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Recipes
Steak, Guinness and Cheese Pie
By Carla
Fresh rosemary keeps this dish fresh tasting and adding mushrooms bulks up the vegetable content
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 medium onions
- 1 rosemary sprig
- 3 garlic cloves, grated
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 2 celery sticks, sliced
- 2 carrots, peeled, sliced
- 2 portabella mushrooms, sliced and crumbled by hand
- 1 1/2 lb brisket, tri-tip, or stew meat, cut into a one-inch dice
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 Guinness, can
- 1 Tbsp flour, heaping
- Water or beef stock
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 package of puff pastry
- 1 egg
Cranberry Fizz
By Carla
Bright cocktail with a tang of citrus and a splash of Champagne
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 oz Charbay Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka
- 2 oz Champagne
- 1 oz Cranberry juice
- 1 oz Black Currant Juice (Maple Lane Farms)
The Girl Scout Cupcake
By Carla
Think thin mint but as a cupcake
- CAKE:
- 8 Tb unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
- 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 cup Dutch processed cocoa
- 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- PEPPERMINT CREAM FILLING:
- 1 cup cream
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- Green food coloring gel
- GANACHE FROSTING:
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
Pollo Fritto
By Carla
This is the best fried chicken I've ever had
- 1 (3-4 lb chicken) cut into 12 pieces
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Peanut or vegetable oil, for frying
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 4 springs thyme
- 4 springs rosemary
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
Tender Potato Bread
By Carla
Tender and airy with a fabulous crisp texture on the outside
- BREAD:
- 4 medium to large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks (Idaho, Russet and Yukon Gold)
- 1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
- 6 1/2 - 8 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- TOPPING:
- For Loves and Rolls: Melted Butter
- For Foccacia: olive oil, coarse salt, and rosemary leaves or slow-cooked onions in olive oil or bacon fat, a scattering of chopped anchovy fillets and flat-leafed parsley leaves.
Best Mashed Potatoes Ever
By Carla
Adapted from the culinary adventures of Jeffery Steingarten
- 2 lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1/2 - 1 stick of butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup hot half and half
Gran's Christmas Fudge
By Carla
We used to put this amazing sweet and nutty treat out for Santa and of course his reindeer
- 4 1/2 cups sugar
- dash of salt
- 1 stick butter
- 1 can evaporated milk - (12 oz)
- 2 cups mini marshmallow
- 12 ounces semi sweet chocolate
- 1 lb coarsely - chopped pecans
The Lady's Coleslaw
By Carla
Prep time 1 hour. From Paula Deen
- 1/2 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 1/2 large carrot, chopped
- 1/8 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1/2 cabbage head
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (recommended: Jane's Krazy Mixed-up salt)
- 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
Pan-Roasted Root Vegetables
By Carla
Melt the butter in a large (12 inch) saute pan that has a tight fitting lid
- 4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 white turnip, unpeeled and 1 inch diced
- 2 carrots, 1 inch diced (preferably from carrots with the greens attached)
- 2 small parsnips, peeled and 1 inch diced
- 1/2 celery root, peeled and 1 inch diced
- 8 Brussels sprouts, halved if large
- 4 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 celery ribs, 1 inch diced
Cooks Illustrated Pots de Creme
By Carla
Forget the water bath and slow baking
- Pots de Crème:
- 12 ounces milk chocolate , chopped fine
- 5 large egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon table salt
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 3/4 cup half-and-half
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder mixed with 1 tablespoon water
- Whipped Cream:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (cold)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Garnish (optional):
- Cocoa powder for dusting
- Chocolate shavings for sprinkling