Blueberry Maple Jam with Lemon

Blueberry Maple Jam with Lemon

Blueberry Maple Jam with Lemon

 

6 C. blueberries

3 C. brown sugar, lightly packed

Peels and cores (seeds included) of 3 apples

1 cinnamon stick

1 C. maple syrup

â…“ C. bottled lemon juice

1T.lemon zest, finely grated

 

Place the berries in a large pot, crush them lightly, and add the sugar. Stir to mix, cover, and rest for 1– 4 hours on the counter. Place the apple peels and cores and the cinnamon stick inside the cheesecloth to make a teabag. Place the teabag in a large pot with the blueberries, maple syrup, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Prepare your canning pot and rack, and sterilize your jars and lids Bring the fruit to a simmer over medium heat, skimming off any foam that appears. Cook until set, at least 20 minutes. Remove the teabag from the jam. Remove the jars from the canner and turn the heat to high. Using a funnel, pour the jam into the jars. Wipe the rims of the jars, apply the lids, and process for 10 minutes. Remove the jars and allow them to cool.

Thai Coconut Green Curry Salmon

Thai Coconut Green Curry Salmon

2 6-8oz. Portions of Salmon
1 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise then sliced
2-3 thai chiles (or serrano peppers) sliced thinly
2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
5 Baby Bella Mushrooms, stem removed and sliced (about 2 cups)
1/2 red bell pepper, core and seeds removed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 head of baby bok choy, cut into fourths
1 inch piece of Ginger, peeled and grated
4 T. of grapeseed or olive oil
13.5 oz. can of Chaokoh Coconut Milk or Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk
2 T. Thai Kitchen Green Curry Paste
1 T. Red Boat Fish Sauce
2 T. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
1/4 cup freshly chopped thai basil (or regular basil)
2 whole green onions, sliced and separate the top dark green slices from the bulb (whiter part) of the onion.
Montreal Steak Seasoning (or Salt and Pepper), to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wrap a cooking sheet in foil. Place salmon, skin side down, on the foil wrapped baking sheet. Drizzle salmon with about 2 T. of grapeseed or olive oil, rub across the top of the salmon so that it is coated evenly. Season with Montreal Steak Seasoning (or salt and pepper) to taste. Before placing your salmon in the oven, make sure all of your other ingredients are chopped and are on hand ready to go. Place salmon in the oven, bake until salmon is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, while the salmon is baking: in a large skillet heat 2 T. of grapeseed oil or olive oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add in the garlic, thai chiles, ginger, red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, the bok choy, and the bulb (white part) of the green onion. Sauté for about 4 minutes, or until veggies just begin to get tender. Now add in the green curry paste, stir in, and sauté for 1-2 minutes more. Turn heat down to medium-low. Add in the coconut milk, the fish sauce, the lime juice, and the rest of the green onion (save a few for garnish if you want). Cook with at a light simmer, where it is just barely bubbling (you may need to turn down to low depending on your stovetop), stirring occasionally, until the salmon is done cooking in the oven. Remove Salmon from the oven, and using a sturdy spatula, gently remove the salmon from the skin (optional, I just prefer to remove the skin-leave it on if you would like). Serve over green curry vegetables and top with freshly chopped basil and green onions.

Spiced Rhubarb Chutney

Spiced Rhubarb Chutney

Spiced Rhubarb Chutney

 

This russet-red chutney is sweet, tart, spicy, and addictively delicious. I especially love it with Seeded Bread Crisps topped with a creamy brie or fresh chevre, or as an accompaniment to a savory cheesecake.

 

1 C. white balsamic vinegar

1 C. sugar

2 cinnamon sticks, broken with a mallet

2 tsp. cardamom pods, broken with a mallet

2 tsp. coarsely crushed black peppercorns

2 tsp. whole cloves

1 tsp. anise seeds

zest of 1 large orange

 

3 C. (14 oz.), trimmed, sliced rhubarb

½ C. plump raisins

 

½ tsp. vanilla

 

In a medium saucepan, combine vinegar and sugar, and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly to dissolve the sugar. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorns, cloves, anise seeds, and orange zest. Cover the pan tightly and macerate for at least 1 hour. Strain the liquid through a triple-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. Discard the spent spices. Reheat the liquid and add the rhubarb and raisins. Bring to a slow simmer. Simmer slowly, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and the liquid reduces by half, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the vanilla. Let cool, put into a storage container, cover, and refrigerate until cold.

Coriander Blackberry Ice Cream

Coriander Blackberry Ice Cream

I think the best way to crush the coriander seeds is to place them in a heavy-duty bag and crack them with a heavy object, like a rolling pin. You could also use a mortar and pestle, but don’t crush too much.

2 C. whole milk
1 ¼ C. heavy cream
2/3 C. cane sugar
1/8 C. light corn syrup
1 1/2 T. crushed coriander seeds
1 T. plus 1 tsp. cornstarch
1 ½ oz. cream cheese, softened
1/8 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 to 1/2 C. blackberry sauce (see below)

Warm 1 C. milk, sugar, corn syrup, cream, and coriander seeds in a medium saucepan. Once warm (do not boil) remove from heat, cover and let steep at room temperature for one hour. When steeping is almost complete, fill a large bowl with ice water. In a small bowl, mix 2 T. the milk with the cornstarch. In a medium bowl, whisk the cream cheese and salt until smooth. After steeping is complete, add remaining milk and begin rewarming over medium heat. Bring milk mixture to a boil. Cook over moderate heat for about 4 minutes to remove some moisture. Remove from heat and off heat gradually whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Return to a boil and cook over moderately high heat until the mixture is slightly thickened (draw a line on a spoon), about 1 minute. Gradually pour the hot milk mixture through a sieve into the cream cheese and whisk until smooth. Pour into a gallon bag, seal tightly, and set baggie in the ice water bath, cover with some ice, and let stand until cold, about 20 minutes or longer. Once ice cream base is chilled, pour ice cream base into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Spoon a layer of blackberry sauce (see below) into a container and lightly spoon a layer of ice cream on top. Continue to alternate layers of sauce and ice cream until the container is full; drizzle a little more sauce on top. Do not swirl with a spoon. Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the ice cream (to prevent ice crystals) and close with an airtight lid. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

Blackberry sauce

Sauce can be prepared in advance and frozen until ready to use.

2 C. blackberries, fresh or frozen
1 C. sugar

Place both ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally. Berries will soon begin to release their juice, keep stirring to combine juice and sugar. Simmer until sugar is dissolved and most juice has been released from berries, about 8 minutes. Cool completely before adding to ice cream.

Strawberry Lemon Lavender Honey Jam

Strawberry Lemon Lavender Honey Jam

Strawberry Lemon Lavender Honey Jam

 

1 lemon, zest and juice

4 C. sliced strawberries

3 T. Dutch Jell All Natural Lite pectin

12 heads of lavender, tied in a bundle.

1 1/2 C. mild honey

 

Put the lemon juice, lemon zest, berries, lavender, and pectin in a pot. (You can stir with the lavender bundle.) Bring to hard rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove the lavender bundle. Add honey. Bring to rolling boil and boil for 1 minute. Ladle into jars. BWB 10 minutes. Makes five 8-oz. jars. Notes: If you don’t want the odd lavender flower falling off into the jam, you can strip the flowers off and put them in a tea ball to steep in the jam as it cooks. I found it easier to just use the bundle to stir with as much as I could, then I switched to a spoon when I needed a stronger stirrer.

 

About the pectin: I’ve been using bulk pectin this year from my local Amish store. You can probably use 1 pkg / 3 T. Ball pectin as well or Sure-Jell. Keep in mind that strawberries often take more pectin than other fruit.

Cook’s Illustrated Herbed Baked Goat Cheese & Salads

Cook’s Illustrated Herbed Baked Goat Cheese & Salads

Cook’s Illustrated Herbed Baked Goat Cheese

3 oz. white Melba toasts (2 C.)
1 tsp. pepper
3 large eggs
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced fresh thyme
1 tsp. minced fresh chives
12 oz. goat cheese, firm
Extra-virgin olive oil

Process Melba toasts in a food processor to fine even crumbs, about 1 ‘h minutes; transfer crumbs to medium bowl and stir in pepper. Whisk eggs and mustard in medium bowl until combined. Combine thyme and chives in small bowl. Using kitchen twine or dental floss, divide cheese into 12 evenly sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball; roll each ball in herbs to coat lightly. Transfer 6 pieces to egg mixture, turn each piece to coat; transfer to Melba crumbs and turn each piece to coat, pressing crumbs into cheese. Flatten each ball into disk about 1 ‘h inches wide and 1 inch thick and set on baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining 6 pieces cheese. Freeze cheese until firm, about 30 minutes. (Cheese may be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and frozen for 1 week.) Adjust oven rack to top position; heat oven to 475 degrees. Remove cheese from freezer and brush tops and sides evenly with olive oil. Bake until crumbs are golden brown and cheese is slightly soft, 7 to 9 minutes (or 9 to 12 minutes if cheese is completely frozen). Using thin metal spatula, transfer cheese to paper towel lined plate and let cool 3 minutes before serving on top of greens. Serve warm.

Cook’s Illustrated Salad with Herbed Baked Goat Cheese & Vinaigrette

Prepare the salad components while the cheese is in the freezer, then toss the greens and vinaigrette while the cheese cools a bit after baking. Hearty salad greens, such as a mix of arugula and frisee, work best here.

2 tsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced shallot
1/4 tsp. salt
6 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Pepper
14 oz. (14 C.) mixed hearty salad greens
1 recipe Herbed Baked Goat Cheese

Combine vinegar, mustard, shallot, and salt in small bowl. Whisking constantly, drizzle in oil; season with pepper to taste. Place greens in large bowl, drizzle vinaigrette over, and toss to coat. Divide greens among individual plates; place 2 rounds warm goat cheese on each salad. Serve immediately.
Cook’s Illustrated Salad with Grapes, Pine Nuts, Prosciutto and Herbed Baked Goat Cheese

Prepare the salad components while the cheese is in the freezer, then toss the greens and vinaigrette while the cheese cools a bit after baking. Hearty salad greens, such as a mix of arugula and frisee, work best here.

2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced shallot
1/4 tsp. salt
6 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Pepper
14 oz. (14 C.) mixed hearty salad greens
1/4 C. red seedless grapes, halved
1/4 C. pine nuts, toasted
6 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto
1 recipe Herbed Baked Goat Chese

Combine vinegar, mustard, shallot, and salt in small bowl. Whisking constantly, drizzle in oil; season with pepper to taste. Place greens in large bowl, drizzle vinaigrette over, and toss to coat. Divide greens among individual plates; divide grapes and pine nuts among plates; and arrange 2 slices prosciutto and 2 rounds goat cheese on each salad. Serve immediately.

Rhubarb Cake

Rhubarb Cake

Rhubarb Cake

 

4 medium Eggs

1 ¼ C. Sugar

¾ C. Oil (neutral taste, not cold pressed)

¾ C. Carbonated Orange Soda

2 ¼ C. Flour

3 T. Cocoa Powder

1 T. Baking Powder

8 stalks Rhubarb

2 C. Sour Cream

4 Eggs

1/3 C. Sugar

 

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare Jellyroll Pan. Clean, peel and cut Rhubarb into small pieces. Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy. Add oil and orange drink. Briskly stir in flour mixed with baking powder and cocoa. Spread out batter in prepared pan and bake 15 minutes in lower third of oven. Meanwhile, mix sour cream, eggs and sugar for the topping. Fold in rhubarb. Spread topping over cake after 15 minutes; bake an additional 15-20 minutes.

Cube Steak with Lime Mojo

Cube Steak with Lime Mojo

Mojo is a garlicky citrus sauce that’s popular throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. This lime-heavy version (most mojo is made with sour oranges) is a perfect marinade for cube steak, a quick cooking cut of beef round.

8 cloves garlic, peeled
Salt
1 ½ tsp. fresh Oregano, finely chopped
1 tsp. Cumin
Pepper
¾ C. fresh Lime Juice (4 limes)
½ C. Orange Juice (1 Orange)
1 tsp. Sugar
4 Beef Cube Steaks
1 tsp. Canola Oil
½ lg. White Onion, thinly sliced
½ lg. Red Bell Pepper, cored and thinly sliced

In a mortar, lightly crush the garlic with a pestle. Sprinkle with 2 tsp. salt and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the oregano, cumin, and 1/2 tsp. black pepper and mash until a paste forms. Transfer to a medium bowl and add the lime juice, orange juice, and sugar; whisk until well combined. Lay the steaks in a 9×13-inch glass or ceramic dish and pour the garlic mixture (the mojo) over them. Let the steaks marinate for no more than 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat. Add the onions and peppers and cook, stirring constantly until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Add the steaks to the pan along with 2 tsp. the mojo (discard the rest). Cook for 2 minutes, flip, add the onions and peppers, cover, and cook for 1 minute more. Uncover and continue cooking until the meat is just cooked through, about 2 minutes more. Serve the steaks topped with the onions, peppers, and a drizzle of the cooked mojo.

Hawaiian Jam

Hawaiian Jam

Hawaiian Jam

8 Peaches, peeled

3 lg Oranges

Pulp of 1 med. cantaloupe

1 Lemon

1 (8 1/2 oz.) can crushed Pineapple

Sugar

 

Chop all ingredients fine. Put oranges through food processor. Combine all with 3/4 C. sugar for every 1 C. of fruit. Mix well and let stand overnight. Next morning, gently cook mixture 1 hour, stirring frequently. Pour into hot jars and seal. Makes 8 pints.

Squash Blossom, Zucchini and Gouda Frittata

Squash Blossom, Zucchini and Gouda Frittata

2 small zucchini
6 squash blossoms
2 sage leaves
8 eggs
1/3 C. whole milk
1 C. shredded Gouda cheese
1/4 tsp. sea salt
black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil skillet and set aside. Thinly slice zucchini, using a mandoline if you have one, into rounds. Gently cut squash blossoms in half length-wise and remove stamen. Cut sage leaves into thin slices. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Stir in cheese, zucchini and sage. Pour mixture into skillet, making sure zucchini is evenly distributed around the pan. Gently press squash blossom halves into the egg mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until just barely set in the middle. Switch to broiler for about 2 additional minutes till top is golden. Remove and serve warm.

Berry Christmas Jam

Berry Christmas Jam

Berry Christmas Jam

 

3 C. Fresh cranberries

1 md Seedless orange, peeled and quartered

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen sliced strawberries, slightly thawed

1/4 tsp. Ground cloves

1/4 tsp. Ground cinnamon

4 C. Sugar

1/2 C. Water

1 Pouch (3 oz.) liquid fruit pectin

 

In a food processor, combine the cranberries and orange quarters; process until coarsely chopped. Add strawberries, cloves and cinnamon; process until mixture is finely chopped. In a heavy large saucepan, combine fruit mixture, sugar and water until well blended. Stirring constantly over low heat, cook two minutes. Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a rolling boil. Stir in liquid pectin. Stirring constantly, bring to a rolling boil again and boil one minute. Remove from heat; skim off foam. Pour into heat resistant jars with lids. Makes about 3 pints of jam.

Smoky Black Beans with Grilled Lamb

Smoky Black Beans with Grilled Lamb

1 C. dried black beans such as Black Appaloosa or Black Valentine
2 1/2 C. chopped onions
1 C. lightly packed fresh cilantro
1 fresh serrano chili, stemmed
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
2 C. beef or lamb broth
1/4 lb. diced smoked bacon (preferably applewood-smoked)
1/2 C. dry red wine
1 lb. tomatoes (about 3)
1 T. minced fresh marjoram leaves (or 1 tsp. dried marjoram), plus marjoram sprigs
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
4 lamb loin chops (about 1 1/4 in. thick each, 1 1/2 lb. total), fat trimmed

Sort beans for debris, then rinse. Bring beans and 1 quart water to a boil over high heat in a 5- to 6-quart pan. Cover, boil for 2 minutes, and remove from heat. Beans are ready to cook after soaking for 2 hours, but are more digestible after 4 hours. To use, drain and rinse. In a 4- to 5-quart pan over high heat, bring 2 C. water, 1 C. chopped onion, cilantro, chili, garlic, 1/2 tsp. cumin, and oregano to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Whirl in a blender until smooth. In pan combine onion mixture, broth, and soaked beans. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, in a 3- to 4-quart pan over medium heat, frequently stir bacon and 1 1/2 C. onion until onion is deep golden, about 20 minutes. Stir in wine and set aside. On a rack in a 12- by 15-inch broiler pan, broil tomatoes 2 inches from heat, turning until blackened all over, about 15 minutes. Coarsely chop; set aside. Add bacon mixture, tomatoes, minced marjoram, and vinegar to beans. Simmer, uncovered, stirring often, until beans are tender to bite and enough liquid evaporates to make a thick stew, 30 to 40 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. While beans simmer, sprinkle lamb all over with salt, pepper, and remaining cumin. Broil 2 inches below heat, turning once, until done to your liking, about 8 minutes for medium-rare. Spoon bean mixture into 4 wide soup bowls. Top each with a lamb chop, and garnish with marjoram sprigs.

Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 543
Fat: 24g
Fiber: 9.7g

Cheddar-Scallion Scones

Cheddar-Scallion Scones

Cheddar Scallion Scones2 cups all purpose flour
1 T. sugar
½ tsp. salt
2 ts.p baking powder
â…› tsp. garlic powder
freshly cracked pepper
5 T. cold butter
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar
3 green onions, sliced
¼ cup milk
2 large eggs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, garlic powder, and some freshly cracked pepper (about 5 cranks of a pepper mill).  Cut the cold butter into chunks, then add to the bowl with the flour mixture. Work the butter into the flour mixture with your hands or a pastry cutter until the texture of the flour resembles damp sand and no large chunks of butter remain. Stir in the shredded cheddar and sliced green onions. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs until smooth. Pour the egg and milk mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir until a ball of sticky dough forms and no more dry flour remains on the bottom of the bowl. Use your hands, if necessary, to form the dough into a cohesive ball. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and press it into an 8 inch diameter circle (about 1-inch thick). Cut the circle into 8 wedges. Place the wedges on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the preheated 400 degree oven for about 18 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown. Serve warm or allow to cool to room temperature.

Hillbilly Heirloom Tomatoes with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Hillbilly Heirloom Tomatoes with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Hillbilly: This slicer dates back to 1880, when it first wowed kitchen gardeners with its 1- to 2-lb., heavily ribbed fruits. The flesh is orange-yellow and mottled with red, with an almost peachlike texture.

In a small bowl, mix 2 T. extra-virgin olive oil, 2 T. balsamic vinegar, and 1 T. minced shallots. Rinse and core about 1 1/2 lb. firm-ripe Hillbilly or similar tomatoes. Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange tomatoes, overlapping slightly, on a rimmed platter or plates. Drizzle dressing over tomatoes; add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with baby arugula leaves, if desired.

Grilled Portobella Mushrooms with Spinach and Cheese

Grilled Portobella Mushrooms with Spinach and Cheese

3 portabello mushroom caps
1 tablespoon canola oil
4-ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1 cup grated extra sharp cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)
1 clove garlic, grated or finely minced
2 cups firmly packed fresh spinach, finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the grill to medium heat. Wipe the mushrooms with a damp paper towel to clean off any dirt. Dry well. Do not rinse under water. Using a spoon, take out the black gills of the mushrooms. Also, remove the stems. Using your hands, rub oil onto the outside of the mushrooms. In a mixing bowl, mix together softened cream cheese, sharp cheddar, garlic and spinach. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. Mix until combined. Divide cheese mixture between three prepared mushroom caps. Put on the grill, cover and cook until cheese is melted and mushroom is cooked, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately.

Alabama Biscuits

Alabama Biscuits

Alabama Biscuits2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 C. sugar
1 (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1/4 C. water
6 T. butter, melted
1 C. buttermilk

Sift dry ingredients together. Dissolve yeast in water; Add buttermilk and add in sifted ingredients mixing well. Knead 20 times and roll out 1/4″ thick. Cut with biscuit cutter or 1″ drinking glass. Butter biscuits with brush and stack in twos, let rise for 2 hours. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, or until brown.

Baked Fontina

Baked Fontina

Baked fontina1 1/2 lbs Italian fontina, rind removed and cubed into 1-inch pieces
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 T. fresh thyme, chopped
1 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
3 T. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Adjust top rack of the oven so that it sits about 5 inches under the broiler unit. Preheat broiler. Spread cheese out in the bottom of a 12-inch cast iron pan. Drizzle olive oil over the cheese. Mix together the garlic and herbs in a small bowl and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the cheese. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the top of the cheese. Bake for 6 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and melted through. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and set it on a heatproof surface – the pan will be hot! Serve immediately.

Fried Razor Clams

Fried Razor Clams

Most people in the Pacific Northwest prefer to fry their razor clams, and there are countless variations of this simple method of cooking clams. Just take into account the numerous oils (olive, canola, sesame, peanut, etc..) to use for frying, and frying pans (cast iron, steel, non-stick, deep-fryer, etc..), also washes (egg, milk, buttermilk, etc.), and finally coatings (flour, panko, ground Ritz, cracker meal, etc..)…. the variations are just endless! The good news is there is only one issue you need to really worry about when cooking razor clams, if you over cook them they become tough! Along with any household frying pan, just make sure the oil is at it’s smoke point before adding the clams.

Here is one final tip, if you follow most recipes you’ll be eating raw clams, and that’s just bad! I’ve read hundreds of recipes, on the web and in books over the years, and all of them say cook 1 minute on each side. This might be true in a deep fat fryer, or using a cast iron pan with peanut oil, but for most set ups it just takes longer. A fried clam should not be like shoe leather, and it should not be limp (or raw), I like them when they are getting firm, but the necks are still not tough; so use a fork and test a neck if your uncertain.
1-lb Razor Clams
3-eggs mixed with 1/4 C. milk
2 C. flour
1/4 inch deep canola oil (Do not use Olive Oil, the smokepoint is too low)
tenderizer optional on necks
salt to taste
lemon slices
tartar sauce

Prepare Egg Wash: Mix eggs and milk. Prepare Clams: Dry clams to ensure the egg wash and floor adhere to them, then dunk into the wash and into floor to coat. Rest Clams: Once floored well lay clams on aluminum foil and let rest for fifteen minutes (coating will adhere to clam). Season: Season with salt while resting, and then other side while in pan cooking.
Prepare Your Pan: Add oil to pan, about 1/4 inch, heat to smoke pint, to keep oil hot don’t add to many clams at once. Cook Clams: Cook about 1 plus minutes on each side, make sure clams are not limp (to raw), or to stiff (to tough). Serve: Add lemon wedges and/or tartar sauce and enjoy!

My tartar sauce is simple.  Finely diced onion and pickles, mixed with mayo and a tiny bit of pickle juice.  Let it rest as long as you can in the fridge before using.  Sometimes I get fancy.  I’ll add in a little dill, lemon juice, celery salt, and or finely chopped capers.  With clams though, I’m generally happy with just lemon.  Mmm, love clams!

Beef & Barley Dinner

Beef & Barley Dinner

Beef & Barley Dinner

 

1 lb. Ground Meat

1 T. dried minced Onion

16oz. can French cut Green Beans, with liquid

8oz. can Tomato Sauce

1 C. Water

½ C. Pearl Barley

 

In large skillet, cook ground meat, breaking up large pieces, until cooked through and browned. Drain excess fat. Add all remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer until barley has softened and swelled – 10-15 minutes. Feel free to add herbs, spices, and / or hot sauce to taste.

Spinach Malfatti With Sage Brown Butter Sauce

Spinach Malfatti With Sage Brown Butter Sauce

In Italian, malfatti translates to “bad made.” Unlike gnocchi, their dumpling cousin, malfatti are more “roughly” made: hand-rolled, then crudely cut without much thought to uniformity or perfection. But that’s precisely what makes them so lovely – their provincial form and handmade taste. Because they’re made mostly with ricotta and contain very little flour, the result are light and airy pillows, a feat not so easily achieved in gnocchi making. In fact, if you’ve ever made gnocchi you’ll find that more times than not they turn out more dense than you’d like, and you have to concentrate fiercely on the task at hand, making sure to not overwork the dough. Malfatti, on the other hand, are easy to make and hard to ruin.

1 ½ C. Ricotta cheese
2 C. packed fresh spinach
1 C. Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs or panko
2 eggs, beaten
¼ C. Parmesan cheese
¼ C. minced green onions
1 T. basil, finely chopped
¼ tsp. nutmeg
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
½ tsp. salt
Flour
4 T. butter
Approximately 10 sage leaves

In a medium covered saucepan, steam spinach in 2 T. water until done, approximately 1 minute. Drain spinach and squeeze out extra liquid until very dry. Combine spinach with all ingredients, except flour and sage. Refrigerate 1 hour. Bring a large pot half full of salted water to a simmer. Drop spinach cheese mixture by T. into flour and roll each lightly into long logs. Cut into 1 ½- inch dumplings. Drop dumplings into the gently simmering water. When they rise to the top, remove with a slotted spoon, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. In a saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Once butter begins to brown, add sage and cook until leaves are crisp (approximately 1 to 2 minutes.. Spoon brown butter over malfatti and top with the crisp sage leaves. If preferred, top with more Parmesan cheese.

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

Ree Drummond's Sloppy Joes As Seen On Food Network's The Pioneer Woman

4 tsp. olive oil
2 onions, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1/2 carrot, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 pound lean ground beef
1 C. canned diced tomatoes
2 T. tomato paste
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. red-wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. hot red pepper sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Rolls

In a medium nonstick saucepan, heat the oil. Sauté the onions, celery, carrot and bell pepper until the onions are translucent, 10-12 minutes. Stir in the oregano and thyme, then add the beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the tomatoes, tomato paste and 2 T. water, add to the beef mixture and Cook 1 minute. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, pepper sauce, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Serve on the rolls.

Braised Winter Greens, Ham, Shallots, and Cream

Braised Winter Greens, Ham, Shallots, and Cream

Braised Winter Greens, Ham, Shallots, and Cream

 

3 T. butter

4 large shallots

1 bunch Swiss chard

1 bunch cavolo nero (Italian black chard or tuscan kale)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 oz. sliced ham,

1 C. heavy cream

 

Melt butter in a large deep skillet over medium-low heat. Add shallots and chopped chard stems and cook, stirring often until soft, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add ham to skillet and cook for 2 minutes. Add chard leaves and ½ C. water. Stir to mix well, then cover and cook until leaves are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove cover, add cream, stirring to mix well, and cook until cream has thickened slightly.

Rimrocker Cheese-Potato Croquettes with Chive crème fraîche

Rimrocker Cheese-Potato Croquettes with Chive crème fraîche

Chef Damon Jones dreamed up this play on a loaded baked potato after tasting a sample of Rimrocker cheese from Tumalo Farms. At the chef s Ashland restaurant, he serves the croquettes on a bed of microgreens. If you can’t find Rimrocker cheese, you can substitute a semihard cheese such as cheddar from a local dairy instead. Make this recipe the day after a holiday dinner when leftover mashed potatoes are in plentiful supply.

½ C. crème fraîche
2 T. finely chopped chives

2 tsp. unsalted butter
1/2 C. finely chopped leeks
1 1/2 C. mashed potatoes, cooled
4 oz. semihard cheese, such as Tumalo Farm’s Rimrocker cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 C.)
1/2 C. plus 2 T. plain dried breadcrumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 egg
Extra-virgin olive oil

Make the chive crème fraîche: Whisk the crème fraîche and chives together in a small bowl until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Make the croquettes: Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat and cook the leeks, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool slightly. Mix the leeks, mashed potatoes, cheese, and 2 T. the breadcrumbs together in a medium bowl with a rubber spatula until well combined. Salt and pepper to taste. Portion the potato mixture into 8 small croquettes using your hands. Lightly beat the egg in a shallow dish. Spread the remaining ½ C. bread crumbs in a separate shallow’ dish. Place the dishes next to each other and dip the potato cakes in the egg, turning once to coat both sides, and then the breadcrumbs, turning once to coat both sides. Line a plate with paper towels. Coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil and warm over medium heat. Add the croquettes to the skillet and, working with 4 cakes at a time, cook them over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the cakes to the paper towel-lined plate to drain; cover the plate with foil to keep warm while you cook the remaining cakes. Divide the croquettes among four plates. Serve piping hot with a dollop of chive crème fraîche.

Pepper-Pear Chutney

Pepper-Pear Chutney

5 Bartlett pears, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 C.)
2 red bell peppers, seeded and finely chopped (about 1 1/2 C.)
1 lemon, seeded and finely diced
2 1/4 C. packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 C. dried currants
1 C. apple cider vinegar
1/4 C. finely diced fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 heaping tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Makes about 6 C.. Combine the pears, bell peppers, lemon, sugar, currants, vinegar, ginger, garlic, salt, and cayenne in a large saucepan. Simmer uncovered over low heat, stirring frequently, until the chutney has thickened and the pears have softened but still hold their shape, about 1 hour. Transfer the chutney to an airtight container and let cool to room temperature. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, the chutney will keep for 1 month.

Friendly Fiber Muffins

Friendly Fiber Muffins

Friendly Fiber Muffins1 C. whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 3/4 C. Kashi Good Friends cereal
3/4 C. skim milk, rice or soy milk
1/4 C. honey
2 egg whites
1/4 C. unsweetened applesauce
1 medium ripe banana, mashed
non-stick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine Kashi Good Friends cereal and milk and let stand for 2-3 minutes. Add the egg whites and beat well. Stir in honey, applesauce and banana. Add flour mixture and mix only until dry ingredients are moistened (over-mixing will produce rubbery muffins). Fill sprayed muffin tins. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Basic Fat-Burning Soup

Basic Fat-Burning Soup

Basic Fat-Burning Soup

 

6 large green onions or large red onion

1-2 cans of tomatoes

1 large head of cabbage

2 green peppers

1 bunch celery

Rosemary & tarragon for flavoring

Shitake mushrooms for flavoring

1 hot pepper

2 or 3 cloves of chopped garlic

1 4-inch piece of kombu seaweed

Vegetable bouillon

 

Cut vegetables in small to medium pieces, sauté in olive oil & cover with water. Boil fast for 10 (ten) minutes. Cut to simmer & continue cooking until vegetables are tender. Spices such as rosemary, sage, thyme, tarragon or oregano can be added as desired toward the ending of cooking. Season with salt, pepper, parsley, bouillon or hot sauce, if desired. However, with the bouillon added, it probably requires little or no salt.

Avocado and Gouda BLT Corn Fritter Stacks with Chipotle Bourbon Dressing

Avocado and Gouda BLT Corn Fritter Stacks with Chipotle Bourbon Dressing

1/4 C. bourbon (may skip if desired)
1/2 C. olive oil
2 T. apple cider vinegar
2 T. honey
1 chipotle pepper, minced
1 clove garlic, minced or grated
salt + pepper, to taste

1 1/4 C. sweet yellow corn, about 2 ears
3/4 C. flour
1/8 C. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 T. brown suger
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 C. milk
1/4 C. canola oil (for cooking)

8 slices of bacon
2 T. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cayenne
7 oz. smoked gouda or gouda cheese, sliced
1 C. grape tomatoes, halved
3 C. arugula
1 avocado, mashed

To make the chipotle bourbon dressing. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring bourbon to a boil. Cook until liquid is reduced to about 2 T., 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until well chilled. Once chilled add the olive oil, vinegar, honey, chipotle pepper and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Arrange bacon strips about 1 1/2 inches apart. In a small bowl stir together brown sugar and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over bacon. Bake 14 to 16 minutes until bacon is browned and crisp. Transfer to paper towel; cool. Halve slices. While the bacon cooks make the corn fritters. Add the flour, brown sugar, sugar, baking powder, salt, pepper and 3/4 C. the corn to a food processor. Pulse until blended together, then transfer mixture to a mixing bowl. Stir in remaining corn and milk, mixing until a batter forms. It should be the consistency of a thick pancake batter.

Add oil to a large skillet saucepan and heat over medium high heat. When the oil is hot add a little less than 1/4 C. batter to the skillet and then quickly smooth the batter out to a circle. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, flip and place one slice of gouda cheese right on top of the fritters (leave 4 fritters with no cheese). Cook another 2 minutes or until brown and crisped all over. Remove and repeat with the remaining batter until all the batter has been used. Keep the fritters warm.

To assemble, place four fritters with cheese on 4 plates. Spread with mashed avocado, arugula, tomatoes and a few slices of bacon. Top with another cheesy corn fitter and repeat the layering. Finally add the non-cheesy fritter (should be the 3rd fritter, 3rd layer) and top with a few arugula leaves, tomatoes and bacon. Drizzle with the chipotle bourbon dressing.

The stacks are really pretty, but if you want these to be an easy eat then just leave the fritters unstacked. If you do this though, I would make a little extra bacon and add another avocado. Unstacked fritters leave more room for toppings!

Preparing & Cooking Dry Beans

Preparing & Cooking Dry Beans

Preparing & Cooking Dry BeansFollow these 3 easy steps for cooking dry beans:

1. Sort: Before soaking beans, pick them over and remove any damaged beans, small stones or dirt.

2. Soak: Most beans will rehydrate to triple their dry size, so be sure to start with a large enough pot. Choose one of the following ways to soak your beans:

Hot Soak: Hot soaking helps reduce intestinal gas. For each pound of dry beans, add 10 C. hot water; heat to boiling and let boil 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and set aside for up to 4 hours.

Quick Soak: For each pound of dry beans, add 10 C. hot water; heat to boiling and let boil 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and set aside for at least one hour.

Overnight Soak: For each pound (2 C.) dry beans, add 10 C. cold water and let soak overnight, or at least 8 hours.

3. Cook: Drain soaking water and rinse beans. Cover beans with fresh water. Simmer for 11/2 -2 hours until tender.

Simple Cooking Tips

• To avoid broken or mushy beans, boil gently and stir very little.

• Taste-test beans often for desired tenderness.

• Foods containing acid such as tomatoes, chili sauce, lemon juice, vinegar or catsup will slow the cooking and softening of the beans. Add these items last so they will not add to the cooking time.
• Any of the following can be added during the last half hour of cooking: minced onion, garlic or green pepper, diced carrots or celery, chopped tomatoes or cooked meat.

Quick Tip: While you are preparing dinner tonight, prepare a pot of beans for tomorrow’s dinner. Use the Overnight Soak Method. In the morning the beans will be ready for your favorite recipe.

TV Snack Mix

TV Snack Mix

TV Snack Mix

 

1 ½ C. Kix Cereal

1 C. Wheat Chex

1 C. Oyster Crackers

½ C. Roasted Whole Peanuts or coarsely chopped Peanuts

1/3 C. unsalted Butter

3 T. Worcestershire sauce

l tsp. ground coriander

l tsp. powdered mustard

l tsp. sweet Hungarian paprika

l tsp. kosher salt or flaky or coarse sea salt

 

Preheat the oven to 3OO°F. Combine the Kix, Wheat Chex, oyster crackers, and peanuts in a large bowl. Melt the butter in a small saucepan, then stir in the Worcestershire sauce, ground coriander, powdered mustard, paprika, and salt. Drizzle the seasoned butter over the cereal mixture and toss well to evenly mix.   Scatter the mixture in a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until aromatic and toasty, 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside to 200I, then transfer to a serving bowl, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Rustic Tuscan-Style Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup

Rustic Tuscan-Style Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup

2 T. olive oil
1 lb. Italian sweet sausage, casing removed
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 large carrots, finely diced
1 large potato, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
2 (15 oz.)cans white cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
2 bunches kale, stems removed and roughly chopped
52 oz. good quality low-sodium chicken stock
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
1 loaf baguette bread
Gruyere and Asiago Cheese, shredded

In a large pot, heat 2 T. olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and brown, stirring occasionally to break into smaller pieces, approximately 10 minutes. Add onion, carrots, potato, and bay leaves. Season generously with kosher salt and cook until vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally, approximately 10 minutes. Add garlic and beans, and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add kale, and cook until it becomes slightly wilted. Add chicken stock, season with salt and pepper, and cover with lid. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and keep at a simmer for about 45 minutes, although a bit longer is completely fine. The soup will thicken as the potatoes begin to release their starch into the soup. *the soup tastes best the second day. If time allows, cool soup completely, and refrigerate it for the following day. Reheat before serving. When about ready to serve, slice baguette. Drizzle each slice with a little olive oil and season with kosher salt. Bake at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes, until toasted. Top with grated gruyere and asiago cheese and broil for about 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted. It can go from melted to burnt pretty fast, so don’t leave broiler unattended. Divide soup among bowls and top with a few slices of cheesy baguette.

Chiles Jalapenos en Escabeche (pickled Jalapeno Chiles)

Chiles Jalapenos en Escabeche (pickled Jalapeno Chiles)

¼ C. Canola Oil
½ lb. Carrots, peeled and sliced on the bias
1 lb. Jalapeno Chiles (do not remove seeds), sliced into strips
1 White Onion, quartered and sliced
30 cloves Garlic
6 Whole Allspice
10 Black Peppercorns
4 whole Cloves
3 sprigs Thyme
3 springs Marjoram
2 C. White Distilled Vinegar
1 C. Water
Salt, to taste

Heat the oil in a large non-reactive pot or Dutch oven. Add the carrots and sauté for 8 minutes or until soft. Add the sliced chiles and sauté for 3 minutes. Add the onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cook the escabeche on low heat for 10 minutes. Season with salt. Remove from the heat and cool. Place the escabeche in a sterilized glass container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate. Marinate the escabeche for at least 24 hours prior to serving. These will last up to 4 weeks in the refrigerator.

Sunshine Smoothie

Sunshine Smoothie

Sunshine Smoothie

 

½ C. Orange Juice

½ C. Pineapple Juice

½ C. Sliced Mango

½ Banana

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

 

Blend with Ice.

Farfalle with Sausage, Cannellini Beans, and Kale

Farfalle with Sausage, Cannellini Beans, and Kale

8 oz. uncooked farfalle (bow tie pasta)
1/4 C. oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 1/2 C. chopped onion
8 oz. hot turkey Italian sausage
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 (14-oz.) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (16-oz.) package fresh kale
1 (15-oz.) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 oz. shaved fresh Parmesan cheese (about 1/4 C.)

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain, reserving 1 C. cooking liquid; keep warm. Drain tomatoes in a small sieve over a bowl, reserving 2 tsp. oil; slice tomatoes. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced tomatoes, reserved 2 tsp. tomato oil, onion, and sausage to pan; cook 10 minutes or until sausage is browned, stirring to crumble. Add garlic to pan; cook 1 minute. Add seasoning, pepper, and broth to pan. Stir in kale; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until kale is tender. Stir in pasta, reserved 1 C. cooking liquid, and beans.

Gorditas de Frijol Estilo Veracruz (Veracruz Style Inflated Bean Gorditas)

Gorditas de Frijol Estilo Veracruz (Veracruz Style Inflated Bean Gorditas)

1 C. cooked Black Beans
1 lb. White Masa (for tortillas)
2 T. Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
Salt, to taste
½ C. Lard
¾ C. Salsa
½ C. Crema Mexicana
½ C. Queso Fresco, grated

Place the beans in a food processor and process to form a thick purée. In a large bowl, mix the masa, puréed cooked beans, flour, baking powder, and season with salt to taste. The masa should feel firm, but not dry (almost like play-doh). Cover with plastic wrap and let the masa rest for 20 minutes. Form ½ inch balls, covering them while you work. In a deep skillet, heat the lard or oil over medium-high heat. Form the tortillas in a tortilla press covered with 2 rounds of plastic wrap. Place the ball in the middle and press, turn 180°, and press lightly again. Transfer each tortilla to the prepared skillet, and deep fry until they inflate, remove and drain. Serve immediately with the salsa of your choice, crema mexicana and grated queso fresco.

Homemade Chicken Rice-a-Roni

Homemade Chicken Rice-a-Roni

Homemade Chicken Rice-a-Roni

 

4 C. of uncooked long grain rice

1 tsp of salt

2 tsp of dried parsley flakes

4 T. of instant chicken bouillon

2 tsp of dried tarragon

1/4 tsp of white pepper

1 tsp. Turmeric

 

At home, mix all of the above ingredients. Separate into three 1-pint containers until needed. At camp, mix 1 1/3 C. rice mix with 2 C. of cold water. Add 1 T. butter and cook rice/water mixture in medium saucepan. Bring water to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and cook for 15-25 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.

Arroz con Pollo

Arroz con Pollo

Arroz con poyo1 oz. Achiote oil
1½ lb. Chicken thighs
1 T. Adobo
½ C. Onions, diced
½ C. Red pepper, diced
1 T. Garlic, minced
½ C. Sofritto (see recipe)
2 oz. Spanish tomato sauce
4 T. Cilantro, chopped
½ C. Stuffed green olives, small
2 T. Capers
1 C. Sherry
4 C. Rice, medium grain
5 C. Chicken Stock
1 C. Peas
4 T. Olive oil

Season the chicken with the adobo and heat the oil. Brown the chicken in the oil; reserve. Add the onion, peppers, garlic and sofrito, and cook for a few minutes. The onion should be translucent. Add the tomato sauce, cilantro, olives, and capers; cook for a few more minutes. Add the rice; coat with ingredients, then deglaze with the wine and reduce. Add the chicken thighs back to the pan, then add prepared base; bring to a simmer. Cover tightly, and cook on low temperature for about 15 minutes until chicken and rice are cooked. Add peas and drizzle with olive oil.

Homemade Mexican Rice-a-Roni

Homemade Mexican Rice-a-Roni

Homemade Mexican Rice-a-Roni

 

4 C. of long grain rice

4 tsp of salt

1 tsp of dried basil

1/2 C. of dried tomato flakes

1/2 C. of green pepper flakes

5 tsp of parsley flakes

1 T. butter

 

Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix well. Put three portions of 1 1/2 C. each into three 1-pint containers. At camp, combine 1 1/2 C. of mix, 2 C. water and 1 T. butter in medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil on high heat and then cover and reduce heat. Cook for 15-25 minutes, until liquid is absorbed.

Brown Rice & Shrimp

Brown Rice & Shrimp

Brown Rice & Shrimp

 

2 C. of brown rice

1 can shrimp, 6 1/2 oz. size

1 C. of freeze dried green beans

1 T. of onion flakes

1/2 tsp of salt

1/8 tsp of oregano

1/8 tsp of thyme

1 T. of oil

5 C. of water

 

To boiling water and oil, add rice, spices and onion. Simmer for 30-45 minutes. During the last three to four minutes, add shrimp and string beans.