Monthly Archives: August 2012

Monkey Bread

One morning last week, I was on the train enduring my daily commute into the city for my job and like usual I was listening to my favorite morning radio show, The Preston & Steve Show. On that particular day, they started talking about Cinnabon’s ooey, gooey, buttery cinnamon buns which morphed into a conversation about yummy, sweet, sticky Monkey Bread. By the time I got off the train and walked the six blocks to work, my mouth was watering and my stomach was growling. Thankfully, there wasn’t a Cinnabon nearby (at least if there is, I don’t want to know about it!) but the seed had already been planted and the damage had already been done – at any given moment after that, my brain would automatically turn to cinnamon buns, brown sugar and cinnamon, or anything cinnamony with a cool, drippy icing. It was all I could think about. I hope that explains why I made this Monkey Bread.

Balls of freshly made dough are rolled in a sugar-brown sugar-cinnamon mixture and baked until gooey and dripping in sweetness. As if that isn’t enough, a warmed cream cheese icing drizzle is spooned over the warm bread. It really doesn’t get more decadent or sinful than this. Since it contains yeast, this does take time to make as you let the dough rise but you can find faster recipes using store-bought dough online but they tend to be higher in calories. This recipe I made cuts the calories (not that you can tell) which is important because it’s hard to stop eating this.

Thanks, Preston & Steve. I may have to call the Love You, Hate You line to tell you how much I both love and hate you for putting this idea in my head!

The ingredients:

Combine flours, salt, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attached; mix until combined.

With mixer on, slowly add 1 cup milk, juice, honey, and 2 tablespoons butter; mix dough at medium speed 7 minutes or until smooth and elastic.

Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.)

Punch dough down; divide into 8 equal portions. Working with one portion at a time (cover remaining dough to prevent drying), roll into an 8-inch rope. Cut each dough rope into 8 equal pieces, shaping each piece into a 1-inch ball.

Combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a shallow dish. Combine 3 tablespoons milk and 2 tablespoons butter in a shallow dish, stirring with a whisk. Dip each ball in milk mixture, turning to coat, and roll in sugar mixture. Layer balls in a 12-cup Bundt pan coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining 7 dough ropes. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until almost doubled in size.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 25 minutes or until golden. Cool 5 minutes on a wire rack. Place a plate upside down on top of bread; invert onto plate.

Combine powdered sugar, remaining milk, and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Microwave at HIGH 20 seconds or until warm. Drizzle over bread.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Love It

Source: Cooking Light Magazine

Spicy Apple-Glazed Meatballs

I met up with some friends on Monday night to watch a preseason NFL game and I couldn’t help but get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the entire evening.  Friends sporting their team apparel, the sound of the whistle blowing after each play, the sound of helmets banging against each other, the fact that both our favorite MLB and NFL teams were playing at the same time on TVs next to each other – All of these things get me right in the mood for football season, fall, and tailgating.  Not to mention that only a day before I had made these Spicy Apple-Glazed Meatballs which I immediately concluded would be perfect for game day.

Ground meat is mixed with garlic, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper before being rolled into balls and cooked in a thin layer of oil.  Once browned, the meatballs are tossed in a glaze of apple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ground ginger and cayenne pepper.  Torn pieces of bread soaked in a combination of milk and egg are incorporated with the meat mixture which keep the meatballs from being dry.  The meatballs themselves are moist and garlicky while the sauce is sweet, salty and very spicy.  The addition of the chopped scallions adds a light onion bite which tops off these appetizers nicely.  I used ground chicken because I had it on hand so I made sure to cook the meatballs thoroughly before removing them from the heat.  Next time I make these, I think I’ll use ground turkey (the chicken was sticky and hard to shape into balls) and bake them in the oven to keep them nice and round.  While these meatballs make a great appetizer or snack for a game-day get-together or a tailgate, they would also be good as a meal tossed with a little pasta or rice.

Ah, fall and football – how I can’t wait for you.

The ingredients:

To make the meatballs, whisk together egg and milk in a large bowl.  Add bread pieces.  Let stand 10 minutes, just until bread is softened.

Add ground meat, garlic, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper.  Mix thoroughly with hands or wooden spoon.  Shape meat mixture into meatballs.

Heat oil in skillet heat oil over medium heat.  Cook meatballs, half at a time, turning occasionally until brown and crusty on outside and no longer pink inside (for ground chicken or turkey, the internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees F).  Transfer meatballs to a dish and cover with a lid or foil to keep warm.

To make the glaze, combine apple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.

In same skillet as meatballs were cooked, cook and stir juice mixture until thickened and bubbly (at full boil).  Cook and stir 2 minutes more.

Return meatballs to skillet to heat through and coat with sauce.

Transfer glazed meatballs to a serving dish.  Top with green onions.

Additions:  None

Omissions:  None

Substitutions:

  • Ground chicken

Overall Rating:  Love It

Source:  Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

 

Chicken Fried Rice

I’ve mentioned before certain foods that I would want to have if I was stuck on a deserted island:  s’mores and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are just a few.  Yes, you know I have a sweet tooth.  I could probably add deviled eggs to that list too.  But another food that I never tire of and could eat every single day is fried rice.  And I mean every. single. day.  I normally eat vegetable fried rice (a habit going back to my vegetarian days) but as much as I love it, I don’t ever try to make it at home.  After all, the Chinese food restaurant is right around the corner and can have my fried rice ready for me in 15 minutes, right?  Well, the problem we all know is that fried rice isn’t exactly healthy and shouldn’t be eaten often, if ever.  But I can’t give it up so why not give in and try to make it, when I can control the oil and the ingredients myself?  This recipe for Chicken Fried Rice seems like a good place to start.

Chicken, scrambled egg, peas, and rice are combined with a mixture of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar and lime juice.  Fresh garlic and grated ginger provide additional layers of flavor to this rich dish.  The lime juice really provides an additional unexpected freshness and the chili sauce gives it a slight kick, which I love.  I used precooked chicken strips since I had them on hand but thin-cut chicken would work well here too since it cooks quickly.  Since I try to eat brown rice as much as possible, I also used ready-made whole grain brown rice in place of the boil-in-bag rice but any kind of rice will work here.  While this isn’t restaurant-style fried rice, this was a tasty and satisfying fried rice dish that isn’t as oily and doesn’t leave you feeling guilty after eating it.  What’s also great about this is you can add adapt it to your own taste by adding other vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, baby corn, grean beans or bean sprouts.  I’ll definitely make this again, maybe even leaving out the chicken, to satisfy that vegetable fried rice craving I get oh-so often.

The ingredients:

Combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, cornstarch, and chicken in a bowl; toss well.  Combine remaining 4 teaspoons soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, lime juice and chili paste in a small bowl.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add chicken mixture and stir-fry 4 minutes or until lightly browned. (If using pre-cooked chicken like I did, stir-fry just until heated through.)

Push chicken to one side of skillet and add eggs to open side of pan.  Cook 45 seconds, stirring constantly.  Stir eggs and chicken mixture together.

Remove chicken mixture from pan and keep warm.  Return pan to medium-high heat.  Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pan.  Add onion, ginger, and garlic and cook 2 minutes or until fragrant.  Add rice and cook 1 minute.

Add peas and cook 1 minute.

Add chicken mixture and soy sauce mixture.  Cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Stir in green onions.

Additions:  None

Omissions:   None

Substitutions

  • Pre-cooked chicken strips
  • Ready-made brown rice

Overall Rating:  Love It

Source:  Cooking Light Magazine

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