Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've been searching for the perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe until now.  I've found it.  I am so satisfied and pleased that I had to share it with you all!  This recipe is courtesy of The New York Times.

Dry Ingredients
2 cups minus 2 tablespoons cake flour
1-2/3 cups bread flour
1-1/4 tsp baking soda
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1-1/2 tsp coarse salt


Wet Ingredients
2-1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1-1/4 cups light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/4 lbs at least 60% cacao chocolate chips
Sea salt for sprinkling

- Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Set aside. Tip:  You may add in a teaspoon of cinnamon to give it some extra flavor.
- Using an electric mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until very light making sure there is no sugar stuck to the bottom or sides of bowl
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each is added
- Add in the vanilla
- Reduce speed to low and add the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined and then add chocolate chips
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or grease a cookie sheet.  Tip:  Using a lighter colored metal cookie sheet will yield better results.
- Use your hands to form balls of dough about the size of golf balls. Bake off cookies with ample room for them to spread for about 15 minutes or until edges are set and golden brown.  The middle of the cookies may seem slightly underdone but they will set up as they cool.
- Cool on sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.  Keep stored in a cool dry place in an air tight container.  You may freeze excess for up to one month wrapped in a freezer bag.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Southern Lemon Squares

Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar

4 eggs
2 cups of sugar
2 lemons

Preheat Conventional Oven to 350 degrees, Convection Oven 325 degrees



Mix butter, flour, and powdered sugar well. Press evenly in bottom of 9" by 9"square pan and bake for 20 minutes.



Beat four eggs and 2 cups of sugar well or until light yellow in color. Then add juice of 2 lemons through a strainer and mix well.





Pour over baked crust and bake for another 20 minutes or until set.