ON THIS WEEK’S episode of Dinner SOS, test kitchen director and host Chris Morocco is joined by senior test kitchen editor Shilpa Uskokovic to help callers Izzy and Nina find a foolproof baking project.
Nina and Izzy are twin sisters. They have a lot in common, especially their love for baked goods. While they’ve had a few successful baking projects together, Nina has found that as soon as she tries to bake solo, she lacks confidence and her bakes often go awry. A honey pie recipe from Nigella Lawson proved particularly disastrous and prompted their call to Dinner SOS. Chris recruits Shilpa to brainstorm recipes for simple baking projects that are delicious without being too fussy, in order to build the confidence that Nina craves. Shilpa reminds us that the precision involved in baking can work in their favor—recipe guardrails like timers, scales, and thermometers can often guarantee a level of success.
For example, with Chris’s recommendation of BA’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookies, Shilpa says Izzy and Nina can make the recipe a few times and then experiment with swapping in M&M’s or nuts for the chocolate chips. Shilpa also recommends the sisters try baking these Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars (they don’t even require a mixer!) and this Chocolate Sheet Cake. To set the sisters up for success, Shilpa gives the option to make the sheet cake with this slightly easier (but still very delicious) double chocolate fudge frosting from her new recipe for Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake.
Listen now to hear if the sisters can succeed in their next baking project and whether Nina can fall in love with baking again.