Brooklyn Recipes

BROOKLYN BLACKOUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Butter and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans. Cut 2 circles of parchment paper or waxed paper to fit the bottoms of the pans, then press them in. In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter and shortening together. Add the sugar and mix until light and fluffy. One by one, add the eggs, mixing after each addition. With the mixer running at low speed, add the vanilla, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix. With the mixer still running at low speed, add about 1/3 of the cake flour, then about 1/3 of the milk, and mix. Repeat with the remaining cake flour and milk and mix. Pour into the prepared pans and bake until dry and springy to the touch and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay), 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks and let cool completely, to room temperature. Using a long serrated knife, cut the cake layers in half horizontally. Reserving 3 halves for the cake, put the remaining half in a food processor, breaking it up with your hands. Pulse into fine crumbs.
• To finish the cake, place a cake layer on a cake plate or serving platter (reserving the most even layer for the top) and spread with cooled custard. Top with another layer of cake, then custard, then the final layer of cake. Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining custard. Coat the cake with the cake crumbs. Chill until ready to serve, at least 2 hours. Serve the same day.
• Pour 2 1/2 cups of the water, the sugar, corn syrup and cocoa powder into a large non-reactive saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup of water and the cornstarch. Whisk into the cocoa mixture in the saucepan and return the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking constantly, until very thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. Pour into a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, lightly pressing the plastic against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Chill until firm, about 45 minutes.

BROOKLYN

Steps:

• Stir all ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

THE BROOKLYN COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Place ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour in rye whiskey and dry vermouth. Add aromatic bitters and maraschino liqueur. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass; garnish with lemon twist.n

BROOKLYN BEEF PATTIES

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes: Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. When warm, add the potatoes and some salt and pepper. When golden on one side, toss in the onion, salt and pepper, and some oil if the pan is dry. Saute until softened, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the garlic and cook until fragrant, just 1 minute more. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate or bowl.
• Cook the beef: In that pan, add some olive oil, if needed, and the cumin, curry, chili powder, allspice, thyme, cinnamon, salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Allow the spices to bloom in the pan, about 1 minutes. Once fragrant, add the beef, combine it with the spices and cook on medium-high heat, stirring often to break up the beef, until it browns, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the corn and reserved potato-onion mixture. Let cool.
• Assemble the patties. When the beef filling is cool to the touch, work with 1 wrapper at a time and scoop 2 heaping tablespoons of filling into the center, then fold the dough over to form a half circle. Press out the air with your fingertips, from the filled sides to the edges. Press the tines of a fork along the edges to seal, creating a border about 1/2-inch wide.
• Repeat with more filling and wrappers.
• Fry the patties: In a large pot or deep fryer, heat 4 inches of oil to 365 degrees F, so the oil rests at 350 degrees F when the patties are added. In batches of 2 or 3, fry until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes for each batch. Allow the oil to rise to 360 degrees F before beginning a new batch. Transfer the patties to a plate with paper towels scrunched up so one side of the patties don't get soggy. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BRICK-OVEN PIZZA (BROOKLYN STYLE)

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes to proof. Stir in salt and cold water, then stir in the flour about 1 cup at a time. When the dough is together enough to remove from the bowl, knead on a floured surface until smooth, about 10 minutes. Divide into two pieces, and form each one into a tight ball. Coat the dough balls with olive oil, and refrigerate in a sealed container for at least 16 hours. Be sure to use a big enough container to allow the dough to rise. Remove the dough from the refrigerator one hour prior to using.
• Preheat the oven, with a pizza stone on the lowest rack, to 550 degrees F. Lightly dust a pizza peel with flour.
• Using one ball of dough at a time, lightly dust the dough with flour, and stretch gradually until it is about 14 inches in diameter, or about as big around as the pizza stone. Place on the floured peel. Place thin slices of mozzarella over the crust, then grind a liberal amount of black pepper over it. Sprinkle with dried oregano. Randomly arrange crushed tomatoes, leaving some empty areas. Drizzle olive oil over the top.
• With a quick back and forth jerk, make sure the dough will release from the peel easily. Place the tip of the peel at the back of the preheated pizza stone, and remove peel so that the pizza is left on the stone.
• Bake for 4 to 6 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the crust begins to brown. Remove from the oven by sliding the peel beneath the pizza. Sprinkle a few basil leaves randomly over the pizza. Cut into wedges and serve.