American Test Kitchen Food

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN BURGERS

Steps:

• Crumble bread into mixing bowl.
• Add milk 1/2 Tbsp at a time and mash with fork until a paste-type mixture is formed. This may require an adjustment to the amount of milk, we mostly just eyeball it.
• Once paste is formed, add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
• Form into 1/4 lb patties and grill or pan-fry. Top with cheese if desired.
• 1 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce can be replaced by 2 Tbsp A1 Steak Sauce.

THIN CRISPY PIZZA DOUGH FROM AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN

Steps:

• In food processor fitted with metal blade, process flour, sugar, and yeast until combined, about 2 seconds.
• With machine running, slowly add water through feed tube; process until dough is just combined and no dry flour remains, about 10 seconds.
• Let dough stand 10 minutes.
• Add oil and salt to dough and process until dough forms satiny, sticky ball that clears sides of work bowl, 30 to 60 seconds.
• Remove dough from bowl and knead briefly on lightly oiled countertop until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Shape dough into tight ball and place in large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 3 days.
• One hour before baking pizza, adjust oven rack to second highest position (rack should be about 4 to 5 inches below broiler), set pizza stone on rack, and heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Remove dough from refrigerator and divide in half. Shape each half into smooth, tight ball. Place on lightly oiled baking sheet, spacing them at least 3 inches apart; cover loosely with plastic wrap coated with nonstick cooking spray; let stand for 1 hour.
• Coat 1 ball of dough generously with flour and place on well-floured countertop. Using fingertips, gently flatten into 8-inch disk, leaving 1 inch of outer edge slightly thicker than center.
• Using hands, gently stretch disk into 12-inch round, working along edges and giving disk quarter turns as you stretch. Transfer dough to well-floured peel and stretch into 13-inch round.
• Using back of spoon or ladle, spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce in thin layer over surface of dough, leaving 1/4-inch border around edge.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan evenly over sauce, followed by 1 cup mozzarella. Too much cheese will create a soggy pizza.
• Slide pizza carefully onto stone and bake until crust is well browned and cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating pizza halfway through (if you can).
• Remove pizza and place on wire rack for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
• TOPPING TIPS: We like our Thin-Crust Pizza simply dressed with tomato sauce and handfuls of shredded mozzarella and Parmesan, but additional toppings are always an option--provided they're prepared correctly and added judiciously. (An overloaded pie will bake up soggy.) Here are a few guidelines for how to handle different types of toppings:.
• HEARTY VEGETABLES Aim for a maximum of 6 ounces per pie, spread out in a single layer. Vegetables such as onions, peppers, and mushrooms should be thinly sliced and lightly sautéed (or microwaved for a minute or two along with a little olive oil) before using.
• DELICATE VEGETABLES AND HERBS Leafy greens and herbs like spinach and basil are best placed beneath the cheese to protect them or added raw to the fully cooked pizza.
• MEATS Proteins (no more than 4 ounces per pie) should be precooked and drained to remove excess fat. We like to poach meats like sausage (broken up into 1/2-inch chunks), pepperoni, or ground beef for 4 to 5 minutes in a wide skillet along with 1/4 cup of water, which helps to render the fat while keeping the meat moist.
• NOTE as with all breads, the ratio of wet to dry is critical and more accurately measured by weight).
• Time does not include resting times.

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN THIN-CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• In food processor fitted with metal blade, process flour, sugar and yeast until combined, about 2 seconds. With machine running, slowly add water through feed tube; process until dough is just combined and no dry flour remains, about 10 seconds. Let dough stand for 10 minutes.
• Add oil and salt to dough and process until dough forms a satiny, sticky ball that clears sides of workbowl, 30-60 seconds. Remove dough and knead briefly on lightly oiled countertop until smooth, about 1 minutes. Shape dough into tight ball and place in large lightly oiled bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 3 days.
• Process tomatoes, oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, oregano and pepper in food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds. Transfer to medium bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
• One hour before baking pizza, adjust rack in oven to second highest position, about 4-5 inches below broiler. Set pizza stone on rack and heat oven to 500 degrees. Remove dough from refrigerator and divide in half. Shape each half into smooth, tight ball. Place on lightly oiled baking sheet, spacing them at least 3" apart. Cover loosely with plastic wrap coated with non-stick spray; let stand for 1 hour.
• Coat 1 ball of dough generously with flour and place on well floured countertop. Using fingers gently flatten into 8" disk, leaving 1" of outer edge slightly thicker than center. Using hands, gently stretch dough disk into 12" round, working along edges and giving disk quarter turns as you stretch. Transfer dough to a well floured peel and stretch into 13" round. Using back of spoon or ladle, spread 1/2 c tomato sauce in a thin layer over the surface of dough, leaving 1/4" border around edge. Sprinkle 1/4 c Parmesan evenly over sauce, followed by 1 c mozzarella. Slide pizza carefully onto stone and bake until crust is well browned and cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown, 10-12 minutes, rotating pizza halfway through. Remove pizza and place on wire rack for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Repeat this with second ball of dough.

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN BREAKFAST BURRITOS

Steps:

• Whisk together the eggs, half and half, salt, and pepper.
• Heat the oil in a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
• Add the chorizo and cook until lightly browned, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Add the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno and continue to cook until they have softened and are beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the chorizo mixture to a medium bowl and cover to keep warm.
• Wipe the skillet clean and return to the heat.
• Melt the butter in the skillet, swirling to coat the pan.
• Add the eggs and cook while gently pushing, lifting, and folding them from one side of the pan to the other until they are nicely clumped, shiny, and wet (about 2 minutes).
• Quickly fold in the cheddar and scallions, then remove the mixture from the pan.
• Fold in the chorizo mixture.
• Place each tortilla between sheets of paper towels and microwave on high until the tortillas are hot and steaming (30 to 60 seconds).
• Distribute the eggs evenly among the tortillas and roll into burritos.
• Slice the burritos in half and serve, passing the sour cream and salsa separately.

PERFECT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN)

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large (18- by 12- inch) baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
• Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10 inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.
• Add both sugars, salt, and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using), giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.
• Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use #24 cookie scoop). Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets, 8 dough balls per sheet. (Smaller baking sheets can be used, but will require 3 batches.).
• Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking seet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

FRENCH TOAST (AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN)

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position; preheat oven to 200°.
• Arrange the bread on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and bake until slightly dry, about 15 minutes; set aside, leaving the oven on.
• Line a second baking sheet with a wire rack; set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and whisk it together with the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl.
• Slowly whisk in the flour until smooth.
• Pour the batter into a large shallow dish.
• Lay 2 pieces of the dried bread in the batter and briefly soak both sides, about 30 seconds per side.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 more tablespoon butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until beginning to brown, swirling to coat the pan.
• Remove the bread from the batter, allowing excess batter to drip back into the dish, and lay in the hot skillet.
• Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2 1/2 minutes per side.
• Transfer the French toast to the wire rack (do not overlap) and keep warm in the oven.
• Repeat with the remaining bread, butter, and batter.
• Serve.