Saturday, May 23, 2009

Swedish Meatballs

Serve over egg noodles or rice.
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FORMULA:
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Meatballs:
1 large egg
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 large slice high-quality white sandwich bread, crusts removed and bread torn into 1-inch pieces
8 ounces ground pork
1 small onion , grated on large holes of box grater (about 1/4 cup)
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon packed brown sugar {we omit this because we prefer it to be slightly less sweet}
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
8 ounces 85 percent lean ground beef
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
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Sauce:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar {we only use 2 teaspoons}
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
Table salt and ground black pepper
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PROCESS:
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For the meatballs - Whisk egg and cream together in medium bowl. Stir in bread and set aside. Meanwhile, in stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat pork, onion, nutmeg, allspice, pepper, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder on high speed until smooth and pale, about 2 minutes, scraping bowl as necessary. Using fork, mash bread mixture until no large dry bread chunks remain; add mixture to mixer bowl and beat on high speed until smooth and homogeneous, about 1 minute, scraping bowl as necessary. Add beef and mix on medium-low speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bowl as necessary. Using moistened hands, form generous tablespoon of meat mixture into 1-inch round meatball; repeat with remaining mixture to form 25 to 30 meatballs.
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Heat oil in 10-inch straight-sided sauté pan over medium-high heat until edge of meatball dipped in oil sizzles (oil should register 350 degrees on instant-read thermometer), 3 to 5 minutes. Add meatballs in single layer and fry, flipping once halfway through cooking, until lightly browned all over and cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. (Adjust heat as needed to keep oil sizzling but not smoking.) Using slotted spoon, transfer browned meatballs to paper towel-lined plate.
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For the sauce - Pour off and discard oil in pan, leaving any fond (browned bits) behind. Return pan to medium-high heat and add butter. When foaming subsides, add flour and cook, whisking constantly, until flour is light brown, about 30 seconds. Slowly whisk in broth, scraping pan bottom to loosen browned bits. Add brown sugar and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium and cook until sauce is reduced to about 1 cup, about 5 minutes. Stir in cream and return to simmer.
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Add meatballs to sauce and simmer, turning occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

General Tso's {Ozzy's Favorite}

This is a lighter version of General Tso's, but it is just as delicious. We prefer to add a little extra red pepper for a little extra kick.
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FORMULA:

1/4 cup cornstarch
1 pound snow peas, trimmed and halved crosswise
4 garlic cloves, sliced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated and peeled
3 tablespoons light-brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 large egg whites
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Rice for serving
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PROCESS:

Cook rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water until smooth. Add snow peas, garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, and red-pepper flakes; toss to combine, and set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together egg whites, remaining 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken, and toss to coat.
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In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Lift half the chicken from egg-white mixture (shaking off excess), and add to skillet. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining oil and chicken, and set aside (reserve skillet).
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Add snow-pea mixture to skillet. Cover; cook until snow peas are tender and sauce has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet (with any juices); toss to coat. Serve with rice.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Steamed Artichokes with Cheat's Aioli

This recipe is from Gwyneth Paltrows Goop emails. Any vegetable would be delicious dipped in this aioli and it's also good for a sandwich.


FORMULA:
2 artichokes, trimmed
1/2 Cup mayonnaise or Veganaise (the only sub that tastes good)
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1/4 of a juicy lemon)
pinch of course sea salt
1 generous tablespoon of thinly sliced basil

PROCESS:
Steam artichokes for about fourty five minutes or until they give a little resistance when you pierce them with a parin.

Meanwhile, mix the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl.

Let the artichokes cool a bit and serve them with the aioli. To eat, peel off each leaf, swipe it through the aioli, scrape it with your teeth and repeat over and over. When you get to the heart, remove sharp thistle and enjoy the best part of the artichoke.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Maple Frosting Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe is from The Pioneer Woman {hence all of the butter}.

FORMULA:

DOUGH

1 quart whole milk
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
2 packages active dry yeast
8 + 1 cups of all-purpose flour
1 heaping tsp baking powder
1 "scant" tsp baking soda
1 heaping tablespoon of salt
1 1/2 - 2 cups melted butter
1 cup of sugar
generous sprinkling of cinnamon

MAPLE SYRUP FROSTING

1 bag of powdered sugar
2 teaspoons of maple flavoring
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup of brewed coffee
1/8 teaspoon salt

PROCESS:

Mix the milk, vegetable oil, and sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat to just before boiling). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.

Add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and the salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it-overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to spluge out of the pan, just punch it down.)
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Sprinkle surface generously with flour. Take half of the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1 1/2 to 2 cups melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon. Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam to the roll to seal it. Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in seven round, foil cake or pie pans. Then begin cutting rolls approximately 3/4 to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans. Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 400 degrees until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.
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For the frosting mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Don't skimp on the frosting.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Summer Salad

FORMULA:
1 package Spring Mix or Continental Mix, mixed with Romaine lettuce
Strawberries, halved
Blueberries
Avocado, sliced
Pear, sliced - but not until right before serving
Grapefruit, peeled and sliced like a pinwheel
Oranges, peeled and sliced like a pinwheel
Crumbled blue cheese
Sugared pecans, whole or halved

DRESSING:
1 package Good Seasons Italian dressing
1 T. sugar (or just a little less)
3 T. Water
1/4 C. Vinegar
1/2 C. Oil

PROCESS:
Mix all dressing ingredients before adding the oil. It's best to first toss the lettuce with dressing, then add the fruit and toss with dressing, and put the cheese in at the very end. Don't overmix.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Three Ingredient Fettuccini Alfredo

This recipe comes from Russell Bellanca, the chef at Alfredo of Rome in New York City.

FORMULA:
2 sticks butter
1/2 pound grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Salt
1 pound fettuccine

PROCESS:
1. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and Parmesan until creamy.
2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente, about 12 minutes. Reserve about 1/2 cup of cooking water; drain pasta.
3. Return fettuccine to warm pot. Toss pasta with 1/2 teaspoon salt, cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup of pasta water. Add more pasta water, as needed. Serve with additional cheese.

Molten Chocolate Cookies

FORMULA:
1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/2 cup for coating
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1 large egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened (70 degrees)
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
4 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate (I think milk would be good too)

PROCESS:
Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper (I just greased mine and it worked fine). Place ½ cup granulated sugar in shallow baking dish or pie plate. Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in medium bowl. Whisk corn syrup, egg white, and vanilla together in small bowl.

In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter, brown sugar, and remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low, add corn syrup mixture, and beat until fully incorporated, about 20 seconds, scraping bowl once with rubber spatula. With mixer running at low speed, add flour mixture and chopped chocolate; mix until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bowl once. Give dough final stir with rubber spatula to ensure that no pockets of flour remain at bottom. Chill dough 30 minutes to firm slightly (do not chill longer than 30 minutes).

Divide dough into 16 equal portions; roll between hands into balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Working in batches, drop 8 dough balls into baking dish with sugar and toss to coat. Set dough balls on prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart; repeat with second batch of 8. Bake reversing position of the baking sheets halfway through baking (from top to bottom and front to back), until cookies are puffed and cracked and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft (cookies will look raw between cracks and seem underdone) 10 to 11 minutes. Do not overbake.

Cool cookies on baking sheet 5 minutes, then use wide metal spatula to transfer cookies to wire rack; cool cookies to room temperature.