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11/30/11

My current favorite cheese ever? Bellavitano Merlot!


Every year for Thanksgiving we have a cheese tray.  There are a few family favorites that we absolutely *must* have every year but then I like to mix it up a little by adding new and different cheeses we've never had before.

For about 3 years I've tried various merlot cheeses from all over the world, but never found any I loved enough to make a point to search that particular brand out again.  Until this year.

I have a clear winner... so much so that after I tasted it, I dug the wrapper out of the trash, carefully washed it out with soap and water and saved the label so I wouldn't forget to pick up more for our Christmas holiday!  What was this cheese I loved so much?  And was it from France?  England?  Italy?  No....  Wisconsin, USA!   It's Bellavitano Merlot Wisconsin cheese and it's incredible.

Here is the description they give and then I'll tell you my thoughts after;

Created by the master cheesemakers at Sartori using time-honored techniques and the highest quality milk, Bellavitano features a rich and creamy texture with a great, cravable taste reminiscent of an aged, premium Cheddar balanced by a full flavored Parmesan. Bellavitano offers a versatile flavor with excellent melting characteristics and a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. This Bellavitano is then soaked in merlot to give it extra tang and full merlot flavor.


In my own words;  It's a semi hard cheese with a hint of Parmesan, but only just.  It's a nice firm, but crumbly texture that starts to melt when it hits your tongue.  The Merlot the rind is soaked in has great flavor, not overbearing or too bitter.  It just has the slightest hint of berries but it's paired perfectly with the flavor of the cheese that neither fight for your attention. 

I'm loving this cheese right now and so very glad I can find it locally here in our new city and state!  But for those of you who can't, I've included the link above that takes you right to a place you can purchase it from on Amazon.   Enjoy!Print Friendly and PDF

11/26/11

Who Wants Turkey!? No One. So... Let's Make it Into Sandwiches! Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Ideas

Who wants some turkey?

The roasted turkey on Thanksgiving afternoon smelled and tasted delicious. Leftovers that evening and even yesterday were quite good! But today, the second day of reheated turkey, a dab of potatoes and a little gravy doesn't sound appetizing.

In our home, today is the day I freeze what is left over. Two weeks from now I'll make ours into a warm, comforting Turkey Pot Pie with a homemade crust that we just love on a chilly winter evening.

For those of you who don't want to put your leftover turkey in the freezer for a later date, here are some sandwich ideas to use it up.  Now, if you ask my Dad, he'll tell you the best sandwich is also the simplest.  Use a split dinner roll, butter both sides, add some sliced leftover turkey pieces, sprinkle with a bit of salt and squish it together before biting.

For those of you who want a little more to your leftover turkey sandwich, here are a few ideas.




Turkey BLT
It's a classic with a twist


2 slices bread
lettuce
thin sliced leftover turkey slices
tomatoes
bacon
mayonnaise

Microwave or fry a couple bacon slices.  Toast the bread and top each with a smear of mayo; add the lettuce, tomato and turkey. ** Also note that I like to add avocado slices to this and top one side of it with Chipotle Dressing. (Taco Bell makes a great store bought Ranchero or Chipotle Sauce.)



Grandma's Favorite Turkey and Gravy Sandwich (eaten with a fork)

My memory of this 'sandwich' is that when my mother, my grandmother and I would stop at a little cafe' restaurant in the small town where she used to live, she would order this from the menu.

Mashed potatoes
Gravy

Leftover turkey pieces, thin sliced
Bread (of your choice but a nice hearty style is best)


Place bread on a plate.  Top with hot mashed potatoes, turkey and gravy.  Serve!



Turkey Quesadillas
A favorite of my son and daughter as they are so quick and easy to make

2 flour tortillas
butter or oil
thin strips of leftover turkey
1/2  c shredded cheddar cheese
salsa and sour cream if you wish to top or dip it

Brush the outside of the flour tortillas with butter or oil. Place a tortilla, butter side down in a medium hot pan (or use a George Foreman Grill)  and top with cheese and turkey.  Place a second tortilla on top, butter side out.  When golden brown and the cheese is melting, flip it quickly and carefully. (Not necessary to flip if you are using the George Foreman Grill).Print Friendly and PDF

11/23/11

In America: The Day Before Thanksgiving... Preparation!

Cooking down the cranberries for use in the Cranberry Apple Pie


It's the day before Thanksgiving in America and many people are in the kitchen doing some of the prep work and/or baking to prepare for a day of blessings and thankfulness tomorrow;  shared with their friends and family.

This year is a very strange, odd and rather sad year for me in that it's just the three of us.  Our recent move to Alabama places us 1000 miles from not only extended family, but two of our own kids as well!   Even though we are paring the size of the turkey down to accommodate fewer eaters, the traditional foods and fare will be on our menu.  This year I'm mixing it up a little by changing the apple pie to 'cranberry apple' with a layer of delicious and brightly colored cranberries on the bottom and therefore incorporating this traditional side dish into a fabulous dessert.

Cheese Tray with various imported and smoked cheeses
Crackers

Roasted Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
Cheesy Corn
Rolls
Double Layer Pumpkin Pie
Cranberry Apple Pie

Wine and Sparkling Grape Juice

Making the pies

Simmering a delicious broth for use in the gravy
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11/21/11

Baked Mini Cake Donuts

Baked Mini Cake Donuts

This weekend my daughter and I were shopping for dishes for the new house when I got sidetracked in a kitcheny store and couldn't help myself;  I bought a few little trinkets including an adorable itty bitty mini donut pan

Last night in between caulking the master bath and sealing the grout I decided to bake mini donuts with the new pan and see what I thought.  When you purchase specialty pans they almost always come with a stock recipe printed on the packaging.  My pans for Madeleine's, Cream Horns and other little desserts and cookies all come with them but I've rarely (if ever?) found that they were good recipes.  Still, I believe in giving them a chance so last night I followed the recipe on the package with one exception; I added a 1/2 t of vanilla to the batter and when I found it was too thick to pour into the pan, I added an additional 1/2 cup of milk.

In the end I found this recipe from the package to be ok but not fabulous.  When my husband and daughter got home last night, my description to them, which I think is fitting is;  If the 'cuteness' factor is more important than taste, then this is a fine recipe to use.  For small children, parties where there are a lot of other foods and venues where presentation is more important than someone eating just one and savoring it, this would work fine and is simple.  But if I am serving just these mini donuts and I want the 'wow' factor to be the flavor and texture of the donut, I would probably use a traditional fried cake donut instead of baked.

Baked Mini Cake Donuts

1 1/4 c cake flour
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 1/4 t baking powder
1/8 t nutmeg
3/4 t salt
scant 1 c buttermilk (use more or less depending on the thickness of your batter)
1/2 t vanilla extract
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 1/2 T butter, melted

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Spray your pan very lightly with nonstick spray.  In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients;  flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt.  Add the buttermilk, vanilla, egg and melted butter.  Stir just until combined.  For ease of filling the molds, you can place the batter into a ziploc baggy and snip the end or just spoon the batter into the cups about 1/2 full.  Bake 4-6 minutes until the tops spring back when touched.  Let cool in pan for 3-4 minutes and then remove to cool complete.  Frost as you wish with a simple glaze and sprinkles.  (Glaze can be made with 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 T milk and 1/4 t vanilla or almond extract).



Placing the batter in a ziploc for ease of filling the cups

Out of the oven.  These don't 'brown' but stay white


Decorate as you wish!




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11/16/11

Delicious Coffee Cake in a Loaf Pan (Like Entenmann's )

A chilly Autumn morning, fresh coffee and... coffee cake. 

This is a recipe I found years ago for a coffee cake but I made it into a loaf bread which was similar to the flavor and texture of Entenmann's.  I love to serve this bread to family and friends because not only is it awesome, but if I don't?  I'll eat the whole loaf myself within two days!








Coffee Cake
Like Entenmann's

3 3/4 c flour
1 3/4 c sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt


Mix in a large mixing bowl and then remove 2 cups of the dry mix to reserve for later.

To the rest of the flour in the mixing bowl add;

1 stick butter (not margarine)
2 eggs
2/3 milk


The batter will be thick, spoon and spread this into a greased and floured pan (I use a little of the reserved flour topping mix to flour the pan). 

To the reserved flour mixture add;

1 stick butter
1/4 c brown sugar
2 t cinnamon
dash of salt

Mix this together with your finger tips until it forms pea sized crumbles. Cover the entire coffee cake with this topping. If you chose to use a cake pan you'll use all the topping, a loaf pan like I do, you will only use half the topping. Freeze the rest in a baggy to use on muffins at a later date!

Bake at 350 degrees at least 60 minutes until a sharp knife inserted into the center comes out clean.. In my oven it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.Print Friendly and PDF

11/13/11

Make Ahead Gravy for Thanksgiving or Christmas

Perfect Gravy... made ahead to save time and stress

Although we relocated 1000 miles away from 'home' last week, we signed the paperwork to purchase the new home and I've spent hours cleaning, scrubbing, unpacking and repairing....  we are not yet actually living in the house.  It's still a rather nomadic lifestyle as the new home is still sans beds, mattresses, dishes, washer, dryer or even a refrigerator.  I drive to the house each morning and spend the day there but we are still returning to the apartment to sleep each night.

Because our lives have been in such turmoil over the past couple weeks, the fact that Thanksgiving is literally just around the corner has not been first and foremost in my mind.  And Christmas?  Gah.  I didn't give a hint of a thought to that until my oldest daughter texted me to ask what I was getting her sister so we didn't double up.  Christmas?  Gifts?  I've not even thought about it much less bought anything!

Now that I've been made aware that Thanksgiving is almost upon us, it's time for me to try to gear up for our traditional Thanksgiving dinner in between unpacking a kazillion moving boxes, accepting delivery of our refrigerator and other appliances and trying to learn a brand new oven and microwave (this oven has convection capabilities, which I've never used before).   One baby step that will not only help me, but help my readers is my all-time favorite and perfect gravy recipe.  One I've used for twenty years and will probably use for twenty more as it's not only that delicious, but it's easy, makes perfect gravy each time and can be made a week ahead of Thanksgiving or Christmas and then reheated the day of - without lumps, gelling or odd textures!

My Make Ahead Gravy

6 c chicken broth (don't worry, store bought or even water with chicken bouillon is fine)

2 lg. onions, chopped
1 c sliced fresh carrots
1 c water or dry white wine
1/2 c celery leaves and stems

6 T butter with
3/4 c flour

Mix the first 5 ingredients (broth and vegetables) in a soup pan and simmer on low 1 1/2 hours. Strain through a wire strainer and disgard vegetables. Add water if needed to make it 6 cups total.

Mash the 6 tablespoons butter with the flour until it's a paste and break into 4 chunks.

Simmering vegetables for broth
Bring the 6 c broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low and gradually whisk in flour chunks one at a time, whisking each until thick and smooth. Boil 3 minutes.  Remove from heat.  If you will be using it within 2 days; cover surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed. If you won't be using it for a few days more, be sure it's in an airtight container in the coldest part of the fridge. Greatest of all?  You can also freeze it at this stage until needed and slowly reheat to thaw before continuing.

When you make your gravy;  Reheat your gravy base that you've already made and after your turkey is done, add the pan drippings - at least 3/4 of a cup of pan drippings  (up to but not more than 2 cups) heat until hot and serve!Print Friendly and PDF

11/8/11

It's THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! Time for my annual Mini Thanksgiving Dinner Cupcakes!



I've just arrived for another day of unpacking and cleaning at the new house.  But first I wanted to brew a fresh pot of coffee, sit down and enjoy the kitchen for a moment before I drag out yet another moving box and fill my counters with packing papers and 'mystery' items as the movers seem to have taken great joy in packing random items together; for example I have 2 boxes in front of me right now that read "Clothes and Xmas Items".  Really?  Those don't even go together.  And to top it off they are in a box marked "Garage".

Spare time is not something I have right now as we are chest high in moving boxes.  But it's time I re-post an annual favorite anyway!  Our families traditional Mini Thanksgiving Dinner Cupcakes! 


Thanks to my website, I've shared this 'recipe' many times and I'm happy to report that I now have many, many bloggers and friends and readers that make these (or similar using the products they can find in their own grocery stores) every year for their families. What a great tradition! Are you ready to start???

Needed:
24 baked and cooled cupcakes
Brach's Maple Nut Candies
2 cans white frosting (or homemade)
Yellow gel food color (in a little tube)
Tiny round non-perils - red for cranberries and green for peas
I prefer to use the long skinny green sprinkles and call them green beans
chocolate chips or butterscotch chips to melt for 'gravy'
A package of cookies of your choice to look like a plate (a pretty edge on the cookie is a nice touch)
Yellow frosting or other color besides white for the 'plate'


Bake and cool your favorite cupcake recipe. Frost each cupcake with white or tinted frosting of your choice and top each with a cookie while the frosting is soft to 'adhere' the cookie-plate to the cupcake.

Carefully frost a circle on each cookie to be your plate.  Be sure not to frost more than 2 or 3 'plates' at  a time as you want the frosting to be soft enough to press the candy 'food' into.  Slice the maple nut candies thin and place them on the cookie plate to be 'turkey'. Dab some white frosting next to it for 'mashed potatoes' followed with a little dab of yellow gel food color as 'butter'.  Add the 'cranberries' (red colored sugar or non-perils) and little green 'peas' or 'beans'. Melt your butterscotch or chocolate chips and thin with a little vegetable oil. Drizzle over the 'turkey' as gravy.

These are always a huge hit no matter where I've taken them;  family functions, school parties or the work office.  Enjoy!Print Friendly and PDF

11/6/11

In Honor of My New Home: Southern Fried Chicken




The 320 moving boxes waiting for my attention make it official.  I'm a southerner!  And lucky for me I love good ol' southern home cooking.  As a matter of fact, on my solo trip here with the last of our things from 'up north' I stayed the night in a small town in Tennessee and the only thing I wanted for dinner?  Fried Chicken! And I got it.  And when the waiter asked me if I cared for any dessert that evening?  I said, "No, but I think I'll have another piece of fried chicken!"  (Yes, I really did!)

This is my post for Fried Chicken that I first shared with you in 2008.  It's "MOVING WEEK" for me and I'm snowed under with boxes, utility installation, packing paper and a counter full of 'stuff' that has no home in our new house.  My time is short, but in honor of my relocation to the South I give you;  Fried Chicken!



Fried Chicken

1 whole chicken, cut for frying (8 pieces or so)
1 1/2 c self rising flour
1/2 t salt
1 t black pepper
*optional:  cayenne, sage, accent, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
oil for frying


Soak the chicken pieces in salt water for 15 minutes.  Drain.  Mix the seasonings with the flour - you really only need salt, pepper and flour, but can add a few other spices too.  Just don't get too heavy handed with them.  1/4 teaspoon is a good starting point for adding extra's and increasing from there.

Coat the chicken and let it set for about 15-30 minutes if you have time.  This helps the coating stay on through frying.  Heat about 1 1/2 cups oil or shortening in a pan over medium high.  It's important the oil is not too hot!  This is one of the mistakes I made through the first few years of our marriage.  Every time I tried to make fried chicken it would be golden brown on the outside and un-cooked on the inside.  The trick is to  have the oil be hot enough to sizzle a bit when the chicken is lowered into the pan, but not enough for the oil to splatter and jump all over the place.  If it's too hot remove the pan from the heat, let it cool down a bit and then add your chicken.  Cook half the time, turn, cook the other half.  Turning again if necessary.

The chicken will take about 20-30 minutes to cook completely.  It should be golden brown and done all the way through.  Drain for a few minutes and serve.



Here is my spices - 1 1/2 c self rising flour, 1 1/2 t pepper, 1 t Accent,
1/2 t salt, 1/4 t garlic powder, 1/4 t onion powder, a dash of sage and a dash of paprika





Ready to go into the oven~ Southern Biscuits!
I reserved about 1/4 cup of the unused seasoned flour to mix
into my biscuits.  I love them flavored this way with gravy!
PS: This is not my 'regular' biscuit recipe - you'll find the one I usually
make in the 'breads' links to the right - along with photos.  This was just a quick and simple
recipe using self rising flour, shortening and buttermilk.


The chicken floured and setting for a bit.




The camera's flash made it look a little orange colored
but here it is frying in the pan...  yum!
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