Category Menus & Recipes

Rid Yourself of Summertime Sadness with Raspberry Streusel Bars

Raspberry Streusel BarsI first tried these delicious beauties when Bibby made them for our goodbye to Chef Jen.  That was the first weekend in August, and I’m STILL dreaming about Parties That Cook’s Raspberry Streusel Bars. I’ve decided to just give in, share the wealth, and feature them in this blog post. Make them soon! Your taste buds, stomach, and friends (if you share) will thank you.

Raspberry Streusel Bars
These addictively good bars and other tasty desserts can be found in our Dessert Recipe Library

Raspberry Streusel BarsIngredients
Crust:
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
3 sticks unsalted butter (12 ounces), room temperature, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
Parchment paper
Baking spray

Streusel and Filling:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup pecan pieces, finely chopped
3 Tablespoons butter, room temperature, cut into cubes
1 1/4 cups raspberry preserves
1 pint fresh raspberries or 1 1/2 cups strained frozen fruit (can sub strawberries, blueberries, blackberries)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Methods/Steps
Make Crust: Preheat oven to 400ºF. In the bowl of a food processor, process flour, granulated sugar, and salt until combined, about 5 seconds. Scatter the butter pieces over flour mixture and pulse until mixture resembles damp sand, about twenty 1-second pulses. Remove 1/3 of crust mixture into medium bowl and set aside. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and apply baking spray. Using hands or flat-bottomed measuring cup, firmly press the remaining 2/3’s of the mixture into even layer to form bottom crust. Bake until edges begin to brown, 12-15 minutes.

Prepare Streusel: While crust is baking, add brown sugar, oats, and nuts to reserved crust mixture; toss to combine. Work in the butter by rubbing mixture between fingers until butter is fully incorporated. Pinch mixture with fingers to create pea-sized clumps; set streusel aside.

Make Filling: Combine preserves, berries, lemon juice and salt in small bowl; mash with fork until combined but some berry pieces remain.

Assemble Bars: Spread filling evenly over hot crust; sprinkle streusel topping evenly over filling (do not press streusel into filling). Return pan to oven and bake until topping is deep golden brown and filling is bubbling, 18 minutes. Cool slightly in refrigerator. Using chef’s knife, cut into squares and serve.

Serves/Makes
Makes 48 Squares

Fruitful Summer Recipe: Heirloom Tomato, Eggplant and Fresh Mozzarella Stacks with Arugula Salsa Verde

As your heirloom tomato plants grow like crazy this summer,  you desperately try to find new ways to use all the fruit. Take advantage of this deliciously simple  and simply delicious Parties That Cook recipe. A refreshing twist on the classic Caprese salad, it’s sure to keep your tastes buds happy… not to mention use up a few more of those ripe tomatoes. Once you’ve checked this recipe off the list, check out our recent cookbook club blog for more tomato recipe ideas.

Heirloom Tomato, Eggplant and Fresh Mozzarella Stacks with Arugula Salsa Verde
Similar recipies can be found in our Soups, Salads & Pasta Library

Heirloom Tomato and Eggplant SaladIngredients
Stacks:
2 medium eggplants (2 lbs.) cut crosswise into 16 slices
3 Tablespoons kosher salt (or rock salt)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes, cored and cut into 16 slices
1 1/2 lbs. fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 24 thin slices
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Arugula Salsa Verde:
1 teaspoon marjoram or oregano leaves
1/2 cup arugula
1/2 cup basil
1/4 cup mint leaves
1/4 cup parsley leaves
1 small garlic clove, peeled
1 salt-packed anchovy, bones removed, soaked in 3 Tablespoons of milk for 10 minutes
1 Tablespoon salt-packed capers, rinsed and drained
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 lemon for juicing
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Methods/Steps
Preheat oven to 450ºF.

Roast Eggplant: Lay the eggplant on a cooling rack over a sheet pan that is covered with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and allow the slices to drain for 30 minutes to eliminate the bitterness. Turn over the eggplant and salt the other side and let sit for 15 minutes. Brush off the salt, pat dry. Brush the eggplant generously on both sides with olive oil. Lay eggplant on a parchment or silpat-lined sheet pan. Roast the eggplant until tender and lightly browned, 15-20 minutes.

Tomatoes and Cheese: Slice tomatoes and place on a plate and same for the cheese. Sprinkle cheese and tomatoes with salt. Set aside.

Salsa Verde: Put marjoram, arugula, mint, parsley, garlic, anchovy, capers, lemon zest and juice in a food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Add olive oil and pepper and pulse until smooth.

Stacks: Put a cooked eggplant slice on a sheet pan. Drizzle 1 teaspoon salsa verde on the eggplant. Then place a mozzarella slice on top of the eggplant. Drizzle 1 teaspoon salsa verde on top of the cheese. Then place a tomato slice on top of the cheese. Drizzle 1 teaspoon salsa verde on the tomato. Then place a mozzarella slice on top of the eggplant. Drizzle 1 teaspoon salsa verde on top of the cheese. Then place a tomato slice on top of the cheese. Drizzle 1 teaspoon salsa verde on the tomato. Top the tomato with a slice of mozzarella. Repeat until you have 8 stacks. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes or until the mozzarella is melted and the tomatoes and eggplant are heated through.

Serve: Transfer the stacks to small salad plates and drizzle a circle of salsa verde around the stack and a little on top. Garnish with a sprig of mint or parsley and serve.

Serves/Makes
Serves 8