1.19.2010

Magnolia Bakery Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles - Magnolia Recipe


Makes 36 servings

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Directions
  1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

  2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and beat well. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Wrap the dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

  3. Preheat oven to 350 F.

  4. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion. (I recommend leaving extra room between these cookies because they spread more than most.) Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake for 12-14 minutes.

  5. Cool the cookies on the sheets for 5 minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.


Chicken Stew with Biscuits Ina Garten

ETA: Make this tomorrow! It was delicious. What's not to love with butter and cream sauce?

Chicken Stew with Biscuits


Ina Garten-click link above for original recipe.

Ingredients

  • 3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on (I used chicken tenders)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil (drizzled about 1 T. over chicken tenders)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes ( I used chicken base-the kind in a jar)
  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter (I used one stick)
  • 2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions) (I used one cup)
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups medium-diced carrots (4 carrots), blanched for 2 minutes (I used frozen crinkle cut)
  • 1 10-ounce package frozen peas (2 cups)
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen small whole onions (omitted)
  • 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

For the biscuits: (I used the flaky biscuit dough w/ egg wash on top)

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 pound (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced
  • 3/4 cup half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cooked through (took way less time with the tenders) . Set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Cut the chicken into large dice. You will have 4 to 6 cups of cubed chicken.

In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and the heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions, and parsley. Mix well. Place the stew in a 10 x 13 x 2-inch oval or rectangular baking dish. ( I used 8 individual fiesta bowls) Place the baking dish on a sheet pan lined with parchment or wax paper. Bake for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the biscuits. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is the size of peas. Add the half-and-half and combine on low speed. Mix in the parsley. Dump the dough out on a well-floured board and, with a rolling pin, roll out to 3/8-inch thick. Cut out twelve circles with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter.

Remove the stew from the oven and arrange the biscuits on top of the filling. Brush them with egg wash, and return the dish to the oven. Bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until the biscuits are brown and the stew is bubbly.

Note: To make in advance, refrigerate the chicken stew and biscuits separately. Bake the stew for 25 minutes, then place the biscuits on top, and bake for another 30 minutes, until done.