My Prairie Kitchen

Quick breads make baking at the cabin trouble-free

2009-07-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

I love having the time to bake at my cabin. My only complaint is that I never have what I need or the right sized pan to bake it in. Over the years I have found the secret to successfully baking breads is keeping it simple. I stay away from complicated yeast breads or breads with lots of ingredients. My baking at the cabin has been an evolutionary process. I started with a camp stove burner with a box on top of it. I mastered biscuits from a can and quiche using foil pie pans because that’s the only thing that would fit. I moved up to a fifty- seven year old propane stove that only knew two settings- blazing hot and off. With the advent of electric service available on our road, I am baking in a high efficiency electric model. Along the way, I developed a repertoire of sturdy quick breads that I can make in a flash, no yeast or kneading involved and deliver big on flavor with few ingredients.
For making quick breads on the fly I always recommend stocking the pantry with double duty in mind. Self rising flour can be used for muffins, pancakes and popovers. Corn meal can double as fish fry coating and griddle cakes and Graham crackers can be used in coffee cakes as well as those much loved Smores.

Quick and Easy Cabin Beer Bread

Use a flavorful beer like a lager or pilsner for best results with this simple, flavorful bread. Serve with dinner warm right out of the oven or the next morning as toast.

Ingredients:

3 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
1 Twelve ounce (1 ½ cups) can or bottle beer

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, flour and salt.
2. Add beer and continue to mix. Stir just to combine. Batter will be sticky. Do not over mix. Pour into a 9 x 5 inch greased loaf pan or 10 inch greased black iron skillet.
3. Let batter sit on counter 30 minutes before baking. The batter will rise some while standing at room temperature and will yield a lighter loaf.
4. Bake for 45 minutes. Top will be crunchy and brown.
5. Yields one loaf or 12 servings

Cinnamon Scone Wedges

Cinnamon chips are similar to chocolate chips and can be found in the baking section of your local grocery store.
Ingredients:
3 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
6 tablespoons chilled butter
1 cup cinnamon chips or currants
1 cup plus 4 tablespoons milk or buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add sugar. Cut in butter with a fork and continue to blend butter into flour until it resembles a course corn-meal mixture.
3. Add milk and mix with a spoon, then form a ball with your hands. Place the ball on a lightly floured surface and pat into a circle approximately an 8-9 inches wide and 1 ½ inches thick.
4. Cut the circle into eight wedges and place them separately on a cookie sheet. Brush tops with remaining milk. Let stand on cookie sheet on the counter for 20 minutes before baking.
5. Bake for 17-20 minutes until golden brown. Check by inserting a toothpick into scone, it’s done when toothpick comes out clean.
6. Yields 8 scones.
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Cutting Edge Cocktail Recipes

2009-07-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

Just in time for summer parties..

CUTTING EDGE COCKTAIL RECIPES

A Sangria Onslaught
Send out one pitcher on a hot day (or on a miserable day that everyone wishes were a hot, sunny beach day) and the orders will slam your bar. Be prepared with a vat of Slammed-gria base behind the bar. If you keep the mix refrigerated, it will last a long time. Add the more perishable ingredients as you mix to order.

SLAMMED-gria Mix
12 bottles (750ml) fruity wine
1 bottle cherry brandy
1 bottle triple sec
2 bottles simple syrup (30 Baum)

Whatever size you serve your sangria¬¬¬---glass or pitcher---fill 2/3 with the base and the remaining third will be 1 part orange juice to 1 part ginger ale, lemon-lime or orange soda. Add cut fruit. You can usually price one glass at your cost for one wine bottle. Fruity red, white or rose wines can work equally well. (Remember, fruity means fruity, not sweet.)

Adjust syrup for your particular wine. Experiment with other fruit brandies, juices, infused syrups and sodas. This mix flies under the alcohol level for most beer and wine licenses. The brandy and triple sec may be ordered through the kitchen for “cooking purposes.” But you didn’t hear it from us.

FALL
Fruits like apples, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits are good picks this time of year. One may also want to add a dash of hot sauce before serving--- just enough for a slightly spicy aftertaste.

WINTER
A “Sangritini” perhaps? Add vodka and triple sec to your house sangria—combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a floating orange or lemon wheel.

SPRING
Try infusing light white or red with limes, mint and simple syrup for a beverage that brings together the mojito and sangria. Top off with soda water.

SUMMER
Try using a bottle of light white wine with juices and fruits like apples, oranges, kiwis and peaches.

DRINKS FOR THE RUM BAR

Beachcomber
Vanilla Rum
Orange juice
Club soda
Splash of lemon juice
Garnish with orange slice

Singapore rum sling
Dark rum
Orange rum
Lemonade
Stir well and top with maraschino cherry juice and club soda

Cruzan vanilla coke
Cruzan vanilla rum and coca cola served on the rocks.

Easy colada
In a rock glass half filled with ice, combine coconut rum and pineapple rum. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Trade winds
Combine orange, pineapple, coconut and banana rums and a squeeze of fresh lime and lemon juices plus a splash of orange juice mixed with soda. Serve on the rocks.

TOP 10 COCKTAILS

French Martini
1-1/2 ounces premium vodka
½ ounce raspberry liqueur
1-1/2 ounces pineapple juice
shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass

White Russian
1-1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce coffee liqueur
1 ounce light cream
combine in a mixing glass and shake.
Serve in iced rocks glass.

Mojito
½ ounce Fresh Lime Juice
1-1/2 ounces light Rum
1 ounce simple syrup
Mint Leaves
Splash of Club Soda
Muddle mint sprigs with the simple syrup and the lime juice in the bottom of a mixing glass.
Add rest of the ingredients and shake with ice.
Pour over cracked ice in a highball glass, top with soda and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Sidecar
1 ounce brandy
1 ounce orange liqueur
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
Combine in a cocktail shaker.
Add cracked ice, shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass with a sugar rim.

Margarita
(Salt Rim of Cocktail Glass)
1-½ oz. Tequila
1 ounce orange liqueur
/4 ounce fresh lime juice
Coarse salt
Combine tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice in a mixing glass withice.
Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Lime Garnish

Raspberry Cosmopolitan
1-1/2 ounces raspberry vodka
½ ounce orange liqueur
Splash of blackberry liqueur
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass, garnish with raspberry.

Cuba Libre
1-1/2 ounces dark rum
Cola
Lime wedge
Pour rum over ice in a highball glass, fill with cola.
Squeeze in a lime wedge.

Manhattan
1-1/2 ounces blended whiskey
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Pour all ingredients over ice in a mixing glass and stir.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a cherry.

Gin & Tonic/ Vodka & Tonic
1-1/2 ounces gin or vodka
Tonic
Pour gin or vodka over ice in a highball glass.
Fill with tonic.
Squeeze in a lime wedge.

Appletini
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce apple liqueur
combine ingredients over cracked ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with apple slice.

LOWCARBARITA

Thin Ice is the drink of choice for many serious low carbers. It is low in alcohol so a shot of tequila with all that ice is fine. This tastes best frozen.

1 bottle Thin Ice
1 ounce lime juice
1 shot Tequila
Dash of Orange
Sugar Free Syrup
Ice

Strawberry Caprese Salad

2009-06-28T05:11:00.000-07:00

Strawberry Caprese Salad
Always popular, this salad tastes great and says summer is here!

Ingredients:
1 Pound cooked pasta (aprox 1/3-1/2 pound raw)
½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
¼ Cup Balsamic Vinegar
1 Pint fresh strawberries, sliced
1 Pint small Mozzarella cheese balls
3 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Place cooled cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl.
2. In a small bowl whisk olive oil and vinegar
3. Mix cheese balls and strawberries with pasta, add dressing and fresh basil.
4. Adjust salt and pepper.

Nothing Says Summer More than Blueberries

2009-06-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Wild and Gathered Double Blue Salad with Spicy Pecans and Maple Vinaigrette Dressing

When I was a caterer, this was our most requested summer salad. We often changed the fruit and cheese component with the seasons, but the perfect flavor mix of the pungent blue cheese, sweet blueberries, fiery nuts and maple taste were always a hit. Serve along side grilled chicken, steamed green beans served cold and herbed roasted potatoes for a enjoyable and easy summer dinner. The recipes included for the Spicy nuts and dressing make more than you need so you can save some for another party.

Yields 10 to 12 buffet servings

Ingredients:

1 ½ pounds spring mix lettuce blend or micro greens

1 1/2 cups or 6 ounces blue Cheese, crumbled (Gorgonzola works well)

1 pint Fresh Blueberries, washed

1 cup spicy pecans (see recipe below)

½ cup Maple Vinaigrette dressing (see recipe below)

Instructions:

To assemble salad- Place greens on a large serving platter, sprinkle with blue cheese, blueberries and spicy pecans. Drizzle dressing on salad right before serving.

Spicy Pecans

Yields 3 cups of spicy pecans

Ingredients:

3 cups pecan pieces

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/2 teaspoon table salt

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

2 teaspoons sugar

Roast pecans on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Stir about every 5 minutes. When they start to smell like toasted nuts, remove from oven and set aside.

Melt butter in the microwave for 30 seconds in a small bowl. Mix seasonings together separately in a larger bowl. When nuts are slightly cooled about 5 minutes, toss in the bowl with the seasonings and add the butter, mixing until all nuts are well coated. Spread the nuts on a cookie sheet and let dry for one hour. (Recipe makes additional nuts that can be stored for up to 2 weeks in an air tight container)

Maple Vinaigrette Dressing

Yields 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients:

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup yellow onion, peeled and minced

2/3 cup authentic maple syrup

1 Tablespoon Brown mustard

1 cup of canola oil

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in a food processor except oil and blend on high for 30 seconds. Drizzle in oil slowly.

Shoe String Smackdown

2009-06-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

Recently I held a friendly competition at my house with some of my best cooking buddies. We often challenge each other to see who can come up the wildest dishes on a theme. This year's theme was Dinner for 4 on a shoestring. We had to produce a gourmet meal for 4 and keep the grocery tab under $35.00. I came in at 17.59 with the following menu:

Sweet Onion Canapes

Creamy Zucchini Bisque garnished with Roasted Red Pepper Coulis

Grilled Limoncello Chicken with Orange Rhubarb Chutney
Hand Made Curried Fettuccini with Cilantro Oil Drizzle
Sesame Green Beans

Bananas Foster

It was a real eye opener for me to realize how inexpensively you can eat like a real gourmand! Here is the recipe for the Onion Canapes.

Sweet Onion Canapes

Yields 2 dozen

1 large Vidalia onion, or sweet onion, minced.

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 large egg yolk or 2 egg whites

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon sugar

Pinch ground red pepper

24 slices mini party rye bread

1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Heat oven to 375F Combine onion, mayo egg and seasonings in mixing bowl.

Top with onion mixture and Parmesan cheese Arrange on baking sheet and bake until puffy, 15-20 minutes.

Serve hot.

43 calories each

Everything you always wanted to know about butter

2009-06-09T15:23:00.001-07:00

Butter has had a history that has claimed superstar status through the ages. Records of use date back to 2000 years before Christ. It was believed to be formulated by accident by nomads. In ancient times, it was utilized as commerce and was exchanged for wine, dried fish, and was used heavily in Northern European Countries. Butter was also found buried in Ireland buried in the bogs. The website www.webexibits.org/butter states in an issue of the New York Produce Review and American Creamery, December 4,1907 tells of a traveler in central Africa in 1872 being offered butter encased in leaves and covered with a layer of cow dung which when dry kept air from the butter. Food Historians report in the early days of South Water Market in Chicago, butter was transported in open wagons covered with grass freshly cut while still wet with dew.

The politics of the plate

In the 14^th century, in the oil devoted European south, butter was expensive and sparse and tended to be a luxury. In the middle ages, it was a food that was banned during lent. A minor worry in the south, but in the north, where it was produced, it was a great suffering. The southern Europeans cashed in on selling oil to the north, but the cynical northerners paid their way out, this is how the famous butter tower of the Rouen Cathedral was built. Nicknamed the Butter Tower, it was paid for by the local community who refused to go without their daily butter.

Until the 18^th century, the southern people from Mediterranean lands believed that butter induced leprosy because it was so prevalent in the north. The Cardinal of Aragon took his own cook and plenty of olive oil when he formally toured Holland in 1516. It was deemed eccentric behavior to regularly consume butter. Through industrialization, butter became less political and more about taste.

The birthplace of French butter

Chef Monique Hooker, a prominent French Chef from Brittany who leads culinary tours to France and other exotic locals has some fascinating stories about the history of Butter. The Bretons have been selling butter to the rest of France since the 1500's. Famous for their butter, Chef Hooker was plunged in the butter culture since childhood.

“In cultures around the world butter is regarded as a gift from and food of the gods. Tibetans make it part of their bride dowry. They also burn butter candles, and decorate with mounds of butter” Chef Hooker says.

As a youngster growing up in Brittany, Chef Hooker notes that butter was the king of the table. “We Bretons say of ourselves that the milk of human kindness is churned into butter.” “Breton butter's reputation has endured since the middle ages.

“The secret to the famous butter from Brittany is the Pie Noirs cows, who give the milk for the gloriously yellow Breton butter. Those pastures remind me of the countryside where I know live in southwestern Wisconsin” Hooker declares.

Chef reminisces that when she was a child at least weekly, butter was made on her farm. Churning the butter was a duty by Monique and her younger brother and sister. “We made this simple but laborious and time consuming task easier by making a game out of it. We devised a counting system of how many turns each one of us had to take, so the churning was split evenly. We looked though the little glass window on top of the butter churn to see which one of us got the curd to turn into a mass.”

“Decorating mounds of butter was an art since all the butter for the table was decorated. Tools such as butter molds and butter stamps were sometimes used, but all the children had to learn the art of decorating butter using both ends of different sized spoons. A weekly offering of butter was also made and offered to the church as payment, which was then sold to the wealthy in town. It was a way for the money to stay in the church.”

Fast forward to today and butter is still a culinary star. With the popularity of artisan food producers, celebrity chef’s such as Thomas Keller, seeks out butter from Vermont from a cow named Lulu for his famous restaurants. A farm made butter can make a great dish even better. Sometimes compared to great olive oil, butter can add a silky smooth feel to sauces and add taste that is out of this world.

Have a butter tasting

Intrigued by the taste of real butter? Be the first on the block to have a butter tasting. You will be surprised at the subtle differences between the kinds of butters. I suggest getting at least five kinds of butter, including a cultured butter and goat’s milk if you can find it. Set up the butters at room temperature for easier spreading. Have some fresh baked sliced soft bread that doesn’t have strong flavors, and add crackers and other butter friendly vehicles to round out the tasting. Encourage your guests to make notes and discover their favorite.

The following are other flavor characteristics common to butter from the www. webexibits.org website and can be used as a guide for describing the specific tastes of butter.

Acid	Associated with moderate acid development in the milk or cream, or excessive ripening of the cream.
Aged	Associated with short or extended holding periods of butter. The holding temperature will affect the rate of development of this flavor. May also occur if high quality raw material is not properly handled and promptly processed so that the flavor loses its freshness.
Bitter	Attributable to the action of certain microorganisms or enzymes in the cream before churning, certain types of feeds and late lactation.
Cooked	Associated with using high temperatures in pasteurization of sweet cream.
Coarse	Associated with using high temperatures in pasteurization of cream with slight acid development.
Feed	Attributable to feed eaten by cows and the flavors being absorbed in the milk and carried through into the butter. Most dry feeds (like hay or concentrates), silage, green alfalfa, and various grasses produce feed flavors in butter. Silage flavor may vary in degree and character depending on the time of feeding, extent of fermentation and kind of silage.
Flat	Attributable to excessive washing of the butter or to a low percentage of fats or volatile acids and other volatile products that help to produce a pleasing butter flavor.
Malty	Attributable to the growth of the organism Streptococcus lactic var. maltigenes in milk or cream. It is often traced to improperly washed and sanitized utensils in which this organism has developed.
Musty	Attributable to cream from cows grazing on slough grass, eating musty or moldy feed or drinking stagnant water.
Neutralizer	Attributable to excessive or improper use of alkaline products to reduce the acidity of the cream before pasteurization.
Old Cream	Attributable to aged cream, or inadequate or improper cooling of the cream. This flavor may be accentuated by unclean utensils and processing equipment.
Scorched	Associated with using excessively high temperatures in pasteurization of cream with developed acidity, prolonged holding times in forewarming vats or when using vat pasteurization. Also associated with vat pasteurization without adequate agitation.
Smothered	Attributable generally to improper handling and delayed cooling of the cream.
Storage	Associated with extended holding periods of butter for several months or longer.
Utensil	Attributable to handling or storing milk or cream in equipment which is in poor condition or improperly sanitized.
Weed	Attributable to milk or cream from cows which have been fed on weed infested pastures or weedy hay.
Whey	Attributable to the use of whey cream or the blending of cream and whey cream for buttermaking.

Making Butter at Home

Making butter is easy with a food processor, and it produces a light fresh taste. You will need:

1-2 cups heavy whipping cream, or double cream (1/3 liter)
(preferably without carrageenan or other stabilizers)

Fit food processor with plastic blade, whisk, or normal chopping blade. Fill food processor about 1/4 - 1/2 full. Blend. The cream will go through the following stages: Sloshy, frothy, soft whipped cream, firm whipped cream, coarse whipped cream. Then, suddenly, the cream will seize, its smooth shape will collapse, and the whirring will change to sloshing. The butter is now fine grained bits of butter in buttermilk, and a few seconds later, a glob of yellowish butter will separate from milky buttermilk. Drain the buttermilk.

You can eat the butter now -- it has a light taste -- though it will store better if you wash and work it. Add 1/2 cup (100 mL) of ice-cold water, and blend further. Discard wash water and repeat until the wash water is clear. Now, work butter to remove suspended water. Either place damp butter into a cool bowl and knead with a potato masher or two forks; or put in large covered jar, and shake or tumble. Continue working, pouring out the water occasionally, until most of the water is removed. The butter is now ready. Put butter in a butter crock, ramekins, or roll in waxy freezer paper.

Yield: About half as much butter as the amount of cream you started with.

Various options:

Salt to taste before working, a few pinches.
Have the cream around 60°F/15°C before churning. (55°F/13°C for goat milk)
Obtain the freshest cream you can. So-called "vat pasteurized cream" tastes better than ultra heat treated (UHT) or HTST pasteurized. Try calling your state Department of Agriculture, and asking the Milk Control office who sells vat pasteurized cream.
Shake in a jar instead of a food processor. Shake about once a second. Add a marble to speed things up. This is fun with kids, but expect it to take between 5-30 minutes, depending on the shaking.
Culture the cream before churning. Add a few tablespoons (50 mL) store-bought cultured yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, clabbered cream, or creme fraiche, and let sit about 12 hours at warm room temperature (75°F/24°C is ideal) to thicken and ferment before churning. It should taste delicious, slightly sour, with no aftertaste. If it is bubbly, or smells yeasty or gassy, discard.
Use some butter making tools, such as a churn, paddle for working, or molds for forming the finished butter.

Recipe from www.webexibits.org/butter

Butter Tips and Facts

-Salted or unsalted? The distinction is that salted butter has about ¼ teaspoon per stick. Bakers like to utilize unsalted so they can control the quantity of salt in the recipe. Salt is added as a preservative and can cover odors. Use salted for savory dishes and unsalted for baking and spreading and you can't go wrong.

- Unsalted butter has a shorter shelf life.

-Frozen butter will last up to six months; just place it in the fridge to defrost before handling.

-Clarified butter is butter that is slowly heated and the milk solids are separated from the top. The advantage of this procedure is that the butter has a higher burning point and performs well for sautéing.

- By law, American butter has to have 80% butter fat and not in excess of 15% water. French butter has a higher percent of fat, which equals to more flavor. Substituting French butter for American butter in baking is risky, and should be approached with caution.

-Cultured butter is made by adding a live organic culture for fresh organic cream to slowly ripen before churning the cream into butter. Organic Valley Dairy reports that making butter this way makes it easier to digest and allows the sweet cream flavor to come through.

-Goats Milk Butter is made from Goat’s milk and has a mild flavor similar to goat’s milk cheese.

What you really need to know about cooking

2009-06-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

How many recipes do we really need to know? When I am creating recipes for classes or television, I’m always on the lookout for new ideas. When I cook at home for friends, however, I find that I like to rely on old favorites that fit my cookware and my pocketbook. While my trademark is to never serve the same dish twice to my guests, I work from a core group of recipes that provide me a base for my endless repertoire of culinary creations.

If you master eight to ten great dishes, you can spin countless variations from these core recipes. Once you master the process, you can add more ingredients and easily substitute others for another meal. It’s the beginning of the process of learning how to cook without recipes.

I advocate starting with basic roasting of meats and poultry. Perfecting roast chicken will carry you through years of flawless dinners. Once you master that, roast turkey is only a few adjustments to the recipe.

For proper food safety practices, always use a thermometer and cook by temperature, not by time. Poultry should be cooked to 165F, meats 130F for rare, and 140F for medium doneness. Pork temperatures can vary but for larger cuts of pork cook until 150F and let rest for ten minutes after out of the oven. The temperature will rise 10 degrees and distribute “carry over” heat, which will cook the meat or poultry another 10 degrees after removed from the oven.

After practicing meat and poultry, aim next for fish. The basic rule of cooking fish is simple-ten minutes an inch. Begin with a flavorful tilapia or salmon fillet and purchase wild or line caught if possible for best flavor.

Side dishes are endless if you learn the basic techniques of vegetable cookery. Decide on five side dish recipes you are fond of and write three variations of each one that work with the equipment in your kitchen. You now have fifteen great recipes that are easy to make for a dinner party.

When you apply the same principals to desserts, your comfort level of baking will increase. A fundamental piecrust recipe can double as a tart dough and a mini-turnover dough. Learn how to make chocolate ganache and the possibilities are endless. A good cake like the Sticky Toffee Cake that can be made on the fly with cupboard ingredients will be indispensable when you have friends dropping by for coffee.

When you feel like honing your cooking skills, open the fridge and pantry and produce dinner without a trip to the store. Sometimes you have to have a “what the heck” attitude about cooking and observe how dishes come out. You will quickly learn what doesn’t work, but this is a good thing in the big picture of food preparation because you only make those mistakes once.

Chef’s Secrets to Make Life Easier in the Kitchen

--To grind nuts quickly, crush them with a rolling pin or wooden mallet in a Ziploc bag.

--To freeze foods for easy separation such as berries, spread on cookie sheets until frozen and pack in containers.

--When cooking with herbs, use twice as much fresh as the dry counterpart.

--Brush soy sauce on meat before broiling for a rich brown color.
--To keep boiled potatoes white, add a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to water.

--Put lemon on fish after cooking, never before, to keep from getting mushy.

--If soups or stews are too salty, add a few slices of potato. Boil a few minutes and remove.

--Before peeling oranges, cover with boiling water and let stand 5 minutes. The bitter white membrane can be removed more easily.

--Nuts keep up to one year in the freezer.

--Keep popcorn in your freezer for better popping.

--Coat raisins with flour to keep them from sinking to the bottom of muffin and cake batter.

--For soup with rich flavor and color, brown bones, onions, celery, and carrots in oven first.

--Forming meatballs is easier if hands are first chilled with an ice cube.

--Raw mushrooms, kiwi, and strawberries can be sliced evenly and quickly with a egg slicer.

--To cut fresh bread, heat the serrated knife.

--Shave chocolate with a potato peeler for a quick dessert garnish.

--Make a cardboard ring to keep the rim of plate clean when spraying salad dressing or dusting desserts with powdered sugar.

--Marinate hard cooked eggs in beet juice before making them into deviled eggs.

It's Grad Party Time!

2009-06-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

Grad parties run the gambit from big blow outs, family affairs to a simple gathering for school mates. Open houses seem to work best since masses of parties are going on at the same time. Planning for a grad party can be tricky with all different ages of family members on the invitation list.

Here are a few tips that help make the process of planning a memorable party simple.

Include the graduate in the menu and party planning as much as possible. It’s fun to base the party around hobbies, interests and themes that are favorites of the graduate, it will give them a chance to show some of their creativity and let people learn new things about their personality.
Like most parties, start with the budget. Be realistic about what you can afford. Determining the menu will help with this, if you serve lighter fare, you can invite more people. If you want special foods and unique beverages, the budget will rise quickly.
Pick a location that would be suitable for a early summer party. Always have a rain location and plan B. If you are in a community center or a location you have not hosted a party before, be sure to check the circuits. With music, electrical warmers, coffee pots all can spell blowout if you are not careful.
Decide on entertainment, activities and games. Will you have a separate area set up for activities? What are the boundaries of the location?
Will you cook it yourself or hire a caterer? There are advantages to both. If you are keeping your party small and having a cookout with very basic foods, it makes sense to do it yourself and perhaps order some side salads from the nearby grocery store. But if you have some great ideas for favorite foods of the graduate and you are having 50 guests, you will be too busy to handle all the details on the day of the event yourself. That’s when it’s time to call the caterers to come in and help. Think themes for creative menu inspiration. Southwestern foods are popular and are vegetarian friendly. Greek or Italian dishes can be fun and simple to prepare ahead.
Send invitations as soon as you get a date. If you work with a caterer, you will need a solid head count at least a week before the party, so include a response card with the invitation. Maps are also handy to put on the invitation.

Countdown

3 months before- Decide on the date. If you are planning on hiring a caterer or even the neighborhood kids to help with the cleanup, book them now. If you are renting chairs, tents, etc, call or visit for an accurate estimate. Call a few hotels for rates for out of town guests. Reserve a block of rooms if you expect a crowd.

2 months- buy your decorations and paper products. Send out save the date cards or call if you are inviting a lot of guests from out of town. Order signage, banners, balloons and pick up party favors now for best selections. Custom made CDs of the year’s top songs are a great gift that won’t break the bank.

1 month-Send out invitations, Order trays from take away shops or grocery store deli. Order any special desserts or cakes. If you are having something unique that requires special equipment like a root beer keg, call and reserve. Arrange for delivery on the day of the party. Photo backdrops can be put together now to have a place for the graduate to take pictures with friends. Speaking of photos, now is the time to pull out all those school pictures for a spotlight awards and memory table. Anything to make the party exclusive and unforgettable is worth the trouble.

3 Weeks- Start shopping and stockpile dry goods on sale. Snack items and beverages with a long shelf life can be purchased and stored.

Pull out the twinkle lights and make sure all the strands work. These will give outdoor trees a magical look.

1 week-Confirm delivery times of anyone bringing supplies.

Pull any serving equipment, clean and make sure it is in working order. Borrow or buy any last minute platters or serving pieces.

3 Days ahead-If you are doing the cooking, shop for perishables, pull out recipes. Be sure to keep everything chilled to 40F.

1 Day ahead-All food preparations, confirm cake and other food items ordered. Schedule and assign family members day of event duties. Decorate party area and pull serving pieces, place on buffet and place a post it notes where everything goes on the table. This will keep you from forgetting to put something out when you get into a frenzy cooking on the party day.

Schedule help to come at least 2 hours before the event so you can have a half an hour to breathe, change and relax a few minutes before the guest arrives.

How much should I buy or prepare-

While there are no hard and fast rules about amounts veteran grad party hosts will tell you that if there are a lot of parties at the same time with the same kinds of foods, guests will consume less than normal. But, if you are the first party, or you have something spectacular like a chocolate fountain or special menu, you will go through more food than most parties. These are general guidelines:

Appetizers 48 servings

Dips 2 quarts

Crackers 2 pounds

Chips 3 pounds

Mini Meatballs 3 per person

Little Smokies 4 per person

Drummettes/wings 2-3 per person

Entrees 48 servings

One Meat Entrée (6 oz per person) 20 pounds

Ham Entrée (4 oz per person) 12 pounds

Sliced Cold Cuts (2 oz per person) 6 pounds

Sliced Cheese (1 oz per person) 3 pounds

Chicken Salad (6-8 ounces per person) 20- 25 pounds

Sides

Pasta salad (4 ounces per person) 12 pounds

Baked Beans (4 ounces per person) 12 pounds

Fruit Salad (5 ounces per person) 15 pounds

Rolls (1.5 per serving) 6 dozen

Beverages

Punch ( 2 – 6 oz cups per person) 5 gallons

Ice 12 pounds

Soda and water (2 per person) 96 cans or bottles

Desserts

Cookies (2 per person) 8 dozen

Cake (2x2 inch per person) ½ sheet cake

Ice cream 2 gallons

Mixed Nuts 2 pounds

Essential Tools for Grilling

2009-05-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

Just like preparing food indoors, having the suitable tools for the job goes for outdoor cooking as well. One trick or gadget can make all the difference for the cook. Over the years, I have collected a set of outdoor tools that are neatly assigned to their own drawer in my kitchen. I can glance in there and find any implement I need for my summer flare up activities.

Every year someone gives me a new “can’t survive without” gadget for the grill in which I add to my collection. Although grilling is my husband’s domain when we have guests, I organize the day to day grilling so I can experiment with new cooking methods.

Lately, I have been doing a lot of cooking on an open fire with a Tuscan style rack on top of a fire pit. This no-tech cooking method is not for the faint of heart because of the unreliable heat control, but it can yield delicious results when watched carefully.
For a more dependable experience, I advise using charcoal or gas. Both have benefits and features that are fine depending mainly on how much time you have.

For must have gadgets and essential tools, I recommend the first list for fundamentals and the second for your wish list. Whether you grill on a Taj Ma Que or a Hibachi these tools will make the work easier and safer.

Tools you can’t live without
• Long handled stainless steel tongs
• Heavy duty metal spatula with a long handle
• Silicon basting brush with a long wooden handle that the head can be taken off and washed in the dishwasher.
• Various sizes of bamboo skewers. (be sure to soak ahead of time so they do not burn while cooking.)
• Water spray bottle for flare-ups.
• Instant Read thermometer
• Flat metal mesh tray with small holes for grilling vegetables and fish
• Charcoal Chimney or eclectic starter for charcoal
• Heavy Duty Grill Brush

Grill chef wanna be wish list
• Metal Basket for grilling whole fish
• Silicone mitts for handling hot foods. (Welders gloves will also work well)
• Rotissere kit that turns your meat on a spit automatically.
• Double tine large fork with thermometer in the end of it.
• Flat metal skewers with wooden handles
• Cedar planks for cooking fish
• Rectangular cast iron press weight
• Mini magnetic grill light
• Pizza Grilling Stone
• Grill charms- (similar to wine charms)
• Luma tongs (long handled tongs with a built in light)

Chicken under a Brick on the Grill
Origins of this dish are from Northern Italy. Place the black iron skillet right on top of
the grill for best results.

Ingredients:
1 Chicken with backbone cut out
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Marinade
¼ Cup lemon juice
¼ Cup olive oil
3 Cloves garlic, crushed
2 Tablespoons Fresh Rosemary, chopped
1 Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

2 Bricks double wrapped in foil
½ Cup white wine
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1 Lemon, sliced thin
Directions:
Wash and dry chicken. Cut out backbone with poultry shears so that the chicken will lay flat.
Mix Marinade in a gallon Ziploc bag and place chicken in bag to marinade for at least 2 hours. Bring out one hour before cooking to come to room temperature.
Heat a 12-inch heavy (preferably cast iron) skillet over medium high heat on grill until blazing hot. Add the olive oil and swirl around the pan. When oil is very hot, place chicken in pan skin/breast side down.
Pace the 2 bricks on top of the chicken. The weight of the bricks will press the chicken and result in a crispy skin. Cook for 15 minutes.
Carefully turn the chicken with thin metal spatula, and lower heat to medium and cook for 20-30 minutes. Chicken is cooked when thermometer registers 165F.
Remove chicken from pan and reserve juices. Deglaze with white wine, scraping the pan to dissolve sediment. Boil 2 minutes and add lemon slices. Remove from heat and whisk in butter. Serve with Chicken.

My Favorite Spring Vegetable

2009-05-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Baked Endive Au Gratin

Belgian endive, pronounced on-deev, and also known as Witloof was discovered by accident. In the winter of 1830, a Belgian farmer forgot about some chicory roots he left in the root cellar. Chicory was grown and used to extend coffee. By the early spring of the next year he found they had sprouted stunning blanched six inch cigar shaped buds from the roots. This new winter vegetable popularity spread to France and now has a permanent home as a classic French dish served to accompany roasted meats and poultry.

Ingredients:

6 heads Belgian endive, ends cut off, brown leaves removed and cut in half lengthwise

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/8 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 ounces (3/4 cup) Roquefort or blue cheese, crumbled

1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme leaves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter and place endive cut side down in the butter. Cook until golden brown about five minutes and turn, browning the other side about three minutes.

2. Transfer cooked to a two quart casserole dish with a lid and pour lemon juice and stock over endive. Season with salt and pepper. (This dish can be prepared ahead of time up to this point and chilled until ready to cook.)

3. Bake in oven for 45 minutes. Remove and add cheese spreading evenly on top of endive. Sprinkle on fresh thyme and return to oven, baking until cheese is hot and bubbly about 10 minutes.

4. Serves 4 to 6 as a side dish.

2009-05-29T11:18:00.001-07:00

Wild and Gathered Double Blue Salad with Spicy Pecans and Maple Vinaigrette Dressing

When I was a catering chef, this was our most requested summer salad. We often changed the fruit and cheese component with the seasons, but the perfect flavor mix of the pungent blue cheese, sweet blueberries, fiery nuts and maple taste were always a hit. Serve along side grilled chicken, steamed green beans served cold and roasted potatoes for an enjoyable and easy summer dinner. The recipes included for the Spicy nuts and dressing make more than you need so you can save some for another party.

Yields 10 to 12 buffet servings

Ingredients:

1 ½ pounds spring mix lettuce blend or micro greens

1 1/2 cups or 6 ounces blue Cheese, crumbled (Gorgonzola works well)

1 pint fresh Blueberries, washed

1 cup spicy pecans (recipe follows)

½ cup Maple Vinaigrette dressing (recipe follows)

Instructions:

To assemble salad- Place greens on a large serving platter, sprinkle with blue cheese, blueberries and spicy pecans. Drizzle dressing with a spoon or a plastic squirt bottle on salad right before serving.

Spicy Pecans

Yields 3 cups

Ingredients:

3 cups pecan pieces

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/2 teaspoon table salt

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

2 teaspoons sugar

Roast pecans on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Stir about every 5 minutes. When they start to smell like toasted nuts, remove from oven and set aside.

Maple Vinaigrette Dressing

Yields 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients:

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion

2/3 cup authentic maple syrup

1 tablespoon Brown mustard

1 cup of canola oil

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in a food processor except oil and blend on high for 30 seconds. Drizzle in oil slowly.

Welcome to Prairie Kitchen

2008-09-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

My blog is about my travels, classes, projects and other food experiences. Look for more entries to come.