Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Jamestown1630]

I have a book entitled, 'Simply Homemade Food Gifts', from the Meredith Press. It contains many very attractive recipes for gift-giving, and ways of packaging/presenting them. I thought these Viennese Coffee Ball cookies looked good, and quick to put together:

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cookies/viennese-coffee-balls/

This time of year I begin craving more vegetables, and one veggie recipe that we never tire of is this Gratin of Eggplant, Tomatoes and Zucchini, from the Julia and Jacques 'Cooking at Home' series:

http://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/recipe-eggplant-and-zucchini-gratin/

The companion book to this series is especially good:

https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Jacques-Cooking-at-Home/dp/0375404317

-JT

[Jamestown1630]

This week: an easy, no-bake cookie; and a great vegetable gratin from Jacques and Julia!

(If you would like to be on or off of this weekly cooking thread ping list, please send a private message.)

-JT

[Yaelle]

Love the little gift balls.

And I am on a daily roasted veggies kick, going to try your recipe. Today I did lacinato kale in the pan with a bit of turkey bacon and vinegar, maple syrup. I also roasted cauliflower which took me three tries to spell just now. Lol.

I can’t believe I somehow missed this thread last weekend.

[SkyDancer]

Still trying to get home to make my ham and bean soup. Everyone’s been great with their additions to it. Will make enough to take to the local senior center (only about ten folks there).

[SkyDancer]

Reminds me of rum balls. Don’t need any holiday to enjoy them.

[Jamestown1630]

There used to be a restaurant near me that was otherwise mediocre, but famous for its Rum Buns. I’d like to find a way to make those - if I recall they were sort of like Hot Cross buns, but full of rum.

[Jamestown1630]

One of the best roasted veggies is just carrots, stuffed under your chicken, beef, (or pork) roast. They come out all soft and caramelized-sweet. My favorite way with carrots.

[leapfrog0202]

Could this be them?

http://alittlezaftig.com/?p=4817

These hot cross buns look a bit more like mini baps than conventional buns, but they are sweet and buttery, with a little pop from the boozy, plump currants and a sweet crisscross of rum and orange liqueur-laced icing. Smear them with a little dark rum brown sugar butter.

[Hoffer Rand]

I’m eating a yummy casserole of wild rice, asparagus, bacon, and a cheesy béchamel sauce. Asparagus was on sale for $1.49 a pound last week. We got a LOT, so are making several asparagus based recipes.

[SkyDancer]

The ones I remember are like chocolate balls with rum. I don’t think they’re baked though which is why they can be powerful when done correctly. Yum!!

[Jamestown1630]

That looks close, ingredient-wise, and I’m saving it.

I loved regular Hot Cross Buns as a kid, and the addition of rum will make them all the better.

Thank You!

[Jamestown1630]

Those always come out at Christmas, and you’re right - they don’t need a holiday ;-)

[SkyDancer]

I remember going into a store in Ohio once and just had a taste for some jelly beans. I asked the clerk why they didn’t have any in their candy section and was told “It’s not Easter” ... okaaay, g’bye. At home they’re sold year ‘round and there’s a specialty candy store that sells the good ones loose. I specify, no licorice.

[pugmama]

I have always enjoyed chef Nathan Lane. He lives in CA ( where whence I came). He competed on Food Network( did not win). He has always loved fresh produce right from the garden. He has tried to cut out sugar/white flour in some of his recipes. His carrot coconut date balls are really a treat.

https://chefnathanlyon.wordpress.com/category/all-recipes/

[pugmama]

Spiced Carrot Almond Bites

Yield: approximately 16 balls

3 small carrots, peeled and chopped into the size of whole almonds

1 teaspoon orange zest

15 deglet noor dates, pitted

5 dried black mission figs, chopped roughly

1 tablespoon old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup toasted almonds

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

1 tablespoon grade B maple syrup

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1-ounce good quality dark chocolate, 65-70% cocoa solids, chopped roughly

¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Place all ingredients, except coconut, in a food processor and process until well combined and the ingredients stop moving about in the bowl.

Place shredded coconut on a large plate.

Using your hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls and roll balls in the coconut to coat.

Refrigerate 30 to 45 minutes to firm up before serving.

[Carthego delenda est]

I don’t think I still have the recipe for them, but a friend had turned me on to a no bake cookie that were absolutely phenomenal. I’m sure there’s recipies out there on the internetz, but the cookie was pretty basic. In a greased casserole dish, a layer of corn flakes and peanuts was put down. On top of that, a layer of some heated up peanut butter was poured over it, then cooled. And over that a layer of melted semi-sweet chocolate chips was poured over it all. The crunch of the corn flakes and peanuts, embedded into the peanut butter, covered with chocolate was so yummy!

I wish I hadn’t thought of those, because now I’m probably gonna have to make a batch!

[Aliska]

Those look like the bourbon balls I used to make for Christmas. Crushed vanilla wafers, cocoa, powdered sugar, Karo syrup, chopped English walnuts, bourbon. Then roll in powdered sugar a couple times. A family favorite.

The coffee would give them a mocha taste which I love plus I now have this great red cocoa so I'd better grab that recipe.

Thanks!

[Jamestown1630]

I don’t like licorice either, except for those twisty red things, which I doubt are really licorice ;-)

[Jamestown1630]

If you make them, tell us how they are. I haven’t made them yet, but they looked like an elegant little easy-to-make thing.

[Qiviut]

Chocolate Bourbon Balls (delicious!), but you could certainly use rum in place of the bourbon:

http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/chocolate-bourbon-balls.aspx