Classic Deli Pumpernickel Bread

I always liked Pumpernickel, I remember many an occasion coming home from cheder to the delicious aroma of my mother’s just baked Schwartzn Broit; therefore, considering that Passover is over and once again we can eat bread, I present a recipe I adopted from Bread: Bread, Rolls, Coffee Cakes, Quick Breads, Biscuits, Muffins, Scones and More:

Photo from Bread, page 9

Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 1 cup cold strong coffee *
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 tbsp margarine
• 1 tbsp salt
• 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups bread flour, divided
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp caraway seeds
• 2 cups medium rye flour
• cornmeal
• melted margarine (optional)

Directions

1. Combine coffee, molasses, 2 tablespoons margarine and salt in medium saucepan; heat over medium heat to 115 to 120 F.
2. Meanwhile, dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl of mixer, let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in coffee mixture. Add 2 cups bread flour, whole wheat flour, cocoa and caraway seeds, beat at low speed – with paddle attachment – for 2 minutes. Add rye flour, 1/2 cup at a time; beat until dough begins to form a ball.
3. Replace paddle attachment with dough hook. Add enough remaining bread flour, 1 tbsp at a time, if necessary to prevent sticking. knead at low speed 5 to 7 minutes o until dough is smooth and elastic.
4. Shape dough into a ball. Place dough in greased bowl; turn to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place 2 hours or until doubled in size.
5. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; sprinkle with cornmeal. Punch down down dough. Divide dough in half; shape each half into a round, slighly flattened loaf. Place on prepared baking sheets. Cover and let rise in warm place for 1 hour or until almost double in size. Preheat oven to 375 F.
6. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped. Remove to wire racks to coll completely. Brush tops of loaves with melted butter, if desired.

* Use fresh brewed coffee or instant coffee granules prepared according to package directions.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Ribollita, Zuppa Toscana

It’s been snowing non-stop, since early morning. It’s CoOOolD out there!

Having come back from a long day I could think of nothing better to warm up with than one of my favorite Tuscan soups:

Ribollita

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium red onions, coarsely chopped
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
• water, as needed
• 14 oz canned white beans, drained and rinsed
• 14 oz canned chopped tomatoes
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock *
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 lb 2 oz kale (preferably Tuscan kale**, if you can find it!), trimmed and sliced
• 1 small day or two old ciabatta loaf (substitute any flat bread, if you can’t find the ciabatta, torn into small pieces)
• salt and pepper
• extra virgin oil, to serve

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onions, carrots, and celery for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, thyme, salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, until the vegetables are golden and caramelized.
2. Add the white beans to the pan and pour in the tomatoes. Add enough of water to cover the vegetables. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 20minutes. Add the parsley and Tuscan kale and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the bread and add a little more water, as needed. The soup should be thick.
4. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed. Ladle into warmed serving bowls and serve hot, drizzled with extra virgin oil.

Try this soup and you’ll understand the true meaning of comfort food!

–oOOoOOo–

* Vegetable Stock

Yield: 8 1/2 cups

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons sunflower or corn oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped leek
• 2/3 cup finely chopped carrots
• 4 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup finely chopped fennel
• 1 small tomato, finely chopped
• 10 cups water
• 1 bouquet garni

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and leek and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, until softened. Add the remaining vegetables, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add the water and bouquet garni, bring to a boil, and simmer for 20 minutes,
2. Strain the stock into a bowl, let cool, cover and store in the refrigerator. use immediately or freeze in portions for up to 3 months.

–oOOoOOo–

**

Be warned, once you’ve tasted Tuscan kale, you’ll find it hard to go back to the more easily available variety.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Thanksgiving Cooking with Gloria Kobrin, Part 2– Root Vegetable Casserole with Caramelized Onions

Here’s Gloria Kobrin again, demonstrating another vegetarian delight:

Root Vegetable Casserole with Caramelized Onions

Serves 10 to 12
Prep time: Root vegetables-60 minutes, Onions-40 minutes, Baking: 0 min
Equipment: 10 cup pot, large skillet, large mixing bowl, 10 cup casserole, large colander

Ingredients

•  3 pounds russet potatoes
• 1 pound turnips
• 2 pounds parsnips large
• 5 large onions 10 cup casserole
• 7 cloves garlic- peeled
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 medium bunch fresh thyme leaves
• 7 cups fresh/boxed vegetable broth
• 2 sticks non-dairy margarine-softened
• Olive oil

Directions

1. Spray casserole with olive oil.
2. Peel potatoes and parsnips. Cut them into 1½ inch pieces. Peel and cut turnips into ½ inch pieces. Put vegetables in pot with garlic. Tie thyme and bay leaf together and add to vegetables with stock. Bring to a boil. Cover pot and simmer about 40 minutes until vegetables are very soft. Cool slightly. Remove thyme-bay leaf bundle. Drain vegetables in a colander or lift vegetables out with a spider.. Transfer into large bowl. Mash vegetables with 1 stick margarine until blended yet chunky. Spoon into casserole. Set aside.
3. Peel and core onions. Slice thinly.
4. Melt remaining margarine in skillet over high heat. Add onions to skillet and sauté until onions are soft and golden brown- about 25 minutes. Spread onions evenly over smashed vegetables. Bake in 375 F oven until vegetables are very hot and onions have crisped.

Note: Completed casserole may be prepared one day in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before baking. To prepare for freezer: Spoon mashed vegetables into oven to table ware serving dish. Cool completely. Cover with waxed paper and foil and freeze. Defrost casserole the night before serving. Sauté onions and smother vegetable casserole with them on serving day. Serve hot!

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Thanksgiving Cooking with Gloria Kobrin, Part 1– Sweet Potato Casserole

Gloria Kobrin, author of Kosher Cookbook, an iphone/ipod app with over 300 step-by-step recipes, a shopping list generator and 52-week meal plans. She’s also a food blooger and is about launch a website (kosherbygloria.com) with more recipes, cooking tips and more. This past week I had the pleasure of taping her as she prepared easy yet delicious dishes for Thanksgiving. Here we present the first one of three:

Sweet Potato Casserole

Serves 18
Prep time: Boiling potatoes- 20-30 min. Mixing- 15 min. Baking- 45 min.
Equipment: Large pot, 6 quart oven to table casserole

Ingredients

• 6 pounds sweet potatoes
• 1 cup (tightly packed) + 6
• tablespoons dark brown sugar
• ¾ cup non-dairy margarine- melted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract*
• 3 cans mandarin oranges – drained
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Boil potatoes until very soft. Drain, cool slightly and peel. Place potatoes in large mixing bowl. Add 6 tablespoons margarine, 12 tablespoons brown sugar, and vanilla to potatoes. Whip ingredients together well by hand or in electric mixer. Fold in oranges. Spoon mixture into casserole and smooth over the top.
2. Preheat oven to: 375 F.
3. Mix together remaining margarine and brown sugar. Scatter chopped pecans over the top of casserole. Dribble sugar and margarine mixture over nuts. Bake 45 minutes or until piping hot.

* Cognac can be used in place of vanilla.

Note: Marshmallows can be used instead of nuts and brown sugar. Decorate the top of casserole with them during the last 15 minutes of baking.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Lemon Coconut Mousse

In our search for ever more delicious, easy to prepare, desserts (if lemon is an ingredient, that immediately makes it a prime candidate!), we came across the following in Lévana Kirschenbaum‘s The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen (page 356):

Another treat born of good flavor matchmaking. Anyone not a lemon lover need not apply!

Detail from photo by Meir Pliskin, on page 357

1 1/2 envelopes unflavored gelatin

1/4 cup cold water

1 15-ounce can coconut milk

3 tablespoons lemon zest

1/4 cup rum

1 cup light agave syrup

1 pound silken tofu

1 8-ouncecontainer dairy-free cream cheese

1 cup toasted coconut for topping
(about 15 minutes in a 325 F oven),
optional

Dissolve the gelatin in the water, and resrve. Bring the coconut milk and the lemon juice to just below boiling  in a small saucepan. Transfer the warm mixture to a food processor with the reserved gelatin mixture and process about 30 seconds. Add a;; remaining ingredients and process until perfectly smooth. Pour into a bowl or small individual cups and chill. Tap with toasted coconut, if desired. Makes a dozen servings.

variation: lemon coconut pie GFA

This will make for a more dramatic presentation, with just a couple minutes more work, for the crust. Grind about 12 ounces graham crackers (gluten-free OK) with 1/2 cup oil in a food processor and press firmly into a 12 inch pie plate, then pour the mousse batter on top, and chill. Cut into wedges. Makes a dozen servings.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy! I’ll be having these on Shabbat eve.

CS

Summer Compote

Of all the foods we eat, fruits are the most beautiful; since biblical times they symbolized the bountifulness, the riches of the land. Fruits are refreshing and healthy as a snack or as the end of a hearty meal.

Serves 8

• 4 cups of water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• sugar to taste
• juice of 1 lemon
• 6 peaches, skinned and sliced
• 6 plums sliced
• 6 ripe apricots, quartered
• 3 cups sweet cherries
• 5 cups mixed berries such as strawberries, raspberries and blueberries

Directions

1. Pour enough water into a large pan to cover the first batch of fruit. Add the cinnamon, stick, cloves, lemon juice, and one tablespoon sugar (taste after the fruit has been poached and adjust as necessary).
2. Bring to a boil over high heat and and add the the peaches, reduce the heat and simmer – depending on the ripeness – for 2 to 5 minutes,, until just tender.
3. Using a slotted spoon, gently transfer the peach slices into a large bowl, draining as much of the liquid as possible against the side of the pan.
4. Add the nectarines to the pan and cook same as the peaches. Transfer to the bowl. Cook the apricots the same way, then the cherries, adding to the bowl as they become tender; do not overcook since the fruit continues to cook in the bowl. Add more water to the pan if necessary.
5. Stir in the berries and swirl gently just to cover with the liquid.Simmer for 1 minute. Remove the berries to the bowl and taste the syrup in the pan. adjust the sweetness to taste. If the syrup is too thin, increase the heat and boil until thickened and reduced. Pour over the fruit, let it come to room temperature and refrigerate over night.

You’ll find it thoroughly refreshing and delicious.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Rice Stuffed Tomatoes

One of my favorite summer appetizers, though I could make it at any time:

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 large tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 cup Arborio rice
• 6 fresh basil leaves, torn
• 2 tbsp extra virgin oil, plus extra for oiling and drizzling
• salt and pepper

Directions

1. Cut a slice of the stalk end of each tomato and set aside to use as lids. Scoop the pulp out of the tomatoes and chop.
2. Transfer to a large bowl, carefully so as to minimize any loss of tomato juices; add the garlic, rice and basil. Season with salt and pepper and stir in 1 tbsp of the oil. Cover and let stand – at room temperature – for one hour, for the rice to absorb the juices.
3. Stuff the tomatoes with the rice mixture and transfer to an oiled baking pan. Top each tomato with the reserved lids and drizzle with remaining oil. Bake in a preheated 350 F. oven for 35 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft and the rice is cooked through. Serve warm or at room temperature.

If available (usually in gourmet fruit and vegetable stores, use Brandywine tomatoes which have a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness, for more sweetness use Spanish Montserrat tomatoes which have low acidity, but any large tomato will do. Arborio rice kernels are high in starch, shorter and fatter than any other short grown rice. They are great for risotto because the extra starch lends the dish a perfect creamy texture.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy

CS

Caldo Verde

In this era when not only do we crave flavor, but value the health benefits of the various ingredients that make up that wonderful dish; in this wintertime when we look for foods that will warm us there is nothing better than a good hot soup.

We’ve adapted the following recipe from various sources to come up with our own kosher, nutritious, delicious version:

Photo from: http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/deborah/2009/01/sss_week_8_portuguese_caldo_ve_1.html

Caldo Verde is a traditional Portuguese soup, made mainly from kale and potatoes.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 medium russet potatoes or other floury baking potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks.
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound kale, leaves trimmed from the thick stems, rinsed and finely sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. Put the potatoes in a saucepan with 8 cups water and add a little salt. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for about 15 minutes, or until tender. Mash the potatoes lightly with a fork, leaving them in the water.
2. Cook the kale in a pan of boiling water for 3 – 4 minutes. Drain and stir into the potato broth with the olive oil. Simmer for 1 – 2 minutes. Season to taste and serve hot.

–XoX–

Variation

Photo from: http://flavorsofbrazil.blogspot.com/2011/07/recipe-caldo-verde-take-one-caldo-verde.html

Ingredients

• 2 Jack’s Gourmet Mexican Style Chorizos, sliced

Directions

1. Heat up a small amount of olive oil over medium heat. Add chorizo slices and brown. Once browned remove and set aside.
2. Follow step 1 in the vegetarian version above.
3. Add the Jack’s Gourmet chorizo slices and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the kale and let cook until desired level of doneness.
4. Serve immediately.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Jayne Cohen’s Jewish Holiday Cooking

The Jewish calendar is filled with celebrations, each has its unique foods and traditions. What better way to celebrate than with columnist, blogger, cook author Jayne Cohen‘s Jewish Holiday Cooking? Ms. Cohen covers the spectrum of Jewish cooking around the world. Her dishes – though often traditional – include many a delightful surprise, an update in taste.

The recipes are peppered with quotes from the vast world of Jewish writing ranging from the Talmud to Nathan Englander, from Chaim Grade to Sholem Aleichem, from the Zohar to Shmuel Hanagid and more. It is obvious this is not just a cookbook, it is a paean to Judaism, its timeless spiritual and cultural values, with the recipes representing a way to celebrate it all.

As I browse through the pages, it is obvious the author loves many genres of books, her quotes, her references, her intros to the individual recipes, her writing in general becomes “unputdownable.” As you leaf through, as you read through, not only do you see yourself at the very locals she’s traveled but you can smell and taste as well. Written in the best tradition of M.F.K Fischer, Joseph Wechsberg, Hillaire du Berrier and Ruth Reichl, Ms. Cohen leaves you begging for more…

With Chanuka coming up in less than a month, what could be better than an interesting latke recipe to whet one’s appetite?

Garlic-Rosemary Potato Latkes

Pareve
Yield: About 4 servings

These exceptionally fragrant potato pancakes require no topping or sauce as adornment. They are perfect as is, ready to accompany any roasted or grilled chicken or meat.

Ingredients:

• About 1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold or 3 large russet (baking) potatoes, peeled
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped garlic
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon matzoh meal or unbleached all-purpose flour
• About 3/4 teaspoon salt
• About 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Olive oil, for frying
• Sea salt (optional)

Directions

1. Shred the potatoes, using the shredding disk in a food processor. (Don’t wash out the food processor–you’ll be using it again right away.) Transfer the potatoes to a colander or strainer and use your hands or a wooden spoon to press out as much moisture as possible.
2. Remove the shredding disk from the processor and replace with the steel blade. Return about one third of the shredded potatoes to the food processor. Add the garlic and rosemary and process, using the pulse motion, until roughly pureed. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the remaining potatoes, the egg, matzoh meal or flour, salt and pepper to taste, and the baking powder to the bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. Let stand for 10 minutes to mingle the flavors.
3. In a 10- to 12-inch heavy skillet (cast-iron is ideal), heat about 1/4 inch of oil over high heat until hot but not smoking. Drop 1/4 cup of the potato latke batter into the pan and flatten with a spatula. Repeat with more batter, cooking no more than 4 or 5 latkes at a time; crowding the pan will give you soggy latkes.
4. Regulate the heat carefully, reducing it to medium as the latkes fry until golden and crisp on the bottom, about 4 minutes. To prevent oil from splattering, use two spatulas (or a spatula and a large spoon) to turn the latkes carefully. Fry until crisp and golden on the other side.
5. It’s best to flip the latkes only once, so that they don’t absorb too much oil. So, before turning, lift the latkes slightly with the spatula to make sure the underside is crisp and brown.
6. As the latkes are done, transfer them to paper towels or untreated brown paper bags to drain.
7. Continue making latkes in the same manner until all the batter is used. If necessary, add more oil to the pan, but always allow the oil to get hot before frying a new batch.
8. Serve straightaway, sprinkled with a little coarse salt, if you’d like. Or if necessary, keep the latkes warm in a 200 degree F oven (arrange them in a single layer on a rack placed over an oven-proof platter or baking sheet) and serve when they are all ready to be brought to the table.

From Jewish Holiday Cooking: A Food Lover’s Treasury of Classics and Improvisations
by Jayne Cohen (print edition: Wiley 2008; e-book: 2012).
Visit jewishholidaycooking.com

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy! And… don’t forget to tune in this coming Wednesday at 10:00pm (Eastern Time) when we will be talking with Jayne Cohen; we’ll be waiting!

CS

Miso, Shiitake and Swiss Chard Soup

With winter fast approaching, with a predicted hurricane – a “frankenstorm” as the media refers to it – about to hit New York this very evening, it’s time to start thinking about comfort food. What better than a nice hot, hearty soup?

From Levana’s Table, by Lévana Kirschenbaum (page 48):

Photo by: Ann Stratton, page 49

Makes 8 – 10 servings

Although the flavors are rich and complex, rthis soupis ready in about 15 minutes. Miso adds its intriguing fermented flavor and a bulky but not starchy texture to the broth. It is important to add the Swiss chard aat the very end of the cooking process., so that it retains its brilliant color. The corn adds a wonderful flavor.

2 quarts (8 cups) water
1 pound shiitake mushrooms, caps, thinly sliced
One 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1/2 cup dark or light miso paste
2 ears of corn, cobs cut into 1-inch rounds
3 – 4 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon bottled hot sauce
1 pound firm or extra_firm tofu, cut into sticks
1 bunch (1 pound) Swiss chard, leaves only, cut into ribbons
4 scallions, thinly sliced

Combine the water, mushrooms ginger, miso, and corn in a heavy pot  and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and add the soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, hot sauce, and tofu. Bring to a boil again. Add the Swiss chard and scallions and cook for one more minute, until the Swiss chard is wilted. Serve hot.

The elements may be raging outside, but this soup is certain to keep you warm.

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS