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Apple Dip

Friday, April 4, 2014


The ingredients



4 Granny Smith Apples (sliced)

2 blocks cream cheese (softened)

Caramel Sauce

mini chocolate chips

toffee pieces.

Spread cream cheese on a platter.

Drizzle caramel sauce over the top of it.

Sprinkle mini chips and toffee bits over that.

Dip/eat with the sliced apples.

Thanks!

Vivienne from The V Spot
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Happy Labor Day… only 113 shopping days until Christmas!

Thursday, April 3, 2014
Wow, is summer really gone already? That was fast, but then again, it always is. Is it really just the old saying “time flies when you’re having fun,” or do those extra long days screw with our sense of time? Who knows, but it does seem like I was just writing that Memorial Day post.

I hope you all enjoyed this summer, and were able to cook and eat lots of great food. I appreciate all the visits, and comments, as the blog has really grown rapidly the last few months. Special thanks to all of you who helped spread the word about Food Wishes. It’s been a lot of fun learning and using the new equipment (I took the plastic off one of the manuals the other day), and I hope the videos will become even better, and more enjoyable for you.

So, as days grow shorter, sunflowers go to seed, crunchy leaves cover the lawn, and some idiot tells you how many shopping days until Christmas, take heart; we are entering the prime cooking and eating time of the year. I hope you will visit this blog often for ideas on filling your fall and holiday tables with an array of delicious and somewhat healthy recipes. Finally, here’s to all the poor cooks, chefs, and other hospitality workers that celebrate Labor Day by working. Don’t feel too bad though, they’ll catch up after work…they always do. Cheers!


Btw, the sunflower photos were taken on a recent walk through San Francisco. You can even see parts of the beautiful Victorian they were planted in front of.
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Laal Aaloo

Thursday, April 3, 2014
Laal Aaloo


Ingredients
  • Baby potatoes 1 kg
  • Roasted crushed cumin 1 tbsp heaped
  • Roasted coriander crushed 1 tbsp heaped
  • Kashmiri red chilies (soaked in water) 15
  • Ginger garlic 1 tbsp
  • Salt 1 tbsp
  • Chat Masala 1 tbsp
  • Curry leaves 25 – 30
  • Tamarind pulp 1 cup
  • Sugar 1 tbsp
  • Oil ½ cup
Method
  • In a bowl mix together 1 cup tamarind pulp, 1 tbsp roasted crushed cumin, 1 tbsp roasted crushed coriander, 15 soaked ground Kashmiri chilies, 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tbsp Chat Masala, boil 1 kg potatoes and peel, heat ½ cup oil, add 25 to 30 curry leaves, then add tamarind spices mixture, fry well adding little water till oil comes on top, add boiled baby potatoes and mix well, simmer on low flame for 10 minutes, garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
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Pineapple pudding Ananasfrómas

Wednesday, April 2, 2014
A decorated pineapple fromage
Light and frothy cold puddings made with egg and thickened with gelatine are known as "frómas" in Icelandic and as "fromage" in Danish. Those who know their French will realise that this is the French word for "cheese". How it underwent the change in meaning from French to Danish is not known.

This recipe is in all likelihood originally Danish. This is a popular dessert in my family that my mother makes  for special occasions. With a bit of adjustment, it can be adapted to other kinds of flavours. For example, I adore the lemon version.

Ingredients:

250 g sugar
5 eggs, whites and yolks separated
12 sheets of gelatine
2 cups double cream or whipping cream
2 small cans (8. oz.) pineapple rings in juice, cut into small chunks (retain 2-3 rings for decoration)
Pineapple juice from the can
juice from 1 lemon

Method:
In separate bowls, whip together the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy, whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks, and whip the egg whites until stiff.

Soak the gelatine sheets in cold water for about 10 minutes, remove and squeeze out the water. Put about 200 ml (4/5 cup) of pineapple juice in a saucepan and add the gelatine. Over low heat (or in a water-bath) melt the gelatine in the pineapple juice, stirring well to eliminate lumps. Cool to room temperature (plunge the bottom of the saucepan into cold water to speed up the cooling process). Pour through a sieve into the egg and sugar mixture, stirring constantly and carefully to mix. Add the lemon juice and stir in carefully. Fold in the cream and then the pineapple pieces. Finally fold in the whipped egg whites.

Pour into bowls and allow to set. These can be either a couple of big serving bowls, or individual serving bowls or dessert glasses. Decorate with remaining pineapple rings and whipped cream. Red cocktail cherries can be added for a bit of colour.

Serve cold, with or without whipped cream.

This pudding makes an excellent filling for sponge cake. To use, allow to set enough to be spreadable without running, and smooth on top of one cake layer, allow to set and top with another cake layer.
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SANDRA’S PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED PEACH GLAZED JALAPENO POPPERS

Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Sesame seeds become slightly toasted
while slowly baking and are absolutely scrumptious
on these glazed prosciutto-wrapped jalapeno poppers.
A perfectly addicting game day or
holiday get-together appetizer...
Yields: (24 popper halves)
Prep: 20 Mins.
Slowly Bake: 45 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

12 fresh jalapenos
1 (4 oz. tub) cream cheese with chives, at room temperature
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon grated parmesan
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1 (12 oz. pkg.) sliced prosciutto, cut in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons Jarred Peach Spreadable Fruit 
--(I used Smuckers)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

--Toothpicks
--Latex gloves

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with oil, then set aside.

Begin by cutting jalapenos in half lengthwise using latex gloves. Keep the stems intact by cutting through their center, as they later make for useful handles when eating.  Using a small spoon to scrape out seeds and ribs (retain seeds and ribs if you wish for spicier poppers).


In a small bowl, combine cream cheese with chives, cheddar cheese, parmesan, and lemon juice, and onion. Mix ingredients. 


Stuff each hollowed jalapeno half with cheese mixture.


Cut prosciutto slices in half lengthwise.


Wrap prosciutto slices around each half, covering as much surface as possible, without overstretching as it shrinks during baking, then secure each wrapped popper with a toothpick.  Place filling side up on prepared baking sheet.


In a small microwavable bowl or ramekin, heat peach spreadable fruit for 30 seconds to thin. 


Pour sesame seeds in a small dish.


Brush top surface of prosciutto with preserves, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. 


Slowly bake in preheated 275-degree oven for 1 hour. Remove toothpicks, and serve hot or at room temperature. ~ Enjoy!



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AFGHANI BOTI

Tuesday, April 1, 2014
AFGHANI BOTI


Ingredients:
  • Mutton s(boneless) ½ kg
  • Fat 250 gm
  • Crushed black pepper 1 tsp
  • Garlic paste 1 tbsp
  • Papaya paste ½ tsp
  • Cinnamon powder ½ tsp
  • Oil 2 tbsp
  • Lahori salt to taste
Method:
  • Take 250 gm fat and cut it into cubes. Now take ½ kg mutton, fat, 1 tsp crushed black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic paste, ½ tsp cinnamon powder, 2 tbsp oil , salt and ½ cup papaya paste. Mix everything and keep it for some time. Put the mutton and fat in the bbq sticks and grill it on the oven. Give it coal and serve hot.
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Cuban Style Slow Roasted Mojo Pork

Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Besides the beautiful weather and great shopping, another wonderful aspect of south Florida is the enormous variety of ethnic cuisines available.  Influenced by the strong and growing Cuban population, it has become one of the most popular foods of the region, in part, because of the explosion of flavors from garlic, fresh citrus juices and oregano you get with each bite.  Some may be under the misconception that Cuban food is spicy, but it is not (though I find a little dash of hot sauce is an excellent condiment). It is somewhat surprisingly heavy on garlic but that flavor is somehow balanced by the acidity of the citrus juices and sweetened by the long slow cooking processes.  The version I created is inspired by some of my very favorite meals enjoyed at "Havana"  in West Palm Beach, FL. It is by no means authentic, but it is a pretty good mid western reproduction, if I do say so myself.  

Cuban Style Slow Roasted Mojo Pork

Pork
1 pork shoulder roasted (boston butt or picnic shoulder)
2 tablespoons of chili powder (chipotle, ancho, pasilla)
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
2 tablespoons oregano
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Place pork roast in a heavy dutch oven.  Combine spices together in a small bowl and rub over all sides of the pork roast.  Spoon over 2 -3 tablespoons of mojo (recipe follows).  Cover with a tight fitting lid and roast in the oven for 3 hours or until pork is fork tender and falling apart.  Remove from dutch oven and let rest on a plate covered loosely with foil for about 20 minutes.  Slice and serve with black beans*, white rice and some extra mojo with sauteed onions. 

Mojo
zest of 1 orange
juice of 1 orange
zest of 1 lime
juice of 2 limes
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Combine ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl.  After adding several tablespoons to the pork before cooking retain the remaining mojo.  After removing the pork from the oven, slice 1/2 of a red onion and place the slices in the mojo for 20 minutes.  Just before serving the pork, heat a skillet with a tablespoon of canola oil over medium heat.  When pan is hot, quickly pour the mojo and onions into the pan and saute for a minute or two until the onions are soft.  Serve as a condiment with the sliced pork. 

*P.S. - If you would like the recipe for the black beans you can find it right HERE.
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