Sunday, November 24, 2019

Ham and cheese quiche

Ham and cheese quiche

Ingredients

  • 1 package (14.1 ounces) refrigerated pie crust

  • 2 cups diced fully cooked ham

  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

  • 2 teaspoons dried minced onion

  • 4 large eggs

  • 2 cups half-and-half cream

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400°. Unroll pie crusts into two 9-in. pie plates; flute edges. Line unpricked pie crusts with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake until light golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake until bottom is golden brown, 3-5 minutes longer or Cool on wire racks.

  • Divide ham, cheese and onion between shells. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, cream, salt and pepper until blended. Pour into crusts. Cover edges loosely with foil. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Let stand 5-10 minutes before cutting.
    Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked quiche. To use, remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Preheat oven to 350°. Place quiche on a baking sheet; cover edge loosely with foil. Bake as directed, increasing time as necessary for a knife inserted in the center to come out clean.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Brownie recipe from scratch

Brownie recipe from scratch

How do you make chocolate brownies from scratch?

These fudgy brownies are easy to make.
  1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, then add the sugar and stir to combine. Heat just until the mixture is hot, but don’t let it bubble. Watch for it to start looking shiny as you stir it.

  2. Using a hand mixer, mix the eggs until they are frothy and well blended. This is what helps get that tissue paper top that everyone loves on brownies.

  3. Mix in the cocoa, salt, baking powder, and vanilla and mix until smooth.

  4. Add the sugar/butter mixture into the egg mixture and mix it well.

  5. Now it’s time to add in the flour and chocolate chips! We like to use mini chocolate chips and add them while the batter is warm. The chocolate will melt in a little which is what makes the brownies so fudgy.

  6. Mix again, just until well blended and the flour is mixed in.

  7. Put the batter in a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. If you test it with a toothpick, remember that there are chocolate chips in there. If it looks done around the edges and slightly puffed up in the middle, take it out.


Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Canning recipes

Canning recipes


Ingredients

  • 2 cups tomato sauce

  • 2 cups tomato paste

  • 2 cups chopped onions

  • 1 cup chopped green pepper

  • 3 to 5 chopped jalapeno peppers, seeded

  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

  • 6 garlic cloves, minced

  • 2/3 cup white vinegar

  • 1/3 cup sugar

  • 2 tablespoons canning salt

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 2 teaspoons pepper

  • 8 cups chopped peeled tomatoes, drained (about 5 pounds medium tomatoes)

Directions

  • In a stockpot, combine the first 12 ingredients. Stir in tomatoes. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, vegetables are tender, about 20 min.

  • Ladle hot mixture into hot 1-pint jars, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.

  • Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 15 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Enchilada recipes

Enchilada recipes

Verde Chicken Enchilada Casserole Ingredients:

The joy of enchilada casseroles is that they are super customizable when it comes to ingredients. So feel free to sub/add in any of your favorite fillings here. I like to use:
  • Cooked chicken: Either from baked chicken breasts recipe, or I often just shred a rotisserie chicken.

  • Veggies: The recipe below uses a quick blend of onion, poblano (or green bell) pepper, corn and fresh spinach. But feel free to add any other favorite veggies to the sauté.

  • Beans: Two cans of your faves. I used pinto beans for this version.

  • Enchilada sauce:Homemade or store-bought.

  • Corn tortillas: We’ll cut them in half, in order to help them layer a bit more evenly.

  • Shredded cheese: Any kind of Mexican blend, Monterrey Jack or Pepperjack will do.

  • Toppings: Chopped fresh cilantro, diced red onion, thinly-sliced green onion, diced avocado, sour cream, extra cheese…whatever sounds good to you.

How To Make A Chicken Enchilada Casserole:

To make this chicken enchilada casserole, simply:
  1. Cook your filling: Sauté the onion and pepper until soft. Then stir in the beans, corn, chicken and part of the green enchilada sauce until combined. This will be your main filling.

  2. Stack your layers: In this order: enchilada sauce, tortillas, chicken filling, cheese, tortillas, chicken filling, cheese, tortillas, chicken, enchilada sauce and cheese.

  3. Bake: Covered for 20 minutes, then uncovered for another 10 until the cheese is melted.

  4. Garnish: Sprinkle on any of your desired toppings. (I vote the more, the merrier for sure.)

  5. Serve warm: Or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (The leftovers are fantastic!)


Monday, November 18, 2019

Chicken fried steak recipe

Chicken fried steak recipe

Ingredients


1 1/2 cups whole milk

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons seasoned salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 pounds cube steak (tenderized round steak that's been extra tenderized)

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

1 tablespoon butter

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 to 4 cups whole milk

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Directions

  1. For the steak: Begin with setting up an assembly line of dishes. Mix the milk with the eggs in one; the flour mixed with the seasoned salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, paprika and cayenne in another; and the meat in a third. Then have one clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.

  2. Work with one piece of meat at a time. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Turn to coat. Place the meat into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat. Finally, place it back in the flour and turn to coat (dry mixture/wet mixture/dry mixture). Place the breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.

  3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it's sufficiently hot. When the butter sizzles immediately, you know it's ready. (It should not brown right away, if it does, the fire is too hot.) Cook the meat, 3 pieces at a time, until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and keep them warm by covering lightly with another plate or a sheet of foil. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.

  4. After all the meat is fried, pour off the grease into a heatproof bowl. Without cleaning the skillet, return it to the stove over medium-low heat. Add 1/4 cup of the grease back to the skillet and allow it to heat up.

  5. For the gravy: When the grease is hot, sprinkle the flour evenly over the grease. Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, creating a golden-brown paste. Add more flour if it looks overly greasy; add a little more grease if it becomes too pasty/clumpy. Keep cooking until the roux reaches a deep golden brown color.

  6. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Add the seasoned salt and black pepper to taste and cook, whisking, until the gravy is smooth and thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Be prepared to add more milk if it becomes overly thick. Be sure to taste to make sure gravy is sufficiently seasoned.

  7. Serve the meat next to a big side of mashed potatoes. Pour gravy over the whole shebang!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Cold cucumber soup

Cold cucumber soup

Ingredients

  • 2 large European cucumbers (2 1/4 pounds), halved and seeded—1/2 cup finely diced, the rest coarsely chopped

  • 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt

  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • 1 small shallot, chopped

  • 1 garlic clove

  • 1/3 cup loosely packed dill

  • 1/4 cup loosely packed flat-leaf parsley leaves

  • 2 tablespoons loosely packed tarragon leaves

  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling

  • Salt

  • Fresh ground white pepper

  • 1/2 red onion, finely chopped

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Banana pudding from scratch

Banana pudding from scratch

How to Make the Custard for the Pudding:

  • Combine your flour, sugar, and salt in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.

  • Lightly beat your egg yolks and whisk to combine with milk in a large bowl or even use a large liquid measuring cup, such as a 4-cup.

  • Whisk your egg yolk mixture into your dry ingredients in the saucepan set over medium to low heat. Stir constantly until the custard is thickened, remove from the heat and stir in your vanilla extract.

How to Assemble Banana Pudding:

  • Arrange vanilla wafers on the bottom of a 2-quart dish, such as an oven-safe glass bowl or dish.

  • Slice bananas and place on top of the vanilla wafer layer.

  • Pour 1/3 of the pudding over the wafers and bananas.

  • Repeat layering process, ending with a layer of wafers.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Cranberry pie

Cranberry pie

Ingredients

  • 3-1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest

  • 1 small navel orange, peeled, sectioned and chopped

  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

  • 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • Additional sugar

  • ORANGE CREAM:


  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream



  • 1 tablespoon sugar



  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest



  • 1/2 teaspoon orange extract, optional


  • Directions

    • Preheat oven to 450°. Toss together first eight ingredients.

    • On a lightly floured surface, roll one half of crust to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust even with rim. Add filling.

    • Roll remaining crust to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; cut into strips. Arrange over filling in a lattice pattern. Trim and seal strips to edge of bottom crust; flute edge. Brush lattice with egg; sprinkle with additional sugar. Cover edges loosely with foil.

    • Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 350°. Remove foil; bake until golden brown, 40-45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

    • Meanwhile, beat whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Add remaining ingredients; beat until soft peaks form. Refrigerate until serving. Serve with pie.

    Friday, November 8, 2019

    Cookies recipe

    Cookies recipe

    Method

    Heat the oven to 190C/fan170C/gas 5 and line two baking sheets with non-stick baking paper.

    Put 150g softened salted butter, 80g light brown muscovado sugar and 80g granulated sugar into a bowl and beat until creamy.

    Beat in 2 tsp vanilla extract and 1 large egg.

    Sift 225g plain flour, ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda and ¼ tsp salt into the bowl and mix it in with a wooden spoon.

    Add 200g plain chocolate chips or chunks and stir well.

    Use a teaspoon to make small scoops of the mixture, spacing them well apart on the baking trays. This mixture should make about 30 cookies.

    Bake for 8–10 mins until they are light brown on the edges and still slightly soft in the centre if you press them.

    Leave on the tray for a couple of mins to set and then lift onto a cooling rack.

    Thursday, November 7, 2019

    Ciabatta bread recipe


    • In a small bowl add 1/4 cup water, honey and yeast, let sit for 5 minutes, then stir.

    • In a large bowl add the flour.

    • Make a well in the centre and add the yeast mixture and the remaining water.

    • Mix with a wooden spoon, add the salt mix again.

    • The dough will be loose and sticky.

    • Sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough, cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a draft free area for 1 1/2 hours.

    • Lightly flour a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

    • Gently move the dough from the bowl to the prepared cookie sheet, making sure the top of the dough (the floured part) remains on top.

    • With a spatula form the dough into an oblong shape and bake for approximately 20-30 minutes. Let cool and slice.

    Tuesday, November 5, 2019

    Chocolate mug cake recipe


    Ingredients


    The ultimate convenience food, eggs are powerhouses of nutrition, packed with protein and a…

    One of the most widely used ingredients, milk is often referred to as a complete food. While cow…


  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil or sunflower oil



  • a few drops of vanilla essence or other essence (orange or peppermint work well)



  • 2 tbsp chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins etc (optional)


  • Method

    Add 4 tbsp self-raising flour, 4 tbsp caster sugar and 2 tbsp cocoa powder to the largest mug you have (to stop it overflowing in the microwave) and mix.

    Add 1 medium egg and mix in as much as you can, but don't worry if there's still dry mix left.

    Add the 3 tbsp milk, 3 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil and a few drops of vanilla essence and mix until smooth, before adding 2 tbsp chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins, if using, and mix again.

    Centre your mug in the middle of the microwave oven and cook on High for 1½ -2 mins, or until it has stopped rising and is firm to the touch.

    Friday, November 1, 2019

    Best buttercream frosting


    Ingredients:

    • 1 pound (4 cups) of Powdered Sugar

    • 1 cup Butter (We use Salted Sweet Cream Butter)

    • 2-3 Tablespoons Eggnog

    • 1/4 teaspoon of Nutmeg

    • Wilton Color Right Food Coloring – Yellow

    • Decorating Bags

    • Wilton 2D Decorating Tip

    • Mixer

    Directions:

    1. Add powdered sugar to mixing bowl.

    2. Add softened sticks of butter

    3. Add 2 tbsps of eggnog

    4. Beat on low until powdered sugar is incorporated. Then move mixer up to medium-high speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When completely mixed the frosting may appear dry.

    5. Add more eggnog, a little bit at a time until frosting is the proper consistency.

    6. Add Nutmeg.