Friday, July 24, 2020

Spicy IPA Pickles


Ingredients:
4 English Cucumbers, sliced or cut into spears
5 cloves of garlic, minced, per quart jar
1 t. whole peppercorns, per quart jar
2 t. dill seed, per quart jar
1 t. crushed red pepper flakes, per quart jar
1/2 t. Calcium Chloride (aka Pickle Crisp), per quart jar

For Brine:
1 bottle IPA beer, for each 2 jars
3/4 c. distilled vinegar, for each 2 jars - Add extra for slices
3/4 c. apple cider vinegar, for each 2 jars - Add extra for slices
3 T. Kosher salt, for each 2 jars

Directions:
  1. Add pickle slices/spears to jars snugly.
  2. Add garlic, peppercorns, dill seed, crushed red pepper, Pickle Crisp to each jar.
  3. To prepare brine, add IPA, distilled vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and salt to a large pot.
  4. Bring to a boil.  Be careful not to boil over.
  5. Once mixture boils, turn off heat.
  6. Ladle into jars.
  7. Securely place lids on jars.
  8. Shake jars to distribute seasonings.
  9. Let jars cool on counter for an hour.
  10. Refrigerate for a week to allow flavors to blend.

Maple Breakfast Twist


Ingredients:
Dough:
2 packages dry yeast
1/4 C. warm water
1/2 C. milk, scalded
1/3 C. sugar
1/4 C. butter
1-1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. maple extract
1 unbeaten egg
2-1/2 C. all purpose flour

Filling:
1/2 C. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. maple flavoring
1/2 C. chopped walnuts
Combine all filling ingredients.

Glaze:
1 C. powdered sugar
1/2 t. maple flavoring
2 to 3 T. milk

Directions:
  1. Add yeast to warm water.
  2. In a large mixing bowl combine the scalded milk, sugar, butter, salt and vanilla. 
  3. Cool to lukewarm.  
  4. Blend in egg and softened yeast.
  5. Gradually add the four to make a soft dough.  
  6. Beat well.   
  7. Form into a ball, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours.
  8. Mix Filling ingredients.
  9. After dough has risen divide into 3 equal balls. 
  10. On lightly floured surface roll out one ball of dough to a 10 inch circle.  
  11. Fit onto the bottom of a greased 10-12 inch pizza pan or large cookie sheet.  
  12. Brush dough with 2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle with 1/3 of the filling.  
  13. Continue in same manner, forming 2 more layers and ending with the filling.  
  14. Use a glass to mark a 2 inch circle in the center of the dough (do not cut through the dough).  
  15. Cut from outside edge to circle forming 16 pie-shaped wedges.  
  16. Twist each of the 3-layered wedges 5 times.  
  17. Let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk.  
  18. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.  

For Glaze:
  1. In a small bowl combine powdered sugar, flavoring and milk till smooth.  
  2. Add a bit more milk if necessary until frosting is thin enough to drizzle over the coffee cake.
  3. Drizzle with glaze while still warm.

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Hot Crab Dip

Ingredients:
6 oz. room temperature cream cheese
1/3 C. mayonnaise
1 t. lemon juice
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion powder
1/2 t. Old Bay Seasoning
2 T. pickled jalapeno, finely diced
1 t. mustard
2 C. Monterey Jack cheese
8 oz. lump crab meat

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, Old Bay Seasoning, jalapenos, mustard and cheese in a bowl.
  3. Stir in crab meat, then place into an oven safe baking dish.
  4. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown along the edges.
  5. Serve immediately with tortilla chops, crackers, or vegetables.


Monday, June 29, 2020

Honey Chile Shrimp

Ingredients:
3 T. olive oil
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 limes, 2 zested and juiced and 1 halved
3 green onions, chopped, whites and greens separated
1 mounded T. chile garlic paste
2 T. honey

Directions:
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
  3. Cook, stirring, until the shrimp start to turn pink and are almost cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. 
  4. Add the lime zest and the whites of the green onions. 
  5. Stir into the shrimp and cook until the onion whites soften, about a minute, then add the chile garlic paste, honey and lime juice. 
  6. Stir to combine, then continue to cook until the sauce has a syrupy consistency, an additional 2 minutes.
  7. Transfer to a small platter and garnish with the green onion tops. 
  8. Zest one of the lime halves over the dish, then cut the remaining half into wedges and serve alongside. 
Total Time:  20 minutes
Serves 2 - 4

Potatoes au Gratin

Ingredients:
4 whole Russet Potatoes, scrubbed clean
2 T. Butter, softened
1 1/2 C. Heavy Cream
1/2 C. Whole Milk
2 T. Flour
4 cloves Garlic, minced
1 t. Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste
1 C. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Smear softened butter all over the bottom of a baking dish.
  3. Slice potatoes, then cut slices into fourths.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together cream, milk, flour, minced garlic, salt, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.
  5. Place 1/3 of the potatoes in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour 1/3 of the cream mixture over the potatoes.
  6. Repeat this two more times, ending with the cream mixture. 
  7. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. 
  8. Remove foil and bake for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are golden brown and really bubbling. 
  9. Add grated cheese to the top of the potatoes and bake for 3 to 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  10. Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving by the spoonful. 

Prep Time:  10 minutes
Cook Time:  55 minutes

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Sweet Pickled Onions

Ingredients:
8 C. thinly sliced sweet onions
2 T. canning salt
1-3/4 c. white vinegar
1 C. sugar
1 t. dried thyme

Directions:
  1. Place onions in a colander over a plate; sprinkle with canning salt and toss. 
  2. Let stand 1 hour. 
  3. Rinse and drain onions, squeezing to remove excess liquid.
  4. In a Dutch oven, combine vinegar, sugar and thyme; bring to a boil. 
  5. Add onions and return to a boil. 
  6. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. 
  7. Remove from heat.
  8. Carefully ladle hot mixture into four hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. 
  9. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. 
  10. Wipe rims. 
  11. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.
  12. Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. 
  13. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. 
  14. Remove jars and cool.

Potato and Canadian Bacon Slow Cooker Chowder



Ingredients:
2 C. potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large carrot, diced
1 C. leek, chopped, white part only
1 medium garlic clove, minced
4 C. fat free chicken broth
½ C. pearl barley
¼ t. dried thyme, crushed
¼ t. black pepper
4 oz. Canadian-style bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
bay leaf
½ C. fat free evaporated milk
2 fl oz fat free creamer,  such as fat-free half-and-half

Directions:
  1. In a slow cooker, combine potatoes, carrots, leek, garlic, chicken broth, barley, bay leaf, thyme, pepper and Canadian bacon. 
  2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until vegetables and barley are tender.
  3. Stir in evaporated milk and half-and-half and heat through uncovered, about 10 minutes. 

Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving.