Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Top American Dishes Recipes


I have put together here the couple of Top American Dishes.

1- Macaroni cheese.
To my mind the greatest American dish and the most ideal comfort food and hangover cure is Macaroni cheese.



Ingredients:

     sea salt

    freshly ground black pepper

    45 g butter

    3 heaped tablespoons plain flour

    10 cloves garlic, peeled and finely sliced

    6 bay leaves

    1 litre semi-skimmed milk

    600 g dried macaroni

    8 tomatoes

    150 g Cheddar cheese, freshly grated

    100 g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

    a few sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked

    2 splashes Worcestershire sauce, optional

    1 grating nutmeg, optional

    3 big handfuls fresh breadcrumbs

    olive oil

Method:

Mac 'n' cheese' is a classic American pasta dish – everybody loves it. Sometimes it's done badly in the comfort area, it's nearly become famous for being horrible, but when you do it properly, trust me, it's an absolute killer. Feel free to use any tubular pasta you want. I've made this dish my own by brightening it with sweet tomatoes and giving it some crunch with delicious breadcrumbs. Just you wait around till you attempt it! This dish isn't going to win any prizes in the nutrition department, but you can, and should, stability it with a nice healthy salad. If you only have it once in a while as a special treat, it'll do you no harm.

Get a large pan of salted water on the boil. Melt the butter in a large ovenproof saucepan over the low heat, then add the flour and turn the heat up to medium, stirring all the time, unless you get a paste – this is your roux. Add all the sliced garlic – don't worry about the amount because each slice will caramelise like toffee in the roux. Keep cooking and stirring until golden and the garlic cloves is nice and sticky. Add the bay leaves and slowly whisk in the milk slightly at a time to ensure you get a nice smooth sauce. Bring the mix to the boil, then leave it on a low heat to simmer and tick away, stirring occasionally. Preheat your oven to 220ºC/425ºF/gas 7.

Add the pasta to the pan of boiling salted water and cook according to the packet guidelines. Meanwhile, roughly chop the tomatoes on a board and season them well with salt and pepper. Drain the pasta and add it immediately to the sauce. Give it an excellent stir and take the pan off the heat. Stir in your grated cheeses, sliced tomatoes and thyme leaves. A little Worcestershire sauce added now is nice, and so is a little bit grating or two of nutmeg. Now work on the flavour – taste it and season it until it's hitting the right spot. You would like it to be slightly too wet because it will thicken up again in the oven, so add a splash of water if needed.

f you've made your sauce in an ovenproof casserole-type pan, leave everything in there; if not, transfer it to a deep earthenware dish. Bake it for 30 minutes in the oven, till golden, bubbling, crunchy and delicious.

While it's cooking, put your breadcrumbs and thyme into a pan with a few drizzles of olive oil for a medium heat. Stir and toss the crumbs around until crunchy and golden all over. Eliminate from the heat and tip into a nice bowl. Serve your macaroni cheese in the centre of the table, with your bowl of crispy breadcrumbs for scattering over, and a lovely green salad.

2- Pancake
Ask anyone what the best American breakfast is and they will most likely say pancakes.Pancake recipe couldn’t be simpler and is sure to kick start your day the US way. Add bacon, maple syrup or blueberries to create it even better.




Ingredients:

1 cup self-raising flour

1 cup semi-skimmed milk

1 free-range egg

1 pinch sea salt

1 pear

a few knobs butter

fat-free natural yoghurt, to serve

runny honey, to serv

Method:

These are the fluffiest, most attractive American-style pancakes ever. My girls ask me for them continuously and I get big brownie points whenever I make them. The recipe ingredients couldn't be easier to remember and what's brilliant about it is the fact that it works like a charm every single time. You can have fun with it by switching up the fruit; strawberries, apples, blackberries, blueberries and bananas are all delightful in these pancakes so feel free to swap out the pears for any of those. The batter will keep as good as gold in the fridge for a day or two if you have any left over.

Put the flour, milk, egg and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk until sleek. Once combined, grate in the pear, core and all then stir it via with a spoon.

Put a large pan on a moderate heat and add a knob of butter. Once that melts, add the batter, a spoonful at a time to the hot pan. You'll need to cook them in batches, cooking them for a few minutes till golden on the bottom, then flipping over and cooking for a few moments more until they're done.

When they are golden and fluffy, serve them right away with a dollop of natural yoghurt and some runny honey rained all over the top.

Tip: If you enhance the batter, thicken it with just a little more flour then pour them into a Yorkshire pudding or muffin tin as they also make the most delicious muffins.











Monday, January 13, 2014

One-pot salmon with snap peas and rice

Ever get tired of going to the dining hall grill station to order yet another cheeseburger and grilled chicken sandwich? With a quick trip to Whole Foods and a few pots and pans, it’s easy to make your own dinner in your dorm or apartment. This week, I took over the kitchen in Allison Hall to make this easy yet surprisingly delicious salmon dish with snap peas and rice.

This recipe was excellent for two reasons.

First of all, it’s delicious and healthy. Between the fish, which is a far more nutritious alternative to most meat, and the complete lack of butter or oil, this meal is not something you have to go to the gym to work off afterward.

Second, the cooking instructions are incredibly simple: You need one pot and you simply continue adding things to it until the dish is complete. Little prep work or cleanup afterward makes this recipe ideal for a lazy college student.

If there is anything to be wary of, it’s making sure the water for the rice doesn’t all boil off while the salmon is cooking — burnt rice is terribly difficult to clean off the bottom of a skillet.

 One-Pot Salmon With Snap Peas and Rice

Serves 4 | Hands-on time: 25 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1 pound salmon fillet, skin removed
  • kosher salt and pepper
  • 4 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed
  • 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 4 scallions, trimmed and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar (add more to taste to counter the tartness of the vinegar)
Directions:

  1. Mix the rice and 3 cups water in a medium skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, slice the salmon on a diagonal into four ¾-inch-thick pieces. Season with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
  3. After the rice has cooked for 10 minutes, place the salmon on top. Cover and cook 7 minutes more.
  4. Scatter the peas over the salmon and rice. Cover and cook until the rice and peas are tender and the salmon is opaque and beginning to flake, 3 to 5 minutes.
  5. Mix the soy sauce, scallions, vinegar, ginger and sugar in a small bowl. Spoon the sauce over the salmon, rice and peas.

Source: http://dailynorthwestern.com/2014/01/13/thecurrent/cooking-and-recipes-one-pot-salmon-with-snap-peas-and-rice/

Churrasco Steak and Arugula with Candied Pepper Chimichurri Recipe

In Latin America, churrasco is a term employed to define a thin, boneless cut of meat that cooks easily on the grill. In most cases we’re discussing skirt steak-it is pebble with fat, creating a large, meaty flavor and lots of juiciness. Churrasco steak is generally served with chimichurri, a classic vinegary parsley-garlic-oregano sauce. I give it a twist by including candied peppers to get a tangy-sweet-sour kick.




Ingredients:

FOR THE CHIMICHURRI

1/2 cup finely minced candied Red Peppers
1/4 cup candied pepper liquid
1/4 cup brine-packed capers, rinsed and finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
6 garlic cloves, very finely minced
2 shallots, very finely chopped
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

FOR THE STEAKS

4 8-ounce skirt steaks
2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 tablespoon plus 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 cups baby arugula
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes


Directions

To make the chimichurri, place the candied peppers in a medium bowl with their liquid, capers, parsley, cilantro, garlic, and shallots and whisk to combine. Gradually whisk in the olive oil until the mixture is thick and emulsified. Put aside.

Prepare a hot charcoal or gas grill.

Season both ends of the skirt steaks with 2 tablespoons of the salt and 1 tablespoon of the black pepper and set on the grill. Cook devoid of moving until there are grill marks, about 5 minutes. Turn over the steaks and cook the other side until there are grill marks and the steaks are baked to your liking, about 3 minutes for medium-rare, 4 minutes for medium, and 5 minutes longer for medium-well. Use tongs to transfer the steaks to a huge platter and set aside.

While the steaks rest, whisk jointly the olive oil, lemon juice, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the left over 1/8 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Add some arugula and cherry tomatoes and gently toss to coat.

Arrange the 4 steaks on a large platter in a circular shape. Fill the center of the circle with the arugula and tomatoes and serve with the chimichurri on the side.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/churrasco-steak-and-arugu_n_1151658.html


Saturday, January 11, 2014

Boston Brown Bread Recipe


Boston Brown Bread



At the moment of the American Movement, wheat flour was a deluxe. Cornmeal and rye flour were more popular. So the three grains were mixed in what were called “thirded” breads. A bread born of necessity 300 years back quickly might have been developed this early morning by a dietician. It’s high in dietary fiber and minimal in calorie consumption — similar to a huge bran muffin without all the glucose. Some recipes use brown sugar, however the more conventional types depend on molasses for sweetening.

Since few early American homes had ovens, bakers added the bread dough — leavened with baking soda – right into a cylindrical fire resistant jar and steamed it over an open fire. They’d been taught by Local Americans, who also revealed them guidelines for corn as a wheat for bread. Cornmeal often was called “indian.”

In her guidelinesfor making brown bread in “American Frugal Housewife” (1828), Lydia Maria Child wrote: “Squeeze Indian within your bread pan, sprinkle a little bit salt among it, and wet it extensively with scalding water. … Make sure and have warm water enough; for Indian takes up a great amount of water.”

In later years, thrifty New Englanders utilized vacant coffee cans as cooking vessels. Today’s brown bread is usually steamed in the oven or on the stovetop. It’s a easy recipe. The toughest part is getting coffee still placed in a metal can. If you don’t want for making your own, brown bread is marketed already made — in a can — at food markets and on the Internet.

Brown bread, known outside New England as Boston brown bread, was typically served with Boston baked beans. It’s also very good with cream cheese and jam for morning meal or afternoon tea.

Boston Brown Bread

Boston Brown Bread is certainly one of America's most well-known tasty recipes. Due to the fact wheat flour was limited, the bread was made out of 3 grains -- wheat, rye and corn. The bread is steamed in a tin can. If you aren't able to find a coffee tin, any steel cylinder are going to do (a tin for Christmas cookies, say). This recipe is modified from "American Home Cooking" by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison (Broadway Books 1999). If you desire it more gratifying, include a very little brown sugar or more molasses.

Ingredients

    1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
    1/2 cup rye flour
    1/2 cup stone-ground cornmeal
    3/4 teaspoon baking soda
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    6 tablespoons vegetable oil
    1/2 cup molasses
    1 cup buttermilk
    1 large egg, lightly beaten
    1/2 cup black raisins

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Grease a clean 1-pound coffee can.

In a large bowl, combine the whole-wheat flour, rye flour, cornmeal, baking soda and salt. Stir in the oil and molasses, just to combine. Add the buttermilk and egg, and mix just to combine. Stir in raisins.

Spoon into the prepared can. There should be about 1 1/2 inches of clearance above the batter for the bread to rise. Cover the top of the can tightly with greased foil

Place can in a large pot whose rim is higher than the top of the can. Pour in enough hot water to come halfway up the can. Bring the water to a bare simmer, then cover pot and steam 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, until toothpick inserted in the top (with foil removed) comes out clean.

Replenish the water if needed while steaming. Cool on a baking rack for at least 10 minutes, then unmold. If the bread will not come out the top of the can, use a can opener to remove the bottom and push it out the other side.

Slice the bread into thick rounds and serve warm, preferably, or at room temperature.

Store leftover bread in the refrigerator for up to several days. 

Three Holiday Delicious Homemade Recipes

The holiday time is here and that means many folks will be spending time baking and cooking for family and good friends. Many conventional recipes people enjoy every year throughout the vacations call for eggs to be used raw or gently cooked. Listed here are five classic holiday recipes that can be made with Safest Choice Pasteurized Eggs for peace of mind.

1- French Silk Chocolate Pie 

French silk chocolate
French Silk Chocolate Pie is a delicacy that often makes an overall look on Thanksgiving and Christmas tables. This is a easy, but self-indulgent recipe that calls for pasteurized eggs ever since the eggs are used raw. Serve our French Silk Pie recipe by the end of any holiday meal and you're certain to impress your family and friends!


2- Eggnog

EggnogMartini-227x300
Eggnog

Eggnog is a conventional holiday drink that is a must have annually! The amazingly easy drink dates returning to the 14th century. Despite the fact that original versions didn’t use eggs, current recipes demand eggs, sugar, cream and spices or herbs. Selfmade eggnog is so far better than those bought in packages at the food store. Actually, I didn’t like  eggnog until I had one cup of the Safest Choice Classic Eggnog recipe

Many individuals seem to agree that homemade eggnog is the most effective and each year there are actually articles online talking about the food safe practices of this beloved holiday beverage. Some state eggnog could be made safe by putting alcohol to kill Salmonella, however, if you use Safest Choice Pasteurized Eggs you don't ever have to bother with harmful bacteria in the first place. Furthermore kids love this drink too! Help make your eggnog classy this season with our Eggnog Martini recipe or cut calories with our Light Eggnog recipe. You can even make plenty of delicious breakfasts with remaining eggnog like Eggnog-Stuffed French Toast or Eggnog Strata with Tangerine and Cranberry.

3- Royal Icing


Royal icing
Royal Icing is one more traditional holiday break recipe which is a lot better when home made. Rose Levy Beranbaum, writer of the Cake Bible and Rose’s Christmas Cookies, was kind enough to discuss along with us her Traditional Rolled Christmas Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Recipe. When designing cookies with royal icing for family members, buddies, and Santa the best option is to make use of pasteurized egg whites.