Yogurt cheese is one of those things that if you haven't tried it, you should. People make yogurt cheese from plain yogurt 99% of the time. I have found that you can also make it from any of the flavoured yogurts as well. Try to choose a yogurt that doesn't have gelatin in it but if you can't it truly isn't the end of the world and I really haven't noticed much difference between the two.
If you have never heard of yogurt cheese - you will laugh when you discover how easy it is to make. Ridiculously easy, actually. This is truly my easiest recipe.
Yogurt Cheese
fresh yogurt
unbleached cotton - I use a clean tea towel.
that's it!
Drape the dampened tea towel over a colander and pour the yogurt into it.
Draw up the corners and tie together, allowing it to hang for 24 hours. I usually just suspend the colander over a deep bowl and set it into the fridge with a cover over it.
Four cups/one liter/one quart of yogurt should give you almost 2 cups of cheese.
How do you use it?
The same way as cream cheese - ie on bagels or mix with herbs for a cracker spread or mix a dollup into your mashed potatoes. Delicious!
The whey or liquid that drain from it can be saved and used in making bread or in a soup for extra nutrition.
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
X is for "Xtra" Special Christmas Potatoes
There is just no recipe that I have that starts with X - I was definitely stymied on this letter. So I have cheated and created a fake word to cover up my problem - call it creative license!
Christmas potatoes are only made on Christmas day mainly because they are so incredibly high in calories and terribly decadent. Your arteries will slam shut just reading this recipe! They are absolutely delicious though. I do make sure there are extras for the next day's leftover meal...
Xtra Special Christmas Potatoes
5 lbs of red potatoes
1 - 8 oz block of full fat cream cheese
4 large tbsp of butter
1/2 - 1 cup sour cream
1 tsp salt
water
Peel potatoes, cook until tender and mash.
Add cream cheese, sour cream and butter and continue to mash until nice and smooth but not sticky or gummy.
Serve with a dollup of butter and some chopped parsley to garnish the top.
No calories are absorbed as long as your feet touch the ground! lol
Enjoy!
Christmas potatoes are only made on Christmas day mainly because they are so incredibly high in calories and terribly decadent. Your arteries will slam shut just reading this recipe! They are absolutely delicious though. I do make sure there are extras for the next day's leftover meal...
 |
| The picture is from firsttimecook.com as I didn't have one. |
5 lbs of red potatoes
1 - 8 oz block of full fat cream cheese
4 large tbsp of butter
1/2 - 1 cup sour cream
1 tsp salt
water
Peel potatoes, cook until tender and mash.
Add cream cheese, sour cream and butter and continue to mash until nice and smooth but not sticky or gummy.
Serve with a dollup of butter and some chopped parsley to garnish the top.
No calories are absorbed as long as your feet touch the ground! lol
Enjoy!
W is for Waffles
I thought of doing wine but waffles are just so darn good! I usually take and make a whack of them, cool them, and then freeze them in bread bags to put in the toaster for later on.
This is a basic recipe that you can add your own flavourings to. Flavourings like vanilla, almond extract, ground nuts, chocolate powder or whatever strikes your fancy.
Waffles
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder (I use double action baking powder.)
1/2 tsp. sugar ( sometimes I leave it out)
3 eggs, separated
1 3/4 cups milk
6 tsp melted butter or oil (I usually do half and half because I like the flavour of butter but not the saturated fat.)
Combine the flour with the other dry goods.
Mix egg yolks with milk and melted butter. I warm the milk just slightly so the butter doesn't harden back up.
Add to the dry mixture just until moistened - they will turn out tough if you mix them too much.
Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until you get peaks but not stiff peaks.
Let sit for about 5 minutes.
Heat up the waffle iron and grease lightly.
Add batter and cook until steam has stopped coming out the sides.
Gently lift the lid - if it sticks it might need a minute more or you to loosen it manually. It should be light golden brown.
For special occasions serve with whip cream and strawberries. Otherwise, serve with some syrup and fruit.
Enjoy!!
This is a basic recipe that you can add your own flavourings to. Flavourings like vanilla, almond extract, ground nuts, chocolate powder or whatever strikes your fancy.
Waffles
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder (I use double action baking powder.)
1/2 tsp. sugar ( sometimes I leave it out)
3 eggs, separated
1 3/4 cups milk
6 tsp melted butter or oil (I usually do half and half because I like the flavour of butter but not the saturated fat.)
Combine the flour with the other dry goods.
Mix egg yolks with milk and melted butter. I warm the milk just slightly so the butter doesn't harden back up.
Add to the dry mixture just until moistened - they will turn out tough if you mix them too much.
Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until you get peaks but not stiff peaks.
Let sit for about 5 minutes.
Heat up the waffle iron and grease lightly.
Add batter and cook until steam has stopped coming out the sides.
Gently lift the lid - if it sticks it might need a minute more or you to loosen it manually. It should be light golden brown.
For special occasions serve with whip cream and strawberries. Otherwise, serve with some syrup and fruit.
Enjoy!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
V is for Vinegar
Making vinegar? That is probably one of the easiest but last things most people would ever think to make. And it truly is easy. I have been making vinegar for as long as I have been posting and I think I am probably a better vinegar maker than a blogger...lol
Seriously though, it really is incredibly easy to make vinegar. All you need is a some left-over wine (you wouldn't want to use a good bottle!!), some water, a bottle of Bragg's cider vinegar or a vinegar mother, a jar with a large opening and lots of time. Time for it to sit, it really doesn't demand more than a minuscule amount of time.
These vinegars are not high enough in acetic acid to use them for canning. It is best to stick with commercial vinegar for canning.
How to make Red or White wine vinegar:
leftover wine
water (optional)
Bragg's cider vinegar
or
a vinegar mother
a jar with a large opening
coffee filter
rubber band
warm cupboard
Make sure that the jar that you will be using is good and clean. The jar itself should have a wide mouth and be able to hold at least a three or four cups of liquid. A canning jar is great or, if you are planning a larger amount, a one gallon pickle jar would work as well.
You want to make sure there is a lot of head space or air above the vinegar because it needs it to aid in the conversion of the alcohol to vinegar, so don't fill your jar more than half full. If you notice that it is getting pretty full and the vinegar is ready, filter it and start over.
There are three/four ways to make vinegar. The first is just to take a wine bottle about half full and cover the top with a couple of layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter (basket style) that is held down with a rubber band to prevent flies from spoiling your batch. Put this in the back of a warm cupboard and leave it for about six months. At this time, remove from cupboard and give the wine a sniff. It will either smell like vinegar and have developed a vinegar mother or smell like paint remover. If it is vinegar, strain it into a clean bottle reserving the mother to help create a new batch. If it smells like paint remover, recover it and put it back into the cupboard for another month.
The second way to make some vinegar is to take some Bragg's cider vinegar and put about one cup of it into the canning jar along with about two cups of wine. Some people add water when they add their wine but I don't, it is up to you. If you decide to the proportion of wine to water is two to one or for one cup of wine add one half cup water. I always figure that you can add water later if you find it too strong. When you purchase the Bragg's, look for what looks like residue or dust on the bottom, the more the better. This "dust" is the vinegar mother and is what will jump start your vinegar. Again, cover it with some cheesecloth or a coffee filter and let sit in a cupboard for a couple weeks. Add about a half cup of red or white wine occasionally - preferably about once a week after the initial period. By adding the wine occasionally you will be feeding the mother. Sometimes the mother will fall to the bottom and another will form on top. You want her on the top to be effective. When you decide the vinegar is to your liking - taste it to find out - strain and bottle it.
The third way to make vinegar is to acquire a vinegar mother from a wine store or another individual and add it to some wine. Let sit and proceed in the same manner as for the first and second ways. I don't have a picture of a mother (I lost/misplaced some pictures when my computer took a vacation.) but it can have the appearance of anything from a wispy veil to a solid raw meat type of look and feel. If you google vinegar mother in images there are tons of pictures of various types of mothers.
The fourth way is to make it straight from the fruit but I won't go into that right now.
Something to note: The vinegar mother should be fed occasionally to keep her viable. If she falls to the bottom, it means two things - she has run out of wine to make vinegar and has lost her potency. It is best to remove the old mothers occasionally.
Also - red wine will create vinegar far quicker than white wine but they both will take a few months. Cider vinegar is the quickest to make. After straining your vinegar, you can pasteurize it by bringing it about 150F for 30 minutes. I personally don't pasteurize mine because I believe that it is more natural and better for you if you don't but it is a personal choice. I do, however, keep mine in the fridge after I filter it to slow down the eventual development of a new mother.
You can dry out a mother for future use and I have heard of persons freezing them but I never have so don't know how well it works.
Seriously though, it really is incredibly easy to make vinegar. All you need is a some left-over wine (you wouldn't want to use a good bottle!!), some water, a bottle of Bragg's cider vinegar or a vinegar mother, a jar with a large opening and lots of time. Time for it to sit, it really doesn't demand more than a minuscule amount of time.
These vinegars are not high enough in acetic acid to use them for canning. It is best to stick with commercial vinegar for canning.
 |
| Bragg's cider vinegar |
How to make Red or White wine vinegar:
leftover wine
water (optional)
Bragg's cider vinegar
or
a vinegar mother
a jar with a large opening
coffee filter
rubber band
warm cupboard
Make sure that the jar that you will be using is good and clean. The jar itself should have a wide mouth and be able to hold at least a three or four cups of liquid. A canning jar is great or, if you are planning a larger amount, a one gallon pickle jar would work as well.
You want to make sure there is a lot of head space or air above the vinegar because it needs it to aid in the conversion of the alcohol to vinegar, so don't fill your jar more than half full. If you notice that it is getting pretty full and the vinegar is ready, filter it and start over.
 |
| White wine vinegar starting |
There are three/four ways to make vinegar. The first is just to take a wine bottle about half full and cover the top with a couple of layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter (basket style) that is held down with a rubber band to prevent flies from spoiling your batch. Put this in the back of a warm cupboard and leave it for about six months. At this time, remove from cupboard and give the wine a sniff. It will either smell like vinegar and have developed a vinegar mother or smell like paint remover. If it is vinegar, strain it into a clean bottle reserving the mother to help create a new batch. If it smells like paint remover, recover it and put it back into the cupboard for another month.
The second way to make some vinegar is to take some Bragg's cider vinegar and put about one cup of it into the canning jar along with about two cups of wine. Some people add water when they add their wine but I don't, it is up to you. If you decide to the proportion of wine to water is two to one or for one cup of wine add one half cup water. I always figure that you can add water later if you find it too strong. When you purchase the Bragg's, look for what looks like residue or dust on the bottom, the more the better. This "dust" is the vinegar mother and is what will jump start your vinegar. Again, cover it with some cheesecloth or a coffee filter and let sit in a cupboard for a couple weeks. Add about a half cup of red or white wine occasionally - preferably about once a week after the initial period. By adding the wine occasionally you will be feeding the mother. Sometimes the mother will fall to the bottom and another will form on top. You want her on the top to be effective. When you decide the vinegar is to your liking - taste it to find out - strain and bottle it.
The third way to make vinegar is to acquire a vinegar mother from a wine store or another individual and add it to some wine. Let sit and proceed in the same manner as for the first and second ways. I don't have a picture of a mother (I lost/misplaced some pictures when my computer took a vacation.) but it can have the appearance of anything from a wispy veil to a solid raw meat type of look and feel. If you google vinegar mother in images there are tons of pictures of various types of mothers.
 |
| Pineapple vinegar from fruit |
The fourth way is to make it straight from the fruit but I won't go into that right now.
Something to note: The vinegar mother should be fed occasionally to keep her viable. If she falls to the bottom, it means two things - she has run out of wine to make vinegar and has lost her potency. It is best to remove the old mothers occasionally.
Also - red wine will create vinegar far quicker than white wine but they both will take a few months. Cider vinegar is the quickest to make. After straining your vinegar, you can pasteurize it by bringing it about 150F for 30 minutes. I personally don't pasteurize mine because I believe that it is more natural and better for you if you don't but it is a personal choice. I do, however, keep mine in the fridge after I filter it to slow down the eventual development of a new mother.
You can dry out a mother for future use and I have heard of persons freezing them but I never have so don't know how well it works.
U is for Ukrainian Honey Cake (Medivnyk)
When I was really little, I lived in a predominantly Ukrainian/Polish neighbourhood. We all went back and forth to each others homes and ate wherever we landed. We shared holidays and toys and just really had a great neighbourhood for being a child in. Disaster struck when I was about nine years old and I found out I was Irish, not Ukrainian - I was quite flabbergasted by this realization. I remember saying to my mom that we celebrated all the same holidays and stuff - what do you mean we're not Ukrainian? I was quite appalled by this turn of events in my life. lol
I have since recovered from this terrible shock but still love a lot of the traditional Ukrainian foods. Among them was this cake. I haven't made it in years but thought I would share the recipe anyway. You should use buckwheat honey but a nice clover honey is just as good.
Ukrainian Honey Cake
1 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs, separated
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder (I use double action baking powder.)
1 tsp cinnamon or ginger (I sometimes use half and half of each.)
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream (yogurt works in a pinch and is lighter on the fat)
1/2 or so cup nuts
1/2 or so cup raisins (I soak mine so the cake doesn't dry out.)
Boil honey and cool.
Cream butter and sugar adding in egg yolks one at a time along with the honey.
Combine dry ingredients and add in three batches to the creamed butter/sugar mixture.
Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into batter along with the nuts and raisins.
Grease a 10 inch Bundt pan.
Bake at 325F for about an hour. Test with toothpick.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing and placing on a wire rack.
You can dust this cake with a bit of icing sugar - it is quite sweet so an icing would just make it overpowering.
I have since recovered from this terrible shock but still love a lot of the traditional Ukrainian foods. Among them was this cake. I haven't made it in years but thought I would share the recipe anyway. You should use buckwheat honey but a nice clover honey is just as good.
Ukrainian Honey Cake
1 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs, separated
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder (I use double action baking powder.)
1 tsp cinnamon or ginger (I sometimes use half and half of each.)
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream (yogurt works in a pinch and is lighter on the fat)
1/2 or so cup nuts
1/2 or so cup raisins (I soak mine so the cake doesn't dry out.)
Boil honey and cool.
Cream butter and sugar adding in egg yolks one at a time along with the honey.
Combine dry ingredients and add in three batches to the creamed butter/sugar mixture.
Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into batter along with the nuts and raisins.
Grease a 10 inch Bundt pan.
Bake at 325F for about an hour. Test with toothpick.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing and placing on a wire rack.
You can dust this cake with a bit of icing sugar - it is quite sweet so an icing would just make it overpowering.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
T is for Tea biscuits
Tea biscuits are one of those very easy and versatile quick breads. I use them for a variety of things - just to eat for breakfast, as a topping for a "chicken pot pie" that I make and as an accompaniment or topping for a pot of chili.
I have tried tons of different recipes for tea biscuits but I always go back to the one that was published in the first cookbook that Canadian Living Magazine put out. It is so light and just so good that any other recipe seems heavy in comparison.
Without further ado here is my version of their tea biscuit recipe:
Tea biscuits
2 cups of all-purpose flour
4tsp. baking powder (I use double action baking powder.)
1 tsp. salt (I cut this down to about 1/4 tsp. when I use butter.)
1/2 shortening (I use real butter because it adds so much to the taste!)
3/4 - 1 cup of milk or somewhere in between
Mix all the dry ingredients together.
Using a pastry blender or a couple knives, cut in the butter making sure that you don't overdo it. It should look like really coarse oatmeal when you are done.
Add milk all at once, stirring with a fork to make a soft, slightly sticky dough. I tend to add closer to the 1 cup amount rather than the 3/4 cup because I find it makes it lighter.
Add a little bit of flour on top and roll it in it so it is not so sticky - about a couple tablespoons - then gently knead your dough about 10 times. Gently is truly important here - we don't want hockey pucks!
Gently (again - sigh) roll out flat with a rolling pin to about 1/2 - 3/4 inch thickness.
They suggest cutting it with a biscuit cutter but I use a sharp smooth-edged knife and just do wedges that are roughly all the same shape so I am not having to rework the dough.
Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 425F for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove from oven, slather with butter and raspberry jam. They will be a good 1 1/2 - 2 inches high when they are done and extremely light!
To use these on top of a chicken pot pie, I do everything exactly the same except I top a casserole of hot chicken stew with these biscuits and bake until browned.
Another variation is to use hot chili instead.
You can also brush them with milk and sprinkle with sugar for a sweeter touch.
Enjoy!
I have tried tons of different recipes for tea biscuits but I always go back to the one that was published in the first cookbook that Canadian Living Magazine put out. It is so light and just so good that any other recipe seems heavy in comparison.
Without further ado here is my version of their tea biscuit recipe:
Tea biscuits
2 cups of all-purpose flour
4tsp. baking powder (I use double action baking powder.)
1 tsp. salt (I cut this down to about 1/4 tsp. when I use butter.)
1/2 shortening (I use real butter because it adds so much to the taste!)
3/4 - 1 cup of milk or somewhere in between
Mix all the dry ingredients together.
Using a pastry blender or a couple knives, cut in the butter making sure that you don't overdo it. It should look like really coarse oatmeal when you are done.
Add milk all at once, stirring with a fork to make a soft, slightly sticky dough. I tend to add closer to the 1 cup amount rather than the 3/4 cup because I find it makes it lighter.
Add a little bit of flour on top and roll it in it so it is not so sticky - about a couple tablespoons - then gently knead your dough about 10 times. Gently is truly important here - we don't want hockey pucks!
Gently (again - sigh) roll out flat with a rolling pin to about 1/2 - 3/4 inch thickness.
They suggest cutting it with a biscuit cutter but I use a sharp smooth-edged knife and just do wedges that are roughly all the same shape so I am not having to rework the dough.
Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 425F for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove from oven, slather with butter and raspberry jam. They will be a good 1 1/2 - 2 inches high when they are done and extremely light!
To use these on top of a chicken pot pie, I do everything exactly the same except I top a casserole of hot chicken stew with these biscuits and bake until browned.
Another variation is to use hot chili instead.
You can also brush them with milk and sprinkle with sugar for a sweeter touch.
Enjoy!
Monday, April 25, 2011
S is for Salad Dressing
I'm back!! Did you miss me? My computer got a Trojan and it was a bad one that basically took over or "highjacked" all of my computer. I am just so pleased to be able to come back and post again. I had done my "r" already so just had to post it.
For "s" I am going to do salad dressing. A wonderful salad can be ruined so easily with a crappy salad dressing. Commercial dressings tend to be too sweet/salty or acidic to be pleasurable besides being so overloaded with chemicals that you wonder if there are any natural ingredients even in them. That is not to say that there are no good commercial products just that most of them are somewhat challenged in the natural ingredient department. I prefer to use products that I know what the ingredients actually are.
Salad Dressing
wine vinegar
olive oil
fresh garlic
salt
fresh ground pepper
dried basil
dijon mustard
In any container that has a lid, pour one part wine vinegar, two parts olive oil, about 1/4 -1/2 tsp salt (depending how much dressing you are making), fresh ground pepper - about 1/4 tsp., one tsp. basil, and finally the dijon mustard - about 1 tsp - 1 tbsp. Don''t leave out the mustard - it brings todgether the oil and vinegar and allows them to stay mixed together, besides adding great taste!
Crush a garlic clove and add to container.
Put the lid on securely and shake extremely well.
Pour over salad.
You can vary the type of vinegar - there are so many great ones out there! Try balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, or if you want to be more exotic, try some other specialty vinegars - they can add a great dimension to your dressing.
Enjoy!
For "s" I am going to do salad dressing. A wonderful salad can be ruined so easily with a crappy salad dressing. Commercial dressings tend to be too sweet/salty or acidic to be pleasurable besides being so overloaded with chemicals that you wonder if there are any natural ingredients even in them. That is not to say that there are no good commercial products just that most of them are somewhat challenged in the natural ingredient department. I prefer to use products that I know what the ingredients actually are.
Salad Dressing
wine vinegar
olive oil
fresh garlic
salt
fresh ground pepper
dried basil
dijon mustard
In any container that has a lid, pour one part wine vinegar, two parts olive oil, about 1/4 -1/2 tsp salt (depending how much dressing you are making), fresh ground pepper - about 1/4 tsp., one tsp. basil, and finally the dijon mustard - about 1 tsp - 1 tbsp. Don''t leave out the mustard - it brings todgether the oil and vinegar and allows them to stay mixed together, besides adding great taste!
Crush a garlic clove and add to container.
Put the lid on securely and shake extremely well.
Pour over salad.
You can vary the type of vinegar - there are so many great ones out there! Try balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, or if you want to be more exotic, try some other specialty vinegars - they can add a great dimension to your dressing.
Enjoy!
R is for Ravioli
My husband loves ravioli. He says that he doesn't have a pasta off switch - that's why he can eat so much pasta. Ravioli know no bounds for him. I haven't made ravioli in ages/years but after posting this I might make some this weekend. It just tastes so good.
Fresh Cheese Ravioli
Filling:
about 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 egg
1 tbsp flour
Combine everything but the egg.
Gently beat the egg and mix into the rest of the ingredients. It should stick together loosely when rolled into a ball. If it doesn't add a tiny bit more flour until it does.
Roll into balls and set aside.
Pasta dough-
flour
egg
To make pasta dough, you need to combine (100gr) or 1/3 cup all-purpose flour with 1 large egg in the food processor. It should resemble peas and come together when you gently press it together.
Let it rest about 15 minutes and then put it through you pasta machine, gradually making it thinner and thinner. If you don't have a pasta machine, roll out your dough until it very thin.
Cover so it doesn't dry out.
Place the balls along the edge that you plan to fold - space them about 1 1/2 - 2 inches apart. Wet the spaces lightly between the cheese and fold over, pressing down gently to seal. Try to remove as much air as possible.
Cut with knife or pizza cutter, cover and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the ravioli when it reaches a good rolling boil.
Boil for about 5 minutes.
Remove and serve. A nice pasta sauce can be added on top or it can just be buttered.
Enjoy!
Fresh Cheese Ravioli
Filling:
about 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 egg
1 tbsp flour
Combine everything but the egg.
Gently beat the egg and mix into the rest of the ingredients. It should stick together loosely when rolled into a ball. If it doesn't add a tiny bit more flour until it does.
Roll into balls and set aside.
Pasta dough-
flour
egg
To make pasta dough, you need to combine (100gr) or 1/3 cup all-purpose flour with 1 large egg in the food processor. It should resemble peas and come together when you gently press it together.
Let it rest about 15 minutes and then put it through you pasta machine, gradually making it thinner and thinner. If you don't have a pasta machine, roll out your dough until it very thin.
Cover so it doesn't dry out.
Place the balls along the edge that you plan to fold - space them about 1 1/2 - 2 inches apart. Wet the spaces lightly between the cheese and fold over, pressing down gently to seal. Try to remove as much air as possible.
Cut with knife or pizza cutter, cover and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the ravioli when it reaches a good rolling boil.
Boil for about 5 minutes.
Remove and serve. A nice pasta sauce can be added on top or it can just be buttered.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Q is for Quesadilla
This is one of the easiest "recipes" I will be giving you. This is one of our "fast food" recipes that we use at lunch. We only have about thirty-five minutes for lunch by the time we take into account our travel time from work. It is good and quick and simple.
Quesadilla
2 tortillas
grated cheddar cheese
olive oil
leftover chicken or some back bacon cooked in microwave (optional)
Heat the frying pan over medium low heat. Put a very small amount of olive oil in and swish around.
Place one tortilla on into the pan and top with grated cheddar - keep at least 1/2 inch away from edge.
Warm the chicken or bacon that has been cut into slivers in the microwave and add on top of cheddar.
Top with second tortilla. Heat until slightly browned and the cheese starts melting. Carefully flip over and brown the other side.
Cut into 8 wedges and serve on a plate with a bowl of salsa.
Enjoy!!
Quesadilla
2 tortillas
grated cheddar cheese
olive oil
leftover chicken or some back bacon cooked in microwave (optional)
Heat the frying pan over medium low heat. Put a very small amount of olive oil in and swish around.
Place one tortilla on into the pan and top with grated cheddar - keep at least 1/2 inch away from edge.
Warm the chicken or bacon that has been cut into slivers in the microwave and add on top of cheddar.
Top with second tortilla. Heat until slightly browned and the cheese starts melting. Carefully flip over and brown the other side.
Cut into 8 wedges and serve on a plate with a bowl of salsa.
Enjoy!!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
P is for Plum Cake
This recipe was given to me by my lovely mother-in-law, Irma. She always made such beautiful desserts when we would go out to visit them on their farm. Irma would make three completely different cakes, pies or whatever for dessert. This was one of our favourites.
She had originally given me the recipe using German measurements and also gave me a German measuring cup for a present to go with it. I converted the recipe to Imperial measurements for my own purposes but will include her measurements as well.
You will have to track down some Oetker baking powder because the stuff we use in Canada is different. With this baking powder, you start with a cold oven when you bake the cake. (think of the electricity you'll save by not preheating the oven!) I believe Oetker also puts out vanilla sugar as well. (If you can't find it, split a vanilla bean lengthwise and cover with sugar - unfortunately, you will have to let it sit for about 2 weeks to a month before the sugar will have lots of flavour. Try to remember to shake it once in a while.)
This is a lovely, dense textured cake that looks as good as it tastes!
Plum Cake
1/2 cup (100 gr.) butter
1/2 cup (100gr.) sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla sugar
2 large eggs
4 drops lemon extract
1 1/4 cups (150 gr.) cornstarch
1 level tsp baking powder
6 tbsp. milk
500 gr. small purple/violet plums cut in quarters (you can also use apples, cherries, rhubarb or cranberries - I've tried all but the cherries and they were all delicious)
Cream butter. Add sugar, vanilla sugar , eggs and extract.
Mix very well - should be creamy.
Combine dry ingredients.
Slowly add to wet mixture, alternating with milk - in three parts. The batter will be very thick.
Pour (scrape is more like it) into a greased and floured glass 9x13 pan. Decoratively top with the plums (skin side down) and sprinkle on the streudel topping.
Streudel Topping
1/3 cup (75 gr) butter
1/3 cup (75 gr) sugar
1/2 cup (100 gr) flour
1 tbsp vanilla sugar
Place cake in a cold oven. Turn oven on to 350F.
Bake for 45 minutes. Check with a toothpick to see if it is done. If no crumbs adhere - it is done.
Before removing, broil the top until lightly browned. Watch carefully because it scorches easily.
Remove. Serve with whipped cream.
Enjoy!!
She had originally given me the recipe using German measurements and also gave me a German measuring cup for a present to go with it. I converted the recipe to Imperial measurements for my own purposes but will include her measurements as well.
You will have to track down some Oetker baking powder because the stuff we use in Canada is different. With this baking powder, you start with a cold oven when you bake the cake. (think of the electricity you'll save by not preheating the oven!) I believe Oetker also puts out vanilla sugar as well. (If you can't find it, split a vanilla bean lengthwise and cover with sugar - unfortunately, you will have to let it sit for about 2 weeks to a month before the sugar will have lots of flavour. Try to remember to shake it once in a while.)
This is a lovely, dense textured cake that looks as good as it tastes!
Plum Cake
1/2 cup (100 gr.) butter
1/2 cup (100gr.) sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla sugar
2 large eggs
4 drops lemon extract
1 1/4 cups (150 gr.) cornstarch
1 level tsp baking powder
6 tbsp. milk
500 gr. small purple/violet plums cut in quarters (you can also use apples, cherries, rhubarb or cranberries - I've tried all but the cherries and they were all delicious)
Cream butter. Add sugar, vanilla sugar , eggs and extract.
Mix very well - should be creamy.
Combine dry ingredients.
Slowly add to wet mixture, alternating with milk - in three parts. The batter will be very thick.
Pour (scrape is more like it) into a greased and floured glass 9x13 pan. Decoratively top with the plums (skin side down) and sprinkle on the streudel topping.
Streudel Topping
1/3 cup (75 gr) butter
1/3 cup (75 gr) sugar
1/2 cup (100 gr) flour
1 tbsp vanilla sugar
Place cake in a cold oven. Turn oven on to 350F.
Bake for 45 minutes. Check with a toothpick to see if it is done. If no crumbs adhere - it is done.
Before removing, broil the top until lightly browned. Watch carefully because it scorches easily.
Remove. Serve with whipped cream.
Enjoy!!
Monday, April 18, 2011
O is for Oatmeal!
I think most people of my generation grew up with cooked oatmeal for breakfast. I still enjoy a bowl of it now and again. Oatmeal is one of the most versatile grains we produce on the prairies. It can be used in bread, on it's own, for cookies, for soup, crisps, and the list goes on.
Have you ever heard of Rickey Uncle? It is a great slice that can be used like a granola bar or, if you undercook it just a little bit, as a crumbly, crunchy ice cream topping. I hadn't made it in a few years and made a large pan of it the other day. Little did I realize how much my family actually liked it. That pan of Rickety Uncle was gone before you could call Uncle. Well, maybe not quite that quickly but pretty quick.
Here is the recipe:
Rickety Uncle
3 cups rolled oats
1 1/8 cup brown sugar (whoever heard of an eighth of a cup for baking!!)
3/4 c. butter - butter is best for flavour, although I sometimes will go 3/4 butter and 1/4 veg. oil.
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix together the brown sugar and oats.
Melt butter and then mix in vanilla.
Mix wet ingredients thoroughly into dry.
Press into a 9 x 12 pan. I usually put a piece of parchment paper on the bottom to help lift them out. Press down evenly.
I generally will score the bars and then pat them down again gently before putting them into the oven. I find they tend to shatter less if I do that.
Bake for 12-20 minutes in a 350F oven. Cut into squares or bars before they cool. Remove when they are cool.
Enjoy!
Have you ever heard of Rickey Uncle? It is a great slice that can be used like a granola bar or, if you undercook it just a little bit, as a crumbly, crunchy ice cream topping. I hadn't made it in a few years and made a large pan of it the other day. Little did I realize how much my family actually liked it. That pan of Rickety Uncle was gone before you could call Uncle. Well, maybe not quite that quickly but pretty quick.
Here is the recipe:
Rickety Uncle
3 cups rolled oats
1 1/8 cup brown sugar (whoever heard of an eighth of a cup for baking!!)
3/4 c. butter - butter is best for flavour, although I sometimes will go 3/4 butter and 1/4 veg. oil.
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix together the brown sugar and oats.
Melt butter and then mix in vanilla.
Mix wet ingredients thoroughly into dry.
Press into a 9 x 12 pan. I usually put a piece of parchment paper on the bottom to help lift them out. Press down evenly.
I generally will score the bars and then pat them down again gently before putting them into the oven. I find they tend to shatter less if I do that.
Bake for 12-20 minutes in a 350F oven. Cut into squares or bars before they cool. Remove when they are cool.
Enjoy!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
N is for Noodles
When I first graduated from university, I bought a little cookbook called "Chinese Meatless Cooking." I have used it a ton of times and especially like this noodle recipe. It is called "Szechuan-spicy Noodles or Dan-Dan Mein." This has a good bite to it and the a nice full flavour. Be warned that once you start eating these noodles, it is really hard to stop.
This is my version of that recipe:
Szechuan-spicy Noodles or Dan-Dan Mein
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp of minced garlic...or more is good
1 tsp of sambal oelek or chili paste (I use either, depending what I have on hand)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 pkg of Chinese noodles - I use the ones that come 6 to a pack - use 3 squares
Combine all the ingredients, except the noodles, in a small bowl or measuring cup. Set aside.
Boil water. Add noodles for about 2 minutes max.
Drain and put into large bowl. Pour sauce on top and mix well.
Serve hot or cold. Delicious either way.
I have made this recipe for years. As long as you keep the proportions reasonably close it will be fine. I use either rice vinegar or plain white vinegar interchangeably and both are fine. The sesame oil is important to the flavour and I wouldn't leave it out.
Enjoy!
This is my version of that recipe:
Szechuan-spicy Noodles or Dan-Dan Mein
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp of minced garlic...or more is good
1 tsp of sambal oelek or chili paste (I use either, depending what I have on hand)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 pkg of Chinese noodles - I use the ones that come 6 to a pack - use 3 squares
Combine all the ingredients, except the noodles, in a small bowl or measuring cup. Set aside.
Boil water. Add noodles for about 2 minutes max.
Drain and put into large bowl. Pour sauce on top and mix well.
Serve hot or cold. Delicious either way.
I have made this recipe for years. As long as you keep the proportions reasonably close it will be fine. I use either rice vinegar or plain white vinegar interchangeably and both are fine. The sesame oil is important to the flavour and I wouldn't leave it out.
Enjoy!
Friday, April 15, 2011
M is for monkey-bread aka sticky buns
Alright, you already know how to make great bread. So using your new-found skills and the recipe from "B is for breadmaking", you can make sticky buns! Sticky buns are an all-time favourite in our household. They are usually reserved for a breakfast at the lake but I have been known to make them in town as well...lol
Monkey-bread aka Sticky Buns
1 loaf of bread dough
butter - works best
white sugar
cinnamon
pancake syrup - the cheap stuff not maple syrup
So - make up a batch of bread - one loaf size is lots. Let it rise for about 15 minutes.
While it is rising, melt about 1/2-3/4 cup of butter in a bowl. Mix together about 1 cup of sugar with a 1 heaping tablespoon or so of cinnamon.
Grease a bundt pan with a bit of butter. If you don't have one - use a large deep loaf pan.
Grab a piece of dough about the size of a small egg - make a round ball out of it - doesn't have to be even close to perfect.
Dip into the hot butter. Then, drop into the cinnamon sugar and roll it around until it is completely coated.
Drop into the bundt pan. Continue until you run out of dough. You should have about a layer and a half or two layers in your pan when you are done.
Pour the rest of the sugar over the top and then the rest of the butter - in that order. If you are out of either - don't panic just pour whatever is leftover on top.
Pour about 3/4 cup of pancake syrup over top.
Cover and let rise until almost doubled - about 30 minutes - it tends to rise faster than a regular loaf as the hot butter inspires it quite nicely to do it's thing!
Heat oven to 350F and cook until the buns sound hollow when tapped.
Now comes the tricky part....place a large, very shallow bowl over the bundt pan and flip it over! The caramel that has been created from the butter, cinnamon sugar and pancake syrup will ooze down the sides of the buns.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy!!
Monkey-bread aka Sticky Buns
1 loaf of bread dough
butter - works best
white sugar
cinnamon
pancake syrup - the cheap stuff not maple syrup
So - make up a batch of bread - one loaf size is lots. Let it rise for about 15 minutes.
While it is rising, melt about 1/2-3/4 cup of butter in a bowl. Mix together about 1 cup of sugar with a 1 heaping tablespoon or so of cinnamon.
Grease a bundt pan with a bit of butter. If you don't have one - use a large deep loaf pan.
Grab a piece of dough about the size of a small egg - make a round ball out of it - doesn't have to be even close to perfect.
Dip into the hot butter. Then, drop into the cinnamon sugar and roll it around until it is completely coated.
Drop into the bundt pan. Continue until you run out of dough. You should have about a layer and a half or two layers in your pan when you are done.
Pour the rest of the sugar over the top and then the rest of the butter - in that order. If you are out of either - don't panic just pour whatever is leftover on top.
Pour about 3/4 cup of pancake syrup over top.
Cover and let rise until almost doubled - about 30 minutes - it tends to rise faster than a regular loaf as the hot butter inspires it quite nicely to do it's thing!
Heat oven to 350F and cook until the buns sound hollow when tapped.
Now comes the tricky part....place a large, very shallow bowl over the bundt pan and flip it over! The caramel that has been created from the butter, cinnamon sugar and pancake syrup will ooze down the sides of the buns.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy!!
L is for Pork Loin
Have you ever taken pork loin or part of it and stuffed it? It is really good and super easy.
I have some pictures of how to do this in my camera but I can't find my cords!!!$%etc. I will add them to the post as soon as I find them...sorry about that!
Stuffed Pork Loin
one tenderloin or portion thereof
apple pie filling from "A is for apples"
diced onions
dry bread crumbs
cotton string
olive oil
Using a non-serrated knife, cut the tenderloin until it lies flat. Start by slicing into the loin on an angle and then cutting it open until it sits flat. It is like peeling off one continuous layer until it is all about 1/4 inch or about a little more than 1/2 a cm thick.
Spread your apple pie filling (about an inch from the edge of the meat on all but the closest side to you) along with about 1/4 cup or less diced onions. Sprinkle a very thin layer of bread crumbs evenly over the apples. Sometimes I add a good handful of dried cranberries or even some chopped up fresh ones. You may add a few dots of butter along the nearest edge to you but don't add more than a teaspoon total. Take the nearest edge and start rolling it up. Once you get about 1/4 of it rolled, fold the sides in about an inch and finish rolling. Roll it neither loosely nor tightly, just a nice firm roll. If you roll it too tightly, your filling will squish out the sides. If you roll it too loosely, it will be difficult to tie up.
Once you have it rolled, then you must tie it evenly along it's length so it doesn't come apart when you are cooking it. At this point, coat the meat with some olive oil or canola oil. Grind some pepper on it and either place it in a 350F oven for about 45 minutes to an hour or on the barbeque, depending how thick your meat is - you can always use an internal thermometer to see if the meat has reached 165F. If you place it in the barbeque, heat up one side of barbeque and place the meat on the other side. Again, cook for about an hour but be careful not to dry it out.
Remove from heat and let sit wrapped in foil for about 10-15 minutes. Slice with a non-serrated knife and arrange attractively on a serving plate.
I have substituted homemade cranberry sauce for the apple pie filling and it is really nice as well!
Enjoy!
I have some pictures of how to do this in my camera but I can't find my cords!!!$%etc. I will add them to the post as soon as I find them...sorry about that!
Stuffed Pork Loin
one tenderloin or portion thereof
apple pie filling from "A is for apples"
diced onions
dry bread crumbs
cotton string
olive oil
Using a non-serrated knife, cut the tenderloin until it lies flat. Start by slicing into the loin on an angle and then cutting it open until it sits flat. It is like peeling off one continuous layer until it is all about 1/4 inch or about a little more than 1/2 a cm thick.
Spread your apple pie filling (about an inch from the edge of the meat on all but the closest side to you) along with about 1/4 cup or less diced onions. Sprinkle a very thin layer of bread crumbs evenly over the apples. Sometimes I add a good handful of dried cranberries or even some chopped up fresh ones. You may add a few dots of butter along the nearest edge to you but don't add more than a teaspoon total. Take the nearest edge and start rolling it up. Once you get about 1/4 of it rolled, fold the sides in about an inch and finish rolling. Roll it neither loosely nor tightly, just a nice firm roll. If you roll it too tightly, your filling will squish out the sides. If you roll it too loosely, it will be difficult to tie up.
Once you have it rolled, then you must tie it evenly along it's length so it doesn't come apart when you are cooking it. At this point, coat the meat with some olive oil or canola oil. Grind some pepper on it and either place it in a 350F oven for about 45 minutes to an hour or on the barbeque, depending how thick your meat is - you can always use an internal thermometer to see if the meat has reached 165F. If you place it in the barbeque, heat up one side of barbeque and place the meat on the other side. Again, cook for about an hour but be careful not to dry it out.
Remove from heat and let sit wrapped in foil for about 10-15 minutes. Slice with a non-serrated knife and arrange attractively on a serving plate.
I have substituted homemade cranberry sauce for the apple pie filling and it is really nice as well!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
K is for Kiwi Banana Smoothie
This is wonderful for breakfast on a hot summer morning. My kids loved these and I loved them because I knew they were getting a couple servings of fresh fruit each day. I also just loved them because they taste so good.
Kiwi Banana Smoothie
1 kiwi - peeled (can be frozen)
1 banana - previously frozen in 1 inch chunks
frozen orange juice concentrate
milk
Place about 1 cup of banana chunks, cut-up kiwi, about 1 tbsp OJ into a blender. Add enough milk to come just below - about an inch - the top of the fruit. Blend. Add more milk if it is too thick.
Sometimes we would use less milk and make "ice cream" instead. It is so creamy and good it is hard to believe that it is mainly fruit!
Frozen strawberries are great, as are raspberries. If you can freeze all the fruit it keeps it nice and thick.
This tastes like a sinfully fat dessert but is actually very light in fat and calories.
Enjoy!
Kiwi Banana Smoothie
1 kiwi - peeled (can be frozen)
1 banana - previously frozen in 1 inch chunks
frozen orange juice concentrate
milk
Place about 1 cup of banana chunks, cut-up kiwi, about 1 tbsp OJ into a blender. Add enough milk to come just below - about an inch - the top of the fruit. Blend. Add more milk if it is too thick.
Sometimes we would use less milk and make "ice cream" instead. It is so creamy and good it is hard to believe that it is mainly fruit!
Frozen strawberries are great, as are raspberries. If you can freeze all the fruit it keeps it nice and thick.
This tastes like a sinfully fat dessert but is actually very light in fat and calories.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
J is for Juice
I love the smell in the house when I am making juice - crabapple, rhubarb, etc... They are all made essentially the same way but have completely different tastes, although all of them are more full-flavoured than what you buy in the store. Just a little....lol You can also blend the different juices. I like adding raspberries to my crab juice and even cranberries are nice with it.
 |
| Beautiful organic apples from a friend. |
I like my juice less sweet so the flavour of the fruit can come through. I don't care to drink sugar so my juices are sometimes refreshingly tart. Not pucker your face and it implodes tart - just a little bite to them.
I usually freeze my juices as I have the space and it is also a lot less work than canning them. I follow the Canadian food guidelines when I do can it.
Juice
crabapples/rhubarb/cranberries/raspberries
(whatever fruit you decide to choose - or combo)
cream of tartar
sugar or honey
Wash your fruit.
Crabapples will have to be stemmed and the blossom end cut off. Rhubarb cut into chunks. Cranberries and other berries can be used as is.
Fill a primary or carboy used in winemaking about 1/3 full with fruit. The fruit can be put into a mesh bag to make removal easier.
 |
| Primary with crabapples. |
Sprinkle about 4 tsp of cream of tartar over the fruit.
Pour boiled water over the fruit - almost fill it. Cover and let sit overnight.
Strain by using hose or just by scooping out the fruit.
 |
| Juice simmering. |
Using a dutch oven or large pot of some sort, fill with juice and simmer until about 1/2 to 2/3 the volume.
Taste - the flavour should be pronounced but not tart.
Add sugar or honey. Taste again. Simmer for a bit longer.
 |
| These apple juices were canned. |
If you can your juice - follow the guidelines set out for Canadian food recommendations.
Enjoy!
Monday, April 11, 2011
I is for Icing
I know I should have gone with ice cream but I haven't made it since I was a young adult, so my instructions have been lost and I am not sure where on earth they are. So suffice to say, we are doing a recipe for icing.
Nothing boring about icing! Icing can make or break your cupcakes or cake in one mouthful. There is nothing worse than having dull, tasteless icing to ruin a beautiful cake.
Ingredients are incredibly important when you make icing. Real butter, pure vanilla extract are not a luxury, they are a necessity in good icing. You can also use any liqueur to flavour your icing as well - as they are not extracts, the flavour will not be as pronounced but you can combine them with an extract to make them extra special.
Butter Icing
butter
vanilla extract
almond extract
icing sugar
milk
Put about 2/3 - 3/4 cup butter into a decent sized bowl that has higher sides. I know it is an obscene amount of butter but this icing is for special occasions - I don't use it very often but we all love it!
Start adding in your icing sugar, a little at a time until it starts to get a bit stiffer (not stiff though).
Add a couple tablespoons of milk and continue to mix well.
Add about 2-3 tsp. vanilla and 1 tsp almond extract - depending how much icing you are making. Mix in well.
Add more icing sugar and a wee bit more milk. Mix well.
Taste the icing - it should feel smooth and creamy - not gritty at all. If it feels gritty, add a bit more butter - about a tablespoon and about a teaspoon of milk.
Keep trying it until it feels like it melts in your mouth. Just taste a smidgen - not a whole teaspoon or anything like that.
Cream it gently for about 5 minutes.
Ice your cake or cupcakes. Leftovers freeze well - just stir well and gently when it thaws out.
Enjoy!
 |
| Some cupcakes I made for my husband's niece's wedding. |
Ingredients are incredibly important when you make icing. Real butter, pure vanilla extract are not a luxury, they are a necessity in good icing. You can also use any liqueur to flavour your icing as well - as they are not extracts, the flavour will not be as pronounced but you can combine them with an extract to make them extra special.
Butter Icingbutter
vanilla extract
almond extract
icing sugar
milk
Put about 2/3 - 3/4 cup butter into a decent sized bowl that has higher sides. I know it is an obscene amount of butter but this icing is for special occasions - I don't use it very often but we all love it!
Start adding in your icing sugar, a little at a time until it starts to get a bit stiffer (not stiff though).
Add a couple tablespoons of milk and continue to mix well.
Add about 2-3 tsp. vanilla and 1 tsp almond extract - depending how much icing you are making. Mix in well.
Add more icing sugar and a wee bit more milk. Mix well.
Taste the icing - it should feel smooth and creamy - not gritty at all. If it feels gritty, add a bit more butter - about a tablespoon and about a teaspoon of milk.
Keep trying it until it feels like it melts in your mouth. Just taste a smidgen - not a whole teaspoon or anything like that.
Cream it gently for about 5 minutes.
Ice your cake or cupcakes. Leftovers freeze well - just stir well and gently when it thaws out.
Enjoy!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
H is for Homemade Eatmores
I love Eatmore bars. I only buy them about twice a year because then they stay a real treat! Sometimes, I even get Eatmore presents from my family - again not very often because they know I love them only very occasionally.
I worked at one of the local greenhouses on and off when my kids were little. When you plant, everyone stands around tables and talks and jokes around. It is always a great place to be - surrounded by plants, the birds in the apiary chirping, and the sun warming you through the greenhouse walls - so wonderful!! Anyway, we were talking about recipes and one of the ladies happened to mention that she made these Homemade Eatmore bars. I couldn't believe my good fortune when she brought in the recipe and a sample! To make a long story short - they are even better than the real Eatmore bars - hardly seems possible but truly better.
Homemade Eatmores
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup corn syrup
4 tbsp cocoa
Boil until thick and shiny - about 10 minutes on medium heat. I haven't overcooked these but I think they might turn hard if you do.
Add about 3 cups of peanuts - a combination of crushed and whole. (I add more...)
Poured into a well-buttered pan. (Butter is best because it adds to the flavour.) (It is a 9x9 pan depending how many peanuts you add...)
Cut with buttered knife while still somewhat warm. Separate when cool - these stick to themselves like crazy - a piece of parchment might help because I know from experience that they also stick to plastic.
Enjoy!!
I worked at one of the local greenhouses on and off when my kids were little. When you plant, everyone stands around tables and talks and jokes around. It is always a great place to be - surrounded by plants, the birds in the apiary chirping, and the sun warming you through the greenhouse walls - so wonderful!! Anyway, we were talking about recipes and one of the ladies happened to mention that she made these Homemade Eatmore bars. I couldn't believe my good fortune when she brought in the recipe and a sample! To make a long story short - they are even better than the real Eatmore bars - hardly seems possible but truly better.
Homemade Eatmores
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup corn syrup
4 tbsp cocoa
Boil until thick and shiny - about 10 minutes on medium heat. I haven't overcooked these but I think they might turn hard if you do.
Add about 3 cups of peanuts - a combination of crushed and whole. (I add more...)
Poured into a well-buttered pan. (Butter is best because it adds to the flavour.) (It is a 9x9 pan depending how many peanuts you add...)
Cut with buttered knife while still somewhat warm. Separate when cool - these stick to themselves like crazy - a piece of parchment might help because I know from experience that they also stick to plastic.
Enjoy!!
Friday, April 8, 2011
G is for galettes blanches
So you are probably asking yourself - what the hell are galettes blanches? They are a very exceptional French yeast-raised biscuit. My version of this was originally taken from a Canadian Living magazine years ago.
Galettes Blanches
2 tsp granulated sugar
3 c. lukewarm water
2 tbsp. yeast
1/2 c. oil
1 tbsp. salt
1 egg
8 c. flour (approximately)
Proof the yeast in the sugared water.
Add oil, salt and room temperature egg, mixing gently.
Very gently, mix in about 7.5 cups of the flour - add more if the dough is sticky.
Knead about 10 times gently.
Roll out with a rolling pin and cut into biscuit rounds. Or - cut into diamonds and place on a cookie sheet. They are generally about the size of a small hamburger bun after rising.
Let rise for 30 minutes.
Bake 375F until light golden brown - about 15 minutes.
Seve warm with jam or with a sandwich type of filling.
Enjoy!
Galettes Blanches
 |
| I didn't have a picture of them - this one is from the Robin Hood site. |
2 tsp granulated sugar
3 c. lukewarm water
2 tbsp. yeast
1/2 c. oil
1 tbsp. salt
1 egg
8 c. flour (approximately)
Proof the yeast in the sugared water.
Add oil, salt and room temperature egg, mixing gently.
Very gently, mix in about 7.5 cups of the flour - add more if the dough is sticky.
Knead about 10 times gently.
Roll out with a rolling pin and cut into biscuit rounds. Or - cut into diamonds and place on a cookie sheet. They are generally about the size of a small hamburger bun after rising.
Let rise for 30 minutes.
Bake 375F until light golden brown - about 15 minutes.
Seve warm with jam or with a sandwich type of filling.
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
F is for foccaccia
I had a hard time with F - so I decided to be nice to myself and go for foccaccia. This is a traditional Italian style of bread. However, the recipe I am giving you is not the traditional version but my knock-off, super easy version...delicious and wonderful with a nice soup, chili, or just to dip in leftover spaghetti sauce. I would have had great pictures of it, but unfortunately, we ate it before I remembered that taking the pictures was the main reason I made it...lol
I love serving this to a crowd because it goes so far if it is cut into fingers and served with a marinara sauce - it is always a hit!
This smells so-o-o good when it is baking!
It all looks very daunting but prep time is only about 20-25 minutes before you get it into the oven, depending how fast you work.
You will need this recipe first:
Basic Bread Dough Instructions for one loaf
warm water
sugar
traditional Fleischman's yeast
salt
olive oil
flour
Pour about 1 cup or so of warm water into a large bowl - it should feel like a good warm bath but not hot.
Add about 1 tsp. sugar - you can also use honey.
Add about 1-2 tsp. traditional Fleischman's yeast.
Proof for about 10 minutes or until you see most of the yeast has "bloomed," or risen to the surface.
Using a fork, stir lightly.
Add about 2-3 tbsp. olive oil, 1 small tsp. salt, and start adding flour. Mix enough in so that when you stir it it becomes like a super thick pudding.
Clean your fork off well under running water. (It will adhere like concrete if you don't clean it right away.)
Continue to add flour and start to knead the dough while in the bowl until it has a soft but not sticky or tacky consistency - you don't have to do this for a long time. If your dough is too moist, you will get a large air bubble just under the crust - just add about 1-2 tbsp more flour to correct this. If it is too dry, it will feel hard to knead -in this case, make a hole in the dough and add about 1-2 tbsp of water and gently knead it in. It will be gross and sticky, at first, then will incorporate itself in.
NOW is the easiest part and :) we can start the foccaccia:
Foccaccia
Extra virgin olive oil
parmesan cheese
basil
garlic - 3-4 cloves
tomatoes
black olives
So...the first step is to take the bread recipe that was back in the B's and make it up. (I copied it above for you - or the part we need.) The difference is that we will be treating it almost like a quick bread and go for only one very short rise.
After you have mixed it up, let it rest for about 10 minutes. This is important or it will be like trying to flatten rubber bands....
Get a pizza pan or 9x13 pan - make sure the pan you use has edges...I have a large round pan I use for pizza, buns, etc. but a cookie sheet with edges will do the trick just as well.
Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in to your pan and spread around - be generous because your dough will stick otherwise.
Take your dough and gently roll it out on the counter with a rolling pin until it is just about 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick - if it is thicker - no big deal - your foccaccia will just be thicker. Or you can divide it in half and make two small ones or one foccaccia and one loaf of regular bread.
Place it in your oiled pan and let it rest for about 5 minutes, then using your fingertips, spread it out a bit more until it is more or less even.
While it is rising, crush a generous amount of garlic (3-4 cloves), have ready some grated Parmesan, black olives (sliced or not), some basil - dried or not, thinly sliced tomatoes, red onions, chunks of feta cheese. Your topping will vary each time but the parmesan, garlic, basil and olive oil are always consistent.
Remove the towel from the dough and press your fingertips into the dough to make indents. Generously pour some olive oil on top along with the crushed garlic. Spread gently with your fingers. You can always re-dent it if the dents disappear.
Add your basil and then add whatever toppings you want to on top of these. You can always substitute some pesto for the basil. I love the kalamata olives but generally just use a brined black olive - I just warn everyone about the stones in them. Arrange your toppings in a pleasing way and finally top with the Parmesan cheese.
Re-dent.
Bake at 375F until the edges are a nice medium-dark colour (a bit darker than your loaves). Remove from the oven and cut into wedges, fingers, diamonds, whatever strikes your fancy. The bottom will be nice and golden and slightly crisp.
Again - this can be baked on the barbeque when summer temperatures stop you from heating up the oven. I would still put it in the pan though because it gives such a nice crust. Just remember to rotate it occasionally!
Enjoy!
I love serving this to a crowd because it goes so far if it is cut into fingers and served with a marinara sauce - it is always a hit!
This smells so-o-o good when it is baking!
It all looks very daunting but prep time is only about 20-25 minutes before you get it into the oven, depending how fast you work.
You will need this recipe first:
Basic Bread Dough Instructions for one loaf
warm water
sugar
traditional Fleischman's yeast
salt
olive oil
flour
Pour about 1 cup or so of warm water into a large bowl - it should feel like a good warm bath but not hot.
Add about 1 tsp. sugar - you can also use honey.
Add about 1-2 tsp. traditional Fleischman's yeast.
Proof for about 10 minutes or until you see most of the yeast has "bloomed," or risen to the surface.
Using a fork, stir lightly.
Add about 2-3 tbsp. olive oil, 1 small tsp. salt, and start adding flour. Mix enough in so that when you stir it it becomes like a super thick pudding.
Clean your fork off well under running water. (It will adhere like concrete if you don't clean it right away.)
Continue to add flour and start to knead the dough while in the bowl until it has a soft but not sticky or tacky consistency - you don't have to do this for a long time. If your dough is too moist, you will get a large air bubble just under the crust - just add about 1-2 tbsp more flour to correct this. If it is too dry, it will feel hard to knead -in this case, make a hole in the dough and add about 1-2 tbsp of water and gently knead it in. It will be gross and sticky, at first, then will incorporate itself in.
NOW is the easiest part and :) we can start the foccaccia:
Foccaccia
Extra virgin olive oil
parmesan cheese
basil
garlic - 3-4 cloves
tomatoes
black olives
So...the first step is to take the bread recipe that was back in the B's and make it up. (I copied it above for you - or the part we need.) The difference is that we will be treating it almost like a quick bread and go for only one very short rise.
After you have mixed it up, let it rest for about 10 minutes. This is important or it will be like trying to flatten rubber bands....
Get a pizza pan or 9x13 pan - make sure the pan you use has edges...I have a large round pan I use for pizza, buns, etc. but a cookie sheet with edges will do the trick just as well.
Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in to your pan and spread around - be generous because your dough will stick otherwise.
Take your dough and gently roll it out on the counter with a rolling pin until it is just about 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick - if it is thicker - no big deal - your foccaccia will just be thicker. Or you can divide it in half and make two small ones or one foccaccia and one loaf of regular bread.
Place it in your oiled pan and let it rest for about 5 minutes, then using your fingertips, spread it out a bit more until it is more or less even.
While it is rising, crush a generous amount of garlic (3-4 cloves), have ready some grated Parmesan, black olives (sliced or not), some basil - dried or not, thinly sliced tomatoes, red onions, chunks of feta cheese. Your topping will vary each time but the parmesan, garlic, basil and olive oil are always consistent.
Remove the towel from the dough and press your fingertips into the dough to make indents. Generously pour some olive oil on top along with the crushed garlic. Spread gently with your fingers. You can always re-dent it if the dents disappear.
Add your basil and then add whatever toppings you want to on top of these. You can always substitute some pesto for the basil. I love the kalamata olives but generally just use a brined black olive - I just warn everyone about the stones in them. Arrange your toppings in a pleasing way and finally top with the Parmesan cheese.
Re-dent.
Bake at 375F until the edges are a nice medium-dark colour (a bit darker than your loaves). Remove from the oven and cut into wedges, fingers, diamonds, whatever strikes your fancy. The bottom will be nice and golden and slightly crisp.
Again - this can be baked on the barbeque when summer temperatures stop you from heating up the oven. I would still put it in the pan though because it gives such a nice crust. Just remember to rotate it occasionally!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
E is for eggplant!
Eggplant is one of those vegetables that make you say "mmmm-mm" when it is cooked properly. We literally fight over the leftover eggplant in our house because it is just that good. It is delicious cold the next day or reheated. If eaten cold, you mash it up and spread it on some of that fresh bread I told you about four letters ago or nice rustic crackers!
Eggplant comes in all shapes, sizes and a few colours. Using fresh eggplant is so much better than buying it in the store. It just seems that it is never bitter when it comes out of the garden. Last year I accidentally grew eighteen plants of eggplant. (How did I accidentally grow that many? Simple, there was more than 4 in each flat I had purchased so I wound up with extras and couldn't bring myself to throw them out.) It was a good thing that I did plant them because it was so cool all summer that my crop was small and it seemed like we were always waiting for some to come off the garden. I grew some small white and purple striped ones, some larger conventional ones, and some long narrow oriental style eggplants. All were great baked or grilled.
Grilled/Barbecued Eggplant
garlic
eggplant
olive oil (preferably extra virgin because you want the flavour)
salt
lemon
If you are using a large store-bought eggplant, cut it into rings about 1/2 inch thick (I leave the skin on for this.) and salt generously. Let sit in a colander for about 20 minutes to drain and then pat dry or spread on some towel.
Crush some garlic (I am very generous with my garlic for this dish.) and mix it into some olive oil. Brush this well on both sides of the eggplant.
Barbecue slowly until they are a light golden brown and very tender. Remove from heat and put into a bowl. Squeeze a lemon over the slices and cover the bowl with a plate. (I use plates to cover things because it means less plastic in the environment.) They will become very limp - this is what you want.
Salt very lightly and serve.
Enjoy!
Eggplant comes in all shapes, sizes and a few colours. Using fresh eggplant is so much better than buying it in the store. It just seems that it is never bitter when it comes out of the garden. Last year I accidentally grew eighteen plants of eggplant. (How did I accidentally grow that many? Simple, there was more than 4 in each flat I had purchased so I wound up with extras and couldn't bring myself to throw them out.) It was a good thing that I did plant them because it was so cool all summer that my crop was small and it seemed like we were always waiting for some to come off the garden. I grew some small white and purple striped ones, some larger conventional ones, and some long narrow oriental style eggplants. All were great baked or grilled.
Grilled/Barbecued Eggplant
garlic
eggplant
olive oil (preferably extra virgin because you want the flavour)
salt
lemon
If you are using a large store-bought eggplant, cut it into rings about 1/2 inch thick (I leave the skin on for this.) and salt generously. Let sit in a colander for about 20 minutes to drain and then pat dry or spread on some towel.
Crush some garlic (I am very generous with my garlic for this dish.) and mix it into some olive oil. Brush this well on both sides of the eggplant.
Barbecue slowly until they are a light golden brown and very tender. Remove from heat and put into a bowl. Squeeze a lemon over the slices and cover the bowl with a plate. (I use plates to cover things because it means less plastic in the environment.) They will become very limp - this is what you want.
Salt very lightly and serve.
Enjoy!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
OOPS!!
Looks like I jumped the gun and posted my C and D too soon. It is that dam "Publish Button" location - just too easy to hit once I've written something....lol I'll get a hang of this eventually.Such is life.
We are back to winter here - had/having a huge spring storm. Besides looking like a winter wonderland, it is a bit of nuisance as I have a turkey ready to go into the smoker....grrr!
D is for dressing - creamy Tofu Dressing
This is a wonderful dressing to use on a salad or even on baked potatoes instead of sour cream!
Creamy Tofu Dressing
1/2 lb. regular tofu
3 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp veg/olive oil
clove garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp salt
1 dash hot pepper sauce or a pinch of cayenne
1 pinch of black pepper
4 tsp. Parmesan cheese
about 1/2 cup milk
In a blender, combine tofu, lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt and peppers.
Blend until smooth.
Stir in Parmesan.
Thin with milk until desired consistancy is reached.
This recipe is easily converted to a vegan recipe just by substituting the milk and cheeses for vegan products - flavour is still great!
Enjoy!
Creamy Tofu Dressing
1/2 lb. regular tofu
3 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp veg/olive oil
clove garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp salt
1 dash hot pepper sauce or a pinch of cayenne
1 pinch of black pepper
4 tsp. Parmesan cheese
about 1/2 cup milk
In a blender, combine tofu, lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt and peppers.
Blend until smooth.
Stir in Parmesan.
Thin with milk until desired consistancy is reached.
This recipe is easily converted to a vegan recipe just by substituting the milk and cheeses for vegan products - flavour is still great!
Enjoy!
C is for carmelized bananas
I can't take credit for this wonderfully sweet, decadent dessert. My daughters concocted this one for dessert one day...
It is so simple and so good! This is super fast when you wind up with unexpected company and don't have a dessert to serve.
Caramelized Bananas
You need:
bananas - generally one per person
butter
brown sugar
pinch of salt
Rum or pure vanilla extract
Using a frying pan, melt 1 part butter and 3 parts brown sugar over medium heat until it is no longer grainy and looks silky. Add flavouring and stir gently.
Peel bananas and cut in half lengthwise. Add bananas to the pan and gently heat.
Dish some vanilla ice cream into bowls and top with bananas and sauce.
Enjoy!
It is so simple and so good! This is super fast when you wind up with unexpected company and don't have a dessert to serve.
Caramelized Bananas
You need:
bananas - generally one per person
butter
brown sugar
pinch of salt
Rum or pure vanilla extract
Using a frying pan, melt 1 part butter and 3 parts brown sugar over medium heat until it is no longer grainy and looks silky. Add flavouring and stir gently.
Peel bananas and cut in half lengthwise. Add bananas to the pan and gently heat.
Dish some vanilla ice cream into bowls and top with bananas and sauce.
Enjoy!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
B is for Breadmaking!
If you have been following my posts for a bit, you know that making bread is one of my all-time favourite things to do! I can wax poetic about making bread - what is not to like about a fresh loaf of bread that is golden, warm, and aromatic right out of the oven? It is so relaxing and nourishing for the soul and later, for the empty nook in our stomachs.
I have been making bread it seems forever. I made bread occasionally when I lived at home with my parents and continued to make it when I lived alone. My mother made wonderful bread that still makes my mouth water thinking about it. I find it easier to make a quick loaf of bread than to run to the grocery store (that is four blocks away) to buy one. (truly not logical!)
Using olive oil gives a wonderfully moist bread. I have tried many different types of oils but have found that the olive oil gives a much nicer loaf of bread. Your dough should feel soft but not sticky and dry but not hard. You will know that you have it right when it feels like on of those soft stuffed toys that flatten out easily when you squish them. The other reason I don't use exact measurements is because flour can be drier or moister depending how fresh it is and the amount of humidity in the air.
And yes, there are days that the bread just won't rise properly for love nor money - I personally think it has to do with the barometric pressure but who knows? Thank goodness those days come only once every year or so.
There are so many types of breads out there - from limpa to flat bread to oatmeal bread. I generally make a simple white or oatmeal bread because it is quick and I can just whip it up. I recently taught a breadmaking session to a group of teachers. It was a lot of fun and I think they all came away with a good feeling about making bread.
The measurements are not exact measurements because making bread is a pleasure not a science. It is also remarkably forgiving. I prefer smaller loaves so it will fit into my toaster after it is sliced.
Here are the instructions for a wonderful loaf of bread:
Basic Bread Dough Instructions for one loaf
You'll need:
warm water
sugar
traditional Fleischman's yeast
salt
olive oil
flour
Pour about 1 cup or so of warm water into a large bowl - it should feel like a good warm bath but not hot.
Add about 1 tsp. sugar - you can also use honey.
Add about 1-2 tsp. traditional Fleischman's yeast.
Proof for about 10 minutes or until you see most of the yeast has "bloomed," or risen to the surface.
Using a fork, stir lightly.
Add about 2-3 tbsp. olive oil, 1 small tsp. salt, and start adding flour. Mix enough in so that when you stir it it becomes like a super thick pudding.
(If you want, you can add about a handful or so of barely warm cooked oatmeal at this point. Dry oatmeal will make your bread dry out quicker because it will absorb the moisture from your bread - cooked oatmeal won't do that.)
Clean your fork off well under running water. (It will adhere like concrete if you don't clean it right away.)
Continue to add flour and start to knead the dough while in the bowl until it has a soft but not sticky or tacky consistency - you don't have to do this for a long time. If your dough is too moist, you will get a large air bubble just under the crust - just add about 1-2 tbsp more flour to correct this. If it is too dry, it will feel hard to knead -in this case, make a hole in the dough and add about 1-2 tbsp of water and gently knead it in. It will be gross and sticky, at first, then will incorporate itself in.
Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise in the same bowl for about 1/2 - 1 hour - more or less. If time is an issue, this first rising can be shortened up as much as 40 minutes without much effect on the final product.
Punch down the dough and form into a loaf.
Drop into a well-greased breadpan, cover with clean tea towel, and let rise about an hour. An hour or slightly more is the most desirable during the second rising as it will make your bread nice and light - if the room is cool let it rise a bit longer. You don't want it to rise so much that it is wobbly though because it will not have enough strength to do it's final rising in the oven.
Preheat your oven just before the hour is up. (350F)
Bake about 20 minutes for white bread and a bit longer for whole wheat. Check it when the top is a nice very light golden colour.
Remove from oven if it sounds hollow when tapped and when the bottom is lightly browned. Bread is best if it is not over-baked and hard.
Place on wire rack and brush with butter. Buttering the top and covering it will create a nice soft, flavourful crust. Cover immediately and let cool at least 10 minutes before slicing. (If you can!)
Note:
This bread can also be baked on the barbeque by heating one side of it and placing the bread pan on the unheated side. I would lower the temperature to 325F because barbeques seem to run hot, at least mine does. Also - rotate it once so that the side adjacent to the barbeque burner doesn't burn. Making it into two small loaves will also shorten the cooking time, which is best for the barbeque.
Enjoy!
I have been making bread it seems forever. I made bread occasionally when I lived at home with my parents and continued to make it when I lived alone. My mother made wonderful bread that still makes my mouth water thinking about it. I find it easier to make a quick loaf of bread than to run to the grocery store (that is four blocks away) to buy one. (truly not logical!)
Using olive oil gives a wonderfully moist bread. I have tried many different types of oils but have found that the olive oil gives a much nicer loaf of bread. Your dough should feel soft but not sticky and dry but not hard. You will know that you have it right when it feels like on of those soft stuffed toys that flatten out easily when you squish them. The other reason I don't use exact measurements is because flour can be drier or moister depending how fresh it is and the amount of humidity in the air.
And yes, there are days that the bread just won't rise properly for love nor money - I personally think it has to do with the barometric pressure but who knows? Thank goodness those days come only once every year or so.
There are so many types of breads out there - from limpa to flat bread to oatmeal bread. I generally make a simple white or oatmeal bread because it is quick and I can just whip it up. I recently taught a breadmaking session to a group of teachers. It was a lot of fun and I think they all came away with a good feeling about making bread.
The measurements are not exact measurements because making bread is a pleasure not a science. It is also remarkably forgiving. I prefer smaller loaves so it will fit into my toaster after it is sliced.
Here are the instructions for a wonderful loaf of bread:
Basic Bread Dough Instructions for one loaf
warm water
sugar
traditional Fleischman's yeast
salt
olive oil
flour
Pour about 1 cup or so of warm water into a large bowl - it should feel like a good warm bath but not hot.
Add about 1 tsp. sugar - you can also use honey.
Add about 1-2 tsp. traditional Fleischman's yeast.
Proof for about 10 minutes or until you see most of the yeast has "bloomed," or risen to the surface.
Using a fork, stir lightly.
Add about 2-3 tbsp. olive oil, 1 small tsp. salt, and start adding flour. Mix enough in so that when you stir it it becomes like a super thick pudding.
(If you want, you can add about a handful or so of barely warm cooked oatmeal at this point. Dry oatmeal will make your bread dry out quicker because it will absorb the moisture from your bread - cooked oatmeal won't do that.)Clean your fork off well under running water. (It will adhere like concrete if you don't clean it right away.)
Continue to add flour and start to knead the dough while in the bowl until it has a soft but not sticky or tacky consistency - you don't have to do this for a long time. If your dough is too moist, you will get a large air bubble just under the crust - just add about 1-2 tbsp more flour to correct this. If it is too dry, it will feel hard to knead -in this case, make a hole in the dough and add about 1-2 tbsp of water and gently knead it in. It will be gross and sticky, at first, then will incorporate itself in.
Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise in the same bowl for about 1/2 - 1 hour - more or less. If time is an issue, this first rising can be shortened up as much as 40 minutes without much effect on the final product.
Punch down the dough and form into a loaf.
Preheat your oven just before the hour is up. (350F)
Bake about 20 minutes for white bread and a bit longer for whole wheat. Check it when the top is a nice very light golden colour.
Remove from oven if it sounds hollow when tapped and when the bottom is lightly browned. Bread is best if it is not over-baked and hard.
Place on wire rack and brush with butter. Buttering the top and covering it will create a nice soft, flavourful crust. Cover immediately and let cool at least 10 minutes before slicing. (If you can!)
Note:
This bread can also be baked on the barbeque by heating one side of it and placing the bread pan on the unheated side. I would lower the temperature to 325F because barbeques seem to run hot, at least mine does. Also - rotate it once so that the side adjacent to the barbeque burner doesn't burn. Making it into two small loaves will also shorten the cooking time, which is best for the barbeque.
Enjoy!
Friday, April 1, 2011
A is for apple pie filling!
And so it starts - Blogging A to Z - for the month of April - wish me luck as I think that finding foods and recipes with some of the more select letters is going to be darnright difficult...but fun. What a great way to start - with my 100th posting!
I hope you enjoy and try some of my recipes - most are pretty easy and all are delicious! (My blog has decided that the link shouldn't be linked to - I'll get one up asap.)
Every fall, I shamelessly beg for, and pick as many apples as I can find to prepare an apple pie filling that I use in a lot of recipes I make over the winter. Of course I use it to make apple pies but also apple crisps, apple strudels (only a couple times), apple muffins and when put through the food processor, some fruit leather.
No-one can say that apples are a fruit that is boring. Have you ever tried apple slices with peanut butter? Or a nice slice ham with lettuce and apple slices in a sandwich with just a bit of hot mustard on homemade bread? (Divine that one!) Anyone that thinks apples are boring should take a gander on the internet and look through the multitude of recipes and ideas on using them.
I have a small cookbook full of just apple based recipes, aptly called "Apple Lovers Cook Book," by Shirley Munson and Jo Nelson. It is only about 120 pages but contains some really great recipes. I have had it for quite awhile and have enjoyed a some recipes of cakes and squares out of it. I don't know if it is in print any longer - the edition I have was the 4th reprint and it was from 1994!
The recipe I am sharing here is one that I have been making for about twenty-five years or so. It was patched together from a recipe given to me by a friend and has had more than a couple revisions over the years. I now call it one of my own recipes because it is so far from the original that it no longer resembles it. I will give the measurements for the full amount and the half recipe will be in brackets.
These instructions might seem a little goosey-loosey but unless you are canning them (then you need to be exceptionally careful with your measurements!) it is by taste - I like my less sweet so please adjust accordingly. I would recommend that you leave a bit of firmness to the apples as you will be cooking them again when you make your pies, etc.
This recipe is super easy and your house will smell divine when you make it.
Apple Pie Filling/Applesauce Recipe
10 quarts (5) sliced apples (I don't peel them - just wash them extremely well)
3 cups (1 1/2) white sugar (a little more or less depending on the sweetness of your apples)
1 tsp. (1/2) salt
2 tbsp (1) cinnamon (I generally add more)
1/4 cup (1/8) lemon juice
water to cover apples
Wash apples really well. Peel them if you prefer to - I never do. Slice, remove any bruised spots and core them.
As you slice the apples, drop them into a bowl with about 1/4 cup of lemon juice or some ascorbic acid and water to prevent too much browning.
Drain them and put them into a large pot along with the other ingredients.
Boil gently until barely tender - a little bit of firmness is nice because you will be cooking them in your pies as well. Around 20 minutes or so should do it, again depending on your stove and the type of apples you are cooking down.
Bag in enough of a quantity for 1 pie or 1 applecrisp or whatever your favourite recipes call for and freeze.
When using the filling from the freezer, thaw first. If you are making a pie, it is a good idea to sprinkle a little bit of cornstarch on the bottom crust before adding the filling and a little on top again before sealing up your pie.
There you have it! It is wonderful just to eat as is or use in a recipe. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy and try some of my recipes - most are pretty easy and all are delicious! (My blog has decided that the link shouldn't be linked to - I'll get one up asap.)
Every fall, I shamelessly beg for, and pick as many apples as I can find to prepare an apple pie filling that I use in a lot of recipes I make over the winter. Of course I use it to make apple pies but also apple crisps, apple strudels (only a couple times), apple muffins and when put through the food processor, some fruit leather.
No-one can say that apples are a fruit that is boring. Have you ever tried apple slices with peanut butter? Or a nice slice ham with lettuce and apple slices in a sandwich with just a bit of hot mustard on homemade bread? (Divine that one!) Anyone that thinks apples are boring should take a gander on the internet and look through the multitude of recipes and ideas on using them.
I have a small cookbook full of just apple based recipes, aptly called "Apple Lovers Cook Book," by Shirley Munson and Jo Nelson. It is only about 120 pages but contains some really great recipes. I have had it for quite awhile and have enjoyed a some recipes of cakes and squares out of it. I don't know if it is in print any longer - the edition I have was the 4th reprint and it was from 1994!
The recipe I am sharing here is one that I have been making for about twenty-five years or so. It was patched together from a recipe given to me by a friend and has had more than a couple revisions over the years. I now call it one of my own recipes because it is so far from the original that it no longer resembles it. I will give the measurements for the full amount and the half recipe will be in brackets.
These instructions might seem a little goosey-loosey but unless you are canning them (then you need to be exceptionally careful with your measurements!) it is by taste - I like my less sweet so please adjust accordingly. I would recommend that you leave a bit of firmness to the apples as you will be cooking them again when you make your pies, etc.
This recipe is super easy and your house will smell divine when you make it.
Apple Pie Filling/Applesauce Recipe
10 quarts (5) sliced apples (I don't peel them - just wash them extremely well)
3 cups (1 1/2) white sugar (a little more or less depending on the sweetness of your apples)
1 tsp. (1/2) salt
2 tbsp (1) cinnamon (I generally add more)
1/4 cup (1/8) lemon juice
water to cover apples
Wash apples really well. Peel them if you prefer to - I never do. Slice, remove any bruised spots and core them.
 |
| Cookie-sheet pie for a crowd |
As you slice the apples, drop them into a bowl with about 1/4 cup of lemon juice or some ascorbic acid and water to prevent too much browning.
Drain them and put them into a large pot along with the other ingredients.
Boil gently until barely tender - a little bit of firmness is nice because you will be cooking them in your pies as well. Around 20 minutes or so should do it, again depending on your stove and the type of apples you are cooking down.
Bag in enough of a quantity for 1 pie or 1 applecrisp or whatever your favourite recipes call for and freeze.
When using the filling from the freezer, thaw first. If you are making a pie, it is a good idea to sprinkle a little bit of cornstarch on the bottom crust before adding the filling and a little on top again before sealing up your pie.
There you have it! It is wonderful just to eat as is or use in a recipe. Enjoy!
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