Recipe: Vasilopita (Greek New Years Cake)

VASILOPITA (Traditional Greek New Year's Cake)

Description:When the cake is cut on New Years Day, everyone iskeen to find the coin as whoever does is meant to have good luck throughout the year. In days gone by, wealthierpeople would actually use a real gold coin!

Ingredients:1 + 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup brandy
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
chopped almonds
icing sugar
Royal Icing (optional)

ROYAL ICING1
egg white
1 + 1/2 cups icing sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:
Whip eggs and sugar until very light. Add oil, melted butter and vanilla.Stir in orange juice, brandy, flour and baking powder just until combined.Place in a greased and floured round cake pan. Place a foil-wrapped coininto cake mixture. Sprinkle almonds around edges. Bake at 175°C for 45 minutes until golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.Cool and remove from pan. If desired, write the new year on top withroyal icing and sprinkle with icing sugar.

ROYAL ICING
Whip egg whites, slowly adding icing sugar and lemon juice.Adjust consistency by adding a few drops of water for thinner icingor icing sugar for a stiffer icing. Spread or pipe on cake and let dry.

Recipe: Zucchini Bread

Zucchini bread

Description:
Well its summertime, and those zucchinni's are comeing in faster then they can be eaten or given away, why not make some zucchini bread with them????

Ingredients:
3 eggs (beaten till a little foamy)
1 cup conola oil
2 cups sugar
2 cups grated and peeled zucchini
2 teaspoons Vanilla

In a Seperate bowl mix:
3 cups of flour
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon
baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts or macadamion nuts

Directions:
Pre heat oven to 325
Beat eggs till light and foamy
add 1 cup canola oil, 2 teaspoons Vanilla, 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups zucchini
mix all ingrediants in one at a time make sure each ingrediant is mixed in before adding the next
in another bowl mix 3 cups of flour, 3 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup of nuts
make sure all is mixed well, then combine the liquid to the powder and mix wellpour into two 3x5 greased (I prefer using bacon grease) loaf pans and bake one hour at 325, take out and cool, if you wish you can sprinkle powdered sugar, or spread a cream cheese frosting on top.

Recipe: Banana Fritters With Blueberry Syrup

Banana Fritters With Blueberry Syrup

Description:
Something sweet goes well in the fresh air of earlt morning. Fritters are a favorite, especially served with a slice of bacon or country ham, and fresh fruit.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk
2 bananas ripe and smashed
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs, well beaten
1 table spoon butter, melted
Vegtable oil or bacon grease for frying

Blueberry Syrup:
1 cup blueberries
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water

Directions:
* Mix Milk and bananas
* Sift dry ingrediants together
* Add to fruit mixture
* Add eggs and butter
* Mix well
* Drop by spoonfuls into 2 inches of hot oil
* Turn when first side is brown
* When done (about 2 min on each side) , remove from oil and drian on paper towels. Serve hot

[Note] : The above recipe without bananas, is a basic fritter recipe. Other fruit ( approximatly 2 cups) can be used- gratred apples, choped peaches, or fresh berries.

Blueberry syrup:
Cook blueberries with sugar and water till thick.
Other berries can be used to make this syrup as well.

Recipe: Sourdough Flap Jacks

Sourdough Flapjack’s

Description:
Got this recipe off my chuckwagon pard, they are great!

Ingredients:
1 cup sourdough starter
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons bacon grease
¼ cup canned evaporated milk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
Milk

[Note: return to the starter crock as much batter as you removed.

Directions:

Sourdough Starter:See Herman Secret Starter (Sourdough Starter)

Mix:
1 cup sourdough starter1 cup flour2 tablespoons bacon grease¼ cup canned evaporated milkBlend in:1 teaspoon baking soda2 Tablespoons sugarpinch of saltadd milk and stir with wooden spoon till it becomes a pancake batter consistancyLet mixture bubble a minute, and then drop by spoonfuls onto hot castiron griddle or skillet. Warm the syrup ( I prefer Karo Corn Syrup), or Southern lick (mollasses) , boil up a big pot of coffee, and invite the neighbors in!

Recipe: Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Sourdough cinnamon rolls

Description:
these are a great treat, Coundnt make them fast enough at EOT

Ingredients:
1 Cup Sourdough Starter
2-1/2 cups flour
2 cups warm water

Let stand overnight. Remove 1 cup the next morning of the "sponge" (the sourdough starter that you let sit out over night) and refrigerate for future use, or give to a friend.

2-1/2 cups Starter (the "sponge" you left out over night)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2-1/2 cups of flour (or more if needed)
1 stick of melted butter
Cinnamon
Brown Sugar

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix together starter, eggs, salt, and baking soda. Add 2-1/2 cups of flour, more if needed to make a soft dough (like a babys bottom). Let rest in a warm place for 30-40 min. Roll or pat out into an oblong shape, about 1/2 an inch thick. Spread on with a basting brush butter to the dough, and sprinkle generously with brown sugar. and cinnamon (about 1/2 cup of brown sugar to 1 tablespoon of cinnamon). Roll the dough from wide side, and slice into 1 inch thick slices. Arange in a 12-14 inch castiron skillet, or a 14 inch dutch oven, and let rise till double in size, or for about 1 hour. Cook at 350 degrees for about 20-30 min, till done, remove from heat, and immeadiatly apply icing over rolls Icing: Powdwered sugarmilkand a teaspoon of vanilla extract

Recipe: Sour Dough Starter

Herman Secret Starter (sourdough starter)

Description:
The object of Herman - as a Good Samaritan Recipe - is to give a cup of the starter, along with the Replacement Recipe plus a cake to a friend. In turn they will keep the starter going and bake up something delightful to also share with another friend, along with a cup of the starter.When you give away a cup of Herman a note must accompany it reading: "This is Herman. Treat him with love and keep him warm and away from drafts. Within 3 days of receiving this portion of his secret cake starter, please add to him a smooth mixture of one cup each - water, flour and sugar. Let him stand in a non-metallic container with a loose-fitting lid for 6 hours before using a portion him in the following recipe.....

"Ingredients:
1 envelope dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 cups dairy buttermilk
2 cups flour
2 cups granulated sugar

Directions:
Soften yeast in water with sugar. Stir once or twice. Let stand 5 minutes or until doubled in volume. (If it doesn't double and bubble, the yeast is no good. Throw it out and start over with a fresh pack.)Beat remaining 3 ingredients together until smooth and beat in the bubbly yeast mixture at end of the 5 minutes. Pour into non-metallic 8-cup container with a loose fitting lid. Let stand in warm place 6 hours. As it bubbles up, stir it down (after the 2nd or 3rd hour - so don't be impatient!) Then it's ready to use. Say hello to Herman!

Just remember to keep Herman out of drafts. Set him in a sunny spot-once in a while. He delights in this! He'll bubble up with excitement if the sun's shining on him a while!Replacement RecipeEvery time you remove a cup of Herman, you must replace him at once with a simple mixture of:1 cup water1 cup flour1 cup granulated sugarBeat it smooth and stir it into the mixture from which you removed the cupful for baking purposes. The above 3-cup mixture makes 1 cup of starter-batter exactly, so if you remove TWO cups of the starter, double the replacement ingredients. Always leave at least one cup of the starter at all times with which to begin your next batch of Herman

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

Description:
Bread pudding made with donuts

Ingredients:
2 Doz. (original) Krispy Kreme donuts
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
1 (15 ounce) can fruit cocktail (undrained)
2 eggs beaten
1 (9ounce) raisins (dole, kosher)
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Creamcheese frosting:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar (about 4 cups), sifted:

BEAT cream cheese, butter and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.ADD sugar gradually, beating until well blended after each addition.

Directions:
in a 12" castiron Dutchoven (the deep kind), quarter donuts into dutch oven , pour ingredients on top of donuts, mix real well, and let soak for about 15-20 minutes, after soak time mix donuts again , and make sure the donuts have soaked up the liquid as much as possible. Cook at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour.

At Shoot out at Dead mans Point

Recipe: Fishermans Stew (Lydia's Favorite)

Fishermans stew (Lydia's favorite)

Description:even most people who don't care for seafood will like this one (except Lydia, see doesn't like any seafood)

Ingredients:
1 medium onion, finely choped
1-1/2 teasoons minced garlic, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound plum tomatos, seeded, diced
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 cup of clam juice
1/3 cup white wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 lbs. orange roughy cut into 1 inch cubes
1 lbs. uncooked large shrimp, peeled and divided
1/2 pound sea scallops
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
1/3 cup mayonnaise(use fresh seasonings, not dried)

Directions:
in a 10" inch castiron dutch oven saute onion, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic in olive oil, then add tomatos, lemon peel, and red pepper, cook and stir for a couple of minutes. Then add clam juice, tomato paste, white wine, and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes, then add the fish, shrimp, scallops, and parsley, cover and cook 10 minutes, or untill fish flakes easy with a fork, the shrimp turn pink, and scallops are opaque. Combine mayonnaise, and remaining garlic, and dullop onto each serving.

Recipe: Sticky Fingers Pork Ribs

Sticky fingers Pork ribs

Description:
Made this at a resent Chuckwagon competion, and it was a huge hit, prior to that Lydia used to make it in the crock pot.

Ingredients:
3 1/2 pounds of pork loin back ribs
1/4 cup packed brown suger
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons of liquid smoke
2 cloves of garlic finly choped, or pressed
1 teaspoon of salt
1 medium onion
1/2 cup of coca~cola
1 1/2 cups of chris and pitts BBQ sause (hickory flavor)

Directions:
* Remove the inner skin (membrane) from the ribs
* Mix brown sugar, pepper, liquid smoke, garlic, and salt; rub mixture onto ribs.
* Cut ribs at 2-3 bone intervals
*Layer ribs, and onions in Dutch oven, or crock pot
*pour coca~cola in to pot
*Cover, and cook on low heat (200-300 degrees F)8-9 hours, or untill ribs are tender.
* remove the ribs from Dutch oven/crock pot, and drain liquid and discard.
*cover ribs in BBQ sauce, and cover, and cook for an additional hour, or 2.

Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes

Description:A Favorit treat of mine, love to have it especialy when the (green) Tomatoes are in season.

Ingredients:
4 Large Green Tomatoes
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/2 cup corn meal
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
vegtable oilor Bacon Grease

Directions:
*Slice Tomatoes 1/2 inch thick
*whisk eggs, and milk together in a medium bowl.
*scoop flour,cornmeal, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper onto a plate, and mix together.
*put oil in skillet, and heat on medium heat until hot.
*Dip Tomatoes into eggs, and milk, then coat with flour mixture.
*place tomatoes into skillet in batches of 4-5. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch eachother.
* when the tomatoes are brown, turn, and fry the other side.
*drain on paper towles

Taken at Gun Fight Behind the Jersey Lilly 2004

Recipe: Pulled Pork Chili

Pulled Pork Chili

Description:This is a pretty tasty chili, it is mild, and if you want heat in your chili, you will have to add it.Probably a Habenaro pepper or two should do it.

Ingredients:
3-4 lb pork shoulder roast (You can buy them with out the bone)
2 cans kidney beans
1 cup of pre sliced cactus
1 large diced onion
1 can of fire roasted peppers (hot or mild according to what you like)
3 packets chili seasoning
1 packet taco seasoning
1 bottle beer (Samuel Adams preferably)

Directions:
Place pork shoulder roast, one cup water, and 12 ounces beer in 12 inch Dutchoven and roast at 350o for approximately 3 hours until pork roast falls apart.Turn and check roast hourly. When pork shoulder roast falls apart, pull bones out and shred roast to suitable consistency.Add onion, green pepper, and seasoning packets to Dutchoven, and cook for one half hour, making sure to have mixed seasonings into pulled pork well.Add beans (juice and all), and cook one half hour. serve with lime wedges

Recipe: Shut Your Mouth Sweet Potato Pie

Shut your mouth Sweet Potato Pie

Description:After alot of trial and error, of trying to get a good sweet potato pie recipe dialed in, this is what I came up with, and it is good.
Ingredients:

3 lbs. Sweet Potatos/ Yams work best (fresh not canned)
1 stick of butter.
1 1/2 cups sugar.
1 can evaporated milk.
2 eggs.
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg.
Dash of cinnamon.

Directions:
Yams- poke 3 holes with knife into the Yams, Bake in oven at 425 degrees F for about an hour, untill soft

Pie Filling:

*Add 1 Stick of butter to warm sweet potatos/Yams(right from the oven, and peeled), and mash with a fork.
*add the rest of ingredients (except cinnamon) and mix till pie filling is real smooth.
*Pour into an uncooked pie crust
*Dust top with cinamon
*Bake for 50-60 min. At 400 Degrees F till you can stick a knife in it and pull it out clean
*Let cool at least one hour.

Pie Crust:
2 cups of flour
2/3 cup of shortning + 2 Tablespoon
1 teaspoon salt
5-6 tablespooons of Ice Water

*add shortning to flour and mix till crumbly.
*then add salt, and water and mix to a play dough consistancy.
*Roll out on a bread board dusted with flour
*place in 10" Dutch Oven, or 8-10" Pie pan

Recipe:Gold Strike Bake Potato Soup

Here I am Frying Bacon for my Baked Potato Soup

Gold Strike Baked potato soup

Description:this is a thick, creamy, rich and hearty soup, and is very simular to Stuart Andersons Black Angus Restraunt's recipe. Lydia and I won first place in a Chuckwagon cook off with this recipe it is very delishious

Ingredients:
4 large Baking potatoes
2/3 cup Butter or margarine
2/3 cup Flour
6 cups Milk (evaporated milk in a can, one can of water per one can of milk, about 3 cans all together)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 a bushel of green onions , chopped
12 slices Bacon, fried, crumbled
5oz. velveta cheese
1 cup Sour cream

Directions:bake potatoes at 400° for 1 hour or until done.Let cool.
Fry up bacon till crispy, then crumble, while potatos are bakeing.
Cut potatoes in half lengthwise, skin one half of each potato an discard skins.then chop into bite sized pieces.Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat; add flour, stirring until smooth. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.Add chopped potato's , salt, pepper, green onions, bacon, and cheese. Cook until thoroughly heated. stir in sour cream, Add extra milk, if too thick. Serve topped with green onions, bacon, and cheese.

Cajon Cowboy's

7/13/05

Hey Ya'll this is my first attempt at a Blog page so excuse the lack of experience. Let me tell you a little about my self, I live in Riverside, CA, and enjoy many hobbies such as : Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS/SASS) , Chuck Wagon Cooking/Dutch Oven Cooking/ Cooking, Sewing, Comic books, and I have a wide music taste, though I am not to fond if rap/hip hop. I do like every thing from Punk Rock, Death rock, Rock n'Roll , Blue Grass, oldies, Soul, Motown, Folk, Swing/Big Band, etc... I have a beautiful Wife, and two children my Daughter who is 13 years old, and my son who is 16 months. I have an extreme interest in the Rail Road Industry (though my knowlage is not as strong as my interest), I love the sound of a train rolling by. My Wife and I have won quite a few cook offs, and I love to share recipes. well that is all for now I wana see how this looks on my page.