Strawberry Daqueri (classic)

  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 2 medium strawberries, sliced
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 3 oz silver rum (or preference)
  • 1 strawberry for garnish
  • Sugar

Split a whole ripe strawberry leaving the crown intact, and wet the rim of a rocks glass. Rim the glass with turbinado sugar.

Muddle 2 medium strawberries with the juice of 1 lime in a cocktail shaker. Add simple syrup, rum and ice. Shake and pour into the glass. Garnish with the strawberry.

Sourdough Pita

This recipe is about 76% hydration dough, and does not use extra yeast.

Makes 8 flatbreads.

Ingredients

  • 330g all-purpose flour
  • 12g sugar
  • 12g salt
  • 12g olive oil
  • 230g water
  • 165g sourdough starter

Directions

Add all ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using a paddle attachment, combine ingredients on low until a rough dough forms. Cover and rest at room temperature 30 minutes.

Using a dough hook attachment, knead the dough on medium-low speed for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover and ferment at room temperature for 10-12 hours, or refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Turn out onto floured surface and divide into eight equal portions. Form each portion into a ball and rest 30 minutes.

Preheat a baking steel or pizza stone in the center of an oven to 475°F.

Shape each dough ball into a flat disk between ⅛” and ¼” thick, about 8 inches across. Allowed the shaped disks to dry slightly, then flip damp side up I to the stone or steel. (You may also lightly spritz the underside exposed after flipping to enhance pocketing.)

Bake pitas until lightly browned and puffy, approximately 6 minutes each.

Sourdough sandwich bread

Similar to store bought white bread. This bread is 54% hydration, and uses no extra yeast.

Makes one 9×5 loaf.

Levain

  • 100g all-purpose flour
  • 100g lukewarm water
  • 35g active sourdough starter

Main dough

  • 400g all-purpose flour
  • 25g malted milk powder
  • 12g sugar
  • 9g fine sea salt
  • 60g (about ½ stick) softened, unsalted butter
  • 170g water
  • 235g levain

Prepare levain at least 5 to 8 hours in advance.

Add ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using a paddle attachment, combine the ingredients until a rough dough has formed. Cover and rest at room temperature 30 to 90 minutes.

Using a dough hook attachment, knead the dough on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth, elastic and slightly tacky. Cover and allow to ferment at room temperature 10-12 hours, or refrigerated up to 3 days.

Prepare a 9×5 loaf pan, lightly oiling then lining with parchment.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and release any large gas pockets. Gently flatten then roll the dough into a log, tucking the ends under. Cover and rest 15 minutes. Shape the dough, tensioning the surface by sliding it against the bench. Transfer to the loaf pan. Cover and allow 1-2 hours for a second rise, until the dough is about an inch above the rim of the pan.

Bake uncovered 45-55 minutes at 375°F, until golden brown. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Tomato bisque

This is a from-scratch recipe I did up on the fly. Measures are approximate because I never measure these things.

A savory soup that expresses more nearly tomato & roasted red pepper soup than traditional. Reduce the measures for the pepper ingredients by half for a more traditional tomato bisque.

Makes approximately 4 servings.

Ingredients

  • 16oz fresh ripe tomatoes, diced (3 large, 4 medium or 5 plum)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, chopped
  • 6 button or baby bella mushrooms, cleaned and roughly chopped
  • 3 oz dry vermouth or dry white wine
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 2 to 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 sprig fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprike
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon hot paprika
  • ½ cup half & half or light cream
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • salt & crushed black pepper to taste

Directions

Finely chop onion, carrot, celery. Coarsely chop mushrooms. Peel, smash and mince garlic cloves.

In a 3 quart saucepan, heat olive oil until shimmering and barely smoking. Add mushrooms and distribute in a single layer. Add a generous pinch of kosher salt to help the mushrooms sweat. Sweat mushrooms until well browned, then add onion, carrot and celery. Saute until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato paste and incorporate. Saute the mixture, stirring constantly until Tue tomato paste is Brock red and fragrant, being careful not to scorch the tomato. Add vermouth and deglaze, scraping any remaining fond from the bottom of the saucepan. Add paprikas and pepper flakes.

Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes and a sprig of fresh basil. Raise to a boil, then partially cover, lower heat and simmer for 30 to 60 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the vegetables to break down.

The broth will reduce and thicken. Remove from heat and recover the basil stem and leaves. Puree the soup with an immersion blender. Alternatively, allow the soup to cool and, working carefully in batches, puree with a blender or food processor covered with a towel to avoid splashes.

Return the soup to low heat and add ½ cup half & half or light cream.