Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Cooking : Boiled Custard I

Ingredients
2 cups milk
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Fill the lower pan of a double boiler 1/3 full of water, and bring to a low boil. Pour milk into upper pot, and place over boiling water. Heat until small bubbles form around the edges of the milk. Stir in sugar, and continue stirring until it dissolves.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs until light yellow. Remove about 1/2 cup hot milk, and gradually stir it into the eggs. Slowly mix the egg mixture into the milk in the pan.
Mix together cornstarch and water; slowly stir into custard. Bring custard to a boil, and remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Serve warm or chilled.

Cooking : Beer Cheese Soup III

Ingredients
4 cubes chicken bouillon
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
4 cups water
1 1/2 cups cubed potatoes
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup chopped onion
1 (20 ounce) package frozen cauliflower and broccoli
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 pound processed cheese food (eg. Velveeta), cubed

Directions
In a large pot over medium high heat, dissolve the bouillon in the beer and water. Add the potatoes, celery, carrots and onion, mix well and allow to cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
Stir in the cauliflower and broccoli mix, and heat for 10 more minutes. Finally, add the condensed chicken soup and the cheese. Reduce heat to low and allow the cheese to melt, stirring often.

Cooking : Anniversary Cake

Ingredients
2 2/3 cups sifted cake flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
5 egg whites
1 3/4 cups white sugar
2/3 cup shortening
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line the bottom of two 9 inch round pans, two 9 inch square pans, or one 10 x 16 inch pan.
Combine sifted flour, baking powder, and salt; sift together three times.
Beat egg whites until foamy. Add 1/2 cup of the sugar gradually, and continue beating only until meringue will hold up in soft peaks.
Cream shortening. Add remaining 1-1/4 cups sugar gradually, and cream together until light and fluffy. Add flour alternately with milk, a small amount at a time; beat after each addition until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Add meringue, and beat thoroughly into batter. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan or pans.
Bake cake in 9 inch round pans or 10 x 16 inch pan for about 30 minutes. The baking time for the square pans is 25 minutes. Cool. Spread Lemon Orange Filling between layers, and Snowy Boiled Icing over top and sides of cake. Decorate plate with small flowers.

Cooking : Bobra's Banana Bread

Ingredients
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 ripe bananas
1/4 cup plain yogurt

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan. In a bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, kosher salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Mash together the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until creamy; beat in the egg and vanilla extract with an electric beater. In a third bowl, mash the bananas with the yogurt until smooth. Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture in several additions, alternating with the banana mixture until the batter is smooth. Pour into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the banana bread comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then finish cooling on a cooling rack.

Cooking : Brat 'N' Tot Bake

Ingredients
16 ounces uncooked bratwurst, casings removed
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 (32 ounce) package tater tots
2 cups sour cream
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Crumble bratwurst into a large skillet; add onion. Cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the soup. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Top with Tater Tots and sour cream. Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Cooking : Blueberry Salad

Ingredients
2 (3 ounce) packages raspberry flavored gelatin mix
2 cups hot water
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (21 ounce) can blueberry pie filling
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Combine hot water and gelatin; stir until dissolved. Stir in pineapple and blueberry pie filling. Pour into a 9x13 inch dish and chill in refrigerator until firm.
Cream together cream cheese and sugar. Beat in sour cream and vanilla. Spread over firm gelatin. Chill until serving.

Cooking : Black Bean Tortilla Casserole

Ingredients
2 large onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups chopped green pepper
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
3/4 cup picante sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
8 (6 inch) corn tortillas
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Mexican-blend cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives

Directions
In a large saucepan, combine the onions, peppers, tomatoes, picante sauce, garlic and cumin. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir in the beans. Spread a third of the mixture in a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Layer with four tortillas and 2/3 cup cheese. Repeat layers; top with remaining beans.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with toppings.

Cooking : Broccoli Ham Turnovers

Ingredients
2 cups broccoli florets
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup cubed fully cooked ham
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
1 pastry for double-crust pie
1 tablespoon whipping cream

Directions
Place broccoli in a steamer basket over 1 in. of boiling water in a saucepan. Cover and steam for 5-8 minutes or until crisp-tender. Rinse in cold water; drain well. In a bowl, combine the broccoli, cheese, ham, onions, parsley, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
On a floured surface, roll out the pastry; cut each in half. Place 1-1/2 cups of the filling on one side of each half; flatten filling with a spoon. Combine the egg and cream; brush some over pastry edges. Fold pastry over filling. Seal edges and prick tops with a fork. Place on a baking sheet; brush with remaining egg mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Cooking : Bell Pepper and Lemon Salmon

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lemon, juiced
1 pinch kosher salt
2 (8 ounce) salmon fillets
2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips

Directions
In a shallow dish, mix the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Pierce the salmon fillets on both sides with a fork, and place in the dish. Coat with the olive oil mixture, and marinate at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place each salmon fillet on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Fold the foil around the fillets to form packets. Pour the marinade mixture over the fillets, and top with capers and red bell pepper strips. Tightly seal packets, and place in a baking dish.
Cook salmon 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until easily flaked with a fork.

Cooking : Barbecued Beans

Ingredients
1 pound dry navy beans
1 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 (32 fluid ounce) bottle tomato juice
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups chopped onion
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon ground mustard

Directions
Place beans in a 3-qt. saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; let stand for 1 hour. Drain beans and discard liquid. In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine remaining ingredients; mix well. Add the beans. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours. Reduce heat to low and cook 8-10 hours longer or until beans are tender.

Cooking : Broccoli-Onion Deluxe

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package frozen pearl onions
1 pound fresh broccoli, cut into spears
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pinch pepper
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup soft bread crumbs

Directions
In a covered saucepan, cook onions in a small amount of water for 5 minutes. Add broccoli; cook 5 more minutes. Drain. Place in a 2-qt. baking dish. In a small saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter; stir in flour, salt and pepper. Gradually add milk; cook and stir until thickened. Add cream cheese; stir until melted. Pour sauce over vegetables; sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Melt remaining butter; combine with crumbs. Sprinkle over casserole. Return to the oven, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

Cooking : Bryan's Sweet and Hot Tomato Pasta Sauce

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon crumbled dried red chile pepper
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
3/4 cup brown sugar, divided

Directions
In a saucepan, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and red peppers and lightly saute over high heat.
Reduce heat to low and mix in tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir in celery salt, salt and pepper. Start with 1/2 cup of the brown sugar and mix into the sauce. Gradually add brown sugar, depending on acidity of tomatoes. First taste of sauce should be sweet.

Cooking : Budget Jungle Juice for a Crowd

Ingredients
2 gallons orange-flavored drink
2 (46 fluid ounce) cans fruit punch
4 quarts pink lemonade
4 quarts pineapple and orange juice blend
4 (750 milliliter) bottles vodka
2 (750 milliliter) bottles white rum

Directions
Stir together orange drink, fruit punch, lemonade, pineapple-orange juice blend, vodka, and rum in a large container.

Cooking : Apricot-Orange Gelatin Salad

Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can apricot halves, drained with juice reserved
2 (8 ounce) cans crushed pineapple, drained with juice reserved
2 (6 ounce) packages orange flavored gelatin mix
2 cups hot water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup white sugar
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup shredded Colby longhorn cheese

Directions
Drain and reserve syrup from apricots and pineapple. Add water to equal 2 1/2 cups.
In a mixing bowl, dissolve the gelatin in hot water. Stir in 1 1/2 cups reserved fruit syrup, set aside to cool.
To the gelatin mixture, add the apricots, pineapple, nuts and marshmallows. Stir to combine, pour into a lightly oiled 9x13 inch pan and chill until firm.
In a small sauce pan, combine the sugar, flour, egg, remaining fruit syrup and butter. Heat and stir constantly until thickened. Refrigerate until chilled.
Whip cream until stiff peaks form; fold into chilled custard mixture. Spread over gelatin, refrigerate, and sprinkle with cheese before serving.

Cooking : A Farewell to Basil Fettuccine

Ingredients
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons water
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions
Using a food processor, process basil leaves until chopped very fine. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour and pulse two or three times, or until combined. Add egg, 1 teaspoon oil, and the water until dough forms a ball shape. If dough seems dry, add a bit more water. Wrap dough in a piece of plastic wrap which has been coated in a few drops of olive oil. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours.
Remove dough from refrigerator, and cut into 6 equal size portions. Run pasta though pasta machine, or roll with rolling pin to desired thickness. Use the additional flour to coat pasta while rolling.
Allow pasta to dry for one hour prior to cooking.
Cook in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. This should take only a 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pasta.

Cooking : Breaded Parmesan Chicken

Ingredients
1/2 cup finely crushed herb-seasoned stuffing mix
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 tablespoon Italian-style seasoning
3 tablespoons butter
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a small shallow dish combine the stuffing mix, cheese, parsley, curry powder and seasoning. Mix together.
In an 8x11 inch baking dish, melt the butter/margarine in the microwave. Dip the chicken breasts in the stuffing mixture, coating both sides of each breast.
Place chicken in baking dish and sprinkle any leftover stuffing mixture over the chicken. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then turn chicken pieces over and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Enjoy!

Cooking : Angie's Perfect Dinner Rolls

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups warm milk
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons salt
7 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions
Pour milk into a large mixing bowl, and sprinkle yeast over the surface. Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Beat in the sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup butter, and salt; blend thoroughly. Gradually stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Cover bowl, and set in a warm place until dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
Punch down the dough, cover the bowl, and allow to rise again. Repeat this step two more times.
Break off 2 to 3 inch size pieces of dough, roll lightly into round shape, and place in prepared baking dish, edges touching. Repeat to make 36 dough balls. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Bake rolls in preheated oven until tops turn golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. When rolls are finished baking, drizzle melted butter over the top, and serve warm.

Cooking : Buttermilk Chocolate Cake with Fudge Icing

Ingredients
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk and baking soda. Set aside in a warm place.
In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups sugar, eggs, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, oil and 2 teaspoons vanilla until blended. Stir in the boiling water, then gradually beat in the flour. Stir in the buttermilk mixture.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
To make the Fudge Icing: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, milk, butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Using an electric mixer, beat icing for 3 minutes, or until it thickens to spreading consistency. Pour over completely cooled cake.

Cooking : Acapulco Chicken

Ingredients
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon chili powder, divided
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
1 large tomato, cut into chunks
10 drops hot pepper sauce

Directions
Season chicken with 1/2 tablespoon chili powder, salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and saute seasoned chicken for 3 to 4 minutes, or until no longer pink. Remove from skillet with a slotted spoon and keep warm.
In same skillet, stir fry bell pepper and onion until soft. Add jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, remaining 1/2 tablespoon chili powder and hot pepper sauce. Cook, stirring, for an additional 3 to 5 minutes; add chicken and stir fry for 2 minutes more.

Cooking : Bacon Chestnuts

Ingredients
1 pound thick cut bacon
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts

Directions
Slice bacon in half; wrap one piece bacon around one chestnut. Skewer with toothpick to hold in place.
Broil in toaster or conventional oven, turning frequently, until the bacon is evenly cooked. Serve warm.

Cooking : Amanda's Big Beef Sauce

Ingredients
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons French dressing
4 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon minced white onion
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions
In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, French dressing, sweet pickle relish, white onion, white sugar and salt. Cover and refrigerate 6 hours, or overnight, stirring occasionally, before serving.

Cooking : Bacon-Wrapped Scallops with Cream Sauce

Ingredients
10 bacon strips
10 large sea scallops
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions
Place bacon in an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 7-10 minutes or until partially cooked and lightly browned. Drain on paper towels. Wrap each strip of bacon around a scallop; secure with toothpicks. In a saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Reduce heat; about 8 minutes. Stir in the mustard, syrup and salt. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, place the scallops on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F for 8-12 minutes or until firm and opaque. Serve with the cream sauce.

Cooking : Ameilia's Italian Stuffed Olives

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 stalk celery, minced
1/2 medium onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 thick cut bone-in pork chops
1 whole skinless, bone-in chicken breast
1 (10.75 ounce) can tomato puree
1 (12 ounce) can tomato paste
1 cup water
3 (8 ounce) jars colossal green olives, with pits
3 eggs, divided and beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 lemon, zested
flour for dredging
bread crumbs
vegetable oil for deep frying

Directions
Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir celery, onion, and garlic in hot oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add pork and chicken and cook for 7 to 10 minutes. Combine tomato puree and tomato paste with 1 cup water, and add to meat mixture. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours, or until pork and chicken are falling off the bone. Remove meat from the pot to cool, and set sauce aside.
Meanwhile, remove olive pits using a special olive pitting tool. Make a slit in one side of each olive large enough to insert stuffing.
Once cooled, remove pork and chicken meat from the bones, and mince. Mix together with 2 beaten eggs, Parmesan cheese, ground nutmeg, lemon zest, and 1/4 cup of reserved sauce. Use more or less sauce as needed so that meat mixture is moist, but not too wet.
Fill each olive with enough stuffing so that a small amount is pushing out of the slit. Dip each stuffed olive in flour, then beaten egg, then bread crumbs. Stuffed olives may be frozen in an air-tight container at this point until ready to use.
Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Fry olives in hot oil for about 3 minutes, or until golden brown on the outside. Serve warm.

Cooking : Barengate Bay Chicken

Ingredients
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of broccoli soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can milk
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
6 fresh button mushrooms
2 lemons, quartered and seeded

Directions
In a small saucepan heat soup with milk over low heat; when heated through, set aside. Meanwhile, roll chicken in bread crumbs, pressing hard to make sure chicken is well coated.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place coated chicken in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish and drizzle with oil, then sprinkle with chopped garlic. Stir chicken broth into soup mixture, and pour mixture all over chicken. Sprinkle with mushrooms, then squeeze lemon over all.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.

Cooking : Apple Cabbage Slaw

Ingredients
6 cups shredded cabbage
3 medium red apples, chopped
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons grated onion
1 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper

Directions
In a large bowl, toss the cabbage and apples. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour over cabbage mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

Cooking : Basic Sugar Cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
2 cups Basic Cookie Mix
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Melt butter over low heat and add to 2 cups Basic Cookie Mix.
Lightly beat the egg and add to mixture. Stir in vanilla and mix well.
With lightly floured hands shape into 1 inch balls and arrange about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes until golden.
Cool a couple of minutes before removing from cookie sheet to racks to complete cooling.