Cooking Tuesday - Making an Indonesian meal

We love eating Asian here at our house, but it's usually just our own version.  We use what we have and it's definitely not authentic.  For one thing, the vegetables here are not the same as the ones they have over there.  Beans, carrots, onions, and cabbage are some of the vegetables they have, but they aren't the same either.  They are different varieties.

So we do what we can with what we have.  One thing that we enjoy is Santan.  I'm not sure what the difference between Santan and Opor is but to me they are similar.

You start with pork or chicken.  We're using pork today.

 I cooked it through the morning in the crockpot and liked how it turned out.  Add salt and pepper.  Frying it up is yummy too, gives a carmelized flavor to the meal.  Your crockpot should be on high, and if you fry it up you can skip the morning use of the crockpot.

 Then around noon add chunks of potatoes - smaller would be better.  I had help and don't really like to correct them if I don't have to, also I don't think I was in the room when these went into the pot.

Then I put it some canned squash.  At the very end, so there was just enough time to heat it through.   Canned squash and even canned potatoes would be perfect for this. 

At the very end, probably right with the squash add one can of evaporated milk and some tumeric.

Obviously for my Indonesian friends, you know that this isn't remotely the way to do Opor, but in this farm country, it's as close as I can get with regular items.  My family enjoys it, so I guess that's the point.

Making the most of today.
Steph

White choclate covered popcorn

Not sure why it's called white choclate when I doubt there is any choclate in it.  Maybe because it is the same consistency.  But today it's what we're having for snack.

Pop popcorn as usual.  Not sure how microwaveable would do if it has butter on it.  But we always make our popcorn on the stove.

Then we pour them into a bowl, and shake it, so the kernels fall to the bottom. Next we pull out the popcorn from the top, so that we don't get any of those "old maids".

Melt the candy according to the directions.  And pour over the popcorn - stir well.  It's even better with some crushed oreos mixed in with it.

Yummy!

Making the most of today
Steph

Cooking Tuesday - Another meal for a family

Another idea for a meal would be lasagne.  I don't usually do this because I assume that someone else will be making it for the family.  When Carpenter and I got married, we made a dozen or two of these lasagnes for our rehearsal dinner.

It's Mom-in-law's recipe and we love it.  In fact, when Mom and Dad come they usually bring a couple pans of it, because it's Sharpie's absolute favorite. Grandmas are so awesome. 

The recipe is easier than regular lasagne - no boiling of the noodles required.

• 1 pkg of lasagne noodles (you can use oven-ready but the other kind works just as well - maybe better)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 32 oz jar of  thick spaghetti sauce
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 t salt
• 1/2 t sugar
• 1 lb small curd cottage cheese
• 3 cups shredded mozerella cheese
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Brown ground beef and drain off fat.  Add sauce, water, sugar and salt; boil several minutes. 

In a 13x9 pan, layer 1/3 of the sauce, 1/2 of the uncooked noodles, 1 cup cottage cheese, and 1/3 of mozerella.  Repeat layers ending with sauce and remaining mozerella and parmesan cheese.  Cover with foil

Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.  Remove foil and let stand 10 minutes before serving.  Yeild 12-14 servings.

Add some lettuce salad and garlic bread and a dessert and you have a meal for your family.

Sorry this is late.  We had a great time with our family and they just left. 

Making the most of today.
Steph

Cooking Tuesday - Meals for a family

Recently a friend was caring for her mother night and day.  I was burdened for her and asked if I could share a meal with them.  The following is a simple meal that can be a blessing to a family in need.

 

One thing that someone mentioned to me recently is that when taking a meal to a family it's more of a blessing if you can bring it in disposable dishes.  Take it in something you don't need returned.  It will relieve them of the burden of remembering to get the dishes back to you.

 

The Shopping List

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 lb pasta - pick something fun
• 1 12 oz container of sour cream
• 1 can of cream of mushroom soup - I use a double one.  So if you're using regular size cans get two
• 1 pkg of frozen corn
• 1 box of vanilla pudding
• 2 sm cans or 1 big one of fruit cocktail
• 1 container (8 oz) of whipped topping
• 1/2 bag of mini marshmallows
• flour
• yeast
• sugar
• eggs
• salt
• brownie mix

Main Dish recipe

• 2 pounds of ground beef cooked and drained
• 1 box of pasta - cooked and drained
• 1 package of frozen corn or canned corn that is drained

Put these ingredients into a bowl.

• 1 12 oz container of sour cream
• 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup

Mix together in a separate bowl and add to the pasta, in the cookware you choose.  Make sure it's greased. If I were sending this meal to someone I would choose something disposable.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes to an hour to reheat it through. It's probably best to cover it with foil as mine dried out when I baked this.

Main Dish is done.  Now for a little pudding salad - super easy, but I don't have any pics.

• Take your fruit cocktail and do not drain it!  Pour it all into a bowl
• Add the pudding to the fruit cocktail and stir until all the powder is dissolved.  You do not add milk to the pudding.  Use the powder only.
• Now mix in the cool whip.
• Finally add the marshmallows. 

Yummy!  This I put in a tall cool whip container, so that there was nothing for her to return.

I added a loaf of bread. White Bread Recipe  I put my bread in a ziploc bag. 

And finally make the brownies according to the recipe.  The brownies, I made in a tin foil pan that is disposable.

It's always a blessing to share with others, and I make double for the evening meal for my family.  They love to share with others and then enjoy a similar meal at home.

Making the most of today.
Steph

Cooking Tuesday - White bread

One of our favorite things if fresh homemade bread.  We usually finish off more than a loaf when it's hot from the oven. Spread butter on it and oh, my it's delicious.

I usually use the same recipe all the time.  If you want to make this recipe healthier, just use whole wheat for half of the flour.  I like this recipe because the yeast goes directly in with the flour.

First take 2 1/2 cups of flour and add 2 T of yeast.  I usually make two recipes so thankfully I have two red bowls.  You can double the recipe, but I like how the bread comes out when I do them separately.

 Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt to the flour

 Now take 2 cups of milk and add 1 tablespoon of margarine to it.  I put it in the microwave for 2 minutes, but you'll have to see how your microwave works.  The way I test the "water" is to put a clean finger in the milk and if it's too warm for me then it's too warm for the yeast.  But if it's comfortably warm, then it's ready to use.  You can also use a thermometer and it should be between 110 and 125.



Next use a whisk and mix the yeast, sugar, and salt into the flour.

 Now pull the milk out of the microwave.  This is how it will look - the margarine melting but not yet melted.  If it was in your microwave too long, it doesn't matter just give it time to cool down.

Use that whisk and thoroughly mix the milk into the flour mixture. 

 Add 2 1/2 cups of flour and stir it with a wooden spoon till it looks like the pic below.

When it looks like this, your hands need to get involved and start kneading.  If it starts sticking, add more flour to your hands.

Knead it till it looks like this.  Then it's time to let it raise for an hour.  When it's done raising, punch it with your fist. 

Divide the dough in half and then knead each half into a loaf shape, and put it into a greased loaf pan.

Let it raise for a half hour and turn the oven on to 350 degrees.  Put it into the oven and about a half hour later.  Yum!

Making the most of today
Steph

Cooking Tuesday - a mix for Beef Stew (or Hamburger Gravy)

Lately, I have been researching how to make some things on my own instead of buying those small packets that cost a dollar.  There are quite a few reasons for this research project.

1. It's less expensive.

I'm always looking for a cheaper way of doing something, especially if it doesn't take forever.  And in this case, you make quite a bit and I use it in a lot of different things.  So it was worth it for me.  I did have to buy some spices I didn't have, but in the long run it was still a big save for me.

2. It's healthier.
Now I know what is in the seasonings I'm putting in the pot.  Everything is a spice or flour, no extra preservatives or anything.

3. Less to buy.
It's one more thing that doesn't go on my grocery list anymore.  I always would forget to buy them and then I would need them.  Now I have the spices that go into the mix and I can mix it up whenever I want.

It may seem weird to have a mix when you already have the spices.  Why not just put the spices in the stew or gravy? But I don't generally cook with a cookbook, even though I do reference them sometimes when I'm cooking.  And I can never remember if rosemary was one of the spices to go in the gravy or taco seasoning?  So I like to have a container of a mix that I can use.  I know it already has what I need to put in. 

So for my Beef Stew Mix recipe - I took a big Mayonnaise jar and put in the following spices and then shook it up to mix it all together.

• 2 cups of flour
• 4 teaspoons of oregano
• 2 Tablespoons of basil
• 4 Tablespoons each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder
• 1 Tablespoon of cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons of rosemary
• 2 Tablespoons of celery seed.

This makes a bunch of mix that lasted me almost six months.  I keep a smaller container in my spice drawer and the rest in the pantry. 

I mostly use this for Hamburger Gravy on Wednesday mornings.  It's pretty simple and at 5:30 in the morning I'm not awake enough to remember what all goes into this. 

First I take my pre-cooked hamburger and put it in the pan with a bit of oil (water works too and is usually my choice).  I just want to get the hamburger moist, so that the seasoning will stick to it. 

I sprinkle (but most recipes call for 2 to 3 tablespoons per pound), there is no way I can get away with using that much.  It's too spicy for our household.  So be careful and add some later if you like it spicier.  We are pretty much wimps when it comes to the spicy stuff - except for Daddy.

Then I stir it into the meat.  While it's sizzling a bit, I take 1/2 cup of flour and put water just enough to make a pourable liquid and stir it together - hot water works better.  Pour it in with the meat and then I use my nylon whisk to stir it into a gravy. 

You have to really watch it, because as it starts to thicken, you'll want to add milk.  I have no idea how much because I just pour some in and then mix it in and as it thickens, I add a bit more, till it's the consistency I want. 

It will burn if you don't watch carefully, so have someone help set the table or stir while you set.  Mine burns regularly because at 5:30 in the morning there are not many people up - the one who is up is getting ready to go to work.

It's very yummy over biscuits in the morning.

Another meal I use this mix for is anything with hamburger and rice.  Sometimes in a pinch, I take hamburger ( the pre-cooked) and add some veggies and some of the mix to the water.  It makes it taste so good.

Obviously it would work great in Beef Stew - if we ever had that, which we rarely do. 

Making the most of today,
Steph

Cooking Tuesday - Pandesal (bread)

Memories of early mornings and cries of "Pandesal, Pandesal!" have driven me to try to re-create the mouth-watering goodness they sold on the streets in the little villages where I spent my early years. 

So many memories of "Chippy, chippy gum is a bubble gum.  Bumili kayo sa tindahan.  Masarap ito at mari-nam-nam.  Chippy chippy gum is a bubble gum."  My sister and her kids still sing that song. 

Memories of climbing on the fence to look out the gate - a dog bite - an even bigger house where we lived with another family and got in trouble for eating the choclate only to find that it was actually the rats that dragged it behind the desk and had helped themselves.  I remember the look in my mom and Aunt Wendy's eyes as they told of the stories of the rats that had actually been mistaken for cats.  How on earth do you manage tiny babies in a setting like that????  I would have been terrified.

And then the sweet memories of going to market and seeing green mangoes with salt - oh, so yummy!  But one thing that I have hoped to be able to make again is the taste of Pandesal in the morning.  You can never re-make that same taste.  I don't think there is a way.  I'm in an entirely different setting now.  But last night my daughter helped me and we tried to make it. 

So I thought I would share with you my "pandesal".  It means, in Spanish, salt bread.  Though it  doesn't have a lot of salt in it. 

First we made our bread. 

2 T yeast

 1 1/4 cup of warm milk

1/2 cup sugar

Later add

1 egg

5 T melted butter

1 T oil

In a large bowl, the recipe calls for

2 cups of flour

2 cups of bread flour (I just used four cups of flour)

1 t baking powder

1 t salt

Knead it till smooth. Cover with a damp cloth for an hour.

Divide into four equal parts
Roll into a tube.

Mine as you can see is not perfect

Try to get the "tube" into a uniform thickness.  I read somewhere that it should be about an inch in diameter. Slice diagonally - that's what the knife is for.

Roll in bread crumbs.

Place on cookie sheet.  Bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

Ready to go into the oven.

Delicious!!!!



Do you know I was the only one who did not know that they didn't taste quite like the real thing?  No one else did.  I'm afraid that the setting has something to do with it tasting different.  They definitely were good.  And I think I'll make them again.  Just wish that I didn't like sleep so much and we could have them warm for breakfast. :)

Making the most of today,

Steph

Cooking Tuesday - Cinnamon Bread

Have you ever had Cinnamon Bread before?  No one makes it like Carpenter's mom. 

A long time ago, over 20 years,  I was a little Bible School student.  If you've ever been one of those at the school that I went to, or it's sister school, you know about the Hold The Ropes program.  But for those of you who don't:  the school I went to has an emphasis on missions.  So, they had this program, which is all about missionaries and their prayer needs. 

As we got started in school, we were assigned one missionary couple to pray for and write letters each month.  The first couple I was assigned didn't write back or anything.  I don't remember why, but I was assigned to  Carpenter's parents. 

I didn't know Carpenter at all.  But I loved the letters I received on a regular (almost monthly) basis from his mom.  It was such an encouragement.  A couple years later we were still writing, though they had returned home from Indonesia.  Now I was in missions and they were writing to encourage me. 

Later Carpenter and I met and that story is written in my blog somewhere. :)  And when he invited me to come to his house for Thanksgiving, I was nervous and yet excited to meet this wonderful woman I had been dialoguing with through letters. 

My mom had recently passed away at the beginning of that year.  She isn't the same woman as my mom, but we talk constantly whenever she's here and she's such a good listener.  I've really appreciated her role in my life. 

And one thing that we love for Grandma to bring is Cinnamon Bread.  Thankfully, it freezes well.  It's yummy sliced with butter but it's even better toasted with butter. Yum!

On this day, I made two batches because four loaf pans fit in my oven.  And by the end of the day half of it was gone.

2 cups of milk, scalded

1/2 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of shortening or oil

2 t salt

Cool to lukewarm,

Mix 1 pkg (or 2 Tablespoons) of yeast with 1/4 c warm water

Add to milk mixture

Stir in 3 cups of flour and mix well

Then add remaining flour till it's a soft dough

Place in a greased bowl.  Cover and let rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Punch down and let rise about an hour

Punch down again and divide in half.  Let rise 10 minutes.

Roll each half into rectangles about 13x9.

I got this mixed around the first time.  Sprinkle 1/2 c sugar with 1 T cinnamon on each rectangle. 

Then sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons of water over all of it.

Roll from the narrow end

Seal long edge.

Place sealed edge down in pan

Let rise till almost double

Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or till done

Turn onto cooling racks.

Making the most of today

Steph

I am behind what I originally scheduled for Bible reading so I read through Numbers 18 and Psalm 21 today.

Chili beans - homemade

I like to buy a big bag of beans at the grocery store.  But it always sits on the shelf.  On the day I want to have beans in a meal, I can't because I haven't pre-soaked them.  Somewhere along the way I learned ( I think from my wonderful step-mom) that you can freeze beans. 

So now, when I get around to buying beans, they don't sit on my shelf very long.  I take the whole 4-pound bag and put it in my roaster with water two or three inches deep.  I didn't figure this well and when I checked it during the day (cuz I started it earlier in the day), the beans had soaked up all the water.  So I added more.  Pull out all those floaties. :)

The next day, drain the beans, and then rinse them.  Put them back in the roaster with an inch of water over them.  Then add the spices. For a four-pound bag: 2 tablespoons of salt, 2 teaspoons of garlic, 2 teaspoons of cumin, 2 tablespoons of chili powder, and 1 teaspoon of onion powder.

Let cook all day around 300 in your roaster or in a crockpot on low. 

After it cools, scoop out portions and put in freezer bags.  I put 4 cups in a bag, but most of you will probably just want two.  :)

Have a great day,
Steph

Today's reading is through Leviticus 18 and Psalm 11 and now I'm working on Romans 1:13-14 for memory. 

I found that if I continue to do 3 chapters a day and one in Psalms.  I can read through Psalms twice, and I will be done early.  I have been planning on reading a Proverb each day to the kids, but that hasn't worked out so well yet.  Even without that I still have a big cushion to finish this by the end of the year.