Category: Recipes

Brazilian Cheese Breads

I’ve been baking these for years, in many variations!  Here’s the savory version……

Ingredients

3 c tapioca flour
3/4 c half and half
3/4 c butter
1 t salt or garlic salt
1 1/2 c Farmers or Cotija cheese, grated
3 eggs

* other options include grated parmesan, romano, soft farmers cheese, gruyere or cheddar……..

Method

Preheat oven to 400F.
In a medium sized sauce pan, heat half and half and butter until butter is fully melted.
In a small bowl, combine the flour and salt.
Remove from heat, slowly add flour and salt mixture to the hot butter mixture while stirring continuously.
Transfer the mixture to the bowl of stand mixer with paddle attachment (if using a hand mixer, transfer the mixture to a heat safe bowl) and process on low for 1 minute until fully incorporated.
Allow the dough to rest a few minutes so that the mixture cools enough to add the egg mixture.
In a small bowl, combine the cheese, garlic, and eggs.
With mixer on low, slowly add the egg/cheese mixture to the dough.
Continue to process fully until dough is smooth and elastic, about 1 – 2 minutes longer.
Using an ice cream scoop or two spoons scoop dough into mini muffin cups or roll into 1 1/2 inch balls to bake, 2 inches apart, on parchment lined baking sheets.
OR transfer dough to a pastry bag and press out breadsticks.

Bake for 15 – 20 minutes.
Yield – approx. 36

One Egg Gluten Free Pancakes

When I buy pancake mix I always wonder what I’m buying other than flour and a few ingredients.

I have had this recipe for years and it works well with gluten free flour mixtures that you make or purchase. I like Bob’s Redmill 1 for 1, Pillsbury Flour mixture, any flour mixture that is for baking. You can make thin pancakes or one big thick one.   The choice is yours.

For one person

1 egg
3 heaping T flour mixture
2 t sugar
1/2 cup milk

Mix these ingredients with a whisk or electric mixer or even food processor.
Cook like you would any other pancake.

I like to add a little bit of cinnamon, lemon juice and lots of blueberries.
To make this for more than one person just multiply as needed….

For two people

2 eggs, 6 heaping T of flour, 4 t sugar, one cup of milk.

Dining Out G-F in NEO

March, 2017.

The nice weather of February was a welcome respite from our typical windy deep freeze with piles of snow and icy streets. This early ‘spring teaser’ allowed for ease of travel and increased dining out opportunities! Never one to shy away from gathering around a table with friends and family I can report that I made the best of the invites!  From breakfast to dinner and late night snacks there was much to appreciate.

originalpancakehousecleveland.com

I had the opportunity to dine at both locations of Original Pancake House this past month.  It is such a treat to be able to order pancakes with a bacon and eggs breakfast!  At one of the breakfasts I tried the Bacon Pancakes instead of having the bacon and eggs. They were super but I’ll confess that I missed my eggs.  For some reason I’ve missed the pancake options on the menu in earlier visits but I noted this past time that there are options for blueberry, strawberry, bacon, chocolate chip….. I asked if they would do the g-f pancakes as ‘Pigs in the Blanket’ option and was assured that they could do that as well. I didn’t have them on this visit but……… next time:)  Oh yeah, and don’t neglect to get yourself a frequent dining punch card.  I only just found out about this feature and am now one punch towards a free pancake breakfast:)

Skyecleveland.com

This months dining out included two visits to Skye Bistro in Mentor – MENTOR’S BEST KEPT SECRET

As is often the case for those of us needing a g-f diet the option of where to dine will often fall to us.  I was thrilled to choose Skye Bistro for its large selection of gluten-free options that accommodate a g-f diet.  The regular menu options offered in g-f preparation were varied in all categories, apps/salads/entrees/sides/and desserts! They even offer Redbridge – a Budweiser brew that is a fully g-f beer! The dining room is comfortable, the staff is skilled and attentive. On my first visit this month a family celebration brought us to dinner. I was thrilled to have the options of Crispy Calamari and Shrimp Tempura from the appetizer menu – by adding one of the entree style salads I rounded out my dinner options.  On my second visit to Skye our server was Steve, who is friendly and knowledgeable and who has been a part of the Skye staff for it’s many transformations.  I chose to start with Beet Salad with maple dijon dressing on the side. The salad was perfect! It is a large salad, as it is an entree salad, but it fit perfectly with my entree choice.  The evening of our visit the special options for the evening included Fish and Chips which were offered in a g-f option. The fish was excellent, the kettle chips crisp and perfectly salted.   My meal was accompanied by an ice cold Redbridge beer.  My fellow diner enjoyed the Seared Scallop entree with a side green beans and almonds.  We finished our meal by sharing a chocolate dessert that was just lovely!

harvestsolon.com

I’ve written about Harvest Kitchen in previous posts at our site but I really cannot stress enough how much I appreciate the menu, the preparation and the service of Harvest Kitchen staff!  Truly, it is the best kept secret in Solon.  This month my husband and I celebrated our 37th Anniversary and we chose Harvest as our destination to celebrate.  I am so very grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the bountiful offerings at Harvest and include in my selections a cold Bard’s beer.  On this particular evening the kitchen was offering a range of special menu items – three of which were gluten-free including Poutine and Duck Confit.  So, what can I say, if you ever dine with me you know that I adore Poutine (which is nearly impossible to access in a g-f version in Cleveland) and I always order Duck Confit when it is available to me.  This was a dilemma easily solved – I ordered both!  My husband, who is ever so gracious when it comes to dining within the confines of my g-f diet, shared the Poutine with me as an appetizer! Solution realized – I was able to fully enjoy the Duck Confit served with brussels sprouts and an amazingly flavorful rice preparation.  Tim chose the Hangar Steak (very rare and perfectly prepared and also a g-f menu option) served with a side of asparagus.  While we were definitely full enough we decided to indulge in dessert and shared the g-f waffle with salted caramel gelato.  The entire meal was extraordinary!  Just to note: the third option for the specials selections for the evening was a Pan Seared Trout accompanied with rapini.

As I’ve mentioned before, but which is never out of date to mention, always be your own advocate in every dining out setting.  Make your needs clear and ask about anything you are not sure of!  

Lemon Curd Cake

Note from the Chef:

I’ve made this cake twice now, both times with excellent flavor.
The first time I made the cake a day ahead, cooled it and refrigerated it overnight, so when I served the cake the curd was beautifully set and the cake nice and spongelike.  
The second time I made the cake I was cleaning up the kitchen and just by habit I inverted the cake to the serving dish.  I figured it would finish cooling as it sat, plus I wanted a slice – NOW!
Ooooops!  The curd layer on top was still hot and not sufficiently set –
whoa! that was a mess.  It was still delicious – but very messy!  
So, if you want to serve this cake in slices, allow the cake its cooling time and you will be happy you did!

Lemon Curd Cake
g-f adaptation by Chef Mariann

3 large eggs, separated
1 cup whole milk
2 organic lemons
zested to yield 2 tsp.
juiced to yield 6 Tbl.
2 Tbl. butter, unsalted and melted
1/4 tsp salt
6 T g-f flour blend
1 cup sugar
Fresh berries and confectioner’s sugar to top

You will need:
6 – 6oz ramekins OR1 – 8 inch fluted cake pan – lightly buttered.
9×13 baking pan and water.

Preheat oven to 350.

Set the baking rack to the middle of the oven.

In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, butter, and salt.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar.

Add the flour/sugar mixture to the egg mixture.

Whisk until smooth.

In the bowl of electric mixer, beat the egg whites to form soft peaks.

Spoon 1/4 of the soft egg whites to the batter and whisk to smooth.

Using a rubber spatula, add the remainder of the egg whites to the batter, folding in gently to combine.

The batter will be light and foamy and liquidy.

Gently transfer the batter to the prepared baking dishes which will be filled to the top.  

Place the baking dish into the 9×13 pan on the oven shelf and add water to the 9×13 pan.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes – cake top will be puffy and lightly golden.

When done baking remove the baking dishes to a rack to cool.

Some sinking of the cake will occur during cooling but allow the cake to cool in the pan(s).

Ramekins can be served warm, as is, from the cups topped with berries, confectioner’s sugar or whipped cream.  If baked in the fluted pan, after cooling completely, invert the pan to a serving plate and serve with choice of toppings.

This recipe has been adapted to be gluten-free by Chef Mariann.  – original recipe by Chef Jenn Segall from Once Upon a Chef.
 
 

Let’s Cook! Making Stocks

MAKING STOCKS
recipe by Chef Mariann

For a basic stock, you will need:

a large pot or dutch oven with a lid

water  – 12 cups/3 quarts
celery – a full head
onion  – one large or two medium
carrots – 6/8 
     other vegetable options – garlic, fennel, parsnips,                                                       leeks, shallots
fresh thyme and parsley – 6/8 stalks of each
bay leaves (2)
peppercorns (6)

To the soup pot, on low heat, add the water.

Rinse and trim all vegetables to remove any sandy parts or damaged parts…… 

Remove the bottom of the head of celery  and discard.
Trim the stalks of any damaged parts – rough chop the stalks, include the leaves and add to the pot.

Trim the tops from the carrots, discard or save for other uses – scrub them clean, rough chop the carrots, add to the pot.

Remove the skin from the onion, rough chop, add to the pot.

Add the herbs to the pot.

Cover the pot and allow the stock to simmer about an hour to an hour and a half.  Vegetables will be tender and limp when done.

When done: remove the solids from the pot.  *Strain the hot stock into separate containers to allow it to cool before storing in the fridge or freezer.  I freeze in quart size containers.  If you like you can freeze in cup size or even ice cube trays for smaller recipe uses.

*NOTE:  You should be storing the stock in the fridge within two hours of taking it off the heat.  I ladle it into separate 6 cup glass baking dishes to allow it to cool faster.  

When I want a protein based stock I will add to the pot, along with the vegetables, the remains of a couple of roasted chickens, or a ham bone, or beef soup bones that I get from the butcher and roast to use in the stock.   I save the chicken bones after roasting whole chickens and reserving the meat for other dishes.  The bones are bagged and frozen for use when I am ready to make a stock.  This recipe could use two reserved chickens or a single ham bone from a 12 lb. ham or 5-6 beef soup bones.

Increase the simmering time to 2-3 hours or more for the protein based stocks – the longer you can simmer them – some chefs simmer them for 24 plus hours – the better for flavor and nutrient values.