Archive for the ‘snacks’ Category

Ham and Cheese Pinwheel

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Ingredients:

1 sheet frozen ready made puff pastry, thawed
¼ pound thinly sliced Black Forest Ham
¼ pound thinly sliced Swiss cheese
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread puff pastry sheet out flat. Evenly distribute cheese across the puff pastry. Spread mustard evenly over the cheese. Sprinkle thyme, salt and pepper. Evenly distribute ham over the mustard on top of the cheese.

Roll the puff pastry up, jelly roll style. Slice the “jelly roll” into ½ inch slices.

On a parchment lined baking sheet, place each slice down separately so you can see the swirl of ham and cheese.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until puff pastry is golden brown. Serve warm

Cinnamon Buns with Icing

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

 Ingredients:1 pkg. dry active yeast1 cup whole milk, warmed to just before boiling½ cup granulated sugar1/3 cup butter, melted1 teaspoon salt2 eggs4 cups all-purpose flour 

Bun Filling:1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed3 Tablespoons cinnamon1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 

Instructions: 

  1. Dissolve yeast in warm milk. Mix together sugar, butter, eggs, and salt. Add flour and make into a dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.

 

  1. Place dough in a very lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm place free from draft from a minimum of 1 hour until dough as nearly doubled in size. Can be refrigerated overnight.

 

  1. When dough is ready, in a separate bowl mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter.

 

  1. Punch down dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle shape about ¼” thick.  Spread the filling mixture evenly over the surface of the dough.
  2. Roll up the dough like a jelly roll.  Cut the rolled dough into 1 1/2” slices and place on a parchment lined baking sheet, allow about 1” of space between each roll.

 

  1.  Put rolls into a warm place and allow rolls to rise until about double in size, approximately 30 minutes.

 

  1. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until lightly golden. Ice the rolls when still warm.

 

Cinnamon Bun Icing 

Ingredients: 

2 sticks butter, softened3 cups powdered sugar½ cup cream cheese1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Whip together all ingredients. 

ROCK shriMp ROLLs

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

Rock Shrimp Rolls

By Stefanie Paganini

Serves 4

 

For Salad:

1 pound cooked Rock shrimp (or shrimp of choice), peeled, de-veined, diced small 3 Tablespoons sour cream1/4 cup mayonnaise (can add more to taste) 2 teaspoons lemon juice¼ teaspoon salt1 Tablespoon fresh tarragon, minced¼ cup English cucumber, diced small

1 Tablespoon shallots, minced

freshly ground black pepper, optional

 

For

Sandwich:

4 Kaiser Rolls

tomato slices

lettuce

Red onion slices

 

Artichoke Focaccia

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Artichoke Focaccia 

Ingredients: 

1 cup warm water (95-110 degrees)2 packages dry yeast1 tsp. sugar2 ½ cups bread flour1 tsp. salt¼ cup olive oil¼ cup chopped marinated artichokes 

Topping:Artichokes Pesto (see recipe) 

Instructions: 

  1. Place warm water in food processor, stir in yeast and sugar. Cover. Let it proof for 10 minutes in a warm spot.

 

  1. Add 1 cup of flour and salt in the food processor and ¼ cup of oil. Give four or five turns with off/on button.

 

  1. Add remaining flour, artichokes. Work the dough in the processor until smooth and elastic. (Add flour or water as needed).

 

  1. Let dough rise until double in the sealed food processor bowl. Punch down and divide into 2. Line two oil lined cake pans with prepared dough.

 

  1. With a fork make markings. Allow dough to rise. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes. Pull bread out of oven and coat with artichoke pesto. Place bread back in oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marinated Artichoke Pesto 

Ingredients: 

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil1 jar marinated artichokes1 clove garlic, peeled1 tsp. fresh basil1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper1 tsp. salt 

Instructions: 

  1. Place oil in the food processor add artichokes, garlic and lemon juice and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

 

  1. Remove from the food processor add basil and cheese.

 

Feed a Family Gingerbread Army

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

Stefanie’s Gingerbread Cookie 

1 cup butter or margarine

 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 2/3 cup molasses or dark corn syrup

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 egg, beaten

4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground cloves 

In a saucepan combine the butter, brown sugar and molasses.   Cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted and sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat and pour the mixture into a mixing bowl.  Stir in vanilla and cool for 5 minutes.  Add egg and beat well.  Set aside. In another bowl, sift together flour, soda, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.  Add to the butter mixture in thirds.  Mix well after every addition.  Divide dough in half.  Wrap each half in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours or over night. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.  On a lightly floured surface roll the dough to 1/8” thickness, working with a half of the dough at a time.  Cut and trim cookies.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.  Cool and decorate. 

Royal Icing 

1/4 cup meringue powder1/2 cup cold water1 lb. 10X confectioners’ sugar 

Add meringue powder to cold water in a mixing bowl.  Beat on medium speed until you see soft peaks. Add sugar, one cup at a time, beating the mixture after each cup.  (Beat for a total time of 5 to 7 minutes)  Store in an airtight container until ready to use.