This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Click on the post to get this recipe. Apple Fritters from AD HOC AT HOME by Thomas Keller (Artisan Books). Copyright 2009. Photo by Deborah Jones.
If you're excited about Thomas Keller's return but can't get any reservations, there is an alternative. TK's new cookbook, Ad Hoc at Home, is now available. Although his previous books (The French Laundry Cookbook, Bouchon, Under Pressure) were notoriously difficult and demanding, this one is being billed as "the long-awaited cookbook for the home chef (that happens to have a blowtorch lying around)." If you can overlook the occasional five hour soffrito, most of the recipes are quick and easy to make (like his chocolate chip cookies). As mentioned in the LA Times, Ad Hoc at Home is a great primer on cooking.
Thomas Keller has two book signings scheduled in LA,
...and one in the OC:
Make these apple fritters tonight! Recipe after the jump...Apple Fritters
I love the casualness and ease of this great finger food dessert— a plate of hot apple fritters, dusted with powdered sugar, passed around the table is a satisfying end to a meal. While these fritters are a wonderful dessert to make when seasonal apples are abundant, you can also vary the fruit, using pears instead of apples, for example. If you like, serve them with Vanilla Ice Cream (page 319) and a drizzle of honey. They’re best immediately after they are fried, so serve them hot. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Lightly beat the egg and milk in a small bowl. Whisk into the dry ingredients until combined. The batter can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 hours. Peel the apples and slice the fruit from the core. Cut the apples into 2-inch-long, G-inch-thick matchsticks. Fold into the batter. Heat about 1H inches of oil to 325°F in a wide deep pot. Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet and line with paper towels. Using two forks, lift up about 5 to 6 of the apple matchsticks from the batter, allowing the excess batter to drip back into the bowl—the fritter should be irregular in shape, with just a very light coating of batter—and add to the hot oil. Add a few more fritters to the pot, without crowding, and fry for about 5 minutes, turning the fritters from time to time, until crisp and golden brown. Use a skimmer or slotted spoon to transfer them to the paper towels, and fry the remaining fritters in batches. Stack the fritters on a serving platter, sprinkle generously with powdered sugar, and serve immediately.
