Fromage Fort

Fromage Fort (literally "strong cheese") is a French Cheese Spread. It's traditionally made by blending together pieces of different leftover Cheeses, White Wine (or other Spirits), Garlic, and various Herbs. 

Blue Cheese, while one of the possible components, is usually included in small quantities, as its flavor is often stronger than other traditional ingredients.

Cheeses used in Fromage Fort include:

• Camembert
• Brie
• Swiss cheese
• Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Goat milk cheese

A typical afternoon Casse-Croûte (Snack), with our friends, in the heat of the Provençal Summer.
Anne and Jean!
I took the picture while Irene was getting the rest of the food.
This was how we spent our hot afternoons outside on the Patio.
We have so many, many years of memories with our friends in France.

Fromage Fort Spread

Lavash

Cornichons

A variety of Provençal Olives

Toasted Baguette slices

You'll need a Food Processor.

3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled

1 pound leftover pieces of cheese, a combination of as many hard and soft varieties as you desire (like Brie, cheddar, Swiss, bleu, mozzarella or goat), trimmed to remove surface dryness and mold.
1/2 cup dry white wine or vegetable broth or a mixture of both
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Salt, if needed 

In the Food Processor:
Garlic
Pulse a few times until coarsely chopped.
Add:
Cheese
Wine
Salt  (not necessary if you use a variety of salted Cheese) and Pepper to taste.
Process for 35 to 45 seconds. The Cheese should be Creamy but still have texture.

Transfer to a Crock.
Cover with Plastic Wrap.
Refrigerate until ready to use or at least 30 minutes.

Serve with:
Crackers
Toasted slices of Baguette Bread.
Lavash Bread
Bread Sticks
A variety of Vegetables.

Serve accompanied with:
Cornichons
A variety of Olives
Peanuts
Rosé on the Rocks!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Crustless Broccoli Cheddar Quiche

Broccoli Cheddar Quiche:

• Butter 1 - 9" Pie Pan. Or Spray with a Vegetable Cooking Spray.
• 
  
• 3 C Fresh Broccoli Florets
• 6 large Eggs
• 1 C Half and Half
• Salt and Pepper to taste.
• 1/8 tsp Nutmeg
• 1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese  (I use Half Cheddar and Half Swiss)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add Broccoli; cook 1 minute. Drain well; blot dry with paper towels. 
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together Eggs, Half-and-Half,  Salt, Pepper, and Nutmeg. 
4. Spoon the Broccoli evenly in the Quiche Pan.
5. Sprinkle half of the Cheese over the Broccoli.
6. Pour the Egg Mixture over the Broccoli.
7. Sprinkle the remaining Cheese over the Quiche .
8.  Bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.                                                                                                                                                                   

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Fried Corn Cakes (Jonny Cakes)

The origin of the name Johnnycakes (jonnycakes) is something of a mystery and probably has nothing to do with the name John.  They were also called Journey Cakes because they could be carried on long trips from one Settlement to another in Saddlebags and baked along the way.  Some historians think that they were originally called Shawnee Cakes and that the Colonists slurred the words, pronouncing it as johnnycakes. Historians also think that “janiken,” an American Indian word meant “corn cake,” could possibly be the origin.

Here's what you'll need:
A Food Processor
A Large Cast Iron Skillet

1 C Corn Kernels, frozen or fresh. (2 Ears)
1/4 C Diced Green Onions
4 TBS Vegetable Oil, divided
2 Eggs, separated
1/4 C Flour
1/4 C Yellow Cornmeal
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper

In the Food Processor:
Corn
Onion
Pulse just until chopped.
Transfer to a Large Mixing Bowl.

Add:
2 TBS Vegetable Oil
Egg Yolks
Stir by hand just to combine well.


In A Large Mixing Bowl:
Flour
Cornmeal
Salt 
Pepper
Whisk well.

In another Bowl:
Egg Whites
Whisk to Soft Peak.
Fold by hand into the Corn Mixture.

In the Skillet on Medium High Heat:
1 TBS of the Oil, until Hot.

Use a Large Spoon and drop the Batter into the Skillet
Flatten slightly with a Fork.

Fry about two minutes on each side, until Golden Brown.

Set aside and add additional Oil as needed to fry the remaining Batter.

Enjoy Peace! 
Peace in the Kitchen!

Peaches and Cream Dessert

No introduction for this delicious dessert. The name says it all!

You can scoop it into a bowl to serve or cut into bars.
Top it with Whipped Cream!

Here's that you'll need:
Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" Casserole Dish, coated with a Cooking Spray.

1 Box of Duncan Hines Cake Mix. (I only use Duncan Hines)
6 TBS Butter softened to Room Temperature.
2 Large Eggs, divided.
1 - 29 oz. Can of Peach Slices, drained. (you can use Fresh Peaches too. (Just add enough diced, to cover entire Casserole)
8 oz, Cream Cheese, softened to Room Temperature.
1/3 C Granulated Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

In a Large Mixing Bowl with a Blending Fork or a Spoon:
Cake Mix
Butter
1 Egg
Combine until it forma a Crumble.
Reserve 1 1/2 C and Set Aside for the Topping.
Press remaining Crumbs into the Bottom of the Casserole Dish.

Bake 10 Minutes.
Remove to a Rack to Cool Slightly.

Cut Peaches into 1" Pieces.
Add to the Baked Crust.

In a Large Mixing Bowl with a Hand Mixer:
Cream Cheese
Remaining Egg
Vanilla
Mix until Creamy Smooth.

Spoon evenly over the Peaches.
Top with Reserved Crumb Mixture.

Bake 30 minutes.
Remove to a Rack to Cool Completely.
Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!
Peach in the Kitchen!

Beer Cheese Spread

Ich habe Zeit in Deutschland verbracht und mit einer Familie in einem kleinen Dorf nördlich von Frankfurt gelebt.
Ich habe gelernt, deutsches Essen, Trinken und Traditionen zu schätzen.
Es ist ein schönes Land!

I spent some time in Germany and one thing you learn is how to appreciate great German Food, Beer and Traditions. It's a beautiful Country!

The road to Wetzlar!

Here's a delicious Beer Cheese Spread made with your favorite German Beer and served with German Pretzels, Crackers, Pumpernickel or Rye Bread.

Here's what you'll Need:
A Food Processor

16 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese cut into small Cubes.
1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
2 tsp Yellow Mustard (Kid Mustard, every American knows what this is)
1 Clove of Garlic, minced.
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Pepper
3/4 C of your favorite German Beer.

In the Food Processor:
Cheese Cubes
Pulse about 10 times until finely chopped.

Add:
Worcestershire sauce
Mustard
Garlic
Salt
Pepper
Continue Pulsing about 45 seconds while gradually Streaming in the Beer.
The Mixture should be Creamy Smooth.

Spoon into a container with a Lid and Refrigerator 1 Hour before serving.

Serve with:
Pretzels
Crackers
Pumpernickel Bread
Rye Bread

Genieße den Frieden in der Küche!

Cornbread with Roasted Corn

I have many recipes for Cornbread. This one has an additional layer of taste with Pan Roasted Corn.

Pan Roasted in a Cast Iron Skillet

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
A 9" X 13" Casserole Pan buttered well.
A Cast Iron Skillet
A Food Processor or Blender

1 tsp Vegetable Oil
3 C Corn Kernels (your choice of fresh  or frozen) I don't recommend canned.
1 - 14 oz. Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 Large Eggs, whisked well and set aside.
2 tsp Baking Powder
6 TBS Flour
1 tsp Vanilla
4 TBS Butter, room temperature, soft.
1/2 tsp Salt

In the Skillet:
Oil, until Hot.
Corn
Cook, stirring often for 10 - 12 minutes, until it begins to brown.
Remove and set aside.

In the Food Processor:
Corn
Mik
Butter
Vanilla
Purée until Creamy Smooth.

Add:
Eggs
Pulse just until incorporated.

Add:
Baking Powder
Flour
Butter
Salt
Pulse just until incorporated.

Spoon into the Pan.
Bake 40 minutes, until Golden Brown.

Serve Hot, slathered with Butter!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen.

Poached Eggs

I wanted to post this for my personal information about the Poach Pods.

Silicone Poach Pods

Poach Pods
Egg Poaching made easy.

How to use:

Boil 1 1/2" of water in any pan with a lid.
Lightly oil each Pod.
Add an Egg.
Float the Pods in Simmering Water
Place the Lid on the Pan.
Poach for 3 - 5 minutes.
Remove the Pods from the Water.
Gently run a spoon around the edge of the Eggs.
Spoon them out to Serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!