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Friday, December 30, 2011

Cuckoo for (Good) Crackers

While David and I were cooking some of the Chrismukkah food, we had the film Julie & Julia on the computer in the background.  I haven't seen this movie in a while, and definitely not since I started a blog this past July.

I've read both of Julie Powell's books;  while I liked Julie & Julia well enough , I had to skip over large portions of her follow-up book, Cleaving.  I really didn't want to hear about her affairs, particularly since I thought her husband was a little bit of a saint based on the portrayal in her first book.  Powell was somewhat more likable in the movie, but I've concluded that it was only because she was portrayed by Amy Adams, who has made a good career out of being cute and likable.

Anyway, Powell's reaction in the movie to the first comment on her blog rang true.  However, she becomes self-centered about the whole process, very "me, me, me."  Admittedly, she had a job she hated and she was basically living to blog and perhaps ultimately to get a book deal.  I'm pleased to say that the bloggers that I have met in the past five months bear no relationship to Julie Powell.  Rather, I've found the blogging community friendly and welcoming.

Getting off that tangent, I'm continuing to post recipes from the Cucina49 Chrismukkah, which peaked with a large dinner party on Christmas Day.  There were two menorahs a-blazing, competitive dreidel-spinning (our friend Nick always wins--he's got the technique down), David's brightly shining Christmas tree and, of course, lots of good food, including a decidedly non-kosher charcuterie platter.

It's easy enough to put together a good chatterer platter:  I like at least one hard and one soft cheese, preferably one cow's-milk cheese and one goat's or sheep's milk cheese.  Usually I will also have at least two types of cured meats, black olives and perhaps some mixed nuts.  Cashews and cheese are an irresistible combination.  Sliced fresh baguette or good crackers is also a must. 


Can you tell we nibbled off the raclette while we were cooking?

Note that I say good crackers, not crappy commercial crackers with lots of hydrogenated soybean oil or preservatives.  Stonewall Kitchen makes my favorite store-bought cracker, but when I have time, I prefer to make them myself.  The following recipe can be adapted to other fresh herbs and hard cheeses that may be lurking in your refrigerator.  They are buttery, flavorful and worth the relatively small amount of time and effort involved.

Rosemary-Parmesan Crackers
Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics by Ina Garten

1/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup good-quality Parmesan cheese, finely shredded
1 1/2 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely minced
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. fresh-ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Using a stand mixer, beat the butter with the paddle attachment on medium speed until it is creamy.  Turn the mixer to low and add the rosemary, Parmesan, salt and pepper until just incorporated.


Add the flour all at once and continue beating until the flour is incorporated.  Every time I've made the recipe, the dough at this stage refuses to hold together.  Add two tablespoons of warm water and combine again--this should make the dough come together, although it will still look crumbly.

Dump the dough onto a floured cutting board and roll it into a log about one inch in diameter.  Wrap the log in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour or overnight--this is a great item to make ahead of time. 


When you're ready to bake the crackers, heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Slice the dough into rounds about 1/4 quarter inch thick, or thinner if you prefer.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and then space the rounds on that sheet--there will be about 24 crackers, depending on how thickly you've sliced them. 



Bake for about 25 minutes, rotating the cookie sheet halfway through.  The crackers will be done when they are a light golden color.



Cool on wire racks. 

22 comments:

  1. I completely agree with you. I feel, almost, that food bloggers are all compared to her for the most part. I always get the line "Have you seen Julie & Julia?". My reply is always "Yes, but I surely hope my blog does not compare to hers". In a way it felt like she was doing it for all the wrong reasons. Her real story is nothing like the movie. Le sigh. off the soap box and on to these crackers. Wow! These couldn't get any more tasty looking. I must try making these.

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  2. Me too...just like Grubarazzi. People make the comparison and think its a compliment whereas I'm kind of cringing inside. I HOPE i'm not like her. Yeesh.

    Loving your holiday celebration. I'm totally down with your GOOD crackers. Essentially for any good food platter :)

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  3. I love all the ingredients I just have to try these! Happy New Year my friend!

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  4. Oh, I remember seeing these on Barefoot Contessa! They look so yummy. What a perfect party snack!

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  5. ooh savory crackers!!! they look so addictive.

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  6. I love some good crackers as well! Commercial crackers are highly overrated and I cannot stand Ritz. Yours sound amazing! I love the addition of the parmesan!

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  7. Mmmmmm....I think I could live off of cheese and crackers...especially when they're good homemade crackers! Yours sound perfect~

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  8. Delicious! I've seen this recipe (we have the same book - it's terrific) and I keep saying I want to make it...now I REALLY want to make it! YUM! It sounds like you had a great time on Christmas! I agree with you - the folks I've met have been lovely...

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  9. Love them with a glass wine...simply delightful!
    Happy New Year!

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  10. Lovely it looks but sad to say I normally use dried rosemary because the fresh one are hard to come by although its available at upmarket stores but I live away from the city, so seldom I buy them.

    I did not read the book but have watched the movie a couple of times. It was so so only though you can see how the other Julia was so obsessed with cooking and blogging.

    Happy New Year to you and David and till our next post, take care.

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  11. I'm glad I only saw the movie portrayal with Amy Adams then... I don't know if I would have liked her much if I read her books. I love that you made your crackers... it always amazes me that they can be done and don't have to come out of a box. :) Have a wonderful, happy and blessed New Year!! All the very best to you in 2012!!! ~ Ramona

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  12. After making homemade crackers once, boxed ones do not interest me at all! I have saved this delicious recipe, love the flavors as well as the look of these gems.
    Happy New Year!

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  13. I made crackers for the first time this year and was amazed how do-able they were. Saving this because a rosemary scented cracker does chatter beautifully on a cheese tray. Happy New Year - may you have delicious days in 2012.

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  14. I love the idea of making my own crackers. When you look at the ingredient list on most packaged crackers, you can't pronounce half of them. Happy New Year!

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  15. @Grubarazzi, you're so right--I think because she was one of the first famous food bloggers, comparisons are inevitable! The Julie/Julie blog was all right, but the blog she started after she finished that project is sporadic and barely readable.

    @Ann, the cookbook is wonderful, but when I originally made these crackers I followed the recipe exactly and was a little disappointed by the results. The original recipe calls for thyme instead of rosemary, and less herbs overall. You could barely taste the thyme--in my opinion, they work much better with slightly more herbs and using rosemary.

    @ParsleySage, I'm sure you're nothing like Ms. Powell! It's just an easy comparison for someone to make for a food blogger.

    Happy almost new year, everyone!

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  16. Oh I love the flavors in these! Great recipe!

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  17. One of the aspects I enjoy most is meeting some amazing people through their love of food. I'm also crackers about great crackers. Happy New Year!

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  18. These sound divine. I'm a sucker for great crackers! Oh, and happy 2012!

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  19. I agree, I think most of us are blogging for the right reason, we love food!! These crackers look super delicious!

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  20. I saw someone get a box of rosemary-parmesan crackers for christmas and I knew I had to have some...I love that I get on Foodbuzz and the first recipe I see is for these crackers. Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  21. Wow---she had affairs! I haven't picked up Cleaver and I doubt that I do now. On a less serious note---the crackers look divine!

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  22. These crackers look amazing! I was just thinking about making crackers - these just made it in the running!

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