Monthly Archives: June 2010
Greek Burger with Feta and Tzatziki
| June 20, 2010 | Filled under Beef, Lamb, and Pork, Greek/Mediterranean, Sandwiches, Shawn's Favorites, Summer |
It’s summer! Finally. What better way to celebrate than with a fat, juicy burger?
I’m usually a burger traditionalist — give me some bacon, cheddar, and barbecue, and I’m a happy girl. Then there was last summer’s favorite, stuffed with stilton and topped with onion jam. But this Greek Burger, laden with feta and spices and slathered with cool, tangy tzatziki sauce? I’m pretty sure this will be making frequent appearances on our table from now on. Especially since it pairs so naturally with a greek salad instead of unhealthy pastas salads or fries. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect meal to get my summer started.
The idea for this burger had been in the back of my mind for a few days, but when I found this beautiful fresh, local garlic at the farmer’s market (along with a crate of cucumbers that were marked down to a dollar because they were “ugly”) I knew it was time to act. We debated turkey vs. lamb vs. beef for a while before settling on lean beef — it was far leaner than the lamb, and I always get nervous cooking ground turkey (which had very similar nutritional stats to the beef anyway). By the time you finish mixing the meat together with the feta cheese and gyro seasonings, I don’t think the choice of protein really makes a ton of difference flavor-wise.
Burger Shaping Tip: Tired of your burgers shrinking in diameter as they cook? As you form your burger, press your thumb into the center to create a shallow crater about 1/3 the diameter of the patty. As your burger heats and the center puffs up, it will rise to fill in the crater instead of pulling the edges in. As a result, the burger will have a smooth top and a diameter that is almost identical to the raw patty that you formed.
Chewy Brown Butter-Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
| June 17, 2010 | Filled under Cake and Pastry, Desserts, Indulge |
Psst! Hey… you! Over here. I have cookies.
Not just any cookies: soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies. With brown butter. Because what isn’t better with the addition of brown butter?
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a dessert. I’ve been trying to stick to the whole healthy thing. But these last few weeks? They’ve been very healthy; some might even say too healthy. And life is all about balance. No matter how delicious my healthy recipes are, if I don’t get a sweet treat every now and then I get very cranky.
And these cookies are just what the doctor ordered if you’re in need of a treat! Their delicate crumb and deep, nutty, toffee-like flavor has driven me to distraction. I had originally planned to use them for ice cream sandwiches, but they were so good on their own that before I knew it, there were only two left! (There also may have been a very pathetic instance of me standing in front of the open freezer, eating dough that I had put in there to bake another day. Who had time for baking?) I decided I had better seize the opportunity while I still could, and sandwiched some vanilla bean ice cream between my last two cookies. I immediately set aside any doubt that I had harbored about the potential for the ice cream to ruin a thing that was already too good to be true. It was easily one of the best ice cream sandwiches I’ve ever eaten.
I’ve already made a mental list of events that I can make these cookies for. Because I clearly can’t be trusted with them sitting unclaimed in my kitchen. If you have more restraint than I do — or are generous enough to share them with coworkers or neighbors who will suddenly be your best friends – I highly recommend making these. ASAP.
Chewy cookies not your cup of tea? Try my recipe for Crispy Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Chewy Brown Butter-Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brown butter gives these tender cookies a deep toffee-like flavor and a slight saltiness that renders them irresistible. The dough will be very soft — if necessary, pop it into the fridge for 10 minutes to firm it up and make it easier to work with. The dough can also be formed into a log and frozen for quick and easy slice and bake cookies whenever you feel the need. Just slice the frozen dough into rounds and add 5 minutes to the baking time.
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
• 1 Tbs instant espresso powder
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (I like Ghirardelli)
Preheat oven to 365 F.
Place the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow it to melt, stirring occasionally to prevent it from burning. Continue cooking until the butter turns a golden brown (the color of caramel sauce) and has a slightly nutty aroma — this should take about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the espresso power. Let cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
In a small bowl, whisk together the brown butter mixture, sugars, and vanilla. Beat in the egg.
Gently mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients — the dough will be very soft but should hold its shape. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Drop rounded teaspoons of dough into a cookie sheet lines with parchment or a silpat. Bake 10-14 minutes or until the centers are just set. Slide the parchment off the hot pan and allow to cool completely.
Yields 30 cookies.
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