Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Blackberry Cobbler: a repost

I believe.  
Blackberry Cobbler

I believe that nice guys finish first.
I believe in fate and destiny.
I believe in luck.
I believe in purpose.
I believe that life is a marathon.
I believe in paying it forward.
I believe in you.

Happy 19th anniversary, David, and congratulations on closing your next deal!

This is an oldie but a goodie (kind of like David) so worth repeating.  Plus, the s'mores pie that I made wasn't blog worthy.

Ingredients
  1. 4 cups of frozen or fresh blackberries (or mixed berries)  
  2. 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  3. 1 large egg
  4. 1 cup flour
  5. 1 cup sugar
  6.  6 Tbsp butter, melted
  7. Ice cream or whipped cream, optional
Preheat oven to 375F.

In an 8x8 pan, pour in the blackberries and sprinkle the lemon juice on top.  In a separate bowl, combine the egg, flour and sugar until it resembles a course meal.  Sprinkle the flour mixture on top.  Pour the melted butter on top. 

Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Let sit for 10 minutes.

Scoop it out and serve in individual ramekins (apparently you could bake in the ramekins as well).  Top with ice cream or whipped cream, if you like.

PS - no one would complain if you chose to double this recipe and baked it in a 9x13 dish.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Linzer Cookies

In the business presentation techniques class that I teach, I encourage my students to improve their effectiveness in verbal communications: 
Linzer Cookies
  • Be direct. (flowers)
  • Be actionable. (give me flowers)
  • Don’t assume the audience knows what you are trying to say. (I like receiving flowers)
  • Connect the dots for the audience.  (therefore, you should buy me flowers)
  • As the presenter, you have the opportunity to have the last word; people are busy; they are only half paying attention.  Don’t just end your presentation with a “thank you” – tell them what you want them to do. (buy me flowers for Valentine’s Day – that’s it – really.)
  • Thank you.

(and make these cookies because they are irresistible). 

Ingredients:
  1. 3 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
  2. 1 C granulated sugar
  3. 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  4. 3 1/2 C flour
  5. 1/4 tsp salt
  6. 3/4 C raspberry preserves
  7. Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a separate, medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough 1/4-inch thick and cut 2 3/4-inch rounds with a plain or fluted cutter. With 1/2 of the rounds, cut a hole from the middle of each round with a heart or spade shaped cutter. Place all the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and chill for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake the cookies for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature. Spread raspberry preserves on the flat side of each solid cookie. Dust the top of the cut-out cookies with confectioners' sugar and press the flat sides together, with the raspberry preserves in the middle and the confectioners' sugar on the top.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

White Bean Bruschetta

White Bean Bruschetta
You know you live in Texas when…  
one week you have a legitimate need for an electric heater blanket on your bed.  The following week, you have a discussion with your husband about whether you should turn on the ceiling fan so you can use the blanket.  Because the following week, you will need the blanket again.  <<cue the violins>>  And that is a winter in Texas. 

Enough about me – what are you serving for the Super Bowl?  We had a white bean bruschetta throwdown to help you out.  A variation of this recipe won.  Other delicious options include:

Happy birthday Claire!

Ingredients:
  1. 1 15 oz. can Cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
  2. 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
  3. 1/4 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives (optional)
  4. 6 Tbsp olive oil
  5. 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  6. 1 Tbsp minced garlic
  7. 1 French bread baguette, cut into -inch-thick rounds
  8. 5 to 6 ounces soft fresh goat cheese (such as Montrachet), room temperature

Place rinsed and drained beans into a bowl. Mix in tomatoes, olives (optional), 4 tablespoons oil, basil and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Preheat broiler. Place bread slices on baking sheet. Brush with 2 tablespoons oil. Broil until golden, about 1 minute. Spread with cheese. Top with bean mixture.