Tag: Potatoes
Traditional Easter Sunday Dinner
Enjoy this Easter Sunday with a delicious, traditional Easter meal. A sweet-hot plum-glazed traditionally baked ham. Classic creamy casserole of scalloped potatoes and tender Asparagus Amandine to round out this deliciously pleasing family meal. Sliced strawberries and spiced pecans to create a wonderfully colorful Baby Blue Salad- a holiday favorite! Hope you’re not too full for dessert because you would not want to miss out on this irresistible coconut cake!
Image Source: thespruce.com/
Is your mouth watering? Find out how to create this perfect Easter meal for your family, below! (Serves 8)
Sweet-Hot Plum-Glazed Ham
Image Source: pinterest.com/pin/547468898422365369/
What You Need
1 cup plum preserves
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon yellow mustardH
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 (7-lb.) smoked fully cooked, bone-in ham
Garnishes: pineapple, kiwifruit, green onions, black sesame seeds
What To Do
1. Firstly, stir together the first 7 ingredients on the list, in a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring them to a boil, while stirring constantly. After bringing to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, continuing to stir. After preserves are melted and the mixture is blended, pour half of mixture into a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Trim excess fat on ham to 1/8- inch thickness. Place ham on a wire rack in aluminum foil-lined roasting pan. Brush ham with a portion of plum preserve mixture from the saucepan.
3. Bake ham uncovered at 350 degrees on lower oven rack for 1 hour and 30 minutes, basting with remaining plum preserve mixture in saucepan, every 30 minutes. Loosely cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes or until thermometer registers 140 degrees, basting every 30 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing. Garnish as desired.
4. Microwave the other plum preserve in the bowl on high for 1 minute and serve ham in with the warm mixture.
Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes
Image Source: oprah.com/food/scalloped-potatoes
What You Need
1/4 cup butter
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
3 cups whipping cream
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup (2 oz.) grated Parmesan cheese
What To Do
1. Melt butter in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Stir in potatoes and the next 5 ingredients on the list and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium- low, and cook, stirring gently for 15 minutes.
2. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish and sprinkle with cheese.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Asparagus Amandine
Image Source: closetcooking.com/2007/06/asparagus-amandine.html
What You Need
2 pounds fresh asparagus
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons diced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
What To Do
1. Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Cook in boiling salted water to cover in a large skillet for 3 minutes or until crisp and tender. Then drain.
2. Plunge asparagus into ice water to stop cooking, then drain.
3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add almonds and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add asparagus and red bell pepper and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Toss in lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Baby Blue Salad With Fresh Pears
Image Source: showmetheyummy.com/pear-blue-cheese-candied-pecan-salad/
What You Need
2 (5-oz.) packages gourmet mixed salad greens, thoroughly washed
2 large Bartlett pears, cut into thin slices
1 qt. strawberries, quartered
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
What To Do
Place greens on 8 individual serving plates. Top evenly with pears and strawberries. Sprinkle with cheese and pecans. Serve with Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Lemon-Coconut Cake
Image Source: sallysbakingaddiction.com/2016/03/05/lemon-coconut-cake/
What You Need
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, separated
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Lemon Filling
Cream Cheese Frosting
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
Garnishes: fresh rosemary sprigs, gumdrops
What To Do
1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
2. Combine flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
3. Beat egg whites at high speed with electric mixer until stiff peaks form; fold one-third of egg whites into batter. Gently fold in remaining beaten egg whites just until blended. Spoon batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
5. Spread Lemon Filling between layers. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle top and sides with coconut. Garnish, if desired.
Raclette: The Perfect Melting Cheese
Raclette is very popular in Europe, especially in the Swiss Alps and other ski regions. And that’s where it’s said Raclette came from.
While Switzerland supplies 80% of Raclettes, French Raclettes are slightly softer with a smooth and creamy flavour. Raclette is also the name of a Swiss dish where the cheese is melted in front of a fire or a special machine and the melted parts are scraped onto diner’s plates. It is then served with small potatoes, gherkins, pickled onions and air-dried meat called Viande des Grisons. Raclette comes in round and square shapes and can be served with Vin de Savoie.
Today, few houses have an open fireplace, so to simulate the process we now have Raclette Melter that hold a block or half wheel of cheese under a heating element. Once melted, the cheese is being scraped off onto the prepared potatoes.
Another variety is a Raclette Grill, which allows melting individual portions of cheese and offers a grill top to serve grilled vegetables, meat, chicken, or fish with the cheese. Many of these models come with a reversible grill top that can be used to make crepes or pancakes. And yet another variety can be converted into a mini pizza oven.
A Traditional Raclette Recipe
This simple raclette recipe should be the first you try on your raclette grill or raclette melter. Serves 4
- 8 small/medium potatoes
- 1.5 lb. Raclette Cheese
- Buendnerfleisch (cut in paper-thin slices)
- 1 jar pickled gherkin cucumbers (cornichons)
- 1 jar pickled onions
- freshly ground pepper
- paprika
Wash potatoes and, with skins on, boil in a pot filled with salted water for about 20 min. Test with a knife if the potatoes are done. Keep warm until ready to use in an insulated potato basket. In the meantime remove the rind of the cheese and cut into 1/16″ thick slices using a adjustable wire slicer. Arrange gherkins, onions, and Buendnerfleisch on a platter and set aside until required. Turn raclette on to begin to heat up (allow for at least 5 minutes before using). For raclette grills: Each guest takes a slice of cheese, places it in their pan and slides it under the raclette grill to melt. It takes approximately 2 minutes to melt to a creamy consistency and 3 minutes for a more crispier top. In the meantime take a potato, place onto your plate and cut it into a few pieces, remove the pan from under the grill once it’s reached its preferred consistency and hold the pan onto its side to scrape the cheese out, using your wooden spatula. For raclette melter, each guest prepares potatoes and side dishes on their plates. When the cheese starts melting on the wheel, scrape the cheese onto the plate. Season to taste with freshly ground pepper and paprika. Pair Grand Cru Raclette with Pinot Grigio, Fendant, a Swiss white wine, or a light, fruity red wine, such as Beaujolais.
Let Shisler’s Cheese House help you make your next memorable melt experience with our supply of Raclette Cheese!
Jarlsberg: A Norwegian Experience And The Largest-Selling Imported Cheese In The US
Jarlsberg is often referred to as a type of Swiss or Baby Swiss cheese. It actually originated in Norway, but it’s a direct descendant of the great Swiss Emmentaler — the classic “Swiss” cheese with the large holes.
So, the story goes, Emmentaler cheese was introduced into Scandinavia around 1830, and within 20 years the Norwegians had adapted the recipe and were producing their own nutty, waxy, large-holed cheese in the county of Jarlsberg.
As the 20th century progressed, however, the holes started to disappear, even though the same manufacturing process was used. Food scientists finally figured out that the eyes and particular flavor of Emmental-style cheese were the result of a bacteria called propionibacterium, which was naturally present in the milk.
This particular bacteria eats away at lactic acid and produces carbon dioxide as the cheese ages, which forms the familiar air bubbles in the cheese. This would explain why neither Emmentaler nor Jarlsberg has a tangy taste.
As dairies began to be more concerned with sanitation and the milk began to undergo pasteurization, most of these bacteria were killed off, changing the nature of the cheese.
The modern version of Jarlsberg we find today was developed in the late 1950s at the Dairy Institute at the Agricultural University of Norway. This was a center of cheese research, and Jarlsberg was retooled to be a cross between Norwegian Gouda and Emmental, a smaller, softer, sweeter version of the Swiss mountain masterpiece.
The researchers began adding the propionibacterium back to the milk, selecting for a new strain that was compatible with the higher salt content of a Gouda.
Eventually they got it right, and Jarlsberg, by the pound, is the largest-selling imported cheese in the United States today. It is produced according to the very scientifically-controlled recipe in Norway, under license in Ohio (using the special bacterial culture shipped from Norway), and in Ireland by Diarygold.
Wheels of Jarlsberg cheeses are far smaller than Emmentaler, weighing about 22 pounds compared with Emmental’s 150-pound or larger wheels.
If you enjoy Jarlsberg, it is available online in light, 1-year aged, and smoked varieties.
Jarlsberg is available in most grocery cheese cases, is not terribly expensive, and is very suited to cooking. Anywhere you would use Swiss cheese, try Jarlsberg.
Jarlsberg-Potato Dippers
INGREDIENTS
1 Jarlsberg Lite cheese
1 cup instant potato flakes
½ teaspoon each black pepper and garlic powder
1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
DIRECTIONS
1) Preheat oven to 375°. Mix cheese with potato and seasonings; add broth and mix.
2) For lacy, crispy dippers, sprinkle mixture evenly on parchment-lined or (oil-sprayed) foil lining a 10×10-inch baking pan. Bake 25 minutes or until brown around the edges. Break into free-form pieces.
3) For a more solid, flexible dipper, spread mixture on parchment or foil, patting down for an even layer. Bake 35 minutes or until beginning to brown. Invert on wire rack, peel off parchment and return to pan to bake 10 minutes more. Cut into 2-inch squares. Serve with your favorite salsa. Makes 25 pieces.
What’s Better Than A Cavs’ Championship? Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes
Gouda, or “How-da” as the locals say, is a Dutch cheese named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. If truth be told, it is one of the most popular cheeses in the world, accounting for 50 to 60 percent of the world’s cheese consumption. It is a semi-hard cheese celebrated for its rich, unique flavour and smooth texture. The original cheese markets in Gouda is one of the last standing commercial cheese markets in the Netherlands. Since the name is not protected, it has become a generic classification for all cheeses produced and sold under the name Gouda.
Gouda is typically made from pasteurised cow’s milk although some artisan varieties use sheep’s or goat’s milk to produce cheeses that are going to be aged for a long time. Boerenkaas is a typical variety of unpasteurised Gouda cheese produced by the farmers from milk of cow’s grazing on the natural, low pastures of Netherlands. There are seven different types of Gouda cheese, categorized depending on age. Graskaas is young Gouda ready to be consumed within weeks of production. On the other hand, is the extra aged, Overjarig cheese which has a full-flavoured, hard, golden interior and salty flavour reminiscent of a toffee. Between the spectrums is a variety of Dutch Gouda’s classified as per the texture and age – Jong, Jong belegen, Belegen, Extra belegen, and Oud. Each cheese gets increasingly firmer in texture and richer in flavour than earlier classification. The waxed rind of the cheese also changes by the age as soft, younger Dutch Gouda cheese are identified by yellow, orange, or red wax rinds white mature cheese have black wax coverings.
In America, smoother and less flavorful commercial Gouda is popular than Dutch Gouda. Artisans in Netherlands may produce Dutch Gouda using raw milk as well as pasteurized. To enhance the flavor of the cheese, herbs, seasonings, and nuts may be blended. In Netherlands, aged Gouda is commonly used to richen soups, sauces.
Young Goudas are best paired with beer while medium cheeses taste best when paired with a fruity Riesling or Chenin Blanc. A well aged Gouda complements wines that are deeply flavored such as a rich Merlot or Shiraz. Gouda cheese may be grated, sliced, cubed or melted. It may be used as a table cheese or dessert cheese.
SMOKED GOUDA MASHED POTATOES
Fancying up mashed potatoes can take a plain Jane dish and make it a stand out yummy. Sorry if your name is Jane. What better to make something stand out than smoked gouda? Oh baby. It’s yummy. Add 1 cup for a hint of smokey goodness, and 2 cups for a heavier handed approach. Or maybe your tastes will fall somewhere in between. This is a fabulous twist on your standard taters. Live a little, right?
Time to Make It: about 30 minutes
Yield: Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
6 large russet potatoes
6 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup butter
4 oz cream cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 to 2 cups shredded smoked Gouda Cheese
Instructions
1. Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a large stockpot. (If you need more liquid to cover your potatoes, you can add in water.)
2. Meanwhile, peel and rinse the potatoes. Cut them into bite-size pieces. Pace them in the chicken broth. Return to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer until potatoes are soft, about 10 to 15 minutes depending on the size of pieces.
3. Drain the liquid from the potatoes. Add in butter, cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Use a hand mixer to whip until smooth, or mash together with a potato masher until cheese and butter are melted.
4. Mix in the Smoked Gouda until cheese is melted. Serve hot.
Be sure you stop by Shisler’s Cheese House and to grab your supply of Smoked Gouda!
