Monthly Cooking Thread - February 2022

[thesligoduffyflynns]

you can make your own its on you tube its very easy

[FamiliarFace]

Cream cheese is still available here, but the shelves are going bare sometimes. Actually, there have been lots of bare shelves at the store, but most recently, I think it was partly due to an upcoming winter storm.

[Jamestown1630]

We have a Southern exposure, and keep all the blinds up through the Winter, closed in Summer.

Solar gain saves us a lot in Winter!

[mylife]

works for me

[Flaming Conservative]

Haven’t seen this problem in northeast Oklahoma, but it’s easy to make cream cheese.
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/beer-food/how-to-make-cream-cheese-at-home/

[LouisianaJoanof Arc]

I’m dreaming of warmth too. For Louisiana, it is unusually cold. Thank you for the beautiful photo! And, thank you again for this thread.

[ptsal]

Thanks for the recipes

[Ellendra]

Cream cheese has become extinct in the DC area.

Anybody else have that problem?

Not here, but I am in dairy country. There were a few days around Christmas when the Philadelphia brand was in short supply, but the other brands were still plentiful.

[Ellendra]

Greek yogurt can often be used in place of cream cheese, too. Especially if you strain it through a coffee filter overnight.

[Flaming Conservative]

Good to know. Thanks.

[lizma2]

ROFL!

[lizma2]

Thanks!

I’m going grocery shopping Saturday morning. Even if cream cheese is back I think I’ll give this a try!

Always have loved experimenting in the kitchen. (Organic Chemistry Lab was my favorite college course.)

[Flaming Conservative]

You’re welcome. I, too, enjoy making things from scratch and experimenting with making my own cultured foods.

[Liz]

A great idea to put together a dessert for Valentines Day....ready made pie crust, canned of cherry pie filling all baked in a cute ketchup cup (golden arches has them).

Ingredients 1 can cherry pie filling 1 Pillsbury ready made pie crust 1 egg for egg wash coarse sugar for sprinkling candy heart for decoration (optional) ketchup paper containers

Instructions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Un-roll pie crust and roll out a little thinner. Using a 2-3/4 inch biscuit cutter cut out 10 circles and using a 2-1/2 inch biscuit cutter cut out 10 smaller circles for the top.

Thin out the crust in the center of the large circle by using your fingers to about an inch wide, fold the circle to fit into the ketchup container then press dough up the edges making sure your dough is all the way down in the bottom. Fill with pie filling.

Moisten the top of the pie with water. Also moisten the smaller circle with water on the side that will face down on the topping. Press to stick the pie crust in the container and the pie crust circle together. Brush with a egg wash which is 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water beaten together.Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cut air vents into the top of the pies.

TIP: You can freeze your pies at this point or bake them and then freeze them so all you have to do is re heat them for the party! Bake 25 minutes. I put my pies into mini muffin cups so they wouldn't topple over during the transfer process. Take out of the muffin cups as soon as you can handle them so they don't stick. Decorate with candy heart.

[Trillian]

Yellow cake with Nutella (Ciambellone soffice con Nutella)

Ingredients
2 large eggs (room temperature)
1 large yolk (room temperature)
1 cup sugar
½ cup milk (room temperature)
½ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups pastry/cake flour*
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 pinch salt

*To make homemade pastry/cake flour, for every cup of all purpose flour remove 2 tablespoons of flour and replace with cornstarch, sift to combine.

EXTRAS
½-¾ cup Nutella
powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350° (180° celcius). Grease and flour 2 x 8 or 9 inch (20-22cm) cake pans (springform or classic) or line with parchment paper.
On medium speed beat the eggs, yolk and sugar for approximately 2 minutes, add the water, oil and vanilla, beat again for 1 minute. Add the flour, baking powder and salt, beat for 2 minutes.
Pour the batter into the prepared pans, bake for approximately 20 - 25 minutes (check with toothpick to make sure they are done, when 2 or 3 crumbs are stuck to the toothpick they are done). Let cool for about 15 minutes before removing from the pans and cool completely before filling with the Nutella.
On round serving dish place one of the cakes top down, spread with the Nutella*, then place the 2nd cake on top (top side up) and dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

*If the Nutella is too hard to spread then you can thin it out either by heating in a microwave or by heating with a bain marie.

Notes
For room temperature ingredient remove from the fridge 1-2 hours before using, depending on the warmth of your house.
For storage, wrap the cake in plastic wrap and keep it at room temperature. It should keep for a couple of days.
The cake can also be frozen. Freeze tightly wrapped in plastic in an airtight freezer safe bag or container. Properly stored it will keep for up to six months in the freezer.

https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/yellow-cake-nutella-ciambellone-soffice-con-nutella/

Norwegian Apple Cake

Ingredients
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick
3 tablespoons Imperial Sugar Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 cup salted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups Imperial Sugar Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour*

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.1
Place sliced apples into a large bowl. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and cinnamon. Stir to coat evenly. Set aside.2
In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment mix butter and 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar together on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add in eggs one at a time and mix until combined, scraping sides and bottom of bowl as necessary. Add baking powder and mix to incorporate.3
Turn mixer to low speed and in alternating additions, add flour and milk, beginning and ending with flour, until just combined. Don’t overmix.4
To assemble, cover bottom of prepared pan with apples. They can overlap, but you want a single layer. Top apples with cake batter and spread evenly to cover all apples. Press remaining apples into batter vertically making concentric circles in batter.5
Bake for 55- 65 minutes, or until cake is set in center and a toothpick comes out clean.6
Allow cake to cool for 15 minutes in pan. Run a knife around edges to release from sides of pan.7
Serve warm with whipped cream, dusted with powdered sugar, or topped with ice cream.

*Spoon & Sweep method: Use a spoon to fill measuring cup with flour until required amount is obtained. Scooping measuring cup directly into flour bag will firmly pack flour resulting in too much flour required for recipe.

https://www.imperialsugar.com/recipes/norwegian-apple-cake

[pugmama]

I found some really good recipes at this site. Have been checking them out. No thoughts of Spring here with such cold weather, snow and rain here.

https://www.foodgal.com/recipe-index/

[Jamestown1630]

some of those look interesting.

I’d heard of ‘Angel Biscuits’ before, and want to try them.

I’m wondering if anyone here has ever made them.

[Trillian]

14 Delicious and easy small batch Valentine's desserts

[pugmama]

I used this recipe for angel biscuits. They are wonderful and freeze very well. Reminded me of the ones my mom used to make.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/trisha-yearwoods-angel-biscuits-3236443

[Jamestown1630]

I need to try those. I love biscuits.