- Proteins: Beef, chicken, pork, chorizo,
- Cheeses: Cotijo, Jack, Cheddar, Oaxaca, Swiss, Gruyere, Parmesan
- Vegetables: Guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeno, olives, beans, salsa, onion, etc
- Put chips on a sheet pan
- Top with cheese and proteins
- Bake 4-8 minutes
Author: Robert Andrews
Lasagna Soup
- Sautee mushrooms in garlic, butter and EVOO
- In soup pan add mirpoix vegetables
- Add protein – veal, pork, chicken or all of them!
- Add tomato sauce and simmer 1/2 hour
- Add chicken stock
- Add mushrooms into stock pot
- Cook an additional 15 minuts
- Add cheese, pasta, sour cream, etc
Spinach Crepe
From Your Life Arizona
Intended for Grandpa’s use only
It’s never too late to learn something!
- 1/2 C Spinach
- 1/4 C Ricotta Cheese
- 1/4 C Rotisserie Chicken = sjredded
- 1/4 C Parmesan
- 1/4 C Mozzarella
- Nutmeg
- 2 Eggs
Wrap in a crepe and then bake at 350º for about 8 minutes
Kind of a Bechemel on top
- 1/4 C Heavy Cream
- 1/2 C Milk
- 1 TBL Corn starch
- Nutmeg
- Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened
Top with grated Parmesan and a bit of pesto
Pumpkin Puree from Scratch
- PREPARE PUMPKIN
- Slice pumpkin in half and remove seeds
- Further cut into segments and put into oven at 375º for 20 minutes – cut side down – skin side up.
- Rub canola onto the skin and bake 1 hour
- Let cool, then remove purée
Here is a Pumpkin Custard recipe
- 5 0z Pumpkin Pureé – PUREE – not Pumpkin Pie Mix
- 2 tsp Grandpa’s CinnaSugar®
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 2 TBL milk
- 1 TBL corn starch
- 2 TBL corn syrup
- 1/4 C sugar
- 1/4 C flour – or until a thick pourable custard
- Put crust into a baking dish, then fill with custard.
- Bake @ 350º till browning starts – approx 40 minutes
- Turn off oven, but leave pie in to cook with residual heat
- To avoid cracks, cook to internal temp of 170º
Burger with Cheese Sauce
- Use 80/20 ground beef – ideally grind your own sirloin or chuck
- Form patties, handling as little as possible
- Put a dimple in the center to help keep them flat
- Put 1/2 tsp butter in the dimple
- Grill thinly sliced red onion on an oiled griddle
- Grill burger over high heat
- Set patty aside, and brown your bun on the hot griddle
Cheese Sauce
- 1/4 C half and half
- 1 TBL sour cream
- 1 TBL grainy mustard
- 1 C Monterey Jack
- 1/4 C grated Parmesan
- 1 splash Tabasco and Worchestershire
Assembly
- Shred iceburg lettuce and put on the bottom layer
- Next add the patty, then the sauteed onion
- Drizzle on some cheese
- Optionally, add sliced Jalapeño
Nacho Potato Skins
Before we begin…
- When you grate potatoes for hashed browns, or cut them up for potato salad, don’t lose those wonderful potato skins.
- Cut off nice thick pieces for potato skins.
- Store them for up to a week in salt water
- These won’t be the “boats” you typically expect
- Cook up three strips of bacon (keep the grease)
- Chop into pieces
- Chop up chives
- Dry your potato skins with a paper towel
- Brush your potato skins with the bacon fat
- Bake at 425º for 20 minutes
- Put skins onto your heat-proof serving platter
- After the bacon has cooled a bit, mix your chopped bacon with
- black olives
- chopped chives
- shredded cheddar cheese
- jalapeños
- nacho cheese
- Put into hot oven for only 5 minutes
- Top with sour cream and cilantro
Egg Noodle Chicken
Adapted from Food Networks “The Kitchen”
- 1-2 pounds chicken breast pieces into heavy bottom roast pan
- Add 1 can golden mushroom soup
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 pkg Italian dressing
- Toss to mix
- Cover and cook on lowest setting on your stovetop (alt use Slow Cooker) for 4 hours
-
- –
-
- Cook 1 C egg noodles and set aside
-
- –
-
- 1 pound mixed mushrooms in pan with 2 TBL butter and 2 TBL EVOO
- 1 clove garlic
- Deglaze with 1 C chicken broth
- Put mushrooms in with chicken 1 hour before serving
- Add cooked egg noodles when ready to serve and mix in
- Top with Grated Parm and Parsley
Slow Roast
Adapted from Food Networks “The Kitchen”
- 2 pound roast – sirloin tip or chuck
- Cut into 2 inch chunks
- Put into heavy bottom pan and put on stove on lowest heat (alt use Slow Cooker)
- 1/2 bottle Ranch Dressing (about 4 ounces)
- 1 pkg gravy mix
- 1/2 C chicken broth
- 1/2 stick butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cover and cook 2-3 hours – agitating every hour
- Let meat rest 5 minutes before cutting or shredding
- Cut in thin sheets and top with fresh Pepperoncini peppers and grated Parmesan cheese
- Serve with a baked potato
Pan Fajitas
Adapted from ‘The Kitchen’ from Food Network
- Marinade
- 1 C Sour Cream
- 1 TBL lime juice
- Cumin
- Salt and Pepper
- Pour 1/2 marinade onto thin strips of raw skirt steak in a bowl
- Toss and refrigerate 2-6 hours
- Preheat hot sheet tray @ 425º
- Pour oil onto hot pan
- Add meat
- Corn
- Diced red bell pepper
- Return to hot oven to cook about 15 minutes
- Heat tortillas on hot skillet or gas burner – char is OK
- Add to the tortilla
- A dollop of your marinade
- Meat mixture
- Red Onion – sliced thinly
- Jalapeno – sliced thinly
- Cilantro – rough chopped
- Sauce on top – more marinade
- Top with Queso cotijo or queso fresca
Quick Stir-Fry
- 1 Chicken Breast – cooked and chopped thin
- 1 TBL soy sauce
- sugar and pepper – to taste
- 1/2 egg white
- 1 TBL corn starch
- 1 TBL peanut oil or sesame oil
- Chop, slice or shred veggies: bell pepper, mushrooms, carrots, pineapple, garlic, onion, etc.
- 1/4 C Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1/4 C lime juice
-
- Poke chicken breast full of holes with knife tip
- Cut into strips and put into glass bowl
- Add just under 1/4 C water
- Add soy sauce, egg white, sugar and pepper
- Massage together
- Add corn starch and oil
- Continue to massage, then let sit 5 minutes
- Put into skillet with a bit of Sesame oil and brown
- Add veggies and heat through, but don’t overcook the vegetables
- Add Sweet Chili Sauce and lime juice
- Add 1/2 C lime juice
- Plate on top of cooked rice
- Top with toasted sesame seeds
Apple Crisp
Can also use peaches, pears, etc
-
- Slice apples thinly
- Use: Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala
- Not: Red and Delicious, they tend to become grainy
- A good tip is to use a melon baller – slices work just fine too
- Soak apple pieces in lemon juice water – Alt: Sprite – If you are not preparing right away
- Strain, but don’t pat dry
- Sprinkle with 1/4 C CinnaSugar PLUS 1 TBL sugar
- Slice apples thinly
TOPPING
-
- 1/2 C Flour
- 1/2 C Browm Sugar
- 1/2 C Quick cook oats (Instant)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 C COLD butter
- Cut together
-
- Dump topping onto apples
- Bake at 350 for 25 minutes
- Serve with ice cream or whipped cream
Instant Pot Cheesecake
Here are the Step-by-Step instructions on how to make an Instant Pot New York Cheesecake. From Pressure Cooker Recipes
Whole Process Consists of 4 Parts:
A. Make Crust
B. Make Cheesecake Batter
C. Pressure Cook Cheesecake
D. Cool, Chill, Serve Cheesecake
*Note: there are various optional steps in our recipe to satisfy your inner perfectionist. Feel free to skip those steps to save time. 🙂
Ingredients for Instant Pot New York Cheesecake #17
Crust
- 10 (120g) graham crackers, finely ground
- 3 – 4 tablespoons (42g – 56g) unsalted butter, melted
- A pinch sea salt
- 2 teaspoons – 1 1/2 tablespoon (8.3g – 19g) brown sugar (depending on your desired sweetness)
- Optional: ¼ cup (32g) all-purpose flour (For blind-bake crust)
Cheesecake Batter (7 inches x 3 inches)
- 16 ounces (454g) Philadelphia cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2/3 cup (133g) white sugar
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons (10ml) vanilla extract
- 2 pinches sea salt
PREPARATION
16 ounces (454g) Philadelphia cream cheese
2 large eggs
½ cup (120g) sour cream
3 – 4 tablespoons (42g – 56g) unsalted butter
Place cream cheese, eggs, sour cream on counter-top to reach room temperature.
Then, melt the unsalted butter.
*Critical Tip: this is critical for your cheesecake’s success, so please please make sure all the above ingredients are at room temperature before you start. If not, you may end up with lumpy fluff top cheesecake. So don’t skip this step! 🙂
PART A
MAKE THE CRUST
Ground Graham Crackers
10 (120g) graham crackers
Food processor or Ziploc bag + Rolling pin
Finely ground the graham crackers in a food processor.
Or place the graham crackers in a Ziploc bag and roll them with a rolling pin.
Mix Crust Mixture
Finely ground graham crackers
A pinch sea salt
2 tsp – 1½ tbsp (8.3g – 19g) brown sugar
Small mixing bowl
Fork
In a small mixing bowl, mix finely ground graham crackers, sea salt, brown sugar together with a fork.
*Pro Tip: Why add sea salt? A small pinch of sea salt heightens the flavor of other ingredients. A secret ingredient in many restaurant-quality desserts. shh… 😉
Optional – Add Flour
¼ cup (32g) all-purpose flour
If you want a firmer & crisper crust, we recommend blind-baking the crust. We’ll discuss this in Step 7 below.
If you’re blind-baking your crust, mix in the flour at this step.
Mix in Melted Unsalted Butter
3 – 4 tbsp (42g – 56g) unsalted butter, melted
Mix in unsalted butter until the mixture sticks together.
Line Pan
7 inches x 3 inches Fat Daddio’s Cheesecake Pan (with removable bottom)
Line the side & bottom of the cheesecake pan with parchment paper for smoother sides & easier release.
*Note: We did not use any butter to line the parchment paper.
Form Crust
Graham cracker crumbs mixture, from above
Measuring cup/Spoon
Pour in the graham cracker crumbs mixture.
Gently press down the crumbs with a flat measuring cup, ramekin or Mason jar to form an even layer. You can also use a spoon for the edges.
In our blind taste test, the Method #2: Blind-Baked Crust was noticeably firmer and crisper compared to Method #1’s freezer version.
Method #1 – Freeze the Crust: Place the cheesecake pan in the freezer while you make the cheesecake batter.
Method #2 – Blind-Bake the Crust (for firmer & crisper crust): Place the crust in a 325°F oven for 15 minutes.
PART B
MAKE CHEESECAKE BATTER
*Critical Tip: We highly recommend using a Hand Mixer instead of a Stand Mixer. Stand Mixer is usually more powerful, thus you can easily overmix and introduce too much air into the cheesecake batter. This may result in a puffy souffle-style cheesecake.
*Note: Click on the Tabs to choose Method #1: Dense or Method #2: Creamy.
Breakfast Galette
- Spray sheet of aluminum foil with Pam
- Cut thin medallions of potato and lay on foil in a circle, overlapping each medallion
- Bake 10 minutes, then flip and bake another 10 minutes
- Add a fried SUNNY SIDE UP egg on top – Don’t cook egg both sides . . . YET
- Sprinkle with shredded cheese and put under broiler for 2-3 minutes
- Add garnish of your choice, then serve
Apricot Gratin
-
- One can peaches – three fresh is even better – chop small
- You can alternately use plums or nectarines
- 1/2 C blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or blackberries
- Add to heavily buttered casserole
- Prepare the gratin
- 1 C milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 TBL CinnaSugar
- 1 TBL white sugar
- 1 TBL corn starch
- 2 TBL light brown sugar
- 1 C AP flour
- 4 TBL melted butter
- vanilla
- salt
- Bake 425º for 20 minutes
- Add granola and almonds on top to taste
- Put back in oven for 5 minutes
- Serve with a side of yogurt or ice cream
- One can peaches – three fresh is even better – chop small
Tomato Jam
Ingredients
▢ 1 pounds very good ripe tomatoes, cored and coarsely chopped
▢ 1/2 cup light brown sugar
▢ 1 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
▢ 1/2 tablespoon fresh grated or minced ginger
▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢ scant teaspoon ground cloves
▢ scant teaspoon cayenne
Instructions
- Add tomatoes and vinegar to a heavy bottom saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil stirring frequently to prevent the bottom from burning.
- Add all other ingredients
- Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened to the consistency of jam.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Eggwich
This recipe was adapted from the Easy Eggwich by Ontel. I bought this on Amazon and it works just as promised. I’ve moved into a smaller apartment, where space is at a premium, so this recipe uses a small round ramekin instead of the Original Eggwich. Still… if you have room, buy the Easy Eggwich.
Basic Recipe
- Wipe a round ramekin with Crisco, butter, or spray with Pam
- Beat an egg in a separate container and place into the ramekin
- Add toppings (two max) bacon, sausage, cheese, olive, ham, etc
- Put into microwave and cover with a tea plate
- Microwave 60 seconds on high
- The glass will heat up. BE CAREFUL. The Easy Eggwich container does not heat up.
- Turn out on a prepared English muffin or other container – add toppings as desired
Options from Easy Eggwich
- CONTAINER: English muffin, biscuit, bagel, croissant, waffle, pancake, Texas toast, corn muffin, ciaatta bun, flatbread, wraps, potato buns, street taco tortillas, pitas, and more
- MEAT FILLING: Bacon, sausage, sausage links, ham, pork roll, Canadian bacon, maple bacon, turkey sausage, chorizo, corned beef, prosciutto, soppressata, and more.
- SPECIALTY TOPPINGS to use BEFORE cooking: (mix in with egg) Onions, salsa,diced tomatoes, mushrooms, and more.
- SPECIALTY TOPPINGS to use AFTER cooking: Avocado, salsa, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, tater tots, hashed browns, and more.
- CHEESE TOPPING: Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone, pepper jack, Muenster, goat cheese, feta, cream cheese, Manchego, Cotija, and others (Grandpa’s suggestion: put cheese on AFTER cooking)
Eggwich Variations
PLEASE NOTE: I’ve intentionally omitted amounts to use. Please use your judgement to use whatever amounts best suits your personal taste. DO NOT, however, use too much tomato or cheese, as it will prevent the egg from congealing.
Sausage and Waffle Eggwich
- Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
- Cook sausage patty and place on one waffle
- Top with the egg.
- Add maple syrup
- Option: Add second waffle to top of the stack
- Option: Use a pancake rather than a waffle
Croissant Eggwich with Apple Bacon & Cheddar
- Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
- Cook bacon and place on toasted croissant
- Layer thin apple slices on top of the bacon (tart apples are best)
- Sprinkle with Grandpa’s CinnaSugar
- Add cooked egg, and top with shredded cheddar
- Finish with other half of croissant
HINT: You can place apple slices on a plate, and sprinkle with CinnaSugar, then microwave for 40 seconds to add a caramel flavor to your Eggwich.
Eggwich with Bacon, Avocado and Cheddar
- Saute onion, diced tomato and bacon
- Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
WITH THE EXCEPTION of placing onion mixture on top of beaten egg - Cook in microwave according to directionsw. Since onion, tomato and bacon are already cooked and warm, you do not need to extend the time
- Prepare two slices of wheat toast
- Spread avocado on the toast
- Top one slice with a slice of cheese
- Top with the egg, and then the second slice of toast
Pizza Eggwich
- Saute onion, diced tomato
- Add garlic powder, basil and oregano just before finished
- Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
WITH THE EXCEPTION of placing onion mixture on top of beaten egg - Cook in microwave according to directions. Since onion mixture is already cooked and warm, you do not need to extend the time
- Place cooked egg on a piece of warmed flatbread or pita
- Top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, grated
- Optionally top with Grandpa’s Thunder Powder
TIP: You can use alternate pizza ingredients such as pepperoni, bell pepper, black olives, jalapeños, sausage, etc.
Mediterranean Eggwhites
- Separate yolk from two eggs and set aside for later use
- Beat the egg white with a little bit of onion or garlic powder
- Saute spinach and diced tomato just until spinach has fully wilted
- Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above – using your egg whites
WITH THE EXCEPTION of placing spinach mixture on top of beaten egg - Cook in microwave according to directions. Since spinach mixture is already cooked and warm, you do not need to extend the time
- Add cooked egg to the top of a warmed piece of pita bread
- Top with a thin slice of white cheddar
- Top with remaining pita half
Chorizo Jack Eggwhich
- Form chorizo into a thin patty and cook in skillet
- Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
- Place chorizo and egg on a baguette
- Top with pepper jack cheese
- Optional: Add salsa
- Optionally top with Grandpa’s Thunder Powder
- Top with remaining baguette
Eggwich Burrito
- Saute onion and green bell pepper
- Add cumin just before finished
- Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
WITH THE EXCEPTION of placing onion mixture on top of beaten egg - Cook in microwave according to directions. Since onion mixture is already cooked and warm, you do not need to extend the time
- Meanwhile put a tortilla on a plate
- After egg has finished, put tortilla into microwave for 15 seconds
- Halve the eggwich and put onto the tortilla
- Top with shredded Mexican blend cheese
- OPTIONAL: Add sour cream or salsa or guacamole
- Optionally top with Grandpa’s Thunder Powder
- Roll burrito (fold one end to contain ingredients, then roll the tortilla)
Eggs Benedict Eggwich
- Toast your English Muffin, and cook (or warm) your Canadian bacon
- Prepare Eggwich from basic recipe as shown above
WITH THE EXCEPTION of DO NOT BEAT THE EGG- Put the egg into the cooker with the yolk intact
- Add 1/2 tsp of water over top of the egg – DO NOT BEAT IN
- This will steam the egg
- Cook in microwave according to directions.
- Put your Canadian bacon on your English muffin
- Top with poached egg
- Top with Grandpa’s Hollandaise
- Usually, I use Knorr’s Hollandaise Powder. It’s ALMOST as good as from scratch, and a hell of a lot easier.
- Garnish with parsley
Class: The Need to Know
This is for a LifeLong Learners Class at Beatitudes Campus. It is six one-hour classes.
CLASS ONE
- Lock, Stock and Barrell: We take a basic unflavored stock, and steep one of the stocks with bay leaves, one with onion and garlic, and one plain – – then taste the difference.
- Old Spice: We taste old and fresh spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ground red pepper, salt, pepper
- Enhancements: We take some French Onion Soup from the Bistro, and add slow cooked onion, a slice of French bread, and top it with some shredded gruyere.
CLASS TWO
- Fluffy: We make one batch of crepe batter, then split the batter in two and add baking powder and baking soda to one of the mixes to see what the effect of leaveners does to the product.
- Chemistry 101: We talk about the millard reaction, why you acidulate water when poaching eggs, how corn starch works, beating egg whites, and similar obscure reactions.
CLASS THREE
- Pudding: We compare box pudding mix, to scratch pudding.
- Custard: We compare Birds Custard Powder to custard from scratch
- Lemon curd: It’s not all that hard
- Poached: We take a look at two, two and a half, three, and three and a half poached eggs
- Hard Boiled: We will talk about the best ways to hard boil eggs
- The Devil make me do it: We’ll take the hard boiled eggs and create deviled eggs.
CLASS FOUR
- Hashed Browns: Low heat vs high heat, raw vs semi-cooked
- Hot or Not: We’ll talk about when you use high heat or low heat in cooking steaks, French Toast, eggs, etc
- The Shape of Things: Why are certain cut into squares, triangles or circles. Using height on your food presentation,
CLASS FIVE
- The Five Mother Sauces: Bechemel, Hollandaise, Roux, Velouté, Bernaise, Tomato, Pan Sauce, and other child sauces of the Mother Sauces.
- Starches as thickeners: Not to add, and how not to add.
CLASS SIX
- Smoothies: Tips and Tricks
- Egg Nog: A simple holiday drink any time of the year
- Sangria: Several regional types
- Peanut Brittle: Microwave process
English Muffin Breakfast Roll
- 4 cups AP flour.
- 1 tablespoon. Sugar
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast.
- 1 teaspoon salt
Add to one cup warm water
- 2/3 cup whole milk Greek yogurt
- Knead for 12 to 15 minutes.
- Form into ball, and let ball rise 12 hours
- Dust counter with cornmeal
- Roll into a white rectangle
- Spread with strawberry and blueberry jam.
- Blueberries is another good option.
- Start at the bottom and make it a tight roll
- Cut into 12 uniform rules
- Place in baking pan, let rise one hour
- Make it 350 for 12 minutes or until browned.
- Meanwhile, mixed together 1/2 cup confectioner sugar, 1/4 cup yogurt , and 1 tablespoon lemon juice for topping.
Union Square Creamy Gruyere Potato Gratin
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 Garlic clove, peeled and split in half
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 4 medium Potatoes (2 pounds)
- 2 1/2 cups finely grated Gruyère cheese (1/2 pound)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Lightly butter a 10-cup gratin dish.
- Rub the dish with both halves of the cut Garlic clove.
- Combine the cream, nutmeg, salt, pepper and cayenne in a bowl.
- Peel the Potatoes and slice them paper-thin on a mandolin.
- As you work, place the Potato slices in the bowl with the cream and seasonings.
- Add the Gruyère and combine thoroughly.
- Pour the Potato-cheese mix into the prepared gratin dish, making sure the Potato slices are flat and level.
- Place the gratin dish inside a roasting pan and fill the pan to three quarters full with hot water, creating a bain-marie.
- Carefully place the bain-marie in the center of the oven and bake for 2 hours, or until completely set and golden on top.
- Serves 4 to 6.
Alton’s BoNuts
Dutch Oven Biscuit Donuts (aka Bonuts)
- 1 qts canola oil
- Two biscuit cutters
(2 1/2 and 1 1/4 rings) - Spider strainer
- Chopsticks (for putting into oil)
Bonut Glaze
- 1/4 C whole milk (very warm)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 225 gm (8 oz) confectioner sugar
Step by Step
- Bring canola oil up to 350º
- Prepare dough as shown HERE or HERE
- Cut biscuits with larger cutter
- Cut center with a smaller ring
reserve the little biscuits - Put on a parchment-lined pan and put into your 350º oil
– four at a time - Cook 3 minutes, flip, 1-2 minute
- Put onto a rack
- While still warm dip into glaze, then let cool. Toss the holes in remaining glaze