Bangers and Mash

Since my oldest daughter just returned from England, I asked her if she had Bangers and Mash when she was over there. She said no so I asked her if she saw it on the menu. She said yes but she didn't know what it was. My Dad said she never asked. My Dad said Bangers and Mash is a common pub dish. 

I told my daughter that Bangers and Mash is sausage and mashed potatoes. She said she would have ate it if she had known. My family really liked this dish very much. It is an easy dish to make. The sausage and potatoes are served with a sauce or gravy. I will admit that I don't know how authentic my dishes will be this week but they taste good. The traditional gravy is made with a stock but when I went into the pantry I couldn't find any. The meal was done and I didn't feel like having anyone wait so I decided to make ours cheesy.

Bangers and Mash
2 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and diced
8 links beef sausage
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, sliced
2 Tbsp flour
4 cups milk
 1/4 cup Cheddar Cheese
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp heavy cream
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, cover the potatoes with cold water.
2. Bring the potatoes to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. In a skillet, add the oil and heat over medium heat.
4. Add the sausage to the skillet and brown.
5. Remove the sausage and place on a plate to the side.
6. To the skillet, add the onion to the pan. Cook the onion until soft about 5 minutes.
7. Add the flour to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. 
8. Whisk in the milk to the skillet and return the sausage to the pan.
9. Cook the sausage for about 15 minutes until the liquid is reduce to the desired consistency. Stirring occasionally. 
10. Stir in the cheese.
11. When the potatoes are done, drain the potatoes and mash.
12. To the mashed potatoes, add the butter, milk, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. 
13. To serve, place the mashed potatoes on a plate. Place the sausage on top of the potatoes. Cover the sausage and potatoes with the cheese sauce. 

Recipe adapted from Foodnetwork. com.

Did you already know...
-Bangers and Mash is a traditional English meal. 
-Bangers and Mash are often served with an onion gravy.
-A popular side to Bangers and Mash is peas.

Dulce de Leche Macaroons

This week's Project Pastry Queen was picked by Missy of Creative Missy. The Macaroons are rich, sweet, and delicious. My youngest daughter loves Dulce de Leche so she thought I should shouldn't be adding it to coconut but these are good. My Mom loves Macaroons and she liked them. 

I didn't add anything else to the batch I made. You can add chocolate or toasted almonds but I kept it simple. I wish I had thought to add English toffee to them since I have been making English fare but next time I will. My next post will be back to my culinary English journey.

Dulce de Leche Macaroons
1 can of Dulce de Leche (click here for recipe)
3 cups lightly packed sweetened flaked coconut
2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the cooled Dulce de Leche, coconut, and vanilla. Stir until combined.
4. Using a 1 3/4 inch diameter scoop, spoon a firmly packed spoonful of the coconut mixture onto the parchment lined baking sheet. Space the coconut mixture about 1 1/2 inches apart.
5. With a wet fingertip, lightly flatten the coconut mixture gently.
6. Bake the Macaroons for 12 to 14 minutes. The edges should be dark brown and crisp.
7. Allow the Macaroons to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen cookbook by Rebecca Rather.

Did you already know...
-Toffee became popular in England in the late 1800s.
-In 1889, a toffee house owned by Mrs. Bushell was located outside the Everton Football Club (Everton FC).
-Many football patrons purchased vast quantities of the toffee.
-In 1892, the football club was moved and Mrs. Bushell received permission to sell her toffee inside the football stadium before the games.
-The Everton FC's nickname is The Toffees.
-In America, Everton FC is a soccer team.

Olympics begins

Since the Olympics opening ceremony is tonight, I thought scones would be a fitting way to use up the remaining raspberries I have. Next week, I am going to post some British dishes. This is going to be a culinary journey for my family. Yes, this even includes my oldest daughter since she ate mostly hamburgers when she was in England.

A couple years ago, my husband and I spent the night in England but it was only because we were in transit. We arrived when it was dark outside and we left at dawn. We did not enjoy warm scones but we were able to get our passport stamped. Next time, we will stay longer.

I love scones since they are easy to make and make a quick breakfast for the next day. My youngest daughter likes scones since they are similar to muffins and biscuits. My youngest son just like to say the name scones. Would you like some scones this morning?

Raspberry Cream Cheese Scones
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
7 Tbsp cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, gently stir cream cheese, milk, and egg together until combined.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
5. Cut in the butter to the flour mixture using your hands, pastry blender, or two forks until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
6. Create a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the cream cheese mixture with the raspberries.
7. Carefully, mix together the dough.
8. Form the dough into a circle 1 inch thick.
9. Cut 2 inch circles into the dough and place the circles on the parchment paper spacing about 1 inch apart.
10. Carefully gather the remaining scrapes and cut out a few more circles while trying not to rework the dough to much.
11. Bake the scones for 20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.   

Recipe adapted from Raspberri Cupcakes.

Did you already know...
-Great Britain comprises of England, Scotland, and Wales.
-Scones originate from Scotland.
-The United Kingdom comprises of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Raspberry cheesecake

I am always surprised how advance technology has advanced but sometimes I am surprised we haven't advanced to The Jetsons technology yet. Do you remember The Jetsons? I always liked Rosey the robot. 

 The reason I thought about The Jetsons was because my family are big gamers. They play on the PS3 with other family members and friends. I choice to blog. The other day my sister was playing and she has a Bluetooth so she can talk during the game. Since she knew my husband was playing, my nieces said hi to him. My children heard their cousin,s voices and started to talk to the TV. Of course, my nieces couldn't hear them. Since my sister only lives within 20 minutes of me, I think we will pass when The Jetson's TV monitor comes out. Just picture this- I go downstairs in my pjs (which means my old t-shirts since they are comfy but I can't wear them out) and I am greeted full screen by someone I would rather not see me. It just isn't going to happen no matter how much my husband tries. No Jetson's TVs in this household. How about you? Would you get one? I am not talking about Skype either just the next level of Skype.

Raspberry Cheesecake 
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
3 Tbsp. sugar for the crust

2 lbs. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs 
4 oz. fresh raspberries
2 Tbsp. sugar for the heart

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Place cupcake liners in a muffin tin.
3. In a small bowl, combine the graham crackers, the melted butter, and the 3 Tbsp. of sugar. Stir together until well combined.
4. Press 1 Tbsp of the graham cracker mixture in the bottom of each cupcake liner. 
5. Bake the graham cracker crust for 5 minutes and remove from oven. Allow to cool while making the filling.
6. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy.
7. Add the 1 1/2 cups of sugar to the cream cheese and cream.
8. Add the salt and vanilla. Mix to combine.
9. Add one egg at a time and mix well before adding the next egg.
10. In a food processor, add the raspberries and 2 Tbsp of sugar. 
11. Process until smooth and then pour through a fine mesh sieve over a small bowl to remove the raspberry seeds.
12. To assemble: add 3 Tbsp of the cream cheese filling over the graham cracker crust. 
13. Top each cream cheese filling with 3 circles close together in the middle of each cupcake.
14. Take a toothpick and carefully work the raspberry juice to form a heart. (If you press to hard, a crack may form in your cheesecake heart.)
15. Bake for about 10 minutes and rotate.
16. Bake the cheesecake for another 12 minutes or until the filling sets.
17. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for at room temperature.
18. Refrigerate for 4 hours before serving. 

Recipe adapted from Annie's Eats.

Did you already know...
-The Jetsons cartoon was set in the 21st century.
-The cartoon debuted in 1962 and reruns can still be seen on cartoon network.
-There are 75 episodes of The Jetsons.

Raspberry Cream Sandwiches

I will admit my favorite way to eat raspberries are plain. I also love adding raspberries to my cereal. I add a little cereal and a lot of milk so I end up eating mostly raspberries with milk. What is your favorite way to eat raspberries? I know my daughters prefer plain.

 Since we normally eat the raspberries before I can make any recipes, I went raspberry picking twice this year. We probably will go again but it will be for some golden raspberries. Have you ever seen a golden raspberry? I saw this recipe at the beginning of the year and I bookmarked it. The cookie is a nice sugar cookie in which my daughter preferred with no filling. My husband saw me scrapping the vanilla bean and asked me what was I doing. I held out the vanilla bean and asked him to smell. He hesitated so my son did. My son looked up at his dad and said it is vanilla. My husband confirmed it was vanilla. I think my son spends a lot of time in the kitchen with me. Now, how do I get my husband in their more often is the question?

 Raspberry Cream Sandwiches
1 3/4 all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
10 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved
1 1/3 cups fresh raspberries
1 Tbsp sugar, for the filling
7 oz. white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. 
4. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar together.
5. Add the egg, vanilla, and scraped vanilla seeds into the sugar butter. Mix until smooth.
6. Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar butter mixture.
7. Scoop 1 inch mounds of dough onto the baking sheet spacing the dough 2 inches apart. 
8. Bake the cookies for 4 minutes and then rotate.
9. Bake the cookies for another 4 to 5 minutes or until the cookies are golden.
10. Allow the cookies to cool on wire racks.
11. In a food processor, puree the raspberries and the sugar to make the filling.
12. Pour the raspberries through a fine sieve to extract the juice and remove the seeds.
13. Melt the chocolate in a double broiler over simmering water.
14. Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and whisk in the cream in a slow, steady stream.
15. Add the raspberry mixture to the chocolate. Whisk slowly until pale about 3 minutes. 
16. Refrigerate the raspberry chocolate mixture for about 30 minutes.
17. To assemble the cookies by spreading 1 Tbsp of the raspberry chocolate mixture on the bottom of one cookie. 
18. Add another cookie to sandwich the filling in the middle.
19. Cookies can be refrigerated between layers of wax paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies.

Did you already know...
-Different types of raspberries include red, golden, purple, and black.
-It is believed raspberries originated from Southeast Asia.
-Raspberries have a hollow core. Blackberries are not hollow in the center.