Happy (Belated) Holidays and Winter Break

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Emily Wasserman

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Happy (Belated) New Year! I hope you enjoyed a few days off work, time away from school, or found time to relax and unwind.

I’ve had a great winter break, and unfortunately, I’m coming close to the final countdown…only three days left. I’m anxious to start the new academic quarter, and to be honest, I want to forget I’m a student for the next 72 hours.

So I thought I’d reflect a little about my winter break…which inevitably involved massive amounts of eating, sweets, and pastries.

I spent my first week of break in Chicago, and made an “After Finals Freedom List.” It consisted of everything I’ve wanted to do during the regular academic year, but never had time. My first stop was Floriole, my favorite bakery in Chicago and perhaps one of my favorite bakeries ever.

I discovered Floriole from Lottie and Doof food blog. The blog’s author lives in Chicago, and always has good recommendations for restaurants, bakeries and food venues. When I first moved to the city in September, I couldn’t wait to try Floriole. The menu consisted of French pastries, sandwiches, and salads, as well as an extensive list of beverages. If I sound like a sales ad for Floriole, it’s probably because I am…I think everyone should go there, as soon as possible.

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Per the cashier’s recommendation, I ordered a Kouign Aman. No, I can’t really pronounce it. And yes, I might have called it a Kofi Annan (to the puzzlement of my boyfriend). A Kouign Aman is a traditional Breton pastry from the Brittany region of France (northwest, close to the English Channel). It consists of buttery, flaky layers of croissant-like dough, but is even better than a croissant; while the outside is flaky and flecked with sugar, the inside is so buttery and rich, it practically melts in your mouth.

This Kouign Aman came with a dollop of apple butter, but would have been just as delicious without.

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I also ordered an old favorite: a slice of the lemon-lavender pound cake. The cake is buttery and moist, and real sprigs of lavender line the crust. The citrusy lemon taste is perfectly subtle, and pairs well with the flowery, sweeter taste of the lavender.

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In the corner, I spied a petit homage to Julia Child:

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My next stop was the Art Institute of Chicago. I’ve always wanted to spend an afternoon in the museum, but never had the time. After spending a few hours there, I realized that I could have easily spent the whole day looking around, and taking in all the paintings, photographs, and sculptures.

One of my favorite parts of the museum was the wing with all the Impressionist paintings. I love Monet, Gaugin and other French Impressionist painters, and managed to snag a few photos of the paintings (which felt illegal, but I saw other people doing it…?).

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I also loved the stained glass art and light fixtures from the early 1900s.

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But by far my favorite part of the museum was the stained glass painting created by Marc Chagall. I visited the Chagall museum in Nice, France, when I was studying abroad, and immediately fell in love with his work. I love how you can spend minutes staring at one part of the painting, and discover different images and layers depending on where you look.

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I went back to St. Louis before New Year’s, but returned to Chicago on the 29th to celebrate the New Year with my boyfriend. We visited Waffles, a new restaurant chain in Chicago that serves…well, you can figure out the rest.

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I ordered the Liege waffles with bananas, and my boyfriend ordered the “Healthy” Brussels waffles with strawberry yogurt, fruit, and powdered sugar. Both were delicious, but my waffles were more dense and sugary.

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My Liege waffles didn’t exactly compare to the ones I tried in Brussels, and I was disappointed at the lack of pearl sugar on the outside of the waffle. However, my boyfriend’s waffles were light, airy, and delicious, so maybe the Brussels-style waffles are a better choice. And in the end, maybe my expectations were just a tad too high…after all, it’s Chicago, not Belgium.

I’m sad that break is coming to an end, and I’m not looking forward to having less free time on my hands. But I’m glad I had a chance to explore the city during the holidays, and enjoy such much-needed freedom from classes, work, and responsibility.

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Brunch at Birchwood Kitchen in Wicker Park

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

My first quarter of grad school is officially over! It’s crazy to say, and even crazier to think about…I can’t believe how fast it went by, especially towards the end. I thought that the moment I finished my work, turned in my last story and completed my tests, I would feel an overwhelming sense of relief.

But instead, the end of the quarter feels somewhat bittersweet. On one hand, I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished. I know I’ve progressed as a journalist, and I’ve learned more in the last three months than I ever thought was possible. I feel more comfortable navigating around the city of Chicago, and going into neighborhoods I’ve never seen or heard of before.

However, I’m also going to miss having class with the same fifteen people. After winter break, my class is going to be separated into three different reporting groups, and I probably won’t see everyone as often. Throughout all the stress of adapting to new technology, learning journalism law, and (attempting) to learn journalism editing techniques, at least I had a strong support group. Everyone encouraged one another, and oftentimes I felt lucky; I never felt like I was alone.

But I know change can also bring opportunity. I’m looking forward to meeting new people during my classes next quarter, and gaining experience in fields that I haven’t yet explored. It’s weird, because I almost feel as nervous or apprehensive as I did before I started the program…I guess it’s because in both cases, I really don’t have any idea what to expect.

But today, I decided to live in the moment and celebrate my (temporary) freedom from classes, reporting, and work. My friends and I had brunch at Birchwood Kitchen, a small community café in Wicker Park that serves food crafted from local, seasonal ingredients. The kitchen is tiny, and we had to wait awhile for a seat…But the food made it worth it.

My one friend and I couldn’t decide between sweet and savory, so we split the French toast special and the “Croque Vert” sandwich.

French toast is my go-to brunch dish, and usually when I order it in Chicago, the slices of Brioche are enormous, custard-soaked giants filled with cream and berries (and sprinkled with powdered sugar). The plate always looks appealing because, well, it’s French toast.

But the French toast at Birchwood Kitchen was truly a work of art. The slices of bread were cubed, and cooked to bread pudding-like consistency; they were spongy, light and moist, with just the right amount of sugar. They were topped with a honey-sweetened ricotta cream, fresh, juicy pomegranate seeds, and dates. It was almost to pretty to eat, but we had no problem polishing off the whole plate.

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The Croque Vert (a vegetarian take on the French “Croque Madame” grilled ham and cheese sandwich) layered winter squash, Gruyere cheese and Dijon mustard between two pieces of toasted sourdough bread. The sandwich was topped with two sunny-side up eggs, lightly sprinkled with salt and pepper. There was also a side salad that, while fresh and appealing, seemed more like an afterthought.

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We also ate a slice of chocolate chip banana bread as an appetizer, but that didn’t make it to the photo-taking stage. I was worried after I ordered it, because it wasn’t as yellowish-brown as other banana breads I’ve tried…But I was quickly proven wrong. The bread was moist, with the perfect hint of banana and chocolate chips. It semi-satisfied my banana bread craving…I’m sure I’ll be making more soon.

I enjoyed my first official day of break, and I’m excited to bring you more food (or non food-related) updates over the next few weeks.

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French Toast at M. Henry and a Salad Chez Moi

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

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You know when you haven’t seen someone in a while, and all of a sudden you run into them (somewhat awkwardly) in a public place? Maybe you’re excited to see them (or, maybe not…), but ultimately the question that crosses your mind is: Where have they been for the last three months?

Well, I can only speak for myself when I say it has been way too long. Graduate school has kept me busy, and I’m lucky if I get a few moments of peace. I knew that the program would be vigorous, but I didn’t imagine staying up until 3 a.m. editing videos, and then waking up a few hours later to make it to class…Or trying to navigate the streets of Chicago with a rental car, only to realize that I had driven more than a mile in the wrong direction.

Luckily, finals are quickly approaching and things have started to calm down (I say this with my fingers crossed). I had a little time this weekend to do some of the things I love, but haven’t gotten a chance to do in a while.

One of those things is brunch.

Brunch (not breakfast, lunch, or dinner) might be my favorite meal. I think it’s because brunch food leans towards the sweet (rather than savory), and often resembles dessert.

On Saturday I went to M. Henry in Chicago’s Edgewater/Andersonville neighborhood. I read about the restaurant in a food magazine, and was sold when I heard the words “bliss cakes.” As in, two layers of pure, carb bliss: pancakes layered with warm blackberries, vanilla mascarpone cream, and topped with brown sugar.

However, I ultimately ended up ordering a menu special, Brioche French toast with warm peaches, raspberries, vanilla creme, topped with brown sugar and oats…i.e., bliss cakes in French toast form.

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The bread was light and fluffy, with just the right amount of crunch on the outside. The slices of brioche were delicately placed in a pool of vanilla creme, and the sweet, juicy raspberries and peaches were layered between the toast.

I might have exclaimed after the first bite…it’s hard to keep that much deliciousness to yourself.

After satisfying my French toast craving, I decided to take a healthier route. Today for lunch, I made a salad that I’ve been meaning to try for months.  It comes from one of my favorite food blogs, Lottie and Doof, whose author actually lives in Chicago, too.

The salad was originally a Baby Spinach Salad with Dates & Almonds, but I couldn’t bring myself to spend $8 for dates on a student budget. And I didn’t have white wine vinegar in my pantry (another ingredient the recipe called for).

I did have dried apricots, a bottle of (dangerously) old white wine, and a bunch of baby spinach on hand.  So I made a few substitutions, and created a Baby Spinach Salad with Apricots and Almonds.

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The stand-out ingredient in this salad is the pita bread. I have never eaten a salad with pita bread before, but now I’m hooked. I fried one-inch pieces of bread in a skillet with Olive Oil and butter, and then sprinkled some sea salt and crushed red pepper flakes on top.

If you’re not used to spicy food, you might want to take the red pepper flakes down a notch…I felt like my mouth was on fire after the first few bites, but then I adjusted. However, keeping your own tastes in mind, feel free to add just a sprinkling of pepper (or a tablespoon if you so desire).

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The salad was the perfect end to a relaxing weekend.  It balanced the sweet with the savory, and made me feel a little better about indulging in a tower of Brioche French toast on Saturday.

Once finals die down, I’ll be back with more posts…Until then, enjoy this salad (and perhaps a plate of Brioche French toast):

Baby Spinach Salad with Dates & Almonds (adapted from Lottie and Doof) (originally from Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi)

  • 1 tablespoon white wine
  • 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 1/2 oz/100g dried apricots
  • 2 tablespoons/30g unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large pita, roughly torn into 1 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup/75g sliced almonds
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 5 ounces/150g baby spinach leaves
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • salt

Put the white wine, onion, and apricots in a small bowl. Add a pinch of salt and mix well with your hands. Leave to marinate for 20 minutes, then drain away any residual vinegar and discard.

Meanwhile, heat the butter and half of the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the pita and almonds and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring continuously until the pita is crunchy and golden brown. Remove from the heat and mix in the red pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside to cool.

When you are ready to serve, toss the spinach leaves with the pita mix in a large mixing bowl. Add the apricots and red onion, the remaining olive oil, the lemon juice, and another pinch of salt. Taste for seasoning and serve immediately.

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Baha’i Temple, and the Best Challah French Toast…Ever

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

Last week, I visited the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois.

Wilmette is a suburb just to the north of Evanston with gigantic, statuesque houses, beautiful tree-lined streets, and one of the most architecturally stunning buildings I have ever seen.  The Baha’i Temple is located in the middle of a residential neighborhood, and it’s hard to believe that people pass by it while walking their dogs, or see it when they open their curtains every morning.

There aren’t many Baha’i Temples in the world…only seven.  I visited one in Israel when I was on my Birthright Trip, and now there’s one in my proverbial backyard.  When my friend and I were walking around the temple and its gardens, I noticed the same element of peace, symmetry and tranquility that I saw in the temple in Israel.  The exterior had intricate carvings, and the windows looked out into Lake Michigan.

I love the way the blue sky accented the temple’s white exterior.  It reminded me of pictures I’ve seen of Santorini, Greece.  I felt lucky that we got to experience the temple on such a beautiful day…There was hardly a cloud in the sky.

I also loved the bright blue Mosaic tiles in the fountain at the front of the temple.  I have never seen such a vibrant blue; it glittered when the sun reflected off it.

Saturday, I met my cousin for brunch at a restaurant in Chicago called “Yolk.” I first read Yolk on a food blog that I follow, and one look at the menu was enough to inspire an hour-long train ride into the city.  There are specialties like “Caprese Benedict,” with tomatoes, pesto, mozzarella, all piled on a toasted English muffin and topped with a poached egg and homemade hollandaise sauce.  But if you’re feeling in the mood for sweets (which, let’s be honest, I always am), you can order over twenty different variations of waffles, pancakes, french toast, or crepes.

I ordered a menu special, the “Very Berry Challah French Toast.”  Piles of fresh, juicy berries surrounded five slices of sweet, eggy challah bread.  The toast was topped with tangy Greek yogurt, honey, and a slightly sweet granola.  The small maple syrup pitcher on the side was a nice decorative touch, but not altogether necessary…Between the honey, berries, and the cinnamon-sugary bread, I had all the sugar I needed.

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Lincoln Square and Evanston Beaches

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

Over the weekend, I trekked across Chicago to meet my friend Anna for brunch.  She just moved to Lincoln Square, a neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side known for its eclectic shops, delicious restaurants, and lederhosen.

Yes, that’s right, lederhosen…The neighborhood has a strong German heritage, and when I arrived for Sunday brunch, there was a huge sausage and beer festival taking place right next to the subway stop.

Despite the fact that I heard traditional German pub music, and smelled roasted sausage, it wasn’t until after brunch that I saw people in German costumes.  When I paused by a fountain in the middle of Lincoln Square, a couple walked by in full attire…and bore a strange resemblance to Heidi Klum and Seal.  Apparently, they were used to this kind of attention, and didn’t mind my paparazzi-esque behavior.

For brunch, Anna introduced me to Julius Meinl, an Austrian coffee shop and café that offers high-quality coffee, tea, pastries, and a full breakfast/brunch menu.  We both ordered the coffee of the day, which came (in true European style) with a small glass of water, a tiny pitcher of cream, a packet of sugar, and a caramel-flavored coffee biscuit.  Everything was so elegantly presented, and as I dunked my cookie into the hot coffee, I felt a little like I was sitting in a café in Orléans.

I was tempted to order the Baked Banana French Toast, but I ended up ordering the “Kaiserschmarren,” or Austrian-style pancakes.  I had never tried Austrian pancakes, and was expecting something akin to a crepe or Swedish pancake. Instead, the pancakes arrived at the table in pieces…which seemed strange, but ended up being delicious.  The pancakes were served with a side of house-made jam and whipped cream, and lightly dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon.  There were also a sprinkling of plump golden raisins throughout the dish.  They reminded me a little of funnel-cake, just not so deeply fried.  They were crispy on the outside, and light and fluffy in the inside…and it was fun to eat them one piece at a time, dipped in whipped cream or jam.

Today, I did some more exploring in Evanston, and found one of the best views of the Chicago skyline so far.  On the far edge of Northwestern’s campus, there’s a beach where you can rent sailboats and kayaks.  If you stand on the far side of the beach looking south, you can see the city.

Later this afternoon, I went to one of my favorite beaches, about two miles away from Northwestern’s campus.  I like this beach because it’s usually secluded, but today there were lots of young families…and seagulls.  I tried to get some good photos of the seagulls standing on the beach.  They were very polite, and didn’t even stand on my beach towel when I went to walk in the water.

As I lay on my towel and looked up at the sky, I felt a sense of contentment that I haven’t felt in awhile.  As corny as it sounds, I’m starting to fall in love with Evanston and Chicago, and I feel so grateful for this new chapter in my life.  I started reading a new book today on the beach, and found this quote from an e.e. cummings poem:

“i thank you God for most this amazing

day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes”

…I couldn’t have said it better myself.

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Exploring Evanston and Chicago, Illinois

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

I’m here! After weeks of packing, preparing, and trying not to lose my mind (much less my belongings), I finally made the move to Evanston, Illinois.

For those of you who don’t know, Evanston is a suburb located directly to the north of Chicago.  Yesterday, I went on a long bike ride down one of their lakefront trails (Evanston is located right next to Lake Michigan), and when I stopped to rest on the beach, I could see part of the Chicago skyline and the Sears Tower.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera at the time…but I’m sure I’ll be posting more pictures in the upcoming weeks.

I didn’t have to move into my apartment until this past Thursday, so Wednesday my Mom and I drove up early, and explored some of the city.  We left St. Louis at around 6 A.M., and managed to get to Evanston by around 11:30…It was a faster drive than I remembered.

By the time we arrived, though, we were both hungry, and I suggested eating at a vegetarian restaurant I had heard of, the Blind Faith Café.

I was expecting an “order at the counter” type of establishment…The only vegan/vegetarian restaurants I’ve been to in St. Louis are very informal, and even offer to-go orders.

So I was surprised when I saw tables, booths, and a hostess table at the front of the restaurant, and even more impressed when I saw the menu.  The options were endless, and as usual it was hard for me to decide on an entrée.

In the end, I ordered the Soft Shell Tacos, which was comprised of spicy gardein, lettuce, fresh cilanto, and cheese, and came with a side of black bean corn-salad and salsa verde.  All the ingredients were fresh and delicious, but perhaps the most surprising part of the tacos were the gardein.  I had never tried gardein before, and when I saw it on the menu, I assumed it was some type of tofu.

Soft Shell Tacos from Blind Faith Café

I did a little research, and discovered that gardein is a meat substitute created by a French chef and made completely from vegetables.  I kept exclaiming that the gardein tasted like chicken, although my Mom (a meat-eater) thought it had more of an eggplant texture.  In any case, it was delicious, and I’m excited to incorporate gardein into my own cooking.

Soft Shell Tacos from Blind Faith Café

Soft Shell Tacos from Blind Faith Café

After lunch, my Mom and I decided to go walk by the lake.  There were beautiful parks and bike paths close to the lake, and we enjoyed walking out onto the pier and looking at the boats.  You could also see part of Northwestern’s campus from where we were standing.

Park by Northwestern University

View of Northwestern University’s Campus

Lake Michigan by Northwestern University

When I was in undergrad at WashU, squirrels were everywhere on campus, and they weren’t scared of you…at Northwestern, the same holds true for ducks.  One duck almost walked across my feet, and came so close that I had to snap a picture.

Today, I went on a ten mile bike ride to the Chicago Botanic Garden…one way.  I went with a group of people from my new apartment building, and I loved exploring the gardens…It was the perfect day for bike-riding, so even though I started getting tired around mile nine, and lost all feeling in my behind by mile eighteen, it was well worth the trip.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Plus, after I rolled back into Evanston (the gardens are located in a more northern suburb of Chicago), I felt like I had truly accomplished something.  In the course of five hours, I met new people, rode my bike through towns I was completely unfamiliar with, and enjoyed a beautiful day in the city I now call home.  I’m excited to explore more of Evanston and Chicago, and look forward to sharing more pictures with you soon…

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A Sandwich to Beat the Lunchtime Blues

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

Lunch has never been my favorite meal.  Don’t get me wrong: I love sandwiches and salads as much as the next person, and when I was still working I counted down the minutes until my 12 o’clock lunch break.  But I think that it’s easy to fall into a monotonous lunch routine, eating the same types of food over and over again for weeks on end.

In my case, it was a sandwich on whole wheat bread with hummus, tomato, spinach, cucumber, and cheese. I quickly became known as the “brown bag girl” at work, because everyone would watch me retrieve my lunch at noon and carry it back to my desk.

Needless to say, I’ve been taking a much-needed hiatus from hummus.

Now that I have the time and freedom to create whatever I want for lunch, I’ve turned to recipes I’ve been eyeing on different food blogs. It turns out that many people have the same dilemma as me, and one of my favorite blogs, Honest Fare, featured an interesting sandwich I had never heard of before.  It combined thinly sliced cucumbers, golden delicious apples, avocado, goat cheese, and radishes…All things I love individually, but have never seen piled on top of one another on a sandwich.  The picture looked good enough to eat, though, so I took a chance on the recipe.

I was not disappointed.  The slight sweetness of the apple perfectly balanced the tangy-ness of the goat cheese, and the cucumbers and radish gave the sandwich the right amount of crunch.  I sprinkled sea salt and freshly ground on top of the sandwich, which brought out the flavor of the avocado and tied all the individual elements together.

I savored every bite of this sandwich, and was almost sad to see it disappear.  I’m glad I found a new, healthy alternative to my traditional lunchtime fare.

My New Favorite Lunchtime Sandwich (from Honest Fare)

Ingredients

2 slices toasted bread (I used whole wheat)

1 avocado, sliced into cubes

1 tsp lemon juice

goat cheese crumbles

1-2 radishes, thinly sliced

1/3 cucumber, thinly sliced

1 golden delicious apple, thinly sliced

freshly ground pepper and sea salt to taste

Directions

Add cubed avocado and lemon juice to bowl, and lightly mix/mash with a fork.  Toast bread.  Add avocado to top of toasted bread, and then layer cucumber and golden apple slices on top.  Finish by layering with slices of radish.  Sprinkle with goat cheese, and add sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

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Chocolate Rugelach from Marzipan Bakery

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

I finally managed to track down a picture of the infamous, life-changing chocolate rugelach from Marzipan Bakery in Jerusalem.  Many thanks to Alex, my friend from Israel Outdoors who promised to get some good photographs of our rugelach feast.  I’m in the bottom left of this picture…my face is obscured, otherwise you’d be able to see the gluttonous gleam in my eye.

And just in case you happen to find yourself in Jerusalem, click here for Marzipan’s contact information.

Posted in Chocolate, Restaurant Reviews, Traveling, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

“Dangerous” Challah (Egg Bread)

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

Growing up, my siblings and I couldn’t get enough of Challah.  For those of you who don’t know, Challah is a slightly sweet, eggy, and delightfully sinful bread.  Traditionally, Challah is served on Shabbat (the Jewish sabbath) and on many Jewish holidays and special occasions (except, of course, Passover).  You might have even seen Challah on breakfast menus or in French toast recipes- it’s a great substitute for more traditional Brioche bread.

When we were little, my sisters and I would commit the ultimate Challah crime: we would dip pieces of Challah in our Manischewitz grape juice (served at most Jewish gatherings), and then eat the soggy, purple-colored bread.

I’m glad times have changed.

More recently, my next-door neighbor hand-delivered a Challah to our back door.  She had baked an extra loaf, and was kind enough to share it with us.  I remember unfolding the napkin around the warm loaf of bread, and tearing a piece off…who needs a knife?! It was everything good Challah should be, and more…warm, doughy and rich with a slightly flaky outer shell.  I had never tasted better bread in my life, and considering my long history with Challah, this was the ultimate compliment.

Now, a mere week away from moving, I knew I couldn’t leave St. Louis without my neighbor’s recipe.  I couldn’t bear the thought of living the rest of my adult life without the deliciousness of this Challah.  So a few days ago I asked her for the recipe, which is fittingly named “Dangerous Challah.” Dangerous as in, eating one piece is impossible, and eating the whole loaf in one sitting is highly probable.

However, the recipe called for a bread maker, and I only have a stand-mixer.  So I decided to follow Smitten Kitchen’s recipe for Challah, while still using the “Dangerous Challah” recipe’s measurements. I also used another blogger’s website to get step-by-step instructions on how to braid the bread.

Yeast Before Adding Sugar

I loved watching the yeast dissolve in the water and interact with the sugar…I tried to get a good picture of what was happening in the bowl, but it was difficult (things were dissolving, after all…) One website I read about proofing yeast described the whole process as the yeast “gobbling up” the sugar, and then the water becoming frothy and bubbly.  Once I added the sugar, I actually saw little tornadoes form…it looked like the yeast was chasing the sugar.

Proofing the Yeast

The best part about making Challah (besides devouring it afterward) is smelling it while it’s baking.  My whole house was full of the smell of freshly baked bread, and it reminded me of happy times spent celebrating the Jewish holidays or Shabbat.

Challah Pre-Egg Wash

Challah Before Baking

So, I’m somewhat ashamed to admit that the recipe has disappeared.  I left it on the counter while I was baking, and I haven’t managed to find it anywhere since…I’m guessing that it was accidentally thrown out.

In the meantime, a good guide to Challah making can be found here and here, and a guide for proofing yeast for bread-making can be found here.  I wish I could share the secret behind the “Dangerous” Challah with you…so if I manage to track down my neighbor again this week, I’ll definitely post the recipe.

* Update: I found the recipe! The following is an adaptation of the “Dangerous Challah” recipe for people without bread makers (like me).  I will also include the original version (for bread makers) at the end of the post.

“Dangerous Challah” (adapted from original recipe, Smitten Kitchen, and The Shiksa blog)

Ingredients

1 1/8 cups warm water

1 tsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

2 eggs (one from brushing on the challah before baking)

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups flour

2 tsp bread flour (or gluten flour)

3 tsp yeast

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tsp sugar in 1 1/8 cups lukewarm water.  Wait until mixture is slightly frothy and bubbling to add additional ingredients.

2. Whisk oil into yeast, then beat in egg, and 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp salt. Gradually add flour. When dough holds together, it is ready for kneading.

3. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth (I found that it took about 15 minutes of hand-kneading). Clean out bowl and grease it with oil, then return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until almost doubled in size. Punch down dough, cover and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour.

4. Once dough has risen for the second time, you can shape it into your desired braid.  I did a four-strand braid.  To make the braid, divide the dough into four equal parts.  Knead each part into a smooth ball and then roll each ball about 1/4 inch thick with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface.  The dough should be longer than it is wide.  Then, roll each piece of dough into rope-like strands, tapering the ends (so the ends are thinner than the middle of the rope).  Each rope should be about 12″ long.  Lay the strands side by side and pinch together firmly at the top.  Then, use the “over-under-over” method to braid, starting with the strand the farthest to the right.  Take the right strand, put it over the strand directly to the left, under the next strand, and then over the last strand.  Repeat this process, always starting with the strand that is farthest to the right. Once completely braided, pinch the ends of the strands together firmly.

5. Place braided loaf on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Beat remaining egg and brush half of it on the loaf.  Cover with warm, damp cloth (do not use paper towels, as they will stick to the loaf).  Let rise for another 45 minutes.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

6. Just before baking, brush loaf with remaining egg. Bake in middle of oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

7. Cool loaf on a rack.  Enjoy!

“Dangerous Challah” Recipe (for people using bread makers)

Ingredients

1 1/8 cups warm water

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

2 eggs (one from brushing on the challah before baking)

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups flour

2 tsp bread flour (or gluten flour)

3 tsp yeast

Directions

Put ingredients in bread maker from wet to dry.  Use dough setting.  Let the dough sit in the bread maker for about 15 minutes after the cycle is over, then pull out to shape on lightly floured surface (see above recipe for shaping technique).  After shaping, place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper, brush with half of the beaten egg and cover with warm, damp cloth.  Let rise for about 30 minutes.  Brush again with the rest of the beaten egg.  Bake at 325 degrees for about 25-30 minutes until golden brown.  This recipe makes one large or two medium-sized challot.

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Brown Sugar-Peach Ice Cream

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Emily Wasserman

I’ve been craving peaches lately, and especially peach-related desserts.  At work a few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a co-worker about peaches and brown sugar.  My co-worker said her father’s favorite dessert growing up was warm, oven-roasted peaches, tossed in butter and brown sugar and then topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

So when I found a recipe for Brown Sugar-Peach Ice Cream, I knew I had to try it.  It would combine all the ingredients I had been craving, plus it would give me an excuse to use my new ice cream maker.

Admittedly, I was a little nervous about the recipe (which I found in one of my Mom’s old Family Circle magazines).  Unlike the recipes in my Jeni’s Ice Cream cookbook, this recipe didn’t come with step by step instructions and pictures. It also called for eggs, which can definitely complicate the cooking process.

Picture warm, practically boiling milk, and then picture this mixture being poured into a big pool of eggs.  If you pictured scrambled eggs as the end result, you wouldn’t be so far off.  If the warm milk isn’t exactly the right temperature, the eggs start to cook, you’re left picking bits of egg-white out of what’s supposed to be your ice cream base.

The good news is, I didn’t use a thermometer, and still managed to avoid this crisis.  The key is gradually (i.e., very slowly) adding in the milk to the egg mixture, and then not cooking the new mixture over a hot stove.  Medium-heat is fine, and you can test the mixture to make sure it’s hot enough throughout the re-heating process.

The only other caveat I have for this recipe is the amount it yields; I have a 1 1/2 quart ice cream maker, and this recipe makes enough for almost 5 quarts.  You can cut the recipe to fit your ice-cream maker’s specifications, or, you can always save some of the chilled mixture to make multiple batches.

No matter what you do, though, you’ll most likely end up with a delicious finished product.

Brown Sugar-Peach Ice Cream (slightly adapted from Family Circle: Hometown Favorites Cookbook Vol. 5)

Makes: 16 servings

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 1/2 cups whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 cups peeled and finely chopped peaches (4 medium or 6 small)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

1.) In a large heavy saucepan heat milk over medium heat just until it starts to bubble around the edges.  Gradually stir milk into beaten eggs.  Return to saucepan.  Cook and stir over medium heat about 2 minutes or until heated through.  Remove from heat; cool slightly.  Stir in cream and vanilla.  Add the 3/4 cup brown sugar and cinnamon, stirring until dissolved.  Cover and chill (about an hour).

2.) In a medium bowl, combine peaches, the 1/2 cup brown sugar, and lemon juice.  Let sit for about 20 minutes.

3.) Stir peach mixture into chilled cream mixture, and then freeze the ice cream base in a 4-5 quart ice cream freezer according to the manufacturer’s directions.  If desired, you can let the peach-cream mixture sit for a few hours before freezing.

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