Christmas dinner

Christmas w

At Charlie's request (again) we had a repeat of Thanksgiving turkey dinner for Christmas.  These are friends who are staying with us for a while. They are Kalven  and Ariyana.  Ari requested tamales for Christmas and we had some for breakfast this morning along with some Mexican style rice that I made.  Through one of Charlies car club members we were able to find a place to find some good tamales. It was a small mom & pop store that also sold food, but they only sold tramales on Friday this week.  We  pre-ordered got two dozen. They were very good and we still have some for later.

I cooked the turkey yesterday. cut the breasts and dark meat off in whole pieces, vacuum packed them and reheated it in the sous vide.  The back of the turkey was cooked in some homemade chicken stock I had frozen and that gave me enough stock for all the other dishes that used stock.  It made some very good gravy. I made a paste with butter and flour and added enough to stock to make the gravy, then added salt and pepper and a little cream, rosemary, sage and chives.  Charlie said it was the best gravy he'd ever had.

I had enough time to make some bread. It was the same bread I most often make but without any sourdough flavoring.  It is just water, salt, sugar, yeast and enough flour to make a soft but not sticky dough.

Dressing was Pepperidge Farm country style with some turkey bits mixed in with the broth.  There were some bits in the gravy too

 

Baked, bone-in ham and cookies for dinner tonight

Ham glazed with a mix of apricot preserves, brown sugar, mustard, maple syrup and baked 15 min. per pound at 325º

Ina Garten's Shortbread Hearts

Dec. 14,  2020 COOK TIME 20 mins PREP TIME 20 mins 

Ingredients

3/4 lb. unsalted butter

1 C.Sugar + extra for sprinkling

1 tsp.  vanilla

3 1/2 C. AP Flour

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature

These shortbread cookies come from the brilliant Eli Zabar. They are the quintessence of shortbread and have been my all-time favorite cookie since the first time I tried one, over fifteen years ago. We also use the dough for lots of variations on this recipe — Linzer cookies, PECAN SHORTBREAD and even raspberry tart.

TECHNIQUE TIP: If the dough is crumbly, add one teaspoon of warm water at a time until the dough comes together. I find the edges of shortbread are ever so slightly sharper if you chill the cookies for 10 minutes before you bake them. Shortbread can be cut into shapes and refrigerated for a week and then baked the day you serve them.

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven 350 F.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined
3. Add the vanilla.
4. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.
5. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
6. Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with a 3-inch heart-shaped cutter.
7. Place the hearts on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown.
9. Allow to cool to room temperature.

 Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies Makes about 25

8 oz unsalted butter

5 oz. Light brown soft sugar

1 lar. egg yolk

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

8 oz AP flour

2 oz.  cocoa powder

4 oz white chocolate

sprinkles 

Making the cookie batter:

Whisk butter & sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolk, vanilla and salt.  Whisk to incorporate. Sift flour and cocoa powder; slowly mix into butter until all ingredients are combined.

Place a good length of plastic wrap on top of a damp cloth (to hold it flat) Place dough on film and roll into sausage shape 1 1/2-inches in diameter. Chill until firm (will keep for a week)

Preheat oven to 350º. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper, slice 1/2-inch thick and bake 15-20 minutes.  They are done when surface looks dull but will harden after cooled.

melt white chocolate in microwave and remove just before completely melted and stir…or double boiler.  Place on top of cookie with back of spoon.

Chili

Yield: 10

Chili - Like Wendy's

I made two additions: 1/3 cup beer and 1 tsp. cocoa powder

Chili - Like Wendy's is perfect for those cooler nights! Thick, hearty and full of ground beef, beans and tomatoes! It really hits the spot! 

Prep Time15 minutesCook Time1 hour 30 minutesTotal Time1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds hamburger
• 48 ounce can tomato juice
• 29 ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz.) dark red kidney beans, drained
• 1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, drained
• Your choice of toppings (below), optional

Instructions In a large soup pot, cook and crumble the beef over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.

• Return meat to the pan and place all remaining ingredients, except toppings, in the soup pot, stir to combine.
• Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Stir every 15-20 minutes.
• Serve hot with your choice of toppings!

Topping ideas: crackers, Fritos corn chips, cheese, sour cream, green onions, chopped white onions, jalapenos, crushed red pepper, crumbled cornbread, avocado slices, bacon, tomatoes, black olives, cilantro, lime wedges, Corn Nuts, hot sauce, cooked elbow macaroni or a few dark chocolate chips.

 

Steak and homemade bread

Charlie likes Mac&Cheese with his steak.  I had potato.  I just started making bread on a regular basis again.