Wednesday, August 31, 2011

BELT Sandwich

The BELT sandwich is bacon, eggs, lettuce, and tomato. You fry an egg and put it on. DH thought it didn't enhance the BLT at all, but didn't detract from it. I think it is still fun, and a nice way to get extra protein in a sandwich.

http://www.ahintofhoney.com/2010/09/belt-bacon-egg-lettuce-tomato-sandwich.html

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Easy Little Bread

Easy Little Bread

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/easy-little-bread-recipe.html

This was quick and very tasty. It is only 10 minutes prep, 30 minutes rise, and 35 minutes in the oven. So you don't need to do much advance planning. I really liked it and loved how it used old fashioned oats.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Chicken Rice Casserole

Chicken Rice Casserole
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-chicken-rice-casserole/detail.aspx

I halved this recipe and put it in a square glass dish to bake. I used brown rice and stirred it twice during baking time to make sure the rice and liquid were mixed well. It took 2 hours total. I used about 12 oz of chicken, which was one huge chicken breast that I cut into strips. The chicken was sort of tough after baking 2 hours. I added about a 1/3 cup extra milk (for the half recipe) since brown rice needs more liquid, but I think I would put in even more liquid next time. Like for every cup the recipe calls for, put in an extra half cup or 2/3 cup of milk or water. Also, the milk bubbled over and got onto the oven, so I recommend putting a pan under it to catch drips.

So the changes I made include:
brown rice
cream of chicken & mushroom soup
dill
thyme
salt free garlic pepper
onion powder
salt

I would have used seasoned salt if I'd had any. This is one of the few recipes where I like to use cream of blank soup. Normally I avoid it.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Cake Mix


Cake Mix

I haven't made this on its own yet, only as part of another recipe. So no ratings yet.

Pink Cake

Pink Cake
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/pink-princess-cake/detail.aspx

Cake Mix
http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/homemade-yellow-cake-mix/

I followed the cake recipe (which calls for cake mix, hence the cake mix recipe) but used about 4.5 oz raspberry jello gelatin. The cake was very dense. Whipped cream topping was absolutely essential. This was fun for the color, but not the best textured cake.

I wanted to make it because I am found out I am pregnant with a girl, and the cake was served at a party.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Black Bean Chili

Black bean chili
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/fantastic-black-bean-chili/detail.aspx

This was good chili. We ate it with chips, cheese, and sour cream.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Julia Child Savory (or sweet) Crepe Batter

Making Savory Crepes
Makes two dozen or so crepes:
1 cup cold water
1 cup cold milk
4 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour
4 tbsp melted butter

Julia places the liquids, egg and salt into a blender, and then adds the flour and then butter. I just whisk it together (in that order) by hand. You might be surprised at how thin the batter is, but that is correct -- to quote Julia, it should just "coat a wooden spoon." Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Chicken, Ham and Mushroom Crepe filling

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/savory-crepes-with-creamy-chicken-ham-and-mushroom-filling-recipe/index.html

This was good, but very fattening. I substituted half and half for the creme. David didn't love it, but liked it fine. I don't think I'll make this exact recipe again, its a lot of work for only a 3.5 rating.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Boneless country-style pork ribs - barbecue

I have been trying to use up some frozen meat lately. Or think of trying. Anyway, last night I tried.

I used 2 boneless country-style pork ribs, they were pretty long. I trimmed some fat off and put them in an 8x8 baking pan. It fit well without touching other pieces much. I put some Jack Daniels barbecue sauce on it (maybe 1/4 cup in all, at most), and rolled the raw meat in it. Then I covered it with tin foil and baked it at 350 for about an hour 20 minutes. I checked the temperature to make sure it was over 165, and it was about 180.

We ate it with baked potatoes and broccoli. It was pretty good. The barbecue sauce mixed in with meat juices so it wasn't as strongly sweet. I would make this again.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Honey Carrot Cake

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Honey-Carrot-Cake/Detail.aspx

This was a moist and tasty cake. It was less sweet than the average carrot cake and that was nice. I did not put frosting on top, but unsweetened whip cream. It calls for honey and no sugar.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Potato and Leek Soup

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/potato-and-leek-soup-recipe2/index.html



This soup was really good. I didn't bother with the "bouquet garni" thing and just put in some dried thyme (a bit less than 1 tsp), ground fresh pepper, and bay leaves loose. Remember to remove the bay leaves at the end before mixing though. Also, I used only 1/3 cup cream, and 2 leeks. I used a stick blender to puree. I left it with some rough texture, which was nice. My mother-in-law ate it too and we all loved it.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Lime Cheesecake

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Key-Lime-Cheesecake-with-Tropical-Dried-Fruit-Chutney-234822

I didn't make the topping and changed the crust to be basic graham cracker:
24 squares graham cracker (12 rectangle sheets)
6 T butter

crush crackers (a food processor would make it faster) and add melted butter. Press into bottom of pan.

I made this for DH's b-day party. It was great! I cooked it for 1 hr 20 minutes with a pan of water on the shelf below it. I used a 9 inch cheesecake pan.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Beet Greens and White Beans Saute

You can use beet greens, broccoli raab (aka rapini), kale, escarole, collard greens, or turnip greens. I used turnip greens. You can use any kind of white colored bean. This recipe is from the Culinary Institute of America: Vegetables cookbook. I altered it by adding ham.

It was very tasty.

chopped ham
2 T olive oil
2 T minced garlic
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, optional
10 cups coursely chopped beet greens (I didn't use near this much. Just a small bunch of turnip greens.
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tsp salt, or to taste
1/2 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
2 cups cooked white beans, drained and rinsed
2 tsp malt vinegar, or to taste (no clue what that is, I left it out)

Heat oil in pan and saute garlic until aromatic (about 1 min). Add red pepper, saute until aromatic (30 seconds).
Add greens and cook, stirring and tossing briskly with wooden spoon to coat the greens evenly with the oil. When the greens have cooked down and are a vivid green color, about 5 min, add broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Bring broth to a simmer, add beans (and ham) and cook, stirring frequently, until greens are fully wilted and dish is very hot. Season with vinegar.

Rhubarb Cream Pie

I made this for easter. I think. It was a while ago:)

I put in twice the rhubarb it called for because I thought there wasn't enough. It turned out to be too much (in my opinion. Other eaters loved it, but it was too strong for me.) The recipe below is the original (unaltered) from Best Desserts cookbook, which is my favorite dessert cookbook.

I like regular rhubarb pie better. (without cream or meringue...)

1 crust pie.

Filling:
2 cups cut-up fresh rhubarb (do not use frozen)
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 cup sugar
2 T flour
1/2 tsp salt

Meringue:
3 egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp vanilla
6 T sugar

1. Prepare pie crust for one crust pie in 9 inch pie pan.

2. Heat oven to 400. Put rhubarb in crust-lined pan. In small bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and lemon colored. Stir in half-and-half. Add all remaining filling ingredients; blend well. Pour egg mixture over rhubarb.

3. Bake a 400F for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 350F; bake an additional 40 minutes.

4. In small, deep bowl, combine egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla; beat at medium speed until soft peaks form. Add 6 tablespoons sugar 1 at a time, beating a high speed until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spoon meringue onto hot filling; spread to edge of crust to seal well and prevent shrinkage.

5. Bake at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes or until meringue is light golden brown. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Store in fridge.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Apple Cake

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7915/german-apple-cake-i/

10/20/2016: Do this from now on: 4 cups diced apples (unpeeled is fine, dice small), green if you have them. Reduce sugar to 1.5 cups (still tastes very sweet), leave the rest of the recipe the same. It does cook in 45 minutes in my oven when spread out in a 9x13. You could probably halve the recipe but don't put it in a loaf pan, use an 8x8.

I may try reducing sugar to 1 cup next time and see if there is still the crunchy top. But will leave oil at 1 cup.

6/1/2011
I halved the recipe and baked it in a 9x5 loaf pan (with an extra 5 minutes). It didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped, based on the fantastic reviews it gets online. I chopped the apples up in very small pieces, less than 1 cm, so maybe bigger chunks would be better. All the fruit went to the top and since it was in a narrower container the fruit layer was thicker than it should have been (i think) and too wet.

Anyway, it was very tasty. I will make it again with the full recipe sometime and that might improve the current "3" rating.

Update 7/9/2011:
I made this recipe again using the original sized recipe (in a 9x13 pan). I didn't change anything except that I did not peel the apples. And I used tart green apples (which I highly recommend, the tartness was a nice companion to the sweet flavor.) One thing I did do is coat the apples with some of the flour before folding the apples into the cake mixture. I read somewhere recently that will help prevent them from rising to the top. I think it worked too.
The crust on top was so good. I adore this cake. Rating has gone up for sure!

Lowfat/lowsugar version 2/1/2012:
I made this recipe again with half the sugar and substituting half the oil for applesauce. It did not have the awesome crust on top, and was more fluffy and cake like (I think the oil is important for the crusty top). David likes it better than the original. I think I will sprinkle sugar on top next time to get the crispy topping.