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Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Potato Pancakes

Recipe: http://www.publicradio.org/columns/prairiehome/sundberg/2012/07/30.shtml

Well, I say Mrs. Sundberg hit a home run with these pancakes. It is her grandmother's recipe. Plain, simple, good food, like I imagine everyone eats in Minnesota. She did say that she sometimes grated onion to add to the mixture, so I took that as an ingredient, and added it as well. 

It made a lot. A LOT. So my plan is to fry the rest of them tomorrow, and see how they freeze for another meal or two. There's just me and my Mr. here, and we each had two with supper, and there are two for his lunch tomorrow. He usually takes a repeat of supper for lunch the next day. He's one of those people who will eat leftovers until they are gone. He's so handy when I have a refrigerator shelf full of odds and ends. He can make up a meal out of practically nothing. I'm keeping him.



The onion was a good addition. Every once in a while, I like an onion to say hello to me in a dish. Mr. says one can never have too much onion, and he would have been happy with more. I used a small yellow onion because I wanted to know it was in there. And it was. I let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes while I got another pan going on the stove. That thickened up the mixture a bit, and it was wet, but not too wet. Mrs. Sundberg said to drop by blobs into butter, but I did switch that out to olive oil. Since the Mr.'s bypass surgery, butter is a once in a rare while thing. But the oil worked great. It gave the pancakes a crispy, browned edge that was just delicious. I did also put two tablespoons of Hemp Hearts in it, because they are healthy and good for us, tasteless (even better for me), and impossible to detect in anything. We eat them in cereal, mashed potatoes, I put them on my pimento cheese sandwich today for lunch, so we use them all the time. They are a good-for-you thing.



Next would be my perception of 'pancake'. I know these are an accompaniment to a meal, but my idea of a pancake is about the size of a saucer. So I settled on using a 1/4 cup measure, and it was perfect. The onion really added another layer of flavor, and I could see taking this recipe and adding some other things. The good news is, that it tastes just great the way it is. Loved the crispy outside and tender inside. I make corn fritters, and this base will be my go-to recipe for any fritter or veggie pancake I make from now on. It is just that good. We had a dollop of sour cream on them, and enjoyed them with green beans, ham and corn, and a salad of cucumbers, red onion and little pickled beets. Next is having them at breakfast with scrambled eggs. I think these are going to be great when the holidays arrive and the kids come home for a visit. Easy and good. Can't ask more than that from a potato pancake.


Thank you, Mrs. Sundberg. :-)







Monday, July 9, 2012

Pie Crust 101

From Mrs. Sundberg, a sure-fire pie crust recipe. We had a discussion about blueberries and their raw texture, versus their delicious, fruity goodness when baked into a pie. My Mr. doesn't care for them raw, but he's more than willing to eat them baked in some sugary goodness.  Mrs. S. was gracious enough to share her pie crust recipe with her Facebook readers.

Highly Reliable Delicious Crust for Pie

For single pie crust:

1 1/2 C sifted all-purpose (unbleached) flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c Crisco shortening baking sticks
4-5 T cold water (ice cubes in water)

For 9-10 inch double crust pie

2 c all-purpose (unbleached) flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 c Crisco shortening baking sticks
5-7 T cold water (ice cubes in water)

Sift flour & salt. Cut in shortening with pastry blender to size of small peas.
Sprinkle 1 Tbsp water over part of flour-shortening mixture. Gently toss with
fork & push to side. Repeat with balance of water mixing lightly until all is moistened.
Gather with fingers & form into ball, dividing into 2 balls for double crust pie.

Roll each ball out to 1/8 inch thickness on lightly floured surface using light strokes.
Pinch edges if split. Transfer into pie plate. Trim edge to 1 inch from edge and fold under.

IF BAKED PIE SHELL is needed, prick bottom and sides. Bake in very hot oven (450)
10 to 12 minutes until golden. If filling and crust are to be baked together, do NOT prick pastry. Pour in filling, top with second crust folding top edge over bottom edge of crust and pinch.

Cut design in top crust to keep from puffing. Bake according to recipe.



This recipe was on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mrs.sundberg


I will always link the recipes back to her article on a PHC, for acknowledgement of the source. Plus, you get to read her article, and can become a follower of her Facebook page. Good reading, great conversations, and something nice to enjoy.



I Needed A Julia

I have read Mrs. Sundberg's posts on A Prairie Home Companion for quite a while now. She is the sweetest gal, sharing tidbits and wisdom from her home, while raising children, and a husband. :-)

She also posts a recipe each week, and they are full of down-home goodness from the kitchen of someone who obviously loves to cook and bake. I, on the other hand, like the idea of that, but my attempts don't always turn out the best. I used to do very well, but it seems I have lost my base for providing a variety of good things to eat and feed our family and friends.

Enter Mrs. Sundberg.  I figured my best bet was to make the recipe she posted each week, and see if I can get my cooking and baking mojo all lined up again. With her straightforward, easy going style, I think I stand a pretty good chance of succeeding.

I decided I needed a Julia, full of kitchen experience, so I can try a new recipe a week,  and broaden my kitchen horizons. Hopefully, my Mr. will be my taste tester and sous chef if I need one. I think this is going to be an adventure I will enjoy.