Peach Cobbler

From CI’s The Best Recipe

Filling:
2 lbs peaches (about 6 medium) peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2″ slices
2 tsp cornstarch
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar (depending on how sweet the fruit is)
pinch cloves
1 tsp vanilla (I tend to forget this)
1 tbs brandy (I leave this out)

Topping:
10 oz flour (2 cups)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbs sugar (divided)
4 oz butter (one stick), chilled, cut into 8 pieces
2.5 oz shortening (4 tbs), chilled
1/3 to 1/2 cup milk

Heat oven to 400F

Combine the filling ingredients, place in 9″ square pan. Bake ~20 minutes until the fruit is bubbly.

Meanwhile, make biscuit topping:

combine flour, baking powder, salt, and 2 tbs sugar in food processor. Pulse to combine. Add butter, pulse five times. Add shortening, pulse until flour is pale yellow and resembles coarse cornmeal.

Turn the flour mixture out into a bowl and fold in 1/3c milk, adding more milk if necessary. (I use the bowl and spoon from the peaches…a touch of peach and sugar in the biscuits won’t hurt anything!) Reserve any remaining milk for the next step.

Turn the dough out onto the counter or a cutting board and pat into an 8″ circle. Cut out nine rounds and place on top of the fruit filling. Brush biscuits with milk and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for 25 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown & delicious. Cool ten minutes and serve.

Saag Paneer

1 lb baby spinach or you can use frozen spinach
2 small onions or 1 big onion – finely chopped
2 tomatoes – chopped
turmeric powder
small piece of ginger – mashed or grated
green chilies – finely chopped
salt to taste
250g fried paneer (that is the small packet of paneer found in Indian grocery stores)
clarified butter (ghee) /oil/butter
1 teaspoon of garam masala

Start by frying the onions in the butter/oil/ghee until they are translucent. Add the tomatoes and simmer until all the juices have incorporated well. Now add the turmeric powder, mashed ginger, chilies, salt and garam masala and continue the frying until everything has left it’s juices and flavors are combined.

Blanch the baby spinach until tender. Squeeze the fluids out of the spinach and add it to the tomato mixture. Simmer for another 5-8 minutes. You can coarsely blend this mixture in the blender (sometimes I just leave it the way it is) and add the paneer. If it is too thick, you can add some water to the curry.

Let this spinach-paneer mixture simmer for 10-12 mts over low heat.

Spaetzle

I’ve never had spaetzle (homemade egg noodles) other than my own, but my husband requested it after spending time in Germany and swears it’s reasonably authentic. I tried once using a box grater and it was a miserable failure. I promptly ordered this spaetzle maker and haven’t tried anything else since. This recipe came in the package.

3 eggs
3 cups (15 oz) flour
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Beat eggs until foamy and then combine with milk.

In a separate bowl, mix together flour and salt.

Add flour mixture to egg mixture and stir until a thick dough comes together.

Fill the square basket of the spaetzle maker and place over a pot of boiling salted water or cooking soup. As you slide the basket back and forth, the tiny dumplings drop into the boiling liquid. When done, they will rise to the surface (about a minute). Use a spider to dip them out into a large bowl and toss with butter. Repeat until all of the dough is used up.

Fresh Blueberry Sauce

1/3 c sugar
1 Tbs cornstarch
1 Tbs cold water
12 oz blueberries
1 Tbs lemon

Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl.

Combine 6 oz blueberries & sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring and mashing until the berries are mostly broken down. Add cornstarch and boil for one minute until thickened. Turn off heat, stir in remaining 6 oz and lemon juice.

Pan Pizza

(From America’s Test Kitchen)

Toppings
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon table salt
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 ounces)
mushrooms/olives/pepperoni/sausage/etc.

Dough
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (15 ounces)
1 2/3 cups water (13 1/2 ounces), room temperature
1 1/4 teaspoons table salt
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 1/4 teaspoons sugar
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Place 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes in fine-mesh strainer set over medium bowl (I use a yogurt strainer). Let sit 30 minutes, stirring 3 times to allow juices to drain. Combine 3/4 cup tomato solids, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1/8 teaspoon table salt. (Save remaining solids and juice for another use.)

2. Mix flour, water, and table salt in bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook on low speed until no patches of dry flour remain, 3 to 4 minutes, occasionally scraping sides and bottom of bowl. Turn off mixer and let dough rest 20 minutes.

3. Sprinkle yeast and sugar over dough. Knead on low speed until fully combined, 1 to 2 minutes, occasionally scraping sides and bottom of bowl. Increase mixer speed to high and knead until dough is glossy, smooth, and pulls away from sides of bowl, 6 to 10 minutes. (Dough will only pull away from sides while mixer is on. When mixer is off, dough will fall back to sides.)

4. Using fingers, coat large bowl with 1 tablespoon oil, rubbing excess oil from fingers onto blade of rubber spatula. Using oiled spatula, transfer dough to bowl and pour 1 tablespoon oil over top. Flip dough over once so it is well coated with oil; cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let dough rise at room temperature until nearly tripled in volume and large bubbles have formed, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

5. One hour before baking pizza, adjust oven rack to middle position, place pizza stone on rack, and heat oven to 450 degrees.

6. Coat rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons oil. MEASURE THE OIL. I eyeballed it the first time and it stuck badly. Using rubber spatula, turn dough out onto baking sheet along with any oil in bowl. Using fingertips, press dough out toward edges of pan, taking care not to tear it. (Dough will not fit snugly into corners. If dough resists stretching, let it relax for 5 to 10 minutes before trying to stretch again.) Let dough rest in pan until slightly bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes. Using dinner fork, poke surface of dough 30 to 40 times and sprinkle with kosher salt.

7. Bake until spotty brown, 15 to 17 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Using metal spatula, remove pizza from oven, spread tomato mixture evenly over surface, and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and other toppings. Return pizza to oven and continue to bake until cheese begins to brown in spots, 5 to 10 minutes longer.

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2/3 cup cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache Frosting

From Cook’s Illustrated

Makes 12 cupcakes. Published January 1, 2003.

These cupcakes are best eaten the day they are made, but unfrosted extras will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To double the recipe, use 3 whole eggs and 2 yolks, and double the remaining ingredients.

Ingredients
For Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7 1/2 unces)
1 cup granulated sugar (7 ounces)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1 large egg , room temperature
2 large egg yolks , room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For Frosting
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate , chopped

Instructions

1. For Cupcakes: Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin/cupcake tin with paper or foil liners.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add butter, sour cream, egg and egg yolks, and vanilla; beat at medium speed until smooth and satiny, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula and mix by hand until smooth and no flour pockets remain.

3. Divide batter evenly among cups of prepared tin using a #20 disher (3 Tbs.) Bake until cupcake tops are pale gold and toothpick or skewer inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 24 minutes. Use skewer or paring knife to lift cupcakes from tin and transfer to wire rack; cool cupcakes to room temperature, about 45 minutes.

4.For Frosting: Bring cream to boil in small saucepan or in microwave. Place chocolate in medium bowl and pour boiling cream over. Cover with foil and let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cool and slightly firm, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

5. Transfer cooled chocolate mixture to bowl of standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment; whip mixture at medium speed until fluffy and mousse-like and forms medium-stiff peaks, about 2 minutes.

6. Spread 2 to 3 generous tablespoons Chocolate Ganache Frosting on top of each cooled cupcake; serve.

Hush Puppies

Ingredients

* 6 cups peanut oil
* 1 1/2 cups self-rising cornmeal (can sub 1.5c cornmeal, plus 1 Tbs baking powder)
* 1/2 cup self-rising flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 1 cup buttermilk
* 1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions

Using a deep pot, preheat oil for frying to 350 degrees F.

Using a mixing bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the onion. In a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk and egg. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until blended. Drop the batter, 1 teaspoon at a time, into the oil. Dip the spoon in a glass of water after each hushpuppy is dropped in the oil. Fry until golden brown, turning the hushpuppies during the cooking process.

Shepard’s Pie

Ingredients

* 1 small onion
* 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
* 2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
* 1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables or niblet corn, prepared
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 8 to 10 medium red new potatoes
* 1 1/2 cups milk
* 12 tablespoons butter
* 1/2 cup sour cream
* 2 cups instant biscuit mix

Directions

Beef Layer: Saute onions in 2 tablespoons butter. Add ground beef. After beef is browned, add tomato sauce; Mix in vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Potato Layer: Peel and slice potatoes 1/4-inch thick. Cook in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Whip potatoes with electric mixer; mix until moderately smooth. Don’t over beat them; a few lumps are nice. Add 1/2 cup heated milk, 1/2 cup butter, and sour cream. Salt and pepper, to taste. Whip until mixed. Adjust thickness by adding more milk, if desired.

Biscuit Layer: Combine biscuit mix and 1 cup milk. The mix should be thinner than normal biscuit mix but not runny.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 9 by 2-inch pan, or any similar casserole dish. Layer half way up with the mashed potatoes. Next, spread a layer of mixed vegetables or niblet corn on top of potatoes. Then add a layer of the meat. Pour biscuit mix over meat. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over top. Bake for approximately 35 to 45 minutes until top is golden brown.

Note: Leftovers make this dish easy to put together. So if you have leftover pork roast or beef roast with gravy and mashed potatoes from Sunday dinner then this is an easy mid- week meal that will take only a few minutes.

Creamy Corn Pudding

Serves 6 as a side dish. Published July 1, 2000.

Ingredients
6 ears corn (medium, fresh), husks and silk removed
3 tablespoons unsalted butter plus extra for greasing baking dish
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/3 cups whole milk
4 large eggs , beaten lightly
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions

1.

1. Cut kernels from 5 ears of corn into medium bowl, then scrape cobs to collect milk in same bowl (you should have about 2½ cups kernels and milk). Grate remaining ear corn on coarse side of box grater (you should have about ½ cup grated kernels). Add grated kernels to bowl with cut kernels.
2.

2. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position, place roasting pan or large baking dish on rack, and heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter 8-inch square baking dish. Bring 2 quarts water to boil in kettle or saucepan.
3.

3. Heat large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat until hot, about 2 minutes. Add butter; when foaming subsides, add corn kernels and grated corn. Cook, stirring occasionally, until corn is bright yellow and liquid has almost evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add cream, salt, sugar, and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and spoon leaves a trail when pan bottom is scraped, about 5 minutes. Transfer corn mixture to medium bowl. Stir in milk, then whisk in eggs and cornstarch. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish.
4.

4. Set dish in roasting pan or large baking dish on oven rack; fill outer pan with boiling water to reach halfway up inner pan. Bake until center jiggles slightly when shaken and pudding has browned lightly in spots, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove baking dish with pudding from water bath; cool 10 minutes and serve.