In the Kitchen

[thartley]

For the price of the jar, I figured it must be an "additive" to a main dish.  Manny the Maintenance Man was over replacing the battery in my smoke detector and I asked him if he had ever had kimchi.  He hadnt and when I told him it was spiced seasoned fermented cabbage, he backed away slowly and said, "I dont know what to tell you about that, little girl." And he left.

 

[Ginafish]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimchi

Well...I learned something!

[M3R1IN]

Ok Thartley I finally got time to upload some photos and recipes, so here we go:

Jensen Butterscotch Squares (my grandmothers recipe)

Ingredients for squares:
1/2 cup(125ml) butter
2 cups (500ml) packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1&1/2 cups (375ml) flour
4 teaspoons (20ml) baking powder ***DO NOT USE BAKING SODA!*
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon (15ml) vanilla extract
1/2-1 cup (125-250ml) chopped pecans...(almonds or walnuts also work)

Ingredients for Icing(thats Canadian for "frosting"):
1/4 cup (approx. 65ml) butter
1/2 cup (125ml) packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons (30ml) milk or heavy cream
3/4 cup (approx. 200ml) Icing sugar(also called powdered sugar or confectioners sugar)

Preparation of squares:
--preheat the oven to 325F or 165C
-Sift together all the dry ingredients and then mix in the butter,eggs and vanilla. 
-The butter should be soft or melted to make it easier as this is a thick batter.
-spread the batter into a greased or oiled 9x13"(22.5x32.5cm) baking pan, add more baking time for an 8x11"(20x28cm) pan.
-Bake for 25-35 minutes on the middle rack until an inserted toothpick comes out clean in the center.
-In a standard oven rotate the pan half way through baking, in a convection oven cooking times will be less and there is no need for turning.
*This recipe is finicky so you may have to adjust the cooking time and or baking pan size a bit.... if it still doesnt work, add more baking soda*

Preparation of the Icong/frosting:
While the squares are baking, porepare the icing/frosting
-Combine butter and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over meduim heat
-heat until it just reaches a boil and cook for 2 minutes, remember to scrape down the sides of the pan with a spatula to make sure the sugar dissolves. (stirring constantly) 
-Add the milk or cream and cook until it reaches a boil again(stir constantly)
-Remove from heat and pour into a heat resistant bowl to cool for about 10 minutes
-gradually stir in the icing/powdered sugar and whip it until it is no longer lumpy.
*adjust the amount of icing/powdered sugar until it reaches the desired consistency*
*store in an airtight container and reheat in the microwave with a little milk if it becomes too thick.
Cool the Squares very well and cut them and then top with the icing/frosting...

Here are some pics of the finished product.




 Bon apetit!

 

[M3R1IN]

Im not entirely sure if this recipe exists in the U.S... most Americans I have talked to have no Idea what I am talking about.  The recipe is for PUFFED WHEAT SQUARES.
I looked it up and apparently they are called "puffed wheat cakes" in the U.S., the quotation on the cooking site says: "As popular in Canada as Rice Krispie treats are in the U.S."

Anyways here is the recipe:

Puffed Wheat squares

Ingredients:
- 1 package puffed wheat make sure its at least 10-12 cups in volume (2.5-3 Liters)(usually in the baking or cereal aisle)
-1/4 cup (70ml) Butter
-1/2 cup (125ml) Corn syrup
-1 cup (250ml) packed brown sugar
-1 Tablespoon (15ml) vanilla extract
-4-6 Tablespoons (60-90ml) cocoa powder *add this for chocolate flavor, remove for vanilla flavored squares*

Preparation:
-In a medium to large saucepan combine the butter, syrup, sugar and vanilla.
-Cook over medium heat stirring with a whisk until it reaches a boil.
-remember to scrape down the sides with a spatula to ensure the sugar dissolves
- If you want to double or triple the recipe and have 2 flavors of squares, remove about half the sauce at this point and use it for vanilla flavoured squares.
-If you want all chocolate or have already removed some of the sauce, add the cocoa powder at this point and stir it till it dissolves well.
*dont boil it too long because the more moisture you lose to boiling will cause the sauce to be come too hard when it cools and the squares will be less chewy.  The Cocoa powder causes the sauce to be thicker and it will harden more than the vanilla flavoured ones*
- Ladle the sauce over a few cups of puffed wheat in a large mixing bowl and stir it till everything is coated well... dont be stingy with the sauce and make sure its all coated well or even over coat the wheat dont let there be any white patches on the wheat, also stir it up from the bottom because the sauce will sink in the bowl.
-pour the mix into a buttered or greased baking pan and pack it down good. Let it cool for about 20-30 minutes and cut into squares.
Keep the squares covered to help them stay chewy longer.

Heres a pic of the 2 flavours!
YUMMM!



I hope you guys like these!

[Ginafish]

Awesome Merlin! Both recipes look great for potlucks or gorging the family! Wonder if hubby is up for making the butterscotch squares...

[KitKat]

Your recipes look delisO!! So M3R1IN, which one is your favorite?
I'd like to try the butterscotch squares first. YummmO!!
Oooops, we're on a special diet around here, we may have to wait a while.

Please tell you grandmother thank you for her recipe. 

[thartley]

Merlin!!!  Those look FANTASTIC!!!!  I especially like the puffed wheat ones!  Its like rice crispie treats on steroids!  YUMMMY!

Thank you for posting!!!!!

[M3R1IN]

The butterscotch squares are my favorite but they are so high in fat and carbs one has to be careful how much one eats.  The puffed wheat squares are not as bad because they are high in fiber and largely air so they can be quite satisfying.

[Ginafish]

Are you making your family eat all these this weekend?

[M3R1IN]

I am home alone this weekend, my parents are in Arizona right now attending a horse show and they are looking at properties to buy because the housing market is really cheap now down there. 

[KitKat]

Hey thartley, you're going to Thailand to lose weight? Is this a new diet plan?
Please keep us posted. I didn't really gain a lot of weight when I was there, it was coming home that put on the pounds. 

[thartley]

Yes, I think its entirely possible between the heat and my inability to tolerate spicy food, I may actually drop a few pounds.   

[KitKat]

thartley, just beware of one of PK's favorite eateries, Swensen's Ice Cream Parlor!

[thartley]

Great!  My halfway around the world diet plan is already doomed! haha!!!

[KitKat]

LOL Yep!! It's doomed for sure!

[Ginafish]

Tonight I'm baking a Tres' Leche cake (Three Milk) but instead of three, I'm going with four. So it's Cuatro Leche Cake.

I'll post a picture after we cut into it, but here's how I plan on making it.

One vanilla cake mix (bake, poke holes, then add the milks), one can of evaporated milk, one can of condensed milk, one can of coconut milk, and then topped with cool whip. Refrigerate, wait one day and then serve! Normally, coconut milk isn't used, but we thought we'd try it. I'll let you know how it turns out!

[thartley]

Can't wait for the pics!

[KitKat]

Sounds delicious!  I have a can of coconut milk in my pantry I've been wanting to use. Bought it a while back and I've forgotten what I needed it for. I'll check it's expiration date.

[thartley]

While we wait for a pic of Ginafish's delicious cake, guess who I found sulking in the kitchen?  He is so sad because there is nothing in there to make him happy.  I've been surviving on what I call "window food", which is basically anything that is allegedly edible that arrives in your possession via a car window. 



So, I thought I would try to cheer him up, but there is very little in my kitchen these days.  Nothing to cook on or in, really.  I have a pot that a pack of ramen wouldn't fit into without hitting the sides, and a cookie sheet that was probably here when I moved in.  So, I thought I'd make a sandwich.  First, I cooked two slices of low sodium bacon (yes, I am eating animal meat, lol! ) in the tiny pot.  I let Blue Man watch, hoping it would cheer him up to smell the bacon cooking.



Then, I put two pieces of bread on the cookie sheet and toasted them on both sides under the broiler.  Meanwhile, I threw some thinly sliced butterball roast deli turkey meat in the pot I had cooked the bacon in, to heat it thru.  I added a slice of provolone cheese to each piece of bread, then layered the hot turkey and bacon and returned it to the oven to heat it all thru again.

Then I chopped up some lettuce, added some horseradish sauce to the warm open-faced sandwich, and served it up with some fresh fruit.  I think Blue Man is happy again....for a little while, anyway.



Maybe we can get a shot of Ginafish's cake for dessert!   

[Ginafish]

I'm impressed with how delicious your meal looks with no cooking gear to speak of! Just think what gourmet food awaits Sean and Sneaker at the ILC! You might have to invest in a Thai cooking class! Yummy!

[Ginafish]

I'm just not a food stylist. This was the best photo out of 10.

[KitKat]

It looks delicious, very creamy and moist! Did it taste the way you thought it would?
  Thanks for the great photo, love your cobalt blue! 

[thartley]

Thanks for the pic!!!  It looks yummy!  Wish I could click and taste!   

[KitKat]

I just came up with a new and delicious salad.  Toss the following ingredients and chill.

1 Cucumber cut into slivers, remove seeds
1 small fresh tomato, remove seeds
2 Tbls. shallots
2 Tbls. Delallo Artichoke Bruschetta Topping packed in olive oil

Add salt & pepper, fresh lemon or lime juice to taste.
 
I also added some cooked fresh asparagus.

 

[Jennie]

cooking class at isara.. ??