Monday, December 9, 2013

Baked Homemade Vegetarian Burgers

Baked Homemade Vegetarian Burgers:

Not much more that I can write about this recipe.
I'm vegetarian and I like Veggie Burgers.

2 C cooked brown rice
1 can (15oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 C cornmeal
1/2 C barley flour
1 C minced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp Tabasco Sauce
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 C corn
1 C finely diced tomato
1 C chopped fresh broccoli florets

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Line 3 baking sheet pans with foil or parchment paper

In a large mixing bowl:
rice
beans
cornmeal
barley flour
onion
garlic
cumin
Tabasco Sauce
salt
pepper
Mix well with your hands
Squish everything together well

Add:
corn
tomato
broccoli
Gently incorporate with your hands.

Scoop a cup to form a ball.
Place them on the baking sheet and press into a 1/2" thick patty

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes
Remove pan, flip burgers and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Serve on a bun with your favorite toppings or crumble over a salad.



Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!



Crock Pot Scalloped Corn

I am a huge fan of corn. I have so many variations of what can be done with corn. Here's my latest obsession, Slow Cooker and Corn. What a great idea!
I included this recipe in a post called Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Recipes.

2/3 C flour
1/3 C butter
4 eggs
3/4 C evaporated milk
1 TBS sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 - (14oz.) can of creamed corn
2 C frozen corn, thawed and drained

Spray a 3-4 quart slow cooker with a vegetable cooking spray
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and pout into the cooker.
Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Malted Milk Ball Chocolate Vodka

I've made Cherry and Apricot Liqueur and I drink Martinis.
Our favorite restaurant in Grapevine, Texas created the Terry Tini for me years ago for my birthday.
This year I'm experimenting with Chocolate Vodka.
About 5 days ago I put 2 (141g.) boxes of Hershey's Whoppers, in a 1 quart bottle. Fill with Vodka.


Put the lid on it and shake vigorously.
Shake the bottle every day. (so far it's been 7 days)
The Whoppers will start to dissolve.
I'm not sure yet if they will dissolve completely, but I'll update the process on the blog.


I have some recipes for cocktails made with the chocolate vodka that I'll post as soon as I'm happy with the results.
At the end I'll edit this post with the results and the recipes.

More to come!

I left the bottle sitting for 10 days. I shook it every day. After ten days it was complete. I strained it and placed it back in the bottle. I keep it in the refrigerator.
It's delicious.
I'll post recipes later.

Mint Chocolate Martini:
3 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1.5 oz. Creme de Menthe
1.5 oz. Creme de Cocoa
Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker , shake and strain into a Martini glass.

White Chocolate Martini:
1 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 oz. Vanilla Vodka
1/2 oz. White Creme de Cocoa
1 oz. Half and Half
Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a Martini glass.

Chocolate Espresso Martini:
2 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 oz. Cold Espresso Coffee
1/2 tsp Orange Juice
1 strip of Orange Peel
Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a Martini glass.

Chocolate Hazelnut Martini:
1.5 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1.5 oz. Creme de Cacao
2.5 oz. Hazelnut non dairy Coffee Creamer
Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a Martini glass.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!





This is the finished product!











Jalapeño Jelly, a Best of the Best Recipe

I live in Texas, we love Jalapeños. This is incredible. It makes a great gift for your Foodie Friends at Christmas.
This is definitely the best Jalapeño Jelly I have ever tasted.



Jalapeno Jelly

Ingredients:
2 C  minced Jalapeno Peppers  (I start with 1 Pound)
1 1/2 C Apple Cider Vinegar
6 1/2 C Granulated Sugar
6 oz LIQUID Pectin
6-8 Drops Green Food Coloring

Instructions:
Combine Peppers, Vinegar and Sugar in a non-aluminum Saucepan and bring to a Boil over High Heat. Reduce Heat and Boil gently for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and skim off any foam. Stir in the Food Coloring and Pectin, pour into Sterilized Jars. Seal immediately. Makes about 9 cups.



This is the beginning step.

This is beginning to boil.

Canning the Jelly.

Love the color!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Baked Artichoke Bruschetta from Brooklyn's Flatbush Farm & Bar (N)

Baked Artichoke Bruschetta:

After I made this, I made some notes with the photographs below. I really need to re write the recipe.
I've adapted it slightly, not changing the integrity of the original recipe.
I love recipes from Cafes, Bistros and Bars.
I recently discovered recipes from Brooklyn's Flatbush Farm & Bar (N).
They use fresh and organic products.
I also posted their recipe for Rhubarb Rice Pudding.


2 large jalapeños, small dice
4 (9oz.) boxes of frozen artichokes, thawed, drained, finely chopped.
After making this I realized that the artichokes need to be well chopped. The pieces were too large to enjoy as a spread. I ended up pulsing them in a food processor. You won't have to do this if you chop them well in the beginning. I also felt that the taste was a bit bland. I would add more spice in some way. I tasted a lot of lemon. I may increase the Tabasco the next time and maybe try adding some Adobo Seasoning and a can of Diced Green Chiles. After all, I live in Texas!

3/4 C mayonnaise
3/4 C fresh grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 TBS fresh lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp Tabasco Sauce
1 C shredded Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
Slices of Toasted French Baguette

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl:
Artichokes
Jalapeno
Mayonnaise
3/4 C Parmesan Cheese
Garlic
Lemon Juice
Lemon Zest
Salt
Tabasco Sauce
Mix Well

Pour into a 1 quart Gratin Dish
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes
1C White Cheddar Cheese and broil for 2 minutes until browned and bubbly.

Serve on toasted slices of French Baguette Bread.








This is before it's baked, I'll post a picture of the final dish when I finish it.
We served this and then I realized that it needed something different, based on texture and taste.
The bottom photograph is the final appetizer after I re did it.


This is after I re made it. I pulsed it in a food processor, re baked it.
I added more Cheese to the top and broiled it again.
When I'm ready to serve this dip, I will fold in a can of Diced Green Chiles.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Rhubarb Rice Pudding from Flatbush Farm & Bar (N) - Brooklyn, New York

I recently discovered Flatbush Farm & Bar (N) in New York City.
I love recipes from Pubs , Bistros and Bars!
If you haven't seen my recipe for Union Square's Cafe Bar Nuts, check it out. It's another great Bistro, Pub recipe.
I love their concept of farm fresh and organic foods. They have some amazing items on their menu. The first recipe that I discovered was their Baked Artichoke Dip, and then I found this one for Rhubarb Rice Pudding. This recipe has two of my favorite things.... Rice Pudding and Rhubarb!
When I have a chance I'll post the Baked Artichoke Dip.


Chef Stephen Browning of Flatbush Farm – Brooklyn, New York
INGREDIENTS

Rhubarb Base:
1 pound rhubarb, chopped
¼ cup sugar
1 cup red wine
Pudding:
236 grams rice
2 quarts milk, plus more as needed
225 grams sugar
3 vanilla beans, split and scraped
4 egg yolks
To Assemble and Serve:
Vanilla sugar
METHOD

For the Rhubarb Base:
Heat a rondeau pan over medium heat. Add the rhubarb, sugar, and wine, and cook down until almost dry. Allow the rhubarb mixture to cool and refrigerate. When the mixture has chilled, spread evenly in the base of each ramekin.
For the Pudding:
In a large pot, cook the rice, milk, sugar, and vanilla beans until the rice is cooked through and creamy. Temper the eggs with warm milk and fold into the rice pudding.
To Assemble and Serve:Pour the rice pudding into the prepared ramekins over the rhubarb mixture. Generously sprinkle each ramekin with vanilla sugar and bake at 350°F until warm. Remove from the oven and use a chef’s torch to brown the sugar on top. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Old Fashioned Baked Custard from I Love Texas Recipes




I happen to love home made custard and I recently saw this recipes on a blog that I follow:
Here's an adaptation of the recipe.
The recipe has not changed, only the format and text.

 2-1/2 cups very hot, whole milk 
1/3 cup of sweetened coconut, toasted and divided,
 4 large eggs
 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
 Pinch of salt
 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
 Whole nutmeg

 Instructions:
 Preheat oven to 325 degrees 
 Butter six small ramekins; set aside.
 Heat up enough water to fill a 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish halfway.
 Heat milk to near boiling in the microwave or on the stovetop; set aside.
Toast the coconut in a skillet; set aside to cool.
 Reserve one tablespoon of the coconut for garnish.

 Whisk the eggs;
 Beat in the sugar a little at a time.
 Add salt and slowly beat in the hot milk, a little at a time.
 Add vanilla and all but one tablespoon of coconut.
 Pour evenly into six small ramekins.
 Sprinkle tops of each ramekin with a fresh grated nutmeg.
 Set the ramekins in the baking dish.
 Slowly pour the hot water around them, up to just under the rims.
 Bake for about 45 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
 Remove from the oven slowly to avoid splashing water into the ramekins, use an oven mitt to carefully remove each ramekin from the water.
 Sprinkle coconut over the top.
 Let cool, can be served warm or cold

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!