Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Cuban sandwich.

Leftover ham and ribs went into these sandwiches.


This sumptuous grilled sandwich—a crusty roll filled with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles—originated in Cuba but has caught on throughout the U.S. This recipe first appeared in our April 2011 special Sandwich Issue with author Alexander Lobrano's article 

INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 8″ Cuban roll, split
½ cup leftover roast pork shoulder, shredded
3 slices deli ham
3 slices Swiss cheese
10 dill pickle chips
1 tbsp. yellow mustard
1 tbsp. canola oil

INSTRUCTIONS
Spread mayonnaise on bottom half of roll and top with pork, ham, cheese, and pickle chips. Spread mustard on top half of roll; cover bottom. Heat oil in a 10″ skillet over medium-high heat, and cook sandwich, weighing it down with a cast-iron skillet and turning once, until golden brown and cheese is melted, 8–10 minutes. Cut in half and serve hot. 


Sunday, April 27, 2014

BBQ Ribs, Brisket and BBQ beans


I already had this in the smoker yesterday when Charlie reminded me we had been invited to my nephew's house for a Bacon and Bourbon party. I took one slab to the party and the rest went in the refrigerator. This is a picture I took today to show what was in the smoker. The navy beans for Easter first became smoked baked beans then those leftovers became BBQ beans for the ribs and brisket. I used apple wood in the smoker.  Ribs were finished in a spicy BBQ sauce that had a little pineapple flavored balsamic vinegar added. It is not good picture. The meats look kind of dry but they weren't.
     Slaw is store bought.

For the Bacon and Bourbon party, Cassie made bacon and chocolate chip cookies and bacon wrapped asparagus with a bourbon sauce.
Ribs:
 First they were rubbed with 

2 tablespoons sugar


1 tablespoon packed brown sugar


1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon black pepper
and wrapped in plastic and left overnight in the refrigerator, then smoked for about 3 hours with apple wood at 220-240º then painted with a spicy BBQ sauce to which I had added a little pineapple flavored balsamic vinegar and wrapped in foil and allowed to steam for another hour, then for a few minutes put over hot coals to set in the "bark" coating.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Left overs




Ham n Egg Salad

Ingredients
2 c. Left over baked ham, diced very small
4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. chopped sweet onion
1/4 c chopped dried apricots or dried apples or golden raisins
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions
Combine diced ham, eggs, celery, onion, and dried apricot. Add mayonnaise and mix. Salt and pepper to taste. If possible, allow to sit in refrigerator for 1 hour. Serve alone or on bread.

Baked beans

Depending on how much left over ham and beans, add proportionally a mixture of the following

1/4 C. maple syrup
1/2 tsp. dry mustard (Colemans)
1/4 C. molasses
minced onion sauteed until soft
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
salt to taste
paprika to taste

optional bacon cooked crisp.  Bake in oven until liquid is thickened or absorbed.

To turn baked beans into BBQ beans, add

to equivalent of 2 (55 OZ) cans baked beans, add
    
    3 tbsp. rub seasoning 
    3/4 c. bbq sauce 
    1 tsp. liquid smoke 
   1/2 C. shredded bbq brisket blackened ends

Smoke in smoker or add dash liquid smoke or hickory smoked salt

    Combine all ingredients in a cast iron kettle and about 20 minutes before the 
    ribs are done, place over hot coals and cook, stirring occasionally until a "crust"
    forms on the top.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Easter dinner



Spiral sliced ham




i
Pineapple upside down cake with rum spiked whipped cream





Deviled eggs











Povitica bread

Navy beans

collard greens

Sweet potatoes



Not pictured: Cornbread muffins.

POT LIKKER-BRAISED FRESH HAM HOCKS WITH COLLARD GREENS AND POTATOES

FOR THE GREENS

2 lbs.. collard greens, stemmed and well washed
6 slices bacon
1 lar.. onion, peeled and diced large
1/2 C cider vinegar
2 Tbs. Kosher salt
2 Tbs. cracked black pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 fresh ham hocks, about 1 lb each, trimmed of most external fat
2 tbs. veg.. oil
Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
2 lbs.. new potatoes, washed and halved

1. In a large stock pat, bring 1 gallon of water to a boil.  Add the collards, bacon and onion and stir several times, then reduce the heat to low and add the vinegar, salt, pepper and pepper flakes.  Cover and simmer for 2 hours.  Remove the greens with tongs, drain them and set them aside.  skim the fat from the liquid (the “pot Likker”) and leave it in the stockpot over very low heat.

2. preheat the oven to 500 degrees

3. In a deep roasting pan, toss the ham hocks with the oil, then sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.  roast for 20 minutes to brown, then reduce temperature to 300 degrees.  Remove the hocks from the pan and skim off the fat that has accumulated in them, leaving the meat juices behind.  Put the hocks back in the pan and add enough pot likker to cover them about halfway.  Cover the pan tightly with foil and braise in the oven for 1 /2 hours.

Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes  Recipe by Wendy 
"Sweet potatoes made with brown sugar and maple syrup. A family favorite that everyone enjoys. If you're not cooking for a vegetarian crowd, you can top these with marshmallows as well."
  1. \
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 6 to 8 servings
Change Servings

2 1/2 sweet potatoes
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons flaked coconut(optional)
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Directions
  1. Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan with water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil, reduce heat, cover and let simmer 25 to 30 minutes until tender.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Use non-aerosol non stick spray to grease a 8x8 inch baking pan.
  3. When the sweet potatoes are cool, peel and cut them into large chunks. Arrange them in the prepared dish.
  4. In a small saucepan, melt butter, syrup, sugar and coconut together over a low heat. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Sprinkle mixture over sweet potatoes. Top mixture with pecans.
  5. Bake 5 to 7 minutes, until top is lightly browned
Collard greens  Norm’s trial recipe April 2014. (Easter)

2 bundles collard greens
6 slices bacon
salted water to cover
cracked black pepper
pork or ham shanks with bone or meaty ham hocks if available
1 C. sugar
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 C. cider vinegar
1 large onion, peeled cut in quarters


Optional: cook with 2 lbs. new potatoes, washed and halved if too big.

Roast hocks in roasting pan @ 500º for 20 minutes. Place in pot with pan juices and rest of ingredients and water to cover; simmer 2 hours. 


   PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE 
    Makes one 10 1/2-inch cake 

I used Duncan Hines pineapple cake mix with fresh cut pineapple, maraschino cherries in 
 \
    1/2 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed.1/2 stick butter melted together and poured in bottom of pan, pineapple and cherries arranged over brown sugar, topped with cake mix and cooked until cake was done.  It took about twice as long as package directions.

     

    RUM-SPIKED WHIPPED CREAM 
    Makes 2 cups 


    1 cup heavy cream, well chilled 
    2 tablespoons rum, such as Mount Gay 

    Pour the cream into the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer. Add rum. Whip on high 
    speed until stiff peaks form, 45 to 60 seconds.

NAVY BEANS
1 bag small white beans
soak in water to cover overnight, Discard water replace with fresh water.

Roast ham shanks in over at 500º for 20 minutes, Add to bean pot with juices, Add
1/8tsp ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 can chicken broth
Few dashes sherry
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Cover with water, boil, skim, simmer 1 1/2 hours.  Remove ham bones, cook remove meat from bones, return ham, discard bones.

Ham was Carando brand spiral sliced, cooked according to package directions.

Povitica bread is store bought at Strawberry Hill Bakery. It is a tradition in the neighborhood where I grew up. It is of Croatian origin.

Here is a recipe

Povitica Bread

BREAD:

4 cakes yeast
2 Pints milk
16 Cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 Cups shortehing
2 Cups sugar
8 Eggs

Filling
 8 cups shelled walnuts pecans
2 1/2 C. milk
1 teaspoon butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons honey
8 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt

BREAD: Heat milk to lukewarm, add yeast and one cup of flour.  Set aside in a warm place for about 30 minutes to “test out”.
Beat eggs well. add sugar, beat to combine. Melt shortening.  To the yeast sponge add the remaining flour and salt a cup at a time alternating the liquids, the melted shortening, beaten eggs and milk.  Mix well, adding more flour only if needed for kneading.  Knead until smoothe and elastic, then put in a gresased bowl, turning so that the top of the dough is greased.  Cover with plastic wrap (original recipe said to cover with waxed paper and a damp cloth); set aside in a warm, draft free place.  

FILLING:  Grind nut meats and add 1 tsp salat.  Scald milk and add 1 tsp. butter, the sugar and honey.  Pour hot over nutmeats and mix well.  Geat eggs thoroughly, beat in vanila and add to nut mixture. Mix well. \

ASSEMBLY: After dough has risen to twice its original sizee, punch down and divide into to.  roll out on a large clean dish cloth of sheet until the dough is paper thin.  If the dough resists rolling, cover and let it rest a few minutes.  By tablespoons, dot the filling around the dough halves.  Spread with a rubber spatula. Take the ends of the cloth and start rolling up like a jelly roll.  Seala the edges and ends.  Roll enf over end and place in a greased bread pan.  Bake 350 degrees 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a tootpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.



Sunday, April 13, 2014

Malaysan style fried chicken.

Today I made boneless, skinless chicken thighs fried with a spice paste called Inche Kabin (Nonya Fried Chicken)

8 chicken thighs boned and skinned
4 green onions, minced
1/2 Tbsp. Coriander
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp. fennel
1/8 tsp. clove
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
60-70 ml. coconut milk

Place solid ingredients in spice grinder and grind to a powder. Add to already powdered ingredints and stir in green onions.

Bone, skin and quarter 8 chicken thighs and place in plastic bag with coconut paste.  Stir around to coat all chicken pieces and refrigerate about 8 hours.  Deep fry in batches at 350 until browned and cooked through.  Remove from oil, heat it to 375 and re fry chicken a couple minutes to make coating crispy.

Served with rice, cucumber kimche, cut napa cabbage kimche and the following sauce:

1/2 tsp mustard powder
1 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. sugar
1 red chili, crumbled. ( wear gloves or crush under plastic wrap to avoid the hot getting on your hands and perhaps in your eyes.)



Saturday, April 12, 2014

pork loin stuffed with bacon and mushrooms





Kids had a date night tonight so dinner was just for me.  They can have the left overs tomorrow.
Spinach salad with strawberries and black olives. Dressing was Chambord, olive oil, dry mustard and salt. 

Dinner was home made sauerkraut, rice and stuffed pork loin.

Ingredients
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
4 slices bacon, chopped
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon breadcrumbs
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 pork tenderloins (2 to 2 1/2 pounds total), trimmed
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Directions
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; cook until the mushrooms are soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the breadcrumbs and all but 2 tablespoons parsley. Let cool.

Soak 10 to 12 toothpicks in water to prevent them from burning. Rinse the pork and pat dry. Butterfly the pork: Make a 1-inch-deep incision down the length of each tenderloin; do not cut all the way through. Open the meat like a book so the tenderloins lie flat.

Cover the pork with plastic wrap; pound with the flat side of a meat mallet until about 1/2 inch thick, starting from the middle and working outward. Spread the mushroom mixture over the 2 tenderloins. Starting with a long side, tightly roll up each tenderloin. Secure the seams with the toothpicks.

Preheat a grill to medium high; brush the grates with olive oil. Brush the pork rolls with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning, until a thermometer inserted into the center of the pork registers 140 degrees F, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to rest, about 10 minutes.

Mix the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons parsley, the lemon zest, and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Remove the toothpicks and slice the pork rolls. Top with parsley oil.



Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/mushroom-stuffed-pork-tenderloin-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Whisky Marinated Steak

I didn't take any pictures of dinner tonight but we had a celebratory dinner for my son. He has been away for a few days.

The STEAK

 was rib eye cut rather thick and marinated for 4 hours in 1/2 C. packed brown sugar, 1/2 C. bourbon, 1/3 C. soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon Tabasco and 1 C. water.

After 4 hours, I dried it, salted it and grilled it outside.  Potatoes were washed, pierced with a fork four or five times, rubbed with oil, salted and baked at 375 for 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Served with butter, sour cream, bacon bits, and fresh chopped chives.

Cassie made sugar peas in the oven with cheese.  She sauted some mushrooms too and brought a sparkling wine to serve with the meal.

I made green beans but forgot to check on them until I smelled them burning.  I saved as many as I could, cutting off the burned part.  Charlie asked if I smoked them and said they were really good. Whew.


for Dessert we had strawberry shortcake.