Serious Eats: paintchipgirl's Profile

Pecan Pie Bars

Has anyone made the caramel with sugar and water, rather than melting the sugar alone? I tried twice doing sugar alone and burned the caramel each time. I'm using a good, heavy pan, but it still heats unevenly and I have hot spots that ruined the entire batches.

Also, what visual indicators should I look for to know when the filling is finished baking in the oven (after pouring caramel and pecans over crust and baking). Should it be bubbling all over? Still jiggly in the middle but set on the edges? Set all over?

paintchipgirl at 6:25PM on 04/22/11

From Talk

What should I put in my Christmas treat packages!?!

Fudge. Wrapped tight in a tin. Mmmmmmm......

paintchipgirl at 9:30AM on 12/01/10

From Recipes

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Kumiko, I'm curious why you have to chill the dough, too. I haven't made these yet but want to try now that I read about the chocolate chip taste test that just happened. Have you ever made the cookies without chilling the dough?

paintchipgirl at 11:07AM on 07/05/10

From Talk

"Easy" cinnamon pecan rolls?

Sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon, brown sugar and softened butter -- add chopped nuts if you like -- over canned crescent roll dough (don't separate the triangles, just roll the whole sheet flat). Roll, slice, bake (350 until they're done) and glaze (mix powdered sugar with milk until it's the right consistency). These mini rolls are cute and you can eat a ton of them.
The monkey bread suggestion is a great one, too, since you can assemble the night before.

paintchipgirl at 5:01PM on 05/01/09

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'Baking Unplugged'

I grew up on a wheat farm in the Oklahoma panhandle. One winter we were snowed in for a week without power. We slept downstairs and ran our floor furnace -- a grate on the floor with a gas heater underneath -- non stop. One day in a fit of cabin fever craziness I stirred up a batch of cookie dough and placed the cookie sheet placed on the furnace grate. It worked great and the aroma of baking cookies was a real morale booster!

paintchipgirl at 11:00AM on 01/28/09

From Recipes

Raspberry-Filled Cinnamon Muffins

Delicious! But I was confused about the extra 2 Tablespoons of sugar called for in the ingredients list. I just used 1/2 cup of sugar and they were fantastic -- didn't miss it. (I'll have the try the applesauce, Cebca. That would make them even lighter.)

paintchipgirl at 6:41PM on 01/23/09

From Talk

Mail order barbecue for gift giving -- any favorites?

dhorst, I LOVE that episode of M*A*S*H! ("You ordered ribs all the way from Chicago and forgot the cole slaw?") Thanks for reminding me. And everyone, thanks for your helpful suggestions.

paintchipgirl at 10:58AM on 12/03/08

From Talk

Great dessert to bring to work?

Karen DeMasco's caramel corn (Fine Cooking Issue #68, www.finecooking.com) is always a huge hit at our parties. It's easy to do and is insanely addictive.

http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/caramel-popcorn.aspx

paintchipgirl at 7:40PM on 11/28/08

From Talk

no-bake dessert ideas?

Chocolate mousse! If you buy pasturized eggs (or don't worry about raw eggs) you can whip it up without any heat at all. Well, you need a microwave to melt the chocolate.

paintchipgirl at 7:35PM on 11/28/08

From Talk

Anyone have a good recipe for pecan pie, including crust?

Mrs. B's in Austin, Texas serves up fabulous Sweet Potato Pecan pie. Mmmmmmm...

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

Sweet potato layer
1 cup mashed sweet potato (from a can or make your own)
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 small egg or 1/2 large
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 Tbsp. heavy cream
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. each: nutmeg, allspice, salt

Pecan layer
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. butter, melted
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped pecans

In a food processor, combine the mashed sweet potato with sugars, eggs, butter, cream, vanilla and spices. Blend until smooth. Spread evenly in bottom of unbaked pie shell.
In a bowl with a whisk, combine dark corn syrup, sugar and melted butter. Add vanilla, eggs, salt and cinnamon. Stir in pecans last and pour on top of the sweet potato layer. Bake in 325-degree oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. (Time will vary with size and material of pan.) Cool. Serve plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream. Serves 8-10.

paintchipgirl at 11:10PM on 11/03/08

From Talk

NYC Museum Pilgrims looking for dinner and glass of wine

Thanks, Alaina. Casellula looks awesome.

paintchipgirl at 3:02PM on 10/02/08

From Serious Eats

Where to Eat in Austin

If coming to Austin, you cannot pass up the Tex-Mex food. MANY good places abound, but Guerro's on South Congress is great. So is Chuy's on Barton Springs Road, Matt's El Rancho, Z Tejas -- heck, even Taco Cabana is good for a margarita or beer and a quesadilla. Sit outside and enjoy our sunshine. Enjoy your stay in Austin.

paintchipgirl at 6:54PM on 03/05/08

From Talk