1 box (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and water squeezed out
3 strips bacon, diced
1 cup finely diced onion
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded Italian blend cheese
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 eggs, beaten
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare mini muffin tins by spraying with cooking oil. Be sure to spray the tops of the pans, too.
In a large skillet, fry bacon until crispy, then remove with slotted spoon to a paper towel covered surface.
Leave bacon drippings in skillet over medium heat, add the onion and cook until softened.
Add to the skillet, the spinach, black pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until moisture cooks away.
Remove from heat and add bacon to skillet, stirring to combine; set aside and allow to cool.
In a large bowl, put the ricotta, Italian cheese, Parmesan, and the eggs, and stir until combined well.
Make sure the spinach is cooled, then spoon the mixture into the bowl with the cheese and stir together.
Fill the muffin cups with this mixture about 2/3 to 3/4 full. You'll have about 3 dozen mini quiches depending on how full you fill the cups.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until solid and slightly browned and pulling away from the edges.
Remove and let sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes, then tip out onto a cooling rack. If they don't come right out, just take a thin knife and slide it around the cup to release the quiche.
Serve warm or room temperature.
Makes about 3 dozen mini quiches.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Cooking Has Never Been This Easy Before!
Anyone can be a good cook if they have the right recipe and the ability to follow directions. Even professional chefs have the ability to learn new techniques for making delicious meals. There are many things you can do to immediately improve your cooking ability, and this article provides several of them. The tips in this article are sure to have you cooking better than ever.
The process of boiling vegetables will remove a portion of their nutrients. If you are not serving the vegetables in their raw state, consider steaming, sautéing or even roasting your vegetables to protect their vitamin and nutrient content.
Creativity in the kitchen can be exciting. Sometimes its okay to deviate from following a recipe step-by-step. Adapt recipes to your tastes by adding or removing an ingredient, or even creating something from scratch. That is really a creative cook!
Spices don't last forever; replace them every 6 months. If the spices are too old, they are going to lose a good bit of their flavor. When you have to buy certain spices for specific dishes, be sure to give some of the spice away to a family or friend, if you do not plan on using all of it, before it will go bad.
Pungent foods such as garlic, onions, and fish can leave an offensive odor on your hands. You can effectively remove this scent by rubbing your hands on a stainless steel object before you wash them. Whether you use the side of your sink, a spoon, or a ready-made stainless-steel "soap bar," this action removes the offending odor and keeps your hands fresh.
When you are using your cutting board to chop herbs, sprinkle a little salt on the board. It will not only add flavor to the herbs but it will also keep them in place while they are being chopped. Make sure to avoid over-salting by not adding additional salt directly to what you are preparing. The salt will stick to the herbs, adding some extra flavor to your dish.
Learning new things is always exciting, and that goes for cooking, too! It can be just as exciting as when you are eating the food that you make! With all this great information about cooking, you are now ready to start working on perfecting your cooking skills to create awe inspiring meals for your friends and family members. You can enjoy learning about cooking and producing delicious food throughout your lifetime.
The process of boiling vegetables will remove a portion of their nutrients. If you are not serving the vegetables in their raw state, consider steaming, sautéing or even roasting your vegetables to protect their vitamin and nutrient content.
Creativity in the kitchen can be exciting. Sometimes its okay to deviate from following a recipe step-by-step. Adapt recipes to your tastes by adding or removing an ingredient, or even creating something from scratch. That is really a creative cook!
Spices don't last forever; replace them every 6 months. If the spices are too old, they are going to lose a good bit of their flavor. When you have to buy certain spices for specific dishes, be sure to give some of the spice away to a family or friend, if you do not plan on using all of it, before it will go bad.
Pungent foods such as garlic, onions, and fish can leave an offensive odor on your hands. You can effectively remove this scent by rubbing your hands on a stainless steel object before you wash them. Whether you use the side of your sink, a spoon, or a ready-made stainless-steel "soap bar," this action removes the offending odor and keeps your hands fresh.
When you are using your cutting board to chop herbs, sprinkle a little salt on the board. It will not only add flavor to the herbs but it will also keep them in place while they are being chopped. Make sure to avoid over-salting by not adding additional salt directly to what you are preparing. The salt will stick to the herbs, adding some extra flavor to your dish.
Learning new things is always exciting, and that goes for cooking, too! It can be just as exciting as when you are eating the food that you make! With all this great information about cooking, you are now ready to start working on perfecting your cooking skills to create awe inspiring meals for your friends and family members. You can enjoy learning about cooking and producing delicious food throughout your lifetime.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Make Homemade Kahlua In Your Kitchen
1 bottle (750 ml) vodka
1 1/4 cups rum
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 lb whole coffee beans
1 vanilla bean
Put all ingredients in a large glass bottle (save one of those double size wine bottles with the twist off cap.)
Put a piece of food wrap plastic over the lip of the bottle, screw on the cap over the plastic until sealed tightly. Shake gently to combine ingredients. Don't over shake!
Put a label on the bottle and date it.
Put the bottle in a dark, cool place and leave for at least 3 weeks.
Give the bottle a gentle shake a few times each week.
After the 3 weeks, open the bottle, discard the plastic wrap, and pour through a fine metal sieve lined with cheesecloth into a glass bowl to strain out stuff.
Pour finished product into clean glass bottles, seal well, and store in dark, cool place.
If you don't have a big glass wine bottle, choose any good glass containers with an airtight lid, even a couple canning jars.
Keep in a dark, cool place.
You'll end up with a little over a quart of Kahlua.
1 1/4 cups rum
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 lb whole coffee beans
1 vanilla bean
Put all ingredients in a large glass bottle (save one of those double size wine bottles with the twist off cap.)
Put a piece of food wrap plastic over the lip of the bottle, screw on the cap over the plastic until sealed tightly. Shake gently to combine ingredients. Don't over shake!
Put a label on the bottle and date it.
Put the bottle in a dark, cool place and leave for at least 3 weeks.
Give the bottle a gentle shake a few times each week.
After the 3 weeks, open the bottle, discard the plastic wrap, and pour through a fine metal sieve lined with cheesecloth into a glass bowl to strain out stuff.
Pour finished product into clean glass bottles, seal well, and store in dark, cool place.
If you don't have a big glass wine bottle, choose any good glass containers with an airtight lid, even a couple canning jars.
Keep in a dark, cool place.
You'll end up with a little over a quart of Kahlua.
Cooking Could Not Be An Easier When Using These Tips
There are lots of different cooking styles that will give people a wonderful eating experience. Some are complex and some are simple. This article will provide you with key tips that will enhance your cooking ability now matter your skill level.
Be sure to care for your wooden cutting board properly. Wood is prone to warp or split when used as a cutting board. Food juices, plus the washing and drying process, will cause this damage. Never immerse the board in water, rather, sponge it off with warm, soapy water. Try oiling your damaged board regularly in order to restore it. Before using it again, make sure the oil is completely dry.
Do you need to juice your fruit? Stick in in the microwave for best results. Use the microwave to heat up oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits. Select a short time period like ten seconds. Remove the fruit from the microwave and roll it on a hard surface with your palm before cutting it for juicing.
A lot of herbs and vegetables give off an odor that tends to stay in your cutting board, no matter how much you scrub it. Mark your chopping board using indelible ink in order to keep track of which side you used.
To give your pasta sauce some additional flavor, use some of the water that the pasta was cooked in. Remove approximately a quarter of a cup and set it aside. When you are ready to mix your sauce and pasta together, incorporate some of this water. The water contains starch from the pasta, and will make your sauce nice and creamy.
Seasoning should be applied in small amounts throughout the cooking process rather than all at once. This method will ensure that the flavoring is spread out and even, and that the ingredients are enhanced to the best they can be.
Before you cook any ground meat, blot up any excess moisture. Eliminating the moisture off the meat is always good. Unless you remove the moisture, it may not be released until the meat is cooked. It will cause the meat to sizzle. This will cause the meat to steam, instead of sear like you want it to.
Countless meals have been tainted by making recipes harder than they need to be. You can make healthy, tasty meals without a lot of hassle, by sticking to what you understand clearly. This is why applying these simple tips will significantly improve your cooking.
Be sure to care for your wooden cutting board properly. Wood is prone to warp or split when used as a cutting board. Food juices, plus the washing and drying process, will cause this damage. Never immerse the board in water, rather, sponge it off with warm, soapy water. Try oiling your damaged board regularly in order to restore it. Before using it again, make sure the oil is completely dry.
Do you need to juice your fruit? Stick in in the microwave for best results. Use the microwave to heat up oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits. Select a short time period like ten seconds. Remove the fruit from the microwave and roll it on a hard surface with your palm before cutting it for juicing.
A lot of herbs and vegetables give off an odor that tends to stay in your cutting board, no matter how much you scrub it. Mark your chopping board using indelible ink in order to keep track of which side you used.
To give your pasta sauce some additional flavor, use some of the water that the pasta was cooked in. Remove approximately a quarter of a cup and set it aside. When you are ready to mix your sauce and pasta together, incorporate some of this water. The water contains starch from the pasta, and will make your sauce nice and creamy.
Seasoning should be applied in small amounts throughout the cooking process rather than all at once. This method will ensure that the flavoring is spread out and even, and that the ingredients are enhanced to the best they can be.
Before you cook any ground meat, blot up any excess moisture. Eliminating the moisture off the meat is always good. Unless you remove the moisture, it may not be released until the meat is cooked. It will cause the meat to sizzle. This will cause the meat to steam, instead of sear like you want it to.
Countless meals have been tainted by making recipes harder than they need to be. You can make healthy, tasty meals without a lot of hassle, by sticking to what you understand clearly. This is why applying these simple tips will significantly improve your cooking.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Holiday Snickerdoodles Cookies
2 Tbsp red sugar sprinkles
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon, divided
2 Tbsp green sugar sprinkles
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Prepare the sprinkles: Get out 2 shallow bowls. In one put the red sugar sprinkles and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, in the other put the green sugar sprinkles and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Mix the sprinkles and cinnamon together; set aside.
Prepare the dough: In large bowl, put the sugar, shortening, butter, and eggs and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
With electric mixer running on low, slowly add the flour mixture until incorporated and a dough forms.
Using a melon baller or teaspoon, shape balls out of the dough, about 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter.
Roll the balls of dough through the sugar sprinkle mixtures, some in each, combinations of colors, or as you like.
Place the dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet, keeping about 2 inches between each one.
Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove and let cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then remove to a cooling rack.
Let cool completely before putting away.
Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon, divided
2 Tbsp green sugar sprinkles
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Prepare the sprinkles: Get out 2 shallow bowls. In one put the red sugar sprinkles and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, in the other put the green sugar sprinkles and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Mix the sprinkles and cinnamon together; set aside.
Prepare the dough: In large bowl, put the sugar, shortening, butter, and eggs and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
With electric mixer running on low, slowly add the flour mixture until incorporated and a dough forms.
Using a melon baller or teaspoon, shape balls out of the dough, about 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter.
Roll the balls of dough through the sugar sprinkle mixtures, some in each, combinations of colors, or as you like.
Place the dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet, keeping about 2 inches between each one.
Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove and let cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then remove to a cooling rack.
Let cool completely before putting away.
Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Bring Out Your Inner Chef With These Simple Tips
Are you baffled by the meals that your loved ones are able to make? Anybody can make use of this article's advice to refine and cultivate their cooking skills.
Make sure you have everything you need before beginning to cook a dish. By doing this, you won't be in the middle of a recipe and realize you're missing a vital ingredient. Laying out all the necessary tools and ingredients ahead of time takes little effort and can potentially save you from some big headaches.
Store spices and herbs in cool and dark areas so their freshness and flavors are preserved. If you keep herbs and spices in an area that is close to the stove, they will lose their flavor very quickly and just be a waste of money.
There are several different methods you can use to heat tortillas. First, turn you oven on, to around 350 degrees, until it preheats. Place the tortilla on the rack directly until it's warm and as crispy as you want it. Another way is to use your gas stove top, placing the tortilla directly on the grill above the flame. Trying any of these methods will create an amazing tortilla.
To reheat foods that have oil in them, without making a mess, skip the microwave and reheat them in the oven. Due to the way a microwave works to cook food it heats the oil first, which separates it from the rest of the food and causes it to splatter. Baking, however, heats a dish slowly and consistently, preventing the ingredients from separating.
To add more flavor to your dishes, try adding some stock that you have prepared. If you cook large quantities, you could store the leftovers in resealable bags inside your freezer. Then when you make a soup or other dish that calls for stock, you always have some right at your fingertips. Doing it on your own, prevents any unnecessary preservatives from being added to the stock.
Prepare all of your ingredient before you begin cooking. Doing this will allow you to focus on putting the dish together. You won't waste electricity by letting something cook just a little longer, so you can prep the ingredients for the next step, or be distracted when cooking with hot oil.
You should bake crusts for a longer period of time than you think. They should be a light golden brown instead of pale in color. The golden color indicates that the sugar in the pie crust has caramelized and this will give a sweet and crisp flavor.
Be sure to follow the advice in this article. Everyone you know will be bothering you for cooking tips!
Make sure you have everything you need before beginning to cook a dish. By doing this, you won't be in the middle of a recipe and realize you're missing a vital ingredient. Laying out all the necessary tools and ingredients ahead of time takes little effort and can potentially save you from some big headaches.
Store spices and herbs in cool and dark areas so their freshness and flavors are preserved. If you keep herbs and spices in an area that is close to the stove, they will lose their flavor very quickly and just be a waste of money.
There are several different methods you can use to heat tortillas. First, turn you oven on, to around 350 degrees, until it preheats. Place the tortilla on the rack directly until it's warm and as crispy as you want it. Another way is to use your gas stove top, placing the tortilla directly on the grill above the flame. Trying any of these methods will create an amazing tortilla.
To reheat foods that have oil in them, without making a mess, skip the microwave and reheat them in the oven. Due to the way a microwave works to cook food it heats the oil first, which separates it from the rest of the food and causes it to splatter. Baking, however, heats a dish slowly and consistently, preventing the ingredients from separating.
To add more flavor to your dishes, try adding some stock that you have prepared. If you cook large quantities, you could store the leftovers in resealable bags inside your freezer. Then when you make a soup or other dish that calls for stock, you always have some right at your fingertips. Doing it on your own, prevents any unnecessary preservatives from being added to the stock.
Prepare all of your ingredient before you begin cooking. Doing this will allow you to focus on putting the dish together. You won't waste electricity by letting something cook just a little longer, so you can prep the ingredients for the next step, or be distracted when cooking with hot oil.
You should bake crusts for a longer period of time than you think. They should be a light golden brown instead of pale in color. The golden color indicates that the sugar in the pie crust has caramelized and this will give a sweet and crisp flavor.
Be sure to follow the advice in this article. Everyone you know will be bothering you for cooking tips!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Happy Holiday Harvest Apple Berry Salad
2 medium size Granny Smith or other tart apples
1 tsp lime juice
pinch Kosher salt
2 Tbsp dried currants
2 Tbsp dried cranberries
1 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp plain yogurt
2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
Wash and core apples. Do not peel. Dice apples into bite size pieces and put in large salad bowl, add lime juice and pinch of salt and toss well.
Add currants, cranberries, honey, and yogurt to the bowl and toss to coat well.
Put walnuts in a small, dry (no oil) skillet over medium heat and toast lightly, just until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the toasted nuts to the salad and serve immediately.
1 tsp lime juice
pinch Kosher salt
2 Tbsp dried currants
2 Tbsp dried cranberries
1 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp plain yogurt
2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
Wash and core apples. Do not peel. Dice apples into bite size pieces and put in large salad bowl, add lime juice and pinch of salt and toss well.
Add currants, cranberries, honey, and yogurt to the bowl and toss to coat well.
Put walnuts in a small, dry (no oil) skillet over medium heat and toast lightly, just until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the toasted nuts to the salad and serve immediately.
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