Desert Anyone?

As the winter months have been mild, it nevertheless has catapulted me into the kitchen as cooler weather always does. My husband has been on a "behavior modification" but this does not deter me from preparing sumptuous foods and deserts. I have a couple to share and a few more which I am still in the process of testing. Enjoy!

SCARLETT O'HARA's BROWN SUGAR POUND CAKE

 

3 Cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

1 pound brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

5 eggs, at room temperature

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup dark rum (plus 2 T more)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans

Sweetened whipped cream 

Sliced berries (add 2 T rum and let them sit for 30 minutes)

 

Preheat over to 325 degrees F.  

Grease and flour a 12 cup Bundt pan.  

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; and set aside.  In mixer bowl cream butter until light.  Gradually add sugars and continue beating until very light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs one  at a time, beat well after adding each additional egg.  Combine milk, rum and vanilla.  Add to batter alternately with dry ingredients.  Fold in nuts last.  

Pour into prepared pan.  Bake 1 hour 45 minutes, or until toothpick  inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pan on wire rack 30 minutes; remove from pan and cool.  

Wrap and store at room temperature 24 hours before serving.  Before serving combine 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2 T rum and stir till smooth. Drizzle over the cake. Serve with sweetened whipped cream and sliced berries.  

Makes 20 servings, ~ 400 calories each without sweetened cream.

Fast and Dirty Lava Brownies

1 Box your favorite brownie mix

3 eggs, room temp

3 egg yolks, room temp

3 Tablespoons coffee or coffee liqueur

1 stick butter

1 cup chopped chocolate, good quality (you may substitute Toll House)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put butter in microwave bowl and nuke for 1 minute in your microwave. Stir mixture well and melted and creamy. Set aside.  

Using an electric mixer add eggs and egg yolks to a medium bowl. Beat for 6 minutes. Add brownie mix to the eggs and mix, add coffee and stir in the chocolate mixture. Grease 12 muffin cups and add mixture 3/4 full. Bake for 12 minutes.

Brownies should be soft, warm and gooey in the middle. Serve with ice cream and more chocolate.

Soup fundraiser

What have I been doing lately???
 
In January I've been working on pulling together recipes for my next cookbook, that being based on delectable cupcakes. I have a friend helping me with photos and have had my writing groups (NM and TX) review sections as well as my editing muse feeding me ideas. The book undoubtedly needs to be a COLOR cookbook. The photo shoot will be sometime in the next few months as this month I am finishing up the cook-booklet for the Assistance League of Birmingham.

Last month was a whirlwind of testing multiple recipes for a soup fundraiser in Alabama. Below are a few southern basic recipes along with AL's rendition of Chili. In testing these recipes I have determined the palate of the southern people in the US is much different than the palate of the Southwestern people. In AL Pork is a favorite, beef is not as much a favorite and Turkey is found in stores but not really used in many restaurants or cafes.

Peppers, hot or not. That could be considered a bad word in the southern states. Where as in NM and Texas it was not uncommon to use plenty of peppers and1 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper and 8 or 9 chopped Medium Hatch chilies to spice up the chili - in Alabama I can barely  use 1/4 teaspoon for a batch of Chili and only MILD chopped green Chile.  What a difference it makes here in AL, they also like Chile a little sweeter and their cornbread has no sweetness to it (the other bread served in the south is biscuits). I myself prefer a sweet cornbread as is served in Texas and in NM.

The first two recipes come from a friend who came by these recipes through family members in AL, the last one is a hearty health conscious heavily laden veggie chili recipe adapted by yours truly.

Corn Chowder

Saute 1 cup chopped onions and chopped celery in 2 T. butter.

Add:  1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream style corn

2 ½ cups whole milk

1 cup diced cooked ham

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup cooked diced potatoes

1 T. parsley flakes or fresh parsley

Create your flavor base by sauteing onions and celery in butter with drizzle of olive oil. Cook for about 5 minutes, add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with Hot Cornbread.

Indian Hash (never heard of this before but it was tasty)

2 pounds of ground round

2 cans cream style corn

1 can regular kernel corn

1 lg. can crushed tomatoes

1 lg. bell pepper, chopped

½ cup chopped onion

½ cup chopped celery

Salt and pepper

Worcestershire Sauce to taste

Tabasco to taste

A pinch of Cayenne to taste

Brown meat, add pepper, onion, celery and cook until tender (about 5 minutes).  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes. 

Serve with Cornbread.

Hearty "Skinny" Calorie Conscious Chili

10 oz Turkey, ground

1 T olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 (28 oz) cans of diced or crushed tomatoes

1 (15 oz) cans of Black beans, rinsed

32 oz Turkey broth, low sodium

1 onion, diced

2 zucchini, diced

2 yellow squash, diced

4 ribs celery, diced

1 Green bell pepper, diced

1 Red bell pepper, diced

1 Yellow bell pepper, diced

2 Carrots, diced

1 Teas Coriander

1 8oz can Tomato Paste

3 Tablespoons Chili Powder

1 T Paprika

1 Teas Cumin

1/4 - 1 Teas Cayenne

2 Tablespoons Cornmeal or Masa Harina

Brown onion, celery and peppers in Olive oil in a large dutch oven or soup pot. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a fast boil and turn heat down to a simmer. Cook for 45 minutes adding the cornmeal the last 30 mins of cooking. Stir occasionally.

Serve in big bowls with a large side salad. This makes over 20 once cup servings or 10 generous servings. Great for football crowds.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION?

As the year of 2010 came to a close and 2012 came into focus. I thought about making a New Years resolution. Most people will make a resolution, keep for a small number of months, weeks, days, perhaps even just a few hours. In my mind it is just not worth it.

So, in honor of NO NEW YEARS resolution this year. I think it best to not worry or stress about breaking a New Year's Resolution.

Give up Chocolate? Nah, opt to get the best Chocolate you can buy!

Give up wine or spirits? Not a big drinker, so best to cook with the good stuff and indulge myself in good wine and spirits.

Not use the good china? Nah, life is to be enjoyed as well as your china and crystal. Use it and relish the fine china and crystal.

Go to church more? While I love to go to holiday services - going weekly is not my cup o tea.  Not cool to go to church and come out acting like the devil!

Diet? No, eating sensibly is the best option. Don't let food become power over you.

Fret about finances? Nope, live within your means. You can find so much that is free to do, swap with others, co-op and grow a garden to revel in growing items you can feast on!

Worry about what others are saying about you? Why, who cares what others think. Do what you love, and love what you do. Don't listen to the naysayers! Not worth it!

Go to the gym three times a week? Well, if you are paying for a membership go or lose it! That simple! You can choose to go to the gym or walk 30 minutes a day (10 minutes here and those minutes sure accumulate fast).

Put your budget on a diet? Cutting down on expenses. Look through your kitchen, your closet, your apt or home, your land, your attic, your craft stuff, your garage. If you have not used it in 1 year. TOSS IT! Look at what  you can get rid of, things you don't need (might be someone else who NEEDS it) and you can clear your place of excess and perhaps donate it (tax deductible) or sell it! Use the money you make or save to pay your bills.  You might have so much clutter it is self defeating, and you will most likly find things you forgot you had. So, go do that now!

You make your choice? Your thoughts are your own.. 

Be sensible but yet deny yourself nothing.

Yes my hair my grow grey, my waist may grow thick but I for one will be walking, enjoying life in the hear and now and trying not to let life's hiccups twirl me into a dark apathy and depression.

Dec 21, 2012 is coming this year. Will it be the end of world? I think not. Just more pronounced changes and introspection  leading to  a better life. So, do what you will but I for one will live in today, look forward to tomorrow and live my life in the present, honoring my life and those around me!

Happy New Year!

Christmas found me making Sugar Cookies and other Christmas cookies for the holidays.

Now it is time to prepare for New Years Festivities. Here's the recipe for Bizcochos which I grew up with during the Christmas and New Years holidays. So, I've received a supply of tamales from my dear older sister in San Antonio, TX along with spices which I cannot find in Alabama (the land of strict immigration laws which has in turn resulted in a scarcity of ethnic items).

Now, then next it is time to make Polvorones, Bunuelos and Bizcochitos. Mom made the most fabulous Bunuelos, crunchy sweet and huge, here is her recipe and also my grandmother's Polvorones (sand tarts that melt in your mouth).

Here are the recipes!

Bunuelos
 2 lbs self rising flour
3 eggs
3/4 can beer
1 pinch salt

Mix dough with a fork and cover with a wet cloth.  Put it in the fridge to chill for 3 -4 hours.
Take dough out of the fridge, roll into 38 balls, cover with damp cloth and roll each ball out .

Cook them one at a time in hot oil over medium heat. Place on paper towels to drain and then dredge in a bowl with 3 cups of sugar and lots of cinnamon. Store tightly covered.

Polvorones
2 1/2 c flour
1/2 lb butter or margarine
1/2 c confectioners sugar
1/2 t vanilla
Additional confectioners sugar

Sift flour, cream butter and 1/2 c sugar. Add flour and vanilla and mix well. Roll out on floured board and cut into circles or make 1" balls by hand and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake 15 minutes at 400 degrees!

Remove from sheet and roll in sugar.

Hope everyone enjoys a Happy New Year!

the Chrismas Holidays are upon us! Soup time!

Today marks the first day of December. I have a new toy, got an IPad, formally received my copyrights to my first two books, been writing and just received the proof for my third book and must start redlining it. Have yet to start my Christmas cards, just put up the Christmas tree, steamed my rugs in the house and have been trying quite a few recipes. Specifically cooking and testing soup recipes as I am co-chairing a benefit luncheon which consists of soups and stews. Being that we are very are very close to winter - best to serve hearty satisfying soups on a cold winter evening.

Here are the latest versions of soup recipes I have been dabbling with! Enjoy!

Goulash

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

2 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped
2 clove(s) garlic clove(s), minced (medium)
4 cup(s) fat-free beef broth, low sodium
1 pound(s) cooked lean beef steak
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Bay Leaf
1 Tbsp Tomato Paste
2 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp black pepper
3 medium cooked potato(es), red or white
2 medium uncooked baby carrots
1 cup(s) fresh tomato(es)
1 tsp dried marjoram

Instructions

Brown onions in oill, add garlicc the last two minutes. till soft (about 5 mins). Add broth, beef, paprika, herbs and pepper and bring to a boil, reduce heat. Simmer covered for 45 mins. Increase heat, stir in potatoes and carrots. Bring to slight boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until vgetables are done. Add tomato and cook till heated through.

Serve hot.

Green Chile Stew

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

8 Whole Green Chilies, peeled, coarsely chopped
1 pound(s) ground turkey
28 oz canned tomatoes, chopped
3 medium onions, chopped
1 link(s) Chorizo veggie protein sausages, browned (or lean pork or beef chorizo)
3 clove(s) garlic clove(s), minced (medium)
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 cup(s) fat-free chicken broth
1 large uncooked zucchini, chopped

Instructions

Brown turkey and onion in oil in a large pot, add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. In another pan brown chorizo in Pam, discard juices when chorizo is browned. Add all the rest of ingredients to large pot . Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Serve hot with corn tortillas. Refrigerate leftovers.

Hearty Chicken Vegetable Soup

14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes

3 item(s) Herb-Ox Low-Sodium Instant Chicken Broth & Seasoning
2 medium uncooked carrot(s)
2 medium uncooked onion(s)
2 rib(s) uncooked celery, sliced (large)
1 medium uncooked zucchini
3/4 serving(s) uncooked macaroni
2 clove(s) garlic clove(s) (medium)
8 oz cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast(s), Or ground chicken
1/4 cup(s) parsley
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/3 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Bring tomatoes, bullion and 6 cups of water to a boil. Add onions, carrots, celery, zucchini, macaroni and garlic to pot. reduce and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in chciken parsley, pepper and salt. Reduce the heat and cook for 10 minute more. Serve hot.

Pasta e Fiagioli (with Turkey)

1 Tbsp canola oil

1 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped
1 medium uncooked carrot(s), chopped
2 clove(s) garlic clove(s), minced (medium)
1 tsp chili powder
14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes
4 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 oz uncooked pasta, small variety about 1/2 cup
15 1/2 oz canned great northern beans, rinsed and drained
3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
2 rib(s) uncooked celery, chopped (medium)
8 oz uncooked 99% fat-free ground turkey breast
3 slice(s) crisp cooked bacon, diced

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chili powder; cook 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened and the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.

Stir in the broth and pasta; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the pasta is tender and the soup thickens slightly, about 8 minutes. Add the beans and heat though. Remove from the heat, then sprinkle with the cheese and pepper. Yields generous 1 cup per serving.

Pintos with Chorizo

1 pound(s) dry pinto beans

2 slice(s) uncooked bacon
1 link(s) Chorizo sausages (your choice, veggie or beef or pork)
1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Soak beans in water and 1 tsp baking soda overnight.

In the morning rinse beans3 times, add water to cover, black pepper, bacon and heat in a crock pot on low all day. The last 2 hours add cooked chorizo and simmer until beans are done.

Salt to taste after beans are done.

Serve with Corn Bread.

Brining

Well, I think I have heard of every way to brine turkey.  This is a new way to brine your turkey which is popular in the deep south. Makes a deeply browned turkey which is very moist. 

Tea Brine

• 3 large Luzianne tea bags (you may substitute 1/2 cup lose tea)
• 1 gallon water
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper
• 1 clove garlic chopped
• 1 sprig thyme
• a lemon, sliced

Boil water, steep tea for 5 minutes.  Remove tea bags, add salt, sugar, pepper, garlic, lemon and thyme and stir till salt and sugar are dissolved.  Chill before applying to chicken.  Brine turkey for   24 -48 hours in a large zip lock back in the coldest part of your refrigerator.

Roast Turkey as you normally would. I have used corn bread dressing to which I added Chorizo for that extra kick, in the neck cavity stuff with a different typl of dressing.

If you want to try something different try the turkey stuffed with Tamales!

November is upon us

The autumn leaves are turning colors, each fall rain shower is causing trees to drop leaves to the ground. Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is upon us. I love to go for walks in this mild weather, so glad summer is over!  Today is the date to turn back the clocks (Spring Forward, Fall back) due to the changes in Daylight savings time everyone's internal clocks will be a little bit skewed this week.

I meant to post this peanut butter cookie recipe earlier. Just looked through my posts. Never have posted the super simple recipe. I took some of these cookies to a meeting today. Had people ask me about the recipe, thought I had loaded up on this blog but - I did not! So here it is!

Simple Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup of smooth peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 dash salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 heaping or 3 scant Tbsp All Purpose Flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl add all ingredients. Mix together and roll into 1 inch balls. Flatten tops (use a fork). Bake on parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for ~ 8 mins (turn once). Cool 1 minute before removing to a plate to cool further.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.