Meyer Lemon Rosemary Slices Food

MEYER LEMON ROSEMARY BREAD

Steps:

• Combine the flour, yeast, salt, rosemary and lemon zest in a by stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the water and stir until the dry ingredients are well-moistened and a shaggy, sticky dough has formed (I sometimes have to use my hands to lightly knead and work all the ingredients into a loose mass). Transfer the dough to a clean bowl coated with cooking spray. Cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough sit at room temperature (about 70 degrees F) for 12-18 hours. After a minimum of 12 hours the surface will become dotted with bubbles - that's a sign that ingredients are fermenting and flavor is developing!
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Sprinkle the top of the dough with a little flour and lightly knead it with you hands for about a minute. Cover the dough with plastic wrap on your counter and let it rest for 15 minutes.
• Generously coat a tea towel with cornmeal or flour. Gently and quickly shape the dough into a ball with floured hands and place seam-side-down onto the center of the towel. Dust the top of the dough with more cornmeal (or flour) and wrap the towel loosely around the dough. Place the towel with the dough in a large bowl and let it rise until the dough has doubled in size and does not quickly spring back when you poke at it. This should take 1 ½-2 hours.
• Thirty minutes before the dough is ready, place a 2 ¾-quart up to a 5 quart cast iron pot in the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F.
• Once your oven is preheated, carefully remove the pot from the oven. Open the towel and slide your hand underneath so that you can turn the dough mound seam-side-up into the pot. Give the pot a little shake to make sure the dough is even on the bottom and put the lid on top of the pot. Bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 15-30 minutes until the boule is golden brown all over and sounds hollow when you tap it with a wooden spoon.
• Remove the pot from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the bread from the pot and let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

MEYER LEMON-ROSEMARY SLICES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl beat granulated sugar and butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until fluffy, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, lemon peel, lemon juice, rosemary, and lemon extract. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour mixture.
• Divide dough into four portions. Shape each dough portion into a 6-inch-long log. Wrap each log in waxed paper; twist the ends. Chill for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days. (Or freeze for up to 2 months.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Cut chilled or frozen logs into 1/4-inch slices. Place slices about 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets for 2 minutes.
• Place powdered sugar in a small bowl. Working in batches of two or three cookies, add warm cookies to the powdered sugar, turning to coat. Transfer to wire racks; cool. (To serve today, omit Step 5.)
• Layer powdered sugar-coated cookies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw cookies before serving.

LEMON-ROSEMARY SLICES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons lemon peel, the rosemary and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.
• Divide dough in half. Shape each half into 9-inch roll, 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Flatten sides to form triangle. Wrap and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Mix 3 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon peel. Roll dough in sugar mixture to coat. Cut rolls into 1/4-inch slices. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

MEYER LEMON-ROSEMARY SPRITZER

Steps:

• Bring water and sugar to a boil in a large saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add lemons and rosemary. Reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand for 20 minutes. Strain. Return to pan, and boil until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely. Fill each of 6 glasses with 3/4 cup sparkling water. Stir 1/4 cup syrup into each.