Irish Brown Soda Bread

       A quick and very easy Irish bread with no finnicky yeast involved to scare you off!  It's also an easier option when you don't have yeast on hand or don't want to wait for the dough to rise.  The leavening agent in soda breads is, as you may have guessed, baking soda! This brown version, made with brown things such as whole wheat flour, brown sugar, wheat bran and wheat germ, is hearty and healthy and is much tastier than the more common white soda bread. It has a robust, nutty flavor. But be careful how much you eat at one sitting as your system may not be used to to all the fiber coming through!

      This recipe came to me by way of my daughter who loves all things healthy - she is a true foodie and an excellent cook, but always burns the wheat germ at least once in the process of making this bread so watch it constantly as it toasts. I always slather my bread with an abundance of Irish butter when my daughter's back is turned - I'm not sure she doesn't do the same whern I'm not looking!

Brown Soda Bread:
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons toasted wheat bran
3 tablespoons toasted wheat germ
2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
2 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter,

         cut into pieces
2 cups (about) buttermilk

        -Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Combine first 8 ingredients in large bowl; mix well. Add butter; rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles fine meal. Stir in enough buttermilk to form soft, well-mixed dough. 

       -Transfer dough to prepared loaf pan. Bake until bread is dark brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Turn bread out onto rack. Turn right side up and cool on rack.

      -Serve with Irish or unsalted butter, jams and

honey.

                         Dry ingredients include whole wheat

                                 flour, germ and bran as well as oatmeal.

Mix dry ingredients with buttermilk until

all dry ingredients are incorporated.

Don't forget the butter!

PERSNICKETY  NOTES:

       **This bread is often preferred at room temperature and not

warm out of the oven like a lot of breads.  It makes wonderful, crunchy toast too.

Shepherd's Pie

      Is it a pie?  Where's the defining crust?  Where's the shepherd and why do the Irish claim it?  Who cares - it's a rich, delicious, soul-satisfying dish that we don't have to wait for St. Patrick's Day to enjoy!  Sampling shepherd's pies about Ireland and England and even in the Staes at Irish pubs, this recipe is our absolute favorite.  With a hearty depth of flavor and the sharp bite of the Irish cheddar, I've never met a recipe to equal it.

      Our children had always wanted to visit Ireland, one island we had missed in our rompings about Europe so on one occasion when our flight from Tel Aviv back to summer vacation in the states had a particularly hard landing in Shannon - resulting in a delay -  I marched the kids out the front door of the airport and right back in again, and said,  "There, now you've visited Ireland"  What did they expect - that we would show them the whole world?  But we didn't get away with it and years later found ourselves eating shepherd's pie in various pubs, driving on the left side of the road, running into the hedgerows lining the narrow country roads and having a delightful time in a tiny rental car.  Even the dingy pub at the end of the street, recommended by our hostess, could not dampen our appetites.  Staying at the self-proclaimed "oldest thatched cottage in Ireland" in County Laois we were directed to the pub - just the first of many.  I should have ordered the pie - the corned beef was tough and leathery.  

Shepherd’s Pie
1/4 cup butter
1 pound ground beef or lamb
1 cup chopped onion
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
4 ounces fresh sliced mushroosm
1 bay leaf
2 tab. flour
1 cup rich beef stock
1/2 cup red wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
pinch of nutmeg
2 tab. minced fresh parsley (or 1 tab. dried)
1 pound potatoes, peeled and cut in half
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Irish cheddar, such as Dubliner
         or a sharp Wisconsin cheddar.  

          -Lightly grease a 6-cup baking dish and set aside.

          -Melt 2 tab. butter in a large sauté pan over medium high heat.  Add the meat and brown, about 3 minutes.  Add the onions, carrots, 1 tsp. salt and ½ tsp pepper and continue stirring for 2 minutes.  Add the mushrooms and bay leaf and cook until their liquid is absorbed, about 4 minutes. 

         -Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until
starting to color, about 1 - 2 minutes.  Gradually
add the stock, wine and Worcestershire sauce and
bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.  Cover
and simmer until thickened, about 20 - 25 minutes.

          -Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

          -Meanwhile, place the potatoes in a medium pot and cover with salted water.  Bring to boil and simmer until fork-tender.  Drain in a colander and return to the pot.  Over low heat, mash the potatoes until very smooth.  Add the remaining 2 tab. of butter, 2 tsp. salt and ½ tsp of pepper and mash to incorporate.  Add the heavy cream and mix well.  Remove from the heat.

          -Remove the pot with the meat from the heat.  Remove the bay leaf.  Spoon into the prepared dish and cover with the mashed potatoes, smoothing the top of piping in a decorative design.  Sprinkle the cheese over the top and bake until browned, 10-15 minutes.  Remove from the oven and serve immediately.  Serves 8.

                                     Spoon prepared meat filling into baking dish. 

          

                         Pipe, spoon or spread potatoes over meat filling and 
                                               sprinkle liberally with cheese.

PERSNICKETY  NOTES:
     **Different variations of Shepard's Pie include peas or green beans.
  This one features mushrooms, but those may be left out and other
  vegetables added.

     **If you do  not like to use wine in cooking,  just increase the beef stock
  to 1 1/2 cups and add a tablespoon of vinegar, which will add the acidic
  edge the wine adds.

     **Taste the meat mixture for seasoning before spooning into the 
  casserole.  The natural salts found in the broth and wine can make the
  mixture a bit too salty, so start with less salt and add more if needed
  once all the ingredients have simmered together.  

    **For rich beef stock, homemade is the best version, but not many of
  us want to take the time to make it but if you already have it on hand or
  frozen, that would be the first choice.  Otherwise, the paste brand, "Better
  than Boullion" is the next best choice.

Chicken Chimis

      

       Though my son-in-law claims that all Mexican dishes taste the same, that is alright with me!  However, I don't believe he has made a career, as I have of eating everything Mexican I could get my hands on and befriending everyone with the cooking of Mexican foods inclination I could meet.
        It all started for me in far-from-Mexico, Utah - though it was at one time part of Mexico, and a small restaurant by the  name of The Yucca, in my very provincial little town. We children used to laugh at the name but found it anything but "Yucky".  That is where my love affair with the taco began and the attraction has never waned. 
       Our father, would conduct an annual "anything you want to eat night" and buzz around the town to buy each of his 6 children's favorite dishes while Mom stayed at home cooking those things requested that only she could make.  I usually requested tacos from The Yucca but ordered her cheesecake for dessert - always eager to placate the hand that fed me, though in truth, she probably wished we all preferred something that had to be brought in.
      The first time I heard the name chimichanga, I supposed it must be some sort of dance, and in truth, my taste buds did a little dance when I first tried one at a restaurant called Chi-Chis which has like many restaurant chains "had it's day, then went away."  I will be ever grateful to them for introducing to me the concept of flour tortillas filled with a Mexican spiced chicken filling and deep fried then topped with the predictable toppings that ticked all the boxes to a Mexican appetite.

Chicken Chimichangas

3 ½ cups shredded cooked chicken

1 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can chopped green chiles

2 tab. cornstarch

1 ¼ cup chicken stock

salt and pepper

8 large flour tortillas

1 1/2 cups grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

     -In large skillet, sauté onions and garlic in 2 
        tab. oil until very soft. Add chiles, chicken, 
        salt and pepper. Sprinkle cornstarch over
        chicken mixture and add chicken broth. 
        Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Cool.
        Stir in cheese.

    -Lay a flour tortilla on a work surface in front  

        of you.  Place 1/3 - 1/2 cup filling in the middle

        of the tortilla.  Fold the two outer edges of the

        tortilla over the filling.  Then fold the bottom

        edge 2/3s of the way up over the filling. Finally,

        roll the tortilla over itself so the filling is 

        completely encased and the seams are facing

        down on the work surface.    Secure bottom 

        edges of tortilla closed with a toothpick if

        desired.  Continue until all tortillas are filled.

    -Heat 2 inches of oil in a medium heavy bottomed

        saucepan to 375 degrees or until a small piece

        of tortilla dropped in the oil browns within

        30 seconds.  Place the chimis, seam side down

        in the pot and fry 2 - 3 minutes, turning at 

        least once, until they are evenly golden brown.

        (Frying in a deep fryer is also an option)

  -Serve warm with pico de gallo, salsa, sour

cream, guacamole, tomatoes, and green onions.

                                       Chicken, onion, chili, garlic, cheese filling.

                                Place large spoonful of filling in center of tortilla

                                             Fold each side of tortilla over filling

                                         Fold bottom half of tortilla up over filling

                                     Roll tortilla completely encasing the filling


PERSNICKETY NOTES:
**Yes, you can make your own flour tortillas and it is immensely gratifying and quite easy.  Eat one hot right off the griddle with a bit of butter......mmmm!  Go to my post called, "Flour Tortillas with Beef and Peppers" to find the recipe.

**To make this recipe even easier, use packaged grilled chicken pieces or rotisserie chicken shredded.  Add to the other ingredients at the place specified in the recipe.

**Rather than deep-frying my chimis, I often cook them in a skillet in 1 inch of  hot oil and then turn when golden to cook the other side.  Remember, the filling is already cooked, so you don't have to cook them long, just long enough to make the tortilla crispy and golden.  If you place them seam side down in the shallow oil they will keep their shape with a little guidance from a spatula without a toothpick to secure the edges.

**These are delicious at room temperature as well and easy to pick up like a wrap to eat.  Dip the end in your favorite Mexican condiments.

**Black beans, corn, diced avocado, cumin, chili powder might be added to the chicken filling, according to your taste.  This is a "purists" version above.

Russian Creme with Melba Sauce

         A creamy, velvety, delicate heart that melts sweetly in your mouth - what more could your Valentine want! The flavor is reminiscent of homemade vanilla ice cream and very similar to an Italian panne cotta; the only difference
in the recipe is the addition of the sour cream - possibly why it is called "Russian".  The sour cream adds a touch of tart to the heart, and lightens the sweetness of the dessert.
      Searching for the origins of the dessert I could find nothing except that an anonymous restaurant created it.  I would hope that several make it, as it is luscious and though it is basically heavy cream, a spoonful at a time, it has a much lighter feel to it as though you're eating berries with a Greek yogurt.  I first discovered Russian Cream - once again, confusion on origin - in a French cooking class and have made it on my birthdays as my favorite dessert for many years.
     Melba sauce is a combination of fresh peaches and raspberries pureed with
a bit of sugar and is wonderful, but I often go for just a raspberry puree as they are my favorite berries.  I have also used strawberries and mixed berries as well to good effect - whatever berries you like best with vanilla ice cream works
here.
     The presentation shown above is perfect for Valentines!  What could speak 
love better than a heart on sweet berry puree.  Also, molded in a circular mold it creates a holiday wreath when garnished with a few holly leaves.  You could also try a floral shape for spring or summer with edible flowers as a garnish. 
Once you taste it you won't care what shape it is! But don't leave the dessert unattended for long - I left all but one serving in our fridge to find the next day it had all been eaten by my son-in-law, probably in one sitting.  I will admit it is hard to stop and is so silky and the contrast with the berries is pure bliss.  So say "I love you" to someone or even yourself with this super easy, beautiful dessert.  They'll certainly consider themselves loved!

Russian Creme:
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin     1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water                                         1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups heavy cream                       pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

      -Combine unflavored gelatin with water and let
           stand for a few minutes to soften gelatin.

      -In a medium saucepan, combine heavy cream,
           sugar and gelatin.  Cook mixture over 
           moderate heat, stirring until gelatin is
           dissolved, about 5 minutes.  (Do not allow
           to boil.)

       -Transfer mixture to a medium sized bowl; let

            cool about 20 minutes.  Fold in sour cream,
            vanilla and salt.  Pour into mold or serving
            bowl and chill for 2 hours.

Melba Sauce:
10 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries
10 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries
10 oz fresh or frozen peaches
1/2 cup sugar
1 tab. water
1  tab. cornstarch

     -Puree raspberries and peaches in a food 
          processor about 30 seconds.

     -Combine cornstarch, water and sugar in a
          small bowl and stir into puree.  Cook in
          saucepan over medium-high heat until 
          mixture begins to bubble.  Continue to 
          stir 1 minute longer. Transfer to a bowl 
          and chill for 1 hour.

To Assemble:
      -On a large glass platter with a rim, pour and
          spread the fruit puree.

      -Place the bottom of the mold in a bath of hot
          water for 1 minute then being careful the
          water does not come up over the sides of
          the mold. Carefully invert the molded creme
          onto the pool of fruit puree on the platter.

      -Return to the fridge to chill for another hour.

      -Garnish with a few fresh raspberries.  Serve 
            with small dessert cups and spoons for 
            guests to dish their own servings. 

      -Serves 8 - 10

Pour creme mixture into mold.

Place pureed berries/peaches in bowl to chill.

Serve in small glass dessert dishes.

Chocolate Caramel Pretzels

        It's a match made in Heaven - or at least "Sweets" Heaven - chocolate, salted caramel and crunch!  But then like me, you've probably realized this for some time.  I suspect I may have teethed on something like this recipe, my mother being one that made life sweet in every way she could.  Did you know there was a period in the 80's  when salt was "the Devil" and all salt was removed from recipes even in the major cookbooks; Betty Crocker, Homes and Gardens, became "under-seasoned"  Our intrinsic natures complained and I was one of the loudest grumblers, but I just ignored what the recipes said and added salt, realizing that  it is the "savor of life".  Salt must be included to enhance the flavors and the subtleties of ingredients and creates the contrast that makes sweet less assertive.  Not to say that I have anything against sugar, though I know to some sugar has become "the Devil".  But not in my Heaven.  I like to think I follow the adage of "all things in moderation" (sometimes my appetite doesn't think as I do).  
        So, to "moderate" your Valentine's treats, you may want to try to the delightfully satisfying heart-shaped treat below.  Fun and easy for children to help create as they sample the ingredients.  These can be made with soft caramels, harder caramels and topped with milk chocolate or dark, then topped with anything with which you would like: chopped nuts, sprinkles, colored sugar, turbinado sugar, toffee bits, granola, etc.  (I choose crumbled almond praline as I had some on hand.)

Chocolate Caramel Pretzels

1 bag of large (3" size) twisted unbroken pretzels -
          (24 pretzels)
1 bag soft caramel candies (Werthers) or Kraft
           caramels  (48 pieces)
1 - 2 bags milk chocolate (kisses, Dove) or dark
           chocolate (48 pieces)

       (If you want to make to go the homemade route,
        make you own caramel!  Follow my recipe -
        search caramel sauce on this site) and follow
        the easy directions but cook the caramel 
        mixture to 250 - 255 degrees on a candy 
        thermometer. Drizzle while still warm into the
        holes of the  pretzels until filled.)

Instructions:
      Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Place a piece of parchment paper over the bottom of a cookie sheet.  Place whole pretzels on the sheet, spaced at least an inch apart.  
     Unwrap caramel candies, and set 2 pieces on top of each pretzel.   Place in preheated oven and allow to melt for 8 - 10 minutes.,   Remove from the oven and with the back of a spoon, rinsed in hot water, spread the caramel as evenly as possible into the holes and over the top of the pretzel, leaving the outside border.  
      Place 2 unwrapped chocolate pieces on the top of each pretzel and return to the oven for 6 - 8 minutes.  Remove and spread the chocolate to cover the caramel, swirling it into a heart shape on top of the pretzel.  
      While chocolate is still warm, sprinkle on toppings such as chocolate jimmies, Heathbar crumbles, finely chopped nuts, colored sprinkles, mashed hard candies, etc.
     Let pretzels cool about an hour before serving.  Keep at room temperature so chocolate doesn't bloom.

Makes 24.

 Place 2 caramels on the top of each pretzel.

 Place 2 chocolate pieces on top of melted caramel.

Spread melted chocolate to feature heart shape of pretzel.

PERSNICKETY  NOTES:

***Time to melt the caramel will depend on the type of caramel used.  Check every few minutes to determine when the caramel is spreadable.  You don't

want to leave them so long that the caramel cooks and becomes hard and brittle.

Fondue Pockets

Fondue Pocket

      While cruising the Quebec City Christmas market this past Christmas, I witnessed true inspiration!  Fondue has always been a part of our family holiday traditions and has never waned in popularity over the years, although in the general public fondue had its heydey in parties by that name in the 70s.  But in an effort to never let a good thing die, it has made a resurgence in recent years.  Whatever you dip in the concoctions of cheeses, wine and garlic melted to a gooey smoothness, whether it be bread, ham, peppers, avocado, shrimp -the biggest problem with fondue is not being able to keep it all together - losing morsels in the liquid cheese, not being able to get enough of the cheesy goo on the dipper, and enduring the scorn of those opposed to "double-dipping".  Well, some brilliant French Canadian came upon a solution - or at least this is the first time I had seen it (and sampled it.) His food stall definitely boasted the longest line!

      The creation consisted of a hollowed-out piece of French bread, one end left intact, filled with warm fondue, wrapped in a napkin and held in the hand.  And Voila!  It was easily eaten without spillage with an equal amount of cheese and bread in each bite.  I couldn't let that inspiration just live on in my memory and so experimented when back home with wonderful success.  In fact, I went a step further and added ham to some, caramelized onions and mushrooms to others - but why stop there?  Anything that you like with cheese fondue could be added, as long as it is chopped small enough to fit into the bread pocket.

Fondue Pockets:

     For the pockets: 

     1 long loaf (2 ft.) of French Bread or several short 

                12 inch loaves.

     Slice the long loaves into 5 pieces cutting across

                the loaf or the small loaves in half.

     With your fingers, pull out the soft bread in the 

                center and work your way down into the 

                piece of bread until you have hollowed it 

                out leaving one end intact.  Use a fork to

                help carefully scrape the inside of the bread 

                to create as much room in the pockets as

                possible without breaking through the

                crust.

     Place the pockets of bread on a cookie sheet and

                into a 350 degree oven.  Allow the bread to

                crisp in the oven for 5 - 7 minutes then

                remove.

     Cheese Fondue:  

          2 cups grated gruyere cheese

          2 cups grated Emmentaler or swiss cheese

          1 1/2 tab. flour

          3 cloves garlic, minced and mashed

          1 - 1/2 cups white wine

          -Place grated cheese in a bowl and sprinkle

               in flour.  Toss cheese to coat with flour.

          -Place a heavy medium-size saucepan over

               medium-high heat.  Add about 1 cup of 

               cheese, garlic, and 1/4 cup wine.  Stir over

               heat until wine is incorporated, cheese has

               melted and the mixture is smooth.   

               Continue the process above adding 1 cup of 

               cheese, 1/4 cup wine, melting and stirring

               until smooth after each addition.

          -Immediately, using a 1/2 cup measuring cup,

               pour the fondue into the hollow of the 

               bread, wrap with a napkin and serve

               immediately.

Hollow out bread leaving pockets in middle

Add cheese alternately with wine in small batches, melting and stirring until smooth. 

Stir until velvety smooth.

Fill bread pockets with hot, smooth mixture.

Add other fondue dippers, like ham and mushrooms and onions!

PERSNICKETY NOTES:

      **The cheese fondue does not run or ooze from the pocket when held upright, so

      don't worry about it being messy, unless you overfill it with extra ingredients!