Hello Cupcake!

Mission = To Bake!
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I promised at the start of this blog that I would conquer the impossible, which among many things for me is....BAKING! I can't actually remember the last time I baked. The schedule of late has been so hectic, I've not premeditated a baking day in weeks and weeks!!
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Well here is the end to the non-baking drought. Finishing my most recent attempts on a high note, I had confidence and experience on my side.
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I chose to try creating the beautiful cupcakes pictured in Ad Hoc.

I've been dying to learn a great sugary frosting recipe as well and figured I could not go wrong with Keller guiding me.

For the first time in at least a month, I had daylight to work with.

A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!!!

Not yet complete, this is just the first step of the batter, which consisted of dry ingredients + butter.

Interestingly enough, Keller does not use the whole egg in this batter.

Instead egg whites are whipped up and folded into the dense batter starter pictured above.

The combination creates a lighter batter with that egg white sheen.

Rather than use the typical cupcake/muffin pan, I pulled out the big guns!

My jumbo muffin tins :o)

Of course, being double the size meant a different cooking time.

I overcooked them just a bit, but felt I did alright.

Going from done to over done in baking gets me almost EVERY TIME!

Once cooled I tried for the White Buttercream from Ad Hoc. The attempt was somewhat successful. I did end up with something to put on the cupcakes, but it was not quite the consistency pictured in Keller's finished product.

Pretty disappointed with my end result being so far from perfect, Hubs came to the rescue. As we tasted one of the frosted cakes, a light bulb went off. I mentioned that I thought the taste was very similar to a dense angel food cake and the frosting similar to whipped cream. Then Hubs mentions that strawberries on top would be good.

Well he was right!

They weren't just a good addition...but a freakin' great addition!!!

Strawberry Shortcake-Cupcakes!
This taste of summer really hit the spot!!

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With some help from Hubs, this baking attempt was rescued.

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I think that had no one known what my initial goal was, they might just assume this was all intentional haha!!

Food Therapy with Thomas Keller

With March Madness pushing me to the edge of sanity, I truly did need my Food Therapy. I chose to give myself a personal day from work and life to spend at home.

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As one could imagine, my expectations were very high for these first kitchen encounters with Ad Hoc a Home. Beginning with the Pistachio Butter earlier in the day, I decided to also break in this beaut of a book by tackling:

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AD HOC'S SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce

Meatballs and Pappardelle

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OVEN ROASTED TOMATO SAUCE

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I am a huge, and I mean HUGE, fan of homemade tomato sauce. Thomas Keller offers, what is for me, a rather unique variation...from its ingredients to its cooking method.

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Some unlikely ingredients:

Leeks, Fennel, Red Wine Vinegar, Brown Sugar

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Unusual cooking method: Oven Roasted in my Le Creuset

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This very easy, no fuss sauce and done all inside your oven!

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I did venture off Keller's directed path just a bit. The recipe actually directs you to drain some canned tomatoes and chop them up, removing seeds. Now if you ask me that sounds like a lot of unnecessary work, so instead I just dumped the two cans directly in and used my masher to break them up. I also added just a bit of crushed red pepper flakes.

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Another override was to not use the herb sachet, which is just an herb/spice bundle wrapped up in some cheese cloth. At this stage in my cooking, I do not have cheese cloth on hand, have actually never bought it...not sure I'd know where to look for it! Instead I improvised...

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HERB SACHET UNDONE

Whole Black Peppercorns - Fresh Ground Pepper

Fresh Thyme Sprigs - Dried Thyme

Bay Leaf - Dried Bay Leaf

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Everything simmers uncovered in the oven until thickened (about 1.5 hours). Now just walk away...this super simple sauce works itself, only requiring you to stir a few times during the cooking process (Keller says every 30 minutes). Just remember to remove the bay leaf before serving.

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MEATBALLS AND PAPPARDELLE

(or rather Bucatini)

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I didn't find any Pappardelle at my grocery store and didn't really feel like trying to make it myself, since I don't have a pasta maker to make easy the rolling/thining part.

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Instead I decided to substitute Bucatini, which is like a spaghetti straw. The nice part of this pasta is it traps the saucy yumminess inside.

*Since I had the day to myself, I made a special trip to the meat market (aka butcher shop) in the next town over. Keller calls for chuck, sirloin, pork butt, and veal. As I informed you in my pork cutlet entry, I cannot seem to bring myself to buy veal and decided to override yet again by replacing the call for veal with extra sirloin.

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Another first-time of this cooking session was pulling out our wedding gifted meat grinder!
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All of the meats are cubed, salted and run through...then run through again.
Absolutely awesome!!
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Sauteed onions/garlic, panko breadcrumbs, parsley and egg are mixed in.

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Baseball sized meatballs are rolled, stuffed with a cube of fresh mozzarella, and baked in the oven.
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The pasta is mixed up with melted butter, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

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Finished meatballs plated atop the oven roasted sauce.

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These are GIGANTIC and filled with melted cheesy goodness!

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Ad Hoc's Spaghetti and Meatballs at home.

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DELICIOUS!

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Keller does not disappoint with these two recipes.

They are both rather easy and super tasty!

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Onto the next Ad Hoc attempt...

thinking about some cupcakes with buttercream frosting.

Butter from Another Mother

My father-in-law (FIL-1...cause I have two) is a kayak-er, walker, snowshoe-er, ice skater, skier, swimmer...simply put an active guy. Before now I do not think I have ever seen him sit still for more than the time it takes for a meal.

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What is deactivating FIL-1?

The temporary process of recouping from an invasive hip replacement surgery.

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He is now just approaching the 2 week mark since his surgery. Finally a bit mobile with the help of one crutch, he's well on his way to being the new and improved active self. An unfortunate consequence to his temporary housebound deactivation has been a loss in appetite.

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FIL-1 is a clockwork eater, unlike any other. He has always had his 3 meals a day, plus snacks in between. After all, being as active as he is, the calories are necessary.

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This lack of hunger could be due to his pain medications, an under active body, or (most likely) a combination of both. We have been staying in constant contact with them since the surgery, but have not yet sent flowers, cards, etc. Instead I knew I wanted to make him something special.

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FIL-1 LOVES pistachios.

They are an essential snack item to his typical daily active routine.
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Ad Hoc at Home had just the solution...Pistachio Butter!
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VERY simple, but unique...ingredients are raw pistachios, whole milk and cream.
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The pistachios are first toasted up in the oven and then simmered in milk/cream for 1.5 hours.
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The drained pistachios go into the blender with just enough of the milk/cream cooking liquid added to puree.
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Smooth, thick and creamy.
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FIL-1's very own GET WELL BUTTER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER.
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I just delivered this to him yesterday, so do not yet know his thoughts on it. However with what was left over - Hubs, a friend and myself all thought it was great!
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If you like Natural Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, or even just eating Pistachios, then you're going to LOVE this stuff!