Venison Stew

We were given a half of a young deer from this season's deer hunt, so after cutting it up, we had a small amount (1 lbs) of scraps left for stew. I found this recipe on Taste of Home, but did tweak it a bit. The aroma while it was cooking was heavenly, and it tasted just as good.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoons cooking oil
1 pounds venison stew meat
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
1 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1-3/4 cups water
2 potatoes, quartered
2 large apples, cored and cut into bit-sized pieces
1/2 pound carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cold water

Directions:

Heat oil in a Dutch oven. Brown meat. Add onions, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, oregano, salt, pepper and water. Simmer, covered, 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender. Add potatoes, apples, and carrots. Continue to cook until vegetables are tender, about 30-45 minutes. Mix flour and cold water; stir into stew. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add browning sauce if desired.

Printable version

Swiss Eibrot (French toast bites)

It's been quite some time since I posted a recipe, so for my return, I thought I'd post a recipe I have loved since my childhood. My grandmother's parents immigrated from Switzerland and brought with them some of their favorite dishes. The one I remember the most growing up was Swiss Eibrot (egg bread), though we called it something else that I have no idea how to spell. Eibrot is basically French toast in bite size pieces. It's really that simple.

Ingredients:
5-6 pieces of heavy bread (don't use Wonder as it won't hold up well)
4 eggs
1/4 C milk
dash of cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp vanilla

In a medium bowl, break the bread into bite size pieces. In a separate bowl, mix all other ingredients. Pour over bread and mix until it is well coated.

Coat bottom of fry pan with cooking spray and heat on medium.

Pour bread and egg mix into pan and fry, stirring frequently (almost constantly) to ensure that all sides of the pieces get cooked and turn a nice golden brown.

Serve with syrup, powder sugar, or whatever you like on your French toast.

Printable version

Fudgie Brownies

I was looking on the internet for a brownie recipe that was more like boxed brownies than cake brownies and found this delightful (and not too hard) recipe at Inspired Taste. Everyone loved them. I have been told that I must make them again.

Ingredients:
10 Tbl unsalted butter
1 1/4 C granulated sugar
3/4 C plus 2 Tbl unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
1/4 tsp salt, rounded
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs, cold
1/2 C all-purpose flour
2/3 C chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and heat to 325 F.

Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides. (This helps when removing the baked brownies from the pan, once cooled).

Add enough water to a medium saucepan so that it is 1 to 2 inches deep. Heat water until barely simmering.

Combine butter, sugar, cocoa powder and the salt in a medium heat-safe bowl. Rest bowl over simmering water (if the bottom of the bowl touches the water, remove a little water).

Stir mixture occasionally until the butter has melted and mixture is quite warm. Don’t worry if it looks gritty, it will become smooth once you add the eggs and flour.

Remove the bowl from heat and set aside for 3 to 5 minutes until it is only warm, not hot.

Stir in vanilla with a wooden spoon or spatula. Then, add eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one.

When the batter looks thick, shiny and well blended, add the flour and stir until fully incorporated, then beat with the wooden spoon or spatula for 40 to 50 strokes. (The batter will be quite thick). Stir in nuts, if using. Spread evenly in lined pan.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out almost clean (you want it to be a little moist with batter).

Note: Some have found they need to bake an extra 10 minutes, so keep an eye on the doneness of the brownies and use the toothpick test as your guide.

Cool completely then remove from pan. For the cleanest lines when cutting, place into freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to firm up. Cut into 16 squares.

Printable version

Easy and Delicious Rice Pilaf

We eat a lot of rice. So I was really happy to find this easy rice pilaf recipe. It's delicious and so simple.

Ingredients:
1 C rice, uncooked
2-4 Tbl olive oil
2 C chicken broth
1 Tbl dried thyme
1-1/2 tsp salt

In a medium sauce pan, heat oil. Add the rice and toast on medium high until the corners of the rice are translucent and it has a nice, toasted smell.

Add the broth, thyme, and salt. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pan.

Cook covered for 15-18 minutes. Do not remove the lid to check how it's going. After 15 minutes, you can check, and then check every minute or two after.

Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork. Cover with a clean dishcloth and let stand for a few minutes before serving.

Serve with your favorite entree.

Printable version

Baked Cheese Cake

I love cheese cake. When dining at a nice restaurant, I will almost always go for the cheese cake when the dessert tray comes around. I find it very disappointing if they don't offer a cheese cake of some kind. However, the best cheese cake I have ever had is made by my sister's mother-in-law, Bonnie. She has graciously given me permission to share it on the blog, so here it is.

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 can Holland Rusk
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 C sugar
1/4 butter, melted

Filling:
3-8 oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
1 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Topping:
1/2 pint sour cream
2 Tbl sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375.

Crush rusk into crumbs.

Set aside 1/3 C crumbs to sprinkle on top.

Combine remaining crumbs with cinnamon and sugar.

Melt butter and add to crumb mix.

When well mixed, line 10-inch springform pan with mix.

Press with thumbs until smooth. The crust may ride up the sides of the pan a bit, but that's okay.

Cream cheese well.

Add eggs, sugar, and vanilla.

Mix well with hand or stand mixer.

Pour into crust.

Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. The center should still be slightly giggly.

Increase oven temperature to 475.

Mix all topping ingredients together well.

Carefully spread over cake like icing. I made two, and the first one I plopped the topping in the center and spread it out from there. Don't do that. Spoon the topping on in a ring and spread out from there. It's much less spreading and it won't take as much of the cake with it.

When the oven is hot, bake again for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes.

Sprinkle with crumbs. Let cake completely cool. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Serve plain or with your favorite cheese cake toppings. I used the homemade blueberry topping from the Blueberry Sour Cream Pie.

Printed version