Perfect Peach Pie

from The Pie and Pastry Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum

Ingredients

 Flaky Cream Cheese Pie Crust for a 2-crust 9-inch pie.

1 2/4 pounds peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced into 16ths: about 8 medium or 6 cups.  I use under-ripe peaches that are still firm.

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 cup sugar

a pinch of salt

4 tsp corn starch (I'm usually generous)

1/2 tsp pure almond extract (again, I'm generous)

Directions:

1. Mix sliced peaches with lemon juice, sugar, salt.  Allow to macerate for a minimum of 30 minutes.

2.  Drain and transfer peach juice (about 1 cup)  into a small non-stick saucepan.  Over medium high heat boil down the liquid until it has reduced to about 1/3 cup, or until syrupy and lightly carmelized.  Swirl pan, don't stir while doing this. (my peaches don't generate as much juice because they aren't all the way ripe.)

3.  Meanwhile toss the cornstarch and almond extract in with the peaches.  Then pour the sypup over the peaches, tossing gently.  

4. Pour filling into pie shell, and then cover with top crust.  Preheat oven to 425*and set a baking stone on the lowest oven rack.   Cover Pie loosely with plastic wrap then chill pie for at least 20 minutes - 1 hr.  

5. Place chilled pie directly on the baking stone and bake 40-50 minutes or until the juice bubble thickly.  After 30 minutes, protect the edges from overbrowning with a foil ring.

6. Cool pie on rack for at least 3 hours before cutting.  

Tamago Egg Sushi

 Mom's Sushi Rice from All Recipes

3.5 cups Japanese sushi style rice

1 (4 inch) piece konbu dried kelp

4 water

1/2 cup Sushi Seasoning

toasted sesame oil for hands

1. Place rice into a large, deep bowl. Fill with cold water and rub rice together with hands until the water turns milky white. Pour off the cloudy water, being careful not to pour out the rice. Repeat 3 or 4 times until you can see the rice through 3 inches of water.

2. Drain the rice in a fine strainer, then place into a saucepan along with konbu and 4 cups water. Allow to stand for 30 minutes. Stir together rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved in a small bowl, set aside.

3. Cover, and bring rice to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to stand, covered, for 5 minutes. (I used my instapot rice setting low white rice for 10 minutes).

4. Scrape rice into a bowl; remove and discard the konbu. Stir in vinegar mixture until well incorporated and no lumps of rice remain. Allow to cool at room temperature -or it is too hot to handle. For a shinier appearance, use an electric fan to cool the rice rapidly.  Put Toasted Sesame oil on hands when handling rice so it doesn't stick to you. 

Japanese Tamago Egg

8 eggs

1/2 cup prepared dashi stock

2 T white sugar

2 tsp mirin (Japanese Sweet Wine)

1 tsp soy sauce

vegetable oil or spray to grease pan

1. Beat eggs thoroughly in a bowl; whisk in dashi stock, sugar, mirin, and soy sauce until sugar has dissolved.

2. Place a nonstick skillet or omelet pan over medium heat. Oil the pan with vegetable oil. Pour a thin layer of egg mixture into the hot pan and swirl to coat pan.( I don't have a special pan so I just used my griddle)

3. When egg layer is firm on the bottom but still slightly liquid on top, lift up about 1 inch of the edge of the omelet with a spatula and fold end over remaining egg layer; continue rolling the omelet to the end and push the roll to the edge of the skillet. Oil the skillet again if it looks dry; pour another thin layer of egg into the skillet and lift the roll to let the egg flow underneath the omelet roll. Fold the omelet roll over the new layer of egg, continuing to roll to the end as before. Push omelet to edge of skillet.

4. Pour a new egg layer into the skillet, oiling the pan if needed. Roll the omelet over to incorporate the next egg layer into the roll. Pour new layers and roll into the omelet until all egg mixture has been used. Remove omelet to a serving platter and cut into 6 equal pieces to serve.

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

 From the Cookies and Cups Cookbook 

Ingredients:

1 cup salted butter, at room temperature

1 cup packed brown sugar (She combines dark and light)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt 

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 (12-ounce) bag mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In the bowl beat butter and all the sugars on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Add the eggs and vanilla and continue mixing until smooth.

3.  Add the baking soda, baking, powder, and coarse sea salt.  Mix until combines. 

4. Turn the mixer speed to low and add the flour.

5. stir in the chocolate chips.  It says to cover the dough and refrigerate overnight but we never do that.

6. Using a large (3 tablespoon) cookie scoop, drop the dough 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

7.  Bake the cookies for 9 to 10 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the centers are almost set.  Underbaking the centers of the cookies slightly will help the cookies stay sofr. 

8.  Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes before transferring to a wire rac to cool completely.

These are HUGE cookies and I usually get 14-18 in a batch.  It depends on how much dough you eat!

Kern Family Belgian Waffle Recipe (emeril lagasse)

 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups milk
• non-stick cooking spray

• Preheat the waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions.  In one medium bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.  In a second bowl use the wooden spoon to beat together the egg yolks and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved and eggs have turned a pale yellow.  Add the vanilla extract, melted butter, and milk to the eggs and whisk to combine.  Combine the egg-milk mixture with the flour mixture and whisk just until blended.  Do not over mix.  In third bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form, about 1 minute.  Using the rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the waffle batter.  Do not overmix!  Coat the waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray and pour enough batter in iron to just cover waffle grid.  Close and cook as per manufacturer's instructions until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.  Serve immediately.

Note: I actually start with melting the butter in a large bowl and then add the separated eggs into two bowls (whites in a clean one, yolks with the melted butter) . This just saves me extra bowls.

Also I make 1.5 of this recipe for our family of 7.

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Fresh Raspberry Pie

Crust:  make single crust for 9 inch pie.  

Filling

1

cup granulated sugar

3

tablespoons cornstarch

1/4

teaspoon salt

1

cup water 

4+

cups fresh raspberries, but more is even better ...

1

tablespoon butter

Topping

1

cup whipping cream

1

tablespoon powdered sugar

1

teaspoon vanilla

Steps

• 1

  Heat oven to 450°F. Make pie crust as directed on box for One-Crust Baked Shell using 9-inch glass pie pan. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• 2

  Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix granulated sugar, cornstarch, salt and water. Stir in 2 cups of the raspberries. Heat to boiling. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in butter. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• 3

  Stir remaining 2 cups raspberries into cooled raspberry mixture. Spoon into cooled baked shell. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
• 4

  To serve, in medium bowl with electric mixer, beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla on high speed until stiff peaks form. Garnish pie or individual servings with whipped cream. Store in refrigerator.

This one is a winner.  Add fresh raspberries on the top

https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/fresh-raspberry-pie/cda0f106-61cb-4d61-8cbb-fd42393d248f

Homemade Ravioli

Ravioli


For Dough:
2 1/4 C. Semolina flour (can do half regular flour)
3/4 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 T. water
1 1/2 T. oil

Stir flour and salt.  Make a well in the middle.  Drop 1 egg into the well.  Using fingertips of hand draw part of the flour onto the egg.  Add a second egg and draw part of flour onto egg.  Add third egg and mix into dough dough.
Add water and oil and knead into a ball.
Knead for 10 minutes.

Put ball in small plastic bag and let rest for 1 hour.
Cut into 6 pieces.  put dough into 4" square and roll to a 10 x 6 rectangle


For filling:
2 C. Ricotta
3/4 C. parmesan
3 eggs
mix together.  Can also add smoked salmon, braised short rib, or other tasty things.


Place 1" space apart on dough.
Cover with another section of dough.
Crimp and cut.
Let dry for 1 hour.
Cook 12 ravioli for 4 min.

Grapefruit Pie

Grapefruit Pie

Graham Cracker Nut Crumb Crust 1 c. Graham Cracker Crumbs ¼ c. Ground Pecans ¼ c. Ground Almonds 4 Tbsp. Salted Butter - Melted Bake at 350° for 10 min

Filling 32 Marshmallows 1 Tbsp. Grapefruit Juice 4 c. Grapefruit sections 1 ½ c. Sweetened Whipped cream           with Vanilla and Almond ext. 1 tsp. Almond Extract Toasted Almonds

Press Crust ingredients into a 9” pie plate and bake.  In a large bowl, melt marshmallows with grapefruit juice.  Let cool and slightly stiffen.  Fold in Grapefruit sections, Whipped Cream, and Almond Extract.  Add into pie crust and sprinkle with Toasted Almonds.  Chill until set.  To serve, set pie pan in warm water to release crust and cut with warm knife.  

Aussie Meat Pies

1 T Olive oil
1 large brown onion, finely chopped
500 grams lean beef mince (ground beef) 1 pound = 454 grams
1 T corn flour
3/4 c. beef stock
3/4 c. tomato sauce
2 T Worcestershire Sauce
1 T barbecue sauce
1 tsp Vegemite (haven't found yet, so I use a bit extra beef bullion)
2 sheets frozen ready-rolled shortcrust pastry, thawed
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten

(I just throw this in a regular crust if I don't want to make puff pastry).

Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add onion.  Cook for 3 minutes or until soft.  Add ground beef.  Cook for 4 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon, or until browned.

Mix corn flour and 1 Tablespoon of stock to form a paste.  Add remaining stock.  Add stock, sauces and Vegemite to ground beef.  Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low.  Simmer for 8 minutes or until thick.  Cool.

Preheat oven to 425*F. Place baking tray into oven.  Grease 4 3 in. base measurement pie pans.

Cut 4 6 in circles from shortcrust pastry.  Use to line bases and sides of pans.  Fill with the ground beef.  Brush rims with water.  Cut circles from puff pastry.  Place over meat.  Press to seal.  Trim.  Brush with egg.  Season.

Place pies onto hot tray.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

(from cnn eatocracy)

biscuits

Biscuits

Makes 10-12

Ingredients

2 cups flour, plus more for kneading

1 Tbl baking powder

1 tsp sugar, plus more to taste

½ tsp salt

8 Tbs butter, cold (1 stick)

¾ cup half-and-half or buttermilk

Cooking Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and grease a baking sheet or cast-iron skillet.  Mix together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.

Cut the stick of butter to pieces and work it into the flour mixture with your hands or pastry blender until it resembles pea-size crumbs. (I use a cheese grater to cut the butter into small pieces)  Add the half-and-half or buttermilk, mixing until the dough is a bit loose and sticky.

Pour the dough onto a floured surface and knead for a minute.  Dough should be smooth and no longer wet.  You can sprinkle more flour on the surface if you find it’s sticking.  Make the dough into a ball and hit it with a rolling pin, (I just punch it) turning it and folding it in half every few whacks.  Do this for a couple of minutes.

Roll out the dough until it’s ¼ of an inch thick and then fold it in half.  Using a round biscuit cutter, cut out the biscuits from the folded dough.  Place on a greased baking sheet or in a cast iron skillet close together, about 1/8 of an inch apart (so they rise up not out), and bake for 15 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

If you don’t want to roll and cut them out, after kneading and beating the dough drop the dough onto the baking sheet with a spoon.  They’re not as symmetrical biscuits are also known as cat-head biscuits), but they’re no less delicious.   

Derby Pie (as in Kentucky Derby)

Start with unbaked pie crust.

Mix all of these ingredients together in a bowl:  

1 stick butter, melted

1/2 cup flour

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup pecan pieces

Pour into pie crust.  Bake at 350.  if you want a slightly gooey cookie like center bake for 25-30 minutes.  Toothpick will come out a little gooey but top should be golden brown.  Most people like gooey version better.

Or you can have a firm center by baking it 30-35 min.

by Sarah Phillips