Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[JRandomFreeper]

Puff pastry is hard to beat.

Up until recently I made all my own puff pastry.

I'm looking for a very, very good bread pudding recipe.

When I say 'good' I mean calories don't matter. Cost doesn't matter (I'm not going to gold plate it).

I will use Patron Silver Agave for the flavoring.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

I didn't do that.

Let me check the rule-book that I'm making up as I go along...

Yep. I get a do-over on the ice cream and.. it looks like Rolo(tm) chocolate covered caramels.

It's good to be the king. ;)

/johnny

[MomwithHope]

I’ve got a good one, it’s an OLD one and has coconut in it. too rich for me anymore. I’ll type it up directly.

[MomwithHope]

Sorry there is no calorie info for this.

Tropical Bread Pudding

5 large eggs
1 quart whole milk
3/4 cup dried pineapple finely diced
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut - plus an extra 1/4 cup for the topping
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons rum
3/4 to 1 cup sugar depending on hhow sweet you like it
1/4 tsp. salt
1 loaf white bread cut into 3/4inch cubes ( about 6 to 8 cups)

Butter a shallow 2 q. casserole dish. preheat oven to 300.
In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs with the milk, pineapple, 1/2 cup coconut, vanilla, rum, sugar and salt. Mix in the bread cubes. Spoon into the casserole dish. Top with the remaining coconut.
Bake for one hour. The middle will feel set but still soft. Serve warm or chilled with whipped cream or ice cream. Yield 12 generous servings.

I made this a lot with fresh farm eggs and our whole goats milk. When I didn't have dried pineapple I use dried mango or dried cherries, both are delicious. Never topped with whipped cream or ice cream as it was rich enough for us. Also never added any rum it was still delicious.

[MomwithHope]

PS I also never used a loaf of bread (white bread) When I had leftover hot dog or hamburger buns I would adjust the quantities and make a smaller one. It would probably be fabulous with leftover homemade bread.

[Liz]

Norsdstrom Dept Store Café is famous for its White Chocolate Bread Pudding---has an interesting baking technique. Featured in Nordstrom Family and Friends Cbook. Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, featured it; rich and decadent, and absolutely delicious. Expensive to make.

NORDSTROM'S WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

TIPS Not difficult, but has many steps. Good do-ahead party dessert. Use 24" French bread loaf, not a baguette.... mound bread high in baking pan; out of oven, it sinks as it cools, should be flush w/ dish; top will be golden. Use the best white chocolate. I like Ghirardelli baking bars found in baking section.

BREAD PUDDING

PREP Heat just til hot on med flame 4 cups h/ cream, 2 cups milk and cup sugar. Offheat add 3 1/2 c white chocolate;stir/melt. Cool slightly.

CUSTARD whisk 6 large whole eggs, plus 12 large egg yolks, teaspoon pure vanilla. Whisking constantly, gradually drizzle in prepped warm cream; whisk smooth. (If cream mixture is hot, eggs will curdle---so add cream very slowly and whisk constantly).

ASSEMBLY Layer in sprayed parchmented baker half portion of 1/2" thick French bread slices. Pour over half portion of Custard; steep 5 min. Layer on remaining bread; pour on rest of Custard. Press down on bread to completely absorb liquid; foil over; bake 325 deg an hour. Unfoil; bake 30 min til center is dry--top is golden. Cool completely on rack; cover and refrigerate til cold.

WHEN READY TO SERVE Loosen edges w/ knife; invert onto cutting board; tap bottom to release. Peel off parchment paper. Trim crusty edges at sides. Cut six 2x3" rectangles, and then cut each rectangle in half on an angle to form 2 triangles. Wrap/store in fridge til needed.

FINAL To finish and assemble: place triangles on butter rimmed baking sheet, leaving space between the pieces. Brush triangles with the melted butter. Bake the triangles until heated through and lightly browned, 350 deg 12 min.

SERVE For each serving, plate hot bread pudding triangle. Drizzle plate and triangle w/ White Chocolate Sauce Pool raspberry sauce at opposite edges. Garnish with fresh raspberries and ribbons of white chocolate shaved w/ vegetable peeler.

WHITE CHOCOLATE SAUCE on med-high flame, warm 1/2 cup h/cream til hot. Offheat, add cup chp white chocolate; stir/completely melt smooth. Keep warm.

RASPBERRY SAUCE Cook/stir on med high till syrupy 3 min ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 2 tea orange zestAdd 2 cups fresh or unsweetened frozen raspberries; cook on low 3 min; fruit begins to fall apart. cool slightly offheat. Then sieve out seeds.

To make the pretty red hearts: drop a circle of raspberry sauce on the plate; then quickly pull a toohpick thru the circle.

[Jane Long]

Well, that did it...

...I’ve now dug out my ice cream maker. Just have to clean it up a bit and buy the eggs...and other ingredients....including Rolo’s...and, maybe some Heath bars :)

[Jane Long]

YUM!!! Liz, this White Chocolate BP sounds soooo good. I’m printing this one, for later!

[Liz]

You’ll lick the pan clean......I promise. LOL

[JRandomFreeper]

LOL! At least I've done some good this week.

/johnny

[Jamestown1630]

Will this fit any tilt-type Kitchen Aid mixer?

When we inherited ours, it came without the wire whisk; when I got in touch with the company, the rep seemed to indicate that all parts will fit all models; but I’m not sure about newer parts.

-JT

[greeneyes]

Thanks that sounds good, I’m jotting it down in my little spiral book to try on some spinach. The little tomatoes should make the spinach salad look a lot better too.

[greeneyes]

I’ve done both - buns go to the next level at least.

I’ll mention also that I use the food processer to grind the buns up into crumbs for any meat loaf recipe that calls for bread as the filling.

You can also use processed buns to make a delicious bread crumb coating for meats. Sometimes I add in a few crackers too. All much better than just bread.

[maggief]

Those look SO good!

Bookmark

[Liz]

Nice healthy side w/ burgers. Asian-inspired flavors.

GINGER MANGO CARROT SLAW

Mix in salad server: 1/4 c fresh lime juice, tb grated gingeroot, 1/3 c light br/sugar, 2 tb minced shallots, 2 tb safflower oil, 2 cups shredded carrots, 1 1/2 cups peeled/shredded underripe mango, tea Sriracha, Ks/p. Adjust seasoning to taste. Cover/chill an hour. Stir before serving.

[greeneyes]

Ok. So I tried this. I used half my butter ration and half my lemon juice ration for the day.

I had spinach, stir fried, broccoli stir fried, and green beans with garlic and onions. It was delicious on every single one. Fit in sooooo well with my low carb eating plan.

I am down to a target of 60 bet carbs for the weekend. Next week will go to 40-50 for a couple of weeks. If I plateau or gain weight, I’ll be going lower by 5g increments.

Thanks again for the tip.

[greeneyes]

Regarding my post 96. I got it mixed up and posted to Liz, but meant to post it to you.

Liz equal thanks to you for your tip, it will fit right in with my low carb plan too. I didn’t try it yet, because I am out of balsamic vinegar, but it’s on the grocery list, so tomorrow I’ll be trying it.

Thanks again to both of you.

[Liz]

Here's the famed Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Bread Pudding.
A little spicy, a little boozy, a little fruity.

RUTH'S BREAD PUDDING

INGREDIENTS: 2 – 8 oz loaves French bread in 1/2" toasted cubes, quart milk (may use 2 percent), quart half-and-half, 12 eggs, beaten (may use egg substitute), 2 1/2 cups sugar, cup light brown sugar 2 sticks sweet butter (may use less), cup raisins, diced peeled apple, tb cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, pinch salt, 2 tb vanilla, 2 tb bourbon.

PROCESS: Combine sugars; divide in half. Add nutmeg, cinnamon, eggs, vanilla, bourbon and salt to 1st half. BTB milk, half & half and butter with 2nd half of sugar. Whisk milk mixture into egg mixture, add apples. Add bread cubes; steep til soaked through to center. Stir in raisins; sprinkle a few on top. Bake golden in individual buttered servers 375 deg 30 or-so minutes. Serve warm with drizzle of Crème Anglaise (or top w/ scoop of ice cream).

[Liz]

I had the balsamic dressing on stir fried broccoli, on spinach, and on green beans with garlic and onions. It was delicious on every single one. Fit in sooooo well with my low carb eating plan.

Your meal sounds deelish. That dressing's so good---you almost want to drink it.

[ken5050]

If your mixer uses the regular paddle blade..this will fit.