Vanilla Custard Ice Cream

Dear Readers,

It is a Christmas tradition in my family to make custard ice cream. It is always a delight to cook together and then enjoy the fruits of our labor. There are so many wonderful memories we have of making ice cream with milk fresh from the bulk tank. Grandpa and Grandma would be proud!

Custard Ice Cream

4 cups scalded milk (skim, 2%, or whole)
1 Vanilla bean
After milk is scalded, cool for a few minutes. (you should be able to put your finger in the milk and not burn it)
Remove bean.

3/4 cup sugar
8 egg yolks
1/2 tsp salt


Mix together carefully as not to 'burn' the eggs and sugar

Temper together the scalded milk and egg yolk sugar mix.

Once mixed together, heat slowly until it coats a spoon, then chill for 30-40 minutes.

While custard is chilling: Mix together the following and beat with an electric mixer until several stages before stiff peak stage.
1 Tblsp. Vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups cream
2 cups Half & Half

Combine custard and cream together and freeze in ice cream maker.

Crunchy Breaded Pork Chops

Dear Readers,

For something extra special this Christmas, I decided to treat my family to some tender and crispy breaded pork chops. They were great!

Here is the recipe:

Crunchy Breaded Pork Chops

4-8 boneless pork chops
8-16 oz.  spiced bread crumbs
minced shallot to taste
2 Tbls. EVOO
Pepper to taste
Salt to taste
4 Tbls. Graded Parmesan cheeses
1 cup all purpose flour
6 egg whites
3-5 Tbls. Mustard
Three pie plates
one jelly roll pan
rack to raise up pork chops off of pan (during baking)

Set the three pie plates in a row. put the flour in the first, egg whites, mustard,oil, salt, pepper, shallots in the second and in the third place the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese.

Dredge pork chop in flour then shake excess off
Dredge in egg white mix then finally coat with bread crumbs.

Bake at 425 until center of chops reaches 150 degrees. (20-40 minutes depending on chop size)

Enjoy!

Bon Appetit!

Planning Christmas Dinner

Dear Readers,

The most beautiful and meaningful holiday is upon us. So, the question comes up "How do  I plan my Christmas diner?" Well I have a few suggestions when deciding on the perfect appetizer, desert and meal.

1. How many people are attending and are you familiar with their tastes

2. Are you preparing the meal alone, or will you have help

3. How much time do you have to prepare the meal

If you know the tastes of your guests, tailor the meal to their favorite things. If there are any traditional dishes that your family always serves, be sure to include them. If you have new guests (new significant others) be sure to ask if they have any family traditions and try to honor those. The dinner should be fun, special and tasty. If you have extra time the day before, be sure to do all of the prep work that you can to free up time for you to visit with your family.

Here is my Christmas menu:

pinwheels (ham, onion, sour cream, cream cheese, spices)
nuts
cheese, sausage and crackers
cheese spread

Ham
Mashed potatoes with cream cheese, sour cream, parsley and butter
Stuffing
Steamed green beans with butter, pepper and sea salt
yeast rolls
Mom's beans

double vanilla ice cream
cherry crisp
fudge

Bon Appetit!

Turkey Stuffing

Dear Readers,

The holiday season is here and it is a beautiful time of year. The snow has already fallen and the cold weather is so crisp and bright. All of that seasonal wonder has made me hungry for stuffing. Not the run-of-the-mill stuffing, but the kind that is so flavorful you only need a bite!

Dinde Farcir

3 pounds ground sausage-browned
4 large onions finely chopped and sauteed
1 bunch celery finely chopped-sauteed
5 pounds mashed potatoes
sage to taste
salt and pepper to taste
3 packages (14oz) herb seasoned stuffing
boiling water as needed
rosemary, thyme, parsley

mix together ingredients and add water until just soft. Cover and bake at 350 for around 35-40 minutes. Enjoy with a large crowd!

Bon Appetit!

Baked Chicken and Spanish RIce

Dear Readers,

On a rainy fall day there is nothing better than the smell of chicken baking in the oven. I wanted to bake them whole and watch as the skin browned just to the perfect shade of delectable brown. But, what to pair the chicken with.....Spanish rice.

Recipes:

Baked Chicken

Place two chickens in a roaster and lightly cover with olive oil. Sprinkle garlic salt and pepper on top of the chicken and bake at 350 for around 2 hours.

Spanish Rice


1 Large Chopped Onion, Saute in olive oil with sea salt, marjoram, and pepper
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 can chili beans
1 can refried beans
2 cups rice, cooked to perfection, sprinkled with marjoram

Mix together


Bon Appetit!

Pork Stew

Dear Readers,

What beautiful fall weather we have been having! The chill in the air at night and in the morning remind me that it is time again for some stew. This stew is a plain, but satisfying mix of vegetables that will delight even the most discerning of taste buds.

Recipe: Pork Stew

1 large onion, chopped
3-4 celery stalks- chopped
3 tbls. minced shallots
4 carrots- chopped
3 cups chopped mushrooms
1 1/2 pound pork roast
2 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 8oz can tomato paste
1 can black beans
salt and pepper to taste


Cook on high in crock pot for 4 hours. Enjoy with homemade bread!

Bon Appetit!

Cassoulet

Dear Readers,

During the chilly mornings when the frost is just sparkling in the sun, I am reminded that it is soup weather. So, I made Cassoulet!

Recipe:

1 pound ground turkey-browned
1 pound chicken sausages-cooked and sliced
4 chopped tomatoes
4-6 stalks celery chopped
3-4 Carrots-diced
1 onion-diced
2 Tbls. chopped garlic
2 Tbls. Caribbean spice
salt and pepper to taste

Cook in crock pot on high for 4-5 hours and serve with bread and hot cider.

Apple Pie~

Dear Readers,

When the leaves change color don't you get hungry for apple pie? I do. I love the smell of the apples and cinnamon.....YUM!

Recipe

Grandma's Apple Pie

Crust:

2 sticks butter
2 cups flour
pinch of salt
1/4 cup water

cut butter into flour and salt, add water and form a ball, divide into two equal sections. Roll out crust.

Fill pie with apples sliced and peeled add 1 cup+ sugar and 1-3 Tblsp cinnamon. Top with sugar and don't forget to vent the top of the pie!

Bake at 350 for about an hour.

Bon Appetit!

Fall Apple Picking

Dear Readers,

What a wonderful time of year! Fall, where the leaves turn brilliant colors and a crispness is in the air. It reminds me that it is time to go apple picking. Today will be a day filled with friends and laughter as we go out to the orchard. What to make with the apples? Pie? Cake? The possibilities are really endless.

The Weekend and Spaghetti!

Dear Readers,

It is fall! This season brings cooler weather, changing leaves and studying recipes. I love the Julia Child's cookbooks.  If you have a chance to pick up thee books, please do. They are detailed and sophisticated.

Chicken Sausage in Mushroom Burgundy Sauce

Dear Readers,

This weekend was filled with the joy of watching the leaves change and cooking. I wanted to create something new, and yet simple. It was delectable and beautiful!

Chicken Sausage in Mushroom Burgundy Sauce Served on Creamed Rice

5 browned chicken sausage, cut diagonally
deglaze the sausage pan with EVOO and saute:
One large Onion
2-4 Tbsp Chopped Garlic
Celery seeds
Sea Salt
Black Pepper

When saute is almost complete top with 1/2 cup Burgundy wine and reduce

I served this with rice creamed with sour cream and tarragon topped with fresh steamed peas and chopped green onions.

All I have to say is WOW! What a great way to eat your veggies!

Bon Appetit!!

Coq al Vin a la Pasta

Dear Readers,

French cooking sounds challenging, but it can be quite simple and rewarding. I created a variation of Coq alVin and it was terrific!

Here are some photos....

Browning the Coq

a la Pasta

The Golf Party

Dear Readers,

A bunch of friends had a golf outing last week. I had the privilege of preparing the desserts. What a treat. For foods we had roast beef panini's, baked beans and shrimp salad; for desserts we had brownies, double chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter blossoms, cereal cookies, danish puff pastry, peanut butter bars and butterscotch oatmeal cookies.

Cake Balls

September brings a number of birthdays and I wanted to treat the celebrators to a delectable treat.....Cake Balls.

1 box chocolate cake baked
1 16oz container cream cheese frosting
1 package almond bark
sprinkles

This treat was so fun to make. First, bake cake per directions and let cool. Crumble cake and add all of the frosting. Mix well. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Use melon baller and roll cake and frosting mix into 1 inch balls. Freeze for at least 1 hour. Melt almond bark and dip frozen cake balls into bark and place on wax paper and chill. Keep refrigerated. YUM!

Baking Cookies

Dear Readers,

The chill of fall is in the air and that brings memories of childhood baking in the kitchen with Mom. So, I have baked a few cookies: Oatmeal Butterscotch, Double Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Blossoms and Cereal Cookies.  Cereal Cookies!

I really could not resist cooking Spanish rice with chicken.  I was so hungry for chicken. Here are some highlights.....

This dish was fantastic!

16oz steamed peas
16oz steamed corn
4-6 oz tomato paste
1 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
chili powder
garlic salt
pepper
1/2 large onion caramelized
2 Tbs. chopped garlic
4-6 boiled chicken breasts

Bon Appetit!

Anniversary!

Dear Readers,

It's that time of year again when we eat out at an Italian restaurant. This time it was Tutto Pasta. Here are some highlights.

Banana Bread

Dear Readers,

Happy Saturday! It is cool here in the north and that means it is time for baking and chili. Let's start with the baking. I know a few taste testers that like banana bread; so much so, that it is their favorite dessert type bread. So here is my adapted recipe from Taste of Home.

7 Cups Flour
6 Cups Sugar
4 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp. Salt
8 Eggs
8 Ripe Bananas
2 Cups Oil
1 1/4 Cups Milk
4 tsp. Vanilla

Mix wet ingredients together in a mixer. Mix until combined. Add all dry ingredients as mixer is on. Mix well.  Makes 4 loaves. Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 70 minutes.

Bon Appetit!

I also went cookbook shopping today. I purchased a Mediterranean cookbook filled with pictures and recipes galore. I also picked up a couple of hometown cookbooks. The potluck recipe type. The cooking and baking section at at bookstore is so wonderful. I would take them all home and read all day if I could. Oh, to own a bed and breakfast and to cook for people. Dreams, Dreams.....

Dear Readers,

It is Friday and I am so excited! This weekend will be filled with fun and a visit to a great restaurant. We are going to visit Tutto Pasta! Who can go wrong with Italian food. Which brings us to the next question....what to cook and bake this weekend? May be old fashioned Banana Bread.

This morning my taste testers will be enjoying last nights artistic endeavor. I hope to see smiles on their faces.

The Baked Appel

Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

Dear Readers,

It is that time again to bake. I have bananas, chocolate and Rolos. Wow! What artistic creation can I make with that? I consulted with some taste testers, and the consensus was Double Chocolate Banana Muffins. I found a recipe (courtesy of Taste of Home)

The Recipe:

• -1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1-1/3 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1 cup (6 ounces) miniature semisweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, combine bananas, oil and egg; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Yield: about 1 dozen.




 

Could I really follow the recipe? Well, in a word, no. I added some vanilla and I added extra cocoa. What could go wrong with that?

But, the endeavor was not yet complete. I needed a filling. Rolos: a delectable mix of caramel and chocolate. I then mixed 1/3-1/2 of an 8 ounce package of cream cheese with as many Rolos as I could stand to unwrap. With a spot of EVOO, I heated at low heat and whisked my way to caramel chocolate heaven! It looked a little bit unmixed, but it will bake together.

Twelve minutes into baking, a minor setback! Well, you can't win them all. I overfilled the muffin tin again. This is not the first time, and probably will not be the last. I need a giant muffin tin. This may help with the problem.

The Result: Fantastic!!

Bon Appetit!

Fellow Foodies,

It's time again to decide what to bake. I have a stack of bananas waiting for me to create art with them. I guess that the toughest part is finding the recipe.... May be chocolate banana cupcakes with some type of filling. I dream of baking. Last night it was banana bread and cake. I never dream of eating it though. Just the joy of baking!

Baked Appel

Dear Readers,

I love to cook and bake! There I said it. I admit it. This new blog is a creative outlet and a place to display my kitchen creations. My family loves to take bits and bites of delicacies, and I have a great number of other 'taste testers'. Thanks to you all for indulging me and participating in my hobby.

Bon Appetit!

Baked Appel