Category: Grandpa’s Use Only

• Cook three strips of bacon and set aside
• Scramble 4 eggs and set aside
• Shred 1/2 C mozzarella
• Shred 1/4 C sharp cheddar
• Measure 2 TBL chives

1. Thaw puff pastry in the fridge overnight
2. Eggs should be scrambled, but should still be slightly wet and glistening, because we will be cooking them once wrapped.
3. Roll pastry on a floured surface
4. Cut into 6 squares
5. Schmear each square with softened cream cheese
6. Crumble and broadcast bacon pieces – 1/6 on each (leaving border)
7. Top evenly with scrambled egg mixture – 1/6 on each (leaving border)
8. Egg wash the borders
9. Fold over and pinch shut
10. Brush tops with egg mixture
11. Sprinkle with sesame seeds
12. Bake at 375º for 30 minutes
13. If you wish, you can freeze these before cooking.  Thaw overnight in the fridge the day before cooking them.

This is my version of a dish prepared by Lori Hashimoto, owner of Hana Japanese Eatery.

It appears on her menu as Hiyashi Chuka, and I’ve made slight modifications due to allergies my wife has.

Hiyash Chuka is a chilled ramen noodle salad served in the summer, topped with colorful cold ingredients and a sweet soy vinegar dressing.

Noodles can be cold ramen noodles, cold rice noodles or yan noodles.  This would also be good with VERY THIN egg noodles, although that’s more western than Japanese.

1. Use a traditional cucumber with the seeds removed, or an English cucumber.
2. Use a zester-grater or simply a peeler to remove some of the cucumber skin, leaving enough green for color.
3. Cut the cucumber into thin six inch pieces
4. Cut thin sliced deli ham and roll it into a “cigar”
5. Cut the ham so that you end up with multiple thin strips.
6. For my wife, I will be using thinly sliced turkey
7. Prepare your ramen noodles for cooking.  Fresh is better.  Loosen them so that when they hit the boiling water they will separate from one another.  Then cook for 7-8 minutes.
8. Beat two eggs together in a mixing bowl.
9. Using a preheated teflon saute pan with a bit of EVOO, pour 1/3 of the egg mixture into the pan, and tilt pan to spread the egg across the bottom creating a thin crepe.
10. Once liquid is gone, slide it out of the pan to cool.  Prepare two more crepes.
11. Drain your cooked noodles and shock them in an ice bath, then set them aside.
12. Prepare your dressing.  Combine in a mixing bowl:
    • 1/2 C vinegar
    • 1/4 C soy sauce
    • 1/2 C sugar
    • 2 TBL lemon juice
    • 1 TBL sesame seed oil
13. Whisk all together and heat in a sauce pan just until it all comes to a boil.
14. Pour into a glass bowl and refrigerate for using later
15. Prepare your egg crepes
    • Roll them into one large tight cigar
    • Using your knife, cut thin strips off the cigar and then separate the strands.
16. All of the above steps can be done an hour or two ahead of time.  When you are ready to serve, plate the ingredients
17. Put a pile of your cold noodles in the center of your plate
18. Decorate with cucumber spears spaced north, south, east and west.
19. Add 1/4 each of ham just to the left of each pile of cucumber spears
20. Add 1/4 each of your egg strips to the right of each pile
21. You can also add color by using extremely thin slices of red bell pepper
22. Top with red salted ginger in the center
23. Pour on dressing
24. Add thin strips of roasted cut dried seaweed and toasted sesame seeds

Mis en Place
to make TWO 6 inch quiches

• 12 packets crackers (or 20 Ritz)
• 4 TBL cold butter – pieces
• 3-4 TBL EVOO
  • –
• 1 egg
• 1/2 C whole milk
• 1/4 C Miracle Whip
• 1 TBL sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
  • –
• 1 serving (1/4 C) sauteed spinach
• Optional:  2 TBL sun dried tomatoes (chopped)
  • –
• 6 TBL shredded cheddar
• 6 TBL shredded asiago
• 1 slice Provolone cheese

Step by Step

1. Food process crackers and butter till crumbs
   ALT:  Food process 2 C AP flour and 1/2 C Miracle Whip :: Add VERY cold water very slowly just until dough starts to come together.  Finish on the counter.
2. Drizzle in EVOO (with processor running) until it forms larger crumbs
3. Beat 1 egg with sugar and salt
4. Add milk to egg mixture, beat and set aside
5. Press spinach until much of moisture is gone
6. Chop spinach so that it is in smaller chopped pieces
7. Split crackers between two ramekins
8. Cover lightly (one at a time) with plastic wrap
9. Press to create a side and then press the remainder to form a bottom crust
10. Sprinkle 3 TBL shredded cheddar into each
11. Split spinach in half and spread into bottom of each over cheese
12. Put on 3 TBL more cheese into each
13. Cut provolone into narrow triangles and place on top of each
14. Press down gently just to make the top more even
15. Pour egg mixture into two small bowls to separate evenly
16. Put egg mixture into ramekins
17. Preheat oven to 350º
18. Bake 25 minutes
19. Let rest 5 minutes before serving

This is a good recipe for using left-over corn chips, potato chips, french fries, baked potatoes, etc.

1. In a food processor
   • Mix 1 egg
   • 1/2 C whole milk
   • 1 tsp salt
   • 1/2 tsp black pepper
   • 10 oz corn chips
   • Pulverize into a kind of lumpy dough
2. Mix in a large bowl
   • 1/4 C diced red onion
   • 2 jalapenos – deveined and minced
   • 1/4 C cream cheese
3. Mix everything together
4. Heat 3 C peanut or safflower oil in a dutch oven to about 285º
5. Prepare balls about the size of a ping pong ball – about an inch
   Use a 2 tsp ice cream scoop
6. Prepare only enough balls so that you do not overcrowd your pan
7. Cook until they are browned and remove to a cooling rack
8. Sprinkle with Maldon salt while still hot

Using other leftovers such as French fries, you can create a similar product

• 1 large bowl store-bought or homemade corn tortilla chips
• 3 jalapenos
• 1/2 red onion – diced
• 1/2 C each grated cheddar and Oaxaca cheeses
• 1/2 C Asadero cheese (or mozzarella)
• Preheat oven to 350º
• In a large sheet pan put down parchment paper
• Put down a rack and cover with chips
• Put a sliced jalapeno on each chip
• Add sprinkles of red onion, and then cheese mixture
• Use a spacer and prepare another rack and repeat the process
• Put into the oven for about 8 minutes
• Serve with guacamole, sour cream or creme fraiche, chopped tomato or salsa

 

Use ice cream sundae cups, and . . .

1. Slow cook your brisket @ 240º for 5-6 hours
2. Pull the shredded beef apart and toss with BBQ sauce
3. Put a little beef in the bottom
4. a layer of mashed potatoes
5. a layer of corn (optional baby peas)
6. another layer of beef
7. shredded sharp cheddar
8. pour hot gravy over it all
9. then add a cherry tomato on top

1. In heated nonstick skillet, add
   • 2 TBL butter – completely melted
   • 3 eggs – beaten
   • 1 tsp milk
2. Put two pieces of bread on top of the (still uncooked) egg
3. When eggs have cooked, flip the entire thing in the skillet
4. Add a square of cheddar to the top of where one of the pieces of bread is, then fold the sides of the egg onto the bread
5. Optionally, sprinkle with two strips of crumbled bacon
6. Flip one bread onto the other, so that you kind of have a sandwich
7. Cook both sides of the bread like a grilled cheese sandwich
8. Cut in quarters (diagonally) and serve two pieces to each of us

 

1. Combine dry ingredients
   • 2 C AP flour
   • 1/2 C oatmeal (pulsed in a blender)
   • 1/3 C  sugar
   • 2 TBL baking powder
   • 1/4 tsp salt
   • Optional: 1/4 C dried cranberries (chopped)
2. Stir to combine
   • 2 sticks of cold butter cut into pieces
3. Chop up 1 C pecans into fairly small pieces
   • Reserve about 2-3 TBL for topping
   • Add remainder to flour mixture
4. Mix wet ingredients
   • 3/4 C cream
   • 2 eggs
   • Juice and zest from one lemon
   • 1 tsp maple extract
5. Add wet to dry
6. Stir to mix, but don’t overmix
7. Should not be like a dough, but should be fairly coarse and crumbly
8. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
9. Turn onto the baking sheet
10. Press into a thick circular disk
11. Cut into half, then quarters, then eighths
12. Separate each by about 1/2 inch or more
13. 350º for 20-25 minutes
14. Let cool completely
15. Prepare topping
    • 1 1/2 C Powdered sugar
    • 2 TBL melted butter
    • 1 TBL Nescafe instant coffee
    • 1 tsp almond extract
    • 1 tsp vanilla
16. Drizzle frosting on scones
17. Top with some of the crushed pecans

This was named thusly because early recipes called for a pound each of flour, butter, sugar and eggs.  This recipe is only modified slightly.

• 4 oz cake flour – 1 level cup (AP flour will work – a bit more than 1 cup)
• 4 oz butter – about 1 stick
• 4 oz sugar – about 1/2 C
• 4 oz eggs – about  2 large eggs
• scant salt and 1/2 tsp vanilla

1. When getting the flour, unless you are measuring it in ounces, use a spoon to put the flour into your dry measuring cup.  Fill it just over the top.
2. Cream together sugar and butter
3. Add eggs 1 at a time, and beat until incorporated
4. Add the salt and vanilla
5. Add 1/2 of the flour and mix, but do not overmix
6. Add the rest of the flour and mix to incorporate
7. Bake for 60 minutes @ 350º
8. Knife test the batter.  If it comes out clean, you’re done,
   otherwise, cook for another 10 minutes
9. Cool at least 20 minutes before turning out
10. Cool completely on a rack before serving

 

 

 

 

Grandpa’s Beef Jerky

• 2 LBS of lean, long grain meat, flank steak
• Marinate as described in Step 4

1. Put the meat into the freezer for 30 minutes – this will help you slice it thinly
2. Meanwhile combine 1/3 C salted soy and 2/3 C Worcestershire, and 2 TBL brown sugar, 1 tsp each black pepper and citric acid, garlic powder, celery salt, onion powder, liquid smoke, and GTP.
3. Remove and slice immediately following (not against) the grain of the meat about the thickness of thick cut bacon
4. Let marinate overnight
5. Lay pieces flat on parchment paper and pat dry
6. Lay strips out flat on a large oven rack.
7. Place on oven rack to allow time and space to dry.
   • Gas oven: have on pilot and oven light only.
   • Electric: set at 100 to 125 degrees.
   • Toaster oven:  Press TOAST about once every hour until it is the texture you like it. (8-12 times)
8. Dry for 10 to 18 hours. Prop oven door open with knife.

Alternately put strips on clean cellulose air filters and put on top of a box fan.  Turn on and run for about 8-12 hours.  Should be dry, but still slightly pliable

 

• Store in veggie drawer wrapped in a paper towel in a plastic bag or wrapped in bubble wrap, which will allow air to flow.

Carrot Salad

1. Cut long strips (or noodles) from carrot
   • 1/4 C Miracle whip
   • 5 TBL sugar
   • 1/4 C crushed pineapple – drained
   • 1/4 C raisins
   • 1/2 tsp cumin
   • scant salt
   • pinch of celery seed or caraway seed
   • 1 cloves minced garlic
2. Toss above mixture with carrots

See also Carrot Cake

For any type of dumplings

3″ round Gyoza potsticker wrappers are the same as 3″ square wonton wrappers.

For smaller eggroll type of filling

Spring Roll Wrappers are slightly larger, and square.

For mu shu and other Asian fillings

Mu Shu pancakes are about 6 inches and are round.
 – These are also good for small burritos
 – Look in the grocery for Mu-Shu Shells

Egg Rolls

Eggroll Wrappers are even larger, and are usually square.

Spring Rolls

Rice paper is usually round and must be soaked in hot water before using.  Good for steaming.

• 150 gm AP flour
• 200 gm cake flour
• 300 gm whole milk
• 200 gm salted butter
• 4 large eggs
• 4 additional egg yolks (save whites for another day)
• 300 gm granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla

NOTE: 
AP flour has 12-14 gm protein per cup
Cake flour has about 8 gm protein per cup

1. Cream together butter, sugar and egg
2. Add 3/4 your wet ingredients
3. Add 1/2 your dry ingredients
4. Add the rest of your wet ingredients
5. Add the rest of your dry ingredients
6. Mix just to combine – do not overmix
7. Grease the bottom of your baking pan
8. Put in 2 TBL AP flour and shake to spread
9. Dump out the remainder
10. Cut parchment paper to cover the bottom of two pans
11. Bake at 350º until internal temperature is about 210º
12. Rest for 15 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack
13. Cool cakes for one hour before frosting

FROSTING

1. Microwave 2 TBL water for 10 seconds
2. Pour in 1 tsp gelatin
3. Mix and set aside
4. In a mixing bowl combine 2 C heavy cream with 1/2 C prepared  cocoa mix
5. Add 1 tsp vanilla to the gelatin and drizzle into the cream mixture while continually stirring

 

• 2 C AP flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
  SIFT ABOVE TOGETHER
  In large mixing bowl, combine
• 2 C sugar
• 1 C veg oil
• 1 C buttermilk
• 1 tp vanilla
• zest and juice from 2 lemons, plus 1/4 C lemon juice
  1. Add 1 egg and mix
  2. Add 1 egg and mix
  3. Add 1 egg and mix
  4. Add 1 egg and mix
  5. Fold in 1/2 of dry ingredients,
  6. then 1/4, then the last 1/4
  7. Mix only to combine
  8. Pour into a baking pan
  9. Bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes
• Create glaze with 1 C powdered sugar and 2 tsp lemon juice and 2 tsp milk – thin with 1 tsp milk if necessary, but you want it the consistency of a thick syrup

 

• 2 C grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 C White Cheddar – grated
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ½ C Miracle Whip
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
• 1 red bell pepper
• salt and black pepper to taste

1. Blacken your red bell under the broiler until charred
2. Put into a plastic bag to sweat for 5 minutes
3. Remove from the bag and use a paper towel to clean most of the blackened skin off.  DO NOT RINSE.
4. Let red bell cool while you mix the other ingredients
5. Combine all except the bell pepper
6. Cut the top and bottom off the bell, slice the skin and lay the pepper flat on a cutting board
7. Cut thin strips, then cut again creating very small squares
8. Fold in the cooled bell pepper trying not to break apart the pieces

Gravlox and lox are slightly different.  Smoke salmon is even more different, so I am not even going to go there.

To make your own lox and bagels here is what you will need:
Ingredients

1. 1. • 1/2 LB salmon fillet, pin bones removed
      • 1/2 C kosher salt
      • 1/2 C white sugar
      • 1/2 C brown sugar

Step by Step

1. 1. • FIRST CURE
   1. Rinse salmon with water; pat dry with paper towels.
   2. Mix salt and sugars together in a bowl.
   3. Lay out a piece of plastic wrap.
   4. Pour 1/2 of the salt mixture onto the plastic wrap; lay salmon on top (skin side up)
   5. Cover salmon with 1/4 of the remaining salt mixture – make sure you get edges and sides – KEEP 1/4 of the mixture for tomorrow
   6. Fold plastic wrap around salmon until secure; lay a second layer of plastic wrap on top of the salmon.
   7. Transfer to a 9×9-inch baking pan; cover with an 8×8-inch baking pan – as a weight – or even a wrapped brick
   8. Place a heavy object onto the smaller baking pan to weigh salmon down.
   9. Cure in the refrigerator until salmon’s surface becomes silky and firm, about 24 hours.
      • SECOND CURE
   10. Mix 1/2 C tequila and 1/2 C fresh lime juice
   11. Add zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange
   12. 2 tsp cracked coriander
   13. Dill, mint and basil – roughly chop and into the liquid
   14. Put in most of the reserved cure into a sheet pan lined with a fresh sheet of plastic in a pan with sides 
   15. Remove the salmon from the fridge and put onto mixture – skin side up
   16. Cover edges with any cure remaining
   17. Wrap with the plastic and weight again
   18. Refrigerate another 24 hours
       
       PREPARE TO RINSE YOUR LOX WHEN READY TO SERVE
       
   19. Submerge into ice bath and let rest for 30 minutes.
   20. Repeat rinsing and submerging 2 more times
   21. Dry salmon with paper towels.
   22. Place on paper towel and a plate UNCOVERED in the refrigerator
   23. Cut a red onion into slices as thin as possible and place the slices in a glass bowl.
   24. Pour 1/2 C hot white vinegar over the top and let cool.
   25. Meanwhile drain 2 TBL capers and put on a table with cream cheese placed on the table to soften
   26. Toast your bagel
   27. Cut the lox with a sharp knife starting from fat end of the salmon and cutting toward the thinner edge.  Cut as thinly as possible.

 

These chocolate chip cookies rely on the crystalization of your sugar and butter to keep the cookie formed.

• 1 C almond butter
• 1 C semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 C packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt or Maldon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350º
2. Mix butter, choc chips, sugar, eggs and salt
   A ball kind of like dough will form
3. Place 1 TBL mounds on a parchment lined baking sheet
4. Bake for 10 minutes
5. Let cool 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling
6. Store for up to a week

• 1/2 LB ground beef (80/20)
• 1/4 LB ground pork
• 1/4 LB chopped Italian sausage
• 1 TBL minced onion
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 TBL Worchestershire
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 C cheddar cheese – shredded
• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 1 large egg
• 1 TBL AP flour
• salt, pepper, oregano, cumin to taste

1. Brown ground meats in a skillet
2. Add onion, sausage and garlic
3. Toss with flour
4. Add Worchestershire and Dijon
5. Add other seasonings
6. Remove and let cool completely
7. Stir in shredded cheese and egg
8. Preheat oven to 425º
9. Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface
10. Cut into four 7 inch squares
11. Place 1/4 of mixture in the center of each square
12. Brush edges with egg, fold over and press edges to seal
13. Place pies on parchment paper lined baking sheet
14. Brush tops with more eggs
15. Poke 2 vent holes in top of each
16. Bake until golden brown – about 20 minutes

1. Roll pizza dough flat
2. Drizzle with pizza sauce, salt and EVOO
   SAUCE:  1/2 C wine, garlic tomato, onion, salt, pepper, sugar – SIMMER
3. Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses
4. Add pepperoni, black olives, etc – – – based on your preferences
5. Add basil and oregano
6. Roll up lengthwise starting with string cheese in the middle
7. Pinch closed
8. Slice into rolls
9. Pour 4 TBL melted butter into a cast iron skillet
10. Put rolls into the skillet and let rise for 30 minutes
11. Bake in preheated oven at 400º for 15 minutes
12. Serve with a side of marinara

• Soy
• Hoisin or Oyster Sauce
• Rice Vinegar
• Ground (browned) meat
  Base
• Cole Slaw / shredded cabbage

1. Brown the meat in a bit of sesame oil
2. Once browned, add soy, hoisin and vinegar
3. Heat to simmering, then add cabbage
4. Cover and steam 3-5 minutes
5. Taste and season
6. Serve with rice or with Bib Lettuce as wraps