Something Sweet - Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

This is an old recipe that faded out of popularity (with some of us). Who knows why because it is genius. These are light & airy, you will not miss the flour; it's not only for those who are gluten intolerant. 

1 cup peanut butter (any kind)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. baking soda

sugar for the top if desired

Mix everything together. You don't need a mixer. Just one bowl. Scoop out tablespoonfuls onto a non-greased baking sheet. (A nice touch is some demerara or turbinado sugar sprinkled on top, after the traditional crosshatching by fork.) Heat the oven to 350F. Bake 11 minutes (times will vary, keep an eye on them). Cool at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack - they are fragile until cool. 

If you require more photographs, hand-holding, etc.instructions, see here. Variation here. Photograph (crop) via PBS Parents as have lost will to take any this evening. xoxo

Something Sweet ~ Jam Kolaches

It's down to the wire. Are you panicking? Been there, am there. If you've not done much baking yet but would like to, kolaches are super-easy & taste divine. Plan to make about three times the number you need. Seriously. Then give many of them away. xoxo

PS: Another delicious, easy cookie & it does not need decoration. Also, buy some prepared cookie dough (there are some decent ones at Whole Foods or similar stores, without a ton of additives), take out your cookie cutters & use up what time you have with decorating. This can occupy several children (& teens) for quite awhile.Still need ideas? GG Pinterest board with links to recipes.

(photograph by Brooke of Crackers on the Couch)

Something Sweet - Soft Caramels

You can do this. (Stop sassing, yes you can.) Buy the thermometer you always say you will & then make these caramels for gifts or for a holiday party. The first batch we made are absolutely perfect for taking to a party this weekend. xoxo Via The Kitchn. (photograph by Emma Christensen)

Something Sweet - Chocolate-Peanut Butter Acorns

These are super-cute & easy to make for tonight (or tomorrow). More no-bake desserts, here.

More anon. xo/gg

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Something Sweet - Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream

You have eleven days left to celebrate national Ice Cream Month: get on it. Today's obsession is Vietnamese coffee ice cream. It's based on a David Lebovitz recipe (who knows from ice cream). This version (& photograph) is from Cenk at Cafe Fernando. If you don't know his blog, you should. (Here's his absolute best chocolate ice cream via Joanna.)

If you don't have an ice cream maker (we don't. yet), borrow one. Or try this technique straight from David. Or make some Vietnamese coffee (& go out for ice cream).

Stay chill, peeps.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Cafe Fernando)

Independence Icebox Cake

Littering the internetz are many beautiful cakes & pies for the Fourth of July holiday. But it's already early evening & the thought of baking cakes & pies tonight - forget it. Make this cake instead. It requires one box of vanilla wafers, heavy cream, & berries. That's it. (You can decorate it a bit differently for Bastille Day in 10 short days.)

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Something Sweet - Garden Cake

Looking at this photograph makes us happy; imagine having a piece of it. And really, if you're pressed for time or not inclined to bake, why not buy a plain cake & decorate it? Because that is the really fun part. Here's another beautiful cake, especially if you have rose petals to spare. (Hint: you can buy them at Whole Foods). Mimi Thorisson's Manger is more than sweets, though; it's just beautiful & you should visit.

ciao/xx

(photograph by Manger)

Something Sweet - Strawberry Lemon Tarts

It's really too early for local berries & so guilt sets in about buying them. But just a few, right? And then pop them on to lemon tarts (make the lemon curd, it is so easy). These are on the to-do list this weekend. Back later tonight...it's that kind of week (month). Cheers. Update - back on the weekend.

(photograph by Melissa Hartfiel)

Swedish Semla

Carnival (pre-Lenten goings-on) is ongoing in many places where it's not much part of the culture - except for treats. One such place is Sweden, where we have yet to visit for real. But trips to IKEA, Swedish blogs, & House of Sweden will have to do for now.

But enough non-productive swooning at photographs of semlor (the plural of semla). We finally found a recipe that looks simple, straightforward & authentic. Here's a good post about semlor (& fika) via the official Sweden site (it has several wonderful blogs, too). Better than making semlor, though? Being able to pop into a bakery where most Swedes buy their treats.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photographs by Le Portillon)

Something Sweet - Dulce de Leche

Idea for a frankly less-than satisfying afternoon: make something sweet from the cupboard/pantry for coffee, sauces, ice cream, baking, what-have-you. Do you have a can of sweetened condensed milk? We do & here is David Lebovitz's easy peasy Dulce de Leche recipe. We're off to make it now.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Francine Zaslow)

Chocolate Leftovers

We can hear the screams now: how could anyone have leftover chocolate? Calm down. Here's how. GG's editor made orangettes for Christmas gifts, remember? There's leftover, melted chocolate from that enterprise in the fridge, discovered this a.m. In the French manner of leaving no crumb unused, a hot chocolate break, using this recipe as a guide, is in our future. If you want another idea, these melted chocolate sandwiches look delicious.

We're also catching up on many household matters, virtually & off-line so posting remains lighter-than-usual. Have a great day!

ciao-meow/GG Choco-Central

(photograph by Kung Fu Bonanza)

Christmas Candied Orange

Forget all the hideous candied fruit you've had in the past. You didn't make it, now you will. A lovely way to incorporate the traditional Christmas orange into your holiday is to make orangettes & candy barks that use orange peel. If you'd prefer to bake, we can vouch for this clementine cake. (Any of these would make a lovely gift.)

ciao-meow/GGCM

(sweet photograph by Aya Brackett)

Funny Christmas Cookies

"I'm melting....ahhhhh." Here's an amusing idea if you happen to have some sugar cookie dough around (if not, it takes 5-7 minutes to whip some up--that's a scientific fact, by the way.). This is Meaghan Mountford's Decorated Cookie blog version. (Found via the Best of Pinterest & Crazy Domestic blogs. Thanks!)

ciao-cheeky-meow/GG's Holiday Kitchen

Pasquetta in Italia

It's Pasquetta in Italy. Easter Monday is lots of fun. It's traditional to have a picnic or otherwise run around al fresco. People often say: "Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi." or "Christmas with your family, Easter with the family and friends of your choice." Yay! Sadly, we are not in Italy today. But GG & her editor count as Pasquetta pals. Hope you had fun yesterday. Read Bleeding Espresso's Still Celebrating (Pasquetta) from last year. We were going to include a good recipe for pastiera but can't find the one we used in years past & those popping up in a search are just plain weird. There aren't people around this year to dig in, so we'll not make it. It's full of flavors , such as orange-blossom water, that remind us of Greece & the eastern Mediterranean, reflecting the region's heritage. GG's editor has photographs of still-standing date palm gardens, intarsia boxes, & other mementos that remind us of the area's ever-present history. Now, ciao-meow, because we have eggs to dye. xoxo

(via scan/ Gourmet magazine/April 2006/by John Kernick)

GG Gourmet Central's Collector's Issues - Paris

GG's editor was so happy to see a new Gourmet Collector's Edition at the newsstand--it cheered her right up. (Of course, we always buy the Rome & Italian issues, if we're not subscribing that year.) The last Paris issue we can find in the apartment is the one pictured above, from 2001. Gorgeous recipes in there, as well. We'll print some of the ones we make regularly in the next few weeks.

Paris Breakfasts artist extraordinaire, macaron-obssessed Carol Gillott must be happy, about the new issue of Gourmet, as well. (We haven't seen the blog in a few days.) There are some good variations on a classic macaron recipe, if you're so inclined. GG is dreaming of slinking (she is a cat, after all) in to Ladurée (any of the shops), ah. GG is dreaming of being in Paris (or Strasbourg), Rome or Naples, period. Macaron or gelato, it doesn't really matter--how about both?!

Bon weekend, darlings!
xoxo, GG Central