Edible Stuff I make

Homemade Labneh

2011-05-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

This reminds me of a middle eastern version of cream cheese. It has a great tang that yogurt has but the thick creamy texture of cream cheese. All you need is some greek yogurt, salt, and patience and you can make this in a day. Serve with some pita bread, olive oil, and cucumber for an awesome snack.

Ingredients

1 quart of plain greek yogurt
1 tsp salt
cheese cloth

First pout the yogurt in a bowl and add the salt. Whisk the yogurt until it is a smooth mixture. Get your cheese cloth ready and pour the yogurt into the cloth. Pull up the sides and tight it in a knot so it can be a sling. I set mine on a strainer over a bowl to catch the whey drippings. Let sit in your refrigerator over night. After 1 day remove from the fridge and untie the cheese cloth. Dry off the labneh and mold it into a circle with a paper towel. With your thumb put a little indent in the middle and drizzle olive oil, salt, and black pepper over it.

Honey Butter

2011-05-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Honey butter is a sweet change up to regular butter. It is great on any bread, toast or pancakes and is really easy to make. Be sure to leave the butter out at room temperature before mixing with the honey.

Ingredients

1 Butter recipe
about 3-4 ounces of honey.

Let butter sit out over night, or for at least a few hours. Add honey and butter together in a mixing bowl and mix until completely incorporated.

Homemade Butter/ Butter Milk

2011-05-26T23:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone remembers shaking the mason jar full of cream in elementary school, the end result was awesome fresh butter which nothing really compares to. This is a lot easier now with a stand mixer, and takes a lot less time. I add sour cream to add a little tangyness to it and it also adds a little richness. You can add salt if you like, or turn it into a compound butter with truffles, bleu cheese, or anything else you can come up with.

Ingredients

1/4 gallon whipping cream
4 ounces sour cream
salt to taste

Add the cream and sour cream together in a mixing bowl. Whisk on a low setting until the mixture forms bubbles and starts to thicken a little. Slowly increase the speed. Eventually increase the speed to the maximum level and then let it whisky until butter is almost formed. Don't leave your mixer or the butter will start to splash and make a mess once it has separated from the liquid. Strain out through a cheese cloth and preserve the liquid. The liquid is butter milk and is awesome for fried chicken or buttermilk pancakes. Dry off the butter with a paper towel, and season with salt if desired. Wrap in plastic and form into a stick.

Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Dough

2011-05-23T23:10:00.000-07:00

This is a great recipe for whole wheat pasta dough. It was incredibly delicate but held its form even after 1 week of refrigeration.

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups white flour
1 whole egg + 4 egg yolks
2 tbl oil
cold water if needed
1 tsp salt

First mix your flours and salt together, and then form into a mound with a well n the center.

In a bowl whisk the eggs together with the oil. Add them to the middle of the well.

With a fork slowly move the eggs in a circle getting a little bit of the flour at a time until it forms a loose dough. Then, with your hands, incorporate the rest of the flour and start to knead. If the dough is too dry then add water teaspoon by teaspoon. If it is too wet and sticky add a touch more flour. Knead until you have a smooth dough. Wrap in plastic and let sit in your refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Cut into pieces and roll them through a pasta press. I put mine through up to setting 8 and then ran them through the fettucini cutter and they turned out perfect. If you are planning on saving them or letting them sit toss them with cornmeal and a little extra flour so they don't stick together.

Eggplant Parmesan Sliders

2011-05-23T22:55:00.000-07:00

These are really packed with flavor and are perfect if you are wanting something vegetarian. The spicy tomato jam accents the richness of the mozzarella perfectly, and the egg plant melts in your mouth.

Ingredients

6-8 Slider buns
1 large egg plant
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
fresh buffalo mozzarella
mescaline greens
oil for frying
salt and pepper
tomato jam
dash of balsamic

Start by breading the egg plant. Cut the eggplant into 6-8 thick pieces. Separate your flour, 1 cup by itself seasoned with salt and pepper and 1/2 cup with bread crumbs and cornmeal. First dip your egg plant in the seasoned flour, then dip it in the egg making sure it all gets covered, and finally dip it in the bread crumb mixture. Allow these to sit on a wire rack for about 5 minutes to let the crust set. Meanwhile heat a saute pan with some oil to about medium. In very small batches fry off the egg plant, cooking each side until it is golden brown and adding oil in-between batches. Next assemble your sliders. Toast your slider buns with a piece of the mozzarella on one side and some of the tomato jam on the other. Add the egg plant and top with some mescaline greens tossed with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Sweet and Spicy Tomato Jam

2011-05-23T22:41:00.000-07:00

This is a great condiment for sandwiches or even just toast. It has a nice savory quality from the balsamic vinegar and garlic but the brown sugar and tomatoes balance it out very nicely. I added some chili flakes for a little kick.

Ingredients

1 tbl olive oil
1 lb roma tomatoes, cut into large chunks
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 medium sized sweet onion, chopped
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 tbl salt
1 tsp chili flakes
fresh ground black pepper
1/2 packet of pectin

Heat a sauce pan to medium high. Add the oil and then add the onion and garlic. Once that has cooked for about 3-4 minutes and is starting to brown a little add the tomatoes, salt, black pepper, chili flakes, and white sugar. Once that has cooked down a bit add the brown sugar, balsamic vinegar and water. Bring to a simmer. Once it simmers for about 5 minutes and it has all come together add the pectin while constantly stirring. When it has thickened move to a clean mason jar and let cool in refrigerator. If the mixture is too thick add a little more water before you place in jar.

Lime Cilantro Crema

2011-05-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

This crema is really easy to make and has a great flavor from the zest and juice of the lime as well as the chopped cilantro. Once you let this sit for a little while it becomes very tangy and goes great with chicken tacos.

Ingredients

1 cup mexican crema or sour cream
juice and zest of 1 lime
about 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
salt to taste

Mix all ingredients together and let sit in the refrigerator in a covered container.

Classic Fry Sauce and Slider Sauce

2011-05-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

Perfect condiment for sliders

This is a great dipping sauce for french fries or it is perfect on a slider or burger. It is extremely easy to make and really only takes about 2 minutes to whip up.

1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup ketchup
3 tbl pickle juice

Whisk together until completely combined.

Homemade Slider Buns

2011-05-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

I tried to recreate the slider buns from Food Buzz. They turned out really well, although I let them rise a little too long and they kind of fell a little bit. They had a perfect golden brown color and are perfect for a burger or any filling you can think of.

Ingredients
1 cup water

3 tablespoons warm milk
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, whisked separately
3 cups bread flour
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Sesame seeds (optional)

Warm the milk and the water in the microwave for about 30 seconds, you do not want to boil the liquid just warm it up. Add the sugar and the yeast and lightly stir. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 5 minutes or so, until the mixture starts to foam.

In a separate bowl mix together the salt, all-purpose flour and bread flour. Add the butter and pinch into the flour until it is crumby and completely incorporated into the flour.

Slowly add the egg and yeast mixture and stir together to make a rough dough.

Put onto counter and knead. The recipe from food buzz said to use as little extra flour as possible to keep from sticking. I used a dough scraper, but I still had to use some extra dough.

Knead for 8 to 10 minutes.

Place into a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap and let double in size, about 2 hours.

After it has doubled in size gently put it back on to the counter and use your dough scraper to separate the dough into about 20 pieces. Gently roll them into small spheres and put them on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cover them with generously oiled plastic wrap and let rise for another 1-2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Brush the tops of the dough with the second whisked egg and a tablespoon of water. Top with sesame seeds.

Bake for about 15 minutes until they are golden brown, turning once during the middle of the baking.

Immediately move them to a wire wrack to cool.

Papaya Mint Vodka Martini

2011-05-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

Discovered this drink while making some vodka mint martinis. I had some left over papaya and decided to give it a try. Turned out to be great and added a nice tropical twist to an already great martini.

Ingredients

2 oz vodka

dash of vermouth

1 1/2 tbl sugar

juice of 1 lime or 1 small lemon

about 6 or 7 big leafs of fresh mint

1/4 cup fresh papaya

ice

Muddle ice, sugar, citrus juice, papaya and mint. Add vodka and vermouth. Shake vigorously to combine ingredients and strain into your martini glass. The papaya adds a very nice pink/orange tint to the drink and it tastes even better than it looks.

Classic Pico De Gallo

2011-05-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

This is your classic pico de gallo recipe. I like to spice mine up a little with some cumin and paprika. I love the smokiness those two spices add.

Ingredients

1 lb roma tomatoes
1/2 cup cilantro leafs
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic
juice of 2 limes
2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
1 tbl cumin
1 tbl paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Blend together 1/4 lb of tomatoes, lime juice, cumin, paprika. garlic and cilantro together. Chop the rest of the tomatoes and then add them to the mixture along with the red onions and jalapenos. Season to taste.

Melon Margarita

2011-05-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

Melon liquor gives this drink a nice change from the regular margarita mix. It also gives it an incredible green color. This makes 3 or 4 margaritas.

Ingredients

6 oz tequila
3 cups ice
2 cups margarita mix
1/2 cup corona
2 oz melon liquor
1 tsp salt

Blend until smooth. If it is too watery add some more ice and blend again.

Fresh Spinach and Spring Lettuce Salad with Herbed Croutons and Roasted Tomato Pesto Dressing

2011-05-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

This was a great salad with tons of flavors and freshness from the garden fresh spinach and lettuce. The fresh crutons make a huge difference.

Ingredients

fresh croutons
fresh spring lettuce
fresh spinach
1 tomato, cut into 6 pieces deseeded
1 slice red onion, finely chopped
Roasted tomato pesto dressing
crushed black pepper
thin shredded Parmesean

Toss together the lettuce, spinach, tomato, red oinon together.
around the edges of the salad drizzle the salad dressing. With tongs work it into the salad so that everything is evenly coated
move to bowls and top with the crutons, some fresh shreeded parm and some fresh ground black pepper

Roasted Tomato Pesto Dressing

2011-05-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

This is a thick, delicious salad dressing and you can never seem to get enough. It goes great with almost any salad.

Ingredients

1/4 cup roasted tomato pesto aioli
3 tbl extra virgin olive oil
black pepper and salt to taste

All you have to do is whisk the olive oil into the aioli. Season to your liking with pepper and salt.

Easter Eggs Benedict Bar

2011-05-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

My girl friend and I had a few people over for Easter brunch. We decided to do a "eggs benedict bar" with all kinds of options of how to make your own eggs benedict. We had roasted tomatoes, fresh out of the garden spinach, roasted portabello mushrooms, roasted asparagus, thick cut ham, avocado. It turned out great, everyone got exactly what they wanted and there were no left overs at all.

Ingredients enough for 4

8 eggs

4 english muffins

hollandaise sauce

8 pieces of thick cut ham

Roasted asparagus

2 avocados

fresh spinach

Roasted tomatoes

Roasted portabellos

1/4 cup white vinegar

Home Fries

Heat a shallow pan full of water and vinegar to just before a boil.

Carefully crack the eggs into the water.

Allow them to cook for about 2 minutes whilie the egg white forms, then with a slotted spoon carfully turn the egg over and let cook for a couple more minutes. Remove and put in an ice bath.

On a skillet warm all of the ham.

Toast all of the english muffins.

Serve all together so people can make their own plate, building their eggs benedict with the spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, ham, avocados, eggs, and hollandaise.

Roasted Portobellos

2011-05-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

You can use these mushrooms for the meat of a sandwich, a topping on a pizza or burger, or even in a salad. Try not to flip them so they get a golden crust on them.

Ingredients

2 large portobellos, sliced into 1/2 inch slices
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2 tsp salt
ground black pepper
1 tbl fresh thyme
1 tbl olive oil

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

In a bowl toss the mushrooms in a bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

Line the slices of mushroom up on a baking sheet.

Bake for about 20 minutes, flipping half way through.

Roasted Tomatoes

2011-05-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

This is a really easy recipe that completely changes the texture and taste of tomatoes. You can add these to a sauce, spread, or put them right on your sandwich.

Ingredients

2 ripe tomatoes, sliced
1 tbl fresh thyme
1 1/2 tsp salt
fresh ground black pepper
1 tbl olive oil

Preheat the oven for 400 degrees.

Place the tomatoes on a roasting pan lined with tin foil. Sprinkle with the salt, black pepper, thyme and olive oil.

Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Red Wheat Loaf

2011-05-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

This is a great wheat bread. I found a local wheat mill and they had perfect red wheat flour. If you can't find any local flour just use your favorite.

Ingredients

1 half of biga recipe

1 red wheat flour

3 cup bread flower

1/4 tsp yeast

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup very warm water

First mix the read wheat flower, 2 cups of the bread flower, yeast, and water together in a mixting bowl until it comes together into a rough dough, with a dough hook on setting 4. Cover bowl with platic wrap and let sit for 20 minutes. Turn the kitchen aid back on to setting 4 and then add the biga in small pieces and add the salt. Increase mixing spead to 6 and let knead for about 8 minutes. The dough will be sticky.

Toss onto a cutting board, don't flour it unless it sticks badly, and if you want to flour only use a little at a time. Try to use a dough scraper to lift the dough instead of using more flour. Form into a ball and put in an oiled bowl or tupper wear. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and let rise for an hour. After an hour it will have only risen a little but put it out onto a very lightly floured board and gently push into a rectangle.

Fold it over onto itself using 'hot dog' folds, and then fold the dough over itself into thirds again using 'hamburger' folds and put back into the container to double in size. Once it has doubled prepare a baking pan lined with lightly floured parchment paper. Push it into a rectangle and then fold it over hot dog, and then bring the edges in. Gently pinch the dough together so there are no cracks it should be fairly sticky and stick together well, and then turn over. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.

One hour before ready to bake preheat your oven with your baking stone to 475 and a pan.

When it has doubled slash it about 1/2 inch deep down one side or both sides with a sharp knife.

Spray the bread with water from a spray bottle.

Open the oven and put the baking pan right ontop of the baking stone.

Add 6 peices of ice to the other pan and then spray the inside of the oven with the spray bottle just to make the most amount of steam possible. Steam makes the crust crispy.

Bake on 475 for 5 minutes, then reduce the temp to 450 and cook for ten. After 10 minutes slide the bread and the parchment paper off of the baking pan and straight onto the baking stone and do not forget to rotate it at this point. Cook for another 15 minutes. Throughout this process, about every 6 or 7 minutes quickly open the oven and spray water onto the bread and sides of the oven.

Once the crust is golden brown remove and let cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours or the bread will collapse on you if you cut it.

Red Wheat Bread

Italian Semolina Loaf

2011-04-30T23:46:00.000-07:00

This recipe was amazing. Everyone who tried it thought it was incredible.

Ingredients

1 half of biga recipe
1 1/2 cup semolina flower
2 1/2 cup bread flower
1/4 tsp yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup very warm water

First mix the semolina flower, 2 cups of the bread flower, yeast, and water together in a mixting bowl until it comes together into a rough dough, with a dough hook on setting 4. Cover bowl with platic wrap and let sit for 20 minutes.

Turn the kitchen aid back on to setting 4 and then add the biga in small pieces and add the salt. Increase mixing spead to 6 and let knead for about 8 minutes. The dough will be sticky.

Toss onto a cutting board, don't flour it unless it sticks badly, and if you want to flour only use a little at a time. Try to use a dough scraper to lift the dough. Form into a ball and put in an oiled bowl or tupper wear. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and let rise for an hour.

After an hour it will have only rose a little but put it out onto a very lightly floured board and gently push into a rectangle. Fold it over onto itself using a 'hot dog' fold, and then fold into thirds 'hamburger' and put back into the container to double in size. Once it has doubled prepare a baking pan lined with lightly floured parchment paper.

Push it into a rectangle and then fold it over hot dog, and then bring the edges in. Gently pinch the dough together so there are no cracks it should be fairly sticky and sticky together well, and then turn over. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.

One hour before ready to bake preheat your oven with your baking stone to 475 and a pan.

When it has doubled slash it about 1/2 inch deep down one side or both sides with a sharp knife.

Spray the bread with water from a spray bottle.

Open the oven and put the baking pan right ontop of the baking stone.

Add 6 peices of ice to the other pan and then spray the inside of the oven with the spray bottle just to make the most amount of steam possible. Steam makes thes crust crispy.

Bake on 475 for 5 minutes, then reduce the temp to 450 and cook for ten minutes. After 10 minutes slide the bread and the parchment paper off of the baking pan and straight onto the baking stone and do not forget to rotate it at this point. Cook for another 15 minutes. Throughout this process, about every 6 or 7 minutes quickly open the oven and spray water onto the bread and sides of the oven.

Once the crust is golden brown remove and let cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours or the bread will collapse on you if you cut it.

Biga Recipe

2011-04-30T23:42:00.000-07:00

The biga is an important part of baking bread. It is a simple mixture of flour, water, and yeast that is mixed together and left to rise overnight. You add this to the bread during the day you are planning on baking the bread.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/4 warm water
1/4 tsp yeast

Mix together and let rise over night in a covered container. It will rise but and should be sticky the next morning.

Chorizo and Potato Burritos

2011-04-30T23:32:00.000-07:00

This is a hearty burrito that you can eat for breakfast lunch or dinner. It has a great combination of smokey, salty, creamy, spicey, and fresh.

Ingredients for 2
2 medium tortillas
4 oz chorizo broken up
1/2 green pepper chopped
1/4 white onion chopped
clove garlic crushed
roasted potatoes, left overs
poblano herb crema
avocado sliced
tomato, choped
sharp cheddar, shredded
1tbl olive oil
salt and pepper
tapitio, or your favorite hot sauce

Heat a saute pan on medium high. Add the oil, peppers, and garlic. Let those cook for about 2 minutes until they get soft. Add the chorizo and try to let it get a good crust before you stir it about 4. When the chorizo is almost all the way done Add the left over roasted potatoes and let those get warmed up until they start to brown up again about 4 minutes. Add the garlic.

Warm up the tortillas on a skillet.

Build your taco with a layer or the poblano herb crema a dash or two of hot sauce, the tomato, shreeded cheese and the avocado. Top with a portion of the chorizo potato mixture.

Roll up your burrito and enjoy.

Eggs Benedict Breakfast Sandwich

2011-04-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

This was like a new age egg mcmuffin. The hollandaise sauce is awesome on this sandwich and is perfect with the chopped asparagus, fried egg, and ham.

Ingredients

1 egg
1 english muffin
hollandaise sauce
1 piece of roasted asparagus, chopped into bite size pieces

Set a toaster oven or oven to 400 degrees. Put a little hoolandiase sauce on each side of the english muffin and put the ham on once side and the asparagus on the other. Toast for about 5 minutes until warm and gettting crisipy

Fry the egg over easy so the yolk is still runny. Put the egg on top of the ham and then complete the sandwich with the asparagus.

Best egg mcmuffin i've ever had.

Perfect Hollandaise Recipe

2011-04-30T23:18:00.000-07:00

This is a perfect sauce for roasted asparagus or the classic eggs benedict.

Ingredients

4 egg yolks
1 tbl fresh lemon juice
a dash or two hot sauce
dash worcestershire
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup butter melted
1 tbl truffle oil optional
chives optional

First get your double boiler ready with the water lightly simmering but not touching the bottof of the pan.

Whisk your eggs, lemon juice, hot sauce, worcestershite, and black pepper together.

Put over double boiler heat and whisk until thickened

Once thickened add the melted butter, whisking continuously.

When it is all encorporated pull off heat to make sure it doesn't get too thick.

Once it is off the heat you can whisk in the truffle oil and chives if you wish.

if you aren't serving right away cover it with plastic wrap pushing it right down ontop of the sauce.

When you are ready to serve get the double boiler up to a simmer again, add a few drops of hot watter to the sauce and whisk until it is warm. If it is still to thick add some more hot water, a little at a time, while whisking.

Italian Turkey Panini

2011-04-30T23:05:00.000-07:00

This is perfect because of the combination of roasted tomato aioli, roasted turkey breast, asiago, grilled red onions, and arugula sandwiched between two slices of a home made or your favorite bread.

Ingredients

2 pieces of artisan bread

roasted turkey, sliced from deli or left overs

roasted tomato aioli

grated asiago

1 1/4 inch slice red oion

arugula

butter

On a skillet quickly put a few drops of olive oil and then brill the red onion until it gets a little wilted and a some golden brown spots

Butter the back of each peice of bread and then turn over. Spread the aioli on each piece, layer the turkey, red onion, asiago, and arugula.

To grill the sandwich you could use a gas grill, a panini press, a Forman grill, or just do it on a skillet or saute pan. You want to toast each side so that each is golden brown and the cheese in the middle has melted.

Homemade Baked Garlic Herb Croutons

2011-04-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

Fresh croutons are easy to make and they don't have to be bad for you. Baking them makes them nice and crunchy and the garlic and herbs make them taste amazing. These make any salad better.

Ingredients

End of crusty piece of bread, the crustier the better
1 clove of garlic
fresh rosemary
fresh thyme
salt and pepper
1 tbl olive oil.

Cut crusty loaf of bread into slices. Cut it up into bite sized pieces. Toss with the herbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350.

Put bread onto baking sheet and spread out.

Bake for about 6-8 minutes and then turn them.

Bake until golden brown, turning once or twice more during the process, keep an eye on them.

When you put them on your salad don't forget to get all the scrispy crushed garlic. It roasts in the pan and adds a crunchy little pop to your salads. Only add it if it is golden brown, not burnt.