Parsnip Macaroons

I know that I am not alone when I say that I love parsnips because when I posted the bouquet of them that I happily carried home from the grocery store yesterday, I got quite the response. Ok, a percentage of those responses were from a certain family member of mine (hi mom!), but still, Parsnip Lovers Unite! With cookies! I know it sounds a little bizarre to bake with something usually used in savory preparations but I find that if you choose the right specimens, parsnips are just as sweet as carrots with a more complex flavor profile. The inspiration to bake them into macaroons came from Alice Medrich and her Spicy Carrot Macaroons that I've been meaning to try for ages. With a few substitutions they baked up into little golden haystacks perfect for teatime. The parsnip flavor is subtle, like a spice note in the background that pairs really nicely with sweet maple syrup, crunchy almond and chewy coconut.

Parsnip Macaroons
inspired by Alice Medrich's Spicy Carrot Macaroons
yield 18-20 cookies

2 egg whites
3.5oz unrefined cane sugar
2oz maple syrup
1t vanilla extract
1/4t lemon zest
1/4t salt
3oz unsweetened shredded coconut
4oz finely chopped almonds
4oz peeled and finely shredded parsnip (or carrot) make sure to choose small, slender parsnips as they are sweeter than their larger counterparts.

Preheat oven to 350º

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg whites, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, lemon zest and salt until frothy.
2. Add in the coconut, almonds and shredded parsnip and stir well to combine. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to allow the sugar to melt and soften the coconut.
3. Set the bowl over a double boiler or in a skillet of simmering water and stir the mixture, making sure to get down to the bottom of the bowl. Cook until the mixture is very hot and the liquid in the bottom of the bowl has thickened and turned slightly opaque, 5-7min.
4. Using firm pressure, form the mixture into heaping tablespoon sized pyramids and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. The mixture will be quite loose and it helps to wet your hands to form the cookies OR just use a cookie scoop. Slide the sheets into the oven and bake the cookies until they are deep golden brown on the edges, 20-25min. Make sure to bake them thoroughly, mine may have been a bit underdone.
5. Let the cookies cool completely on the parchment sheets, peel them off carefully and store at room temp, covered loosely for 3-4 days. As they age they will become softer and the lemon zest flavor more pronounced.

Chocolate Snack Cake

Hi all! Sorry for the absence around these parts, but I was off in Seattle visiting friends and family and soaking up some of that famous Northwest sunshine. No seriously, it was sunny for two whole days, in a row. So, while I get myself back up to east coast speed I offer you this easy-peasy recipe for a great little snack. This fluffy, chocolaty cake is not too sweet so it's great for breakfast or an afternoon snack for the kiddos in your life. It also does not use any dairy, eggs, or refined sugar so on the dessert scale it is actually pretty virtuous. If you want to fancy it up a bit, serve it with some coconut milk ice cream and fresh strawberries which are coming in to season all over the US right now.

Chocolate Snack Cake

1 3/4c flour
2t baking powder
1t baking soda
1/2t kosher salt
2c soy milk, or other non-dairy milk
3/4c cocoa powder
1/2c canola oil or olive oil
1 1/2 c maple syrup
1/2t distilled white vinegar
1t vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 and line a 9'' square baking pan with greased parchment paper

1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
2. In a medium saucepan, warm the soy milk until bubbles form around the edges of the pan, whisk in the cocoa powder then remove the mixture from the heat.
3. Combine the oil, maple syrup, vinegar and vanilla in a separate bowl. I usually do this in the measuring cup to save dishes.
4. Add the soy mixture to the oil mixture then pour it all into the flour mixture and stir to combine.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 min or until a toothpick stuck into the cake comes out clean.

To serve, cut into big squares and dust with confectioner's sugar (or not, if you are avoiding refined sugar). Wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and keep at room temp.