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Dessert

Cookies, Dessert, Lactose Free, Recipes

AK Cookies

September 15, 2018

AK Cookies

I’m always looking for new, interesting cookies. I stumbled upon these AK Cookies in the late and lamented Lucky Peach magazine.  The ingredients seemed like ordinary items you might have in your pantry and I loved the idea of adding shredded coconut to the dough.  Turns out these are more than just your ordinary cookies with chocolate, oatmeal and nuts.  The coconut adds the je ne sais quoi that turns on otherwise common cookie into something special.   This is a cookie that is equally appropriate with your morning coffee or served for dessert along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Shredded Coconut, Walnuts, Oatmeal, Chocolate

The curious name of the cookie appears to be a play on the place where Peter Meehan and his wife Hannah Clark first had these cookies while visiting friends in Anchorage, Alaska (hence AK). Whatever the name, these are cookie perfection.  There is an ideal combination of nuts, coconut, oatmeal, and chocolate in each bite.

AK Cookie Dough

If you want to make bigger cookies, by all means go for it.  The recipe calls for using a 2-ounce ice cream scoop to make squash ball sized dough rounds. I used my Oxo Good Grips medium cookie scoop to make 40 smaller cookies. These guys freeze well.

AK Cookies

AK Cookies
 
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Adapted from Hannah Clark, Lucky Peach Magazine
Author:
Serves: 40
Ingredients
  • 2 sticks Earth Balance Buttery Sticks (or unsalted butter)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt (1 teaspoon if using unsalted butter)
  • 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1 12-ounce bag semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (dark chocolate for lactose free)
  • 2 cups quick cooking oats
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Using a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the Buttery Sticks and sugars on medium-high speed until the mixture is pale tan and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix for another 4 minutes. Add the dry ingredients in order, mixing them in on low speed, just until each is incorporated into the dough.
  3. Use a medium scoop (I use Oxo) or a larger one for bigger cookies, to scoop all the dough onto a cookie pan and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before baking.
  4. When you are ready to bake the cookies, space them well on a parchment-lined cookie pan (or use a Silpat) and bake for about 10 - 12 minutes. Bigger cookies will take a little longer to bake. Test cookies after 10 minutes of baking. They should be deep golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. The cookies are best when fully cooled.

 

Dessert, Fruit, Lactose Free, Recipes

Strawberry Ice Cream

July 20, 2018

Strawberry Ice Cream Cone

These days there is a far better selection of good lactose-free products available to those of us who are lactose intolerant.  I love Green Valley’s lactose free yogurt, cream cheese and sour cream.  I’ve been told they will soon have lactose free cottage cheese available which is excellent news as I use it in my favorite cheesy beef stuffed shells.  Organic Valley makes lactose-free half and half, a real life saver when it comes to making desserts such as this strawberry ice cream.  I love the simplicity of this recipe from King Arthur Flour.  It doesn’t require simmering the sugar and cream, nor does it call for using eggs. It’s just a delight to be able to make lactose-free ice cream at home with the freshest fruit available as well as in flavors usually not found in markets.

Fresh Strawberries

Strawberries are in season right now so it’s the perfect opportunity to whip up some homemade ice cream.  We still have some Pirie and Rapoza mangos on our trees which means mango ice cream is up next.

Strawberries, Sugar & Vodka

A portion of the strawberries are sliced thinly and mixed with sugar and vodka.  The strawberries eventually go into the ice cream during the last few minutes of churning.  They add a nice pop of extra strawberry flavor in every spoonful.

Strawberry Ice Cream

Strawberry Ice Cream
 
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Adapted from King Arthur Flour
Author:
Serves: 5 cups
Ingredients
  • 1 pound fresh strawberries
  • 1¼ cups sugar, divided
  • 3 tablespoons 80-proof liquor such as vodka
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • 2 cups Organic Valley lactose-free half & half (or regular half & half)
  • pinch of salt
Preparation
  1. Wash, hull, and quarter 6 ounces of strawberries. Slice the quarters very thinly. Place in a bowl and pour ½ cup of the sugar and the vodka over the berries. Mix, cover, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
  2. Wash, hull and quarter the remaining berries, and puree with an immersion blender or regular blender. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Measure out 1½ cups of the strained puree.
  3. In a large mixing bowl,whisk the remaining ¾ cup sugar with the puree. Whisk in the corn syrup and half & half until fully combined. Whisk in a pinch of salt, or to taste.
  4. Chill the mixture until very cold, about 2 hours. Transfer the mixture to the freezer and chill for another 15 minutes.
  5. Pour mixture into the ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's instructions. My Cuisinart takes about 25 minutes. In the last few minutes of churning, retrieve the sliced strawberries from the refrigerator and drain the liquid. Add the berries to the ice cream for the final few turns.
  6. Transfer the ice cream to a covered container and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.

 

Breakfast, Dessert, Lactose Free, Recipes

Cream Cheese Scones

April 24, 2018

Tart Cherry Cream Cheese Scones

Scones have now become one of my favorite pastries.  They don’t require planning ahead and can be made in less than an hour from start to finish.  And though many think of a scone as a breakfast treat, I very much enjoy them as a dessert warmed and topped with a pat of Earth Balance Buttery Spread.  What sets these scones apart, is the rich flavor from the cream cheese. This creates a very tender and moist crumb.  The house is filled with wonderful aromas as they bake.  Having tried numerous recipes I can now say that I can’t imagine a better scone than this one.

Tart Cherries

The original recipe calls for dried apricots.  I have made the scones with apricots and cherries. Both versions are excellent so use what’s readily available or make a double batch, half with cherries and the other half with apricots.  These scones freeze well.

Apricot Cream Cheese Scones

Turkish Apricots

Turkish apricots are soft and sweet which makes them ideal for baked goods and for snacking.

Tart Cherry Cream Cheese Scones

Cream Cheese Scones
 
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Adapted from King Arthur Flour
Author:
Serves: 14
Ingredients
  • 3¼ cups all-purpose flour (390 grams)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (99 grams)
  • 2½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (1/2 teaspoon if using unsalted butter)
  • 1 (8 ounce) container cold Green Valley lactose free cream cheese (or regular cream cheese)
  • ½ cup (8 tablespoons) cold Earth Balance Buttery Sticks (or unsalted butter)
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped dried cherries or diced apricots (150 grams)
  • ¼ cup lactose free milk (or regular milk)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • For the glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 - 2½ tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • sparkling sugar for garnish, optional
Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  3. Cut in the cream cheese and butter, using a pastry blender, fork, or your fingers, until the chunks of butter are the size of peas. Stir in the cherries or apricots.
  4. In a small bowl whisk together the milk, egg and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and stir with a fork until the dough is evenly moistened.
  5. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and fold it over several times, until it holds together. Pat the dough into a ¾" thick rectangle. Cut the dough in to 14 squares or 16 for smaller scones. Bake on the middle rack for about 13 minutes, until the tops are light golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove scones to a cooling rack and cool completely.
  6. Whisk powdered sugar with orange juice until smooth. The glaze should be thick yet easy enough to drizzle over the scones with a spoon. Once the scones are completely cool, drizzle or brush glaze over the tops and immediately sprinkle on the sugar if using.

 

 

 

Bread, Breakfast, Dessert, Fruit, Lactose Free

Crisp Sugar Topped Blueberry Muffins

September 9, 2017

Crisp Sugar Topped Blueberry Muffins

One of my favorite uses of the nutritious blueberry is in muffins. They are one of the easiest breakfast (or dessert) snacks to make.  All you need is a bowl for the dry ingredients and a measuring cup for the wet ingredients. Combine the two, fold in the blueberries and your batter is ready.  In less than 20 minutes you’ll have warm, crispy topped muffins with just the right amount of blueberries.  These are delicious split down the center, toasted and served with a pat of butter.

Crisp Sugar Topped Blueberry Muffins

The sparkling sugar ensures the muffins have a perfectly crisp top that is not only a delight to eat but also gives the muffins that certain je ne sais quoi. Bob’s Red Mill decorative sparkling sugar works perfectly.

Blueberries

Muffin Liners

It’s best to use liners in your muffin tin to ensure that the muffins won’t stick to your pan.  Liners also mean easier clean up.

Crisp Sugar Topped Blueberry Muffins

These are beautiful muffins with crackly and crispy tops.  If by chance you have any leftover muffins, store them in the freezer in a heavy-duty plastic bag. They will keep well for more than a month.

Crisp Sugar Topped Blueberry Muffins

 

Crisp Sugar Topped Blueberry Muffins
 
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Author:
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all purpose-flour
  • 1 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ cup lactose free milk (or regular milk)
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 4 tablespoons Earth Balance Buttery Sticks, melted and cooled for 5 minutes (or regular salted butter)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (8 ounces) fresh blueberries
  • Sparkling sugar such as Bob's Red Mill Simply Sweet Decorative Sparkling Sugar
Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Line muffin tin with muffin/cupcake liners.
  3. In a large bowl whisk to combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  4. In a 2 cup measuring cup, measure ½ cup milk. Add ¼ cup canola oil, melted Buttery Sticks, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk ingredients together.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into bowl of dry ingredients. Stir to combine. Fold in blueberries. Divide batter between a 12 cup paper-lined muffin tin. Sprinkle each muffin with ½ teaspoon of sparkling sugar.
  6. Bake for 18 - 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool muffins in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a rack to cool completely.

 

Dessert, Fruit, Lactose Free, Recipes

Mango Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream Popsicles

July 31, 2017

Mango Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream Popsicles

Most of us loved eating popsicles as children, a favorite summer treat. Embrace your inner child with these homemade delights. You won’t regret it and neither will your children, grand children, friends, and whoever else is lucky enough to eat one of your homemade creations.  All you need for this recipe is fresh fruit and vanilla ice cream.  Since our mango trees are at their peak summer harvest now they are the major ingredient here.  Strawberries and vanilla ice cream added a beautiful color palette to the bright orange mangos.  If mangos are not available, fresh peaches would be an excellent substitution.

Strawberries

Pirie and Rapoza Mangos

Our Pirie mango tree is 30 years old and is a heavy bearer that produces the sweetest mangos I have ever tasted.  It has a long production period of at least 6 months.  The large and beautiful Rapoza mango is delightfully smooth and sweet with a texture similar to a peach.

Mango Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream Popsicles

Swirl the ingredients around a bit to make beautiful popsicles that taste delicious especially on a warm summer day.

Mango Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream Popsicles

There is a myriad of popsicle molds available on-line.  I bought this inexpensive Norpro Frozen Ice Pop Maker and it works like a charm.  The popsicles are just the right size and the entire mold fits nicely in the freezer. Plus, you get 10 popsicles at a time.

Mango Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream Popsicles

 

 

Mango Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream Popsicles
 
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Author:
Serves: 10
Ingredients
  • 6 ounces strawberries, chopped
  • 1¾ cup (heaping) chopped mango
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1½ cups lactose free vanilla ice cream slightly softened (or regular vanilla ice cream or non-dairy vanilla ice cream)
Preparation
  1. Mix chopped strawberries with ¼ sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.
  2. Using an immersion blender puree chopped mango, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon lime juice until mixture is smooth. Pour into a 2 cup measuring cup. You should have 1½ cups (or more) mango puree.
  3. Rinse immersion cup and puree strawberries with remaining 1 tablespoon of lime juice. Pour into a 1 cup measuring cup. You should have 1 cup of strawberry puree.
  4. Layer popsicle molds beginning with mango puree, followed by strawberry puree, and ice cream. Continue to layer with fruit purees and ice cream leaving ¼-inch space from the top to allow for expansion. Using a chopstick or wooden skewer, lightly swirl the mixtures together. Place lid on mold and insert sticks. Freeze at least 8 hours or overnight. Run popsicle mold under warm water for easy removal.

 

 

Cookies, Dessert, Lactose Free, Recipes

Salted Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies

July 3, 2017

Salted Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies

I was intrigued by this chocolate chip cookie recipe after David Lebowitz raved about it on his blog.  A chocolate chip cookie made with tahini?  This was a recipe I needed to try for myself.  I love tahini and have often used it in savory recipes such as hummus or dressing. After doing a bit of research I found that it is not uncommon to use it in desserts as well.  These cookies are the best of both worlds.  They are delightfully rich with just a hint of tahini and lots of chocolate in every bite. The fleur de sel is the “icing on the cake.”

Chopped Semisweet Chocolate

David recommends using chocolate chunks.  I bought chocolate bars and chopped them into pieces larger than regular chocolate chips which are fairly small and tend to get lost in a cookie. David’s recommendation was spot on. Who wouldn’t want more chocolate in every bite?!

Salted Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookie Dough

I used a cookie scoop but you can certainly use a tablespoon and form the cookies with your hands.

Salted Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies

Salted Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies

Salted Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies
 
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Adapted from David Lebovitz's recipe
Author:
Serves: 24 cookies
Ingredients
  • 1 stick (4 ounces) Earth Balance Buttery Sticks at room temperature
  • ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon tahini, well stirred
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons flour
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chocolate chips
  • Flaky sea salt such as fleur de sel or Maldon
Preparation
  1. Beat the Buttery Stick, tahini, granulated sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for 2 - 3 minutes, until fluffy. (The dough can also be made in a large mixing bowl stirred wth a spatula).
  2. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides. Add the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Continue to mix for another minute, stopping the mixer to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Be sure the eggs are well incorporated.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks. Cover and refrigerate the dough until well chilled, at least 6 hours or overnight.
  4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  5. Form the cookies into rounds using a medium sized (#40) cookie scoop. Place them evenly spaced on the baking sheets, about 3 inches apart (they spread a lot). Bake one pan at a time on the middle rack of the oven rotating the pan from front to back midway during baking. Bake cookies for about 14 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Remove the cookies from the oven and sprinkle with a bit of fleur de sel or Maldon sea salt. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. Continue to bake the remaining cookies.

 

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