Cinna-bun Cake

Cinna-bun Cake

Sounds tasty! This may be the next cake I make.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Base

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted, this is 1/2 regular block

For the Topping

  • 1 cup butter, room temp, this is 1 block
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

For the Glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 5 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter.
  • Mix all of the base ingredients together, with the exception of the butter. Add the melted butter last, and then pour into your prepared pan.
  • Mix all of the topping ingredients together in a separate bowl. Mix well. Drop by teaspoonful over the base, as evenly as you can over the entire base. Take a butter knife and swirl the topping into the base. Pop into the oven and bake for 28-30 minutes.
  • While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze and set aside. Remove the cake from oven and glaze while still it's still warm.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
Pull-Apart Pizza Bites

Pull-Apart Pizza Bites

Sounds good and easy to make these. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 24 bites

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 1/4 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup Pepperoni, chopped
  • 1 pizza dough crust, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 220 C. Lightly grease with a butter a pie baking dish.
  • Mix together the tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni in a small bowl.
  • Shape the pizza dough into a large rectangle, and with a sharp knife or dough cutter, cut into 24 even squares.
  • Add a small spoon of filling to a square, then pull the corners up to the top and pinch together to seal, to make a round ball, place the ball in the pie dish seam side down. Repeat for the all the squares.
  • Once all the balls are in the pie dish, brush on the melted butter.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve with additional tomato sauce for dipping, enjoy.

Notes

The cheese would cost about 140 Baht. For 24 bites, as an appetizer, say for 6 servings, this is about 69 cents per serving.
Shortcuts: Tomato Sauce, Pizza Dough.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
Green Chile Quiche

Green Chile Quiche

This sounds surprisingly good! On my to cook list. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 pie crust, OR make from a shortcut
  • 8 slices bacon
  • 1/2 cup big green chilies, roasted, peeled, seeded, chopped
  • 1 cup Gouda cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 220 C. Press crust into a 9 inch deep dish pie plate. Press foil over crust to hold shape. Bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven; remove foil. Reduce temperature to 220 C.
  • Cook bacon in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crisp. Transfer to paper towels and drain. Crumble bacon. Sprinkle bacon, then chilies and onion over crust. Combine cheeses and sprinkle over. Mix cream, eggs, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Pour mixture into crust.
  • Bake the quiche until knife inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let quiche stand 5 minutes. Cut quiche into wedges and serve.

Notes

Only expensive items would be the cheeses, figure 90 Baht for half a 250 gram block shredded of each cheese. Bacon, maybe about another 60 Baht for 8 slices. For 6 servings, this is about $1.18 per serving.
Shortcut: Buttery Pie Crust.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Jerry Juliana.
United States.
Best Breakfast Potatoes Ever

Best Breakfast Potatoes Ever

Sounds great and I have a friend that has made this, highly recommended from him. On my to cook list for sure!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo potatoes, roughtly diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 of standard block, room temp
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 220 C. Lightly butter a 9x13 baking dish.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the potatoes, garlic, olive oil, butter, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper. Place in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.
  • Then add the onion and peppers. Bake for another 10-15 minutes. Mix with a spatula to ensure even cooking.
  • Increase oven heat to 250 C. and bake until the potatoes are crisp and brown, 10-15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve as a breakfast with eggs on top, or serve as a main dish, and you bet, with eggs on top.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Garland Davis, US Navy Cook (Ret).
United States.
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pulls

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pulls

Sounds like a great appetizer. Not a cheap appetizer based on the cheese and bacon. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 1 loaf

Ingredients
  

  • 1 loaf sourdough bread, unsliced
  • 250 grams Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
  • 200 grams smoked bacon, chopped, fried crispy
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted, 1/2 standard block
  • 1 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C.
  • Using a sharp bread knife cut the bread going both directions. Do not cut through the bottom crust. Place slices of cheese in between cuts. Sprinkle cooked bacon on bread, making sure to get in between cuts. Mix together butter and Ranch dressing mix. Pour over bread. Wrap loaf in foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Unwrap. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Notes

The cheese would cost about 180 Baht/250 grams, the bacon would cost about 130 Baht/200 grams. I will take a guess at 6 servings, this would cost about $1.52 per serving, not cheap but but sounds really nice for a once in a while appetizer for visiting family and friends.
Shortcut: Ranch Dressing Mix.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
Carrot Cake Jelly Roll

Carrot Cake Jelly Roll

This one is a long shot, I am not a baker by any means, and a rolled cake is out of my league, but for my readers of the site, have a shot at this and please tell me your results, and photos, as well.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Cake

  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour, 96 grams on a scale
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup carrot, finely grated, fronds reserved

For the Candied Carrots

  • 1 cup carrot, finely grated
  • 1/2 cup sugar

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 500 grams Cream cheese, 2 standard packages, room temp
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 standard block, room temp
  • pinch salt
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1-2 teaspoons milk
  • orange gel food coloring
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins
  • 1 cup shredded coconut, sweetened

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 190 C. For the cake: Grease a 13x18 sheet pan with butter, line bottom of the pan with parchment paper and generously butter and flour the paper.
  • In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg, and salt and stir to combine. Place the eggs and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until light, thick and pale, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low, add the carrot, then slowly add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake until the top springs back when gently touched, about 15 minutes.
  • While the cake is baking, lay a clean, thin cotton dish towel out on a flat surface and sift 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar evenly over it. (This will prevent the cake from sticking to the towel.) As soon as you remove the cake from the oven, loosen it around the edges and invert it squarely onto the prepared towel. Peel away the parchment paper. Starting at one of the short ends, gently roll the warm cake and the towel together. Allow the rolled cake to cool completely on a wire rack.
  • For the candied carrots: Combine the grated carrot, sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often, and cook until the carrots are bright orange, glossy and almost dry, about 12 minutes. Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon and let cool. (The candied carrots will be in clumps.)
  • For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese, butter and salt together with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined and smooth, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the confectioners¿ sugar, vanilla and 1 teaspoon milk. Continue to beat until completely combined, about 2 minutes. (If needed add the second teaspoon of milk, the mixture should be fluffy not runny.) Increase the speed to high and beat until fluffy, about 4 minutes more.
  • To assemble: Place 1/2 cup of the frosting in a small bowl and set aside. Carefully unroll the cake onto a cutting board with the towel underneath. Using a small offset spatula, spread half the frosting evenly over the cake. Sprinkle the frosting evenly with walnuts, raisins and golden raisins, making sure to go all the way to the edges. Disperse teaspoons of candied carrots across the frosting. Carefully re-roll the cake, using the towel as a guide. Place the cake roll on a platter. Frost the sides and ends of the cake with the remaining frosting and press shredded coconut all over the surface.
  • Combine the reserved 1/2 cup frosting with 2 to 4 drops orange food coloring and mix well. Transfer the tinted frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip. Pipe 12 carrots evenly down the center of the cake roll and top each with a small piece of reserved carrot frond. Place the cake in the refrigerator until fully chilled, about 2 hours.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Garland Davis, US Navy Cook (Ret).
United States.
The Most-Lemony Lemon Bar

The Most-Lemony Lemon Bar

Sounds good, the lemon shaped candy, might be a challenge as I cannot recall ever seeing a store that has the large bins of candies like in the US.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 bars

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup butter, room temp, 3/4 standard block
  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice, from about 8 lemons
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest, finely grated
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups all purpose flour, 256 grams with a scale
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • confectioners sugar, for dusting
  • 8 gummy lemon candy slices, cut into thirds

Instructions
 

  • Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 180 C. Line a 9x13 glass baking dish with foil leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Grease the foil and sides of the dish with butter.
  • To make the crust, pulse the zest with 1/3 cup of the sugar in a food processor until the sugar is yellow and sandy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the butter, cornstarch and salt and pulse until the dough comes together, about 1 minute. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until the crust is golden at the edges and pale golden in the center, about 30 minutes. Transfer the dish to a wire rack.
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 150 C. To make the filling, whisk the eggs and egg yolks with the remaining 1 2/3 cups sugar and the remaining 1/2 cup flour in a bowl until smooth. Whisk in 1 cup lemon juice.
  • Pour the filling over the warm crust and return to the oven. Bake until the filling is just set, about 30 minutes.
  • Cool the lemon bars on a wire rack, 30 minutes, then refrigerate uncovered until firm, at least 1 hour. Lift the bars out of the pan using the foil. Peel off the foil and cut into 24 bars. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Place a piece of gummy lemon candy on top of each square and serve.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Garland Davis, US Navy Cook (Ret).
United States.
BBQ Bacon Sushi

BBQ Bacon Sushi

Ok, this sounds incredibly good, sort of like a meatloaf with cheese inside but this is rolled up. No measurements are given, I will come up with measurements when I make this. And I have never used a sushi mat so this will be a learning experience for me. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • sliced bacon
  • ground beef
  • BBQ spice mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • Swiss cheese
  • BBQ sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • sushi mat

Instructions
 

  • Mix the ground beef with some BBQ spice mix. Prep the Swiss cheese by cutting a block lengthwise so you have long strips about 1/2 inch on each side, make several long strips.
  • Lay out your sushi mat so that you can roll it away from you. Lay out the strips of bacon sided by side, pointing away from you, and about 1 inch from the left and right sides and about an inch or so from the end that is farthest from you.
  • Lay the ground beef on top of the bacon and pat down, maybe 1/2 inch thick, cover the bacon from the side closest to you and to the left and right, and stop at the end farthest from you, leaving about 2 inches of bacon visible. Form the edges tightly to make straight edges.
  • About 2 inches from the side closest to you, place a cheese strip from left to right so that it goes from the edge of the beef to the other side.
  • Use the mat to start a tight roll and roll it up. Repeat to make another roll. I am going to guess this would make two roll using a package of bacon and 500 grams of of beef.
  • You can cook this on a preheated grill over indirect heat or on a rack your oven heated to 180 C. Place the rolls on the grill and cover with the lid and cook for 25 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and brush on BBQ sauce of your choice. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, repeat, brushing one more time and cooking for another 5 minutes.
  • Carefully remove the rolls from grill and set on a plate to rest for 5 minutes, then cut into thick slices with additional BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

I cannot price this until I make it, should Low to Fair cost I am assuming.
Shortcuts: BBQ Spice Mix, BBQ Sauce.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
Chicken Cauliflower Casserole

Chicken Cauliflower Casserole

Sounds like a great casserole. On my to cook list for sure.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 head fresh cauliflower, cut into bite size pieces plus stem
  • 1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter.
  • Place cauliflower in a large saucepan with 1 inch of water over medium heat. Cover and steam until just tender. Drain cauliflower and place in a large bowl. Add chicken and cheese to bowl and toss together.
  • Heat olive oil in a medium pan over medium high heat, add spinach and garlic and cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Add spinach to chicken and pour in beaten eggs. Season again with salt and pepper.
  • Pour mixture into baking dish and place in oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until set and edges begin to brown and pull away from the side of the dish.
  • Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Only thing expensive with this dish is the cheese, figure about 180 Baht for a 250 gram block. For 6 servings this is about 88 cents per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
Slow Cooker Orange Chicken III

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken III

Sounds very nice, common ingredients as well. On my to cook list.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 750 grams chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl mix the egg with the milk.
  • In another bowl, mix the flour and panko together. In 5-10 piece batches, soak chicken chunks in milk mixture then roll in flour mixture, then dip in milk again, then roll in the flour mixture. Do this until all the chicken is coated. This builds up a nice coating on the chicken.
  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and brown your chicken on all sides. You will not be fully cooking the chicken, just giving it a nice brown color. Place the chicken pieces into your slow cooker.
  • In another small bowl, mix together the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup, add more sugar if you want a sweeter taste. Pour the sauce over the chicken and carefully toss to coat the chicken pieces.
  • Cover and cook on Low setting for 6 hours or High setting for 3 hours. Serve over steamed rice.

Notes

Chicken breasts will cost about 50 Baht/750 grams. For 4 servings, this is about 37 cents per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.