Fixing an easy dinner this evening so have time to catch up on other chores. My younger daughter is coming home for the Thanksgiving week so I got her bedding washed, her bed made up, and cleaned her room. I realized that she hadn't been home since January and missed her even while knowing we'd see her tomorrow. Children grow up too fast.
My crocheting order is nearing completion but I got inspired to start another shawl for a Christmas gift so my crochet hook won't have time to cool down yet. Meanwhile, my lastest quilt awaits the last of the hand sewing but it will have to continue it's wait until I mail off the shawls.
For the first time in years, it looks like there is cold rain in the forecast for Thanksgiving Day. I don't mind but will pray that traveling people will all safely arrive at their destinations that day. Most years, we've had to turn on the air conditioning. The smell of roasting turkey isn't quite the same when it is 80 degrees or more outside.
I just ran across this ancient tip for making a cute salad presentation. Uh, I can just imagine my husband's face if the company dinner table was faced with this!
Make a base of one slice of canned pineapple. Half a banana forms the candle and a cherry the flame. Salad dressing dripped over the banana serves as the melting 'wax'.
Perhaps for a children's party?
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Hot Potato Salad
The last time I was in Germany, I finally got my fill (well, almost!) of that warm, savory, potato salad that often appeared with sausage dishes. I keep forgetting to make it at home but decided to post it here as a reminder and to share with everyone. I do enjoy the regular, cold potato salad with it's creamy mayo/mustard dressing but a change is nice and this German-style potato salad is very nice.
Hot Potato Salad
4-6 potatoes, peeled and diced - large not tiny dicing
6 slices of bacon
Salt & pepper to taste
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 medium onion, finely chopped - I think red onions taste best
Bacon drippings
1/4 cup cider vinegar
Cook in salted water the diced potatoes until just tender. You don't want mushy potatoes. Drain potatoes and set aside.
Cook the bacon until crisp. Remove from pan. Cook chopped onion in the drippings until tender.
Crumble the bacon into small bits and add to the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Add parsley and cooked onion. With the drippings left in the pan, heat the vinegar and pour over the potatoes and serve. This is also excellent at room temperature.
Hot Potato Salad
4-6 potatoes, peeled and diced - large not tiny dicing
6 slices of bacon
Salt & pepper to taste
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 medium onion, finely chopped - I think red onions taste best
Bacon drippings
1/4 cup cider vinegar
Cook in salted water the diced potatoes until just tender. You don't want mushy potatoes. Drain potatoes and set aside.
Cook the bacon until crisp. Remove from pan. Cook chopped onion in the drippings until tender.
Crumble the bacon into small bits and add to the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Add parsley and cooked onion. With the drippings left in the pan, heat the vinegar and pour over the potatoes and serve. This is also excellent at room temperature.
Children are like streams, too!
Thanksgiving Safety . . .
The tradition, when I was growing up, was to stuff the Thanksgiving turkey with whatever stuffing you were having. Bad idea . . . Although we never got sick, there is a good chance that you could get sick as several things could occur. The turkey might not be as defrosted as you though so the stuffing against the all-too cold inside is a perfect breeding ground for possible germs/bacteria. By the time the stuffing is adequately and safely heated through inside the turkey, your turkey will probably be overcooked and dry. Since I started cooking my own family dinners, I've made extra stuffing (as it usually goes first!) and packing it in a large, flat (one of those oblong baking dishes works well) baking dish and bake my stuffing. This way you get a crispy top, tender, flavorful inside, and no problems with any contamination. You can always enhance the stuffing flavor with some drippings from the roasting turkey.
Someone on the news, today, even suggested baking the stuffing in portion sizes in a muffin tin. I haven't tried that but it sounds great, especiall when you have a crowd for dinner.
Instead of putting your stuffing in the turkey, put an onion, an apple, whole garlic cloves, etc. in the cavity to provide moisture during cooking and a nice aroma. Besides, if you make lots of extra stuffing, you will have leftovers, and you can make turkey soup with stuffing dumplings!
Oh, and you can make the stuffing the day before and keep in the refrigerator until time to bake it. Same with cranberry sauce, if you make your own. Prepare it the day before and you will insure that it will be cold, set, and ready when the turkey comes out of the oven.
I even make my turkey gravy the day before. I usually buy some turkey wings or a leg and use that for my basic broth for the gravy. While I'm heating it up for dinner, I get a few spoonfuls of the turkey drippings to add more flavor to it.
Oh, and this is interesting . . . The little pop up deals that some turkeys have to tell you when the bird is done? They are set to FDA standards who always 'err' on the extra-safe side and if you by this, your turkey will be very overdone. A thermometer is the best way to go!
Someone on the news, today, even suggested baking the stuffing in portion sizes in a muffin tin. I haven't tried that but it sounds great, especiall when you have a crowd for dinner.
Instead of putting your stuffing in the turkey, put an onion, an apple, whole garlic cloves, etc. in the cavity to provide moisture during cooking and a nice aroma. Besides, if you make lots of extra stuffing, you will have leftovers, and you can make turkey soup with stuffing dumplings!
Oh, and you can make the stuffing the day before and keep in the refrigerator until time to bake it. Same with cranberry sauce, if you make your own. Prepare it the day before and you will insure that it will be cold, set, and ready when the turkey comes out of the oven.
I even make my turkey gravy the day before. I usually buy some turkey wings or a leg and use that for my basic broth for the gravy. While I'm heating it up for dinner, I get a few spoonfuls of the turkey drippings to add more flavor to it.
Oh, and this is interesting . . . The little pop up deals that some turkeys have to tell you when the bird is done? They are set to FDA standards who always 'err' on the extra-safe side and if you by this, your turkey will be very overdone. A thermometer is the best way to go!
Oatmeal cookies revisited . . . again!
Revised Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon hazelnut extract
1 teaspoon instant coffee
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cup Raisin Bran Cereal
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Beat together the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs, beating well. Mix in the extracts and coffee powder. Add the flour and baking soda and mix completely. Fold in the oats and Raisin Bran Cereal.
Drop by tablespoons onto either a vegetable-greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven. Cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before removing to a cooling rack. My teenage son has just informed me that they go GREAT with a glass of cold milk! I love unbiased critics.
Ideas . . .
You can add some toasted coconut to the mix.
Chocolate chips never hurt a cookie yet that I know of.
Some people like using puffed rice cereal instead of the Raisin Bran flakes.
Some chopped pecans or walnuts could work well here.
Almond Coffee Bar Cookies
I like bar cookies because they provide a chunky bite of cookie and are quick and easy to make. Remember to line your pans with parchment paper and you will be cutting professional servings of cookie bars.
Almond Coffee Bar Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons instant coffee powder
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cut toasted almonds, chopped
Stir together the dry ingredients and set aside. Cream the butter with the brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the extracts and coffee, mixing in well. Add and blend in the dry ingredients thoroughly. Stir in the white and chocolate chips along with the chopped almonds. Mix well.
Press the dough into a well-greased or parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet approximately 15x10x1 or use two smaller pans.
Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. When you remove from the oven, set on a cooling rack. Sprinkle white and chocolate chips over the top of the hot cookies. When they melt, swirl to form a marbled coating. Let top harden or put in refrigerator to hurry up the process. Cut into desired size and serve.
Ideas . . .
Instead of the chocolate chip frosting, make a thin glaze and drizzle that over the warm cookies.
Almond Coffee Bar Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons instant coffee powder
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cut toasted almonds, chopped
Stir together the dry ingredients and set aside. Cream the butter with the brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the extracts and coffee, mixing in well. Add and blend in the dry ingredients thoroughly. Stir in the white and chocolate chips along with the chopped almonds. Mix well.
Press the dough into a well-greased or parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet approximately 15x10x1 or use two smaller pans.
Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. When you remove from the oven, set on a cooling rack. Sprinkle white and chocolate chips over the top of the hot cookies. When they melt, swirl to form a marbled coating. Let top harden or put in refrigerator to hurry up the process. Cut into desired size and serve.
Ideas . . .
Instead of the chocolate chip frosting, make a thin glaze and drizzle that over the warm cookies.
The next time someone says "Oh that just comes easy for you . . ."!
The
expert at anything was once a beginner.
- Hayes
Bread and Cookie Memories!
I was thinking back over the years of my Christmas baking and recalled with much fondness and delight two in particular. My husband purchased an Italian bread and cookie cook book for me one Christmas when we were first married. The cookies featured were unusual and very tempting just reading the recipes. My husband suggested we pick out four of our favorite recipes and spend a day together baking them. It was a great day and we ended up with four, new favorite cookies.
My husband is a fantastic bread baker but isn't above helping out with cookie baking. I was in charge but he made an excellent assistant and cleaned up the mess, afterwards. Even 25 years later, we have been known to turn to each other and say, "Remember that day we baked those cookies . . .?" It is so easy to create small memories that form a bond that stays forever. This was before the children made their appearance and is one of those couple-only moments that can't be done quite the same way, again.
Another great memory was my husband's willingness to share his bread baking with the children. I came home from grocery shopping to find the kitchen table cover with flour and children happily patting out big lumps of bread dough according to their own specifications. My husband gave them a simple explanation about bread (which was probably lost on the two year old!), but they still remember the fun they had that day and how good their own loaves of bread tasted.
All my children cook/bake to one degree or another to this day and I think this first episode of helping dad mix flour, water, yeast, and salt got them started.
My husband is a fantastic bread baker but isn't above helping out with cookie baking. I was in charge but he made an excellent assistant and cleaned up the mess, afterwards. Even 25 years later, we have been known to turn to each other and say, "Remember that day we baked those cookies . . .?" It is so easy to create small memories that form a bond that stays forever. This was before the children made their appearance and is one of those couple-only moments that can't be done quite the same way, again.
Another great memory was my husband's willingness to share his bread baking with the children. I came home from grocery shopping to find the kitchen table cover with flour and children happily patting out big lumps of bread dough according to their own specifications. My husband gave them a simple explanation about bread (which was probably lost on the two year old!), but they still remember the fun they had that day and how good their own loaves of bread tasted.
All my children cook/bake to one degree or another to this day and I think this first episode of helping dad mix flour, water, yeast, and salt got them started.
Almond Tarts
The majority of my Christmas baking deals with 'mass production' in that I have ten or twelve people to gift with cookies and usually have a limited amount of time in which to do it. I do, however, save two or three more elaborate recipes to make just for the family and take the time to thoroughly enjoy the more complex approach to the baking. This is one of them. I would say the complexity is in the fact that it takes some extra fussing and needs a special pan.
Tiny Tarts (Almond or Coconut)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup butter
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
Mix the sugar and flour and cut in the butter until the mixture looks is in small, rough chunks. Add yolk, vanilla and gently blend until mixture holds together. Chill thoroughly. Press mixture into small, tart pans. Small cupcake tins will work, too.
Almond Filling
½ cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup finely ground, toasted almonds
Cream butter and sugar thoroughly. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in the extract and almonds. Fill the pastry lined tart pans with filling. Bake at 350 degrees until the filling is browned and set. Cool before turning out of the tart pans.
For Coconut Tarts, omit the almonds and almond extract and substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 cup of toasted coconut.
Tiny Tarts (Almond or Coconut)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup butter
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
Mix the sugar and flour and cut in the butter until the mixture looks is in small, rough chunks. Add yolk, vanilla and gently blend until mixture holds together. Chill thoroughly. Press mixture into small, tart pans. Small cupcake tins will work, too.
Almond Filling
½ cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup finely ground, toasted almonds
Cream butter and sugar thoroughly. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in the extract and almonds. Fill the pastry lined tart pans with filling. Bake at 350 degrees until the filling is browned and set. Cool before turning out of the tart pans.
For Coconut Tarts, omit the almonds and almond extract and substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 cup of toasted coconut.
Tea Party vs. Occupy
As of late, I've noticed the media isn't comparing the Tea Party people to the occupy groups anymore. I think they finally realized there isn't any comparison with the two groups. They are on opposite sides of the world when it comes to how they behave and present themselves.
According to the last report I read, there have been at least 700 arrests just at one occupy location. There have not been any arrests at any Tea Party events. There have also been no outbreaks of ringworm, TB, or new cases of STD's at Tea Party gatherings.
The pictures reported from Tea Party events show smiling people, clean signage, costumes from our history, and smiling people. I just saw a picture from an occupy site where a guy is defecating on a police car. So, this person thinks he is making a point by performing a bodily function in public. And the message is? Someday, this person may grow up and 'clean up his act' yet lose out when this picture comes back to haunt him.
The slogan of some occupy factions was, "no one gets two until everyone gets one" - that's socialism, pure and simple. If these people knew their history, they'd realized that socialism has never worked to anyone's advantage. Case in point, the first colony at Plymouth Rock. They went with a socialist agenda their first year and almost all died. It's in the journal kept by one of the leaders. The next year, they went with a capitalistic system - they thrived.
You have to wonder about people who disrespect the American Flag yet are staging these affairs because they aren't getting enough money/perks out of the system they are trying to destroy.
It seems to me that if they truly represent the 99% of us, wouldn't more of us be there in their ranks? They say they are just like the majority that want fair work, pay, etc., yet there were reports of them harassing people just trying to get to their jobs. I don't know how other people feel, but you don't exactly make a positive impression when you urinate on other people who are only going about their business trying to make a living and feed their families.
When some of the cities tried to clear out the parks where the occupy people were camping out, they said their First Amendment rights were being violated. What about the rights of people who just wanted access to these public parks and areas, too?
Yes, there needs to be some changes in America. These protestors should be hanging around the Congress and Senate because a great majority of our problems come through their misrepresentation of the voters that allowed them into office. The protestors should also take a course in basic economics and understand why banks and investments exist. They should finally come out with concise, clear statements on what they are actually fighting for and present it as adults and not like a gang of dirty children. They should also ask themselves why the unions are helping them and is this help in their best interests or for a union agenda?
Meanwhile, the rest of us have to continue working in order to eat and pay our bills. We have to keep our properties clean or we could be cited. We have to keep ourselves clean and presentable because that is what separates us from animals. We have to pray because, in the end, God will be our only Salvation.
According to the last report I read, there have been at least 700 arrests just at one occupy location. There have not been any arrests at any Tea Party events. There have also been no outbreaks of ringworm, TB, or new cases of STD's at Tea Party gatherings.
The pictures reported from Tea Party events show smiling people, clean signage, costumes from our history, and smiling people. I just saw a picture from an occupy site where a guy is defecating on a police car. So, this person thinks he is making a point by performing a bodily function in public. And the message is? Someday, this person may grow up and 'clean up his act' yet lose out when this picture comes back to haunt him.
The slogan of some occupy factions was, "no one gets two until everyone gets one" - that's socialism, pure and simple. If these people knew their history, they'd realized that socialism has never worked to anyone's advantage. Case in point, the first colony at Plymouth Rock. They went with a socialist agenda their first year and almost all died. It's in the journal kept by one of the leaders. The next year, they went with a capitalistic system - they thrived.
You have to wonder about people who disrespect the American Flag yet are staging these affairs because they aren't getting enough money/perks out of the system they are trying to destroy.
It seems to me that if they truly represent the 99% of us, wouldn't more of us be there in their ranks? They say they are just like the majority that want fair work, pay, etc., yet there were reports of them harassing people just trying to get to their jobs. I don't know how other people feel, but you don't exactly make a positive impression when you urinate on other people who are only going about their business trying to make a living and feed their families.
When some of the cities tried to clear out the parks where the occupy people were camping out, they said their First Amendment rights were being violated. What about the rights of people who just wanted access to these public parks and areas, too?
Yes, there needs to be some changes in America. These protestors should be hanging around the Congress and Senate because a great majority of our problems come through their misrepresentation of the voters that allowed them into office. The protestors should also take a course in basic economics and understand why banks and investments exist. They should finally come out with concise, clear statements on what they are actually fighting for and present it as adults and not like a gang of dirty children. They should also ask themselves why the unions are helping them and is this help in their best interests or for a union agenda?
Meanwhile, the rest of us have to continue working in order to eat and pay our bills. We have to keep our properties clean or we could be cited. We have to keep ourselves clean and presentable because that is what separates us from animals. We have to pray because, in the end, God will be our only Salvation.
Great attitude!
I
would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't,
than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.
- Albert Camus
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