BON APPETIT – MY FAVORITE FOOD MAGAZINE

As a typical foodie, I spend most of my days thinking about, reading about, eating or preparing food.  My food-obsessed life wouldn’t be complete wihtout food magazines to read while traveling, waiting and during other quiet times.  They point me to new food trends, area restaurants and great recipes.  Some mags that I’ve subscribed to in the past but have not renewed are:

Martha Stewart’s Living – It’s large and full, but just not for me.
Food Network Magazine -- a good mag with great photos, but I can only read so much and wanted to branch out,
Cooking Light – a good mag, but I’m moving on to try new things.

This year, my subscriptions include Bon Appetit, Eating Well, Good Housekeeping and Southern Living.  My top fave is Bon Appetit.  The magazine is small and thin compared to Food Network Magazine.  But I literally hang on every page, sometimes reading articles a second and maybe even a third time.  It’s one of the most well-written magazines that I’ve had the pleasure to read.  New editor-in-chief Adam Rapoport has overseen a redesign that speaks to me.  The newly redesigned BA  tells you what to cook, how to cook it, and why to cook it, now.  In Rapoport’s own words, “...Everyone on this staff, from the creative director to the research editor, loves to cook, eats with conviction,and never hesitates to tell you where he or she ate last weekend.  Food matters to us…”  I’m the first to admit that the staff of BA is light years ahead of me in culinary skills and expression.  Which is exactly why I love to read what they have to say.

I love their r.s.v.p. column – letters written by readers that have visited restaurants, fallen in love with a dish, can’t get the recipe pried from the chef, and hope that BA can get it for them.  Many times, the chef will release the recipe when BA asks.  When they won’t release it, BA comes up with a copy-cat version. 

Molly Wizenberg, award-winning blogger and author of “A Homemade Life,” is a regular contributor and I always look forward to her column.  Molly has the uncanny ability to make you fall in love with a food that you’ve never tried.  When she wrote about green papaya salad, I felt compelled to make it.  No matter what she writes about, I want to try it. 

Restaurant and Drinks Editor Andrew Knowlton keeps readers up to date on food trends and area restaurants that are worth visiting.  Andrew is definitely worth listening to, IMHO.

Prep School, in the back of BA,  gives easy to follow, step-by-step pictorial instruction to accompany recipes that may have difficult procedures for novice cooks.

A Recipe Index is included in case you want to keep your magazine and use it like a cookbook. 
And if you don’t know where to buy some of the ingredients, Sourcebook, also in the back, lists shopping info.  I love that BA has given me sources for wild salmon.  I’ll definitely be ordering some. 

So why am I telling you all this?  Because in these uncertain economic times, magazines are struggling.  Remember what happened to Gourmet, another great –er, used-to-be-great -- food magazine?  Please don’t let it happen to Bon Appetit.  A one-year subscription (12 issues) is only $12.

STRAWBERRY SWIRL CHEESECAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

I made this cheesecake  in 2008, with a different crust and different ingredients in the filling.  It was excellent.  This time, I used my homemade graham crackers for the crust, adding chocolate chips and cocoa.  Instead of using sugar for the strawberry puree, I used strawberry jam sweetened only with fruit.   I liked this version better.  Served with extra puree spooned onto the plate, everyone raved over this version, and I’m keeping it as my current favorite. 



Strawberries are available year round, though in-season local strawberries are always the best.  You can make this deliciously firm, creamy and rich New York-style cheesecake with frozen or out-of-your area strawberries.    You won’t be disappointed if you try it.  And cheesecake freezes beautifully, so no need to feel like you have to eat it all up in a few days.

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake with Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust Adapted from recipezaar.com Rating:  9.5 out of 10 Click for PRINTABLE PAGE

Strawberry Puree:  1/2 lb.  fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled, washed, sliced 1/4 cup strawberry fruit spread, sweetened only with fruit juice 1 Tbsp. cornstarch 1 Tbsp. almond liqueur (or lemon juice) 1 Tbsp. butter Crust: 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 5 Tbsp. butter, melted 1 Tbsp. cocoa Filling:  3 (8-oz.) pkgs. Neufchatel cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 3 large eggs 1 large egg yolk 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract (I used my homemade vanilla) 1/2 tsp. lemon zest, finely grated 1 tsp. lemon juice 1/2 tsp. orange extract 3 Tbsp. heavy cream Garnishes:  Whipped cream, Chocolate shavings, extra whole strawberries Make strawberry puree:  In  medium heavy saucepan, crush berries with a potato masher.  Add fruit spread and cornstarch and stir to combine.  Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring as needed. Cook till mixture is thickened, several minutes. Remove from heat and strain through a sieve. Stir in butter and flavoring. Cool thoroughly. Make crust:  Heat oven to 325F.  Process chocolate chips in work bowl of food processor until chopped in fine pieces.  Add remaining crust ingredients and pulse till everything is combined.   Pat dough onto bottom and 1" up sides of a greased 8" springform pan lined tightly with two layers of tinfoil that go all the way to the top of the pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack. Make filling:   Heat oven to 400F.  Start heating a pot of water for the water bath.  Wipe work bowl and blade of food processor.  Combine cream cheese and sugar, pulsing till smooth and well mixed.  Add eggs and yolk, one at a time, pulsing only till yellow disappears after each addition.  Scrape sides and bottom of work bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and pulse just till combined.  Prepare for baking:  Pour batter evenly into cooled crust.  Swirl half of the puree (about 3/4 - 1 cup) into the top of the cheesecake.  (Do this by dotting the mixture over the top and swirling with a knife or spatula.)  Place foil-lined springform pan in a large baking pan.  Fill pan with hot water halfway to the top of the cheesecake pan.  Bake 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 250F.  Bake an additional hour and 30 minutes, or till cheesecake is set.  Cool on wire rack for 2 hours, then uncovered in fridge for 2 hours.  Cover cheesecake and refrigerate overnight before serving.  Yield:  8-10 servings

GRILLED ORANGE-GINGER ASPARAGUS

Southern Living, one of my favorite magazines, has given us this delightful new take on asparagus.  It may not look very different, but your tastebuds will tell you otherwise.  Freshly grated ginger, Dijon mustard and a hint of orange juice awaken this sometimes boring vegetable.  If you have any left over, cut it up and add it to your next tossed salad, or even better, to scrambled eggs. 

If you’re looking for other ways to be creative with asparagus, try SL's Asparagus Pesto for a real treat.

Grilled Orange-Ginger Asparagus (Adapted half recipe) Source:  Southern Living Rating:  8.5 out of 10 Click for PRINTABLE PAGE

INGREDIENTS:  2 Tbsp. orange juice 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1-1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger 1-1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1/8 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt 1/8 tsp. black pepper 1/2 lb. asparagus, ends trimmed Combine everything except asparagus in resealable plastic bag and squeeze together to mix well.  Add asparagus.  Refrigerate 2 hours or more, up to a day ahead.  Grill over medium high heat, 3-4 minutes per side, depending on thickness of stalks.  Serve hot, room temperature or cold.  Yield:  2-3 servings

ELINOR KLIVANS’ SOUR CREAM VANILLA CUPCAKES

This recipe, adapted from Elinor Klivans’ book, Cupcakes, was touted by epicurean.com to be great.  They certainly are different.  First, the eggs and sugar are beaten together till light and creamy, then the butter and vanilla are added followed by the sour cream.  Finally, the dry ingredients are blended in.  I’ve never mixed a cupcake batter with this method and decided it was worth a try.  The resulting texture is noteworthy – light, fluffy and airy, with only a small amount of baking powder and baking soda, due to the air beaten into the eggs at the beginning.  And the sturdy cupcakes crown beautifully even though you only use 2 Tbsp. of batter. 


My all-time favorite vanilla cupcake recipe is SOUTHERN LIVING'S, but I’m glad I tried these.  If I have sour cream to use up (Southern Living’s cupcakes use buttermilk), I might make them again.

Elinor Klivans’ Sour Cream Vanilla Cupcakes, adapted  Rating:  8 out of 10 Click for PRINTABLE PAGE

INGREDIENTS:  1-1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt 2 large eggs 3/4 cup sugar (Klivans uses 1 cup, but 3/4 cup makes these plenty sweet.) 1/2 cup (1 stick) room temperature unsalted butter 1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup lite or regular sour cream Heat oven to 350F.  Grease a 12-cup muffin tin, or line with paper liners.  Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt onto a large piece of waxed paper. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar for about 2 minutes, or till light and creamy.  Add butter and vanilla and beat on low speed for about 1 minute, or till well blended.  Beat in dry ingredients on low speed till blended.  Add sour cream and beat till smooth and well blended.  Fill each cup with about 2 Tbsp. batter.  Bake 14-16 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted into centers returns with just a few crumbs and tops are firm.  Let cool in pan for about 10 minutes.  Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling.  Frost as desired.  Yield:  12

DOVE PEANUT TOFFEE CRUNCH-COCONUT MUFFINS

This is it – the end of my stash of Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch.  They were put to good use in these yummy coconut muffins.  Coconut oil, coconut flour, coconut milk, toasted coconut and coconut extract bring an amazing texture and flavor to this moist, dense and not too sweet breakfast muffin.  And the coconut flour, toasted coconut, pecans and whole wheat flour add fiber.

If you want to be naughty, soften some butter and mix some real maple syrup and a bit of cinnamon into it.  Absolutely delicious on this or any other muffin.  If you want your muffin to be sweeter, just add an additional 1/4 cup sugar to the batter.

Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch Coconut Muffins Source:  Judy’s Kitchen Rating:  8.5 out of 10 Click for PRINTABLE PAGE

INGREDIENTS:  1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill organic coconut flour 1/4 cup King Arthur white whole wheat flour 1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (I used Gold Medal) 3/4 - 1 cup sugar (I used 6 Tbsp. sugar + 1-1/2 Tbsp. NuNaturals Stevia = 3/4 cup sweetener) 2-1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/4 cup toasted chopped pecans 1/2 cup toasted sweetened dried coconut 1/2 cup Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch, chopped 1/4 cup extra-virgin unrefined coconut oil (if hardened, then melt and cool)  1/4 cup Smart Balance buttery spread or butter, melted, cooled 1 large egg 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. coconut extract (optional) 1 cup lite coconut milk 1/4 cup milk Heat oven to 425F.  Grease a 12-cup standard muffin pan, or line with paper cups.  In medium-large bowl, whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Stir in pecans, dried coconut and toffee crunch.  Set aside. In large bowl, whisk together coconut oil, butter, egg, flavorings and milks till smooth.  Add dry ingredients all at once and stir with spoon or spatula lightly, just till barely incorporated.  Do not over mix.  Divide batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups, using about 1/4 cup batter for each muffin.  Place pan in oven, close door, and immediately reduce heat to 350F (325 for dark or coated pans).  Bake 17-20 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted in center of muffin returns with just a few crumbs.  Cool in pans 5 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.   Serve plain or with butter sweetened with maple syrup and cinnamon.  Yield:  12 muffins.

DOVE PEANUT TOFFEE CRUNCH – BANANA MUFFINS

Here’s another way to use Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch.  Chop them and use them like chocolate chips in this super-moist, tender and just-sweet-enough muffin with great banana flavor. 
My top two favorite recipes for banana cake are Ultimate Banana Cake and One-Bowl Banana Nut Cake.  Either one can be served without frosting as a banana bread, or baked in muffin tins.  This recipe ranks as a close third.

Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch-Banana Muffins Adapted from hubpages.com Rating:  8 out of 10 Click for PRINTABLE PAGE

INGREDIENTS:  1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch, or chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts 3 bananas, very ripe (about 1 cup mashed) 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract (I used my homemade vanilla extract) 1 large egg 1/3 cup (5-1/3 Tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted, cooled Heat oven to 375F.  Grease a 12-cup standard muffin pan, or line with paper cups.  In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  Stir in toffee crunch and walnuts. In medium bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, sugar, vanilla, egg and butter till well mixed.  Pour into dry ingredients all at once and stir together with spoon or spatula just till barely combined.  Do not over mix.  Fill muffin cups almost to top.  Bake 17-19 minutes, or till toothpick inserted in center returns with just a few crumbs.  Feel the pick to be sure it isn’t gummy.  If it is gummy, the muffins are not yet done.  Cool in pan 5 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to finish cooling.  Yield:  12 muffins

DOVE PEANUT TOFFEE CRUNCH MUFFINS

Have I told you how much I love Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch?  It comes individually wrapped in a bag, and you can find it in the candy section of your store.  I found mine in Wal-Mart.  It would be more convenient for bakers if they would make this candy in a bar that could be chopped, but unwrapping each little tinfoil package is so worth it because this is the most amazing candy.  (I’m not being compensated in any way for this endorsement.)
 


I’ve already made some outrageous peanut butter cookies with the toffee crunch candies, and let me tell you, these muffins are just as outrageous.  Moist, with a unique flavor that is almost like a malt flavor, these muffins, with a hint of cinnamon, are just sweet enough for me.  Sweet freaks might want to add an additional 2 Tbsp. sugar.  If you’re looking for a  treat that will  keep you happy and is not too involved to make, this is it.

Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch Muffins Adapted from food.com Rating:  9.5 out of 10 Click for PRINTABLE PAGE

INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup (4 oz.) vanilla non-fat Greek yogurt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (I used 1/4 cup white whole wheat + 3/4 cup UBAP) 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. sea salt 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. sugar (I used 1/4 cup sugar + 1-1/2 tsp. NuNaturals Stevia) 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 large egg 1/3 cup Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch, unwrapped and chopped Heat oven to 350F.  Grease a 6-cup muffin tin or line with greased paper liners; set aside. Stir baking soda into yogurt; set aside.  In medium-large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In medium bowl, whisk together butter, sugar, vanilla and egg.*  Pour liquids into dry ingredients all at once and stir lightly with spoon or spatula only till barely combined.  Do not over mix.  Stir in toffee crunch candy.  Spoon into prepared baking tin, using about 1/4 cup batter for each muffin.  Top with streusel.**  **Cinnamon-Pecan-Dove Streusel:  In small bowl, stir together 2 Tbsp. chopped Dove Peanut Toffee Crunch, 2 Tbsp. sugar (or 1-1/2 tsp. NuNaturals Stevia), 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1 Tbsp. chopped pecans.  Sprinkle, then press, onto tops of muffins Bake 17-20 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted near center returns with just a few crumbs.  Yield:  6 muffins *TIP:  Use a medium microwaveable bowl to melt butter.  Let it cool slightly, then add sugar, vanilla and egg and whisk till smooth.  This saves a dish.