Before we begin…

• When you grate potatoes for hashed browns, or cut them up for potato salad, don’t lose those wonderful potato skins.
• Cut off nice thick pieces for potato skins.
• Store them for up to a week in salt water
• These won’t be the “boats” you typically expect

1. Cook up three strips of bacon (keep the grease)
2. Chop into pieces
3. Chop up chives
4. Dry your potato skins with a paper towel
5. Brush your potato skins with the bacon fat
6. Bake at 425º for 20 minutes
7. Put skins onto your heat-proof serving platter
8. After the bacon has cooled a bit, mix your chopped bacon with
   • black olives
   • chopped chives
   • shredded cheddar cheese
   • jalapeños
   • nacho cheese
9. Put into hot oven for only 5 minutes
10. Top with sour cream and cilantro

Adapted from Food Networks  “The Kitchen”

• 2 pound roast – sirloin tip or chuck
• Cut into 2 inch chunks
• Put into heavy bottom pan and put on stove on lowest heat (alt use Slow Cooker)
• 1/2 bottle Ranch Dressing (about 4 ounces)
• 1 pkg gravy mix
• 1/2 C chicken broth
• 1/2 stick butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cover and cook 2-3 hours – agitating every hour
• Let meat rest 5 minutes before cutting or shredding
• Cut in thin sheets and top with fresh Pepperoncini peppers and grated Parmesan cheese
• Serve with a baked potato

 

Adapted from ‘The Kitchen’ from Food Network

• Marinade
  • 1 C Sour Cream
  • 1 TBL lime juice
  • Cumin
  • Salt and Pepper
• Pour 1/2 marinade onto thin strips of raw skirt steak in a bowl
• Toss and refrigerate 2-6 hours
• Preheat hot sheet tray @ 425º
• Pour oil onto hot pan
  • Add meat
  • Corn
  • Diced red bell pepper
• Return to hot oven to cook about 15 minutes
• Heat tortillas on hot skillet or gas burner – char is OK
• Add to the tortilla
  • A dollop of your marinade
  • Meat mixture
  • Red Onion – sliced thinly
  • Jalapeno – sliced thinly
  • Cilantro – rough chopped
  • Sauce on top – more marinade
  • Top with Queso cotijo or queso fresca

1. Spray sheet of aluminum foil with Pam
2. Cut thin medallions of potato and lay on foil in a circle, overlapping each medallion
3. Bake 10 minutes, then flip and bake another 10 minutes
4. Add a fried SUNNY SIDE UP egg on top – Don’t cook egg both sides . . . YET
5. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and put under broiler for 2-3 minutes
6. Add garnish of your choice, then serve

 

1. 1. One can peaches – three fresh is even better – chop small
      • You can alternately use plums or nectarines
   2. 1/2 C blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or blackberries
   3. Add to heavily buttered casserole
   4. Prepare the gratin
      • 1 C milk
      • 4 eggs
      • 1 TBL CinnaSugar
      • 1 TBL white sugar
      • 1 TBL corn starch
      • 2 TBL light brown sugar
      • 1 C AP flour
      • 4 TBL melted butter
      • vanilla
      • salt
   5. Bake 425º for 20 minutes
   6. Add granola and almonds on top to taste
   7. Put back in oven for 5 minutes
   8. Serve with a side of yogurt or ice cream

 

 

Ingredients

▢ 1 pounds very good ripe tomatoes, cored and coarsely chopped
▢ 1/2 cup light brown sugar
▢ 1 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
▢ 1/2 tablespoon fresh grated or minced ginger
▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢ scant teaspoon ground cloves
▢ scant teaspoon cayenne

Instructions

1. Add tomatoes and vinegar to a heavy bottom saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil stirring frequently to prevent the bottom from burning.
2. Add all other ingredients
3. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened to the consistency of jam.
4. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
5. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

This recipe was adapted from the Easy Eggwich by Ontel.  I bought this on Amazon and it works just as promised.  I’ve moved into a smaller apartment, where space is at a premium, so this recipe uses a small round ramekin instead of the Original Eggwich.  Still… if you have room, buy the Easy Eggwich.

Basic Recipe

• Wipe a round ramekin with Crisco, butter, or spray with Pam
• Beat an egg in a separate container and place into the ramekin
• Add toppings (two max) bacon, sausage, cheese, olive, ham, etc
• Put into microwave and cover with a tea plate
• Microwave 60 seconds on high
• The glass will heat up.  BE CAREFUL.  The Easy Eggwich container does not heat up.
• Turn out on a prepared English muffin or other container – add toppings as desired

Options from Easy Eggwich

• CONTAINER:   English muffin, biscuit, bagel, croissant, waffle, pancake, Texas toast, corn muffin, ciaatta bun, flatbread, wraps, potato buns, street taco tortillas, pitas, and more
• MEAT FILLING:   Bacon, sausage, sausage links, ham, pork roll, Canadian bacon, maple bacon, turkey sausage, chorizo, corned beef, prosciutto, soppressata, and more.
• SPECIALTY TOPPINGS to use BEFORE cooking:  (mix in with egg) Onions, salsa,diced tomatoes, mushrooms, and more.
• SPECIALTY TOPPINGS to use AFTER cooking:  Avocado, salsa, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, tater tots, hashed browns, and more.
• CHEESE TOPPING:   Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone, pepper jack, Muenster, goat cheese, feta, cream cheese, Manchego, Cotija, and others  (Grandpa’s suggestion:  put cheese on AFTER cooking)

Eggwich Variations

PLEASE NOTE:  I’ve intentionally omitted amounts to use.  Please use your judgement to use whatever amounts best suits your personal taste.  DO NOT, however, use too much tomato or cheese, as it will prevent the egg from congealing.

Sausage and Waffle Eggwich

1. Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
2. Cook sausage patty and place on one waffle
3. Top with the egg.
4. Add maple syrup
5. Option:  Add second waffle to top of the stack
   1. Option:  Use a pancake rather than a waffle

Croissant Eggwich with Apple Bacon & Cheddar

1. Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
2. Cook bacon and place on toasted croissant
3. Layer thin apple slices on top of the bacon  (tart apples are best)
4. Sprinkle with Grandpa’s  CinnaSugar
5. Add cooked egg, and top with shredded cheddar
6. Finish with other half of croissant

HINT:  You can place apple slices on a plate, and sprinkle with CinnaSugar, then microwave for 40 seconds to add a caramel flavor to your Eggwich.

Eggwich with Bacon, Avocado and Cheddar

1. Saute onion, diced tomato and bacon
2. Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
   WITH THE EXCEPTION of placing onion mixture on top of beaten egg
3. Cook in microwave according to directionsw.  Since onion, tomato and bacon are already cooked and warm, you do not need to extend the time
4. Prepare two slices of wheat toast
5. Spread avocado on the toast
6. Top one slice with a slice of cheese
7. Top with the egg, and then the second slice of toast

Pizza Eggwich

1. Saute onion, diced tomato
2. Add garlic powder, basil and oregano just before finished
3. Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
   WITH THE EXCEPTION of placing onion mixture on top of beaten egg
4. Cook in microwave according to directions.  Since onion mixture is already cooked and warm, you do not need to extend the time
5. Place cooked egg on a piece of warmed flatbread or pita
6. Top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, grated
7. Optionally top with Grandpa’s Thunder Powder

TIP:   You can use alternate pizza ingredients such as pepperoni, bell pepper, black olives, jalapeños, sausage, etc.

Mediterranean Eggwhites

1. Separate yolk from two eggs and set aside for later use
2. Beat the egg white with a little bit of onion or garlic powder
3. Saute spinach and diced tomato just until spinach has fully wilted
4. Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above – using your egg whites
   WITH THE EXCEPTION of placing spinach mixture on top of beaten egg
5. Cook in microwave according to directions.  Since spinach mixture is already cooked and warm, you do not need to extend the time
6. Add cooked egg to the top of a warmed piece of pita bread
7. Top with a thin slice of white cheddar
8. Top with remaining pita half

Chorizo Jack Eggwhich

1. Form chorizo into a thin patty and cook in skillet
2. Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
3. Place chorizo and egg on a baguette
4. Top with pepper jack cheese
5. Optional:  Add salsa
6. Optionally top with Grandpa’s Thunder Powder
7. Top with remaining baguette

Eggwich Burrito

1. Saute onion and green bell pepper
2. Add cumin just before finished
3. Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
   WITH THE EXCEPTION of placing onion mixture on top of beaten egg
4. Cook in microwave according to directions.  Since onion mixture is already cooked and warm, you do not need to extend the time
5. Meanwhile put a tortilla on a plate
6. After egg has finished, put tortilla into microwave for 15 seconds
7. Halve the eggwich and put onto the tortilla
8. Top with shredded Mexican blend cheese
9. OPTIONAL:  Add sour cream or salsa or guacamole
10. Optionally top with Grandpa’s Thunder Powder
11. Roll burrito (fold one end to contain ingredients, then roll the tortilla)

Eggs Benedict Eggwich

1. Toast your English Muffin, and cook (or warm) your Canadian bacon
2. Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
   WITH THE EXCEPTION of DO NOT BEAT THE EGG
   1. Put the egg into the cooker with the yolk intact
   2. Add 1/2 tsp of water over top of the egg – DO NOT BEAT IN
   3. This will steam the egg
3. Cook in microwave according to directions.
4. Put your Canadian bacon on your English muffin
5. Top with poached egg
6. Top with Grandpa’s Hollandaise
   • Usually, I use Knorr’s Hollandaise Powder.  It’s ALMOST as good as from scratch, and a hell of a lot easier.
7. Garnish with parsley

 

This is for a LifeLong Learners Class at Beatitudes Campus.  It is six one-hour classes.

CLASS ONE

• Lock, Stock and Barrell:  We take a basic unflavored stock, and steep one of the stocks with bay leaves, one with onion and garlic, and one plain – – then taste the difference.
• Old Spice:  We taste old and fresh spices:  Cinnamon, nutmeg, ground red pepper, salt, pepper
• Enhancements:  We take some French Onion Soup from the Bistro, and add slow cooked onion, a slice of French bread, and top it with some shredded gruyere.

CLASS TWO

• Fluffy:  We make one batch of crepe batter, then split the batter in two and add baking powder and baking soda to one of the mixes to see what the effect of leaveners does to the product.
• Chemistry 101:  We talk about the millard reaction, why you acidulate water when poaching eggs, how corn starch works, beating egg whites, and similar obscure reactions.

CLASS THREE

• Pudding:  We compare box pudding mix, to scratch pudding.
• Custard:  We compare Birds Custard Powder to custard from scratch
• Lemon curd:  It’s not all that hard
• Poached:  We take a look at two, two and a half, three, and three and a half poached eggs
• Hard Boiled:  We will talk about the best ways to hard boil eggs
• The Devil make me do it:  We’ll take the hard boiled eggs and create deviled eggs.

CLASS FOUR

• Hashed Browns:  Low heat vs high heat, raw vs semi-cooked
• Hot or Not:  We’ll talk about when you use high heat or low heat in cooking steaks, French Toast, eggs, etc
• The Shape of Things:  Why are certain cut into squares, triangles or circles.  Using height on your food presentation,

CLASS FIVE

• The Five Mother Sauces:  Bechemel, Hollandaise, Roux, Velouté, Bernaise, Tomato, Pan Sauce, and other child sauces of the Mother Sauces.
• Starches as thickeners:  Not to add, and how not to add.

CLASS SIX

• Smoothies: Tips and Tricks
• Egg Nog:  A simple holiday drink any time of the year
• Sangria:  Several regional types
• Peanut Brittle:  Microwave process

 

 

• 4 cups AP flour.
• 1 tablespoon. Sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast.
• 1 teaspoon salt

 

Add to one cup warm water

• 2/3 cup whole milk Greek yogurt
• Knead for 12 to 15 minutes.
• Form into ball, and let ball rise 12 hours

 

1. Dust counter with cornmeal
2. Roll into a white rectangle
3. Spread with strawberry and blueberry jam.
4. Blueberries is another good option.
5. Start at the bottom and make it a tight roll
6. Cut into 12 uniform rules
7. Place in baking pan, let rise one hour
8. Make it 350 for 12 minutes or until browned.
9. Meanwhile, mixed together 1/2 cup confectioner sugar, 1/4 cup yogurt , and 1 tablespoon lemon juice for topping.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 Garlic clove, peeled and split in half

• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1  1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 4 medium Potatoes   (2 pounds)

• 2 1/2 cups finely grated Gruyère cheese (1/2 pound)

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Lightly butter a 10-cup gratin dish.
• Rub the dish with both halves of the cut Garlic clove.
• Combine the cream, nutmeg, salt, pepper and cayenne in a bowl.
• Peel the Potatoes and slice them paper-thin on a mandolin.
• As you work, place the Potato slices in the bowl with the cream and seasonings.
• Add the Gruyère and combine thoroughly.
• Pour the Potato-cheese mix into the prepared gratin dish, making sure the Potato slices are flat and level.
• Place the gratin dish inside a roasting pan and fill the pan to three quarters full with hot water, creating a bain-marie.
• Carefully place the bain-marie in the center of the oven and bake for 2 hours, or until completely set and golden on top.
• Serves 4 to 6.

Dutch Oven Biscuit Donuts (aka Bonuts)

• 1 qts canola oil
• Two biscuit cutters
  (2 1/2 and 1 1/4 rings)
• Spider strainer
• Chopsticks (for putting into oil)

---

Bonut Glaze

• 1/4 C whole milk (very warm)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 225 gm (8 oz) confectioner sugar

Step by Step

1. Bring canola oil up to 350º
2. Prepare dough as shown HERE or HERE
3. Cut biscuits with larger cutter
4. Cut center with a smaller ring
   reserve the little biscuits
5. Put on a parchment-lined pan and put into your 350º oil
   – four at a time
6. Cook 3 minutes, flip, 1-2 minute
7. Put onto a rack
8. While still warm dip into glaze, then let cool.  Toss the holes in remaining glaze

This is great for pancakes, scones, English muffins, French Toast, and nearly anything else where you want a nice spreadable butter.

1. 2 C heavy cream
2. Put into Kitchen Aid with whisk attachment
3. Start on slow, and increase to medium
4. Let it run… and run… and run…
   • When it starts to thicken to soft peaks, if you add Confectioner sugar you’d end up with Whipped Cream.
5. In our case, we are NOT going to add sugar, but will add 1/4 tsp salt
6. Continue whipping until it becomes totally thick
7. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks

 

• Cooked Pasta
  • Pasta tossed with French Cut green beans
  • Top with Peccorino/Romano grated
  • Approx $14 for a family of four
• Tostadas
  • Diced ham and diced sweet potato
  • Spieces – GTP and garlic salt, pepper
  • 1/2 Shredded chicken
  • 1/2 head cabbage tossed with fresh lime juice, salt, peppe
  • Refried beans
    • Layer tostada with beans, then topping, then cabbage
  • Approx $11 for a family of four
• Red Beans and Rice
  • Slice Andouille sausage and fry in olive foil
  • Add Trinity:  Green bell, onion and celery
  • At last minute add garlic
  • Add kidney beans – liquid and all
  • Add a ham hock, cover and simmer 45 minutes
  • Serve with white rice
  • Approx $11 for a family of four
• Hot Turkey Horseshoe Sandwich – Open faced
  • Start with roux, then add whole milk, Worchestershire and Sriracha
  • Bring to a simmer, then add shred cheddar and Montery Jack
    • Allow to  come to thick pourable melt
  • Left-over or fresh French Fries
  • Plate buttered piece of Texas Toast
    • Top with sliced turkey
    • Fries on top
    • Pour cheese sauce over top
    • Top with Cherry peppers
  • Approx $12 for a family of four

All recipes and info taken from “The Kitchen”  TV show

If you are catering or hosting an event, here are some general rules that will help you get the proper amounts without running out, or buying too much.

• Shrimp Cocktail:   5-6 per person
• Steak:  8 oz per person – Most cooked medium
• Pasta:  8 oz per person
• Vegetable:  4 oz each  (eg) broccoli
• Potatoes:  4 oz each
• Dessert:  1 slices pie or cake, or 2 scoops of ice cream
• Non-alch drink:  16 oz each
• Salad:  2-3 C each
• Sandwiches
  • 2 slices of bread per person
  • Top Slice or Bun
    • Honey Mustard, Ketchup, or Mayo
    • Crust to crust is a must
  • Bottom Slice (in order)
    • Cheese on the bottom slice – with a little overhang
    • Meat (eg) ham – piled, not flat
    • Tomatoes – salted, and on top of the meat
    • Lettuce on top of the schmear layer

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR ANOTHER TAKE ON
COOKING PASTA FROM SCRATCH

• Approx 100 gm 00 semolina flour per egg
• Approx 2 C flour for 3 eggs
• Add 1 TBL EVOO (on hands) Unless you are using a Kitchen Aid

 

• 3 C AP Flour
• 1 C Duram Flour
• 2 TBL EVOO (on hands or in Kitchen Aid) total
• 5-6 beaten eggs
  • Start slowly in a Kitchen Aid with dough hook
  • Wrap dough in plastic
  • Let dough rest for about 30 minutes on counter
• Cut dough ball into medium sized piece (softball)
• Flatten on floured surface
• Roll flat, flip, roll, flip, roll, flip, etc
  • Roll until nearly paper thin
• Put back onto floured surface
  • Pappardeli is about one inch wide noodles
• Flour the top, then roll into a log – keeping floured all the way
• Cut into ribbons, then use fingers to separate

Use all your used vegetables to create a vegetable stock

Remove vegetables and put pasta into boiling water for 2-3 minutes

Types of Pasta by Width

• Lasagna Noodles About 2 inches wide
• Pappardelle About 1 inch wide
• Tagliatelli ½ inch wide
• Fettuccini ¼ inch wide
• Linguini 1/8 inch wide
• Spaghetti 1/16 inch wide
• Angel Hair 1/32 inch wide

 

A great NON-HOT seasoning for chicken dishes
or any dish where you use cumin, coriander and clove.

• ¼ cup black peppercorn 30g
• ¼ cup whole cumin seeds 25g
• ¼ cup whole coriander seeds 15g
• 2 ½ Tablespoon ground turmeric 22g
• Small stick cinnamon 2g
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves 2g
• 1 teaspoon cardamom 4g

This spice is intensely personal and it has been passed in families from generation to generation. Curry powder, paprika and chicken bouillon are the most common spices to add on to your mixture.

• 3/4 pound hamburger
• 1/2 onion – minced
• Seasonings:  Salt, herbs, nutmeg, garlic, pepper, paprika
  • Cut together – do not mix or over-process
• Chop green onions and dill
• 1/4 C White yogurt
• 1 TBL Tomato paste
  • Combine above three ingredients and half your seasonings
• Cut two   1/2 inch cabbage steaks
• Place on backing sheet lined with parchment paper
• Sprinkle cabbage steaks with salt and pepper
• Split hamburger, and put one on each steak
• Top both patties with the sauce
• Bake at 350º for 45 minutes
  • Meanwhile
• Cut a potato into 16 long wedges
• Toss in 3 TBL EVOO
• Toss in the other half of your seasonings
• Place potatoes on a baking sheet in to flat rows
• Sprink with 2 oz grated Parmesan cheese
• Bake on lower rack for last 15 minutes of the baking cycle
• Remove patties and increase heat to 450º
• Flip potato halves and put back into oven for another 15 minutes
  • Meanwhile
• Combine chopped parsley and grated Parmesan
• Plate the cabbage combinations and sprinkle with half of the new parsley mixture
• Sprinkle potatoes with the other half
• Serve potatoes

For two medium personal sized ramekins

1. Preheat oven to 350º
2. 1 C large crumbles of old donuts
   • Put into bottom of a lightly greased ramekin
3. Cut 1-2 apples into dice-sized pieces
4. Toss in 1 tsp lemon juice or citric acid water
5. Strain liquid from apples into a mixing bowl
6. Toss the apples in 2 TBL CinnaSugar
   • Put apples over top of donut crumbles
7. In the apple container, add 2 TBL lemon or citric acid water
8. Add 1/3 C brown sugar to the water
9. Add 1/4 C whole milk or buttermilk
   • Mix to dissolve – set this SYRUP aside
10. Mix 1/4 C brown sugar into mixing bowl
11. Put 1/2 C Bisquick into mixing bowl
12. Add 2 TBL butter
    • Cut above three ingredients together
13. Put flour mixture over top of apples
14. Pour the Syrup over top of the flour mixture
15. Bake 45 minutes
16. Serve warm

Hint

This is a technique that I saw on Dining with the Chef (hosted by Chef Tatsuo Saito)

I have not yet tried it, but will absolutely give it a try.

1. Coat the entire cast iron top surface with oil.
2. Pour the batter generously into the cups, allowing it to overflow and spill onto the “non-bowl” surface, but not spill out
3. As it cooks, use your chop sticks to separate the cups, and then form them into the traditional balls.
4. Akashiaki (Egg Balls) is the dish they were making.   The base for the batter is 4 eggs and bit of flour.  Use the link to view more recipes. Traditionally it has octopus inside, but I am thinking a large berry or piece of sausage. 
   

Serve with Dashi based dip

Ebelskiver Pan is similar to an Akashiaki Pan.

Recipe

• 150 gm cake flour
• 2 C dash broth
• parsley
• 1 TBL Usukuchi soy sauce
• 750 ml broth
• 2 TBL milk
• 2 eggs

Cook over low heat

Flip over onto plate

Dipping Sauce

• 500 ml Bonito dashi stock
• 1 tbsp Mirin
• 1 tbsp Usukuchi soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp Salt