Thursday, October 29, 2009

DOUGHNUTS


FEATHER-LIGHT DOUGHNUTS

These turned out really good. I don't have a doughnut cutter so I used a biscuit cutter and then cut the middle hole with a knife (next time I could use a pill bottle for the 1" center piece). I also used cookie cutters - it was Halloween week so I did pumpkins (I cut out the eyes and mouth with a knife). We did cinnamon-sugar, chocolate icing and regular icing - we liked them all.
2 pkgs (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm milk (110-115)
1 cup cold mashed potatoes
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup oil (plus more to fry doughnuts in)
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
5 1/2 - 6 cups flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add potatoes, 1/2 cup sugar, oil, salt, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder and eggs; mix well. Add enough flour to form a soft dough. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down; roll out on a floured surface to 1/2" thickness. Cut with a 3-in doughnut cutter. Place on greased baking sheets; cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the cinnamon and remaining sugar; set aside. Heat oil in an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer to 350; fry doughnuts until golden on both sides. Drain on a paper bag with paper towels on top; roll in cinnamon-sugar (or icing) while still warm. Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen.
ICING:
1/2 # powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 T butter
Hot water
For chocolate - add melted chocolate chips
or
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 T boiling water
vanilla

Monday, October 26, 2009

HAWAIIAN SALAD

HAWAIIAN SALAD
We had this with meatballs and rice. They went very well together. A nice light salad and easy to make. I was taking the salad in a meal for someone so I didn't measure but put lettuce in a bowl and put some pineapple and cheese on top.

1 can (8 oz) pineapple (reserve 1 T juice)
6-8 cups torn salad (mixed ice berg and romaine - next time try spinach)
1 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1 T sugar

Drain pineapple (reserve 1 T). In a large bowl, combine greens, pineapple and cheese. In a small bowl, combine mayo, sugar and pineapple juice; mix well. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

STEW/SOUP/CHOWDER


CREAM OF POTATO SOUP
In the 2nd edition McCleve cookbook pg. 55. My family ate this, but wasn't super excited about it. I think I ate all the leftovers. It is kinda bland, it would be better with some kind of meat added (1# hamburger). Can also top with shredded cheese which makes it even better.

COOK IN ENOUGH WATER TO COVER POTATOES:
6-7 potatoes, peeled & cubed
1 T parsley flakes
salt & pepper
---
SAUTE UNTIL VEGETABLES ARE TENDER (ABOUT 10 MINUTES) AND THEN ADD TO POTATOES:
4 T margarine/butter
3/4 c chopped onion
3/4 c chopped celery
1/4 c chopped carrots

WHISK TOGETHER UNTIL THERE ARE NO LUMPS, THEN ADD TO POTATOES:
2 cans evaporated milk
1/2 c flour

STIR UNTIL THICK AND SERVE.

CAULIFLOWER CHOWDER
In the 2nd edition McCleve cookbook pg 57. It is so good and easy/quick to make. Taste even better as a leftover.

1 head cauliflower
3 cups water
---
1 cup instant potatoes (can get in bulk)
8 oz cream cheese
1 can milk (soup can)
2 cans mushroom creamed soup
4 slices ham, cubed (bacon or summer sausage is good too)

Break cauliflower up and cook in water until slightly tender. DON'T DRAIN. Add other ingredients and heat thoroughly.

BRUNSWICK STEW
We all liked this. I used a rotissery chicken from Albertsons I had on hand. I would have liked it better with a little bit more water or broth. I had to use the big pot to make it in.

1 broiler/fryer chicken (3-4#), cut up
1 cup water (I used broth since my chicken was already cooked)
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed (I didn't peel)
1 can (15 oz) lima beans, rinsed and drained
2 medium onions, sliced (I used one)
1 tsp. salt
Dash of cayenne pepper (I didn't use)
---
1 can (15 1/4 oz) corn, drained
1 can (14 1/2 oz) dice tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

Place the chicken in water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover and simmer for 1 1/2-2 hours or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken and debone; cube chicken and return to broth. Add potatoes, beans, onions and seasonings. Simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. 6 servings.

BLACK BEAN SOUP - NEED TO START BEANS THE NIGHT BEFORE
This recipe came from a booklet that was at Albertsons that had healthy recipes in it. I liked it a lot more than I thought it would - everyone else liked it too. It is very filling.

1 T olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped carrots
2 T minced garlic
---
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
---
2 (14.5 oz) reduced sodium chicken broth
2 cups (2 cans) no-salt added tomato puree
---
3 cups COOKED dry black beans (can also use 2-15 oz black beans rinsed let set for 5 minutes and rinse and drain)
---
sour cream
shredded Monterey jack cheese

In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrots and garlic; saute until carrots are softened (about 5-7 minutes)

Add in cumin and chili powder; stir until well mixed. Add chicken broth, tomato sauce and black beans; salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes or until carrots are tends and soup is slightly thickened. Serve with sour cream and cheese if desired.

serving size 1/4 recipe: calories 200; total fat 4g; cholesterol 0; sodium 525mg; fiber 13g; protein 10g

OLD-FASHIONED CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
All of these are really good:
Cowboy Cookbook pg. 70
McCleve Cookbook 2nd edition pg. 54
Pioneer Woman Recipe



BRATTEN'S FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER
lemon cookbook pg. 36.  We love, love this recipe.  It is better the next day. Takes about 30 minutes to prepare.  Make sure the vegetables (especially potatoes) are cooked through.  Cook veggies on the stove top - not pampered chef thing.

1 c finely chopped onion
1 c finely diced celery
2 c very finely diced potatoes
2 cans (6.5 oz) minced clams and juice
---
3/4 c butter
3/4 c flour
---
1 qt half-and-half (not fat free)
---
2 T red wine vinegar
---
1 1/2 tsp salt
few grains pepper

Pour clams over vegetables in very small saucepan; add enough water to barely cover and simmer, covered, over medium heat until barely tender.  While simmering, melt butter and add flour and blend; cook, stirring constantly.  Add cream and cook and stir with wire whip until smooth and thick (this is important!).  Add undrained vegetables/clams and vinegar.  Heat through.  Season with salt and pepper to taste, DO NOT let stand half warm on stove.  Serve amount needed hot and chill the rest.  Reheat only amount needed each time.  Yield: 8 servings.




Thursday, September 3, 2009

SHIPWRECK DINNER

SHIPWRECK DINNER
We love this easy to make dish. And I usually have everything on hand. It came from a Kraft food & family magazine.  See below for ways to hide veggies in this dish (also Bea tip).

1# ground beef or turkey
1 box Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1 can (16 oz) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 cup frozen green peas (brocolli & corn good too)
1 cup milk
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese

Brown meat. Stir in macaroni, cheese sauce mix, tomatoes, peas and milk. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover. Simmer 12 minutes or until macaroni is tender.

Sprinkle with cheese. Let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Hidden Veggies:
Bea Stewart gave me a great tip - if you grate a zucchini you can hide it in spaghetti sauce or chili.  Just let is simmer all day and it pretty much dissolves.

I cut up some cabbage (about 1 cup) pretty small and grated a zucchini.  I put in the meat, some water and stewed tomatoes.  Let it simmer for 1+ hours (could do it all day). Then I added everything else.

Friday, August 28, 2009

DOUBLE-COATED CHICKEN

DOUBLE-COATED CHICKEN
Jackson had fun helping me make this chicken. We all liked it. I think next time I would prefer regular corn flakes instead of Touch of Honey Corn Flakes.


7 cups Corn Flakes (crushed to 2 cups)
---
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
---
3 # chicken (we used drumsticks and had about 4#) rinsed and drained (did 1/2 with skin and 1/2 without)
---
3 Tbsp butter, melted

Place crushed corn flakes in a shallow bowl. Set aside.

In a medium bowl lightly beat together milk and egg. Add flour, salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth. Dip chicken in batter. Coat with cereal. Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet that has been covered with tin foil and sprayed with cooking spray.

Drizzle with butter.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. DO NOT cover pan or turn chicken while baking.

ZUCCHINI CAKE

ZUCCHINI CAKE
We thought this was so yummy!
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dark-chocolate-zucchini-cake

3 oz. dark chocolate, chopped (I got mine from WinCo bulk)
1/4 cup canola oil
---
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
---
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar (I only used 1/2 cup)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
---
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cup grated zucchini or summer squash

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9" cake pan and dust with some unsweetened cocoa powder.

Melt chocolate along with oil in a double broiler or a saucepan over low heat - be careful not to scorch. (I used a bowl sitting inside a pan witih boiling water)

Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then beat in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk, beating until combined, then fold inthe chocolate and oil mixture, and the zucchini.

Put batter into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool the cake for about 10 minutes on a wire rack, then invert it on the rack, remove the pan and cool completely.

Can be served plain, with icing, dusted with powdered sugar or with fresh raspberries around it.

We did the following on top:4 oz. cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup)
1 tsp. vanilla


Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Brown Sugar Streusel
This was so yummy! I read some of the comments and put the brown sugar down first.  I think next time I will try it on top see if it caramalizes more.  Put some in the freezer.  Curious how it will do.
Update: so yummy out of the freezer.  Perfect kick of chocolate :-)
YIELD: MAKES A 9X13-INCH CAKE
I've included some easy substitutions next to a few of the ingredients!
INGREDIENTS
    Cake:
  • 1/2 cup butter (can substitute applesauce or greek yogurt)
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil (can substitue canola or vegetable oil)
  • 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk (here are a few easy buttermilk substitutions)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups shredded zucchini
  • Topping:
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
DIRECTIONS
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer), cream together the butter, oil and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix. Add 1/2 of the buttermilk; mix. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add the remaining buttermilk and mix followed by the last of the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Stir in the shredded zucchini.
  3. Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the almonds and chocolate chips. Sprinkle the brown sugar on top of everything.
  4. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs (don't overbake!).
  5. Let cool completely before serving. This cake tastes best at room temperature (and is great the next day, too!).

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

ARTICHOKE DIP

ARTICHOKE DIP
Diana W. brought this to Naomi R. baby shower. It was very yummy!

1 (15 oz.) can of artichoke hearts, chopped fine and drained
1 c. mayonnaise
1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (8 oz.) can diced green chilies
4 oz. Parmesan cheese (2 oz. in the dip, 2 oz. put on top)

Mix all together in a bread or loaf pan (she doubled it to fix it in a 9x13). Top with 2 oz. of remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Serve with pita chips (Stacey's), or baguette bread, or ?.