German Pancakes

Recently, I saw photos of Oktoberfest online. I was thinking we should go, right? We should all head to Germany and just have a great time. We would enjoy great food. My husband would enjoy the great beer. I would have fun watching him. It would be a grand time. Well I figure why not enjoy the great food at home since we can't realistically make it there this year. How about next year? Lets make plans! 

If we are going to enjoy German food, we need to start in the morning. Why? Because you can't start drinking until you had breakfast unless you never went to bed then keep drinking while you eat breakfast. I made these pancakes and my husband (who is not a big pancake person) told me I could make these any morning. I did try the original version than I tried the same recipe but with Cheddar cheese. Oh, the cheese version was wonderful. My husband said the texture of these pancakes were like a crepe but better. It is easy to make both versions. These pancakes are fluffier than crepes but not as doughy as pancakes. I will be making these again soon especially since they are so easy. Maybe for dinner one night?

German Apple Pancakes
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 apples, cored and sliced into pieces
6 eggs
1/4 cup, brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Spray a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Sprinkle the tin and pan with sugar if making the apple pancakes. Set aside.
3. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. 
4. Toss the apples with the brown sugar and cinnamon.
5. Heat a skillet over medium heat. 
6. Melt 2 Tbsp butter and saute the apples for 10 minutes until caramelized.
7. Remove the apples from the stove and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
8. Divide the caramelized apples to the muffin tin.
9. In a food processor, add the flour, salt, sugar, melted butter, eggs, and milk. Process the batter for 3 minutes.
10. Pour the batter over the apples. (Reserve 1/2 of the batter for the cheese version if desired.)
11. Place the pancakes in the oven and lower the heat to 400 degrees F.
12. Bake the muffins for 15 to 20 minutes. 
13. Remove the muffins and top with powder sugar, whip cream, or other desired toppings.

German Cheese pancake version:   (Must make this version)
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
6 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup milk
1 cup cheddar cheese

1. Spray a pie pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.  
3.  In a food processor, add the flour, salt, sugar, melted butter, eggs, and milk. Process the batter for 3 minutes.
4. Stir in the cheddar cheese to the batter.
5. Place the pancakes in the oven and lower the heat to 400 degrees F.
6. Bake the large pancake for 20 minutes.
7. Serve warm with no topping or a little more cheese sprinkled on top.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart website.

Folds of goodness!

Did you already know...
-Pfannkuchen and eierkuchen means pancake in German.  
-Eierkuchen are normally served around lunch with applesauce. 
-The Dutch baby pancake is a version of the German pancake.

Plum Cake

Sometimes I will make something and wonder how my family will like it. For an example, my children love plums but if I make a plum cake will they eat it. Also, I wonder who will like it. Sometimes my husband won't try it if it has baked fruit in it. Doesn't he know I'm trying to get him to eat his fruit one way or another?

 

I figured I would purchase some plums since they will be hard to find soon in the stores. My kids really like plums. They are my sister's favorite fruit but I couldn't remember ever cooking with them. The recipe said they would have a crumbly texture like corn bread on the first day. If wrapped, the cake would become soft and moist the next day. I think the cake only became better after the first day. My youngest daughter loved this recipe. 

 Simply Plum Cake
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 zest of a lemon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 plums, peeled, seeded, and chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray a 8 inch baking pan with nonstick spray.
3. Dust the baking pan with flour and tap out the excess flour. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and cardamom. Set aside.
5. In a large bowl, cream the butter until soft and creamy.
6. Add the brown sugar to the butter and cream.
7. Add the eggs one at a time to the butter. Beat well after each addition.
8. Beat in the vegetable oil, lemon zest, and vanilla to the butter mixture.
9. The batter should look very light and smooth.
10. Slowly, add the dry ingredients mixing until just incorporated.
11. Gently fold in the pieces of plum into the batter.
12. Add the batter to the baking pan.
13. Bake the cake for 40 minutes or until the top of the cake is honey brown.
14. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a rack before serving.

Recipe adapted from the Baking From my Home to Yours cookbook by Dorie Greenspan.

Did you already know...
-Cardamom is used in India, Middle East, North Africa, and Scandinavia.
-The Vikings introduced the spice to Scandinavia.
-Since cardamom is expensive, equal parts of nutmeg with cinnamon can be used as a substitution.

Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas

My brother in law has been away visiting his son who had joined the Navy. He asked me to Google Morgan Freeman. I can't believe how much information can be found out about someone in minutes. Some of it maybe true and some may not.

Before I was going to make this meal, I had the magazine open to this page on my counter. My friend saw it and commented how good this meal looked. My husband wasn't looking forward to it. He opted to make a sandwich and go to bed early. He happen to wake up just as it finished. It did smell good. I asked him if he wanted some and reluctantly agreed. He loved it. I loved it because it was so easy. He even told me later that I can make it again. My son asked if he could eat the leftovers the next day. When someone in my house wants leftovers, it is a good sign.

Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas
1 lb. chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1/2 red pepper, chopped finely
2 Tbsp. chili powder
3/4 cup salsa (I used mild.)
2 oz. Neufchatel Cheese, cubed (low fat cream cheese)
1 1/2 cup Mexican style cheese
8 (6 inch) tortillas
Garnish with cilantro, if desired

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Spray a 13x9 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. 
3. In a large skillet, spray with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.
4. Add the chicken and red peppers. 
5. Sprinkle the chicken and peppers with chili powder. Stir and cook for 8 minutes or until the chicken is done.
6. Stir in 1/4 cup of salsa and cream cheese. Blend well.
7. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until the cream cheese has melted.
8. Stir in 1/4 cup of the Mexican cheese.
9. Spoon a heaping 1/3 cup of the mixture into the center of each tortilla. 
10. Roll up and place seam side down in the baking dish.
11. Top the tortillas with the remaining Mexican cheese and remaining salsa. 
12. Cover and bake for 20 minutes or until heated through. 
13. Garnish with cilantro, if desired

Recipe found in Food & Family Fall 2012 magazine.

One year ago I made Hot Artichoke Dip. I really have to make it again since it is so good.

Did you already know...
-In 1937, Morgan Freeman was born in Tennessee.
-In 1955, he joined the Air Force and served four years as a mechanic.
-In 2005, Morgan Freeman won an Oscar in Million Dollar Baby.
-He speaks fluent French and has his pilot's license according to his Fansite.

Chocolate PB Cupcakes

I figured I hadn't posted a peanut butter recipe for awhile. Besides blueberry muffins, I think I bake with peanut butter the most. Any time there is a sale, I stock up on peanut butter. It still doesn't last long.

These peanut butter cupcakes were a hit at my house. My daughter asked for this recipe for her birthday. I even tried making a couple with a mini Reese's cooked in the middle but I didn't think it made a difference. These are rich and sweet. I will not be surprised if my husband requests these cupcakes for his birthday.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp white vinegar
2 cups cold water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vanilla, oil, vinegar, and water.
5. Slowly, whisk the vanilla mixture into the dry flour mixture. Do not overmix. The mixture will be very wet.
6. Fill the cupcaker liners 2/3 full.
7. Place the muffin tin in the oven for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Remove the muffins from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
9. Remove the cupcakes and place on a wire rack to allow to completely cool before frosting.

Recipe adapted from Joy the Baker with the Peanut Butter Frosting recipe.

 Did you already know...
-In 1928, Harry Burnett Reese began to make peanut butter cups in Hersey, Pennsylvania.
-H. B. Reese and his wife Blanche had 16 children.
-The Reese's peanut butter cups were first sold to department stores in bulk for resale. 
-Later, Reese's peanut butter cups were later sold individually in 1 cent to 5 cent sizes. 

Rocket Focaccia Bread

I think my downfall is bread. At a restaurant if I had to pick between the bread basket or dessert, I would pick the bread. I try to be good and limit myself. I even share reluctantly with others at the table. Wouldn't I surprise my family if I just decided not to share? They are all mine- I say- all mine! I will even growl at them.

When I made these rolls, I thought they were awesome. Yes, awesome. This recipe makes a lot of rolls so I used half the dough to make focaccia bread. (In The Pastry Queen cookbook, the photo looked like focaccia bread so I had to do the same.) In which, I made sandwiches for the family for lunch. The rolls were used for supper. I like when I can stretch something into two.

Rocket Focaccia Bread
3 (1/4 oz) packages active dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water (105 to 115 degree F)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup water (more if needed)
6 1/2 cups bread flour
1 Tbsp salt
pinch of cinnamon (it gives it a special hint of something)
Extra-virgin olive oil for brushing the top of the bread
1 Tbsp sea salt 
1 Tbsp rosemary

Directions:

1. Dissolve the yeast in 1 cup of the lukewarm water. Set aside for 5 minutes.
2. With a mixer fitted with a dough hook (or mix by hand), combine the yeast water, oil, egg, and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Add the 1 1/2 cup water and mix until combined.
4. Add the flour and mix on medium-low speed for about 5 minutes until the dough holds together. If the dough isn't holding together, add 1 Tbsp of water at a time until it does.
5. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes in the bowl.
6. Add the salt and cinnamon to the dough. 
7. Mix the dough on low speed for 1 minute.
8. Lightly grease a large bowl and transfer the dough into the large bowl.
9. Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours or until the dough doubles.
10. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
11. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
12. Punch down the dough. Take half the dough and make rolls.
13. The other half of the dough roll out with flour onto the lined baking sheet.
14. Cover the dough and let it rise for another 20 minutes. Don't worry about reaching the edges.
15. Gently press down on the dough with the tips of your fingers to make indentations. 
16. Coat the dough with a little olive oil.
17. Sprinkle the top with the sea salt and rosemary.
18. Bake the dough for about 20 minutes or until it is golden brown. 
19. Remove from oven and allow to cool before serving.

Recipe adapted from Rebecca Rather's The Pastry Queen cookbook. 

Did you already know...
-Focaccia bread is very popular in Italy.
-It is a flat, baked bread with a variety of toppings. It is not pizza and there is no sauce.
-The google translater said focaccia means cake in English.

Congratulations to Anne W. for winning the cookbook!