Molly Cookie

Bon Appetit Day! September Issue

Aug 10, 2009 Best day of the Month- Bon Appetit Day!

Today I got my Bon Appetit Magazine in the mail! This is one of the best moments of every month, when I look through the magazine to see what wonderful concoctions the writers at Bon Appetit have come up with for me to try. I can honestly say that there has never been a recipe that I’ve made from this magazine that I haven’t liked. It’s wonderful, and I love how it pushes me to try new cooking methods and techniques. I’ve learned a ton about cooking simply by making some of the recipes that they publish. It’s a great magazine.

Every month I will look through the magazine and share what I think the best looking recipes are. I try to make at least one thing from the latest Bon Appetit every month, so I’ll give you a preview of what might be to come over the next few weeks. The issue I received today was the September Issue, and after first glace, it looks like a good one. For those of you that read it… go ahead and follow along.

On page 18 there is a recipe from Manhattan’s Abraco Coffee Shop for their Olive Oil Cake. This looks very interesting, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to make it very soon. It has very basic ingredients, olive oil, flour, baking soda, eggs, etc… but they call for all organic ingredients, which I don’t always have. I’ll honestly probably try it with my regular old flour, eggs, and other things they want to be organic. Hopefully the taste won’t change much. Just the organicness.

On page 32 there is a recipe for “the best bloody mary”, which is incredibly long! I think this must be normal for bloody marys, which I’ve never had, but it just seems like a bit much to me. It includes ingredients like fennel blub, golden beet (does that exist?!), fresh horseradish, Guinness, pickled vegetables, and celery seeds! I know people who like bloody marys really like them, and it’s quite possible that everyone else in the world doesn’t like them at all. I have never had one, so I can’t be the judge of this recipe… but maybe I’ll try some version of this during the month. Brian told me that McNellie’s in Tulsa has a bloody mary bar for Sunday Brunch, which I thought was pretty interesting. If you’re in Tulsa and available for Sunday Brunch, you should give it a try.

I can’t go without mentioning the article by Molly Wizenberg, of whom I am a big fan. I have loved reading her blog, Orangette, and watching her go from Oklahoma girl to Seattle dweller and writer for Bon Appetit. The article in this month’s issue discusses the opening of her new restaurant, Delancey. If I’m ever in Seattle I will definitely give this pizza joint a try.

Now, I love living in Tulsa. I really, really do. But, one of the things that makes me a little sad about living here is that we don’t have very many restaurants that are recognized in things like Bon Appetit. Now, notice I didn’t say we don’t have great restaurants, because I think this is simply not true. I think we do have some good ones. I don’t know if it’s because there are just spectacular restaurants in other parts of the country or because we simply aren’t being recognized, but Tulsa simply doesn’t show up on the map of “best restaurants” for any category that I’ve seen in my reading. In this issue of Bon Appetit, there is a section dedicated to the “Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America”. These restaurants are in places like San Francisco, Seattle, Brooklyn, Chicago, and all the typical big cities that great restaurants often reside. Someday maybe, I’ll open up this magazine and see a great Tulsa restaurant owner’s picture with his signature dish, proudly displayed for the country to see. That will be a proud day.

Photo from Bon Appetit

There is one dessert in this issue that I will have to try. It is the Layered Brownies with White-Chocolate Caramel and Cacao Nib Gelato. Maybe I’m just a sucker for white chocolate, or maybe it’s the breathtaking full-page picture of the brownie on page 101, but whatever it is, I’m drawn to making this dessert. Every week I meet with a few girls for a Bible Study, and I always try to have something sweet for them to try. This looks like the perfect dessert for that night, although it is a little heavier than my normal cupcakes or cookies. I’m sure they won’t mind.

The overall, best-looking recipe, in my opinion, is the Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Prune and Ancho Chile Sauce on page 97. I love pork tenderloin, and this recipe has a spicy, sweet sounding sauce that is probably really great. I have never made a pork tenderloin before, and it sounds like a great thing to try. It’s something my parents make a lot, and I think it’s time I try one out for myself.

On page 106 begins a section on “the art of the street cart” where they highlight various vendors from Portland, Oregon. All of the street cart vendors they discuss look like they have incredible food, but the one that sounds the best to me is Tabor, with their “Original Schnitzelwich” sandwich. I know that if I’m ever in Portland I’ll remember this place and drop by for my very own Schnitzelwich. Maybe I just like the name… let’s say it together…Schnitzelwich.

Well, those are the September Bon Appetit highlights according to Molly. I hope you all enjoy reading your Bon Appetit this month! Stay tuned for my rendition of pork tenderloin and Olive Oil cake. I’m sure they’ll be coming shortly.

Tags: Bon appetit, favorite magazine recipes