Smitten kitchen gooey oat bars

 From smitten kitchen 

These were so good! Chewy, rich and a bar! 

Ingredients

• Non-stick cooking spray

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (230 g)

• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, or table salt

• 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp cold unsalted butter (200 g)

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar (65 g)

Filling

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (115 g)

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g)

• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar (145 g)

• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, or table salt

• 3 large eggs

• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

• 1 1/3 cups rolled oats (105 g)

• 1/2 cup finely shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened (optional)

• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips, chopped white or dark chocolate, candy bars, dried fruit, or a mix thereof (with the dried fruit, a mix with chocolate is best or the sweetness of the fruit will be overwhelming)

• Icing sugar, to finish

Instructions

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-x-13-in. baking tray (a quarter sheet pan or cake pan is fine) with parchment paper (if using a cake pan, hang the parchment over the sides so the bars are easier to remove). Lightly coat the sides with nonstick spray.

• Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Cut the butter into chunks, and add it to the bowl, then run the machine until the mixture forms large clumps—that’s right, just keep running it; it might take another 30 seconds for it to come together, but it will. Transfer the dough clumps to the prepared baking pan and press them evenly across the bottom and 1/4 in. up the sides. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until very pale golden.

• Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Melt your butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Continue to cook the butter, stirring frequently, until golden brown bits form at the bottom, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugars and salt. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then whisk in the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla, and stir in the oats, coconut (if using), and chocolate, fruit, and/or candy.

• Pour over the parbaked crust, spreading evenly.

• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the top is firm and golden and the bars are set or, at most, barely jiggle if shimmied. The bars are much easier to cut cleanly from the fridge, but they are gooiest when warm. Dust with powdered sugar before serving or selling for the prettiest finish.

INA GARTEN's Rigatoni with sausage and Fennel

 3 tablespoons good olive oil

3 cups chopped fennel (1 large bulb)

1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion

1 1/4 pounds sweet Italian sausages, casings removed

2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)

1/2 teaspoon whole fennel seeds, crushed with a mortar and pestle

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup heavy cream

2/3 cup half-and-half

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 pound rigatoni

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

1 cup freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese, divided

1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, over medium heat. Add the fennel and onion and saute for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add the sausage and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, crumbling it with a fork, until nicely browned. Add the garlic, crushed fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper and cook for one minute. Pour in the wine, bring to a boil, and add the heavy cream, half-and-half, and tomato paste. Bring back to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 2 tablespoons salt, and cook the rigatoni according to the directions on the package. Drain and add to the sauce, stirring to coat the pasta. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes to allow the pasta to absorb the sauce. Off the heat, stir in the parsley and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Serve hot in shallow bowls with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan on the side.

CRANBERRY-JALAPENO CREAM CHEESE DIP

 

Festive APPETIZER. 

From mels

INGREDIENTS

• 12 ounces (340 g) fresh cranberries
• 4-5 green onions, chopped
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
• 1 cup (212 g) sugar, more or less to taste
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 (8-ounces each) packages (454 g)cream cheese, light or regular, softened
•  Crackers, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Pulse the cranberries in a food processor or blender until coarsely chopped. Add the green onions, cilantro, jalapeno, sugar, cumin, lemon juice and salt and pulse until the ingredients are well combined and finely chopped. Transfer the mixture to a covered container and refrigerate for 4 hours (or up to overnight) so the flavors have time to meld and develop.
• When ready to serve, spread the cream cheese in an even layer on a serving plate or 9-inch pie dish. Top with the cranberry-jalapeno mixture.
• Refrigerate for up to an hour before serving. Serve with crackers.