Wine Jelly
Wine Jelly
It is a chilly day- and I decided it was a great time to make some wine jelly. I have to say, all that wine simmering in a pot, makes the house smell very nice. I will make several batches, some red (Merlot) and some white (Chardonnay). I might even have time to make a blush wine jelly. Any wine that is good enough to drink, can be turned into wine jelly. Having said that, I would not recommend using a really expensive wine for jelly making. Wine jelly can be served on toast, or with bagels and cream cheese. I love it on a croissant with a little butter, or served with cheese and crackers. You can also used the wine jelly to glaze meats. It also makes nice gifts.
Wine Jelly
5 c. wine
1 box (1.75oz.) pectin
7 c. sugar
Wash jars and lids and keep jars warm. I just fill them with hot water. You can also run them through a dishwasher and keep them in there until ready to use. Get a water bath canner filled with enough water to cover the jars by an inch or two of water. Bring water to a boil. Meanwhile, in large put combine wine with pectin. Cook over high heat, stirring often until mixture reaches a boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil 1 minute. Add sugar, continue stirring, and return mixture to a boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil 1 minute. Skim off any foam. Ladle jelly into hot jars, filling leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe rims and screw on lids comfortably tight. Place jars in water bath. Return water to boil and start timing. Process 10 minutes, then remove jars to towel covered counter top to cool. Check lids the next morning to make sure they all sealed. Makes 8-9 half-pint jars.
Note: To reduce foaming you can add one teaspoon of butter to the wine and pectin in the beginning of the cooking process.
Chocolate Biscotti
Chocolate Biscotti
These Chocolate Biscotti are a favorite of mine. They are not too sweet and have plenty of chocolate flavor. If you haven’t made your own biscotti before, you should. These crisp, twice baked cookies, are easy to make. The second bake is where biscotti get their famous crunch. They are baked until they have this lovely crisp texture, meant to be dipped in coffee.
Handy tip: Once biscotti are baked the first time, they are sliced and baked a second time. Most recipes call for you to turn the biscotti over half way through the second bake- to get them crisp/dried evenly. To save time, I just place a cooling rack on my baking sheet before the second bake. I then lay the sliced biscotti on the cooling rack. Now, during baking, air flows under the biscotti and there is no need to turn them over while baking. Saves time.
Chocolate Biscotti
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter, room temperature
2 eggs
3/4 c. chocolate syrup
2 1/2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 c. chocolate chips (mini, regular or flavored)
1 c. chopped nuts, optional
3 oz. white chocolate
Grease 2 9×5-inch loaf pans and set aside. Beat sugar and butter together than beat in eggs and syrup. Beat in dry ingredients. Dough will be soft. Stir in chips and nuts. Divide batter in prepared pans and use spatula to spread evenly. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 35 minutes. Tester inserted in center should come out clean. Turn loaves onto rack and cool 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300-degrees. Using a serrated knife cut loaves into 3/4 -inch slices. Place cooling rack on a baking sheet. Place biscotti slices cut side down on cooling rack and bake about 18-19 minutes. Cookies will become harder/crisper as they cool. Cool completely. Melt white chocolate and drizzle over biscotti. Allow to set up. Makes about 2 dozen.
Homemade Pumpernickel Bread
Pumpernickel Bread
There are few aromas I like more than freshly baked bread. I don’t bake much during the hot summer months and look forward to cool Autumn days and fresh baked bread. I enjoy baking all sorts of breads. Today I made Pumpernickel Bread. The dark color comes from a mixture of rye flour, strong coffee, cocoa powder and molasses. These ingredients also give this bread a richness and texture I adore. It’s hard for me to find a store bought Pumpernickel bread that comes close to this one. Some store bakeries rely on caramel coloring for the color in the bread. For real flavor you need the real ingredients.
Pumpernickel Bread
2 Packages active dry yeast
½ c. warm water
2 c. lukewarm strong coffee
¼ c. each molasses and unsweetened cocoa
2 T. Caraway seeds
2 t. salt
5-6 c. flour- I use bread flour
2 c. rye flour
Cornmeal
1 egg white, slightly beaten
In large bowl dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in coffee, molasses, cocoa, seeds, salt and 3 cups of flour. Beat with wooden spoon about 2 minutes. Stir in rye flour and enough of the remaining regular flour to make soft dough. Turn onto floured surface and knead until dough is smooth, about 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top, cover and let rest until doubled, about 1 hour. Grease large baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal. Set aside.
Punch down dough, divide in 2, and form into balls. Place on baking sheet and cover. Let rise until double, brush with egg whites, slash tops and bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes. Makes 2 loaves.
Cinnamon Apple Bread
Cinnamon Apple Bread
I love apple season. Every week there are new varieties to try. Fresh apples are so crisp and juicy. I make frequent trips to local orchards and farm markets. Besides eating apples, I like to bake with them. This bread is one of my favorite recipes. Not too sweet, it is moist from the shredded apples, flavored with cinnamon and studded with raisins and nuts. This apple bread makes a great breakfast or snack. I have been known to top a slice with cinnamon ice cream and a little caramel sauce for a simple dessert. This recipe makes one loaf, but I often double it- so I can freeze the second loaf for later. Enjoy!!
Cinnamon Apple Bread
1/3 c. butter, softened
2/3 c. sugar
2 t. grated lemon or orange peel
1 t. cinnamon
2 eggs
3 T. milk
1 t. lemon juice
1 t. each baking powder and salt
1/2 t. baking soda
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. peeled shredded apples, about 2 large apples
1 c. raisins*
1/2 c. chopped nuts
Topping:
3 T. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
Cream together butter, sugar, peel and cinnamon. Beat in eggs until light and fluffy. Stir in milk and lemon juice. Stir in dry ingredients then fold in apples, raisins and nuts. Pour batter into greased 9×5 – inch loaf pan. Combine topping and sprinkle over the top of the batter. Bake in a preheated 350 -degree oven for 1 hour. Use a toothpick to test for doneness. Cool 15-20 minutes before removing from pan. Yield: 1 loaf.
*You can use other dried fruits. I sometimes use dried cranberries or cherries.
New Day Cleveland – Cooking With Pears
Cinnamon Pear Coffee Cake
I had a great time on New Day Cleveland. The whole crew are so nice to work with. My segment was all about cooking with pears. That was an easy one for me. I love pears and cook with them often. I tried to have a nice balance of both sweet and savory dishes.
So for those of you that might have missed it- here is my latest appearance.
http://fox8.com/2016/09/22/add-pears-into-your-fall-flavors/
Spiced Apple Cake Roll
Spiced Apple Cake Roll
I really look forward to apple season. I enjoy eating plenty of them fresh, but I also like cooking with apples. I’ve made a lot of different cake rolls in the past, and decided to make a cake roll with apples this time. Good decision. This is a fun dessert and easier to make than you might think. I also added whole berry cranberry sauce. I made my own, but feel free to use canned if that is what you have. The filling is not terribly sweet. I like it that way, but you can add more sugar. You can serve it plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or with a scoop of ice cream. A drizzle of caramel sauce would be nice, too. The cake can also be served for breakfast or brunch.
Spiced Apple Cake Roll
4 eggs, room temp
2/3 c. sugar
¼ t. vanilla
¾ c. sifted cake flour*
1 t. cinnamon
¾ t. each baking powder and nutmeg
¼ t. each cloves and salt
Powdered sugar for sprinkling
2 lbs. apples, peeled and sliced thin- about 5 medium apples
1 c. whole berry cranberry sauce- homemade or canned**
Whipped cream, optional
Grease bottom of 15×10-inch jelly roll pan and line with wax paper. Grease wax paper. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla 5 minutes. Sift together flour with dry ingredients and fold into eggs. Spread in prepared pan and bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 13 minutes or until light golden. Meanwhile sprinkle a tea towel with the powdered sugar. Loosen hot cake from sides of pan and invert onto tea towel. Remove wax paper carefully and roll up cake from the narrow side. Cool. Meanwhile combine apples with cranberry sauce in saucepan and simmer until apples have softened, but still hold their shape. Stir occasionally. Cool to lukewarm. Carefully unroll cake and spread with the apple mixture. Re-roll cake, discarding towel. Serve with dollops of whipped cream. Serves 8.
* To make your own cake flour just measure out a cup of all purpose flour- and remove 2 tablespoons for 1 cup of cake flour- or – remove 2 tablespoons of flour and replace them with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. I normally do the cornstarch thing with several cups of flour at a time so I have cake flour on hand when needed.
** For homemade cranberry sauce place 1 1/2 cups of cranberries in a saucepan and add a little orange juice or water- about 1/2 c.- and sugar to taste. Simmer until berries burst and mixture thickens. Yield- about 1 cup of whole berry cranberry sauce.
Applesauce and Oatmeal Muffins- Vegan
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins
I had a request from a friend for more vegan baking recipes. Came up with these muffins and thought I would share. They came out moist and light. I also have a lot of applesauce that I canned, so always interested in new recipes using applesauce. I added both raisins and walnuts for more texture and flavor. You could omit them, or add different dried fruit. You can also sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on top of the muffins before baking, if you like.
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins
2 c. applesauce- I used homemade with cinnamon in it
1/2 c. oil
1 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
2 c. flour Note: You can use all purpose, I used whole wheat pastry flour.
1 c. rolled oats
2 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. baking powder
1 c. dried cranberries or raisins
1 c. chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners or grease lightly. Set aside. Combine applesauce with the oil and stir in sugar and vanilla. Add flour, oats, soda, cinnamon and baking powder. Stir to mix well. Stir in fruit and nuts. Spoon batter in to muffin cups, filling just over half-full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown on top. Makes 24.
Butternut Squash Saute
Butternut Squash Saute
I have to celebrate the first day of Autumn with a squash recipe. Winter squash season is here, and I could not be happier. I love the variety of squash (and pumpkin) at the markets this time of year. They are both beautiful and tasty. This dish is a saute of butternut squash with onions, garlic, carrots and finished off with black sesame seeds. I used butternut squash, but you could use any number of hard squashes, or even pumpkin. If you are looking for a different way to cook some of those squash- try this dish. I think you might be surprised at just how good it is.
Butternut Squash Sauté
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
4 cups cubed fresh butternut, acorn or Hubbard squash or pumpkin
1/2 cup grated carrot
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons black sesame seeds
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and garlic; cook and stir until the onions begin to brown. Stir in the squash, carrot, soy sauce, salt, and pepper; cook, covered, another 5 to 7 minutes, until squash is tender. Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.
Broccoli Rabe with Pasta and Pecans
Broccoli Rabe with Pasta and Pecans
I taught a class last night on cooking with leafy greens. We had dishes made with collards, kale, Swiss chard and broccoli rabe. I am always surprised at how many people have never tried broccoli rabe- also known as rapini. This versatile vegetable consists of stems, leaves and small florets, with a strong broccoli flavor.
I think perhaps the sometimes strong, even bitter flavor, might turn people away from trying it. I enjoy that bitterness. If you don’t, you can temper it by blanching the broccoli rabe. That’s what I did with this dish. I also paired the broccoli rabe with pasta and some cheese which also mellows out the flavor.
Broccoli Rabe with Pasta and Pecans
1 bunch broccoli rabe (rapini), trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 (8 ounce) box uncooked pasta
½ c. pecans
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, sliced
salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the broccoli rabe, and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Return the water to a boil, and stir in the pasta. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite. Drain well in a colander set in the sink. While the pasta is cooking, cook and stir the pecans in a skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Set the nuts aside, add the olive oil, and reduce heat to low. Stir in the garlic, and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in the broccoli rabe, and cook 3 minutes to reheat. Season to taste with salt and black pepper, then stir in the drained pasta and walnuts. Toss with Parmesan cheese before serving. Serves 4.
Broccoli Rabe
Cream of Tomato Soup
Cream of Tomato Soup
As tomato growing season draws to a close, I seem to enjoy each fresh tomato even more. The season is never long enough. Every one I harvest from now, until the first frost, is extra special. One of my favorite dishes made with fresh tomatoes, is this cream of tomato soup. I made it in a class recently, and people seemed to love it as much as I do. It is full of fresh tomato flavor.
I enjoy it served hot, but have been known to eat this soup cold, too. I prefer to use fresh tomatoes, but have also used my home canned tomatoes in a pinch. If you want a stronger tomato flavor- use a couple extra tomatoes.
Cream of Tomato Soup
3 medium-sized ripe tomatoes
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 rib celery, chopped fine
Pinch of sugar, optional
3 whole cloves
1 small bay leaf
3 T. butter
3 T. flour
1 t. salt
3 c. milk
Peel and chop tomatoes. Place tomatoes in saucepan with onion, celery, sugar (if adding), cloves and bay leaf. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and cover, simmering 15 minutes. Melt butter in a large saucepan then stir in flour and salt. Cook mixture until bubbly. Add milk and cook until thickened stirring constantly. Puree tomato mixture through strainer, food mill or in a blender or processor. Add to milk mixture and heat through. Serves 6.
