Sunday, February 26, 2012

Tortilla Soup is Comfort Food

Tortilla soup is not on the About.com Top 25 American Comfort Foods, but it should be! Everyone in Texas has a slightly different recipe and ours is largely inspired by the Homesick Texan cookbook. There is more to this soup than what meets the eye in the photo.

Ingredients:
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
6 corn tortillas
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
4 carrots, chopped
6 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can corn
2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tbsp lime juice
Salt, to taste
1/2 chopped cilantro
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup Cotija cheese
1 avocado, sliced

Directions:
In a large stockpot bring chicken broth and water to boil.

Heat 1/2 cup of vegetable oil in a large skillet on medium heat until it reaches 350 degrees. Slice the tortillas into strips about 1/4 in thick. Add tortilla strips to the hot oil and cook until crisp, less than one minute. Drain tortillas on a paper towel and sprinkle if salt.

Slice the onion and chop the carrots and garlic and saute. Once cooked add to the soup which should be boiling. Add tomatoes, corn,  chiles in adobo, cumin, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, lime juice, and salt to taste. Chop cilantro, shred chicken and add both to soup. Reduce heat and allow to simmer.

Grate Monterey Jack cheese, crumble Cotija cheese, and slice avocado then top over soup with tortilla strips. Serve in a large bowl because you have a hearty soup here!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Post about a Cupcake Pin on Pinterest

I love social media almost as much as I love food! There are so many avenues for sharing, reviewing, and bonding with friends, family, and total strangers. This recipe was pinned by a friend on Pinterest and I had to try it. The original recipe was posted on allrecipes.com. After reading the comments from other bakers I decided to change the recipe slightly. If you'd like to read their reviews as well follow the link at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients:
1 (19.5 ounce) package brownie mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup water
1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix (your choice!)
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 1/3 cups water
3 egg whites
Frosting (your choice!)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 48 muffin cups with paper liners.

Mix the cake mix, 2 tablespoons canola oil, 1 1/3 cup water, and 3 egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Whisk together the brownie mix, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup canola oil, and 1/4 cup water in a bowl. Stir just until fully incorporated, about 50 strokes; set aside.

Spoon the cake mix into muffin cups, filling each cup 1/3 full. Spoon the brownie batter over the cake mix, until muffin cups are each 2/3 full.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Brownie-Batter--Cupcake--The-SECOND-BEST-Cupcake-Ever/Detail.aspx

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Giddy for Gold Cake

This is the second antique cake I've made from the 1920's cookbook Cakes Cookies and Confections. They call it the Shapleigh Gold Cake. A challenge I've experienced baking from old cookbooks is when important instructions or details are missing. For example, in this recipe they don't tell you how long to bake the cake and they simply call for "fat". I used shortening for the fat, but you could also use butter or lard I believe.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fat
1 cup sugar (fine granulated)
8 egg yolks
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup flour (I used cake flour)
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp lemon rind
1 tsp lemon juice

Directions:
Cream fat and sugar. Add lemon juice and rind. Add egg yolks beaten until very light. Sift dry ingredients together. Add alternately with milk. Bake in a moderate oven. (For the first five minutes, 380 F degrees, then reduce to 360 degrees). Makes two layers or 54 small cup cakes.

Notes: I baked at 360 for 10 minutes, but the cake was a little dry. Try 5 minutes at 380 F degrees and test with toothpick after 5 minutes at 360 F degrees. I frosted the cake with cream cheese icing from the Joy of Cooking cookbook and topped with more grated lemon rind.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Vampires Hate Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Garlic mashed potatoes are a classic comfort food. My favorite style is rustic with the potato skins still on and creamy. This recipe is easily adapted to smaller or larger quantities. You can also substitute butter and heavy cream for cream cheese or add Parmesan to change the flavor.

Ingredients:
5 medium baking potatoes
5 gloves garlic
1 stick butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt to taste


Directions:
In a large pot boil the potatoes and garlic. Once potatoes are easily pierced with a fork drain in colander. Transfer the potatoes and garlic to a stand mixer. You can return to the pot if you're using a hand mixer. Add the butter, heavy cream, and salt. Mash the potatoes on a low speed. If using a Kitchen Aid I suggest the paddle attachment.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Lovely Lemon Pudding Cake

I made a Lemon Pudding Cake to continue my new year resolution to make different antique cakes. The recipe comes from Gourmet's Menu Cookbook, compiled and edited in 1963. Other versions online come from family recipes passed through many generations. One neat idea I saw was to make individual portions in ramekins and top with fresh fruit. This dish is not very sweet and does not rise. It's different and interesting!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 tbsp butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp grated lemon zest
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
3 tbsp flour
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup milk

Cream 1 1/2 tbsp butter with 3/4 cup sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy and beat in 2 tsps grated lemon zest. Add 3 egg yolks and beat well. Stir in 3 tbsps flour alternately with 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1 cup milk. Fold in 3 egg whites, stiffly beaten with a pinch of salt. Turn the batter into a buttered casserole, set the casserole in a pan of hot water, and bake the cake in a moderate oven (350 F) for about 1 hour, until the cake tests done on top. The bottom of the casserole will contain a think, lemony sauce.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Ridiculous Rice Krispie Treats

Wow... these Rice Krispie treats are ridiculously good! My husband follows the blog Ideas in Food*. They made Loaded Rice Krispie treats with Rolos so we had to give it a try. We decided to make ours with caramels and sea salt though. The basic recipe is easily adapted as long as you keep in mind the dry ingredient ratio to butter and marshmallows. Give it a try with your favorite brand of chips and candy!

Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter
1 package marshmallows (10 oz)
4 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups regular potato chips (smashed to quarter size pieces)
1 cup caramels
Sea salt

Directions
In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Continue stirring and add caramels. Remove from heat.

Add Rice Krispies cereal and potato chips. Stir until well coated. Using spatula or wax paper press mixture into pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with sea salt. Let cool before cutting into squares or shapes. Best if served the same day.

* Ideas in Food is a cool blog! http://blog.ideasinfood.com/ideas_in_food/

Saturday, January 21, 2012

What's the difference?

I will nod and smile even if I don't know exactly what the waiter or a co-worker is talking about when it comes to food terminology. Cooking with old recipes is challenging as well. I will then ask my husband or Google it for reference. Here is my list. Do you have any food words or phrases to add?

Sweet Potato vs. Yam
Americans use the two names interchangeably even in the grocery store, but technically they are two very different vegetables. I borrowed this picture from bonappetit.com. The sweet potato is on the left and the yam is on the right. Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are most common in the US, have a smooth skin, and sweet flavor. The real yam has a rough skin, white flesh, and bland taste.  

Stuffing vs. Dressing
Stuffing and dressing are the same food just applied in differently. Stuffing means to literally stuff the turkey while dressing refers to a side dish. References say US northerners commonly say stuffing while southerners say dressing. The regional aspect fits me having grown up in the northwest. When I hear the word dressing I think blue cheese, honey mustard, or vinaigrette.

Chicken Stock vs. Chicken Broth
According to the Food Network chicken stock is usually made from the bony parts and has richer flavor. Chicken broth is made from the meat. Stock vs. broth is an important difference if you're deglazing a saute pan because they have different gelatin ratios.

Hot Cakes vs. Pancakes
The most common answer  is that it's a regional dialect thing in the US. Other names include flapjacks and griddlecakes. You're most likely going to call this breakfast item whatever you heard growing up. Wikipedia has an extensive page that goes into the international varieties and history of pancakes. Did you know there are 5 countries that celebrate a form of "pancake day?"

Queso vs. Cheese
Queso in Spanish means cheese. In the US "queso" is used to describe a variety of cheese or dish. Queso blanco is a white cheese and queso fresco is a fresh cheese found at specialty markets. If you see queso on the menu, especially in Texas, you will be ordering a cheese dip.

Basting Oil vs. Olive Oil
Basting oil actually has olive oil in it. Other inquiring minds seem mystified by this term and believe it's a marketing invention for mixed oils with herbs. Basting oil is commonly used for searing pan-searing meat and seafood.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Devil's Food Cake & Important Life Lessons

My family visited this weekend and I had the pleasure of baking with my Mom. I was reminded of a few important life lessons too. Just like our cake... life is messy, it's not always pretty, and it's more fun and flavorful when shared with good company.

This recipe comes from The Joy of Cooking copyright 1946. I've copied the format and recipe word for word. I recommend reading the entire recipe a couple times before attempting!

Chocolate Devil's Food Cake I

This good cake, made with cocoa and white sugar, keeps moist for a long time.

Part I
Combine and beat until well blended:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup sour milk

Part II
Sift:
1 cup sugar

Beat until soft:
1/2 cup butter
Add the sugar gradually. Blend these ingredients until they are creamy.

Beat in one at a time:
2 eggs

Sift before measuring:
2 cups cake flour
Resift with:
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Add the flour in about 3 parts to the butter mixture alternately with thirds of:
1 cup sour milk
Beat the batter after each addition until it is smooth. Add:
1 teaspoon vanilla
Beat in cocoa mixture (part I). Bake the cake in a greased 9 inch tube pan in a moderate oven 350 degrees for about 60 minutes. It may be baked in two greased 9 inch layer pans in a 375 degree oven for about 35 minutes. Spread the cake with:
White or chocolate icing
Add to the icing if desired:
Nut meats

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Pineapple Up-Side-Down Cake

One of my 2012 resolutions is to make antique cakes. My Mother-in-law gave me the 1920s cookbook Cakes Cookies and Confections which was compiled by the California Home Economics Association. I love the language used throughout the cookbook and can imagine generations of families enjoying the same recipes!

Angel Sponge Cake
1 c sugar
1/3 c water
3 eggs
1 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla or lemon extract
1/8 c cold water (orange juice may be substituted for the flavoring and cold water)

Boil sugar and water until it spins a thread (216) and add slowly to the stiffly beaten whites, beating until mixture is cool. Sift together three times the flour, salt, and baking powder. Beat egg yolks until thick and add alternately with the dry ingredients to the white of egg mixture. Add water and flavoring and mix lightly. Bake in an ungreased tin in a moderate oven for about one hour. Let cake hang in pan until cool.

Up-Side-Down Cake
This type of cake has many names and variations. It was perhaps first called Frying Pan or Skillet Cake. When made with pineapple it is also known as Sylvia Pineapple, Hawaiian Pie or Pineapple Wheel Cake. Make the Standard Proportion cake batter or a plain sponge as preferred.

Pour this over the following:
1/4 lb butter
1 c brown sugar

Fruit such as pitted, cooked prunes, pineapple, apricots, peaches, fresh Bartlett pears, or apple sauce.

Melt butter. Add sugar. Spread fruit over all, arranged in patterns, if desired. Cover with batter and bake in moderate oven till done; 30-45 minutes. if pineapple is used, seedless grapes in red syrup, or slices or red cherries, make an effective decoration. Invert cake when done. May flute with butter cream or whipped cream. Excellent baked in a fireless cooker with stones at 425 degrees for 45 minutes.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Candy & Cookie! Peanut Butter Temptations

Sometimes you find a fantastic recipe on the packaging that is worth keeping. This was the case on a big bag of holiday Reese's peanut butter cup miniatures. Not just candy, not just a cookie, but both!

Ingredients:
40 Reese's Miniatures
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Heat oven to 375 F degrees. Remove wrappers from candies. Line small muffin cups with paper bake cups. You can also use a mini muffin pan as seen in the photo and skip the muffin cups! Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, egg and vanilla until fluffy in large bowl. Stir together, baking soda and salt;  gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Shape dough into 1 inch balls; place one in each muffin cup. Do not flatten. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until puffed and lightly browned; remove from oven. Immediately press peanut butter cup in center of each cookie. Cool completely in muffin pan.