Sunday, January 23, 2011

Jewelry Crafting






General supplies: Choose your beads plus wire cutters, jewelry pliers and crimp beads.
General directions: Follow this tutorial.
Our necklaces:
  • Bob's Necklace (top left) - Use jewelry wire and make 3 or 4 strands of equal length, interspersing slightly larger beads for variety. Thread pendant onto necklace. Attach all strands to a multi-strand clasp.
  • Jess' Necklace (top right) - Thread all beads onto jewelry wire and close with a lobster claw clasp. Symmetry is important.
  • Stacy's Shell Necklace (above) - Follow directions for Jess' necklace.
  • Stacy's Crochet Marker Bracelet (above) - Use six large lobster claw clasps to make crochet markers and attach them to jewelry chain
  • Stacy's Yarn Spinner Necklace (right) - Attach yarn spinner and beads to a long crocheted strand.

Sheppard's Pie

This recipe is by Rachael Ray w/ modification by Stacy. Original recipe is available here.
The recipe below is for an 8x8in casserole dish and serves 4.
For a 9x13in (3 quart) dish double the recipe and it will serve 8.

Ingredients
  • 2 pounds of potatoes (such as russet) peeled and cubed
  • 2 Tbsp sour cream or softened cream cheese
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil to coat pan
  • 1 3/4 pounds ground beef or ground lamb
  • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup beef stock or broth
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves (optional)

Steps
(1) Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 mins.
(2) While boiling potatoes:
  • Cook meat and vegetables
    • Preheat large skillet over med high heat. Add oil to hot pan with meat.
    • Season meat with salt and pepper.
    • Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 mins (if meat is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings).
    • Add chopped carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 mins, stirring frequently.
  • Cook gravy
    • In a second small skillet over med heat cook butter w/ flour 2 mins.
    • Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce.
    • Thicken gravy 1 min.
  • Add gravy to meat and veggies
  • Stir in peas

(3) Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl.
(4) In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, egg yolk and cream.
(5) Add cream mixture to potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.
(6) Put it in the oven
  • Preheat broiler to high.
  • Fill a small rectangular casserole with meat and veggie mix.
  • Spoon potatoes over meat evenly.
  • Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from heat until potatoes are evenly browned.

(7) Top casserole dish with chopped parsley if desired and serve.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Pear and Bacon Sandwich

Sandwich Ingredients
  • Turkey Bacon
  • Wheat bread
  • Bleu cheese
  • 1 Bosc Pear
Steps
  1. Cook bacon* over medium heat for 8 mins, flipping once
  2. Toast bread
  3. Slice pear
  4. Assemble all ingredients

Salad Ingredients
  • Dandelion greens
  • Belgian Endive
  • Fresh Parsley, 4 sprigs per person
  • Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
  • Mayo
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Freshly ground black pepper
Steps
  1. Wash greens - use a ratio of 5 parts dandelion greens to 2 parts endive
  2. For dressing, combine soy sauce with mayo in a ratio of 1 part soy sauce, 2 parts mayo; Next add a squeeze of lemon and a dash of pepper
  3. Mix dressing, then toss with salad
  4. Finish with another dash of pepper on top

    Variations
    For sandwich:
    • You could use regular bacon or sliced deli meat such as Black Forest ham
    • You could do a closed sandwich instead of an open-face one
    • You could use a milder cheese like Gouda or mild cheddar
    • You could use a different type of pear like Anjou or use a soft apple like Gala
    For salad:
    • Instead of dandelion greens, you could use green leaf lettuce or mixed greens
    • Instead of endive, you could use iceberg lettuce

    *Notes: If using regular bacon, cook at med-high for about 5 mins, flipping once

    Tuesday, January 18, 2011

    Champagne Chicken

    Ingredients
    • Chicken Breasts
    • 1/2 Bottle Champagne
    • 1-2 Shallots, cut into fourths
    • 1/2 an Onion, chopped
    • Baby Carrots
    • Fresh Thyme

    Steps
    1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
    2. Brown chicken in pan on med-high for 5 mins (I used level 7 out of 10 on my stove). Add 1/4 cup champagne to the pan after minute 3.
    3. Place a slit in each breast and insert a quarter shallot. Flip and brown for 3-5 more mins on side 2. If pan becomes completely dry, add a little more champagne.
    4. Place carrots, onion and any remaining shallot quarters into baking dish. Add chicken, then pan drippings, then 1/2 cup champagne and thyme.
    5. Bake for 20 minutes, then baste and add 1/4 cup more champagne.
    6. Bake for 10 more minutes.
    7. Serve remaining champagne with dinner.

    Optional Sauteed Mushrooms
    • Olive Oil
    • 1-2 Shallots
    • 1 Tbs Butter
    • 6 Mushrooms, sliced
    • Fresh Thyme
    10 mins before chicken will be done, heat oil in pan over med-low (I used level 3 out of 10). Add shallots and butter. Wait 2 mins, then add mushrooms and thyme.
     

    Everyone likes this chicken, even cats.

    Sunday, January 16, 2011

    Where are the Crafters?

    Last week Louis and Stacy were sick. This weekend Bob and Jess are sick. We hope to craft together again next weekend!

    Saturday, January 1, 2011

    Ben's Grandma's Cranberry Bread

    Ben's grandma made this bread using Peggy MacDonald's recipe.

    Ingredients
    • 1 lb cranberries (4 generous cups)
    • 2 med oranges
    • 2 cups sugar
    • 4 cups sifted flour
    • 2 tsp soda
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 2 Tbs melted butter
    • 2 eggs, beaten
    • 2 tsp vanilla
    • 1 cup walnuts, chopped
    Steps
    • Coarsely grind berries and oranges into a bowl and add sugar; let set for 2 hours.
    • Sift dry ingredients together into a large mixing bowl.
    • Combine remaining ingredients with fruit mixture and add to dry ingredients; Mix just until flour is moistened.
    • Turn into two greased 9"x5" loaf pans lined with greased wax paper.
    • Cover with aluminum foil to help prevent loaves from cracking on top.
    • Bake at 350 deg F for 20 mins.
    • Uncover and bake 40 mins more.
    • Turn out immediately; Peel off wax paper; Cool.
    • Keep one day before slicing; Wrap in foil to keep moist.