Weekly Cooking Thread ~ February 26, 2011

FreeRepublic Cooks | February 26, 2011 | libertarian27

[Netizen]

Oh, while I'm thinking of it. Pay attention to your ingredient lists. There is something new out there that is worse for you than the trans fats. Yes worse. They are using it in place of trans fats. It is called Interesterified. If you see that avoid it like the plague

Interesterified fats are not trans fats. However, they were developed to take the place of trans-fats in commercially produced baked goods and snack foods. Interesterified fats have been chemically or enzymatically altered to improve their texture or nutritional profile. They're produced by combining stearic acid, found in chocolate and considered a relatively safe saturated fat, with vegetable oils containing unsaturated fat.

We really don't know much about these new fats yet, and their short and long term consequence on health have not been well researched. However, a study published in the January 15, 2007, issue of Nutrition Metabolism found that interesterified fats and trans fats had similar, negative effects. Both increased total cholesterol, raised "bad" LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol and lowered "good" HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Another negative: the interesterified fat also raised fasting blood glucose by almost 20 percent. Because the study was small - only 30 individuals participated - the American Heart Association took the position that the "safety profile of interesterified oils and shortenings isn't as well understood as that of natural fats and oils" and that more research is needed. Since this is an unsettled issue and because there's some reason to believe that these fats may have negative health effects, I would recommend staying away from products containing interesterified fats until we know more.

Why can't these corporations just provide healthy foods instead of wasting their money trying to create new ways to kill us.

[mylife]

If you all have never heard of or tried this, You really must.
It is awesome on a hot summer day at a BBQ.
Chill in the fridge before serving~ Pig Pickin' Cake

[Liz]

Mmmmm.......that sounds yummy. If you like mint----here's a good recipe.

Mint Cookie Candies / makes 48 cookies
Delicious Christmassy confections; nice addition to cookie platters.

START Micro-melt 12 oz coarse-chp white chocolate (candy coating), 4 tsp shortening, stir smooth. Stir in 1/4 tsp green food color. Pour white chocolate evenly into 48 miniature muffin-cup paper or foil liners.

FINISH Sprinkle w/ crumbled mint-flavored creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (mint Oreos), then melted Andes mint candies. Let set.

ANDES MINT TOPPING Micro-melt 2-4 2/3 oz pkg Andes mint candies, 2 tsp shortening; stir smooth.

[Netizen]

I’m not too big into seafood and can’t say that I have ever tried lamb. I might try the lemon basil on salmon though.

[Netizen]

Any suggestions for a half container of ricotta? I’ve read to add cocoa powder and eat it like that. ??

[dainbramaged]

My mother grew up in abject poverty - no shoes, trapping rabbits, harvesting wild ramps in the woods so she knew how to stretch a dollar when we were kids. Rivvels are Pennsylvania Dutch in origin, as was her family.

Egg Rivvels with Tomatoes

One 14.5 oz can stewed tomatoes with juice
One teaspoon sugar
Dash of black pepper to taste
Bring tomato mixture to a boil, simmer five minutes
and have on low boil when adding rivvels.

Rivvels:
One cup flour
two eggs
Mix up with a fork, then add small bits by fingers to boiling tomatoes and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Makes a good side dish or decent lunch and is very cheap.

[Netizen]

Put the vanilla wafers in the bottom of cupcake papers and make cheesecake batter and pour on top of the wafers and make cheesecake cupcakes. I have a recipe for this. I want to try it sometime.

[Netizen]

Cheese Cake Tarts
2 8oz cream cheese softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon lemon 2 eggs	1 tsp vanilla 30 foil cups 30 vanilla wafers 1 - 2 cans comstock Cherry (or Blueberry)
On a cookie sheet (w/sides) separate the foil cups (don't use the paper ones) add one vanilla wafer to each of  the foil cups and set aside.   Mix first 5 ingredients until smooth. Add mixture to a big ziploc bag. Cut small hole in corner of ziploc and squeeze mixture into cups. bake at 350 for 20 minutes let cool. add 3 cherries with some of the glaze.

[Liz]

Sophia Loren's Ricotta Condita

This simple dressed ricotta recipe is adapted from Sophia Loren's cookbook ‘In Cucina Con Amore.’ She mentions Peter Seller’s loved it.

Loren mixed 500g Ricotta cheese, 4 tbsp sugar, 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, then served it with a splash of brandy. Use your own quantities.

You can also dress ricotta with:

Chocolate chips. chopped candid fruit and citrus zest.

Or sugar, ground coffee and whiskey.

Or use a little runny honey, cinnamon and a splash of herbal or fruit liqueur. Serve with a chopped fruit salad.

[Liz]

Sophia Loren's Ricotta Condita

This simple dressed ricotta recipe is adapted from Sophia Loren's cookbook ‘In Cucina Con Amore.’ She mentions Peter Seller’s loved it.

Loren mixed 500g Ricotta cheese, 4 tbsp sugar, 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, then served it with a splash of brandy. Use your own quantities.

You can also dress ricotta with:

Chocolate chips. chopped candid fruit and citrus zest.

Or sugar, ground coffee and whiskey.

Or use a little runny honey, cinnamon and a splash of herbal or fruit liqueur. Serve with a chopped fruit salad.

[libertarian27]

I haven’t tried this but it looks interesting
(check out the comments there too)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/ricotta-pancakes-recipe/index.html

Now, if I ever had a partial container of ricotta...lol

[Netizen]

We call that Poke cake.

I don’t do boxed mixes or pre made frostings anymore because of the hydrogenated oils/trans fats. Same with Cool Whip Free and other frozen toppings. Use the cans. Shortenings, too. I checked online as some shortenings claim to be trans fat free, but they aren’t. They still contain transfats, just in small amounts. most people think, that little bit won’t hurt, but that little bit adds up very quickly. Figure a pice of boxed cake with premade frosting and you defintely hve trans fats. I rally wish they had to list the trans fats by volume. If people could see that the package as a whole contains 20 trans fats, they would realize that they really are still getting trans fats.

[libertarian27]

Those cheese cake tarts sound really good (pot luck definite) but what do you bet 30 nilla wafers are the amount in an original ounce weight of box cookies and I’ll be FORCED to buy another smaller-ounce box!

It’s a conspiracy! LOL

[Netizen]

Thanks, there’s a couple in there that I might try.

[Netizen]

LOL Check the side, maybe the box says how many cookies are in it. I know its frustrating when they cut the sizes down. I didn’t have enough cheese for the lasagna. It was still good, but it could have been cheesier. I could have added other cheeses. But that is the point. Is is not a good thing to be in the middle of making something and realize that something got downsized and you are forced to think of how to replace it.

[Trillian]

Homemade lasagna noodles are the best! I especially love making a bolognese sauce and mini meatballs to throw in. Fresh whole milk ricotta, mmm! It’s heaven in a dish.

Have you tried making your own ravioli? The last time I made 5 cheese ravioli my husband and I polished off two casserole dishes full. I baked them in the oven with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. My husband wants me to make pierogis next.

[mylife]

Requesón- a very soft texture similar to Italian ricotta cheese

[mylife]

What ever you call it, It is good!

[Netizen]

Homemade Velveeta Cheese
1 1/2 lb. grated Cheddar cheese, divided into 3 equal parts 1 1/2 cups almost boiling water, divided into 3 equal parts	1/2 cup plus 1 tbls. instant dry milk, divided into 3 equal parts 1/2 envelope unflavored gelatin (1 1/2 tsp.), divided into 3 equal parts
Line a 8x4x2 loaf pan with plastic wrap or line an empty Velveeta box with foil then plastic wrap to use as the mold.   Put 1/2 cup water, 3 tbls. milk, and 1/2 tsp. gelatin into blender.    Blend until gelatin has dissolved.  Add 1/2 lb. Cheddar cheese.  Blend until blended.  Pour into loaf pan.  Repeat same procedure two more times.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight before unmolding     Makes 2 lbs.

The reason I kept this recipe is that I want to try it with other cheeses. Like monteray jack.

[rightly_dividing]

That is very similar to this recipe. I have made it many times, with various fruit toppings. It is always popular with kids due to the fruit toppings. Of course, the topping can be left off. It was the first recipe that my little girl made when she decided to learn to cook at about 8yo.

Blackberry cheese tarts

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 vanilla wafers
1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling or other pie filling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place a paper cupcake liner in each cup of muffin pan. Beat cream cheese with a handheld electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla, beating well. Add eggs, 1at a time, beating well after each addition. Lay a vanilla wafer, flat side down, in each muffin cup. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wafers. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow tarts to cool completely. Serve with blackberry filling on top, or pie filling of your choice.