky eater, I have found that there are two ways to make things taste better. First, I cook them myself. If I know what's in something, I'm not afraid of what I'm eating. Second, I smother them in things I do like. In this case, that's bacon because there's one way to make anything taste good, it's adding copious amounts of bacon. Add a nice dose of maple syrup and you won't even realize you're being healthy.

These brussels sprouts start by cooking the bacon. That's right; you're not only eating bacon, you're cooking everything in the bacon fat to make sure that smokey, salty goodness permeates every bite. You take the bacon out so that it doesn't get overcooked, then cook the garlic, habanero, and brussels sprouts in the fat to make everything nice and crispy. Add the bacon back into the pan with the maple syrup, but be careful not to burn the maple syrup since you do want to caramelize the brussels sprouts without making them charred and bitter. Ideally, the brussels sprouts will be sweet, salty, and spicy, the perfect dish for Thanksgiving or any night of the year.

3 Cups Brussels Sprouts, Halved
4 Strips Bacon
1 Clove Garlic, Minced
1/2 Habanero, Minced
3 T Butter

3 T Maple Syrup

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Remove and chop, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the butter to the bacon fat.

Cook the brussels srpouts in the skillet until the brussels sprouts are tender, about 12 minutes, adding the garlic and habanero about halfway through. Season with salt and pepper, then add the maple syrup. Cook until caramelized, about 3 minutes.

Serves 6
Recipe Adapted from Authentic Suburban Gourmet

Pumpkin White Chocolate Biscotti

I'm convinced biscotti are the perfect dessert for this time of year. They make great gifts, they store well, and you can make them any flavor to suit any taste. This recipe is particularly good for the holiday season because it's full of pumpkin. You can find pumpkin in your latte, pumpkin in your pie, and pumpkin in your Pringles, but I guarantee these biscotti are even better than all of them. 

My pumpkin biscotti are extremely low-fat, but you wouldn't know it. Since biscotti don't need that soft, melt-in-your mouth texture like my peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, you don't need to rival Paula Deen in your butter use. The pumpkin puree provides flavor and moisture without the fat, so you only need a few spoonfuls of oil. The biscotti bake up nice and crunchy with a hint of spice and chunks of sweet white chocolate. They make the perfect gift, if you don't save them all for yourself. Don't feel too bad; as soon as my dad heard they are low-fat, he hoarded the whole batch in his office and refused to share, and my sister followed me around in the kitchen sneaking pieces from the cutting board.

3 3/4 Cups Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Ginger
1/4 tsp Allspice
1/8 tsp Cloves
2 Eggs
3/4 Cup Pumpkin Puree
2 T Oil
1 T Vanilla

2/3 Cup White Chocolate Chips

Heat oven to 350F and line a cookie tray with parchment.

Combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Whisk the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and 2 tsp of the spice mixture.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the eggs, pumpkin, oil, and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture and fold in the chocolate chips.

Shape the dough into three logs and bake for 25 minutes or until cooked through. Cool, slice, and bake at 300F for 15 minutes or until crunchy.

Makes 36

Recipe Adapted from Spoonful of Flavor

Maple Apple Spice Cake

Sometimes I like to bake in the fall just so I can fill the house with the smell of cinnamon, maple, pumpkin, and toasted pecans. There aren't any pecans or pumpkin in this cake, but I guarantee your house will still smell amazing. 

The maple spice cake is filled with all the spices I associate with fall: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. The maple syrup compliments them perfectly, and you get to use less sugar because it's so sweet. The cake is still not overly sweet, which allows you to top it with the sautéed apples and even a scoop of ice cream (caramel ice cream would be fantastic) without going into a sugar coma. 

The apples are cooked in some butter and brown sugar until just tender; they shouldn't be mushy, but they shouldn't be crunchy, either. You can throw in a pinch of cinnamon for some more flavor or add some more sugar for more of a caramel flavor. I think two apples is enough because I want to taste the cake, too, but you can double or even triple the recipe. Any apples you don't use would be great layered with some granola and yogurt or ice cream for parfaits or just on top of ice cream with some caramel sauce.

2 Granny Smith Apples
1 Stick + 3 T Butter
2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp + Pinch Salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Allspice
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Cloves
1/2 Cup Maple Syrup
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1 tsp Vanilla

Heat oven to 350F and line an 8x8" pan with parchment.

Peel and core the apples; cut into wedges. Heat 3T butter in a skillet and add 1/3 cup brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Stir in the apples and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, remaining salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. Beat the remaining butter and remaining brown sugar in a stand mixr until fluffy. Add the eggs, then beat in the maple syrup, sour cream, and vanilla. Gradually add the flour.

Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through. Top with the apples.

Serves 16
Recipe Adapted from Gourmet

Vegetarian Challenge - Day 7 (Sesame-Crusted Tofu)

So maybe tofu isn't my thing. I decided a while ago I would definitely try it at the end of this experiment; I wasn't sure if I would like it, but I believe at least a taste is a crucial part of understanding alternatives to current dietary habits. Well, I can now say that after hours of research, a week of meatless eating, and a bite of tofu, I fully comprehend both the environmental and nutritional impact of eating vegetarian.

Though I didn't particularly like the tofu, my dad ate it all. Personally, I loved the breading. It was the jiggly, spongy texture of the tofu itself that made the dish less than appealing. However, people who like tofu (namely my dad) seemed to love it. It takes about 90 minutes to make, but most of that is spent pressing the tofu. All you have to do is slice a brick of extra-firm tofu, sandwich it between a few layers of paper towels, and leave something heavy on top (I used a glass baking dish) to squeeze out the water. Pressing the tofu improves the texture and prevents it from falling apart while cooking. Then, just dip the slices in an egg wash and the breading and cook until crispy. I use a combination of panko crumbs and sesame seeds to make an exceptionally crunchy crust. In addition, the panko gets rich and buttery with only a tiny bit of oil; you get deep-fried texture and taste without all the calories.

Nevertheless, I'm honestly not so sure I'll be eating too much of this tofu. There is no denying soy's environmental superiority (animal protein requires 12 times more land, 13 times more fossil fuel, and 15 times more water), but this week has taught me that there are many ways to help the environment through altering my diet, and not all of them include tofu. Just eliminating meat from one more meal a week can have a huge impact, and I learned that I am capable of doing more than just one fewer meal. While I may not go another whole week at a time, I can cut down my meat consumption significantly to reduce pollution, emissions, resource consumption, and animal cruelty. I hope you make the decision to cut down on the amount of meat you eat, even if just by a meal, so that you can make an impact, too.

1 14oz Block Extra Firm Tofu
2 T Flour
1 Egg
1 T Soy Sauce
1 T Sriracha
1/3 Cup Panko Crumbs
2 T Sesame Seeds

Cut the tofu into 1/2" thick squares. Place in a single layer on top of a few sheets of paper towels; top with more paper towels and place a heavy object (like a cutting board or pan) on top. Let sit for an hour.

Combine the egg, soy sauce, and sriracha. Combine the panko and sesame seeds. Toss the tofu in the flour, dip into the egg wash, and press into the panko mixture.

Heat some oil on a griddle or skillet. Cook the tofu until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes on each side. Serve with more sriracha.

Serves 3-4
Recipe Adapted from Love & Olive Oil

Vegetarian Challenge - Day 6 (Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish)

As evidenced by the stolen tartlet yesterday, my grandpa is in town. Even though he's from New York (which isn't exactly the south), he loves catfish. I do, too, and one of my main sources of protein this week is fish. So I made some catfish. It tastes just like the crispy fried catfish from his favorite Cajun restaurant, but it's much healthier because it's baked. The cornmeal crust keeps it crunchy and moist; you won't miss the grease or the oil splatters.

Now let's talk resources. The final component of the various impacts eating vegetarian has on the environment is the reduction of resource consumption. 70% of US grain and 80% of US corn is fed to farmed animals. The amount of grain alone could feed about 800 million people. Granted, grain has much less protein than meat, but it's still a significant amount of food. In fact, the ratio of the amount of food used to produce meat to the amount of meat produced is 5:1, though the ratio is closer to 1.4:1 if you only include the amount of food fit for human consumption since many animals, particularly pigs, eat waste or food inedible to humans.

Luckily, this catfish is delicious enough to make you forget about meat, at least temporarily. I must admit I really want a cheeseburger right now, but it has been almost a week since I've had any sort of meat, so I'm allowed to crave some. But I just have to survive Tofu Monday (is that a thing?) and I can have whatever I want, though that will certainly include this catfish and all the other dishes I've made this week.

1lb Catfish
1 Egg
1/3 Cup Buttermilk
1/2 tsp Hot Sauce
1/2 Cup Cornmeal
2 T Flour
2 tsp Season Salt
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Paprika

Heat oven to 400F and grease a cookie sheet.

Whisk the season salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika together. Combine the egg, buttermilk, hot sauce, and a third of the spice mixture. Combine the cornmeal, flour, and remaining spice mixture. Dip the catfish in the egg mixture and then the cornmeal mixture, shaking off the excess.

Place the catfish on the prepared tray and bake for 12 minutes or until cooked through.

Serves 4

Vegetarian Challenge - Days 4-5 (Chocolate Coffee Tart)

I finally had time to bake something this weekend. I've been making all these fish recipes and cheesy dishes as well as practically drinking bowls of queso dip at Mexican restaurants, but I finally had a chance to make some dessert. I decided to make a chocolate coffee tart, which was sent off to my dad. Luckily, I had enough pie crust dough and chocolate filling to make a tartlet for myself, which was promptly stolen by my grandpa, who decided it needed some alcohol. That addition is up to you, but the base recipe is included below.

You may be wondering what I've been eating for the past two days besides queso dip. I had some pasta and macaroni and cheese, but I also went out to dinner, where I had a quesadilla one night and a giant stromboli on the other. Strombolis are like calzones; they are full of mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, and whatever else you want to add. I have a picture of mine below. Try not to get too jealous. The garlic rolls were pretty fantastic, too, so I just had to photograph them.

I didn't even miss meat while I was stuffing myself with copious amounts of various cheeses. I certainly didn't miss all the antibiotics found in meat, since 50% of antibiotics produced are used for animals to speed growth and reduce disease. Though the number is a little shocking, the goal is reasonable; however, those antibiotics create antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are more difficult to treat in humans. In addition to antibiotics, humans also consume trace amounts of pesticides, growth hormones, drugs, and other chemicals used in the process of raising and processing meat. Furthermore, charring meat can produce carcinogens.

But back to the tart. I use my basic pie crust recipe and fill it with the same chocolate fudge filling I use in my chocolate truffle tartlets, which is just a combination of milk, cream, chocolate, and egg yolks. It does need to be baked, but just until set. The filling should be fudgy and rich without oozing everywhere. I top it all off with some fresh whipped cream; I add some instant coffee powder, since it is a chocolate coffee tart. As per my grandpa's suggestion, you can always add a splash of Kahlua or other coffee liqueur when the cream is almost stiff. If you aren't a coffee person, you can omit the coffee entirely and replace it with another extract, like vanilla, peppermint, or coconut. Maybe I'll actually get to eat some if I try a new flavor.

1 Recipe Sweet Pie Crust, Baked (See Below)
1 2/3 Cup + 1 T Cream
1/3 Cup Milk
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
2 T Butter
2 Egg Yolks
1 1/3 tsp Instant Coffee
1/3 Cup Powdered Sugar


Preheat oven to 300F.

Combine 1/3 cup cream and the milk in a small saucepan. Heat to a simmer. Place the chocolate and butter in a medium bowl and pour the hot cream over it. Whisk until smooth. Combine the egg yolks and 1T cream, then add to the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared tart shells and bake for 10 minutes for tartlets or 15 minutes for a tart or until bubbly and set.

Meanwhile, whisk the coffee into the cream. Whip until it holds stiff peaks, then beat in the powdered sugar. Spoon onto the cooled tart(s).

Pie Crust:
1 1/4 Cups Flour
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Stick Butter, Chilled
1 Egg Yolk


Pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until small pieces remain. Combine the egg yolk with a tablespoon of cold water and add in. Pulse until it begins to form a ball, adding more water as necessary. Chill.

Preheat oven to 375F. 

Roll the dough out to fit a 9-11" tart pan or 8 4" tartlet pans. Grease a sheet of foil, then press onto the tart pan(s). Fill with pie weights and bake until firm, 10-20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights, then bake until golden, about 5 minutes. Cool.


Makes 1 9-11" Tart or 8 4" Tartlets
Pie Crust Recipe Courtesy Bon Appetit

Vegetarian Challenge - Day 3 (Codcakes)

I've never been happier that candy is vegetarian. Instead of eating bacon or cheeseburgers, I can just fill up on chocolate. I suppose I do have to eat some healthy food, though, so I made codcakes for dinner. They're like crabcakes but made with cod instead, since I'm not a huge fan of shellfish.

I included the recipe below, but first I'd like to talk a bit more about the impact of eating vegetarian. There is a lot of scientific evidence that eating vegetarian is far more healthy than eating meat, even in moderation. Animal products have been linked with heart disease and clogged arteries because many are high-cholesterol and contain large amounts of saturated fats. Some scientists have found that eating low-fat vegan foods can reverse blocked arteries and reduce the risk of heart disease. People who eat vegetarian for over five years are 24% less likely to die of ischemic heart disease or coronary heart disease, and vegetarians are more likely to be at a healthy weight and avoid adult-onset diabetes.

On a night like Halloween when I'm eating way too much sugar and unhealthy foods, it's nice to know that even just reducing the amount of meat I eat can improve my health. I would have to continue eating vegetarian for a while to fully experience all the health benefits (which probably won't happen given how unsustainable my diet would be long-term), but I'm learning to lessen the amount of meat I have in my diet. It's really not that hard with such tasty recipes like this.


18 oz Cod
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
3 1/2 tsp Season Salt
1/2 tsp Salt
2 Cups Panko
2 tsp Onion Powder
2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 Cup Minced Onion
1 tsp Minced Garlic
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Buttermilk


Pour water into a skillet to come 1/2" up the sides. Add the lemon juice, salt, and 2 tsp season salt and bring to a simmer. Add the fish and cover; cook for 8 minutes or until flaky and cooked through.

Pour out the water and wipe the skillet dry. Return to medium heat and add a bit of oil. Add the onions and garlic and cook until translucent and fragrant.

In a large bowl, combine the panko, onion powder, garlic powder, and remaining season salt. Add the eggs and mix until smooth. Add the flaked fish and onion mixture and mix gently to combine. Add enough buttermilk to hold everything together.

Heat some more oil in the skillet. Form the mixture into 6-8 4oz patties. Cook the cakes in the skillet until brown, about 5 minutes per side.


Makes 6-8

Vegetarian Challenge - Day 2

I'm stuffed. I just ate my body weight in lasagna, and it was wonderful. I apologize for the lack of photographic evidence, but the saucy, cheesy mess of deliciousness wasn't exactly attractive. For my second day as a vegetarian, I actually managed to eat vegetarian. I had bread and olive oil for breakfast, a bagel for lunch, and that pile of lasagna for dinner. Of course I would have liked to add some ground beef or sliced meatballs, but I loved every bite anyway. All I had to do was cook some lasagna noodles and layer them with tomato sauce and cheese; you can add vegetables and non-meat protein as well. Just bake for 15 minutes or so at 350F until bubbly and you have some hot, gooey, meat-free lasagna to last you for a few meals. Well, maybe not, if you eat as much as I did.

Another aspect of tonight's dinner that made me even happier was knowing that eating vegetarian, even for only a meal, is a step in the right direction for improving the environment. Today, I'd like to focus on the environmental impact, specifically pollution and climate change, of eating a typical American meat-heavy diet. Methane from cattle, gasses released from manure, fossil fuels used in transportation, refrigeration, and cooking, and all other aspects of the meat industry total to approximately 18% of world emissions, but the number can be anywhere between 5 and 50%. The Vegetarian Society estimates that livestock produce 37% of the methane, 64% of the ammonia, and 65% of the nitrous oxide linked to human activity. The EPA has estimated that industrial animal waste has polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states and contaminated groundwater in 17 states with various bacteria. That bacteria kills fish, harms humans, and causes algal blooms, which consume large amounts of oxygen and make it difficult for organisms to live there.

In summary, the huge numbers of animals needed to satisfy demand wreaks havoc on the environment. The amount of energy required to produce animal protein is far more than the amount of energy to produce alternative proteins. In addition, while some manure is good for crops, the 350 million tons of it produced every year emit greenhouse gasses, spread disease, and contaminate water. I know that I probably won't be able to eat an entirely vegetarian diet, but these statistics certainly make me want to reduce the amount of meat I eat, if nothing else.

Vegetarian Challenge - Day 1 (Honey Ginger Salmon)

I am definitely not a vegetarian. I love burgers and fried chicken and meatballs and all that is good in this world. Nevertheless, I do feel a bit guilty about my dietary habits; I love animals and I recognize the terrible cruelties involved in producing enough for us to eat. So when I was presented with the opportunity to do a huge project of my choosing for my AP Environmental Science class, I decided to explore the impact of a typical meat-heavy diet.

For the next week, I will be a vegetarian. Well, technically a pescatarian, since I'll be living on fish, cheese, and carbs. That doesn't sound too painful, but I'm not a huge fan of alternative proteins: I don't really like peanut butter, especially if it's not in desserts, I'm not a huge fan of quinoa, and I'm a little scared of the jiggly mass that is tofu, though I have decided that I will try some at the end of this whole experiment. I'll post all my recipes here, along with a few of the most interesting tidbits of research I found while working on my actual project; I'll list my sources on the last day. This is for school, after all.

Anyway, it's day one. I've survived a whole day. Fantastic. I had some cereal for breakfast, leftover mozzarella sticks for lunch, and one of my favorite fish recipes, honey ginger salmon, for dinner. It's an extremely easy recipe and takes only an hour to make, which is perfect for school nights like tonight when I have a ton of homework, studying, cooking, and this project to work on. All you have to do is whisk together a marinade, let the salmon sit for half an hour or so, grill it, and drizzle on the glaze. It's a delicious balance of sweet, salty, and savory, and salmon is the best fish for these flavors. I don't miss meat at all! ... yet.

1 lb Salmon
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
2 T + 1 tsp Sesame Oil
2 T Rice Wine Vinegar
2 T Brown Sugar
2 T + 1 tsp Soy Sauce
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 T + 1/2 tsp Grated Ginger
3 T Honey
1 tsp Sesame Seeds

Combine the olive oil, 2 T sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, 2 T soy sauce, garlic, and 1 T ginger. Add the salmon and chill for 30-60 minutes.

Combine the remaining sesame oil, remaining soy sauce, remaining ginger, honey, and sesame seeds.

Grill the salmon until almost cooked through. Drizzle with the glaze and grill until salmon is cooked.


Serves 4
Recipe Adapted from Williams Kitchen

Mummy Cupcakes

Remember how last week I promised you another cupcake recipe? Well, here it is, and it's even more perfect for fall (and specifically Halloween) than the last. Instead of chocolate cupcakes, I'm using gingerbread cupcakes. They're basically spice cupcakes with some molasses and caramely brown sugar; in other words, these cupcakes are gingerbread in cake form. Even though gingerbread is kind of a cake already. Whatever. These cupcakes are perfect.

It's a pretty basic recipe for a pretty delicious cupcake. Just combine your dry ingredients, beat the butter and sugar together, add some eggs and molasses, and alternate the dry ingredients with some buttermilk. I'll admit buttermilk isn't what you would typically associate with gingerbread. It works, though, and it makes the cupcakes much more tender and fluffy. The cupcakes pair perfectly with a maple glaze, but I frosted them like mummies for Halloween. Don't know which way to serve them? Luckily for you, I included both recipes, so you can serve half one way and half the other. Or you can just drink all the glaze and frost the cupcakes like mummies. Nobody will know, so don't feel too guilty.

If you do choose to stick to the Halloween theme (at least for this week; there's plenty of time for maple-y goodness in November... or all year round), the mummies are really easy to make. I chose a basket-weaving tip (my art teacher did commend my apparently wonderful basket-weaving skills in Sculpture back in freshmen year) but used the flat side instead of the ridged side. That's just me, though; you can use a petal tip, a flat tip if you can find one, or the ridged side of the basket-weaving tip if you want stylish mummies. I'm not sure if stylish mummies exist, but they will now. Anyway, once you pick your tip, fill a piping bag or ziploc bag with the buttercream, screw on the tip, and pipe a bunch of strips over the cupcake. Add two mini M&Ms for eyes and you have your mummy. It's that easy.

2 1/2 Cups Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
1 T Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 T Ginger
3/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 T Cinnamon
1 Stick Butter, Softened
1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
2 T Molasses
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Buttermilk

Heat oven to 325F and line a cupcake tin with paper cups.

Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon together. Beat the butter and brown sugar together, then add the molasses and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Gradually add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk in two additions; stir until smooth.

Fill the cupcake tins and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. Cool.

For the maple glaze, sift 1 cup of powdered sugar. Whisk in 1/3 cup maple syrup, adding more powdered sugar or maple syrup as necessary until pourable.

For the buttercream, beat a stick of softened butter in a stand mixer until fluffy. Gradually sift in 1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar, then add a pinch of salt, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1T milk. Add more milk or powdered sugar if necessary.

To frost the mummies, fill a piping bag or ziploc bag with the buttercream. Use the flat side of a basket-weaving tip to pipe strips of icing across the mummies until covered. Add two mini M&Ms as eyes.

Makes 12 Cupcakes
Cupcake Recipe Adapted from Lilach German