Mark Bittmans Pastry Cream Recipes

MARK BITTMAN'S PASTRY CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, flour, cornstarch and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs and cream. Over medium heat, whisk the egg mixture into the sugar mixture; whisk occasionally at first to get rid of lumps, then pretty much constantly until the mixture starts to boil and thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently. The mixture is ready when it coats the back of a spoon and a line you draw with your finger through this coating holds its shape. Stir in the butter and vanilla, and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Let cool to room temperature before using.

MARK BITTMAN'S BASIC BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated; add extract and beat until incorporated.
• Butter and flour two cookie sheets (or spritz 'em with baking spray; that worked well for me). Divide dough in half and shape each into a "log" about 2" wide. This will spread quite a bit during baking, so if you try to cram 'em on to one baking sheet, bear that in mind.
• Bake until logs are golden and beginning to crack on top. Bittman says this is 30 minutes; for me, it was closer to 25 minutes. (At 30 minutes mine were a little overdone.) Remove from oven and drop temperature to 250.
• When loaves are cool enough to touch, slice each into 1/2-inch slices, on the diagnonal. (You can always eat the little nubby ends that are left over!)
• Return the slices to the baking sheets and return them to the oven. Bake at 250 for another 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.
• Cool on wire racks.
• NOTE: Mr. Bittman makes lots of wonderful suggestions for variations. I threw in a cup of chopped blanched almonds and half a cup of currants, and used almond extract. You can throw in any spice you like (cinnamon, anise, nutmeg); a cup of nuts (almonds or hazelnuts); chocolate chips; citrus zest; crystallized ginger; dried fruit -- you can change the flavor of your extract to match. You can also wait until your biscotti are cool, and then top 'em with a chocolate glaze (4 oz. good chocolate mixed with 2 tablespoons butter and a little extract for flavoring).
• Enjoy!

MARK BITTMAN'S CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Place stock in a large, deep saucepan and turn the heat to medium-high.
• when the stock is just about boiling turn the heat down to medium so that it bubbles but not too vigorously.
• Stir in the rice, celery, and carrot.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the chicken. If raw, cook 5 to 8 minutes or until cooked.
• If chicken is cooked, cook 2 to 3 minutes or until hot.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• ** you can sub 1 cup cooked chicken for the raw, if desired.