Rhubarb Custard Cake

 After receiving a handful of rhubarb stalks in our CSA veg box, my daughter and I decided to make this cake.  Then we made it again the next day because it was so good and seemed like the perfect slightly-sweet dessert for a warm day!  If you the recipe directions, you'll appreciate my daughter's satisfaction that the rhubarb didn't sink at all in either of our bakes. =)

• 2 large eggs
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 ¼ cups (265 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (57 g) salted butter, melted and cooled until just warm
• ¼ cup (57 g) sour cream
• 1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest, from about 1 lemon
• 1 cup (142 g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 6 small/medium rhubarb stalks, about 8-inches long (10-12 ounces)

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-inch round cake pan (you can line the bottom with a parchment circle, if desired).
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolk, and sugar with a wire whisk (don’t use a hand mixer – it will incorporate too much air for this cake) until pale and thick, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, sour cream and lemon zest. Add to the egg mixture and whisk until combined.
• Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix with a rubber spatula until the batter is smooth. Spread evenly in the prepared pan. Chill the batter for 10 minutes.
• Make sure the rhubarb stalks are dried well. If they are over 1/4-inch thick, slice them carefully in half lengthwise. Cut the stalks to fit and arrange over the batter next to each other, covering as much of the batter as you can (but keeping the rhubarb in a single layer). DO NOT PRESS THE RHUBARB INTO THE CAKE BATTER. Lay it very gently on top without pressing at all or else it will be prone to sinking during baking (mine still does each time I make this, but it definitely sinks less if I haven’t pressed the rhubarb at all into the cake).
• Bake the cake for 45-55 minutes until browned and puffed around the edges. The center may still be slightly soft set but it shouldn’t be wet batter. Add additional time, if needed.
• Let the cake cool for 10 minutes (or completely) before slicing into pieces. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream. It’s delicious warm, room temperature or chilled.

Miso Egg Salad

 Original recipe and pretty pictures found here.  

4 hard-boiled eggs (I used 5)

2 tablespoons mayonaise

2 teaspoons miso

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon curry powder (optional)

1 handful of parsley

about 5 garlic scapes

juice of half a lemon

some butter / olive oil for sautéing

salt and pepper to taste

a few slices of your favorite bread

 

Directions

Sauté the garlic scapes in a bit of butter and some salt on medium heat to slightly brown them. Turn heat down low then squeeze on the lemon juice. Mix the ingredients for the miso mayo together. Mash in the eggs. Fresh pepper here is good. Parsley too. Assemble as shown. Take a big ‘ol bite.

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Another home run from Half-Baked Harvest.  The flavors in these doughnuts harken back to Autumn, but I'd make them year-round simply because of the glaze - amazing!

• 1 1/2 cups apple cider
• 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 honeycrisp apple, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar

Brown Butter Cinnamon Maple Glaze 

• 4 tablespoons salted butter
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 3/4-1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a 6-cup doughnut pan or 12-cup muffin pan with melted butter

  2. Bring the apple cider to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer 10-15 minutes or until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat. Let cool.

  3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together 1/2 cup boiled cider, melted butter, eggs, apple butter, vanilla, and brown sugar until combined. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt, mix until just combined. Toss the apples with the cinnamon sugar mix, then stir the apples into the batter.

  4. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pan, filling 1/2-2/3 the way full. Bake 12-13 minutes, until just set. Remove and let cool 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges to release and invert the pan. 

  5. Meanwhile, make the glaze. Add the butter to a small pot set over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown slightly until it smells toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the maple syrup, powdered sugar, instant coffee, and cinnamon. Dip or drizzle the doughnuts into the glaze. Highly recommend eating a few of these warm.

Crispy Gnocchi with Burst Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Upon our first bites, this immediately became a Payne Family favorite.  We already love gnocchi, but this was a new and simple way to enjoy the little potato pasta.  Pan-fried gnocchi is crispy and chewy, broiled briefly in a thick tomato-rich sauce with lots of cheese?  Yes, please!

2 Tbsp EVOO, plus more as needed

2 (12-18oz) packages shelf-stable or refrigerated potato gnocchi

1/4 cup unsalted butter

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1/4 tsp red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving

salt and black pepper

2 pints small tomatoes, such as cherry, grape or Sungold

1/4 cup thinly sliced or torn basil leaves (optional), plus more for serving

8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut or torn into 1/2-inch pieces

1. Heat the broiler with a rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
2. In a large (12-inch) skillet on the stovetop, heat enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan (about 1 tablespoon) over medium-high. Add half the gnocchi to the pan, breaking up any that are stuck together. Cover with a lid or baking sheet and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on one side, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Repeat with the remaining gnocchi and olive oil.
3. Add the butter to the skillet and cook over medium-high, stirring often, until golden-brown and toasty, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic, red-pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper, reducing the heat slightly if necessary to avoid scorching. Add the tomatoes and 3 tablespoons water and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the tomatoes have softened and the liquid has slightly thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Smash the tomatoes as they burst to help them along.
4. Add the seared gnocchi and 1/4 cup basil (if using), stir to coat, then shake into an even layer. Top with the mozzarella and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Broil until the cheese is melted and browned in spots, 2 to 4 minutes. Top with more basil, red-pepper flakes and black pepper as desired.

  

Sheet Pan Greek Garlic Butter Chicken and Potatoes

Any recipe from Half-Baked Harvest is sure to be delicious.  This dinner-on-a-pan did not disappoint!  Serve with a loaf of crusty bread and simple salad.

• 1 pound baby potatoes, halved
• 4 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 lemons, 1 halved, and 1 sliced
• 6 chicken thighs or breasts (use similar sizes for even cooking)
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon smoked or regular paprika
• 1 shallot, chopped
• red pepper flakes
• 6-8 garlic cloves, lightly smashed
• 2 cups mixed fresh parsley, oregano, and dill, chopped (I used one TBSP dried of each)
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
• 6-8 ounces feta cheese, cubed
• 4 tablespoons salted butter, sliced into pieces
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1-2 pepperoncini, chopped
• 3/4 cup Greek olive mix, or green olives, torn 

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425° F. 

  2. On a large baking sheet, toss the potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper. Add the lemon halves. Roast for 20 minutes, or until tender. 

  3. In a bowl, toss together 2 tablespoons olive oil, the chicken, dried oregano, paprika, shallot, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. 

  4. Remove the potatoes from the oven and nestle the chicken around the potatoes. Arrange the onions, garlic, and lemon slices around the chicken. Add 1 slice of butter to each piece of chicken. Return the pan to the oven for 20-25 minutes more, until the chicken is cooked through.

  5. To make the dressing. Combine the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil, red wine vinegar, herbs, pepperoncinis, and olives.

  6. Remove the charred lemon slices and garlic cloves from the baking sheet. Finely chop the lemon slices, rind and all, discarding any seeds. Add half of the lemon to the dressing. Chop/mash the garlic into a paste, stir the garlic into the dressing. Season with red pepper and salt. Taste adding more of the lemon as desired.

  7. Break the feta over the chicken, then add the dressing. Top with fresh herbs. Eat and enjoy!

Sourdough Pancakes

This sourdough pancake recipe from The Clever Carrot has been my favorite so far because it can be made ahead of time, making our Saturday morning big breakfast much easier to prepare

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp fine sea salt

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup sourdough starter (100% hydration, either leftover discard or bubbly)

2 large eggs

1 cup milk, plus more as needed

3 Tbsp melted unsalted butter or oil

For overnight preparation:

For thick and fluffy pancakes: Combine the wet and dry ingredients EXCEPT for the baking powder and baking soda. Whisk well, cover and chill overnight. The next day, sift the powders directly over the bowl and whisk again to combine. The texture should be thick, bubbly, and pourable. Add extra milk, 1 tbsp at a time, to thin out the texture if needed. Let the batter sit for at least 5 minutes to aerate; it should be nice and bubbly before using. The batter can be used cold.

For thin and fluffy pancakes: Add all of the ingredients together and chill overnight. No need to add the leavening agents separately.  

Same Day Preparation:

Preheat your oven to 250 F.

In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together. Add the wet ingredients. Whisk gently until a smooth batter forms; some lumps are ok. 

In a large 10-inch skillet (cast iron or non-stick), melt a small pat of butter over medium-low heat. Swirl the pan around to coat.

Pour 1/3 cup of batter into the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes, lowering the heat as needed. When the edges begin to puff up and bubbles appear on the surface, flip it over. Cook for another minute or so. Place the pancake onto a sheet pan and keep warm in the oven while you cook the rest.

To continue, use a scrunched up paper towel to wipe out the skillet. Add more butter if the pan gets too dry. Repeat the cooking process until you are finished with the batter. 

To serve, stack the warm pancakes on a platter for your guests to help themselves. Have plenty of pure maple syrup, fresh berries and powdered sugar at the ready.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

My aunt and uncle kindly gave me an air fryer as a gift.  Thoughtfully, my aunt included this recipe, which has quickly become one of my kids' most requested dinners!  A salad or roasted veg on the side - it just doesn't get easier than this.

5-6 boneless skinless chicken thighs patted ry
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel, then transfer to a bowl.

Combine all the seasonings together in a prep dish, then pour the spice mixture into the bowl with the chicken and use your hands to coat the chicken with the spices.

Preheat your air fryer to 380.  Place chicken into the air fryer and cook for 12 minutes.  Use kitchen tongs to flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes on the second side, or until chicken is cooked through.

Crispy Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Pesto Pasta

 Everything I've tried from Half-Baked Harvest has been delicious!  This was no exception.  A jalapeño in pesto?  Sure!  Pairing that with roasted cauliflower?  Yes!  

Ingredients

• 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 pinch kosher salt and black pepper
• 3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 pound pasta, any variety 
• 1 1/2 cups fresh basil
• 1 cups baby arugula, spinach, or a mix
• 1 jalapeño, seeded (if desired)
• 1/4 cup toasted nuts, such as: pine nuts, walnuts, or pistachios
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
• 1/4-1/3 cup canned full fat coconut milk (or cream/milk of choice)

Instructions

• 1. Preheat oven to 425° F. On a baking sheet, combine the cauliflower, 1/4 cup olive oil, paprika, chili flakes, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Toss well to evenly coat. Transfer to the oven and roast for 20 minutes, or until tender. Add the 2 cloves garlic and the lemon zest. Roast another 10 minutes, until charred. 

  3. Meanwhile, make the pesto. In a blender or food processor, combine the basil, arugula/spinach, the jalapeño, 1-2 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, nuts, parmesan, and 1/4 cup olive oil. Season with salt. Pulse until a sauce forms, adding 1-2 tablespoons water if needed to thin. 

  4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, remove 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain and add the pasta right back into the hot pot. 

  5. To the pasta, add the pesto and coconut milk, tossing to combine. Thin the pasta, as desired, with the reserved pasta cooking water. 

  6. Divide the pasta among bowls, then serve each bowl with a side of cauliflower. Top with herbs and greens. Grab a fork and enjoy!

Breakfast Baked Apple Granola

 I've made this twice in the last week!  A yummy twist on the traditional apple crisp, and a bit easier because the topping doesn't require crumbling or cutting in butter.  The original recipe suggests cooling and enjoying over yogurt.  We ate it warm as a "breakfast crisp" and it was wonderful.  Be careful that the granola topping doesn't burn.  It only took about 35 minutes for the apples to be cooked and bubbly, and the granola topping to be dark brown.

3 pounds of whatever apples, or mix of apples, you like to bake with, peeled, cored and cut into medium chunks
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Salt
1 stick (8 tablespoons or 4 ounces) unsalted butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup flour
2 cups oats
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened, as you wish; I used unsweetened)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix apple chunks with lemon juice, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and pinch of salt in a 9×13-inch baking dish until apples are evenly coated. 

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter with the honey. Stir in the flour, oats, almonds, coconut and another pinch of salt until clumps form. Sprinkle evenly over the apple mixture and bake in the oven for about 45 to 55 minutes, or until the apples are softened and bubbly. Should the granola brown before you wish it to, cover the baking dish carefully with foil for all but the last few minutes of baking time, when removing the foil will help the granola recrisp. Cool to room temperature and then stash in the fridge to eat with your morning yogurt.

Roasted Cauliflower and Kale with Turmeric Dressing

 Yuuuuummmmm!!  I used chickpeas instead of cooked farro and hid the bowl of this salad in the fridge so I could eat it all myself.

• 1 head cauliflower
• 2 cups chopped Lacinato kale (or baby kale)
• 1 cup cooked farro (or grain of your choice, or garbanzo beans)
• ½ teaspoon salt, pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ⅓ up golden raisins (optional)
• ⅓ cup chopped scallions (optional)
• Turmeric Dressing 
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• cracked pepper
• 1 clove finely minced or grated garlic

1. 
   
2. Preheat oven to 400.
3. Trim leaves off cauliflower, and cut into florets. Place in medium bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon salt and a few twists of cracked pepper. Mix well and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast in the oven until tender, about 40 minutes, giving a stir halfway through.
4. Place the kale, farro, scallions and raisins in a large bowl.
5. Make the dressing: combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
6. Once the cauliflower is fork tender, add to the bowl and mix with kale and farro. Pour dressing over and mix until combined. Serve the salad warm, or chill for later. It’s good either way.