Recipe Challenge

I recently posted a recipe for my mother's "meat rolls". Although I liked the recipe, I felt it could be improved. I asked fellow blogger Rickb, who is a chef, to see what he could do to make it better. His recipe definitely looks better! I'm going to try it! If you need a good idea for dinner, check out this recipe on his blog. :)

Food Review: Limburger Cheese

My family LOVES cheese. And I don't mean the boring stuff that most people buy. My husband takes great care to find interesting cheeses for us to try. At holiday time, he makes up a cheese platter consisting of many different kinds of cheese. Once, after traveling in England, he bought some English cheddar and brought it home in his suitcase. We love all different kinds of cheese, and my children are not timid when it comes to strong cheeses like blue cheese. Yesterday, for the first time in our lives, we tried Limburger cheese.

I think my review of limburger cheese could best be summed up in the after taste I experienced. The cheese was VERY strong, but after I ate it, I felt like I had eaten something off the barnyard ground. I told my son it tasted like I had eaten cow manure. He asked how I knew what cow manure tasted like. I told him that limburger cheese came closest to what I imagine cow manure to taste like.

In some ways I wondered if I would like it better in cooking. But I don't want my entire dish of food tasting like the barnyard, so I'm afraid to try it and see.
What is your experience with limburger?

Favorite Kitchen Tools

I decided that I wanted to share some of my favorite kitchen utensils. As I write, I realize I forgot to take a picture of one of my favorites; my wok and chopsticks.

First I should say that my cooking is greatly influenced by chinese cooking. I use chopsticks to turn things in hot oil. I use a wok for most of my vegetable cooking. Below is a picture of my favorite knives. The one on the left is a "rocker" knife that is really useful in chopping vegetables. It is especially useful when you want things cut finely. Next to it is my favorite cleaver. I had another cleaver that I really liked, but recently the handle on it broke. I was afraid I wouldn't find one that I liked as much, but I think I like this one even more. It is just the right size for my hands, and I love the slightly curved blade.















This next picture contains some odds and ends that I find really useful. On the left is a chinese rolling pin. I know that chefs say you should have a large rolling pin, but this one fits my hands just right and I can manipulate it easily. I prefer this to the large rolling pins. I have a large one somewhere, I just never use it.
Next to it are a garlic peeler, and a garlic press. We eat a lot of fresh garlic. The bottled stuff has a sour taste to it, and just doesn't give the right flavor. Garlic salt is nothing like the real thing, and adds more salt than I want. This garlic peeler takes the peels off so easily, and the garlic press gives just the right consistency, while releasing the oils.

















This platter is one of my favorite items in my kitchen. I'm really not a person who goes for gold plated china. I love this metal platter that I bought at IKEA. It is really large and can hold a large turkey plus trimmings, or can hold several batches of cookies. And I don't know why, but the pattern just makes me happy. :) I think it only cost me about $12, but has been indispensable.
















This last picture is of a purchase I made this last Christmas. I'm not sure if you can tell, but these are soup mugs. My husband and I have a thing for red bowls. We can't seem to pass up red bowls in the store. In general, whenever we eat chinese food we eat it on red plates, and in red bowls. I love having these soup bowls on the counter to add color to my kitchen, and to be ready for dinner. I bought these at World Market for about $12.











Okay, those are some of my favorite kitchen gadgets. What are some of yours?

Meat Rolls

My daughter has been ribbing me about this recipe ever since I made it, but I actually like it. This is something my mother made occasionally when I was young, and I most recently used my Aunt's recipe to make it for my family. There really isn't much recipe to it, but for those cooking challenged, here is how I made it.

First make biscuit dough. I have posted a recipe once before that you could use. Click here for that recipe.

Roll out the dough to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

In a bowl combine:

About a pound of uncooked ground beef
About 1 can vegetable soup (concentrated)

I didn't have vegetable soup when I made it, so I used 1/2 can of tomato soup, and one can of mixed vegetables (drained).

Spread meat mixture on top of biscuit dough. Roll up and slice like you would if you were making cinnamon rolls. Bake at 325 degrees for about 25 -30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, melt about 2 tbl. butter in a pan. Add about 2 tbl. flour. When it is combined well, add about 1 cup of milk, stirring constantly. I also like to add about a teaspoon of chicken soup base or bouillion. You are making a white sauce. You can adjust the amount of milk if you like the sauce to be thinner or thicker. Serve the white sauce over the meat rolls.

My daughter asked if I was going to make meat cupcakes the next night for dinner. I don't think she could get past the cinnamon roll effect. My husband suggested I make individual meat loafs in a muffin pan. ;D

Easter Story Cookies

This is a great Easter activity to do with children. This activity is intended to be done on the night before Easter before going to bed.

Ingredients:
1 Cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 eggs whites
pinch salt
1 Cup sugar
ziploc bag
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Place the pecans in the ziploc bag, and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break in to small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into a mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11
Sprinkle a little salt in to each child's hand. Let them taste it, and add a pinch of salt to the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our sin.
Read Luke 23:27
So far the ingredients are not very appealing. Add 1 cup of sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know that and belong to Him.
Read Psalms 34:8, and John 3:16
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-16 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66
Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven over night. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20, 22
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter morning, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Mattew 28:1-9
Happy Easter!

Cinnamon Rolls

This is the cinnamon roll recipe I use. Sometimes they turn out GREAT, and other times they just turn out good. :) I think it has to do with how thick I roll them out. I like to roll them out a little on the thick side.

Combine:
2 C. scalded milk
1/3 C. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cubes butter
Let cool

In a separate bowl, combine
1 pkg. (or 2 1/2 tsp.) yeast
1/4 C. warm water
When yeast starts to activate, add:
3 tsp vanilla
3 eggs, beaten

Add butter mixture to yeast mixture
Add 5-6 cups flour. Let raise. Beat down, repeat.
This dough might be a little sticky.
Roll out on a floured board.
I roll out the dough, then spread melted butter on the dough.
Sprinkle with about 1/2 cup of sugar, and 4 tsp. cinnamon
Roll dough up, and slice. Place on greased cookie sheet and let rise.
Bake 375 for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Drizzle with frosting.

Frosting:
I don't have a written recipe for the frosting. I just make it by combining about 4 tablespoons softened butter or margarine with powdered sugar. I add the powdered sugar until it is thick, then I drizzle in a little milk. I also add about a teaspoon of vanilla. You want a runny icing that you can drizzle on the rolls. I prefer to let them cool a little first.

Funeral Potatoes

In our church, whenever there is a funeral, we prepare and serve a luncheon for the family of the deceased. Almost every dinner includes what has come to be known as "funeral potatoes". This past month or so I have made this dish about 6 times. I have to admit I'm tired of it, but this is a good recipe to have on hand. There are several variations, but they are all pretty much the same.

8 large potatoes, skinned, boiled, and grated
1 cube margarine or butter melted
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese grated
1 16 oz. container of sour cream
3 green onions chopped

Some people skin the potatoes after boiling them, but I dont' like waiting for them to cool, so I skin them before. Some people use frozen hash browns in place of fresh potatoes. Just make sure that if you use frozen ones, you let them thaw at least partially before baking.
Combine all ingredients and put in a 9"x13" pan, and bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. After eating them, have your cholesterol checked. ;)