Cream Cheese Apple Tart from Joy of Baking

Ingredients:

CRUST:

1 cup (140 grams) all-purpose flour

1/3 cup (35 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

FILLING:

One 8-ounce (227 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

TOPPING:

1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar

1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) ground cinnamon

4 cups (500 ml) Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch (.6 cm) slices (about 3-4 large apples)

1/3 cup (35 grams) sliced almonds

Method:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Grease (or spray with Pam) a 9 inch (22 cm) springform pan.

CRUST: In the bowl of your food processor place the flour and sugar. Pulse to blend together. Add butter and pulse until dough just begins to come together. Pat the dough onto the bottom and one inch (2.5 cm) up the sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator while you make the filling.

FILLING: In a food processor process the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and mix well. Blend in the egg and vanilla extract and process until smooth. Remove the crust from the fridge and pour in the filling. Return to refrigerator while you prepare the topping.

TOPPING: Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Toss the sliced apples in the sugar mixture. Spoon the apples evenly over the cream cheese layer and sprinkle with almonds. Place the springform pan on a larger baking sheet to catch the drips.

Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown (apples are soft when pierced with a fork), and filling is almost set. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar and serve at room temperature. Leftovers can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated.

Source: Joy of Baking

Easy Strawberry Jam from All Recipes

This recipe's claim to fame was the fact that it does not require Pectin..


Ingredients:

2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled
4 cups white sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice

In a wide bowl, crush strawberries in batches until you have 4 cups of mashed berry. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix together the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice.

Stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to high, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil, stirring often, until the mixture reaches 220 degrees F (105 degrees C). (Takes about 35 minutes).

Transfer to hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch headspace, and seal. Process any unsealed jars in a water bath. If the jam is going to be eaten right away, don't bother with processing, and just refrigerate.


Source: All recipes

Yin and Yang Salad with Peanut-Sesame Dressing Recipe

This seems like a pretty interesting recipe from cookbook101.. The recipe is too long, hence I am just pasting the link:

Yin and Yang Salad

Rich Yogurt Bread

Makes: 2 loaves

8 to 8 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (or use half whole-wheat flour)
2 package active dry yeast
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1 2/ cups plain yogurt
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
4 eggs

In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups of the flour with the yeast, sugar, salt, and soda. heat the yogurt, water, and butter in a saucepan over low heat until the butter melts; the mixture should not be allowed to simmer. Add the yogurt mixture to the flour mixture and blend well. Add the eggs, mix well, and then beat vigorously by had or using the stiff hook of an electric mixer at medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a stiff dough, approximately 5 cups.

Knead the dough on a floured board (or work it in an electric mixer with a dough hook) until it is smooth and elastic - about 5 to 10 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl and turn the dough over to oil the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk.

Punch down the dough and divide it in half. At this point you may wish to add cut-up dried fruits, cinnamon, or nuts. Form 2 loaves and place each in a well-oiled 8x4-inch loaf pan, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake the loaves for 25 to 30 minutes, until bread is a rich golden brown. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.


Recipe from: Stonyfield Farm Yogurt Cookbook

Reader comment: This is an easy, rich-tasting bread that is especially delicious right out of the oven with honey or preserves. My kids clamor for it. The recipe is very versatile, and since it makes two loaves, it's easy to experiment with it, though we love it as is. Add dried fruits, cinnamon, or nuts to the dough, or roll it up with a cinnamon-sugar filling. Or make it into rolls with a cream-cheese filling - delicious! - Carol Forcum - Marion, Illinois

Curried Wheat Bread

Ingredients:

1 tbsp active dry yeast
2 1/2 tsp curry powder
pinch turmeric
1/2 cup water, warm (100-110F)
3/4 cup milk, warm (skim/low fat/whole)
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp salt
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 - 2 1/4 cups bread flour (not all purpose)

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine active dry yeast, curry powder, turmeric, water, milk and honey. Stir and let stand for about 5 minutes, until yeast is slightly foamy. Stir in vegetable oil, salt, whole wheat flour and 1 1/2 cups bread flour. Gradually mix in remaining bread flour until dough comes together and pulls smoothly away from the sides of the mixing bowl. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes (This can all be done in a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, too). Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 1/2-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and deflate slightly. Shape into an oblong/rectangular loaf, about twice as long as it is wide. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, dust with some flour and cover with a clean dish towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375F.
When loaf has risen, bake for 30-35 minutes, until bread is golden and an instant read thermometer inserted into the bottom of the loaf reads about 200F (loaf will sound hollow when tapped on the bottom).
Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Makes 1 loaf.

Source: Baking Bites

Jamaican and Lemon Ginger Beer

Jamaican Ginger Beer

* 1 pound whole fresh ginger
* 8 tablespoons of brown sugar
* 2 1/2 quarts water
* Crushed ice

Peel and chop ginger. Combine with water and puree in a blender. Let mixture sit (covered) at room temperature for 24 hours. Strain out solids and pulp, and stir in sugar until dissolved. Serve over crushed ice.

Lemon Ginger Beer

* 3/4 cup whole fresh ginger
* 3/4 cup honey
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1/3 cup lemon juice
* 2 cups hot water
* 2 tbs lemon zest
* 4 cups sparkling water

Peel and chop ginger. In a blender or food processor, puree the ginger along with the hot water, honey, sugar and lemon juice. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate (covered) for at least 24 hours (or up to 5 days if you want it stronger). Strain, and serve mixed with sparkling water over ice.

Source: Suite 101

Green Onion Yogurt Bread

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups water, warm and divided (110F)
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup plain yogurt (any variety)
2 1/2 tsp salt
3-3 1/2 cups ap flour
1/2 cup chopped green onions (scallions)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup water with yeast and sugar. Stir and let stand for 5-10 minutes, until foamy. Add remaining water, yogurt, salt and 2 cups of flour. Stir until smooth. Add onions, followed by remaing flour 1-2 tbsp at a time, mixing until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 3 minutes. Place in a lightly oiled bowl to rise for about 1 ½ hours, covered with plastic wrap, until doubled.
Gently turn dough out onto a floured surface. Flatten slightly, then shape into an oblong loaf, 11-12 inches long. Place on a floured baking sheet, cover with a clean dish towel and let rise for about 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400F.
Slash loaf with 3 or 4 diagonal cuts.
Bake at 400F for 35 minutes, until golden brown.
Let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Makes 1 loaf.

Source: Baking Sheet Blog

Sea Food Paella

Ingredients:

1 to 1 1/2 pounds raw extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined*
Coarse salt
2 1/4 cups bottled clam juice or fish broth
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon crumbled thread saffron
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup uncooked Spanish or Arborio short-grain rice**
2 large tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons Spanish paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained (optional)
1 cup frozen peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Lemon wedges

* To add additional flavor, place the shells of the shrimp in a saucepan and cover with water. Simmer over low heat approximately 7 to 10 minutes. remove from heat and strain the broth; discarding shells. Add shrimp broth to clam broth to equal 2 1/4 cups.
** Don't wash the rice, as it needs its outer coating of starch.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sprinkle the shelled shrimp all over with coarse salt; let sit 15 minutes. NOTE: The salt helps bring back the briny taste of the sea that most seafood, especially frozen seafood, tends to lose.

HINT: Have all ingredients chopped and measured before beginning the final cooking of the paella. It is a quick cooking dish that must have all ingredients ready to go.


In a large pan over medium-heat heat, heat the clam juice or fish broth, wine, and saffron; reduce heat to low and keep broth hot (not boiling).

In a large paella pan or heavy cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil.

Add onion and red bell pepper; stir to blend and cook 3 minutes or until slightly softened.

Remove pan from heat. Stir in garlic and rice and continue stirring until garlic is fragrant and the rice is evenly coated with oil, about 1 minute. NOTE: Coating the rice with the oil before adding liquid helps keep the rice grains to stay separated.

Stir in tomatoes, paprika, and salt.
Stir in hot clam/saffron broth mixture.

Return to heat, reduce heat to low, and simmer (stirring and rotating the pan occasionally) mixture 10 to 15 minutes or until rice is no longer soupy but sufficient liquid remains to continue cooking the rice in the oven.

Stir in shrimp, artichokes hearts, and peas

Transfer paella pan to the oven and cook, uncovered, about 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is almost al dente and until almost all liquid is absorbed. NOTE: Never cook paella until the rice is completely done. If you do, it will be mushy by the time it reaches the table. Remove from the oven when the rice grains are no longer hard but still have more bite than you want and a crust forms around the edge of the pan.

Remove from oven, cover with aluminum foil, and let sit 5 to 10 minutes or until the rice is cooked to taste. NOTE: Paella must rest after being removed from the oven, during which time the final cooking takes place.

To serve, sprinkle with chopped parsley and arrange lemon wedges around the top of the paella. Serve immediately. To eat, sprinkle lemon juice over paella.

NOTE: Always bring the paella to the table in its pan for your guests to admire before serving. Traditionally, paella is eaten communally with everyone sitting around the pan and taking the rice directly from the pan with a spoon. Although you are not likely to serve it this way, do leave the paella pan at the center of the table so your family or guests can help themselves to more.

Makes 4 servings.

Hints and Tips:

If the paella is almost al dente and ready to be removed from the oven, but still seems to have liquid, return it to the top of the stove over high heat. Without stirring, heat until the liquid has evaporated. Then remove from heat and cover the rice and let it rest before serving.

If the paella seems dry before the rice is almost al dente, sprinkle with a few tablespoons of water and allow to cook in the oven 2 to 3 minutes longer. Then remove from oven and cover the rice and let it rest before serving.

From What's cooking

Comment of blogger: I added about a pound of clams. To cook the clams I just stir fried them with a clove of garlic in 1 tbs olive oil and added 2 cups of water.. in 10 minutes they were ready (Open).. Save the clam water for the paella!!

Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancake)

Tastes great.. Easy to make and looks nice.. It is not necessary to have all the ingredients listed to make it....The word means "bake to your taste"..

Ingredients:
1/2 lb cabbage
1 carrot
1 leek
1/2 green pepper
1/4 lb tofu, drained
vegetable oil
3 eggs
1/3 cup flour (white or whole wheat)
1/2 cup dashi (soup made with dried fish) [skip it if you don't know how to make it]
2 tsp light soy sauce

Garnishes
sweetened soy sauce
dried nori seaweed, toasted and crumbled
toasted white or black sesame seeds
red pickled ginger

Method:

Wash trim and shred the vegetables and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the tofu into 1/2 inch cubes. Prepare the garnishes. Over low heat brush a heavy pan with oil. Combine the vegetables and tofu with eggs, flour, dashi and soy sauce in a bowl and pour half the mixture into the frying pan. Smooth and sread it with a pancake turner. Cook for 5 minutes or until browned, carefully flip and cook this side too. Repeat for the rest of the mixture.

Serve with garnish.

Any firm vegetables like corn, peas, green beans are delicious in this pancake.

Source: Downer, Lesley. 1986. Japanese Vegetarian Cooking. Pantheon Books New York

Tofu Sate

Indonesian Tofu Sate (serves 5)

3 cloves chopped garlic
2 teaspoons honey
3 teaspoons vinegar
3 tablespoons Asian Family tamari
5 tablespoons peanut butter
1/3 cup water
2 teaspoons oil
1 cautious pinch of cayenne
1-1/2 teaspoons shredded ginger root
1-1/2 lb. tofu (we often use tetra pack tofu)

Step 1: Slice tofu 1/2 inch thick

Step 2: Mix together remaining ingredients into a marinade. Spread a thin layer ofmarinade into a frying pan. Lay in tofu and cover with the remaining sauce.Cover with a lid or tin foil and let it stand for as long as possible (e.g.. One hour).

Step 3: Slowly cook the sate to mimic an oven. It will take about 20 minutes or more depending on heat. Be careful to add more liquid if needed. Garnish and enjoy!

Source: Wave Length Magazine, Dec/Jan 2000