Quotidian – Page 2 – Blackbird and Company

Posted on September 1, 2011 by BBCo — 1 Comment

Home Ec: Tools & Measuring (with CUPCAKES!)

Whenever I make a recipe like lemon curd or custard I freeze the left over egg whites in a freezer bag and label it with how many whites are in there. When you get five stored up, that’s a great time to make white cupcakes. Just thaw the whites in a bowl of warm water on the counter before proceeding. Or, conversely, when you make lemon curd, make white cupcakes! They are wonderful together!

Before begining, here are the basics of measuring for baking. Start teaching these simple methods to your kids to build their confidence in the kitchen.

Type of ingredient: How to measure:

Cake Flour Sift flour, spoon into dry measuring cup
and level with straight edge

All Purpose Flour Use dry measuring cup, spoon in
and level with straight edge

Granulated Sugar Use dry measuring cup, spoon in or scoop
and level off with straight edge

Brown sugar Use dry measuring cup, pack it down,
it will come out in a mold

Confectioners Sugar Use dry measuring cup, sift sugar,
level with straight edge

Baking Powder, Cocoa Use measuring spoons, dip in and level off

Liquids Use liquid measuring cups at eye level

Shortening Pack into dry cup and level off

If you will follow these guidelines, it will make your recipes come out better because you won’t be using too much or too little of the ingredient. For instance, if you scoop flour with the cup you will use too much because scooping packs the flour down. For tastier treats, carefully measure!

Now let’s talk tools:

I have quite a selection of measuring implements. I like to collect them! I bake a ton and like to have several sets on hand so I don’t have to stop and wash them. I keep all the measuring spoons in a little crock so they are handy.

Some sets of dry cups have more than just 1, 3/4, 1/2, and ¼ cups. It’s nice to have 1/3and 2/3 cups as well.

It’s the same with measuring spoons. I love having 1/8teaspoon, 1 ½ teaspoon, 1 ½ tablespoon etc.

A variety of liquid measuring cups is important also. One cup, two cup, four cup and eight cup are all helpful.

Okay, now here’s the cupcake recipe:

White Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream
This recipe comes from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes. It is a wonderful basic white cake recipe. It is perfect for teaching the basics of cake making and how to properly measure ingredients.

• 3¼ cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising)
• 1½ tablespoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk, room temperature
• ½ cup plus 6 tablespoons (1 ¾ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1¾ cups sugar
• 5 large egg whites, room temperature

For the Frosting:
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons lightly packed finely grated lemon zest
• 3½ cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Making the cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir vanilla into milk.

2. With an electric mixer on medium-high, cream butter until smooth. Gradually add sugar, beating until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until just combined after each.

3. In another bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat). Fold one third of the whites into the batter to lighten. Gently fold in remaining whites in two batches.

4. Divide batter evenly among cups, filling each, three-quarters full. Bake until a tester inserted comes out clean 18 to 20 minutes.

Note: I never trust any time given in recipes for cooking. I always start checking at least 5 minutes before the minimum time they give because ovens often run hot. Over baking cakes makes them dry and tough so always start checking early!

Transfer tins to wire racks to cool 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from tins to cool completely before frosting.

Making the frosting:

1. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and lemon zest with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners’ sugar in batches and beat until light and fluffy. Add the lemon juice and beat 1 minute. Spread or pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

Note: I piped lemon curd into the center of my cupcakes (about 1 teaspoon or so). I then piped the frosting over the cupcakes and sprinkled them with yellow candies.

Posted on August 29, 2011 by BBCo

Home Ec: Lemon Curd

Whipping up all those tasty meringues got me going on an egg theme! You know that the meringue recipe left me with left over egg yolks so, what to do? Of course, lemon curd! It’s one of the yummiest things in the world! And it’s a gorgeous color of yellow!

Lemon Curd Recipe
– 4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
– ¾ cup granulated sugar
– ½ cup fresh lemon juice
– 3 tablespoons lightly packed finely grated lemon zest
– Pinch salt
– 6 large egg yolks

Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the sugar, lemon juice, zest, and salt. Whisk in the yolks until smooth.

Return the pan to medium-low heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 6 minutes. To check if the curd is thick enough, dip a wooden spoon into it and draw your finger across the back of the spoon; your finger should leave a path. Don’t let the mixture boil.

Immediately force the curd through a fine sieve into a bowl, using a rubber spatula. Let cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally, or place plastic wrap directly on the surface to keep a skin from forming. Refrigerate, covered until ready to use. That is, if you don’t eat it all standing right there at the counter!

Tip: The secret to success with this recipe is to use med-low heat. You are making a custard of sorts. Heat causes the yolks to thicken beautifully but if you get impatient the eggs with curdle and scorch. The hardest part of this recipe is grating all the lemon zest. You need a microplane grater! Use a light touch and only remove the top layer of peel. Directly under the yellow is white pith. It is bitter! I once made a beautiful looking lemon tart that tasted terrible because I didn’t know about the pith thing yet. Very sad experience, but I never did that again!

So make your lemon curd and get ready for some yum!

Stay tuned later this week for a sweet back-to-school recipe…lemon curd-filled white cupcakes frosted with delectable lemon butter cream.

– Sara

Posted on August 16, 2011 by BBCo

Home Ec: The Spontaneity of a Garden

Saturdays are when I like to make my family something that may take a little more time to cook. It is summer so the garden is in full swing and you never know exactly what you will find when you look. I harvested a few things…onions, summer squash, zucchini and some small tomatoes…then whipped up a delicious stir fry for breakfast.

Summer Saturday Scramble
• In a bowl beat up 5 or 6 eggs with a fork
• In a skillet heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat
• Add chopped onions and sauté for a few minutes
• Add chopped up squash
• Season to taste with garlic powder, cumin, ancho chili powder & salt
• Sauté for two minutes and pour in the eggs, stir until eggs are cooked
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream, good salsa, and chopped fresh tomatoes

Divine!

Happy husband, healthy children… an exceptional harvest!

– Sara

Posted on July 19, 2011 by BBCo

Home Ec: Lemonade Stand

After making several recipes with grated lemon rind I was left with a pile of lemons I needed to juice so they wouldn’t spoil. So that led me to a summertime favorite, lemonade!

My children used to make this by the gallon and sell it on our street with homemade brownies.

One year they donated all the proceeds to Samaritan's Purse, getting all the neighborhood kids involved. There were kids running all over the place on bikes taking orders while I banged out batches of brownies to keep up. As soon as our neighbors found out the kids were donating the money, the orders really shot up. What a great opportunity to connect with the community!

The kids brought in almost $150.00! The cutest thing was, the kids all sat in a circle and decided among themselves what to purchase from the catalog, "Should we get goats or soccer balls? Chicks or water treatment?"

It was a soul satisfying experience for them AND no squabbles about how to divide up the proceeds! Yes!

Fresh Lemonade
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup water
1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice
5 cups cold water

Combine the half cup water and sugar in a sauce pan and heat until the sugar just dissolves. Remove from heat and pour in the cold water. Stir in the lemon juice and pour over ice in tall glasses. Add some fresh mint or slices strawberries for color. Enjoy.

Note: This freezes well… yummy popsicles!

– Sara

Posted on June 16, 2011 by BBCo

Home Ec: Eggs

Summer is a great time to acquire some habits that have been deemed extracurricular, habits that I believe are not supplementary at all, but a vital part of learning.

Making recipes with your children provides them the opportunity to learn basic cooking skills that will serve them the rest of their life and is a perfect time to show them some science.

Home Economics is my passion, so here goes…

To begin, choose a recipe that is simple and delicious. Next, decide what specific science topic the recipe will allow you will explore.

Soooo, let’s make some Sparkling Sugar Kisses! These yummy meringue cookies are easy and fat free. This recipe below is from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion.

Making meringues is the perfect gateway for a little lesson about eggs.

Eggs are composed of the shell, which holds the egg inside. Shells are produced in a range of amazing colors because they come from different breeds. While it is terrific fun to explore shell color, any color will do when it comes to making meringue.

Just inside the shell is the membrane.

When you crack open the egg you will see the yellow yolk sitting inside the albumen.

Out of the shell, fresh eggs stand up taller and firmer on the plate. The white should be thick and stand up around the yolk. The yolk should be firm and high. A less fresh egg will be runny and flat.

The chalaza, it’s the white cord that holds the egg in place inside the shell. There is an air cell between the shell and the membrane that grows larger with age.

Eggs are evaluated by passing them over bright lights where the interior quality can be seen. Grade AA eggs have a firm white and a thick round yolk and perfect shells. Grade A has “reasonably” firm whites and perfect shells. Grade B has thinner whites and some stains on the shells.

Now to the subject of sizing eggs. The size does not refer to the dimensions of an egg or how big it looks. Size tells you the minimum required net weight per dozen eggs. So Jumbo eggs have 30 oz. per dozen, ranging all the way down to Peewee eggs which have 15 oz. per dozen. Most standard recipes call for AA large.

The best thing about eggs is that they are high in protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Now on to the making….

To make a proper meringue you have to do a few things to ensure success.

Always begin with room temperature eggs because when you whip them more air can be incorporated so the volume will be bigger. To warm them fast just place the eggs in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.

Make sure the mixing bowl and whisk you will use to whip the whites are clean. Wash them in warm soapy water to degrease. Fat will coat the ends of the egg white’s protein, which greatly diminishes the whites ability to hold air.

Now you are ready to separate the whites from the yolks. Strain them through clean fingers! Most recipes for meringue call for a little salt and cream of tarter to help the molecules of whites hold onto water and air molecules—chemistry in action!

To beat the whites, use an electric mixer or whisk them by hand. Either way the whites go through several stages.

The first stage is a puddle of clear liquid. As you begin to beat, a puddle with foamy air bubbles will emerge. Eventually the whisk begins to leave tracks in the bowl. To test which stage your whites are in simply lift up the beater out of the foam. If a point forms and falls over immediately, you’re looking at soft peak. From here 15 to 20 more strokes will bring you to medium peak, and another 15 to 20 strokes to stiff peaks. Be careful, don’t over beat the meringue because liquid will begin to separate out from the foam and you’ll end up with grainy, lumpy looking whites.

Meringue calls for super fine sugar because it makes a less grainy meringue. To make your own super fine sugar simply give it a good spin in the food processor and the crystals will get super finer!

Make sure not to add the sugar too soon in the beating process. Start adding gradually somewhere between soft and medium peaks.

By the way, this recipe calls for vanilla, but I flavored mine with peppermint extract. You can even crush peppermints to add to the batter. Be creative!

– Sara

Sparkling Sugar Kisses

Yield 2 dozen // Baking temp 250F

• 2 large egg whites

• 1/8 teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon cream of tarter

• ½ cup (31/2oz) sugar, superfine preferred

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or the extract of your choice

• Coarse sugar

Preheat the oven to 250F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.

In a large, very clean, nonplastic bowl. Beat the egg whites until they’re foamy, then add the salt and cream of tarter. Add the sugar gradually, continuing to beat until the meringue is thick and glossy, and forms stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla at the end.

Drop meringue by the tablespoon onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle each with coarse (or colored) sugar. Bake for 1 hour, then turn off the oven and let the kisses cool in the unopened oven (don’t peek!) for 11/2 to 2 hours, or until they’re dry and crisp all the way through. Remove them from the oven and store in an airtight container.

It you use a tablespoon cookie scoop, don’t heap it; level it off; to obtain the correct size and number of cookies. For fancy meringues, pipe them onto a sheet using a pastry bag and the tip of your choice.

Variations: Stir in ½ to ¾ cup mini-morsel chocolate chips after the vanilla.