Matcha Green Tea Shortbread Cookies

Yup, you read that right.  And, no, there is no food coloring involved.  I don't know how many of you are tea drinkers, but I love tea.  There is something so calming and wonderful about pouring boiling water over tea leaves or herbs and brewing the perfect cup of tea.  And there is something equally lovely about drinking it.  In the last year or so, I have become absolutely captivated by loose-leaf teas, mixing and matching a variety of herbs and tea leaves to create wonderful flavor combinations.

So when I first stumbled across a green tea cake recipe, I was definitely intrigued.  The problem is, I'm just not that much of a cake person.  It always looks pretty.  I'm just not that into the idea of a huge slice of cake on a random Wednesday.  And I never feel quite justified in making a cake for anything other than a birthday or party.  And even then, I am usually more inclined to make a tart, a pie, or some other completely off the wall dessert before I think of making a cake.  Let's just say it's not that high on my dessert-making list.  I can, however, get behind cookies.  Anytime, anywhere.  The versatility of a cookie is endless.  And there is something utterly delightful about the idea of a plate of cookies and cups of tea shared between friends.  I can definitely do that on a random Wednesday.

So I started hunting for other Matcha recipes.  It is now time for me to rather meekly admit (if you haven't already gathered) that I am very ingredient-driven in my cooking.  I either think of or come across some particular ingredient or other, and then spend an inordinate amount of time researching potential recipes in which to showcase that ingredient, thus subjecting my poor spouse to weeks of "apple tart, apple cake, apple challah, apple chutney...".  You get the drift.

So really, what choice did I have?  The concept of working with such a unique ingredient was fascinating, and besides, I got to play with tea.  I have to admit: I do not like coffee.  I am not particularly fond of caffeine-rich teas, either, unless they are mixed with spices or herbs.  But the idea of a green tea cookie was difficult to resist.  And surprisingly, there are a lot of green tea cookie recipes out there.

I finally settled on the recipe from Smitten Kitchen, which resembled a basic butter cookie with the addition of green tea powder.  Now I'm sure you are probably asking the same question I did: where the heck do you find green tea powder?  Per Deb's suggestion on Smitten, I first went to Whole Foods, and while they did have some, it was very expensive.  I had much better luck in a Japanese import store.  You may also have an easy time if you go to an actual tea shop, where you can purchase loose-leaf teas by the ounce.  However you track your green tea down, please make these and enjoy them on rainy (or sunny) day for me.

Matcha Green Tea Shortbread Cookies
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen 

Note that shortbread cookies are incredibly versatile.  If you are not particularly interested in green tea, you can eliminate it and flavor your cookies with cinnamon, nutmeg, or any other variety of flavors.

2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar (if you want a slightly sweeter cookie, increase sugar by 2 tablespoons)
3 tablespoons unsweetened matcha green tea powder
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
turbinado (raw) sugar, for rolling

Whisk dry ingredients in a bowl.  In a large bowl, beat softened butter until smooth.  Add the almond extract, then all of the dry ingredients.  Mix on low speed until the dough is smooth and all of the flour is hydrated.  The dough will begin to form clumps and you will be able to form it into a ball.  Divide dough into two discs and form each into a long cylinder.  Flatten the edges of the cylinder to form a rectangle, about 10 inches long.  Pour about 1/4 cup of turbinado sugar onto a plate or onto a sheet of parchment paper.  Roll each rectangle in the sugar, gently pressing to get the sugar to stick.  Place both rectangles into the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Remove dough from the fridge and slice into 1/6 inch slices.  Place cookies onto a cookie sheet, 1/2 inch apart, and bake 15-18 minutes, or until cookies begin to brown on the edges.

Oatmeal Sandwich Bread

There is nothing quite like walking into a house with the smell of freshly baking bread to greet you.  It envelopes you with this warm, safe, delicious smell that brings to mind images of your mom's flour covered hands and beautifully risen loaves sitting on the counter.  Well, it does for me at least.  When I was a little girl, the waiting was the hardest part.  I would wiggle impatiently.  I would often poke at the dough, willing it to rise faster.  (What can I say?  Baking bread is perhaps one of the more difficult kitchen activities for kids.)  It all seemed like waaaaayyyy too much work for that one loaf to come out, and then it would disappear so quickly.

In more recent years, I have come to love the process as much as the outcome.  I love watching such simple ingredients turn into such a beautiful, rustic product.  There is something cathartic about working the dough, watching it transition from a rough, irregular mass to a smooth, supple ball, and later into a beautifully browned loaf.

Sometime last year, I received the book Good to the Grain, and I am ashamed to say that, while I was excited about it, I didn't really look through it.  I absolutely love using whole grains, I just didn't have time.  After all, there are only so many recipes you can make in a year, and I had already gotten two five other recipe books.  Oops.

Just recently, I picked it up, and was delighted by the variety of grains used and the variety of recipes.  And while I already have a fabulous go-to whole wheat sandwich bread recipe, I am always compelled to at least try a new one.  And I was not disappointed.  This bread has both a wonderful crust and crumb, slices well, and has a wonderful flavor.  It is also incredibly easy, which makes it a great bread for a novice bread baker.  If you are nervous about making bread, this could be a wonderful place to start.

Oatmeal Sandwich Bread
Adapted from Good to the Grain

2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon unsulphured molasses (or eliminate molasses and add one additional tablespoon honey)
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups bread flour
1 cup rolled oats, plus more for sprinkling
2 ounces (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 tablespoon sea salt

Add 2 cups of warm water, honey, molasses, and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer.  Stir, allowing yeast to bloom for about 5 minutes, until it begins to bubble.  To autolyse, measure the flour, oats, and butter into the bowl with the yeast mixture and stir together with a wooden spoon.  Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.

Attach the bowl and the bread hook to the mixer, add the salt, and mix on medium speed for 6 minutes (alternately, knead by hand until the dough is soft, tacky, and supple, about fifteen minutes).  The dough should slap around the sides without sticking to them.  If the dough is sticking at any time during the mixing, add a teaspoon or two of bread flour until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl.

For the first rise, scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead it a few times.  Put the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and let rise until doubled, about one hour.

To shape the dough, scrape the dough onto a lightly floured work surface.  Press down on the dough to work out any bubbles, and press the dough onto itself until it begins to spring back.  Pinch the seams together tightly, and place dough into a lightly oiled loaf pan (9x5x3 inches), pressing the dough down so as to fill the pan evenly.  For the second rise, cover the dough in a towel and allow to rise for 1 hour, or until the dough rises half again and puffs up barely or just over the edge of the pan.  While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

When the dough has completed its second rise, brush with water, and sprinkle with oats, if desired.  Bake for 40 minutes, or until the top crust is hard and sounds hollow when tapped.  Remove the loaf from the pan and cool on a baking rack, preferably for a few hours.

Mint, Zucchini, and Rice Frittata with Feta

Most everyone I know has a go-to frittata or quiche recipe.  They use this recipe whenever they need a quick dinner or a nice, easy brunch with friends.  Frittatas manage to be incredibly simple while tasting delicious and looking classy.  They can be dressed up or dressed down, and they are the perfect platform for whatever leftovers you might have and need to use up.

Because of this, I rarely consult a recipe for a frittata, let alone buy specific ingredients to go in one.  But I saw this recipe and it really intrigued me.   I had never seen mint used so abundantly in a savory dish, and I was curious how the flavors would go together.  It turns out that they work incredibly well.

I was also intrigued by the unique textural qualities of this dish, and of course had lots of fun making zucchini ribbons with my vegetable slicer.  Let's face it - most of us are still kids at heart, and any opportunity to "play" in the kitchen is worth it.  Ok, well maybe that's just me, but nevertheless, I love using regular, somewhat boring vegetables and turning them into fun, wonky shapes.

I know, I know you don't want to go to the store to buy specific ingredients to go in a frittata, either.  But frankly, you should.  Just this once.  Every other time, I promise it can be an eclectic mix of unidentifiable leftovers, but this time, just try it.  I promise you'll be delightfully surprised.

After all, this particular frittata is light and delicate, yet satisfying in that "wow, I actually ate something that is good for me and tastes good, too" kind of way.  And it's a great go to item for that brunch you forgot about, or even a light dinner when you need something fast.  Oh, and did I mention that you get to show off your awesome vegetable peeling skills?

Mint, Zucchini, and Rice Frittata with Feta

Adapted from Sunday Suppers

1 cup cooked brown basmati rice

2 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons olive oil

3-4 small zucchini, sliced thinly lengthwise (I use a vegetable peeler to create zucchini ribbons)

1 medium leek, sliced into thin medallions

1/2 bunch chopped mint

6 eggs

1/4 cup heavy cream

3/4 teaspoon sea salt*

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

3/4 cup feta

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a cast iron skillet saute zucchini and leeks in butter and oil until soft. Mix in the rice and mint.

Whisk eggs, cream, salt and pepper.  Pour over rice mixture. Cook without stirring for 3 minutes. Add crumbled feta on top.

Transfer into oven, bake 12-15 minutes, until firm to the touch and lightly browned on top.

*Reduce amount of sea salt if you are using a particularly salty Feta.

Citrus Olive Oil Cake

 I love olive oil.  And while I know it rules in savory cooking, olive oil is often overlooked when the topic of sweet things arises.  But frankly, its fruity, deep flavor lends itself well to desserts, adding a complexity and sincerity to them that is lacking in other fat sources.  In fact, I often make an effort to seek out particularly strong olive oil with the goal of showcasing the flavor.

Delightfully, olive oil pairs beautifully with the bright acid of citrus fruits.  It seems to pair well with all of them.  So, if you were to search for an olive oil cake, you would find that most of them include some citrus, whether lemon, orange, or grapefruit.

Now, if you haven't ever tried an olive oil cake, I certainly hope you try this one.  They are unique and delicious, and go wonderfully with a nice cup of tea on a February afternoon.  This particular cake highlights Cara Cara oranges and Meyer lemons, both of which are overflowing at the Farmer's Markets right now.  

Unfortunately, I have to admit that not all olive oil cakes are made equal.  I have seen several recipes that call for an extremely large volume of olive oil and a huge amount of sugar.  I really enjoy this recipe because the cake is moist without being oily and sweet without cloying.

In fact, this cake stays delightfully moist for days, although I doubt that it will last that long.  You will make it Thursday, and you will be looking for another excuse to make it on Sunday.  It slices beautifully, and would make a great dessert after a luncheon or at a meeting.  It's also just a nice item to sit on your counter for every passerby who wants to grab a snack.  Whatever you make it for, you will enjoy it immensely.  I definitely see this recipe slipping into your regular rotation as if it has always been there, like an old friend.

Citrus Olive Oil Cake
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

The original recipe was for a blood orange olive oil cake.  While delicious, olive oil pairs well with any kind of citrus, so feel free to use an equivalent amount of tangerines, navel oranges, or lemons.

2 cara-cara or navel oranges
1/4 cup juice from 2 Meyer lemons
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plain yogurt
3 large eggs
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 5x9 inch loaf pan.  Grate zest from both oranges and place in bowl with sugar.  Using your fingers, rub sugar and zest together until evenly distributed.

Supreme both oranges: cut off top and bottom of the fruit, and cut pith off fruit by following the curve of the fruit.  Cut orange segments out of the connective membrane and break up segments into 1/4 inch pieces.  Set aside.

Halve Meyer lemons and juice them, until you get a 1/4 cup of juice.  Mix with 1/2 cup plain yogurt.  Add yogurt mixture to sugar mixture and whist until smooth.  Whisk in eggs and olive oil.

In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Gently whisk flour mixture into liquid mixture.  Fold in orange segments.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake 50-55 minutes, until golden brown and an inserted knife comes out clean.  Let cook 5 minutes, invert cake, and let cool completely before serving.