Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Pine Tarts
http://www.gotoguyana.org/pine-tarts/
Ingredients
For Crust
1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup vegetable shortening (such as Crisco)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp sugar
dash of salt
3/4 cup ice cold water
1 egg white
egg wash: 1 egg + 1 tbsp water
For Filling
20oz freshly crushed pineapple or One 20oz can (2 1/2 cups)
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp dark brown sugar
3 tbsp white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
Instructions
If
using fresh pineapple, peel and chop pineapple into large chunks and
pulse in food processor a few times until pineapple has small lumps.
Measure 2 1/2 cups and reserve for use. Any extra pineapple may be
frozen for up to three months.
If
using canned crushed pineapple, place entire contents into a medium
size sauce pan (including juice). Add all spices and sugars and bring
to a slow simmer for 45 minutes on low heat or until mixture looks thick
and has a jam like consistency. Stir frequently to prevent from
burning. Remove from heat and set aside to cool thoroughly.
Place
2 3/4 cups flour in a mixing bowl, add sugar and salt, sift together.
Add butter and shortening. With a pastry cutter, cut shortening and
butter into the flour until it forms pea sized lumps. Add cold water a
little at a time, knead slightly, form into a log. Place log on plastic
wrap and continue to roll until it is about a foot long. Wrap in
plastic ad refrigerate for up to 4 hours before use.
For assembly
Cut
log into 1 inch thick rounds, flatten with your palm then roll dough to
about 7-71/2 inches in diameter. If you like a thicker crust, roll to
about 6 inches diameter, about 1/4 inch thick.
Brush edges with egg whites.
Place a heaping tablespoon of pineapple jam in center 1 inch from the edge.
Fold corners into center to form a triangle.
Brush tops with egg wash then pierce with fork.
Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes on top or middle rack in oven until golden brown
Notes
Dough and pineapple filling can be made a few days ahead and stored in the refrigerator until ready for use.
A food processor may also be used to mix the dough.
Let
the dough log come to room temperature slightly before use, working
with it cold will cause the edges to break when you roll the dough.
How
thick or thin you want your crust will depend on how thin you roll the
dough. Do not cut the dough log into pieces all at once, if you want a
thicker crust you will have to cut a thicker round from the log, make
sense?
If
you don't eat eggs, you can still achieve the yellow color on the pine
tart by adding a drop of yellow food coloring to 2 tbsp of melted
butter. Brush on each pine tart before baking.
If
you would like to use the Betty Crocker boxed pie crust mix, add 1/2
cup ice cold water instead of the amount indicated on the box. Add 1/2
cup all-purpose flour to the mix and knead it till it forms a dough
ball. Add more or less water as needed.
If
you are short on time, you may add a little cornstarch to the pineapple
filling to help it thicken up a bit. Add 1 tbsp of cornstarch to a
separate bowl and mix in 2 tbsp of cold water. Stir till the cornstarch
dissolves, then add cornstarch mixture to pineapple mixture while it is
still simmering.
If you don't have shortening, you may use unsalted butter instead.
Adapted from Inner Gourmet
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Beef Patties
http://www.gotoguyana.org/beef-patties/
Ingredients
1 lb of ground chuck
1 (8 oz) can of sweet green peas
2 beef bouillon
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 yellow onion minced finely
2 tbsp fresh chopped thyme
4-6 wiri wiri peppers or ½ minced habernero
3 tbsp finely minced celery leaves
2 blades of scallion minced
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Egg wash(consisting of 1 egg beaten and 1 tbsp water)
Pastry Dough
3 cups of flour
1 ½ sticks or 12 tbsp of cold butter
1/4 cup of shortening or vegetable oil
1 tspn salt
8 tbsps of iced water
Instructions
Sift flour and salt in a large mixing bowl
Dice butter into tiny cubes and add
Add shortening or vegetable oil
Use fingertips to mix together
Add cold water one tbspn at a time
or until all dry ingredients has
been absorbed
Mold into a ball, wrap in plastic
Refrigerate for 30 minutes before
using
Method
Season meat with salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce,
onion, allspice, wiri wiri pepper, and coriander
In a skillet, add oil and heat then add meat and bouillon
Saute on high heat or 2 minutes
Add thyme, sweet green peas, and continue to cook for 1 minute
Remove immediately in order to have a half cooked meat mixture
Bring to room temperature
Add scallions and celery leaves and incorporate using a spatula
Roll out pastry dough and cut rounds using a biscuit cutter
Fill center with approximately 1 ½ tbsp meat filling
Brush egg wash around the edges, top with another round of pastry dough
Press to seal edges with fingers, then use a fork to create indentations on edge
This will create a nice finish
Finally, prick the top with a fork, and baste with egg wash
Place on a greased flat sheet pan, and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes
Cool on a rack, but serve warm
Notes
Drawing
on her food memories of 30 years ago and some new ones as well, Deborah
Barocas published a cookbook, Guyana’s Tasty Exotic Foods of Six
Peoples. The cookbook is filled with easy to make Traditional Guyanese
(caribbean) Recipes that will delight the tastebuds and comfort the
soul.
You can get her cookbook here: http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0070732037/default.aspx
Adapted from GUyana Tasty Exotic
Friday, August 16, 2013
Tennis Roll
Tennis Rolls
Ingredients
1 pkg. active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water, 110°F
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk, scalded
2 eggs and 1 egg yolk beaten
1 egg white
1 tsp grated lemon rind or orange rind
2 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
4½ to 5 cups flour
Instructions
Soften the yeast in warm water.
Add butter/shortening, sugar, salt, lemon rind, lemon extract and vanilla extract to the scalded milk. Let cool to luke warm.
When cool add yeast, eggs and enough flour to make a batter. Beat well.
Add more flour, a little at a time, to make a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until satiny.
Place in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let rise until double in size.
Punch down, shape into rolls and let rise again.
Brush with egg white mixed with water and bake at 375°F for 25 to 30 min. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen rolls.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Harvard scientists say coffee ‘could halve risk of suicide’
Harvard scientists say coffee ‘could halve risk of suicide’ http://t.co/Kibhm0OK4p
45 Uses for Vinegar
45 Uses for Vinegar
Unleash the power of white vinegar―an all-purpose cleaner, brightener, herbicide and more. Just a bit of this multitasker, straight up or mixed with water, can replace many pricier products huddled und...er your sink. Try these tips to see how vinegar can make your life cheaper and easier.
1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.
2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda).
3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.
6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.
7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)
8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.
9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.
10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.
11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.
12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.
13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.
14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.
15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.
16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.
17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.
18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.
19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.
20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.
21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.
22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.
23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.
24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.
25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.
26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.
27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.
28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.
29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.
30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.
31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.
32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.
33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.
34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.
35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.
36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.
37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.
38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.
39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.
40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.
41. Restore shower head pressure. If your shower head gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.
42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.
43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.
44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.
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Monday, March 11, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
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