Cinnamon/Cranberry Bread Pudding

I'm sorry I've been so absent this week, but workwise, this is one of the busiest times of the year, so I 've stayed away from the kitchen. Last night I got up enough energy to make this bread pudding. I didn't go through the whole picture process as I have posted bread puddings before (click here), but for this one I used some re-hydrated craisins (leftover from Thanksgiving) instead of raisins. I'll be back with more recipes soon. In the meantime, here are some pictures of the snow that fell today.

 

Semi-Homemade Crackers

So on my last post I told you about everything defrosting in my Garage freezer, well among the defrostees was a package of flat bread.

I had originally bought the bread planning to make pinwheels for a small get-together that was cancelled at the last minute because of a snow storm, so I put the bread in the freezer figuring I'd make something with it sooner or later... I guess it's sooner.

The package came with 4 flat breads. I baked 2.  I layered a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

On one of them I brushed on some olive oil and sprinkled it with sea salt, pepper and fresh rosemary. The second, I brushed with olive oil and sprinkled it with parmesan cheese.  I scored them all with a knife and baked them (one at a time) at 350 F for about 8-10 minutes each. Really good!

Dates Wrapped in Bacon

I  usually make dates wrapped in bacon on New Year's Eve. For no particular reason this is the only time of the year that I prepare them. (I made an exception for the blog)

Years ago, late in December, I went to the local supermarket with my daughter (she was about 11) to shop for our New Year's Eve tradition.  The supermarket was packed with last minute shoppers. We could barely get our cart through the masses, and when we reached the produce department we couldn't spot the dates anywhere.  I glanced up and noticed a produce boy wearing his apron.  He must have been about 17 years old.  "Yoo  hoo, young man!"  I waved to get his attention.  "Can you help me? My daughter and I are looking for dates for New Year's and can't seem to find any."  The kid took off through the swinging back doors (to retrieve my dates I assumed), but alas, he was never to be seen again... at least not until we left! LOL

This is very simple to do, and almost silly of me to describe. All you need are dates (preferrably pitted), bacon strips and toothpicks.

If your dates are not pitted (as mine weren't) slice them down the middle and you will see that the seed can be removed very easily. Cut your bacon strip into three equal parts. Wrap your bacon strip around a single date and insert a toothpick. Repeat.  Pre-heat your oven to 350 F.  Place your dates on a rack (if you don't have one, don't worry, just place them on a baking pan) and roast for about 20-30 minutes, just keep your eye on them. You may have to turn on the broiler for the last 3-4 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

 

 

Oreo Truffles

I had never made this before, but it's really simple, only three ingredients: oreo cookies, cream cheese, and chocolate.

Okay, you know I can't eat this stuff, just looking at it makes me gain weight, so I'm going to make half the recipe. For about 16 truffles you will need:

21 oreo cookies (I actually counted)
4 oz cream cheese (half a package)
8 oz. chocolate morsels (more or less)

Put your Oreo cookies in a plastic bag and crumble them, you can bang them with a rolling pin, or if you wish, you can put them in a food processor. Small chunks are okay. Combine your crumbled cookies with the cream cheese, honestly, you'll have to use your hands to form a ball that sticks together. Place wax paper on a cookie sheet and take one tablespoon of the mixture into your hands and form a small ball. Place your truflles on the cookie sheet. Refrigerate them for one hour.

As for the chocolate, I had never melted chocolate for dipping before and I didn't do a very pretty job, but the instructions say to.... melt your chocolate over medium heat in a double boiler. When all the chocolate is melted turn the heat down to low. Use toothpick inserted into the truffles to dip them one by one into the chocolate. Place them back on the waxed paper and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

That's it, you can be creative with these and add sprinkles, or crumbled cookies, or whatever your heart fancies.

Meatless Monday: Sopa de Papas • Potato Soup

4 medium potatoes, diced
2 cups vegetable broth (I made my own, but canned is fine)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cups milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup sour cream
Salt
shredded cheddar cheese (optional

In a soup pot boil your potatoes in 2 cups of vegetable broth until tender but not mushy. In the meantime, sauté your onion, celery and garlic in butter. Add this to your soup pot, add the milk and sour cream and season with salt to taste. Stir. Bring to a gentle boil, cover and turn off the heat. Serve in soup bowls and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. (You can refrigerate leftovers but may have to add more broth if it thickens too much when reheating).

P.S. My husband, of course, wanted bacon bits. So if you're not doing the vegetarian thing, go right ahead and sprinkle some bacon bits on top with your cheddar cheese.

Cornbread Stuffing

I was really happy with how this stuffing turned out. I got the recipe from my local supermarket flyer, which, of course, is somewhere in the recycle bin now, but I remember how I made it.

1 lb sausage
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium onons, finely chopped
3 springs celery, finely chopped
2 eggs
1 cup cream
2 1/2 cups chicken or turkey broth
2 cups cornbread
3 tbsp parsley, finely chopped

Brown your sausage in a skillet breaking it up with a wooden spoon, remove the sausage with a slotted spatula and set aside to cool. Saute your celery, onions and garlic in the sausage drippings (you may add a little olive oil). In a very large bowl beat 2 eggs, mix in the cream and broth, add the corn bread and parsley, mix in the cooled sausage and the sauteed celery/onions/garlic. (I used the pre-packaged corn bread stuffing, if you desire you can make your cornbread a day before, and crumble it to add to the stuffing).

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  I laid my stuffing out on a cookie sheet to ensure that everyone got a bit of the browned crunchy top. Bake for about 20 minutes (I didn't really time it, but it didn't take long spread out flat like that. If you put it in a regular baking dish, then allow a bit more time).

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and remember we can all find many things to be thankful for.

I will be posting pictures of my turkeys as they roast, in the meantime, my cousin down South has her Thanksgiving turkey ready for the oven ....

Basket weaved with 2 pounds of bacon, seasoned with 3 sticks of butter, lots of garlic and salt. She'll add some wine when she puts it in the oven.

The Butterflied Herb Glazed Turkey is done. Click here.

The Cuban style turkey is done. Click here.

Turkey #2: Butterflied Turkey With Herb Glaze

I've never prepared a turkey like this, so I cannot say if it will taste good until Thursday, but from what I read it seemed worthy of the effort.

I followed this recipe directly from this November's House Beautiful pg.88. It calls for a butterflied turkey. Now I've never butterflied a turkey and I had some trepidation about doing this, but I managed although I recommend having your butcher do it for you.

12 lb whole turkey
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup shallots, minced
1/3 cup fred flat-leat parsley, minced
3 tbsp fresh oregano, minced
3 tbsp fresh rosemary, minced
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

3 tbsp melted butter

To butterfly the turkey: Position the bird, breast side down on a cutting board. Using kitchen shears or a large knife, cut along one side of the backbone until the bird is split open. Pull open the halves of the bird and cut down the other side of the backbone to free it. Cut between the rib plates and remove any small pieces of bone. Turn the bird breast-side up, opening as flat as possible. Press it firmly with your hands to break the breastbone and flatten the bird. (I was unable to break the breastbone). Season the turkey with salt and pepper.

In a bowl, mix together the garlic, shallots, parsley, oregano, rosemary, lemon juice and olive oil. Use your fingers to push some of the herb mixture under the skin of the breat and legs. Rub the remaining herb mixture over the surface of the turkey. Place on a roasting pan and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 6 to 24 hours.

 

Remove turkey from the refrigerator one hour before roasting. Preheat oven to 375F. (This recipe calls for you to place a rack in the roasting pan under the turkey.) Brush the turkey with the melted butter (breast side up). Roast until the skin is deep brown and an instant thermometer (I don't have one of those) inserted into the thickest part of the thigh away from the bone registers 175 degrees. (about 3 hours)

Turkey #1: Turkey with Cuban Marinade (Mojo)

Now its done!

I bought two small turkeys this year. The first one I'm preparing Cuban style.

For this 12 lb turkey I prepared a mojo (marinade)

10-12 cloves garlic
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup lime juice
1 tbsp dry oregano
2 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp pepper

A store bought turkey usually brings a bag in the body cavity with the neck and giblets (check the opening on the neck, sometimes there's a bag in there as well). Remove those and rinse your turkey well with cold water.

Prepare your marinade in a bowl by mixing the above ingredients. Pour your marinade over the turkey and into the turkey, use your hand to rub the garlic on the skin. Sprinkle again with salt and paprika (if desired).

Now here's what I do. I put the turkey in a large bowl, breast side down, so that it fits slanted, and I make sure most of the marinade is inside the breast cavity. (If you lay it breast up, the mojo is just going to sit at the bottom of the pan and flavor the back)  Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate 'til Thursday.

Thursday, pre-heat your oven to 325 F. Place your turkey breast side up in a roasting pan. Bake for  approximately 4 hours (for 12 lbs).

The above turkey looks done, but it actually needs about one more hour to become tender. The skin is brown already so I covered the bird loosely with aluminum foil to finish cooking. I don't use thermometers, and although I usually stab the thickest part of the leg with a knife to make sure the liquid come out clear, that does not guarantee that the turkey is done. You have to taste it! I know you don't want to ruin the look of it, so steal a little slice from an inconspicuous place. If it's chewy, baste it with its drippings and put it back in the oven.

Click here for useful information on oven baking times for roasting a turkey

Fabada Asturiana • White Bean Stew

Oh darn! Was this supposed to be Meatless Monday? ;)

This is a very hearty stew that originated in Asturias, Spain. The word Fabada comes from Fabes a type of white runner bean cultivated in the autonomous community of Asturias. They are also known as 'Judiones'. My first father-in-law was a Spaniard and he made this delicious stew, unfortunately, I never watched him make it and never wrote down the recipe, but I know what's it' supposed to taste like. I searched the internet and found a recipe in Spanish. I'm going to follow it to the best of my ability.

1 lb fava beans (I'm using great northern beans, didn't find fava)
2 smoked ham hocks
2 Spanish chorizo2
2 Morcilla sausage (I can't find this and I don't eat it anyway so I substituted with 3 slices of bacon)
2 small onions or 1 large one
4-6 cloves garlic
1 tsp paprika 
parsley
salt to taste at the end

Soak your beans overnight. The next morning pour your beans along with the water it sat in into a large pot, you will have to add more water to cover the beans to double the height.... does that make sense? (If your beans come to 1/3 the height of the pot, then add water to 2/3 the height of the pot). Okay turn the heat on high and start to boil the beans with a drizzle of olive oil. Soon foam will form at the top of the water, skim that out. Add all the ingredients to the pot, lower the heat to a low boil and cover for about 2-3 hours until the beans are tender. Check periodically to make sure the water level is sufficient. You can let it reduce at the end. Before serving remove the large pieces of onion, garlic and bacon. Cut your sausage into slices (remove any artificial casing). Pick out the ham from the ham hocks if you so desire. Grab your spoon a slice of crusty bread! (For a thicker stew, remove some beans and mash them, return to pot).

Note for those of us watching our fat intake: Refrigerate your finished

stew overnight and skim the fat off the top before reheating.

Why I Hate Santa Claus!

It seems that every year I start preparing for Christmas earlier and earlier. I'm not sure if it's because I'm living in a colder climate and it "feels" like Christmas or if it's the ever-so-early decorations in the mall, but I was inspired to tell you this story, early as it may be.

For Cubans, Christmas Day, other than being a religious holiday, is pretty much overlooked. Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) is the night to celebrate (and that we do in a BIG way). In Cuba, during my parent's era, presents were not exchanged until January 6th — Three Kings Day (El Dia de los Reyes Magos).

When we arrived in Florida in 1962, the idea of a fat man in a red suit secretly sneaking into one's home and leaving gifts under a tree on Christmas Day was a relatively new concept. My family knew of Santa Claus having been exposed to him in American movies, advertising, promotions and such, but the whole tradition just didn't click.

Although willing to plunge right into American culture, my parents just weren't quite sure how things worked. After all, it's not as if a handbook was passed out to newly arrived Cuban refugees to explain that (1) Santa Claus came from the North Pole, (2) he was transported on a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, and (3) he entered people's homes through their chimneys.  I remember a conversation at the dinner table between my mother and my grandmother that went something like this:

Mom:  "You know in this country, the gifts are exchanged on Christmas day."
Grandma: "Really?"
Mom: "Yes and the children are taught that Santiclos brings gifts. He comes at night and leaves presents under el arbolito de Navidad (Christmas tree)."
Grandma: "Ah, we're going to have to go shopping early then."

My father in particular was quite pleased to learn that Santa (the stalker) was always watching, lurching in the bushes.  For at least one month before Christmas we were constantly threatened into good behavior.
"Eat all your dinner, Santiclos is watching you!"
"You'd better behave or Santiclos won't leave you any presents!"
Santa didn't seem very friendly, but hey, we only got toys once and year, and we didn't care whom they came from!

I remember the first time (Dec. 1964) I became excited about Santa Claus' impending arrival. That Christmas eve my sister and I assisted my mother in putting sugar in our shoes for the camels (I sigh, what can I say?)  and leaving Coca-Cola on the table for Santiclos.  I remember waking the next morning to several unwrapped presents (my poor parents hadn't a clue!) sitting under the tree. 

Skip to a very lean 1968.  We were living in Los Angeles. I had recently turned seven.  By this time my sister and I were quite knowledgeable of how the whole Santa thing worked.  My mother informed us that Santa would only be leaving one present for each of us that year, and that we could choose whichever toy we wanted. 

I remember sitting in my second grade classroom, my hand under my chin, thinking long and hard about my decision.  I watched television every day after school to pick out the toy I would select from the commercials shown.  Finally I decided that the ONE AND ONLY toy I would ask for was a talking doll whose name I could not pronounce.  I quickly wrote the letter to Santa explaining that it was a doll that could talk, and that I had seen it on tv.  I placed the letter in an envelope, addressed it to SNTA, NOR POLL, sealed it, and placed an S&H green stamp on it. The next day on our walk to school I dropped it in the street corner mailbox.

My sister had made up her mind as well; she wanted a doll that could be fed. She was quick to point it out to my mother as we passed the store window of the nearby Sears.  For several days, my mother asked me the name of the doll I wanted:
"I'm not sure mami, but don't worry. I already sent Santiclos the letter, and he'll know which one it is."
"Okay," she responded, "but show it to me on television the next time the commercial comes on."
"Don't wooooorry mami! Santiclos will know."

That Christmas morning my sister and I ran as quickly as we could into the living room, and there sitting atop two brand new desks that my grandfather had built us (the poor soul, like we wanted to do homework, duh), were two sets of black patent leather shoes (yeah, yeah, where are the dolls?) and then... there was the doll that my sister wanted (unwrapped).... and on the other desk.....the doll that my sister wanted!

"Twins!" my sister yelped with glee.
"But... but... but where is my doll?" I asked.
"No, no" my mom exclaimed, her eyes popped out and waving her hands, "there's one for your sister and one for you!"
"Nooooooooooooooooooo! But I've been a good girl! How could you do this to me Santa?!  I hate you! I hate you sooooooooo much! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

As I bawled unconsolably I threw that doll down on the ground and stomped on it to my heart's desire. As far as I was concerned I got NOTHING for Christmas!

From that day on I divorced myself of anything Santa. I tore him out of my coloring books, defaced any Christmas card with his wretched face on it and cursed his stupid reindeer!  He became my arch nemesis.

To this day I do not buy Santa Claus decorations or cards.  When my daughter was born I initially refused to teach her about mean ol' Santa but was outvoted by her father's side of the family. (My mother already knew better than to mention his name).  Ironically, my little daughter developed a fear of Santa (I had nothing to do with it, I swear!), and would pee her pants whenever she heard "HO! HO! HO!"

So there you have it.... why I hate Santa Claus.  I think I'll stick with Frosty.

Arroz al Horno con Chorizo

I love it when someone is inspired by one of my recipes. In this case my cousin took my "Meatless Monday" recipe which I posted a while back for

Arroz Al Horno • Oven Baked Rice

Oven Baked Rice and added chorizo. She made a much larger portion as she was entertaining that night. Along with 7 ripe fried plantains on the side, the rice was a hit!

Spaghetti Carbonara

My daughter really likes this, but can't remember how to do it on her own, so I'm posting it here for her.  I don't really follow a recipe when making this; I adapt it to what my family likes (a lot of bacon), what I like (a lot of garlic) and what they can eat (we sprinkle the paremesan on the individual plates).

I made this with about
3/4 lb of spaghetti
6-7 slices of bacon, cut up into little pieces
3 large cloves of garlic, pressed
1/4 cup red wine
1 egg, beaten
olive oil
salt to taste

Get your water boiling for the pasta while you fry your bacon pieces 'til crisp. Transfer them onto a paper-towel lined plate. Reserve 1 tbsp of the bacon fat. Press your garlic and sautee it in the bacon fat (don't let it burn). Let the garlic cool in a bowl, add the egg, red wine and a good drizzle of olive oil.
Boil your pasta, strain it and put it back in the pot, add the contents of your bowl. Stir. The heat of the pasta will cook the egg. Add the bacon bits. Serve. Sprinkle with grated Paremesan Cheese.

Meatless Monday: Another Adventure • Sweet Potato Roulade

I tell it as it is. I spent a few hours of the afternoon making this, so I'm going to post it. Here's the story:

Have you ever scanned through a magazine or recipe book and seen a picture of something that looks really yummy and pretty? You think to yourself: I can do this, then you scroll down the page and start reading the ingredients. You start checking them off in your mind, I have that; don't have that; never heard of that; or that; oh, that one's too expensive... etc. Any logical person would turn the page and go on to the next recipe.... not I.

In red is the recipe I was following, in black are my notes:

Ingredients:
1 cup low fat cream cheese (Low fat? Noooo that doesn't taste good, regular is better. I'll use half and then it will be half the calories.)
5 tablespoons plain yogurt (Did this say yogurt? Darn, I bought sour cream!)
6-8 scallions, finely chopped (I'll used 1/3 cup red onion instead.)
2 tablespoons Brazil nuts, chopped and roasted (What? I don't have that!)
1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (Is it 1 lb before I cook it... I didn't weight the darn thing!)
12 allspice berries, crushed (What the heck is that?)
4 eggs, separated (I'm not wasting 4 eggs on this experiment, 2 will do.)
1/4 cup Edam cheese, finely grated (Edam cheese is expensive, I'm not putting it into a potato!)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds (Don't have that either.)
salt and pepper (okay)

You get the drift?....

This is what I did:  Peel your sweet potato. Boil until tender and blend in a food processor until smooth. (I had 2 cups worth of pureed potatoes). Add the two egg yolks and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Whip the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold the eggs whites into the sweet potatoes.

Preheat your oven to 375F. Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spread your potato mixture onto it in a thin layer. Bake for 15 mintues. Flip onto wax paper, removing the parchment, trim the sides and roll. (Once I flipped the potatoes I  realized they weren't sticking together very well, but I was in too deep already and had to keep going). Refrigerate.

In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, onions, (I also added red bell pepper) and spinkle with salt and pepper.

Remove your cooled potato roll from the refrigerator and unwind. Spread with with cream cheese mixture and roll again. Refrigerate for one hour and slice.

I didn't know what to expect from this, but all in all, it turned out okay. The cream cheese spread held the potato together and it even looked pretty when sliced, but the taste....not so good. (I should have followed the recipe!)

Happy Halloween! Repost of Empanaditas de Guayaba

 I decided to re-post this recipe since it always reminds me of Halloween.

We arrived in this country in the summer of 1962. One night in late October there was a knock at our door. My mother opened the door to find two boys, dirty and shoeless with their begging hands extended. She quickly ran into the kitchen and retrieved some slices of bread which she tearfully handed to them, blessing them in Spanish and explaining it was all she had to give. Then she sat at the kitchen table to cry.

—What's wrong with you, my teenage uncle asked?

—I didn't know that in this country there was such misery and hunger. Those poor boys!, my mother bawled.

—What? …  They're in costume. It's Halloween!

This was new information to absorb. What concept was this? Children going door to door begging for food? The holiday was explained to her by those who had come years earlier. The next year, my mother was prepared. She baked for several hours the night before and wrapped each Empanadita de Guayaba in aluminum foil.

A couple years later when my sister and I were old enough, my grandmother would walk us from house to house,  Now remember, she taught us,  when the door opens you say the magic words "Treeco Tree Alloween!" Years later we realized the magic words were "Trick or Treat Halloween;" nevertheless, be they in English or Spanglish, we never got a treat as good as our mother's Empanaditas de Guayaba.

The ingredients for this recipe are few, but it is time consuming. You have been warned.

8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter or margarine
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
guava paste
1 egg beaten

Let the cream cheese and butter soften. Add the flour and mix together. Use your hands to knead into a ball and refrigerate for a couple of hours. It will be crumbly at first and you will think that I was off my rocker with the measurements, but keep kneading it, it will come together.
Cut up the guava paste into small pieces. (If you've never heard of it or cannot find it where you are, then you can Americanize this recipe with any other kind of fruit paste or jam).

Take a small portion of your dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about  1/8 of an inch or thinner. I know you don't have a ruler in the kitchen and it is ridiculous to try to figure out, so thinner than pie dough will suffice. You can use a cookie cutter or a drinking glass will work well also to form round shapes. Place one piece of guava in the center and fold over. Press the edges closed with a fork. Repeat this process. Put a layer of egg wash over the top and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes (check on them, I don't use a timer and ovens are temperamental). Warning: Filling is hot! Let them cool before you try them.