Laurie Colwin Recipes

LAURIE COLWIN'S BAKED MUSTARD CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine mustard, garlic, thyme, cinnamon, a pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Place bread crumbs in another large bowl.
• Working in batches, coat chicken quarters on all sides with mustard mixture. Shake off excess mustard, then coat completely with bread crumbs. Arrange in a single layer in a large, shallow baking pan.
• Dust the chicken with paprika and scatter butter pieces on top. Bake until crust is deep golden brown and crispy, about 2 hours. (Depending on the oven, the size of the pan and the size of the chickens, baking time may be as long as 2 1/2 hours.) Serve hot or at room temperature.

LAURIE COLWIN'S ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Combine bread and mushrooms in a bowl and toss with broth. Season to taste. Stuff chicken and secure with poultry pin or toothpick. Place in roasting pan and sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika. Baste with olive oil. (If desired, surround it with carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic and a red pepper.)
• Roast for about 2 hours, basting frequently with melted butter and pan juices. The chicken is done when the leg bone wiggles and the skin is the color of teak.

LAURIE COLWIN'S NUTMEG CAKE

Steps:

• Butter the sides only of a 10-inch springform pan.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, cut into 6-8 pieces, with the flour and dark brown sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour and sugar until the mixture resembles fine meal.
• Measure out 2 1/2 cups of this mixture and spread it evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan. With your hand flat, firmly compress the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan.
• Add the spices to the remaining dry ingredients.
• Mix well.
• In a small bowl stir the egg and yogurt together to mix well.
• With a wooden spoon, stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture.
• Sprinkle the baking soda over the surface of the batter and gently but thoroughly stir it inches.
• Spread this batter over the mixture that was pressed into the bottom of the pan.
• With a rubber spatula smooth the top of the batter.
• Scatter the walnuts on top.
• Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and the sides of the cake have shrunk slightly away from the pan.
• Cool in the pan, on a rack, for 5 minutes.
• Then slide a knife around the edge of the cake to be sure it's not stuck.
• Remove the sides of the pan and cool cake completely.

LAURIE COLWIN'S BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bread bowl mix the flours, salt, and germ.
• Mix the yeast with the liquids. You may use more water than milk to equal 1 1/2 cups, if desired.
• Pour the liquid into the flour and stir. The dough should not be dry or sticky, but tend to sticky. If too sticky, add a little more flour.
• Knead the dough well, roll in flour, and put in a warm bow. Leave in a cool, draft-free place and go about your day.
• When you get home, punch down the dough and knead it well. Roll again in flour and forget it until convenient.
• Sometime later, punch dough down again. Give it a final kneading. Shape into a baguette, slash the top with four diagonal cuts, brush with water and let proof for a few minutes, if you have the time.
• Bake at 450 for 30 minutes. Turn the oven to 425 and bake another 20 minutes.

LAURIE COLWIN'S GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch cake pan and set aside. Cream remaining 4 ounces butter with the brown sugar. Beat until fluffy, add molasses, then beat in eggs.
• Add flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves and allspice.
• Add lemon brandy or vanilla extract and buttermilk and turn batter into pan.
• Bake for 20 to 30 minutes (check after 20 minutes). Cool on a rack.