No Knead Artisan Bread

A crusty classic boule.

• 3 cups lukewarm water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated yeast
• 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 6 1/2 cups unsifted unbleached all-purpose flour

Add the yeast to the water in a five-quart bowl.
Mix in the flour and salt.  Kneading is unnecessary.
Let rise at room temperature until it begins to collapse about two hours.
Dough can be used at any time after this first rise.
Store the dough in the refrigerator in a lidded, but not airtight container.
Use it over the next 14 days.
The flavor and texture improves over time becoming more like sourdough.
To make a loaf sprinkle the surface of your refrigerated dough with flour.
Cut off a grapefruit-size piece of dough using a serrated knife.
Add a little more flour as needed so it won't stick to your hands.
Gently stretch the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four sides, rotating the ball a quarter-turn as you go.
Rest the loaf and let it rise for about 40 minutes
Depending on the age of the dough, you may not see much rise during this period.
Twenty minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Place an empty pan for holding water on bottom rack.
Dust the top of the loaf liberally with flour.
Slash a quarter-inch deep cross, diagonal lines, or tic-tac-toe pattern on top using a serrated knife.
After a 20-minutes preheat of oven put bread in oven, even though the oven thermometer won't be at full temperature yet.
Pour about one cup of hot water into the empty pan and close the oven to trap the steam.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the crust is nicely browned and firm to the touch.

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Tip:

Bake bread on a pizza stone.   An unglazed tile or clay pot drip pan may also be used.
Recipe makes three to four loaves.

Cost  about forty-four cents a loaf
Flour    1.23
yeast &
salt          .08

Shrimp Egg Rolls

 

Shrimp Egg Rolls

• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 2 inches fresh ginger, grated
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 green onions, sliced thinly
• 2 carrots, cut into 1-inch julienne strips
• 1 small red pepper, cut into 1-inch julienne strips
• 1 head Napa cabbage, shredded
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 20 egg roll wrappers
• 1 1/2 cups cooked minced shrimp

In a skillet, stir-fry the ginger and garlic in 1 tablespoon of oil about 30 seconds.
Add green onions, carrots, and red pepper and stir-fry over high heat for 2 minutes.
In a bowl, combine the water, soy sauce, and sugar.
Add the Napa cabbage and water mixture. Bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes.
Add sesame oil, cool for 15 minutes, and strain.
Fold in the minced shrimp.
Fill and roll the egg roll wrappers, using 2 tablespoons of filling for each roll.
Place the wrapper with one corner of the diamond closest to you.
Place filling in the center of the wrapper.
Roll the corner closest to you over the filling.
Brush the top corner with water.
Fold in the sides of the wrapper and continue rolling the egg roll up until it is closed.
Press to seal.
In a skillet set over moderately high heat, heat the remaining oil and saute the egg rolls until golden brown on all sides.
Serve with dipping sauce.

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Dipping Sauce

 

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

2 teaspoons sesame oil

Pinch of red pepper flakes

                        
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

Tip: 
Store fresh ginger roots in freezer.  It grates easier when frozen.
Eggrolls may be made ahead and frozen.

 

Gulf Shrimp Boil

Boiled shrimp doesn't have to be just for a party or a crowd.  Spicy shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes makes a great summer meal when paired with a summer salad. 

• 3 quarts water
• 1/2 cup Zatarain's Crab Boil seasoning
• 8 new red small potatoes
• 1 onion
• 1 lemon, halved
• 2 ears fresh corn, cut in half
• 1/2 pound smoked sausage, cut into 4 pieces
• 2 pounds shrimp in shells

 

In an 8-quart pot, bring Zatarain's Crab Boil, water and potatoes to boil on high heat. 

Add onion and lemon halves.

Cook 13 minutes.

Add corn and sausage.
Continue to cook 7 minutes.

Add shrimp.

Remove from heat.

Let sit for 10 minutes.
Drain and dump contents in the center of a newspaper-covered table. 

Sprinkle additional Zatarain's Crab Boil seasoning over the top for flavor.

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Lemon Drop Ice Cream

 

• 3 cups half & half
• 11/4 cups sugar
• 5 egg yolks, beaten
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• zest of 3 lemons
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup lemon drop candies

Combine half and half and sugar in a saucepan; bring to a simmer over low heat.
Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved.
Add 1/4 cup of the hot half & half mixture into the eggs, stirring constantly to temper the eggs.
Add another 1/4 cup of the half & half mixture, and then pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan.
Cook and stir over low heat until the mixture just coats the back of a metal spoon.
Strain custard mixture through a sieve.
Add, lemon juice, zest and vanilla, stir.
Pour the mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to machines directions.
Crush 1/4 cup lemon drop candies.
Add to ice cream.
Transfer ice cream to a lidded freezer container, and freeze for 3 hours or until firm.

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Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce   
• 1/4 cup of soft bread crumbs
• 1  egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper        
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons butter   
• 2  tablespoons of flour   
• 2 cups of beef stock
• 1 4.5-ounce can mushrooms 

  

 

In a mixing bowl, combine the beef, Worcestershire sauce, bread crumbs, egg, salt and pepper.

Stir mixture together to combine.

Shape into 4 equal sized patties.

Heat a skillet over medium heat.

Cover bottom with vegetable oil..

Place meat patties in skillet and brown on both sides for about 5 minutes each.

Remove from skillet and set aside.

Pour off fat.

Add butter to skillet and melt.

Sprinkle flour into melted butter. 

Stir and scrape bottom of pan to remove brown bits.

Let cook and brown for about 2 minutes.

Add stock stirring well.

Bring to a boil. 

Place the meat patties and any juices back into the skillet.

Add mushrooms.

Cover and reduce heat. 
Simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove from heat and serve warm.

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Honey Whole Wheat Bread

2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

2 3/4 cups lukewarm water

1 teaspoon sugar

1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 cups bread flour
1/4 cup vital wheat gluten

4 cups whole wheat flour  

Dissolve yeast in warm water with sugar.

In mixing bowl add honey, salt and oil; mixing to combine.

Stir in yeast mixture.

Slowly add bread flour. 

Mix in vital wheat gluten.

Add whole wheat flour a little at a time, mixing until all the flour is incorporated and the dough begins to leave side of the bowl.  

Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface, knead for 5 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic.   

Place dough in a lightly greased large bowl.

Cover bowl with damp towel, let rise for about 70 minutes or until doubled in volume. 

Punch down dough.

Half dough and shape into two loaves. 

Place the loaves in lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pans, and cover with a damp towel.  

Let rise until double in volume. 

Bake in pre-heated 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes until crust is lightly browned and bread sounds hollow when lightly tapped.
Remove the bread from the oven.
Cool it on a wire rack before slicing.
Store the bread in a plastic bag at room temperature.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

Tip:
Vital Wheat Gluten is made from the natural protein found in the endosperm of the wheat berry.  Add to bread dough, it helps retain the gas and steam from baking and gives more volume to baked bread.

 

 

 

Chicken Salad

Chicken salad that is equally perfect for a casual picnic or elegant luncheon.

 

 

• 2 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 cup seedless grapes, halved
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mayonnaise

Combine all ingredients. Chill.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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