Sunday, May 31, 2009

Peabody's Poptarts

Recipie shared from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody



pie crust(recipe follows)
good jam(your choice)
Glaze
Sprinkles

Pie Crust

1-1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening or unsalted butter
3 to 5 tablespoons cold water

Combine flour and salt in bowl. Add shortening or butter and blend with fork, pastry cutter or your fingers until mixture is fairly coarse. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, gently mixing dough after each addition until dough forms a ball. (Dough can also be prepared in food processor. Use the pulse button just until it starts to pull away from the sides. Be very careful not to overwork the dough which makes it tough.) Place dough on a lightly floured surface and roll into a square/rectangle. Cut out long strips about 2 to 3 inches wide, and 3 to 4 inches long. Repeat until you run out of dough.

Glaze:

1 cup powder sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp butter

milk to thin

Place powdered sugar,vanilla and butter in bowl. Pour milk slowly until it has a consistancy you like.

Brown sugar Filling:
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp flour
1 tsp cinnamin
2 tsp butter

Mix all together and scoop onto pastry spreading almost to the edge.

Assemble: Take one pie crust rectangle rolled out slightly thinner than you would roll out a pie crust,

fill with a tsp to 1 1/2 tbsp of jam or brown sugar filling spreading almost to the edge of the pastry.


Cover with another piece of pie crust. Crimpe all four edges sealing the two layers together.

Bake at 450F for abou7-10 minutes or until slightly brown. Set aside to cool. Once cooled, spread glaze on top of Poptart and decorate with sparkling sugar or sprinkle of your choice.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Homemade Hostess Cupcakes (I haven't tried this yet, but when I do I'll post the pix)

Homemade Hostess Cupcakes
(adapted from Lovestoeat, adapted from Food Network magazine)




For the Cupcakes
1& 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 & 1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

For the Filling
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup marshmallow creme

For the Ganache
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla


For the Icing
1 stick unsalted butter
1 tablespoon milk (I used 1 & 1/2 to 2)
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla

Friday, May 29, 2009

French Toast

1 to 2 eggs per 2 slices of bread aproximately 1/4 cup milk per 2 eggs aproximately bread slices Optional in any combination or single 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp grated orange rind 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp cinnamin 1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp orange juice concentrate Mix the eggs with the milk and beat until well mixed. Add any of the optional ingredients to your flavor preference. Dip one slice of bread at a time into the egg mixture coating both sides lightly and place into hot frying pan. Cook on both sides until lightly browned. Serve warm with syrup, jams, or powdered sugar.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Poppy Seed Bread


Bread
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp butter flavor
1 1/2 cup oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp almond flavor
1 1/2 tsp vanilla flavor

Beat all together for 1 to 3 minutes and bake at 350 degrees for 45 min to 1 hour.
While still hot pour glaze over all outer surface of bread and allow to cool.

Glaze

1/2 cup orange juice concentrate
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp butter flavor
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp almond flavor

Cook until the sugar dissolves, cool slightly before putting on bread.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Monster Cupcakes




24 cupcakes
1 tub white frosting (1/3 colored pink, 1/3 colored a dark color, 1/3 left plain)
Cake Mate decorating gel 1 red 1 black (found by cake decorating supplies)
Oreo cookies
licorice (colored makes it more variable)

Make cupcakes and cool
frost 1/2 with pink rounding up the sides smoothly
frost other 1/2 with the darker color roughly for texture or pipe it on w/ the star
outline the pink with the red gel
cut oreo in half and take off top cookie and place in darker color
squeeze a circle in the bottom center of the oreo cookie
cut licorice to 1 to 1/2 inch strips poke in behind cookie
Pipe white frosting for teeth on the pink inside the gel lines

Pasta Salad w/ green onions and cilantro


1 pkg curly pasta (cooked, drained, rinsed, cooled)
3/4 cup Italian dressing
2 green onion stalks chopped
1 roma tomato chopped
1 can black olives diced
3 Tbsp cilantro chopped

Combine and chill before serving. The longer the ingredients have to blend the better the flavor.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Homemade Rootbeer



5 lbs sugar
5 gallons water
1 rootbeer extract
5 lbs dry ice

combine all except dry ice and stir well letting most of the sugar dissolve. Add the dry ice and cover to allow the gasses to compress and carbinte the rootbeer.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

7-up cake (with variations)


1 yellow cake mix (or your choice I used chocolate)
make cake as package directs and add to it:

1 box lemon or vanilla pudding (or any flavor I used chocolate)
3/4 can 7-up (or pop of your choice I used Mountain Dew)

mix for 2 minutes on high and pour into greased bundt pan and bake as directions on box suggest. Test with cake tester before removing.

Topping:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 can pop
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

use less or more of the powdered sugar or pop to your preference and drizzle over the cake once it has cooled.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Tapioca Pudding


5 Tbsp sugar
2 cups milk
3 Tbsp tapioca
1/8 tsp salt
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg white whipped folded in after thickened

Mix tapioca, sugar, salt, milk and egg yolk. Cook in microwave stirring ever 2/3 minutes until thickened to your preference. Stir in vanilla and stiff egg whites until blended. This takes aprox. 15 min depending on your microwave.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Tyler's Wonderful White Bread / Cinnamin Swirl Bread




Courtesy of Nummy Kitchen

Tyler's Wonderful White Bread / Tyler's Wonderful Cinnamin Swirl Bread

1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 package (1 tablespoon) rapid-rising dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar or honey
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour or 2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup wheat flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 egg whites, divided and slightly beaten
1 tablespoon sesame seeds (Omit if you are doing the cinnamon swirl)
or
cinnamin sugar (directions for cinnamin swirl version same variation on bottom)

Makes 1 loaf

In a small saucepan or glass microwave dish, heat the milk with butter over low heat just until the butter melts. Remove from heat and pour into the bowl of your mixer fitted with a dough hook. Proof the yeast by adding it to the warm milk and butter. Add the sugar and stir gently to dissolve. Let stand 3 minutes until foam appears. This indicates the yeast is active. Turn mixer on low and gradually add the flour. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium and add the salt and 1 egg white. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is no longer sticky, about 10 minutes.

Put the dough onto a lightly floured/greased work surface and knead for a minute or so by hand. Knead by folding the dough over itself and pushing out with the heel of your hands, not down. Rotate the dough and repeat. The dough is properly kneaded when you can pull it and it stretches without breaking. Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or in another warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Test the dough by pressing 2 fingers into it. If indents remain, the dough is adequately risen.

Once the dough is doubled, turn it out onto the counter. The act of turning out the dough naturally deflates the gas, so there is no need to aggressively punch it down. Handle the dough gently, overworking the gluten at this point will produce a dense loaf that is difficult to shape. *To form a loaf, pat the dough into a rectangle, fold the long sides to the middle then fold under the ends. Pinch the seams closed and place in a greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, seam side down. Make sure the dough touches all sides of the pan.

Cover with plastic wrap and let rise a second time for 20 minutes or until the top of the dough is nearly level with the top of the loaf pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, place a large pan on the bottom rack of the oven.


If you like a crisper crust:

Bring 3 cups water to a boil on the stove. Pour the hot water into the preheated pan to create a steam bath for the bread.

Slash dough down the middle of the loaf with a sharp knife to allow the steam to escape during baking. Brush the top with remaining beaten egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds(If not doing the cinnamin swirl). Bake the bread for 30 to 40 minutes until crust is golden and internal temperature reads 195 degrees F when checked with an instant read thermometer. The bottom of the loaf should sound hollow when tapped. Immediately remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on a rack.

Cinnamin Swirl variation -

Once dough has risen the first time roll it out flat to a large rectancle and sprinkle cinnamin sugar coating to your preference. For a more defined swirl add more thickly the cinnamin sugar. Once surface is covered roll up the dough as if making cinnamin rolls. Note roll the dough out thinner and roll tightly to avoid the result in the picture. Tuck ends under the roll and place seam side down in a greased loaf pan and let rise another 20 minutes. Bake as directed.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Butterscotch Syrup



2 cups butter
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
3 cups sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
4 tsp vanilla

Bring to a boil for 5 minutes and then add vanilla. The tbsp butter on the picture is just for the picture there is enough in the syrup don't add more on your waffle that is overkill.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Hershey's Chocolate Frosting


Courtesy of The Hungry Huntley's

1/2 cup melted butter
2/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Combine and beat with mixer until smooth. May need to thin out with more milk.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Hersheys Perfect Chocolate Cake


Courtesy of Hungry Huntley's
Combine dry ingredients into a bowl:
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Add wet ingredients:
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup boiling water
Pour into prepared 9 inch pans lined with parchment paper/wax paper and cooking spray. Bake in pre-heated oven 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Hersey's Chocolate Frosting:
1/2 cup melted butter
2/3 cup Hersheys cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Add additional milk to thin out to your preference. Lining the pans with the wax paper on the bottom helps as you turn out the cake to cool. This is a very moist cake and tends to stick to the bottom of the cake pans.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Rice Pudding (Custard Style)



3 cups scalded milk
3/4 cup sugar
3 tsp vanilla
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp salt
4 Tbsp cooked white rice (instant)

Scald the milk and add 3/4 cup sugar, beaten eggs and salt to the milk. Add rice and vanilla and stir. Bake in pre-heated 325 degree oven for 25 minutes.
nutmeg
cinnamin

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Grilled Chicken legs/thighs bone in


Marinate in your favorite marinade or rub
Grill on hot grill for 20 minutes

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Steamed Crookneck Squash


1 to 2 small crooknecks washed and sliced
steam in microwave cooker for 3 to 5 minutes until desired crisp/soft ratio is obtained.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Greek Rice (I'm not sure how Greek it is) Pilaf ?


1 1/2 cups rice cooked
1 Tbsp oil
combine in wok or fry pan
Add:
2 tsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic
1 stalk green onion chopped
1 carrot julianed
1/2 cup broth
simmer down water and serve warm.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Ice cream in a bag




This is a fun, fast treat that was a pleaser with the kids and I have to say not a bad quick icecream.

In a pint size ziplock bag place
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup milk or half and half
1/4 tsp vanilla

Revmove as much air as possible and place this bag into a gallon size ziplock bag filled 3/4 of bag with ice and add to this 6 Tbsp rock salt. Again remove as much air as possible and seal bag. Take a towel and massage the ice around the smaller bag which mixes the ingredients and ensures even freezing. This takes about 5 minutes and your hands will appreciate the towel so they don't freeze too. I recommend crushing fruit also and don't put in as much as I did.

If you want flavored icecream add your choice after the icecream has thickened and is ready to serve.

Suggestions:
fresh fruit
crushed candy bars
crushed cookies
carmel topping
chocolate topping

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Asian Sichuan-style stir-fried chicken w/ peanuts


Marinade
2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp rice wine or sake
(I had neither so I used the 2 ingredients on the next line)
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar and 1 T vermouth cooking white wine
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp dark sesame oil (didn't have so I used 1 tsp Jalapeno olive oil)
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces


Mix all ingredients above and set in refrigerator for 20 minutes. While that is marinating make in 2 seperate bowls sauce 1 and sauce 2.

Sauce 1
1 1/4 tsp cornstarch
1 1/2 Tbsp minced fresh ginger or 1 Tbsp dried ginger
1 1/2 Tsp minced garlic (7 cloves) you should probably lessen this some
1 tsp chile paste with garlic or (1/2 tsp chile powder with 1/2 tsp water)

Sauce 2
1/2 cup fat free less sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp sugar
2 1/2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp rice wine or sake (see substitution above)
1 Tbsp Chinese black vinegar or worcestershire sauce

Once sauces are put together set them aside and cook the chicken with marinade for aprox 4 to 7 minutes until thoroughly cooked. Add sauce 1 and heat for 15 seconds and then add sauce 2 . Cook until thickened slightly.

1 1/2 Cup drained sliced water chestnuts
1 Cup sliced green onion tops
3/4 Cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts

2-3 cups long grain rice cooked, serve warm

While the chicken and sauces are cooking chop the onion tops. Add the onion, water chestnuts, and peanuts to the chicken sauce. Cook until warmed and serve over a bed of rice.

1 suggestion I would maybe do a little less of the soy sauce and garlic and maybe add a little water to thin out sauce otherwise it was a good recipie even with my substitutions. (I had no peanuts or waterchestnuts either since my kids won't eat those.)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Steamed Asparagus



Wash, cut and place in microwave safe dish. (I have a tupperware set that I use for a lot and steam all of my vegetable in this). It should be soft with just a hint of crispness when you bite into it.

Cook for aprox 5 minutes depending on the wattage of your microwave.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Grilled Seasoned Pork Loin



Simply coat in Jalepeno olive oil and season with Cavender's All Purpose Greek Seasoning

Grill aprox. 20 min let sit 10 min before cutting.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Blended Fruit Smoothie



Add to your taste preference:

Frozen strawberries
Frozen raspberries
Frozen marion berries
Frozen blueberries
Fresh pineapple wedges
Fresh cantalope wedges
Fresh banana
1 cup can milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp sugar (optional)

Blend until smooth and serve in a chilled glass.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Dipped Bread



Dip your favorite bread into this sauce for a great flavor with a kick.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Grilled Buffalo Wings




Coat with Cavender's all purpose Greek seasoning

Grill until thoroughly cooked

Dip in Wing-Time buffalo wing sauce

Sunday, May 3, 2009

New York Cheesecake with Sour Cream



Crust
1 1/2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter

Combine 1st 3 ingredients and press into the bottom of a 10" springform pan pressing up the sides about 1 inch. Set aside.

Cheescake
4 8 oz cream cheese bricks
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Beat until smooth with beaters and add:

1 cup sour cream
Mix well. Add:

4 eggs one at a time mixing on low speed after each one until well blended. Pour over crust.

Bake at 350 degrees 1 hour and start checking for the center to start setting. When center shows signs of setting upon moving pan remove from oven and pour sour cream topping onto cheesecake.

Sour Cream Topping:

1 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Blend until smooth and gently scoop evenly over baked cheesecake smooth until evenly covered then return cheesecake to oven and cook and additional 10 to 15 minutes

Cool, cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Remove cheesecake from pan and garnish as desired.

***Baking tip, trace the bottom of the springform pan onto waxed paper and cut out the circle then line the bottom of the springform pan with the waxed paper. Spray the waxed paper and sides of the springform pan with a nonstick cooking spray.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Orange Starwberry Smoothie


10 Frozen Strawberries
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
2 fresh oranges peeled
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup milk
ice amount to thicken to preference

Add all ingredients into your blender and blenderize until desired consistency serve in chilled glass.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Grilled Pork Loin



Season meat with 1/4 cup olive oil, chipolet pepper, black pepper and Mrs. Dash.
Put on the hot grill and baste every 2 to 5 minutes as you turn and cook for aprox. 20 minutes. Cook on direct heat.