Nourish Blog

December30

At the Table :: Wrapping Up Holiday Season 2011

I've spent the past week or so laying low and enjoying a holiday break before the chaos of January hits. Having stuck around the city, I had the pleasure of joining other "orphans" at a Christmas potluck feast hosted by the lovely Dimity Jones, who writes about and photographs food on her blog Three To One. It was indeed a global meal. A table full of new friends who hailed from all places with various holiday culinary traditions, including my sweet potato latkes with sriracha creme fraiche (recipe here) and Dimity's unbelievable Figgy Pudding and a roast turkey with turkey meatball gravy inspired by Montreal-based chef Chuck Hughes. You'll find both recipes on Dimity's blog. Brining a turkey with molasses, brown sugar and salt - pure genius that creates a skin more golden and crisp than you've ever seen. Here's the full menu:

‘ORPHAN’ POTLUCK HOLIDAY MENU:
Cured Meats, Cheeses, Mustard platter (Germany, Minnesota)
Sweet Potato Latkes with Sriracha Creme Fraiche. (Jewish-inspired)
Carrot and Ginger Soup (Texas)
Roasted Turkey with Turkey Meatballs, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce (Australia)
1950′s style Ham with Pineapple, Cloves and Cherries. (Texas)
Broccoli Casserole (California)
Garlic Thyme infused mashed potato (Australia)
Oyster Dressing (Florida)
Figgy Pudding with Traditional English Custard (England)
Japanese style Panna Cotta (Japan)

Images by Dimity Jones

TAGS: holidays, turkey, sweet potatoes

posted: 12.30.11

Joy, Cheer & Good Food

Here's to a long weekend full of joy, cheer and sharing a gorgeous holiday meal shared with family and friends. Happy Holidays!

TAGS: holidays

posted: 12.23.11

Holiday Sweets with a Touch of Health

Just in time for the long holiday weekend, here are plenty of delectable treats to enjoy with family and friends. All recipes are featured here on Bon Appetit online. They asked me to develop 10 holidays sweets that had a dash of health whisked in...and then had Nicole Franzen take photos so gorgeous, they'll have you breaking out mixing bowls and cookie sheets ASAP. Gluten-free bourbon balls, antioxidant-rich dark chocolate cherry biscotti, uber-rich (and bite-sized) kahula-walnut brownies, and my fave of the bunch, olive oil shortbread with orange zest and fennel dipped in dark chocolate...just to name a few. Here's to a very happy holiday and healthy new year!

Olive Oil Shortbread :: with Orange Zest and Fennel Dipped in Dark Chocolate

Serves :: 24 cookies

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
Zest of 1 orange
1/4 cup clear sanding sugar
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (optional)

flaky sea salt (optional)

Directions

Whisk flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat butter in a large bowl until creamy. With mixer running, slowly pour in olive oil; mix well, then gradually add sugar and vanilla extract. Mix well. Stir in fennel and orange zest. Slowly stir in flour mixture until just blended. Form dough into a ball and divide in half. Roll each half into a 6"-long log, making sure log is square-edged rather than rounded. Wrap logs in plastic and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 325°. Unwrap dough logs. Spread out sanding sugar on a piece of parchment paper and roll each log in sugar until sides are well coated. Cut each log into 1/3"-thick rounds. Place rounds about 1/2" apart on baking sheets. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until golden brown, 18–20 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool.
Place chocolate in a bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted. Dip half of each shortbread into chocolate, if desired. Sprinkle sea salt lightly over the chocolate-dipped portion that faces up. Place dipped cookies on parchment paper and chill until chocolate is set, about 10 minutes.

Photos by :: Bon Appetit & Nicole Franzen

TAGS: holidays, dessert, cookies

posted: 12.21.11

MARISSA LIPPERT, NYC

This blog: Musings about food, health, design, NYC and abroad. Me: Equal parts nutritionist, food lover, writer and force to be reckoned with in the kitchen. The recipe: gorgeously fresh food, smart balance and effortless style. Say hello: marissa ‘at’ nourish-nyc.com. Find me elsewhere: NOURISH, my nutrition counseling & food consulting firm.