Subtle Cheese

For putting cheese on something like lobster, where you don’t want the cheese to overpower the meat, try some of these suggestions:

  1. Havarti
  2. Brie
  3. Gouda
  4. Goat
  5. Marscapone
  6. Aged White Cheddar
  7. Munster
  8. * Gruyere
  9. Parmesan
  10. Fontina
  11. * Pimento Cheese
  12. * Chevre
  13. * Tagelio
  14. * Lightly smoked white cheddar

 

Sirloin Steak – Untested

  1. Steaks in order of preference…. for this recipe that is
    1. One TOP Sirloin Steak – about 1.5 inches
    2. Top Butt Steak
    3. Center Cut Sirloin
    4. Hip Sirloin Steak
  2. Cooking Fast ?avoid, tri tip, ball tip, butt (unless top butt)
  3. Season with salt and let rest 30 minutes on the counter
  4. Heat up cast iron skillet on high heat
  5. Lube with grapeseed oil just to coat
  6. 1 TBL salt in bottom of pan
  7. Put steak on for two minutes
  8. Twist 90 degrees and cook another two minutes
  9. Cook 30 seconds per edge
  10. Wrap into metal to sit 3 minutes
  11. Return to pan @ about 700º for 3 minutes
  12. Flip and cook another 3 minutes
  13. Flip again and cook 2 minutes
  14. Flip last time and cook 2 minutes
  15. Return to the foil for five minutes
  16. Slice on the bias

White BBQ Sauce

When serving brisket or pulled pork, consider shaking things up with this White BBQ Sauce.

  1. 1 C Miracle Whip
  2. 1 tsp Franks Red Hot
  3. 1 tsp prepared horseradish
  4. 1/2 tsp salt
  5. 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  6. 1/2 tsp onion powder
  7. 3 TBL rice vinegar or white wine vinegar

Drunken Cucumber Noodles

  1. Spiralize a Kirby cucumber
  2. Sautee 1/2 C onion and 1/2 C red bell pepper
  3. After then are nearly done add 2 cloves minced garlic
    and 1/2 LB ground chicken or turkey
  4. Cook till all is browned
  5. Slice and devein one jalapeno
  6. Combine liquids to create Drunken Sauce
    • 2 TBL soy sauce
    • 1/2 tsp corn starch
    • 2 TBL Hoisin
    • 1 TBL fish sauce
    • 1 TBL sweet chili sauce
    • 1.5 tsp sesame oil
  7. Add sauce to pan with meat
  8. Add halved cherry tomatoes and scallions
  9. Toss finished pan contents with fresh cucumbers
  10. Optional:  Add 2 leaves chiffonade Romained lettuce
  11. Finish with lime, fresh basil and jalapenos

Hot Sour Soup

  • For the main mushroom, use Dried Chinese black fungus
  • Dried wood ear, black, cloud, straw or shiitake mushrooms (or one bunch fresh enoki mushrooms)
  • If you must, you can use sliced button or baby bella mushrooms
  • Lily buds
  • Can of bamboo shoots
  • Rice vinegar
  • Ginger
  • Chili garlic sauce
  • White pepper (do not substitute black pepper)
  • Firm Tofu (pressed)
  1. Make a slurry with
    • 1 TBL cornstarch (extra for a thicker soup)
    • 1 egg yolks, and
    • 1/4 C cold stock
  2. Bring 2 C of broth to a boil with
    • 1 TBL shaved ginger,
    • 1 tsp soy sauce,
    • 1 TBL green onions, and
    • mushrooms to taste.
  3. Add scant white pepper to taste
  4. Whisk that cornstarch slurry into the hot broth.
  5. Next drizzle in the beaten eggs while gently stirring the soup so they break into ribbons.  You DO NOT want to break the ribbons into pieces.  Note:  I prefer to start the water swirling like you would when making poached eggs, and then just drizzle the whites into the soup without stirring for 20 seconds.
  6. Finally, add the tofu, green onions and toasted sesame oil.

BONUS: The mushrooms and lily buds will keep for quite some time in the pantry. You can have hot and sour soup whenever the craving hits!

This soup is really best eaten as soon as it is made and does not freeze well. If you have leftovers, reheat them gently on the stovetop over low heat.

 

Cow Cake

 

Optional “bottom” ingredients

  • Pitted dates and oats . Blended
  • Speculoos cookies or ginger snaps
  • frozen bananas

Press into plastic lined loaf pan

Black cow cake
•   Choc cake mix and root beer

White cow cake
•   Vanilla cake mix and sprite

Bake according to directions

 

Healthy Cheese-It’s :: Copy Cat

In a food processor put

  • 1 C Rice Chex
  • 1 C Corn Chex
  • 1/2 C Wheat Chex
  • 2 C AP flour
  • 1 C Pecorino
  • 1 C Parmesano-Reg
    • Process until finely ground
  • 1 stick cold butter
    • Process to a coarse meal
  • While processor is running
    • Stream in 1/4 C olive oil
    • Stream in cream until it starts to come together
  • Roll out on parchment about 1/4 inch thick
  • Using pizza cutter cut into squares
    or if you are feeling frisky, diamonds
  • Bake at 400º for 10 minutes
  • Allow to cool before bagging for later munching

Gummy Worms

  • Heat 2 C cherry juice in a pot
  • Add 2/3 C sugar
  • Heat to boiling
  • Remove from heat and add 4 TBL gelatin
  • Stir for 2 minutes
  • Pour in 1 C cold water
  • Whisk in juice and zest from one lemon or lime
  • Pour into pan lined with sprayed parchment paper
    Alternately use a piping bag to create “worms” (not touching each other)
    Buy Gummy Worm Forms here
  • Chill 2 hours
  • Cut into 1 inch squares and separate on pan
  • Let cool in fridge overnight
  • Toss with 1 TBL powdered sugar
  • Package in bags

Apple Chips

  1. Core a couple of apples
  2. Peel thin slices – not paper thin, but about the thickness of a silver dollar
  3. Toss in lemon juice to keep them from turning brown
  4. Put on parchment paper
  5. Mix together 1 TBL cinnamon, 2 TBL sugar
  6. Sprinkle lightly on top of the apple slices
  7. Cook at 200º until they are dried and starting to curl

Optional Fruit Salsa

  • lime
  • grapefruit
  • lemon
  • guava
  • blueberries
  • kiwi
  • pomegranate
  • mango
  1. Chop fruit into bite sized pieces
  2. 1 C water, 1 C sugar or honey
  3. Put some mint into the water
  4. Bring up to a boil
  5. Turn off heat and let is set
  6. Once cooled, pour some of the simple syrup over top
  7. Add chiffonade pieces of mint
  8. Toss together

Sweet Pickle Relish

Best for hot dogs

  • 2 grated Kirby cucumbers
  • 1/3 C grated onion
  • 1/3 C white vinegar
  • 2 TBL sugar
  • 2 TBL light Karo syrup
  • 1 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 tsp water
  1. Toss cucumbers and onion with 1 TBL salt and place in a sieve to drain.  Allow to drain for 3 hours, discarding liquid
  2. Give a light rinse in the sink with your sprayer, then place in a towel and squeeze as much liquid from it as you are able, discarding liquid
  3. Bring vinegar, sugar and syrup to a boil
  4. Mix cornstarch mixture in with cucumber/onion mixture
  5. Pour mixture into the pan, and simmer about 3 minutes
  6. Chill for 90 minutes, then put into a glass jar and store for up to 2 months.

Japanese Hokkaido Milk Bread

Borrowed from King Arthur’s Flour

Ingredients

Tangzhong (starter)

  • 3 tablespoons (43g) water
  • 3 tablespoons (43g) whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons (14g) King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour

Dough

  • 2 1/2 cups (298g) King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour
  • 2 tablespoons (14g) Baker’s Special Dry Milk or nonfat dry milk
  • 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 1/2 cup (113g) whole milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter, melted
  • OPTIONAL:   1/2  C sourdough starter sponge

Instructions

  1. To make the tangzhong: Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan, and whisk until no lumps remain.
  2. Place the saucepan over low heat, and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until thick and the whisk leaves lines on the bottom of the pan, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Transfer the tangzhong to a small mixing bowl or measuring cup and let it cool to room temperature.
  4. To make the dough: Combine the tangzhong with the remaining dough ingredients, then mix and knead — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — until a smooth, elastic dough forms.
  5. Shape the dough into a ball, and let it rest in a lightly greased covered bowl for 60 to 90 minutes, until puffy but not necessarily doubled in bulk.
  6. Gently deflate the dough, divide it into 8 equal pieces, and shape each piece into a ball.
  7. Place the rolls into a lightly greased 8″ or 9″ round cake pan. Cover the pan, and let the rolls rest for 40 to 50 minutes, until puffy.  
  8. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush the rolls with milk or egg wash (1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water), and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown on top; a digital thermometer inserted into the center of the middle roll should read at least 190°F.
  9. Remove the rolls from the oven. Allow them to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.

Tips from our Bakers

  • To make a loaf: After the dough’s initial rise, divide it into four equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a rectangle, then fold the short ends in towards one another like a letter. Flatten the folded pieces into rectangles again and, starting with a short end, roll them each into a log. Place the logs in a row of four — seam side down and side by side — in a lightly greased 9″ x 5″ loaf pan. Cover the loaf and allow it to rest/rise for 40 to 50 minutes, until puffy. Brush the loaf with milk or egg wash and bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes, until golden brown on top and a digital thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf reads at least 190°F. Remove the loaf from the oven, and cool it on a rack.

  • This soft dough lends itself beautifully to fried doughnuts. After the dough has risen once, hop on over to our Yeast-Raised Doughnuts recipe and start at step #3 to see how it’s done.

    Join pastry chef Gesine Bullock-Prado as she demonstrates how to make Yeast-Raised Doughnuts out of this dough from start to finish. Watch Episode 7 of the Isolation Baking Show now.

    With origins in Japan’s yukone (or yudane), tangzhong is a yeast bread technique popularized across Asia by Chinese cookbook author Yvonne Chen. Tangzhong involves cooking some of a bread recipe’s flour in liquid prior to adding it to the remaining dough ingredients. Bringing the temperature of the flour and liquid to 65°C (149°F) pre-gelatinizes the flour’s starches, which makes them more able to retain liquid — thus enhancing the resulting loaf’s softness and shelf life.

Super Soft Sourdough Sandwich Bread

This pre-cooking method is used for bread like Japanese Hokkaido milk bread.   It will bring more softness to a loaf without having to increase the fat or oil.

King Arthur refers to it as TANGZHONG flour technique.  It is an Asian yeast bread technique that’s gradually making its way into American kitchens.

This Asian technique cooks a small percentage of the flour and liquid (water or milk) in a yeast recipe very briefly before combining the resulting thick slurry (similar to a sour-dough sponge) with the remaining ingredients.

Tangzhong pre-gelatinizes the starches in the flour, meaning they can absorb more water.  The more rigid structure can hold onto that extra liquid throughout the kneading, baking, and cooling processes. Which in turn means the dough is less sticky, it rises higher, and will stay moist longer.

Stage One Ingredients:  TANGZHONG STARTER

  • 1/4 C whole milk
  • 1/4 C AP flour
  • 2 TBL  water
  • 2 TBL butter

Stage Two Ingredients:  DOUGH

    • DRY INGREDIENTS
      • 2 C bread flour
      • 1 tsp salt
      • ½ cup wheat flour
    • WET INGREDIENTS
      • 1 C sourdough starter sponge
      • 2 TBL nonfat dry milk powder
      • 2 TBL granulated sugar
      • 1 TBL instant yeast
      • ½ cup whole milk
      • 1 large egg, beaten
      • 4 tablespoons butter, melted + more for brushing on rolls
    • Maldon Salt FOR FINISHING AFTER BAKING – Alt:  sesame seeds or oats

Step by Step

Stage One:  Some time after 2:00 pm

  1. Mix all of your Stage One ingredients in a small cooking pan, and cook over medium heat until a thick roux forms.
  2. Pour the roux into a glass mixing bowl and let cool for 1 hour.
  3. Combine your wet ingredients, and add 1/3 to the mixing bowl and stir until lumps are gone.
  4. Add another 1/3 and stir till smooth
  5. Add the remaining wet ingredients and stir to combine
  6. Add half your AP flour and stir just until combined.
  7. Let rise in the refrigerator overnight.
  8. The next morning set it on the counter to warm up a bit – about 30 minutes
  9. Put into your Kitchen Aid and add salt and wheat flour
  10. Add AP flour until it develops a ball that has a “springy” feel – beat for about 8 minutes
  11. Cover and let rise for 60 minutes
  12. Fold over onto itself several times on a floured surface, forming it into end product, brush with butter, then cover and let rise for 2 hours
  13. Brush with butter one last time and sprinkle with Maldon Salt, sesame seeds or oats.
  14. Put a pan of hot water on the bottom rack of the oven – about 1/2 inch deep.
  15. Bake at 400º for 20 minutes is about right. 
  16. Remove the pan of water and continue to bake until internal temperature is 190º – any hotter than that and the water starts to vaporize, and your bread will become dry and crumbly.  You also need to make sure they bake long enough, or the interior will be gummy.
  17. Remove the pans and gently remove the loaves.   Return the loaves to the oven to bake for an additional 5 minutes without their pans to add extra color to the bottom and sides.
  18. Let the loaves cool for 2 hours before slicing to ensure the interior is fully set. Wrap in plastic and keep for up to a week on the counter.

 

Spanish Fried Egg

This was actually quite amusing.  We were touring Spain, and stopped into a bar and asked for an “American Fried Egg.”  What he gave us was an egg that was essentially deep fried in olive oil.

Very good.  Probably very fattening.

Heat oil in a pan up to about 350-365 degrees F – over 1/2 inch deep

Slide egg into the oil and cook about two minutes.

 

Precooked Bacon

  1. Lay 1 LB thick cut bacon on a foiled lined baking sheet – intact as a mass
  2. Bake 45 minutes at 300º
    Note:  If you use 400º it will smoke much more
  3. Cool for 20 minutes
  4. Harvest the bacon grease for bread making, etc
  5. Put 2 pieces at a time in parchment paper and roll (fold) once
  6. Repeat until all the bacon is gone
  7. Put into a ziplock bag
  8. Refrigerate overnight
  9. Put into the freezer and use two pieces at a time with your breakfast
  10. You don’t have to cook it long, and it will be beautifully crispy

Ground Beef Burger

Ground Hamburger

  • Leftover trimmings
  • Can contain up to 30% fat

Lean Ground Hamburger

  • Still leftover trimmings
  • Can contain only 5% fat

Grind your Own

  • 6 oz sirloin – coarse grind
  • 6 oz chuck (shoulder) – coarse grind
  • 6 oz pork butt – coarse grind
  • 4-6 oz thick cut bacon
  • 5 oz cheddar cheese
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Mayo and Mayonnaise
  1. Process for 10 pulses, then form into patties
  2. Squish flat into a patty
  3. Drop into 340º oil for 60 seconds
  4. Drain well then put on the bun

 

 

 

Spinach Bread Casserole

  1. Chop an onion and saute in 2 TBL butter – 3-5 minutes
  2. Add sour dough pieces into a lightly greased casserole
  3. Add 1/2 C spinach (cooked and chopped)
  4. Top with 1/2 C grated cheddar and 1/4 C Gruyere
  5. Top with onions
  6. Optional:  Add crumbled bacon
  7. Combine egg mixture
    1. 4 eggs
    2. 1-1/2 C milk
    3. 1/2 C cream
    4. 1 tsp Dijon mustard
    5. 1/2 tsp CinnaSugar
    6. 1 TBL sugar
    7. 1/2 tsp salt
    8. 1 sprig thyme
    9. 1/2 tsp vanilla
    10. 1 tsp brandy
  8. Dump eggs over top of casserole
  9. Sprinkle with another 1/4 C Gruyere
  10. Cover with foil
  11. Cook now or refrigerate overnight
  12. If you are cooking from a cold dish, let it come up to room temperature for a half hour before putting it into a hot oven.
  13. Bake 30 minutes covered
  14. Uncover and bake an additional 3o minutes

Corn on the Cob

  • Properly called MAIZE
  • Buying corn: 
    1. Husk should be bright and moist
    2. The cut end should also be bright and moist 
    3. Tassle should be sticky and brown, not matted and black which indicates mature ear that is not as sweet
    4. Inside, the kernels should be tight and all the way up to the top
    5. Poke with your fingernail and they should burst
    6. Wrap immediately in plastic and store in the coldest part of your fridge.  Even then, don’t keep for longer than three days
    7. IF YOU MUST shuck the ears and put into a large bowl of water.  Add 1 drop of lemon juice and 2 drops of Chlorox bleach.  Soak 15 minutes.  Stored as in Step 6, this will keep for up to 10 days
  • Be sure to pick good-quality sweet corn. The silk on the corn should be pale in color and shouldn’t look dried out.
  • Eat corn AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after it has been picked.
  • You’re welcome to use either unsalted or salted butter to make the flavored butters.
  • If you wind up with leftover grilled corn, make a nice corn salad

 

  1. Strip the husk down but don’t detach it.
  2. Separate the husk into three sections, then braid it
  3. Tie the last two strands to lock in the braid
  4. Drizzle with canola and sprinkle with salt and pepper
  5. Put on a grill leaving the “handle” off the heat
  6. Cook until the kernels start to blacken

Optional Dipping and Slathering Sauces

#1 •  Butter

#2 •  1/2 C mayo •  1/2 C sour cream •  2 TBL kimchi or pickle brine •  1 TBL soy or Worchestershire

#3 •  1/2 stick butter •  1 clove minced garlic •  1/4 C Parmesan cheese

#4 •  1/2 stick butter •  1/2 tsp each oregano, parsley, garlic

#5 •  1/2 stick butter •  1/4 tsp cayenne •  zest from one lime •  1/2 tsp honey

#6 •  1/2 stick butter •  chives and dill

#7 •  1/2 stick butter •  oregano, basil, garlic

 

 

Caramel Cookies

  1. Put 3 C caramel squares into a skillet
  2. Add 1 TBL heavy cream (or half and half, or coffee creamer) and 1 TBL butter
  3. Start heating on medium heat
  4. When melted add 1 1/2 TBL miso paste (Alt: 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp Worchestershire)
  5. Stir till homogenous
  6. Lay parchment on a baking sheet
  7. Arrange crackers on your pan barely touching
  8. Put 1 dollop caramel on each caracker, then top with another cracker
  9. Put into refrigerator to harden
    START CHOCOLATE
  10. Put 2 C dark chocolate into a double boiler
  11. Add 1 TBL butter
  12. Stir until it melts and looks creamy
  13. Dunk each cookie 1/2 way into the chocolate
  14. Pour colorful sprinkles on 2-3 at a time while chocolate is still warm, so that the sprinkles will stick

 

Brandy Cream Sauce

  • 1 stick butter (softened)
  • 1 C sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • scant salt
  • 1/4 c brandy
  1. Mix together sugar and butter
  2. Add a beaten egg and whisk so that they are thoroughly mixed
  3. Bring to the merest simmer
  4. Remove from heat and add brandy
  5. Mix thoroughly
  6. Pour on top pudding and serve
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