Monday, January 21, 2013

Satay Chicken with Thai Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:
  • Chicken:
    • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into small pieces
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
    • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • Peanut Sauce:
    • 1 13.5 oz can of full-fat coconut milk
    • 2 oz (approximately 1/4 cup) of Thai red curry paste
    • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (preferably without sugar, but you can also just put less sugar in)
    • 1/2 tablespoon salt
    • 3/4 cup sugar
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
    • 1/2 cup water
Instructions:
  1. Toss chicken, garlic, ginger, and fish sauce in a bowl until the chicken is coated in the marinade. Cover, and marinate for 1 hour. 
  2. While the chicken is marinating, make the peanut sauce. 
  3. Mix all of the ingredients in a medium heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a very gentle boil over medium-low heat, whisking constantly.
  4. Let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes over low heat; be careful not to let the mixture scorch at the bottom of the pot.
  5. Take the pot off the heat, and let it cool.
  6. If you have a grill, put the chicken on skewers and grill on medium heat for 4-6 minutes a side. Otherwise, broil the chicken in a pan for about 25 minutes. 
  7. Serve the chicken with the peanut sauce. You can freeze extra peanut sauce for another day. 

Cranberry Walnut Bread

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 3/4 stick of butter
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 1 1/2 cup whole cranberries
  • 1/4 cup milk
Directions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 325.
  2. Mix together the sugar, egg, orange juice, and butter (melted). 
  3. Mix in the flour, salt, and baking powder. 
  4. The batter should be pretty thick, so add a little bit of milk to thin it. 
  5. Ground the walnuts, and mix them in. 
  6. Mix in the cranberries.
  7. Bake for 50-60 minutes in a greased pan, until the knife comes out clean. (doughy > dry)
Tip: You could also make muffins out of the batter:


Monday, January 7, 2013

Waterfowl In a Row

Ducks may walk around all willy nilly, but geese seem to be easier to get in a row.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Grandpa's Peanut Butter Balls

A Christmas tradition
Makes about 120.


Ingredients:
  • 2 sticks of butter
  • 4 cups of crunchy peanut butter
  • 1 1/2 lbs. confectionary sugar
  • 4 cups of rice krispies (generous)
  • 4-5 cups of chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup Crisco or 1/3 - 1/2 bar of cooking wax
Directions:
  1. Melt the sticks of butter and the peanut butter and mix them together. 
  2. Mix in the confectionary sugar.
  3. Mix in the rice krispies (this will be your arm workout for the day)
  4. Roll this mixture into walnut-sized balls.
  5. Melt the chocolate and crisco in a double broiler (bowl over boiling water on the stove). 
  6. Dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate, and place them on wax paper in the freezer or refrigerator to harden. 
  7. Keep refrigerated, and enjoy!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Lookout Ride 11/24

We finally made it! Hooray! No popped tires.


Clearly you are better at taking photos and understanding the effect of the sun...


Saturday, December 1, 2012

Eggs Benedict


Ingredients:

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 pinch ground white pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 8 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
  • 8 strips Canadian-style bacon
  • 4 English muffins, split
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened


  • Directions:
    1. Hollandaise Sauce: Fill the bottom of a double boiler part-way with water and bring to a gentle simmer. In top boiler, whisk together egg yolks, lemon juice, white pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon water.
    2. Add the melted butter to egg yolk mixture. If hollandaise begins to get too thick, add a teaspoon or two of hot water. Continue whisking until all butter is incorporated. Whisk in salt, then remove from heat. Place a lid on pan to keep sauce warm.
    3. Poached Eggs: Fill a large saucepan with 3 inches of water. Bring water to a simmer/boil, then add vinegar. Carefully break eggs into water, and allow to cook for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
    4. While eggs are poaching, brown the bacon and toast the English muffins.
    5. Spread toasted muffins with softened butter, and top each one with a slice of bacon, followed by one poached egg. Place 2 muffins on each plate and drizzle with hollandaise sauce. Optional: sprinkle with chopped chives



    Thursday, November 22, 2012

    Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

    Ingredients:
    • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
    • 1 1/3 cup sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 2 cups flour
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp baking powder
    • 3/4 tsp salt
    • 1/2 cup sourmilk (mix regular milk with a little bit of vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes to make it sour)
    • 2 large bananas (or 3 smaller ones)
    • 1 generous cup of chocolate chips
    Directions:
    1. Preheat the oven to 350.
    2. Mix together all of the wet ingredients.
    3. Mix in the dry ingredients.
    4. Mix in the chocolate chips
    5. Bake for 25 minutes, until light light golden brown - DO NOT OVERCOOK!