just good eats recipes

[sky otter]

you guys have any good ones to share....

i hafta get my notebook to copy a few for ya..will be back

and it would be nice to try something new...so  put em here...

[sky otter]

ok first recipe..


this takes longer to explain than to do

a favorite  condiment with the chrismas (or other days) ham is horseradish beets
I grow all the parts so for me that makes it special

beets..picked during summer and canned and then entire contends are used..you can also make them fresh
let sit in the liquid overnight and then add to  ground up horseradish root
*do not use plastic or aluminum for any part of this


this makes four quarts
beets..small whole..large sliced..mixed up..whatever works for you
cooked till tender
popped out of skins
packed in hot jars
covered with liquid
processed for 20 minutes

liquid ratio...can be multiple for bigger batches
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1/2 cup of water
2 1/3 cups sugar   (hubby likes it on the sweet side you can back this off to  just 2 cups of sugar )
heated to boil
poured over beets in jars.. or put beets into pot and cool and frig overnight


horseradish is dug in the cool or cold of the fall
washed and scraped the skin off

ok.. we have a commercial grinder but any size grinder will work
just be prepared to have your sinuses totally cleared..you will need to do this outside or take several breaks

feed the horseradish roots into the blend..adding beets and juice as you go
the amount of juice is dependant on the dryness of the horseradish...which is a result of different yearly growing conditions
and how much you want
but
be aware that after it sits a day the liquid is usually absorbed so don't panic


put in jars as gifts or a large covered container for later

one year we made lots and one jar got left in the back of the frig..
it does keep well for about 3 or more months
but the jar was on week 8 and surprise..it was sweet with a tang..go figure

so if you want it sweet..make it early


oh and if you haven't grown any of it you can still buy the parts in the store and give it a try
EN~JOY

[sky otter]

another easy one

scalded lettuce dressing

grandmother was german and this is from my mother

fry bacon  (not overdone) in skillet (iron works well for this)
drain grease (not needed)
towel dry bacon strips and set aside

in same skiller add
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup of water
heat to blend

on low heat
add sugar to taste
start with 1 tablespoon
adjust to  your liking

now
crumble bacon into skillet
combine well

pour over lettuce with  (raw) onion rings while warm

any extra dressing can be stored in frig

EN~JOY

[sky otter]

this one is a bit more involved..
hubby's mother made it every year at christmas but never shared the recipe
so I found this a few years ago and hubby says..yep that's it..so here ya go
change anything you want ..cause recipes are only guidelines




Sauerkraut Soup

small pork roast/shoulder/ribs/whatever  you prefer (optional)

8 oz package of fresh mushrooms (old folks always used dried)
1 1/2 cups of boiling water

32 oz of sauerkraut (bag or can) with juice  (homemade kraut is the best )
10 cups water

1/4 cup  fresh cabbage cut for slaw (optional)
1/2 cup of barley
caraway seeds to taste

onion finely diced
stick of butter (or what ever fat-flavor you like)
5 tbls of all purpose flour

salt and pepper to taste

roast pork till well well done – set aside to slightly cool ..keep covered

bring 1 1/2 cups of water to boil..turn off
add mushrooms – dried or fresh..cut/diced whatever you prefer
let steep

in a large pot
10 cups of water and sauerkraut with juice
bring to a boil ..then lower heat

shred pork.. deglaze pan with mushroom water
OR
dump mushroom and water into roast pan and mix with shreded pork
get all the pork drippings from the pan
add this all to the soup pot with the sauerdraut
add barley and fresh cabbage
add caraway seeds to taste
cook on low to med heat

in skillet..melt butter or whatever you are using
onions
pepper and salt you can add  more caraway seeds here if desired
when onions are tender..slowly add flour
add additional hot water as needed to mix so you have a gravy

slowly add onion gravy mix to soup pot  mix completely
cook until fresh cabbage is tender
or at least one hour

some good thick crunchy bread and you're set

EN~JOY

[sky otter]

my rule is to stick to the original recipe for the first attempt and then go from there
so this is copied from the cook book
with very precise measurements
but I have been making it for a few years and do approximations now
one squash to so many potatoes to so much stock...it still works
with all recipes you change it to suit your taste

this has become a favorite that I make often
I grow the squash, onions and potatoes and this is really really easy and  yum
and you can freeze it...
just leave out the whipping cream until you thaw it and heat it..then add


again do not use aluminum pot



Butternut Squash Bisque

makes 4 servings

25g / 1 oz / 2 tbsp of butter or margarine
2 small onions finely chopped
450g  / 1 lb squash...peeled, seeded and cubed
1.2 liters / 2 pints / 5 cups chicken stock
225g  / 8 oz potatoes cubed
5ml  / 1 tsp paprika
120 ml /4 fl oz / 1/2 cup whipping cream (optional)
25 ml / 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
plus a few chole chives to garnish
salt and ground black pepper

melt butter or margarine in a large pan
add onions and cook over medium heat till onions are soft
approx 5 min

add to pan
the squash, potatoes, paprika and stock
bring to a boil
reduce heat to low..cover and simmer  gently
for approx 35 min
or until vegetables are soft

I use an immersible stick blender for my soups
but you can cool and use a food processor or blender here
return to pan
add salt and pepper

and slowly stir in cream if you are using it
  reheat gently

stir in the chopped chives just before serving and garnish with whole pieces

EN~JOY

and be ready to make a bigger batch  next time

[sky otter]

some desert..make ahead style
lots of calories
I'm not a baker so this fits the bill for me




Banana Split Cake

use 8 X 13 pan
chill 8 hours

2 cups crushed graham crackers
2/3 cups melted butter or maragine
mix and press into the bottom of the pan

2 sticks (1 cup)of butter softened
2 eggs
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
beat until firm
spread over graham cracker

3 large bananas
-- sliced and dipped in the pineapple juice
place on cake in layer form
* tip
          drain pineapple juice into a bowl
          slice bananas into a strainer and lower strainer into bowl for
          a minute..then  drain for a second and layer slices

l large can (1 lb 3 oz) crushed pineapple..well drained
spread over sliced bananas

sprinkle with nuts...pieces or whole
top with marachino cherries

chill at least 8 hours

EN~JOY







hey..why aren't you guys tossin in some recipes   

[Somamech]

Busy chasing the Moon Sky LOL

But I will chuck in my all time fave drink before I duck back into youtube looking for a very good scene in SG1 Depicting Nations having a little tiff with each other LOL

Juice Pomegrante, Orange and Pineapple with some mint and drink a Gallon of it!  I could practically live on that if I had top shelf from around the world

[WarToad]

Sky otter - That scalded lettuce dressing - we had that in my (Czech/German) family too, but we called it "hot bacon dressing" and it always went over fresh spinich for a nice salad.

I am SOOO going to try that kraut soup!

When I'm not at work I'll add a few family favorites.

[sky otter]

wa hoo.. glad you guys have joined in

>  soma that sounds like you..lol

>  wartoad..can't wait for your input...
       on the dressing - it's always interesting how a simple recipe migrates



here's another dessert..i guess you guys can tell already that i don't follow instructions too often..hahahah...hubby says it's an adventure when i am cooking..but i really couldn't do it if he wasn't so easy to please.. he'll try anything



another easy one


Bread Pudding

stale bread ..something we don't have anymore
or you can used soft bread


basic recipe is 2 cups of bread..cubed
2 cups of milk
3 tsps of butter/ margine/ fat whatever
1/4 cup sugar or some type of sweetener
1/2 tsp vinallia
dash of salt


mix the ingredients except bread
place bread in a buttered pan
scald the mix mix and pour it over the bread

place baking dish in pan with water half way up pan
bake at 350 about an hour
or
until a knife comes out clean from the center

now the key to this is to personalize the pudding

one change is to add
apples and raisins and nuts
and then top with butterscotch or other flavored syrup

pears or any fruit that will cook to soft to stay with the consistency of the bread
and any toping that  you can  think of

we were at a fancy  place for a meeting recently and they served bread pudding for dessert..
so this humble little item has come a long way

think up some good combo's and go for it

and as always


EN~JOY

[Somamech]

You know what Sky I think Asians have a recipe almost the same as bread pudding in taste !

http://rasamalaysia.com/chinese-sweet-tofu-pudding-doufu-hua/

Obviously a bit diff in nutrition but they both taste pretty damn good

[sky otter]

oh yum..yesterdays'  playing with food turned out really well so i am sharing

we all know that the deep fried stuff is hard to make at home
sooooooo
i found this recipe and it was perfect..easy and tasted great..took a bit of time
but worth it
the only thing i would change is i would add maybe some pepper or papricka while cooking


you clean the wings
dry them
put them in a bag with some baking powder and a pinch of salt
shake
and
bake at 250 for 30 minutes and then 60 more minutes at 450
honest they are just the brst cruncy and juicy

here's the link so you can get the whole story of why it works as well as the juicy details
also several dipping recipes
yum


http://www.ourbestbites.com/2013/09/crispy-oven-baked-chicken-wings/



EN~JOY

[ArMaP]

we all know that the deep fried stuff is hard to make at home

We do?

[undo11]

/moves to sky otter's house

hehe

[undo11]

mandarin-almond salad

romaine lettuce
canned mandarin orange slices
almond slivers
sweet and sour dressing.

fast waldorf salad with a twist

iceberg lettuce
apple sliced into cubes
walnuts, broken up in individual pieces but not crushed
hidden valley ranch dressing
green onions chopped

[Somamech]

I'm going to travel to Kenya this weekend and try to make Ugali with curry's I guess. 

I could post another whole thread about how funny it is living in pocket of the city that has load's of African's and Chinese/Vietnamese...I never get tired of that logic..both partys who have done hard slog's at life co-inhabiting at different times into western culture !




In Somaville we will give the Esteemed Ugali a try out this weekend to see what them Slim Kenyan Runners live on!  It will be fun making play dough