Yvonne Maffeis Dates With Cream And Chopped Pistachios Recipes

DATE MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Butter 18 muffin cups and line with paper liners. In a medium saucepan, bring about 3 cups water to a boil over medium heat. Put the chopped dates in a medium bowl and cover with the hot water. Let the dates soften, about 10 minutes.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the 1 cup cool water, molasses, eggs, vanilla and salt; beat briefly to combine (the mixture may look curdled and runny).
• In another medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined (do not overmix).
• Drain the dates, discarding the liquid, and spread them out on a baking sheet to cool. Flatten the dates with the back of a spoon to crush any larger pieces. When cooled, stir the dates into the batter.
• Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling them almost to the top. Bake in the middle of the oven until the muffins are golden brown and spring back when gently pressed, 20 to 27 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer the muffins to a rack to cool completely.

DATE MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease or line 10 cups of a muffin tin.
• Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl. Add dates, separating the pieces as you drop them into the flour mixture. Mix to coat.
• Whisk buttermilk, egg, and butter together in a small bowl. Fold buttermilk mixture into flour mixture until just combined.
• Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the largest muffin comes out clean, about 15 minutes.

YVONNE MAFFEI'S DATES WITH CREAM AND CHOPPED PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Rinse and dry the dates. Make a clean cut along the side of each date to open, and remove the pit.
• Stuff each date with 2 whole almonds and lightly pinch closed. (The recipe can be made up to this point up to 2 days in advance. Store in an airtight container.)
• When ready to serve, arrange dates cut sides up on a plate or platter. Drizzle on the crème fraîche, making a dollop on each date. Sprinkle on the citrus zest, then the chopped pistachios. Serve immediately, as finger food or on plates with a small fork and knife.

YVONNE MAFFEI'S ROAST CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS, DATES AND BUTTERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large ovenproof dish or pot with a tight lid, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, the ginger, the pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken and rub it around in the mixture until evenly coated. Turn chicken breast side down and roast, uncovered, for 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine couscous, 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside for 5 to 15 minutes to soak.
• In a small skillet, melt the butter. Add almonds and cook, stirring constantly, just until toasted and golden; adjust heat so almonds and butter do not scorch. Turn off heat and stir in dates.
• Add almond-date mixture to couscous, along with any butter left in pan, and mix, fluffing the grains with a fork. Mix in 2 tablespoons olive oil, the sugar, the cinnamon and the orange blossom water (if using).
• Drizzle or paint honey over top of chicken (leave chicken breast-side down in pot). Add couscous mixture to the pot, arranging it around the chicken. Cover tightly with a lid or foil and return to the oven for 30 minutes more.
• Remove from the oven. When cool enough to handle, remove chicken and carve into serving pieces. Stir and fluff couscous, scraping up any chicken skin stuck to bottom of pan, and place chicken pieces back on top of couscous. Sprinkle with chopped herbs and serve immediately.

LET'S MAKE A DATE MUFFINS

Steps:

• To make the streusel topping:
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, and pecans. Using a fork, cut in butter until well combined and mixture begins to hold together a bit. Set aside.
• To make the muffins:
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter a 12-cup muffin tin. Place the dates in a shallow bowl (in a single layer if possible), pour the boiling water over them, and soak for 15 minutes. Transfer the dates and soaking liquid to a food processor and puree until almost smooth but a few pea-sized fruit pieces remain. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar. With the motor running, mix in the eggs, one at a time. Add the vanilla. Add half of the flour mixture and mix until moistened. Follow with the date puree, and when thoroughly combined, mix in remainder of the flour mixture. Scrape down the sides and give a final stir with a spatula to make sure all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Divide the batter among the muffin cups. Top with the streusel and press down gently to adhere. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.