Oatmeal Buttermilk Bread

1 1/2 tsp dry yeast

2 TBsp warm water

3/4 cup + 2 tbsp warm buttermilk

2 tbsp honey

2/3 cup rolled oats (not instant) plus extra for topping

1+1/2 cup bread flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

2 TBsp melted butter

Method :

1. Dissolve the yeast with the water in a small bowl and leave for 10 minutes until foamy. Mix the honey with the melted butter in another bowl. Stir together the flours, the oat and salt in a mixing bowl ,then add the yeast and the honey+butter mixtures along with the buttermilk into the flours mixture, mix with a dough hook to form a ball and knead for 10-15 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl , cover and let it rise for about 1-1.5 hours or until double in volume.

2. Turn the dough out onto a working surface and knead for a minute to deflate the dough. Shape the dough into a loaf and place in a 8 1/2 inch greased loaf pan, cover and let rise for ± 45 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Cut the bread lengthwise, brush with an eggwash and sprinkle some oats over the top before baking.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, turn out on a wire rack to cool before slicing and serve.

Red Pepper Jelly

• 1 1.2 cup seeded, chopped red or green pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped chili peppers
• 1 1/2 cup  white vinegar
• 6 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 6 oz/170mL/ 2 pouches pectin

1. Combine peppers and vinegar in blender until smooth, pour into large pot, add sugar. 
2. Heat on medium high and stir until sugar dissolves.  Bring to a boil, hold boil for 3 mintures, stir in pectin.  Return to full boil on high and maintain hard boil for 1 minute.
3. Remove from heat, skim off foam, pour into hot sterlized hars to within 1/4 inch of the top and seal.
4. Makes 6 half pints

Rachel's Thoughts: DO NOT let boil over on your stove, if it does clean up right away or you will regret it like we did! 

Mushroom, Spinach, and Scallion Tart

Serves 8

• 1 pound mushrooms (combination of button and shiitake), trimmed and sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 12 scallions, ends trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces, washed and shaken dry
• 3 1/2 cups (about 4 ounces) flat-leaf spinach, stemmed, washed, and shaken dry
• 10 (14-by-9-inch) sheets phyllo dough
• 6 ounces fresh goat cheese (about 2/3 cup)
• 3 large eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as dill and cilantro

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. On a baking sheet, toss mushrooms with 2 tablespoons oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Roast for 10 minutes. Toss in the scallions and roast for 15 minutes more. Push mushrooms and scallions to one side and place spinach on empty side, roast until wilted, about 3 minutes. Let cool briefly, then squeeze spinach dry.
3. Brush an 11-by-7-inch rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom (or a 10-inch round pan) lightly with some of the remaining oil. Working with one piece of phyllo at a time and keeping the rest covered with plastic wrap, brush a sheet of the pastry very lightly with olive oil. Fit into tart pan, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Brush a second sheet with oil and fit into pan. Repeat with remaining sheets, creating a crust that is at least five layers thick over the bottom of the pan. Fold edges at top.
4. Crumple a double layer of aluminum foil into a rectangle the size of the bottom of the tart and fit into crust to weight down center. Place on a baking sheet and bake until edges are golden and begin to set, about 7 minutes. Remove foil and bake until golden all over, about 3 minutes more. (Remove from oven, leaving baking sheet. Tent edges with foil if browning too quick.)
5. Reduce oven to 375 degrees. In a blender, puree the goat cheese, eggs, milk, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth. Add herbs and pulse to combine. Spread vegetables over crust and pour custard over top.
6. Place tart back on baking sheet in oven and bake until custard is set, 20 to 23 minutes. Pull tart from oven and let cool 10 minutes on wire rack. Remove sides of pan and cool at least 10 minutes more, until ready to serve. If not serving right away, slide off of bottom and onto wire rack.

Source: www.wholeliving.com

To Try: Mojito Frozen Yogurt

Mojito Frozen Yogurt


1/2 oz mint leaves
1 cup 1% milk
1/2 teaspoon xantham gum
1 teaspoon arrowroot starch
1/4 cup (50gm) sugar
2 large eggs
16 oz nonfat plain Greek yogurt
pinch of powdered stevia extract ( less than 1/8 teaspoon)
juice and zest of 1 lime
2 oz light rum
1 tbsp chopped fresh mint

Heat milk & mint over medium heat until milk is just bubbling around the edges of the pan. Turn off heat and let steep for about 30 minutes. Strain milk into bowl, squeezing excess liquid from mint leaves. Discard the leaves. Allow to cool.

Place the arrowroot starch into a small bowl and pour about 2 tablespoons of the milk over it. Stir to dissolve.

Add the xantham gum and sugar to the remaining milk and whisk vigorously (an immersion blender works well.) Pour into a saucepan, add the sugar, and heat over medium-low heat, just until the sugar is dissolved.

Whisk the eggs in a bowl. When the milk is warm, add about 1/4 cup to the eggs, whisking constantly. Slowly pour the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan with the milk, stirring constantly. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until mixture is thick and coats the back of the spoon. Do not let it boil.

Place the yogurt in a large bowl. Stir in the milk and egg mixture, and remaining ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for several hours or overnight. Churn in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.

Source: http://carascravings.blogspot.com/2010/07/mojito-frozen-yogurt.html 

Rhubard Pie

Serves 10, Prep: 30 min, Total: 6 hours

• Pie Dough
• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• 1 3/4 pounds (about 6 cups) rhubarb, ends trimmed, cut crosswise into 3/4-inch pieces
• 3/4 cup (or 2/3)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Pinch of salt
• Orange zest 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. with rack in lowest level. In a large bowl, toss rhubarb with sugar, cornstarch, orange zest and salt. Pour into pie shell; sprinkle with Crumble Topping. Place pie on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet.
2. Place pie in oven; reduce heat to 375 degrees. Bake until topping is browned and crust is lightly browned, about 1 1/2 hours. (If topping or crust begins to brown too quickly, tent with foil.) Cool completely before serving.

 Crumble Topping

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (cut into small pieces)

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix flour, light-brown sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. With your hands, work in butter until large, moist clumps form. Chill, covered, until ready to use.

 Source: Everyday Food (with small changes)

 

Super Easy (and Cheap) Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
• 32 ounces cottage cheese  (or ricotta)
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese  (less)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley  - (Fresh basil or parsley)
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste
• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1/2 cup water  (less) 

 Directions

1. In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef. Drain the grease. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, half of the grated Parmesan cheese, dried parsley, salt and ground black pepper.
3. To assemble, in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly spread 3/4 cup of the sauce mixture. Cover with 3 uncooked lasagna noodles, 1 3/4 cup of the cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with 3 noodles, remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Add 1/2 cup water to the edges of the pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
4. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F(175 degrees C) oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. 

Source: All recipes.com

Rachel's Thoughts: I used cottage cheese and ricotta, fresh parsley and basil (simmered with the sauce).   

Ice Cream Dessert and Chocolate Sauce

A. Crumble Topping

• 1 1/3 c flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1 c brown sugar
• 1 cup roller oats
• 1 cup melted margarine/butter

Mix, bake in oven on cookie sheet at 400 for 15 minutes, break up multiple times.  Crumble and cool.

B. Chocolate Sauce

-        ¼ c butter

-        ¾ c white sugar

-        ¼ cocoa powder

-        ¼ milk

Melt butter in saucepan, stir in white sugar, cocoa, and milk, stir constantly, bring to a rolling boil, turn heat to medium low let bowl for just over minute and let cool.

C. Assembly

Place half of the crumble on the bottom of pan, drizzle with caramel, spread with ice cream, cover with remaining half of topping and drizzle with caramel sauce and chocolate sauce.

Tomoato Panzanella with Ricotta

Serves 4, Active Time: 5min, Total Time: 25min

• 0.5 lbs day-old crusty bread cut into 1 inch pieces (5 cups)
• 2 lbs ripe tomatoes, cut into 1 inch peices
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp red-wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 15 ounces ricotta

 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375.  On a rimmed baking sheet, spread bread in a single layer and bake until dry and light golden brown (20 min).
2. In a large bowl combine tomatoes, onion, vinegar and oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Add toasted bread and basil and toss to combine.
4. Let sit 20/30 minutes to allow bread to soak up liquid.
5. Dividesalad evenly and top with ricotta, drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper.

Red Pepper Dip

Makes 2 cups

• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 package whole-wheat pitas, 1 pita torn into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
• 3/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 jar (16 ounces) roasted red peppers, drained, rinsed, and roughly chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt

Directions

1. In a medium skillet, simmer pomegranate juice over medium-high until thick, syrupy, and beginning to brown slightly around edges, 13 minutes (you should have about 2 tablespoons syrup).
2. Meanwhile, in a food processor, process torn pita until coarse crumbs form. Add walnuts, paprika, cumin, and cayenne and process until finely chopped. Add peppers, lemon juice, and syrup and process until mixture is a smooth paste. With machine running, slowly pour oil through feed tube and process until combined. Season with salt and serve with remaining pitas, toasted and cut into wedges.
3.  Source: Everyday Food May 2010 

Thia Beef Salad

Steak:

• 2 Tb soy sauce (San-J makes a gluten free one)
• 2 Tsp fish sauce
• 2 tsp sugar
• 12 oz flank steak
• 1-2 tsp vegetable oil

1. Combine soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar in a glass 9×13 baking dish. Add steak, turning to coat. Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes or refrigerate several hours.
2. While the steak is marinating I prepare the salad and dressing.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet, I use cast-iron, over medium high heat. Add steak, reserving marinade, and cook until dark brown on both sides, about 3-5 minutes per side for medium-rare; make sure to wait until the meat has had time to brown well before trying to flip it or it will tear.
4. Add reserved marinade to skillet and turn steak once to coat. The marinade will get very thick and much of it will evaporate.
5. Transfer steak to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing against the grain.
6. Add steak and dressing to prepared salad and serve immediately.

Salad:

• 1 head lettuce, washed and torn into pieces
• 1/4 cup mint leaves
• 1/4 cup basil leaves
• 1 cucumber, seeded, peeled and deiced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 carrots, peeled and shaved with a vegetable peeler

1. In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients.

Ginger-Lime Dressing:

• 2 tsp fish sauce
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 Tb peeled, minced fresh ginger
• 1/2 a jalapeno, minced, optional
• 2 Tb fresh lime juice

Source: Everyday Food May 2010