Recipes from an Edwardian Country House

Recipes from an Edwardian Country House is a book that was repackaged from an earlier book. Frankly, I hate it when publishers do this sort of thing, as I often have the first book and then end up with another copy of the same book .

Seasonal Recipes From The Garden

For a long time my cable provider didn't provide a PBS station. It seemed weird, no PBS, but I learned to live it. After changing providers, I suddenly had PBS again.

Favorite Recipes of Famous Men

We are suckers for collections of recipes by "famous" folk. So naturally, Favorite Recipes of Famous Men a 1949 cookbook collection by Roy Ald is a great one.

Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine

There is not a single member of Norma Jean and Carole Darden's family that you want to hang out with. While most of them are gone now, they live on in this delightful cookbook and memoir.

Recipes from an Edwardian Country House

Recipes from an Edwardian Country House is a book that was repackaged from an earlier book. Frankly, I hate it when publishers do this sort of thing, as I often have

Sunday, February 28, 2010

We're Back


After an inclement and messy February where we lost lights, electricity, water and sleep, we have cookbooks books (and other books) piled high. I just need to clear Clementine off the computer and we will be back to our cookbook posts. After an entire year of posting everyday, we may just ease into it, but we still have more than enough cookbooks to keep going.

Friday, February 26, 2010

PIZZA BUNS

I called this recipe "pizza buns" for lack of a better title. Actually, it can be any flavor filling that you like. The "magic" is in the dough; it is on the slightly sweet side but (as unlikely as it seems) it compliments a savory filling perfectly.
.
Originally, this was a dough that my German Russian ancestors used for a hot and savory ham and sauerkraut sandwich. I decided to experiment with various fillings and they have been such a big hit with Hubby that I've made them twice this week. I've made calzones for years, but these are so much better...not bready or doughy at all and the dough raises just enough (as it bakes) to make the perfect sandwich...light, crispy and delicious.

This one was pizza flavored
DOUGH
¾ cup very warm water
½ cup sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)

¼ cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg (room temperature)
3½ cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons dry active yeast
1 teaspoon salt
Mix the warm water (hottest out of your tap) with the sweetened condensed milk, vegetable oil and sugar and salt. The hot tap water will cool down in temperature once it is mixed with the oil and milk (so it won't hurt the yeast). Next, whisk in the egg and the yeast. Let this sit for several minutes until the yeast looks well dissolved.


NOTE: When you first mix up this dough, it will seem stiff and dense. Don't let that freak you out...just follow the instructions and it will bake up beautifully.

Once it is well dissolved, mix in the flour (using a stand mixer is easiest) and mix with dough hook on medium speed until smooth (about 5 minutes or so). Place in a bowl sprayed with vegetable spray and cover with plastic wrap. Let this sit in a warm place for an hour or until it is double in size.
.

Remove from the bowl and cut into 8 pieces (makes 8 sandwiches). Roll each piece out into an 8 inch circle. For pizza filling, put the ingredients in IN THIS ORDER: about ¼ cup of cheese in center of circle; top with a little pizza sauce and some toppings.
I found that these were easier to shape if you sit the 8" circle in a cereal bowl before you add the fillings (see above photo). Draw up the edges of the dough and pinch them together like this:

This dough is a dream to work with...it stretches without tearing and sticks together beautifully when it comes time to "pinch it shut".
 
 
A word about pizza fillings:
I filled these with sweet Italian sausage and some thin strips of pepperoni. I fried both in a pan until it was very well done, then I drained it completely and blotted all of the grease I could get out of it...I highly recommend this step. Don't add any meat that has not had the fat rendered out of it (sausage, pepperoni etc.). If you do, the fat will make the sandwich greasy and leak out of the pinched seam. Once pinched shut (make sure you pinch it totally shut...place them pinched seam side down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. They will look like this:

Cover with plastic wrap and let them sit for 20 minutes. Bake in pre-heated 350F oven for 20 minutes. When they come out of the oven, brush them with butter. Aren't they pretty? Be careful when you first bite into them...they are SO hot inside.

 They are also GREAT with ham and cheese

NOTE: These sandwiches stay super hot for an unbelievable length of time, so they would be excellent for a potluck or picnic (they are also excellent at room temperature). This dough recipe makes 8 big sandwiches, but you could easily make them smaller for snack size.
.
NOTE: I have plans on making these, using Sloppy Joe filling, barbecue beef filling, bacon and egg filling and much more. I can see a million possibilities.
.
NOTE: The fully baked leftovers (full size) reheat, beautifully, in a preheated 350F oven in 20-23 minutes and taste exactly like they did the first time they came out of the oven.


 
ENJOY !!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

COFFEE-CHOCOLATE CAKE (AND AN UPDATE)

Before Christmas, I purchased the holiday issue of a magazine called Sweet Cakes, published by The Best of Fine Cooking. I've made several desserts from the magazine and all have been well received by Hubby and friends.
..
Recently, Monica from Lick the Bowl Good told me she had the same magazine so we decided to try the magazines recipe for Coffee-Chocolate Cake together. I think she will be posting about it today, as well, so I hope you will visit her web site to see what she did with this great little recipe.

10 tablespoons unsalted butter (soft)
1+2/3 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon table salt
1½ cups + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
½ cup + 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1½ cups quality coffee (brewed and cooled)
.
Preheat oven to 350F and generously butter a 9" square baking pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and butter the paper, then flour the bottom and sides of the pan (tap out excess flour). See note below.
With an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar & vanilla until smooth (about 1 minute). Blend in eggs, one at a time, mixing just until incorporated (about 20 seconds). With a whisk, mix in the rest of the ingredients by hand, until batter is smooth and mostly free of lumps.
Pour into prepared pan. Tap pan on counter a couple of times to remove any potential air bubbles. Bake on center rack of a 350F oven for 40 to 43 minutes.
Remove from oven and set pan on a cooling rack for 20 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edges of the pan, invert onto cake rack and remove pan. Serve immediately or store in an air tight container (at room temperature) for up to 5 days...but it won't last that long.

NOTE: Recipe says do not used Dutch-processed cocoa powder
.
NOTE: Although the directions say to bake in a 9" square pan and take extra precautions with parchment paper, extra greasing and flouring, I did not do ANY of that. I baked mine in a little half-bundt pan I have and I just sprayed it with a cooking spray that has flour in it (no parchment paper). It came out of the pan extremely easy.
.
NOTE: Hubby hates the taste of coffee, so I made this cake using Earl Grey tea and it tasted great.
.
NOTE: Wrap this cake with plastic wrap (directly on the surface of the cake) while it is still very hot. Let it cool completely like that and you will have a wonderfully moist cake that will last for several days. I do this with ALL of my cakes and it never fails.
.
NOTE: This is such a great little one bowl chocolate cake, with excellent flavor and moistness. It would make great cupcakes and I'm sure you could double the recipe and bake it in a 9x13. ONE WARNING: If you eat this cake while it is still warm, you will not be able to restrain yourself...it is really tasty!!

NOTE: Our family members are safe at the Alaska Iron Dog finish line in Nome, Alaska, although hubbies twin brother and snowmachine had to be towed the last 170 miles (by his son) and hubbies youngest brother and snowmachine had to be towed the last 53 miles (by a buddy). Both of their engines blew up (they were brand new snowmachines). At least they are all safe and off of the trail. Thanks for your well wishes.

Monday, February 22, 2010

BANANA-CHERRY BREAD

I found this recipe on http://www.mixingbowl.com/ and it is a keeper for sure. Super moist banana bread, mixed with maraschino cherries and pecans. Hubby loves this toasted with butter!!

3 large overripe bananas
2 teaspoons lemon juice
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (soft)
¾ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1½ cups self rising flour
4 tablespoons milk
1/3 cup chopped pecans (I used ½ cup)
½ cup chopped maraschino cherries
.
Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease and flour a 9" x 5" loaf pan. Mash bananas and stir in lemon juice. Set aside.

Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until creamy. Beat in banana mixture and vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg. Sift dry ingredients together and add to the banana mixture, alternately with milk. Mix only until incorporated. Fold in nuts and chopped cherries.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake about one hour (my oven took 70 minutes) or until toothpick tests clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes then turn out onto rack.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

HEIDI's MEXICAN PORK CHOPS

Recently, Heidi, from Tried-and-True Cooking With Heidi, posted a recipe for Mexican Pork Chops. I'm always searching for simple pork recipes and this one caught my eye. It was a snap to make and tasted great, thank you Heidi!!

Browned pork chops are baked on top of a taco seasoned rice. The flavor of the pork bakes down into the rice and just before serving, it's all topped with cheese. Oh so good!!.
6 pork chops (I used 3 thick ones)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
1½ cups water
¾ cup long grain rice
8 ounce can of tomato sauce
2½ tablespoons taco seasoning
1 medium green bell pepper chopped (I used red)
1 cup shredded cheese (I used cheddar)
.
Brown the pork chops well, and set aside. Mix the water, rice, tomato sauce and seasoning and put it into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Top with browned pork chops and the chopped bell pepper.
.
Cover tightly and bake in pre-heated 350F oven for 1 hour. Uncover and top with cheese. Return to the oven for 15 minutes.
NOTE: I seasoned the pork chops with the seasoning mix from my last post, (before I browned them). I used this same "taco seasoning" in the rice.
.
NOTE: I used chopped red bell pepper (instead of green pepper) because we like it better. I also mixed it into the rice (instead of putting it on top of the meat and rice). I also added a 15 ounce can of (rinsed and drained) black beans to the rice.
NOTE: Just before I serve this, next time, I'm going to sprinkle it with a little chopped avocado and cherry tomatoes.

Friday, February 19, 2010

TACO SEASONING

Make your own taco seasoning!! It is simple, quick, cheap and useful for almost anything. I use it on steak fajitas, tacos, Spanish rice, chicken and much more. It is so much more convenient (and tasty) than the commercial packets.

 In a bowl, mix together:
12 teaspoons chili powder
8 teaspoons paprika (not the spicy kind)
8 teaspoons ground cumin
6 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder (not salt)
¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
2 teaspoons oregano
1 tablespoon beef bullion granules

Mix well and store in a tightly covered jar. Can be used as a dry rub or if you are making taco's, brown the meat and drain well. Add 7 teaspoons of this mix and ½ cup water to a pound of ground beef. Stir well and simmer until liquid evaporates.


NOTE: This is not super spicy, but it is very full flavored. If you like more heat, you can always add more cayenne. Approximately 7 teaspoons of this mixture will season a pound of ground beef.
NOTE: If you don't want to make a whole jar of seasoning...just divide this recipe by 4.

Monday, February 15, 2010

DOUGHNUT MUFFINS

Last week, I was watching the cooking channel, and someone was raving about a bakery that sold donut muffins (a new one for me). A few days later, I bought a baking magazine and sure enough, there was a recipe for...doughnut muffins!! I don't need to be hit over the head THREE times in order to get the message...I needed to make doughnut muffins!! I'm very glad I did, they are delicious.

Light and tender, buttery and sweet, these muffins are more like a delicious cake doughnut than a heavy dense muffin. Another delightful thing about this recipe is that it makes four dozen muffins, AND you can keep this uncooked batter in the fridge for up to three days, which gives you plenty of time to bake them all off!!

1½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
1¾ cups white sugar
4 large eggs
6 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon +2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1¾ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 + 2/3 cups milk
¼ cup buttermilk

Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl (stand mixer works best because it's a lot of batter). Beat in eggs, one at a time until well mixed.
.
Sift the dry ingredients together and set aside. Mix the milk and buttermilk together and set aside.
.
Mix the dry ingredients, into the butter-sugar mixture, alternatively with the milk mixture (add in thirds), mixing only until it is well mixed after each addition. Don't over mix.
.
Grease and flour standard size cupcake pans and fill them 2/3 full. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until they feel firm to the touch.
.
Remove the baked doughnut muffins from the pan and dip them (on all sides) in melted butter, then roll them in cinnamon sugar.

To make cinnamon sugar, just mix 2 cups of white granulated sugar with a tablespoon of ground cinnamon. If you are a BIG cinnamon fan, use two tablespoons. These muffins are extremely light and tender and taste like a very good cake doughnut.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

InterCourses


One of the most popular “aphrodisiac” cookbooks published in recent years was Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge’s InterCourses. InterCourses has its fill of scantily clad or un-clad models lounging about holding food, it has witty banter, but most importantly, it has actual recipes. Many books in this vein, give you vague recipes for shucked oysters, chocolate, caviar and little else.

InterCourses not only provides recipes for food, but also for massage oils. It gives you ideas on when to serve foods, how they will affect the body, even which foods to try with your particular sign of the zodiac.

The recipes offer up folklore pertaining to the recipes. According to a book on love potions by Josephine Addison, rosemary holds the key to a young girl’s dreams of her husband-to-be. January 21 is St. Agnes Eve. On that day, if a girl sleeps with rosemary under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband. Once she has the husband, rosemary becomes a symbol of fidelity.

Pasta with Rosemary Cream Sauce

1/2 pound penne pasta
1/8 cup fresh rosemary, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup tomato purée
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook the penne in water until al dente. In the meantime, sauté the rosemary in the oil in a saucepan over low heat for 3 minutes. Add the tomato purée. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes. Pour in the cream and Parmesan, stirring until heated through. Drain pasta and toss with cram sauce.

Whether you want to dream of a husband or keep yours faithful, try this pasta with the lovely infusion of rosemary.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Bordello Cookbook


Jo Foxworth has written about women who run business, in fact, she has run her own business. This kind of research led her to think about some of the first business run by women. The fact is many of the first women-owned businesses were bordellos. Foxworth combined a history of these “houses of ill repute” with a collection of recipes that they just might have cooked in The Bordello Cookbook.

Unfortunately, I don’t know of anyone who has actually found a “cookbook” used at an official bordello, so Foxworth brought in Jeanne Bauer to help with the recipes that might have been served at such bordellos.

In many cities, the bordello was indeed a house. These houses served as a type pf gentleman’s club, providing a place to socialize, smoke cigars, grab a bite to eat, shower and shave and yes, have sex. The kitchens in many of these establishments provided food as readily as the women provided sex.


What would a bordello kitchen be without oysters?

Oyster Purses

1/2 pound thinly sliced cooked turkey
1/2 pound thinly sliced cooked ham
1 tablespoon, Dijon-style mustard
6 scallions, long green tops set aside, white part finely chopped
24-shucked oysters

Top each slice of turkey with a slice of ham, brush lightly with mustard, and scatter finely chopped scallions over the top. Place an oyster in the center of each, bring the sides up to form a purse. Tie each purse with a long green strip of scallion. Place the oysters in a glass dish and microwave on High for one minute, or until heated through.


Most bordellos didn’t have microwaves in the day, so I imagine these were just popped in the oven to warm up.

While we are not condoning visits to a bordello, we do endorse these easy to make appetizers.

Friday, February 12, 2010

The Seducer’s Cookbook


Ah, it’s that Valentine’s time of year…

Every drugstore, grocery store and gas station has little heart shaped boxes of candy and some past-its-prime rose in a plastic tube. I am of the opinion that when holiday supplies can be purchased at the 7-11, the holiday spirit has gotten out of hand.

This year, instead of a heart shaped box, try a cookbook or a nice steak. Frankly, nothing says love like a slab of beef.

Famous restaurant critic and cook, Mimi Sheraton wrote The Seducer’s Cookbook. I must say, there are quite a few garlicky, spicy, bean filled recipes in this book that I wouldn’t feed someone I was trying to romance. Cassoulet, pesto, hot dog in hot sauce, anchovies stuffed olives, do not a romantic evening make.

Sheraton suggests a picnic, which I think is totally romantic. Of course if you live in – anywhere in the Uniteds States these last few weeks, a picnic may seem out of the question. Still, Sheraton says,

“any woman who is out to turn a young man’s fancy would do well to master this pastoral art. Fortunately, even the most cautious of city-bred male finds it virtually impossible to resist the charms of a pretty girl with a basketful of food…”

Especially if that basket is filled with lobster.

Boiled Lobster

Since this is virtually all you are going to eat and salt air makes for hearty appetites, I’d suggest you take four 1-pound lobsters along with you. To cook them, plunge them head fist into a big potful of rapidly boiling salted water flavored with an onion, a stalk of celery with leaves, a slice of lemon, 3 or 4 peppercorns and a sprig of parsley. Cover and let the lobsters boil for about 15 minutes; turn off the flame and cool them in their cooking water.
Refrigerate until you are ready to pack them. Wrap in foil, place in insulated hamper, and do not split them until you are ready to eat.



Nicolas Chamfort wrote: The loves of most people are but the results of good dinner.

So boil up some lobster, and fall in love.

CARAMEL PEAR UPSIDE DOWN CAKE FOR VALENTINES DAY

I hope you will consider making this caramel pear upside down cake for your Valentine sweetheart. Served warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, it will knock his/her socks off. Fresh Bosc pears, are baked in a homemade caramel sauce while a ginger-cinnamon cake bakes on top. This recipe has a couple of extra steps (to make the caramel sauce) but it is not hard to do. It is the most moist cake I've ever made.


Preheat your oven to 350F and spray a 9" x 2" cake pan with vegetable spray. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and then spray it again.

TOPPING
2 large firm-ripe Bosc pears (about 1 pound)
1 cup white sugar
¼ teaspoon lemon juice
¼ cup cold water
4 tablespoons warm butter (cut up)

Peel, core and slice the pears in ¼" slices. Arrange the slices in the bottom of the pan, set aside. Make the caramel in a heavy bottomed 2 quart sauce pan. Stir sugar, lemon juice and cold water together. Bring to a boil over medium high heat (occasionally brush the walls of the pan with a wet pastry brush to wash down any sugar crystals). Boil, stirring, until it starts to turn amber. Watch carefully, once it starts to turn color, because it will darken quickly. Remove from heat and stir in the butter (it will really foam and sputter, so be careful). When it is well mixed, pour over the pear slices, set aside.
CAKE
1½ cups all purpose flour
1¾ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup butter (room temperature)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
.
In a small bowl, mix flour, baking powder, ginger and cinnamon together, set aside. In another small bowl, mix milk and vanilla extract, set aside.
.
With electric mixer, beat the room temperature butter for one minute, or until it is light and fluffy; add brown sugar and beat on high for 3 minutes. Reduce speed and add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl once in a while.
.
Now you need to mix in the milk mixture and the flour mixture, but make sure you alternate (dry...milk...dry...milk etc.). Scrape down the bowl and give it one final mix but don't mix too long. Pour the batter over the caramel-pears.

Bake at 350F for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Invert on a serving plate and peel off the parchment paper. Cool.

Happy Valentines Day!!
NOTE: Do not make this in a springform pan because the caramel sauce might leak out.

NOTE: Bosc pears are a "baking pear".

Thursday, February 11, 2010

SNOVERLOAD

We have been stuck, stranded, bored, without electricity, Direct TV, internet, and sun shine.

But we are undaunted and will return.......

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

CROCK POT REFRIED BEANS FOR A CROWD

I have been tweaking this recipe for about a year and I finally have it just the way we like it. It is one of those great recipes that you dump everything in the slow cooker and wait for the magic.

Canned refried beans just don't "do it" for us after trying this one. Honestly, I could just eat this with a spoon right out of the slow cooker...forget the toppings.

1 medium sweet onion (cut in half but not chopped)
3 cups of rinsed (and sorted) DRY pinto beans
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
3 tsp. chili powder
6 slices of crisp bacon (crumbled)

1 tsp. ground cumin
(1) 4 ounce can green mild chiles
½ fresh jalapeno (seeded and chopped)
9 cups water

Put everything in the crockpot and cook on high for 8 hours or till tender. Drain but reserve liquid. Put drained bean mixture into the food processor and puree, adding just enough of the reserved bean liquid to make the beans the right consistency. Keep warm in the crock pot.


NOTE: No need to pre-soak the beans


NOTE: Check the beans after 6-7 hours, if it looks like they are losing too much liquid, add another cup of water.

NOTE: I put the cooked onion (from the crockpot) in the food processor with the beans. A few pulses and it disappears.

NOTE: It's up to you how finely you puree the beans. If you like your refried beans a little chunky, just pulse them a few times.
NOTE: I use a medium size sweet onion, like a Vidalia
NOTE: Leave out the bacon if you are going vegetarian.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

BEER BATTERED HALIBUT with (TWICE FRIED) FRENCH FRIES

Most people in our part of Alaska have halibut in the freezer. Whether they caught it themselves, or (like us) they have a generous neighbor who is an avid fisherman...it is a delightful mid-winter staple. Fish & Chips is one of Hubbies all time favorites and it is very quick to make.


BEER BATTER HALIBUT
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt & ½ tsp. black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
pinch of Old Bay seasoning
12 ounce bottle of COLD beer
.
Whisk everything together until it is very smooth and free of any lumps; cover and let this sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes (or up to an hour).
.
In a deep, heavy bottomed pan, preheat cooking oil to 350F. Cut the halibut into 1½ to 2" chunks and roll them in corn starch before dipping into batter. Fry in hot oil until the fish is golden brown. Drain well and keep warm in the oven.

(TWICE FRIED) FRENCH FRIES
For years, I made french fries that were limp, greasy and soggy. We still ate (and enjoyed) them, but they were never, what I would call, "company worthy". Then, this past year, I noticed that several of the shows on the food channel were frying their potatoes twice, so I thought I would give it a try. I was amazed at the difference this pre-cooking step made. If you haven't tried it yet, you will be very pleasantly surprised. As you can see in the above photo, my fries are now "company worthy".

Peel and slice 4 large Russet potatoes into ¼" thick french fries (Alaska potatoes do not work well for this because their water content is too high). Soak the cut potatoes in cold water for half hour (see note). Remove from water and pat dry.

Working in batches, so you don't overcrowd the pot, fry the potatoes in 325F cooking oil for two or three minutes, or just until they turn pale and a little limp. Remove from the oil and drain well on paper towels and cool the potatoes to room temperature. Make sure you let the oil heat back up to 325F between batches in this first-cook step.

For the second-fry, increase the cooking oil temperature to 375F and fry the potatoes again, this time for about 2-3 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Remove from oil and drain on fresh paper towels and salt immediately.

NOTE: Most cooking shows call for frying in peanut oil, which I never seem to have. I fry in canola oil, but any good cooking oil would work well.

NOTE: If you don't have the time to soak the cut, raw potatoes in cold water, don't worry about it. This step does help, but it is not absolutely necessary.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

BEEF POT ROAST (OVEN BRAISED)

I will be posting some old classic recipes, from time to time, for the younger cooks that visit my recipe blog. These recipes are classics for a reason (they are really good) and todays post is a real winner.
.
Not only is this an easy family style meal, but it creates some of the best leftovers. Start by browning large chunks of chuck roast, then slow roasting them (in beef broth) in a low temperature oven, the end result is super moist, super tender and super beefy.



4 pound beef chuck roast (about 2" thick)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (14 ounce) beef broth
potatoes
carrots
salt and pepper

Don't let the simplicity of the ingredients fool you, this is more about the cooking method than the ingredients. The final flavor is huge and it comes from browning the beef well before you put it into the oven (at least 4 minutes per side). Cut up the chuck roast into large pieces by removing any large white (fat) pieces that run through the meat. Some of you have commented that meat grosses you out. I hope you are courageous enough to try this cooking method, because your family will love you for it. After you cut the large pieces, salt and pepper them, generously, on all sides and brown them in a hot (preferably not a Teflon pan (see note). After the meat has nice crusty brown edges, remove it from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, saute a medium (diced) onion (about a cup). If you used a non-Teflon pan, there should (hopefully) be bits of browned beef stuck to the bottom of the pan. The moisture of the onions, will help de-glaze these little crusty treasures (where a lot of the flavor comes from). Keep cooking the onions until they turn soft. They should look like this (brown from the meat).
When the onions are soft, add the beef broth and stir to loosen everything in the pan.
.
Place the meat in a large roasting pan and arrange potatoes and carrots around the meet. Pour the onion-broth mixture over everything (make sure everything gets coated) like this:

Seal the pan tightly with foil and put into a pre-heated 300F oven for three hours. The meat will be extremely tender and moist and there will be enough broth to make a gravy (or we like the broth just spooned over the meat and potatoes); just make sure you have lots of crusty bread to dip in the broth.
NOTE: If you use a teflon pan, your meat will not leave those wonderful browned bits in the bottom of the pan, thats why I like to use a non-teflon pan to brown.
.NOTE: Leftovers make delicious cold sandwiches, beef & cheese burritos, barbecue beef sandwiches, etc.

NOTE: This recipe can be done in the crock pot, but it is just never quite as moist as it is when cooked in a 300F oven for 3 hours.

NOTE: We are purists when it comes to beef pot roast. I've tried adding herbs and other flavorings, but Hubby likes this simple recipe the best. If you want to liven up the taste with herbs, garlic, etc, go for it.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Baked Eggs - A Sunday Morning Treat

This is such an easy method for making eggs, that you can not even call it a recipe. It would be great for any breakfast buffet...even for a crowd. It is delicious and requires only a couple ingredients. I hope you try it.

Put an un-greased cupcake or muffin pan into a pre-heated 400F oven (to let it get good and hot). When the pan is very hot, increase your oven temperature to 450F and remove the pan. Working quickly, spray the pan with a little vegetable spray and line each muffin cup with a slice of thin sliced deli ham (see note). Crack an egg into each ham lined cup and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Bake in the 450F oven for about 10 minutes or until the eggs are set.

Remove from oven and use a spoon to help you lift the eggs and ham out of the pan (they come out easy). I left my eggs in the oven for 10 minutes, then shut off the oven and let them sit in there for another two minutes; it gave me a soft set egg like this:

My kids used to call eggs cooked to this degree "dipping eggs" because they were just right for dipping toast. If you like your eggs cooked more, just leave them in the oven for another minute. The eggs pick up the flavor of the ham and they are delicious and kind of "cute", don't you think?
NOTE: If you have ham sliced at the deli, the slices should be big enough for this recipe. If you use pre-packaged sandwich ham, the slices might be a little small, so just use two of them to make sure the ham is taller than the muffin cup edge.

Monday, February 1, 2010

CLASSIC CHICKEN-RICE BAKE


I think all cooks have their own version of this baked chicken and rice recipe. Some people use cream soups, some use broth, but they all call for baking chicken and rice together in the oven. This is our version (my favorite part is the rice). I usually put in tons more chicken than the recipe calls for, because it is a "freebie" way of making sandwich fixings (not to mention, chicken cooked this way has a wonderful flavor).
.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons chicken bullion granules
1 cup raw long grain white rice
½ teaspoon black pepper
¾ teaspoon poultry seasoning (see note)
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped celery
16 ounce bag frozen peas and carrots
.
Brown the chicken breasts in a couple tablespoons of butter then set them aside. In the same pan that you browned the chicken in, saute the onion and celery until tender, then stir in the raw rice (you stir in the rice so that it will get coated with butter and not stick together while baking). Once the rice has sauteed for a minute or so, add the soup, stock, chicken bullion and spices. Whisk until smooth. Pour this mixture into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish and stir to distribute the rice evenly. Set the browned chicken on top of the rice (push it down into the liquid a little) and top the whole casserole with frozen peas and carrots. Cover tightly and bake at 325F for 1½ hours (if the chicken breasts are large).
 



NOTE: I don't buy poultry seasoning because I use it so seldom and it goes to waste. Instead, I use equal parts of dry rosemary, rubbed sage leaf and thyme leaves and a pinch of marjoram. I grind these together then measure ¾ teaspoon.