caneles de bordeaux (or canneles)

French canneles recipe from former coworker Danielle:

1/2 liter of milk
100 g of flour (sifted)
200 g of granulated sugar (sifted)
2 whole eggs + 2 yolks
25 g butter (REAL!!! no margarine)
1 tbls vanilla extract
4-5 tbls rum

 

1. Combine milk, vanilla, and butter in pot. Bring to a boil and then remove from stove.
2. Mix together sugar, flour, and the eggs. Once mixed, pour in 1 cup of the milk mixture and stir together. Once stirred together, pour in a bit more of the milk. Repeat until done with the milk.
3. Let sit in refrigerator for at least 2 hours (preferably 24 hours). When ready to cook, add the rum to the mixture and let sit for at least one hour out of refrigerator.
4. If using metallic molds, grease them. If using silicone, no greasing is necessary. Place molds on baking sheet, and then start filling the molds. Do not fill past 3/4 of rim.
5. Place in oven at 270 (CELSIUS) for 5 minutes.
6. Lower temperature to 180 (Celsius) and cook for at least 1 more hour (it depends on your oven--with mine I have to cook another 1h20). When ready, the canneles will be dark and crispy on the outside and custardy on the inside. They should stand up straight (relatively) when ready.

I have made this in a silicone mold a few times and it turned out great. My mold has 15 spots, which is not quite enough for this recipe so I have to do it in two batches. I believe it makes 20 or so individual canneles.

2026 edit: In the silicone mold I can only fit half the recipe. Also, it does not brown on the edge like it should if it were metal, so I have to bake it an extra 30-40 minutes and it still wasn't dark on the sides. But it was still good. So next time just make half a batch so it all fits in the mold.

Flan

 https://www.allroadsleadtothe.kitchen/2012/09/TheBestFlanEver.html

45 minutes in the oven was perfect. Lovely delicious flan! 

Cheesy Potatoes

 https://www.spendwithpennies.com/easy-cheesy-potatoes/

Cheesy Potatoes

Made these to go with ham on christmas, used real potatoes (peeled and diced, then boiled). I used an entire can of cream of mushroom, and reduced sour cream by half or more. Likely did not use all the cheese either. Split between two pans and froze one half. The other half I put 1 cup cornflakes and 1 T butter on top in lieu of cheese.

Easy Lasagna

 I really liked this lasagna. It was easy and Ila helped me, did practically everything herself except browning ground beef. The wavy style of the creamette no-boil noodle was helpful for spreading the cheese over since there were ridges to smash it into.

This is enough for 2 meals.

Gooey Swedish Chocolate Cake Kladdkaka

 https://scrummylane.com/6-ingredient-gooey-swedish-chocolate-cake-kladdkaka/

Gooey Swedish Chocolate Cake Kladdkaka

I made this by lining my 10 in tart pan with parchment, sprayed the parchment, didn't push in the edges much. It took 30 minutes to get the top crusty like the recipe describes. It was gooey and perfect when inverted.  We ate half of it tonight, cut in 5, and the other half tomorrow. So delicious and really easy.

Butter Vodka Pie Dough

 https://bakingthegoods.com/2014/01/17/butter-vodka-pie-dough-recipe/

Butter Vodka pie dough

This pie dough makes 2 crusts. I only make a half recipe when I need just a bottom crust. I use a pastry cutter and refrigerate only for 15 min or so, then roll out between two pieces of plastic wrap.

I like this better than my "no fail" recipe. It is much more convenient to use butter than shortening (which I never have on hand), and I don't have to go find lard either. I think the sugar made it like a shortbread cookie on it's own, because I found myself wanting to eat the crust of my apple pie for the first time in a very long time. I will try to remember to use this recipe as my standard from now on.

Open face Tomato Sandwich

In order of layers:

Mayonnaise

Sandwich sprinkle

Shredded cheese

Thin sliced tomato, marinated in olive oil & balsamic vinegar

Salt on top

Broil sandwiches without tomatoes until cheese is melted, then add tomatoes and broil a little longer.

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

 https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/double-chocolate-zucchini-bread.html

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This was delicious. I am sure I used more than two cups of zucchini, more like 3 probably. It was very wet but worked in a bowl with ice cream when hot. 

When cooled it was dense but still very good. Definitely keeping this recipe, and recommend extra zucchini for the same level of moist.

Ginger Pear Puff Pastry Tart

https://www.forkknifeswoon.com/ginger-pear-puff-pastry-tart/
Ginger Pear Puff Pastry Tart

Ginger is important. Use medium firm pears. Don't bother with pretty slice arrangement. Slice and chop, no need to peel.

This is delicious. A winner with apples too.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/hot-fudge-pudding-cake/

Definitely one to repeat. It was very dark and a little bitter with regular cocoa, will try dutch processed cocoa next time. Perfect with ice cream.

Sourdough Pizza

Night before, mix 75 grams sourdough starter + 75 grams white flour + 75g water
Cover overnight.

In the morning, add 75g white flour + 75g water. Mix and cover.

Then, either lunchtime or early afternoonish, add 125 g whole wheat flour, 1 tbsp oil, and 1 tsp salt. I stir the oil and salt in first before adding the flour since it's easier. You may need to knead it a bit to get it to mix well. Then cover until needed for pizza.

Heat oven to 500F.  Stretch out dough by hand and place on oiled half sheet. Add toppings, bake for 10-12 minutes.

Adapted from https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/recipe/sourdough-recipes/sourdough-pizza-crust/


Note: If you forget to start the night before, you can do the first feeding in the morning, second at lunch, and third an hour or more before it goes into the oven.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

https://www.averiecooks.com/soft-and-chewy-pumpkin-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Beyond fabulous, my favorite. There is a non-oatmeal version as well that is wonderful.

Cafe Rio Pork, instant pot method

3 lb pork roast
1/4 cup worcestershire
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 Tb dried minced onions
salt/pepper

Cut up roast into 4-5 chunks. Salt and pepper meat.  Add sugar and Worcestershire sauce and all other ingredients and toss, let marinade for a couple hours in instant pot, while off.

When ready to cook, add half cup water to pot and 4 oz tomato paste. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour, then let natural pressure release for 20 minutes.Then shred with forks.

Serve with trader joes cilantro dressing over salad, with beans, rice, sour cream, guacamole, crunchy corn chips topping, flour tortillas, etc. Rice and beans recipe to potentially use is here http://www.melandboyskitchen.com/2009/02/16/shredded-sweet-pork-salad-2/

This was sweet enough but not too sweet. Store in cooking liquid and use fork to pull out pork as needed.

Acorn squash with brown sugar and butter

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/classic_baked_acorn_squash/
Acorn squash with brown sugar and butter

Mrs. Field's Cookies

2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
2 cups butter
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

mix well

2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour

mix well

Mix all together

Then add 5 cups quick oats
20 oz choc chips

Bake 400 for 6 minutes, will be soft.

1/2 inch at most deep in sheet pan.

Jello Shamrock Cookies

Original:
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 pkg 3 oz lime jello (mom revised to 6 oz jello)
1 cup shortening (mom revised to 1/2 cup)
3 eggs
1-2 tbsp milk

Add shortening to dry, then eggs, then roll out and cut into shapes. bake 350F for 8 minutes

Notes: better with lime extract added

3/13/2021: I made the original recipe using lard instead of shortening and 1 tbsp milk. I added a tsp of lime extract which boosted the lime flavor quite a bit and was very nice.

3/17/2024: By weight, three cups flour is not enough (i.e. 360 grams). Do cups by volume next time, or use 154 grams per cup rather than 120 grams.

Onion Dip with Veggie Sticks

This is a really nice dip for veggies. From the 100 Days of Real Food cookbook

16 ounce container sour cream
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1.5 tsp onion powder
1.25 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp salt

Mix and store in sour cream container.

For a serving option, divide the dip between 8 small serving cups and put carrots, cucumber, and celery sticks in the cups.

NOTE: This is great when you use 8 oz sour cream with 4 oz miracle whip (approximately). The kids liked the stronger seasonings and it made a better consistency.

Tomato and Cream soup

garden fresh roma tomatoes, about a dozen (peels removed, frozen fine)
1 quart chicken broth
1 minced onion
2 tsp "justice" from penzeys
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup cream
salt

boil tomatoes in broth. Puree in blender on low so there are still a few little chunks. Add spices and bay leaf, boil for 15 minutes. remove bay leaves, add cream. Then add salt to taste (a couple tsps at least?)

Serve with jalopeno cheese bread or cheese toast or breadsticks.

Banana Cake

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/banana-cake/

Banana cake

This was good. I topped it with sweetened whipped cream with a ~3 tablespoons of peanut butter in it. Was a nice combo.

Baked meatballs

https://www.yummyhealthyeasy.com/best-ever-easy-baked-meatballs/
meatballs

These were quick and easy. I used 85/15 ground beef and it made it SOOO good and helped fry the onions in the oven. Definitely would do this again. I also baked it for 20-25 minutes at 400.