Monthly Cooking Thread - June 2018

[Yaelle]

I made these. Some said they don’t look attractive. Which they don’t. But they tasted great! When the batter was in the mix, they still were not solid enough to hold their shape in the deep fryer so I added some breadcrumbs. They ended up like rounded green patties. Tasted yummy, and you can kind of pretend they are healthy.

[Yaelle]

I used to follow an old Italian chef’s recipe for a very airy egg whitey batter and then quickly fried in a pan. It is a fast exercise and your guests or family should be standing in kitchen ready to eat them. Make the airy batter, pick the flowers from the garden (and I believe you had to pick boy flowers or girl flowers, shoot, don’t remember), then dip them in batter, fry, and eat as soon as they are cool enough to pop into your mouth. Very sensual little appetizer!

[Yaelle]

I made 2 roasted chickens tonight. Two so there will be leftovers!

[Jamestown1630]

It looks like you should pick the males; unless you want the females too, and thus forego the future, full-grown squash plant from that particular flower:

https://www.thekitchn.com/my-favorite-sign-of-summer-squash-blossoms-220816

[Liz]

Vegetables galore in one heavenly dish. Add a fresh-made baguette spread with herb butter, maybe a condiment or two, and you have an exquisite company lunch.

GARDEN FRITTATA

Ingredients: • tb each butter and peanut oil or vegetable oil •8 eggs, beaten •2 tsp Dijon or coarse ground mustard •1/2 cup green pepper, cored and diced •1/3 cup white or red onion, diced (or 4 green onions, white part and tender green part, chopped) • cup mushrooms, thinly sliced •1/2 cup broccoli, blanched and chopped •2 cups spinach, blanched/well drained •2 minced gar/cl •2 tb ea parsley and chives, freshly chopped •S/p to taste •4 ounces shredded cheddar •1/3 cup garden tomato, seeded and diced

METHOD While 10-12" pan heats on moderate flame, whip eggs/mustard til blended but not frothy •When pan is hot (drop of water sizzles), add the butter/oil combo •When the butter stops foaming, add the peppers, onions and then the mushrooms; saute' 2 minutes •Add broccoli, spinach, garlic and herbs and heat for about one minute

[Liz]

Starts w/ best quality creamy ice cream as a base. Then add fruit and nuts for a delicious Cassata version.
Best of all, you can get very creative with this method, adding flavors and ingredients you like best.

Cassata Ice Cream

CASSATA VERSION--Steep cup currants, ¼ cup Amaretto or rum or fave liqueur. Scoop 2 qts best vanilla ice cream into bowl; microwave for 40-60 sec or leave to soften on counter 10 min. Work a bit w/ heavy spoon to soften just enough for mix-ins (do not thaw fully). Add in quickly combined cup fine-chp glacé pineapple, zested lemon, cup unsalted pistachios, cup fresh or frozen raspberries. Return to freezer container (or set in decorative molds). Cover/freeze 4 hours.

SERVE in slices or scoops (or molds) garnished with diced pistachios; spoon vanilla syrup or maple syrup around plate.

=======================================

CREATE YOUR OWN FLAVORS Try adding cinnamon to vanilla ice cream to scoop on apple pie.

[JayGalt]

Good on you. You rose to the occasion : )
I’ll bet the result was delicious.

[JayGalt]

Last night we tried the Butter Chicken Murgh Makhani on Freeper recommendations from this thread and it was very tasty.
We also made another recipe for the first time, Saucy Asian Meatballs. We modified the recipe using another more keto friendly recipe, Asian Pork Meatballs

As Modified

Asian Meatballs

Ingredients

Pork Meatballs

• 2 lb ground pork
• 4 clove garlic. crushed (we used Gourmet Garden garlic paste)
• 2-3 tbsp grated fresh ginger(we used Gourmet Garden Ginger Paste)
• ~2/3 cup chopped scallions, use some green & all white
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp cilantro
• 1 tbsp mint(optional)
• 4 tbsp almond flour
• 2 T soy sauce
• 2 T sesame oil

Sauce

• Asian Sauce Ingredients:
• 2/3 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 tsp. ground ginger

To serve

• 1 tbsp black sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp chopped scallions

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400.
In a large bowl, mix together meatball ingredients until well-combined. Shape into balls about 1.5 inches, which yielded about 35 meatballs, and place on a greased baking sheet or silpat covered tray. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until meatballs are golden on the outside and no longer pink on the inside or check with meat thermometer, 160 degrees F.

While the meatballs are baking, whisk together all of the sauce ingredients until blended. Once meatballs have finished cooking pour the sauce over the meatballs and gently stir them until covered.

Sprinkle with black sesame seeds and chopped spring onions before serving. The remaining sauce can be served alongside the meatballs for dipping.

[JayGalt]

We didn’t make the sauce last night. I just drizzled some hoisin Sauce over the meatballs before serving.

[Liz]

Here's two great condiments to serve with the Garden Frittata. A bottle of Sriracha on the table is a plus.

COOKED TOMATO SALSA

Blender sauteed onions, 4 c diced canned Italian plum tomatoes,
cup tomato juice, 2 gar/cl, large jalapeno; strain/simmer 20 min.

LIME CREMA

Whisk cup h/cream, 1/4 cup buttermilk. Cover/ set in warm place (gas oven pilot
light) 8 hours. Add a squeeze of lime before serving. Fridges a week.

[Liz]

Addictive, delicious. Aroma wafts through the air. Rich, warm, spicy-sweet, an awesome snack; a little punch of protein.
CHEF'S TIP: Toast almonds a few moments before adding--really improves taste. Omit cinnamon for richer buttery flavor.

Glazed Almonds / the kind you bought at Walt Disney World
METHOD Heat/melt 1/3 c butter on 15x10" sheetpan 325 deg oven 7 min.
Now beat frothy 2 egg whites, dash salt, then gradually add cup sugar, beating to stiff peaks.
Gently fold in 16 oz toasted almonds, 4 tsp cinnamon. Pour into pan; stir/coat w/ butter.
Bake/stir every 10 min til almonds are crisp 40 min. Serve warm or room temp.

[boatbums]

I have a great recipe for zucchini. It's a family fav:

Zucchini Crescent Pie

[Jamestown1630]

When I first saw that, I thought it was a Spanish Tortilla (which is actually a sort of potato omelet); I saw a video of one today that had cheese, but this seems to be a more ‘classic’ recipe:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/147109/tortilla-espanola-spanish-tortilla/

[Jamestown1630]

I’m glad you like the Butter Chicken. Your Asian Meatballs look good. We use a pork mixture very like that in our potstickers.

[JayGalt]

I’ll bet that that was where the idea for the meatballs originally came from.

[Liz]

Looks mighty good.

Spanish Tortilla (sort of a potato omelet) usually served warm----a favorite tapa.

[Trillian]

I need to make these! The pictures look amazing.

Oreo Cream FIlled Brownies

Ingredients
Brownie
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter, cut into cubes
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup flour
Filling
1/2 cup vegetable shortening or butter, room temperature
1 tsp granulated sugar
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 Tbsp hot water

Instructions
Brownie
Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a 10×15 sized pan (jelly roll pan) with non stick spray. Line bottom with parchment paper and spray parchment with nonstick spray. Set aside.
In medium microwave-safe bowl combine cubed butter and chocolate chips. Heat on high for 1 minute in microwave and stir until smooth. Add in vanilla and stir. Set aside.
In bowl of stand mixer beat eggs and sugar until pale in color. Add in flour and salt and mix on low until combined. Pour in melted chocolate mixture and stir until incorporated.
Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and bake for 8-10 minutes until center is set. Allow pan to cool completely on a wire rack before filling.

Filling
Combine all filling ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.

Assembly
Loosen edges of the brownie from the sides of the pan with a butter knife. Invert pan onto a cutting board, releasing the brownie from the pan. Cut brownie in half with a knife.
Spread filling on the bottom side of one of the halves. Place the other half of the brownie directly on top. Cut into squares.

Notes
store airtight at room temperature for 3 days.

https://cookiesandcups.com/oreo-cream-filled-brownies/

[Trillian]

I am going to try this soon. I have all the ingredients :)

[boatbums]

I have always made it without the mustard. I just don't think it needs it. Hope you like it!

[Liz]

That Filling recipe is a keeper.......has many uses in desserts.