Kitchen Delights 3/7/19
Wow, the snow banks keep getting higher and higher. Hopefully, the snow will melt slowly. If it melts quickly, flooding could be a real problem.
Have you ever gone to some wooded area on St. Patrick’s Day, searching for a four-leaf clover? This year, I don’t think they will be peeking out of the snow.
Beer Braised Corned Beef & Cabbage
4 lb. corned beef brisket
3 (12 oz.) cans beer
1/4 c. spicy brown mustard
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 T. smoky paprika
1 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1 lg. onion, cut in wedges
Zest of 1 orange, cut into strips
2 lbs. cabbage, cut into wedges
3 T. apple jelly
Parsley
In a large pot, pour a little olive oil. Sear meat over medium heat. In a large bowl, whisk beer, mustard, brown sugar, paprika and pepper sauce. Add onion, cabbage, orange zest peel and enough water to an inch from top of pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 3 hours, or until cabbage and corned beef are tender. Add parsley on top of each serving.
Yield: 12 servings
Reuben Soup
3 T. butter
1/4 c. diced onion
1/4 c. diced celery
2-1/2 c. drained sauerkraut
1/3 to 1/2 c. deli corned beef, shaved
6 c. milk
10-3/4 oz. can cr. of celery soup
10-3/4 oz. can cr. of chicken soup
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. chicken bouillon
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1-1/2 c. shredded Swiss cheese
Sauté onions and celery in butter in large Dutch oven kettle. Add remaining ingredients (except cheese). Cook over low heat, stirring often until hot. Serve with cheese on top of each bowl.
Yield: 6-8 servings
Cream Cheese Potato Soup
6 c. water
3 T. chicken bouillon granules
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
10-3/4 oz. cr. of bacon soup
30 oz. frozen Southwestern hash browns, thawed
1-1/2 c. cooked ham, chopped fine
1 onion, sautéed in 1 tsp. butter or olive oil
1 toe garlic, minced, opt.
1 tsp. dill weed
Shredded cheese, of course
In large stock pot, heat water; add all ingredients except cheese. Bring to a boil, lower heat and cook for 35 minutes. Top with shredded cheese of your choice.
Yield: 8 servings
St. Patrick’s Day Cake
2-1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
5 eggs
5 sq. chocolate, melted & cooled a little
1 c. melted butter
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. mini chocolate chips, coated w/1 tsp. flour
In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, sugar and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs, then add melted chocolate, melted butter and vanilla. Add flour alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in the chocolate chips coated with flour.
Transfer into two 9x5 loaf pans, or a 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until done in center.
LEPRECHAUN FROSTING:
1/2 c. butter, softened
3 to 4 c. powdered sugar
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
Mint extract & green food coloring
Beat butter and cream cheese until blended. Add powdered sugar (to desired consistency for spreading), mint extract and green food coloring. The longer you beat, the fluffier your frosting will be. Cut each cake in half, frost center and top. One cake to eat, another one to give to a friend.
Thumb Print Lime Cookies
FILLING: Make first
1-1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. grated lime peel
2 T. lime juice
1 egg
2 drops green food coloring
In a small Pyrex® bowl, combine sugar, butter, lime zest, juice and egg. Cook on high in microwave on high, check after a minute. Stir, return to microwave, check in half a minute. Stir in coloring. Cool.
COOKIE DOUGH:
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg yolk (reserve the white)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
1-1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. walnuts, chopped
Beat butter and sugar; beat in egg yolk, add the vanilla, salt and flour. Roll into small balls. Dip into whisked egg white, then roll in walnuts. Place them on cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper, or a well-greased pan. Press your thumb in center; fill with tiny amount of filling. Bake at 325 degrees for 12-14 minutes.
Yield: 2-1/2 to 3 dozen
Helpful Hints:
• Dry air in your house? You getting a shock when you touch things? Just pour 1 cup water with 2 tablespoons of liquid fabric softener into a spray bottle and spritz on your upholstery and also on your jeans, or whatever you are wearing. Also, set bowls of water around your house.
• Hands hurt after shoveling snow? Cover the handle of the snow shovel with bubble wrap, secure with duct tape. The packing provides soft cushion.
“To conquer the habit of complaining, count your blessings.”