My favorites of the basic kitchen

I think kitchen ‘toys’ are my weakness. There are gadgets for everything imaginable and then a few I would never have thought of. There are a few that I have determined make life so much easier they are a must-have for the kitchen.
1. Garlic Press-while some recipes I smash and dice, the garlic press is awesome. You don’t have to peel the garlic before pressing out all the juice and pulp. It keeps the fibrous part out, and is essential for salad dressing recipes. I only like one style though, after going through several types. We broke at least two before we got this one. It is a Zyliss and the squish mechanism swings, producing a little give when you squeeze. The two that we had that were rigid except the main mechanism-we broke the handles.

2. Zester-I can not find a way to bake without a real zester-size grater. The larger ones really don’t do the job.

3. Henkel knives-I am a firm believer in good quality knives. When I go to cut, I expect my knives to cut well or be able to do a quick edge sharpen job to get it up to par. Dull knives are more dangerous as they can slip when they should cut. I have a nice collection of about 5 different sizes, I use mainly 2 and the bread knife.

4. Measuring sets-this includes both a good set of measuring spoons and good measuring cups. Whatever kind you like, but it should be one you find easy and pleasant to use.

5. cast iron pan-this is the ultimate in cooking. You can sear, fry, bake, or anything you could possibly want with one good cast iron pan with a lid. It’s important to know how to care for it, but it can be your best friend. Slow cooked food in the oven or seared steaks, you can get a nice even hot pan that will hold it’s temperature even on an electric stove like my piece of junk.

6. Cooling rack-I have lived for years without a cooling rack for cakes, cookies, and breads. I got 2 for Christmas this year and can’t believe I did without. This lets cookies cool so fast you can get them put in the cookie jar and out of the way of the next batch. Breads won’t sweat on the bottom and get soggy, and cakes cool at least twice as fast as just setting it on the counter. Well worth the couple bucks.

Sweet Dinner Rolls

I love bread. Yeah, I know, I love food. But nothing beats the smell of freshly baked homemade bread. I don’t make bread in the summer because of the heat, but come fall and winter, I love to start up my baking again. This recipe is very simple. I don’t do anything fancy, just mix, rise and bake.Yes it takes some time to rise, but the prep and baking time is short. So while it’s rising, take the time to do some cleaning, play with your kids, or pay some bills. I made 24 of these, and they lasted 2 days for a family of 4. They are wonderful fresh, hot with butter, maybe  jam, or just cold. It’s practically dessert on it’s own. You can also reheat leftovers. Just wrap in tinfoil and place in preheated oven (350′) for 10-15 minutes.

Oh yeah! Don’t want the rolls? This is some of the other things you can shape with this exact same recipe!

Ok. The old way was hard, these days the Kitchen-Aid Mixer is the ultimate in kitchen devices.(http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/index.asp)

In mixer bowl mix:   ( with beater attachment on about 3)

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 pkg yeast, or 2 1/2 tsp= 1 pkg

2/3 cup oil

1 egg

1/2 sugar or honey

1 3/4 cup warm-hot water from your tap. ideally about 100′-120′

Beat smooth. Put dough hook on mixer.  Add 3-3 1/2 cups flour. I use the ’2′ setting on mine, and mix then knead for around 2-3 minutes. It’s a fairly sticky dough, so I often dip my fingers in flour to help keep it from sticking on me too badly.

grease a nice big mixing bowl, turn out dough into it. Cover lightly with plastic wrap, and let it rise until doubled in bulk. One trick is I put it in a cool oven and place a bowl of boiling hot water on the rack below.

Grease 9×13 glass pan, preheat oven to 375′.

Punch down the dough, then start forming the rolls. I usually start by separating into four pieces, then make the rolls, etc. until there are 24 even size balls. As I form each ball, I place it in the greased pan, they should just fit. After the pan is ready, set it in a semi-warm place (on top of the stove can be good as long as it doesn’t actually get hot) and let rise again, until up to the top of the pan. Then brush with egg wash (1 beaten egg with a little water added) gently, and pop in the oven for about 30 minutes. The rolls should sound kind of hollow when tapped, and beautifully browned on top. Loosen sides and invert to take out of pan. I like to serve in a basket it two large pieces, and let everyone pull off their roll.

This will impress your family or guests. No preservatives, you can do honey so no sugar, and they taste like heaven. The smell of freshly baked bread can make anyone ready to eat!

I highly recommend this when you make something simple like a crockpot soup. That way you don’t have too much else work to do. Great for a Saturday or Sunday early supper.

Sweet Bread Version::::::::

Make dough as directed but add 1 tsp orange extract.

after first rising, knead in 1 1/2 minced dried fruit (if too dried out to mince, soak in OJ then drain before using)

knead and braid.  After you braid and let it rise again, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with minced, sliced almonds.

Bake for about 30 inutes at 375′

braided on flat cookie sheet or braided and baked in loaf pan

Honey & Cinnamon

I try whenever possible to use natural and safe healthy methods instead of modern-day synthetic drugs to handle illness. Not to say we never go to the dr. but luckily we rarely ever have to. I’m a big believer in preventative when possible. I was very interested a while ago when I learned honey is the ONLY food that does NOT spoil. How interesting. Now add cinnamon. At least it’s a tasty remedy, sure doesn’t hurt to try it!!

In addition, I have heard for allergies, using local honey can help. Apparently your body can get used to the local pollens and then have less of a reaction in springtime.

This site here: http://www3.telus.net/public/a7a55952/helpful-hints.htm had some great stuff. A lot of it I was familiar with, but there was a section on honey and cinnamon that was great. I don’t know if it works but I’m willing to give it a go! I think it sounds like a delicious way to be healthier. If anyone knows more, or has tried any of this, I would love to hear.

Honey & Cinnamon: from: http://www3.telus.net/public/a7a55952/helpful-hints.htm 

97. Interesting FACTS ON HONEY AND CINNAMON It is found that mixture of honey and cinnamon cures most of the diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a “Ram Ban” (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, in its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be helped by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists. It is found that Honey is the only food that doesn’t spoil.

98. HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, chappati, or other bread, instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who already had an attack, if they do this process daily, are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalizes the arteries and veins.

99. BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

100. TOOTHACHE: Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five tea spoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be applied three times a day until the tooth stops aching.

101. CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day, any chronic cholesterol is improved. As per information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.top

102. COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will help most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

103. UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder helps stomach ache and stomach ulcers.

104. GAS: According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

105. IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.bottom

106. INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

107. INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

108. LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 teaspoons of honey, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink ¼ cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft.

109. PIMPLES: Mix 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to make a powder paste. Apply this paste on pimples before sleeping & wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples.

110. SKIN INFECTIONS: Apply honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts to help eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

111. WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning ½ hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink 1 tsp of honey and a little less than ¼ tsp cinnamon powder boiled in one cup water (NOTE: you may adjust this mixture for your own taste buds). If taken regularly, it can reduce weight. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet. top

112. CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been improved successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

113. FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts are more alert and flexible.

114. BAD BREATH: People of South America first thing in the morning gargle with 1 teaspoon of honey & cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day. Dr. Milton who has done research says that a half tablespoon honey taken in a glass of water & sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing your teeth & in the afternoon at about 3:00 pm when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

115. INSECT BITES: Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.

116. ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. It is believed that if taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.

In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

117. HAIR LOSS: Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.

Jerky

This week my ‘great white hunter’ has my camera so I have been unable to take any pictures. I thought maybe I would share his to-die-for jerky. To begin with, we don’t even own a smoker-we borrowed one from a friend. Then the cost of gas was killing us so we got creative. We bought a $13 hotplate and stuck it under the smoker tray. This takes a little longer by about 25%-50% but the price difference is great. I’m pretty sure we will be building one of our own soon. You can also do it in your oven, try and get the temp to about 120′. You do have to keep an eye on it every hour or two until you get used to the timing. Not too dry, not to moist.

Start with a couple pounds of cheap roast meat. London Broil is good, or just roast. Trim excess fat and slice about 1/4 inch thick strips, about 1/2 inch wide.

Brown sugar

Soy sauce

spices-garlic powder, onion powder, pepper

salt

layer in a deep casserole dish, starting with meat, then sprinkle with spices, including generous salt. Then generously with brown sugar, and pack it gently. Layer more meat, spices, brown sugar.

After you get your layers in, cover with soy sauce. Soak in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Take your meat out, discard marinade and smoke your meat or dry it in the oven. The oven will not give you the smokey flavor I love, but it’s still tasty. You can use a drop of liquid smoke premixed in the soy sauce if you are desparate.

We prefer the hickory chips on the smoker, and generally it takes about 6-8 hours at 100′.

Be jealous. I’m eating some right now.

Black Bean & Corn Salad

This is a side dish I like because the beans actually have a little protein-good thing since corn is virtually useless, other than sugars. This is absolutely delish on taco salad or in burritos. It’s very simple and takes all of about 5-10 minutes to put together, although the longer it sits the stronger the flavor.

Dressing: In mixing bowl whisk together 3/4 cup cider vinegar, 1/4 veg oil or little less of olive oil, 1/4 sugar, 2 TBS ground cumin, dash salt and pepper

Add:

2 cans Organic Black beans, rinsed (3 bean mix works as well)

1 can corn, (I rinse because of added sugars and salts)

1/4 minced onion or 3 stems green onions (optional)

1/2 bell pepper, any color, diced (optional)

Stir gently to coat, stir again before serving

Out of the kitchen!

The last two days have apparently been not my days in the kitchen. Some days I have the ‘magic’ touch, this week-not.

My food came out edible, however when my husband gets this look and asks “hmm what is that you added”, probably not my shining moment.

So  here is a bit to share of some flavors that don’t really work well together. You can eat it, but it’s not something I would put together again.

The first one: The goal was to create my own healthier version of what my family refers to as Ooh Yuk. (aka top ramen, college staple, noodles). As one of the many hundreds of versions, we make it and stir in frozen peas or corn, and then an egg or two, and my favorite, grate in a good cheddar cheese.  So I started with a yummy organic chicken broth, noodles, and added small broccoli and brussel sprouts. Going ok so far. Added the eggs, then the cheese. 

Hmm. I’m pretty sure eggs and cheese OR veggies would have been fine, instead it came out like a confused version of broccoli cheese soup/oriental noodle dish. Edible. Barely.

Round two last night was pretty simple. Rice. That was good. Made a nice stir fry with teriyaki beef, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and onions. Everything was great-until I saw this package of fresh basil leaves sitting in the fridge turning brown. Thai food often uses basil. I hate to waste the basil. So I chopped some up, and in it went.

NOOOOO!! Basil and teriyaki are not meant to be in the same dish. Again, edible. But veeerrrrry weird.