Author Archives: Dawn

Easy Strawberry Shortcakes with Whipped Cream

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Easy Strawberry Shortcake

I made it though another year – I don’t really know how, but I did.  It was quite a last week of school, with exciting events for both girls every day.  Things were so crazy, I almost forgot they would bring their report cards home on Friday.  Normally that is not something I think about, but after the last report card – my younger daughter was spending a little too much time socializing, and not enough time actually focusing on her work.  She is not the driver my older one is, and has no real desire to do more than she needs to (unless it has to do with art), and the teachers were starting to catch on.  She is extremely capable, and they were pushing her to do more – but that wasn’t happening.  Fortunately the talks we had with her worked, and her last report card really lit a little fire under her – because boy did she turn things around.  Even I was floored – the first word her Math teacher wrote in the comments section was:  “Wow!”  I was so proud of her, and you should have seen her face when I told her how well she had done, she was beaming.  The summer was starting out on a really good note.

So what do you make for a special last day of school dessert?  Well – I have been waiting and waiting for the strawberry stand to open at my bus stop.  I always thought it opened in the beginning of June – but the beginning of June came and went – and not only was the stand not open, the stand wasn’t even there.  Every day when the bus dropped me off, I would hope and pray that the stand would show up – but no.  I was starting to think they decided to put the stand somewhere else.  I was really getting depressed.  It is like my own secret stash of fresh strawberries that only my neighborhood knows about – ok, so that is a lot of people – but still.  Finally last week the stand showed up, just as I was ready to give up on them, and start driving around looking for another one.  I was so happy – all I could think about was Friday – after my older daughter’s promotion ceremony.  We would stop on the way home and buy a whole flat.  Also – I completely forgot that a whole flat – is really like buying 2 flats.  $21 bought me more strawberries than I could ever know what to do with – I even cranked out 10 jars of my favorite strawberry vanilla jam – and I still have pounds of them left.

Back to dessert on Friday night.  I really wanted to make a strawberry crisp – but they both had such amazing report cards – they got to choose – and they found this picture on Tastespotting  from a beautiful blog called Just a Taste.  When I looked at the name of the recipe, and the first word was “easy” – how could I turn them down?  These shortcakes were delicious, in fact – I actually think I have made them before – but it was the whipped cream that really made this dessert special.  The sour cream gave the cream some weight, and some tang – it was exactly what these shortcakes and strawberries needed.  Ok, seriously – these strawberries needed nothing – they were sweet and delicious, but pairing them with these shortcakes and whipped cream just put them over the edge.

It was a really nice start to the weekend, that ended with a wonderful Father’s Day, and another delicious dessert.  The girls made me promise they could eat the rest of the strawberries this week after swim team (with a little cake on the side).  I think this is going to be a great summer…for all of us.

Ingredients

For the shortcakes:

  • 4 cups sliced strawberries
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/3 cups heavy cream, plus additional for brushing on shortcakes
  • 2 teaspoons decorative sanding sugar (optional)

For the whipped cream:

  • 1 cup chilled heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment: 3-inch circular cookie cutter (optional)

Preparation

Make the shortcakes:

Preheat the oven to 425ºF with a rack in the middle. Lightly butter a baking sheet.  In a small bowl, stir together the sliced strawberries with the sugar. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in the heavy cream just until a dough forms. Gather the dough into a ball and knead it on a lightly floured surface one to two times. (Don’t over-knead the dough or your biscuits will be tough.)  Roll out the dough until it’s 1/2-inch thick. Using the cookie cutter, cut out 8 shortcakes and transfer them to the baking sheet. (Alternately, you can trim the sides of the dough into a square and then, using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 8 square shortcakes.)  Brush the tops of the shortcakes with additional heavy cream and then sprinkle them with the sanding sugar (optional). Bake the shortcakes until golden, 15 to 20 minutes, and then transfer them to a rack to cool.

Make the whipped cream:

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the heavy cream, sour cream, sugar and vanilla extract on high-speed until soft peaks form.

Assemble the shortcakes:

Slice the shortcakes in half and then sandwich the strawberries and whipped cream inside them.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Easy Strawberry Shortcakes with Whipped Cream

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Boston Cream Pie

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Boston Cream Pie 2

Just two more days, and two more lunches to make.  I can’t believe it, could summer possible be here?  My younger daughter asked me tonight – while she was changing out of her bathing suit after swim team  – if I thought this summer it might actually get warm?  What a funny question - I guess not so funny in Seattle though.  I told her I didn’t know, but I sure hope so.  The kids here are used to going in the water when it is barely 60 degrees out – the idea of hot weather means the coaches actually go in the water too.  I will keep my fingers crossed, although there is one thing I don’t like about hot weather…no baking.

My older daughter’s birthday was Memorial Day weekend – and I asked her what kind of cake she wanted.  Before she could answer me, I asked her if she wanted a Boston Cream Pie.  She asked some questions about it – and when she found out it wasn’t a pie at all, just a moist vanilla cake with vanilla custard and a chocolate glaze – she was sold.  Finally.  I have been wanting to make a Boston Cream Pie from Cook’s Illustrated for years – yes, literally years.  I think the recipe was sitting in the pantry for over 3 years.  Each week when I would go through the stack, I would look at this longingly, wondering when I would ever find the time to make this beautiful specimen.  I knew it would come eventually – and I was finally right.

I was so excited to dive into this adventure.  I started with the cake – and that was rather easy.  The batter was pretty different looking, but I was not turning back.  When I started the pastry cream – I tried not to focus on the number of egg yolks I was using and instead focus on making sure I didn’t make scrambled eggs.  Fortunately that did not happen.  When it was time to put the cake together, I was amazed at how light it was.  It was at this point that I realized, I had never really had a real Boston Cream Pie.  I have had things like it before, but never the real thing.  I was getting more and more excited.  The glaze was slightly thicker than I imagined, and decided just to glaze the entire outside of the cake – I thought it looked prettier than gobs of chocolate trying to drizzle down the side.

We waited the required refrigeration time that the recipe suggested, and then I cut a slice.  I almost starting jumping up and down.  The slices looked beautiful – but not nearly as gorgeous as it tasted.  This was – hands down – the best cake combination I have ever had in my life.  Ok – I do love a good red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, but even this was better.  The cake was so moist, even after being refrigerated – and the pastry cream had such body and taste – and that chocolate glaze – just the right richness to counter balance the sweetness of the cake and cream.  It was a birthday to remember.

So – even though I am excited for summer to come – I am not ready for a baking break just yet.  I need to make this recipe into cupcakes next…

Ingredients

Pastry Cream

  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup (3.5 ounces) sugar
  • Pinch of table salt
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into four pieces
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Cake

  • 1 1/2 cups (7.5 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups (10.5 ounces) sugar

Glaze

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine

Preparation

For the pastry cream

Heat the half-and-half in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it just simmers. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and salt until smooth. Add the flour to the yolk mixture and whisk until incorporated. Remove the half-and-half from heat and, whisking constantly, slowly add 1/2 cup to the yolk mixture to temper. Whisking constantly, return tempered yolk mixture to half-and-half in saucepan.

Return saucepan to medium heat and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens slightly, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer, whisking constantly, 8 minutes.

Increase heat to medium and cook, whisking vigorously, until bubbles burst on surface, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat, whisk in butter and vanilla until butter is melted and incorporated. Strain pastry cream through fine-mesh strainer set over medium bowl. Press lightly greased parchment paper directly on surface and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.

For the cake

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl Heat milk and butter in small saucepan over low heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat, add vanilla and cover to keep warm.

In stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whisk eggs and sugar at high speed until light and airy, about 5 minutes. Remove mixer bowl from stand. Add hot milk mixture and whisk by hand until incorporated. Add dry ingredients and whisk until incorporated.

Working quickly, divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake until tops are light brown and toothpick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes.

Transfer cakes to wire rack and cool completely in pan, about 2 hours.  Run a small plastic knife around edge of pans, then invert cakes onto wire rack. Carefully remove parchment, then reinvert cakes.

To assemble

Place one cake round on large plate. Whisk pastry cream briefly, then spoon onto center of cake. Using offset spatula, spread evenly to cake edge. Place second layer on pastry cream, bottom side up, making sure layers line up properly. Press lightly on top of cake to level. Refrigerate cake while preparing glaze.

For the glaze

Bring cram and corn syrup to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Remove fro heat and add chocolate. Whisk occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.Pour glaze onto center of cake. Use offset spatula to spread glaze to edge of cake, letting excess drop decoratively down sides. Chill finished cake 3 hours before slicing. Cake may be made up to 24 hours before serving.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Boston Cream Pie

Boston Cream Pie 3

New York Sour

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New York Sour 2

What a day – let me tell you.  There were ups, and there were downs – I went from tired and cranky (on Thursday night), to completely stressed out, to elated, to livid.  I’m sorry, but I have to rant – this is my blog, and I have to get this off my chest.  I’m not even sure a drink will help at this point.

This morning, my older daughter played in the semi-finals for girls little league.  This is the furthest their team has ever gotten in the playoffs, and we (the parents) could not be more proud of them.  Unfortunately this morning my daughter was a magnet for the ball, and got hit all three times she was up at bat.  The good news is she got on base all three times, and one of those times she scored a run.  This was a tough team, with an even tougher coach, that was watching (and commenting) on every little thing – including telling the umpire that he should tell my daughter to move out-of-the-way of the pitches – like she enjoys getting hit in the side of the ribs by the ball???  The thud was painful to listen to.  They had a really tough battle, but they made it through – and came down from a 5 run deficit to win by 1 run.  It was amazing – they were so happy they were jumping up in down in a big huddle – it was one of the proudest moments I have experienced as a parent.

Later in the afternoon, we decided to head down to the neighborhood field to watch the boys championship game, as she had some friends who were playing.  As we were approaching the field, we couldn’t believe all the cars on the street.  My daughter said, “Boy, someone is having a big party!”  That someone was the boys championship game.  There were hundreds of people there – they were selling hot dogs and cotton candy, they had huge speakers to announce all the payers, and 4 umpires in the field.  It was amazing.  She looked at me and said, “Are we going to get all this stuff too?”  Well, the plan was for them to play the championship game at Husky Stadium (at University of Washington), but we learned today that due to some construction, they would not be able to play there.  The girls were so looking forward to that, but the excitement of winning took precedent.

We found out tonight that we will be playing at the field down the street from us – not a special field, just an old regular field – and the game starts at 2:30pm on Monday.  WHAT????  ARE YOU KIDDING ME???  Don’t they know that school is not out for the summer yet?  And that school doesn’t get out until 3:30pm?????  What about the parents that have to leave work in order to get to the game, and the meetings they have to reschedule???  Let alone the fact that none of their friends, neighbors, or other fans will be able to make that time work.  THIS IS CRAZY!!!  The sheer lack of disrespect for the girls is outrageous.  What are we in the dark ages?  My daughter was crushed to find out that she would need to be picked up 2 hours early from her field trip on Monday to make it to the game.  I am going to need to leave work at noon, just to drive 45 minutes to get her from the field trip, and then another 45 minutes to the field.  And if we run into traffic, forget it.

Needless to say – not even this delicious drink I found in Bon Appetit will help at this point.  But, please – go ahead and make one for yourself – and say a little toast to the Red Hot Chile Peppers.  They deserve so much better…I just hope that someday girls will be given the respect they deserve on the field – at least we can always dream.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces rye or bourbon whiskey
  • 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 1 ounce simple syrup
  • 1/2 ounce  fruity red wine (such as Shiraz or Malbec)

Preparation

Combine 2 ounces rye or bourbon whiskey, 1 ounce fresh lemon juice,  and  1 ounce simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill  with ice, cover, and shake until outside of shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds.  Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Gently pour 1/2 ounce  fruity red wine over the back of a spoon  held just above the drink’s surface so wine floats on top.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  New York Sour

Zucchini Mini Muffins

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Zucchini Mini Muffins

I am tired – and I am cranky.  That is not a good combination for a blog post…but I am going to plow through it anyway.  Cooking often helps alleviate my stress, let’s see if writing about it does the same.

Do you ever have hunches that you can’t substantiate?  For me, it happens all the time.  For a very analytical person, I tend to sense things extremely well.  The problem is, because I am so analytical, unless I have data to back up my suspicions, I don’t often act until I can find the proof.  Of course this doesn’t always work to my advantage – sometimes I wait until I am too far deep into the hole – and it is hard to climb your way out at that point – proof or no proof.  I am finding myself in one of those situations right now, and it is not pretty.  I need to find some foot holes, and create a plan to crawl out.  I am about half-way there, and there are two paths to take.  I sure do hope I take the right one.

I have mentioned this before - but I also have a good sense about recipes.  I remember talking to friend about that – I felt that I was very lucky with recipes.  Most of the recipes I try actually come out quite well.  She told me it wasn’t luck – I was good at reading recipes.  I didn’t realize that was a skill – but I am starting to realize that it is.  While I am reading a recipe, I am making it in my brain, and there are times when I can actually taste it.  Now - back to reality – not everything turns out tasting like it did in my head.  There are times when I am off – for the better, and for the worse.  Sometimes I tear out a recipe thinking it will be good – and it turns out to be just amazing.  I love when that happens.  The opposite is not such much fun.

I saw this recipe in Cooking Light - and I knew they would not be as good as my tried and true Zucchini Bread recipe, that I have been making for 20+ years – but I thought these would be good – and they were terrific.  Mostly because they were bite sized.  They were so easy to pop in your mouth, that they didn’t last long in our house.  I think the girls ate about 5 each for breakfast the next morning, they just couldn’t stop.  I can’t complain when they are getting a green vegetable in first thing in the morning.

Well – that’s it for me – thanks for the diversion – I need to go work on my exit strategy.  I wish I could just cook my way out of this one…unfortunately not this time.

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/3 cups)
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 2/3 cup shredded zucchini (about 1 medium zucchini)
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons 1% low-fat milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1  large egg, lightly beaten
  •   Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through allspice) in a large bowl. Combine zucchini and next 5 ingredients (through egg) in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Add zucchini mixture to flour mixture, stirring batter just until combined. Divide batter evenly among 24 miniature muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of muffins comes out clean.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Zucchini Mini Muffins

Asparagus Soup

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Asparagus Soup

This is an exciting time.  The countdown has begun to the last day of school – less than 10 days to go;  the first week of Junuary has greeted us with sunshine and warm temperatures (I swear everyone had a little extra bounce today in their steps) and asparagus is still selling at a decent price in the markets.  All year I wait for my favorite veggies to go on sale…asparagus and artichokes.  My rule of thumb for my green goddesses is to start looking after St. Patrick’s day (the green holiday), and by the time it is berry season they are gone – but at that point we are talking about berries…so onto something bigger and better. This year I have really been enjoying the asparagus. In fact, my children have also become connoisseurs.

The other week my husband went to the market with my younger daughter, and one of the items on the list was asparagus.  My husband was eyeing up the stalks, and chose what he thought was a decent bunch.  My younger daughter took one look and started lecturing him on the correct diameter of asparagus stalks.  I love it, at 7 years old, she is already an expert.

Unfortunately we have eaten so much asparagus lately, my kids have started to hold up the white flag.  I have tried to take a positive spin on that and think of it as a challenge.  What else could I do with those delicious green stalks that would make them happy?  Well, I thought about pasta with asparagus cream sauce, that was until I saw this recipe in the Parade Magazine for Asparagus Soup.  What intrigued me most about this recipe was the use of evaporated milk.  What a great addition.  I have made asparagus soup without milk or cream, but I love the creaminess that it brings.  The girls loved it too.

As asparagus season comes to a close, don’t you want to try something new?  Isn’t it time to shake things up a bit?  I know I’m ready for that.  And a sunny Junuary might just give people the energy and inspiration to do so.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds asparagus
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup evaporated 2% milk
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • parmesan cheese, grated

Preparation

Trim the woody ends from the asparagus; reserve tips of 8 spears.  Cut the remaining asparagus into 1/2-inch pieces.

In a large saucepan, warm the olive oil over low heat.  Add the onion, celery and carrot; cook 3 minutes.  Add the garlic, and cook one minute.  Add the asparagus, salt and pepper and cook 5 minutes.  Add the broth and simmer, covered for 20 minutes.  Blanch the asparagus tips in boiling water for 3 minutes.  Drain.

Puree soup either using an immersion blender (easiest) or in batches in a blender.  Return to the saucepan over medium heat and add evaporated milk and lemon juice.  Warm though – although don’t let simmer.  Top with tips and add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Serves 4

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Asparagus Soup

Cucumber Pimm’s Cup

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Pimm's Cup

I cannot believe that it has been a year since I wrote about the “100 days of May” – and here we are, right back at it.  I am in the middle of a marathon of sorts – the marathon to get to the end of the year.  Only two more weeks to go…will I actually make it?  Only time will tell.

My husband and I are still obsessed over cocktails – it is a phase we have been going through for a while now.  For me, it is a lot like cooking.  I love finding different flavor combinations that go really well together.  Unfortunately it is not something we do often enough – but it certainly is fun.  My girls have also gotten into the spirit of things, and whenever I made up a new cocktail for us – I try to make a non-alcoholic mock tail version for them – they love it.

When my husband was growing up, his mother was what we call a “Super Mom” – she stayed home, was very involved with their activities, and loved to host all the neighborhood kids and moms.  Years ago we were at a restaurant and we saw Pimm’s Cup on the menu – and it reminded him of his mother.  She was quite the tennis player when he was young – and I guess Pimm’s Cup was a drink she served her friends after playing tennis.  I have been looking for an excuse to make the drink ever since.  When I saw it in Cooking Light the other month, I was so excited to put it in the recipe pile.  Of course a drink like this is screaming for a hot and sunny day – which we don’t get very often in sunny Seattle – but I just couldn’t wait.  I made it the other weekend for Book Club, during a sun break – and I thought it was delicious.  It is not a strong drink, but nice and thirst quenching.  The recipe below also lends itself very nicely to making a non-alcoholic version – just omit the Pimm’s Cup, and you will have a wonderful drink that everyone can enjoy.

So – as we approach Junuary in Seattle – I hope that the rest of the country is gearing up for summer.  And, if you are stuck in the “100 days of May,” don’t fret – school will be out soon, and then comes a whole bunch of new races.  During a marathon it is important to replenish – it’s the only way to finish strong…

Ingredients

  • 2 cups prepared lemonade
  • 1  large cucumber, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • 1 cup Pimm’s No. 1, chilled
  • 1 cup ginger ale, chilled
  • 6  cucumber spears (optional)
  • Mint leaves (optional)

Preparation

Combine prepared lemonade and cucumber slices in a large pitcher. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Add Pimm’s and ginger ale to pitcher. Pour 1 cup mixture into each of 6 ice-filled glasses. Garnish with cucumber spears and mint leaves, if desired.

Serves 6

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Cucumber Pimm’s Cup

Emerald Asparagus Deviled Eggs

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Asparagus Deviled Eggs

I love hard-boiled eggs – I love everything about them.  I love making egg salad out of them, I love making deviled eggs, and I love just eating them plain with a little bit of salt.  I always have these grandiose plans of whipping up a bunch of hard-boiled eggs over the weekend, and then I can eat them all week.  Right – like that has ever happened.  I know it is easy, but who has time for that?  I remember when I was younger, I was at a friend’s house before Easter, and we were decorating eggs.  I asked if she had hard-boiled them, and the answer was yes.  I was over the moon when she told me I could take some home after we had decorated them.  Since I didn’t celebrate Easter, I didn’t feel bad at all about digging right into them at soon as I got home.

When my husband and I moved to Seattle, one of the biggest disappointments for us moving from Denver – was the airport.  Denver had just built an amazingly modern new airport – and Seattle’s airport looked old and completely dated.  Trying to find some decent food before flying was nearly impossible.  That was before they started renovating the airport a few years ago.  Little at a time they have updated all of the terminals – and my favorite section is when you come through the main security gate.  There are all sorts of fun places to eat – mostly specialties of Seattle.  My favorite is Dish D’Lish.  I can always count on getting some good food there to bring on the plane – in particular the hard-boiled eggs that come two to a package – with a little – wait for it….BACON SALT!!!  It is just ridiculously good, and now a staple for me whenever I fly.  I just couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get these packaged hardboiled eggs in the store?  Fortunately Trader Joes was thinking the same thing – and now I can get them 6 to a package – and believe me, they are now a staple at our house.

The other week I was flipping through The Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine, and I found this recipe from D’Lish Deviled Eggs by Kathy Casey.  This is the name of her new Deviled Eggs Cookbook that she was promoting.  I couldn’t wait to give these a try.  Two of my favorite foods all packed into one.  I made these for my daughter’s book club last weekend, and even some of the kids liked them.  I absolutely loved them – the asparagus was just a delicate flavor in the center, and I used light sour cream and light mayonnaise since that was all I had in the house.  The leftovers were the perfect treat for the rest of the week – and would you believe I never even had to hard-boil an egg?  Gotta love that…

Ingredients

  • 1 dozen hard-cooked eggs
  • 12 spears baby asparagus, bottoms trimmed
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh mint

Preparation

In a medium pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil, then add the asparagus and quickly blanch for 30 seconds. Immediately remove the asparagus from the boiling water and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well. Cut off the tips, slice the tips in half lengthwise and reserve for garnish.  Slice the stems (you should have about 1/2 cup) and purée in a food processor with the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice and salt, until smooth.

Halve the eggs lengthwise and transfer the yolks to a mixing bowl. Set the white halves on a platter, cover and refrigerate.  With a fork, mash the yolks to a smooth consistency. Add the puréed asparagus mixture and mix until smooth. (You can also do this using an electric mixer with a whip attachment.) Stir in the mint and onion. Taste and season accordingly.

Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a plain or large star tip, then pipe the mixture evenly into the egg-white halves. Or fill the eggs with a spoon, dividing the filling evenly.  Top each half with one of the reserved asparagus tips.

Makes 24

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Emerald Asparagus Deviled Eggs

Turkey Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

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Turkey Lettuce Wraps 2

I am a little under the weather…it doesn’t happen very often, and when it does, it is almost impossible for me to slow down, but I am trying.  I am actually waiting for my kids to finish reading so I can go to bed – they hate it when I got to bed before them – and they don’t really understand the concept of their mom being “sick.”

In my last post, I lamented on making lunches…and now isn’t it ironic that my older daughter just entered a “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge” that Michele Obama and Epicurious.com sponsored?  Our dear friend Arla won this last year – she was the representative from Washington State that got to fly to the White House and meet Michele Obama!!!  We are still so proud of her – and it inspired my daughter to enter this year.  I know her chances are not great, but I was proud that she tried.  I wish I saved the essay she wrote for the contest – but I will try and explain it the best I can.  Basically she used to buy hot lunch every once in a while – that was until she realized how horrible the lunches actually were.  One time she ordered Chicken Teriyaki, and she said it had no flavor, and no color – other than brown and white (rice).  She wanted to create something healthy and colorful, that would be fun to eat.

I made lettuce wraps a while ago for dinner one night – and the girls were both skeptic, but they tried them, and LOVED them!!  So that was her inspiration.  She changed the recipe to meet her flavor needs (nothing spicy), and made sure it was made with lean ground turkey and brown rice.  She also mentioned if her cafeteria could serve food like this everyday – she would be running to be first in line.

So – here’s to school lunch of the future…and I think the girls are done reading – so off to bed for me!

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 4 teaspoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Filling

  • 1  pound of ground turkey breast
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 6  thinly sliced green onions (about 2/3 cup), divided
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 cup thin sliced red peppers
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 2 cups hot cooked brown rice
  • 8  Bibb lettuce leaves

Preparation

To prepare sauce, heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add canola oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add shallot, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add 1/3 cup water, peanut-butter and hoisin, and stir with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in lime juice.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sesame oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add 1/3 cup green onions; sauté 1 minute. Add ground turkey; sauté until browned, stirring occasionally. Add 2 tablespoons cilantro, soy sauce, ginger, sugar; sauté 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Spoon 1/4 cup rice into each lettuce leaf. Top with about 1/2 cup meat mixture; sprinkle with green onions, peppers and carrots. Serve with sauce.

Raspberry Jam

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Raspberry Jam 2

When my kids were in day care – I had no idea how lucky I was that I didn’t have to provide food.  The day care they went to served breakfast, lunch and a morning and afternoon snack – all cooked on the premises by “the cooker” as my girls called her.  It was my older daughter that coined the phrase, and it stuck – and to this day, it still makes me smile.  When my girls started school – I was actually excited to start making them lunches.  That lasted a few weeks.  Years later, it is one of the chores I dread the most.  I have run out of ideas, and feel like I am giving them the same things day after day.  They are always asking me to pack their thermos, but the problem is that I have to be home in the morning (with some extra time) to do that – and normally I leave so early in the morning that I pack their lunches the night before.

My older daughter is a cold-cut person – she just wants her meat and cheese – hold the bread.  My younger daughter on the other hand, is all about the bread – and wants peanut butter and jelly every day.  That was never something I liked as a kid, and my older daughter is the same way.  I would ask for a PB&J, hold the J.  What I realized recently is the bread is important, but the jelly is critical.  She has become quite the jam/jelly aficionado – I think I have mentioned this before on the blog, but she refuses now to eat any jam/jelly that is not homemade by me.  I have ruined her for life.  Her favorite?  She has lots of favorites, including this raspberry jam from Food in Jars.  As you can see by the jar, there was hardly any left to take a picture of!  I wasn’t able to make a big batch the first time – but let me tell you – as soon as the raspberries show up at the fruit stand down the street – I will be making jars of this stuff.  Enough to last for months – because she loves it that much.

If anyone has any interesting ideas of lunches for my kids, I would love to hear them.  I have 10 lunches to make, just this week – OH WAIT!!  No school on Friday – hooray for that, and only 8 lunches to go until the weekend!!

Blog update…I thought I lost the original pictures that I took of the jam, but somehow they appeared!  Now you can see the full jar below.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups crushed raspberries (about 2 dry quarts)
  • 4 cups of sugar
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 packet (3-ounces) liquid pectin

Preparation

Fill your canning pot with water and begin to bring it to temperature. Wash your jars and rings in warm soapy water and set aside. Put your lids in a small pot of water and heat (but do not boil) in order to soften the sealing compound.

Combine the crushed berries and sugar in a large pot and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat and stir frequently until all berries have broken down and the bubbles look thick and viscous, about 15-20 minutes.  Add the pectin and lemon juice and bring to a rolling boil for a full five minutes.

Turn off the heat under the jam and fill jars. Wipe rims and apply lids. Screw on the bands and lower into the water. Process in the hot water bath 10 minutes. When time is up, remove from water and cool on the counter. When the jars are cooled, check the seal by pressing on the top of the jar. If there’s no movement, the jar has sealed. Store up to one year in a cool, dark place.

Makes 4 pints.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Raspberry Jam

Raspberry Jam

Tomato and Mozzarella Risotto

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Tomato Mozzerella Risotto

Did you ever feel just a little too comfortable for your own good?  For example, in cooking.  I do so much cooking and baking, every once in a while I let my guard down, and I have a failure that definitely could have been avoided, with a little more vigilance.  It is definitely a hard concept, and one that often needs constant reminding.  Then I think about my children…and how it is best to start young with that lesson.

My older daughter plays softball – and her team is really good this year.  They are actually undefeated, if you can believe it.  At this point, with their 8+ wins, I can see they are starting to be a little over-confident.  The other night they really got a scare – a team that they had beat 19 to 0, came back in their next game to tie it at 5 runs.  I could tell they were a little nervous – and it was a good thing.  I still cheer loudly at every game – but I worry about them heading to the play-offs if they stay undefeated.  Aside from the expectations they will have – the other teams will be playing their hearts out.

Obviously though, it is a hard lesson to learn.  The other weekend I made some more rhubarb jelly – and I had some pectin left over from last season.  I was feeling pretty confident with my jelly making abilities – and would you believe the jelly never really set?  It is fine if you stick it in the refrigerator, but it is not my normal product.  I should have known better than to use that pectin, and that if it failed the plate test at over 220 degrees, there was probably something wrong.

Fortunately this risotto from Cooking Light is kind of dummy proof.  I made this for the girls after a long day, when my husband was away.  I was definitely not all there when I was making this, and it took me by surprise how good it actually was.  I had to run and grab my camera and take a shot of it – which I had no intention of doing.  It was also a big hit with the girls, even with the spinach – score.  So – the next time you are not feeling completely on top of your game – don’t worry about pulling this out for dinner.  Even if you are over-confident – the results will not disappoint.

Ingredients

  • 3 1/4 cups organic vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
  • 1 1/4 cups uncooked Arborio rice
  • 3/4 cup canned crushed tomatoes
  • 2 ounces chopped fresh mozzarella cheese (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups torn fresh baby spinach
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
  • 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Preparation

Bring vegetable broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan (do not boil). Keep warm over low heat.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic to pan; sauté 2 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring frequently. Add rice to pan; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 cup broth to rice mixture; cook for 5 minutes or until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Reserve 1/3 cup broth. Add remaining broth, 1/4 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of broth is absorbed before adding the next (about 22 minutes total). Stir in tomatoes; cook for 1 minute. Add cheese, pepper, and salt to rice mixture, stirring constantly until cheese melts. Remove from heat; stir in reserved 1/3 cup broth, spinach, and basil. Place 1 cup risotto in each of 4 shallow bowls. Drizzle 1 teaspoon oil over each serving.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here:  Tomato and Mozzarella Risotto