Breadsticks – Several Recipes and Tips

{Olive Garden Breadsticks}

From:   http://readableeatables.blogspot.com/

Oh man, I loved these! These would just complete any meal really. Pasta, soup, salad…you name it. Make these when you get a chance. Make sure you serve them hot out of the oven.

*These are a little more dense than Olive Garden’s. But the flavor is incredible and pretty right on with the garlic butter. I also updated the picture, because the other one was too dark. Enjoy 🙂

Dough:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs yeast
1 Tbs salt (yes, the recipe calls for 1 Tablespoon, which I use every time and they turn out great.)
2 Tbs butter, softened
4-5 Cups flour

Topping:
3 Tbs butter melted
sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder

For the dough, pour the water into a stand mixer with the sugar and yeast, let that sit and froth for about 10 minutes. Add salt, butter, and 2 cups of flour. Mix the dough on low. Add the rest of the flour a half cup at a time, until dough scrapes the sides of the bowl clean. Mix the dough about 5 minutes on medium speed, until its soft and easy to work with.
Let the dough rest in the bowl until doubled in size, about 1 hour and then roll it out. Roll the dough out into a long log, spray a knife with cooking spray and cut the dough into 12-14 pieces. Roll those pieces into about 6 inch long snakes. Spray 2 large cookie sheets with cooking spray, ( I usually only use one) and lay the breadsticks out leaving about 2 inches between each one.
Place them in the oven with the temperature turned to 170 degrees. Let them rise for about 15 minutes, or until doubled in size.( I have also let them sit at room temp until they are doubled in size and then bake them in the oven)
Once risen, brush them with the 1 1/2 T of melted butter and sprinkle them with salt. Now preheat the oven to 400 degrees and bake them for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. While they are baking combine the rest of the melted butter with 1 tsp garlic powder. When the breadsticks are golden brown, remove them from the oven and brush them with the butter/garlic mixture.


Other Breadstick Notes

Basic ingredients:
Flour, EVOO, Water, Yeast, Milk, Butter

Grissini Bread sticks are thin crisp bread sticks, rather than the chewy ones shown above.
Good flavor enhancers and combinations for this type of bread stick (from Greatest British Cooking Show) follow:

  • Nigella seed and Parmesan cheese
  • Poppy seed, caraway seed and Kalamata olives
  • Lemon and rosemary
  • Ras el hanout is a flavor from Africa
  • Garlic, Parmesan cheese and Bleu cheese
  • You can also entwine two different colors

Knead your dough until you achieve the Window Pane Stage, where it can stretch so thin that light goes through it.
A slow bake will drive out the moisture, making it crispier.

Grissini

    • 1 1/3 C water (warm)
    • 2 tsp yeast
      • Let rest 5 minutes
    • 1/4 C EVOO
    • 1 C AP flour – whisk to combine – this removes lumps
    • 2 C more flour
    • 1.5 tsp sea salt
      • Put on Kitchen Aid with paddle attachment
    • Change to dough hook
      • Add 3/4 C more flour
    • Mix 3-5 minutes with dough hook on medium-slow speed
    • Finish on counter, kneading by hand
    • Stretch dough into a rough rectangle
    • Put dough on surface oiled with EVOO
    • Continue to stretch until it is relatively flat
    • Roll using rolling pin to about 1/2 inch thickness
    • Brush the top with sesame oil
    • Cover with plastic wrap while still on counter
    • Cover plastic with a towel for about 90 minutes
      • You will have only one rise
      • OPTIONAL:  Sprinkle with sesame seeds or caraway seeds
    • As time nears, oil a large baking sheet with sesame oil
    • Cut into half (lengthwise) with a pizza cutter
    • Cut dough about the width of your fingers and move fingers to the baking sheet, stretching to width of baking sheet
    • OPTIONAL:  Stretch far, then twist into a spiral breadstick
    • Bake at 400º for 18-20 minutes
      • Cook until golden/tanned

From Sally’s Baking Addiction

Find it online: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-breadsticks/

  • Water: Warm water activates the yeast. It should be about 100–110°F (38–43°C). If the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast. And your dough will be doomed.
  • Yeast: You need 2 and 1/4 teaspoons (which is 1 standard packet) of instant or active dry yeast to make this dough rise.
  • Sugar: Sugar increases the yeast activity and tenderizes the dough, especially paired with melted butter.
  • Melted Butter: Using butter instead of oil provides delicious flavor, and makes for a rich, soft dough. We’re using melted butter in both the dough and for brushing on top after baking.
  • Salt: For flavor both in the dough and the buttery topping.
  • Bread Flour: Bread flour gives these breadsticks a chewier texture, but if you only have all-purpose flour, you can use that instead.
  • Garlic Powder: We’re mixing garlic powder into the melted butter topping, and if you want extra garlicky flavor, you can include some in the dough as well.

For cheese-topped breadsticks (that you don’t need to individually shape!), see these cheesy breadsticks.

Kneading the Dough Is Key

Kneading dough is a common step in bread baking, and this particular dough definitely benefits from a long kneading step (about 8–10 minutes) to help ensure the thin breadsticks stay soft. You can knead dough with your hands or in a stand mixer. A stand mixer obviously makes the job easier, but if you don’t have one, kneading is a great stress reliever. 😉 On a lightly floured work surface, using the heels of your hands, stretch and fold the dough with gentle motion. If you’re new to yeasted doughs, my how to knead dough post and video can help with this step.

  • Why Do I Knead Dough? Kneading the dough serves a couple purposes. First, it incorporates air into the dough, which helps keep the thin breadsticks nice and soft. It also encourages the proteins in the flour and moisture in the dough to link together, forming a strong gluten network, which is essential for retaining the gas produced by the yeast. Gluten is what makes bread deliciously chewy.

You know your kneaded dough is ready to rise when it stretches without immediately tearing. After kneading, the dough will be soft and supple, and a windowpane test is always helpful. You can always poke the dough with your finger, too. If it slowly bounces back, it’s ready to rise. This is the exact same process we use to knead and test the dough for honey butter rolls.

  • What’s a Windowpane Test? Tear off a small (roughly golfball-size) piece of dough and gently stretch it out until it’s thin enough for light to pass through it. Hold it up to a window or light. Does light pass through the stretched dough without the dough tearing first? If so, your dough has been kneaded long enough and is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading.

Homemade Soft Breadsticks

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 88 reviews
  • Author: Sally McKenney
  • Prep Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes (includes rises)
  • Cook Time: 18 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 hours
  • Yield: 14 breadsticks

Soft, fluffy, garlic butter-topped homemade breadsticks are the perfect accompaniment to pretty much any dinner. The dough requires 2 rises, but the 2nd rise is pretty quick as the oven preheats. Reference my Baking With Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs. 

Ingredients

    • 1 and 1/4 cups (300ml) warm water (between 100–110°F, 38–43°C)
    • 2 and 1/4 teaspoons (7g) instant or active dry yeast (1 standard packet)*
    • 2 Tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3 and 1/3 cups (433g) bread flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed and for hands/work surface*
  • optional: 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Topping

  • 2 Tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • optional for sprinkling on top: dried parsley or other favorite herb

Instructions

    1. Prepare the dough: Whisk the warm water, yeast, and sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer. Loosely cover and allow to sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy and frothy on top. *If you do not own a stand mixer, you can do this in a large mixing bowl and in the next step, mix the dough together with a large wooden spoon/silicone spatula. It will take a bit of arm muscle. A hand mixer works, but the sticky dough repeatedly gets stuck in the beaters. Mixing by hand with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula is a better choice.*
    2. Add the melted butter, salt, 1 cup (130g) bread flour, and garlic powder, if using. With a dough hook attachment, mix on low speed for 30 seconds, scrape down the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula, then add the remaining flour. Beat on medium speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes. If the dough seems too wet to a point where kneading in the next step would be impossible, beat in more flour 1 Tablespoon at a time until you have a workable dough. Keep in mind that dough should be soft and a little tacky, but still manageable to knead with lightly floured hands.
    1. Knead the dough: Keep the dough in the mixer and beat for an additional 8-10 full minutes, or knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 8-10 full minutes. (If you’re new to bread-baking, my How to Knead Dough video tutorial can help here.) If the dough becomes too sticky during the kneading process, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of flour at a time on the dough or on the work surface/in the bowl to make a soft, slightly tacky dough. Do not add more flour than you need because you do not want a dry dough. After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft. Poke it with your finger—if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise. You can also do a “windowpane test” to see if your dough has been kneaded long enough: tear off a small (roughly golfball-size) piece of dough and gently stretch it out until it’s thin enough for light to pass through it. Hold it up to a window or light. Does light pass through the stretched dough without the dough tearing first? If so, your dough has been kneaded long enough and is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading until it passes the windowpane test.
    2. 1st Rise: Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise in a relatively warm environment for 1.5–2 hours or until double in size. (I always let it rise on the counter. Takes about 2 hours. For a tiny reduction in rise time, see my answer to Where Should Dough Rise? in my Baking With Yeast Guide.)
    3. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
    1. Shape the breadsticks: When the dough is ready, punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough in half—each half should weigh just under 1 pound. Working with 1 half at a time, cut 7 pieces, roughly equal in size (each piece will weigh about 2 ounces, or 55g, but don’t worry about making them exact). Using lightly floured hands and a very lightly floured work surface (you still want some grip for the tacky dough, so do not over-flour), roll each piece of dough into a log about 8 inches (20cm) long. Arrange 7 breadsticks on each prepared baking sheet. Repeat with 2nd half of dough.
    2. 2nd Rise: Cover shaped breadsticks with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise until slightly puffy, about 20 minutes.
    3. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
    4. Bake the breadsticks: Remove cover from breadsticks and bake for 18–19 minutes or until golden brown on top, rotating the pans (top to bottom, bottom to top) halfway through. If you notice the tops browning too quickly, loosely tent with aluminum foil.
    5. Make the topping: Melt butter, and stir in salt and garlic powder.
    6. Remove breadsticks from the oven, brush with garlic butter topping, and allow breadsticks to cool for a couple minutes before serving. Sprinkle with dried parsley or your favorite herb, if desired, and serve warm.
  1. Cover leftover rolls tightly and store at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat as desired.

Notes

    1. Freezing Instructions for Baked Breadsticks: Freeze the baked and cooled breadsticks for up to 3 months. To thaw, leave out on the counter for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Warm in the microwave for 30 seconds or covered on a baking sheet in a 300°F (149°C) oven for 10 minutes.
    2. Freezing Instructions for Dough: After the dough rises and you divide the dough in half in step 6, you can freeze half or some of the dough to use at a later time. Or you can simply freeze all of the dough. Lightly coat all sides of the dough you want to freeze with nonstick spray or olive oil. Place the dough into a zipped-top bag and seal tightly, squeezing out all the air. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the frozen dough in the refrigerator for about 8 hours or overnight. When ready to use, remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow to rest for 30 minutes on the counter. Preheat the oven and continue with step 6, punching down the dough to release air if needed.
  1. Overnight/All Day Dough Instructions: Prepare the dough through step 3. Then, grease a large bowl, place dough inside, and coat all sides of dough as instructed in step 4. Cover dough and allow to rise for 8–12 hours in the refrigerator. (If it needs to be in the refrigerator for longer, use cooler water in the dough, which will slow the dough’s rise and allow for more time.) The slow rise gives the dough wonderful flavor! When ready, continue with step 5. If the dough didn’t quite double in size during this time, let it sit at room temperature for 30–45 minutes before punching down (step 6).
  2. Special Tools (affiliate links): Stand Mixer or Large Mixing Bowl and Silicone Spatula or Wooden Spoon | Whisk | Baking Sheets | Silicone Baking Mats or Parchment Sheets | Bench Scraper | Pastry Brush
  3. Yeast: I usually use instant yeast. You can use active dry yeast instead, with no changes to the preparation. Rise times will be slightly longer. Reference my Baking With Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.
  4. Flour: If you don’t have bread flour, you can use all-purpose flour. All-purpose flour is convenient for most, but bread flour produces chewier breadsticks. The breadsticks are still soft and fluffy no matter which you use.
  5. Can I Add Cheese on Top? Yes, absolutely. Bake for just 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, carefully push the warm breadsticks together so they are touching, brush with the garlic butter topping, and then top each batch with 1/2 cup (about 55g) of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (or a mix). There are 2 batches of 7 breadsticks, so you’ll need 1 cup (about 110g) of shredded cheese total. Return to the oven for 3-4 more minutes until cheese has melted and breadsticks are golden brown. Or try these flatter cheesy breadsticks.

Rachel Ray’s Roasted Soup

Ingredients

Potato, tomato, garlic
Chicken stock
Cut top off entire head of garlic, nest in foil, and drizzle with olive oil
Use fork to poke numerous holes in potatoes
Sprinkle tomatoes with olive oil and salt and thyme

Turn oven to 450°F
Garlic will roast 10 minutes
Potato will roast 45-60 minutes
Tomato will roast 45-75 minutes . Cook until skins burst

Remove flesh of potatoes. Use skin for an appetizer at another time
Squeeze garlic cloves into the potatoes
Mash tomatoes in a colander, keeping the juice and meat separate
Add 2 tablespoons butter and tomato juice to potatoes and garlic and mix well
After mashed together, add basil leaves and meat from tomato
Add chicken stock to desired consistency
Heat on low heat 20 to 60 minutes

Judy Winn’s Chicken Poblano

2 large poblano peppers (plus 1 below)
1/2 CU chicken (cooked and chopped) – Leftovers work well
1/2 CU Monterey Jack cheese (grated)
1/2 CU Cheddar cheese (grated)
1/2 sweet onion (chopped)
1 egg

BATTER
2 Eggs
1 CU milk
1 CU flour

Panko bread crumbs (see special stsps)

SAUCE
1 can Macayos red enchilada sauce
1/2 sweet onion (chopped)
1 Poblano pepper (minced)

Put combined sauce ingredients on stove at very low simmer while everything else is going on.

1. Cut slit into peppers and remove seeds and veins
2. Combine chicken, egg and grated cheese
3. Stuff into pepper (Any leftovers can later be used for Chicken Cakes)
4. Secure pepper seam (if necessary) with toothpicks
5. Pour batter into a vessel that is narrow, but still allows the poblano to be dipped into it
6. Put Panko crumbs into heavy duty paper bag
7. Dip Poblano pepper into dipping sauce, remove and let drip 10 seconds.
8. Put into paper bag and shake
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8
10. Place on baking sheet and bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees
11. Remove from oven and sprinkle more cheese over the top
12. Put back in oven for 10 more minutes

To serve, ladle sauce onto bottom of plate and set cooked chili on top.

Panko Bread Crumbs
1. Cut 4 pieces of french bread into thin slices
2. Place on bread rack overnight
3. Next morning crush as fine as possible
4. Put through medium sized sieve
5. Recrush anything remaining in sieve
6. Repeat until bread crumbs are all crushed to fine crumbs.

Serve with Easy Bean Dip (see recipe) and taco chips on the side
Add a fresh touch with a small salad topped with shredded cheese, fresh sliced tomato and mandarin orange slices.

John Goman’s Bratwurst

5 LB picnic shoulder (ground – see note)
2 LB veal shoulder chop (ground – see note)
1 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper

Grind meat with electric or hand grinder.
Do not, under any circumstances, trim the fat.
If necessary, put through a meat grinder twice.
Mix with all other spices by hand to taste.
Add more spices if you like a real flavorful brat.
Stuff into hog casing and twist to segment.

Stuff the meat into intestines. Gotta go to a butcher that sells enough meat that he has enough trimmings to make his own sausage. I use a meat grinder attachment on my Kitchenaid mixer with a sausage addition (really just a tube off the end that you feed the casing over) tie a knot on the end of the casing and run the ground meat mixture through the grinder and out the tube into the casing. You don’t want it too over packed because you twist the sausage every 8″ to make the individual links.

Joe’s Special (Taylor St., San Fran)

2 large eggs
1/2 pound ground grass-fed beef
1/2 large onion, any kind (julienned)
1/2 pound spinach (chopped leaves only)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. In a bowl, lightly beat the eggs
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Set aside.
4. In a large, heavy skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium- high heat.
5. Crumble the beef into the pan and cook, stirring, until some of the red is gone but not a minute longer.
6. This will take only a few minutes (keep it pink).
7. Pour off the excess fat and transfer the meat to a bowl.
8. Set aside and keep warm.
9. Turn heat to medium
10. Add the remaining olive oil to the pan
11. Add the garlic and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
12. Add the spinach and cook, stirring occasionally, until it wilts and is tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
13. Season with salt and pepper.
14. Return the meat to the pan
15. Add the oregano, and taste and adjust the seasoning.
16. Reduce heat to low.
17. Add the eggs, and cook, stirring constantly, just until the eggs are set, another minute or two. Be careful to NOT overcook the eggs.
18. Top with Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve with English Muffin

A little bit of red pepper gives this a good “heat”

Serve with cinnamon apple wedges or hot spiced applesauce

James Ormshy’s Whole-Wheat Carrot Cake

1 cu whole-wheat pastry flour
½ cu granulated sugar
½ cu brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp. Baking powder
¾ tsp baking soda
1 ½ cu peeled and grated carrots
4 large eggs
½ cu canola oil
2 tsp pure vanilla
1 cu (8oz) canned crushed pineapple in juice (not heavy syrup)
½ cu chopped toasted walnuts
powdered sugar, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9X3 inch round cake pan and line the bottom w/ parchment paper.
2. Combine the flour, sugars, salt, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Stir until well blended.
3. Combine the carrots, eggs, oil & vanilla in a large bowl.
Whisk well, then whisk in the pineapple and walnuts.
4. Add the dry ingredients and stir just to blend. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake in the center of the oven for 55 to 60 minutes, until the top feels firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Cool in the pan on a rack. Remove cake from the pan and dust the top with sifted powdered sugar just before serving.

Jalapeño Poppers (Medium heat)

5 large jalapeno peppers
1/4 LB cream cheese
2 eggs (beaten)
2/3 CU self-rising flour
1/2 CU cornflakes (crumbs)
1 TBL onion (minced or powder)
1 tsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic (minced or powder)
Dash paprika

1. Remove stems from jalapenos and slice lengthwise
2. Remove seeds and inner membrane
3. Wash hands with lots of soap, paying attention to under nails
4. Poach jalapeno halves in boiling water 10-15 minutes
5. Drain and cool and an hour
6. In separate bowl, mix eggs 1/4 tsp salt, (minced garlic), (minced onion) and the oil
7. In a second bowl, mix 1/4 tsp salt, (garlic powder), (onion powder) and paprika
8. In a third bowl, mix cornflakes and crush well
9. Repeating for each… Spread cream cheese into each jalapeno half
10. Dip stuffed jalapeno into egg bowl then in flour
11. Dip again in egg mixture, and again into the flour
12. Dip again in egg mixture, and this time roll in corn flakes
13. Set on waxed paper on baking sheet
14. Go back to step 9 and repeat until you’ve processed all the peppers
15. Put in freezer for at least 2 hours. This will keep breading from falling off, and cheese oozing out.
16. Heat fry oil to about 370 degrees. Use enough oil to cover peppers.
17. Fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown
18. Set on rack over paper towels to drain
19. Serve hot with sour cream on the side

Instead of frying, you can bake these at 450 degrees for 15 minutes, about 5 minutes per flip

Making your own PASTA

Instructions for ATLAS PASTA MACHINE

2 CU soft white flour
2 CU durum wheat flour
1 tsp salt
6 eggs (room temperature)
approx 1/4 CU water
EVOO

Special Steps HARDWARE ASSEMBLY

1. Fix machine securely to a table using clamp provided.
2. Insert handle into roller and set to widest width.

Variations Combine 1/2 CU cooked spinach with eggs before Step 8.

Notes PREPARE PASTA DOUGH

3. Put flour in a large mixing bowl (or on counter)
4. Create a depression in the middle
5. Separate whites from 3 of your eggs.
6. Crack and mix 3 eggs, 3 extra yolks and 1 TBL EVOO
7. Pour into depression
8. Mix using fingers, kneading until homogenous and consistent

Instructions for ATLAS PASTA MACHINE

– Add water if necessary, but not too much at a time
– If it gets too wet, add a sprinkle of flour to dry
– A good mixture should never stick to your fingers
9. Pour onto floured surface and continue to knead until well mixed
– When the right consistency, wrap in plastic and chill 1 hour

PROCESSING THE PASTA DOUGH

10. Set machine to Position 1 (widest setting)
11. Pass pasta dough through machine, turning handle
12. Fold in half, and repeat setp 11 – DO THIS ABOUT 6 MORE TIMES
13. When dough has assumed a regular shape, reduce to Position 2
14. Reduce Postion by ONE NUMBER and continue until dough has the thickness you desire. Position 9 is approx 0.2 mm

15. With a knife, cut dough into strips about 10 inches long
16. Move handle to cutting rollers
17. Turning slowly, feed dough through cutting rollers

NOTE: IF DOUGH WILL NOT CUT, IT IS TOO SOFT.
If this happens, sprinkle with flour and go back to Step 9

NOTE: IF DOUGH WILL NOT FEED, IT IS TOO DRY.
If this happens, sprinkle with water and go back to Step 9

15. Let pasta dry on table cloth 1 hour
16. Bundle or wind into nests for storage
17. Let dry overnight

DO NOT USE WATER TO CLEAN YOUR MACHINE. WIPE OFF ONLY WITH A BRUSH OR WOODEN ROD (CHOPSTICK)

Indian Scrambled Eggs

2 eggs
Chopped Veggies (Onion, Pepper, Tomatoes)
Dashes of Marsalla, curry, ground chili, turmeric
cream
Dashes of Corriander and Basil for top

1. Saute the peppers and onion, then add other veggies and spices
2. Beat eggs – add a bit of cream at the end
3. Pour egg mixture into hot skillet
4. Be careful NOT to overcook.
5. Top with corriander and basil

Cazuela de Huevos Rancheros

Huevos rancheros for more than four people can be time consuming if you are frying eggs and making up each dish separately. So here are layered softened corn tortillas, ranchero sauce, cheese and eggs to be baked in the oven.

Grease casserole pan bottom and sides
Essentially you are creating a lasagna

Corn tortillas
Layer of refried beans
Layer of pork or beef
Sliced tomatoes
Green chilies
Fried eggs over the top
Sprinkled with cheddar and provalone
Bake 350 degrees for about 10 minutes

Juevos Rancheros – COLLECTION

2016-02-24 08.51.092016-02-24 08.50.57
HIS AND HERS

Grandpa’s Huevos Rancheros

Top with avocado (blue plate) or mushrooms (green plate)

  1. Slice mushrooms and cook in butter, then set aside
  2. Sautee slivered onions, the set aside
  3. Add 1 C enchilada sauce to the pan and bring to simmer
  4. Dip corn tortillas in sauce and put on a small square of aluminum foil placed on a baking tray
  5. Mix refried beans in with remaining sauce and heat
  6. Place on tortillas
  7. Add sliced onion
  8. Create a recess in the center and add a whole egg
  9. Top with avocado (blue plate) or mushrooms (green plate)
  10. Sprinkle with grated cheese
  11. Bake at 350º for 13 minutes
  12. Use foil to move to plates (remove foil or just keep it there) The tortillas will be soft and may fall apart

See also: CAZUELA DE HUEVOS RANCHEROS for a casserole recipe, if you are cooking for more than two people.


When I make Huevos Ranchers it is never the same. Of course, it is served on a corn tortilla, and then spread with refried beans, but sometimes has a fried egg on top, sometimes ham, sometimes green chilis… and then topped with cheese. The concept is a corn tortilla with tasty goodness. Here are several recipes if you want some guidance your first time through.

Juevos rancheros

QUICK AND SIMPLE
PHOTO SHOWN AT RIGHT

Corn tortilla heated and browned on both sides
Smear with refried beans
Sprinkle with diced peppers
Top with scrambled egg disc
Top with shredded beef and salsa mixed together
Top with poached egg
Sprinkle with cheese
Broil about five minutes


Grandma’s Huevos Rancheros

2 fried or poached eggs
½ tsp vegetable oil
1/8 small onion
1/8 sliced bell pepper
¼ clove garlic, chopped
¼ CU Salsa
1 TBL diced green chiles
2 corn tortillas
2 TBS shredded cheese

1. Heat vegetable oil in large skillet
2. Saute onion, bell pepper and garlic
3. Add salsa and chiles – bring to boil, remove from heat
4. Top corn tortilla with 1/3 CU sauce and one egg
5. Sprinkle with cheese


Huevos Rancheros Casserole with Ranchero Sauce

  • Place the canned and fresh tomatoes, the onion, jalapeño, garlic, water, chilies powder, salt, cumin, oregano, sugar and vinegar in a 2-quart saucepan. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • While the sauce is simmering, prepare the tortillas and the eggs.
  • Heat the oil in a skillet.
  • Place a tortilla in the hot oil and fry just until softened.
  • As each tortilla is done, place it on a plate.
  • Repeat this procedure until all the tortillas are cooked.
  • Oil a long baking dish (about 9 x 13 inches).
  • Spoon half of the sauce over the bottom, then arrange the tortillas over the sauce.
  • Top the tortillas with more sauce.
  • Sprinkle with half of the grated cheddar cheese.
  • Crack the eggs onto the cheese layer at intervals so that there will be a few inches between each egg.
  • Spoon the remaining sauce over the length of the eggs and sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese.
  • Bake for about 13 minutes at 350º
  • Pierce one of the eggs with a sharp paring knife to check that the eggs are done as you like.
  • After 20 minutes of baking, the eggs are hard- cooked.
  • When the eggs are cooked to your liking, remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
  • To serve, cut the casserole into squares. Sprinkle with freshly grated cotija or feta cheese.

Serves 6 to 8.

Note: Cotija cheese is sold in small rounds, and is available in the dairy case of many supermarkets. It is easily crumbled. You can substitute feta cheese.


Black Olive Huevos

Options
Add Black olives
Use a tomatillo rather than tomatoes
Add Artichokes
Top with cilantro
Include diced green chilies
Use tortilla chips or corn chips rather than corn tortilla
Use poached egg rather than Fried Egg

Special Steps Break your egg into separate bowls. This will assure that you have an unbroken yolk. If you break the yolk, save this for scrambled eggs the following morning.

Huevos Rancheros – SAUCE

The Ranchero Sauce
— 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes with juice
— 2 fresh tomatoes, diced
— 1 cup diced onion
— 1 jalapeno chile, seeded and minced
— 2 minced cloves garlic
— 1 cup water
— 2 tablespoons red chile powder
— 1/2 teaspoon salt
— 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
— 1 teaspoon oregano
— 1 teaspoon sugar
— 1 tablespoon vinegar
Adapted from Jacqueline Higuera McMahan, who grew up on a Bay Area rancho, and is the author of “California Rancho Cooking,” “The Salsa Book” and “The Chipotle Chile Cook Book.”

America’s Test Kitchen

  • 1 Can diced tomatoes – strained – reserve liquid
  • 1 C strained reserved tomato juice
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp  lime
  • 1/2 Onion – diced
  • 4 tsp Chili powder
  • 1/2 C canned green chilies
  • 2 garlic cloves – sliced thin
  • 2 TBL EVOO
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 C pepper jack cheese
  • 4 eggs

STEP BY STEP

  1. Strain diced tomatoes, reserving liquid
  2. Add brown sugar and lime to strained tomato juice
  3. To tomatoes, add onion. green chilies, garlic, EVOO, chili powder and salt/pepper to taste
  4. Stir to combine
  5. Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper or waxed paper
  6. Spread into an even layer
    Alternately you can use a comal or a large cast iron skillet
  7. Bake at 500º for about 40 minutes
  8. Turn oven down to 400º
  9. Put cooked mixture into a glass baking dish, and add the strained/reserved juice back into it, and stir to combine
  10. Sprinkle with pepper jack
  11. Nestle 1 egg at a time into an impression you will make in the sauce
  12. Season with salt and pepper
  13. Bake at 400º for 15 minutes
  14. Tent with aluminum for about 5 minutes
  15. Top with avocado, scallions and cilantro

GZ’s Huevos Rancheros

Geofry Zakarian cooked with his two daughters Anna and Madeline

  • 1 can of Refried beans or chili beans
  • Pico de gallo – Chop, dice and mix:  red chili pepper, roma tomato, lime juice, red onion – add a little bit of chopped cilantro
    Optionally, use a jar of store-bought salsa
  • Crisp corn tortilla taco or tostada
    Optionally, you can use a bag of corn chips
  • Two sunny side up eggs
  1. Heat beans in a skillet
  2. Cook two eggs sunny side up
  3. Put heated beans in the bottom of a bowl
  4. Put corn chips on top of beans
  5. Top with an egg
  6. Garnish with cilantro, avocado, tomato, lime, chili, onion, salt, pepper
  7. Top with fresh salt and pepper

Leprechaun Gold

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 large egg
Granulated sugar (for coating cookies)

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. In a separate large bowl, use a wooden spoon to cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth.

2. Stir in the molasses and egg and mix until well blended. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until combined.

3. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 1 to 2 hours or until firm enough to roll into balls. Heat the oven to 375.

4. Use a tiny spoon (we used one from a child’s tea set) to scoop the dough out of the bowl, then roll it with your fingertips into balls that are about 1/2 inch in diameter. Roll the balls in a shallow bowl of granulated sugar.

5. Place the balls on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between the cookies. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until the cookies are crinkled and set.

6. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat until all the dough is used.

7. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month and at room temperature for up to 1 week. Makes about 10 dozen Lucky Pennies.

8. KIDS’ STEPS: Kids can mix up the dough, shape it into balls, and roll the balls in sugar.

Original recipe from DisneyFamily.com

Lentil Soup – Three Recipes

RECIPE ONE

1 cu lentils
onions
celery
carrots
1 tbl garlic
½ tsp salt
½ cu broth
½ tsp ginger

1. Boil lentils in 6 cu water for ½ hour.
2. Add diced onions, celery, carrots. “Drain and cook another ½ hour blend with 1 tbl garlic, ½ tsp salt, ½ cu broth and ½ tsp ginger.

RECIPE TWO

3 strips bacon (rendered) or olive oil
onion (chopped
3 carrots (slilvers)
1 ½ cu lentils (rinsed)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
2 tbl tom paste
½ tsp thyme
2 cu Chicken stock
1 tbl balsamic vinegar

1. Saute in bacon rendering or/olive oil, onion, add carrots, stir into pan – cook 5 min.
2. Add garlic, tom paste, thyme and lentils, stir & cook.
3. Add 2 cup chicken stock, 2 cu water, bring to boil.
4. Cover and cook 45 minutes, simmer. Add water if thickens too much.
5. Add 1 tsp salt , ¼ tsp pepper and 1 tbl salsamic vinegar, blend.

RECIPE THREE
1 CU fresh uncooked lentils
1/2 onion (diced)
1/2 CU broth
1 TBL garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 stalk celery (chopped)
1/2 carrot (sliced)

1. Rinse lentils, and let soak for 1 hour
2. Bring 6 CU water to full boil
3. Boil lentils for 1/2 hour – add water as required to keep them covered
4. Add onions and carrots and cook for another 1/2 hour
5. Drain
6. Put in blender with other ingredients
7. Leave blender cap vented for hot air to escape, or all Hell will break loose
8. Blend until fairly smooth
9. Serve topped with something of a contrasting color… If green lentils, use shredded carrot, if orange lentils use parsley

Grandpa’s Old Fashioned Lemonade

This creates a lemonade CONCENTRATE that will store efficiently and is really easy to mix when you are ready.

INGREDIENTS

  • 16 lemons – or enough juice to fill an empty water bottle
  • TWO empty water bottles
  • 1 CU sugar
  • 8 mint leaves
  • water

STEP BY STEP

  1. Fill one water bottle with water and empty into sauce pan
  2. Add sugar to water in the sauce pan and heat until sugar dissolves
  3. Meanwhile, cut lemons in half, and squeeze juice from lemons into measuring cup.  Discard the seeds.
  4. Pour sugar water into the measuring cup with the lemon juice
  5. Make sure that mixture is only warm to the touch, NOT HOT.
  6. Pour lemon/sugar mixture equally into two empty water bottles
  7. Top bottles off with a bit more water and refrigerate
  8. Will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
    WHEN YOU ARE READY TO SERVE…
  9. Fill glass with ice cubes
  10. Add water only to half-way
  11. Top glass off with lemon concentrate from your bottles

 

Lemon Party Punch

3 cans lemon juice (frozen or canned)
2 cups sugar
2 quarts strong tea
2 quarts water
4 cups orange juice
1 ½ quarts cranberry or grape juice
1 quart gingerale

1. Dissolve sugar in canned or frozen lemon juice.
2. Add tea, water and other juices and chill.
3. Just before serving add gingerale and pour over ice cubes in punch bowl.
4. Garnish with slices of banana, strawberries or other fresh fruit.

Makes about 2 gallons punch.

Lemon Glazed Cake (Pat’s recipe)

Lemon Cake mix
3/4 cup oil
1 cup water
1 3oz pkg lemon jello
4 eggs
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup lemon concentrated juice

1. Mix together, cake mix w/oil, water, jello and eggs.
2. Bake at 350 till done. Done when toothpick comes out clean.
3. While cake is still warm, prick holes to bottom of pan about half inch apart (all over top of cake).
4. Mix 2 cups powdered sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice, disolve sugar to make glaze.
5. Pour glaze over top of cake, spreading evenly.
6. Let cake cool before serving

Lamb Burger

1 ½ lb ground lamb
½ onion (minced med fine)
¼ cu parsley (chopped)
2 tsp oregano
salt & pepper
tomato slices
pita bread
lettuce

1. Mix lamb, onion, parsely, oregano and salt and pepper.
2. Use lg ice cream scoop for size grill 3 min/ea. side.
3. Heat pita bread on grill.
4. In pocket place tomato slices, lettuce and 2 mini burgers.

sauce, Tzatztiki sauce

Krab Salad

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 LB Krab or lobster
  • 1/2 C Miracle Whip
  • 1/2 pkg cream cheese
  • 1 C Baby spinach – stems removed
  • 2 TBL Dried cranberries
  • 2 TBL Blueberries
  • 2 TBL Walnuts
  • 4 leaves Romaine lettuce (alt – Radiccio)
  • 1/4 Sweet red onion – very thinly sliced
  • Juice and zest from one lemon ( for garnish )

STEP BY STEP

  1. Shred Krab into large pieces – set aside
  2. Mix Miracle Whip and cream cheese
  3. Chiffonade spinach leaves
  4. Roughly chop cranberries, blueberries and walnuts
  5. Mix all of the above together without over-mixing or breaking the Krab apart
  6. Place Romaine lettuce leaves in a bowl creating a lettuce border
  7. Put mixture onto the lettuce leaves
  8. Top with onion slices
  9. Top with lemon juice and zest
  10. Serve with nice rustic crackers

 

 

Korean BBQ Skewers

Flank Steak or Skirt Steak (cut thin)
Carrots
Spinach
Sesame seeds
Paprika
2 tbl Ginger
2 Garlic cloves
2 Scallions
2- tbl brown sugar
¼ cu canola oil
¼ cu sesame oil
¼ cu soy
pinch red chili flakes

1. Marinate steak for at least 4 hours.
2. Sear or grill (skewer for appearance).
3. Top with spinach, carrots, garnish w/ paprika & sesame seeds
4. Cucumber-carrot salad; julienne equal amounts, chile flakes, rice wine, rice wine vinegar, sugar.
5. Spinach Garnish; ½ cu cooked spinach, 1 tbl rice wine,
1 tbl soy, 1 tbl sesame oil, 1 tbl garlic, 1 tbl brown sugar, 1 tbl sesame seeds, mix well and plate.

Marinade; 2 tbl ginger, ¼ cu sesame oil, 2 garlic cloves, pinch red chili flakes, 2 scallions, 2 tbl brown sugar, ¼ cu soy, ¼ cu canola oil – Note- increase to ½ cu sesame oil if grilling.

Kasha – Jewish Rosh Hashana meal

Ingredients
1/3 CU Kasha grain
1 CU stock
1/3 Farfale pasta (al dente) or long grain rice
1/2 CU water (if using rice rather than pasta)
1 medium onion (sauteed)
Mushrooms (sauteed)
3 TBL butter
1 egg (beaten well)
basil and parsley to taste

Instructions
1. Toast kasha to a nutty smell
2. Add beaten egg
3. Add 4 CU stock
4. Season with salt and pepper
5. Bring to boil, the reduce to simmer
6. Let simmer 10 minutes
– Meanwhile sautee mushrooms and onions in butter
7. Mix in other items: mushrooms, onions, butter, pasta
8. Place in casserole at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

Notes As a Jewish example of “soul food”, kasha is often served with onions and
brown gravy and bow tie pasta, known as Kasha varnishkas. It is also a popular
filling for knishes and is sometimes included in matzo ball soup.

Sometimes served with apples and honey.

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