Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

I'm currently reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver. It's been quite an eye opener for me regarding the "food chain" (or, I guess it would be the food supply chain), especially in the U.S. I'm not sure how much it would apply to other countries, but ultimately the challenges (and problems) of feeding the world's population affect every country on the planet.

While I'm not finished reading the book, I would recommend it to you without hesitation. Her perspective, not to be discounted since she lives in a small, southern U.S. town, is refreshing and really made me think about the food I buy and eat in a different light.

Oh, and her daughter, Camille, contributes recipes and menus throughout the book. They are also available on the companion website (http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com) for downloading. Be sure to check out both the book and the website.

Apple Turnovers

I've purchased and baked the some-assembly-required turnovers available from the grocery store, and while they're tasty (they come in apple and cherry), they are a bit more 'processed' than I'd prefer. (Plus, I don't know exactly what's in them!) So, we now have an easy way to make tasty apple turnovers in our household that uses prepared puff pastry and homemade filling. I must give credit to my husband for perfecting the filling recipe. :) The filling can be made ahead of time (and I assume the turnovers can be assembled ahead of time, too, though I haven't tried it), so they're quick, easy, and tasty. Oh, and you can make the turnovers whatever size you'd like! They're great for breakfast or brunch with a good cup of coffee.

Apple Turnovers

1 sheet of Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry (1/2 package), thawed

Filling:
1 large Granny Smith Apple, grated (peeling not necessary)
1 Tbsp. sugar (or to taste)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon (or to taste)
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (or to taste)

Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Mix filling ingredients and set aside. Cut the sheet of puff pastry into 6 squares (or 4 if you want bigger turnovers). Place the filling in the center of the square, fold into a triangle, and seal the edges with a fork. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown. Cool slightly. Dust with powedered sugar and serve.

Food Find

I haven't been doing much experimenting lately with new recipes (mainly because I'm still unpacking our house), but I have visited a few foodie-type stores in the area to see what's available. One such store is the European Market, a small shop that stocks hundreds of items imported from various countries in Europe, from meats to noodles, juices to chocolates, etc. I had read about Lingonberries on Anne's blog, so when I saw a jar of Lingonberry Jam (imported from Sweden), I had to try some. I am so glad I did! It's delicious! The jam has a delicious taste similar to cranberries, but the sweet-tart balance is absolutely perfect for my tastebuds. If you have a local market that carries products from Europe, see if they carry Lingonberry Jam. Or, do a search online for some. Amazon.com carries it. You'll be glad you did.

Moving Right Along...

Since I last posted, we've packed up our house and moved to a different city. I've still got LOTS of unpacking to do, but I've been back in our 'old' town this week for work while my husband paints our new house. (pregnancy + paint fumes = not good). So, needless to say, I've not been cooking/baking much lately. However, I'm still collecting recipes to try, and I hope to post some yummy recipes soon!

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for Blogging By Mail, hosted by Stephanie from Dispensing Happiness. You'll love it!

Meanwhile, here's the latest ultrasound picture. We're not finding out if it's a boy or girl until he/she arrives. My due date is September 25.

Strawberry Trifle

I realized the perfect way to not waste a cake that falls in the middle is to use it in a trifle! Just trim off the edges and/or any part that isn't done, cube it, and add some macerated fruit and whipped cream. It's delicious! I made this trifle during graduation weekend when we had 19 people at our house to help us celebrate, and it was a big hit. For once, I didn't use a recipe, but I'll explain what I did.

I used leftover Strawberry Cake that I had intended to use as a birthday cake for a friend's daughter. Since the middle fell (it was pitifully embarrasing...it looked awful), I trimmed the edges, cubed it, and froze it until I needed it. I thawed and macerated some strawberries (just spooned sugar over them and let them sit in the fridge overnight) and layered cake, fruit, and whipped cream in a glass bowl with straight sides. (After all, the presentation is really pretty, too!) I topped the whipped cream with a few blueberries, and voila! Easy, tasty dessert with rave reviews.

Rice Krispies Treats

I was feeling somewhat nostalgic this weekend (while craving something sweet), so I decided to make some Rice Krispies Treats. I haven't had them in years, but they brought back many pleasant memories, mostly of my mom, my sister, and me making them on Friday nights while watching tv. Isn't it amazing how certain smells and foods can bring back memories so strongly? Anyway, while the recipe certainly isn't new, it's a classic. Make some with your kids/grandkids/spouse/significant other, and enjoy.

Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats (Original)

3 Tbsp. butter (or margarine)
10 oz. (about 40) regular marshmallows OR 4 cups miniature marshmallows (or 7 oz. marshmallow creme or fluff)
6 cups Rice Krispies

Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cut into 2-inch squares when cool. Best if served the same day.

Yield: 24 squares


Recipe courtesy Kellogg's

Sausage Balls

I love sausage balls, not only because they can be prepared ahead of time, but also because they're simple to make and tasty. This is another recipe that brings me back to my childhood as my mom made these frequently for receptions and parties. These didn't turn out as well as hers, though the ingredients were the same. Perhaps I made them too small so they dried out. I need to tweak this a bit (perhaps using less Bisquick), but they're still good. And, they're even better if you let them sit (no need for refrigeration) for a day or so before eating them.

Sausage Balls

3 cups Bisquick
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 lb. sausage (I prefer hot, otherwise they can be somewhat bland)

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. (I do this with my hands and it takes a few minutes to get everything consistently mixed.) Roll into 1-inch balls, place on a baking sheet, and bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and serve.

Feeding a Multitude

At least, we had enough food this weekend to do just that. My husband graduated from medical school, and we had plenty of family on hand to help us celebrate. Last week was filled with cooking and baking preparations so we'd be able to avoid going out to restaurants and dealing with all of those logistics. It was enough to try to get everyone transported to and from the graduation events! But, we had a wonderful time, and it was great to see some family that (a) we hadn't seen in a while, (b) we have never met, and (c) could help me out in the kitchen! :) I made Indiana Garden Salad, Chinese Noodle Salad, Banana Bread, Sausage Balls, KFC Clone Coleslaw, and lots of other yummy stuff. I'll post the recipe for the sausage balls later this week (they're super easy and get better the longer they sit). For now, here's the recipe for the KFC Clone Coleslaw. I can't remember the website from where I retrieved it, but we thought it was pretty close to the Colonel's. I think I would add a bit more pepper, but that's it.

KFC Coleslaw Clone Recipe

8 1/2 cups chopped cabbage
1/3 cup shredded carrot
1 tsp. onion, chopped fine
Dressing:
3/4 cup buttermilk (can substitute 1 tsp. white vinegar + 3/4 cup regular milk)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/8 cup milk
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup granulated sugar

Mix cabbage, carrot, and onion. Whisk together all dressing ingredients except salt, pepper, & sugar and mix well. Add the salt and pepper; stir. Add the sugar and whisk until well-mixed. Pour dressing over cabbage and carrots and refrigerate overnight.

Still Here

Wow...I didn't realize it's been nearly a month since I last posted! I guess life just became too busy in the past weeks. I have been doing a little baking, but nothing has turned out to be spectacular. Actually, I'm just glad I can stand to be in the kitchen again. For a while there I didn't want to be near the smell of food cooking (at least not long enough for me to cook or bake something). Why, do you ask?

So, that's why I haven't been cooking and baking as much. However, my nausea is getting better, and my kitchen endeavors should pick up the pace again soon.

Also, we found out in mid-March that we'll be moving in a few months, so I've been busy packing up things, preparing for a yard/garage sale, and readying the house to put it on the market. Busy, busy!

All this is to say, "Hang in there..." I haven't dropped completely off the face of the earth, and I should be back to my regularly-posting self soon.

Chess Bars

I finally did some baking this weekend, and I made this recipe twice! It's one of my favorites, but my mom had to convince me to try them when I was growing up...I thought they had coconut in them (and I've never liked coconut). I'm glad she convinced me! They're both delicious and addictive. (Consider yourself warned.) At least you don't have to worry about dirtying your stand mixer for this recipe. I even use the same bowl to mix the crust and filling. Less mess to clean makes this recipe even sweeter.


Preheat oven to 325F.

For the crust:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 stick (8 Tbsp/4 oz) butter, softened

Mix above ingredients with hand mixer until all of the cake mix is moistened. Spray a long sheet pan (at least 12" x 18") with non-stick spray. Press cake mix into the bottom of the pan, covering all of the surface with a thin layer.

For the Filling/Topping:
1 1lb box of confectioners sugar (10X)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix ingredients together with hand mixer until well blended. Pour this over the crust.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the filling is golden brown on top. Cool, cut, and serve.

Pickled Beets

My mom used to make these (actually, she still does), and I absolutely love them. They're great plain, or in a salad, or for whatever else you want to use them for! Pickled beets are so simple to make - please, don't buy them pre-made! However, you can start with canned beets in whatever shape you like (whole, sliced, cubed, chunked, etc). If they're big chunks or slices, I prefer them cold; if however, they're cubed, I like them hot.

This recipe easily doubles...triples...multiplies however many times you want to make it.

2 cans beets, drained - reserve the juice (I used whole beets & cut them into chunks)
1 cup sugar
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup beet juice (from canned beets)

Combine sugar, vinegar, and beet juice and bring to a boil over medium heat. After it reaches a full boil, remove from the heat, cool slightly, and pour over the beets. You'll probably have some juice left over, but not enough for a third can of beets. (This works best if you put them into a canning jar & use a wide-mouth funnel.) Two cans of beets (not sliced) will fill up a quart jar. Either keep them in the fridge, or process them according to home-canning directions.

Long Time, No See

My apologies to anyone who's been checking this site for new recipes; I've been sick, and the last thing on my mind was the computer and my blog! No cooking/baking for me lately - I've just been munching on peanut butter & bananas on Saltine crackers with a glass of milk. However, I'm doing much better, and hopefully I'll be able to start cooking/baking again soon. I received some samples from another Pam's Pantry (she's in Michigan), so, again, hopefully I'll be posting my thoughts on some of her mixes soon.

Meanwhile, Happy Valentine's Day! Make some Pink Stuff to share with your sweetheart(s)!

Apple Pound Cake

Hey folks. I haven't been cooking/baking much lately, hence, the lack of posting. However, I thought I'd share another recipe from my grandmother. She made this for Christmas, and, if I'd skipped Christmas lunch, I'd have consumed the entire cake by myself. It's that good. Obviously I'm biased, but this cake is scrumptious, and the almost crunchy exterior provides a nice contrast to the chewy interior. Yum.

1 1/2 c. oil
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
2 c. finely chopped peeled apples
1 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. golden raisins
Apple Cider Glaze (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 325F.

Beat oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well blended. Combine dry ingredients and add to the sugar mixture, beating well. Spoon into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan (she used a square tube pan). Bake for about 1 hour or until the cake tests done. Let it cool 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Prick the top with a fork and drizzle on the glaze.

Apple Cider Glaze

1/2 c. apple juice
1.2 c. brown sugar
1/4 stick butter (2 Tbsp.)

Boil the ingredients together until the sugar is dissolved. (She also notes that you could add 1/3 c. Apple Jack if desired, but she doesn't add it.)

Blueberry Maple Breakfast Bake

I found this recipe on Simply Recipes a while back, and I finally got the chance to try it. I had to adjust it slightly since I didn't have a 9x9 pan. I thought it was rather tasty (and leftovers make a good quick breakfast before dashing off to work), especially when drizzled with more maple syrup. Elise presents great recipes and photos (almost daily!), so be sure to check out her blog: Simply Recipes.

Blueberry Maple Breakfast Bake (slightly adapted)

3/4 loaf of white bread (I used Sara Lee White Wheat)
4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, divided
6 eggs, beaten
1 cups milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove crusts from bread; cut into one inch cubes. Cut cream cheese in small cubes (makes about 1 cup). Grease a 8x8x2 inch baking dish. Place half of the bread cubes in the dish. Scatter cream cheese cubes and 1 cup of blueberries over the bread. Top with remaining bread cubes and blueberries. In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, maple syrup and butter. Carefully pour over bread mixture. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour, covering with aluminum foil if eges brown too much. To serve, cut into squares. Accompany with additional maple syrup, if desired. Can be prepared the night before, and just baked before serving.

Chateau Morrisette

Chateau Morrisette is one of Virginia's largest wineries, and it is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 171.5). My husband and I stopped at the winery on our honeymoon. When we go to visit my family, we pass within 5 miles of this hidden gem. For those who know me well, the last thing you'd expect me to support would be a winery. However, don't worry! I'm not here to promote their wine. I'm here to recommend that everyone try their vinegars!
The first vinegar we bought from Chateau Morrisette (during our honeymoon) was their Late Harvest Reisling Vinegar. This is a sweeter vinegar that we most often simply used by itself to dress spinach salads with mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, and toasted pecans. I am not a fan of white or cider vinegar (at least, not by itself), but I loved the Reisling vinegar!
This December, five years later, we returned to Chateau Morrisette to get some more of the Reisling. Much to our surprise (and delight), they had expanded their offerings of flavored vinegars! [They also have flavored oils, pesto, and mustards that are also delicious.] I would highly recommend that you try them. How, do you ask? Luckily for you, they sell their products online, too! You can also find out more information about the winery and the events they have throughout the year. They currently offer Blood Orange, D'Anjou Pear, Blueberry, Spicy Pecan, and Strawberry Champagne vinegars in addition to the Reisling. If you visit the winery, you can sample the vinegars before purchasing. We ended up leaving with the Blood Orange, D'Anjou Pear, and Reisling. Like the Reisling, we just sprinkle some over a salad to enjoy. Personally, I think the Blood Orange is better than the D'Anjou Pear, but my husband disagrees. Either way, they're both delicious.

Blogging By Mail

I finally received my BBM package in the mail yesterday! Aarika from Aarikavination enclosed a letter explaining her rather extensive run of back luck before/during the holidays. Things finally calmed down enough for her to get my package in the mail this week. Hopefully things will calm down even more for Aarika soon!

But, you're interested in the package contents, aren't you? Well, tada! All sorts of goodies!

Starting from the top left, moving clockwise: Double Apple Muffin Mix, from Aarika's local farmer's market; Milk N Honees (Milk Honey Filled Drops); Honey Pear Tea; Raspberry Ginger Tea. Next is a a mix CD entitled "Calmness: December Megamix"; after her eventful holiday season, I'm sure she could use a little calmness in her life! The CD is resting on a big bag of (homemade) White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel Sticks. She said the JELLO Cheesecake Pudding intrigued her when she saw it in the grocery store, and I'm glad she sent it. It's really good with some frozen fruit when you're in a hurry to make a tasty dessert. In front are an Amish Country Postcard and an "Aspens" postcard by Ansel Adams - Excellent choice! I love Ansel Adams' work, and "Aspens" is one of my favorite scenes from his collection. Finally, we have candy canes, (in the middle) Candy Cane Hershey Kisses, and the cute tea towel everything is resting on! Since I don't like milk or dark chocolate, she definitely gave me a reason to smile with all the white chocolate. The Candy Cane Kisses are really yummy; it's hard not to eat the whole bag at once!
I can hardly wait to try the muffin mix; this Saturday morning's breakfast will be the perfect opportunity to do so. The Milk N Honees are wonderful! They remind me of a candy I used to eat when I was growing up. (Wow, was that really 18 years ago?!) I haven't tasted the tea yet, but it certainly smells great. I'll have to have some with my Double Apple Muffins!

Isn't this cute?! Aarika lamented about the tea towel being slightly out of season, but I don't mind a bit. And, like she said, we can all use another tea towel, right? I know I certainly can.

Here's one more cute item from the package, though it was on the outside. Aarika decorated the outside of the package with festive stickers, and I thought these guys were just adorable.
Thank you so much, Aarika, for the package! And, thanks also to Stephanie of Dispensing Happiness for heading up this BBM effort!

Comments

I was beginnning to wonder why no one had commented on any of my posts. And, I knew people were visiting this blog. So, what gives? My stupidity, of course. I had comment moderation enabled, but I didn't know there were any comments to moderate. So, I apologize (especially to Brilynn from Jumbo Empanadas). The few comments that have been left are now visible.

Apple Cabbage Raisin Salad

I'm glad to be back from a rather long hiatus! (I tried to update earlier, but Blogger decided that I didn't need to update my blog.) I hope you had a great holiday with your family and friends. Ours was busy, but it was great to see everyone again.

While I was gone, my BBM partner finally received her package from me. [Again, I'm sorry for the delay, but at least you received it before Christmas!] Lisa from La Mia Cucina posted about the package here. I'm so glad that she really liked all the goodies I sent; it's so much fun to gather everything and wait to see/read the recipient's reaction! No word yet on the BBM package I'm supposed to receive; hopefully my BBM partner isn't having too much bad luck these days...especially over the holidays.

Speaking of holidays, I'll share a recipe from my grandmother that she prepared for Christmas lunch: Apple Cabbage Raisin Salad. I haven't actually made it yet, but it's scrumptious. Trust me. I'm sure you could substitute low-fat yogurt for the mayo, but I'd drain it really well to get the right consistency before adding it to the other ingredients. This recipe serves 4, but it can easily be doubled as needed. I'd recommend preparing this dish the day before you'll serve it.

1 red apple, chopped (do not peel)
2 cups shredded cabbage
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup light mayonnaise (or more if needed - just add to taste)

Toss the chopped apples together with the cabbage, raisins, and almonds in a bowl. Stir in mayo and mix well. Store in the refrigerator; serve chilled.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bundt Cake

In celebration of some friends' anniversary, I made this cake while babysitting for them at their house. So far, they don't seem to mind being guinea pigs for my baking adventures. They have reported that this cake was good, so I'll take their word for it. (I trust their tastebuds!) I added some chocolate ganache to the cake, which made for a rather nice presentation.

This recipe hails from Culinary in the Desert Country, which he adapted from Canadian Living. It seems to be quite a keeper. I forgot my camera, so no pictures to share yet; however, Joe has a good photo on his blog so you can see what it looks like.


For the filling:
2/3 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

For the cake batter:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoons salt
12 tablespoons natural cocoa powder
3/4 cup boiling water
3 ounces quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
12 tablespoons sour cream
12 tablespoons butter, softened
1 2/3 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F.

To make the filling:
In a large mixing bowl, beat peanut butter, cream cheese and butter until combined. Add egg yolks, one at a time, and beat until combined. Mix in vanilla. Be sure to scrape down the sides. Pour in sugar and flour, mix until combined. Fit a pastry bag with a large plain tip and scoop the filling into the bag. (I didn't use a tip on the pastry bag, and it worked just fine.) Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

To make the batter:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.

In a medium metal or glass bowl, add cocoa and whisk in boiling water. Add in chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth. Mix in sour cream.

In large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in eggs, one at a time, and then beat in vanilla. Alternatively mix in the dry ingredients and the cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix just until combined with each addition.

Spray a bundt pan with a nonstick spray that has flour included (like Baker's Joy or Pam with Flour). Spoon a little less than half of the batter into bottom of the bundt pan. Using the pastry bag that has the peanut butter mixture, carefully pipe a ring of the filling over the center of the chocolate batter. Pour the remaining batter on top and gently tap the pan to remove air bubbles.

Bake until top springs back when lightly touched or a toothpick comes out mostly clean with a few crumbs attached - about 50-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Place a wire cooling rack on top of the cake and carefully turn over - remove the pan and let cool completely.

Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps

I said previously that the holidays make me feel all "Martha Stewarty"; to prove my point, here's one of the goodies I'm giving as gifts this year. And, yes, it's a Martha recipe (slightly adapted). It's pretty simple and easy to double (or triple) the recipe, but it's also somewhat time consuming since you have to roll them out & in sugar twice. These cookies received my husband's nod of approval, so they pass the "share-able" test. Plus, I think they look neat, too. *One warning: your hands will get very chocolatey.

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 teaspoons instant coffee (or espresso powder)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled (I used semisweet chocolate chips)
1 tablespoon milk
confectioners sugar, for coating

Preheat oven to 350F and prepare baking sheets with parchment or a Silpat. (Do this while your hands are still clean!)

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, coffee (or espresso), baking powder, and salt. In a stand mixer (the dough will fairly stiff), beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until well combined; mix in cooled chocolate. With mixer on low speed, gradually add dry ingredients; beat in milk just until combined. Flatten dough into a disk; wrap in plastic. Freeze until firm, about 45 minutes.

Place confectioners’ sugar into a medium bowl; working in batches, roll balls in sugar twice. Place balls on prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies have spread and coating is cracked, 12 to 14 minutes; cookies will still be soft to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.