boozy desserts? the best of both worlds.

Earlier this week, my roommate and I made the arduous, block-long journey to join our friend at her apartment for an evening of food, wine, and some much-needed catching up.  Seeing as our friend was cooking us dinner, I thought the least I could do was provide something sweet. And, since we’d be eating Italian, I thought I’d try my hand at tiramisu (and, perhaps, give a nod to my east coast roots?).

I’ve never made tiramisu, and when I tried to find a recipe online, I was overwhelmed with options. In the end, I went with David Lebovitz‘s recipe — I loved the idea of making individual servings. Plus, everything he makes (and photographs) looks just so damn good! I made a few substitutions, chief of which was the omission of eggs. I was a bit nervous about using raw eggs (especially since the eggs I had on hand were just your average grocery store carton). I’d feel pretty bad about getting my friends sick, plus, I probably wouldn’t get an invitation back, which would be unfortunate. So, in order to lighten up the mascarpone, I beat in a healthy dollop of whipped cream (a suggestion Lebovitz makes in the comments section below his recipe). Next time around, I’d like to try my hand at making it with the eggs — I imagine the flavor might be much richer? At any rate, the whipped cream worked (and tasted) just fine. Lebovitz also uses both rum (dark) and cognac; I only had spiced rum at my disposal. So again, next time, more booze.

I served my tiramisu in 6oz ramekins — this recipe made about 3 generous servings, which could’ve easily been stretched into 4 servings.

girls night tiramisu
(adapted from David Lebovitz. also, pairs well with two bottles of red wine)

ingredients:

1 cup of strong black coffee or espresso, cooled
3 or 4 tablespoons of rum (less/more to taste)
8 oz mascarpone cheese
about 6ish oz whipped cream
about 6ish ladyfingers
1 bar of dark chocolate

In a bowl large enough for dipping, combine rum and coffee. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, add 8 oz of mascarpone. Gently fold in enough whipped cream to lighten the mascarpone (I used a bit less than half of a 15 oz tub).

Break a ladyfinger in half and dip into the boozy coffee long enough that the coffee soaks through (but the biscuit does not smoosh apart).

[Now, about those ladyfingers. When I looked online for a recipe, this step seemed to be the trickiest--not to mention that everybody seems to have a different opinion about the best way to soak the ladyfingers. The basic idea is that you want your biscuit wet enough that the rum/coffee flavor is well introduced into the dessert, but not too wet that you have mushy clumps. Most recipes said to dip the ladyfingers for about 5-10 seconds. The ladyfingers I purchased were dried, and seemed to need a bit longer. Breaking them in half really helped getting them soaked through.]

Put a dollop of the mascarpone mixture into the ramekin. Next, layer with the coffee-soaked ladyfinger halves. Top with a generous amount of shaved chocolate. Repeat layers as space allows, then cover and refrigerate. The longer the dessert has to chill, the better the flavors come together. I made my dessert in the morning, so by 8ish that evening, it was good to go.

Since I had half a tub of whipped cream and a bunch of ladyfingers leftover (and since somebody special had just finished his Sanskrit midterm), I thought I’d make another dish of tiramisu the next day. Although this one was even less authentic–no mascarpone at all–it still tasted pretty good and was super quick and easy to pull together. I added a little splash of vanilla extract to the whipped cream just to make it a bit more nuanced. Otherwise, the recipe and method was exactly the same (except I made just one large serving, putting it in a 1 cup pyrex bowl).

Moral of the story? This dessert is pretty damn versatile and can be easily adapted. Also, I think it’s time we planned another dinner, ladies.

 

 

busy busy busy!

Hard to believe that it’s been over a month since my last post, but, in my defense, the past few weeks have been busy with exciting milestones and delightful visits from friends and family. October brought with it my fifth marathon, a weekend with my parents, another weekend with one of my oldest and dearest friends, and a boatload of quality time spent in the company of my main squeeze. And, since my folks were so generous as to drive out my last remaining essential possessions (my beautiful bookshelf and a ton of kitchen stuff–pots and pans and my 24 PIECE PYREX SET!), I’ve been happily putting my newly re-acquired baking tools to use.

Although there are, I’m sure, a few odds and ends still left at my parents’ house, this last carload marks something pretty exciting–I’m good and settled. And entertaining out of town visitors is a pretty sweet way to reinforce this realization. I’m so glad to be able to share a small part of my life out here (and the important places and people in it) with my loved ones from back home.

I was chatting with a friend the other day, and, after catching up on the aforementioned recent events, he asked me what else I’ve been doing that has nourished me lately. His choice of words really stuck with me–as did the reflection that even small and simple actions carry weight. Pretty timely conversation because, guess what? This little project of mine is now a year old! While this blog is certainly nothing fancy (and at times quiet), it has been something meaningful for me. I’m in a bit of a challenging stretch these days, and having an outlet has really meant the world to me. I created apron-clad because one day last fall, after a summer abroad, I baked a loaf of bread for the first time in MONTHS. And holy hell did it feel good–the warm dough in my hands, the comforting smell sneaking out of our oven, the satisfaction of creating something. This blog has always been a reminder of that moment, and I’m grateful to those of you who have read my entries, posted comments, or even shared a link to my blog with others (thanks, Mom!).

The following recipe comes courtesy of the boyfriend (or, more accurately I suppose, his mom)–I’ve had it for some time now, and was really stoked to be able to try it out (and break in one of my pyrex pans). I had to make a few changes, mostly due to what I had (or didn’t have) handy in my kitchen. Chief of these substitutions was the flour; the recipe calls for spelt, but all I had was good old all-purpose. Pecans were also used in lieu of walnuts.

This is a great recipe because (1) you only need to use one bowl and (2a) it is basically thin bars of banana bread covered with chocolate chips, which means that (2b) I feel somewhat less guilty eating it for/with breakfast. Hell yeah. Also, like the recipe says, it’s totally better the longer it sits after baking–days two and three were awesome.

Banana-Chocolate Chip Squares
From: King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking: Delicious Recipes Using Nutritious Whole Grains, Countryman Press, Woodstock, Vermont, 2006

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter
1 ¼ cups packed light or dark brown sugar
3 very ripe medium bananas (about 8 ounces, peeled; about 1 cup, mashed)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 large egg
1 ¾ cup whole spelt flour
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup (4 ounces) chopped walnuts

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease a 9 X 13 inch pan.

Cream the butter and sugar in a medium bowl till smooth.  Beat in the bananas, lemon juice, vanilla, baking powder, salt and spices, scraping the bowl.  Add the egg, beating until smooth and scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl again.  Sir in the flour, mixing thoroughly.  Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.  Allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes; it’ll thicken a bit as it stands.  Sprinkle the chips and nuts on top.

Bake the squares until the center is moist but not liquid, 35-40 minutes.  Remove them from the oven and let cool on a rack.  For best texture, allow them to rest overnight, covered, before cutting and serving.

 

Normally, I’d post a picture of the baked good in question, but the only photo I managed to take before gobbling up the last square is kinda sub-par. Instead, I leave you with this:

 

They look goofy, but we had fun. Happy (almost) Halloween!

 

year three

Three years ago last Tuesday, I moved to Chicago. I had come here from Maryland to begin an MA program at the University of Chicago Divinity School, and was eager to be in a new place and to begin the next chapter of my life as a young twenty-something. Although I of course had no idea where the next two years (the length of my program) would take me, I knew that it was the start of something that would change me, and that my life would be marked by this move — there was pre-Chicago, and there would be what came next.

As is often the case, where I am now is quite different from where I predicted I might be. And while I still feel like I’m in a bit of transition (although, aren’t we always?), one thing is for certain. Three apartments, two neighborhoods, and countless trips on public transit later–I happily consider myself a Chicago resident (albeit transplanted), and have consciously chosen to remain so.

Earlier this past year, when certain life plans did not come to pass (but soon transformed into new ones), I was presented with the realization that I had the terrifying (and thrilling) freedom to choose my next move. At the time, there was nothing keeping me officially tied to any particular place (at least once my lease ended). No classes, no jobs. Seeing as I was on the cusp of a new beginning, one might imagine there was good reason to pack my bags and head somewhere else.

And yet, I made the decision to remain in Chicago. Once I realized that this was what I had really wanted all along (and meant more to me than the plans I originally had made), making this decision was liberating and exciting. In many ways, I felt as if I was moving here all over again, and that my life was, yet again, soon to be marked by this fresh start. I was here because I wanted to be. Plain and simple. I had, quite mindfully, begun making a life here.*

In the time that has transpired since making that decision, my life in Chicago has certainly reflected a new relationship to this city. No longer attending classes, I now live in a different part of town and have new favorite restaurants and cafes. I frequent different bus routes (in fact, I have seen more of Chicago in the last six months than ever before). I now start my runs on the northern half of the lakefront  trail, and enjoy winding around the parks near my apartment (although south-side runners are decidedly friendlier). I volunteer for a few local organizations whose work I dig. I’ve made new friends and acquired new roommates (which is not to say that I don’t miss my original ones! 5513 4-ever!).

Of course, I gleefully watched the O’s beat the Sox when Baltimore came to town earlier this summer. But I am happy here, and I am grateful for what moving away from Maryland has brought into my life. Most of all, I am glad to now have more than a few very good reasons to maintain my Chicago residency — and keep exploring this fine city I’ve made my home.

——–

*This would not be possible without the support of my family, to whom I remain so so indebted.

old line state: some open-ended musings

Back in June, I went home to Maryland to pay a little visit with my family and friends. I hadn’t been back to the east coast since the holidays, and I was in serious need of some catching up.

“Home,” as a concept, is something I’ve given a lot of thought to lately. I’m still trying to decide what makes a place my home–and whether I can have a handful of them, or if “home,” in its purest sense, is limited to only one locale. In my wandering around the world, I’ve cultivated a sense of refuge in a number of very specific places. And although I’ve lived in Maryland, India, Thailand, Nepal, and now Chicago, IL–in many, many ways, Maryland will always be where I’m from, and where, in some sense, I will always return.

Yep, that's a sign in our yard welcoming me home. My mom is fantastic.

During my visit, I enjoyed Maryland at its best–local beer, crabs laden with Old Bay, snowballs (with marshmallow fluff, of course),  ice cream at a favored local shop, ballpark fare, the summer salads I crave when the temperature starts climbing. There were visits with friends and family, lazy afternoons lounging at home, and even camping trips at my old alma mater. And almost everything I did was punctuated by food–and it was all fabulous.

I even got in a bit of cooking. A highlight of my visit, Mom and I made and canned two batches of strawberry jam! My Grandma Christine used to make jellies and jam, and this was the first time we’ve made it since she passed many years ago. Made from berries picked from a local farm (the same farm my family has frequented through the years to pick apples, pumpkins, and cut down our Christmas tree), the jam was really quite simple to make and came out so so good! This was the second time I’ve canned with my mother, and I look forward to the day I get to bring her extra canning equipment home to Chicago. Canning is a lot like baking bread–it seems super intricate and involved (and sure, it does involve a few important steps), but in the end, is totally doable. I think what I like best about it is how much it gets me brainstorming–imagine all the delicious things to preserve! And share! There is nothing better than being able to enjoy your favorite fruits or vegetables long after their growing season has passed.

the soon-to-be fruits of our labor (ha!)

Canning, like all things homemade, is a labor of love, but ultimately ridiculously rewarding. I like that I know precisely what is going into my food, and that my own hands have played a crucial role in bringing it into being. And, as I’ve written about before, I am proud to be learning the skills of the women before me. I recently read a review of a book about “radical homemaking,” (as well as a number of varied responses to it). According the author, “radical homemaking” is the idea that learning the skills our ancestors considered second-nature can now be revolutionary; that rather than depending on mass-produced goods we can instead responsibly provide for our families and communities ourselves. Granted, there is much to be said about privilege and choice, and romanticizing a way of life that, for many, is not optional–as well as what it means when work (and what is recognized as work) is divided along gender lines. I am curious to read the book, and to see whether the author responsibly explores these concerns.  Nevertheless, it is an intriguing idea at first blush, and one that I’ve found myself thinking about more and more. It is a concept that I’d like to revisit, and share my reflections on at a later time.

Until then, let me leave it this: forging a relationship with food and cooking has created a stronger connection to my family’s past, and is a reminder to me that I come from strong, hard-working women. For me, learning their recipes, inheriting their tools, and preserving their memory, I feel them close with me. I am able to share in their history. I am home.

Yeah, I also caved in and bought conversation hearts….

Ah, Valentine’s Day. Some love it. Some love to hate it. For this girl, it’s really just an excuse to enjoy a decadent dessert, paired with a glass or two of wine.

Well, let’s be real. Leniency is the name of the game when it comes to excuses for booze and chocolate. (Isn’t that right, roommates?)

This year, Valentine’s Day coincided with the first day of Losar, the Tibetan New Year. Losar is near and dear to my heart for a number of reasons. In the spring of 2004, I spent five months studying in northern India as a student of Emory University’s Tibetan Studies in Dharamsala program. Living with Tibetan roommates, volunteering with local non-profits, and learning from esteemed professors, Geshes, Rinpoches, and community leaders, this program offered an incredible immersion into a Tibetan exile community–one that welcomed us with unparalleled warmth and generosity, sharing their history, culture, and hope for the future. These five months were truly life-changing and laid a foundation for continued travel and study in South Asia.

I celebrated my first Losar during that initial visit to India and won’t soon forget it–thanks in part to Lhakpa la’s musical skills as host and Pasang la’s liberal hand with the whiskey (FYI: Green Label and orange Fanta? Bad news.).

And so, with my thoughts on dear friends from all around the world, I figured it’d only be right to usher in the Year of the Iron Tiger with a little something special. Lucky for me, I had recently stumbled across a recipe worthy of the occasion–molten chocolate cakes, as seen on Mark Bittman’s NY Times food blog.

Oh, man. These are good. REALLY GOOD. The first bite, when you break into the cake with your fork and all that melted chocolate oozes out? Fan-tastic.

Best of all, they are ridiculously easy to make and only take about 7 minutes in the oven. You can even whip up the batter ahead of time and refrigerate until you’re ready to enjoy them. It has been an all-day effort to restrain myself from making another batch!

But desserts aside, the truth is that there’s more to Valentine’s Day than chocolates or flowers. This time of year is also an opportunity to bring attention to the work of a kick-ass international movement. Founded by Eve Ensler (of Vagina Monologues fame), V-Day works to raise global awareness about violence against women and girls. Each year, V-Day’s Spotlight Campaign highlights a particular group of women who have been targets of violence; in addition to putting an international media spotlight on these areas, V-Day  will donate funds to support the work of other anti-violence groups.  V-Day’s 2010 Spotlight Campaign is dedicated to the women and girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo. To learn more, get involved, or make a donation, please visit this site. Information on local V-Day events can also be found here. (If you haven’t attended a V-Day event yet, do so. You’re missing out!)

Happy V-Day! And Losar Tashi Delek!