Sunday, June 19, 2011

Cooking : Best White Icing Ever

Ingredients
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup shortening
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon clear imitation vanilla extract

Directions
In a large bowl, combine sugar, shortening, water and vanilla. Beat on low speed to combine, then beat on medium speed for a full five minutes. It won't look like Icing at first, but keep the mixer going for a full five minutes, and then you're done!
Note: If you're not using this for decorating, but just for icing the cake, thin the icing by adding 3 tbs. of corn syrup, or water to the icing.

Cooking : Banana Banana Bread

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Cooking : Basic Indian Curry with Paneer

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
2 serrano peppers, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon garam masala
3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 (14.25 ounce) can tomato puree
1 tablespoon ketchup
8 ounces paneer, cubed
1 (16 ounce) package frozen peas, thawed
whipping cream or half-and-half to taste

Directions
Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Saute onions until lightly browned. Stir in garlic and ginger, and continue cooking for 1 minute more. Turn heat to low, add serrano peppers, and cook for an additional minute. Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, coriander, garam masala, and turmeric; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Pour in tomato puree and ketchup; thin with water to desired consistency. Stir in the paneer and peas; cook to soften peas, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cream, and increase heat to medium-high. Allow the curry to come to a rolling boil, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

Cooking : Beer Simmered Beans

Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup light beer
2 jalapeno peppers, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
Combine pinto beans, kidney beans, beer, jalapenos, garlic, cumin, and salt in a large saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

Cooking : Anise Seed Cookies

Ingredients
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon anise oil
1 teaspoon anise seed

Directions
In a large bowl, whip eggs and sugar together for 15 minutes on the high speed of an electric mixer. Gradually stir in the flour, anise oil and anise seeds. Spoon out dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto well greased cookie sheets. Decorate at this time if desired. Let the cookies stand uncovered for at least 4 hours.
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Bake cookies for 12 to 15 minutes, until cookies begin to brown. remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.