The Bernt Lab “protocols”

for cooking and baking   

Saamia’s Stuffed Dates

  • Required:

    Medjool dates

    Filling options:

    Chocolate hazelnut spread

    Cookie butter

    Vanilla frosting (I haven’t tried this yet but it’s an alternative)

    Pistachio butter (I’ve tried this in other stuffed dates but haven’t used it myself but it’s really good!)

    Topping options:

    Crushed biscoff cookies

    Crushed or whole pistachios

    Sliced or whole almonds

    Walnuts

    Coconut flakes

    Sprinkles

    Chocolate chips (milk or white)

    • Cut each date in half and remove the pits. Prop the date open so there’s a gap to add the filling.2.

    • Put the filling of choice into a corner-cut plastic bag and use it to fill each date.3.

    • Add toppings of choice into and on top of the date.4.

    • Optional:

      • a. Melt chocolate chips in ~20 second increments to dip the dates into.

      • b. Add more toppings of choice to the chocolate coating. 5.

    • Done! Store in a closed container so the dates don’t harden!

  • Saamia brought these lovely stuffed dates to share during lab meeting at the end of Ramadan in 2025.

Fauxcoll gradient

  • Required:

    Chambord

    Grenadine syrup

    Vodka

    Limoncello

    • First, mix each master mix thoroughly:

      • Layer 1: 1:1 mix Chambord:grenadine syrup.

      • Layer 2: 1:1 mix Hungarian apricot brandy (barack palinka):simple syrup.

      Any clear, colorless 40% alcohol spirit may be substituted for the apricot brandy, although the taste will change, surely for the worse. Simple syrup is made by dissolving 1 cup sugar in 1 cup boiling water, and cooling.

      • Layer 3: 2:1 mix vodka:limoncello.

      The following volumes are then carefully pipetted, in order, into a tall shot glass. (In this singular instance, mouth pipetting is an acceptable risk.):

      • Layer 1: 5 mL

      • Layer 2: 15 mL

      • Layer 3: 15 mL

      At this point, the investigator will have a red layer at bottom (red blood cells), a clear, colorless middle layer (the Ficoll), and a straw-colored top layer (the plasma). To produce the white blood cell layer, introduce a pipette containing 1 mL skim milk into the interface between layers 2 and 3. Slowly dispense the skim milk, distributing throughout the layer. The 3 layers may be prepared first and the skim milk added right before serving, as the skim milk layer may diffuse over time.

      The result, shown in the figure, is sweet and fruity, may be chilled if desired, and is best enjoyed with a hematologist.


      https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-03-272575

  • The original Fauxcoll gradient was published by the Anthony Letai - yes - our current NCI director! It is actually a Blood paper, available here: Fauxcoll Gradient

    This fun treat is enjoyed at every annual Halloween celebration with a competition for pouring the cleanest gradient. Historically the biobank has excelled, but with the increase in general Bernt Lab Ficoll use the competition will be tighter in years to come.

BL6 Mice Chow

  • Required:

    • Peanut butter

    • Butter

    • Powdered sugar

    • Chocolate for melting (fur)

    • Almond Slices (ears)

    • Pretzels (tails)

    Optional:

    • Toasted coconut bedding

    1. Cream together 1:1 peanut butter and room temperature butter

    2. Gently mix in 4x powdered sugar to form dough

    3. Shape dough into mouse bodies and add broken pretzel’s as tails and almonds as ears. BL6 mice can get a little chunky so start them off small.

    4. Incubate at 4 degrees for 30 minutes to solidify on a sheet

    5. Melt chocolate in slow increments to avoid separation (think making agarose solution for pouring a gel).

    6. Coat mice in chocolate (can utilize a brush to ensure proper coverage)

    7. Allow 15 minutes to pass

    8. Place mice in their respective cages with fresh bedding ensuring to not exceed IACUC guidelines for numbers

  • These mice were brought to Halloween celebrations by Haley. She also made a shortbread variation when NSG mice were needed.