Mandarin Wraps/Asian Tortillas

Mandarin Wraps/Tortillas

Recipe comes from Hugh Carpenter. I took his “Rock the Wok” class and love this simple recipe.

Servings: 12 tortillas

Ingredients2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup boiling water
toasted sesame oil for rolling out.

Depending upon your filling
Optional
add 1 tsp cilatro and red pepper flakes

OR
add 1 tsp basil or oregano and
parmesan cheese

PreparationIn a large bowl, add the boiling water to the flour and begin stirring it in immediately. Knead the warm dough until you have a smooth dough. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Turn the rested dough out onto a floured surface. Cut the dough in half. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll each half out until it is 1/8-inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out 3-inch circles of dough.

Use a pastry brush to brush 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil over the top of 2 dough circles. Lay one pancake on top of each other, so that the oiled sides are together. (Don’t worry if one of the edges hangs over the other). Roll out the pancakes to form a 6-inch circle. Continue with the remainder of the pancakes. Use a damp towel to cover the prepared pancakes and keep them from drying out while making the remainder.

Heat a heavy frying pan over low heat. Add one of the pancake pairs and cook until browned on both sides (about 3 minutes altogether; the second side will cook more quickly than the first side). Remove the paired pancakes from the pan and pull them apart. Continue with the remainder of the pancakes. Serve immediately.

These pancakes can be made ahead and frozen. If using in Sweet Red Bean Paste Pancakes, bring back to room temperature before cooking with the red bean paste. Otherwise, reheat before serving.

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Make your own cake mix

This wonderful mix can be substituted for any purchased cake mix. Unlike other homemade cake mix recipes, this one has less fat, so it can be substituted for the purchased cake mix recipes, which often add oil or butter.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutesIngredients:

•7-1/2 cups sifted flour
•1 Tbsp. salt
•4-1/2 cups sugar
•4 Tbsp. double acting baking powder

Preparation:
In very large bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar and baking powder and mix well to blend.
Divide the cake mix into three equal portions and store in ziplock bags, or store in one large container and scoup out 4 cups when you need cake mix. To finish the cake see each of the flavors to add below. Yellow, White, Spice or Chocolate.

Cover tightly and store in the your pantry. Each 4 cup portion of cake mix will make two 8″ cakes or one 13×9″ cake.

Make your own Homemade Cake Mix, then make a white cake from that mix. It’s easy to make your own mix, less expensive, and good for you – you control the ingredients!

WHITE CAKE
Ingredients:
•4 cups Homemade Cake Mix
•2 tsp. vanilla
•1/2 cup butter, softened
•4 egg whites
•1 cup milk

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 8″ round cake pans OR one 13″ x 9″ cake pan with nonstick baking spray containing flour and set aside.

Pour one portion of the cake mix into a large bowl.
Cream sugar and butter together, then add eggs and beat well. Add flavoring and milk and then cake mix. Beat mixture 2-4 minutes at medium speed until batter is smooth.

Pour into prepared pans and bake the layer cakes at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until cake springs back when pressed lightly in center and begins to pull away from edges of pan. Bake the 9″ x 13″ cake for 25-35 minutes until the cake tests done.

YELLOW CAKE
Ingredients:
•4 cups Homemade Cake Mix
•2 tsp. vanilla
•1/2 cup butter, softened
•3 eggs
•1 cup milk

SPICE CAKE
Ingredients:
•4 cups Homemade Cake Mix
•1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
•1/8 teaspoon cloves
•1/8 teaspoon allspice
•2 tsp. vanilla
•1/2 cup butter, softened
•3 eggs
•1 cup milk

CHOCOLATE CAKE
Ingredients:
•4 cups Homemade Cake Mix
•3 tablespoons cocoa powder
•2 tsp. vanilla
•1/2 cup butter, softened
•3 eggs
•1 cup milk
•2 tablespoons milk
•3 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
Preparation:
Pour one portion of the cake mix into a large bowl and stir in the cocoa powder. Make a well in center of mix and add vanilla, butter, eggs, and 1 cup milk. Beat mixture 1 minute with electric mixer at low speed until blended. then stir in 2 tablespoons milk and the melted chocolate. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl and beat 2 minutes longer at medium speed until batter is smooth.

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Jack Stack Kansas City BBQ Beans

I found this online at Food Network courtesy of Fiorella’s Jack Stack Kansas City Barbeque Restaurant.

Perfection. Kansas City Beans

Ingredients
1 (32-ounce) can pork and beans
1 cup chopped brisket
1 cup BBQ sauce (recommended: Jack Stack Original)
4 heaping tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a 4-quart saucepan. Over medium heat, bring beans to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Cook beans for 20 minutes or until a thick, soupy consistency is reached. Serve.

This recipe also works well on a grill, letting the great outdoors permeate and enhance the flavor of the beans as they cook.

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Pie Crust

1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup cisco

You can also mix half butter and crisco, but I like crisco 100%.
Water about 3-6 Tablespoons
Great for Quiche and sweet pies!

Flaky, light and not too sweet. Perfect.

Lemon Meringue Pie. Good for you. Prevent Scurvey.
Posted in Dessert - Eat dessert first, Life is uncertain, Helen's Kitchen, Pies | Tagged | Leave a comment

Sausage Mushroom Quiche

Sausage Mushroom Quiche

by Sandra Nickerson on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 8:28pm
6 eggs
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 cup cream or half & half
1/4 cup of chives or leaks
1/4 cup of cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan or swiss cheese (whatever you have)
1/4 cup browned sausage or crumbled bacon
4 large mushrooms sliced
2 tomatoes sliced

Make your crust and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
Then add your sausage and mushrooms and cheese and chives
Beat the eggs with the cream and baking powder and cottage cheese
Pour over your other ingredients into the pie pan.
Top with sliced tomated.
sprinkle top with nutmeg, salt & pepper.
Return to oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
You can vary this quiche with what ever vegetables or cheese you have on hand.

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Hollandaise Sauce – Made with a stick blender!

Hollandaise Sauce – Made with a stick blender!

by Sandra Nickerson on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 8:16pm
Start to finish: 5 minutes
Makes about 3/4 cup

Ingredients:
3 egg yolks
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (You can use as much as 1 T)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:
In a blender, combine the egg yolks, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon of
the lemon juice. Set aside.

Microwave butter and heat until until foaming. Careful, don’t burn it.
Do not walk away from the microwave.

I use a stick blender and a glass measuring cup.
Blend the egg yolk mixture at top speed for 2 seconds then, with the
blender running, remove the cover and pour in the hot butter in a thin
stream of droplets. By the time two-thirds of the butter has been
added, the sauce will be a thick cream. Continue pouring, but don’t
pour in the milky residue at the bottom of the pan. Taste and adjust
seasonings.

If not using the sauce immediately, set the blender carafe in tepid,
but not warm, water.

So easy, and so full proof. You can even make this if you are out on a boat!

Source: “Mastering the Art of French Cooking: The 40th Anniversary
Edition” by: Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck; Knopf,
2001

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Bistro Roast Turkey or Beef Sandwich

Bistro Roast Turkey or Beef Sandwich

by Sandra Nickerson on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 7:55pm
Freshly cut french bread or Croissant
Mayo
Deli Turkey or Beef slices
Top with Onion Mamalade
Bread & Butter Pickles on top/on the side

Excellent! If you keep the onion marmalade in your pantry, you are ready to go.

I love turkey sandwiches so much I have been known to go to the store, roast a turkey and slice it for sandwiches.  I know, it is a 3.5 hour wait, but when I look at the price of deli sliced turkey I always think.  Hmmm, I could roast a whole turkey for that price, so I usually do!

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French Toast – Ham, Cheddar & Orange Marmalade

Inspired from a snack of crackers, cheddar, and orange marmalade spread with cream cheese I found in a Perth Vending machine. These flavors were perfection.

You could bake this instead of frying, and top with a few toasted almonds. Good for brunch. Serve with fresh fruit or green goddess salad.

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients
8 slices French bread or Italian bread
1/4 cup orange marmalade
4 slices Canadian bacon
8 slices Sargento® Deli Style Sliced Medium Cheddar Cheese
3 eggs
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
Confectioners’ sugar, optional
Additional orange marmalade

PreparationDirections
Spread four slices of bread with marmalade. Top each with one slice bacon and two slices cheese. Top with remaining bread, pressing lightly. Combine eggs, orange juice and brown sugar in a shallow dish. Dip sandwiches into egg mixture; turn and let stand 30 seconds or until mixture soaks in. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Serve with additional marmalade.

Preparation Tips: Feel free to substitute your favorite breakfast meat for the Canadian bacon. Thinly sliced fully cooked ham and cooked bacon strips are both delicious options. After dipping each sandwich, be sure to saute the sandwiches on each side to assure that the egg batter is fully cooked. You may substitute 3/4 cup egg substitute for the three eggs if desired. SARGENTO Deli Style Sliced Cheeses come in a variety of flavors. American, Colby, Sharp Cheddar, Aged Swiss and more can be used to prepare delicious toasted cheese sandwiches. If you are cutting calories, try SARGENTO’S Light Deli Style Sliced Cheeses, including mozzarella, provolone and Swiss.

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Red Onion Marmalade

4-6 large Red Onions
2 T Olive Oil
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp thyme or sage
1 tsp salt
1 tsp course ground pepper
1/4 cup balsalmic vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar

Cut onions tops and bottoms off, slice from top to bottom into thin slices.
In 2 T olive oil, cook onion slices with cover on so they become soft and translucent, stir often.

With a fork, mix the dry mustard and thyme into the balsalmic vinegar and add to the onions. This keeps the seasonings mixed into the onions.

Continue cooking as the onions carmelize and the balsalmic thickens.
Taste, adjust flavors to your taste buds.

I love this served hot or cold on burgers, roast beef or turkey sandwiches, warm on a broiled steak, or served next to your scrambled eggs in the morning.

Enjoy!

Update: August 2nd, 2010
Dennis just made grilled cheese sandwiches and they were so good! Sharp Cheddar cheese and onion marmalade- great match on Sheepherders Bread. Remember when making to put cheddar on both sides of the bread and the onoin marmalade in the center.

Cheese platter is in our future.

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White Fluffy Meringue Frosting

by Sandra Nickerson on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 8:25pm

Original Recipe Yield 1 frosting for two layer 8 or 9 inch round cake

Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a saucepan, stir together the sugar, water and cream of tartar.
Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar is dissolved and the
mixture is bubbly.

In a medium mixing bowl, whip the egg whites and vanilla to soft
peaks. Gradually add the sugar mixture while whipping constantly until
stiff peaks form, about 7 to 10 minutes. Frost the cake of your
choice. I like this on cupcakes, Lemon Meringue Cupcakes.

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