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 Post subject: Nancy: regarding your avtar photo of the bars
PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:26 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:38 pm
Posts: 536
Greetings,
Can you tell us about that photo of the tri color bars? Every single time I look at it I wonder about that recipe. Could you share it, and tell us something about them.

They are so pretty.

Thanks,
EB


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 Post subject: Re: Nancy: regarding your avtar photo of the bars
PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:53 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:54 pm
Posts: 1165
Location: New York
Thanks EB! They're the Seven-Layer Cookies from Gourmet, December 2005. I made them a few years ago for a dessert party. I got this particular recipe from Smitten Kitchen.
The recipe is quite long but I'm happy to share.


Seven-Layer Cookies (Makes about 5 dozen cookies)

Time: These take at least 11 hours from beginning to end, most of it inactive, but make sure you have a good 2 to 3 hour window to bake in
4 large eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 (8-oz) can almond paste
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
25 drops red food coloring
25 drops green food coloring
1 (12-oz) jar apricot preserves, heated and strained
7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13- by 9-inch baking pan and line bottom with wax paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 ends, then butter paper.
Beat whites in mixer fitted with whisk attachment at medium-high speed until they just hold stiff peaks. Add 1/4 cup sugar a little at a time, beating at high speed until whites hold stiff, slightly glossy peaks. Transfer to another bowl.
Switch to paddle attachment, then beat together almond paste and remaining 3/4 cup sugar until well blended, about 3 minutes. Add butter and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add yolks and almond extract and beat until combined well, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, then add flour and salt and mix until just combined.
Fold half of egg white mixture into almond mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
Divide batter among 3 bowls. Stir red food coloring into one and green food coloring into another, leaving the third batch plain. Set white batter aside. Chill green batter, covered. Pour red batter into prepared pan and spread evenly with offset spatula (layer will be about 1/4 inch thick).
Bake red layer 8 to 10 minutes, until just set.
Using paper overhang, transfer layer to a rack to cool, about 15 minutes. Clean pan, then line with wax paper and butter paper in same manner as above. Bake white layer in prepared pan until just set. As white layer bakes, bring green batter to room temperature. Transfer white layer to a rack. Prepare pan as above, then bake green layer in same manner as before. Transfer to a rack to cool.
When all layers are cool, invert green onto a wax-paper-lined large baking sheet. Discard paper from layer and spread with half of preserves. Invert white on top of green layer, discarding paper. Spread with remaining preserves. Invert red layer on top of white layer and discard wax paper.
Cover with plastic wrap and weight with a large baking pan. Chill at least 8 hours.
Remove weight and plastic wrap. Bring layers to room temperature. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Keep chocolate over water. (Alternately, you can do what I did: melt the chocolate 3.5 ounces at a time just to make sure it doesn’t seize up between steps, though that shouldn’t be a problem if you only let it set for 15.)
Trim edges of assembled layers with a long serrated knife. Quickly spread half of chocolate in a thin layer on top of cake. Chill, uncovered, until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes. Cover with another sheet of wax paper and place another baking sheet on top, then invert cake onto sheet and remove paper. Quickly spread with remaining chocolate. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
Cut lengthwise into 4 strips (I cut them into more, because I wanted them 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, as I remember them). Cut strips crosswise into 3/4-inch-wide cookies.
Do ahead: Cookies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper or parchment, in an airtight container at room temperature 2 weeks. They’ll keep even longer in the freezer.


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 Post subject: Re: Nancy: regarding your avtar photo of the bars
PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:58 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:54 pm
Posts: 1165
Location: New York
Want to add that yes, these bars are a lot of work but the taste and wow factor make them really worth it for a special occasion, just because. They r absolutely delicious.


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 Post subject: Re: Nancy: regarding your avtar photo of the bars
PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:14 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:38 pm
Posts: 536
Thanks! I'll print and file this Nancy, and will report in if I get the courage to attempt them!!

Lynn


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