The Culinary Connoisseur
No Need to Knead
19
Dec
Dec
Does your family get together for melava malka this time
of year? Long motzei Shabbos evenings are the perfect time for fun and
food. But no one wants these
get-togethers to be lots of advance prep. For those who have no intention of taking out
a mixer before a party we’ve got some delicious options. Starting with purchased rye bread, French
bread or puff pastry gives you a head start on your menu arrangements. All our recipes make wonderful accompaniments
to soups, salads and dips.
Ready-to-eat bread gets a flavor boost from butter and
fresh garlic
1 purchased French bread loaf or 4 baguettes
1 stick butter, softened to room temperature
6 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, checked and chopped or 2
teaspoons parsley flakes or 4 cubes frozen
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the bread in half lengthwise. Spread both halves generously with
butter. Spread crushed garlic over
buttered bread then sprinkle with parsley. Put the 2 halves back together and wrap
the loaf in aluminum foil, making sure to cover the ends well. Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven and slice into 2”
pieces. Serve immediately.
You can prepare the bread hours before you need it and
wrap it in airtight plastic. Remove the
plastic and bake just before serving.
Party bread is a wonderful way to dress up “plain old rye
bread.” Your guests will love pulling apart this bread to get to every last
piece.
You may have to visit more than one bakery these days
to find an un-sliced loaf, but it will be worth the effort!
1 whole 2 pound loaf of rye bread, unsliced
8 ounces butter (2 sticks or one tub)
1 bunch scallions
8-10 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Make 10 parallel cuts diagonally across the loaf of
bread, cutting almost until the bottom but not all the way through. Turn bread 90 degrees and make 10 parallel
cuts across the loaf, diagonal to the first cuts, once again cutting near the
bottom but not all the way through.
Wash and check scallions and chop white and light green
parts. Melt butter and pour it into all
the cuts in the bread. Sprinkle the
scallions into the slits. Stuff the
shredded cheese into each cut. Sprinkle loaf
with sesame seeds.
Wrap the entire loaf in foil. Bake covered 20-25 minutes then uncover and
bake an additional 10 minutes. Serve
immediately.
If you’re willing to put a bit more time into your party
preparation we’ve got an easy one-bowl muffin recipe that makes a tasty
substitute to bread at your party.
Cheese straws are made with purchased puff pastry so
they can be ready at a moment’s notice.
You can even prepare them in advance and freeze raw; then bake just
before serving.
2 sheets puff pastry
½ cup finely grated parmesan
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment or silicone
mats.
Roll out one sheet of pastry into a 10 by 20 inch
rectangle approximately 1/8 inch thick.
Sprinkle half of the cheese over the pastry and firmly press it into the
dough with a rolling pin. Use a sharp
knife, pastry wheel or pizza cutter to cut the pastry into strips ½ inch wide.
Carefully twist the strips and place them on prepare baking sheet and
refrigerate until all the pastry is rolled out and cut.
Bake the straws until puffed and lightly golden, about 8
to 10 minutes. Let cool and serve.
Makes approximately 80 straws.