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The Night Before Christmas

December 23, 2009 by Heather

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap….

 Christmas Eve is almost here! I have always loved Christmas Eve, perhaps even more than Christmas. It’s a day of anticipation, festiveness, and wonderful smells wafting from the kitchen. Nothing can be more appropriate to a Christmas celebration than Christmas Pudding, also known as Plum Pudding, or Figgy Pudding. Below is a simple recipe that can be made in the microwave (saving you about 5 1/2 hours of steaming on the stovetop!). Our family enjoyed Christmas Pudding last year on New Year’s Day. It made a very festive start to the year.

CHEAT’S CHRISTMAS PUDDING
(adapted from Julia Child’s ‘The Way To Cook’ via About.com)

3 cups (lightly packed) crumbs from homemade type white bread, crust on is fine-I used part of an  Italian loaf (to make this pudding gluten-free, simply substitute gluten-free brown rice bread or whatever gluten-free bread you prefer)
1 cup each: black raisins, golden raisins, currants
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup butter, melted
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
few drops of almond extract
1/2 c. orange marmalade

For flaming:
1/2 c. rum or bourbon whiskey or brandy

Make the bread crumbs in a food processor or blender. Toss bread crumbs in a bowl with the raisins, currants, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Mix in the melted butter, eggs, almond extract, and orange marmalade:

Butter a microwave-safe bowl and cover the bottom of the dish with a piece of parchment paper. Pour in the batter. Cover with plastic wrap and pierce the plastic with a knife in several places. Place in the microwave and cook on “defrost” (low speed) for 30 minutes (this was power level 3 on my microwave). Finally, cook on high for 5 minutes. Let the pudding sit for a few minutes before unmolding. (I left mine in the mold until ready to serve at which time I could pop it back in the microwave to warm it up.) The pudding is ready when it is firm to the touch (it will be firm but also spongy). The pudding will also be paler than a properly steamed pudding.

To serve: Heat the brandy, whisky or rum in saucepan until warmed. Pour over the unmolded pudding and ignite. Serve immediately or ignite at the table. Serve with brandy butter.

BRANDY AND GINGER BUTTER
(adapted from www.bbcgoodfood.com)

1 cup butter, softened
grated zest of one orange
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/4 cup brandy or cognac
2 pieces of stem ginger or candied ginger, finely chopped

With a handheld mixer, beat the butter until fluffy. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until well-combined. Store in fridge until ready to use.

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Holiday Feast: Christmas Breakfast

December 22, 2009 by The Cooks Next Door

Who doesn’t love breakfast food?! Especially on Christmas! Here’s what our families do for breakfast on Christmas morning:

Heather — Christmas breakfast is eaten around the tree as the children open their presents. The first year we were married I discovered the recipe for Swedish Tea Rings and have made one for Christmas breakfast ever since. The rest of the menu may vary some, but it always includes fruit. In recent years we’ve enjoyed bacon-wrapped sausages sprinkled with brown sugar and then baked and I often buy some thick, Greek yogurt to serve alongside the fruit. Drinks consist of juice and plenty of hot tea.

CITRUS FRUIT SALAD WITH LIME
(Heather)

1 pineapple, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 small cans mandarin oranges or 3 large navel oranges peeled and sectioned
1 can apricots
zest and juice of 2 limes

Cut pineapple into pieces and place in a serving bowl. Add the mandarin or navel oranges and the can of apricots. Sprinkle over the zest of lime and stir in the lime juice. Best made the same day as eaten.

For variety I sometimes add dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds. For those who like ginger, one teaspoon of freshly grated ginger adds a wonderful zing or try a few tablespoons of finely sliced candied ginger.

Serves 8.

SWEDISH TEA RING
(originally from Fleishmann’s New Treasury of Yeast Baking)

3 ½ — 4 ½ c. flour
½ c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. yeast
1 c. milk
¼ c. water
½ c. butter
1 egg (at room temp.)
½ c. flour
½ c. nuts
½ c. brown sugar
1-2 c. fruit (canned cherries, apricot, etc. well-drained)

Mix 1 ¼ c. flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a bowl.

Combine milk, water and butter in saucepan. Heat to warm liquids and melt butter. Cool until warm. Add to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes. Add egg and ¾ c. flour, to make a thick batter. Beat 2 more minutes. Stir in enough additional flour to make a stiff batter (but not as thick as bread dough). Cover and refrigerate dough at least 2 hours. (Can be kept in fridge 3 days.)

Combine nuts, ½ c. flour, and brown sugar. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and divide in half. Roll ½ of the dough into a 14×7-inch rectangle.

Spread with ½ of the fruit. Sprinkle with ½ the brown sugar mixture. Roll up from long side as for jelly roll. Seal edges. Place sealed edge down in a circle on a greased cookie sheet. Seal ends firmly.

Cut slits 2/3 through ring at 1-inch intervals; turn each section outward, on its side.

(Note: This picture shows only one-half of the ring slices turned out — be sure to turn out every ring)

Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled – about 1 hour. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until done. Cool on wire rack. Frost while warm with confectioners’ sugar glaze.

Often I don’t have the canned filling I want so I make an apple filling by chopping about 3 large, peeled apples and mixing them with 1/4 c. flour, 1/2 c. brown sugar, juice of one lemon and a few dried cranberries. Bring this mixture to a boil and cook until thickened, stirring constantly.

Glaze: mix 3 tablespoons soft butter into about 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar. Add enough milk to make a drizzling consistency. Add more sugar if needed to thicken.

Makes 2 rings.

Alaina - We traditionally enjoy an egg casserole, fruit, some kind of bread or coffee cake, and a few special drinks. The coffee pot is kept going for those of us who were awakened early by eager children. We have breakfast after stockings and gifts are opened or in between the stockings and gifts depending on the time. It’s a leisurely affair and one that I find makes me incredibly content and reflective.

I use the same base recipe for my egg casserole and just switch out the meats and cheese and sometimes add vegetables to make it different. We love it and I’ve been making it year-round for years. One of my favorite combinations is bacon, spinach, and swiss and we also love the traditional classic of sausage and sharp cheddar (onions & peppers add great color and flavor). You could easily make this vegetarian by omitting the meat. This egg casserole also re-heats very well if you have leftovers. I’m sharing one of my favorite versions.

SPINACH-MUSHROOM-BACON-SWISS EGG CASSEROLE

6 eggs, lightly beaten
1 lb. bacon, cooked and finely cut up (I often use less than a pound)
3 c. milk
8 oz. swiss cheese
1 1/3 c. crushed crackers (I use a butter cracker like ritz)

1 tsp. dry mustard
1 lb. mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
1 lb. frozen, chopped spinach, thawed w/liquid thoroughly squeezed out
pepper & salt*

Combine all ingredients. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes – 1 hour until golden brown.

*May not need much salt.
**May be made the night before and refrigerated.

These muffins are delicious! You could make them even more special by drizzling a little glaze over them.

LEMON-CRANBERRY ALMOND MUFFINS
(adapted from Taste of Home)

2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. milk
1/2 c. vegetable oil
zest of 1 lemon
1 c. fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/3 c. slivered almonds, toasted

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In another bowl, beat the eggs, milk, oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zest and cranberries.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full; sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Makes 1 1/2 – 3 dozen muffins.

This icy drink always reminds me of my childhood. My mom used to surprise us with it and now I love to share it with my children.


ORANGE JULIUS

6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
6 oz. water
1 c. milk
1/8-1/4 c. sugar (opt.)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
12 ice cubes

Chill glasses in freezer.

Combine all ingredients in blender or smoothie machine and blend until ingredients are mixed and ice is pulverized. Makes 4 servings.

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Market Fresh: Leeks

December 21, 2009 by Heather

Leeks are intricately connected to Christmas-time for me. Growing up we ate them only once a year, but always on Christmas Eve when my mother made them into Potato Leek Soup. I realized there were many more delicious ways to use leeks when we lived in Scotland. There leeks are plentiful and commonly used for such things as soup, gratins, and side dishes. Similar in taste to an onion, but milder, leeks lend a lovely, savory taste to whatever dish they are added to.

Leeks come in a long, cylinder shape and need to be washed well before use. The easiest way to prepare leeks is to cut the very bottom off and begin slicing in thin rounds up through the white part and just into the green part. Separate the slices into little rings and gently wash. I use a salad spinner to wash and then spin dry the leek circles. If I don’t need a whole bunch of leeks at once, I freeze the extra on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper, removing them to a heavy plastic bag once frozen.

This week I have a great-tasting, easy recipe for using leeks: Creamy Chicken and Leeks served over a baked potato. It cooks up quickly and can be served with a salad alongside. For those of you interested in trying other leek recipes, let me suggest Alaina’s Potato Leek Soup, or this Creamy Baked Leeks with Citrus Crumbs, or perhaps just Buttered Leeks.

CREAMY CHICKEN AND LEEKS
(adapted from www.bbcgoodfood.com)

olive oil
6 strips bacon, chopped
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 leeks, sliced into thin rounds
1 Tbsp. plain flour
1 1/4 c. chicken stock
1 Tbsp. grainy mustard
2 Tbsp. sour-cream

Heat the oil in a large sauce pan and fry the bacon for 2 minutes. Add the chicken, then cook with the bacon for a further 2-3 minutes, until the pieces begin to turn golden. Tip in the leeks and cook gently for 10 minutes until leeks are wilted and tender.

Stir through the flour and gradually add the stock, stirring constantly. Add the grainy mustard and sour-cream, stir again, then simmer gently for 5 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened and creamy.

Serve on top of baked potatoes.

Serves 4-6.

Posted in Market Fresh | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments »

Gourmet Gifts & Giveaway

December 18, 2009 by Alaina

In many ways there is nothing more comforting than a big pot of soup. This soup  mix will make 20 gifts – a good value and very pretty. Add a loaf of bread from the store (0r a cornbread or bread mix) and you have a beautiful and tasty gift!

This soup looks great in a jar! The colors are gorgeous and festive.

WORLD’S BEST BEAN SOUP MIX
(adapted slightly from The Perfect Mix)

1 pound navy beans
1 pound great Northern beans
1 pound pinto beans
1 pound red beans
1 pound dried garbanzo beans
1 pound yellow split peas
1 pound green split peas
1 pound black-eyed peas
1 pound dried lentils
1 pound black-eyed peas
1 pound dried lentils
1 pound dried lima beans
1 pound dried baby lima beans
1 pound pearl barley

Combine navy beans, Northern beans, red beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, black-eyed peas , lentils,  lima beans, and barley, in a large pan or bowl.

Measure out 2-cup gift packages and store in airtight containers. Include recipe instructions for usage below.

Makes 20 packages (about 2 cups each)

INSTRUCTIONS:
1 package (2 cups) bean soup mix (above)
2 quarts water
1 ham hock
1-1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 tsp chili powder
1 pint tomatoes
1 clove garlic, minced
3 Tbsp lemon juice

Wash the soup mix and place in a Dutch oven. Cover with water and soak overnight.

Drain the beans and add the water, ham hock, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1-1/2 hours until the beans are tender.

Add onions, chili powder, tomatoes, garlic, and lemon juice. Simmer 30 minutes more, stirring occasionally.

Remove ham hock from the soup. Take the meat from the bone, chop the meat and return it to the soup.

Today we are giving away this beautiful apron! It’s a black and white linen apron made by Heather. Isn’t it adorable?!

To Enter:
- Leave a comment telling us your favorite comfort food.
- One entry per person and the giveaway will stay open through Tuesday and a winner will be randomly selected.
- That’s it! Unfortunately, this will not arrive in time for Christmas.

Posted in Giveaways, Gourmet Gifts | Tagged , | 24 Comments »

Gluten-free Goodness: Holiday Treats

December 17, 2009 by Alaina

There are some really great options for gluten-free desserts that don’t compromise flavor at all! I made this macaroon cheesecake and it got rave reviews from everyone. It’s creamy and delicious – the flavor profile is wonderful!

COCONUT MACAROON CHEESECAKE
(Taste of Home)

CRUST:
1 c. flaked coconut, toasted
1/2 c. ground pecans
2 Tb. butter, melted

FILLING:
3 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. almond extract

TOPPING:
1 egg white
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 c. sugar
2/3 c. flaked coconut, toasted

In a small bowl, combine the coconut and pecans; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Beat in extracts just until blended. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. In a small bowl, beat egg white and vanilla until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Fold in coconut. Carefully spread over top of cheesecake.

Bake 20-25 minutes longer or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers. Makes 12 servings.

We called theses peppermint chocolate meringues “Martian Eggs” when we were kids and they were an annual tradition – especially at our family gathering. The green-tinted egg like cookies are crispy on the outside and a little softer on the inside with delicious chocolate chips.

PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE MERINGUES

2 egg whites
dash salt
2/3 c. sugar
green or red food coloring (opt.)
6 oz. mint chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat egg whites and salt until frothy. Slowly add sugar and beat until stiff. Add food coloring if desired. Fold in mint chocolate chips.

Drop on ungreased cookie sheet. Turn off oven and put cookie sheet in oven and leave in oven for 2-6 hours or until crisp on outside and chewy on inside. (Mine took 2 hours 15 minutes but it depends on the humidity.) Makes about 3 dozen.


ALMOND MACAROONS
(adapted from Christmas Cookies, by: Lisa Zwirn)

2 c. almond meal
1 1/4 c. sugar
3 lg. egg whites
1/2 tsp. almond extract
6 oz. bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate (opt. – but you really should…)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 1 or 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Combine almond meal, sugar, egg white, and extract in lg. bowl. Beat with mixer until thoroughly combined and dough is a thick, sticky paste.

Drop the dough by level tablespoonfuls, arranging about 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets. Using a pastry brush lightly moistened with water, brush the tops and sides of the macaroons, gently pressing down on them to form smooth rounds about 1/2 in. thick and 1 3/4 in. in diameter.

Bake 15-18 minutes or until the macaroons are lightly golden. They should feel crisp on the outside but soft inside.  (Rotate cookie sheets halfway through if using two).  Cool for 5 minute, then use a thin metal spatula to remove the macaroons from the paper. Place on rack to cool completely.

CHOCOLATE: Melt chocolate and dip, drizzle or ice the cooled macaroons.

Store layered between wax paper for up to 5 days. Without chocolate, the macaroons can be frozen up to two months.  Makes about 32 cookies.

Posted in Baker's Delight, Gluten-Free Goodness, Holidays | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments »

The Winner!

December 16, 2009 by Alaina

The random winner of the Paula Deen’s Kids’ Cookbooks is Gretchen! I’ve been slow to get things in the mail but all of the prizes from the past few drawings will be in the mail tomorrow! Enjoy and thanks for entering! We will have another giveaway this Friday!!!

Posted in Blog, Blog Business, Giveaways | 1 Comment »

Off The Shelf: River Cottage Family Cookbook

December 16, 2009 by Heather

For those of you looking for a nice cookbook to give to a budding young cook in your family, let me suggest The River Cottage Family Cookbook by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Fizz Carr.

What I love about this book is that it doesn’t attempt to water down cooking. It takes real recipes and real concepts and begins to teach children the very basics of cooking in a very inspiring way. I was so excited about the book when I first saw it that I ordered a copy for my then 8-year-old daughter and we immediately began reading and cooking from it.

Take a look at the contents: Flour, Milk, Eggs, Fruit, Vegetables, Fish & Shellfish, Meat, The Cupboard, Sugar & Honey, and Chocolate. Each chapter begins with an introduction, giving helpful information about the topic and how to use it. This is followed by numerous recipes. For instance, the chapter on Eggs talks about what an egg really is, how to crack and separate an egg, what does an egg white do and how to fold it into something, how to know an egg is fresh (it will sink in a bowl of water), and what kinds of eggs to use.

Now, have a look at the recipes included in the egg chapter: Custard, Pancakes, Soft-boiled eggs, Omelette, Eggy Bread (French Toast), Meringues, Sponge Cake, and Drop Scones. Each chapter is filled with beautiful, inspiring photos and easy-to-read type. And while this book hails from the UK, it has been translated into American English and cooking terms to make things easy!

Rachel and I decided to make the Baked Apples from the Fruit chapter. This is a simple recipe for a child to help make and the result is a delicious, comforting food on a cold winter night.

BAKED APPLES
(The River Cottage Family Cookbook)

butter
Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples, 1 per person (or use whatever apples you have)
soft brown or granulated sugar

Preheat the oven to 350F. Smear a little butter over the inside of a baking dish.

With a sharp knife, carefully cut a line completely around the waist of each apple to give it a sort of thin belt. This stops the apple from exploding as the flesh foams and expands in the heat of the oven.

Remove core and seeds of each apple. Cut a small slice off te bottom of the apple so it will sit in the baking dish without rocking from side to side. Stand the apples in the dish slightly apart from each other, so they don’t join up and get stuck together while they cook.

Pour sugar into the well of each apple right up to the top. (At this point we stuck a few dried cranberries in with the sugar — raisins are good too!). Dot a generous knob of butter on top of the sugar. Spoon a tablespoon of water for each apple into the base of the dish.

Place the dish in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes (other varieties of apples may take longer). The apples should be puffy and the skin a little split. Stick a sharp knife into the flesh of the apple at the thickest part near the core. If the flesh feels hard, let the apples cook for 5 minutes longer. Turn the oven down a little if they are getting too brown.

Serve everyone an apple and a good spoonful of the delicious syrupy sauce poured over the top. Some people adore the skin of a baked apple; others prefer to push it to one side. But whatever you do, eat with plenty of cream, Greek yogurt, or English custard.

Posted in Off the Shelf | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Entertaining 101: Holiday Tea

December 15, 2009 by Heather

I love a good tea party! Whether it is impromptu with my children with only cups of tea and toast, or planned a few days in advance with a friend or two, or a big, fancy affair with lots of people and a buffet full of tea foods. Christmas is a perfect time to bring out the teacups and sit down with someone special to drink in a few moments of the passing season.

So many of the holiday foods are well-suited for a tea party: cookies, cheese ball and crackers, chocolate truffles, muffins, cranberry-orange tea loaf, squares of gingerbread, chicken salad sandwiches with dried cranberries, cut pineapple sprinkled with lime zest, homemade candies or chocolate dipped pretzels, etc.  Holiday teas abound too. Think Gingerbread, Earl Grey, Orange Spice, Constant Comment (which now comes in decaf!!!), Chai, Sugar Cookie, or Candy Cane Lane.

Several recipes that I particularly like around the holidays are Gingerbread Muffins, Cranberry Bread, and Scottish Shortbread. Every year I watched my mother make her ritual batch of shortbread, using the handwritten recipe card from her grandmother who had immigrated from Scotland. It is simple but rich and is a perfect accompaniment to tea.

Gingerbread muffins are a wonderful invention. Doesn’t everyone want to smell gingerbread scents wafting from their oven? Muffins are easy to make and easy to serve with the same delightful aroma of real gingerbread.

GINGERBREAD MUFFINS
(cooksrecipes.com)

1 ½ c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. cloves
¼ tsp. ginger
¼ tsp. nutmeg
1 egg
1/3 c. oil
¼ c. molasses
1/3 c. sugar
½ c. boiling water

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease or line muffin tin. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. In another bowl, beat egg, oil, molasses and sugar, mixing well. Pour mixture into flour mixture. Mix until just moistened; add boiling water and mix until just blended. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until muffins are done. Makes 12.

(Note: the pillow-like object behind the teapot is a “tea cozy”. You can find them for sale here.)

SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD
(Grandmother Christina Winterbottom)

6 c. flour (if you like more texture, you can substitute 1 cup of flour for 1 cup of rice flour)
1 c. sugar
2 c. butter, softened (I prefer salted butter here)

Mix the flour and sugar together then incorporate the butter – this must be done with hands to soften the butter into the flour mixture. Mix with hands until soft and doughy. Depending on the softness of your butter, this may take 5-15 minutes.

Spread dough in a 10×15” pan and prick evenly with a fork (allowing the fork to touch the bottom of the pan).

Bake 1 hour at 325F until edges just begin to golden – cut into 1-inch squares or 2-inch fingers while hot.

CRANBERRY BREAD
(bowlofmush.blogspot.com)

2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 c. orange juice
2 Tbsp. butter or vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. grated orange zest
1 egg, beaten
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. roughly chopped fresh cranberries
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. Chop the cranberries and walnuts and set aside.

In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in the orange juice, orange zest, egg, vanilla and butter. Fold in the chopped cranberries and walnuts.

Spread the mixture evenly in the greased loaf pan and bake in the oven at 350F for 55 minutes. Allow to cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes. Will cut best if left to rest for several hours.

 

Posted in Entertaining 101, Tea Time | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments »

Market Fresh: Onions

December 14, 2009 by Alaina

I use onions almost every day. They start my soups and sauces, they top my pizzas or potatoes, and they find their way into salads, too. They offer fantastic  flavor and can change a dish just by their addition.

They grow underground and there are a variety of types. Red, yellow, and white are quite common as well as green onions, sweet onions, vidalia and others.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS

1 Tb. butter
1 lg. onion, sliced in thin rings

Melt butter in a saute pan over medium-low to medium heat. Add onions. Let cook stirring occasionally for 20-30 minutes or until onions are brown and caramelized.

Delicious on pizza, bread, baked potatoes, salads, steaks, burgers, and more. The above is a carmalized onion and portabella mushroom pizza – yum!

FRENCH ONION SOUP
(Better Homes & Gardens)

2 Tb. butter
2 c. Onion, thinly sliced
4 c. beef broth
2 Tb. dry sherry or white wine
1 tsp. worcestshire sauce
dash pepper
6 slices French Bread
3/4 c. shredded cheese (swiss, jarlsburg, or gruyere)

In a lg. saucepan, melt butter. Stir in onions. Cook, covered, over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes or till tender and golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in beef broth, dry sherry or wine, worcestshire sauce, and pepper. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Meanshile, sprinkle toasted bread with shredded cheese, Place bread under broiler till cheese melts and turns light brown. To serve, ladle soup into bowls and float bread atop. Makes about 4 1/2 c.

I thought this could use a little thyme or parsley to brighten it. My friend, Amy, sent me this recipe that she says her family loves!

This was a delicious salad! You could add feta, nuts, chicken, or other toppings would be wonderful!

BALSAMIC ONION SALAD
(very slightly adapted from Ina Garten)

3 sm. red onions
1/4 c. plus 2 Tb. good balsamic vinegar, divided
1 c. good olive oil, divided
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided
6 Tb. minced shallots (about 2 large)
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 c. good red wine vinegar
2 heads red-leaf, green-leaf, or mixed greens washed, spun dry, and torn into pieces

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut the onions in 1/2 and slice 1/4-in. thick, place on a baking sheet and toss with: 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar, 1/4 c. olive oil, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper.

Bake for 12 to 15 min., until the onions are tender. (This took a little longer for me – around 20-25 min. but I may have cut them larger.)

Remove from oven and toss with 2 more tablespoons balsamic vinegar and cool to room temperature. (They were still a little warm and I liked that!)

Whisk together the shallots, mustard, red wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a small bowl. While whisking, add 3/4 c. olive oil until emulsified.

To assemble, toss enough lettuce for 6 people with dressing, to taste. Place the lettuce on 6 plates and arrange the onions on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

Posted in Market Fresh, Simple Suppers, Soup Pot | Tagged , , | 6 Comments »

When It Comes To Eggnog: Go Local!

December 12, 2009 by Heather

I love eggnog — that combination of creamy, custard flavor and freshly ground nutmeg. For a number of years I’ve been disillusioned with the eggnog found at chain supermarkets. It’s fake color, overwhelming sweetness, and pasty thickness caused me to give up drinking eggnog altogether (unless I invested the time to actually make it myself).

This year, thanks to Trader’s Point Creamery (Indianapolis, IN), I’m once again indulging in a little eggnog. TPC is a local dairy farm that raises grass-fed cows and sells milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice-cream to supermarkets in our area. My sister brought home some of their eggnog one day and it was an instant hit. It’s smooth and creamy, with specks of nutmeg, but not overly sweet, no strange yellow-color, and no hint of what I liken to “cornstarch thickening.”

If you are in the Indianapolis area, I recommend trying a quart of eggnog (it runs about $5). It’s worth the investment and can be enjoyed in small glasses. You might also want to pay a visit to their Farmer’s Market, which runs every Saturday morning in the winter (and this weekend and next there is a Christmas on the Farm event too!). If you are outside our area, keep your eyes open for a local dairy that is making their own eggnog from scratch. It just might become a Christmas tradition!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , | 5 Comments »

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