April 7, 2020

Recipe: Austrian Linzer Tart Cookies

Ingredients

3 cups (375 g) unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup (96 g) blanched almond flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp Kosher salt

1 ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature

1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup rasberry, fig, cherry, lingonberry or cranberry jam

powdered sugar for dusting the tops of cookies

Directions

In a bowl whisk together the flour, almond flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed. Mix for a few minutes until well combined and pale in color, scraping down the sides when necessary. Add in the eggs one at a time; mix again until well combined. Mix in the vanilla. Turn off the mixer and add in all of the flour mixture, then mix on low speed until it’s just incorporated.

Working on a floured work surface, divide the dough into two equal portions. Flatten into 1-inch (2.5-cm)-thick disks. Wrap separately in plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours up to 5 days.

Remove the dough from the fridge 15 minutes before you are ready to roll it. Roll in between two sheets of parchment paper to ⅛ to ¼ inch (3 to 6 mm) thick. If the dough cracks, just press it back together. If the dough gets too sticky, you can add more flour to it as you roll. You can also place it back in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to firm back up.

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) with the rack in the middle. Cut shapes from the dough with a 2½-inch (6-cm) cookie cutter (I love hearts for these), cutting an equal amount of tops and bottoms. Cut a hole in the middle of the tops. Carefully move the cookies with a spatula to parchment-lined baking sheets. When all the dough is rolled out and cut, place in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the fridge and bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes; they should be lightly golden brown on the edges. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to cooling racks.

Dust the tops of the cookies with powdered sugar. Spread the bottoms with some jam. Make cookie sandwiches and serve.

~ Marla Meridith

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April 1, 2020

Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients

1 lb spaghetti or any pasta

1 lb ground beef

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp ground black pepper

½ tsp Kosher salt

2 tsp dried basil

24 fl oz (1 jar) canned tomato sauce

grated or shaved parmesan cheese for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a baking tray with tin foil.

Place the ground beef in a large bowl.
Season with the garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper salt and basil. With clean hands combine well.

Roll into 1 inch meatballs. Place the meatballs onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.

While the meatballs are baking, cook the pasta to package directions.
Drain the pasta when it’s done cooking.

Heat the sauce in a skillet. Season to taste with the garlic powder, onion powder etc. if you want it to have more profound flavors.

Top the cooked pasta with the sauce, meatballs and some Parmesan cheese.

~ Marla Meridith

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April 1, 2020

Recipe: Rustic Roasted Beet & Sweet Potato Salad

Ingredients

1 bunch beets

2 sweet potatoes

2 tbsp canola or grapeseed oil

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp garlic salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

2 tbsp pure maple syrup

1 avocado

6 cups baby spinach leaves

Toppings

Maple Citrus Roasted Pecanshttps://marlameridith.com/recipe/maple-citrus-roasted-pecans/

Salad Dressings: Try one of these!

Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette

Lemon Honey Salad Dressing

Directions

Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees F with the racks in the middle. Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper or oven proof silicone liner.

Slice the beets and sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch thick sticks. Place on the baking sheet in a single layer.

Drizzle with the oil and maple syrup. Using clean hands, toss with the cinnamon, garlic salt and pepper.

Bake for about 40-45 minutes until slightly browned, caramelized and very tender.

Plate spinach leaves with roasted beets and sweet potatoes. Top with avocado and maple pecans. Serve with lemon juice and olive oil or my Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette or Lemon Honey Salad Dressing.

~ Marla Meridith

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March 28, 2020

Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Ingredients

¼ cup unsalted butter

¾ cup light brown sugar

1 large egg, room temperature

3 medium ripe bananas, mashed (to equal 1 1/4 cups)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Directions

Pre heat the oven to 350˚ with the rack in the middle.
Grease a 10″ cast iron skillet (or any heatproof skillet) with butter or vegetable oil.

Make the brown butter. In a small skillet, heat the butter over medium high heat until it starts bubbling. Swirl the pan and continue to cook and swirl. After a few minutes the butter will begin to foam. Reduce the heat to medium. This will subside and you will start te see brown flecks and you will smell a nutty aroma. Cook about one more minute, more flecks will appear. Continue to swirl the pan so the butter doesn’t burn too quickly. Transfer the butter to a heat proof bowl. Let cool to room temperature.

Mix the cooled butter with the brown sugar in a large bowl. Mix in the egg, mashed banana and vanilla.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in another bowl.

Add the flour mixture into the banana mixture in two additions, combining well. Do not over mix. Fold in one-half of the chocolate chips.

Transfer the batter into the prepared skillet, smooth with top with the back of a spoon or spatula. Top with the remainder of the chocolate chips.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until a wooden skewer comes out virtually crumb free.

Remove the banana bread from the oven and let cool at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

~ Marla Meridith

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March 15, 2020

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Scones

Ingredients

3 ¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour

⅓ cup pure maple syrup

2 ½ tsp baking powder

1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

¾ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

⅔ cup buttermilk

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 ripe bananas, mashed

¾ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F with the rack in the middle.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon until combined. Add butter and using a food processor mix together until the butter forms coarse little crumbs.

Add in maple syrup, buttermilk, vanilla extract and bananas. Mix until a dough forms and comes together.

Remove the dough from the processor bowl and place on a clean, floured work surface. Flour you hands and fold in the chocolate chips.

Pat the dough into a large circle and cut into 6 or 8 wedges.

Place scones on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

~ Marla Meridith

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February 3, 2020

Chili Cheese Oven Fries

Ingredients

Oven French Fries

1 ½ lbs Russet potatoes

¼ cup canola or vegetable oil

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

Chili

1 lb ground beef

1 tbsp tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion diced

1 green bell pepper finely chopped

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp coriander

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 cup crushed tomatoes

½ cup water

Toppings

1 tomato seeded and diced

Shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese

green onions chopped

sour cream

Anything else you may want such as sliced Jalapeno, salsa, pico de gallo, avocado, guacamole, olives, lettuce, etc.

Directions

Oven Fries

Clean and pat dry the potatoes. Do not remove the skin.

Slice into desired thickness.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F with the rack on the lower level.

In a large bowl toss the potatoes with the oil, salt and pepper and any other toppings you like.

Place on the baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake for 25-35 minutes tossing the fries in the middle of baking time.

Chili

While the fries are baking prepare the chili. Cook the meat in a 12 inch cast iron skillet until browned, breaking up the meat up as it cooks. Remove the meat from the skillet with a slotted spoon. Discard oil.

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a the same skillet, no need to wash it. Saute the onion for 5-6 minutes until softened and fragrant.

Add the bell pepper and cook a few more minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil and then to a simmer for 20 minutes or until chili thickens.

Plate the fries in a bake safe casserole dish or single serving dishes. Top with chili and handfuls of cheese. Bake for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with various toppings.

~ Marla Meridith

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February 3, 2020

Recipe: Pumpkin Dutch Baby with Caramelized Apples

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

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February 3, 2020

Recipe: Sheet Pan Red Miso Glazed Chicken with Mushrooms

Looking for that perfect one-pan dish? Try this delicious Sheet Pan Red Miso Glazed Chicken with Mushrooms recipe. Minimal fuss and clean-up required!

Ingredients

1/2 cup unseasoned rice wine vinegar

5 tbsp red miso paste

2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce (use tamari for gluten free)

1 tbsp finely grated ginger

2 1/2 tsp light brown sugar

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

3 pounds bone in chicken thighs and drumsticks, trimmed and pat dry

8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced

8 ounces Shitake mushrooms, sliced

1 bunch scallions, cut to 1 inch length

Directions

Pre heat the oven to 450˚ F with the rack in the middle.

Line a baking sheet with tin foil.

Make a few slits on the top of the chicken, slicing though the skin to the bone.

In a large bowl whisk together the rice wine vinegar, miso, soy sauce, ginger, sugar and pepper.

Place the chicken into the sauce mixture and rub to coat on all sides, being sure to get the sauce into the slits.

Place the chicken skin side up on the baking sheet. with the sauce.

In the empty (do not rinse) bowl add the mushrooms and the whites of the scallions. Toss to coat with sauce residue.

Add this mixture to the sheet pan, scattering around the chicken.

Roast until the chicken and mushrooms are browned and the internal temperature of the thickest parts of the thighs and drumsticks reads 175˚F ~ about 30-40 minutes.

With tongs, transfer the chicken to a serving plate and sauce with the mushroom mixture and the pan drippings.

Top with the green parts of the scallions.

Serve with rice, conscous, quinoa or pasta.

~ Marla Meridith

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February 3, 2020

Recipe: Melted Candy Corn Skillet Brownie

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

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February 3, 2020

Recipe: Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Make the holidays extra special with this delicious Cranberry Upside Down Cake recipe.

4 tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
9 ounces (2 2/3 cups) fresh cranberries
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
FOR THE BATTER:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
—topping
1/4 cup chopped candied ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the middle.
Prepare the topping: Put butter and brown sugar in a 9-inch round cake pan, place the oven. As the sugar dissolves, stir once so the mixture spreads evenly over the pan. When the sugar starts to bubble and caramelize, remove pan from the oven and allow to cool.
In a small bowl, combine the cranberries and orange juice. Toss to coat berries well. Spread the berries evenly in the pan. Drizzle with any juice remaining in bowl. Set pan aside, and prepare the cake batter.
Prepare the batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together until pale, light and fluffy. Add vanilla, and beat in egg yolks one at a time, scraping bowl once or twice. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, ending with dry ingredients. Set batter aside.
Using electric mixer, whisk the egg whites with cream of tartar until whites are stiff enough to hold a slight peak.
Fold whites into batter 1/3 at a time. Spoon batter into prepared pan, and spread it evenly over cranberries. Bake until top is browned and cake pulls away slightly from edges of pan, 30-35 minutes (add 5-10 minutes if you live at high altitude). Test for doneness with a wooden skewer, cake is ready when it comes out virtually crumb free.
Let cake cool for 15 minutes before turning onto a serving plate. Top with the candied ginger. Serve with lightly sweetened whipped cream if desired.

This recipe is a slight variation of Alice Waters’s Cranberry Upside-Down Cake.

~ Marla Meridith

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February 3, 2020

Recipe: Chickpea Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

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February 3, 2020

Recipe: Smashed Brussels Sprouts with Remoulade Sauce