Author Archive
Cool Whip Frosting
February 26, 2017 Lee
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Cool Whip Frosting

I remember my Mom making this and using on sponge cake from what I can remember. I have a shortcut for making stabilized whip cream which will have the consistency of Cool Whip but will taste like whipped cream, bonus. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box instant pudding mix, dry, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 package Cool Whip, 8 ounce package, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Add the dry pudding mix, powdered sugar, and milk to a mixing bowl. Blend on low speed until blended. Let mixture stand for 3 minutes, then fold in defrosted Cool Whip.
  • Frost the cake of your choice and keep refrigerated.

Notes

Shortcuts: Homemade Cool Whip, Chocolate Pudding Mix.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
INGREDIENTS
Homemade Cool Whip
February 26, 2017 Lee
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Homemade Cool Whip

This is a stabilized whipped cream that holds up like Cool Whip but tastes like whipped cream, and looks like whipped cream.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8 ounce package

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 3/4 cups whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Pour the water into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water, and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Place the pan over medium low heat and stir until gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
  • Once the gelatin mixture has cooled, place 1 tablespoon of the whipping cream and the cream of tartar in a small ziplock bag. Seal the bag and shake it until cream of tartar has dissolved completely and there are no lumps. If there are lumps, use your fingers to work them out.
  • Pour the cream of tartar mixture into a large bowl (the bowl of your mixer if using a stand mixer) along with the rest of the whipping cream and the sugar.
  • Beat with a hand mixer or the whisk attachment on a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Once mixture begins to slightly thicken, slowly pour in the gelatin-water while continually mixing. Add the vanilla. Continue to mix until the cream is thick and smooth.
  • Be sure not to over-mix during the whisking process. Do not try for stiff peaks, you will just end up with a curdled mess. Once the cream is thick enough to spread, stop whisking. It will still look soft, but that is okay. Store in the fridge until used in your other recipe.

Notes

Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
Pineapple Sunshine Cake,
Cool Whip Frosting,
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
INGREDIENTS
Fried Rice with Bacon
February 26, 2017 Lee
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Fried Rice with Bacon

There is as many ways to prepare fried rice as there is shades of green. There is no right or wrong way. The original use for fried rice was to use up left over rice and left over items from a meal, so this one is a little more creative and sounds really good.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 3-6 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 6 eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved or use cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled, minced
  • 3/4 cup snow peas, trimmed and cut in half
  • 1 bell pepper, color is up to you
  • 1 bunch spring onions, thinly sliced, white and green
  • 4 cups cooked rice

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a large non stick skillet over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook, until almost crispy. Add the sugar and 1 teaspoon soy sauce; stir-fry until the bacon is glazed, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon; reserve the drippings in a separate bowl. Wipe out the skillet.
  • Heat 2 teaspoons of the drippings in the skillet over medium heat. Whisk the eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and add to the skillet and cook, undisturbed, until just set, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and break up the eggs into large pieces.
  • Heat the remaining drippings in the skillet over medium high heat. Add the tomatoes and ginger and stir-fry until the tomatoes are softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the snow peas, bell pepper, and scallions; stir-fry until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and the remaining 2 teaspoons soy sauce; stir-fry until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the eggs and cook 1 minute. Top with the bacon. Serve as a side with pork or a prawn dish.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,SIDES
Two-Ingredient Pizza Dough
February 26, 2017 Lee
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Two-Ingredient Pizza Dough

Garland Davis, United States.
Sounds pretty straight forward, I will have to give this a try. This is the instructions for making the dough, to make pizzas, follow pizzas instructions of your choosing.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 10 inch pizzas

Equipment

  • Pizza Pans (two 12 inch)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups self rising flour, Shortcut
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt, full fat

Instructions
 

  • Put the flour and yogurt in a large bowl and mix with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. The dough may appear dry and crumbly at first, but it will come together as you mix it. Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until the dough is smooth and slightly elastic, about 8 minutes, dusting with more flour if necessary. If the dough feels too dry, add water, a tablespoon at a time and continue kneading until it is soft and pliable. Divide the dough in half, roll into balls and then use a rolling pin to roll out into two 10-inch pizzas. Dust a baking sheet or pizza peel with more flour or coarse cornmeal and place a circle of dough on top.
  • Proceed with a pizza of your choice using any recipe you like.

Notes

Shortcut: Self-Rising Flour.
PIZZA
Self-Rising Flour
February 26, 2017 Lee
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Self-Rising Flour

Adapted from an internet recipe.
I have never seen self rising flour for sale here, so for recipes that call for it, here you go.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings 1 cup self rising flour

Ingredients
  

  • 128 grams all purpose flour, 1 cup if no scale
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder

Instructions
 

  • Whisk everything together in a bowl, now you have 1 cup of self rising flour.

Notes

Used in Recipe Listed on this Site:
INGREDIENTS
Patty Melts
February 25, 2017 Lee
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Patty Melts

Grilled sandwich with beef, onions, and Swiss cheese, I love everything about this. And easy to make. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 750 grams ground beef
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcherstershire sauce
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 8 slices rye bread
  • Swiss cheese, sliced

Instructions
 

  • In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium low heat. Add the sliced onions and cook slowly until the onions are golden brown and soft, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • While the onions are cooking, In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, Worcestershire and salt and pepper to your liking, form into 4 patties.
  • I use block cheese, Swiss, from New Zealand, excellent cheese, so slice your cheese while the onions are cooking as well. You can slice as thin or as thick as you want, figure about 3 slices per side.
  • When the onions are done, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in another skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties on both sides until totally done in the middle, 3 minutes or so each side.
  • To assemble each sandwich, slice of bread, slices of cheese to cover bread (about 3), hamburger patty, a quarter of the cooked onions, more slices of cheese and another slice of bread.
  • Using a griddle or a large skillet over medium heat, cast iron would be perfect, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and grill the sandwiches until golden brown on the first side in the pan. Remove the sandwiches and add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Return the sandwiches to the skillet, but flip them to the other side. Cook until golden brown and crisp, and until the cheese is melted. Slice in half and serve immediately!

Notes

Not a cheap meal based on cheese alone, figure about 180 Baht/block of 250 grams. For the beef, this will be about 150 Baht. For 4 servings, this is about $2.43 per serving.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Chocolate Pudding Mix
February 25, 2017 Lee
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Chocolate Pudding Mix

This is not the instant kind, but is pretty fast, you will need to cook this briefly. This in the packaged form I have never seen where I live, so here is a shortcut.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 batches or boxes

Ingredients
  

For the Mix

  • 4 cups milk powder, non fat if you want
  • 2 2/3 cups sugar
  • 1 1/3 cups corn starch
  • 1-1 1/3 cups baking cocoa, 1 for light, 1 1/3 for rich flavor
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

To Make Pudding

  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup pudding mix
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

For the Mix

  • Mix all the ingredients and store in an airtight container.

To Make Pudding

  • Combine 1 cup of dry mix with 2 cups milk in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, stir in the butter and vanilla, then divide into bowls, allow to cool then refrigerate.

Notes

Adapted from an internet recipe.
DESSERTS
Traditional Sauerbraten
February 25, 2017 Lee
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Traditional Sauerbraten

Sounds really good, does take time to prepare this however. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 2 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine German
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 kilos beef, like a roast or any large pieces
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 1 cup red wine vinegar, chopped
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 10 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • olive oil, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Place beef, onions, vinegar, water, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, sugar, cloves, and bay leaves in a large pot. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days, turning meat daily. Remove meat from marinade and pat dry with paper towels, reserving marinade.
  • Season flour to taste with salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Sprinkle flour mixture over beef. Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat; brown beef on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the beef to a slow cooker.
  • Pour the reserved marinade over the beef and cook on Low setting for 6-8 hours. When beef is fork tender, remove from the slow cooker to a plate and slice.
  • Strain the liquid from the slow cooker and make a gravy by heating that in a small pot and adding cornstarch.
  • Serve with potatoes or potato dumplings.

Notes

Beef would cost about 300 Baht/1 1/2 kilos, for 6 servings, this is about $1.47 per serving. Not bad for a once in a while meal.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Beef - Slow Cooker
The Beery Batter
February 25, 2017 Lee
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The Beery Batter

Sounds like a good batter for fish.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 1/2 cups beer

Instructions
 

  • Mix the dry ingredients together, whisk in the beer, batter is ready to use.

Notes

Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
INGREDIENTS
Sinless Cookies
February 25, 2017 Lee
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Sinless Cookies

Sounds really good and not overly sweet as well.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 2 bananas
  • 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter, heaping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C.
  • Mix all the ingredients together, drop by spoonfuls on to a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,DESSERTS