Finally, I tried a Puff Pastry dough!

For years I have been chicken to try puff pastry. So I went to the local library and checked out for the 10^th time or so and a CD, ‘Baking with Julia’. Julia kept talking about how the recipes were in her book: Baking with Julia. I realized I have that book, so I got it out and sure enough there were the recipes! Also went online realizing that I couldn’t buy the video. And there was the clip!!!
(http://video.pbs.org/video/1174110297/)

So I decided to finally get busy and try it.

Here is what I made:

 

The recipes are on pages 46-49 for the puff pastry. Pages 423-425 for the Tourte Milanese.

The only thing I would like to change is less butter in the puff pastry recipe, that will be another day.  

Enjoy, we sure did!

Quick Easy Home-made Yogurt

These are the only two ingredients: Whole milk and Greek Plain Yogurt,that's it. Make sure there is not gelatin in it or it will not set.

Follow your manufacture manuel for the yogurt maker.
Basically you take 1/2 gallon whole milk and heat it, until it reaches 180 degrees (F), 100C on the thermometer. Take it off the stove and let it cool down until 110 degrees (F), 40C. Stir in 4 tablespoons of Greek plain yogurt. Put in it your yogurt maker and in about 3 hours it's done!! Wasn't that easy. This makes a creamy yogurt, nice and smooth.
This is the best yogurt that I have made and tasted thus far!!!  I do like the whole milk for yogurt verses 2% or powder milk. No culture packages to buy, they were getting too expensive for me and the yogurt isn't a bad price, about $1. The box of 3 packages are about $5! You use to get 5 packages to the box, then they went down to 4 packages and now 3 packages, all for the same price.  Also I wait for the milk to be on sale.

Chicken Enchiladas (the quick way)

Glenda's Quick and Easy Chicken Enchiladas

2 cans chicken cooked (Swanson brand)

or cook 1 whole chicken and shred the meat, don't use bones or skin

1 small can diced green chiles (Ortega brand)

1 jar salsa Pace, mild, only use 4 ounces
1 can sliced olives black

1-pint carton heavy cream (whipping cream)

1 14-ounce can mild enchilada sauce (Las Palmas brand)

In a 3-quart pan add the above ingredients and heat until just starting to boil, but don't boil.

1 package corn tortillas

1 8-ounce bag monterey jack-colby cheese (shreddred)
In a 9x13" baking dish, layer the torillas, chicken mixture and cheese into 3 layers, with cheese on top. 
Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted. Can add extra olives on top.

Makes enough for 6-8 servings.

Snow is falling!

Here are a couple of pictures of the snow falling. The second picture is what I get to see out the bedroom window as I sit and hand quilt today.

Knitted Scarf

My son wanted a knitted scarf, so I started this in January and finished it in time for his birthday!

This picture is the inside, (hadn't quite finished at this point).  I knitted in the stockinette stitch, knit one row and pearl one row. 50 stitches across and then folded in half for double warmth. It is almost 6 feet long, which he wanted. Hope he likes this one.

Christmas Gifts I Made

 I wanted to put on why I was so busy in December, but never got around to it. So here they are!

The first apron is for my granddaughter, Kalene, she is into retro!
The next 2 are for Charleen, she likes the beach and teal colors.
I wanted to make something warm for my son, who is on a mission in Idaho. The scarf is made from fleece and flannel. The red is my trademark.
For Michelle an apron with snow people and a Christmas skirt.

To Cynthia a sunflower apron and a reversible Christmas apron.
My sister's apron is also reversible, to Karen.
And for my grandson, a pair of pj shorts. He likes different and bright colors.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

A few weeks ago, I needed to use up some pumpkin that I had leftover. So one morning I decided to create Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls! Deilious!!!
Use the 60-Minute Sweet Roll recipe from an old Betty Crocker Cookbook.

Heat to lukewarm 1/2 cup milk. Remove from heat and stir in: 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir into mixture 1 package of dry yeast and stir until dissolved. Set for 5 minutes and make sure the yeast is foamy. Stir in 1 egg, 2 tablespoons shortening, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix in (just enough to handle) 2 -2/12 cup flour. Mix dough with hand until moderately stiff. Turn dough onto floured board and knead for about 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth. Roll out into a rectangle shape about 9x13" size.

Melt 1/3 cup butter and put into 9x13" baking dish.  Sprinkle about 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup brown sugar and sprinkle some cinnamon onto this.
In a medium size bowl take 3 ounces of softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup pumpkin with about 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg. Mix these until well blended. Put this mixture onto dough and then roll-up like a jelly roll. Cut about 1/2" thick, about 12 pieces. Put into the baking dish with the butter, sugar mixture.

Bake in pre-heat oven 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Turn over baking dish onto a cookie sheet to see glaze of rolls. Serve immediately.
 
Can glazed if you want.