Square Pumpkin Pie

Square Pumpkin Pie

Rectangle pie really, as this uses a 9x13 baking dish. Pumpkin pie was requested by the family for a wedding party and since I only have one pie dish, I opted to go with a 9x13 pan and modified my other pumpkin pie recipe to make this work. This is from scratch recipe, meaning you will make the filling and the crust, so this does take time but well worth it.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 31 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Crust

  • 2 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, cold, shredded, 1 standard block
  • 7 tablespoons cold water, or as needed

For the Filling

  • 1 small pumpkin, winter squash, 2-2 1/2 kilos (4-5 lbs)
  • 1 1/4 cup evaporated milk
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • First thing we need to do is steam the pumpkin. Cut the pumpkin into quarters, then cut each quarter into chunks, no need to peel, it is much easier when it has been steamed. Place the chunks in a steamer (I use my rice cooker with a steamer tray) and once the water is boiling, steam for about 15 minutes or so until the pumpkin is fork tender, work in batches if needed depending on the size of your steamer. Once the pumpkin is steamed, remove to a bowl and let cool.
  • Now we make the crust, make sure you have a large work surface to do the rolling on.
  • Add the flour and salt to a mixing bowl and mix together, then add the shredded cold butter and cut into the flour with a large sturdy fork until it has the consistency of bread crumbs.
  • Now add about 4 tablespoons of cold water and mix together with a large sturdy spoon, keep adding water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough forms a nice ball, if too sticky, add flour as needed.
  • Transfer the dough onto your floured work surface, rub your rolling pin with flour, sprinkle some flour on the dough and roll it out very large, about 1/8 inch thick, you want it larger than 9x13 due to the sides of the dish as well.
  • Once rolled, roll it up on the pin and unroll it over the dish, gently pushing down and helping it in to cover the bottom and sides. If the side split and break off, no worries, just add them back to the sides and press together the seams. Trim off the excess dough from the edges. Place the dish in the fridge. (You can take the excess dough and roll it back out, cut into strips and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and bake those if you like.)
  • Preheat your oven to 230 C (450 F). And take the baking dish out of the fridge and set on the counter, very important if you are using Pyrex so you do not do a major temp change.
  • Now to make the filling. Take the cooled chunks of pumpkin and peel all the skin off using a pairing knife, very easy to do, toss each cleaned piece into a medium sized pot. When all are cleaned and in the pot, use a potato masher and mash the pumpkin.
  • Add the rest of the Filling ingredients to the mashed pumpkin, mash a few more times then mix with a large spoon.
  • Pour the filling into the baking dish and spread evenly, dish will be about 3/4 full. Place dish in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Lower temp to 160 C (325 F) and continue to bake until set, use a toothpick to check, this takes 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Once the filling is set, leave the pie in the oven and turn off the heat and let the pie set for 30-40 minutes (this gives a firm texture to the pie).
  • Remove the pie to a rack on the counter and let completely cool. Then place in the fridge until chilled.
  • Serve with whipped topping and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost.
Adapted from a combination of my pumpkin pie recipe and and internet recipe.
Pho Ga, Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup (Pressure Cooker)

Pho Ga, Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup (Pressure Cooker)

Adapted from an internet recipe.
This sounds good, and fast and is a Vietnamese soup modified to use a pressure cooker. You will make the broth and cook the chicken at the same time in your pressure cooker. Rice noodles are prepared separately along with any of the toppings you desire, and that can be done while the chicken is cooking.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine Vietnamese
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken and Broth

  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 2 medium onions, cut in half
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
  • 2 liters water, (2 quarts)
  • 6-8 chicken legs, drumsticks, not quarters
  • 1 bunch cilantro
  • 3 whole star anise
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoon corriander seeds
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ¼ cup fish sauce

To Serve

  • 4-6 servings rice noodles, cooked
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced, think mandolin
  • ½ cup spring onion, thinly sliced, white and green
  • 2 cups mixed herbs, think chopped cilantro, mint, and basil
  • 2 cups bean sprouts, trimmed
  • Bird's Eye Chilis, thinly sliced
  • limes, cut into 4 wedges each
  • Sriracha Chili Garlic sauce
  • hoisin sauce

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in your pressure cooker, until just starting to smoke, place the onions cut side down along with the ginger. Leave the top off the pressure cooker for this. Cook without moving for 5 minutes or until charred.
  • To the pot, now add the water, and remaining Chicken and Broth ingredients. Stir, then cover and lock the lid, bring to pressure on high heat, when the jiggler is moving and venting pressure, turn heat down to maintain jiggler movement and start timing for 8 minutes.
  • When the 8 minutes have passed, turn off the heat and move the pressure cooker to an unused burner and allow to release pressure naturally. This can take 10 to 20 minutes.
  • When it is safe and no pressure remains in the cooker, open and using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the chicken legs to a plate.
  • Place a strainer on another pot and pour the broth through the strainer, discard the contents of the strainer. Use a spoon and skim off any foam on the broth. Taste and adjust the fish sauce and or sugar as desired.
  • While the chicken and broth were cooking, prep all of the To Serve items, basically just chopping, and cooking the rice noodles.
  • To serve, place a serving of cooked rice noodles in a serving bowl, add a chicken leg or two then some sliced onion and spring onion. Ladle hot broth into the bowl, and let people add their own toppings, such as mixed herbs, chilies, lime juice, sauces, and sprouts. Enjoy.

Notes

I will price this when I get chicken legs again, for now I will say low cost.
One Pot Spaghetti

One Pot Spaghetti

This sounds really good, and easy, and less clean up after. On my to cook list. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef, (1 lb)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 2 3/4 cups water
  • 1 3/4 cups tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut, (15 oz can)
  • 1 3/4 cups diced tomatoes, drained, (15 oz can)
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 340 grams dry spaghetti, broken in half, (12 oz)
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • olive oil, as needed

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot on medium heat, add a splash of olive oil and when hot, add the beef, onion, and garlic. Cook and break up the beef until the beef is cooked through. Drain the fat.
  • Now add the water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and sugar. Bring the pot to a boil and add the spaghetti. then reduce to a simmer. Stir often and simmer until the spaghetti is tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Stir in the Parmesan cheese and parsley, serve and enjoy.

Notes

The beef will cost about 120 Baht for 500 grams. For 4 servings, this is about 94 cents per serving.
Shortcuts: Italian Seasoning, Tomato Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Grilled Sausage & Cheese Sandwich

Grilled Sausage & Cheese Sandwich

This, sounds extremely good! On my to cook list for sure!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 breakfast sausage links
  • 2 slices Cheddar cheese
  • 2 slices bread, of your choice
  • butter, as needed, softened

Instructions
 

  • Fry the sausage in a pan until cooked through.
  • Butter the bread slices on one side only. Using the same pan the sausage was cooked in, fat drained and wiped with a paper towel, or another pan that is non stick,
  • Place a slice of bread, butter side down in the hot pan, and a slice of cheese and 4-5 sausage links, then the other slice of cheese, cover with the remaining slice of bread, buttered side up.
  • Cook until golden brown on the bottom, then carefully flip and cook the other side until gold brown. Cut in half and serve.

Notes

Low cost.
Variant: 1. If using thick links, after they are cooked through, slice in half lengthwise and position on bread, first on cut side down, next cut side up, next one cut side down, etc, until the bread is covered. 2. Add a fried egg before topping with the last slice of bread.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Baked Whitefish

Baked Whitefish

I made this in 22 April 2018 and oh my, it is delicious! Any boneless whitefish fillets can be used, such as tilapia, barramundi, pangasius, ocean perch, haddock, cod, etc.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 whitefish fillets, skinless, boneless, about 1 kilo, (2 lbs)
  • lemon pepper, as desired
  • salt, as desired
  • paprika, as desired
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F) and lightly grease with butter a 9x13 baking dish.
  • Rinse the fillets then pat them dry, arrange fillets in the baking dish and season with the salt and lemon pepper.
  • In the small sauce pan you melted the butter in, mix in the lemon/lime juice, and the garlic. Brush this over the fillets in the baking dish.
  • Sprinkle the fish with the parsley, rosemary, and paprika.
  • Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 35 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
  • Serve.

Notes

Just using Pangasius from Tesco at 86 Baht/kilo, for 4 servings, this is about 67 cents per serving.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Extra Cheesy Grilled Cheese

Extra Cheesy Grilled Cheese

I love a good grilled cheese sandwich, and this seems to fit the bill for cheesy, on my to make list for sure!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 sandwiches

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup butter, softened, this is 1/4 standard block
  • 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 8 slices bread, your choice
  • 4 slices Provolone cheese
  • 4 slices Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, mix together the butter and Parmesan cheese.
  • Spread the butter mixture on all slices of bread, place 4 slices butter side down on wax paper, the other 4 slices, set aside butter side up.
  • Top the 4 slices that are butter side down with a slice of Provolone and Mozzarella, top that with the other 4 slices of bread and place those butter side up.
  • Heat a griddle or non stick pan, then working in batches, add a sandwich or two and cook until golden brown on the bottom, then flip and cook the other side until golden brown. Cut in half and serve.

Notes

Low cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Shchavel Borscht (Sorrel Soup)

Shchavel Borscht (Sorrel Soup)

Natasha's Kitchen, Natasha Kravchuk, United States.
This is a Russian soup and sounds wonderful, and since I have never seen sorrel here, I am going to use spinach. On my to cook list. Link to the Shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine Russian
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 14 cups water, see Step 1
  • 500 grams pork loin chops, or chicken breasts, (1 lb)
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 4-5 medium potatoes, diced, skin on or off is fine
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
  • 4 cups fresh sorrel, or 3 cups frozen sorrel, chopped
  • sour cream, or may, to serve, Shortcut

Instructions
 

  • If using pork loin, use the 14 cups of water, if using chicken, use 8 cups of water and 6 cups of chicken broth.
  • Add the water (or water and broth if using chicken) to a large pot and bring to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, dice the pork or chicken into bite size pieces.
  • Once the water is boiling, add the pork or chicken and salt, then reduce to a simmer and partially cover and cook the pork for 30 minutes, or the chicken for 10 minutes. Skim off any foam that forms at the top.
  • When the meat is done cooking, add the potatoes and bay leaves and bring up to a low boil for about 15 minutes or until you can easily pierce a potato piece with a fork.
  • While the potatoes are cooking, heat a non stick pan with the oil and when hot, add the onion and cook that until golden brown then add that to the soup pot.
  • After adding the onion, lightly beat the eggs, and while stirring the soup pot, slowly pour in the eggs.
  • When the potatoes are fork tender, add the sorrel and dill and bring the soup pot to boil and hold for 3-5 minutes to wilt the sorrel and make them good and soft.
  • Ladle into bowls, top with a spoon of sour cream or mayo, enjoy.

Notes

Pork loin is about 55 Baht/500 grams, chicken breasts would be about 30 Baht/500 grams. For 8 servings this is about 22 cents per serving using pork, and about 19 cents per serving using chicken.
Shortcut: Sour Cream.
Variants: 1. Use spinach in place of sorrel. 2. To make this vegetarian, simply not use the meat and use vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.
Stephen Special

Stephen Special

This sounds really good, and is a modified recipe based on making the mac & cheese from scratch instead of boxed. This seems like a long winded recipe, just read through it, it is not that bad, the homemade part takes a bit more but the results will be much better. On my to cook list for sure. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta

  • 500 grams uncooked pasta, your choice, small shells, spirals, etc.
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup butter, this is 1/2 a standard block
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • salt and pepper, to taste

For the Remaining Ingredients

  • 500 grams ground beef, (1 lb)
  • 2 cans tuna in water or brine, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 handful fresh mushrooms, sliced

Instructions
 

  • Heat a pot of salted water to boiling then cook the pasta until just tender, drain and set aside.
  • While the water is heating for the pasta and for the pasta to cook, go ahead and heat a large non stick pan then add the bell peppers, onion, and ground beef, when the beef is good and browned, drain, then mix in the taco seasoning and add the drained tuna and mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms are wilted and softened. Remove from heat and mix into the drained pasta, set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, warm the milk until it is simmering then set it aside.
  • In a large heavy-bottomed stock pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the flour and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until it turns light brown in color and has a slightly toasted aroma, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the dry mustard.
  • Remove the pot from the heat then slowly whisk the warm milk into the flour mixture. Continue whisking constantly to avoid any lumps. (The mixture will become very thick and then thin out gradually until it is smooth.)
  • Return the pot to the stove over medium-high heat and cook the mixture while whisking constantly until it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste and reduce the heat to medium. Whisk in the Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until they are melted and the cheese sauce is smooth.
  • Add the pasta mixture to the cheese sauce and stir to mix together and heat to warm everything through, serve.

Notes

I will price this after I make it, but for now will say low cost.
Shortcuts: Fresh Tuna, Taco Seasoning Mix.
Provided by Stephen Story and the original recipe is here.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches (Pressure Cooker)

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches (Pressure Cooker)

In keeping with my theme of making things from scratch, plenty of shortcuts here if you wish to use those for cost savings.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients
  

  • pork shoulder, OR make from a shortcut
  • BBQ sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • light rye bread, OR make from a shortcut
  • onion, sliced
  • dill pickle slices, OR make from a shortcut
  • Provolone cheese, sliced

Instructions
 

  • For tender and juicy pork, use of a pressure cooker is highly recommended. You can cook the pork anyway you prefer. There is a link in Recipe Notes for how I prepare pork shoulder/butt in a pressure cooker. Amount of pork is up to you, when I make this I use 1 1/2 kilos (3 lbs).
  • After the pork is cooked, place on a cutting board and use two forks to shred it, then place the pork in your slow cooker and set to Low setting.
  • Add BBQ sauce as needed to coat all the shredded pork. Leave the pork on Low for about 30 minutes to heat everything through.
  • When the pulled pork is good and hot, lay out a slice of rye bread, then add a slice of onion, as thick as you like it, add some pickle slices.
  • Scoop on some hot BBQ pulled pork.
  • Top that with sliced Provolone, as many slices as you like.
  • Top with another slice of rye and enjoy. (Great photo except for the fly on the sandwich, oh well, it happens.)

Notes

Low cost, well under $1 per sandwich.
Shortcuts: Pork Shoulder/Butt (Pressure Cooker), Light Rye Bread, Fridge Pickles, BBQ Sauce.
Variants. 1. Use a cheese of your choice. 2. Use lettuce in place of the onion or in addition to the onion. 3. Leave out the pickles or replace with hot peppers. 4. Use sandwich rolls in place of rye bread, or use any bread you like.
Common type of sandwich.
Pork Shoulder/Butt (Pressure Cooker)

Pork Shoulder/Butt (Pressure Cooker)

Adapted from an internet recipe.
This produces fork tender and very juicy pork. No set quantity of pork shoulder/butt is needed, but observe the rule of NOT overfilling your pressure cooker more than ⅔ full. If meat is above the water, perfectly fine, you are cooking with heat and pressure, not boiling. I used my large 9 liter (9½ quart) stove top pressure cooker with 80 kPa (12 psi). Follow all safety precautions with your pressure cooker.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 33 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ kilos pork shoulder, or butt, (3 lbs)
  • water, as needed

Instructions
 

  • The amount of pork shoulder/butt is not really important, I used 1½ kilo, main thing is the pressure cooker (for smaller pressure cookers) is no more than â…” full.
  • Trim off any large thick pieces of fat, add the pork to your pressure cooker. Add about 1 to 1½ inches of water to the pressure.
  • Place the lid on and lock, bring to high heat. When the jiggler starts moving and releasing pressure, turn the heat down but maintain the pressure release and jiggler moving (indicating full pressure). Start timing for 33 minutes.
  • When 33 minutes have passed on full pressure, turn of the heat and move the pressure cooker to an unused burner to allow a natural release of pressure.
  • When the pressure is released and it is safe to open your pressure cooker, go ahead and open, use the pork as needed in other recipes. Don't forget to try a piece first 🙂
  • I prepared the pork should like this for BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, absolutely perfect tender and juicy pork.

Notes

For pork shoulder, figure about 100 Baht/kilo. For 1½ kilo, six servings, this is about 78 cents per serving. If you can source the pork locally, you could save even more.