Pancakes and waffles

This is the one we grew up with and it still works.

Whisk together:

2 c flour
2 T sugar
6 tsp baking powder

Mix together

2 eggs
2 c milk

Add to dry ingredients and stir until slightly lumpy

Pancakes - 2 T oil
Waffles - 6 T oil

Mix just enough to stir in oil.

For a change, substitute 1/4 c buckwheat for 1/4 c of the flour.

Carne Enchiladas

Sauce

Olive oil
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup minced onion ( I used sweet onions)

Saute til onion starts to turn translucent

Add

1/2 tsp dried oregano
2-1/2 tsp chili powder (if you can get smoked perfect)
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/8 tsp ground pepper (I just crank on my pepper grinder til I get bored)
1/8 tsp salt (or just grab a pinch from your salt pig.  If you don't have one, you should.)
1/2 tsp ground cumin

Stir to mix saute just a bit.

Add

1/4 cup salsa (I had Resers Restaurant Style in the fridge, medium hot)
2 cups or so of tomato sauce

Water to the consistency that you want it although I skipped the water this time because it was fine.

Steak

Rub two steaks with southwest seasoning (I make my own but you could use any store bought) and grill over low heat, about ten minutes per side, turning frequently, until completely cooked.  Cut into small pieces

Onion

Chop one sweet yellow onion and saute over low heat in a mix of butter and oil until translucent.

Assembly

Put about 1/4 of the sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish.  In each tortilla shell wrap some crumbled Queso Fresco cheese, some steak, and some onion.  Line the baking dish with wrapped tortillas. Pour the rest of the sauce over top the tortillas and cover with grated Monterey Jack cheese.

Bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees F and serve with sour cream.

Super easy and incredibly good.

7 (I mean 6) Layer Squares

Seven Layer Squares.  One of my favorite recipes, right up there with everything else that has lots of chocolate and sugar.  However the fourth layer is walnuts.  Want to ruin a perfectly good edible treat?  You do?  By all means, just put walnuts in it. So my compromise:

Six Layer Squares

1 stick butter, melted in bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
6 oz shredded coconut
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 oz butterscotch chips
1 can condensed sweetened milk (you know, the Eagle Brand stuff by Borden)

Layer the graham cracker crumbs over the butter
Layer the next ingredients in order (it's OK to go a bit over on quantities)
Drizzle condensed milk all over the whole thing (this will take a while as it comes out slowly but be patient and drizzle it all evenly)

Bake at 350º  for 25 minutes.  Edges should be just starting to brown a bit.  Cool completely then cut into small squares.

Note: You don't want to overcook this as it gets dry.  The recipe from my mother says 30 minutes but I go 25 and then check for edge browning.

Try not to each more than four while you are cutting them up as you will feel sick to your stomach shortly thereafter due to sugar overload and diabetic shock.

Whole grain bread

My mother gave me her bread machine.  She doesn't use it and it was going to Goodwill unless someone wanted it.  I figured it was worth a try.  For the record I eat, on average, less than two slices a day, usually toast with my breakfast.  I am a "low carb" person but have figured out that morning multi-grain doesn't mess with my system so this is a nice treat.


This recipe was mostly found on line with a few tweaks by me for the bread machine. Just add all the ingredients to the bread machine in order.  Use the setting for a 2 lb loaf (although I haven't tried the smaller setting to see if it would make a difference) and the Grain option.  Comes out a little lumpy looking but delicious.

1 cup hot water
1 Tbsp yeast
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 1/2 Tbsp molasses
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
1/2 Tbsp salt
1/4 cup vital wheat gluten
1/8 cup quinoa
1/8 cup flax seed
1/8 cup sunflower seeds
1/8 cup steel cut oats
1/8 cup (long or quick cooking) oatmeal
1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour

Yum.

Moscow Mule

According to Wikipedia, a drink invented in the United States in 1941 to sell vodka.  Mules were drinks made with ginger beer.  Traditionally served in a copper mug, but this tradition was a marketing gimmick so mine isn't.

Vodka
Rose's Lime Juice (originally lime juice but I always have Rose's around for making my own sweet and sour)
Ginger Beer
Lime garnish

Pour an ounce of vodka over ice, add a couple tablespoons of lime juice, and fill with ginger beer.  Garnish with the garnish.

It is really good.


PS When drinking any alcohol, don't buy the cheap crap.  Smirnoff's is NOT good vodka.  I am not a big fan of Russian Standard as I think it has a chemical aftertaste.  I find Stolichnaya to be nice and smooth, Wybrova is incredible but there are only two places in the United States where you can get it.

Cubanos

Just watched the movie Chef. Not terrible, not great, it had its moments. Inspired me to try making a Cubanos, however.

Pork shoulder roast, 4 pounds
Marinade

OJ
Lime juice
Extra virgin olive oil
Mint leaves
Cilantro
Cumin
Oregano
Garlic

Blend and marinate overnight.

Roast at 425 for 30 minutes.
Turn heat down to 375 and roast for 90 minutes until 160 degrees internal  temp.

Make sandwiches from sliced ham, roast pork, dill pickle slices, and swiss cheese. Brush outside of roll with butter and grill in a press.

Zucchini au Gratin

1 lb zucchini
2 eggs, lightly beaten
12 Oz cheese, I mix feta, cottage, and freshly grated parmesan
Pepper and nutmeg

Boil sliced zucchini in salted water until slightly tender.
Layer in shallow dish and top with egg and cheese mixture
Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes or so (until cheese starts to brown)