Lorelei's HERE!!

I FINALLY GOT MY GIRL!!

I know we kinda announced that she was going to be Violet-- but when she was born that name just didn't fit. So, like I said all along, we needed to have a nice long look at her to decide what her name should be and that name is:

LORELEI

If you've ever watched Gilmore Girls you've heard of Lorelei (the main character) but that's not why we named her Lorelei. No, the reason is this:

 Legends say that a maiden named the Lorelei lives on the rock and lures fishermen to their death with her song. And Greg liked the idea of all the men coming towards her then dying.

Pink! 

Can you tell the boys are excited about their baby sister?

Apple Crisp in a Skillet

So I was watching America's Test Kitchen (LOVE THEM) and saw them make this. It looked so good I decided to try it.

But they used a regular 12" skillet which I don't have so I used my larger cast iron skillet. It seemed to work fine.

Apple Crisp

Start the oven warming to 450.

Mix together apples:
3 lbs ( roughly 7 Apples) Golden Delicious Apples; peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 c sugar
1/2 to 1 t cinnamon
Set aside.

Then :
1 cup apple cider -- reduced in medium heat skillet to 1/2 cup
(I didn't have any apple cider. So I used an apple cider mix envelope. It worked out pretty well. Basically what you'd be buying unless you got pure anyway.)

While that's reducing mix the topping:
3/4 c flour
3/4 c pecans
3/4 c instant oats
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c sugar
(I mixed these two up when I made it and it was still delicious)
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
Mix together then add
8 T melted butter

Pour your apple cider concentrate back into the mixing cup you used to measure it. (I cooked it down a little below 1/2 cup so added water at this point. Oops.)
Add 2 T lemon juice

Put 2T butter back into your pan. Let it melt and coat the pan. Then add your apples and cook until just starting to carmelize. This takes about 12 minutes.

Add your apple cider. (I missed this step and had to add it after I added the topping. Not the best idea.)

Add topping to apples and cider in the skillet. Put the skillet on a baking sheet and into an oven at 450. Cook for about 20 minutes or until topping starts to brown. Cool for 15 minutes.

We then ate it with vanilla ice cream and it was SO GOOD! It was so good I didn't get any pictures. I just ate it instead.

Beignets

On Princess and the Frog they call them "Man Catchin’ Beignets"


Out here in the West, we call them “scones” and if you don’t add sugar; “fry bread”.  The Southern version is served with sieved powdered sugar coating them.  In the West, we get wild and put all sorts of things in/on top of them.  If you try them covered with a bed of lettuce, a scoop of chili, a few tomatoes and a sprinkling of cheese, you will be well on your way to what we call a Navajo Taco.  Or cover them in butter and call them “Elephant Ears” like a carnie.
These are perfect for an informal lunch with friends.  Put out some toppings, both for the salad types and for the sweet toothed guests and you are ready to go!

2 Tbsp Yeast (IDY)
2 cups milk (110°)
½ cup sugar
1 ½ tsp salt
¼ cup butter
2 eggs
4 to 5 cups flour
Oil for frying (350°)
For tips on deep frying see: http://busycooks.about.com/od/quicktips/qt/deepfrying.htm

Dissolve the yeast in milk and sugar.  Add salt, butter and eggs.  Let rise until double (about 15 - 30 min) and roll out into a large square about ¼ to 3/8 in thick.  Cut into 3” squares (or not so squares) with a pizza cutter.  Lift and place one at a time carefully into the hot oil.  Do not crowd.  The dough will puff up and fill with air.  When a large air pocket has formed (usually large enough to cover most of the top) flip the dough over and continue to fry.  Pull from oil using a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.  Serve warm.



If you want to make Navajo tacos, cut the squares about 5 – 6 inches square, depending on the size of your pan.

Really Fast Yummy Rolls!!

I've been meaning to get these up to share for awhile-- I was waiting for some good pictures. :) I don't have them yet. But hopefully I'll add them soon.

Easiest Rolls EVER!!

Bestest Fastest Rolls Ever!

 A word about yeast: Use IDY for this recipe-- and any time you want your yeast to rise quickly. it’s also called Bread Machine Yeast. ADY (Active Dry Yeast) will take a little longer usually, and you need to “activate” it by adding it to liquid for a few minutes.  Yeast grows best around 100°.  It dies at 120°, and goes dormant at 85°.  It will also grow best in substances that contain some sugar (like milk, or water with sugar added). This recipe will make about 18 rolls. (2.5 oz ea)

Mix in order  and let rest for about 5 min:

1 ¼  cups warm milk (about 100° - not over 120)

1/2 cup warm water (100° - 120°)

1/3 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons Instant Dry Yeast (IDY)

Then Add:

1 Cubes butter (softened or 1/2 melted in the micro)

1  ½  teaspoon salt

2 eggs 

5 cups flour (you can use white all- purpose flour, bread flour, whole wheat or whatever.) 

Mix all ingredients together either by hand or in a large stand mixer.  The dough is really soft.  My grandma used to say “soft as a baby’s bottom”, but not sticky.  Add a little more flour if necessary or less.

Form into 2.5 oz rolls (a little larger than golf balls).  Let rise 20 min or until they look about double in size (wheat flour will rise less) Bake at 425° for 10-12 min.

If you make them a little bigger (3.5 oz) and pat them down a bit, they make perfect hamburger buns.