Monday, August 13, 2012

Chili-egg Puff

After attending the Dukes of September concert at Canadaigua's CMAC Joan and I stayed overnight at the Bella Rose B&B. For breakfast Renee and Chris, the innkeepers, served this egg dish. Renee was kind enough to send us the recipe via email.

Chili-Egg Puff, courtesy of Renee, Bella Rose B&B

10 eggs
½ c. flour
1 t. baking powder
½ t. salt
1 pint (16 oz) cottage cheese
8 oz pkg jack cheese, shredded (or more if desired.  Original recipe called for one full pound!)
½ c. butter, melted
2 cans (4 oz each) diced green chiles

Beat eggs till light and lemon colored.  Add flour, baking powder, salt, cottage cheese, jack cheese and melted butter, blending till smooth. Stir in chiles.

Pour mixture into a well-buttered 9x13 baking dish.  Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes or until top is browned and center is firm.

Serve hot.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Ingredients can be modified for fewer portions.

(I use one can of green chiles and sub pepper jack cheese to add an additional kick and I also serve it in individual ramekins for a better presentation.)

Sensational Scones

After attending the Dukes of September concert at Canadaigua's CMAC Joan and I stayed overnight at the Bella Rose B&B. For breakfast Renee and Chris, the innkeepers, served these scones. Renee was kind enough to send us the recipe via email.

Sensational Scones, courtesy of Renee, Bella Rose B&B & Cuisine Magazine

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
12 T. unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 cup dried currants, mini chocolate chips, toasted nuts, or dried fruit
1 T. lemon or orange zest, mince
1 cup heavy cram. cold
1 egg blended with 1 T. water
Coarse or granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 375F.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine flour sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.  Blend in butter with your fingers, smashing cubes into flour.  (Take care that the butter does not become too soft and oily.)  Add currants (or other choice) and zest; toss to combine.  Make a well in center of bowl and add cream, mixing together with your hands until just blended.  Knead and pat dough into an 8” circle.  Don’t worry if the dough is crumbly – just gather until it holds together.  Cut into wedges and transfer to the prepared baking sheet spacing 2” apart.

Brush with egg and water mixture, then sprinkle with sugar.  Bake 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and set.  Cool briefly on racks; serve warm.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Malted Milk Ball Ice-Cream Dessert


You know what Forrest Gump's momma always said. With you dessert you get the best malted milk balls you have never tasted. Joan originally made this in July of 2008. Recently she made it for a friend who requested a copy. So have updated the web page.

Preparation Time : 8 minutes Chill: 3 hours

3 1/3 cups malted milk balls (10 1/2 ounces)
1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
12 frozen rectangular ice-cream sandwiches
1 cup hot fudge sauce, warmed, if desired

Place malted milk balls in resealable plastic food-storage bag. Tap with rolling pin or meat mallet until coarsely crushed. Reserve 1/3 cup.

Mix remaining crushed malted milk balls and the whipped topping.

Arrange ice-cream sandwiches in bottom of rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches, cutting sandwiches if necessary to cover bottom of pan. Spread whipped topping mixture over ice-cream sandwiches. Sprinkle with reserved crushed malted milk balls. Cover and freeze 2 to 3 hours or until firm.

For servings, cut into 4 rows by 3 rows. Top with fudge sauce. 12 servings.

Success Hint: Frozen malted balls crush more easily than crushed when at room temperature.

Special Touch: Substitute Neapolitan or chocolate ice-cream sandwiches for regular vanilla ice-cream sandwiches.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Tuscan Vegetable Soup


Raided the refrigerator to make a cold plate for dinner. Then Joan wanting to add an extra touch to the meal prepared this hearty soup. She discovered the recipe in the Lowville paper.

One 15.5-ounce can cannellini drained and rinsed
1 TB. olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced (about one cup)
1 medium carrot, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced (about 1/2 cup)
1 small zucchini (about 1/2 pound), diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 tsp.)
1 Tb. chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried
2 tsps. chopped fresh sage of 1/2 tsp. dry
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
One 14.5-ounce canno-salt-added diced tomatoes, with their juices
2 ounces baby spinach leaves (2 cups lightly packed), chopped
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In  a small bowl, mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon; set aside.

Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the broth and tomatoes and brng to a boil.

Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach leaves; cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes more.

Serve with the Parmesan, if desired.

Makes 6 servings.