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Posts from the ‘Eat’ Category

Jan 25

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I made marshmallows

I’ve never wanted to make marshmallows.  I never gave much thought to marshmallows, except when I drank cocoa or had a campfire. 

Then…..

I saw a blog post about making marshmallows.  It looks SO easy…. and delicious.

Saw, I got up.  When to the kitchen.  And made marshmallows.

Now I’m addicted.  Poor me.

A fab blogger (and sorry, I can’t remember who) recommended this recipe.  Wow!  Thanks French Laundry for the great recipe.  My kids are thanking you too.

Here are some picture I made while whipping up my batch.

This is the sugar mixture whipping in the kitchen-aid.  I was surprised at how quickly the mixture turned white (there are no egg whites here).
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And, here is an “after” shot.  Don’t they look de-lish.

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Wish you were here.

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Jan 25

Another (much more successful) attempt at Homemade Bread

I tried making bread again yesterday.  My second attempt was much more successful.  I used a combination of wheat a white flour (2.5 cups wheat & 5 cups bread flour).  I also increased the yeast to 2.5 t.  The next time I try it, I will increase the yeast even more.  But, I am out of gluten, so no more bread until I make a run to the store.

Thanks High Heels and a sippy cup for the great recipe.

Jan 20

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Homemade bread

I’ve been wanting to make some more home made bread. I could hear my bread machine calling.  A few months back (actually SEVERAL months back) I experimented with making bread in my Kitchen-Aid mixer.  It was a dismal failure.

Today, while searching for a pattern for a Kitchen-Aid cozy, I ran across this recipe.  I immediately printed it and started baking. 

The recipe called for a mix of white and whole wheat flour.   I knew I had whole wheat flour, but couldn’t  find it anywhere.  So, I used all white flour (bread machine flour).  I also did not have the kind of yeast she recommended, so I used the Fleishmann’s bread machine yeast I had on hand. 

As I was putting away my bread flour, I found the whole wheat flour (drats!).  The bread dough mixed up very nicely.  I let it rise per the directions, but my dough did not rise as much as hers did, so next time I am adding another tsp of yeast.  Below is a picture of the raw dough in the pan (after rising in my 170 degree oven).   The dough doesn’t look smooth, but it didn’t feel dry to me.  Not sure what is wrong…..

bread

Then, I baked acording to her recipe.  When I pulled the bread out of the oven it looked and felt done.  But, it wasn’t.  I really needed to cook the bread for 5 or so minutes longer.  Next time I will.  Here is the bread just out of the oven.  See, the bread really isn’t dark enough.  Rookie mistake.

Homemade bread

 

I cut into the bread and found the inside was still doughey.  I put the break back into the oven for 5 inutes more, but it was too late.  The bread had cooled too much already.  Next time I will no better.

Here is a slice.

Bread

It still looks yummy, though.  Doesn’t it?

I will definately try this recipe again.  Overall, I am very pleased.

Sep 18

Funk Butter – Homemade Deodorant

Sorry, I haven’t posted in ages.  Sometimes, time is not my friend.  Anywhoo, I’ve been reading about deodorant recipes (AngryChicken, FunkButter, Tammy’s Recipes, and wanted to try it for myself. 

Most of the people making their own deodorant do it because of aluminum concerns.  While I am concerned about aluminum, I made my own for a different reason.  I have very sensitive skin and I am trying to remove all irritants from my lifestyle (but, I’m letting the kids stay [wink]).  Sounds easy, but proving to be difficult.

I used Tammy Recipe, because I had all the ingredients on hand.

Shannon’s Own Funk Butter
1/4 cup Baking Soda
1/4 cup Corn Starch
5 TBSP Coconut Oil (mine is solid)
A few drops of Essential Oil – I used Coconut, Vanilla and Melon.
I had to nuke it for 30 seconds, so everything could mix evenly.  I divided it up into 2 plastic containers (I wish I had small glass covered containers, but I don’t).  My deodorant is in the fridge, hardening up. 

I can hardly wait to use it.  I will post a review in a few days.

Jul 22

Kool-aid Pickles

http://www.slashfood.com/2008/06/13/kool-aid-pickles-koolickles/

I’m from Alabama, not Mississippi, but I must try Kool-aid Pickles. I guarantee, the pickles will either be yummy or delish.

 I have a recipe similar to this using store bought Kosher Pickles.

Drain juice from pickles (reserve juice). Layer pickles and lots and lots of sugar and red pepper flakes back into the jar. Then, pour the juice back over the pickles and sugar. Refrigerate until the sugar dissolves (2-3 days). Enjoy.

P.S.  I found this recipe via the tamale post.

Apr 16

Diet is an ugly 4 letter work

I turn the big 4-0 in July. Before this big round number, I need to trim down my big round…. well, you know. When I had my daughter, I lost that baby weight by using ediets. At that time, it was a free service offering a food diary. I really liked the service and it helped me loose that baby weight. Since PJ…. well, I’ve not been very motivated. After 6 years, can you still call it baby weight?

So today I googled Food Diary and found this site www.my-calorie-counter.com.   It is an online food diary.

Dec 7

Yummy Dinner

I nailed dinner tonight.  It was one of the best meals I have prepared in a long time.  Funny thing it, I threw it together.

I made baked chicken and rice with Kale and white beans.

For the baked chicken, I sprayed a 9X13 baking dish with Pam.  Then added 1 cup Jasmine Rice, 1 can chicken broth + water to equal 2 cups, 2 cut up carrots (not the baby carrot – the regular size), 2 stalks celery cut up, salt and peper.  On top of the rice, I placed 3 frozen bonless chicken breasts.  Covered the dish with tinfoil and baken at 400 degree for 30 minutes.  After 30 minutes, I removed the tinfoil and salted and peppered the chicken and sprinkled with Chicken rotisserie spices from Penzey.  Baken an additional 10 minutes uncovered.  Delish.

I purchased the Kale already washed and cut in a bag at the grocery.  I washed the Kale (again at home) and added dripping wet Kale to hot cast iron pan.  I added additional water as needed to steam.  Then I added a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a few shakes of red pepper flakes.  When Kale was done (very limp), I added a drained and rinsed can of white beans, then salt and pepper.  Yummy.

This will definatley go into my normal rotation. 

Nov 5

Homestyle White Bread Recipe

Homestyle White Bread

 

1 ½ cups water

1 ½ tablespoons honey

2 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

 

4 cups bread flour

3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk

2 tablespoons toasted wheat germ, optional

1 ½ sugar

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon gluten

2 teaspoons salt

 

1 tablespoon Bread Machine Yeast

  

Dump all ingredients into Kitchen-Aid mixer and blend for approx 3 minutes.

 

Turn up speed (medium) and knead for approx 7 minutes

 

Allow to rise for approx 1 hour – it will only expand slightly.  Cover dough with damp tea towel or saran wrap to keep it from drying out. 

 

1st Deflate by spinning the beater for 2-3 rotations on a very slow speed.

 

2nd Rise – allow to rise 1-2 hours.  Occasionally, I will heat a rice bag and wrap it around the bowl and cover with a tea towel.  Cover dough with a damp towel or saran wrap to keep it from drying out. 

 

Around this time, I preheat my oven to the lowest temp – 170 degrees.  Then, I turn it off. 

 

2nd Deflate by spinning the beater for 2-3 rotations on a very slow speed.

 

Remove dough from Kitchen-Aid bowl and move to baking pan.  I sometimes use a stone bowl or a regular metal bread pan.  Put pan in oven for 3rd rising.  The temp for the rising should be 100 degrees.  Allow to rise for 1-2 hours.  (be sure to cover dough)

 

Remove dough from oven and preheat to 300 degrees.  When it reaches temperature, bake until crust is golden brown. 

 

Nov 4

Celebrating Thansgiving Early

My family is celebrating Thansgiving today, as everyone has to be somewhere else on Thanksgiving.  I am responsible for bringing Zipper Peas (I frozen these from the Farmers Market back during the summer), a dessert (my hubby is making his famous banana pudding).  I am going to film in making his banana pudding and put it on the web.  Keep watching…

 And lastly, yesterday I made some homemade bread and let it rise overnight.  It is in the oven right now and I can hardly wait.  I will post my bread recipe in the next post.

Nov 4

Bread Machine vs Handmade Bread

I purchased a bread machine from the Thrift Store about 2years ago and went crazy making all sorts of homemade bread.  Then I purchased “The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook” by Beth Hensperger.  Every recipe I a make from her cookbook overflowed my bread machine.  I decided to give the cookbook one more shot and try a different recipe.  It overflowed so badly, I had to throw out my bread machine.  I never bought another and often spoke of how much I missed my old friend.

Then one day, I read an article abot making bread in a Kitchen-Aid mixer (which I already owned).  I nearly went nuts.  So, I mixed up a bread machine recipe in my mixer, let it rise there and then pulled out the dough for backing.  I am fairly happy with the results, but I keep making newbie mistakes. For example, I let my dough rise in my oven overnight.  But, I forgot to cover the dough with a damp towel.  This morning, the top is all dried out.  It is baking now.  I just peeked in and it smells wonderful, but the top isn’t smooh and looks funny.  Live and learn…..

I will publish the recipe I used in my next post.  It really is a good recipe.

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