butter

Apple Dumpling Dreams

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Bright Ideas: Apple Dumpling Dreams! There’s something special about an apple dumpling, don’t you think? Perhaps it reminds you of the changing seasons. Perhaps it conjures up childhood memories. Perhaps the earthy spices and syrupy sweetness crank up your comfort level. No matter the hypnotic effect, apple dumpling dreams can reflect the way we look at our lives. Do we deny sweets or do we nourish our bodies? “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. It’s all about perspective, moderation, and control. Thank goodness we have freedom of choice. When it comes to apple dumplings, especially now, dreams really do come true.

APPLE DUMPLING DREAMS

Ingredients:

4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored

1 package refrigerated pie crusts

4 star anise pieces

Ingredients for Syrup:

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup water

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter

Ingredients for Apple Filling:

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon butter, room temperature

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease a 9” square baking dish; set aside. To make the syrup, combine sugar, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons butter. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine ingredients for apple filling. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter until consistency is crumbled. Cut each pie crust in half. Form each half into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll into 8-inch circles. To assemble, place an apple in the center of a dough circle. Fill the empty core with crumb filling. Fold the dough over the apple, pinching at the top to seal. Transfer apple dumplings to the baking dish. Drizzle with syrup. Place a star anise on each apple. Bake for 40-45 minutes until crust is golden brown. Tent with foil, if necessary, to prevent over browning. Serve warm.

Tapas Temptations

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Time To Eat: Tapas Temptations! Try something new and different the next time you feel like grazing on small plates. You can call it “Happy Hour” or “Appetizers” with a popular twist. You won’t get full because these bite-size snacks tend to keep the conversation going, especially with chilled wines. I’ve discovered baking a frozen baguette actually improves the finished product. The outer crust turns crispy, leaving the center to be soft and chewy. Now we’re talking bakery fresh results. For the perfect balance in a tapas party, think warm cheese, cold meat, savory veggies, and crusty bread.

TAPAS TEMPTATIONS

Ingredients:

7-ounce wheel of Brie cheese

1 tablespoon Tupelo honey

1 tablespoon blueberry jam

1/4 cup fresh blackberries

6-ounce demi baguette, frozen

2 tablespoons sea salt butter

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 Roma tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, finely shredded

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/8 teaspoon basil

1/8 teaspoon marjoram

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

2.5 ounces mild Genoa salami, sliced

Fresh sprigs of thyme, for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Cut the rind off the top of the wheel of Brie. Place cheese wheel in a baking dish. Drizzle Tupelo honey over the top. Add the blueberry jam. Place fresh blackberries over jam. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese has completely melted. Remove from oven. Place on a serving tray. Increase oven temperature to 400°. Place the frozen demi baguette on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and slice into servings. Spread sea salt butter over the slices; top with dried oregano. Arrange on a plate. For the tomato relish, combine chopped tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle with basil, marjoram, and garlic powder. Gently mix to combine ingredients. Transfer to a serving dish. Arrange Genoa salami on another plate. Garnish tapas platter with fresh thyme. Serve.

Ranier Cherry-Topped Hot Cakes

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Time To Eat: Ranier Cherry-Topped Hot Cakes! Treat yourself to a summer delicacy with the extraordinary flavor of Ranier cherries. You’ll easily recognize this variety by its honeyed yellow skin that appears to have a faint red blush of color. At first bite, they almost resemble a miniature plum, which may carry divine flavor flashbacks of cherished childhood memories. Now add a golden stack of hot cakes with a crisp outer edge and fluffy cake-like center. This is what mornings are meant to be.

RANIER CHERRY-TOPPED HOT CAKES

Ingredients:

1 pint Ranier cherries, rinsed, patted dry, pitted, and halved

2 1/4 cup flour

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 tablespoon baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup sour cream

2 eggs

Instructions:

Preheat griddle to 375°. For gas stove griddles, set knob at medium-low setting for 10-15 minutes. While griddle is heating, sift flour into a bowl. Add sugar, sea salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix well. In another bowl, combine milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, cider vinegar, sour cream, and eggs. Mix well. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Gently fold together, without over mixing. Allow the batter to rest for 5 minutes. The batter will be thick and bubbly. Lightly oil the heated griddle with butter. Gently pour 1/4 cup pancake batter onto the griddle. Do not overcrowd. Allow the pancakes to cook until bubbles appear around the edges, about 4 minutes. Then flip pancakes and cook 2 minutes longer until done. Remove from griddle and top warm pancakes with creamy butter, fresh Ranier cherries, and pure maple syrup.

Mashed Potato Cakes

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Time To Eat: Mashed Potato Cakes! Remember when you were a kid and you went to the beach to build sandcastles? Sometimes they molded and other times they crumbled. Well, today is a day for you to try again and get it right. There is one exception, though. Instead of using sand, we are going to use mashed potatoes. The results are crispy on the outside and perfection on the inside. Let the fun begin.

MASHED POTATO CAKES

Ingredients:

3 medium potatoes, peeled, rinsed, and quartered

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon onion, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon butter

1-2 tablespoons milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Cook potatoes in plenty of salted water until thoroughly cooked; then drain. Meanwhile, sauté the onions until translucent; set aside. In a large bowl, combine cooked potatoes, beaten egg, sautéed onions, sea salt, black pepper, and butter. Adjust the texture with milk, as needed. On the baking sheet, using a ring mold, scoop mashed potato mixture to shape the cakes, about 1 1/2” thick. Press down slightly with the back of a spatula. Remove the ring mold and repeat the process for remaining mashed potatoes. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer the potato cakes to a platter and top with a dollop or two of butter. Serve immediately.

Lobster Grilled in Butter

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Time To Eat: Lobster Grilled in Butter! We all like grilling and usually can’t wait for summer weather. Who can blame us?!? Food just seems to taste better when it’s grilled. It might be the high heat, or perhaps the exposure to fiery flames. The again, it could be the way foods absorb the smoky flavors and signature grill marks. A little charring only seems to get the mouth salivating for a scrumptious meal soon thereafter. My opinion? Dining al fresco is the culmination of a perfectly-prepared meal.

LOBSTER GRILLED IN BUTTER

Ingredients:

2 4-ounce lobster tails

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup butter, melted

Lemon wedges, for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat gas grill to 400°. Clean the grate and lightly coat with olive oil. Using kitchen shears, carefully cut through the top shell lengthwise, stopping just before the tail fins. Gently pull the meat partially out, keeping it attached at the base. Brush each lobster tail with olive oil; season with sea salt and garlic powder. Place the lobster tails on the grill, meat side down. Close the cover. Grill the lobster for 5 minutes, or until slightly charred with grill marks. Using tongs, gently flip them over and grill for 3 minutes longer until the flesh turns opaque. The shells will turn a bright reddish-orange. Brush the lobster with melted butter, adding a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve immediately with extra melted butter for dipping. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Wheat Brioche Burgers

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Cheerful Choices: Wheat Brioche Burgers! Why brioche buns, you’re thinking. First of all, you must admit a hamburger bun that crumbles into your hands is very frustrating. After the first bite, you’re afraid to put it down in case it turns into a heaping mess on your plate. From that point on, a fork is your only option. Amirite? Brioche buns are rich, chewier, and a little more dense. The golden texture alone is soft and buttery while leaving you with an element of light consistency. Now that’s a way to compliment a savory, grilled burger. Wouldn’t you agree?

WHEAT BRIOCHE BURGERS

Ingredients:

1 pound ground chuck beef

2 beef bouillon cubes

2 tablespoons water, boiling

2 eggs, beaten

6 Ritz crackers, crushed

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4 gourmet wheat brioche hamburger buns

4 tablespoons butter, softened

4 leaves romaine lettuce

1 large tomato, sliced into 8 rings

1/3 cup mayonnaise

Instructions:

In a small bowl, dissolve bouillon cubes in boiling water. Stir. In another bowl, combine ground chuck, bouillon water, and beaten eggs. Fold in crushed crackers. Divide beef into four portions. Form into patties about 1/2” thick and 1” wider than the burger buns. Indent with a thumbprint in the center of the patty. Sprinkle with black pepper. Chill for one hour. Preheat grill on high heat to 400°. Grill patties, indented side up, for 6 minutes. Juices will accumulate on top of burgers causing them to sear. Do not smash down. Flip; reduce grill temperature to 325° for another 6 minutes. Turn grill off, leaving burgers on grill for 4 minutes longer. At this time, spread the cut sides of the brioche buns with softened butter. Place buttered sides down on grill for a couple minutes to toast until golden brown. Meanwhile, coat romaine lettuce leaves with mayonnaise, gently turning. To assemble burgers, transfer buns to a platter. Add more mayonnaise, if desired. Layer hamburgers with grilled meat, romaine leaves, and tomato slices. Top with toasted buns. Serve immediately.

New Day Red Pepper Frittata

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Cheerful Choices: New Day Red Pepper Frittata! When you need breakfast for more than one, think frittata. Omelets serve one, frittatas serve two or more. Nowadays the courteous thing to do is omit the crust in case someone needs a low-carb gluten-free option. You can always serve the frittata with a crusty artisan piece of buttered toast for those who like bread with their meal. Using light cream will result in more of a creamy egg custard, but can certainly be omitted. Because I had already packed my iron skillet, I had to make due with a baking dish. Baking the frittata in an iron skillet gives the edges a “fried” appearance, which always gets the mouth drooling.

NEW DAY RED PEPPER FRITTATA

Ingredients:

8 large eggs

1/4 cup light cream

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/3 cup fresh basil, minced

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

6 green onions, chopped

1 cup sweet red peppers, chopped

2 green onions, for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a baking dish with nonstick oil. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, light cream, seasoned salt, and black pepper. Fold in fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, chopped green onions, and sweet red peppers. Mix well. Pour mixture into prepared dish. Too with 2 green onions. Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes or until eggs are completely set. Remove from oven. Let stand 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Lobster Risotto

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Cheerful Choices: Lobster Risotto! Does anyone else smile when they hear the word “lobster”? To me, lobster looks good whenever someone is eating it. Think about it. In a restaurant you’re often draped with a disposable plastic bib that has a giant red lobster printed on it. Talk about drawing attention to yourself. “Look at me! I’m eating Lobstah! Bet you wish you were. More butter, please.” It doesn’t matter how big a mess you make, the bib gives you a pass. And just so you know, you can buy these on the internet, so the same feelings apply at home. I. Love. Lobster. 🦞

LOBSTER RISOTTO

Ingredients:

2 cups water

1 cup Arborio rice

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons sea salt

2 6-ounce frozen lobster tails, thawed

4-ounce dry aged prosciutto , diced

1/2 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Lemon wedge, for garnish

Fresh dill, for garnish

Instructions:

Make risotto according to instructions for rice cooker using water, Arborio rice, and olive oil. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Reduce heat to a soft boil and add sea salt. Drop lobster tails in one at a time. Cook the lobster for 5 minutes. Set a timer to avoid overcooking. The lobsters will be bright red when done. Using metal tongs and a large strainer, take the tails out of the boiling water. Set aside. When the risotto is done, transfer to a bowl. Add diced prosciutto and sweet peas. Mix gently. Divide the risotto into two serving bowls. Add lobster tails. Garnish with lemon wedge and fresh dill. Serve immediately with melted butter.

Xtreme Frosting Cinnamon Rolls

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Stir. Spread. Flip. Repeat: Xtreme Frosting Cinnamon Rolls! Does anyone, besides me, often wish there was more frosting in the prepared tube of cinnamon rolls? I mean, who doesn’t want more of the lusciously rich and fluffy sweet mixture? By doubling the amount of frosting per cinnamon roll, there’s never a debate over who is left craving more.

XTREME FROSTING CINNAMON ROLLS

Ingredients:

12-ounce tube cinnamon rolls

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-2 tablespoons milk

Instructions:

Bake cinnamon rolls according to package directions. Set aside. While cinnamon rolls are baking, prepare the buttercream frosting. In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and butter on low speed with a hand mixer. Stir in vanilla extract and one tablespoon milk. Gradually beat in remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. Pour over freshly baked cinnamon rolls and serve immediately.