Sunday, August 3, 2014

Cravings - Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake (a la Friendly's)

Some things just can't be imitated. For me, the Friendly's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae is too sublime a dessert to ever be accurately duplicated. Salty peanut butter, gooey chocolate syrup, peanut butter ice cream, and most importantly, the piece de resistance - a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup crowing it all… ahh, there's really nothing like it. But who among us can afford to enjoy a nearly 900 calorie dessert more than once in a blue? Surely not this gal. 


Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake a la Friendly's, Photo: NK

This sad fact is why I set out to try and capture just a sliver of the joy that comes from my bi-annual indulgence in a Friendly's Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae, minus the guilt. I am pleased and even a bit surprised to say that this low-cal, high-protein anytime shake does the job! It can never ever replace the real deal, but will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth as well as, if you're anything like me, the constant lure of peanutty goodness.

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake 
(a la Friendly's Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae)
Yield: SERVES 1 (generously)

RECIPE: 
1 single serve container good quality fat free vanilla yogurt such as Siggi's Skyr
 2 Tablespoons PB2 powdered peanut butter
1 Tablespoon Fox's UBet Chocolate Syrup, plus a bit extra to swirl on top of the glass
1/4 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract
1/2 Cup Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
 5 Large Ice Cubes. 

Blend until smooth in a high powered blender such as Vitamix. 

NUTRITION:  220 cal, 3g fat, 21g protein, 9g sugar

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Italian Feast On The Grill - Bistecca alla Fiorentina & More

Really special Porterhouse, Photo: NK
The porterhouse really is the king of steak, so when you get a good one, you better treat it right. 

Today, we're using this exceptional cut of meat as the centerpiece to an Italian-inspired Feast that can be made mostly on your good old outdoor grill. The best part? This menu is easy yet super impressive (you know how we love that…). 

Simply adjust the servings to your needs and you'll come out with a really fantastic and completely achievable prep-ahead meal that will wow. Two of three of today's recipes come from a wonderful cookbook that we use often, Mario Batali's Italian Grill. (Check out another great recipe from this book HERE).



Here's the Menu:

Corn As Italians Would Eat It (by Mario Batali) 

Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine Style Steak, by Mario Batali)

Summer Plum Panzanella (our own creation) 


Summer Plum Panzanella, Photo: NK

Summer Plum Panzanella
Serves 4  

Ingredients: 
5 one-inch thick slices of Italian Bread cut into cubes
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil 
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper 
Teaspoon finely chopped fresh Rosemary leaves (optional)
Two ripe Plums, pitted and sliced in 1/3 inch wedges
1/3 Vidalia Onion, roughly chopped
1/2 head Butter Lettuce, chopped 
15 Small Yellow Tomatoes (grape or cherry sized) such as Sunburst or Zima, cut in half 

Dressing: 
1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
1 tablespoon Olive Oil 
Two shakes of Salt
Two shakes of Pepper 

Method:

1. Toss Bread Cubes with a Tablespoon Olive Oil. In a toaster oven or oven, toast the Bread until crisp and lightly golden. Remove from oven and sprinkle with Salt, Pepper, and optional Rosemary. Set aside.
2. To make the salad, combine Butter Lettuce with the Onions, sliced Plums, and Tomatoes. Toss gently. 
3. To serve, add the toasted Bread Crumbs right before serving. Dress the salad a teaspoon at a time, tossing gently, so as to avoid sogginess. You may not need all the dressing. Serve right away!  
Thyme, Sage, and Rosemary, Photo: NK 


Next up, let's see about our steak!



It's important to note that Florentine-style steak is usually made using a T-Bone. Because there are only minor differences between the T-bone and Porterhouse (a variation in the length of the tenderloin half of the cut) we'll still call our creation authentic. There's no question that this juicy cut of meat enhanced by fresh herbs and then charcoal grilled was nothing short of delicious. 



Bistecca alla Fiorentina - Recipe HERE

Classic Florentine Steak, Photo: NK 


and finally,

Corn as Italians Would Eat It - Recipe HERE

Corn As Italians Would Eat It, Photo: NK
BUON APPETITO! 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

In Season: Apricots - DIY Apricot Butter

Fruit Butters are a great way to make use of overripe fruit. They're also a bit easier to make than jellies and jams. Today, we're using the stone fruit star of the season, the Apricot, as the base for a smooth and tangy fruit butter that is irresistible by itself on bread or crackers, or, better yet, alongside butter, cream cheese, ricotta, or even sinful mascarpone. (We admit to an Apricot obsession this summer - check out our recent Apricot Mint Sorbet).


Homemade Apricot Butter, Photo: NK
We love our recipe all the more because it employs ingredients you'll find handy in your pantry (except for the fresh Apricots of course), and in just an hour and fifteen minutes' time, only a bit of which is spent actively cooking, you'll emerge from your kitchen with two cups of Apricot Butter that tastes just as good or better than anything you can find in a gourmet store. Enjoy it yourself or cool the mixture and spoon into a mason jar for a charmingly homemade hostess gift. Apricot Butter can be stored in the fridge for up to a week for a taste of summer anytime the mood strikes. 

Apricot Butter
Adapted from Food & Wine Magazine
Gorgeous, ripe Apricots. Photo: NK
Yield: 2 Cups 

Ingredients:
10 or 11 very ripe medium-sized Apricots, carefully pitted and halved
1 Cup Orange Juice
1/3 Cup Water
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Real Vanilla Extract
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 good pinches of Salt

Method:
1. Place all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Partially cover and over moderately-high heat, allow the mixture to to simmer. Stir occasionally and keep an eye on it for about 10 minutes. Apricots will become very soft.

2. Uncover the pot and and lower the flame tp just under medium. Continue to cook simmer, stirring every few minutes, until the mixture is very thick. About an hour. 

3. Scrape mixture into food processor or high powered blender (we used our Vitamix) and blend until quite smooth. Allow the mixture to cool fully before refrigerating in an airtight container. Apricot Butter will keep up to a week in the fridge. 
ENJOY! 

Friday, July 18, 2014

Weeknight Indulgence: Strawberry Pretzel Sundae With Mascarpone Gelato

Strawberries! Photo:NK
How do you get inspired by something you didn't even order? Easy. When the description itself is so mouthwatering that you can't stop thinking about it for weeks. Positively stuffed by a great meal a few weeks ago at The Topping Rose House, Tom Colicchio's new(ish) restaurant venture out in scenic Bridgehampton, we were compelled towards uncharacteristic modesty when it came to our dessert order. We opted for a very spartan scoop of interesting house made ice cream - cream cheese flavor to be exact. An odd choice to be sure but, I must say - delicious! The flavor was not too sweet, a bit tart actually, but overall, very refreshing. 

Still, as time went on, I just could not stop thinking about a dessert on the menu that we'd passed on: a sundae, but not just any sundae, one that incorporated  our tangy cream cheese ice cream with decadent fresh strawberry compote and salty crumbled pretzels. YES. 
A lovely meal was had at Topping Rose House, Photo: NK
With Strawberries in season and so delicious this year, I felt I had no choice but to embark on a mission to find this unique ice cream flavor elsewhere, or at least a worthy stand-in (in this case, Il Laboratorio del Gelato's sinful Mascarpone Gelato was just the thing). 

When to concoct this much anticipated sundae? Any time you could use a little pick me up. The Strawberry Compote is super fast and the final result will pretty much make you day. You can bet this is going to make the summer dinner party rotation. And it's kid friendly too. 

Let's go!!!!!


Fresh Strawberry & Pretzel Sundae with Mascarpone Gelato, Photo: NK


Fresh Strawberry & Pretzel Sundae with Mascarpone Gelato
Inspired by The Topping Rose House / Tom Colicchio 
Serves 2 

Strawberry Sauce Ingredients:
1/3 LB Ripe Stawberries, hulled and sliced uniformly. Slice once in half when done
1 heaping teaspoon Sugar (optional)
Pretzel Crisp make the perfect topping,  Photo:NK
1/2 teaspoon Good Quality Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Water 

Sundae Ingredients:
Mascarpone Gelato or Cream Cheese flavored Ice Cream (you can substitute any other not-to-sweet, relatively neutral flavor  such as malt. Note: if you use vanilla gelato or Ice Cream,  you may want to omit the sugar from the Strawberry Sauce depending on how ripe your berries are) 

1 big handful of Salted Pretzel Crisps or Salted Pretzels of your choice, crushed into coarse pieces

Fox's U-Bet or other good quality Chocolate Syrup

Mint, for an optional garnish
Heavenly Gelato, Photo:NK



Method: 

To make the Strawberry Sauce, place Strawberry slices in as small pan over medium heat. Add a heaping teaspoon of Sugar, the Vanilla extract, and a tablespoon of water. Allow to cook, stirring, a few minutes until liquids thicken and Strawberries break down a bit. Once sauce has reached the desired consistency (we like ours with good chunks of Strawberry and a nice amount of the sweet syrup), turn off the stove and allow it to cool completely. 

To serve: Scoop two generous balls of Ice Cream or Gelato into a sundae dish. Top with Strawberry Sauce and a handful if Pretzel Crumbs. Drizzle with a little bit of Chocolate Syrup. Garnish with a Mint Sprig. Enjoy!!