apple drop biscuits

a typical biscuit recipe with a bit of extra liquid, drop onto cookie sheet and bake @ 450 farenheit.

add to the biscuit mixture diced apples of your choice seasoned with your fall blend of spices with sugar.

glaze

AM walk

EASY AND QUICK (FOOD PROCESSOR) CAKE BITES

NOT EXACTLY THE BEST LOOKING DESSERT ON THE TABLE BUT GOOD FOR AFTER DINNER, SNACKING AND GREAT WITH A COFFEE OR TEA. USUALLY MADE FOR THE HOUSE BUT ALSO CAN BE A GREAT TREAT TO BRING TO DINNER . THE PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT PERSON IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO EAT.

THE MEASUREMENTS NEED TO BE ADJUSTED FOR THE PAN SIZE BUT I’M NOT FUSSY AND QUICK AND EASY ALSO MEANS IT’S BAKED IN THE VORTEX OVEN, QUICK TO HEAT UP INSTEAD OF THE LARGER OVENS.

175 GRAMS OF ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

1 1/2 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER

GINGER PASTE TO TASTE (OMIT OR SUBSTITUTE)

1/4 TEASPOON SALT

1 1/4 STICK BUTTER

175 GRAMS SUGAR

3 EGGS

VANILLA EXTRACT TO TASTE

CREAM THE BUTTER AND SUGAR IN THE FOOD PROCESSOR TILL FLUFFY ADD THE DRY INGREDIENTS, MIX AND THEN THE EGGS PULSED IN ONE BY ONE. ADD THE GINGER PASTE TO TASTE SAME WITH THE VANILLA.

PREP A CAKE PAN, I USED AN 8X8 PAN, PARCHMENT ON THE BOTTOM AND SPRAYED.

BAKE AT 340 DEGREES, THE VORTEX OVEN CAN BE FINICKY , RECOMMENDED TEMP FOR THE CAKE SHOULD BE AROUND 200 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT INTERNAL. TEMP AND TIME NEED SOME TWEAKING.

YOU CAN END UP WITH A LAVA CAKE CENTER .

COOL, TRIM THE TOP (THE COOKS SAMPLE) IF NECESSARY, FLIP REMOVE FROM PAN, CUT INTO BITES AND GLAZE WITH OPTIONAL GINGER PASTE ADDED TO THE GLAZE. (MILK AND 10X SUGAR)

DONE.

corn dog bites

Usually not a New England regional recipe, corn dogs, but since we have some hot dogs, this looks like a different recipe. We enjoy corn bread once and while and this is a good finger food snack option. The original corn dog recipe requires deep frying hot dogs covered with batter. This recipe just requires baking.

Use mini muffin tins, essentially a corn mini muffin with a piece of hot dog in the middle.

Adapted from a YouTube recipe from the Food Network.

Your quantities may vary .

• 4 hot dogs, sliced to bite size pieces
• __________________________________
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup buttermilk or 1/2 cup milk soured with a bit of vinegar.
• 1 egg
• _____________________________________
• 1/2 cup corn meal (I used dry masa)
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ______________________________-

Combine wet ingredient list and in another bowl dry ingredients list, mix both together till incorporated like a muffin mix.. (you could of course use a prepared box mix.)

Fill half way the muffin tins with the batter, greased or use those fancy pleated paper liners if so desired.

Push in the pieces of sliced hot dogs into the batter.

Bake 375 for about 10 minutes.

I ended up with more hot dog pieces than batter so the last few muffins have 2 pieces in each muffin. Our mini muffins tins may be larger than normal. If you place your sliced hotdog piece, the diameter horizontally, perfectly in the middle of the muffin batter, then slice it horizontally after baking, you have a round cornbread donut shape, with a hot dog in the middle to place on a tray. (didn’t get a picture of that).

The hot dog bites are good as is, but to enhance the serving, provide some dipping sauces , mustard and ketchup are a favorite.

get the ingredients ready

vanilla yogurt pound cake

This is a modified recipe from all recipes.com. Since I did not have lemon flavored yogurt I used what was in the fridge, vanilla flavored yogurt and substituted lemon extract with vanilla extract. A nice crumb, lighter texture than a usual pound cake. Sweet enough for a dessert or a side, toasted/grilled with coffee., serve with fresh fruit, ice cream as you desire,

mise en place

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (8 ounce) container of vanilla flavored yogurt

bring all ingredients to room temperature

oven @ 325 degrees farenheit

grease and flour your pan of choice

a typical cake mix procedure

cream the sugar and the butter till light and fluffy

beat in one egg at a time

add vanilla extract

sift the dry ingredients

to the the butter sugar blend, mix in the dry ingredients, wet ingredients, alternately ending with the dry.

mix just until incorporated.

place in pan , bake, test with toothpick or thermometer.

remove from oven and cool 1O minutes or so.

carefully turn out to a wire rack.

cool completely, enjoy

Chicken with wine

 

Catching up on some recent meals to post.

An easy recipe for a classic way to prepare chicken. One of the many adaptations of coq au vin. I won’t post the recipe as there are so many variations. Basically a braised chicken with wine.

 

chicken croquette

My version , a chicken meatball with a flour, egg wash and cracker coating . Another use of the vortex oven. Served with a tomato sauce and pasta.

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Making them a bit smaller and using toothpicks would make a great appetizer to serve with different dipping sauces.

no knead bread

a bread recipe that involves minimal labor with great results!

adapted form Garden Fork YouTube posting

I need bread I just didn’t knead this loaf !

measure by weight

430 grams flour

9 grams salt

1/2 teaspoon yeast ~1 gram

mix the above ingredients

add  245  345 grams water

with a spatula mix until all is incorporated  , dough will be shaggy, DO NOT KNEAD

cover as is and let rise about an hour or two or more depending on room temperature or in oven with light on to prove.

line a bowl with baking paper (parchment)

carefully turn out the dough to a floured surface, fold top , bottom , and sides and gently tuck into a ball.

carefully transfer dough to the parchment lined bowl smooth side (top) up.

let rise again about an hour or as necessary.

preheat oven to 425 or better with a covered crock or casserole in oven.

When at 425 remove crock, carefully lift by the parchment paper, the dough and place in heated cock, cover with the heated lid, return to oven.

bake for about 20 minutes

remove lid and bake for about 20 minutes more at a lower temp, about 350 degrees.

remove from oven , lift by parchment and let cool, remove baking paper.

UPDATE: I make this recipe often as it’s easy and less labor than other recipes. Now I usually let rise in a crock, covered bowl etc. Then, turn out dough to a non stick bread pan, let rise again and bake. Super Simple ! You could actually let it rise in the baking pan itself !

430 grams of flour

9 grams of salt

about 1/2 teaspoon yeast

345 grams water

pour in the water

just mix till combined

after about an hour (or so)

prepare a bowl with parchment baking paper

gentle fold the dough and from into a ball

into the bowl…

cover and let rise

a heated covered crock

risen blistered dough

place into heated crock or casserole

into a well heated oven about 425 degrees Fahrenheit

reduce heat , uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes or so

done

bottom of loaf

soft airy crumb

toast test

buttered up

Eggplant something or other (moussaka)

I found I did get the basis of this recipe from a WP blog  Mostly Greek Eggplant Mousskasa , Eggplant Moussaka    after a search for eggplant recipes.

The eggplant is my fav meal, and at times better than the chicken or beef or used as a filler with meat.  So here we go.

I used ground pork instead of beef

I stuck with the cinnamon spice for the Greek style taste of the tomato sauce

some canned diced tomato for the suace

a bit of melomel replaces the wine

process the tomato sauce

salt and let sit for while to draw out some water, test fit in the baking dish

brush with olive oil, broil till browned, both sides

make the bechamel sauce

into the baking dish

add the tomato sauce

top with the bechamel and some grated parmensan, bake.

after baking, let cool a bit.

excellent flavor the eggplant, tomato sauce and bechamel compliment each other

not overly watery or runny, just right, perhaps a glass of wine and a chunk of fresh bread.

 

 

 

 

 

meatball enchilada

left over meatballs, mind you, a ground chicken blend with sauce already a bit spicy from my heavy hand on the red pepper flakes.  Pasta, noodles, gnocchi  ??  Take two, Wraps ! going towards the Mexican style.

Step one make some white floured tortillas , cook in the trusty cast iron skillet with a touch of oil brushed on. (I won’t bore you with the recipe for flour tortillas, a bit of bacon fat mixed into white flour and water is all it takes)

there is something about having a tortilla (or flatbread) puff up like this, a sign of good luck?

chop or slice the aforementioned meatballs

keep it simple with a few ingredients like shredded mozzarella, finely processed broccoli, meatballs and sauce. 

lay down some sauce, meatballs, broccoli and cheese

roll up, closely nestle in a pan, a bit of oil in the pan before placement

top with sauce, cheese and broccoli, I don,t go wild with the sauce like traditional enchiladas, I like the wraps with a bit of crunch and the ability to be eaten like a wrap.

bake the babies till heated through, cheese melted, crunchy edges, flame them under the broiler if desired.

MMMMMMMM… not overly sloppy

were just about done here….  

beverage suggestion ?

Thanks for stopping by !!!

 

Apple chocolate chip muffins

I believe this is from Bake or Break website , recipe modified

added some fresh ground spices not listed of course !

ground spices added

my new grated i was gifted for Christmas

 

not exactly a light muffin, the apples have a lot of moisture , but I needed some chocolate and fruit for dessert.

 

 

 

OK …..i made dough also, bread and rolls BC you can live on muffins alone !