Waffled Falafel

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Hash Brown Waffles

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a variation

Fruits and Veggies

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The Secret to My Best Granola

I am baking granola today. I bake a batch nearly every week.
I have to make something a million times before I devise the simplest and best-tasting method.

The secret to my best granola is not toasting it but drying it out in the oven. This way the flavor of the vanilla and molasses are not overshadowed. Bake in a preheated oven 250 degrees for 45 minutes and let sit for an hour or overnight to absorb residual heat.

Recipe:
1 cup of corn oil, 1 cup of Grandma's Molasses, 1 teaspoon of real vanilla extract, 1 heaping teaspoon of kosher salt (half this amount if using fine grain salt). Maybe I should just admit it, two teaspoons of kosher salt.

Directions:
Heat the oil, molasses, salt, and vanilla, in a large spaghetti pot and stir until bubbly then turn off the heat. Then add one (42 oz, or 2 lb 10 oz) large cylindrical container of old fashioned rolled oats and stir like mad. It's like tossing a salad of oats with molasses and oil dressing. When the oats are evenly coated pour them onto two baking trays or into two large cast iron frying pans and bake for 35-45 minutes at 250 F. Then after it has baked for 35-45 minutes turn the oven off and keep the oven door closed. Just let the granola dry out by itself. This is the important secret discovery. Come back a few hours later or the next day when it has dried and cooled and break it up (with a metal skewer) and store the granola in an airtight container.

This is my favorite travel and snack food. I often carry a little bit with me just in case I get peckish when I am out on a long walk. Sometimes I add raisins.

Kale + Chick Peas + Pasta + Sauce

Last night I steamed the chopped kale in the leftover chick peas broth in my 12" skillet. Then I added fresh garlic red chilies and olive oil. I decided to add the leftover chick peas and leftover cavatappi (hollow spiral) pasta and homemade tomato sauce. It was so good that I will do this on purpose next time. We grated fresh Parmesan Reggiano on top.

This is so good we made it again!

Fast Potato Breakfast

This morning I grated two potatoes and fried them in my skillet. When browned I topped them with two eggs briefly covering the pan. I added a few marinated artichoke hearts and my leftover tomato sauce and grated parmesan. Delicious.

Simmering Homade Tomato Sauce

I have been dreaming of Italian food for a few days so today I set up a tomato sauce using our last locally smoked Polish sausage, a head of chopped celery, 3 big carrots diced, 3 cans of crushed tomatoes, 2 cans of black olives chopped, a few cloves of garlic diced, a splash of cheap port wine and olive oil. I have not added any more herbs or spices because today the smoked sausage is my spice. Simmering the sauce over time will complete the magic.
Update: I decided to add basil, oregano, bay leaves parsley and tomato paste. The sauce was magnificent and the tiny bits of chopped sausage absorbed the Italian flavors. We ate it with a pressure-cooked pound of cavatappi pasta ( ready in 3 minutes) and pressure-cooked chick peas (as tiny meatballs) and parmesan reggiano grated fresh, on top.

Soul food in a Storm

I made scalloped potatoes with lots of potato and onion and I made a roux using whole wheat flour and olive oil and low-fat 2% milk and Adobo. It came out so good I will do it again. I baked it in a deep casserole dish out of convenience. Next time I will bake it in a shallow for more surface area and delicious crust.

Quiche IMPROV without a Crust

INGREDIENTS
3 onions
two large white potatoes grated
one pound of frozen spinach
olive oil
Adobo
Salt
cheap port
vegetable stock
14 large eggs beaten
4 sandwich-slices or equivalent of pepper jack cheese
6-inch smoked polish garlic sausage chopped in small chunks


I sauteed the onions and grated potato in olive oil and Adobo and added vegetable stock. When it cooked down I added the spinach, cheese, sausage, a splash of cheap port.
I beat 14 eggs and added them to the mixture and baked it in my 12 " cast iron skillet in a preheated 350 F oven for 30 minutes.

It was fabulous!

Pumpkin Pie and Whole Wheat Press-In Crust

I am always adapting and tinkering with my favorite recipes. Here's the latest version of an old favorite. You can really taste the pumpkin because it is not overly sweet. We like to eat it for dinner.

Ingredients and instructions for 1 pie (9-10 inch) or 3 mini pies (6 inch)

Pie crust:

1 cup of whole wheat flour
1/4 cup corn oil
6 Tbs white or brown sugar (the sugar is the glue holding the crust together)
1 teaspoon Kosher salt (less if using regular salt or white flour)

Mix ingredients with fingers so it is pebbly. Press into pie pan with fingers. Prick dough on the pan bottom with a fork. It can be sticky and hard to handle but hang in there, it will be delicious.

Bake at 350° F for 5-10 minutes. Then let it cool.

Tip from Once Upon a Chef Jenn Segal: Press the crust into the bottom of the pan with the back of a measuring cup.  This will make sure the crust is in the pan nice and firm, so that it won't fall apart when you cut this for serving.

Pie filling:

1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1/8 cup of dark molasses
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt (half if using regular salt)
1 teaspoon ground ginger (I used freshly finely grated frozen ginger root)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
1 small can of pumpkin puree (15 oz.)
1 can of evaporated milk (12 fl. oz.)

Mix sugar, dark molasses, cinnamon, salt, ginger, vanilla, and eggs in large bowl. Whisk in pumpkin puree and evaporated milk. 

Pour into the pre-baked, cooled pie shells.

Bake pie in preheated 425° F oven for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 more minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Some bakers use sweetened condensed milk so I tried it but I discovered that it is cloyingly sweet and drowns out the pumpkin taste compared to a pie made with evaporated milk and 1/4 cup sugar. The evaporated milk pumpkin pie is much more like Indian Pudding and tastes like a food!

Michael Rushlow's Potato Salad

Pressure Cooker German Potato Salad
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Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: German
Author: Michael Rushlow
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 35 mins
Serves: 4
A speedy pressure cooker preparation of the classic warm German Potato Salad

http://pressurecookerconvert.com/pressure-cooker-german-potato-salad/

Ingredients

6 slices thick-cut bacon (about ½ lb.)
2 lb. red potatoes, cut in ½"-3/4" chunks
1 onion, finely chopped
½ cup chicken broth
½ cup apple cider vinegar
1 splash worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard (grainy or Dijon both work fine)
½ teaspoon celery seed
1 tablespoon sugar
salt and pepper
3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf (italian) parsley

Instructions

Put pressure cooker pot over medium high heat
Roughly chop the raw bacon (you can leave it whole if you have a large pot, but I do it this way because it fits better)
Put bacon in pot and fry until crisp (around 15 min. total)
Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate
In the bacon fat, saute onions until translucent (do not brown)
Chop the crisp bacon fine and add back to the pot
Add potatoes to the pot
Add in vinegar, broth, worcestershire sauce, mustard, celery seed, sugar and a little salt and pepper
Turn heat to high, cover pressure cooker and bring to high pressure
When high pressure is reached, lower heat to maintain high pressure and set timer for 5 minutes
When timer sounds, remove from heat and let sit for two minutes then do a cold water release
Adjust salt and pepper to taste
Stir in the parsley, then let it cool (it can be served warm, or put in the refrigerator to be served later (I served it cold).

Everybody Eats

Years ago I went to the Columbus Day festival on federal hill and a man hawking sausage and peppers was shouting "Everybody eats!" I laughed and he changed his phrase to "get your sausage and peppers here."

The Urban Mermaid

I have been LAZY about posting here. I've been posting all of my food related posts on my other blog, http://theurbanmermaid.blogspot.com/

Potato Salad and Coleslaw and a Chicken Stir Fry

I just took my five pounds of potatoes and made German Potato salad in my Presto pressure cooker and then I mixed up a bucket of coleslaw. I hope to make a lemon peanut soy sauce and hot sauce dressing for cubed chicken, to be eaten with these other foods. When I am insatiably hungry I need to cook a lot, in advance of mealtime. This way I know there will be food ready and that it will last for a few days.

Sunday Morning Granola

I bake my granola at 250 for 45 minutes and then I let it hang out in the pans for hours in the residual heat after I've turned off the oven.

Savory Cornucopia Waffles

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
pinch of baking soda
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups lowfat buttermilk
1/3 cup corn oil
4 oz. nonfat Greek yogurt and chopped kalamata olives
4 cups frozen defrosted drained chopped spinach
pinch of dill weed,
splash of hot sauce
chopped garlic
we had leftover yams, beets and eggplant we chopped and threw in, holding back on the spinach.

Jon Frankel: My Favorite Food Writer

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Marinated and Grilled

Saturday I marinated 4 chicken breasts in a vinegar molasses hot sauce garlic and ginger mixture. Sunday afternoon we grilled them over hardwood and they were spectacular. I had made cauliflower kale stir fry the night before and we warmed them to room temps to enjoy with the chicken. Best meal ever, out on the picnic table.

Nuts over Peanuts

Tuesday, Jul 05th 2011
5 Reasons You Can Lose Weight With Peanuts

authored by Sheryl Kraft

Among the benefits of eating peanuts is one that resonates with nearly everybody (and makes everyone happy, if they love—and previously eschewed—peanuts): peanuts can help with weight loss.

No, I'm not going to present yet another crazy fad diet, like eat unlimited amounts of peanuts and peanut butter and you're guaranteed to drop 10 pounds in one week.

Eating peanuts while you're trying to lose weight seems like an oxymoron, right?

When I told my friend Isabelle about the connection, she eyed me skeptically. So I told her to make sure to read this post for some solid information. And, besides that, there's a chance for her—and any of you—to win some yummy peanut products, including red-skin peanuts, boiled peanuts, peanut flour and a gourmet peanut spread. (I feel like Forest Gump when I write this. Only with him, it was shrimp...pan-fried, deep-fried, stir-fried…pineapple shrimp, shrimp salad, coconut shrimp…I think he left out shrimp with peanuts).

But before I tell you how to enter the contest, let me tell you how peanuts can help weight loss.

Since peanuts and peanut butter are packed with fiber and protein, they keep you satisfied and full for a long time, helping to manage your hunger.
Because of their protein and fiber, peanuts and peanut butter will stick with you for about 2 1/2 hours vs. the half hour you'll get from high-carbohydrate foods, according to one study.
Peanuts can increase your metabolic rate. When researchers studied resting energy expenditure on peanut and peanut butter eaters, they found that it was 11 percent greater after regular peanut consumption for 19 weeks compared to the baseline.
The fat in peanuts (the "good fat") provides satiety and taste satisfaction, so you don't feel deprived.
Since peanuts stabilize your blood sugar with their low glycemic index (meaning they are digested more slowly and release sugar gradually into the bloodstream), they provide long-lasting energy and decrease cravings.

And now for the fun part. To win, please post your most inventive recipe or use for peanuts by 5 p.m. EST, July 6. It could be an unlikely or unexpected combination or something fairly common but with a twist. We'll choose the most original and announce the winner. As always, make sure to include your e-mail address so you can be notified. Once notified, you must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be selected. Sorry, contest is open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

For more information on peanuts, click here and for more information on weight management, click here.

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Roasted New Red Potatoes

3 pounds small red new potatoes, halved
1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Toss potatoes with oil, salt and pepper.
Roast until tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes (check after 20 minutes). Transfer to a serving dish.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Recipe by: JAQATAC
"This recipe is from my mother. It may sound strange, but these are really good and very easy to make. The Brussels sprouts should be brown with a bit of black on the outside when done. Any leftovers can be reheated or even just eaten cold from the fridge. I don't know how, but they taste sweet and salty at the same time!"

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and yellow leaves removed
3 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
Place trimmed Brussels sprouts, olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Seal tightly, and shake to coat. Pour onto a baking sheet, and place on center oven rack.
Roast in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, shaking pan every 5 to 7 minutes for even browning. Reduce heat when necessary to prevent burning. Brussels sprouts should be darkest brown, almost black, when done. Adjust seasoning with kosher salt, if necessary. Serve immediately.

Homemade Pickled Ginger

Recipe by: Phoena
"Pickled ginger is called gari or amazu shoga in Japanese. It's served with sushi or sashimi and eaten between different kinds of sushi. It helps to clean your taste buds and enhance the flavors. It's also great with Century Eggs - a Chinese delicacy. You can find prepared pickled ginger in pink or white at most Asian markets but I preferred to make my own and share with family and friends."

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh young ginger root, peeled
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

1 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup white sugar

Directions

Cut the ginger into chunks and place them into a bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt, stir to coat and let stand for about 30 minutes. Transfer the ginger to a clean jar.
In a saucepan, stir together the rice vinegar and sugar until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil, then pour the boiling liquid over the ginger root pieces in the jar.
Allow the mixture to cool, then put the lid on the jar and store in the refrigerator for at least one week. You will see that the liquid will change to slightly pinkish in few minutes. Don't be alarmed because it's the reaction of rice vinegar that causes the change. Only quality rice vinegar can do that! Some commercial pickled ginger has red coloring added. Cut pieces of ginger into paper thin slices for serving.

For safety when canning and preserving foods, contact your local extension for guidelines in your area that will be specific to your altitude. Click here to read more about canning and preserving.

Crisp Pickled Green Beans

Recipe by: Janis Whitsett
"This recipe is from my Grandmother's cookbook she made to pass to all her grandchildren. They come out very, very crisp with a wonderful dill flavor. The red pepper flakes give them a nice punch. They are much better than the recipes that call for cooking the beans first."

2 1/2 pounds fresh green beans
2 1/2 cups distilled white vinegar
2 cups water
1/4 cup salt

1 clove garlic, peeled
1 bunch fresh dill weed
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Add all ingredients to list

Directions:

Sterilize 6 (1/2 pint) jars with rings and lids and keep hot. Trim green beans to 1/4 inch shorter than your jars.
In a large saucepan, stir together the vinegar, water and salt. Add garlic and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. In each jar, place 1 sprig of dill and 1/8 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Pack green beans into the jars so they are standing on their ends.
Ladle the boiling brine into the jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the tops. Discard garlic. Seal jars with lids and rings. Place in a hot water bath so they are covered by 1 inch of water. Simmer but do not boil for 10 minutes to process. Cool to room temperature. Test jars for a good seal by pressing on the center of the lid. It should not move. Refrigerate any jars that do not seal properly. Let pickles ferment for 2 to 3 weeks before eating.

Burrito in the Toaster

This makes a great quick chip type bread.

Whole Grains

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