Posts by Beth

Bready or Not: Baked Lemon Curd Hand Pies

Posted by on Feb 15, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, lemon, pie | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Baked Lemon Curd Hand Pies

Pie is good. Portable pie is something special indeed. These Baked Lemon Curd Hand Pies are a real treat.

Bready or Not: Baked Lemon Curd Hand Pies

This is a pairing of recipes that dirties numerous dishes and spaces, but the result is a good batch of hand pies. The recipe makes roughly 18 to 20, so make these for a group!

Bready or Not: Baked Lemon Curd Hand Pies

I usually experiment with freezing my baked goods to see how they keep, but I didn’t do so with these. My husband took them to work, where they were pretty much inhaled!

Bready or Not: Baked Lemon Curd Hand Pies

Use homemade lemon curd, if you have a reliable recipe, or use a trustworthy brand. I recommend going with one that is pretty thick, as a watery one might interfere with the seal of the pies.

Bready or Not: Hand Pie Dough

This dough comes together quickly in the food processor. Make at least a few hours ahead of assembling the hand pies, or freeze the dough for later. Modified from Bake from Scratch Magazine July/August 2021.
Author: Beth Cato

Equipment

  • food processor
  • food scale
  • plastic wrap

Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup plus 1 Tb unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup ice water
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  • Place the flour and salt in the bowl of the food processor. Pulse to combine. Cut the butter into cubes and add, pulsing until the pieces are pea-sized.
  • In a liquid measured cup, combine the ice water and vinegar. With the processor running, pour in the liquid until the dough comes together. It will look crumbly but should come together if squeezed between fingers.
  • Turn out the dough and divide it in half. Wrap tightly in plastic and chill for at least 2 hours. Store in fridge for a few days or freeze for later.

Bready or Not: Baked Lemon Curd Hand Pies

These hand pies don’t take long to come together since the dough is already made and prepared lemon curd is used for the filling. Makes 18-20 pies. Modified from Bake from Scratch Magazine July/August 2021.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: hand pie, lemon, pie
Author: Beth Cato

Equipment

  • flour for dusting
  • 2 1/2-inch cutter
  • basting brush
  • parchment paper
  • baking sheet

Ingredients

  • hand pie dough
  • 1 cup lemon curd
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon water
  • coarse sugar optional

Instructions

  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the prepared pie dough to be about 1/8-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch cutter, cut dough, reforming scraps to roll out again.
  • Dollop about a teaspoon of lemon curd into the center of half of the dough rounds.
  • In a small bowl, beat together the egg and water. Brush the egg mix around the edges that surround the curd; do not discard egg wash. Top each with a remaining dough circle, stretching them slightly to cover. Press edges firmly to seal, then apply the tines of a fork to bind the halves. Chill hand pies in fridge for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven at 425-degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place hand pies on parchment. Brush tops with remaining egg wash, then use the tip of a knife to cut a small x in each to vent steam during baking. If desired, sprinkle coarse sugar over the tops.
  • Bake for 13 to 16 minutes, until pies are golden. Move to a rack or different sheet to completely cool. Store in a covered container. Best eaten within a day or two.

OM NOM NOM!

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    Happy Valentine’s Day news–my book release has moved up!

    Posted by on Feb 14, 2023 in Blog, Thousand Recipes for Revenge | 1 comment

    A Thousand Recipes for Revenge

    I’m happy to share the news that the release date for A Thousand Recipes for Revenge is now June 1, 2023. That’s right, you can get it two weeks sooner!

    Along those lines, I’ll repeat the plaintive plea of all authors: please, please preorder! Those orders can make or break a new release. To help you along, here are some handy dandy links.

    #SFWAPro

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    Bready or Not: No-Bake Cookie Bars

    Posted by on Feb 8, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, chocolate, cookies, no-bake dessert, nutty | Comments Off on Bready or Not: No-Bake Cookie Bars

    When you have no time to bake and you need sweets fast–or you don’t have an oven or can’t heat the house–no-bake treats are the way to go. These No-Bake Cookie Bars involve little fuss and are sweet and tasty.

    Bready or Not: No-Bake Cookie Bars

    Also, these are pretty cheap to make. I used a generic kind of vanilla wafers that were a dollar-something.

    Bready or Not: No-Bake Cookie Bars

    Since I live in Arizona, I had to store these in the fridge, but in most places, you’d probably be fine keeping them at room temperature.

    Bready or Not: No-Bake Cookie Bars

    Bready or Not: No-Bake Cookie Bars

    These no-bake bars are super-fast to make and are ready to slice up after a few hours of chill time. Perfect for when you need a no-fuss dessert, fast!
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Keyword: chocolate, cookies, no bake, pecans, walnuts
    Author: Beth Cato

    Equipment

    • 9×9 pan
    • nonstick spray
    • aluminum foil
    • waxed paper
    • heavy glass

    Ingredients

    • 11 ounces vanilla wafer cookies generic is fine
    • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
    • 1 cup chocolate chips semisweet or milk
    • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Line a 9×9 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
    • Use a food processor or a gallon bag, rolling pin, and muscle to crush all of the vanilla wafers.
    • In a big bowl, stir together the cookies crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, nuts, vanilla, and salt. Completely mix and coat.
    • Dump the mixture into the prepared pan. Level it out, then use waxed paper and a heavy object such as a glass to evenly compress the crumbs. Chill in fridge for at least 2 hours.
    • Use the foil to lift the contents onto a cutting board. Slice up and store in a sealed container either at room temperature or in the fridge.

    OM NOM NOM!

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      Bready or Not: Double Apple Spice Cake

      Posted by on Feb 1, 2023 in apples, Blog, Bready or Not, cake | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Double Apple Spice Cake

      This Double Apple Spice Cake includes chopped apples in the batter and sliced apples prettily arranged on top. You’re pretty much guaranteed to get apple in every bite!

      Bready or Not: Double Apple Spice Cake

      I came across a version of this recipe promoted by Kerrygold Irish Butter. I thought it looked amazing, but I wanted to change it to a square pan for easier slicing and freezing and make a number of other little changes, too.

      Double Apple Spice Cake

      Instead of dusting the top with confectioners’ sugar, I decided to use a technique I also use for my Calvados Apple Galette: brushing honey across the top near the end of baking to add some sweetness and glisten.

      Double Apple Spice Cake

      This is really such a pretty cake. The spices are gentle, but present enough to boost the flavor of the apples.

      Modified from Kerrygold.

      Bready or Not: Double Apple Spice Cake

      This cake has a chopped apple in the batter and sliced apples beautifully arranged across the top. The perfect cake for apple-lovers! Modified from Kerrygold Butter.
      Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
      Author: Beth Cato

      Equipment

      • 8×8 or 9×9 square pan
      • aluminum foil
      • nonstick spray
      • basting brush

      Ingredients

      • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
      • 2 large eggs room temperature
      • 3/4 cup sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
      • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
      • 8 ounces Kerrygold Salted Butter melted
      • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
      • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
      • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
      • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
      • 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
      • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
      • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
      • 3 medium baking apples like Pink Lady, Envy, Granny Smith, etc
      • 2 Tablespoons turbinado sugar
      • 1/3 cup honey

      Instructions

      • Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line an 8×8 or 9×9 square pan with aluminum foil and apply nonstick cooking spray.
      • Prepare the apples. Peel then dice up one of the apples. The other two, peel and slice thinly.
      • To a large bowl, add the brown sugar and eggs. Whisk for about a minute until thoroughly combined and creamy.
      • Add the sour cream/yogurt, pure vanilla extract, and melted butter. Whisk well.
      • In a separate medium size bowl, combine flour, kosher salt, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and allspice.
      • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Before the dry ingredients are fully incorporated, add the diced apples. Continue to fold in until no streaks of flour remain.
      • Pour batter into the prepared baking pan, then use an offset spatula to smooth it out. Shingle the thinly sliced apples on top. The sprinkle turbinado sugar all over the slices.
      • Bake for 35 minutes. Pull out the cake and brush on the honey across all of the nooks and crannies. Place the cake back in oven to bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the top is turning golden brown. The apples on top should be fork-tender with the center cake passing the toothpick test.
      • Let cool at least 30 minutes before slicing in. Store covered in the fridge. Cake can also be frozen for later enjoyment.

      OM NOM NOM!

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        Bready or Not: Marcona Almond Bars

        Posted by on Jan 25, 2023 in Blog, blondies, Bready or Not, chocolate, nutty | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Marcona Almond Bars

        I’ve used almonds in many cookie and bar recipes, but these Marcona Almond Bars are especially decadent and good.

        Bready or Not: Marcona Almond Bars

        First of all, the base recipe starts with browned butter. Almond butter is also mixed in, which adds to the taste and texture. There’s just a touch of spice involved. These bars are really about the almonds.

        Bready or Not: Marcona Almond Bars

        What makes Marcona almonds different? They are from Spain, for one, and have the skin removed. They have a high standard of quality, a buttery, clean, crispness to them that is especially nice in contrast to chocolate. (They are also great on a Spanish-themed cheeseboard with things like Manchego cheese and membrillo paste.)

        Bready or Not: Marcona Almond Bars

        These bars are delicious for a snack or dessert, and they look especially pretty in their simplicity.

        Modified from February 2014 issue of Food & Wine Magazine.

        Bready or Not: Marcona Almond Bars

        These are, dare we say, elevated almond bars thanks the combination of browned butter, chocolate chips, and salty Marcona almonds. Modified from February 2014 issue of Food & Wine Magazine.
        Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
        Keyword: almond, bars, cookies
        Author: Beth Cato

        Equipment

        • large saucepan
        • 9×13 pan
        • offset spatula

        Ingredients

        • 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
        • 3 1/2 cups light brown sugar packed
        • 5 large eggs lightly beaten
        • 1/2 cup roasted almond butter
        • 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
        • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
        • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
        • 3 cups all-purpose flour
        • 2 cups Marcona almonds 9 ounces
        • 1 3/4 cups chocolate chips 11 ounces (1 bag)

        Instructions

        • In a large saucepan, cook the butter over medium heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set off-heat to cool for about 30 minutes.
        • Start oven preheating at 325-degrees. Place a large strip of aluminum foil in a 9×13 pan and apply nonstick spray or butter.
        • Add the sugar, eggs, almond butter, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon to the cooled browned butter. Mix until smooth. Add the flour. Fold in 1 1/2 cups of the almonds and 1 1/2 cups of the chocolate chips.
        • Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Use an offset spatula to even out dough. Scatter the remaining almonds and chocolate chips over the top and lightly press in.
        • Bake for 60 minutes. The middle should pass the toothpick test. Cool at room temperature, speeding process in the fridge, if desired. Use the foil to lift the contents onto a cutting board to slice into bars. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.

        OM NOM NOM!

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