Black Currant Coulis and Other Summer Delights

Red Currant Jelly (left) Rhubarb Jelly (right) Rhu-rant Jelly (back)

I've kind of abandoned the blog for the summer.  The Co-op that I wrote it for has changed over people and it doesn't get published anymore so I lost interest.  It's now my recipe file for things I don't want to lose track of or things people ask me about.
I decided to post the recipes that I used to create these jellies and the Black Currant Coulis because I've had a number of people ask me about them.  So, here ya go folks!


Rhubarb Jelly (makes 9-10 half pint jars)

Day 1 pick, wash, and chop into 1 inch pieces about 5-7 pounds of rhubarb.
Place in a large stock pot and add 2 cups water.
Bring to a boil and simmer until the rhubarb is mush.
Allow to cool and then strain through a mesh strainer to remove the pulp.
Store in the refrigerator overnight.

Have a glass of wine.

Day 2 rinse 4 thicknesses of cheesecloth and place in the mesh strainer.  Pour the cold juice through the cheesecloth to remove any residual pulp.

Measure 6 cups of strained juice
2 boxes of Sure Jell
and bring to a full rolling boil over high heat.

Add ½ teaspoon butter and 9 cups of sugar all at once.

Return to a full rolling boil (a boil that can’t be stirred down) and boil for one(1) minute.   

Ladle into hot prepared jars filling to within 1/4 inch of the top.  Wipe threads and rim and seal with two-piece lids. 

Place jars in a boiling water bath that covers the top of the jars for 10 minutes.  Remove to a rack and allow to cool.

Finish the bottle of wine.

Bobbe Almer adapted this recipe from a Kraft Recipes Sure Jell Rhubarb Jelly recipe.

Currant Jelly (makes about 9 half pint jars)

Day 1 pick, and wash about 3 quarts of currants.
Place in a large stock pot and add 2 cups water.
Bring to a boil and simmer until the currants are pale and falling apart.
Allow to cool and then strain through a mesh strainer to remove the pulp.
Store in the refrigerator overnight.

Have a glass of wine.

Day 2 rinse 4 thicknesses of cheesecloth and place in the mesh strainer.  Pour the cold juice through the cheesecloth to remove any residual pulp.

Measure 61/2 cups of strained juice
1 box of Sure Jell
and bring to a full rolling boil over high heat.

Add ½ teaspoon butter and 7 cups of sugar all at once.

Return to a full rolling boil (a boil that can’t be stirred down) and boil for one(1) minute.   

Ladle into hot prepared jars filling to within 1/4 inch of the top.  Wipe threads and rim and seal with two-piece lids. 

Place jars in a boiling water bath that covers the top of the jars for 10 minutes.  Remove to a rack and allow to cool.

Finish the bottle of wine.

Bobbe Almer adapted this recipe from the Sure Jell package.


Black Currant Coulis (makes about 12 half pint jars)




Coulis is a form of thick sauce made from puréed and strained vegetables or fruits.
 
Pick and wash about 4 quarts of black currants.
Place in a large stock pot and add 3 cups water.
Bring to a boil and simmer until the currants are soft and falling apart.
Allow to cool and then put them through a food mill until the remaining seeds/skins are dry

About 8 cups of juice/pulp remain.  Some seeds came through the Foley food mill, but they are fine and taste good so no problem.

Return the juice/pulp to a clean stock pot, add 5 cups of sugar and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

I brought this to a boil and let it boil for a few minutes before putting it into hot half pint jars and sealing with two piece lids.

I chose to freeze mine in these jars so I filled them just to the bottom of the threads.  If you prefer, you could fill them on up and process in a water bath.

I’ve already used some of mine by adding a tablespoon to balsamic vinaigrette - it was awesome!  I plan to use some to baste a pork roast and grilled chicken too - yum!  It would be delicious drizzled over cheesecake or an ice cream too.


Bobbe Almer created this recipe.

Incredible Onion Pie

Have you ever had a fresh, home grown sweet onion that was so sweet and fresh it could have doubled for an apple?  Well last fall I had stopped by a friends house in the valley and as I was leaving, she handed me this huge onion.  I used it in dinner for the next three nights and was sad to see the end of it.  I'd never had an onion so big and so sweet.  

Two things came from this lovely gesture.  One, I've dreamed about making a sweet onion pie since last fall, and two, I just ordered plants of this heirloom onion called Ailsa Craig.  I actually love that name too.  Hum... Ailsa Craig is an island of 219.69 acres in the outer Firth of Clyde, 10 miles from the Scottish mainland, upon-which blue hone granite was quarried to make curling stones. The island is formed from the volcanic plug of an extinct volcano.  Gosh, I had no idea.  What a great name for an onion the size of a small island!

The Ailsa Craigs are gone until the end of summer, but this same friend brought me a few of their storage onions (huge as well) and so I decided to go ahead and make that onion pie today.  

Incredible Onion Pie

3 cups of diced sweet onion
(You may have a little more or less onion and optionally add up to 1 additional cup of other veggies (4 cups total) - I used a sweet red pepper or you could use asparagus, spinach, etc. or nothing at all, just more onion)  Sweet onions will make the sweetest pie, but any good firm onion will make this dish delicious.
1/4 cup olive oil

Dry ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp dried basil

Wet ingredients:
1 cup milk
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon Franks hot sauce or Worchestershire (optional)

Heat oven to 400 degrees and lightly spray or grease your baking dish(es).

This pie is similar to the "Impossible" versions made with a commercial baking mix like Bisquick.  I designed this version to be made from ingredients that most people have on hand, no need to have a special baking product.  The ingredients will form a crust of sorts that will hold the pie together.

 
Cook the diced onion in a skillet until softened and slightly caramelized and allow to cool.

Place the dry ingredients in a container that is large enough to hold all of the ingredients.  In a separate container, place and blend the wet ingredients together.  When the onion mixture has cooled slightly, mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.  After stirring thoroughly, add the onion mixture and mix together.

Pour the finished mixture into the individual serving dishes or into a greased  9 or10 inch, deep dish pie plate and top with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Place either the individual dishes or pie plate on a pan and place into the 400 degree oven.

Bake for 30-40 minutes until a knife inserted approximately 1 inch from the center comes out clean and the top is a golden brown.

Serve individual dishes or large wedges of the pie along with a green vegetable for an easy and beautiful meal.

Enjoy!

 
 
 

Caribbean Inspiration

Who wouldn’t like to be sitting on the beach right now with one of those umbrella drinks and a good book?  While I can’t inspire that transition, I can put together a recipe that will use up some of those stored onions and winter squash with a little Caribbean flair.

I’ve always liked the flavors of the Jamaican jerk seasoning, but it is frequently a little too hot for my taste.   I created a seasoning blend that I call Caribbean Spice, which marries some of the flavors of the islands without so much heat.  It is also a combination of spices that most of us have in our pantries, it is easy to make, so let's start here.

Caribbean Spice
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more to taste

Blend the above ingredients together well and store in a dry jar. You'll find many other uses for this seasoning. Use it as a dry rub on pork or chicken before baking or grilling.

Stuffed Winter Squash

1 or 2 small winter squash or 1 larger winter squash (any of the sweet orange fleshed type will work fine, including the little sugar pumpkins)

Prepare the squash by giving them a good wash and then slicing them in two, top to bottom.  Scoop out the seeds and place the squash in a pot with water just to cover and a tablespoon of sugar.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.  Remove and place cut side down on a paper towel to drain and cool while you prepare the stuffing.

Meat Stuffing:
3/4 pound of ground meat (beef/bison/turkey)
1 tsp olive oil
1 cup diced onions
2 cloves of garlic mashed and finely diced
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp oregano
4 tsp Caribbean Spice
1 tsp salt
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 egg beaten
 
Saute the onions and the meat in a little olive oil until the meat is lightly browned and the onions are translucent.  Turn off the heat and add the other ingredients except the beaten egg.  Stir until the ingredients are fully combined and then taste - taste - and taste again.  At this point, you can add a little more heat with pepper flakes or cayenne, more Caribbean Spice or salt to taste.

When you are satisfied with the level of seasoning, and the pan has cooled sufficiently, add the beaten egg and blend thoroughly.


 



Place the cooled squash cut side up in a baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.  You can cut off a little piece on the bottom of the squash to help it sit straight if necessary.  

Pile the meat stuffing into the cavity of the squash and on top to completely cover.  The above recipe can be used to make 4 halves of a smaller squash like an acorn or delicata or fill 2 halves of a larger butternut or hubbard type squash.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until an internal temperature of 165 degrees has been reached.

These stuffed squash make a great low carb dinner serving with a small green salad or you can make 4 servings out of the two halves by cutting them and serving with rice.

Enjoy!

Savory Snowman Soup

Snowbert - Snowberta - Snowthirda

It’s a snowy blustery day here in western Montana, but it’s January 30th and this is the first real snow we’ve had since the first of the year.  It’s a perfect day for Savory Snowman Soup!

Savory Snowman Soup is something I made to peek the curiosity of young and picky eaters.  How could they turn down Snowman Soup?  Unlike the recipes for hot chocolate on the internet that call themselves by the same name, this is a “real” savory soup.

This soup starts with a rich chicken broth. I always make broth from the carcass of my roasted Hutterite chickens because this is another whole meal you would throw away if you don't get this last bit of goodness out of it first.  If you do this too, it’s ok to add the little bits of meat you pick off the bones to the soup. You can also use canned stock or broth or Better than Bouillon vegetarian no-chicken to make the broth if you prefer.

Savory Snowman Soup

Cutting carrot noses.

 
6 cups Chicken stock or broth
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil
2-3 cloves of garlic mashed and minced
½ teaspoon thyme
2 cups finely diced potato
2 cups carrots peeled and julienne cut
15oz can of black beans rinsed well and drained
4 oz can diced mild green chilies (optional)
1 pint half and half
Salt and pepper to taste

Dice your onion and sweat it in the olive oil for a few minutes until it becomes translucent.  Add the broth and other ingredients, except the beans and half and half, and simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are tender.  

Snow Bunnies love Snowman Soup

If you would prefer a slightly thicker soup, you can add a few mashed potato flakes or mix a couple tablespoons of organic cornstarch with a little water and stir that into the soup and let it cook for a few minutes to thicken.

Next, add the well rinsed and drained black beans and the half and half.  

Grammie's Snow Bunnies

Taste the soup for seasoning and get ready to serve to curious onlookers.  You can garnish with a little chopped greens if you prefer and a nice accompaniment is soft bread sticks for dipping.

Stay warm and Enjoy!

Casserole 101

Casserole 101

Sometimes I think the casserole has gone the way of Plum Pudding -- not too many people are cooking them anymore.  A lot of people think "casserole - 1970's - Betty Crocker" but, that's crazy because casseroles are usually easy to put together, flexible, and you can do them ahead so you aren't scrambling around in the kitchen at the last minute.  

The definition of a casserole is "flexibility".  It is a one pan meal cooked in the oven, usually with a brown and crusty top, and may consist of (part 1) rice/grain, potatoes, or noodles, combined with (part 2) vegetables, (part 3) meat or beans, and (part 4) some type of sauce.  Measurements in a casserole may be approximations. For example, you've got 2 cups of cooked rice or 2 1/2 cups, throw it in, as long as the ingredients are somewhat proportional there is no exact science.  I'm going to give you a "flexible" recipe to experiment with.  Let me know how it goes for you and what you did to make it your own.  By the way, if you aren't feeling inventive, it's ok if you just follow what I did because it was delicious!

Casserole 101

Part 1:

For my casserole I used rice.  I was in a bit of a hurry so I used jasmine rice, but I could have used quinoa, or brown rice, or any cooked grain.
I cooked 1 cup of rice in 1 3/4 cup of water and put that as the base in my oil sprayed dish.

Part 2:
We love brussel sprouts and I had picked up a large bag from the co-op for the holidays.  I cleaned and boiled them until they were still bright green, but almost done.  I could have used lightly steamed broccoli, or chopped and sauteed kale, and I could have added sauteed onion to any of these.

Part 3:
OPTIONAL for vegetarians or those who don't want meat, use your favorite protein - be it beans or tofu and it's perfectly ok to skip the meat layer in any casserole.  I had a little left over ham so I diced that up for my meat layer.  It ended up being about a cup of diced ham.  This could have been chicken, beans, ground beef, prosciutto, or none of these.

Part 4:
The sauce.  I chose to make a simple white sauce.  Place 4 tablespoons of butter and 3 tablespoons of flour in a skillet stirring constantly over low heat to make a roux.  

Making the roux.

For a white sauce, you do not want to brown the roux. When it's bubbly as shown in the picture, add 2 cups of milk all at once while stirring until it comes back to a boil and has thickened to a nice consistency.
 Add salt and pepper to taste 1/2-1 teaspoon of salt and a dozen grinds of fresh black pepper.  Herbs make a nice addition to the sauce as well.

Putting it all together.

After you have layered up part 1-2-3, pour your sauce evenly over the dish.



Regarding the sauce, once you have created that, you could add grated Cheddar, Parmesan, or Asiago to the sauce and allow that to melt before pouring.  This would combine well with a pasta layer to make a layered mac and cheese type casserole.


I wanted a lighter flavor for this version, so added a sprinkling of Asiago cheese mixed with a tablespoon of bread crumbs to the top of the casserole for a crusty-cheesy-browned top. 

Everything in the casserole is cooked so the baking time is just to heat it through and bring everything together.  Bake the casserole in a 375 degree oven for 30 - 45 minutes or until the top is browned and bubbly.  If you've made it ahead and had it refrigerated, it might take a little longer to heat through. Allow 60 minutes. Let the casserole cool slightly before serving big squares.

It came out just as tasty as it looks.  Served with a little spinach side salad, it made an impressive and delicious dinner.

I turned leftover ham and brussel sprouts into an entirely new dinner dish.  I could have reheated them and thrown them on a plate with the rice, but this was so much more appetizing and it made that little bit of ham stretch into 4 meals and no one felt slighted.

Here's a couple of ideas for different versions you might want to try for Casserole 101:

Mexican - rice - well drained, diced tomatoes - taco seasoned ground beef and/or black beans - top with a sauce to which has been added a cup of grated cheddar or a Mexican cheese mix - finally top with tortilla chip crumbs.

Broccoli/Cheddar - pasta of your choice, spirals or elbows work well - top with a layer of beans (can be white, red, or black) - lightly steamed broccoli - cheddar cheese sauce, made by adding a cup of grated cheddar cheese to the white sauce - top with bread crumbs.

Quinoa/Kale - quinoa - saute 1 bunch of kale, 1 sweet onion, 2-3 cups chopped green cabbage - optional meat layer of ham or Italian sausage - simple white sauce with 1 tsp dried basil added when it is finished - top with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese mixed with 1/2 teaspoon Italian herbs and 2 tablespoons of fresh bread crumbs.

Please feel free to share your 4 part combinations to inspire everyone.
Enjoy!

 

Sweet Potato Gratin

Sweet Potato Gratin

An idea has been bouncing around in my head for a few weeks and finally I've got it out and prepared. The idea originated with the sweet potato.  I like sweet potatoes and I was giving some thought to something new for the coming Thanksgiving holiday.  I am not a big fan of the yam and even less of a fan of the yam turned candy with marshmallows.  

I wanted something that would be a little more savory but still accent the sweetness of the sweet potato.  I also liked the idea of something I could prep ahead.  Did you know that sweet potatoes and yams are not even remotely related to each other and neither of them is related to the potato. Sweet potatoes are from the same family as morning glories. I like that.

Here's a little sweet potato gratin that I cooked up.  Gratin is just a fancy word for a dish that has a browned crust on top. You can switch the sweet potatoes for yams if that is your preference, but do me a favor try it with sweet potatoes first.

Sweet Potato & Caramelized Onion Gratin
Ingredients:
3-5 medium sweet potatoes (2-3 lbs)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
 
2 tablespoons olive oil
3-4 cups chopped onions
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
pinch to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 cup butter

Peel and thinly slice the sweet potatoes

2 1/2 tablespoons flour

2 cups of half and half, light cream, or whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter or spray an oblong baking dish, 9x13 or similar.

Peel and slice the sweet potatoes very thinly and set aside.  1/8th inch thick is a good thickness. 

Caramelize the onions and add the brown sugar and cayenne

Chop the onion and add them to a skillet with the olive oil.  Begin to sweat the onions slowly.  Once they have lost most of their water, they will begin to caramelize into a nice golden color.  After the onions have caramelized to a light brown, add the dark brown sugar and the cayenne pepper.  Remove from the heat and set aside.

Create the sauce

 
In another skillet, create a roux with the 1/4 cup butter and the flour.  Add the 2 cups of cream/milk all at once stirring until it is smooth and bubbly.  Turn off the heat and stir in the salt, mustard, paprika, nutmeg, and a few grinds of black pepper.

In your buttered dish, layer half of the sliced potatoes, half the sauce, 1/2 cup of the grated Parmesan and half the onions with their sweet sauce.  Create a second layer with the remaining ingredients, ending with the onions once again.

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.  You can refrigerate it at this point until the next day or until you are ready to bake it.  Bake in a 350 degree oven, covered with the foil for 45 minutes.  At 45 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes until it is browned and bubbly.



This little dish pairs nicely with turkey, but also with a pork roast or chicken. 

Enjoy!
 

Fall Spice Cake with Caramel Fudge Icing

Fall Spice Cake with Caramel Fudge Icing

Come late September early October, my mind turns once again to baking.  One of the memories that also returns is of my Dad’s favorite, spice cake.

 
In an article titled How Smell Works, Sarah Dowdey tells us “smell can bring on a flood of memories, influence people's moods and even affect their work performance.  Because the olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system, an area so closely associated with memory and feeling it's sometimes called the emotional brain.”

While Dad’s favorite was spice cake, my favorite is anything caramel.  Put the two together and “fall” in love with these smells and make your own memories.

Fall Spice Cake

2 1/2 cups cake or all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
2 sticks (1 cup)unsalted butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 fresh eggs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter and flour two 9 inch cake pans or a 9x13 pan.

Cream the softened butter, sugar, and salt together until fluffy. 

Butter-Sugar-Salt-Eggs

Continue to beat in one egg at a time, beating well after each egg.
Measure all of the dry ingredients into one bowl and mix them together.
Measure the milk and lemon juice into a separate container.
Alternately, beat the dry and the wet ingredients into the butter, sugar, and eggs, beginning and ending with dry ingredients as follows: 1/3 dry - 1/2 wet - 1/3 dry - 1/2 wet - 1/3 dry.
The batter will be light and fluffy.  Spoon it evenly into the cake pans and spread it out.

Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  You may bake this as a 9x13 or in cupcakes or even mini muffins but vary the times accordingly.

Once baked, turn the cake(s) out to cool on a rack.

 

Caramel Fudge Icing
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup milk or cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-4 cups of confectioner’s sugar

Melt the butter with the brown sugar in a saucepan.  Bring it to a boil and cook it over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove the pan from the heat and add 3 cups of confectioner’s sugar.  Beating with a spoon or a mixer until smooth, add the vanilla and the additional cup of confectioner’s sugar.  The mixture should be thick but still pour-able.  If it gets too thick, warm it again gently and add a touch of milk.

While the mixture is thick but pour-able, pour a puddle on the first cake layer.  Spread it quickly with a knife and put the second layer on top.  Quickly pour the rest of the icing around the cake making ribbon like motions or just let it drip down the sides and empty the remaining icing into the center of the top of the cake.  It is important to work quickly with this icing because it is like fudge.  It will set up quickly.

UMmm. UMmm. Memories, light the corners of my mind, Misty watercolor memories of the way things were...  Remembering you Dad!




Also just in case you see it and are curious.  The plate does say something... it has a drawing of a turkey, a tipi, and a little Indian and it says "Two Bobbe - Ray, 1976"  That's when my son was 6 and he made the plate for me in school - yes, more memories...

Enjoy!