Monday, November 22, 2010

Roast chickens

Ah, roast chicken, probably my favorite meal. So simple, elegant, and delicious. I'm roasting two of them today, then I'm making roasted chicken soup for my youngest who's not feeling well. I rubbed melted butter on them and sprinkle on some pappy's 50% less salt seasoning, I lay them breast side down, side by side in a turkey roaster covered with foil.
Here they are done. I prefer to roast them breast side down because they stay nice and moist that way.
I made two so I would have extra chicken for the week. Roast chicken make an extra flavorful broth. Recipe to come soon.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Beef jerky

I wanted to make beef jerky for a couple of weeks but have always forgotten to get the meat at the market, well today I remembered at the last minute, I ran back to get a london broil when I was already in line, yes I did make it back before they even started my order, whew!!!
Beef jerky

1 london broil (I'm not sure the size as the trash got thrown out before I checked the package)
1/4 cup of soy sauce
1 teaspoon pappys 50% less salt seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlc powder
1 tablespoon truvia
1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes

Remove all the visible fat then partially freeze the london broil, cut in thin bias cut slices. I pounded the slices a bit with the end of the soy sauce bottle to to make it a little easier to chew. Mix the rest of the ingredients for the marinade and pour on the meat slices layering in a bowl, I prefer not to make a very wet marinade just enough to coat the meat not dripping wet, so I avoid having to pat it dry also I don't want to take away the meat flavor in the marinade. Marinate for a couple of hours or longer. Hang on skewers and rest on the ovens top rack like in the first picture. I let dry for 8 hours with 2 fans on sitting on the oven door, I cycled the oven off and on up to 120 degrees until I went to bed then left the fans on till the morning. You want it dried but not brittle or cooked.
A wonderful meat explosion!!!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Stuffed jalapenos

I made these to have with our lunch. So easy and so good!
Stuffed jalapenos

12 or more large jalapenos
1 cup colby jack shredded
1 cup cheese curds cut up (I got mine from our local dairy, some kind of fresh cheese like farmer cheese or queso fresco will do)
3 tablespoons of softened butter
1 cut up jalapeno (I used seeds and all)
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup hazelnut meal mixed with 1/2 cup grated parmesan

I cut the jalapeno peppers in half,  scraped out the seeds and veins, it's easy with a small spoon, set on a parchment lined sheet pan. Then I made the filling, mixing the shredded colby jack and cheese curds, 3 tablespoons of butter and one diced jalapeno and stuff it in the jalapeno halves pressing it in real good. Then carefully dip in beaten egg then in the mixture of hazelnut meal and parmesan laying it back on the parchment bake in a hot 450 oven for 15-20 minutes, I ran mine under the broiler for a couple extra minutes for them to be toasty brown.
I served them with carne asada, of course homemade salsa, and sour cream.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Cinnamon rolls

I love, love, love cinnamon rolls!!! Who doesn't? I took half of this biscuit dough/batter here and patted it out in a rectangle on parchment paper with a bit of extra almond flour, I brushed it with butter and sprinkled cinnamon mixed with truvia, rolled and sliced it up, put it cut side on a sheet pan covered with nonstick foil, baking for 10-15 minutes in a hot 400 oven
I added some cream cheese frosting I made by softening some cream cheese, adding a couple tablespoons of torani vanilla syrup. Great with coffee!!!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Turnip fries

I realized I've never made turnip fries, I've made fries out of zucchini and eggplant too, but never turnip. I made some for lunch today, I wasn't sure how they would turn out, but they're really good! I'm definitely making these more often. No real recipe I just cut up 3 turnips in fry shapes, tossed them with a couple tablespoons of olive oil and some herbamare seasoning.
I put them on non stick foil on a sheet pan and baked them in a hot 450 oven till browned and done, I like them well browned. I served them with some sugar free ketchup. Next time I'll add lots of fresh cracked black pepper.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Sauteed chayote

I have been working with chayote trying to make an apple like filling for an "apple" pie. These sauteed apples turned out very nice. I'm still working on getting a whole pie together.
Sauteed chayote

2 young chayotes sliced thin (I left the skin on and seed in if they're mature you might have to skin and remove the seed)
2-3 tablespoons butter
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons truvia
1 teaspoon molasses
1 tablespoon isomalt
2 tablespoons polydextrose
few drops butterscotch oil

I sauteed on medium low the chayotes and broken up cinnamon stick in the butter until very soft then added the rest of the ingredients for a few more minutes adding a few tablespoons of water if necessary. I picked out the cinnamon stick. If you want to make a whole pie It might take 5 or 6 chayotes. I haven't done that yet.
I was surprised how much it tastes like apple filling.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Pumpkin mousse ice cream

Oh my, I barely got a picture of this ice cream, it's so good! I reworked my vanilla ice cream recipe a bit, this is a completely original recipe. I put it on top of my last pumpkin to turn orange in my garden, I don't know why it's so late.
Pumpkin mousse ice cream

2 cups cream
1 cup pumpkin
3 pasteurized eggs separated directions here
2 tablespoons xylitol
2 tablespoons truvia
few drops stevia
few drops liquid sucralose (if needed)
1 teaspoon of molasses
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
couple shakes of mace
few drops butterscotch oil
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon extract
2 tablespoons chopped roasted pecans

Separate egg whites and yolks in separate bowls beat whites to almost stiff peaks, then beat yolks with sugar substitutes and molasses till light and tripled in volume add spices and extracts, then pumpkin and cream, add egg whites folding in carefully. Chill well, then freeze in an ice cream freezer according to directions, add pecans at the end. You will lick the bowl, no lie!