Ciabatta

I have mentioned in a previous post that Mr. Boo and myself had a dinner party on Saturday night. I usually put all of my efforts into preparing the main body of the meal from scratch and extras like bread and dips and nibbles tend to be store bought but this time I decided to do it all myself.

For starters we served Moules Mariniere so I wanted bread that would be nice for mopping up the sauce once all of the lovely mussels had been devoured. I decided ciabatta would do the job and I wasn’t disappointed, it was perfect.

The following recipe yielded 3 ciabatta loaves. We managed to get through them between dinner, breakfast and parcels happily taken home by our guests. You may want to divide the recipe or simply make the full amount and freeze dough or baked loaves for a later date.

Ciabatta

30g/1oz Fresh Yeast, or 3 x 7g sachets Dried Yeast
30g/1oz Honey
625ml/just over 1 pint of Tepid Water
1kg/2.25lb Plain Flour
30g/1oz Salt
6tbsp Olive Oil
Extra Flour and some Semolina for dusting

1. Dissolve the yeast and honey in half the tepid water.

2. Place the flour and salt in a very large bowl and make a well in the centre.

3. Pour the dissolved yeast mixture into the well. With your fingers and working from the centre outwards start to incorporate some of the dry ingredients into the yeast mixture.

4. Pour in the remaining tepid water and gradually incorporate all of the flour until you have a most dough. (If you feel the consistency is not quite right feel free to add some more water/flour a little at a time until you achieve a nice dough)

5. Knead the dough for approx 5 minutes until it is nice and elastic. (If your bowl is not big enough to knead in flour a work surface and tip the dough on to that)

6. Flour your hands and the top of the dough and shape it into a nice ball (place back in the bowl if you removed it). Cover the bowl with cling film and leave in a warm, draught free area (I use the airing cupboard) for 45 minutes to prove.

7. After 45 minutes the dough should have doubled in size. Knock it back (knead to remove all of the air).

8. Add the olive oil and knead once again to incorporate throughout the dough.

9. Split the dough into 3 equal parts and roll each piece into a 25cm/10” roll. Flatten the length of each roll with the heel of your hand.

10. Dust 2 or 3 baking sheets (depending on their size you may only need 2) with flour and semolina. Place the dough rolls onto the baking sheets. Dust the dough with flour and semolina and score each one approximately 5 times.

11. It is now time for the dough’s 2nd prove so once again leave in a warm/ draught free place for 45 minutes.

12. Preheat the oven to 225C/425F/Gas Mark 7.

13. Once the bread has proved for the 45 minutes place in the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes.

14. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about ½ an hour before eating.

The Feeding of the 5000

Did I say 5000?  I meant 8.  But you would think we were feeding 5000 with the amount of food we prepared, and you would swear 5000 had had a good bash at it with the amount that was left over or not, as the case may be. 

On Saturday night myself and Mr Boo were entertaining his brother and his wife to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary.  Mr Boo had the brain wave to tell them to invite some friends too so that doubled our numbers but sure 8 is a nice manageable number so not to worry.  I decided on the dessert options (naturally) and got fed up waiting for Mr Boo so also made an executive decision on the starter, nibbles and cocktail.  After a bit of nagging and then a, 'get them cook books out and pick a main or else', style statement that may or may not have crossed my lips he finally decided on a main last Wednesday.

The final menu was as follows:

Nibbles
Peach Sangria
Vegetable Crudites
Sweet Potato Crisps (recipe from Supper Satisfaction)
Italian Flat Bread (shop bought)
Miso Pesto (recipe from Lorraine Fitzmaurice, The Afternoon Show)
Red Pesto (recipe from the lovely Lorraine of Italian Foodies, obviously I served it sans spaghetti)
Onion Dip (recipe from Ina Garten)
Salsa

Starter
Moules Mariniere (recipe from Bord Bia)
Ciabatta

Main
Salmon Wrapped in Parma Ham
Spinach & Lentil Salad
Hasselback Potatoes (from Donal Skehan at the Good Mood Food Blog)
Aspargus tossed in Garlic & Rosemary Butter

Dessert
Lemon Parfait
Mint Crisp Pie
Mermaid Marsmallow Pie

Petits Fours
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
My top secret chocolate treat

All of the above was washed down with beer, wine, bubbles, mojitos, sparkling water, and cheats homemade lemonade (obviously not all at the same time)

The following morning we enjoyed a breakfast of:

Strawberries and Watermelon
Spanish Fried Eggs with Chorizo and Potato Hash  (from Donal Skehan at the Good Mood Food Blog.  I cooked this in the oven instead of on the hob and served it with both fried & scrambled eggs depending on peoples preference)
More Ciabatta
Peanut Butter Button Cookies

Our guests left suitably stuffed and very happy indeed.   I will post recipes for the ciabatta, lemon parfait, mermaid marshmallow pie (also see Donal Skehan's blog for a recipe for this) and mint crisp pie soon but if you would like any of the recipes above that do not have a link attached please leave a comment and I will be happy to post them.

Question for you all

A couple of weeks ago I received this comment from Sue on one of my posts:

 "Would you do a poll and let us pick you something to bake?!!!"

to which I replied:

 "Most definitely. Is there anything in particular you would like to see on the blog. I am open to all suggestions. If you want to suggest some items and I can do a post for others to do the same and once I have a shortlist I will put it to a vote. Don't go making it Mission Impossible though or I may just cry hehe :) "

the conversation continued:

"Hhhmmmm.... now that you ask, I'm not sure!! A little bit of savoury would be good - for my waistline anyway! Or some cookies? Would love some inspiration for new cookie recipes.."


to which I responded:

"I will make a conscious effort to post more savoury recipes. I am a bit of a chocolate monster so when it comes to decisions chololate and sweet recipes always win out :) They force me to make them, honest. Is it just breads, muffin/scone type savoury recipes you would like or would you also be interested in some savoury tarts and things like that, and possibly even savoury preserves and relishes etc? I really appreciate your feedback and hope I can provide more things of interest for you on the blog. "

I think I covered cookies last week with my #twookieparty posts, now I am opening it up to the floor so to speak.  I love to receive feedback and was delighted with Sue's request for a poll and today I would like to ask for your suggestions for what you might like to see on the blog.  I will put the most popular requests to a poll at a later date and will post the recipes over the weeks that follow.  Looking forward to all of your ideas so please don't be shy and leave a comment.

Chocolate Surprise Cookies

Finally, the last #twookieparty recipe.  These are worth waiting for, trust me.  They were deiliciously dense and chocolatey, almost like little cakes, with a little surprise waiting under the dollop of chocolate hazelnut spread, nom!

Chocolate Surprise Cookies

Yields approx 24
(I divided the dough in 2, baked 12 cookies and froze 1 roll of dough to enjoy at a later date)


210g/7.5oz Plain Flour
90g/3oz Cocoa Powder
1/2tsp Baking Soda
1/2tsp Salt
110g/4oz Unsalted Butter, softened
200g/oz Sugar
1 large Egg
120ml/4floz Milk
1tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
12 large marshmallows, cut in half horizontally
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (I use Nutella)

1.  Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/ Gas Mark 5.

2.  Line 2 baking sheets with greaseproof paper. (Line one if only baking half of the dough.)

3.  In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

4.  In a seperate bowl use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined.

5.  Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined.

6.  Using a tablespoon sized measuring spoon or a regular tablespoon drop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake until the cookies begin to spread and become firm, 10 to 12 minutes.

7.  Remove the baking sheets from the oven, and place a marshmallow, cut-side down, in the centre of each cookie, pressing down slightly. Return to the oven, and continue baking until the marshmallows begin to melt, 2 to 2.5 minutes.

8.  Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool for 5 mins before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

9.  Spread about 1 tablespoon of chocolate hazelnut spread over each marshmallow, starting in the centre and continuing outward until the marshmallow is covered.

10. These cookies will keep for 3 days in an airtight contianer.  Place a sheet of greaseproof paper between them if stacking to avoid them sticking together with the chocolate hazelnut spread.

Peanut Butter Button Cookies

This is my penultimate twookieparty post.  Is that a sigh of relief I can hear from your waistband???  Mine is still being tested to the limits from all of the ahem quality control taste testing that I had to do.  It was a real chore but I had to do it for you guys, didn't I?!

This recipe is a slight adaptation of one I found on Tasty Kitchen, the Pioneer Woman.  Dianne's Peanut Butter Sweet Kiss Cookies to me are the ultimate all American cookie, combining peanut butter and Hershey's Kisses in one sweet, delicious, moreish parcel.  I made two minor adaptations to the recipe, the first was to swap out shortening for butter.  The second was replacing Hershey's Kisses for Cadbury's Giant Buttons as I thought these would be more widely available in Ireland.  If you would like to check out the original recipe simply check out the link above.

These caused a bit of a discussion in our house.  You see, Mr Boo loves all things peanut buttery, so when he came in from work and declared that he was STARVIN' I offered one of these for him to taste and to take the edge off his hunger.  A minute of very noisy chewing (he tends to do this when he is STARVIN' in an effort to get as much food as possible from his mouth to his stomach in as little time as possible) and a lot of very appreciative mmmm noises later and he declared them to be, "mmm they're mmlicious, aren't mmmthey", as he polished off the last of it.  I don't think he will ever learn it is rude to speak with a mouth full of chewy cookie, not to mention a little disgusting for the person standing directly in front of him.  Another one was snaffled from the plate and inhaled in one go before dinner.

Later that night I carefully arranged a selection of the cookies on a plate for him before heading to bed.  The rest of the cookies were locked away in a large lunch box ready to be photographed the next morning.  Before heading up the stairs I told him they were on the table if he fancied them so he was straight into the kitchen to investigate.  The following is a rough recap of the conversation that almost led to our divorce carried out over the lid of a tupperware box:

Mr Boo: "Where's the peanut butter one?"
Me: "There." *points to peanut butter button cookie on plate*
Mr Boo: "No, where's the lovely one I had earlier?"
Me: "There it is, right there!" *points to the cookie a second time* "And that is a lemon sugar one, that is a strawberry shortcake one and that is a chocolate surprise one.  I popped a peanut butter one in your lunch box for tomorrow if you want to eat that one now aswell." *picks up box to move remaining cookies to a safer place*
Mr Boo: "What's in the box?"
Me: "Just some more cookies."
Mr Boo: "What kind of cookies?"
Me: *ever so slightly annoyed now* "All of the ones that are already on your plate."
Mr Boo: *in an agitated tone* "But where are all of the peanut butter ones"
Me: "In the box."
Mr Boo: *voice raising more with each sentence now* "What are you doing with them?"
Me: "Just moving them over here."
Mr Boo: "What are you putting them over there for?  WHERE'S THE PEANUT BUTTER ONES???"
Me: "In here"
Mr Boo: *at this stage screaming in manner of an addict* "WELL LET ME SEE THEM, WHERE AAAARRRRRREEE THEYYYYYYY?"
Me: *also screaming now in response to his ridiculous behaviour* "There they are, look!  I only have enough left for photographs in the morning.  Here, you can have 2 more but that is your lot."
Mr Boo: *mumbles* "OK, thanks."

He shuffled off then with his glass of milk and truckload of cookies and I had to promise to bake some more fresh the following evening.  I removed the final batch of dough from the freezer on Sunday morning to bake for Saturday nights dinner guests and the face on him at the thought of having to share them with others.  So you have been warned, bake these with caution as they are liable to bring out the cookie monster in some.  Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Button Cookies

Yields approx 36

165g/6oz Creamy Peanut Butter
55g/2oz Butter
210g/7.5oz Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
3tbsp Milk
1tbsp Vanilla Extract
1 whole Egg
210g/7.5oz Plain Flour
¾ tsp Baking Soda
¾ tsp Salt
1 pack of Cadbury's Giant Buttons

1.  Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5.
2.  Combine peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended.
3.  Add the egg and beat just until blended.
4.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Add to the creamed mixture at low speed with an electric mixer and mix just until blended.
5.  Drop dough by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls of dough 2-inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten slightly in a crisscross pattern with tines of fork.

6.  Bake one baking sheet at a time for 7-8 minutes, or until set and just beginning to brown (or divide dough into 3 and freeze 2 batches and bake 1).  I found in my oven that these needed to bake for 11 minutes as the mixture is quite oily and they needed the extra minutes to crisp the shell so adjust the timings if necessary.
7.  Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet.

8.  After about a minute of cooling place the chocolate button in the middle of the cookie.
9.  Remove cookies to cooling racks or wax paper to cool completely. When you put the chocolate button in the middle of the cookie it will warm up because of the cookie and will take a while before it sets again.
10.  Wait a while before trying to stack them on top of each other in a container otherwise you will smush the button.
11. Apparently these will keep for 3 days in an airtight container, I wouldn't know about that.

Also, feel free to make these witout the chocolate button, as plain peanut butter cookies.

***Note: this dough might feel quite oily but the cookies are not at all, they have a delicious crisp shell and chewy inside. NOM!***

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Yet another #twookiparty recipe for you folks.  I know, I know.  I went a bit mental but sure you can knock up a batch of cookies in ten minutes and they go down so easy, too easy!  I have to say that I would probably add more strawberries to these next time as I found that the flavour was very weak but they were still delicious cookies.  See what you think for yourself.

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Yields approx 36
(I divided the dough in 3, baked a dozen and froze two rolls of dough to bake at a later date)

12oz Strawberries, hulled and cut into 1/4 inch dice
1tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
100g/3.5oz Granulated Sugar
240g/8.5oz Plain Flour
2tsp Baking Powder
1/2tsp Coarse Salt
90g/3oz Cold Unsalted Butter, cut into small pieces
160ml/5.5floz Double Cream
Granulated Sugar for Sprinkling

1.  Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5.
2.  Line 3 baking sheets with greaseproof paper. (If you are baking the cookies in batches line one baking sheet)
3.  In a small bowl combine the strawberries, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.

4.  Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large bowl and add the salt and remaining sugar.
5.  Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or rub it in with your fingers, until the mixture rembles coarse crumbs. (Make sure hands are cold if you choose to rub in the butter to ensure the butter does not become too soft.)

6.  Add the cream and stir until the dough starts to come together and then add the strawberry mixture and stir to incorporate.
7.  Using a tablespoon sized measuring spoon, or a regular measuring spoon, drop balls of dough 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.  Flatten slightly with the tines of a fork and sprinkle with some granulated sugar.
8.  Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes (oven temperatures vary so times may be slightly different from oven to oven) until golden brown.
9.  Remove from the oven and allow to sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

10. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Rachel Allen's Chocolate Melting Moments

Another cookie recipe from Friday's #twookieparty.  I found this recipe a couple of years ago in a Rachel Allen diary I bought.  I made these once and always remember the rather unusual texture and their complete deliciousness.  They literally melt on your tongue and sometimes in between your fingers when you pick them up.  I made these as a dessert for a romantic meal and they are pefect little morsels to share following a candle lit dinner.  As they can be prepared in advance they leave plenty of time to whisper sweet nothings across the table at your loved one.  They were equally delicious the second time round and the strange melting sensation was just as I remembered.  Let me know what you think.

Rachel Allen's Chocolate Melting Moments

(Makes 24 halves, 12 when sandwiched together)

125g/4&1/2oz Unsalted Butter, softened
50g/2oz Icing Sugar
50g/2oz Cornflour
25g/1oz Cocoa Powder
100g/4oz Plain Flour
Approx. 2tbsp Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

1.  Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 3 and lightly grease or line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2.  Beat the butter, then add the icing sugar and beat until soft and light.  Sift the cornflour, cocoa powder and plain flour into the butter and sugar and mix until the dough comes together.

3.  Divide the dough into 24 equal parts (about the size of a walnut in its shell).  Roll into balls, place slightly apart on the prepared tray and then flatten each biscuit lightly with a fork.  Cook in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until firm.  Remove from the oven and let the biscuits sit on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.  Then sandwich the biscuits together with a nice thick layer of chocolate hazelnut spread.

Lemon Sugar Cookies & Chocolate Orange Cookies

Last Friday I participated in a #twookieparty (a cookie bake off on Twitter) with some other Irish foodies.  I promised recipes would follow so here are the first two.  I am lumping these two together as I used the same basic dough recipe for both.

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Yields approx 36
(I divided the dough in 3, baked 1 dozen and froze 2 rolls of dough for later use)

450g/15oz Plain Flour
1tsp Baking Soda
1/4tsp Salt
395g/14oz granulated sugar
44g/1.5oz packed light-brown sugar
Grated Zest of 1 Lemon
1tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
220g/8oz Unsalted Butter, softened
2 Large Eggs
Granulated Sugar, for sprinkling

1.  Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.   Line a baking sheet with grease proof paper. (if you are baking the full quantity of dough you will need 3 lined baking sheets or you will have to bake in 3 seperate batches)
2.  Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and set aside.
3.  Put the sugars and lemon zest in a seperate bowl and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the butter and mix until pale and fluffy, about 1 minute.
4.  Mix in the eggs, 1 at a time, and then the lemon juice.
5.  Reduce the speed and gradually add the flour mixture; mix until just combined.
6.  Using a tablespoon sized measuring spoon or a regular tablespoon place dough 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheet.
7.  Flatten the cookies slightly with a fork and sprinkle the tops with granulated sugar, then lightly brush with a wet pastry brush and sprinkle with more granulated sugar.
8.  Bake the cookies until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
9.  Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Chocolate Orange Cookies

Yields approx 36

(I divided the dough in 3, baked 1 dozen and froze 2 rolls of dough for later use)

450g/15oz Plain Flour
1tsp Baking Soda
1/4tsp Salt
395g/14oz granulated sugar
44g/1.5oz packed light-brown sugar
Grated Zest of 1 Orange
2tbsp Fresh Orange Juice
220g/8oz Unsalted Butter, softened
2 Large Eggs
100g Plain Chocolate, melted

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Line a baking sheet with grease proof paper. (if you are baking the full quantity of dough you will need 3 lined baking sheets or you will have to bake in 3 seperate batches)
2. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and set aside.
3. Put the sugars and orange zest in a seperate bowl and mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the butter and mix until pale and fluffy, about 1 minute.
4. Mix in the eggs, 1 at a time, and then the orange juice.
5. Reduce the speed and gradually add the flour mixture; mix until just combined.

6. Using a tablespoon sized measuring spoon or a regular tablespoon place dough 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheet.

7. Flatten the cookies slightly with a fork.
8. Bake the cookies until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
9.  Once they are cool melt the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave (if you do not bake all af the cookie dough simply reduce the amount of chocolate accordingly ie. if you bake 1/3 of the cookie dough melt 1/3 f the chocolate)
10. Using a teaspoon drizzle lines of chocolate across the cookies to form a pattern.  I drizzled in different directions but you can do it which ever way you prefer.

11.Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Twookieparty

Evening all,

Well the time has rolled around for the Irish food bloggers Twookieparty (Twitter cookie bake up).  Below I have posted photos of the various cookies that I baked for the event and I will post recipes for them all next week.  Looking forward to seeing all that is on offer from everyone that is participating.  I will also update this post with a link to all participating bloggers over the weekend.

Lemon Sugar Cookies

(delicious with a generous dollop of Lemon Curd or just on their own)

Peanut Butter Button Cookies

(these have created a cookie monster in our house & very nearly led to divorce the other night)

Chocolate Orange Cookies

(a delicate orange undertone with a rich dark chocolate topping)

Chocolate Surprise Cookies

(Heaven on a plate. The dollop of Nutella hides a lovely soft marshmallow surprise.

These bad boys stick to your teeth and are like dense mini cakes. NOM!)

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

(light and buttery and dotted with chopped fresh strawberries)

Rachel Allen's Chocolate Melting Moments

(these literally melt in your mouth.  A funny sensation at first but oh so delicious.

The Nutella centre adds some extra depth to these rich morsels)

All wrapped up, ready to be gifted out to happy homes.

Extra dough wrapped and labelled for the freezer

(almost all of the above recipes yielded 36 cookies.  I divided each dough mixture in 3.

I baked 1 batch of 12 from each and will freeze the other 2 batches for a later date.

I had to do it or I would probably be dead right now, seriously!)

Full recipes for all will follow next week.  For now you will just have to drool over the pictures.  I'm off to eat some more cookies.  Enjoy the weekend, and if we all pray hard enough the sun might just come back out to play. : )

Cookie Anyone?

Morning all,

It is a fabulous sunny day here in Dublin today.  Just a teeny tiny post this morning.  This evening I will be participating in a twookieparty (a cookie bake up posted at the same time by a few Irish food bloggers on Twitter) as suggested by Kristin of Dinner du Jour and Sarah of Musings of a Med Student.  I will publish a post later with pictures and then next week I will follow up with recipes.  Beware though, some have proven rather addictive in this house with a certain Mr Boo hovering over my shoulder as I opened the cookie jar and again last night as I baked a second batch of his new favourites.

Happy Friday.

x