May Recipe Group

Hi everyone, it's Miriam.  I'd like to host the next recipe group, but since we have preschool Thursdays at 12:30, I think we'd feel too rushed for time.  I was wondering if instead, we could meet Tuesday May 7th at 11:30.  Would that work for you?  And please, spread the word if there's anyone you think would like to come.

I've been thinking about my theme for quite some time now.  I call it, The Secret Ingredient.

I know a lot of us frequent the recipe blog, Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  She introduced me to one of my now-favorite "secret ingredients".  It's simply a sprinkle of cheese on your waffle batter before you close the lid to cook.  It sounded so weird at first, but I was intrigued, so I tried it.  I actually love cheese on my waffles now-- it adds a certain crunch and salty balance to the sweet syrup.  (Thanks again, Mel!)

I feel like "secret ingredients" fall under two categories.  There are those that are, say, less healthy, but that make a regular recipe just so good.  For instance, recently when I made brownies from scratch, I added melted butter instead of vegetable oil.  Dang.  I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be adding more fat and whatever, but to me, melted butter was my new-found secret ingredient.  I suppose delicious things like butter and cream cheese and real whipped cream often deliver like that. 

But then there's the other camp of secret ingredients-- the healthy ones, which, I suppose, are more worth searching for.  You all know what I mean.  And there's plenty to poke fun at here, so I think I should share with you one of my favorite productions, considering the theme.  Have you seen the Kid History films yet?  Enjoy.

No, I'm not talking about that mom's green smoothies (wait-- Karalee, green smoothies that actually taste good!  Bring that!), or mysteriously chunky pancakes, or whatever the heck was growing in her pantry...  I mean yummy, practical things that actually do taste good.

A few weeks ago I took my very favorite butternut squash soup and put macaroni noodles in it.  It looked like a lusciously creamy batch of homemade macaroni and cheese, so of course my kids were going to love it.  Johnny actually got feisty about who was taking too much, so there wouldn't be enough leftover for him...  That was funny.  So to me, that was a "secret ingredient" success worth trying again. 

Anyway, you get the point.  And please feel free to bring a recipe from either of the two camps-- healthy or not so much-- I'm totally up for both.  :)

Here is the first recipe from our citrus recipe group.  I look forward to getting all of yours.

Crepes (from BHG)

2 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1 c. flour
1 TB oil
2 TB sugar
Combine all and whisk till well blended.  Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Pour 1/4 to 1/3 c. batter in pan and swirl around till bottom of pan is covered. Cook through. (I don't flip it over, it cooks all the way through in about 1 minute.)  Invert on paper towels. (I keep mine in the microwave so they stay warm.)

Orange Sauce (Rachel Keyes)

1/3 c. butter
1 c. powder sugar
2/3 c. OJ concentrate (thawed)
1 tsp. orange zest

Melt and heat together in a saucepan till combined.

We love crepes filled with fruit (we use mandarin oranges, bananas, berries etc.) then top them with this orange sauce and whip topping.


Prizewinning Orange Scones with Berries and Cream (recipe from globalgourmet.com)

• Scones
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 5-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
• 1 extra large egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup heavy (whipping) cream
• Filling
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• Garnish
• 6 to 8 cups fresh berries (such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and tayberries), washed and dried
• 1/4 to 1 cup granulated sugar, depending upon the sweetness of the berries
• 1 to 1-1/2 cups heavy (whipping) cream, whipped and lightly sweetened with 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheet and set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Using a pastry blender, 2 knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse cornmeal. In a small bowl, combine the egg and cream and add to the flour mixture. Mix until just blended together.
Turn out the batter onto a lightly floured board and knead for 1 minute. Roll dough into a rectangle approximately 4 inches by 8 inches.
For filling: melt butter. Stir sugar and orange zest into butter until incorporated.  Spread on dough.  Roll up, jelly-roll fashion, and seal the long seam by pinching it together lightly with your fingers.
Cut the roll into eight 1-inch-thick slices. Lay slices down sideways on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until scones are golden.
Slice the strawberries and place in a large pretty bowl with other whole berries, if available. Sprinkle with sugar and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. To serve, heap spoonfuls of berries over each scone and top with freshly whipped cream.
Makes 8 scones

Smoothies!

Thought I'd share some really good smoothie recipes we've tried this week.

                                                         Banana Granola Smoothie (slightly modified)
                                                            (from:dwellonjoy.com)

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana (I used a frozen one)

1/2 c. plain greek yogurt

1/2 cup granola

2 scoops vanilla protein powder (optional- I didn't use this and it tasted great without!)

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any milk you have)

 

dash of cinnamon

 

1-2 teaspoons honey

4 ice cubes

 

*I thinned this out with a little extra milk.  It was really thick but super yummy!!

 

 

 

Blueberry Mango Smoothie

(from: cookiemonstercooking.com)

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

• ¾ cup plain greek yogurt
• ¾ cup milk
• ¾ cup frozen blueberries
• ¾ cup frozen mango chunks
• 1 tablespoon honey
• splash vanilla extract

 

 

                                                           Hearty Fruit and Oat Smoothie   

                                                      Martha Stewart Living, March 2013 

                                                                    (slightly modified)            

                                              Ingredients

•                                                     1 cup quartered strawberries
•                                                     1 sliced banana
•                                                     1/4 cup raw almonds
•                                                     1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
•                                                     1/2-1 cup greek yogurt
•                                                     4-5 ounces of milk
•                                                     dash of vanilla extract
•                                                     honey to taste

 

                                                                Apple Pie Smoothie (this was a favorite)

 

                                                

From Harley Pasternak, celebrity trainer

Harley Pasternak Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients

5 raw almonds
1 red apple
1 banana
3/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup nonfat milk
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon


Carrot Cake Smoothie
(from: rabbitfoodformybunnyteeth.com)Serves 1
1 cup chopped carrots
1 frozen banana
6oz Chobani Pineapple Greek Yogurt
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice - I love Almond Breeze by Blue Diamond!)
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground ginger
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add almond milk as needed to acquire your desired thickness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPRING HAS SPRUNG...

We are going to start having recipe group again, April 4 at 11:30 am at Karalee's new home.  Call Karlie, or Janna if you don't get the email with her address.

Let's put some spring in our steps by going citrus this month. Bring any item(appetizer, main, side, salad, or dessert) and the recipe and let's have some fun!

Hope to see you all.