Baking

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Blueberry Oatmeal Bread

Richard at the office is into baking  he has made some out of this world banana breads, cakes and muffins. He stuck a piece of this in front of me today and said this is great and he was not lying.

This is Heidi from Go bold With Butter  – She must love Ina Garten who uses a lot of butter while cooking.

I’m a lover of quick breads. Pulling together a few ingredients that can be mixed by hand and dumped into one simple pan, then placed in a hot oven to produce a sweet blueberry surprise topped with a pat of butter is what I call a great weekend treat.

The beauty of this recipe is that it comes together so quickly I don’t even have to wait for the weekend to make it. In about the same amount of time it takes to make a morning omelet I can mix the ingredients, then take a quick shower, put on my face and have something fresh from the oven for my daughter before shuttling her off to school.

I love blueberry muffins so adapting the recipe for a quick bread was a natural. Adding heart-healthy oatmeal to the mix gives it a bonus kick start for my daughter’s morning, and a pick-me-up for my afternoon snack.

Blueberry Oatmeal Bread

richard 1
By Heidi
Makes one loaf

Ingredients:

1 cup blueberries
2 cups flour, plus 1 tablespoon
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup Greek yogurt
2 eggs
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup oats

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly butter and dust with flour.

In a small bowl, toss blueberries with 1 tablespoon flour to keep blueberries from sinking. In a large bowl, whisk 2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix yogurt, eggs, melted butter and vanilla together and then fold into the dry ingredients. Add the blueberries and oats and gently combine.

Scrape the mixture to loaf pan. It will be thick and a little sticky. Bake for 50-55 minutes and golden brown and when a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes then cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Related post

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

Pancakes

Healthy Breakfast Scones

Rose’s Ham and Cheese Pie – Many fond memories sitting around the kitchen bar, talking , eating and learning.

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Georgiana Fraccola’s Chiffon Cake Recipe

Richard came in to work raving about this cake he had over the weekend and thought that it would be a good post. He says you just have to try it, it was the best cake he ever had.

He says he will take a picture when he give this a try in the meantime here is what it looked like.

chiffon-cake-ck-1072219-l

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cups Cake Flour                                    ½ cup Cooking Oil (Wesson or Mazzola)

1 ½ cups Sugar                                             8 Jumbo Eggs (separate yolks from whites)

3 teaspoons Baking Powder                     ¾ cup Cold Water

1 teaspoon Salt                                            1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract

1 tablespoon Lemon Extract

Confectioner’s Sugar                                  ½ teaspoon Cream of Tartar

 

Step 1:

              Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine the Cake Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, and Salt in a bowl

Sift the dry mixture together 3 times

Make a well in the middle of the dry mixture.

Add (in order) the Cooking Oil, Unbeaten Egg Yolks,  Cold Water, Vanilla Extract and Lemon Extract.

Beat, using a mixer, for 2 minutes.

Set aside

Step 2:

In a different mixing bowl, add the Egg Whites, and Cream of Tartar.

Beat until very stiff

Step 3:

Very slowly pour the yolk mixture over the egg whites – gently folding in to combine. (do not stir – fold)

Pour into Ungreased, large, 2 piece Angel Food Cake Pan immediately (it’s a good idea to cut a piece of waxed or parchment paper to place in the bottom of the pan to ease removal of the cake).

Bake in 350 degree oven for 55 – 60 minutes.

When cake is done, invert the pan (a beer bottle works well, as a stand, while inverted) until cool

After cake is cool, gently use a butter knife to run along the side to help free it from the pan.

Dust the top of the cake with sifted Confectioners’ Sugar

I Was Bored The Other Day – Chicken
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I Was Bored The Other Day – Chicken

Not sure what time it was or how I found this picture but I was snurfing the net, yes snurfing, an art much like using a TV remote in a man’s hands. I am male and way back when the males supposedly did the hunting. Now I bet cha there are a lot of cave women out there that would beg to differ and I would not be one to disagree but I once heard that  the art of channel surfing is a replacement for hunting with a man. Something to point and shoot in a sense. They went on to explain why  yada yada…. now there was someone with too much time on their hands.

Anyway I once dubbed that art form “snurfing” and it has crossed over to my wandering aimless through the vast realms of the internet. The blank stare is about the same as are the raised eyebrows and sudden freezing action when something catches my attention. Wait a minute who is the hunted one here? I came across this picture and I LIKE I muttered in a grunt. Quickly Pinning it so I don’t lose.

the-chicken-cake

 

Nice job sorry I can’t give you credit whomever you are!

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins and Pepper Biscuits
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Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins and Pepper Biscuits

Richard and I were talking about the good old days and Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins came up, that naturally got me onto the kitchen gadgets. I was a sucker for those things when a kid he used to do demonstrations at Jordan Marsh. My Mom literally had her top shelfs full of all these that I got her for mother’s day every year.

slice and dice

Now that I think about it She was never over 5 feet tall and the top shelf was a wasteland to her she was a good Mom she never used them but she did keep them on display so I thought. Anyway Richard found his Mom’s recipe for the muffins and these pepper biscuits I bet they are both up there smiling down at us right now. Notice his mom like more sugar and blueberries or was that for Richard’s sweet tooth.

Jordan marsh

Click to enlarge

Stuffed Eggplant Milanese Con Formaggio
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Stuffed Eggplant Milanese Con Formaggio

This is a great dish and I had been craving something warming and when I saw eggplants on sale I grabbed one. After preparing I looked at Lyn and said that was a lot of work. She smiled and said it is an act of love. It was well worth it and I better freeze some quickly I already found a way to have it make my plate three times now.

Since Lyn is still on her special strict diet I have to fend for myself, so I had a small eggplants and I cut the ingredient in half.

Prepare first

Ingredients

  • 1 –  28 oz. can Pastene kitchen ready crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil

How: Place oil in pot mix the seasoning in and heat slightly mix in the add the sauce bring boil and then to simmer

marinara sauce

Eggplant

Ingredients

  • 1 medium eggplant
  • ½ cup flour
  • 2 eggs Beaton with 1 teaspoon grated cheese and ¼ teaspoon Bell seasoning.
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive Oil for Frying (about 1 cup) add as needed.
  • ½ lbs. of provolone and mozzarella cheeses

How: Slice the eggplant ¼ inch thick. Lay out on paper towel and sprinkle with salt. After the moisture comes to the surface (little water bubbles) pat dry with paper towel. Flip and repeat. This takes a while we went shopping. There are other methods to draw out the moisture you can Google them.

Dip eggplant in flour, shake off excess and then into egg mixture to cover and shake of excess. Slowly brown on both sides. Set aside.

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Stuffing for eggplant

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 3 table spoons grated cheese
  • 2 teaspoons chopped parsley
  • 4 eggs
  • ¼ teaspoon bell seasoning
  • Salt and pepper

How: Mix together and mix in ¼ cup hot water to moisten.

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Prepare the casserole

Cover the bottom or baking dish with sauce

Make first layer of eggplant

Spoon the stuffing over the eggplant

Spoon a little of the sauce

Place ½  of provolone and ¼ slice of mozzarella cheeses on top

Layer the rest of the eggplant

Cover with provolone cheese and sprinkle with grated cheese

Pour marinara sauce to fill casserole. Cover tightly with tin foil. Bake in 350 oven for 45 minutes.

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Crispy Potato Latkes
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Crispy Potato Latkes

Hey it’s the season and PK got me going, she asked if we still celebrated Xmaschunak or something like that. My answer not really.  Since Mikie has grown up and out of the house we have kind of slipped away from Jewish traditions.  Now Lyn’s eyes light up Xmas, Hanukkah, Birthday, Easter ………. I was not the religious one in my family but there were some things I loved and still do.  Patti asked don’t you miss latkes? I do, but I can’t or should not or don’t eat like I used to, I’m sort of a good boy now, do you have a good recipe, she had peaked my interest! She replied Baked!! She is working on one for me. Then today I got an email from America Test Kitchen and the second one down Crispy Potato Latkes. Does PK have that much influence?

Latkes: Every now and then I will cheat and these would be something nice to do it with. I used to love tator tots and while growing up, these to me was like giant squished tator tots.

Published November 1, 2012. From Cook’s Illustrated.

How to Video here

Latkes come in all shapes and sizes. But the goal is always the same: lightness throughout, with a creamy interior encased in a crisp shell. To re-create this traditional Hanukkah dish, we selected high-starch russet potatoes and discovered a simple technique that yielded perfect texture, both inside and out.

Why this recipe works:

We wanted latkes that were light and not greasy, with buttery soft interiors surrounded by a shatteringly crisp outer shell. To achieve all of these goals, we needed to remove as much water as possible from the potato shreds by wringing them out in a kitchen towel and to minimize the release of what remained by microwaving the shreds briefly to cause the starches in the potatoes to form a gel. With the water taken care of, the latkes crisped up quickly and absorbed minimal oil.

Serves 4 to 6 as a side dish

We prefer shredding the potatoes on the large holes of a box grater, but you can also use the large shredding disk of a food processor; cut the potatoes into 2-inch lengths first so you are left with short shreds. Serve with applesauce and sour cream.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds russet potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed, and shredded
  • 1/2 cup grated onion
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
  • Vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position, place rimmed baking sheet on rack, and heat oven to 200 degrees. Toss potatoes, onion, and 1 teaspoon salt in bowl. Place half of potato mixture in center of dish towel. Gather ends together and twist tightly to drain as much liquid as possible, reserving liquid in liquid measuring cup. Transfer drained potato mixture to second bowl and repeat process with remaining potato mixture. Set potato liquid aside and let stand so starch settles to bottom, at least 5 minutes.
  2. Cover potato mixture and microwave until just warmed through but not hot, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring mixture with fork every 30 seconds. Spread potato mixture evenly over second rimmed baking sheet and let cool for 10 minutes. Don’t wash out bowl.
  3. Pour off water from reserved potato liquid, leaving potato starch in measuring cup. Add eggs and stir until smooth. Return cooled potato mixture to bowl. Add parsley, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and potato starch mixture and toss until evenly combined.
  4. Set wire rack in clean rimmed baking sheet and line with triple layer of paper towels. Heat 1/4-inch depth of oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking (350 degrees). Place 1/4-cup mound of potato mixture in oil and press with nonstick spatula into 1/3-inch-thick disk. Repeat until 5 latkes are in pan. Cook, adjusting heat so fat bubbles around latke edges, until golden brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn and continue cooking until golden brown on second side, about 3 minutes longer. Drain on paper towels and transfer to baking sheet in oven. Repeat with remaining potato mixture, adding oil to maintain 1/4-inch depth and returning oil to 350 degrees between batches. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.
  5. TO MAKE AHEAD: Cooled latkes can be covered loosely with plastic wrap and held at room temperature for up to 4 hours. Alternatively, they can be frozen on baking sheet until firm, transferred to zipper-lock bag, and frozen for up to 1 month. Reheat latkes in 375-degree oven until crisp and hot, 3 minutes per side for room-temperature latkes and 6 minutes per side for frozen latkes.
Lyn’s Almond Butter Cookies
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Lyn’s Almond Butter Cookies

I know she got these out of a natural health magazine many years ago and that these are good, real good, that’s all I will write. Smell the almond.

About 3 1/2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • 24 whole almonds
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 2/3 cup almond butter
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest.

 

How

Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly grease 2 backing sheets

Blanch the almonds in boiling water for 45 seconds. Drain and rinse under cold running water, squeeze each almond to pop it out of its skin; transfer almonds to cookie sheet and toast in the oven for 8 minutes.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.

In another bowl, whisk together maple syrup, almond butter, melted butter, vanilla and almond extracts and orange zest until smooth.

Fold the flour mixture into the almond butter mixture.

Form the dough into walnut sized balls. Place the balls 3 inches apart on the backing sheet and gently flatten into 1 ½ inch rounds. Press an almond into each cookie. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through for even baking. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool until crisp.

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Is this true?

Almonds are not nuts.  In fact, an almond is the seed of the fruit of the almond tree.  This tree bears fruits with a “stone-like” seed within.

Fruits with these characteristics are called “drupes”.  Specifically, a drupe is a fruit that has an outer fleshy part surrounding a shell that contains a seed.  Other drupes include fruits from walnut trees and coconut trees.

The seed inside the almond fruit is what is commonly referred to as an almond “nut”, even though it’s not a nut.  A nut is a hard shelled fruit that has an indehiscent seed; more simply, a hard shelled fruit that doesn’t open to release its seed(s).  An example of a true nut would be an acorn or chestnut.

This all gives a whole new perspective to the famous Almond Joy jingle “Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don’t”.  When you feel like a nut, an Almond Joy wouldn’t do you any good due to the ingredients primarily comprising of chocolate (bean), coconut (seed), and almonds (seed).  The ending of the jingle, like so many advertisements, is then just plain false advertising: “Almond Joy’s got nuts” (LIES!!!), “Mounds don’t”.

Read more at http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/04/almonds-are-not-nuts/#SMiq8OzorPKfmDkT.99

Mexican Lasagna Recipe
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Mexican Lasagna Recipe

Still on the fend for myself diet, but I am proud of Lyn she is sticking to her strict diet the woman has will power. After all she has to avoid my cooking most of the time that is hard to do. So I am taking advantage of this whenever I can and trying to stay eating healthy. I think everyone likes TexMex inspired meals so when I saw this on Pinterest I grabbed it and decided to make it as healthy as I could so white turkey breast, organic black beans and corn but I refused to use low-fat cheese it just does not melt right ya know what I mean? BTW she was right this was a great meal.

Anyway after making this I believe adding fresh chopped cilantro to the mixture after cooking just before spreading it in the baking dish would add a nice addition.

I just copied her recipe below except I used turkey.

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pounds ground turkey breast
  • 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 cup taco sauce
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • salt
  • 8 (8 inch) soft corn or flour tortillas
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • sliced black olives for topping
  • low-fat sour cream for topping

 

How:

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2.  Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil to the skillet.

3.  Add ground turkey and season with chili powder and cumin. Brown the meat (about 5 minutes).

4.  Add taco sauce, black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through then season with salt to taste.

5.  Coat a shallow baking dish with remaining Tablespoon of olive oil.

6. Cut the tortillas in quarters for easy layering.

7. Start with a layer of the meat mixture, then layer with tortillas and then cheese.Repeat for a second layer, ending with cheese.

8. Bake lasagna 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is slightly browned.

9. Remove from oven, top with sliced black olives and serve.

   

Mixed Berry Shortcake
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Mixed Berry Shortcake

When midsummer rolls in just before the birds and chipmunks decide that their buffet is ready we grab what we can and make one of our old time favorite’s deserts, snack sometimes even breakfast. This has been one of our staples since 1991 the good thing is you choose the berries to change it up. I have tried nets and sprays but nothing really helps so with the berries, as with my garden the year before, I decided to share. If only they understood the concept. This year I only did a deck garden leaving the ground level for my herbs.

You can make this shortcake with any combination of fresh berries.  Use 8 cups of your favorite mixture.  10 servings

 

Ingredients

  • 2 pints strawberries
  • 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 pint raspberries
  • 1 pint blackberries
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • grated zest of 1 orange
  • 10 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream

How

1.  Wash and hull strawberries.  Mash 1/4 of them with 3/4 cup of the sugar.  Cut the rest in half or quarters.  Combine mashed and cut up strawberries with raspberries and blackberries.  Set aside.

2.  Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Butter and flour baking two 9″ cake pans.  Combine flour, baking powder, salt, 1/4 cup sugar and orange zest.  Cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal.

3.  Stir in milk.  Divide dough in half and put into pans with floured fingers.

4.  Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.  Turn out onto racks.

5.  Whip the cream with the remaining 2 Tbsp sugar until it holds soft peaks.

6.  Just before serving put one shortcake layer on a serving plate.  Top with about 3/4 of the fruit mixture, letting juice trickle down sides.  Spread with about 3/4 of the whipped cream.  Top with second layer.  Spoon remaining