Sage Parmesan Crackers

Everyone likes to have at least one "crowd pleaser" recipe in their collection. And if that recipe happens to be the easiest thing in the world? So much the better. These sage crackers were a spur of the moment decision a few years back, taken from Mark Bittman's gloriously helpful "101 Head Starts to the Day" (the NY Times has apparently been helming the culinary delights of Thanksgiving for years). I wasn't quite sure what to expect of them, as they were honestly too simple to be trusted. But when they disappeared out from under me, I realized I had a goldmine on my hands. Now they're trotted out every Thanksgiving. I've also taken to doubling the recipe, because of the thin crumbly nature of the crackers, they tend to yield a fairly small amount once cut into squares. They also may provoke moments of panic when you realize there's no physical way to "roll these out" as Bittman suggests. I've taken to literally patting them into shape on the baking sheet and cutting them afterwards. It saved me a mountain of frustrated rolling and allowed me to enjoy these little sage-y parcels even more.

Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
4 tbsp cold butter
1/4 cup cream
2 tbsp finely chopped sage.

Method

Preheat over to 400 F. 

Mix 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup Parmesan and 4 tablespoons cold butter either in a large bowl or in a food processor. Add 1/4 cup cream and 1 tablespoon finely chopped sage.

When just combined, roll as thinly as possible (or simply pat into the baking sheet), score into squares, sprinkle with salt and bake at 400 degrees until golden.

Let cool, then break into pieces.

Sage Crackers

This recipe is almost embarrassingly easy. So embarrassing that when people demanded the recipe, I felt foolish when I couldn't reciting it from memory. Honestly, it's that easy.
The only problem is that Bittman only accounts for one pan to be made at a time.
Fool, clearly we will want at least 4 pans of this stuff.

Silly Bittman.  

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

4 tbsp cold butter

1/4 cup cream

2 tbsp chopped sage (fresh if possible)

Method 

Pulse flour, salt, Parmesan and cold butter in a food processor (even this is optional, I just combined it in a large bowl).
Add cream and chopped sage.
When just combined, roll as thinly as possible, score into squares, sprinkle with salt and bake at 400 degrees until golden.
Let cool, then break into pieces.

Apricot, Cornmeal, and Sage Cookies

 

This may sound like a bizarre combination, but trust me, these cookies are delicious. And...did I mention, easy to make? My mom found the recipe a few years back in Gourmet magazine (ah, those were the days) and, on a whim, we experimented with the sage and apricot on some unsuspecting Christmas party guests. And oh my, they were gone in minutes. There's something about the crumbly cornmeal paired with the sweetness of the apricot and the earthiness of the sage. 

Combine the deliciousness with the ease of the recipe, and you've got an absolute win. Also, you'll look like one of those fun 'experimental' cooks.

Ingredients

•    1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened well
•    3/4 cup sugar
•    1 large egg
•    3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
•    1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•    1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
•    2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage leaves
•    1/2 cup cornmeal
•    1/2 teaspoon salt

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F. and lightly grease 2 baking sheets.
In a bowl whisk together butter, sugar, and egg until smooth. Sift in flour and baking soda and add apricots, sage, cornmeal, and salt, stirring until combined.
Drop tablespoons of dough about 1 inch apart onto baking sheets and bake in batches in middle of oven 10 minutes, or until pale golden. Cool cookies on sheets 2 minutes and transfer to a rack to cool.