let us go then

Gnocchi

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:46:00 -0700

So fresh gnocchi in a restaurant just beats the hell out of any kind of store-bought gnocchi. Hands down. But like many of us, I can’t afford to go out to a nice restaurant and order gnocchi every time I get the craving. Believe me, it’s often [potatoes are one of my favorite substances, and pasta is right up there too. Obviously pasta made out of potato is even better].

So thus the making of the gnocchi began.

We started by baking a potato. Which of course is way easier and quicker in the microwave than in the oven (sorry, purists, I’m impatient). It should be good and cooked, so that it’s super easy to mash/crumble up [see above]. Added flour, eggs, and then… rolled into long ropes.

And then cut into pieces! It ended up being super simple, and having a very capable friend around to help with the rolling was nice. Oh and also because there are about a million pieces that it would have taken forever to cut into individual gnocc’s. Is that the correct word? I think it might actually be gnocco. But gnocc’s sounds fun too.

When you’ve got yourself some individual gnocc’s, you can do the fancy thing and roll them along the tines of a fork to make them textured. But we were (1) lazy and (2) starving, so that didn’t happen. Plus, they look like miniature pillows, so we thought that looked acceptable too. Try it out, maybe do half textured/half not? See if there’s a taste difference? I sense a randomized experiment is needed.

To cook the gnocchi, boil a big pot of water (you don’t want the gnocchi to get stuck to one another, so make sure it’s got plenty of space). When boiling, individually plop the gnocchi into the water (watch out for splashing!) and wait until all the gnocchi float to the surface. They’re done when they float.

As a bonus: we threw some fresh broccoli pureed with some pecorino on top (see Hiding Vegetable in Pasta, pt. 2)– definitely tasty, though it might not have been the prettiest thing in the world. But who doesn’t need extra fiber, Vitamin C, and phyto-nutrients, am I right?

Basic Gnocchi

2 large potatoes (Russet? anything starchy really works)

1-2 cups flour

1 egg

Bake the potatoes, either the oven or the microwave, until they’re definitely soft and mashable. Peel them, being cautious of the hot temperature (try holding with a kitchen towel).

Put the potatoes into a large bowl, and either using a potato ricer or a masher, mash them until they’re the consistency of little peas. A fork works too, for the less-equipped cooks out there. Sprinkle some salt on top, then add about a cup of flour. Mix with your hands until combined. Working swiftly, add in the egg and stir to combine.

Adding the flour by small amounts (~1/4 cup at a time), work the mixture into a dough by hand until it forms a ball. Be careful not to add too much flour – you don’t want the dough to crumble.

Tearing small pieces of dough off, roll with your hands into rope-like pieces that are about a half-inch in diameter. Using the back of a knife, cut into individual pillow-like pieces. Optional texturizing step here: roll each gnocco against the tines of a fork to leave the characteristic ridges. Place (don’t drop!) individual gnocchi into boiling water, making sure to keep them separate. It might help to pour a little olive oil into the pot to prevent sticking here, too. Work in batches so that there’s plenty of room in the pot.

When all the gnocchi rise to the surface, remove them with a slotted spoon and serve with sauce of choice. Or try with some salt, pepper, and olive oil for a super simple meal!

Monster Cookies

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:46:00 -0700

There are some occasions that just call for cookies. And sometimes, when you have roommates with stomachs that can’t handle gluten, you get sad because you realize that almost all tastiness comes from gluten. Damn.

But then sometimes you get a surprise, and figure out that actually, there are cookies that work without flour! Like these ones.

Because I was in the mood, I decided to break out the KitchenAid mixer (thanks, friendly neighbor. I swear I’ll buy my own one of these days…) to make my life even easier. And then, while holding a baby, I was able to make these cookies. Yes, it’s so simple that it can be done one-handed. But keep a firm grip on your infant.

Mix all this stuff together, stick it in the oven, and you’ve got yourself some gluten-free and plausibly healthy cookies (thanks, peanut butter and oatmeal!)

Monster Cookies:

1/2 cup butter (softened  but not melted)
1 cup white sugar 
1 cup + 2 T firmly packed brown sugar
 3 eggs
 2 cups peanut butter
 3/4 teaspoon light corn syrup 
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 
4.5 cups rolled oats, uncooked 
2 teaspoons baking soda
 1/4 teaspoon salt 
1 cup M&Ms
6 oz. (3/4 cup or so) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter in a large bowl or electric mixer; gradually add both sugars . Beat well at medium speed. Add the eggs, peanut butter, corn syrup, and vanilla; beat well .

Add the oats, baking soda, and salt; stir well . Stir in the remaining ingredients (candy & chips) until incorporated. The dough will be pretty

Drop onto lightly greased cookie sheets and bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes.

[Much credit goes to a certain baking expert from my college rowing team for these. Nothing supports starving rowers like protein-full cookies]

free-form apple galette.

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:09:49 -0800

free-form apple galette.

weeknight quiche

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 12:30:18 -0800

weeknight quiche

heart-shaped chocolate shortbread.

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 14:48:24 -0800

heart-shaped chocolate shortbread.

[cranberry salsa]

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 05:46:40 -0800

[cranberry salsa]

fresh beets.

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:34:18 -0800

fresh beets.

[beet greens, onions, and feta with quinoa]

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:30:07 -0800

[beet greens, onions, and feta with quinoa]

phase change. [spicy butternut squash soup]

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:29:24 -0800

phase change.

[spicy butternut squash soup]

[lemon poppy-seed muffins]

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:30:04 -0800

[lemon poppy-seed muffins]

gourmet meals? why not.

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:15:38 -0800

gourmet meals? why not.

[office neighbor’s garden eggplants]

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:00:24 -0700

[office neighbor’s garden eggplants]

collaborative friendship ice cream-making. [Grandma...

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:59:39 -0700

collaborative friendship ice cream-making.

[Grandma Butterly’s Caramel Ice Cream]

weekday baking

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:48:40 -0700

weekday baking

[garnish]

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:58:14 -0700

[garnish]

post-Reach-The-Beach-exhaustion-fueled apple pie

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:58:35 -0700

post-Reach-The-Beach-exhaustion-fueled apple pie

elaborate cakes? all in a day’s work. [hummingbird cake]

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:24:00 -0700

elaborate cakes? all in a day’s work.

[hummingbird cake]

potatoes, carrots, and squash!

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:40:00 -0700

potatoes, carrots, and squash!

orzo salad with peppers, green onions, kalamata olives, and...

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 08:53:51 -0700

orzo salad with peppers, green onions, kalamata olives, and feta.

[Long Point Lighthouse, Provincetown, MA]

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:39:00 -0700

[Long Point Lighthouse, Provincetown, MA]