Talk show giant Oprah Winfrey has commissioned a new cookbook based on the recipes featured in her popular magazine.
"O, The Oprah Magazine Cookbook" has simple recipes from culinary superstars that are easy enough for any home cook to whip up. The book gathers 175 of the magazine's best recipes from more than 60 chefs and writers. It also includes sample menus and suggestions for pairing wine with food.
Check out some of the recipes featured in the book below.
Chef: Art Smith
Thin layers of buttery white cake sandwiched between ribbons of fudge: it's love at first bite.
Cake
Butter, flour, and waxed paper, for coating the pans
3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 ½ cups sugar
6 eggs
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted 3 times
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
Pinch of salt
3 cups milk
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extractIcing
3 cups sugar
½ cup high-quality cocoa powder
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into cubes
One (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
Pecan halves for garnish (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Butter four 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with waxed paper, then butter the paper. Flour the pans.
2. Using a mixer, cream the softened butter and sugar. When the mixture is light and fluffy, add the eggs one at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure the mixture is well blended.
3. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. To the butter and egg mixture, gradually add the flour mixture and milk, alternating between them. Continue to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Once the flour and milk are incorporated, add the vanilla extract.
4. Add 1 cup of batter to each prepared pan and bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until light brown. Remove the layers from the pans and cool on a wire rack, placing the paper side down. Wash the pans. Butter and flour the pans again for the next batch of cakes. Repeat the process until 12 layers are baked.
5. When all the layers have cooled, make the icing. Combine the sugar, cocoa, butter and evaporated milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and cool 2 minutes until the icing is thin but spreadable. (This icing becomes thicker as it cools.) Add the vanilla extract.
6. Remove the waxed paper from each layer. Place one layer of cake on a wire rack and spread with icing. (For easier cleanup, assemble the cake over an edged sheet pan to collect runoff icing.) Add the next layer and ice it. Continue adding and icing layers, then pour remaining icing over the top. Icing that drips down can be used to cover the sides. Garnish pecan halves, if desired.
Makes 20 servings.
Chefs: Melissa Kelly and Price Kushner
This homespun dish is a variation on the traditional American classic.