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Category Archives: Recipes

Lemon Blueberry Pancakes

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Breakfast, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon cake flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 heaping tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk (more if needed)
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced (more juice if lemon isn’t very juicy)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more softened for serving
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • Maple or pancake syrup, warmed, for serving

Directions

Heat a heavy skillet or grill over medium-low heat.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix the evaporated milk, lemon zest and juice. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then add the egg and vanilla. Mix to combine.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently to combine. Stir in the melted butter. Splash in more evaporated milk if the mixture is overly thick. Stir in the blueberries.

Melt a little of the softened butter in the heated skillet. Drop the batter by 1/4 or 1/3 cup measures and fry the pancakes on both sides for a couple of minutes until golden.

Serve with more softened butter and warm syrup.

Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Breakfast, Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

Chicken Fried Steak:

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 pounds cube steak (tenderized round steak that’s been extra tenderized)
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Gravy:

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 to 4 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Mashed potatoes, for serving

Directions

For the steak: Begin with setting up an assembly line of dishes. Mix the milk with the eggs in one; the flour mixed with the seasoned salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, paprika and cayenne in another; and the meat in a third. Then have one clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.

Work with one piece of meat at a time. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Turn to coat. Place the meat into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat. Finally, place it back in the flour and turn to coat (dry mixture/wet mixture/dry mixture). Place the breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it’s sufficiently hot. When the butter sizzles immediately, you know it’s ready. (It should not brown right away, if it does, the fire is too hot.) Cook the meat, 3 pieces at a time, until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and keep them warm by covering lightly with another plate or a sheet of foil. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.

After all the meat is fried, pour off the grease into a heatproof bowl. Without cleaning the skillet, return it to the stove over medium-low heat. Add 1/4 cup of the grease back to the skillet and allow it to heat up.

For the gravy: When the grease is hot, sprinkle the flour evenly over the grease. Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, creating a golden-brown paste. Add more flour if it looks overly greasy; add a little more grease if it becomes too pasty/clumpy. Keep cooking until the roux reaches a deep golden brown color.

Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Add the seasoned salt and black pepper to taste and cook, whisking, until the gravy is smooth and thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Be prepared to add more milk if it becomes overly thick. Be sure to taste to make sure gravy is sufficiently seasoned.

Serve the meat next to a big side of mashed potatoes. Pour gravy over the whole shebang!

Macaroni and Cheese

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups dried macaroni
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 heaping teaspoons dry mustard (more if desired)
  • 1 pound sharp Cheddar, grated, plus more for baking
  • Salt
  • Seasoned salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional spices: cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook the macaroni until still slightly firm. Drain and set aside.

In a small bowl, beat the egg. In a large pot, melt the butter and sprinkle in the flour. Whisk together over medium-low heat. Cook for a couple of minutes, whisking constantly. Don’t let it burn. Pour in the milk, add the mustard and whisk until smooth. Cook until very thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.

Take 1/4 cup of the sauce and slowly pour it into the beaten egg, whisking constantly to avoid cooking the eggs. Whisk together until smooth. Pour the egg into the sauce, whisking constantly. Stir until smooth. Add in the cheese and stir to melt. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt and the pepper. Add any additional spices if desired. Taste the sauce and add more salt and seasoned salt as needed! DO NOT UNDERSALT.

Pour in the drained, cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Serve immediately (while it’s still very creamy) or pour into a buttered baking dish, top with extra cheese and bake until bubbly and golden on top, 20 to 25 minutes.

Sliders

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce (less if you prefer)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 whole dinner (or slider) rolls, split

Directions

Preheat the grill to medium heat.

Mix the ground beef, heavy cream, Worcestershire and the salt and some pepper in a bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients. Form 1/4 cup of the meat mixture into patties, making 16 patties total. Make an indentation with your thumb to keep the patties from plumping too much when they cook.

Grill the sliders until just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and pile on a platter.

Toast the halved buns on the grill. Place the sliders between the buns and serve immediately.

Macaroni and Cheese and Sliders Bar:

  • 1 pound thick-cut peppered bacon
  • 3 yellow onions, halved and sliced
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 8 ounces gorgonzola
  • Cooked sliders and/or macaroni and cheese, for serving
Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until slightly crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove from the pan and cut into bite-size pieces.

In a separate pan, cook the onions in the butter over a low heat until caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Use a fork to crumble the gorgonzola.
Put the bacon, caramelized onions and crumbled gorgonzola into separate bowls. Serve as delicious toppings for both sliders and macaroni cheese.

Penne alla Vodka

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound penne
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 whole medium onion, chopped finely
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup vodka
  • One 14-ounce can tomato puree or tomato sauce
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 generous pinch red pepper flakes, plus more if needed
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Grated Parmesan, for serving

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package directions.

Saute the garlic and onions in 2 tablespoons butter and the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until soft. Pour in the vodka, being careful if your stove has an open flame (remove the pan from the heat before adding). Cook and reduce for 2 to 3 minutes, then pour in the tomato puree. Stir the mixture until it’s thoroughly combined, then reduce the heat to low. Pour in the heavy cream. Stir to combine, then turn heat to the lowest simmer possible. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and add salt and pepper to taste. Finally, stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Pour the drained pasta into the sauce and toss to combine. Sprinkle on the Parmesan, then sprinkle on more red pepper flakes if desired.

Egg-in-a-Hole

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Breakfast, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 1 slice of your favorite kind of bread
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 egg
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

With a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass, press a hole in the center of the slice of bread.

Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and melt in the butter. When the butter is all spread out, place the piece of bread in the skillet and crack the egg straight into the center of the hole.

Cook until the egg sets a bit on the bottom, 30 to 45 seconds. Sprinkle the egg with salt and pepper. After about a minute, flip it over with a spatula and salt and pepper the other side.

Move the whole piece of toast around the skillet, soaking up all of the glorious butter. Let it cook until the yolk feels soft. Here’s the key: golden brown toast, white (not brown/burned) whites, soft unbroken yolk. Perfect.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 2 sticks butter, softened, plus more for pan
  • 5 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes
  • One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 4-quart baking dish.

Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Drain the potatoes in a large colander. Place them back into the dry pot and put the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all the steam to escape before adding in all the other ingredients.

Turn off the heat and add 1 1/2 sticks butter, the cream cheese, heavy cream, seasoned salt, kosher salt and pepper. Mash to combine.

Spread the potatoes in the prepared baking dish. Throw pats of the remaining butter over the top of the potatoes and bake until the butter is melted and the potatoes are warmed through, 20 to 30 minutes.

Cherry Limeade

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Drinks, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 2-liter bottle lemon-lime soda
  • 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • One 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries, with juice
  • Thin lime slices

Directions

Chill all ingredients before mixing.

When cold, combine the lemon-lime soda, lime juice, sugar, cherries with their juice and lime slices in a large pitcher and stir. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Serve with a ladle, getting cherries and limes in each serving.

Fresh Corn Casserole with Red Bell Peppers and Jalapenos

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 8 ears corn (still in the husk)
  • 2 red bell peppers, diced
  • 2 fresh jalapenos, diced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 stick salted butter, cut into pieces

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove the corn from the husks. In a large, deep bowl, slice off the kernels of corn with a sharp knife. Turn the knife to the dull side and scrape the cob all the way down to remove all the bits of kernel and creamy milk inside. (I do this inside the bowl because it goes everywhere if you cut it on a board.)

Add the red bell peppers, jalapenos, heavy cream, milk, salt to taste, a generous amount of pepper and butter and mix it well. Pour into a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Bake until thoroughly warmed through, 30 to 45 minutes.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Recipes, Sauce

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Ingredients

  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup real mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley leaves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Dash hot sauce
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup buttermilk (as needed for desired consistency)

Directions

Mince the garlic with a knife and then sprinkle on the salt and mash it into a paste with a fork.

In a bowl, combine the garlic paste, mayonnaise, sour cream, parsley, dill, chives, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, vinegar, paprika, cayenne and hot sauce. Add the buttermilk to desired consistency and mix to combine, tasting frequently and adjusting seasonings as needed. Chill for a couple of hours before serving, thinning with more buttermilk if needed.

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