TO TRY: Momofuku Kalbi Marinated Hanger Steak

Hanger Steak:
2 c apple juice
1/2 c light soy sauce
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
5-6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp fresly ground black pepper
Four 8 oz hanger steaks

1. Make the marinade: combine all of the ingredients in al arge freezer back and mix to combine. Add the steaks and marinate for 24 hours.
2. Grill for 6-10 minutes total for medium rare, let them rest for at least 5 minutes.
3. Cut against the grain.

For ssam: serve with rice on bibb lettuce with Maldon and sauces

Ginger Scallion Sauce:
2.5 c thinly sliced scallions (1-2 large bunches)
1/2 c finely mined peeled fresh ginger
1/4 c neutral oil
1.5 tsp light soy sauce
3/4 tsp sherry vinegar
3/4 tsp kosher salt or more to taste.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Carrot Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

I like to grate the carrots by hand — actually, that’s a lie, I don’t enjoy it one bit — because I want it very finely grated for a soft batter. The food processor works, too, but the pieces are a bit thicker.

Source: http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/12/carrot-cake-with-maple-cream-cheese-frosting/

Makes 24 cupcakes (or one two-layer cake, instructions at end)

2 cups (9 oz) all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups (14 oz) sugar
3/4* cups canola oil
4 large eggs
3 cups grated peeled carrots
1 cups coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Line 24 cupcake molds with papers, or butter and flour them.

Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in medium bowl to blend. Whisk sugar and oil in large bowl until well blended. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in carrots, walnuts and raisins, if using them. Divide batter among cupcake molds, filling 3/4 of each.

Bake cupcakes 14 to 18 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean. Let cool in pans for five minutes or so, then transfer cakes to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before icing them.

To make a carrot layer cake: Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans instead of cupcake molds. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Butter and flour paper; tap out excess flour. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, and bake the layers for about 40 minutes each, or until a tester inserted into center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 15 minutes. Turn out onto racks. Peel off waxed paper; cool cakes completely.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup

In a stand mixer beat all the ingredients on medium until fluffy. Chill the frosting for 10 to 20 minutes, until it has set up enough to spread smoothly.

The spazzy star decorations were created by putting the maple cream cheese frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and dolloping away. An extra layer of dollops were piped nearer to the center, to create a domed effect.

To assemble a carrot layer cake, frost the top of one cake, place the other cake on top. Frost the sides and top, swirling decoratively. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to set up frosting.

For the layer cake scenario, you will probably have a bit of leftover frosting, which you can tint and use for decorating, or save to smear on gingersnaps. What, you don’t do that too?

Notes:

• Oil is cut back from 1 1/4 to 3/4. Do it!
  
• Cupcakes took longer to bake, about 22 minutes, but watch carefully at the end to not overbake.
• Consider making carrot cake sandwich cookies instead.
  

Lemon Bars

Source: http://blueridgebaker.blogspot.com/2010/01/very-tangy-lemon-bars.html

Very Tangy Lemon Bars

from Pure Dessert by Alice Medrich

For the Crust

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

For the Topping

1 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons unbleached white flour

3 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, strained

Preheat oven to 350. Line the inside of an 8x8 baking pan with foil or parchment, or butter the inside of a 9 inch tart pan with a removable bottom.

To make the crust: In a medium-sized bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, vanilla and salt. Add the flour and mix until just incorporated. Spread the dough (it will be quite liquid) evenly in the bottom of the pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the crust is evenly browned.

While the crust is baking, make the topping: Stir together sugar and flour. Whisk in the eggs. Add lemon juice and zest and stir until combined.

When the crust is baked (and still hot), pour in filling, turn oven down to 300, and bake for 20-20 minutes or until center no longer jiggles. Let cool completely in pan before slicing. Don't worry if the top comes out looking a little frothy. Gently blot it to reveal the zest. If you wish, dust with powdered sugar.

Blueberies and Cream Cookies

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/blueberries-and-cream-cookies

Makes 30 Cookies

Milk Powder Crumbs

Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon nonfat milk powder

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup white chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons milk powder, flour, cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter until well combined. Spread mixture on prepared baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until dried and crumbly, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove milk crumble from oven and let cool completely.

3. Transfer milk crumble to a large bowl and fold in remaining 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons milk powder and white chocolate. Use immediately or transfer to an airtight container and keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

1 cup (8 ounces) Plugra European-style unsalted butter

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons light-brown sugar

1/4 cup glucose (corn-syrup substitution)

1 large egg

1 1/2 cup dried blueberries

1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup Milk Crumbs

Directions

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix together butter, sugars, and glucose until well combined. Add egg and mix until well combined.

3. Add flour mixture and mix until well combined. Add blueberries and milk crumbs and mix until well combined. Using an ice cream scoop about 2 1/8 inches in diameter, scoop dough into balls and place about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.

4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Transfer baking sheets to refrigerator until dough is chilled, about 15 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to oven and bake, rotating pans halfway through baking, until cookies are golden brown and tops begin to crackle, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

David Lebovitz Pineapple Sorbet

Source: David Lebovitz The Perfect Scoop

Ingredients:
1/2 pineapple, pureed (about 2 cups)
8 Tbsp of sugar
1/2 c. water
2 Tbsp vodka

Mix and freeze in ice cream maker. WONDERFUL!

Baked Parmesan Garlic Chicken Wings

Source: http://blogs.discovery.com/tlc-steamy-kitchen/2010/01/baked-parmesan-garlic-chicken-wings.html

Serves 4

1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt (1/2 tsp table salt)
2 1/2 pounds chicken wings
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (or melted butter)
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (like Lawry's)
1 cup blue cheese dressing
1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (or to taste)

1. Preheat oven to 425F. In a small bowl, mix together the oregano, rosemary, cumin and salt. Lay the chicken wings on a baking sheet and season the chicken wings with this mixture.

2. Bake the chicken wings for 20-25 minutes. While the chicken is baking, mix together the oil, fresh basil, garlic, parmesan cheese and seasoning salt.

3. In a separate bowl, mix together the blue cheese dressing with the mustard (this is your dipping sauce)

3. When the chicken is cooked through, toss the wings with the garlic/cheese/butter sauce. Serve with the blue cheese/mustard dressing.

Notes:

• The seasoning makes more than enough, no need to double when doubling the amount of chicken wings, although the garlic/cheese/butter sauce should still be doubled.
• Definitely can cut back on the butter by at least 1/3.