Author: Robert Andrews

Cremé Anglaise aka Vanilla Sauce

First I will mention that the liquid must be at least 160º but never exceed 185º or the eggs will solidify

Separate 4 eggs
– We will use the yolks in the recipe. You can reserve the whites for other uses
Mix egg yolks and 1/4 C granulated sugar together until the color lightens
Set aside

In a small, heavy saucepan, heat cream and vanilla until bubbles form at edges.
2 C heavy cream
1/3 cup castor (or white) sugar
1 tsp corn starch
1/2 vanilla bean (optional 1 tsp vanilla extract)
When cream is about 185º pour into your preheated double boiler – stirring almost constantly

Temper several ladles of hot liquid into the egg mixture, then slowly return to the double boiler, whisking constantly.
Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens. If a few clumps do develop, you can strain the liquid, but if the custard splits there is no remedy. You must start over.

Here is a video from Food Network about how to temper an egg mixture.

See also WikiPedia

Braised Pork Shoulder

Create seasoning mix
– 1 TBL brown sugar
– 1 TBL cumin
– 1 TBL corriander
– 1 TBL salt
– 1 tsp pepper
– 1 tsp cinnamon
– 1 tsp dry instant coffee grounds

pork-shoulderSeason every exposed inch of the pork
Roll pork shoulder into as tight a tube as possible and tie with butcher’s twine.
– We will later cut medallions from the tube
Sear all sides in heavy duty pot or Dutch oven
– Set aside for later
Add to fond in the pot
– 1 onion – cut into slivers
– 1 carrot – julienne strips
– 5 cloves garlic – minced
When onion becomes translucent add 1 C white wine and deglaze pan
Add to pot
– 1/4 C Dijon mustard
– bundle of thyme (to be removed later)
– 3 bay leaves (to be removed later)
Put meat back in on top of vegetables
Add chicken stock to cover half of the meat
Bring to a light boil then place into the oven
Bake at 300º for 2 hours
Turn meat and bake for another hour
Increase temperature to 450º
Add large carrot and onion pieces to the pot
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes
Let rest 10 minutes before cutting
– This will allow juices to reabsorb
– If it does not rest, your meat will become dry

LG – Sour Orange Marmalade

12 Jar – Overview

This recipe makes a BUNCH of marmalade.  Enough to last you through to next season.  If you just want enough jars to last you for a couple of months, CLICK HERE for the amounts used to make a smaller batch.

Marmalade is traditionally made with Seville oranges (also called sour oranges) which are FAR too sour to eat. They do, however, have a high amount of pectin in them. With the proper amount of sugar, this makes a great marmalade base to which other fruits can be added.  Prep your oranges the day before, so they can soak overnight.  Total hand-on time for this recipe is 3 – 4 hours, so make sure that you allow yourself enough time to cook safely.

PREPARATION

  • Wash 9 Seville oranges thoroughly and two lemons.
  • Peel the orange skin using a peeler.  Don’t peel too deeply, you do not want the white (pith) which tends to be bitter.  The orange peel will remain in the marmalade after cooking.
  • Cut apart, discarding any bad spots
  • Separate the innards and pith from the outermost orange peel.  Keep the innards and tie them into a cheesecloth bag.

OVERNIGHT SOAK

  • Pulse pips and guts in food processor
  • Place 2 C Pips, guts, seeds, membrane – innards into  4 C of water
  • Pulse peel in food processor – only briefly
  • Place 2 C peel into a second bowl containing 4 C of water

You should put the cut up and pulsed skin and innards into bowls covered with water overnight in the refrigerator.  This will soften them so that the pectin is more easily released.

FIRST BOIL (90 MINUTES)

  • Strain innards, pouring the soaking water into your stock pot
  • Put innards into a cheesecloth – a bouquet garni – and secure with a string, keeping the end available for easy removal.
  • Pour water and peel into your stock pot
  • Add 1 C orange juice into your stock pot
  • Bring up to boil, then reduce heat to simmer
  • Skim foam as necessary.  Stir with a WOODEN spoon.  Metal will react with the acids in the orange
  • Simmer for 90-120 minutes over low heat – this will release much of the pectin
    If the oranges have not been soaked for at least 8 hours, go ahead and simmer for 120 minutes.

The seeds contains the pectin, and will be discarded after about 90 minutes. The outer orange peel will become the meat of the marmalade. I prefer to dice half and mince half of the rind, so that you have a variety of sizes of orange rind in your marmalade.

Definition: bouquet garni – A bag (frequently in a cheesecloth) that is used for infusions, and removed later as the recipe progresses. CLICK HERE to read more.

NOTE: DO NOT ADD SUGAR YET.  If you add sugar too early, it will freeze the production of pectin, and your jam may not set properly, so don’t add it until after the 90 minute boil.

SECOND BOIL (HEAT TO 221º F – 105º C )

  • Remove pips and pith in the mesh bag at 208º. Use a tongs to squeeze the juices from the bag back into the pot. Discard the bag.
  • Increase heat and stir to dissolve. If sugar is added too soon, peel may become tough. Wait until temperature reads at least 210º
  • BRING HEAT UP TO 210º BEFORE ADDING SUGAR
  • 5 C granulated sugar
  • 1/4 C Karo Syrup
  • 2 TBL lemon juice
  • Add the Second Boil ingredients slowly, stirring continually
  • As soon as it starts boiling, stop stirring.  Stir very infrequently.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE:  Until most of the water boils away, the sugar may stay at 215º for about 20 minutes.  Once it hits 216º it will increase about one degree per five minutes.
  • Keep heating until the temperature reaches 221º This could take up to an hour. I’ve had success with 119º but only marginally.  Be patient and wait until it reaches full jell temperature.  A few minutes will make all the difference.  If possible, use a calibrated thermometer (or a scientific thermapen) to make sure your thermometer is not off by 2-3 degrees.
  • Meanwhile, sterilize canning jars. Details not included on this page.
  • When 221º is reached, remove the pot from the heat and let rest for 10 minutes.  Skim off any scum or foam.
  • Orange rind will rise to the top.  Stir the rind back into the mixture before canning.
  • Put into canning jars and cover with a lid put into hot water for at least 60 seconds.  When properly canned and cooled, this will last you for about a year.

NOTE:
Temperature will plateau at 215 for quite awhile – for as long as 20 minutes
After that, you will get 1º increase in temperature about every 5 minutes
Be patient.

MORE INFORMATION

Alternative Recipes

There are SWEET ORANGE marmalades which do not use as much sugar as this recipe. CLICK HERE for Alton Brown’s recipe for Sweet Orange Marmalade, or USE THIS LINK for Strawberry Marmalade.

A Word of Caution

A word about POT SIZE. The first time I made this I nearly boiled over. It was a constant battle between foam and the size of my pot. This will foam up about 400% of its size.  NO KIDDING.  Make sure you use a pot large enough, or you will end up with a huge dangerous mess.  This does not ALWAYS happen, but you can be prepared if it does.

I reuse my canning lids. If they fail to seal, I eat that jar first. Put an X on the failed lid so you don’t save it after the jar is empty. If they seal, they will generally not fail after cooling.  I prefer to use the small canning jars, because once exposed to light and air, the marmalade starts to lose its flavor.

The canned jars will last longer if you process them in a water bath for 10 minutes after putting into jars.

        1. Put marmalade into sterilized canning jars
        2. Soak lids about 60 seconds in boiling water
        3. Wipe rim clean and put lids on
        4. Tighten only finger tight
        5. Submerge in water (1″ over top) and process 10 minutes
        6. Cool (undisturbed) on the counter

What is shown in the photos are quantities to make two entire large batches of marmalade.

Optional Ingredients

Optional ingredients reserved for the very end:

Minced strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb, shredded carrot, or other contrast

Chemistry

If you do not use enough sugar, the liquid will be unable to reach 221º (as water only gets 212º) and it will NEVER set. Sugar can get up to 300º   If you try to decrease the calories, and use a marginal amount of sugar, you may heat it too long and you will get inverted sugar which has a longer shelf life, but is similar to high fructose corn syrup and is not as good for you as regular sugar.

Realistically, if you don’t have a thermometer, you can test the gel level but putting glass plates in the fridge, and then dripping jam onto the plate to see if it runs or just sits there.  CLICK HERE

  1. If desired, after the temperature has reached 221º you can mix in some contrast fruit such as minced strawberry – but something that is ready to eat just as it is. Don’t use anything that needs cooking or softening.
  2. Pour into canning jars. If you completely can the marmalade, it should last for up to a year. Otherwise, refrigerate it for up to six months. I personally just put them on my shelf for up to a year, but if you do this, proceed at your own risk.

If your marmalade does not set, it is still good for steamed marmalade pudding, marmalade tarts, marmalade ice cream and much more. CLICK HERE if your marmalade did not set properly.

Bottom right: Some of your oranges may be older and nubbly. You will need juice from many oranges, but the peel that you want to use is from about eight oranges that have fairly smooth skin.

Top right: To get the amount of pips and pith that you need for the larger sized recipe, you will have to juice a lot more than eight, but just throw the extras into the trash.

The ingredients freeze really well. Hot pack canning is another good option. If you freeze, be sure to leave an inch of headroom in your water bottles.

Another photo

This photo gives you a good close up of the smoother skinned oranges and the older nubbly ones. The juice from the older oranges is perfectly usable, but the skin will be a bit more bitter than the younger oranges, so get rid of them.

I prefer just a few larger dices of orange, but most of the skin that I use is minced in a food processor.

Another good way to do it is with a zester. It takes more oranges, but you can leave the white pith behind, which actually gives you a better end product.

( Previously called 903 Sour Orange Marmalade)

Gravy Recipes

Gravy is generally a 4-4-2 recipe (4 TBL flour, 4 TBL butter, 2 C milk) Use this as your base and then experiment from here. Just remember to whisk almost continually.

Grandpa’s Pan Gravy

– 2 tablespoons butter
– 2 tablespoons flour
– 1 TBL EVOO
– 1 C beef stock
– 1 tsp thyme
– 2 TBL white wine

1. Combine and brown in skillet making a roux
2. In a separate bowl, mix 1 TBL corn starch in with 1 C beef stock
3. Add beef stock to your roux and whisk together
4. Add black pepper
5. As it thickens, add 1 tsp Dijon mustard
6. Strain if necessary

For white gravy, substitute buttermilk for the beef stock

Grandpa’s Sausage Gravy

1. In a separate pan brown pieces of sausage or pork
2. Add chopped bell pepper, celery, and onion to taste
3. Add crushed garlic
4. Add your 1 C beef stock and 1 bay leaf
5. Simmer while you do the next steps

– 2 tablespoons butter
– 2 tablespoons flour
– 1 TBL EVOO

6. Combine and brown in skillet making a roux
7. In a separate bowl, mix 1 TBL corn starch in with 2 TBL water
8. Add beef stock to your roux and whisk together
9. Add black pepper
10. As it thickens, add 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11. Strain if necessary

Easy Gravy

Ingredients
3/4 CU vegetable, safflower, or sunflower oil (not olive)
1 CU flour

Instructions
1. Combine in heavy pan or skillet and whisk together
2. Heat SLOWLY over low heat.
3. Bring to a near boil.
4. Stir constantly with wooden spoon (not metal)
5. Heat until darkened – approx 20 or more minutes
6. As it thickens, add 1 tsp Dijon mustard
7. Strain if necessary

 

A recipe from FoodNetwork.com for Grandpa’s Personal Reference

 

Mushroom Gravy

Basic Turkey Gravy

Gravy

Bucket O’ Gravy

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Blueberry Hand Pie

Easy Method

    • FILLING
  • Cook 1 C blueberries in 1/2 C sugar
  • 2 TBL cornstarch slurry in 1/4 C water
  • 1 tsp lemon zest and juice
  • splash of vanilla
  • Simmer till thickened, then set aside to cool
    • ASSEMBLY
  • Use storebought puff pastry or pie crust – let thaw and then “push” into one big square, then cut in 4 squares or use 4-5 inch biscuit cutter
  • Put 1/4 of the filling in the center
  • Egg wash the edges of the puff pastry
  • Fold over to create a triangle
  • Crimp the edges very lightly with the tines of a fork
  • Put finished pies on parchment paper on a baking sheet
  • Brush the tops with remaining egg wash
    • BAKE at 400º for 20 minutes
  • Sprinkle with powdered sugar or icing made with 1/2 C confectioner sugar and dash of vanilla – use the merest splash of water if needed for consistency
  • Cool 5 minutes before removing or serving

Better Method

After assembly, these can be frozen (unbaked) for 1 month, and then put into the oven for 25 minutes at 350º F.

Dough

  • 2 C AP flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 C confectioner sugar
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • Pulse above ingredients in  food processor
  • Add 8 TBL melted butter
    Pulse until mixed
  • Add 1/2 C whole milk or 3/4 buttermilk
    Mix 8-10 seconds
  • Knead on a floured surface until it comes together.
  • Cut dough into eight pieces, roll into balls, and flatten them slightly.
  • Put onto a baking tray, cover with plastic and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

Filling

  • 3 C frozen peaches, apples, blueberries or strawberries.
  • 1 C granulated sugar
  • 2 TBL AP flour
  • 1 large beaten egg
  • 1 TBL lemon juice
  • 1/8 tsp salt
    Cook in skillet over low heat for 15-18 minutes.
  • Mash coarsely, then simmer to reduce.
  • Add 2 tsp lemon juice and chill filling for two hours.

Egg Wash

  • 2 egg whites and 2 tsp water

Assembling the Pies

  1. Roll a dough disk to about 6-8 inches in diameter.
  2. Put 3 TBL of filling in the center.
    You can make smaller pies with smaller circles and less filling.
  3. Brush the edge with egg wash.
  4. Fold and seal – removing as much air from the body as possible.
  5. Trim the edges, then secure by crimping with a fork.
  6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    At this point, they can be frozen or prepared.
  7. If preparing frozen pies, let them come up to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
  8. Heat 1 QT of safflower oil to 375º or bake at 400º for 18-20 minutes.
  9. If frying, fry about 90-120 seconds on each side.
  10. While still very hot, brush lightly with melted butter and sprinkle with Turbinado sugar.
  11. Cool on a rack for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Hot Dog Toppings

For an interesting twist on standard hot dogs, wrap the dog in a piece of thin bacon. Grill as always.

Serve on a bocadillo, boillito, or telero with the edges cut and then grilled.

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Other topping combinations:

  • Refried Beans
  • Mayo, salt, pepper, lime, choloula
  • Red onion
  • Avocado, cilantro, jalapeño

Hot dog measuring: 7 to 1 is 7 hot dogs her pound. 10 to 1 is ten dogs to a pound. 2 to 1 dogs are HUGE half-pound hot dogs.

Hummus – COLLECTION INDEX

–
Mevlut’s Hummus

INGREDIENTS

  • 1-2 C dried garbanzos (chickpeas)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 C tahini
  • zest and juice from two limes or one lemon
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp corriander
  • 2 green onions
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

STEP BY STEP

  1. Soak beans overnight in water with baking soda added
  2. Next day, drain and rinse once
  3. Drop into boiling water.  Boil 20-30 minutes
  4. Process beans and other ingredients in food processor and put into a serving dish
  5. Create a small “pool” of olive oil in the middle
  6. Garnish with green onions, salt and pepper
  7. Sprinkle ground cayenne (to taste)
  8. Serve with torn pieces of pita bread

–
Edamame Hummus

From Food Networks
Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound frozen shelled edamame (green soy beans), about 1 1/2 cups
  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
  • 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons), juiced
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed
  • 3/4 teaspooon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • Suggested serving: Sliced cucumbers, celery, and olives

Step by Step

  1. Boil the beans in salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, or microwave, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. In a food processor, puree the edamame, tahini, water, lemon zest and juice, garlic, salt, cumin, and coriander until smooth.
  3. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and mix until absorbed.
  4. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in the parsley and drizzle with remaining oil.
  5. Serve with the suggested vegetables, or refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day.

–
Black Bean Hummus

2 CU black beans (drained)
¼ CU sesame seeds
2 TBL virgin olive oil
2 TBL sesame oil (or tahini)
1 tsp sea salt
1 TBL lemon
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 ½ TBL honey
Paprika for garnish
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground red pepper
Onion flakes (to thicken)
Dried chives (to thicken)
5 large black olives (chop course)

Step by Step
1. Puree black beans in food processor
2. Add sesame and olive oil, lemon juice and garlic
3. Heat heavy skillet
4. Toast sesame seeds (about 4 minutes)
5. Mix puree with other ingredients (except olives)
6. Spoon into two small bowls
7. Sprinkle paprika over top
8. Serve with a little bit of olive oil poured on top
9. Serve with bread, crackers – whatever

The key is to puree the beans to a fairly smooth consistency.

1. Try this with any types of beans, even canned 3 bean salad.

–
Spinach Artichoke Hummus

RECIPE BRIEF

Ingredients

1 CAN CHICKPEAS
2 TSP TAHINI
2 CLOVES GARLIC
LEMON JUICE
– PROCESS
STREAM IN EVOO
– PROCESS
SALT / PEPPER
– BOWL
TOP WITH GRATED CHEESE
1 CAN ARTICHOKE HEARTS (DRAINED CHOPPED)
FROZEN SPINACH (DRAINED, SQUEEZED)

—————

SERVE WITH CHEESY TOASTS

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LIME Tequila Shot Glass

  1. Cut a lime in half, leaving one end just a little bigger than the other.
  2. Squeeze both sides of the lime into a glass
  3. Discard the smaller half
  4. Cut a flat spot on the bottom of the larger half
  5. Use a knife and carefully cut out the membranes
  6. Dip the edge into rough sea salt (or margarita salt)
  7. Pour a bit of the juice back into the lime glass
  8. Top with tequila

Buttercream Frosting

Easy Buttercream

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter (softened)
  • 1.5 cups (180 grams) powdered sugar
     For a sweeter frosting, mix in an additional 1/4 C
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Tiny pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. In the large mixing bowl, combine the butter and powdered sugar.  Mix with a hand-held mixer until smooth and fully combined.
  2. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt
  3. Continue mixing on medium speed until everything is well combined.
  4. Pipe the frosting onto cupcakes or frost a cake.
 

Note

Frosting can be made 1 to 2 days in advance, cover tightly and transfer to the refrigerator. Remove from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before frosting cupcakes/cakes.

 

Heavy Cream: You may replace the heavy cream with milk, but the frosting won’t be quite as creamy.

 

Recipe Variations

  • Vanilla: For a vanilla buttercream frosting, double the vanilla.
  • Chocolate: Sift 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and mix it into the frosting base until well combined.
  • Caramel: Mix in 1/4C  caramel ice cream topping.
  • Strawberry: Add a 1-ounce frozen strawberries to the bowl at Step 2 above.

American Buttercream

  1. Combine
    • 2 sticks softened butter
    • 1/2 C shortening
    • scant salt and 1 tsp vanilla
  2. Combine with
    • 12-14 oz confectioner sugar
  3. Beat everything using your paddle attachment
  4. Add
    • 1/4 C buttermilk
    • 2 TBL (1 oz) sour cream
  5. Blend until combined
  • Ice round cakes on a lazy susan
  • You can elevate the cake by putting a flat mixing bowl on the lazy susan at the beginning
  • Put a blob of icing on the cardboard cake round to “hold” the cake still
  • Cut the puffy top off so that layered cakes will sit evenly.
  • Using a long knife or long saw blade, cut even layers
  • Cut a notch in the side of the cake to help with alignment later
  • Ice between layers
  • Create a “crumb coat” of icing that will be covered up later.
  • Put the crumb coat into the fridge for 20-30 minutes to harden
  • Apply the final outside layer of icing.
  • To create “writing chocolate” combine 1 C chocolate chips and 2 tsp canola oil.  Stir together, then microwave for 60 seconds.  Stir to mix, then put into a piping bag or squirt bottle.  As you are writing, back up and the end of each letter.

Appetizers – COLLECTION

Here is a list of many appetizers that are fairly easy to prepare.  Listed appetizers are from magazines, the Internet, TV shows, with many also created by Grandpa.  Click on the name of an appetizer to see the related photo or the recipe.

An Amuse Bouche is slightly different though than appetizers.

Sprinkle on top or on the plate. Add to taste:

  • Chili flake
  • Fresh oregano
  • Minced garlic
  • Lemon zest
  • Crushed black pepper

Serve with grilled bread or crackers

Here are a few slightly more complex appetizers.

Here are some brief descriptions.  Let your imagination go wild.

  • Antipasta Skewers – Use rosemary twigs for skewers.  Clean twig, leaving a bit on the end.
  • Caprese Cracker – Thin slice of tomato or sun dried tomato, mozzarella and basil leaf.  Garnish with a few drops of EVOO.
  • Chip Scoops – Use a slice of cheese to isolate the chip from the liquid, then add salsa or guacamole.
  • Chicken Nibs – Dip cooked chicken pieces in honey, let drip dry, then roll in sesame seeds.
  • Chocolatey Apricots – Spear apricots on a toothpick, then dip in softened chocolate.  Let cool and set.
  • Donut Holes – Dip in caramel syrup, let drip dry, then roll in crushed praline chips.
  • Endive Scoops – Wash endive leaves, fill with cheese mixture (4 oz goat cheese, 2 oz cream cheese, 1 T parsley, 1 T chives, 1 T lemon zest), top with Proscuitto (crisped in oven at 375º) and top with diced jalapeño (Soaked 5 minutes in hot liquid :: 1/4 C white vinegar, 1/4 C water, 2 tsp sugar, 1 clove garlic)
  • Fried Mozz Stick Wraps – Halve fried mozzarella stick, pair with an avocado slice, then wrap in precooked bacon.
  • Goat Cheese Crostini -Start with a block of goat cheese.  Chop together tarragon, parsley, thyme and mint.  Roll the block into a round log, roll it through the diced greens till much thinner, then wrap and refrigerate.  Put slices on crostini with sundried tomato and a basil chiffonade.
  • Smoked Salmon – Put on cracker and garnish with a bit of fresh ground black pepper.
  • Tomato Dip – Heat EVOO, garlic, tomato, basil and salt.  Blend and serve hot with bread pieces.

The point is:  If it is edible, it can be turned into an appetizer.

 

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