Applesauce from Scratch

A friend from church has an apple tree at her place in New Mexico and she brought a bunch to Sunday school to share.   I've been wanting to make my own applesauce for some time and this seemed to be a good batch to make it with.  They were tart, yet sweet enough.

I selected the easiest recipe I could find and it just so happened to be in this book by one of my favorite food authors, Ruth Reichl.

After coring, peeling and slicing the apples cover them with water.  Throw a couple sticks of cinnamon in the pot and add a good squeeze of lemon.

Let them simmer until the apples are very tender.



Remove the cinnamon sticks.  With a slotted spoon, transfer the apples to the bowl of the food processor (don't throw away the liquid!).  If you think the consistency is too thick you can add a little of the water.

NOTE:  Use the pulse option and check often so that you don't process it too much.




That's it!  Jar it up and stick it in the refrigerator.

That's all there is to it!  You can use as little or as many apples as you want with enough water to cover them.

You can add a little cinnamon if you like but mine was perfectly flavored with a hint of cinnamon from the sticks.  I also did not add any sugar.  It simply didn't need it but I suppose you could add some of you wanted.

I didn't need to add any of the cooking water either.





But it made a wonder hot, sipping drink (probably be great with a splash of Maker's Mark in it).

El Cid Chili

I cut this recipe out of a Parade Magazine.  Parade Magazine was always found in the Sunday newspaper.  I don't know if they still do that or not; it's been so long since I've read a physical copy of the Sunday news.


The recipe was the winner of a Best Chili In the USA contest published in 2000.  It gets its name from the creator of the dish, Cid Prevost from Missouri who, it looks like, won the recipe contest.  Anyway, it was the only one of the entrants that looked good to me.






We have our proteins presenting themselves as chorizo, ground beef (I used ground sirloin) and the sirloin steak.




Cut up and brown the sirloin in batches and set aside in a holding dish while you brown the other meats and onion.





After removing the sirloin steak, throw the onions in the skillet, followed by the chorizo and the ground beef. 




Once all of that is browned, return the sirloin steak and any accumulated juices to the skillet.


 

Stir in your seasonings of chopped cilantro, chili powder, Lawry's garlic salt, cumin, dried basil, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, and yellow cornmeal.  NOTE:  the other seasoning ingredient that I did not add was the fresh jalapeno (Lovey won't eat it) but be sure and add it; it would be delicious.





Another note, I thought the garlic salt was too salty, even though I did not season it anymore with salt.  I will use garlic powder next time.

Add the beef broth.  I think the reflection of two can lights and the overhead light fixture in the beef broth looks like a little bear's face.  Anyone else see it?

Add the tomatoes, juice and all.




Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer for about 2 hours.

Note:  I added a can of drained pinto beans in the end, at Lovey's request


El Cid Chili
Adapted from a recipe that appeared in Parade magazine
Serves 8

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 pounds sirloin steak, cut in 1" cubes
1/2 pound lean ground beef
12 ounces chorizo, casing removed & broken up
1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chili powder
1 Tbsp. Lawry's garlic salt
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried basil
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) peeled, whole tomatoes, un-drained
3-1/2 cups beef broth
1 cup chopped cilantro
1 cinnamon stick
3 bay leaves
2 green jalapenos slit lengthwise 3 times
1 Tbsp. yellow cornmeal
salt and pepper to taste
Grated cheddar cheese and sour cream (optional garnishes)



Method:
Prep and measure all of your ingredients.  Place a 5-1/2 quart dutch oven over medium heat until very hot.  Add olive oil.  Brown sirloin steak pieces in batches.  Remove to a holding dish with a slotted spoon.  Add ground beef, chorizo and onions to the pot to brown, breaking up the meat.  Return the browned sirloin and any accumulated juices to the pot.

Stir in the remaining ingredients except the garnishes.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours.  Stir occasionally, breaking up tomatoes.

Before serving remove the cinnamon stick, bay leaves and jalapenos.  Serve garnished with grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Avocado Toast

One of my favorite breakfasts starts with the simplest ingredients.  This is so filling and gratifying.

Select a good sized Haas avocado.  I prefer to pick mine that are quite firm, not yet ripe.  I find they haven't been squeezed to death by every Tom, Dick and Harry at the market.  I bring them home and place them in a brown paper lunch bag for a day or two; checking each day to see how they are progressing.  When they give to a light squeeze I put them in the refrigerator.

 The next star of the show is a good egg.

 Toast whatever kind of bread floats your boat.  I like to make sure it is brown and crispy.

Mash up 1/2 of the avocado.  Depending on the size of your toast you can use up the half.  Slather as much of it or as little of it on your toast as you want.  It's your breakfast.


 

Then top with your egg.  I prefer an over easy, runny yolk or a poached egg.  But I made my second toast of the morning with some scrambled eggs and they were just as heavenly.

Sprinkle with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and go out on the front porch and enjoy your breakfast.
 

Herbed Ricotta Dip with Spring Vegetables

Who can resist a good dip.  Especially on football game day.  Even more especially on an Oklahoma State Homecoming Football game day!  

This dip requires a high quality ricotta.  Don't buy the stuff in the tub at the grocery store.  Find a good cheese store in your area to get your ricotta from.  In the DFW area we are fortunate to have the Mozzarella Company.  You can visit this cheese factory and watch the women making cheese.  Luckily, you can also purchase their cheese in certain stores in the DFW area.

Here are the herbs that will lend their flavor to the dip.  Notice that they are in their little herb pods.  These have been in the refrigerator for over a week now.  They stay so much more fresh for a longer period of time than if I simply plop them in a vase like this....

 

 This cilantro was purchased on the same day as the 3 herbs shown above.  I've read some negative reviews about the herb pods, but they work great for me. 

Mix all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.  Season with the salt and pepper.

Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the herbal flavors to meld.  Serve up with your favorite dipping vegetables; carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, radishes, etc.

Okay, here's my take on this dip....
I basically liked.  Since we grazed on it all afternoon it was especially nice because I felt I was eating a little healthier compared to most other dips and snacking foods.

I think it would be best if served with salted pita chips.  The dip is so bland (and I don't mean that in a negative way).  Bland is not always bad.  But when you have bland vegetables dipping into a bland dip you get bland all the way around.  I think this dip would be much better served with something that had a little more zing than a piece of celery.  My vote is pita chips.

Herbed Ricotta Dip with Spring Vegetables
Serves 4 to 6
Adapted from Diana Henry's recipe


Ingredients:
1 pound absolute best-quality ricotta (this will make or break your recipe - find a good quality ricotta).
1 garlic clove, peeled and grated (I grated)
1 Tbsp. snipped fresh chives
2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
1 Tbsp. minced fresh mint
1 lemon, both the grated zest and a good squeeze of half of the lemon
3 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste

Blend well all of the ingredients together.  Taste and adjust the seasonings accordingly.  Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours (but no more) to allow the flavors to meld. 

I'm sharing this recipe at I Heart Cooking Clubs

Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins with Nutmeg Glaze

This is a recipe I clipped from the 1993 November/December issue of Eating Well Magazine. These are perfect to bake up this time of year.  They have more of a moist cake texture than a muffin.  

 

Get your muffin tins lined if you so desire. When I make these to enjoy at home I don't use cupcake liners.  I took these to Sunday school class and thought it better to have them in a liner.

Mix dates, raisins and candied ginger together with the brandy.  Give a toss and set aside.

Along with the fruits and ginger that is flavored by the brandy, these muffins are kissed with all of these great spices.

Sift them in with the flour along with the baking soda, salt & pepper.  Set this bowl aside.

In another small bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, buttermilk and vanilla.  Set this aside.  I have no earthly idea why I did not take a photo of this mixture.  We'll all live.

Now we get to assemble everything else.



In a stand mixer, beat the eggs and egg yolks until they are frothy.



Mix in the brown sugar

and the the molasses


Add 1/2 the flour/spice mixture and stir until just mixed.

 
add the melted butter



and the oil

Add the remaining flour/spice mix

and stir until incorporated.

Add the bowl of the pumpkin mixture and combine well.

Fold in the dates, raisins and candied ginger that has absorbed some of the brandy.  Pour in all the brandy left in the bowl as well.  Can't leave out the good stuff!

Fill each muffin liner 2/3 full and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow the muffins to cool a bit in the pans while you mix together the glaze.

Transfer the muffins to a cooling wrack that has been set over some wax paper.  Drizzle with the glaze.  You can also dip the tops off the muffins directly in the glaze.

I had some extra batter so I made several mini-muffins to throw in the freezer.



Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins with Nutmeg Glaze
Adapted from Eating Well Magazine
Yield 24 regular-sized muffins

Ingredients:
for the muffins:
1/2 cup chopped pitted dates 
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup minced crystallized ginger
3 Tbsp. rum, brandy, or apple cider (I used brandy)
2-1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached white flour
2 Tbsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup skim-milk buttermilk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1-1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, preferably canola oil

for the glaze
1-1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1-1/2 Tbsp. rum, brandy, or apple cider
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

 Method:
Preheat oven to 375°F.  Treat 24 muffin tins with vegetable spray, or line with muffin liners.
Prep and measure all of your ingredients.

In a small bowl, soak dates, raisins and crystallized ginger in the brandy, stirring from time to time while preparing the batter.

Sift flour, ginger, allspice, nutmeg cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, salt and pepper together in a mixing bowl.  Set aside.  In a small bowl whisk together the pumpkin, buttermilk and vanilla.  Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer beat eggs and egg whites at medium speed until foamy.  Gradually add brown sugar and beat until light and frothy, about 1 minute.  Add molasses and beat well.

Add half of the flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary.  Add butter and oil and beat until just mixed.  Add the remaining flour mixture and beat until just mixed.  Add the pumpkin mixture and beat until just combined.  Stir in the dried fruit mixture and soaking liquid.

Fill the muffin tins with batter, 2/3 full.  Tap tins to get rid of air bubbles.  

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.  Cool the muffins briefly in the pan on a rack for 2 minutes, then turn onto a cooling rack.  (the muffins can be prepared ahead and store, well wrapped, in the freezer for up to 1 month.  To reheat wrap in aluminum foil and heat at 375° for 20 - 30 minutes.)

Nutmeg Glaze:
In a small bowl, stir together the confectioner's sugar, milk, brandy, & grated nutmeg until smooth.  Drizzle the glaze over the warm muffins, letting the glaze drip down the sides.

The Best Way to Grill Corn on the Cob

 Lovey and I ate a ton of roasted corn this summer.


Home from the market I clean the ears up a bit.  I cut off any nasty, slimy silk that is hanging out the top.


 

 Then I trim all of the dark green, stiff things that are on the end of the outer husks

There now, they look nice and neat.  Also the husks are still snugly attached around the cob.
 I don't like opening up all the husks, pull out the silk, then close the husks back around the cob and secure them with a tie of some sort.  It's so hard wrestling to get all of the silk off.

Nope, I just leave the silk in there. It will come out flawlessly when you are ready to eat.

 Soak them for at least 30 minutes in cold water before putting on the grill.  Throw a handfull of salt in the water if you like.  We don't do that but if you are not worried about sodium content go for it.  Wrap them up in a towel and take them out to the grill.  You might want to turn them upside down to drain any water.


 

I heat the right side of our grill on medium for about 15 minutes before I lay the corn on the grill.  Turn every so often and when their husks are nicely marked and nave a nice brown coloring they will be done (about 15 minutes)

 Using a T-towel (the corn will be very hot) pull away the husks and you won't believe how the silk comes right off and out from in between the kernels.  No using a brush or fingernails here.  Place the cob on a platter and begin to doctor them up the way you like them.  

We like to have butter, flavored butter and a little Parmesan on hand along with salt and pepper.
Crunch, crunch!  Such a great way to eat corn!