Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Blueberry Lemon Bread


Blueberry Lemon Bread 

Mix together:
2 C. sugar, ½ C butter, 4 oz cream cheese

Add eggs one at a time:
3 eggs, 1 egg white

Add:
3 C flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp baking soda

Mix, then add:
1 C lemon yogurt, 2 tsp vanilla

Mix then fold in:
2 C blueberries

Pour into greased bunt pan and bake 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let cool, remove from pan and drizzle with icing made from ½ C powdered sugar and 4 tsp lemon juice

Submitted by Lynne Wilde


Baked Salmon


Baked Salmon
  
4 Skinless salmon fillets (I do it with skin on)
1 C. sliced fresh mushrooms
1 C. sliced or chopped tomatoes
2 tsp. chopped fresh basil or ½ tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. lemon pepper
½ tsp. garlic powder
4 lemon slices (optional)
butter

Heat oven to 425.
Place a small amount of olive oil in a baking dish.  Place salmon in dish. Evenly spread mushrooms and tomatoes over salmon. Mix the basil, lemon pepper, and garlic powder in small bowl. Sprinkle salmon with mixture. Place small pats of butter on salmon. Bake covered, 15-20 minutes, until fish flakes easily in center. Serve on rice with lemon slices.

Submitted by Lynne Wilde

Curry and Fruit Chicken Salad


Curry and Fruit Chicken Salad

Mix together:
   1 qt chicken cooked & cubed
   1 can sliced water chestnuts
   2 cups grapes
   1 cup diced celery
   1 13 oz can pineapple tidbits
Dressing:
   1 ½ c. Mayonnaise
   ½ t curry powder
   1 T soy sauce
   1 T lemon juice
   salt
   pepper

Toss together.  Serve as a salad on greens or as a sandwich filling.
(we had this on croissant rolls at a friend's house and it was excellent

Submitted by Lynne Wilde

Panzanella

This is the salad Vicki Rullman took to the RS Picnic. YUMMY!

Panzanella

3 T. good olive oil
1 sm. French bread or ciabatta, cut into 1” cubes (8 cups)
1 t. kosher salt
2 lg. ripe tomatoes, cut into 1”cubes
1 English cucumber, unpeeled, cut into 1/2” slices, then quartered
1 red pepper, seeded and cut into 1” cubes
1 yellow pepper, seeded and cut into 1” cubes
1/2 med. red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
20 large basil leaves, coarsely chopped
3 T. capers, drained and chopped

For the vinaigrette:
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 t. Dijon mustard
3 T. Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/3 c. good olive oil
1/2 t. kosher salt
1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper

Place bread cubes on large baking sheet, drizzle olive oil and salt over and toss to
coat. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 – 20 min. occasionally stirring and turning
bread cubes until a light golden brown. Remove from oven to cool while assembling
the rest of the salad.

For the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together.

In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion,
basil and capers. Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Serve
immediately or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.

Great summer salad when the tomatoes and basil are fresh!!

Submitted by Vicki Rullman

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Marionberry Crunch Bars

Crust:
¾ c. butter, softened                                            ¾ c. powdered sugar
2 c. all-purpose flour                                            ¼ t. salt
Combine all ingredients and pat into a lightly greased 9” x 13” baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, until the surface is dry and edges are lightly browned.  Let crust cool before adding the filling.

Filling:
½ c. granulated sugar                                           1 T. cornstarch (use 2 T. if berries have been frozen)
Pinch of salt                                                         4 c. fresh Marionberries
Grated zest of half a lemon (about 1 ½ t.)
In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt.  Gently stir in berries and zest.  Set aside until topping is ready.

Topping:
½ c. softened butter                                              1 c. granulated sugar½ t. cinnamon                                                              ¼ t. salt
1 c. all-purpose flour                                             ¼ t. vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a mixer, a food processor or by hand until crumbly.  Spoon filling evenly over crust; sprinkle topping over filling and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, until topping is slightly browned and filling is bubbling.  Cool completely before cutting.  Store uncovered or covered w/a paper towel, but no plastic wrap so the topping stays crunchy. Marionberries are my favorite berry and this is my favorite way to eat them.  This recipe was published in the Oregonian in August of 2004.  The recipe was created by one of the co-founders of Marsee Baking, Joann Vazques.  I make it several times each summer when the berries are in season.  The combination of flavors is amazing.  Even with just the tiny amounts of cinnamon and vanilla in the topping you can taste those flavors. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

No-Knead Bread

This basic recipe is not of my own making but found on-line. It is VERY easy and produces a nice artisian-like loaf with a crunchy crust. you have to try it just once.

Ingredients
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp yeast
1 1/2 cups water

In a medium sized bowl, mix together with a wooden spoon or paddle. Cover with plastic and let sit on counter 12-24 hours. I usually write the time on the top of my plastic so I remember what time to check it again. I let mine sit about 24 hours.

Turn dough out onto a well-floured piece of parchment paper, wax paper, or cotton towel (NO fuzzies!). Sprinkle with flour and fold 3 times. You're not kneading here. I usually fold it over with a sturdy plastic scraper.

Gather corners of paper or towel and place the whole package down inside the bowl you used to mix in. Cover and set aside for 1 1/2-2 hours. During the last half hour, prepare your baking dish and preheat oven.

You will need a covered dish in which to bake the bread. I use a glass casserole dish that has a clear glass lid. You can use a dutch oven or metal pot--anything that can withstand the oven temperature of 450 degrees. place baking dish in cold oven. Preheat oven to 450.. the bowl should be in the oven at least 20 minutes. Once oven and bowl are preheated, turn dough into dish and cover. Place in oven and cook for 30 minutes. Remove cover and continue baking for 15-20 minutes more.

Remove bread from oven and cool completely on rack before slicing. (If you're like my family and can't wait for the bread to cool, be sure to use a very sharp knife and a gentle sawing action to cut the bread. Otherwise, you will have smashed bread.)

This recipe is so easy and versatile. You can use bread flour, all-purpose flour, unbleached, wheat (though not all 3 cups), etc. There are also variations out there that incorporate dried fruit and nuts. The possibilities are limitless. I recommend you bake your first basic loaf and then search online for some wonderful variations!

Submitted by Michelle Bingham

Monday, July 18, 2011

White Hot Chocolate

This cold Summer weather has me wanting hot chocolate.  So here is a lightly sweet warm drink to help you cozy up on a cold Summer night.

White Hot Chocolate

1 c half-and-half
1 c white chocolate chips (6 oz)
1 quart 2% milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Heat the half-an-half over low heat in a meium-size saucepan until warm but not boiling.  Add the chocolate chips and whisk until they are completely melted and incorporated.  Whisk in the milk and vanilla, and cook, whisking often, until heated through but not bubbling.  Serve warm.

Makes about 6 servings.