Sunday, July 19, 2009

Butterfly Muffins

Cup of hot chocolate with whipped creamImage via Wikipedia

MAKES 36

6 oz (185 g) butter

1/4 cup (51/2 oz, 170 g) superfine (caster) sugar

1/2 teaspoon boilerplate abstract (essence)

3 eggs

2 cups (8 oz, 250 g) self-raising flour

‘/2 cup (4fl oz, 125 ml) milk

jelly (jam)

whipped cream

confectioners’ (icing) sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375-400°F, (190-200°C, Gas Mark 5-6). Adulate 36 patty block tins or band tins with cardboard patty cases.

2. Chrism butter, sugar, and boilerplate abstract until light, white and fluffy.

3. Add baffled eggs gradually, assault able-bodied afterwards anniversary addition.

4. Gently activity in sifted abrade and milk. Spoon a aggregate teaspoon of the admixture into anniversary of the patty block tins.

5. Reduce oven temperature to moderately hot (375°F, 190°C, Gas Mark 5) and broil for about 1 5 account until acme accept risen able-bodied and are analogously brown.

6. Air-conditioned on a wire rack. When cakes are air-conditioned cut a amphitheater from the top of anniversary application a small, aciculate knife. Cut the circles in half.

7. Place a baby abundance of apricot or raspberry clabber (jam) assimilate anniversary cake.

8. Cover the clabber (jam) with 1 teaspoon of aerated cream.

9. Replace the bisected circles to anatomy butterfly wings on top of the cakes.

10. Sprinkle the butterfly muffins agilely with sifted confectioners’ sugar.As Seen On Tv - Official Secret Restaurant Recipes Click Here!



Bacalhau (SALT COD CASSEROLE)

Nasi GorengImage by leekelleher via Flickr

A acceptable Portuguese dish, Bacalhau (bah-kah-loah) makes an unusual, appetizing ancestors cafeteria or banquet basin and may be served with a blooming salad. The alkali cod should be bought the day afore you ambition to baker it, so that it can be blood-soaked in algid baptize for 12 hours to abolish some of the salt.

4 SERVINGS

2 lb. alkali cod

6 fl. oz. [3/4 cup] olive oil

11/2 lb. potatoes, peeled

1 lb. onions, cut in slices and afar into rings

1 lb. tomatoes, coarsley sliced

2 garlic cloves, cautiously chopped

1. teaspoon coarsley arena atramentous pepper

10 atramentous olives, stones removed 4 above eggs, sliced

2 tablespoons cautiously chopped parsley

Directions:

1. Put the cod in a medium-sized bond basin and awning with algid water. Leave covered for at atomic 12 hours to soak. Change the baptize every 3 or 4 hours, or whenever convenient.

2. Cesspool the cod and bathe it able-bodied to ablution off the salt. Put the angle in a medium- sized saucepan, awning with baptize and accompany to the abscess over aerial heat. Lower the heat, awning the pan and simmer the cod for 15 account or until it is cooked.

3. Pour abroad the baptize and cesspool the cod well. Skin and cartilage the fish. Flake it and set acidic.

4. Preheat the oven to adequately hot 375′F (Gas Mark 5, 190″C).

5. Half ample a ample bucket with absolute baptize and accompany it to the boil. Add the potatoes and abscess them for 15 to 20, minutes, or until they are aloof cooked. Cesspool and cut the potatoes into slices and set aside.

6. In a ample frying-pan calefaction 4 tablespoons of the olive oil over abstinent heat. When it is hot add the onions and fry for 5 minutes, active occasionally until they are bendable but not brown. Add the tomatoes, garlic and pepper and baker active anxiously for 4 minutes. Draw the pan off the heat.

7. Arrange the potato slices, the cod, onions and tomatoes in layers in the goulash until it is full. Pour the actual oil over the top. Put the goulash in the centermost of the oven and baker for 30 account or until all the capacity arc thoroughly acrimonious and the top is brown.

Garnish the basin with the atramentous olives, egg slices and chopped parsley. Serve hot.As Seen On Tv - Official Secret Restaurant Recipes Click Here!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Eggless Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

I realize that when it comes to food limitations my family pretty much wins first prize. But it also occurs to me that some of you might have some similar limitations. Eggs are an extremely common food allergy (one of the big 8) and 1 out of approximately 100 people have celiac disease, so there are bound to be some of you who will need to bake both without eggs and without gluten. I am in the unenviable position to be able to provide a few gluten-free eggless recipes and some hard earned advice.

When it comes to cookbooks, most will not be very helpful. Gluten-free food is notoriously egg laden, and the best recipes have huge quantities of eggs. The good news is, however, Ener-G egg replacer is gluten-free. This doesn’t mean that you can replace the eggs in every recipe with the egg replacer. Not by a long shot. But it does mean that you can look through the gluten-free cookbooks and select those recipes that have only one or two eggs. There will probably only be a handful of recipes like that, and not all of them will work with the egg replacer, but they are your best shot and you have to start somewhere. Rebecca Reilly, author of the book Gluten-Free Baking, has a son who is allergic to milk, soy, egg, and peanuts, as well as celiac disease (finally someone who knows what I am going through!!!), and she provides a few allergy friendly recipes in her book. “Reilly’s chocolate chip cookies” on page 73 has been a life saver for us.

Adapting eggless recipes to gluten-free flours is another option that has provided me with a few good recipes. But you are going to have to experiment with the type of flours you use and the quantities and ratios. Here is one gluten-free chocolate cake recipe that I have adapted from the classic eggless chocolate cake (aka the vinegar cake–you know the one I mean!).

2 cups of sweet rice flour
3/4 cup of corn flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1 tsp. xantham gum
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbl. vinegar
2 tbl. vanilla
2 cups of water
2/3 cups of oil

Mix the flours with the dry ingredients. Slowly add the wet ingredients and mix for approximately two minutes until well blended. Pour into cake pan or cupcake tins.
Cake – bake for 40-45 minutes
Cupcake – bake for 20 minutes

Enjoy your eggless gluten-free chocolate cake!As Seen On Tv - Official Secret Restaurant Recipes Click Here!

Cucumber and radish raita

1 English cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 1/4 inch dice

8 radishes, trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch dice

4 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

In medium bowl, toss together cucumber, radishes, garlic, mint, dill and lemon zest. Stir in yogurt, lemon juice, pepper and nutmeg. Mix gently to combine. Transfer to serving bowl and refrigerate until chilled before serving. Serve with crudites, pita or bagel chips. Yield: 3 cups.

Source: "Delicious Dips," (Chronicle Books, 2004)

Garlic roasted green beans with shallots and hazelnuts

1 pound green beans, trimmed

1 shallot, thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, crushed

3 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1/4 cup hazelnuts, toasted and chopped

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss together green beans, shallots, garlic, oil and salt and pepper in a medium roasting pan. Roast in oven until beans are cooked through and light golden brown. Remove from oven and stir in the lemon zest and hazelnuts. Transfer to a platter and serve. Yield: 4 servings

Source: foodnetwork.com
Feta cheese and toasted pine nuts add flavor to zucchini pancakes, served with tzatziki sauce.

Feta cheese and toasted pine nuts add flavor to zucchini pancakes, served with tzatziki sauce.

Zucchini Pancakes

12 ounces coarsely grated zucchini (about 1 1/2 cups)

Salt, as needed

1 cup chopped scallions

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

3 ounces all-purpose flour

1/2 ounce chopped dill (approximately 3 teaspoons)

1/2 ounce chopped flat leaf parsley ( approximately 3 teaspoons)

Chopped tarragon

Freshly ground black pepper, as needed

3 ounces crumbled feta cheese

2 1/2 ounces chopped toasted pine nuts

2 cups olive oil for pan frying, or as needed

Place grated zucchini in colander. Sprinkle with salt and let stand 30 minutes. Squeeze zucchini to remove as much liquid as possible. Dry the zucchini by pressing it between several layers of paper towels.

In large bowl, combine zucchini, scallions, eggs, flour, dill, parsley, tarragon, salt, and pepper until evenly blended. Fold in feta cheese. (The pancake mixture can be prepared to this point up to 3 hours ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Stir to blend before continuing.) Fold the pine nuts into the zucchini mixture.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees to keep the pancakes warm as you work. Place a baking sheet in the oven.

Add enough oil to a large skillet to come to a depth of about 1/8 inch, and heat the oil over medium-high heat until the surface of the oil shimmers. Working in batches, drop heaping tablespoons of zucchini mixture into hot oil, leaving enough room for the pancakes to spread as they cook. Fry until the pancakes are golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer each batch of pancakes to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Serve immediately with the tzatziki sauce. Yield: 8 portions.

Approximately values per four-ounce serving: 180 calories, 8 grams protein, 10 grams carbohydrate, 13 grams fat, 2.5 grams saturated fat, 250 milligrams sodium, 85 milligrams cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber.

Tzatziki Sauce

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup grated cucumber, squeezed dry

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped mint or dill

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

Salt, as needed

Fresh ground black pepper, as needed

Combine the yogurt, sour cream, cucumber, and garlic in a food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and fold in olive oil, mint or dill, lemon juice, and zest. Stir until combined and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Approximate values per one-ounce serving: 40 calories, 1 gram protein, 2 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 60 milligrams sodium, 5 milligrams cholesterol, 0 grams dietary fiber.

Source: The Culinary Institute of America

Lemony mixed vegetables

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 pound green beans, cut into 2-inch lengths

2 cups thinly bias-sliced carrots

1 cup cauliflower flowerets

1/2 medium red sweet pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tablespoon snipped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

1 tablespoon cold water

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel

4 teaspoons lemon juice

In large saucepan combine chicken broth, coriander, salt and black pepper. Bring to boil. Add green beans. Return to boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 10 minutes. Add carrots, cauliflower and sweet pepper. Return to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer covered for 4-5 minutes more or until vegetables are crisp-tender.

Using slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to a serving bowl, reserving broth mixture in saucepan. Cover vegetables; keep warm.

In small bowl stir together oregano, water, cornstarch, and lemon peel. Stir into broth mixture in saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until slightly thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Stir in lemon juice. Pour thickened broth mixture over vegetables. Toss lightly to coat. Yield: 6 ( 3/4 cup) servings.

Approximate values per serving: 49 calories, 9 grams total fat; 0 grams cholesterol, 184 milligrams sodium, 11 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 2 grams protein.

Source: "Fresh and Easy Meals" (Wiley, $19.95)As Seen On Tv - Official Secret Restaurant Recipes Click Here!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

BBQ Ribs Recipe (Chinese-style)

Americans take BBQ ribs very seriously. When it comes to BBQ ribs, attention to details spans from spice rub/seasonings, sauce, pork flavor, texture, smoke, appearance, scent, mouthfeel, cooking and grilling techniques to the overall balance of the ultimate product. Originated and perfected in the American South, BBQ ribs is at the very core of American food culture.

When I contemplated to have a BBQ ribs recipe on Rasa Malaysia, I was a little worried. The all-American BBQ ribs is not my everyday Malaysian or Asian recipe, and is surely not my forte. Eventually, I settled with a Chinese-style baby back ribs recipe, using none other the recipe for Chinese BBQ pork or char siu. Sticky sweet with a perfect balance of saltiness plus a touch of Chinese 5-spice powder, char siu sauce marries well with baby back ribs…

For the techniques, I used a combination of oven roasting plus BBQ grilling. I set my oven to 325 degrees F and roasted the ribs for about two hours. I then transferred them onto the outdoor grill for a charred finish over direct heat. My verdict: juicy, moist, flavorful, and finger-licking good. Summer is in full swing so surprise your guests with these exotic Chinese-style BBQ baby back ribs!

Now, please do tell me what is your favorite BBQ ribs recipe and how you make it. Thank you.
BBQ Ribs Recipe (Chinese-style)

Ingredients:

1 rack baby back pork ribs, about 2 lbs
6 cloves garlic (peeled and finely chopped)

Marinate/Char Siu Sauce:

1 1/2 tablespoons maltose
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese rose wine (玫瑰露酒)
3 dashes white pepper powder
1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
Salt to taste

Method:

Add all ingredients in the marinate/char siu sauce in a sauce pan, heat it up and stir-well until all blended. Transfer out and let cool.

Rub the ribs on both sides with the chopped garlic. Marinate the ribs with 2/3 of the marinate sauce for 8 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with heavy aluminum foil, lay the ribs on top, and tightly cover with foil. Roast for 2 hours.

Preheat the grill and remove the ribs from the oven and uncover. Transfer the ribs to the hot grill and grill over direct heat for 5-10 minutes or until the surface slightly charred to your liking. Brush both sides of the ribs with the remaining char siu sauce plus some oil while grilling. Serve hot.As Seen On Tv - Official Secret Restaurant Recipes Click Here!

Monday, July 13, 2009

cherry jam recipes


If you’ve already moved on to peaches, and plums are starting to turn your head, quick, before it’s too late, cash in on cherries. Pretty soon they’ll be gone and you’ll be sorry.

The quality and prices on cherries are still good, and it’s time to get jammin’. Cherries make beautiful, richly flavored jams, and Tri-Cherry Jam and Sweet Cherry/Berry Jam, both from the Farm Journal’s Freezing and Canning Cookbook, are all-time favorites.

If “more is better,” you might safely argue that Tri-Cherry Jam is easily the best of all. It includes dark cherries, light cherries and sour pie cherries. Redolent of the rich, deep flavors of sweet cherries and the distinctive underlying tang of pie cherries, it’s like the best-cherry-pie-ever in a jar. It can be hard to find fresh pie cherries (usually Morellos), so if you can’t get them at your local produce store, and you strike out at the local farmer’s market, canned pie cherries from the supermarket will do the job. Trader Joe’s canned Morellos are great because they have that classic Morello flavor, but if you use them, cut the sugar in the recipe back by one cup, because they’re already sweetened.

Sweet Cherry/Berry Jam has just about everything going for it. The tartness of the berries underscores the flavor of the cherries, and the cherries take the tart edge off the berries. The original recipe calls for raspberries, but you can swap out blackberries, blueberries or any combination of the three.

ATTENTION JAMMERS: Neither recipe calls for additional pectin, but I always use it: stir one box of powdered pectin into the prepared cherries BEFORE you add the sugar, and let it set for 15 minutes. Stir well, and proceed with the recipe as written. If you like a stiff jam, use two boxes of pectin.

Tri-Cherry Jam

* 2 cups light sweet cherries
* 2 cups dark sweet cherries
* 2 cups tart red cherries
* 6 cups sugar
* juice of one lemon
* powdered fruit pectin, as desired

Pit and measure cherries (6.5 ounces=1 cup). Grind coarsely. Place in large saucepan; simmer about 5 minuets to soften skins. Add sugar and lemon juice.
Cook until thickened, 15-20 minutes (218F). Do not cook more than 20 minutes.
Ladle into sterilized jars to within 1/8 inch of jar top. Wipe jar rim; adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Remove from canner and complete seals unless closures are self-sealing type. Makes 8-9 half-pints.

Sweet Cherry/Berry Jam

* 4 cups pitted sweet red cherries (1 pound 10 ounces)
* 4 cups red or black raspberries (l pound)
* 8 cups sugar
* powdered fruit pectin, as desired

Cut cherries in halves or grind very coarsely. Place in large saucepan; cover, heat slowly. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes or until skins are slightly softened. Add raspberries and sugar; stir gently. Cook briskly to 218F, about 15 minutes. Do not cook more than 20 minutes.

Ladle into hot, sterilized jars, to within 1/8” of jar top. Wipe jar rim; adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath 5 minutes. Remove from canner and complete seals unless closures are self-sealing type. Makes 11 to 12 half-pints.

These recipes have been reprinted with the generous permission of the Farm Journal from Farm Journal’s Freezing and Canning Cookbook, edited by Nell B. Nichols and Kathryn Larson.As Seen On Tv - Official Secret Restaurant Recipes Click Here!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Gourmet Oatmeal


One of the things we do at our house to save money on groceries and ensure we are eating a nutritional breakfast is eat oatmeal. Compared to the cost of cereal, it is cheap; plus, the nutritional value of oatmeal wins hands down. You get less calories, more fiber, a little iron, and if you add in extras you’ll get the nutrition from those as well.

Let me warn you though: about a week into eating plain oatmeal you will be really tired of it. To spice it up, Mr. Money (remember, he is a chef) and I have oatmeal cookoffs where we both make “gourmet oatmeal” and try to out do each other. One morning he’ll make it, and then the next morning I’ll make it. It works out so well for us!

Here are some of the varieties we like:

Banana bread oatmeal: Prepare oatmeal as directions indicate. While your oatmeal is cooking on the stove, mash one ripe banana (you can even freeze overripe ones for this!) and add to your cooking oats. Chop up some nuts (provided you aren’t allergic to them) and add those in too, stirring the mixture. We like to add walnuts or almonds. Add in a pinch of cinnamon (good for regulating blood sugar levels) if you like. Top with a pat of real butter and a few sprinkles of brown sugar. Yum!

Peach cobbler oatmeal: Prepare oats as indicated. Take one ripe peach and puree in food processor. Chop up your nuts of choice and add in to oats with peach. Stir. Add in brown sugar, a little butter, and cinnamon, stirring to incorporate. Top with sprinkles of brown sugar.

Apple pie oatmeal: Prepare oats as indicated. Take one apple and dice into small pieces. Chop up your nuts of choice and add in to oats with apple. Stir. Add in brown sugar, a little butter, and cinnamon, stirring to incorporate. Top with sprinkles of brown sugar. The apple pieces may take a little longer to soften, and I like to make sure they are pretty soft before I eat them.

Basically you can make “gourmet oatmeal” with any fruit. Our next fruit to try is going to be blueberries. I really like making this because it takes such a simple breakfast to a whole new level. It’s still inexpensive and much more nutritious than sugary cereals.
As Seen On Tv - Official Secret Restaurant Recipes Click Here!