Saturday, April 20, 2013

Broil, Bake and Basil - Sesame Basil Cookies

For all of the cooking with Corningware I have done over the years, and all of the praises I continuously sing about it's incredible ability to do just about anything in the kitchen, and to do it better than any metal pot or pan ever could, I STILL find new reasons to love this stuff even more.

I recently found another "find" at the Good Will.  A Corningware Broil and Bake tray (P-35-B) in the Cornflower pattern.

Of course I snatched it up, since it was only $3.99.  I had originally planned on simply adding it to my collection, since I already own a Meat/Fish Server/Broiler tray (P-19).  Lady luck was not done with me yet, though.

A couple days later, I had to drop some stuff off at "Chase Me Again" which helps to support "My Father's House", a local shelter for homeless families in the Gresham area.  Me being me, I can never resist the urge to look around a thrift store.  I figure if I drop off twice as much stuff as I bring home, then I am ahead of the game with my spring cleaning, right?  Well, while I was perusing the miscellaneous kitchen gadgetry, I happened across a SECOND Broil and Bake Tray.... In the much rarer Wheat pattern.

On top of that, it actually had the serving rack with it as well.  (with rubber feet still intact)

I love mid-century style...  BONUS!

And then there were two. Now, this did not come without guilt.  I kept thinking to myself, "When am I going to broil 2 things in the oven at one time?"  Then it hit me.  The P-35-B is a broil and BAKE tray, "Bake" being the key word.  Does that mean I can bake cookies on it?  I was determined to find out.

The answer?  Oh HECK yeah!  They turned out beautiful.  I have never been so pleased!  I even tested 1 pan on a regular baking sheet lined with parchment.  The Corningware Baking tray beat it hands down.  They were perfectly done on the bottom, not too browned around the edges and didn't spread too thin the way the parchment lined cookies did.  Oh, Happy Day!

There are 2 provisos for baking cookies on the Broil, Bake Tray (P-35-B)....  You will have to oil the baking trays.  A lot of cookies recipes call for a "Greased Cookie Sheet" and I have gotten use to simply lining them with parchment.  Parchment doesn't work well on Corningware, so go ahead and rub them lightly with oil.

Second, you really need to have 2 trays for effective cookie baking.  Corningware gets VERY hot, and it holds the heat like cast iron, even after being removed from the oven.  So you need a second tray to throw in the oven while the first one cools down enough that your cookie dough won't melt as soon as it hits the tray.

Other than that, they are an absolute blessing in the kitchen.  

Basil Sesame Cookies
    
3/4 cup Sesame Seeds, toasted
1 1/2 cups AP Flour
1 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
8 TB Unsalted Butter
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 large Egg
1/2 Vanilla Bean (Caviar only)
1 bunch Sweet Basil Leaves, finely chopped
2 Corningware Broil, Bake Trays (P-35-B)

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
Toast the Sesame Seeds in a skillet set over medium flame, tossing frequently to prevent burning (about 5 minutes)

Combine the Sesame Seeds with the remaining dry Ingredients in a small bowl and mix well with a whisk.

Beat butter in the bowl of an electric mixer, until fluffy.

Add Brown Sugar and cream together well.

Add Egg and Vanilla Bean Caviar, beating until everything is nice and fluffy.

Add chopped Basil and mix to combine.

Add the dry ingredients and stir until evenly mixed.

Lightly oil your Broil, Bake Trays.....

Roll the dough into 3/4 inch balls and place on the Corningware Broil, Bake Tray (P-35-B).

Flatten each cookie, slightly.

Bake for 9-11 minutes.

Let cool on the tray for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. (in the mean time, throw in the other pan)

Enjoy with Darjeeling tea.


Where is your Corningware??
~~

4 comments:

  1. The sight of those bake and broil trays just made me swoon! The blue cornflower one is on my summer yard sale wishlist :) I know I could just buy one off Ebay, but the hunt is half the fun!

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  2. I agree completely. I love the hunt, and getting a bargain on top of it is like icing on the proverbial cake. I have seen them on eBay and resisted, though I have purchased pieces that way in the past. Corningware is so heavy that the shipping can sometimes cost more than the piece itself. It's a great source for the plastic lids and old casserole serving frames. :)

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  3. Just found a tray with the floral bouquet pattern. I'm new to collecting Corning Ware and love when I find something new!

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  4. I'm new at this ...
    What other kinds of things can I use this for? I was thinking that it could keep things warm on the table.

    ReplyDelete

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