Fellow bakers,
Here's a tip from Cowtown Kitchen!
When making breads or muffins that call for nuts, raisins, cranberries, etc., dust them with flour before incorporating them into the batter. This will keep them from falling to the bottom of the pan while baking. You'll have them evenly distributed throughout your muffin or bread!
Yours truly,
The Muffin Man
(aka Cowtown Kitchen)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms
Here's a recipe I tried from Paula Deen's cookbook, "Christmas with Paula Deen." They are surprisingly healthy; it is Paula, after all! :-) I served them last night at a holiday party and they were a hit. Make sure to serve them warm.
Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms
- 24 fresh mushrooms, stems removed
- 1 10 oz pkg of frozen spinach, chopped and thawed
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 oz of feta cheese crumbles (about 1 cup)
- 1/2 cup of finely chopped green onions, green and white parts
- Salt, to taste
- 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wipe the mushroom caps with a damp paper towel to clean. Drain the spinach in a colander and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the spinach, cream cheese, feta cheese, green onion, and salt to taste. Mix well. Fill the mushroom caps with the mixture and place on a cookie sheet.
3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden. Serve warm.
*Health Tip - substitute reduced fat Feta crumbles and 1/3 less fat cream cheese in the filling. Be sure not to use fat free items, as they will not melt well in the oven.
*Cowtown Kitchen Idea - add 1/2 a cup of bacon bits to the filling for a little extra flavor.
Here's a link to Paula's cookbook if you are interested in more recipes!
Enjoy!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Cowtown Kitchen Tip - Pancakes
Hi gang! Here's a Cowtown Kitchen tip for you.
I love making pancakes for breakfast but when you actually decide to do this you plan on spending a lot of time. This makes pancakes feel like an ordeal. If you have extra, nine times out of ten, I bet you end up throwing them away.
In the past I've tried freezing pancakes but they end up freezing together and if you are lucky enough to separate them successfully, they end up getting soggy when you reheat them in the microwave.
So, here's the tip!
Next time you decide to make pancakes, make extra. Any that you don't eat, follow the steps below:
- Let the left over pancakes cool.
- Make stacks of pancakes with a piece of wax paper between each one.
- Put the stacks in a airtight freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible!
- Toss them in the freezer.
Then, when you're ready to eat any number of them...
- Take out the pancakes you want to eat.
- Pop them in the toaster!
You'll have warm pancakes that aren't soggy!! To keep them from getting crunchy, heat them in the toaster until they are just warm. If you want them hotter, zap the stack in the microwave for a minute or less.
It's left over pancake perfection!!
Enjoy!
I love making pancakes for breakfast but when you actually decide to do this you plan on spending a lot of time. This makes pancakes feel like an ordeal. If you have extra, nine times out of ten, I bet you end up throwing them away.
In the past I've tried freezing pancakes but they end up freezing together and if you are lucky enough to separate them successfully, they end up getting soggy when you reheat them in the microwave.
So, here's the tip!
Next time you decide to make pancakes, make extra. Any that you don't eat, follow the steps below:
- Let the left over pancakes cool.
- Make stacks of pancakes with a piece of wax paper between each one.
- Put the stacks in a airtight freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible!
- Toss them in the freezer.
Then, when you're ready to eat any number of them...
- Take out the pancakes you want to eat.
- Pop them in the toaster!
You'll have warm pancakes that aren't soggy!! To keep them from getting crunchy, heat them in the toaster until they are just warm. If you want them hotter, zap the stack in the microwave for a minute or less.
It's left over pancake perfection!!
Enjoy!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Reindeer Mix
This fun snack is compliments of my good friend, Kendahl Brown. Enjoy this little munchie at parties or give it out in goodie bags. All portions can be altered, but here is what worked for me.
Combine the following:
- 1 box of Corn Chex
- 1 box of Wheat Chex
- 2 bags of Bugles
- 1 bag of pretzel sticks
- 2 bags of Christmas colored M&M's
Melt white chocolate, milk chocolate, and/or butterscotch chips and drizzle over the above mix. Spreading it out over wax paper makes clean up a breeze!
Store in airtight containers until ready to bag and give, or serve.
Enjoy!
Combine the following:
- 1 box of Corn Chex
- 1 box of Wheat Chex
- 2 bags of Bugles
- 1 bag of pretzel sticks
- 2 bags of Christmas colored M&M's
Melt white chocolate, milk chocolate, and/or butterscotch chips and drizzle over the above mix. Spreading it out over wax paper makes clean up a breeze!
Store in airtight containers until ready to bag and give, or serve.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Stir Fry - Everything but the Kitchen Sink!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I've been out of pocket for a while but wanted to give you a new, fresh idea.
Stir fry is one of the easiest meals to prepare and can have great nutritional benefits. One of the reasons I enjoy stir fry so much is because there really is no set method to the madness. Typically, I prepare stir fry when I have veggies in the fridge that I've just got to use or they are going to be wasted. Chopping them up and throwing them in the wok is a great way to make sure that you get the most out of your grocery shopping!
Some key things that I keep around to ensure a more "Asian" approach are sesame oil and sake. Rice wine vinegar can also be used to provide Asian inspiration. Your local grocer will carry some type of Asian chili paste or Sriracha. Be careful, this stuff packs quite the punch even in small doses!
I usually start with garlic and chopped onion in the sesame oil. After that, I throw in frozen veggies (rinsed to remove extra ice/water, but not technically thawed) and then frozen shrimp. If you're not a shrimp eater and would prefer something like chicken or beef, switch the order of the veggies and the protein. In other words, throw in the chicken with the onions and garlic to ensure ample cooking time. Shrimp cooks light years faster than chicken.
Many grocery stores also sell "Asian Stir Fry Vegetables" in the frozen section. I use frozen veggies when I've been out of town and haven't been to the store. Frozen vegetables, frozen shrimp, and rice are staples I keep on hand that ensure I don't have to eat out when I haven't been to the store in ages. (As in a previous post, note the importance of a well stocked freezer.)
Edamame (shelled) is also great to toss in. It brings a lot of protein to your meal and therefore can make your meal well rounded even if you didn't have meat to throw in. I also keep cans of water chestnuts, baby corn, and bamboo shoots on hand. Remember though, you don't have to have the typical Asian veggies. Any veggies will do.
Coupling this with rice or noodles can make a complete well balanced meal. As I stated earlier, rice and pasta are staples that you can (and should) keep on hand. They will save you in a pinch!
I hope this post is helpful. If you need more ideas, let me know. Stir fry is my go-to meal when I haven't been to the store and just don't feel like eating out.
Have fun with it!
Stir fry is one of the easiest meals to prepare and can have great nutritional benefits. One of the reasons I enjoy stir fry so much is because there really is no set method to the madness. Typically, I prepare stir fry when I have veggies in the fridge that I've just got to use or they are going to be wasted. Chopping them up and throwing them in the wok is a great way to make sure that you get the most out of your grocery shopping!
Some key things that I keep around to ensure a more "Asian" approach are sesame oil and sake. Rice wine vinegar can also be used to provide Asian inspiration. Your local grocer will carry some type of Asian chili paste or Sriracha. Be careful, this stuff packs quite the punch even in small doses!
I usually start with garlic and chopped onion in the sesame oil. After that, I throw in frozen veggies (rinsed to remove extra ice/water, but not technically thawed) and then frozen shrimp. If you're not a shrimp eater and would prefer something like chicken or beef, switch the order of the veggies and the protein. In other words, throw in the chicken with the onions and garlic to ensure ample cooking time. Shrimp cooks light years faster than chicken.
Many grocery stores also sell "Asian Stir Fry Vegetables" in the frozen section. I use frozen veggies when I've been out of town and haven't been to the store. Frozen vegetables, frozen shrimp, and rice are staples I keep on hand that ensure I don't have to eat out when I haven't been to the store in ages. (As in a previous post, note the importance of a well stocked freezer.)
Edamame (shelled) is also great to toss in. It brings a lot of protein to your meal and therefore can make your meal well rounded even if you didn't have meat to throw in. I also keep cans of water chestnuts, baby corn, and bamboo shoots on hand. Remember though, you don't have to have the typical Asian veggies. Any veggies will do.
Coupling this with rice or noodles can make a complete well balanced meal. As I stated earlier, rice and pasta are staples that you can (and should) keep on hand. They will save you in a pinch!
I hope this post is helpful. If you need more ideas, let me know. Stir fry is my go-to meal when I haven't been to the store and just don't feel like eating out.
Have fun with it!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Holiday Cheer in a Glass
Want to drink some holiday cheer? Try eggnog with bourbon!
Add a little nutmeg and cinnamon and it is good to go. You don't even need to make homemade eggnog. Using the nutmeg and cinnamon will help to give it that homemade taste. I'll be honest, I've never been much of an eggnog fan. However, you will love this combination when curling up on the sofa or in front of a fire.
I've used Land O' Lakes Eggnog and loved it. There are many types of bourbon but a middle of the road bourbon should do just fine.
Cheers!
Add a little nutmeg and cinnamon and it is good to go. You don't even need to make homemade eggnog. Using the nutmeg and cinnamon will help to give it that homemade taste. I'll be honest, I've never been much of an eggnog fan. However, you will love this combination when curling up on the sofa or in front of a fire.
I've used Land O' Lakes Eggnog and loved it. There are many types of bourbon but a middle of the road bourbon should do just fine.
Cheers!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Ingredient Modifications for Sweet Treats
If you are going to be doing a lot of holiday baking, you may consider some of these ingredient modifications and substitutions to keep cookies, breads, and muffins from having quite as big of an impact on your waistline. I use these substitutions on a daily basis, and very rarely do my pickiest eaters even notice!
Breads:
- Substitute all-purpose (AP) flour with 1/2 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour and 1/2 100% Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Substitute granulated sugar with raw cane sugar
Muffins & Cookies:
- Substitute AP flour with 100% Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Substitute granulated sugar with raw cane sugar
Shopping Tips:
- Raw cane sugar is sometimes referred to as "turbinado sugar" or "Sugar in the Raw"
- 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour can be found in nearly any grocery store, Wal Mart or Target
- 100% Whole Wheat Pastry Flour is a little bit harder to find but can almost always be found at Tom Thumb, Central Market, or Whole Foods
Why can this battle the bulge?
These substitutions are more natural versions of what everyday recipes call for. They are less processed and refined. This ultimately means that your body has to do more work to digest them, which usually results in less fat storage in your body. While cookies will never really be "good" for you, some slight alterations in their make up can make an impact, especially if these habits are incorporated for the long term.
For more information on these and other healthy substitutions, I recommend a book called "Sugar Busters!" Sugar Busters! isn't so much a diet as it is a lifestyle.
"Sugar Busters! Cut Sugar to Trim Fat"
Enjoy!
Breads:
- Substitute all-purpose (AP) flour with 1/2 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour and 1/2 100% Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Substitute granulated sugar with raw cane sugar
Muffins & Cookies:
- Substitute AP flour with 100% Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Substitute granulated sugar with raw cane sugar
Shopping Tips:
- Raw cane sugar is sometimes referred to as "turbinado sugar" or "Sugar in the Raw"
- 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour can be found in nearly any grocery store, Wal Mart or Target
- 100% Whole Wheat Pastry Flour is a little bit harder to find but can almost always be found at Tom Thumb, Central Market, or Whole Foods
Why can this battle the bulge?
These substitutions are more natural versions of what everyday recipes call for. They are less processed and refined. This ultimately means that your body has to do more work to digest them, which usually results in less fat storage in your body. While cookies will never really be "good" for you, some slight alterations in their make up can make an impact, especially if these habits are incorporated for the long term.
For more information on these and other healthy substitutions, I recommend a book called "Sugar Busters!" Sugar Busters! isn't so much a diet as it is a lifestyle.
"Sugar Busters! Cut Sugar to Trim Fat"
Enjoy!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Cooking for One
Ever ask yourself, "what's the point in cooking? It's too hard to cook for one person." Cooking for one person can seem like a lonely and daunting task, but when you really look at it, it's more of a planning challenge than anything else.
I have done a lot of "cooking for one" and I have found that the best way to do this is to make casseroles, lasagna, and sauces that you can freeze as single servings in air-tight containers. Freezing in single servings allows you to have very quick and healthy meals by popping them in the microwave to defrost.
Tip - make sure these items cool completely before freezing them. Otherwise you'll end up with lots of ice crystals on top of your food when you pull it out of the freezer to defrost.
Some of my favorites to make and freeze in single servings are:
- Chicken Tetrazini
- Lasagna (Beef or turkey)
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Chicken Florentine Lasagna
- Spaghetti Sauce
These are much better and so much less expensive than TV dinners. You'll get lots more nutrition, stay full for longer, and keep more money in your wallet.
Keeping flash frozen veggies on hand and spicing them up by sauteing them in onion and olive oil is also very easy and makes for a nice complement to any of these dishes. Using the flash frozen veggies keeps you from having to throw out veggies that go bad because you can't eat them fast enough, or keeps you from going to the grocery store 3 times per week.
These frozen servings are also very easy to take to work for lunch. Ziploc and Glad make steam bags that you can take to throw in some veggies as a side. I did this for a couple of years because I couldn't make it home for lunch and back to work within an hour. It saves lots of money and keeps you healthy. You always know what's in your food when you make it!
If you would like recipes for any of these, just let me know and I would be happy to provide them.
Enjoy! And next time you find yourself thinking, "one is the loneliest number..." think again!
I have done a lot of "cooking for one" and I have found that the best way to do this is to make casseroles, lasagna, and sauces that you can freeze as single servings in air-tight containers. Freezing in single servings allows you to have very quick and healthy meals by popping them in the microwave to defrost.
Tip - make sure these items cool completely before freezing them. Otherwise you'll end up with lots of ice crystals on top of your food when you pull it out of the freezer to defrost.
Some of my favorites to make and freeze in single servings are:
- Chicken Tetrazini
- Lasagna (Beef or turkey)
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Chicken Florentine Lasagna
- Spaghetti Sauce
These are much better and so much less expensive than TV dinners. You'll get lots more nutrition, stay full for longer, and keep more money in your wallet.
Keeping flash frozen veggies on hand and spicing them up by sauteing them in onion and olive oil is also very easy and makes for a nice complement to any of these dishes. Using the flash frozen veggies keeps you from having to throw out veggies that go bad because you can't eat them fast enough, or keeps you from going to the grocery store 3 times per week.
These frozen servings are also very easy to take to work for lunch. Ziploc and Glad make steam bags that you can take to throw in some veggies as a side. I did this for a couple of years because I couldn't make it home for lunch and back to work within an hour. It saves lots of money and keeps you healthy. You always know what's in your food when you make it!
If you would like recipes for any of these, just let me know and I would be happy to provide them.
Enjoy! And next time you find yourself thinking, "one is the loneliest number..." think again!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Hot off the press!
Craving comfort food in Fort Worth? Check out the latest cover story from Fort Worth, Texas Magazine!
http://www.virtualonlineeditions.com/publication/?i=24924&p=155
Great job to our local restaurant critic - check out Camille Torres' monthly Restaurant Review in the FW Mag!
http://www.virtualonlineeditions.com/publication/?i=24924&p=155
Great job to our local restaurant critic - check out Camille Torres' monthly Restaurant Review in the FW Mag!
Kickin' Quick Eggs Benedict
Here's a quick and easy modified eggs benedict recipe from my own kitchen. It is highly delicious and has a Southwestern kick!
INGREDIENTS:
- One (1) 100% Whole Wheat English Muffin (Pepperidge Farm or Nature's Own are the best!)
- Two (2) Eggs
- Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese
- Valentina Extra Hot Sauce
- S&P
- Fat free cooking spray (such as Pam or Crisco)
DIRECTIONS:
- Toast muffin
- "Fry" two eggs in cooking spray being careful not to break the yolks (you want them to be almost cooked through but not completely)
- Mix 1 part cream cheese (one spoonful for two muffin halves) and 1 part Valentina
- Spread cream cheese mix over toasted muffin halves
- Top with one egg per half
- S&P to taste
Easy enough to do on a weekday, tasty enough for a weekend!
Enjoy!!
INGREDIENTS:
- One (1) 100% Whole Wheat English Muffin (Pepperidge Farm or Nature's Own are the best!)
- Two (2) Eggs
- Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese
- Valentina Extra Hot Sauce
- S&P
- Fat free cooking spray (such as Pam or Crisco)
DIRECTIONS:
- Toast muffin
- "Fry" two eggs in cooking spray being careful not to break the yolks (you want them to be almost cooked through but not completely)
- Mix 1 part cream cheese (one spoonful for two muffin halves) and 1 part Valentina
- Spread cream cheese mix over toasted muffin halves
- Top with one egg per half
- S&P to taste
Easy enough to do on a weekday, tasty enough for a weekend!
Enjoy!!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Cowtown Kitchen Tip
Here's a tip compliments of Good Eats.
To save leftover wine for cooking, pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen solid, you can move the "wine cubes" to freezer bags for long term storage.
Now you don't have to worry about wasting wine. Especially if you're notorious for never finishing a bottle. Not usually my problem, but a great tip nonetheless!
Thanks, Alton!
To save leftover wine for cooking, pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen solid, you can move the "wine cubes" to freezer bags for long term storage.
Now you don't have to worry about wasting wine. Especially if you're notorious for never finishing a bottle. Not usually my problem, but a great tip nonetheless!
Thanks, Alton!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Stock your freezer!
There is nothing more important than having basic staples to work with. Especially in your freezer. Today's technology allows you to easily freeze and save meats and fish for months on end with out worrying about spoilage.
I prefer Ziploc freezer bags, but there are many companies that make good ones. One important thing to remember is that buying meat in the standard packages from the grocery store and simply throwing it in the freezer is not a good plan! In my experience, it has lead to freezer burn and a bland end result.
Buy in bulk! I like to buy chicken, clean the chicken, and then freeze in serving sizes. Do you often cook for one? Do you cook for two? Do you cook for an army? Freeze accordingly.
The inspiration behind this post is the dreaded feeling that it's time to make dinner and you've either avoided going to the grocery store, or you've been out of town so often you haven't made time yet. Having basics in the freezer makes your life so much easier!! You can build a meal from a well stocked freezer.
Tonight's example:
- Filet mignon (previously frozen, thawed in the sink in a hot water bath)
- Roasted tomatoes topped with parmesan cheese
- Steamed asparagus
- Wild rice
Happy stocking!
I prefer Ziploc freezer bags, but there are many companies that make good ones. One important thing to remember is that buying meat in the standard packages from the grocery store and simply throwing it in the freezer is not a good plan! In my experience, it has lead to freezer burn and a bland end result.
Buy in bulk! I like to buy chicken, clean the chicken, and then freeze in serving sizes. Do you often cook for one? Do you cook for two? Do you cook for an army? Freeze accordingly.
The inspiration behind this post is the dreaded feeling that it's time to make dinner and you've either avoided going to the grocery store, or you've been out of town so often you haven't made time yet. Having basics in the freezer makes your life so much easier!! You can build a meal from a well stocked freezer.
Tonight's example:
- Filet mignon (previously frozen, thawed in the sink in a hot water bath)
- Roasted tomatoes topped with parmesan cheese
- Steamed asparagus
- Wild rice
Happy stocking!
Welcome!
Welcome to Cowtown Kitchen!
Thank you all for visiting. My hope is that each of you will visit this blog to stayed tuned with simple cooking solutions and ideas. For me, seeing and smelling one thing or another often inspires me to jump into the kitchen and experiment. That isn't everyone's story.
For many people it's a chore, not often greeted with confidence and enthusiasm. I hope that through reading these posts and the comments of others, that each of you will be inspired and excited to try something new, and dress the dinner table with something from a fresh perspective.
Please feel free to comment and offer tips and solutions of things that have worked for you in the past! Every cook is a work in progress.
Cheers!
Thank you all for visiting. My hope is that each of you will visit this blog to stayed tuned with simple cooking solutions and ideas. For me, seeing and smelling one thing or another often inspires me to jump into the kitchen and experiment. That isn't everyone's story.
For many people it's a chore, not often greeted with confidence and enthusiasm. I hope that through reading these posts and the comments of others, that each of you will be inspired and excited to try something new, and dress the dinner table with something from a fresh perspective.
Please feel free to comment and offer tips and solutions of things that have worked for you in the past! Every cook is a work in progress.
Cheers!
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