Sunday, August 9, 2015

Classic Peach Cobbler

I don't think this needs an introduction. America loves Peach Cobbler.

Classic Peach Cobbler

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
1 - 8"X 8" baking pan greased with Pan Release Mix. (equal parts of Crisco, Vegetable Oil and Flour) I start with 1C of each mixed well and refrigerated in a jar. I always have it available for all of my baking needs.

1 C Original Bisquick Mix
1 C Whole Milk
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
8 TBS Butter, melted
1 C Granulated Sugar
1 - 29 oz. can of Sliced Peaches, drained

In a mixing bowl:
Bisquick
Milk
Nutmeg
Mix well by hand with a blending fork.
Add Butter and blend well.
Pour into the pan.

In a small bowl:
Sugar
Peaches
Mix well.
Spoon evenly over the batter.
Bake for 50 - 60 minutes, until golden brown.

Remove the pan to a rack to cool for 5 - 10 minutes.
Serve warm with either Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!





Pineapple Coconut Church Cake

I often refer to recipes as Church recipes. If you've ever been to a Church Supper, Luncheon, Breakfast or a Church Festival you know how amazing the food can be. Everyone is asked to bring a dish and most people bring their favorite family Casserole, Salad or Dessert. And...... you walk away from any Church meal with a new recipe.
Here's just one more of those recipes that I wanted to share.

Pineapple Coconut Church Cake

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
1 - 9" X 13" baking dish, greased with Pan Release Mix. (equal parts of Crisco, Vegetable Oil and Flour) I start with 1 C of each mixed well and refrigerated in a jar. I always have it available for all of my baking needs.

Batter:
8 TBS Butter, room temperature
2 C Granulated Sugar
2 C Flour
2 Large Eggs
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Vanilla
2 - 8oz. cans of Crushed Pineapple, undrained You need a total of 16 ounces of undrained crushed pineapple.

Frosting:
8 TBS Butter
1 C  Granulated Sugar
3/4 C Evaporated Milk
1 C Flaked Coconut
1 C Chopped Pecans
1 tsp Vanilla

Batter:
Butter
Sugar
Milk
Coconut
Pecans
Vanilla
Mix well by hand with a spoon.
Pour into the pan.

Bake for 35 - 40 minutes.
Remove the pan to a rack and allow to sit while you make the Frosting.

Frosting:

In a saucepan on medium heat:
Butter
Sugar
Milk
Stirring constantly.
It will begin to boil.
Cook for 5 minutes.
It will begin to thicken.
Remove from heat.

Add:
Coconut
Pecans
Vanilla
Mic well.
Pour evenly over the cake.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Provencal Vegetable Tians


We have many friends in France and we travel there often. We just returned from 5 weeks in Provence, Normandy and Paris. We ended the trip with a week in London and Windsor, England.
We had incredible meals at various friend's homes and I came away with some new recipe ideas.
This one is an Eggplant and Zucchini Tian.
A Tian is a traditional Provencal Earthenware dish used for baking and serving. It also refers to the name of the dish that's prepared and baked in the vessel.
We enjoyed many recipes in Provence with fresh vegetables.

Here's my version of Provencal Vegetable Tian.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
A baking dish, it can be a shallow oval casserole, a shallow round casserole, a deep dish pie plate.
You'll be alternately layering the vegetables in a concentric circle, flat in the dish. Some Tian dishes can be layered standing the vegetables on end, in the pan. This makes a nice visual presentation for serving.

1 - 6oz. can of Tomato Paste
1 C diced Onion
3 TBS minced Garlic
Olive Oil, divided
3/4 C water
1 small Eggplant, sliced thin.
1  medium Zucchini, sliced thin
1 medium Yellow Squash, sliced thin
1 Green Bell Pepper, sliced thin
1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced thin
1 tsp Fresh Thyme leaves
Black Pepper to taste

In a  small skillet on medium heat:
1 TBS Olive Oil
Heat well.
Add:
Onion
Sauté until tender.
Add:
Garlic
Sauté for 1 minute.
Remove and set aside.

Spray the pan with a vegetable cooking spray.

In a small bowl:
Tomato Paste
Sautéed Onion and Garlic
Water
1 TBS Olive Oil
Stir to combine well.
Season with Black Pepper
Spread evenly in the bottom of the pan.

In a large mixing bowl:
Eggplant
Zucchini
Squash
Green Bell Pepper
Red Bell Pepper
Toss with a drizzle of Olive Oil to coat well.
Black Pepper to taste.

Begin alternately layering the vegetables in the bottom of the pan. Start on the outside of the pan and work in, creating circles of vegetables until reaching the center of the pan. 
If you have too many slices, add a second layer.

Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Thyme leaves
Cut a piece of Parchment Paper to exactly fit the inside measurement of the pan and cover the vegetables.
Bake for 45 minutes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!



  • I hesitated to post this recipe. When I discovered that it was shared from another blog, I researched it and found two other blogs that had posted the same picture, the exact picture. I do not post photographs other than my own. In this case I am not going to list the 3 blogs that posted the same recipe and the same photograph. Instead, I will simply say that this is not an original recipe and I will not post a photograph unless it's my own.
    I liked the recipe so much that I felt  I should share it with my readers. I could have adapted it, changed it and made it my own, but I chose not to do that. I hope this covers all Food Blogging etiquette, otherwise I will gladly pull it from my blog.


    A Tian is a layered, baked vegetable dish that originated in Provence. It is traditionally served for Bastille Day. It was made at this time because the Summer Vegetables used in the recipe were in season. Unlike a gratin, a Tian does not include bread crumbs or cheese, which allows the juices in the vegetables to evaporate in the oven's dry heat, concentrating their flavors.

    This recipe does include a bit of cheese, a traditional Tian doesn't.

    1 TBS. olive oil
    1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
    1 tsp. minced garlic
    1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
    1 medium yellow squash, thinly sliced
    1 medium potato, thinly sliced
    1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
    1 tsp. dried thyme
    salt & pepper, to taste
    1 cup shredded Italian cheese ( I used Organic Paragon Cheese from The Van Huizen's Dairy in Texas) It's very comparable to an Italian Hard Cheese.

    I bought the Cheese at a very cool shop on Mesquite St. in Arlington.

    The shop is called Potager's Other Stuff, it's part of the Potager Cafe on Mesquite St. just south of the store.  http://www.potagercafe.com/
    The owner is Cynthia and the restaurant is amazing.
    If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend it.
    You'll love the food, the atmosphere, the staff and especially the proprietor.
    The concept of the restaurant is very clever. Look it up and let me know if you ever eat there or shop at the store!


     Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

     Sauté onion and garlic in a skillet with olive oil until softened (about five minutes).

    Spray the inside of an 8x8 square baking dish with non-stick spray. Spread the softened onion and garlic in the bottom of the dish. Place the thinly sliced vegetables in the baking dish vertically, in an alternating pattern. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, and thyme.

    Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, top with cheese and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown


    Enjoy!
    Peace in the Kitchen!










    This is another version of a Vegetable Tian. I previously posted one that you can search.

    Here's what you'll need:
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    1 - Cast Iron Roaster, a Rectangular or Oval Cast Iron Casserole Dish. They just need to be shallow, not a deep pot.

    1/2 C Olive Oil
    3 Cloves of Garlic, minced
    Salt and Pepper to taste
    1 TBS Chopped Fresh Thyme
    1 TBS Chopped Fresh Parsley
    2 Zucchini, Sliced 1/4".
    3 Tomatoes, sliced 1/4".
    2 small Eggplants, sliced 1/4 ". (do not peel)
    2 Sweet Onions, sliced
    2 C Fresh Parmesan Cheese, grated

    In a large mixing bowl:
    Oil
    Garlic
    Salt
    Pepper
    Thyme
    Parsley
    Whisk well.

    Add:
    Zucchini
    Tomato
    Eggplant
    Gently toss to coat well.
    Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
    During this time, shake the bowl a few times to distribute the Oil.

    Drain the Oil from the bowl into the Cast Iron Dish.
    Heat it on the stove over medium heat.
    Add the Onions and salute them just until soft (about 5 minutes).
    Remove the pan from the heat.

    Remove the onions with a slotted spoon and spread them evenly in the pan. Reserve the Marinade.

    Layer the remaining vegetables upright, in rows.
    Start with a row of Eggplant, then a row of Tomatoes and then a row of Zucchini. (the rows start at the front of the dish and run horizontally across the dish.
    Repeat the rows until the pan is filled from front to back.

    Drizzle the remaining Marinade over the vegetables.
    Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.

    Bake for 45 minutes. The top should be golden brown.

    Enjoy!
    Peace in the Kitchen!



Saturday, August 8, 2015

Texas Martini

It's difficult to find a good Texas Martini. It's basically a mix of a Margarita and a Martini.
I happen to like them and I always have to tell the bartenders how to make them. I know they're not for everyone. You can also add a few slices of Jalapeños instead of the Lime Slice.


An example of a great Martini that I had in Rosemary Beach, Florida











Texas Martini

Here's what you'll need:
Ice
A Cocktail Shaker
Small Wooden Skewers for the Olives

Ingredients:
3 oz. Tequila
1 1/2 oz. Cointreau or Triple Sec
1 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz. Green Olive Brine from a jar of Olives
A splash of Fresh Orange Juice
Lime Wedge
4 Large Green Olives
Option: Jalapeno slices to replace the Lime.

In a Cocktail Shaker
Ice
Tequila
Cointreau
Lime Juice
Olive Brine
Shake well and strain into a Martini Glass.
Add a splash of Orange Juice.
Add a Lime Wedge or Jalapeños.
Skewer the Olives and lay them on across the glass to serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Friday, August 7, 2015

All American Strawberry Dessert

This is one of those iconic All American desserts. My Aunt Faye made some amazing desserts that I would consider iconic. These are desserts that she made for a family gathering, holidays, church suppers, picnics and it's not a dessert that's considered fancy or something you would find in a pastry shop. Whenever I talk about iconic American desserts, I mention that they're usually something that the French would cringe at if they saw them, until they taste them. I have many on the Blog.
Here's one of those desserts that I consider iconic.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - 9"X 13" baking dish sprayed with a non stick vegetable cooking spray.


All American Strawberry Dessert

1 C Flour
1/4 C Brown Sugar
8 TBS Butter, melted
3/4 C Chopped Pecans
2 C diced fresh Strawberries
1/2 C Granulated Sugar
1 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
1 - 8oz. container of Cool Whip, thawed

In a medium mixing bowl:
Flour
Brown Sugar
Butter
Pecans
Mix well
Spread on a Sheet Pan 
Bake for 15 minutes. (stir 2-3 times during baking).
Remove to a rack to cool for 10 minutes.
Reserve 1/2 C and set aside.

Press the remaining mixture evenly in the bottom of the baking dish.

In a medium mixing bowl:
Strawberries
Granulated Sugar
Lemon Juice
Mix well
Fold in Cool Whip.
Spread evenly over the baked crust.
Sprinkle evenly with the reserved Pecans.

Cover with plastic wrap and freeze the dessert for 8 hours or overnight.
Cut into squares to serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!







Saturday, August 1, 2015

Pistachio Pineapple Delight Salad

Pistachio Pineapple Delight Salad



This recipe was created by Kraft in 1975. It has become an iconic American salad served at Thanksgiving.
I recently discovered the recipe and had to share it.
I'm definitely putting this on our Thanksgiving menu this year.

It's very simple to make.
Mix all of the following ingredients together in a serving bowl.
Cover and refrigerate over night.

1 Small Box of Pistachio Instant Pudding Mix (use the dry mix)
1 Large container of Cool Whip, thawed
1 16 ounce can of Crushed Pineapple, don't drain.
1/2 C chopped Pecans
1/2 C Mini Marshmallows

NOTE:
You can top off each serving with additional Pecans or a Maraschino Cherry. Or both if you want it to be the ultimate All American Iconic Salad. I add it all!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!







Raspberry Rosé Sangria

I have a couple of recipes for my favorite Sangria. I still believe that my original recipe is the best I've ever tasted. I also have a recipe for White Sangria and it's really good. They're both on the Blog.
I recently came across this recipe for a Rose Sangria and I have to admit, I like this one too.
I haven't tried it yet, but I will.
We recently spent 6 weeks in Europe and 5 of those were in France.
The latest wine trend in France, for the summer, is Rose Wine served with a bowl of ice cubes.
I've never seen ice served with wine in the past 45 years of traveling to France.
I have to admit that with the temperatures in Provence soaring close to 100 degrees, it makes perfect sense.
I tried it last night, here in the States at our local French Bakery. they too, were a bit surprised, but they finally understood after I explained the story.
So........ we were also able to find the same wine from Aix en Provence here in Texas, that we had in Provence.
It's a small world after all.......... now try to get that song out of your head and make some Sangria!



Raspberry Rosé Sangria

1 1/2 C Fresh Raspberries
1/4 C of Framboise Raspberry Liqueur
1- 750 ml. bottle of Chilled Dry Rosé Wine
The Juice of 1/2 Lime
The juice of 1/2 Lemon
San Pellegrino Sparkling Aranciata Mineral Water.
Ice

In a large glass Pitcher:
Raspberries, lightly crush them.
Framboise
Wine
Lime Juice
Lemon Juice
Stir well and refrigerate until chilled.
Serve over Ice
Add a splash of San Pellegrino to each serving.




Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!