Episode 115: Salted Chocolate Sophisticate

Andrea’s ongoing cardamom obsession is fueled by Listener Maggie‘s suggested recipe for King Arthur Flour’s Banana Cardamom Upside-Down Cake, as well as the discovery of Listener-favorite cookbook The Cardamom Trail by former Great British Bake-Off finalist Chetna Makan.

Stefin’s got some desserts that appeared “Previously on Preheated” (see below!) that would be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, including Lemon Spinach Baked Doughnuts from Episode 108, and Bread & Butter Pudding with Salted Caramel Whiskey Butter Sauce from Irish chef Clodagh McKenna in Episode 19. Don’t forget the Homemade Irish Cream from Episode 104. And you may want to listen to Episode 103‘s Globetrotting Gourmet segment, when Stefin reports from Ireland — because who knew ice cream was an Irish delicacy?

Review: Tartine’s Salted Chocolate Rye Cookies a Sophisticated Treat

Both hosts loved these decadent, rich, “truffle”-like cookies, which came together easily and provided a big chocolate payoff. While Stefin used Green & Black’s organic 70% chocolate, Andrea mixed and matched half a pound each of Valrhona’s 45% and 85%.

Though dark rye flour was called for, both hosts are unsure if their more generically labeled “rye flour” technically fit the bill. Nevertheless, they thought the cookies benefited from the robust flavors of this flour, the dark muscavado sugar, and copious amount of vanilla. Andrea enjoyed whipping the four eggs until tripled in volume, and thought they contributed to a unique and puffy texture.

Stefin cautions that the longer you leave the batter in the fridge, the harder it will be. (Set it on the counter for a while if you have to chill for several hours.) Andrea reports a fine scooping texture after the 30 minute rest specified in the recipe.

Unfortunately, though the hosts loved these cookies, their children weren’t tempted by these bittersweet treats. You may want to fiddle around with the cacao level to make these more kid-friendly, but there’s nothing wrong with having a few recipes up your sleeve that are strictly adults only.

This Week’s Bake Along: Milk Chocolate Pots with Citrus Shortbread from BBC Good Food

Aside from the pesky jug, Stefin thinks this may be the quintessential Andrea Ballard recipe: It has only a few ingredients, four steps, includes shortbread and citrus, makes a smaller batch … stay tuned to see if it pays off taste-wise, too!

A few notes before you get started: Double cream is heavy whipping cream. If you can’t find golden caster sugar, sub regular granulated sugar, or consider using toasted sugar, like Andrea. Don’t have any self-rising/raising flour? Here’s Nigella Lawson’s DIY version. Finally, 160 degrees Celsius is approximately 320 Fahrenheit.

Listeners, what will you do with your leftover egg whites? (Consider making another chocolate delight, Andrea’s favorite Flourless Fudge Cookies.)

Kitchen Safety 101: An Ounce of Prevention

After Stefin’s recent scare with a malfunctioning blender (Episode 104), the hosts decided it was time for a kitchen safety refresh. While no means an exhaustive list, here are a few key reminders from their chat:
*Pay attention! Slow down, clear clutter, take notice;
*Tie hair back, remove jewelry, roll up sleeves;
*Wipe up spills immediately;
*Never leave a something unattended on the stovetop or leave the house while something is in the oven;
*Make sure your smoke detector is in working order, and check it regularly;
*Stock a kitchen first-aid kit;
*Have an “ABC” fire extinguisher in your kitchen, and know how to use it!
*Stop, drop and roll if your clothes catch fire;
*Get everyone out of the house and call 911, 999 or your country’s emergency number if the situation warrants;
*Check out the London Fire Brigade or American Red Cross for more helpful tips on staying safe in the kitchen.

Previously on Preheated …

Two Years Ago: Episode 18, Puddings Low and Slow, Hot and Cold
One Year Ago: Episode 67, No-Knead, Indeed

———-

If  you’re intrigued by our podcast, make it easy on yourself and subscribe on Apple Podcasts. That way you can listen to more than one episode, and have them download automatically on your phone or tablet. You can also bake along with us in our Facebook group, Preheated.