Sunday, May 6, 2012

Italian Greens



1 bunch Swiss Chard
2 cups water
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon crushed fresh garlic
4 strips anchovies finely chopped
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
salt to taste

Directions:
Carefully wash the Swiss Chard to make sure it is completely clean and free of any dirt. Chop Swiss Chard in approximately 1 inch strips. Boil in salted water, about 5 minutes or until stalks are tender when tested with a fork.

Drain and set aside. Heat olive oil, garlic, anchovies and red pepper in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes (continually stirring). Add drained Swiss Chard; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Taste before adding any salt.

Recipe for Roasted Chickpeas


ROASTED CHICKPEAS
1 can chickpeas
1 teaspoon olive oil
Sprinkle of salt
Sprinkle of cayenne pepper
Preheat oven to 400. Drain and rinse the chickpeas; pat dry with paper towel. Toss the chickpeas and olive oil. Spread the chickpeas out on a cookie sheet that has an edge. Sprinkle with seasoning. Bake for 45 minutes (or until chickpeas begin to turn brown) shaking the pan every 15 minutes or so.
8 servings.
Nutrition (per serving)
calories: 174
saturated fat:.5 g
fiber: 7.6 g
protein: 8.4 g
Cost (per serving)
15 cents
Options
Any canned bean or lentil can be substituted in this recipe, just watch for browning and adjust the cooking time. Experiment with different flavors such as garlic, soy sauce, teriyaki, basil. Let your imagination run wild!

Favorite Homemade Relishes


MILLION DOLLAR RELISH

The ingredients you will need.
6 pounds of cucumbers, do not peel.
3 green peppers and you must clean out insides and cut into large chunks.
2 pounds onions, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 red peppers you must also clean out insides and cut in large chunks.


Put all ingredients through food grinder or food processor. Put in large pot and cover with 1 cup salt and 2 gallons of water. Let stand overnight, then in the morning drain completely. Put mixture back in pot and add 1 tsp turmeric, 2 tbsp mustard seed, 2 tbsp celery seed, 6 cups sugar, 1 quart cider vinegar.
Bring to a boil and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Thicken with 3 tbsp corn starch mixed with 3 tbsp water. Pour into sterilized jars and seal. Will need about 6-8 1/2 pint jars.



GOLDEN GLOW RELISH
A favorite in our house.
3 quarts ripe tomatoes (cut-up)
4 large onions (chopped)
1 green pepper (chopped)
1 red pepper (chopped)

Combine all ingredients and cover mixture with 1/4 cup salt. Let stand for 3 hours and then drain. Put on the stove, with 1 pint cider vinegar, 3 1/2 cups sugar, 1 tbsp turmeric, 2 tbsp mustard seed, and 15 whole cloves.
Cook over medium-low heat stirring frequently for 1 hour or longer, if you like it thicker. Ladle into sterilized jars and seal. Will need about 6 1/2 pint jars.

How To Make an Easy Scrumptious Omelet


Ingredients:
4 eggs
2 tablespoon margarine
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons chopped onions
1 tablespoon chopped green onions
1 tablespoon chopped sweet red pepper
3 tablespoons of sliced mushrooms
3 tablespoons or more of cheese of your choice (cheddar or mozzarella or both)
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional:
4 tablespoons of ground sausage
Cooking oil spray
Serving size: one to two

Directions:
For optional ground sausage; place fry pan on medium heat and spray with cooking oil. Put ground sausage in pan and cook until it is browned (well done). Place cooked sausage on paper towel to drain, then set it aside for later.
Use cooking spray oil in another fry pan on medium heat and sauté green peppers, onions, and sweet red pepper together. Place mushrooms in mixture last until slightly browned. Remove mixture from pan and place it on a paper towel to absorb any oil.
Next, take the four eggs and scramble them in a bowl. Take a clean fry pan on medium heat and place the canola oil and margarine in pan until melted. Have a big spatula, cheese, onion mixture, sausage if needed and plate available. Pour the eggs into the fry pan and slowly use the spatula to lift it from around the edges, pulling the eggs to the center and moving the pan, so that it cooks evenly. Do not stir. Lift the eggs slightly on all sides with the spatula to prevent burning and make sure it is well done. On one half side of the eggs in the fry pan, place the onion mixture, cheese, and sausage if desired. Use the spatula to lift or fold the other half on top of the onion mixture, cheese and sausage. Turn off the heat. Place the plate on top of the pan, face down. Take one hand and hold the fry pan and with the other hand, hold the plate firmly on top of the pan. While still holding with both hands, flip the pan over on to the plate. You should have a scrumptious, fluffy half-moon shaped omelet.

Modern Recipes and Cooking Tips: Various Recipes for Cookies and Frosting Cookies -...

Modern Recipes and Cooking Tips: Various Recipes for Cookies and Frosting Cookies -...: SIMPLE BUTTER COOKIES 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 3 cups flour 1 tsp grated lemon or orange rind May be made with mixer ...

Pork Spring Rolls


1. Soak the mushrooms in water for 20 minutes. Peel and quarter the carrots and onions, and then put them in a food processor with the raw bean sprouts, noodles and mushrooms. Blend together until the mixture becomes a batter.
2. Grind the spareribs in a meat grinder. Pour the ground meat into the vegetable and noodle batter. Season with nuoc mam, sugar, salt and pepper.
3. Add water to a small saucepan and bring to the boil, then add the beer. Place two triangular rice sheets on top of each other. Quickly submerge them in the boiling liquid and dry them carefully with a cloth.
4. Spread out the two triangles on a completely dry cloth. Add a heaped teaspoon of filling.
5. Pinch together the left and right sides of the rice paper over the filling. Starting with the base of the triangle facing you, roll it up to create a cylinder. Prepare all the spring rolls in this same way.
6. Using a skimmer, fry the spring rolls in boiling oil. Take them out of the fryer; this is the "pre-cooking" stage. Just before serving, refry the rolls to brown them. Arrange them. in small dishes garnished with lettuce and mint and serve hot.

Various Recipes for Cookies and Frosting Cookies -


SIMPLE BUTTER COOKIES
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp grated lemon or orange rind

May be made with mixer or in a food processor.
Cream the butter; add sugar gradually. Blend together until light and creamy, beat in the eggs. Add the flour and grated citrus rind. Stir until blended.
For molded cookies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Press the dough into ungreased cookie mold/s and bake for 10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are just light brown. Remove from the molds while still hot.
For pastry bag or cut-out cookies: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets immediately and cool on wire racks.
Note: To make the cut-out cookies, chill dough until chilled enough to roll out.
LEMON BUTTER COOKIES
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp lemon zest
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Using a heavy-duty mixer, beat the butter with the lemon zest at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add the sugar, beating well.
Combine the flour and salt together and gradually add to the above mixture, beating until blended. Shape the dough into a disc.
Roll out to a 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured smooth surface. Cut with cookie cutters and place cookies a half inch apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets.
Bake cookies at 325 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are very lightly browned. Allow to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Decorate as desired using the Royal Icing and Colorful Glaze (both recipes follow).
Yield: 2 to 4 dozen cookies depending on the size of the cookie cutters you use.
ROYAL ICING:
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp meringue powder
1/4 cup cold water
Food coloring paste, colors of your choice

Beat the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and cold water at high-speed with electric mixer (use whisk attachment if you have one) until glossy and stiff peaks form. Put in food coloring to tint to color desired (Remember food coloring goes a long way!); beat until blended in. Place a damp tea towel directly over the surface of the icing to prevent a crust from forming while you use.
COLORFUL GLAZE:
1 pkg (1-lb) powdered sugar
6 tbsp water
food coloring paste

Stir the water into the powdered sugar and add food coloring as desired. Stir mixture until well blended. Use to frost the cookies.
Note: The glaze is best for frosting and the royal icing is best for the piping and decorating