Alvin Zhou Recipes

BROWN BUTTER TOFFEE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the toffee: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium nonstick saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, brown sugar, and salt, stirring until evenly incorporated. If there are grainy lumps or if the fat starts to separate, add a couple splashes of water and stir vigorously to emulsify. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 290°F (143°C), about 10-15 minutes.
• Pour the toffee onto the prepared baking sheet and spread out slightly with a spatula. Freeze until ready to use, about 30 minutes.
• Make the cookie dough: Add the butter to a medium nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter turns dark brown and smells nutty. Watch carefully so the butter does not burn. Remove the pot from the heat.
• Add an ice cube to the butter and slowly let it melt. It may froth and bubble. Add the remaining 3 ice cubes and gently stir until melted.
• In a large bowl, combine the granulated and brown sugar, espresso powder, salt, and baking soda.
• Pour the brown butter into the sugar mixture and mix until combined. Don't worry if it looks separated.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla. Pour into the sugar and butter mixture and whisk until glossy and smooth.
• Add the flour and fold with a rubber spatula to incorporate until the dough has no visible flour streaks.
• Remove the toffee from the freezer (it should be a frozen disc) and break it into chunks that will fit inside a gallon zip-top bag. Double bag the toffee and seal both bags. With a rolling pin, break the toffee into small pieces.
• Fold the crushed toffee and chopped chocolate into the dough until evenly distributed.
• Using a large ice cream scoop or a ½ cup (65 g) measure, scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Wrap the baking sheet in plastic wrap, but leave a small opening at the corner of the tray. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for at least 36 hours. This will allow the flavor to develop and the dough to dry out a little as it rests, which will result in less spread when it bakes.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line 2 baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Arrange the cookies on the baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches (5 cm) of space between the cookies and away from the edges of the pan.
• Bake until the cookies are golden brown with crispy edges, but are still slightly soft in the center, 18-20 minutes.
• Immediately sprinkle the cookies with flaky sea salt. then let cool completely. The cookies will be very soft at first but will set after they are fully cooled.
• Enjoy!

THE BEST CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, salt, and butter until a paste forms with no lumps.
• Whisk in the egg and vanilla, beating until light ribbons fall off the whisk and remain for a short while before falling back into the mixture.
• Sift in the flour and baking soda, then fold the mixture with a spatula (Be careful not to overmix, which would cause the gluten in the flour to toughen resulting in cakier cookies).
• Fold in the chocolate chunks, then chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. For a more intense toffee-like flavor and deeper color, chill the dough overnight. The longer the dough rests, the more complex its flavor will be.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Scoop the dough with an ice-cream scoop onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving at least 4 inches (10 cm) of space between cookies and 2 inches (5 cm) of space from the edges of the pan so that the cookies can spread evenly.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges have started to barely brown.
• Cool completely before serving.
• Enjoy!

100-LAYER LASAGNA RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Lay down about 6 feet (1.8 meters) of tinfoil on a flat surface. Place place 4 clusters of 2 lasagna noodles towards the left half of the foil sheet, leaving about a ½-inch (1 cm) gap in between each cluster.
• Fold the right half of foil over the noodles, pressing flat. To help you see where the noodles are, run your finger along the edges of the noodles to create a rough outline in the foil.
• Fold the top and bottom flaps of foil over, creasing and pressing flat.
• Flip the foil sheet onto the table so that it's now standing, then arrange into a square box, using the 4 groups of noodles as a visual guide. Fold and crease over any excess foil to join the ends together, then set aside.
• In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Whisk in the flour, cooking until the mixture reaches a light golden color.
• Slowly drizzle in the milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly until smooth. Mix in salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil.
• Transfer the béchamel to a large bowl and press plastic wrap onto the surface of the sauce to prevent a skin from forming. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a very large pot over high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the onions, carrots, and celery and cook until the vegetables have started to sweat but aren't browning.
• Add in the ground beef and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break up the meat into small pieces.
• Cook the beef, stirring occasionally, until half of the liquid has evaporated.
• Add in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken stock, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine evenly and breaking up any last lumps.
• Turn down the heat to low, and simmer, covered, for about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
• To assemble, line a greased 9x9-inch (23x23-cm) square baking pan with 2 sheets of foil that extend over the sides.
• Spread a thin layer of béchamel on the lined baking pan and top with 2 lasagna noodles. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce evenly across the noodles, followed by a thin layer of béchamel. Repeat the layering process, following the order of: 2 noodles, meat sauce, and béchamel. Alternate the direction of the lasagna sheets after every layer.
• After 50 layers, place the foil box over the lasagna, helping it stay upright and stable.
• Continue with the layering process until the 99th layer.
• Sprinkle Parmesan on top, then cover the whole lasagna with foil.
• Bake for about 1½ hours, uncovering the foil halfway, until the top is a deep golden brown.
• Cool for at least 2 hours, then carefully lift out the lasagna with the foil sleeves onto a large cutting board.
• Peel away the foil walls, then sprinkle the top of the lasagna generously with chives.
• Cut and serve.
• Enjoy!