Bizcochitos

I recently discovered this from a friend, Monica. Her sister sent some from Mexico and I had a chance to taste them. I knew immediately that I had to add the recipe to the Blog. We plan to make some for Christmas.

The Cookies on the left are Dipped in Confectioner's Sugar/Cinnamon and the
ones on the right are dipped in Granulated  Sugar/Cinnamon.

Mini Holiday Pie Cutters.
Santa, Tree, Bell, Gingerbread Man, Holly Leaf,
Snowman, Star, Candy Cane, Stocking and Snowflake. 

Holiday Piecrust Cutters.
Christmas Tree, Snowman, Snowflake and Holly Leaves.

Bizcochitos are a crisp Lard - or Butter Based Cookie, flavored with Cinnamon and Anise. The name is a Spanish diminutive form of Bizcocho. The dough is rolled and traditionally cut into the shape of stars and crescent moons. We use 2" or smaller Cookie Cutters.

The Cookie was developed by residents of New Mexico over the Centuries from the first Spanish Colonists of what was then known as Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico. The recipe for making the Cookie has been greatly influenced not only by local and indigenous customs but also by recipes brought to New Mexico by Immigrants from other Hispanic Countries.

Bizcochitos are served during Special Celebrations, such as Wedding Receptions, Baptisms and Religious Holidays (especially during the Christmas Season.) They're commonly served along with Hot Chocolate.The Cookie is seldom known outside the boundaries of the original Spanish Province, although Spanish speakers may recognize the association with Bizcocho from the name, and may have some idea of what they must be, even if they have not encountered them before.

These are the tiny Christmas shapes we made with Confectioner's Sugar & Cinnamon on top.

These are made with Superfine Sugar and Cinnamon.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees.
2" or smaller Cookie Cutters (See Note Below for another Option)
A Sheet Pan lined with Parchment paper.
And  2  Mixing Bowls ( this recipe is made by hand in a Bowl with a Wooden Spoon)

It's make 3 - 4 Dozen Small Cookies.

You'll need 1/2 C Confectioner's Sugar mixed with 1 tsp Cinnamon for Coating the Tops of each Cookie. or 4 Parts Granulated Sugar to 1 Part Cinnamon.

In The Bowl:

1 C Crisco
2/3 C Granulated Sugar
Mix well with a Spoon.

Add:
1 Egg
Mix to combine well.

Add:
1 tsp Anise Flavoring
Mix just until incorporated.

In a Second Bowl:
3 C All Purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
Whisk Well.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients.
Stir with a Spoon to combine well.
Add some Un Diluted Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate to thin out the Dough.
Mix Well.

Refrigerate the Dough for 2 - 3 Hours.
Roll out the Dough about 1/4" Thick.

Cut out the Shapes and Press the Top of the Cookie Dough in the Sugar Mixture of your Choice as listed above.

NOTE:
You can Opt to shape the Dough by Hand to created a Small, Flattened Disc  similar to the Photo above.


Bake the Cookies 15 - 20 Minutes.
Keep an eye on the Cookies.
Baking Times will vary according to the size of the Cookies.
The Edges should be Golden Brown.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Christmas Pusharatas

I recently discovered this Traditional Croatian Deep Fried Christmas Fritter.

A Pusharata is a bite-sized Nugget of Fried Dough with Chopped Fruit and Spices.

Here's what you'll need:
A Deep Fryer or a Large Cast Iron Dutch Oven.
A 1 3/4" Cookie Scoop. I measure the diameter of the Scoop.

2 - 3 inches of Vegetable Oil for Frying.
A Food Processor, Optional. The Fruit can be Processed or Chopped by Hand.

NOTE: Retain all of the Juice from the Fruit.

3 C Self Rising Flour
3/4 C Granulated Sugar, divided
1 TBS Baking Powder
1 TBS Ground Nutmeg
1 TBS Cinnamon
1 Large Apple, Peeled and Cored.
1 Large Naval Orange, Zested and then Peeled.
1 Large Lemon, Zested and then Peeled and Seeded.
1/2 C Raisins
1 1/2 C Chopped Pecans
1/2 TBS Whiskey
1/2 TBS Vanilla
1 - 2 C Whole Milk

Glaze:
2 Pounds of Confectioner's Sugar
Half and Half, enough to form a thick Glaze with the Confectioner's Sugar.


In a Mixing Bowl:
Flour
1/2 C Sugar
Baking Powder
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Orange Zest
Lemon Zest
Whisk until well combined.

Chop the Fruit by Hand or Pulse it in a Food Processor but don't Puree it. Retain all of the Juice from the Fruit.

In a Mixing Bowl:
All of the Fruit and Juice.
Remaining Sugar.
Stir to Combine Well until Sugar is dissolved.
Add this to the Flour Mixture.
Stir to Combine Well.

Add:
Raisins
Pecans
Whiskey
Vanilla
Just enough Milk until it forms a thick Batter. It will depend on how juicy the Fruit is.
Stir to Combine until it has the consistency of This Oatmeal.

Set Aside for 15 minutes.

This is the Dutch Oven I use to Fry the Dough.

Heat 2 - 3 inches of Vegetable Oil.
Drop Scoops of the Batter into the Hot Oil (about 350 degrees)
Don't crowd them.
Drain them on Paper Towels.
Transfer to a Rack over a Sheet Pan to Glaze them.
Dip them in the Glaze and allow to Dry on the Rack.
Allow them to sit at Room Temperature Overnight to Dry completely.

They should be eaten Fresh and not stored in containers. The Glaze will soften.
You can place them in individual Candy or Miniature Muffins paper liners, box them and give as gifts.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Tex - Mex Cheese Dip

Just another Texas Dip served with Tortilla Chips. I can never have enough Dip recipes.

I always have this in my Pantry. 

Here's What you'll need:
Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees.
1 - 10" Cast Iron Skillet

2 tsp Tabasco Sauce
8 oz. Cream Cheese, room temperature
1/2 C Mayonnaise
1 - 4 oz. Can of Chopped Green Chiles, do not drain.
1/2 C Shredded Mexican Cheese
2 tsp Taco Seasoning

In a Mixing Bowl:
All ingredients.
Mix until completely combined.

Bake 12 - 15 minutes.

Serve Hot with Tortilla Chips.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

The Benefits of Bay Leaves

I recently read a story about Bay Leaves, the misconception and the benefits.
I was quite fascinated. I had never considered the fact that there might be tremendous benefits to Bay Leaves.
Here's the story:

These are called "Bay Leaves.

Many people add Bay Leaves to foods especially red meat and poultry but do you know why Bay Leaves are added to food?
When asked why, some reply: to add flavor to the food.

Do you know that If you boil some Bay Leaves in a glass of water and taste it, it will have no flavor?
Now why do you put bay leaves in the meat?

The addition of Bay Leaves to meat converts triglycerides to monounsaturated fats, and for experimentation and confirmation:

Cut the chicken in half and cook each half in a pan and place a Bay Leaf on one, and the other without a Bay Leaf and observe the amount of fat in both pans.

If you have Bay Leaves, there is no need for a pharmacy. Recent scientific studies have shown that bay leaves have many benefits & helps to get rid of many serious health problems and illnesses.

The benefits of Bay Leaves are: -

*Bay Leaf treats digestive disorders and helps eliminate lumps, Heartburn, Acidity & Constipation.

*It helps regulate bowel movement by drinking hot bay tea.

*It lowers blood sugar and bay leaf is also an antioxidant

*It allows the body to produce insulin by eating it or drinking Bay Leaf tea for a month.

*it eliminates bad cholesterol and relieves the body of triglycerides.

*It's very useful in treating colds, flu and severe cough as it is a rich source of vitamin "C", you can boil the Leaves and inhale steam to get rid of phlegm and reduce the severity of cough.

*Bay Leaf protects the heart from seizures and strokes as it contains cardiovascular protective compounds.

*It's rich in acids such as caffeic acid, quercetin, eigonol and bartolinide, substances that prevent the formation of cancer cells in the body.

*It eliminates insomnia and anxiety, if taken before bed, helps you relax and sleep peacefully.

Drinking a cup of boiled Bay Leaves twice a day breaks kidney stones and cures infections.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Gingerbread Bundt Cake

I love the taste of Ginger during the Holidays. I have so many recipes dedicated to it. Fo me it evokes visions of Dickens Christmas, or Christmas in Alsace, France.
This one is a favorite.

I don't use anything other than this!

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Generously grease a 10 - 12 Cup Bundt Pan with Pan Release Mix. (recipe to follow) Choose a Pan with a simple design.

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.

Cake Ingredients:
2 1/2 C All Purpose Flour
Gingerbread Spice Mix. Whisk together the following ingredients in a small bowl"
2 1/3 tsp Ground Ginger
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Ground Cloves
1/2 tsp Allspice
(whisk together and set aside)

1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
12 TBS Butter, room temperature.
1 1/2 C Packed Brown Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1/2 C Black Treacle
1 C Water

Glaze Ingredients:
1/3 C Brandy
1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
3/4 C Granulated Sugar


Prepare the Cake Batter:

In a Medium Mixing Bowl:
Flour
Gingerbread Spice Mix
Salt
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Whisk well.

I a Large Mixing Bowl:
Butter
Sugar
Beat with an electric Mixer until Creamy Smooth.

Add:
Eggs, one at a time and beat until incorporated.

Fold in, by Hand:
Black Treacle
Mix until well combined.

Add:
Flour Mixture alternately folding by Hand with the Water in 3 separate additions.
Begin and end with Flour.
Mix just until well incorporated.

Spoon into the Bundt Pan.
Bake 55 -65 minutes. A Toothpick in the center should come out clean.

Remove Pan to a Rack and Cool for 10 minutes.
Invert Cake onto the Rack to Cool Completely.

Prepare the Glaze:

In a Small Mixing Bowl:
Brandy
Whisk in:
Ground Ginger until completely incorporated.
Add:
Cinnamon, until completely incorporated.
Add:
Granulated Sugar, whisking until completely incorporated.

Transfer Cake to a Serving Platter.
Brush the Cake evenly with the Glaze after it's cooled.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Sawdust Pie

I recently discovered this Pie so I wanted to post a story about the history and the recipe.
It took some research after selecting several options, I discovered the history of the original recipe.
I love researching recipes and it's a bonus when I can discover the history. This one has a great story. It all started in Grand Rivers, Kentucky in 1977. The rest is Culinary History.

Sawdust Pie Story~
The year was 1977 and in a town of less than 300 people it would be very hard to get the word out about a small town Hamburger and Ice Cream Parlor. Patti and Bill never knew when the publicity would pay off. Just like when they got a letter from Bon Appetit asking for the recipe for Patti's "Sawdust Pie." Normally Patti did not give out recipes but decided she would make an exception with her favorite pie. It was Patti's first published recipe (Bon Appetit, May 1983). 

Makes 8 Servings.
Ingredients:
7 egg whites, unbeaten
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 cups pecans
1 1/2 cups coconut, flaked
9 inch unbaked pie shell
Sliced Bananas
Whipped Cream
Instructions:
Mix first 5 ingredients together and stir by hand. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake in preheated 325 degree oven until gloss and set (about 25 to 30 minutes). DO NOT OVER BAKE. Center should be gooey. Serve warm with sliced bananas and whipped cream on top.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

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Snowman Poop

This is just a fun thing to have around during Christmas.
Place Miniature Marshmallows in a Holiday Zip Lock Bag and add a Tag with the following Note:

I hear that you've been naughty,
So listen, here's the scoop...
I'm running short on coal this year,
So you get "Snowman Poop"
Love, Santa