mushroom stroganoff

Mushroom Stroganoff

our current living arrangement
feeds one more mouth
no, we did not have a baby or adopt.
well.
i mean.
my dear friend nuria is crashing with us
while she finishes a contract at the local university
so it’s kinda like adopting a child
but fully fleshed out
with personality and potty trained.
she and i lived together before,
it wasn’t a hard transition for me.
i can’t speak for dw,
but i can only imagine how he feels
when she & i are:
giggling
bickering
pseudo meal planning
hogging the couch.
for the most part,
we eat dinner together,
the 3 of us.
i cooked for nuria when it was just us
i cooked for dw when it was just us
now i cook for all of us.
this was such a meal
that received rave reviews.

Mushroom Stroganoff

mushroom stroganoff
serves 4-6

*note: this was made vegan, but can easily be made with meat products: stock, actual cream and butter and yogurt, it’s entirely up to you.
**note: i didn’t use the mushroom stems, i save those in a gallon bag and freeze to make stock with scraps of random vegs.

1 lb white button mushrooms, stems removed and sliced
1/2 large onion, diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
up to 1 cup of water or veg stock
1/2 cup white wine
healthy splash of vegan Worcestershire sauce, i use wizard‘s
1 heaping TBL dijon mustard
1/4 cup vegan yogurt, i use So Delicious
olive oil
1-2 TBL AP flour
smoked paprika, sprinkled liberally, about 2 tsp.
rough chopped flat leaf parsley, to garnish
1 package noodles, cooked according to package instructions

in a large pan, heat up a healthy splash of olive oil (medium high). add in the onion and garlic, saute until fragrant, anywhere from 5-10 minutes, you’re not aiming to caramelize it, though if it does, don’t freak out, it just adds another layer of flavor. *season with salt*

add in the mushrooms and saute. the mushrooms will brown and release a lot of liquid. don’t be alarmed.

at this point, boil noodles according to package instructions

add in the white wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to get all the good brown bits. next, add in the dijon mustard and healthy splash of worchestershire sauce.

allow the mixture to reduce down, scraping the pan periodically.

spoon the flour over the mushrooms, minimum 1 tablespoon, or up to 2 tablespoons. stir the mushrooms until the flour has been incorporated into the oils/liquid/onions. slowly add in the water or stock, liquid amount at your discretion, depending on how saucy you it to be.

allow for the mixture and flour to warm though and thicken.

add in the yogurt and paprika, stir until fully incorporated.

by this point, the noodles should be done. the dish can be served with the sauce ladled over the noodles, or the noodles can be added into the pan and mixed through with the mushrooms.

garnish with parsley and more paprika.

BAM!

Mushroom Stroganoff
1 year ago: crocheted broomstick cowl
2 years ago: crocheted minecraft creeper hats

spiced mexican cookies – dairy free

Mexican Wedding Cookies

4 days into 2016
no complaints

when i look back on the past year
i remember a burning city —
no.
an angry country,
one that is still simmering.
in our little corner of the world
we are watching with ever shifty eyes
and forced discernment.

in the coming months
there’s going to be a shift.
i don’t say that to be ominous,
but it would be dishonest to say i was hopeful.
instead i will say:
have cookies,
specifically,
Mexican Wedding Cookies.
take that d.trump.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

spiced mexican wedding cookies
generously adapted from the kitchn
Makes 2 1/2 dozen

1 cup scant coconut oil, still solid at room temp
1 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
1 large egg, beaten
2 cups AP flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup ground cashews

preheat oven 350F.

in a mixer, cream the coconut oil with 1 cup of powdered sugar until well blended and smooth. beat in the egg. add in the flour and spices. turn off mixer. with a spatula mix in the ground cashews.

cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge, about 10 minutes.

line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

remove dough from fridge and form bite sized balls. i used a regular teaspoon. work quickly, coconut oil has a low melt temp, your body temp can easily melt it.

place the balls on prepared baking sheet about an inch or two apart. bake for 15 minutes.

allow to cool just until you’re able to handle them and using a mesh sieve, dust the tops with powdered sugar, amount at your discretion.

cookies kept for up to a week, covered at room temp, on the counter.

BAM!

Mexican Wedding Cookies

1 year ago: carne rustida de navidad
2 years ago: diy toy kitchen

fresh cranberry scones – vegan

Fresh Cranberry Scones

quickly, before the season is over,
and in time for xmas morn,
make these scones.
studded with tart cranberries
punched with the sting of ginger
tempered with the subtlety of orange zest
sweetened with sugar
it’s perfect with the morning coffee
or afternoon tea

here’s to wishing you and yours a
peaceful season,
happy holidays from me + dw.

Fresh Cranberry Scones

fresh cranberry scones – vegan
makes 12 scones

*note: i’ve made these with organic and conventional cranberries. i’ve used 1 package of ocean spray which was 12oz, and i’ve used organic which came in a 6 oz package. it made no difference in the end result, though the batch with the lesser amount was less tart. basically, use as little as 6 oz, or as much as 12 oz. how’s that for not exact science baking?

1 package fresh cranberries, minimum 6oz, max 12oz
1/3 cup brown sugar, not packed
2 1/4 cups AP flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
zest of 2 organic oranges
1/4 chopped candied ginger
10 TBL chilled coconut oil, cut into small pieces
1/3 soy/almond milk (though, i’ve made with lactose free milk and kefir before)

preheat oven 350ºF and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

in food processor, pulse the cranberries with the brown sugar and orange zest. go for chunky. put in large mixing bowl, set aside.

in food processor, pulse the AP flower, baking powder and salt. add in the coconut oil and pulse until pea-sized crumbles appear.

mix the flour mixture with the cranberries in the mixing bowl. add the milk and stir until it just comes together.

dust counter with a bit of flour, dump dough onto it. form a disk/thick circle. cut into quarters, and within those quarters cut 3 wedges.

carefully transfer wedges on prepared baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes, rotating the baking sheet half way through.

the edges and bottom will darken a smidge, but the interior will be tender and crumbly.

serve warm, as is, or drizzled with icing (you can make a quick icing slurry of 2 tsp the milk used + enough powdered sugar to get a thickened but drizzly consistency, anywhere from 10-15 TBL)

BAM!

Fresh Cranberry Scones

1 year ago: cranberry swirl mini-loaves – vegan
2 years ago: minty snow cake – lactose free

Chocolate Espresso Dacquoise – lactose free

Chocolate Espresso Dacquoise

did you watch the Great British Bake Off
earlier in the season?
are you watching the american dessert version now?
did you make your husband stream the recent british season?

i did/am doing all three.
then i re-watch an old season on netflix,
as well as a myriad of cooking/food shows
(as well THE BLACKLIST which befuddles me cus
i both hate it and love it)

this particular fancy concoction was
created on both the GBBO and America’s Test Kitchen.
obviously it had to be made.

nuria cried before and during the making
i cried before, but only because dw
gifted me a much desired gift,
this year has been so overfull with goodness
i can’t even begin to list them out.
instead, let’s have cake.

Chocolate Espresso Dacquoise

Chocolate Espresso Dacquoise – lactose free
adapted from America’s Test Kitchen

meringue
3/4 cup blanched sliced almonds, toasted
1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
1 TBL cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
4 large egg whites, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

coco-cream
3/4 cup lactose free half/half
4 large egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
2 TBL water
1 1/2 TBL instant espresso powder
1 cup refined coconut oil, soft, but not liquid

ganache
8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
3/4 cup lactose free half/half
2 tsp honey or maple syrup or agave nectar
12 whole hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
1 cup blanched sliced almonds, toasted

for meringue:
preheat oven to 250F. using pencil, draw 4 6″ circles on parchment paper. grease baking sheet and place parchment on it, ink side down.

in a food processor, whiz the almonds, hazelnuts, cornstarch and salt until finely ground. add 1/2 cup of sugar and pulse to combine. set aside.

in a stand mixer with whisk, whip the egg whites + cream of tarter until it’s foamy. increase speed and whip until soft, and while the mixer still running, add in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until mixture is glossy and stiff peaks form.

carefully fold the nut mixture into egg whites in two batches.

with offset spatula, spread the meringue evenly onto the prepared circles on parchment, stay within the lines.

bake for 1 1/2 hours, turn off oven and cool for another 1 1/2 hours. do not open oven at any time. remove from oven and cool to room temp.

for coco-cream:
in a small sauce pan heat up half/half until barely simmering. in a bowl whisk the yolks, sugar, cornstarch and salt until incorporated and smooth. remove half/half from heat, and while whisking constantly add a ladle-full of hot liquid into the yolk mixture to temper. keep whisking until liquid is incorporated. pour the tempered yolk-milk into the saucepan and return to heat, all the while whisking continuously, until mixture has thicked into pudding. transfer the pastry cream to bowl, cover and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

*when making the rest of the coco-cream, take the pastry cream out of the fridge and allow to get to room temp*

stir together the water + espresso powder, set aside.

in a stand mixer with paddle, beat the coconut oil until smooth, add the pastry cream in 2-3 batches. last add the espresso mixture and continue to beat until fully incorporated, scraping the bowl down often.

for ganache:
place chopped chocolate in heatproof bowl. warm up half/half and honey to simmer in small saucepan. Pour mixture over chocolate and allow to stand for 1 minute. stir mixture until smooth, set aside and it’ll cool slightly and thicken.

to assemble:

place 3 circles on wire rack. using an off set spatula spread ganache evenly over surface of each meringue (aim for a thin layer, you’re not using all of the ganache). refridgerate until ganache is firm, about 10-15 minutes. set aside remaining gananche.

with off set spatura, on the remaining circle spread about 1/2 cup of coco-cream. place on wire rack. invert 1 ganache coated meringue, placing it on top of the buttercream and press down. repeat with remaining meringues, spreading the meringues with 1/2 cup of coco-cream and topping another inverted ganache coated meringue. with remaining coco-cream spread all over the cake, sides and top. it doesn’t have to be pretty.. refrigerate until coco-cream is firm, about 2-3 hours.

when ready, warm up the leftover ganache over barely simmer water, stirring often until the mixture is fluid but not hot. with the coco-creamed cake on wire rack, pour ganache over the top and with off set spatula spread the ganache over the top of the cake, you’re aiming for an even, thin layer and letting the excess flow down the side. spread the ganache over sides in thin layer.

garnish the top layer with hazelnuts and for the sides, gently press the almonds onto the side. chill on wire rack, uncovered, for at least a few hours, or overnight. transfer to platter or stand.

slice and serve.
BAM!

Chocolate Espresso Dacquoise

previous year: gingerbread cake
2 years ago: peppermint chocolate ice cream

a beautiful love – vegan carrot cake

for rc + dh.

with rc by her side (as well as a legion of ardent angel friends), dh is facing a battle with grace, humility and aplomb. to read more & help if you can, go here.

videos courtesy of mandy frye and john carnahan, and used with permission

doubled vegan carrot cake + cream cheese frosting
almond paste succulents and carrots, free-handed by my kitchen wench slash new living arrangement roommate nuria, but inspired by: cake central.

Vegan Carrot Cake + Almond Paste toppers008003