About Feast Everyday

Based in Corning, New York and the beautiful Finger Lakes. Started in 2009 by Barbara Blumer with her family and friends. Her husband, Tom, now regularly contributes, too.

Over 900 Recipes and still growing

From muffins to curries with step-by-step photos and how-to tips: see recipe index https://feasteveryday.blogspot.com/p/recipes-index.html

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Saturday, November 22, 2014

Carrot and Leek Soup

Carrot and Leek Soup with Parmesan and Toasted Pine Nuts

A delicious lunch for a cold day --- and it is pretty too.  

Carrot and Leek Soup

Serves 4

2 shallots, chopped
2 leeks, white and pale green parts, rinsed well and sliced thinly
1/4 cup of stalks of mushrooms, about 5-6
Fresh thyme, about 3 stems
Olive oil
4-5 carrots, sliced into small chunks
Chicken stock, approx. 2 1/3 cups
2/3 cup light cream
Parmesan cheese, grated
Toasted pine nuts

Sauté shallots and leeks in olive until they are golden, about 10-12 minutes on medium low heat. Add a pinch of salt. Add the mushrooms and sauté a couple of more minutes. Add a pinch of salt. Add the chopped carrots and raise the heat and coat them well with the onion leek mixture. Drop in the thyme stems. Add the chicken stock. If there isn't enough liquid to cover the carrots, add some water. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for about 1/2 hour or until the carrots are soft. Remove from the heat. Remove the thyme stems.  Use a hand blender and thoroughly purée the mixture until completely smooth. Add the cream. Return to the heat on low and gently warm the soup until hot all the way through. Ladle into bowls.  Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan. Add a few toasted pine nuts.

B

Thursday, November 20, 2014

My Mom's Biscotti Recipe by Jeanne

I finally found a Saturday when the kids and I could go to my mother’s house for a lesson on how she makes biscotti.  

Hers are a very simple anise flavored biscotti.  Simple, but delicious, and even my finicky eater Jack likes them!  

They do take a bit of time, but the recipe makes a lot and they can be frozen and taken out a few at a time.  

Just perfect with a latte on weekend mornings!

   --Jeanne

Mom’s Biscotti Recipe

2 sticks butter softened
2 scant cups white sugar
7 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3-4 tsp. anise extract
4-41/2 cups unsifted flour
2 well rounded tablespoons baking powder

Beat butter and sugar together in large mixing bowl until creamy. In a separate bowl beat eggs until thick and creamy and ~ doubled in volume and have turned almost lemon in color. Add egg mixture into creamed butter and sugar mixture. Stir in vanilla and anise extract.
Mix flour and baking powder together and add a 1/3 at a time to creamed butter/sugar/egg mixture until stiff and well mixed.
On a lightly greased cookie sheet drop tablespoons of dough to form a strip and shape into a rectangle about 2 inches wide and 3/4 to 1 inch high. Smooth out to a log. Bake at 350 for about 20-22 minutes until golden brown on top. Remove and let cool. Repeat until dough is gone.

When cooked log is cool to the touch. Slice into biscotti on a diagonal about 3/4 to 1" wide.
Return sliced biscotti to cookie sheet and toast until they just start to turn golden brown about 10-15 minutes. Turnover and repeat to toast on other side.
Mom says don't toast too much. They turn golden brown on the bottom side after you've turned them!

                    ---Jeanne

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Bruschetta with Mozzarella, Tomatoes and Basil


Sometimes the simpler the better.  Like these bruschetta that I made for us for lunch this past week.

Only a few ingredients:  toasted bread, mozzarella, tomatoes, salt, basil and olive oil.  

For an even more traditional bruschetta, the toasted bread would be rubbed with garlic, too.  

Bruschetta is an antipasto from Italy and various toppings are used -- like beans, vegetables, cured meats and cheeses, but the most popular version outside of Italy is the mozzarella, tomato, basil version, per Wikipedia.  

In Italy they say BRROO-SKATE-TA.  

B



Monday, November 10, 2014

Blueberry Loaf from Colleen


We had a lot of blueberries around the house and I didn't want them to go bad.  So I found this recipe and changed it a bit.  I was making it for kids, but if I was doing it again, I might add lemon zest to the batter to give it a little zing.  But it was very easy and the kids at school hoovered it right up.

    ---Colleen

Blueberry Loaf

 Yield: 1 loaf

             1/2 cup butter, softened
             1 cup sugar  *
             2 eggs
             1/2 cup milk
             1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
             1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
             pinch of salt
             1 teaspoon baking powder
             1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries**

    TOPPING:
             4 teaspoons sugar
             2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

*Use 1/2 cup brown and 1/2 cup white sugar to add depth of flavor
**If using frozen blueberries, use without thawing to avoid discoloring the batter.

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, milk and vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; add to creamed mixture just until combined. Gently fold in blueberries.

2. Spray Pam inside loaf pan and sprinkle cinnamon sugar inside pan. Pour into a greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over top. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. 

One more thing.  Toss blueberries in a little flour before adding to batter to help keep them from sinking. They still do, but you get a few fighters that stay on top. 


---Colleen


Friday, November 7, 2014

Dahlia Bakery Eclairs by Chris


Vanilla Bean Eclairs by Chris

Chris is the master baker among our friends, and always delights us with one of her cakes or confections.

She brought these beauties to our Tom Douglas-inspired dinner.  The recipe for them is The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook, pages 315 -322.

Chris says their pastry cream is the best because it uses a real vanilla bean for flavor.  And she recommends that you buy them in the organic section of Wegman's where they are cheaper.

The cookbook would be a great addition for a baker.  It came out in 2012.

Here's link to short 4 minute video where you can see the bakery and Tom Douglas talks about coconut pie, English muffins, eclairs, Nora Ephron's peanut butter cookie, the cookbook and two tools he recommends to make you a better baker.  Tom Douglas Interview outside Dahlia Bakery


B

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Lobster and Shitake Potstickers by Jeanne

Lobster, Shrimp and Shitake Potstickers by Jeanne

I was so impressed when Jeanne brought these delicious pot stickers to stir-fry for us at our Tom Douglas inspired dinner party.   I would have been intimidated by the complexity of this recipe.

But then I remembered that Jeanne is Italian so filling and boiling pasta is natural to her.  Plus, she has also spent many years living in Japan and Taiwan, so Asian flavors are also part of her repertoire.

Thanks, Jeanne!  They were sooooo delicious!  The dipping sauce is great, too.

Lobster, Shrimp and Shitake Potstickers
(a Tom Douglas recipe)

Makes 24 potstickers

1/2 pound shelled raw lobster, coarsely chopped
1/2 pound peeled raw shrimp
1 t. peanut oil
1.5 cups thinly sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms
1/3 cup diced carrots
2 T. finely chopped green onions or scallions, white and green parts
2 T. finely chopped cilantro
1 T. sesame seeds, toasted
2 t. peeled and grated fresh ginger
2 T. Chinese chili paste with garlic
1 t. minced garlic
1 t. kosher salt (or 1/2 t. regular salt)
2 dozen wonton or gyoza wrappers
cornstarch for dusting
2 T. peanut oil for panfrying, or more as needed

Sake Dipping Sauce

Makes 1 cup

1/2 cup sake
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 T. sugar
1 small serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 t. minced garlic
1 T. finely chopped green onions or scallions, white part only

To make filling:
Puree the lobster and shrimp until coarsely pureed.
Cook the shiitake mushrooms and carrots in peanut oil over medium heat until soft, stirring, about 10 minutes, then allow to cool.
In a large bowl combine, pureed lobster and shrimp, sauteed shiitakes and carrots, green onions, cilantro, sesame seeds, ginger, chili paste, garlic and salt.  Mix thoroughly.
To make potstickers:
Lay a wrapper on your work surface.  Wet the edges with your fingers.  Place 1 slightly rounded tablespoon of filling in the center.  Then bring opposing corners together to form a triangle.  Press the edges together to seal.  Lightly wet the surface of the two straight edges, making a series of small creases.
Place the potstickers on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper, lightly dusted with cornstarch.
Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.  Add the potstickers in batches (do not overcrowd them) and cook until they float to the surface, about 5 minutes.  Using a slotted spoon or small sieve gently scoop them out of the water.  Put them on baking sheet as they are cooked.  Oil if needed to prevent sticking.
Before you fry them, be sure to remove any excess water.
 
Heat the oil in a nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat.  Panfry the potstickers in batches, using more oil if needed, until lightly golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes.
Keep warm on baking sheet in a 200 degree oven until all are finished.

You can find the complete recipe on Google Books if you click here.

The Tom Douglas cookbook we used for the party is called Tom Douglas's Seattle Kitchen.

B

Monday, November 3, 2014

Etta's Cornbread Pudding (Tom Douglas)


UPDATED 2023

Yum, yum, double yum.  Think of a savory quiche with a cornbread base, caramelized onions and Jack cheese.  This has become one of our favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas side dishes.  

This year I have modified it.  Changed the cheese to Gruyere and added more carmelized onions.  The result is nuttier, more complex pudding.  

---Barbara

Etta's Cornbread Pudding
(Tom Douglas's Seattle Kitchen cookbook)

Makes 6 Servings

1 T. butter plus a little more for buttering the pan
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup grated Gruyere
2 t. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 t. chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 t. chopped fresh thyme
2 1/4 cups heavy cream
4 large eggs
1 t. kosher salt (or 1/2 t. regular salt)
1/2 t. freshly ground black pepper
2 2/3 cups 1-inch cubed cornbread (see recipe below)

First, make the cornbread. let it cool, cut into 1 inch cubes. Keep 2 2/3 cups for this recipe and freeze the rest for future use.

To make the pudding, preheat the oven to 350 degrees (or lower the oven if you have just made the cornbread).
Butter your baking pan, then put the cubed cornbread on the bottom.  Set aside.
Heat 1 T. of butter in a saute pan over low heat and cook the onions very slowly until soft and golden brown, at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from the heat.  Now I let the onions caramelize for almost an hour on the lowest setting on the stove, until they are deep golden brown.  

Prepare the herbs --- measuring and chopping them --- measure out the milk and collect the needed eggs.
Scatter the onions, cheese, and herbs over the cornbread cubes.

Whisk together the heavy cream and eggs with the salt and pepper in a mixing bowl and pour over the cornbread cubes.  Let sit for 10 minutes so the cornbread absorbs some of the custard.
Bake until set and golden, about 40 minutes.  Serve hot.

Can be made and baked a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.  Before serving, reheat the cornbread pudding, covered with aluminum foil, in a preheated 375 degrees oven until warmed through, 35 to 40 minutes.

Cornbread
(from Tom Douglas's Seattle Kitchen cookbook)

Makes an 8-in square pan of cornbread

1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup medium-ground yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup grated pepper Jack cheese or Gruyere
red pepper flakes (optional, my addition)
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
3 T. honey
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
plus a little more for buttering the pan

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Butter an 8-inch square baking dish.
Combine flour, cornmeal, cheese, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

Add the red pepper flakes, or skip this step if you don't want any heat.

Melt the butter and let it cool.  (I used the microwave for this. About 20 seconds.)
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and honey.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.
Add the melted butter and stir into the mixture.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.  (Mine was done at 15.)

When cool enough to handle, invert onto a cutting board and cut into 1 inch cubes.  There will be about 8 cups.  Reserve 2 2/3 cups for the pudding and freeze the rest for future use.

B

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Not Your Grandmother's Ham Loaf by Barbara


Ham Loaf

I was on mission to find the origin of ham loaf, and the best way to make it, back in the late 2000's.  It isn't a well-known dish, much to the surprise of my relatives.  

The reason this is not your grandmother's ham loaf is 1) the boutique butcher ingredients when hers would have used inexpensive cuts, and/or leftovers.  And 2)  the fact that it is made in a loaf pan when hers would have been shaped into a free form loaf in a Pyrex dish.

Grandma Hall's recipe was given to her by a church lady.  Ham loaf is often served at pot luck dinners at the churches in the Beaver county, north of Pittsburgh, where my relatives lived.    

After years of researching, I updated my grandmother's ham loaf recipe so that it works well for us.



Not Your Grandmother's Ham Loaf
(based on Grandma Hall's recipe given to her by a church lady)

1 pound ground pork
1 pound smoked ham, ground or chopped fine  (The Piggery's)
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs, unseasoned
2/3 cup milk to moisten

Glaze/Sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 T. mustard

Start with smoked deli ham, the best you can afford.  Make sure it is smoked.
Grind the smoked ham or chop it up finely in a food processor as I did.
In a large bowl, place the pork and the chopped ham.
Scatter the bread crumbs over the meat.Lightly beat the eggs and pour on the meat.
Add the milk.

Then, gently mix it all together with a spatula or use your hands.
To bake it you can either place it in a loaf pan or form a log and place it in the center of a large ovensafe baking dish.
In a preheated 350 degrees oven, bake the loaf for 60 minutes, then check it.
Meanwhile, make your glaze, or sauce.
When you are at about 160 degrees, pour the glaze on top and keep baking it for another 10-20 minutes until you reach 170 degrees and the top is richly browned.
Our ham loaf took 1 1/2 hours in total.
Make sure you let it sit for 15 minutes to half hour so that it won't fall apart on you.  It is worth waiting.

My mother would be proud.  She participated in The Ham Loaf Saga and got a kick out my interest in ham loaf.



B

Parmesan Chicken

Pairs well with Peas

On TV right now there is a commercial featuring mayonnaise as a way to keep chicken moist.

I know it works for protecting a rack of lamb when broiling -- see my post Lamb with Mayo  --- but I hadn't tried it on chicken.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised.  What a yummy easy chicken dinner.

Parmesan Chicken

1 chicken breast per person
salt and pepper

For each chicken breast,
1 T. mustard (Creole mustard works really well)
1 T. mayonnaise (Hellman's Light)
1 - 1.5 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Pat dry the chicken breast, and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Place them in a roasting dish, leaving plenty of space around all of the sides to maximize browning.

Combine the mustard and mayo and spread over the tops of the chicken, thickly.

Sprinkle a generous amount of Parmesan cheese over the tops.

Bake until 165 degrees internally about 35 minutes.

The tops will become a golden brown.  And the insides will be moist and juicy.

B