Monday, April 30, 2012

Looks What's Blooming in My Yard

Spring in Alabama is an ever changing landscape! Just look at this snapshots I took today!


Snowball tree with window boxes peeking through 116-year-old balusters!

Close-up of Snowball! (One my hubby's favs.)

Huge "Lamb's Tongue" in my back yard! Beautiful!

My grandmother's "old-timey" rose bush!






Spring Is Here

Hey, you want to eat with me? Well, just come on over!
If you are like us, you eat most of your family meals in the kitchen, which means you get real tired, real quick of your table setting. I change ours every couple of weeks, keeping it fresh for us. 

Wanting a little different look, I based the entire scheme on the colorful, whimsical  wine glasses. A white silk embroidered topper become a great and unexpected backdrop to bright orange straw place mats. The square plates set at an angle mirrored the shape of the blue and green napkins held in place by jeweled napkin ring holders. 

The centerpiece is simply clippings from my snowball tree and my grandmother's rose bush that has moved with me to every house I have ever owned.
So, let me ask you . . . does my kitchen table look like fun or what? 







Friday, April 27, 2012

Heirloom Tomato Salad


Sometimes finding that unique dish that all can eat and enjoy can be elusive, but not when heirloom tomatoes are in season. After all, what do you get when you combine fresh, heirloom tomatoes, goat cheese, capers, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar? An absolutely fab and beautiful salad to kill for. 

The great thing is that this beauty can be on the table in 12--count 'em--12 minutes or less. Now, how much easier can it possibly be?


 Here is my recipe:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 4-inch heirloom  tomatoes
2 tablespoons goat cheese, broken into small pieces
4 large Fresh basil Leaves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon capers drained

Here is how I did it:
1. Place balsamic vinegar in small sauce pan over medium low heat. Heat until reduced by half, about 10 to12 minutes.

2. While balsamic vinegar reduces, divide one 4-inch heirloom tomato into eight equal parts. Place half one each of two salad plates. Sprinkle each with one-half of crumbled goat cheese, one-half of capers, and one half of basil strips.

3. Garnish each with a small spray of basil leaves. Drizzle each with one-half of balsamic vinegar.

Servings: 2


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Back to Basics--Proper Measuring Equipment

At the risk of boring you to death with stuff you already know, please bear with me!! Daily I watch folks professional chefs measure ingredients incorrectly.  The finished product they show their viewers is always perfect, and it should be with enough photographic touch ups.

Teaching my high school home economics students how to measure correctly was the spot we always began semester after semester. We will revisit how to read and analyze recipes a little later. But, for now let's look at just the equipment needed.

There are three basic types of measures required for cooking:
  1. Liquid
  2. Dry
  3. Weight
#1 For me, I relay on 3 basic liquid measuring cups: a 1-cup, a 2-cup and a 4 cup measure. I do have 8 and 12 cup batter bowls which look like a regular measuring cup on steroids, but the basic three are more than sufficient for the basic three. 

Basic 1-cup measure


Basic 2-cup measure

Basic 4-cup measure



What do you measure in liquid measuring cups? Just that, anything liquid. We will talk more about the correct way to do this in the next post. KEY POINT: Never, but never, measure anything that is dry in these cups.

#2 I rely on a 4-piece stainless steel set of dry measuring cups. Actually, I have several, but I cook a lot!

4-piece dry measure set
What type of ingredients can be measured in these? Anything that is dry--flours, meals, sugar, gluten free rolled oats, ground gluten free cookie crumbs and the list goes on and on and on. We will talk about this such as shortening, butter ad brown sugar in a later post. 


#3 I keep a set of accurate kitchen scales in my kitchen. Occasionally, a recipe will call for a specific weight, which is actually the most accurate method of measuring. Come on now--wouldn't 6-ounces of chopped onions be easier to measure accurately than say 1 small onion chopped, whatever that means.

Weight measure
#4 Measuring spoons are another tool required for accurate measure of dry OR liquid ingredients. For example, dry ingredients such spices and herbs, salt, leavening ingredients like baking powder or baking soda can be precisely measured as can liquid ingredients such as flavorings, olive oil and such. I prefer the longer handles, standard versions. 

Measuring Spoons
 The next post will describe with pictures how to use each of these, plus add a couple more measuring equipment that are needed to do a really good job.









Back to Basics--Where Do I Start?


At the risk of boring you to death with stuff you already know, please bear with me!! Daily I watch professional chefs measure ingredients incorrectly. Being a retired Auburn University professor and home economist, watching such makes my skin crawl. 

I want to help those who are suddenly faced with having to cook at home from scratch because of eating a medically necessitated gluten free diet to learn the correct way to cook. Learning good habits from the beginning is so much easier than unlearning bad habits.

Every two or three days, I will have an educational post with a link to the post on my Back to Basics--Cooking 101 page ( tab located at the top of my blog).

Okay, let's get down to walking into the kitchen and knowing how to get started. These are the same steps I took my high school home economics students through during my earlier years of teaching. The same principles apply today and work equally well. These are the steps I go through every day at home, not just when I give demonstrations.

First, select the recipes you want to prepare.

Second, read each recipe thoroughly.

Third, make sure you have all the ingredients on hand. 

Third, get yourself organized.

How does the novice cook get organized? The same way that I do!!!

1. Read the recipe thoroughly, AGAIN. Line the ingredients up in the order used in a recipe.

2. Get all equipment together, i.e., measuring equipment, mixing bowls, spatulas, wooden spoons, mixers, or whatever.

Rice Cake Snack

When you have the munchies mid-afternoon, this makes a terrific and pretty snack. We keep these rice cakes in our cupboard all the time.  One rice cake alone is only 80 satisfying calories and this brand is the real, gluten free deal. 


1 Lundberg Flax with Tamari rice cake
1 tablespoon mascarpone, softened to room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons Blueberry Merlot Jam (click for recipe)

Spread mascarpone cheese evenly over rice cake. Top with jam.

Servings: 1                         Total Time: 2 minutes

Monday, April 23, 2012

Spring Change of Pace

Tired of your table settings? Sometimes the smallest changes can make such a difference! You have seen all the items used previously. I just mixed things up a little every once in a while. By putting old things together in new combinations keeps my tables fresh and new, making meal time so much more enjoyable.

 Let me show you how!

Table #1: Kitchen Table April 20 '12
Pictured above is the setting I have on my kitchen table now. I simply the used the plaid linen topper (shown on Table #3) that I originally used for a whimsical Easter table in 2011. The gorgeous navy satin stripe place mats and the matching napkins placed as a cradle for the green napkins were also used on my large dining table for Easter this year, which is pictured in #4 below. 

I kept a few of the table appointments the same for the sake of convenience that I had used originally following Easter (pictured on Table #2). The same green linen napkins are at home in their flower pot clay napkin ring holders. I also kept the little clay bird shaped tea light holders as well. We eat from our Fitz and Floyd dinnerware every day and use the same silverware most of the time. So why not leave it out to make serving easier. Brightly color wine glasses replaced the matching mugs for a sparkle of color that picks up the colors in my new fresh flowers!

For us, mealtime is a time of catching up with one another, making plans for the next day or simply enjoying time spent together, and I think we deserve to pamper ourselves at home just a little. Don't you?

Table #2: From Easter to Spring '12


Table #3: Easter Table '11
Table # 4: Easter Dining Table '12






Sunday, April 22, 2012

Buttermilk Brownies with Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting

If you don't tell someone these very rich squares of goodness are gluten free, they would never know! I promise!

Buttermilk Brownie with Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting & Chocolate Covered Strawberry

Here is my recipe:
2 cups Jackie's Quick Flour Blend (click for recipe)
2 cups sugar
1 2/3  tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes), softened to room temperature
2 teaspoons  baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs

Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes), softened to room temperature
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Here is how I did this:

1. Mix flour, sugar and cocoa thoroughly.

2. Combine water and butter in saucepan. Bring to a boil. (Note: Butter should be at room temperature BEFORE combining with water. If not, water will come to boil too quickly.) Pour over flour mixture. Beat at low speed until completely blended. Turn to high; beat mixture until smooth. Add baking soda, buttermilk and eggs. Mix well (approximately 3 to 5 minutes on medium speed).

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Pour into a 15x10x1-inch pan. Allow to sit on cabinet 15 minutes prior to placing in a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven. Bake 21 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake. Allow to cool 10 ten minutes before icing with Buttermilk Frosting.

Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting:

1. Mix cocoa, buttermilk and butter in saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. (Note: Butter should be at room temperature BEFORE combining with other ingredients. If not, the buttermilk will come to a boil too quickly.) Remove from heat once combined mixture reaches a boil.

2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; mix thoroughly. Spread evenly over warm brownies. Allow to cool at least one hour before cutting into squares.

Servings: 30             Yield: 1 15x10x1-inch loaf pan

Author: Dr. Jacquelyn P. Horne             Copyright: 2012

For recipe, please click Chocolate Covered Strawberries.








Chocolate Covered Strawberries



Very, very elegant! This jewels make a big impact for minimal effort.
The key to making these strawberries so special and festive are the tiny little appetizer spoons.

12 medium strawberries, washed & dried
6 cubes Plymouth Pantry almond bark
2 teaspoons  pecan meal

1. Cut almond bard into small pieces. Place in top of a double boiler over medium heat. Do not let the bottom of the top boiler come in  contact with the simmering water.

2. When bark has completely melted, holding strawberry by the stem, dip strawberry bottom two-thirds  of strawberry into melted bark.

3. Place each strawberry into an appetizer spoon; sprinkle with pecan meal and enjoy!

Servings: 12

Calories Per Serving: 46.45

Author: Dr. Jacquelyn P. Horne          Copyright: 2012

Author's Note: This brand of almond bark does contain soy lecithin and is produced in a facility that also hands milk and nut products.







Friday, April 20, 2012

Pork Tenderloin with Homemade Adobo Sauce

This terrific entree is super with almost any side dish you choose. Pork tenderloin is one of the most affrdable and  I keep Adobo Sauce (click for recipe) in my freezer for those times I don't have time to prepare it from scratch. 

Here is my recipe:

Adobo Sauce

3 dried jalapeno chile peppers
2 tablespoons minced onion, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2  teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4  teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Tenderloin

2 1-pound pork tenderloin, trimmed of fat
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Sauce
3/4 cup chicken stock
3/4  cup heavy cream
1 1/2 ounces milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons fresh parsley sprigs, chopped


Here is how I made this:

Adobo Sauce:

 Place peppers, 2 tablespoons onion, 3/4 teaspoon garlic, 1 1/2  teaspoon salt,1/2 teaspoon sugar, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, cloves and vinegar in food processor. Puree until smooth. Add reserved soaking liquid one tablespoon at a time until still  thick, but smooth in texture. Cover and refrigerate.

Tenderloin:

1. Place trimmed pork tenderloin with 1/4 cup of adobo sauce in container. Turn tenderloins so that each is coated with adobo sauce. Seal and refrigerate for about1 hour. Remove and allow to come to room temperature for about 20 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While oven is heating, place 2 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet. When olive olive is hot, sear the tenderloins on all sides until golden brown, approximately 4 to 6 minutes. Place tenderloins in baking dish; place in oven and continue to cook until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer, which takes about 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes before slicing to keep the juices in the meat.

Sauce: While tenderloins are baking, place the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in medium saucepan over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, add the remaining 1/4 cup onion and the remaining 1 1/2  tablespoons garlic. Stirring often, cook until onion and garlic are soft, approximately 4 to 6 minutes. Add 6 tablespoons of the adobo sauce; cooking for 1 additional minute. Add chicken broth and heavy cream; cook until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, approximately 8-10  minutes. Add chocolate and stir until melted.

To Serve:  Place sliced tenderloins on serving platter, drizzle with sauce. Sprinkle the entire serving tray with finely chopped parsley flakes.

Servings: 6    Yield: 2 cooked tenderloins

Oven Temperature: 350°F

Calories Per Serving271.03

Author: Dr. Jacquelyn P. Horne
Copyright: 2012






Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Staying Safe at The Grocery Store

One of the scariest times for me is buying products that you need such as say mustard, but don't want to make for that tablespoon or so that you need for a recipe. There are no ingredients on the list that seems to be a problem, BUT there is no certified gluten free label posted anywhere on the label either. So what do you do? 

Here is what I do:
I call the company if there is a number on the panel anywhere and ask the following?

1. Is there gluten in this product? If they cannot answer definitively, put the product back on the shelf and keep shopping.

2. If the answer is no, then ask:
  • Was this product produced is a gluten free facility? If the answer is no, then ask:
  • Was the product produced on dedicated equipment?
3. If the product is made on dedicated equipment, but in a facility that also manufactures wheat containing products, ask:
  • What steps are taken at the facility to prevent cross contamination?
4. If you are satisfied that the product is safe up to this point, then ask:
  • How often is the final product tested for gluten?
  • What standard do they use (which should be below 20ppm)?



Monday, April 16, 2012

Buttermilk Salad Dressing


Of all the made-from-scratch dressings I do, this is our favorite! Light, refreshing and absolutely drinkable. This salad dressing also doubles as a dip for raw veggies.

Here, this oh so delicious salad dressing is being used as a dip!
Here is recipe:
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups Hellman's Mayonnaise
1/2 teas garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion salt
3/4 teaspoon salt to taste
5 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Here is how I did this:
1. Place all ingredients in bowl of food processor. Process on high until thoroughly blended.
2. Place in sealed container and refrigerate at least four hours before serving.
Author's Notes:

  • The key what makes this dressing/dip taste so-o-o good is to use (a) only Hellman's Mayonnaise and (b) only fresh parsley.
  • Dressing will keep in refrigerator up to two weeks in refrigerator IF you take out only the amount needed each time.

French Salad Dressing

Consider me paranoid, but I just don't trust many store bought combinations not to have wheat lurking in one of the ingredients. So, what do I do to combat this problem. I make my own. This is one that we just love.


Here is my recipe: 
1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
5/8 cup catsup
5/8 cup chili sauce
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, gluten free
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1/2 cup onion finely chopped

Here is how I make it:
1. Combine all ingredients in bowl of food processor. Process on high until all ingredients are pureed and thoroughly blended.
2. Place sealed container and refrigerate until ready to serve. Shake or stir dressing well before serving.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce


A pretty side dish is always a nice addition to any meal. Although we served this one for Easter, it would also be a show-stopper at a Christmas meal.

Here is my recipe:
2 pounds asparagus spears, large
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt to taste
4 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 sticks butter (no substitutes), melted
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne
Chopped roasted red bell pepper (optional_
1/2 teaspoon salt to taste

Here is how I did it:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Trim fibrous ends from asparagus spears. Place spears in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Drizzle with olive oil. Using clean hands, coat spears with olive oil. Place in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven and place on serving platter.
4. While asparagus roasts, bring water in bottom of a double boiler to a low simmer. Place egg yolks in top of double boiler BEFORE placing over heat. Whisk in lemon juice until doubled in volume. Place eggs over simmering water being careful not to allow eggs get too hot or they will scramble. Slowly whisk in melted butter, whisking until doubled in volume. Whisk in salt. Remove from heat and drizzle over roasted asparagus. Dust with cayenne.
Servings: 8

Blue Tiger (Cocktail)


For our greeting cocktail, I put a spin on the traditional mimosa and champagne. Instead of using orange juice, I used two types of orange liqueur--one is blue. This delicious cocktail, matched my "Blue, White & You" theme perfectly. Being a retired Auburn University faculty member and our team's colors are orange and blue, I naturally named it "Blue Tiger".

Here is my recipe:
1 ounce orange liqueur
1 ounce Blue Curacao
3 ounces champagne
Here is how I made it:
Chill all ingredients to about 55 degrees. Pour liqueurs into a champagne flute, then follow with the champagne. Garnish with orange curls, if desired.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Beyond Easter '12 & Onto Spring

There comes a day after Easter that the bunnies go back into hiding 'til next year. So, how do you dress the table--in this case, my kitchen table.

My centerpiece consisted of flowers given to us by our guests at Easter dinner. The combination makes for a short-lived, but colorful centerpiece. 

Centerpiece flowers!








Individual place settings consisted of a lime green place mat appointed with a navy, gold & white dinner plate and coffee mug made by Fitz & Floyd, plus a four piece stainless silver plate place setting. All on atop of an aqua plaid topper.
Place setting!





Bird shaped clay votive candle holders mirror flower pot shaped napkin holders. 
The repetitive use of materials help unify a tablescape.


























Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Homemade Adobo Sauce


Some things that should be simple can make the gluten intolerant or Celiac life's suddenly complicated. One of those supposedly simple things are prepared ingredients. Chili peppers in adobo sauce. Tired of avoiding recipes calling for this ingredient, I got busy and perfected my own version. 

I place my homemade sauce in a plastic ice cube tray, freeze and then store in a labeled resealable plastic bag. 

So, put a little kick back in your life!

Frozen cubes of adobo sauce--just thaw & proceed with recipe.
 Here is my recipe:

10 dried jalapeno chile peppers
6 tablespoons minced onion, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2  teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4  teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1. Place peppers in medium size skillet over medium heat. Stirring often cook until peppers are very soft. Remove and place peppers on a plate or tray. When cool enough to handle, remove stems and seeds and discard.

2. Place peppers in saucepan. Cover with water; place over medium high heat. Once water comes to a boil, remove from heat. Allow pepper to soak until plump and soft or about 20 minutes. Strain, reserving soaking liquid.

3. Place peppers, 2 tablespoons onion, 3/4 teaspoon garlic, 1 1/2  teaspoon salt,1/2 teaspoon sugar, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, cloves and vinegar in food processor. Puree until smooth. Add reserved soaking liquid one tablespoon at a time until still  thick, but smooth in texture. Cover and refrigerate.

4. To preserve, spoon into plastic ice cube tray and freeze. Turn out and store in resealable plastic bag.


Servings: 6                  Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Adobo Sauce cooking away!

 Plastic ice cube tray.

Freshly cooked adobo sause in tray prior  to going into freezer.

Author: Dr. Jacquelyn P. Horne
Copyright: 2012