Mystery Thread

InLove · 08-11-2005, 03:38 AM

Hi, and Peace to All Here

Welcome to the "CR Cookbook".

I named the thread what I named it because I figured that "Your Favorite Recipes" might not draw as many lookers. I hope I am forgiven

(probably "eek" is not the best icon here, but I do not have a smiley with batting lashes and hearts at the moment--not even a "Martha" smiley

. I need to go shopping...I wonder if a "Martha" smiley would come with a little band around its ankle?)

Anyway, anyone got a recipe or two? (This is going to be a long thread--if I were a betting woman, I'd lay marbles on it--if I could find my marbles. I do have a marble cutting board, but it tends to ruin my knives....

)

Bon Appetit...

InPeace,
InLove

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine · 08-11-2005, 04:15 AM

A recipe or two!? I have a hello of a lot more than that! Can you set some parameters so I don't cause I, Brian to exceed his bandwidth?

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine (who is currently noshing on a piece of M_Wolverine Sloppy Joe w/Chipotle "taco bake")

InLove · 08-11-2005, 04:22 AM

LOL--Phyllis! I told J.H. that I couldn't wait to hear from you--and here you are!

InLove

InLove · 08-12-2005, 11:37 PM

You know, I didn't think about it when I started this thread, but since food can often be a religious issue, is this "do-able" without offending or bothering one another? Does anyone think that we should limit the recipes to vegetarian? Just thinking....What do you guys think?

InPeace,
InLove

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine · 08-14-2005, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by InLove
You know, I didn't think about it when I started this thread, but since food can often be a religious issue, is this "do-able" without offending or bothering one another? Does anyone think that we should limit the recipes to vegetarian? Just thinking....What do you guys think?

InPeace,
InLove

Actually, many recipes that call for meat can be made vegetarian, too (the sloppy joes w/ chipotle "taco bake" originally called for ground beef, but I made it with "fake meat". (I know. Not something a "true Texan" wants to hear, but finances and allergies are rather prohibitive on my end.

)

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

InLove · 08-15-2005, 05:29 PM

Hi, Peace--

Actually, I gave up all meat except fish for a couple of years back in (oh, never mind the years

!). Anyway, I have a bigtime struggle with with iron deficiency, and back then, the doctors suggested that I add meat back into my diet, which I did. Now we know that iron does not have to be a problem in a vegetarian diet, and I have been thinking that I could be okay with a meatless menu. But like you say, this is Texas...and we'll see...

Anyway, perhaps until we have some more input on this issue (if we get more), we could wisely post recipes that would not be a problem in this area.

Phyllis, on another thread, you mentioned kneading garlic into pizza dough? I have never been able to master pizza dough... (hint, hint)

InPeace,
InLove

Abogado del Diablo · 08-15-2005, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLove

Hi, Peace--

Actually, I gave up all meat except fish for a couple of years back in (oh, never mind the years

!). Anyway, I have a bigtime struggle with with iron deficiency, and back then, the doctors suggested that I add meat back into my diet, which I did. Now we know that iron does not have to be a problem in a vegetarian diet, and I have been thinking that I could be okay with a meatless menu. But like you say, this is Texas...and we'll see...

Anyway, perhaps until we have some more input on this issue (if we get more), we could wisely post recipes that would not be a problem in this area.

Phyllis, on another thread, you mentioned kneading garlic into pizza dough? I have never been able to master pizza dough... (hint, hint)

InPeace,
InLove

My wife and I are vegetarian (though I occassionaly eat fish). I love to cook and have lots of original recipes if you are interested.

I make some mean sweet potato enchiladas and if you still eat fish I have a great recipe for a low-fat smoked salmon chowder.

InLove · 08-15-2005, 08:46 PM

Oh, goody! Yes, Abogado bring them on, by all means--and by the way, if anyone has a good vegetarian tamale recipe, please submit it. I usually try and make tamales at least once a year, especially around December, but lard is the traditional ingredient that holds the masa together--and I just do not want to use it! I've tried other ways, but so far, I haven't captured the magic.

InPeace,
InLove

Abogado del Diablo · 08-15-2005, 09:15 PM

First, the Smoked Salmon Chowder:

1 Tb. olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 lb. sweet, whole kernel corn (fresh or frozen)
4 cups vegetable stock
1/4 lb. smoked salmon fillet, diced and skin removed (not the flat stuff!)
2 med. carrots, sliced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 lb. small red potatoes, diced
3 celery stalks, sliced
1 Tb. dried thyme
1 1/2 cups skim milk
1 tsp. black pepper
pinch of cayenne pepper or splash of Tabasco

In a soup pot, saute the onion and corn in the oil until onion is translucent (about 4-5 minutes on medium heat). Transfer half of the sauteed corn and onion to a blender or food processor. Add half of the stock. Puree.

Pour the pureed blend and remaining stock back into the soup pot with the remaining corn and onion. Add fish, potatoes, celery, carrots, bell pepper, thyme and black pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer over med-low heat for 20-25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Add milk and cayenne. Simmer for additional 10 minutes. Serve hot with a crusty multigrain bread.

Abogado del Diablo · 08-15-2005, 09:19 PM

The sweet potato enchiladas may be tricky because I just remembered that they don't make my secret ingredient any more (I bought out three grocery stores worth - about a ten-year supply when I found out they weren't going to sell it any more). It's a particular spice mix made with garlic, dried habanero, black pepper and a few other spices called "West Texas Dust." It's the key to making this taste right. I'm sure that you could put together an equivalent mix of spices, but I need to check the bottle to verify everything that's in it. So I'll write out that recipe later.

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine · 08-16-2005, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLove

Hi, Peace--

Phyllis, on another thread, you mentioned kneading garlic into pizza dough? I have never been able to master pizza dough... (hint, hint)

InPeace,
InLove

Basic Pizza/Bread Dough

1 pkg. active dry yeast
2 c. lukewarm (110-115 degrees F.)
1 t. sugar (I sometimes use honey instead)
1 t. salt
1 oz. oil
@6 c. flour

Dissolve yeast in water with sugar and salt. Add oil. Gradually add flour until all of the flour is incorporated. Knead until smooth then let proof for 15 to 20 minutes. Kead again, then divide in half. Carefully stretch the dough until it fits the pan and/or the particular sized pizza desired. Top and bake at 400 degrees until the crust is lightly golden and the cheese is melted (I go by smell, not by time in this recipe.)

If using a pizza stone, dust the stone with cornmeal before laying the dough down (so the pizza won't stick.) You can do this to a pizza pan, too, if you desire.

The dough freezes well, too.

(If worse comes to worse, cheat and use frozen white bread dough.

I won't blab if you won't.

)

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

InLove · 08-16-2005, 07:03 AM

Thanks, folks--this is great. Can't wait to try my hand at pizza dough again. Saving the Salmon Chowder for just the right time. And I think I may have seen that West Texas Dust--just can't remember if it was in my rearview mirror or on a shelf at Whole Foods (actually, I think it may have been in me dear mom's spice cabinet).

InPeace,
InLove

lunamoth · 08-17-2005, 03:49 AM

I have a great recipie for sweet potato chili, vegetarian and yummy! I'll look it up and post it soon.

I'd like to go vegetarian but I think my husband would 1) die of starvation or 2) leave me. (Just kidding!) He's actually the much more inspired cook in our family and has the patience for doing it. BK we would spend whole afternoons cooking, me primarily acting as sous chef and wine pourer. But, PK we don't have time for that and I no longer drink, so we've moved into what I call the one-pot-wonder stage of the cooking experience. I like to just use lots of fresh ingredients and minimal preparation.

One of my favorite cookbooks is called "One Bowl."

lunamoth

InLove · 08-17-2005, 04:18 PM

Hi-Peace to All--

Well, now, those sweet potatoes seem to be the stars of the show so far--better get to the market before they are all gone!

I've been studying the use of herbs and other natural ingredients as therapy since I was a kid--guess you could say that I was born into it. Sweet potatoes (more specifically yams, which some say are the same, but others say not) are often included in natural therapies, especially from the old herb doctors in places like the Ozarks, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

LOL--I wonder if yams might be the magical ingredient that would hold the masa together on my tamales?

Look forward to your recipe(s), lunamoth--thanks for posting here--seems like our paths don't cross as often anymore--I think they've been keeping you rather busy around here

. (LOL--glad you like the coffee-pot song--anything I can do to inspire

).

InPeace,
InLove

lunamoth · 08-17-2005, 09:11 PM

The sweet potato is indeed the queen of vegetables, and cauliflower is king. I wish I had more good recipies for cauliflower (hint hint). Black beans, while not technically a vegetable, rate pretty high in the royal family as well. Give me any combination of sweet potato, black beans, corn, bell peppers, hot peppers and rice. I could pretty much live on that but my family would abandon me.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

1 Tbsp canola oil (I also use olive)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 cup sliced celery (optional in my book)
2 cloves garlic, minced (mandatory!)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 tomatoes, cored and diced
2 15-oz. cans black beans, drained (or soak your own)
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 Tbsp dried parsley (or 2 Tbsp fresh)
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups unpeeled, diced sweet potato (about 1 large)

red onion choped small and soaked in a bit of red wine vinegar for topping if you like, or shredded cheddar cheese

Oh yeah, how to put it together. Heat oil in large pan, cook onion, pepper, celery, garlic and jalapeno for 7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and cook 3-4 mintues. Stir in beans, crushed tomatoes, seasonings and cook for about 30 minutes over med-low heat.

Cook sweet potatoes in boiling water about 15 min over medium heat, until tender, and drain in colander. Add for last 5 minutes of cooking to the chili.

Adpated from: The Lean Tureen

Oh no, I'm not being kept overly busy here. Just laying a bit lower than usual.

cheers,
lunamoth