Monthly Archives: July 2012

Jalapeño Cheese Squares

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Sorry for the ridiculous delay between posts, going away has meant a full schedule upon my return. I’ve been running around, working like a mad woman, trying to catchup, keep up, and not die trying. Anyway, this is one of the delightful appetizers from the wedding. I am waiting on some pictures and recipes from my mom whose camera I kept using because I couldn’t locate mine. These are ridiculously simple and really delicious. Crowd pleasers for sure!

Jalapeño Cheese Squares

Ingredients

  • 6 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 6 eggs beaten
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • 2 tsps green onion, minced
  • 1 small can of jalapeño peppers (fresh would be great too, 2 or three, well chopped)

Directions

  1. Whisk together cheese, eggs, cream and onions. Stir in jalapeños.
  2. Spread mixture in a greased 9 x 13 pan.
  3. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
  4. Cut into 1-inch squares and serve. These are great hot or cold.

 

Where am I, AGAIN?!

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This time I am in the Yukon! Genesis and I flew home on the 8th to stay with my parents for a week. It’s been wonderful so far, in fact, I almost got a sunburn on the first day! We are busy as ever and are excited for Jon and Kellie and the kids to get here in the next few days. There has been a lot of great cooking and some baking (with much more to come) so I promise a flurry of posts when I get the chance to sit down and create them! In the meantime, enjoy these pictures of my parents’ amazing house that I would be crushed if they sold! Hear that mom and dad? Crushed!

The newest party area, with a fire pit, next to my dad’s Man Shed.

They’ve put in an above-ground pool and waterslide.

While this walkway was being built we called it “the dock”… maybe just me.

Keep an eye out for some new cakes, a great soup, biscuits, and other Sellars-family/ my mom’s recipes!

 

Dark Chocolate Mousse!

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I love chocolate, particularly dark chocolate and this mousse is a celebration of my love! It takes a few bowls, but is totally worth it. It is light and airy, mousse-style; rich and indulgent, dark chocolate-style. I like to top it with some fresh summer berries, a dollop of lightly-sweetened whipped cream, or a quick drizzle of liqueur. I served this to a small party of friends I had over last night, quote of the night came from Tobias who said, “THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER PUT IN MY FACE.” I think that is what he said, other friends, correct me if I am wrong.

Dark Chocolate Mousse

From this submission.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 6 tbsp prepared, strong coffee
  • 225 g dark chocolate (I prefer in the 70% range) (7oz)
  • 1/4 cup whipping cream
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1 1/2 cups chilled whipping cream

Directions

  1. In a saucepan, dissolve sugar in coffee over medium heat. Set aside.
  2. In the top of a double boiler over hot, (not simmering or boiling) water, melt the dark chocolate, stirring constantly, until smooth. When completely melted, whisk in the 1/4 cup of cream and the coffee/sugar mixture. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool.
  3. Beat egg whites to soft peaks. Gently fold in 1/2 cup of the cooled chocolate mixture. Pour this latter mixture back into the chocolate mixture, folding gently.
  4. Beat chilled cream to soft peaks, and fold into chocolate mixture, very gently until totally mixed.
  5. Pour mousse into a large serving bowl, or 8 individual dessert glasses. Cover with plastic wrap, chill for 4 hours or overnight.

Step-by-step

  1. In a saucepan, dissolve sugar in coffee over medium heat. Set aside.
  2. In the top of a double boiler over hot, (not simmering or boiling) water, melt the dark chocolate, stirring constantly, until smooth. When completely melted, whisk in the 1/4 cup of cream and the coffee/sugar mixture. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool.

    Melting away on my makeshift double boiler.

  3. Beat egg whites to soft peaks. Gently fold in 1/2 cup of the cooled chocolate mixture. Pour this latter mixture back into the chocolate mixture, folding gently.

    Looks like bad news but it will come together! The key is slow folding!

    Tah dah! Eggs and chocolate, well combined!

  4. Beat chilled cream to soft peaks, and fold into chocolate mixture, very gently until totally mixed.

    Ready for the big chill. This doesn’t look like a lot, but it is a very big bowl!

  5. Pour mousse into a large serving bowl, or 8 individual dessert glasses. Cover with plastic wrap, chill for 4 hours or overnight.

Warning: May cause extreme happiness.

Yuca Fries- If bread and potatoes had babies, it would be yuca.

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Genesis gets excited once in awhile about food from his country, El Salvador. One of these things is yuca. We don’t have it often, but it is always a treat when we do. The texture of yuca is fluffy, and dense. It is like a super rich potato crossed with fluffy bread. You’re confused, I understand, just trust me. Oh, and yuca looks like a waxy log, and when you peel it it smells like lavender… so there’s that too. But, once you’ve peeled it, cut out any brown spots, boiled it briefly, and baked it, you have awesome fries. Give it a shot! Hell, I might even try mashing them, I’ve heard good things!

Waxy logs, see, I told you! Scroll down for the interior-deliciousness.

Yuca Fries

Ingredients

  • Two yuca roots (see above)
  • your favourite oil
  • salt

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
  2. Peel your yuca well. It is easy to do, that skin is not as thick as it looks and feels.
  3. Cut the yuca into three even chunks, cut those chunks into fry-sized wedges.
  4. Fill a large pot with water and some salt, bring to a boil. Add yuca. Boil your yuca for 8 minutes, this will help the baking.
  5. Drain the yuca and pat dry. Some of the yuca might seem a little gummy, this will sort itself out during baking.
  6. Lay the yuca on a parchment-covered cookie sheet and drizzle well with oil. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt (and spices of your choosing).
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping once, until crisp and browned on the outside, creamy on the inside.
  8. Dip into Basil Aiolior even Walnut & Feta Dip!

Tasty (half batch) yuca fries with Walnut Feta Dip.

Kale and Feta Braid with pine nuts and caramelized red onion

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As evidenced by my kale chips of yesterday, I bought a ton of kale that I needed to use up, and I wanted to try something new. My mom makes this killer chicken and broccoli braid, which I will make one day, and I thinking of that tasty loaf, I decided to use up my extra kale, some of the BUCKET of feta that Gen brought home from Costco, the red onions I have on hand, and those pantry favourites, pine nuts. This was easy, delicious, and perfect as a meal. I also finally made my challah bread perfectly, so HUZZAH!

Kale & Feta Bread

Time: 1 hour of rest for the challah + 15 minutes prep of braid ingredients + 30 minutes rest of braid + 30 minutes baking= 2hrs 15 mins to deliciousness (totally worth it)

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion
  • 1 bunch of kale
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1 1/2 cup feta
  • olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds

Directions

  1. Make your challah dough! It has to rest for 1 hr, so prepare for this.
  2. After the challah has rested for about 45 minutes, start the rest of the braid, saves you time!
  3. Wash kale, cut out the spine, and sauté with a drizzle of oil in a pan over high heat for 5-8 minutes, until wilted. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside on paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
  4. Sauté onions with another drizzle of olive oil over high heat. Cook for 5-8 minutes until translucent and beginning to brown.  Set aside.
  5. Roll out 2/3 of the Challah dough (reserve the rest for some sugary rolls) into a rectangle, about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
  6. Crumble the feta in a row down the centre of the dough. Layer the kale evenly on top of the feta, followed by the onions and pine nuts.
  7. Using a pizza cutter, cut 1 inch strips along the side of the dough. Twist the strips and pull across the filling, alternating sides. Fold the ends in and pinch to seal. Move the braid onto a parchmented cookie sheet. Allow to rest for 30 minutes.
  8. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  9. In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork and brush onto the braid. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
  10. Bake the braid for 20-25 minutes.

Step-by-step!

  1. Make your challah dough! It has to rest for 1 hr, so prepare for this.

    Dough ready to roll.

  2. After the challah has rested for about 45 minutes, start the rest of the braid, saves you time!
  3. Wash kale, cut out the spine, and sauté with a drizzle of oil in a pan over high heat for 5-8 minutes, until wilted. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside on paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
  4. Sauté onions with another drizzle of olive oil over high heat. Cook for 5-8 minutes until translucent and beginning to brown.  Set aside.

    Onions and kale, cooking down.

  5. Roll out 2/3 of the Challah dough (reserve the rest for some sugary rolls) into a rectangle, about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
  6. Crumble the feta in a row down the centre of the dough. Layer the kale evenly on top of the feta, followed by the onions and pine nuts.

    Layered and ready for ‘braiding’

  7. Using a pizza cutter, cut 1 inch strips along the side of the dough. Twist the strips and pull across the filling, alternating sides. Fold the ends in and pinch to seal. Move the braid onto a parchmented cookie sheet. Allow to rest for 30 minutes.

    Resting away.

  8. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  9. In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork and brush onto the braid. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.

    Egg-washed and poppy-seeded, ready for the oven!

  10. Bake the braid for 20-25 minutes.

So flipping tasty!