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kitchenhermit · 1 year
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Pastiera Napoletana
Pastiera Napoletana, also known as grain pie, is a delicious and luxurious sweet enjoyed in Naples, Italy, throughout Easter. It is filled with a rich wheat and ricotta custard, brightened with candied fruit, orange blossom water, and lemon zest - baked in sweet shortcrust pastry. 
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Recipe notes:
Shortcrust pastry: I have an easy recipe included. You can use store-bought dough, just make sure it’s sweet pastry. I’d also recommend buying an extra sheet of pastry, to cut the strips to put on top of the pastiera!
Making ahead: You can make the pastry and the ricotta mixture up to two days before baking. Pastiera is even better on the second day because the sweetness softens and the flavours become much more complex and nuanced. I love it the most on the second day - so this is perfect to make ahead.  
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Ricotta: I use 200 grams of sheep’s milk ricotta (which is sweet and creamy) and 200 grams of cow’s milk ricotta (which is denser and slightly more savoury). This combination makes a delicious pastiera, but it’s also fine two use 400 grams of cow’s milk ricotta if you prefer!
Cooked wheat: This is an absolute must for pastiera! In Italy, it’s known as grano cotto, and you can buy it in jars at the supermarket around Easter time. If you can’t find it online, check out an Italian speciality grocer, or even a health-food store.  
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Ingredients:
Sweet shortcrust pastry: 
315 grams all-purpose / 00 flour
135 grams granulated white sugar
180 grams cold lard/shortening 
3 egg yolks (whisked)
Wheat ricotta custard: 
250 grams whole milk
350 grams cooked whole wheat berries (grano cotto)
Zest from 1 lemon
30 grams lard/shortening
400 grams ricotta 
3 eggs 
350 grams white granulated sugar
100 grams finely diced candied orange/citron (optional*)
15 grams orange blossom water 
A pinch of ground cinnamon 
Seeds from one vanilla bean / 1 tsp vanilla extract 
Method:
Sweet shortcrust pastry: 
Sift flour into a large bowl. Then add the sugar and the cold lard in small pieces. Using a pastry cutter/fork, or your fingers, cut the lard into the flour until there are only pea-sized amounts remaining and the mixture looks sandy. Add in the egg yolks and mix the dough with your hands until it comes together. You may need to add 1 tsp of water, but the dough will be quite crackly and delicate. There may be little spots of egg yolk throughout, but this isn't important. Just don't over-mix! 
When it comes together, put the dough out on plastic wrap and shape it into a flat disk. Cover well with the plastic, and refrigerate for at least one hour and up to two days. 
Wheat ricotta custard:
While the pastry is in the fridge, add the milk, lemon zest, lard, and cooked wheat into a small pot. Cook over low-medium heat, stirring regularly and breaking up the large pieces of wheat. The cream is done when the lard is melted and isn’t separated from the milk, the wheat has softened and isn’t clumped together, and the mixture has just started to simmer. Take it off the heat, and let it cool while you prepare the ricotta. 
Push the ricotta through a fine-mesh strainer (use a rubber spatula to force it through). If you have a food mill, use that! The reason we do this extra step is to make sure the ricotta is nice and fluffy. If you don’t have these tools, just whisk it together well. 
Add in the eggs, sugar, and the cooled wheat and milk mixture. Then whisk in the candied fruit, orange blossom water, vanilla beans, and a pinch of cinnamon.
Putting it together: 
Grease a 22cm/9cm pie tin with lard/shortening. Dust generously with flour and set aside. 
Take the shortcrust pastry out of the fridge. If it's been in the fridge for more than an hour, let it rest for a few minutes on the counter. Lightly dust some flour on a silicone pastry mat or your counter top, and gently roll out the dough. This is a very delicate dough, so cracks are normal. Just gently press the broken dough back together and try not to use too much flour. Roll out into a circle until it's about 1/2 inch/ 1.5cm thick and 12 inches/30cm in diameter. Gently place it in the greased tin. Don't worry if it breaks in the process, just press it into the baking tin and it'll work fine! This is a very forgiving dough. Cut off the extra dough overhanging the baking tin. Gather it all together, dust with flour and roll it out into a rectangle, around 22cm/9 inches in length. With a pastry wheel cutter, cut as many 2-inch strips as you can. Gently place them across the pastiera in a weave pattern. I usually get around 6. 
Pour the mixture into the pie crust, and place the strips on top. Put the pie into an oven, preheated at 180C/356F. Bake for 60 minutes. Then, place the oven tray on the bottom and bake for 10 minutes more. The pastiera is done when it’s dark (but not burnt on top), the pie has puffed up, and there is a fragrant smell of orange blossom water throughout your kitchen. 
Once the pie is finished, open the oven door slightly and let the pastiera rest there until completely cool. I use a piece of aluminium foil, to keep the oven door slightly ajar. If you take it out too quickly the middle will sink, causing the pastiera to have a crackly hole in the middle. If this happens, don’t worry, the pastiera will still be delicious!
When the pastiera has cooled down, cover with plastic wrap and store it at room temperature. It will be good to eat for up to 5 days.
Serve with a light dusting of icing sugar, and enjoy your Neapolitan easter treat! 
Notes:
1- The pastiera is very delicate, so it may not be possible to take the entire pie out of the tin to serve. In Naples, bakeries actually sell the pastiera inside its baking tin, because it's so fragile! 
*Candied fruit: This is an optional mix-in, but highly recommended! Candied citrus fruit cuts through the sweetness, and adds to the floral notes of the pie. If possible, try to find candied citron (a large type of green lemon that’s grown in the south of Italy). If you can’t, orange or lemon peel will work just as well!
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kitchenhermit · 1 year
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New York-Style Bagels
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The New York-style bagel is truly iconic. When I lived in NYC I couldn’t get through a week without a few of these! When I moved out of the city, bagels were among the things I missed the most. Luckily, they are super simple to make at home.
Bagels were brought to NYC by Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants from Poland in the 1800s. Overtime, they became a widespread local staple, and they’re still a popular mainstay to this day. New York-style bagels are distinctive because they are boiled before baking. This is how the famous chewy texture is achieved.
I’ve included a recipe for “everything seasoning,” but these bagels are also great plain. As far as fillings, these bagels are perfect with just cream cheese and chives or with the addition of smoked salmon, capers, pickled onions, and dill. 
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Ingredients:
Bagel dough:
 297 grams/320ml water 90F/32C
10 grams dry yeast 
23 grams white granulated sugar 
500 grams bread flour / Manitoba
6 grams/1 1/2 tsp salt 
1tbsp baking soda/malt syrup (optional)
Egg wash:
1 egg
1tsp cream/milk
Everything seasoning:
Makes 3/4 of a cup - so there’s some leftover!
2 Tbsp + 2 tsp white toasted sesame seeds
2tbsp black toasted sesame seeds
4 tsp Maldon sea salt flakes
2 tsp poppy seeds
2 tbsp dried minced onion
2 tbsp dried minced garlic 
Method
Whisk in the yeast and sugar to the warm water, and let it rest for about 10 minutes or until frothy. 
In a large bowl, whisk bread flour and salt together. Add in the yeast mixture and stir until the dough is shaggy. Once everything is well-combined, turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and pliable. You can also do this in a mixer with the dough hook. 
Put the dough into a lightly-oiled bowl. Cover with a damp towel and place in a warm place away from drafts (I use the oven with the light turned on), Let it ferment for about an hour or until doubled in size. 
Then, punch down the dough to deflate it and turn it out onto your bench. 
Before you move on to the next step, put on a pot of water to boil and pre-heat your oven to 218C/425F. You can add baking soda or malt syrup to your water, but this is optional. 
With a bench scraper, split the dough into eight pieces that are roughly the same size. I cut it in half, then quarters, then eighths. Pinch each piece to create a seam and then place it on an un-floured work surface (seam side down) and move your hand in a circular motion to tighten it into a ball. 
 Place the dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper or a silicone mat. Cover with a damp towel and let them rest for 10 minutes. 
When your water is boiling, pick up a ball with a floured hand and poke a finger straight through the middle. With two fingers in the hole, slowly turn the bagel to widen it. Then carefully drop the bagel into the water and boil for 1 minute on each side. Drain well and place on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. 
When all the bagels have been boiled, whisk the egg and the cream together and brush the bagels with the egg wash, covering the surface well. 
Sprinkle a generous amount of everything seasoning on top of the bagels. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the bagels are golden. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. Enjoy with your favourite toppings!
Did you like the recipe? Let me know on Instagram! 
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kitchenhermit · 2 months
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Neapolitan Tortano (Casatiello) 
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Tortano is a rich and savoury leavened bread dating back to the 17th century that is traditionally eaten over the Easter period in Naples, Italy.
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Tortano and pastiera (a sweet Easter pie) are both mentioned in La gatta Cenerentola (Cinderella the Cat) in 1634 when talking about the feast to find the girl who lost her slipper! There is even a saying in Neapolitan ‘Sí proprio 'nu casatiéllo”, which means something or someone is a bit slow and boring- because casatiello is so rich!
I can’t recommend tortano enough, if you’ve never tried it you’ve got to make my recipe! 
Ingredients: 
Bread:
First dough:
750 grams bread flour 
525 grams water (room temperature)
4 grams fresh yeast 
Second dough:
20 grams water (room temperature) 
15 grams salt
10 grams olive oil 
Filling: 
200 grams ham (prosciutto cotto)
80 grams provolone (mix of spicy and sweet)
90 grams grated salty hard cheese ( mix of parmesan and pecorino)
100 grams salami 
3 boiled eggs 
60 grams lard/shortening (room temperature) 
Freshly cracked pepper 
Method: 
Crumble the yeast into the water. Gradually add the yeasted water into a bowl of the flour as you mix. I first do it with a spoon and then continue by hand once all the water has been added (but you could also use a mixer with the paddle and then hook attachment). When the dough is starting to come together, turn it out onto the table and knead for about 5 minutes or until it looks smoother and is less sticky. Roll into a ball and place the bowl over the top of it. Let it rest for 20 minutes. 
Wet your hands with water or oil and then remove the bowl and flatten the dough ball a little bit on the counter. Add 1/3 of the water and sprinkle 1/2 of the salt on top, then repeatedly squeeze the dough with your hands so the dough absorbs it all. After the dough has absorbed most of the water, add the rest of the salt and 1/3 of the water and continue to squeeze with your hands. After some time, add the rest of the water. Slap and fold the dough and knead for a couple of minutes until everything has been incorporated and the dough is once again looking homogenous. Next, pour 1/2 of the olive oil onto the counter and knead the dough on top of it to absorb it. Now add the other 1/2 of the oil on top of the dough and knead for a couple of minutes, or until everything is absorbed. Leave the dough on the counter and cover with the bowl. Let it rest for 5 minutes to relax the gluten. 
Next, knead the dough for a couple of more minutes, or until it is very smooth and flexible. Put it in a large container that has been lightly oiled. Cover with a lid and let it rest for an hour at room temperature. All of these steps are much easier if you have a bench scraper to help move the dough, but a spatula would also be useful.
While the dough rests, prepare the fillings. Finely chop the salami, ham, and pecorino. Then grate the parmesan and pecorino. Prepare the boiled eggs (see note 2 below). You can put everything in a bowl mixed well, however, I prefer to control my portions by adding the ingredients one at a time. 
When the hour is up, lightly grease the counter with lard. Stretch the dough onto the counter into a large rectangle, approximately 50cm x 40cm. The dough shouldn’t be too thin and fragile. 
For this next part, there are reference photos below, which may be helpful! Add 1/3 of the filling in a strip in the middle of a rectangle, from top to bottom. Add some lard on either side of this ham and cheese mix. Fold one part of the rectangle over the filling. Then add 1/3 of the filling on top of this newly folded part. Fold the other part of the dough over and then add the 1/3 of the mix into the very centre, and add lard on either side. Fold both of these sides over. At this point, all of the mix should be included. 
Add the dough back into the container and cover for 30 minutes at room temperature. After, keeping the dough in the container carefully stretch and fold all four sides over each other, to make sure the filling is distributed throughout. Some of the fillings might become exposed or fall out, but this is normal. Just press it back in. Cover again for another 30 minutes.
Now, put the dough directly into a 30cm tortano tin (see note 4 below) that is generously greased with lard. I also put a bit of baking paper on the bottom to prevent sticking. Slowly and patiently stretch it out into a long thick rope until the ends are touching. Filling may come out, but this is normal and they will be extra crunchy and delicious! Spread a small amount of lard on top of the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and leave it at room temperature for one hour and then put it in the fridge overnight and up to 20 hours. 
The next day, take it out of the fridge and lightly cut a line around the top of the dough with a bread lame or a sharp knife. This will help to release the steam. 
Put the tortano into a static oven pre-heated at 250C / 482F for the first 10 minutes. Then lower to 180C/356F and bake for a further 40 minutes. The tortano should have a golden colour on top and smell fragrant. Take it out on its own and let it rest for 5 minutes (don’t wait too long or as it cools the cheese may stick to the tin). Then with a knife cut around the side to release it from the pan. Turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving. 
Enjoy and Happy Easter!! 
Notes:
1: Decorative Eggs: Optional: You can put eggs on top of the tortano with dough to hold them in place. Here is a photo to get an idea of this. Doing this will make it a casatiello and it’s very festive! 
2: Boiled Eggs: to boil eggs, I add them to cold water and put them over high heat. Once the water is boiling, I turn off the heat, cover it with a lid and leave the eggs for 12 minutes. Then put them in an ice bath and let them cool for a further 10 minutes. To take off the shell, simply crack the shell all over on the counter and take off the shell under running water. I’ve found this is the easiest way to do it! 
3. The Filling: I’ve written what I like to add to my tortano, but everyone is different! Feel free to mix and add whatever cheese and cured meats that you like. You can also omit the egg if you prefer. 
4: Baking tin. This recipe uses a tortano pan, however, any large cake tin with a hole in the middle will be great like a chiffon cake tin or bundt pan.
Reference photos for the folding of the tortano:
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Did you try this recipe? Let me know on Instagram!
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kitchenhermit · 9 months
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Brioche Buns 
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These buns are super soft, lightly sweet and perfect for burgers. The secret is the "tangzhong," which is a Chinese technique that involves pre-cooking a portion of the flour first. This quick extra step ensures that these buns will be extra fluffy and stay fresher longer. 
Notes:
Mixer: This recipe calls for a mixer as brioche dough is very hydrated and is quite difficult to knead by hand. 
Flour: Try to use bread flour as the protein percentage is higher (12%-14%) which will give you an end product with more chew and structure. However, if you only have all-purpose it’ll be fine. 
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Ingredients:
Tangzhong:
20 grams bread flour 
27 grams water 
60 grams milk 
Dough: 
120 grams milk (95F/35C) 
9 grams dry yeast 
320 grams bread flour
7 grams salt  
35 grams sugar 
1 egg + 1 egg yolk (room temperature) 
42 grams unsalted butter (room temperature) 
Egg wash: 
1 egg 
1 tbsp cream/milk 
Method: 
In a small jug, whisk the warmed milk (95F/35C), yeast and sugar together. Leave it to activate until bubbly, about 8 minutes. 
In a small pot, add the ingredients for the tangzhong (flour, water, and milk). Put over medium heat, constantly whisking. It will quickly become a thick gelatinous paste in only about 30 seconds.  Immediately take the pot off the heat and put the tangzhong paste in a small bowl to cool. 
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the flour and salt together. Add the flat beater attachment and turn the mixer on low. Slowly pour in the yeast mixture and then the tangzhong paste. When it forms a shaggy dough add the egg and mix until it's incorporated, and then add the egg yolk and mix again. Next put in the butter one piece at a time. 
Once everything is incorporated, change the attachment to the dough hook. Let the mixer run until the dough is smooth and it mostly comes away from the sides, around 10 minutes. With the help of a bench scraper, move the dough to a lightly greased large bowl. Cover with a damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Put it in a warm area to proof (I use my oven with the light turned on) until doubled in size (about 1 hour). 
When the dough has doubled in size, punch it down to take out the excess air. Turn it out onto a scale to weigh the dough and then divide that weight by six. It should come to about 110 grams.
Put the dough onto a lightly floured work surface with the help of a bench scraper. Divide it into six even pieces, use the scale to make sure each piece is about 110 grams. It’s important that each bun is about the same size so that it all bakes evenly. 
Now it’s time to shape the individual buns. Pull in a section of each side to meet in the middle. Pinch the middle to make a seam. Then put the dough on an unfloured surface seam side down. Roll it around on the table (always seam side down) your hand cupped on top.
As you go, place the shaped dough balls on a large tray lined with baking paper. Leave about 2in/5cm of space between each one. Cover again either as before or with an inverted tray. Let them rise until doubled (about 1 hour).
When they are doubled gently brush with egg wash that you have whisked together. It’s ok if the buns are touching at this point as this will actually help them rise.  
Place in an oven at 375F/190C for 15 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter as soon as they’re out of the oven. Let them cool on a cooling tray and enjoy!
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kitchenhermit · 10 months
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Classic Key Lime Pie
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Key Lime Pie is one of my favourite desserts; it’s light, refreshing, and simply delicious. It comes together quickly and it’s easy to make ahead of time. 
This dessert is named after Key West, Florida, where it was supposedly invented in the 19th century. Fresh ingredients were not always available there, so condensed milk, and key limes, widely available in the area, became a main feature of this pie. You can taste the zesty and tropical flavour in every bite! 
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Notes:
Limes: Where I live key limes, (a small, yellow and fragrant lime native to Southeast Asia) aren’t available. However, I use Persian Limes, which are the most common in supermarkets and sold year round. Both work wonderfully for this recipe. 
Food processor: If you don’t have a food processor, crush the biscuits in a zip lock back with a rolling pin or glass and then mix in the melted butter. 
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Ingredients: 
Crust:
60 grams unsalted melted butter
250 grams biscuits (graham/Biscoff/digestive) 
Filling: 
595 grams sweetened condensed milk 
160 ml Key/Persian lime juice 
3 egg yolks 
2 tsp lime zest (from 5/6 limes) 
Chantilly cream: 
250 ml whipping cream
60 grams powdered sugar
1 vanilla pod/1tsp vanilla extract
75 grams mascarpone (40% fat) 
Method: 
Pre-heat oven to 176C/350F. Put the biscuits into a food processor, pulse until you get fine crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse until the mixture looks like wet sand. 
Put the biscuit mixture into a 9 inch/22cm glass pie dish and use the bottom side of a glass to press the crumbs down until they are compact. For the edges of the pie, use the side of the glass to press the crumbs into the dish and your fingers to press from the top. 
Bake the crust uncovered for 10 minutes and then remove from the oven while you make the custard. 
Whisk eggs yolks and zest in a stand mixer for about a minute. Add in the condensed milk and whisk until well incorporated. Slowly pour in the juice while the mixer is on low. Make sure you scrape down the bowl regularly with a spatula to make sure everything is well combined. 
Pour the custard in the crust and level it with a spatula. Bake for 10 minutes or until there are some small holes in the custard and it jiggles slightly. Cool on a wire rack at room temperature for 20 minutes and then refrigerate for at least an hour and up to three days. 
For the chantilly cream, whip all ingredients in a stand mixer on high until stiff peaks form. Stiff peaks stand up straight when you lift the whisk into the air.  Pipe onto the pie with a pastry bag or dollop it on with a spoon. Finish off the pie with lemon zest of candied lime for extra decoration. 
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kitchenhermit · 2 years
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Simple Italian Focaccia
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I’ve been living in the south of Italy for about four years now, and I’ve been obsessed with making the perfect focaccia. The first time I saw dough fermenting was in my mother-in-law's kitchen as she was making focaccia. I was hooked instantly! 
My focaccia recipe is very easy and it yields the fluffiest, softest focaccia: It will keep you coming back for more!
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Notes:
Olive oil: There aren’t many ingredients in this recipe, so most of the flavor comes from olive oil. For this reason, you shouldn’t skimp on it! Use the highest-quality Italian extra virgin olive oil you can find. 
Mixer: For this recipe, I use a mixer, but it can be done by hand.
Flavor: This is a simple focaccia recipe with a topping of salt and rosemary. Still, you can personalize it however you like. I also love topping it with potatoes or caramelized onions. 
This recipe is adapted from the simple focaccia recipe from Giallo Zafferano 
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Ingredients:
Focaccia dough:
470 grams flour (bread flour or all-purpose) 
16 grams white sugar 
5 grams dry yeast 
12 grams fine salt
115 grams whole milk 
230 grams water (room temperature)
45 grams extra virgin olive oil 
Topping:
40 grams extra virgin olive oil 
Sea salt flakes 
Fresh rosemary
Method: 
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the flour, sugar, and yeast together. In a separate jug, mix together the milk and water. Attach the flat beater to the mixer, and run it on low. Slowly pour in the water/milk mixture. 
Mix until a rough dough starts to form. Then, slowly pour in the olive oil while the machine is going. Wait until the oil is incorporated and then change the attachment to the dough hook. At this point, add the salt. 
On medium/low, knead the dough in the mixer for about 15-minutes or until the it looks hydrated and stretchy. This is a very hydrated dough so it will be sticky. 
With the help of a bench scraper, place the dough directly into an oiled bowl. This next step is optional but recommended. Put some oil on your hand and gently take one side of the dough, stretch it and fold it over the rest. Repeat this on all sides. Then, using your bench scraper or a spatula, flip the dough over, so that the seams are on the bottom of the bowl.  Cover the bowl with a wet kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Put it in a warm place, I use my oven turned off with the light on. Let it rise until doubled, about two hours. 
After the dough has doubled in size, gently place it in a well-oiled rectangular pan (35 x 38 cm). The more oil you use for the pan, the crispier the bottom will be, so be generous. Put some water or oil on your fingertips and gently dimple the dough as you push it out into the edges. It may not fill the pan immediately, but just try to lengthen the dough gently. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap again, and put it back in a warm place for about one hour.
Now, brush on some olive oil and dimple it again with your fingertips. Sprinkle with rosemary leaves and flaky salt. Bake in a pre-heated static oven at 180C/356F on the lowest level for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown. 
Let it cool, cut, and serve as is, or with some cold cuts, cheese, and marinated vegetables! Buon appetito :)  
Did you try this recipe? Or do you have any questions? Reach out on Instagram. 
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kitchenhermit · 2 years
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The Best Ham And Cheese Rolls
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These ham and cheese rolls are made with a soft pillowy dough and a sweet-mustard glaze. They’re perfect for parties, or even just for an indulgent treat at home. They’re also highly customizable, so you can change the filling to suit your taste.
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Notes:
Sour cream: If you can’t find sour cream where you live, Greek yogurt will work just as well.
Stand mixer: I use a stand mixer for this recipe. If you don’t have one, you can mix and knead by hand.
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Recipe:
Dough:
420 grams all-purpose flour
50 grams granulated white sugar 
50 grams light brown sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp instant yeast 
1 large egg (room temperature) 
120 ml milk (1/2 cup) 
1 tbsp vanilla extract 
120 grams sour cream 
85 grams unsalted butter
Filling:
300 grams prosciutto cotto (sliced ham) 
200 grams thinly sliced cheese (Emmental/gouda)
1 tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature)
Glaze: 
4 tbsp melted butter 
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp poppy seeds 
Method: 
In the bowl of your stand mixer, whisk the flour, salt, white and brown sugar, and yeast together. In a small pot heat up the milk, butter, vanilla, and sour cream until it’s warm (110F / 43C) and the butter is melted. 
Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients, attach the dough hook, and mix on low. Then add the egg and mix until it comes together (about 10 minutes). It’s quite a soft and hydrated dough, so it might still stick a little even after you’re finished. 
Put the dough on a well-floured surface and knead by hand for about five minutes. Add flour as needed. Place the dough in a large bowl that’s lightly oiled. Cover with a wet tea towel and put it in your oven with the light turned on. The dough needs to double in size, so it should take around an hour. 
Put the dough on a well-floured surface (I also use a silicone pastry mat) and roll it into a rectangle that is 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) thick. The thinner the better!
Now, spread some of the butter onto the dough with a pastry brush or spatula. Lay out the prosciutto/ham on the surface and then top it with the cheese. Starting with the short side of the rectangle, roll the rectangle carefully until you have a long log. When you’re finished, use a sharp knife and first trim the edges. Then cut the log in half. Repeat this step two more times until you have eight equal pieces. 
Place the rolls in a baking tin lined with baking paper so that they’re not touching each other and cover with a damp towel. Let it rise at room temperature for about 40 minutes or until puffy.
If you want to do an overnight ferment, cover the rolls with plastic wrap and put them in the fridge. The next day take them out and let them rise at room temperature.  While the rolls are rising, make the glaze. Simply whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, mustard, and poppy seeds together. Then brush the glaze over the rolls before putting them in the oven. 
Bake in a preheated oven (350F /176C) for about 30-minutes or until they are lightly brown on top.  Did you try the recipe? Let me know on Instagram!
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kitchenhermit · 2 years
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Deluxe Peanut Butter Cups
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Christmas and NYE may be over; but in Italy, Epiphany Eve is just around the corner! On January 5th, an old woman (Befana) flies around on her broomstick and leaves chocolate and candy in little stockings at the homes of all the children who’ve been good ( and a lump of coal for the naughty kids). 
Even though this is a day for kids to eat treats, I’ll take any excuse to indulge in something sweet. That’s why this year I’m making deluxe peanut butter cups (from the Lady in The Wild West blog) to celebrate. Complete with homemade caramel sauce, crunchy salty pretzels, and a luscious peanut butter cream, you just can’t go wrong. 
These are way better than the commercial peanut butter cups and they make fantastic gifts. Once you try these deluxe peanut butter cups, you’ll never be able to go back to the store-bought ones!
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Recipe notes:
Caramel Sauce: I’d recommend starting with the caramel sauce so that it has time to cool before adding it to the recipe. You can also buy it from the store, or omit it altogether. But it’s highly recommended as it really takes the recipe to the next level! 
Muffin tin: I like making big cups with a medium-sized muffin tin, but these would also be great with a mini-muffin tin. You could also use a round tart pan to make one large single peanut butter cup that you can slice up if you want a quicker version. 
Chocolate: You can melt the chocolate in a microwave (20 seconds at a time, stirring in between) or with a double broiler. I prefer the double broiler technique as you have more control over the final product. 
Lard/Shortening: Using a small amount will make the chocolate shinier and it won’t have any impact on taste. But it's entirely optional!
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Ingredients: 
Chocolate:
550 grams / 20 ounces baking chocolate (I prefer dark 50% cacao)
1 tsp lard or shortening (optional)
Peanut butter cream:
1 cup / 1 jar of peanut butter (preferably natural and unsalted)
56 grams / 4 tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature) 
50 grams / 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Caramel sauce: 
200 grams / 1 cup granulated sugar 
85 grams / 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
120 grams / 1/2 cup heavy cream (room temperature) 
1 tsp vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean (the seeds)
1 tsp fine salt 
Optional: pretzels, flaky salt  
Method:
Place liners in a muffin tin. In a medium-sized bowl, melt the chocolate. Simply, place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and mix continuously with a rubber spatula. Add in the lard if using. 
Spoon in the melted chocolate into each liner, gently pushing the chocolate up the sides of it, about 2/3rds of the way. You should still have about half of the chocolate left. 
After this, put the muffin tin into the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes, until the chocolate is set. While you wait, whisk the peanut butter, powdered sugar, and unsalted butter together until combined and smooth. Don’t have an electric mixer? A whisk is also fine!
When the chocolate is set take it out and place some chopped pretzels into the bottom. Add a spoonful of caramel sauce (recipe below), covering the pretzels. Then, follow it with a large spoonful of peanut butter cream. Lightly pound the tin on the counter to level it out. Make sure the peanut butter doesn’t touch the liner. Place back into the fridge and let it sit for 10 minutes. 
Remove the muffin tin ad put melted chocolate on top of each one to seat it. Pound it again on the counter, make sure the chocolate completely covers the peanut butter. Sprinkle with pretzels and flaky salt, and put them back in for another 15 minutes.
After this, they are ready to eat and enjoy!!!
Caramel Sauce:
Put a medium-sized saucepan on medium heat. Add in the sugar, swirling the pan occasionally until the sugar melts and its color turns to amber. Then, immediately add in the butter and whisk until melted. Carefully pour in the cream and continue whisking until everything is melted and the mixture is a rich golden color. Keep in mind that it will bubble a lot, but this means you're doing it right! 
Take the pan off the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Pour it into a heat-proof container (like a glass jar) and let it cool for five minutes. Then refrigerate it while you prepare your cups. It will thicken more when it’s cool. This recipe makes about 1 cup of caramel sauce, so you’ll have some leftover. It goes well on ice cream, panna cotta and more! 
Original recipe:
https://www.ladyinthewildwest.com/lwwblog/homemademilkchocolatepeanutbuttercups
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