The Verdit Is In..........Dorie's Banana Cake and Modified Cheesecake Declared Winners

Tonight I hosted my weekly get together with good friends who have lovingly dubbed this gathering "The Pastry Meeting." And tonight, the Classic Banana Bundt Cake by Dorie Greenspan and my modified White Chocolate Cheesecake from Taste of Home were displayed and digested with mucho gusto.  In fact, at the end of our meeting, the few pieces remaining brought on a "bartering" session which actually got rather colorful!  Comments on the Banana Cake were rich with praise for a very banana flavor, superb texture and perfect moisture. I made Dorie's cake as per her recipe, with one addition.  I added the zest of one lemon. The cheesecake ellicited remarks about the lovely hint of orange, rich texture and creamy decadence.  Even though I personally didn't care for the little remnants of white chocolate chips in the final product, most in attendance loved it!  So, I'll make it again, this time with the white chocolate melted before incorporating, and see what happens.  Either way, both of these cakes were definite winners and will reappear in future episodes of "The Pastry Meeting."

Ina Garten "Rubs" Out Bobby Flay in Second Round......

Yesterday afternoon while thumbing through magazines, cookbooks and assorted recipes,  I began to agonize over what to serve for dinner tonight. I kept waiting for that "AHA" moment to occur, but alas it was not meant to be. You see, tonight I was having friends for dinner, and wanted to treat them (and us......of course!) to something special.  I had narrowed the field to two contenders..........pork loin and sirloin strip steaks, but didn't have a clue how I wanted to prepare them. Suddenly I remembered a fantastic steak house rub that Bobby Flay published in an old issue of Gourment, and having used it twice before with fantastic results, I declared his recipe the winner.  The rest of the meal..........Maytag blue cheese souffle, honey and brown sugar kissed baby carrots, garlic toast, and tossed salad just fell into place. And, for dessert, we'd enjoy a luscious chocolate and caramel cheesecake with Grand Marnier ganache. This morning with the menu firmly in place, I set about to gather up the numerous ingredients for Bobby's rub, when suddenly my copy of Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten called out to me in earnest.  It was sitting on the center island in the kitchen behind the computer, and definitely wanted my attention.  So I opened the book, and as if I were being guided, it automatically brought me to to page 121........... the recipe for Beef Bourguignon, one of my classic favorites.  Now call me superstitious, but the weather outside today is gloomy, damp, cold and calls for more rain this evening. This would mean grilling in less than favorable conditions, asking my guests to keep an eye on the souffles in the oven and a lack of total control over the meal which I insist upon.  (I'm anal)  Or............it could mean that the sirloin strips would be a lovely substitute for the beef chuck and that the entire sumptuous entree could be prepared inside and without any assistance. Well I hate to say this..............but sorry Bobby, you've been eliminated. Ina wins..... And it did rain tonight, and the sirloin was melt in your mouth tender and I'm so glad that I didn't have to get all "wet" and bothered over it. The bourguignon was superb as always, and I'll publish the recipe later for those of you who don't have a copy of Ina's wonderful book. The recipe for our decadent dessert follows below:

Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake** with Grand Marnier Ganache

Ingredients:

1 Crumb-Crust Recipe* (Recipe below cheesecake ingredients) 

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup heavy cream

8 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate ( I used Ghiradelli 60%)

1/2 cup sour cream

3 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened

4 large eggs - room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

Crumb Crust Recipe*

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups (5 0z) finely ground dark chocolate wafers. I use Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/3 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

Stir together crust ingredients and press onto the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a buttered 24 centimeter springform pan. (I used a 9" pan) Fill right away or chill up to 2 hours.

Preparation:

  

Preheat oven to 350' F.  Cook sugar in a dry heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork, until melted and pale golden.  Cook caramel without stirring or swirling the pan, until deep golden. Remove from heat and carefully add heavy cream (mixture will vigorously steam and caramel will harden). Cook over moderately low heat, stirring until caramel is dissolved. Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate until smooth. Stir in sour cream. Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until fluffy, then beat in chocolate mixture on low speed. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla, beating on low speed until each ingredient is incorporated and scraping down bowl between additions. Put springform pan with crust in a shallow baking pan. (I used a cookie sheet) Pour filling into crust and bake in baking pan/ cookie sheet( to catch drips) in middle of oven 55 minutes, or until cake is set 3 inches from edge but center is still slightly wobbly when pan is gently shaken. Run a knife around top edge of cake to loosen and cool completely in springform pan on a rack. (Cake will continue to set as it cools.) chill cake, loosely covered, at least 6 hours. Pour ganache over chilled cake and rotate pan quickly to cover surface up to 1/2" from the sides, keeply ganache "inside" well area. Return cake to refrigerator to chill ganache completely, about 1 hour . When ready to serve, remove side of pan and transfer cake to a serving plate. Bring to room temperature before serving. ** Original recipe is from Gourmet Magazine - November - 1999.

"Cookie Doctor" Grand Marnier Ganache

Ingredients:

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped fine ( I used Ghiradelli)

1 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons Grand Marnier

Heat cream in a heavy bottom sauce pan till slightly boiling.  Remove from heat and stir in chocolate. Stir slowly and continuously until chocolate and cream blend together. Add the Grand Marnier and stir to incorporate thoroughly.  Let cool until proper consistency. Stir again before spreading.