Category Archives: cooking

October 24, 2008 · 10:51 pm

Quick and Easy Halloween Cake

Stove-top Halloween Cake is ready to serve 6 in the time it takes to preheat the oven for conventional baking!

RECIPE

To make a quick and easy Halloween cake, you will need:
½ box Duncan Hines Orange Supreme Cake Mix
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup water
¼ cup canola oil
1 Tbsp. butter
1 1.45 oz. Hershey’s plain chocolate bar (or equivalent)

In a 1 ½ quart size quality stainless steel pan (with cover), melt the butter in the pan over low heat.  Combine all ingredients except the chocolate bar.  Pour batter into the pan, cover, and time for 15 minutes.  Check the batter for doneness.  If needed, cook in 5 minute increments, testing for doneness.  (Wipe moisture from the inside of the lid each time you check the batter) Keep temperature on the lowest setting to avoid scorching.

When the cake tests done (use a cake tester or toothpick), gently shake the pan, remove the lid, then invert the cake onto a plate. Unwrap the chocolate bar and place it on the cake to melt. After about 10 minutes, the chocolate should be soft enough to spread as frosting. Frost only the top for contrast, or you’ll need two chocolate bars.

Enjoy!

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October 8, 2008 · 8:31 am

French Onion Soup Under Pressure

Kitchen Kutter

Kitchen Kutter

Our older daughter requested a recipe for easy French onion soup, so this is for you, Lynn. The most difficult, time-consuming part of making the soup is slicing 5 onions, and the Kitchen Kutter makes quick work of that (I use the #4 cone). Or use a mandoline, but exercise great care; I’ve cut a finger more than once on one of those! This is a healthful soup that is quick and simple to prepare.

RECIPE

FRENCH ONION SOUP
Makes 6 Servings

Ingredients:

5 medium onions, thinly sliced
¼ cup white wine
2 Tablespoons butter
6 cups reduced fat, reduced sodium beef broth
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
6 slices reduced fat mozzarella cheese (or Parmesan cheese or any mild, white cheese)
1 cup toasted croutons (optional)

Directions:

In the bottom of a 6 quart pressure cooker over medium heat, sauté the onion slices in butter for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Add the broth, seasonings, and wine. Secure the lid to the pressure cooker, bring to pressure, and cook 8 minutes. Remove from heat, release the pressure, then remove the lid. To serve, ladle into soup mugs or bowls, immediately add cheese so it can melt, then sprinkle with croutons (if desired).

Enjoy!

Cheri

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September 17, 2008 · 8:17 am

Cincinnati-style Chili

As we begin fall, the season of tailgate parties and cooler weather, we dig out our favorite chili recipes.  Although most of the time, we make a Tex-Mex style chili, I make this recipe for a change of pace.

Skyline Chili restaurant has been a favorite of our family–especially my nephew (Happy birthday, Joe!), but there are no Skyline Chili restaurants where we live. I needed to develop a Skyline knock off. It took work, but I did it. Wait till you taste my version of their famous, Cincinnati-style chili. I shaved off about an hour of cooking time by using a pressure cooker.  Make this one a day ahead to do it right!

[For an added treat, spoon chili over a cooked wiener in a bun then top with shredded cheese.]

Cincinnati-style Chili

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

2 large onions chopped
2  pounds extra-lean ground beef or lean ground turkey (Or 1 of each)
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa or 1/2 ounce grated unsweetened chocolate
2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 cups water
2 (16-ounce) packages uncooked dried spaghetti pasta (I use whole grain thin spaghetti for added fiber)

Toppings: 1 can red beans, rinsed
1 sweet onion, diced
1 pound cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

In a large (4 qt) pot (I use the pot to my pressure cooker), add water and meat. Boil meat for 30 minutes, stirring often to separate the meat. Add remaining ingredients (except pasta and toppings) and bring to a boil. Put on the lid and seal, bring to pressure, then cook under pressure for 45 minutes¹. Remove from heat and allow pressure to drop on its own.  When cooled, transfer chili to a glass or plastic container. Refrigerate overnight.


The next day, skim off any congealed fat from the top of the chili and remove bay leaf. To serve, return to large pot and warm over low heat. Meanwhile, cook the pasta, dice onions, shred cheese (if necessary) and warm the beans. To serve three way, ladle ½ to ¾ cup of the chili over a ½ cup spaghetti then top with 2 oz. shredded cheese. Four way: add either 2 Tablespoons of beans or 2 Tablespoons diced sweet onion. Five way: add both beans and onion.

¹If you aren’t using a pressure cooker, you need to cook uncovered for 1 hour then covered an additional hour.

 

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August 26, 2008 · 9:16 am

From my RV kitchen

Cheryl at Old Faithful

Cheryl at Old Faithful

Old Faithful Inn, built 1904-5

Old Faithful Inn, built 1904-5

We just returned from a three-week trip in our RV, traveling from Florida to Yellowstone National Park via South Dakota. This was our first extended trip in our new Winnebago Aspect, and we were curious to see how it performed. Good news. We came home under budget! First, fuel prices were lower than we’d expected (we paid under $4/gal. except at Gardiner, MT, where we paid $4.04). Also, traveling 55 MPH gave us 10 MPG, very respectable economy for a V-10 gasoline engine in a large rig.

We also came in under budget for meals. We ate most of our HASTY TASTY MEALS in our camper. In fact, we ate only 11% of our meals out. We ate well, too, dining on bison burgers, grilled salmon, red beans and rice, “fried” chicken, chicken fajitas, and a couple of Tombstone Pizzas, along with a lot of fresh vegetables. Because I travel with my Healthy Gourmet cookware, Vita-Mix, and microwave/convection oven, I have what I need to prepare a variety of meals in the tiny RV kitchen. Our lunches were often sandwiches, but they were lean meats on whole grain buns. The few times we dined out were special (like brunch at Old Faithful Inn, a magnificent 104-year-old log lodge; and breakfast at Wall Drug Store, where coffee is a nickel a cup).

Even better news than saving money is we lost weight! I weighed the morning after we got home and had lost two pounds; my hubby lost three. True, we did lots of walking every day, which helped, but avoiding restaurant meals contributed to our weight loss. We’re happy campers!

Cheri

Bison in Yellowstone National Park

Bison in Yellowstone National Park

RECIPE

Bison Burgers
Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 pound ground bison
Mrs. Dash (any flavor, but we like Southwest Chipotle)
4 Whole Wheat burger buns

Directions:

Preheat electric skillet to 350°F. Divide meat into fourths and form flat patties (no thicker than ¼”). Place patties in skillet, cover, and time for five minutes. After five minutes, flip burgers to check for doneness (They will be if you are using quality cookware), unplug, and serve on buns with condiments of your choice. We like Iceburg lettuce, tomato, and sweet onion on ours.

Bison meat is lower in fat than beef and very tasty.

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