Sunday, November 26, 2023
Pecan snowball cookies
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Chunked potatoes a la Dad
Cut 1 stick butter into pats.
Start boiling water maybe 45 min before ETD (estimated time of dining).
Cut 4 russet potatoes (or more) into uniform chunks, put in a big round pot and cover with water a bit more than a half-inch above the potatoes. Can sit a while like this.
Bring to boil, toss in about a tablespoon of salt, uncover and simmer 15 min - until you can stick a fork in a chunk easily.
Drain and toss with butter pats, salt, black pepper.
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Steam everything in a Fasta Pasta!
This is an "As Seen On TV" gadget and yet also a low-priced kitchen marvel. There's something about the rectangular shape that helps things heat evenly in the microwave, and you can cook or steam many things without wrestling a giant pot of salty water. Read on!
Whole wheat fusilli pasta
6 oz. fusilli - cover the pasta with water, add 1 tsp olive oil and 2 pinches salt. Microwave uncovered 6 min. high, test one to see if it’s al dente. If still too hard, microwave another 5 min.
Texmati rice/wild rice/red rice blend (HEB’s “Rice Select - Royal Blend”)
1 c rice + 1.5 c water: Microwave uncovered 5 min. high, fluff with fork, add ½ c water and microwave 5 more min. high.
Minute rice
1.5 c minute rice, 1.5 c water, 1 tsp avocado or olive oil, 1 pinch salt. Microwave uncovered 3-4 min. high, fluff with fork, microwave 3 more min. High.
Asparagus spears
18-20 fresh asparagus spears + 2 Tbsp water. Microwave covered 5 min. high.
Frozen broccoli
For 10 oz. frozen broccoli, add 1-2 Tbsp water (just 1 Tbsp if there is a lot of ice on the broc). Microwave covered 5 min. high.
Roasted Brussels sprouts (use Fasta Pasta to heat them so they roast well)
For approx 10 oz. frozen or fresh Brussels sprouts, halve them and add 1-2 Tbsp water (just 1 Tbsp if there is a lot of ice on frozen veg). Microwave covered 4-5 min. high, then toss with olive oil and salt. Line a sheet pan with parchment, spread the Brussels sprouts out on it, and roast in 400-degree oven till edges are brown.
Roasted cauliflower florets with Parmesan (use Fasta Pasta to heat them so they roast well)
For approx 10 oz. frozen or fresh cauliflower, add 1-2 Tbsp water (just 1 Tbsp if there is a lot of ice on frozen veg). Microwave covered 4-5 min. high, then toss with grated Parmesan, olive oil and salt. Line a sheet pan with parchment, spread the cauliflower out on it, and roast in 400-degree oven till edges are brown.
Baby new potatoes
10 oz. or so baby potatoes + 1 Tbsp water. Microwave uncovered 5 min. high. Poke with fork to see if tender; if still hard microwave another 2-3 min. Toss with olive oil and salt.
EXTRA: No Fasta Pasta necessary, just great way to make corn on the cob in microwave!
Fresh corn on the cob
2 or 3 fresh cobs in husks. Cut off ends of cobs, peel outer layers of corn husk off (leave about 3 layers of husk). If you have a microwaveable bowl, so that the corn cobs can sit in the bowl kind of suspended off the bottom but not touching each other too much, use that. Microwave uncovered, no additional water, on high 4-5 min. Pull them out, and – wearing two oven mitts!! – strip the husks off: Hold corn by the base (large end) in one hand; grab the husk with your other hand; twist and pull the entire husk up off the top. (Corn silk will come off with the husk!) Cut cobs in half and toss with olive oil and salt.
Monday, May 17, 2021
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Sugar cookies a la Alton Brown
Ingredients
- 1. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- 2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- 3. Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack. Serve as is or ice as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Chicken and dumplings, the easy way
20-30oz cooked chicken breast meat