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Category: Starches

Corn Muffins

Corn Muffins

1 C. Flour
1 C. Corn Meal
2 T. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
3 tsp. Baking Powder
2 Eggs, well beaten
1 1/4 C. Milk
3 T. melted Shortening

Mix all wet ingredients and stir until well blended. Sift together dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients all at once. Stir till just blended, batter may be slightly lumpy. Pour into greased muffin pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes. (If cooking in 8×10 pan, increase cooking time to 25-30 minutes)

Pasta with Lemon, Olive Oil, and Goat Cheese

Pasta with Lemon, Olive Oil, and Goat Cheese

Pasta with Lemon, Olive Oil, and Goat Cheese

1/2 pound angel hair pasta

grated zest and juice of 1 meyer lemon

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus a little more for garnish

2 to 3 ounces fresh, soft goat cheese, crumbled, plus a little more for garnish

1/4 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil

salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the angel hair pasta until al dente, or tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. While the pasta is cooking, combine the zest and juice of the meyer lemon in a large bowl.  If using a regular lemon, start by adding about 2/3 of the juice since regular lemons are more sour.  Add more, if needed, once the sauce is thoroughly combined.  Add the parmesan, goat cheese, olive oil, and a little bit of the hot pasta cooking water. (I added about 3 ounces of goat cheese because I like it and it makes the sauce creamier.)  Season with salt and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper.  Whisk sauce together until smooth. Transfer the cooked and drained pasta immediately to the bowl and toss to completely coat the pasta with the sauce. Garnish with more parmesan and crumbled goat cheese on top.

Maple Baked Beans

Maple Baked Beans

1 pound dry red kidney beans
2 quarts water
1 large yellow onion, cut in eighths
1 bay leaf
6 whole black peppercorns
3/4 C. medium amber pure maple syrup
1/2 C. light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 C. ketchup
1 T. Chinese chili paste
1 T. grated fresh ginger
1 tsp. kosher salt
5 oz. thick-cut smoked bacon, cubed

Place the beans in a large bowl and cover with cold water by 1-inch and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Drain and rinse the beans and then drain again. Place the beans in large pot with 2 quarts water, the onion, bay leaf, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 50 minutes, or until tender. A good test is to scoop up several beans in a spoon and blow on them: if the skin starts to peel off, they’re done. Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. In a small saucepan, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, ketchup, chili paste, ginger, salt, and 1 1/2 C. the cooking liquid, still reserving the remaining liquid. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat for 6 minutes. Transfer the beans to a medium Dutch oven or a bean pot. Push half the bacon into the beans and place the rest on the top. Pour the maple syrup sauce over the beans. Place the lid on top and bake for 6 to 8 hours. Check occasionally; if the beans are too dry, add 1/2 C. more of the cooking liquid. If you like, you can remove the lid for the last 30 minutes to thicken the sauce. Discard the bay leaf. Serve hot.

Paraguayan Cornbread

Paraguayan Cornbread

2 tsp. butter or margarine
6 oz. jack or muenster cheese, grated
1 tsp. freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp. salt
11⁄2 C. canned corn, save some liquid
1 small onion, chopped fine
11⁄2 C. yellow cornmeal
3 eggs, separated
2/3 C. milk
5 tsp. oil

Set oven at 400 degrees. Cover bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking dish with 1 tsp. butter. Scatter parmesan over the butter. Set aside. Put corn into blender or processor with a tsp. or 2 of liquid from can. Blend until it becomes a smooth puree. In a large bowl, combine corn puree, cornmeal, milk, 1/4 C. oil, grated jack or muenster and salt. Mix thoroughly. In heavy skillet, heat remaining tsp. oil over moderate heat. Add onions and cook, stirring often for 4-5 minutes until soft and transparent but not brown. Scrape onions into cornmeal mixture. In a small deep bowl, beat egg whites until they form stiff but- still-moist peaks. In a separate bowl, beat yolks. Fold yolks into whites, then into corn mixture. Spread into baking dish. Dot top with bits of rest of butter. Bake 45 minutes.

Ma’s Spaghetti Salad

Ma’s Spaghetti Salad

Cook 1 lb. Spaghetti, then rinse in cold water. Add 1/2 C. Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing, cut up green or purple onions, celery, green peppers, tomatoes, radishes. Add 1/2 of a 2.75oz. bottle of Johnny’s Salad Seasoning. Mix well and chill. Toss and add pepper when serving.

Dumplings

Dumplings

1 1/2 C. Flour
1 T. Sugar
2 tsp. baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Egg
2 2/3 C. Milk
2 T. Melted Shortening
1/4 tsp. Dry Mustard, optional
1 1/2 tsp. Caraway Seed, optional

Sift flour, add baking powder and salt and sift again (add mustard and seed with salt if using). Combine egg, milk and shortening in small bowl, then pour all at once to the dry ingredients. Mix just enough to moisten. Drop by tablespoonfuls into simmering pot. Cover tightly and cook 25 minutes.

Cornbread

Cornbread

1 1/2 C. Yellow Cornmeal
1 C. Flour
1/3 C. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 C. Milk
1 T. Baking Powder
2 Eggs
6 T. melted (but cool) Butter
8 T. melted (but cooled) Shortening

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Beat the eggs lightly, stir in melted butter and shortening and add milk. Pour into dry ingredients and beat together until smooth; do not overbeat. Lightly butter an 8 x 12 shallow baking pan and pour in the batter. Bake in center of the oven for about 30 minutes or until the bread comes slightly away from the sides and it is golden brown.

Doris’ Macaroni Salad

Doris’ Macaroni Salad

Cook 1/2 package sea shell noodles until done; drain. Melt 1/2 cube margarine over low heat in a frying pan. Add 4-6 whole eggs to pan, but do not mix. Add hot noodles over eggs immediately. Mix lightly while cooking to retain chunks of egg. Add crumbled fried bacon (or bacos) or bits of ham. Serve.

Garlic Potatoes with Cheese Sauce

Garlic Potatoes with Cheese Sauce

5 large potatoes
1 medium onion
6 or more large cloves fresh garlic
2 T. butter
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated

2 T. butter
2 T. flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp. each, salt and dry mustard
Dash of paprika
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

Peel and thinly slice potatoes; peel and mince onion; peel garlic. Grease a 10-inch baking dish or equivalent-size casserole. Cover bottom with one layer of potato slices. Sprinkle with minced onion. Using a garlic press, press 2 cloves of garlic and sprinkle over potatoes. Dot with a portion of the butter. Repeat until all potatoes are used, making 3 or 4 layers. Pour cheese sauce over potatoes. Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated cheese over top. Cover and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Uncover and bake for 30 minutes longer, or until potatoes are done. To make cheese sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan. Blend in flour. Slowly stir in milk. Cook and stir over moderate heat until sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Blend in salt and dry mustard, a generous dash paprika, and 3/4 cup grated Cheddar cheese. Heat, stirring, until cheese melts.

Amy Ferschweiler’s Baked Beans

Amy Ferschweiler’s Baked Beans

1 lb. Beef
1 lb. Bacon, cooked
3 T. White Vinegar
2 T. Dry Mustard
3 T. Dark molasses
1 C. Catsup
1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
1 T. Liquid Smoke
1 T. Salt
2 cans Pork and Beans, drained
1 can Kidney Beans, drained
1 can Butter beans, drained

?? No instructions.

Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad

3 C. cooked Elbow Macaroni
2 Eggs, cooked Hard
6 slices Bacon, cooked crisp
1/4 C. Celery, chopped
1/4 C. Parsley, chopped
1/4 C. Green Pepper, chopped
1/2 C. Radishes, sliced
2 T. Onion, chopped
Salt & Pepper to taste

Dressing:

1/2 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Vinegar
1/2 C. Water
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Mustard
1/8 tsp. Pepper
1 T. Flour
2 Beaten Eggs

Combine all dry dressing ingredients in top of double boiler. Add eggs, water and vinegar. Cook over hot water until thick. Cool slightly. Meanwhile, mix all salad ingredients in a large bowl, tossing well. Add salad dressing, toss with a fork. Garnish with pepper rings and radish slices. Yield: 6 servings

Smashed Baked Potatoes

Smashed Baked Potatoes

12 whole New Potatoes (or Other Small Round Potatoes)
3 T. Olive Oil
Kosher Salt to Taste
Black Pepper to Taste
Rosemary (or Other Herbs of Choice) To Taste

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make and cook them until they are fork-tender. On a sheet pan, generously drizzle olive oil. Place tender potatoes on the cookie sheet leaving plenty of room between each potato. With a potato masher, gently press down each potato until it slightly mashes, rotate the potato masher 90 degrees and mash again. Brush the tops of each crushed potato generously with more olive oil. Sprinkle potatoes with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper and fresh chopped rosemary (or chives or thyme or whatever herb you have available.) Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Gram’s Good Buns

Gram’s Good Buns

Combine 1/2 C. scalded milk, 1/4 C. shortening, 1 T. sugar and 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Cool by adding 1/2 C. water. Add 1 cake yeast, dissolved as directed. Blend in 1 egg and 3/4 C. chopped browned onions. Add 3 C. flour, mix well. For round buns, roll to 1/2” thick and cut into rounds with 3 1/2” cutter. For square buns roll out into a 9 x 12 square and cut into 12 3” squares. Place buns on greased baking sheet and allow to rise until double. Bake at 400 degrees 15 minutes.

Troller’s Cookbook Zucchini Bread

Troller’s Cookbook Zucchini Bread

3 Eggs
2 C. Sugar
2 C. peeled, grated Zucchini
3 tsp. Vanilla
1 C. Oil
3 C. Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
3 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 C. chopped Nuts

Combine eggs, sugar, zucchini, vanilla and oil. Sift together Flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and baking soda. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients, beating until just mixed. Stir in nuts. Divide equally between 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees one hour.

Roasted Garlic Swirl Bread

Roasted Garlic Swirl Bread

2 medium whole garlic bulbs
2 tsp. olive oil
1 package (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast
1 C. warm water (110° to 115°)
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2-1/2 to 3 C. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. minced fresh sage or 2 tsp. rubbed sage
2 tsp. minced fresh marjoram or 3/4 tsp. dried marjoram
1 tsp. minced fresh rosemary or 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed
2 tsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. butter, melted

Remove papery outer skin from garlic (do not peel or separate cloves). Cut top off garlic bulbs; brush with oil. Wrap each bulb in heavy-duty foil. Bake at 425° for 30-35 minutes or until softened. Cool for 10-15 minutes. Squeeze softened garlic into a small bowl; set aside. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt and 1 C. flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, add the sage, marjoram and rosemary to the reserved roasted garlic. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each portion into a 10-in. x 8-in. rectangle. Spread garlic mixture to within 1/2 in. edges. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam and ends to seal. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place loaves seam side down on pan; tuck ends under. With a sharp knife, make several slashes across the top of each loaf. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks; brush with butter. Yield: 2 loaves (10 slices each).

Yield: 2 loaves. 10 slices each
Serving size: 1 slice
Calories: 84
Fat: 1g
Fiber: 1g

Wheat Bread

Wheat Bread

2 1/2 C. warm water
2 T. active dry yeast
2/3 C. sugar
2 3/4 C. whole wheat flour
1/2 C. potato flakes
2 3/4 C. white flour
1 tsp. salt
2 T. vinegar
2 T. oil
1/4 C. nonfat instant dry milk

Mix the yeast in warm water and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Add sugar, whole wheat flour, white flour and blend well. In the following order add salt, dry milk, oil, vinegar and potato flakes until it turns into a dough, add flour as needed. Dough is ready when tacky to the touch. Knead for 12 minutes. Cover and let rise for approximately one hour. Punch down and place in 2 greased loaf pans. Cover and allow to rise for about half hour or until about double in size. Bake in 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. Can also be baked in a cast iron Dutch Oven with briquettes

Green Chile Buckwheat Polenta

Green Chile Buckwheat Polenta

4 C. vegetable or chicken stock
1 tsp. salt
1 C. coarse grind buckwheat groats or kasha (or commercially ground buckwheat)
1 tsp. ground cumin
several grinds pepper
1/4 C. chopped (Hatch) green chile or small can of diced chiles
1 T. butter
1/2 C. cheese – cotija, pepper jack, cheddar, etc.
Canned Salsa Verde

Fresh Garnishes, if Available:
4 eggs (cooked any style)
avocado, diced
cilantro, chopped

To a medium saucepan, add the stock and salt. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Slowly whisk in the ground buckwheat (to avoid lumps). Add the cumin and ground pepper. Cover and simmer until desired texture is achieved. The time will vary according to the coarseness of your buckwheat. I cooked mine low and slow for about 40 minutes. My kasha (buckwheat) was milled on the 2nd coarsest setting. Substitute commercial buckwheat if preferred. Refer to package instructions for liquid quantity and cooking time. Add the green chile, butter, and cotija (or other) cheese. Stir to combine.

Top with an egg and avocado, sprinkle with crumbled cotija and cilantro, and drizzle with salsa verde. Dig in!

Pantry Friendly Roasted Garlic Bread

Pantry Friendly Roasted Garlic Bread

4 C. bread flour (or 2 C. bread flour and 2 C. whole wheat flour)
1/2 tsp. instant yeast (or active dry yeast)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/4 C. room-temperature water
2 whole heads of garlic
1 tsp. olive oil (for roasting garlic)
Pinch of salt (for roasting garlic)
Cornmeal or semolina flour for dusting loaf

To roast garlic, slice the very top of the head off, revealing all the individual cloves. Then wrap each head in foil and drizzle in a tiny bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Wrap these little packages up and bake them at 350 degrees until the garlic is really fragrant and tender, about 30 minutes. If you want to test them, you should be able to easily slide a knife into a clove with almost no resistance. Let the roasted heads of garlic cool for a few minutes and then you can squish out each clove of garlic from the papery stuff. For bread dough, combine flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Add the roasted garlic and mix it in with your finger tips to make sure it’s evenly distributed. Add water and stir until blended; dough will be really wet and saggy. It’ll smell like roasted garlic though which is a good thing and you should be able to see tiny pieces of garlic in the dough. Cover this with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 14-18 hours. When its surface is dotted with bubbles, the dough is ready. At this point you need to form the loaf. Basically, just lightly flour a counter and pour the dough onto the surface. Gently fold it over itself a few times and then form it into a rectangular loaf. Sprinkle a clean towel with a good layer of cornmeal or semolina flour and lay the loaf on the towel, seam side down. Dust with additional corn meal or semolina. Cover this with another clean towel (or just fold the towel over onto the loaf). Let it rise again for about 2 hours. Dough should have more than doubled in size. At least a half hour before dough is ready, preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Put a 5- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Put the lid on the pot and cook it for 30 minutes. Then remove the lid and cook the loaf for another 15-20 minutes until the loaf is a deep dark brown. Remove the bread from the pot and let it cool on a wire rack for at least an hour before slicing into it.

Creamy Red Beans and Pasta Salad

Creamy Red Beans and Pasta Salad

½ C. dried carrots
½ C. freeze dried peas
4 C. cooked and drained small pasta
2-15oz. cans red beans or 3 ½ c.
½. C. bottled Italian dressing
½ C. mayonnaise
2 tsp. dried parsley

Simmer carrots in 1 ½ C. water for 10 minutes. Add peas and simmer an additional 3-4 minutes. Drain vegetables, combine with pasta and beans and cool. Whisk together dressing, mayonnaise and parsley; pour over salad and toss. Serves 4-5.

Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

1 1/4 C. coarsely ground cornmeal
3/4 C. all-purpose flour
1/4 C. granulated sugar
1 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/3 C. whole milk
1 C. buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
8 T. unsalted butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and place a 9-inch cast iron skillet inside to heat while you make the batter. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk in the milk, buttermilk, and eggs. Whisk in almost all of the melted butter, reserving about 1 T. for the skillet later on. Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Coat the bottom and sides of the hot skillet with the remaining butter. Pour the batter into the skillet and place it in the center of the oven. Bake until the center is firm and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes and serve.

Oven Fried Rice

Oven Fried Rice

2 C. rice (not instant!)
3 1⁄3 C. water
1 (1 1/4 oz.) package onion soup mix
3 1⁄2 tsp. soy sauce
3 tsp. oil
1 dehydrated Bell Pepper (red/green mix), rehydrated
1 green onion, chopped
0.5 (8 oz.) can mushrooms, chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F. While oven is heating, combine all ingredients in a medium-sized casserole dish. Stir thoroughly to combine. Place on middle rack in oven, and cook uncovered for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until rice is cooked and all water is absorbed.

Baked Beans with Cranberries

Baked Beans with Cranberries

2 16oz. can Beans
1 can Cranberry Sauce
2 T. Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar or Honey
1 Onion, grated
4 slices bacon (or use shelf stable bits)

Mix first 4 ingredients in a 2 quart casserole dish. Lay bacon across top and bake uncovered at 325 for 3 hours.

Baked Mashed Butternut Squash

Baked Mashed Butternut Squash

2 C. cooked, mashed butternut squash or pumpkin
3 T. butter, softened
1 C. sugar
1/3 C. milk, fresh, canned or powdered
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 11/2-quart casserole dish. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Pour the mixture into the casserole dish and bake for 75 minutes or until set. Serves 6 to 8.

Pan-Seared Fingerlings with Cilantro Mojo & Variations

Pan-Seared Fingerlings with Cilantro Mojo & Variations

4 tsp. olive oil, divided
1 pound fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
3/8 tsp. salt
2/3 C. tightly packed cilantro
2 tsp. lime juice
1 tsp. white wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 large garlic clove, chopped
1/4 C. low-fat sour cream

Heat a skillet over medium-high. Add 1 T. oil and potatoes; cook 6 minutes. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook 6 minutes. Sprinkle potatoes with salt. Combine remaining 1 tsp. oil, cilantro, and next 4 ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Stir into potatoes. Top with sour cream.

Blue Cheese and Walnuts: Halve 1 pound fingerling potatoes lengthwise. Follow step 1 in base recipe. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt. Combine 1/2 C. 2% milk and 1 1/2 tsp. all-purpose flour in a saucepan, stirring; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute. Add 1 ounce blue cheese. Cook 1 minute. Top potatoes with sauce, 2 T. toasted chopped walnuts, and 2 tsp. parsley.

Spinach and Garlic: Halve 1 pound fingerling potatoes lengthwise. Follow step 1 in base recipe. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt. Add 2 T. minced garlic and 4 C. baby spinach leaves; cook 1 minute. Top with 2 T. toasted pine nuts and 1/2 ounce grated Asiago cheese.

Quick Pickled Red Onions: Halve 1 pound fingerling potatoes lengthwise. Follow step 1 in base recipe. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt. Combine 1/2 C. white wine vinegar, 1 T. mustard seeds, 1 T. sugar, and 1/4 tsp. salt in a saucepan; boil. Remove from heat; stir in 1 C. sliced red onion. Let stand 5 minutes. Drain. Stir into potatoes. Top with 2 tsp. parsley

Warm Lima Beans with Pesto

Warm Lima Beans with Pesto

1 can lima beans
1 T. olive oil
3-4 T. jarred pesto
1-2 T. lemon juice
salt & pepper

Heat the lima beans and olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the pesto and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt & pepper and serve warm. If you don’t have lima beans, try this dish with canned white beans, or canned chickpeas.

Root Vegetable Chips

Root Vegetable Chips

2 medium beets, scrubbed and tops removed
l sweet potato, scrubbed
l T. extra-virgin olive oil
l tsp. flaky sea salt

Preheat the oven to 250°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the vegetables about Vs inch thick. Use a mandoline, if you have one, to create even pieces. Place the beet slices in one bowl and the sweet potatoes in another. Divide the olive oil and salt between the bowls and toss the slices to coat. Place on the prepared baking sheets without letting the slices touch. Place the baking sheets in the oven. Rotate the pans after 1 hour and continue to bake until crisp, a total of 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours for the beets and 1 hour 40 minutes for the sweet potatoes. Transfer the chips to a large bowl and serve immediately. Best right away, but leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles

Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles

2 T. vegetable oil
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
3 T. chopped scallions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
Sour cream, for serving

Preheat the waffle baker and grease it with cooking spray. In large bowl, whisk together oil, buttermilk and eggs. Stir in the mashed potatoes, scallions and cheese until well combined. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Fold the flour mixture into the potato mixture until it’s well combined. Scoop 1/2 to 2/3 cup (depending on the size of your waffle baker) of the mixture into the prepared waffle baker, spreading it into an even layer. (The potato mixture will not spread or expand as much as a regular waffle, so it’s important to spread it in an even layer.) Close the lid and let the waffle bake until golden brown and the egg is cooked throughout. Transfer the waffle to a serving plate then repeat the filling and baking process with the remaining potato mixture. Serve the potato waffles topped with sour cream and garnished with additional chopped scallions.

Notes: All leftover mashed potatoes will vary in consistency depending on how much cream, milk or melted butter you added to the original batch. If the waffle batter looks too dry and isn’t holding together, add one more egg. If it looks too wet, add more flour, 1 T. at a time, until the mixture is cohesive. Do not lift up the waffle baker lid too soon or you’ll risk having the mixture separate and stick to the waffle baker. Allowing the waffle to cook through before opening the waffle baker ensures the waffle can be removed whole.

Tomato-Cheese Bread for Cameron

Tomato-Cheese Bread for Cameron

1 C. lukewarm water
2 1/2 tsp. yeast
1 tsp. sugar
2 1/2 C. (11 1/2 oz.) bread flour, divided
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. tomato powder
1 tsp. salt
1 generous C. (4 oz.) coarsely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tsp. olive oil

In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine water, yeast, sugar, and one C. the bread flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes. Add the remaining flour, oregano, tomato powder, and salt. Knead with the dough hook until the dough cleans the side of the bowl and starts becoming elastic. Add the olive oil and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and elastic and is no longer sticky. Add the cheese and knead just until it is incorporated. You don’t want to knead so much that the cheese disintegrates into the bread. It it’s a little unevenly distributed, that’s fine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside to rise until doubled in size, about 60 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and sprinkle some cornmeal on a baking sheet. Flour your work surface and knead the dough briefly before you form it into your preferred shape. Put it on the baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. When the dough has risen, slash it as desired, then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, until nicely browned. Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

Herbed Butternut Squash Chips

Herbed Butternut Squash Chips

1 small butternut squash, about 1 pound
2 teaspoons chopped mixed fresh herbs (I used sage, thyme and oregano)
4 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Heat the oven to 250 degrees F and put a rack in the middle of the oven. Peel the squash and cut it in two, separating the thin end without seeds from the bulbous end. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and discard them (or save and roast them if you’re feeling energetic). Slice the squash finely with a mandoline, about an 1/8-inch thick. You’ll have nice neat rounds from the seedless end, and pretty rings from the other end. Toss the squash in a bowl with the herbs, olive oil and salt. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and spread out the squash slices in a single layer on the parchment. Bake for an hour, then flip the slices using tongs or a spatula. Bake for another hour. Turn the slices again, lower the heat to 200 degrees and bake for another hour. Turn off the oven and let the chips cool in there for several hours, or overnight. Remove from the parchment and serve, or store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Panisse Puffs (Panisses Souffles)

Panisse Puffs (Panisses Souffles)

Do not open the oven door while they are cooking; your panisses won’t turn out well. Since they’re very easy to make and best right after they come out of the oven, I recommend serving the panisses right away. A popover pan with 2 x 2-inch-deep (6cm) molds works perfectly. You can use standard size muffin pans; the panisses won’t rise as dramatically, but they’ll still be delicious. Due to the batter’s tendency to stick in muffin pans, spray the molds well with nonstick spray right before pouring the batter, or use clarified butter.

2/3 C. (75g) chickpea flour
1/3 C. (45g) all-purpose flour
1 C. (250ml) whole milk
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 large egg white
1 tsp. salted or unsalted butter, melted, plus more for brushing the mold
3/4 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
1/44 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
Generous pinch of cayenne pepper

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with the oven rack in the middle position. Put a popover pan on the oven rack and have a baking sheet ready. Combine all the ingredients in a blender until completely smooth. Remove the popover mold from the oven and set it on the baking sheet. Brush the insides of the popover molds lavishly with melted butter, being careful since the pan is quite hot. Quickly divide the batter among the molds, put them in the oven, then decrease the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 35 minutes, until puffed up and brown. Serve immediately, while warm.

Orzo with Dried Porcini Mushrooms, Radicchio and aged Balsamic Vinegar

Orzo with Dried Porcini Mushrooms, Radicchio and aged Balsamic Vinegar

1 oz dried porcini mushrooms
kosher salt
1 C. orzo
3 T. olive oil
1 T. minced fresh garlic
1 T. minced shallot
2 C. shredded radicchio leaves {about 3/4 of a head}
1 C. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus extra for garnish
4 T. butter
high quality olive oil for drizzling
4 tsp. aged balsamic vinegar
freshly ground black pepper

Place the mushrooms in a bowl and add enough hot water to cover them. Cover with plastic wrap for 10 minutes and continually remind yourself that when you drain them you must reserve some of the liquid. Drain, reserving 1 c of liquid. Bring a large pot of water to boil and add a generous bit of kosher salt. Add the orzo, return to a boil and stir occasionally to prevent the orzo from sticking together. Cook until just tender, per the packaging instructions. While the pasta is cooking, heat 3 T olive oil, garlic, shallots and a pinch of kosher salt in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir constantly to prevent browning, cooking until the shallots and garlic are soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Turn the heat to high and stir in the 1 c reserved liquid from the mushrooms, the mushrooms and radicchio. Turn off the heat. Reserve 1/4 c pasta water and drain the pasta, transferring quickly to the skillet while it is still dripping with water. Turn the heat to high and stir in the reserved pasta water and cheese. Lower the heat and cook for 30 seconds. Add the butter and stir to melt. Taste and adjust salt if necessary. To serve, spoon pasta on 4 plates or in 4 bowls. Drizzle with high quality olive oil and 1 t of balsamic vinegar per plate. Grate a small amount of cheese on top of each plate and finish with freshly ground black pepper.

Faro Salad with Preserved Winter Squash and Dried Cherries

Faro Salad with Preserved Winter Squash and Dried Cherries

1 C. pearled faro, rinsed, any small stones or debris removed
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1 shallot, thinly sliced
3/4 C. (113 g) Oil-Preserved Butternut Squash with Mint
1/4 C. (28 g) oven-dried cherries or store-bought
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 T. white balsamic vinegar
1 T. honey
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 C. (70 g) coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts
2 oz. (57 g) ricotta salata, diced
1 bunch arugula, for serving

Put the faro in a high-sided saucepan with water to cover by 2 inches. Add 1 tsp. the salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, partially covered, until the faro is tender but still a little firm and chewy (al dente), 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the faro in a colander set in the sink and transfer it to a bowl. Fold in the shallot, preserved butternut squash, and dried cherries. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, and honey. Spoon in a little oil or brine from the squash, if you like. Season with the remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and a little pepper and whisk again. Pour the dressing over the faro and fold until thoroughly combined. Fold in the hazelnuts and ricotta salata. Spread the arugula on a platter and spoon the faro salad on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Buttermilk Crackers

Buttermilk Crackers

6.25 oz. all purpose flour (1.25 C.)
1/4 tsp. salt
1.5 tsp. sugar
5 tsp. butter, cubed
1/2 C.+2 tsp. whole buttermilk
1 egg, beaten
sesame seeds, optional, for garnish
salt and pepper for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk to combine the flour, salt and sugar. Add the butter and work with your fingertips until you get coarse crumbs (break it down more than you would a biscuit). Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. Stir with a spatula to distribute the liquid, and once the dough starts to come together and there is no liquid dripping anywhere, stop mixing (and be conscious of not overmixing*). Lay a sheet of plastic wrap onto your counter and sprinkle with flour. Scrape the dough out onto it, then sprinkle more flour on top. Press it out into a flat disk and chill for at least 1 hour until it’s firm. Roll the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper fitted to a sheet pan (this way you can transfer it easily to the sheet pan later). You should make the dough as thin as possible and it should be rolled to cover all available space. Prick all over with a fork, brush with the egg wash, then sprinkle with salt and pepper, and any other garnishes you would like. Bake for about 35-40 minutes until golden brown. If you want them to be extra crispy, you can break them into shards and keep baking. Cool completely on a wire rack (and keep in mind that they crisp more as they cool). Enjoy!

Bacon-Cheddar Potato Croquettes

Bacon-Cheddar Potato Croquettes

4 C. cold mashed potatoes (with added milk and butter)
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 C. sour cream
1 T. minced chives
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
40 Ritz crackers, crushed
1/4 C. butter, melted
1 tsp. paprika
Barbecue sauce, Dijon-mayonnaise blend or ranch salad dressing

In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Shape mixture by tablespoonfuls into balls. Roll in cracker crumbs. Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. Combine butter and paprika; drizzle over croquettes. Bake at 375° for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with dipping sauce of your choice. Freeze option: Prepare croquettes as directed, omitting chilling step. Transfer to waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Prepare butter mixture; drizzle over croquettes. Cover and freeze until firm. Transfer to resealable plastic freezer bags; return to freezer. To use, bake croquettes as directed, increasing time to 20-25 minutes. Serve with dipping sauce. Yield: about 5 dozen.

West Bay Johnnycakes

West Bay Johnnycakes

1 C. white cornmeal
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. butter, plus extra for serving
Maple syrup, for serving

Preheat a frying pan or griddle over low-medium heat. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the corn meal, sugar and salt. In a microwave-safe bowl or measuring C., or on the stovetop, bring 1-1/2 C. water to a boil, and pour into the cornmeal mixture. Combine with a whisk; the mixture will be very thick, like white polenta. Melt the butter in the preheated pan, and drop the cornmeal mixture by tsp. into the pan. Flatten each one slightly with the back of the spoon. Let the jonnycakes cook, undisturbed, for 6 minutes, until they’re browned and crispy on the bottom. Flip, and cook for 5 minutes more to crisp the other side. Serve hot, with butter and maple syrup.

Herbed Lemony White Bean Salad

Herbed Lemony White Bean Salad

2 15oz. cans of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
3 tsp. chopped parsley
2 tsp. minced fresh rosemary
1/4 C. minced red onion
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp. good quality olive oil
salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, and season the salad to taste with salt and pepper. Let the salad sit in the fridge for at least an hour before serving to let the flavors meld together.

Lagana (Once a Year Bread)

Lagana (Once a Year Bread)

2 tsp. Active Dry Yeast
Pinch Sugar
2 ½ C. Bread Flour
½ tsp. Salt
¼ C. Olive Oil

Topping:
1 tsp. Bread Flour
½ tsp. Olive Oil
¼ tsp. Salt
1 1.2 tsp. Sesame Seeds

Sprinkle dried yeast into large bowl. Add sugar and 7 oz. lukewarm water and leave until it starts to activate and bubble. Add flour, salt, and olive oil and mix together with a wooden spoon until a loose dough forms. If it seems dry, add a few drops of water. Knead for 6 to 7 minutes on lightly floured surface, until smooth and spongy. Wipe out bowl with oiled paper towels and place dough in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, then a dish cloth, and leave in a warm spot for 2 ½ hours or until puffed and doubled in size. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Punch dough down and shape by stretching and rolling into a rough 10×12 rectangle, 3/8 – ¼ inch thick. Place on lined sheet and dent the top with many holes with the tips of your fingers for the traditional puckered look. Cover with dish cloth and leave to rise another 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400. Whisk topping flour, oil, salt and 2 tsp. water together. Gently brush over the top of the bread and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 20 minutes, or until golden.

Cornmeal Bread Braid

Cornmeal Bread Braid

2 C. milk, scalded
2 eggs
2 tsp. yeast
6 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C. canola oil
1/4 C. warm water
1 C. cornmeal
7 C. flour

Scald milk by heating it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. It’s ready as soon as tiny bubbles begin to form around the outside edges. Discard skin that may have formed on top of the milk. Pour hot milk into your mixer and stir in the sugar. Allow to cool slightly before adding the yeast. Let the yeast sit and come alive. Add salt, eggs, 1/2 C. canola oil, water, and corn meal. While mixing, add five or six C. flour. Continue adding the remaining flour just until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl and is not sticky. (I only used a total of 6 C. flour.) Knead for 10 min. Divide dough in half, then into thirds, and braid as desired. Transfer to a sprayed cookie sheet, sprinkled with cornmeal. (One recipe made two fairly large Christmas wreaths.) Let raise about an hour, until doubled in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes and brush with butter before serving. The braid was soft and tender as can be on the inside with lots of corn flavor

Loaded Bacon Cheddar Bread

Loaded Bacon Cheddar Bread

6 C. all purpose flour
3¼ C. warm water
2 tsp. instant yeast
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
2¾ C. cheddar cheese, fresh grated not bagged
10 strips cooked thick cut bacon, chopped and divided
fresh ground black pepper to taste

In a large mixing bowl combine water, yeast, salt and sugar. Allow mixture to sit for several minutes. Add flour, two C. cheese, ½ bacon and fresh ground black pepper. Stir with spoon until combined. Dough will be shaggy. Don’t stress if it looks messy. It will come together in the end. Cover with a towel and allow to rise in a warm place for an hour. After an hour, turn dough out onto a floured board and knead for a few minutes. It does not need to be completely smooth. Just knead it long enough to come together. Divide dough into two equal halves and place in standard loaf pans. Cover loaves with remaining cheese and bacon. Cover with towel and allow to rest for thirty minutes. Bake in a 400º oven for fifteen minutes. Cover loosely with foil and reduce heat to 350º and continue baking for another 35 minutes. Remove foil and allow to bake for another 10 minutes. Notes: If the dough feels too wet, add a little more flour but know that this dough is a bit stickier than most.

Avocado Fritters with Avocado-Cilantro Cream Dipping Sauce

Avocado Fritters with Avocado-Cilantro Cream Dipping Sauce

2 C. self-rising flour
1¾ C. cornmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
4 eggs
1 C. milk
6 oz. cheddar cheese, diced
1 C. roasted corn kernels (I just grilled mine)
½ C. red bell pepper, diced
½ C. sweet onion, diced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced (more or less to taste)
4 tsp. cilantro, chopped (more or less to taste)
2 avocados, diced

2 avocados, mashed
½ C. sour cream
¼ C. milk
1 tsp. cilantro, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Pour 2″ of vegetable oil into a deep fryer or a heavy skillet and heat to 350º. In a large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine. Add eggs, milk, cheese, corn, onion, peppers and cilantro. Stir to incorporate. Gently fold in avocados. Scoop batter into heaping tsp. and gently drop into oil. They are done cooking when golden brown. Drain on paper towels and keep warm in a 200º oven. Prepare dipping sauce by mixing all ingredients in a bowl. If you want a smooth consistency, give it a whirl for two minutes in a blender or food processor.