Baked Rotini with Broccoli Rabe


Baked Rotini with Broccoli RabeThis is a one-dish pasta dinner that takes about a half an hour from start to finish.  It requires little planning since most people have nearly all of the ingredients in their pantry already.   The addition of broccoli rabe adds an element of earth that’s balanced out by the sweetness of the white wine and acidity of the tomatoes.   All of it is married together with herbs and cheeses.

For the picky eaters out there: Some people may not know they like broccoli rabe and claim that they can’t stand the bitterness of it.  Personally, I like that flavor.  But, it wouldn’t be the first time I’m not the normal opinion of the group.  If you or your family aren’t totally convinced that it’s delicious, I added a bit of blanching to the recipe which reduces the bitter quality within these dark and leafy nutritious greens to make them soft and perfect for adding to this pasta dinner.

This dish is finished with grated parmesan and mozzarella and baked to golden perfection.  It is rich and warm and hearty without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.  It’s perfect for this chilly October Monday.

 

Baked Rotini with Broccoli Rabe

Makes 4 servings

  • 1 large bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup uncooked rotini pasta
  • 1/4 cup olive oil tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves + 1 clove garlic, minced
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb mix, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
  • 4 scallions sliced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

  1. Fill a saucepan with enough water to cover the broccoli rabe, sprinkle in some salt, and bring the salted water to a boil. Stir in the broccoli rabe, and cook until bright green and just starting to become tender, about 2 minutes; drain the rabe, and cool in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain well, and pat dry with paper towels.

  2.  Fill a pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the rotini, and return to a boil.  Cook the pasta uncovered one minute shy of al dente, according to the package instructions.  Drain well in a colander set in the sink.

  3.  While the pasta is cooking, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat the olive oil in an oven safe saucepan over medium heat, add 4 garlic cloves until they start to turn translucent, about 2 minutes.  Sprinkle with salt and black pepper, and stir in rosemary sprig, dried Italian herb mix, and crushed red pepper flakes.

  4.  Stir in the blanched broccoli rabe, white wine, and tomatoes.  Remove rosemary sprig if added, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Mix in the cooked pasta, green onions, and 1 minced clove of garlic.

  5.  Top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese and place in preheated oven until golden and bubbling, or about seven to ten minutes.

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Parmesan Thyme Stuffed Potatoes





Parmesan Thyme Stuffed Potatoes | Kate from Scratch

Pair this side dish with some grilled portobello steaks and a green salad and call it a night.   These potatoes are a great way to enjoy the last days of the grilling season in our neck of the woods.  It’s not too hot to turn on the oven, but it’s not so cold that the grill is off limits.  These can be kept warm while covered in a low (250 degree F) temperature oven while you do some quick weeknight grilling.

If you like to plan ahead, you can do the baking of the potatoes the night before.  I do that often.  If you’re a last minute, fly by the seat of your pants sort of cook, you can alternately use the microwave to cook the potatoes through before stuffing and baking.  Just be sure to let them cool before handling.

These are a delicious pairing to any easy weeknight grilling menu.

About the optional breadcrumb recipe at the bottom: Last week I had a few buttermilk biscuits leftover so I cut them up and tossed them into the food processor with some thyme and a pinch of salt and pepper.  I keep those breadcrumbs in an air tight container in the freezer and they add a really nice buttery tangy flavor to many things, including these potatoes.  If you’re using a less rich breadcrumb mix, you might want to add a pat of butter on top of each potato before baking just to add a little more golden brown color.

Parmesan Thyme Stuffed Potatoes

Serves 6 as a side dish

Ingredients:

For Potatoes

  • 3 medium russet potatoes
  • 1/2 cup cream
  • 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 sprig of fresh thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste

For Breadcrumb Topping

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (recipe below)
  • small pats of butter (optional)

Directions:

  1.  Bake potatoes – Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Pierce potatoes through the center three times with a fork or knife.  Wrap potatoes individually in aluminum foil with a sprinkle of salt.  Bake in preheated oven for one hour, or until fork easily slips through them.

NOTE: Alternately, you can place all potatoes in a microwave safe dish, covered with plastic wrap and heat on high until tender, or about fifteen minutes – tossing halfway through cooking, making sure they’re being heated evenly.

  1.  Once potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice them in half and scoop out the center.  Drop what you scooped from the potato into a mixing bowl.   Add cream, parmesan cheese, the leaves from one thyme sprig and salt and pepper, to taste.  Mix.

  2.  Spoon potato mixture back into the potato skins.

  3.  Combine breadcrumb topping ingredients (breadcrumbs and parmesan).  Sprinkle evenly over each stuffed potato.  Top each potato with a small pat of butter, if desired.

  4.  Bake in preheated oven until golden, or about fifteen minutes

 

For Buttermilk Biscuit Breadcrumbs (optional)

Ingredients:

  • about 5 buttermilk biscuits, cut in quarters
  • leaves from a sprig of fresh thyme
  • small pinch of salt
  • a few turns of the pepper mill – filled freshly ground pink, green and black peppercorns, mixed

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a food processor.  Pulse until crumbs are formed and ingredients are combined.  Store in freezer in air tight container for up to four weeks.

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Fast Deep Dish Spinach Tomato Pie




spinach-tomato-deep-dish-pizza | Kate from Scratch

It’s officially fall and in honor of my declaration of comfort food season, I have made this Fast Deep Dish Spinach Tomato Pie which is rich and delicious, yet also easy and can be adapted to your liking.

The use of frozen bread dough saves some time, which is often needed by many of us. If you prefer to use your own dough, I’m sure that would work fine too.  It’s flexible for the seasons and what you have on hand.  You could easily make a white pizza by adding ricotta and a dash of freshly grated nutmeg in place of the tomatoes.  Or if you’re a fan of sautéed mushrooms  and you have some leftover that you want to use, they could easily replace the tomatoes.

If you’re looking to lighten things up a little, replace some of the cheese with seasoned vegetables.   The only thing you can’t do is add a bunch of vegetables that will release water into the pie as it bakes.  That would be disastrous, so make sure whatever you’re adding is already cooked and/or drained of all excess water to avoid major issues (because oil and water don’t mix without an emulsifier).

It’s a fairly easy one dish meal that will please most if not all family members.

Deep Dish Spinach Tomato Pie

Makes one 12 inch deep dish pizza

Tools: one 12 inch deep dish pizza pan

Ingredients:

  • 2 28-ounce cans plum tomatoes, drained
  • 2 large garlic cloves, pressed
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
  • 3 teaspoons olive oil
  • Cornmeal
  • 1 pound (1 loaf) frozen bread dough, thawed
  • 1 pound shredded mozzarella (about 4 cups)
  • 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

preparation:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Chop tomatoes into bite sized pieces and sprinkle with a small amount of salt and pepper, if desired (to taste).  Place in strainer and drain well. Combine tomatoes with garlic, parsley, oregano and basil in bowl. Brush 12-inch-diameter deep-dish pizza pan with 1 teaspoon oil. Sprinkle pan with cornmeal.

Roll bread dough out to 13-inch round on lightly floured surface. Note: allow bread dough to come to room temperature before rolling out.

Transfer dough to pan, extending 1 inch up pan sides. Spread dough with 1 1/2 cups tomato mixture. Sprinkle half of mozzarella over. Top with half of spinach and remaining tomato mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Distribute remaining spinach atop mozzarella. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Drizzle with remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. Bake in top third of preheated oven until cheese bubbles and begins to brown and crust is golden brown, about 40 minutes.

Tip: squeeze excess moisture from tomatoes and spinach before adding to the pie.

Source

 

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Muffins





chocolate peanutbutter muffins | Kate from Scratch

I had an event in New York City that I wore non-yoga pants for, which is totally unlike me.  And, because every bridge and tunnel journey should begin with peanut butter chocolate chunk muffins, that’s exactly what I had for breakfast before heading out.

These are what you’d expect from such aptly named muffins.  Flavorful, peanut buttery, semisweet chocolate-chunk-adorned muffins reminiscent of one of my most favorite candies.  The oats and applesauce make them just light enough to have for breakfast, but also make for a perfect four o’clock sweet treat, as well.

And, if you heat them up slightly, the chocolate chunks turn melted and delicious as they sink into the peanut butter speckled canvas.

chocolate peanutbutter muffins | Kate from Scratch-3

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Muffins

Makes about a dozen muffins

  • 1/3 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 egg(s)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 3/4 cup Peanut Butter Chips
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chunks or semisweet chocolate pieces (you may use dark chocolate if preferred
  • powdered sugar (optional)
  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups.
  2. Stir together peanut butter, applesauce and oats in small bowl; set aside. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Add applesauce mixture; blend well. Stir together flour, baking soda and cinnamon, if desired. Add to butter/sugar mixture, blending well. Stir in peanut butter chips. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full with batter.  Divide chocolate chunks evenly among the tops of batter-filled muffin cups.
  3. Bake 22 to 26 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool slightly in pan on wire rack. Sprinkle muffin tops with powdered sugar, if desired. Serve warm. Makes about 12 muffins.

Tip:  (Using the back-end of a wooden spoon) When you believe the muffins are almost ready, push in on the inflated top, gently.  If the muffin sinks, it needs a minute or two more.

If muffins spring back once gently pressed, they’re ready.  Remove from heat.

 

Adapted from Source

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Buttermilk Biscuits




Buttermilk Biscuits | Kate from Scratch

I wanted a recipe that was just as easy as a refrigerator can of dough, or at least worth the extra work it would take to make biscuits from scratch.  And, since I lack all notions of demure southern charm, I will do what any good “northern belle” (Is that even a thing?  It’s a thing I just made up.) does to make up for such a loss.

I will use my colossal research skills!

Yeah, I said research skills.   Take that!

Note to self:  work on trash-talking proficiency.

Anyway, after making several recipes throughout the years, I finally had it narrowed down to about five recipes that I liked. They are all recipes that I generally enjoy and are uncomplicated and delicious enough to make more than once. But, now it was time to test these recipes side by side.

perfect biscuits | Kate from Scratch-7
The winners of the biscuit throwdown (thunderdome style).

These are the winners.  These biscuits are easy, light, tender and came out perfectly in both taste and texture.

And now what’s next?  Well, things are starting to cool down, slow down and I’m sensing that fall is in the air, which (quite frankly) is just dandy with me since it’s my favorite season.  I love it all: The cool breezes, my favorite fluffy socks, hot cocoa, football games, the smell of wood burning in the air and especially the crunch of the beautiful vibrant leaves as I walk through them.  And let us not forget the taste of a perfectly chilled apple at its peak right after plucking from the tree.

In my autumnal bliss, I will officially declare it comfort food season.  Stay tuned!

Buttermilk Biscuits

makes 1 dozen biscuits
prep time: 20 minutes
cook time: 20 minutes 
 
  • 2 cups flour, plus more for dusting and rolling
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons shortening
  • 3/4 cup + 4 tablespoons buttermilk, chilled
  1. Tip: Cut up butter and shortening into pea sized pieces the night before making and place in freezer.
  2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
  3. Using your fingertips, rub butter and shortening into dry ingredients until mixture looks like crumbs.
  4. Make a well in the center and pour in the 3/4 cup of chilled buttermilk. Stir just until the dough comes together.
  5. Add the remaining buttermilk a splash at a time until it becomes lightly sticky.
  6. Turn dough onto well-floured surface, dust top with flour and gently fold dough over on itself about six times to create flaky layers.
  7. Press into a 1-inch thick round. Cut out biscuits with a 2 1/2-inch cutter (or 2 inch or three inch is fine too), be sure to push straight down through the dough. Place biscuits on baking sheet so that they just touch.
  8. Reform scrap dough, if desired and working it as little as possible and continue cutting.
Note: Biscuits from the second pass will not be as light and tender as the first, so cut dough into squares instead if you’d like to save yourself from scrap dough.

Adapted from Alton Brown’s “Southern Biscuits” Recipe

 

 

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Black Bean Taco Salad (Vegetarian)

black-bean-taco-salad Kate from Scratch

There are only two days left of summer vacation before the beginning of third grade for Trey (including today).  So, I will be making this post very brief, since I have about a week’s worth of promises to pack into two days.

Go me!

Well, fortunately, I’m good with deadlines.

And, Unfortunately, I’m terrible with legitimate segues, so let’s just talk about taco salads.  Yeah, that sounds like a great idea.

This is a bit sweet, a bit spicy, a little light, yet still hearty.  It’s savory and simple yet different from what I might normally make on an average weeknight, which is always exciting.  This vegetarian version of the traditional beef taco salad is perfect for this time of year and (in my opinion) far better than the taco salads of your past.

You can pair it with corn on the cob or saffron rice or just serve it on its own.

Black Bean Taco Salad (vegetarian)

Black Beans (serves 6)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 large white or yellow onion, diced
  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 large jalapeño chili, seeded and minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon (generous) roasted ground cumin (regular cumin is fine too)
  • 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed, drained
  • 1 14 1/2-ounce can vegetable broth
  • The juice of one lime
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • Chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley if you hate cilantro)
  • salt and pepper, to taste (Note: I added about 1 teaspoon of sea salt and 1 teaspoon smoked chili pepper to suit my tastes, but I’m not on a salt restrictive diet and I like things spicy.  So, vary to your needs and tastes!)

DIRECTIONS: Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, chili and cumin and sauté 2-3 minutes. Add beans and broth and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Coarsely mash beans with potato masher. Continue boiling until thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with lime juice, zest and salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with cilantro if desired.

Note: this can be served as a side dish as well, or follow directions for black bean taco salads, below.

Black Bean Taco Salads

makes 6

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4-6 cups corn tortilla chips of your choice (a “family size” bag should be more than sufficient)
  • prepared black beans (recipe above)
  • 4-6 cups chopped baby romaine or other lettuce of your choice
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese
  • 1/3 cup taco sauce or fresh salsa, or both if preferred
  • fresh avocado and sliced tomatoes (unless you hate avocado or tomatoes, then don’t use them)
  • (optional) squeeze of lime, sprig of cilantro or flourish of parsley, sour cream for garnish

DIRECTIONS: Divide chips evenly among plates (or wide bowls).  Ladle the black beans over the chips to your liking.  Top with one overflowing handful of chopped lettuce.  Sprinkle with cheese and top with taco sauce, salsa, avocado and tomatoes as you see fit.

Garnish with a lime wedge (for them to squeeze over the salad at the table) and add cilantro and sour cream to the top, if desired.

 

Enjoy.

 

 

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Seared Tofu with Green Beans

seared tofu sweet soy glaze-2

This is one of those weeknight dishes that can be presented as opulent and swanky but is actually as simple and humble as a Tuesday “chicken night”.  It’s extra firm tofu, rid of excess moisture, then quickly marinated with a sweet soy glaze, fresh garlic and ginger, and just a splash of lime and pineapple juice for a bit of acidy and sweetness.  Then to balance that tangy sweetness, we added a bit of heat via cayenne pepper, though a dash of sriracha would work just as well.   Then it’s just seared in a pan with a little oil and served over a bed of sautéed greenbeans.

Basically, if you are making chicken for five people and there’s one or two vegetarians that need some love, this an ideal alternative.  I will often pair this with a side of cold noodle salad or a even a simple leafy salad.

For fall, once the breeze starts to kick up and the leaves begin to tumble and the evening air brings a decided chill worthy of an oversized soft and luxurious sweater, I will add a potato dish.  –Perhaps scalloped potatoes or a baked sweet potato with chive butter.

Oh!  And, I’ve included many tips at the bottom of the recipe to help those that may not be familiar with all of the ingredients.

Seared Tofu with Green Beans

Sweet and spicy marinated tofu with garlic, ginger, pineapple and lime over a bed of green beans .  This can be dressed up to appear entirely more fancy than its humble nature.

  • 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 cloves of garlic, pressed or minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced or grated fresh ginger root
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne (This addition makes the dish HOT AND SPICY so add less or more to suit your tastes)
  • 2 tablespoons naturally sweetened pineapple juice
  • the juice from one lime
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • 1 package extra firm tofu, drained of all excess water
  • 1-2 tablespoons canola oil (or another high smoke point oil that your prefer )
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon cold water
  • 1 pound trimmed fresh green beans (that’s about 4 cups for those wondering)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon cold water
  • toasted sesame oil (optional, yes, but recommended) for serving
  • three tablespoons sliced scallions (whites and greens mixed) for garnish
  • Serves: 4
  • Preparation time: about 30 minutes (mostly just to marinate, so it’s hands-free downtime)
  • Cook time: ten minutes
  • You will need: Large plastic zipper bag and a nonstick pan.
  1. In a large plastic zipper bag, combine brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, cayenne, pineapple juice and lime juice and zest.   Slice the prepared tofu and add to the bag.  Remove air from the bag and massage the marinade into the tofu until evenly coated.
  2. Leave marinating tofu alone for fifteen minutes to an hour, at room temperature.
  3. In a nonstick pan over high heat, drizzle  a tablespoon of oil and add the green beans.  Toss for five minutes or until tender, yet still crisp.  Remove from pan and place on serving dish (like a bed for the tofu slices to lay on).
  4. Drizzle one tablespoon oil in same pan over high heat and sear tofu until golden brown, or about a minute on each side.  Place tofu over the bed of green beans.
  5. Last, add the marinade from the bag directly to the hot pan.  While whisking, pour in the cornstarch and water mixture.
  6. Bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce until it’s reduced to about 3/4 cup, or about 6 minutes.
  7. Pour sauce over the tofu and the  green beans.  Top with scallions and drizzle two teaspoons toasted sesame oil over the entire thing. Serve with a side of sriracha for those that can’t get enough spice.

Tip 1 : Keep your ginger root in the freezer.  It makes it super easy to chop and will stay fresh for up to two months.

Tip 2: Think of tofu like a sponge.  If you freeze and thaw your tofu, it gives it a more firm (more chewy “meaty”) texture that I personally prefer.  I don’t like not chewing my food and I don’t like tofu that’s gelatinous.  I like it to have some oomph.  If you’re pressed for time and/or paper towels (for pressing the excess water out from the tofu), you can evaporate the water within the tofu by placing it in the microwave.  Over the years I’ve found that the microwave is the fastest and easiest method for removing the excess water.  I put the brick of tofu in a microwave safe colander over a regular dinner plate and pop it in for three minutes on high.  You can see all the steam being cooked out as it goes. If opposed to using the microwave, you may place the drained tofu between two plates with kitchen or paper towels on either side of the tofu. Repeat with dry towels until spongelike.  Remember the more water you remove from the tofu, the more marinade (flavor) it can absorb in its place.  The marinade is what makes it delicious.

Tip 3:  Wash your lime before you zest the peel.  Also, you only want to “zest” the green part of the peel.  The white part is bitter and will not make anything delicious.

Tip 4:  Cornstarch and water is called a slurry which is the easy and fun-loving cousin of a roux, (because it thickens up sauces without a lot of effort).  HOWEVER, you must bring the sauce to a full boil after you’ve added the cornstarch, otherwise it will not thicken.  It’s important.

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Six Fresh Tomato Recipes To Make In August

It’s almost August and that means that tomato season has officially arrived.

Here are six recipes to try before the season (and dare I say summer) officially comes to an end.

1) This first recipe is a simple appetizer that mixes grilled corn with avocado and citrus which is then stuffed into plum or cherry tomatoes and garnished with cilantro.  You can alternately chop up the tomatoes and add them to the salad for faster and easier preparation (skip the stuffing part).  Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad Stuffed Tomatoes are a fresh start to any summer meal. grilled-corn-avocado-tomato2) This next recipe is for all of you who think you don’t like tomatoes. You probably just had a bad one once and if I don’t convince you, maybe this Six Cheese Tomato and Chard Pizza will. It is a surprisingly light and earthy twist on traditional pizza. The greens mix well with variety of cheeses which are highlighted by the sweet acidity of the tomato slices and accented with garlic and herbs.  Try this if you’re still on the fence about tomatoes.  You might be swayed. Tomato-chard-pizza 3) Tomato and Roasted Eggplant Bruschetta uses eggplant as its canvas, which shares the season and pairs nicely with tomatoes.  The eggplant is roasted and then scooped out and sautéed with shallots and garlic and (of course) fresh summer tomatoes.  It’s light and perfect for a party appetizer. Kate-from-scratch-roasted-eggplant-bruschetta4)  This Spinach Caprese Salad is a much lighter take on traditional caprese recipes (skewers, salads and sandwiches) due to the added spinach.  It’s light, easy, fast, and never disappoints.  Add one part balsamic with two parts olive oil and shake for a fast and easy balsamic vinaigrette which enhances the tomato and spinach. spinach-capresesalad5) Next up is Tomato and Scallion Quesadillas.  This is  a little lunch quesadilla recipe that directly resulted from the year I decided to plant entirely too many tomatoes. It uses black beans and sharp and tangy cheese as the base of the filling.  The tomatoes and scallions marry everything together.  It’s fast and easy and delicious. tomato-scallion-quesadillas 6) This Tomato Focaccia is for the more brazen tomato lover.  The tomatoes melt into the seasoned dough and can be  topped with any type of cheese and herbs you’d like. You could do chèvre and thyme or parmesan and basil, depending on what you’re in the mood for.  And, if you’re not so sure about risen dough from scratch, you can always use the store-bought dough.  Nobody will ever know the difference. fresh-tomato-focaccia

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French Toast Bread Pudding (AKA “Overnight French Toast Casserole”)

I’m not sure who started the concept of “Baked French Toast” and the not so distant relative of such a dish known as the “French Toast Casserole” but the last time I checked, these seemingly new dishes, (cultivated by massive amounts of online recipes) are all just bread pudding recipes.

[Sorry, interwebz.  I’m just calling it like I see it.]

French-Toast-Bread-Pudding

 

So, if you’ve been drinking the baked french toast kool-aid, allow me to explain a bit.  You see, bread pudding takes pieces of day old bread and soaks them in a buttered dish with an egg custard (usually it’s an overnight soak).  This egg custard can be flavored anyway you’d like, but I personally prefer mine with a bit of maple syrup, a sprinkle of brown sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.  You could add some bits of dried fruit if you’d like.  Then that ‘s baked in a preheated oven until firm.  It’s then served warm with fresh fruit and maybe a bit of whipped cream or confectioner’s sugar.

Is this sounding familiar?  Yeah…That’s because that new “baked french toast casserole recipe” that you found on the internet is actually just bread pudding that’s been baked a few minutes longer.

However, to simplify things (and hopefully people’s search results) I’ve re-merged these “two” completely (not) different dishes into one.   I mean, I’m on the internet too.  I might as well be part of the solution (problem?) and remind people that “baked french toast casserole” is actually just bread pudding.  If I’m wrong, I’d love to hear why because I’ve looked into it and from where I sit, I’m definitely the opposite of wrong.

And, to be honest, no matter if you call this, “I invented the internet and the wheel and sliced bread ..breakfast dish” it still tastes good, so I give credit where it’s due.   But, that’s just a really bad title.

French Toast Bread Pudding

Serves: 8

Prep: Overnight

Bake Time:  40 minutes

(AKA “Overnight French Toast Casserole”)

  • butter, for baking dish
  • 8-10 slices of mixed sandwich bread cut in half or 1 loaf of french bread with ends removed (must be standard, not baguette sized) cut into 1/2 inch slices
  • 7 extra large eggs, whipped until pale yellow
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/3 cup hot buttered maple syrup (maple syrup with a pat of butter melted into it)
  • 2 cups whole milk, more if needed
  • sprinkle of sea salt
  • confectioner’s sugar, fresh fruit, lightly sweetened whipped cream (optional) for serving.

Rub softened butter onto all sides of a 9×13 inch baking dish (See note*).

Take your whipped eggs and add vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Add milk to the hot buttered maple syrup [to temper it] and stir.  Pour milk into eggs and whisk.  Pour egg custard over the bread in your buttered dish.  Cover and place in refrigerator over night, or for at least three hours.

To bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Remove cover from the baking dish and place on a baking pan (in case it bubbles over).   Sprinkle the top with sea salt and bake in preheated oven for 35 to 50 minutes, depending on how firm you prefer it to be and the dimensions of your pan.

Allow to cool slightly and serve with fresh fruit, lightly whipped cream and/or confectioner’s sugar if desired.

*Note: 9×9 (3 inches high) 9×12 or 9×13 (2 inches high)  or 9×15 (1 inch high) or anywhere between will work fine, it will only vary how much surface area you have, much like brownies.  If you have more surface area, the bread pudding will bake (and concurrently dry out) more quickly, so you will need less baking time.

Additional notes: If some of the bread looks dry after soaking overnight, you may add an additional splash of milk before baking.  The amount of liquid needed will vary depending on the type of bread used and how much liquid that bread is capable of absorbing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Savory Watermelon Panzanella

Watermelon-Pazanella

 

Panzanella is a classic summer salad that requires little effort and zero cooking.  It’s easy, delicious and can be served as a complete meal, especially on an exceptionally heat-ridden day as we have here, today.

This particular version has a twist, though.  Since we’re about a week or two shy of full blown tomato season, I figured I’d use half tomatoes and half watermelon and then balance out that extra sweetness with some acidity (balsamic) and some  heat (red pepper).   As the salad sits, the extra crusty bread soaks up the sweet juices of the watermelon, the freshness of the cucumbers and the sweet yet savory ripe tomatoes which plays nicely off of the balsamic vinaigrette.

It’s very refreshing and light yet satisfying and easy.   It’s perfect for today.

 

Savory Watermelon Panzanella

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4 as a meal, 6-8 as a starter course or side dish

for the balsamic vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup aged balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons finely minced sweet red onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey

for the salad

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes, deseeded (about 2 tomatoes)
  • 1 1/2 cups bite sized seedless watermelon pieces
  • 2 cucumbers, deseeded and chopped into bite sized pieces (about three cups)
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup packed chopped basil
  • 2 cups cubed hard crusted rustic Italian bread
  • shaved parmesan
  • extra virgin olive oil

Note:  This salad is best with high quality balsamic vinegar which is both thicker and sweeter than average.  However, if you heat lesser quality balsamic vinegar until it thickens slightly, you may use that as a substitute for the more expensive version. Also, if your bread is extra fresh, I recommend toasting before adding to the bowl so it doesn’t become mushy.

  1.  Make vinaigrette: In a large salad bowl, whisk together the vinegar, onion, garlic, red pepper, and honey.   Set aside for about ten minutes while the onions and garlic soften in the vinegar, then whisk in the olive oil.
  2. Lightly season the tomatoes, watermelon and cucumber pieces with a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper before dropping them into the bowl with the dressing.  Add the bread pieces and basil to the salad bowl and toss everything to combine.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and finish with shaved parmesan and an additional drizzle of olive oil (optional).

 

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