Finnish Sauerkraut Salad

Hapankaalisalaatti

Description:

Served often at most of our Finnish dinners growing up and on Christmas Eve. 

Ingredients:

2 cups sauerkraut, drain some liquid

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper (red pepper too at holiday 

time)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

3 T vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

• Combine water and sugar in a small kettle and bring to a boil.   

• Boil for approximately 5 minutes.   

• Allow to cool some.   

• Add vinegar and salt to sugar and water mixture and cool some more. 

• Pour syrup over sauerkraut mixture.   

• Stir well.   

• Cover and chill for about 5 hours before serving.   

• Easy one to make ahead of time. 

• Keeps well if refrigerated.

Veggie Tails and Flowers for Fancy Veggie Basket

My Mother began making fancy cut veggie baskets for special occasions after I left home, so I didn't have the chance to watch or help her much. Now that she's passed to the other side of the veil I had to recall, search for photos of her vegetable basket and online to "see" how to make various veggie tails and flowers.  In addition I asked myself questions.  I began to get some inspiration of my own--possibly from her whispering suggestions in my ear.  I felt her nearby as I thought of her, which made for a priceless time.   

What follows is how I make radish roses, green onion tails and stems, carrot crinkles and flowers, jagged cucumber circles, celery tails and turnip flowers. 

Quinoa has quite a bit of protein

Sunday, we tried quinoa for the first time with great success as our dinner guests liked it.  It is tasty and so full of protein and fiber.  Here's a 5 star recipe from allcooks for the quinoa salad we served for the vegetarian option in our roast beef Sunday dinner.   Just click on the title for the link where you'll find a photo. 

Quinoa Veggie Salad with Zesty Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 4 cups quinoa
• 4 cups water
•  
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 cup canola oil
•  
• 2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 (15 ounce) can black olives, chopped

Directions

1. Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Scrape the cooked quinoa into a large bowl and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
2. Place the vinegar, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and mustard into a blender. Drizzle in the oil while blending at high speed until the dressing is thick.
3. Add the cucumbers, bell pepper, red onion, tomato, and olives to the bowl with the quinoa. Pour the dressing overtop and gently fold until evenly mixed.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 215 | Total Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 0mg

Hubby's Thai Food Tests

Thanks to my thoughtful friend C, I recently visited a Trader Joe's near her and purchased many fun treats for my family.  One item was meal ready green curry thai sauce.  Thanks to my husband, who wanted to make Thai food and loves to experiment in the kitchen, we had a wonderful homemade Thai meal.  He offered us green curry shrimp and/or red chili shrimp over jasmine rice and pad thai noodles.  I know my Mother would have loved tasting this!

  
Green Curry Shrimp
a bottle of Trader Joes green curry sauce, warmed
add in some whole peeled prawns
serve over rice
Note:  Even in our small town we can find Thai Kitchen products and great recipes on the internet, so to make something similar to us with out a Trader Joe's, we can use Thai Kitchen green curry paste and a 14 oz. of coconut cream.  


Red Chili Coconut Shrimp
1 14 oz. can coconut milk
3 T Thai Kitchen roasted red chili paste
2 T Thai Kitchen premium fish sauce
1T  white sugar
Stir ingredients together, simmer on medium low heat for 7 minutes. 
Add 1/2 cup frozen green beans sliced asian style  
1 water chestnut, diced and optional
1/4 cup frozen peas
Continue to simmer for 3 more minutes.  Turn off heat.  Add 7-10 cooked, peeled prawns or 1/2 cup smaller shrimp and serve as soon as warm over white jasmine rice.  


Note: You may use chicken or pork of course, but one of our son's announced 2 weeks ago that he is not vegetarian, but will eat fish -- thus this further exploration in the kitchen. 

Toronto Pad Thai

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package pad thai rice noodles
• 1/4 cup tamarind paste (To substitute for tamarind paste, blend equal parts dried apricots, prunes, dates, plus lemon or lime juice. Use 2 tablespoons of this mixture for every teaspoon of tamarind paste.)
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 limes, juiced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon chili paste (sambal oelek)
•  
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 pound firm tofu, drained and cubed
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 3 cups bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup coarsely ground peanuts
• 5 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Place the rice noodles in a large bowl, pour in enough very hot tap water to cover, and let them soak for 30 minutes. Drain the noodles, and set aside.
2. Stir together the tamarind paste with boiling water in a bowl until well mixed, and let the mixture stand for 15 minutes. Press the paste mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to strain, and discard any fibers or seeds. Combine the strained tamarind paste with the ketchup, lime juice, soy sauce, sugar, and chili paste in a bowl.
3. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Cook and stir the garlic and tofu until the tofu begins to show brown edges, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the eggs, and scramble for 30 seconds, then add the noodles, tamarind mixture, and bean sprouts. Cook and stir until the noodles are separated, heated through, and covered with sauce, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with peanuts and sliced green onions.

Carrot and Rice Casserole

Tonight is Recipe Party!  I've missed the last two months and I'm determined to go this time.

Our theme is Holiday Favorites.   Of course it wouldn't be Christmas without pulla, but I've already made that for them.  And we always have rice porridge and I've already done that for them.  So, when I asked my Mother what her holiday favorite is she named this casserole.  Of course there are other casseroles and many sweets too that are traditional and favorites.  I can hardly wait to make the Joulu Torttuja (prune tarts), but since I only make those once a year, so I'm not doing them yet!  Many of you listed your favorites on my Facebook page too.  I appreciate that.  I hear I need to try and make divinity for example and other candies. 

While my family gets frozen lasagna, I'm making this carrot and rice casserole for the ladies tonight.  Well, I hope I get it done in time!  I'm way behind schedule because I'm on the computer selling Scentsy as a fundraiser for our boys's gymnastics during the holidays!  

Title: Porkkana Laatikko (Carrot and Rice Casserole)

Description:

This is the traditional Finnish Carrot and Rice Casserole served at Christmastime in Finland.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. carrots, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup uncooked rice

1 cup half and half

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons brown sugar

salt to taste

2-3 Tbs. chopped almonds

Directions:

Boil carrots in salted water until done. Drain and save the water. Remove carrots from pan and add enough water, if necessary, to make 1 1/2 cups pour rest of of liquid back into the pan and let it come to a boil. Stir in uncooked rice. Cover and steam on low for 20 minutes. Meanwhile mash cooked carrots. Add half and half, beaten egg, and brown sugar, mixing well. When rice is done, stir into carrot mixture, adding salt to taste.  Pour into a well greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.

A great compliment for meat dishes, especially ham. Freezes well.

Number Of Servings: Serves 6-8.

Preparation Time: Boil carrots for 20 minutes. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Greek Farmer's Market Vegetables

It's recipe party time again!  Tonight's theme is Mediterranean so we can use fresh vegetables from our garden or local Farmer's Market.  Oh, I wish I could run to *Molly Stone's or Whole Foods to buy this olive oil like I used to be able to.  I googled greek mediterranean recipes and found this I thought I'd like

Greek Farmer's Market Vegetables

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to the recipe party Thursday, so I made this for my parents and again for my own family.  They LOVED it! 

And I altered instead to this.

Preparation time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
1 - 1 1/2 Cup *Lykovouno olive oil
1 lb. zucchini squash
1 lb. potatoes
1 lb. eggplant or yellow squash
2 small onions
3 peppers - one green, red, and yellow

3 tomatoes
1 small bunch chopped parsley or rosemary and thyme
Salt and pepper to taste

Clean and wash your vegetables and cut them into slices. Put all ingredients into a large skillet and stir and coat vegetables with olive oil and cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for approximately 1-1 1/2 hours. Serve with crumbled feta cheese.  Serves 4 to 6.

CREAM of ZUCCHINI SOUP

My Dad just said, "Not bad.   I'd better have a another cup!"  Today I am made  "Cream of Zucchini Soup" for my parents from the fresh zucchini Aunt E and Uncle R sent over from their garden.  

Just last week Aunt J and Uncle G brought over THIS zucchini soup to share with my parents. The recipe is my Mother's she has served for the last several years and shared with several women although I didn't grow up with it.  

I asked her today where she got it.  She got it from an Air Force General's wife Gloria O. on a visit to Ramstein Germany.  

CREAM of ZUCCHINI SOUP

3 lb. zucchini 
2 cans chicken broth
2 tsp. salt ½ cup water
1 tsp. onion powder 
1½ cups half & half
1 tsp. garlic powder 
Seasoned salt & pepper to taste
1/8 tsp. white pepper
Chives for garnish
 
Slice zucchini into 1" pieces. Put in a large kettle. Add salt, onion & garlic powder, white pepper, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook until tender, about 10-15 minutes, stirring now and then. Blend in a blender until smooth, about 1/3 at a time.  

Place in a clean kettle. Stir in half & half. Season to taste. Heat until heated through. May be refrigerated overnight or FROZEN.  Garnish with chopped chives.

Aunt J's personal preference is to increase the spices called for.

Creamed Peas & New Potatoes

Friday, we went to the local Farmer's Market and some of our purchases included new red potatoes and fresh green peas. I found this recipe to make them creamed. Although everyone else liked them, our youngest, not a fan of peas, asked in disgust, "Why are you putting that on your blog? I thought you only put good stuff on there like pulla, lattyja, Grandma's rolls, and karjalan piirakka!" lol

Well, if you dare favor the opinion of the rest of us, try this recipe with your new peas and potatoes or share your favorite version that the biggest pea avoider would like. He did manage to get 8 peas down when his brother told him he had to eat them or get none of the brownies he just made for desert. lol That same son said, "Oh, I just love these new peas and potatoes!"

CREAMED PEAS & NEW POTATOES

from COOKS.COM

---

1 lb. whole tiny new potatoes
1 1/2 c. shelled peas or loose-pack frozen peas
1/4 c. chopped onion
1 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
1 c. milk

Scrub potatoes; cut any large potatoes in half. If desired, remove a narrow strip of peel from around the center of each potato. In a medium saucepan cook potatoes in a small amount of boiling salted water for 10 minutes. Add peas and cook 5 to 10 minutes more or until tender. Drain.In a medium saucepan cook onion in butter until tender but not brown. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Stir in potatoes and peas; heat through. Season to taste. Serves 4.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: Scrub potatoes; cut any large potatoes in half. Remove a narrow strip of peel from around the center of each potato. In a 2 quart casserole combine potatoes and 2 tablespoons water. Microwave, covered, on 100% power (high) for 8 minutes. Stir in peas. Cook, covered, on high for 4 to 6 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Drain. Continue as above.

I must say I was surprised when I couldn't find a creamed peas and potatoes recipe in the Betty Crocker or any other standard cookbooks.

Show Off Salmon-in-a-Crust

Tonight's recipe party theme is "Show Off".  This came immediately to mind for me.  I've only made it a couple of times a few years ago, but my Mother used to serve this at ladies luncheons or a small group.  She was first served this on an official visit to Heinavesi by Ambrosius in a Russian Orthodox Monastery and started serving it when they returned home.  

Salmon-in-a-Crust

Lohipiirakka--Finland

Every Finnish hostess has her own version of this fish pie.

1.5 cans salmon 

2 T butter

1 T lemon  juice

2 T minced fresh parsley

4-5 T dried dill weed

salt and pepper to taste

1 t onion powder

1 1/2 cups cooked rice

3 hard-boiled eggs

1 egg, thoroughly beaten

lots of melted butter:)

Lemon wedges for garnish

Drain water off of salmon, open second can, just scoop out half of it.  In a small bowl, mix together with a fork:  salmon, lemon  juice, parsley, dill and salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes.  

Cover a large ungreased baking sheet with parchment paper.  Or grease baking sheet; set aside.  Shape on end to resemble a fish tail, not less than 6 inches wide.  Arrange pastry on prepared baking sheet.  Cut pieces of dough scraps to represent fins; press in place.  Spread salmon, parsley mixture over pastry within 2 inches of the edge.  Drizzle with butter.  Now make a layerof  rice and drizzle with more butter and sprinkle more dill weed over it.  Next make a layer of chopped boiled eggs and again drizzle with butter and dill weed.  

Roll remaining half of dough to a 20" x 10" oval.  Moisten edges on bottom crust with water.  Arrange top crust over salmon layer.  Press top and bottom crust, shaping fins and tails.  Brush surface with beaten egg.  

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cut a hole where eye of fish should be.  Insert a small ball of dough to keep hole open.  With tips of scissors blades, cut top crust to simulate fish scales.  These also serve as air vents during baking.  Bake 35 minutes or until crust is lightly browned but still pale.  To serve, cut in crosswise slices.  Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges and Horseradish Mayonnaise.  Makes 8 servings.  

Cottage-Cheese Pastry

Rahkakuori--Finland

Use this lovely, flaky pastry for sweet or savory pies.

1 cup cold, firm butter

2 c all-purpose flour

1 small-curd cottage cheese

1-2 T ice water, if needed

In a large bowl, cut butter into flour until mixture is crumbly and pieces are about the size of peas.  Stir in cottage cheese until mixture forms a crumbly dough.  Knead lightly to shape into a ball, adding ice water a few drops at a time, if necessary.  Chill 30 minutes before rolling out. 

Keeps well in refrigerator if you'll use it within 2 days.  It freezes well, so make it ahead of time. 

Horseradish Mayonnaise

This is excellent with any cold fish.

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 cup mayonnaise

3 Tbsp. grated fresh horseradish

In a medium bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Fold in mayonnaise and horseradish until blended. Refrigerate 15 to 30 minutes for flavors to blend. Makes about 2 cups.

Beet Salad goes well with this.  Apple Juice is nice to serve as the drink.  Dessert could be lemon souffle. 

Beet Salad

Punajuuri Salatti

2 cans of whole beets

1 apple

1/2 tsp horseradish

Drain the beets and grate them.  Now peel the apple, remove the seeds and then grate it.  Add the horseradish and as you keep stirring it, tastes it and add until it has enough of a kick for you.  

Homemade Pizza

My husband was in the mood for his Mother's homemade pizza for lunch.  It's so easy to whip up the crust and we didn't even wait to let it rise.  Our youngest was my helper and he put half pieces of string cheese near the edges and folded over the crust so it was like a Pizza Hut too.  It really did taste oh so good!  I hope you'll give it a try.

Title: Mom Adams' Pizza Crust

Description:
Made overseas over the years when pizza was not available to her children.  Now requested of Grandma at every family gathering, especially for birthdays.

Ingredients:
1 c luke warm water
1 T sugar
1 T yeast
2 T olive oil
1 t salt
3.5 cups white flour

Hunt's Garlic and Herb Spaghetti Sauce

Directions:
Dissolve yeast in water with sugar. Add remaining ingredients and knead. Let raise 15-20 minutes.  Grandma just uses spaghetti sauce nowadays, but used to make her own sauce.

Add whatever toppings you enjoy.  She uses onion, green pepper, sausage, pepperoni, hamburger or ground turkey, mushrooms, cheese, etc. (I also like artichokes, black olives and tomatoes.)

Bake 425 about 15-20 minutes.

Halloween Salads

We spent some time this Halloween with Governor Sarah Palin 

and ret. Quarterback Steve Young 

and their flip cell phones!

We had so much fun.  All of them attended our ward trunk or treat.  Gov. Palin was a little hesitant at first.

Steve Young even attended our ward Harvest party earlier.  And they all stopped by our kids' schools.  What a Halloween treat!

My husband and I also attended a couples Halloween party.  I was asked to bring a Halloween salad.  Although one can find many Halloween main dishes, breads, desserts, drinks, and even appetizers, one area lacking in Halloween choices is the category of salads.  I did find this orange and black Halloween salad recipe and decided to make it to share.  Here is a picture of how it turned out.  I think I was supposed to mix it altogether, but liked the look of the orange bed of "spider legs" and the sunflower seed "fingernails" and the black bean "eyeballs" this way.  I'm not sure why parsley was added, but you can read more about this recipe at the link above.   My friend has some more pics from the party. 

The recipe calls for plum vinegar, safflower oil mayonnaise and french herbs.  I was unable to find all of these here, so I improvised with fig vinegar, olive oil mayonnaise and used what french herbs I did have on hand.  French herbs include basil, lavender, rosemary, tarragon, thyme and winter savory.  They are optional, but do add to the taste.  It tastes best the same day.  

Another choice I had was from the kid cookbook "Gross Grub" by Cheryl Porter my brother's family gave me years ago for my birthday.  Every Halloween I get a kick out of reading these recipes, but they sound to sick to eat.  

Hairball Salad with Saliva Dressing
Kitty's thrown up some fabulously fiber-filled hairballs!

ingredients
1 large ripe avocado
2 cups alfalfa sprouts
5-6 large carrots, washed, peeled and grated
Italian dressing

tools you'll need
paring knife, spoon, mixing bowl, fork, carrot peeler, grater and 4 salad bowls

Cut the avocado in half. Use spoon to scoop out the single large pit. Scoop the avocado meat out of its skin and into a bowl. Add alfalfa sprouts to the avocado meat and mash with a fork. (It is okay to leave small lumps.) Set the mixture. Divide the grated carrots between four salad bowls. Using your clean fingers and a spoon, make walnut-size hairballs from the avocado mixture and arrange them on top of the grated carrots. Pour Italian "saliva" dressing over hairballs and serve. Serves 4 cat fanciers

Sicko suggestion -- squeeze ribbons of chocolate icing "hairball medicine" out of a paper cone and onto the backs of your guests' hands, to be licked off for dessert:)

Sunday Dinner

It's so nice to have help with the Sunday meal by everyone in the family.  Today I had help with the Pork Roast and gravy by my hubby.  When I was eating it I suddenly realized it tasted so familar. It was!  He'd snuck onto our RS Blog to get the recipe used for Kahlua Pork. 

Dessert, fruit salad, veggies, and biscuits were made by our kids and I did the mashed potatoes.  Our guests set the table.  

Since it was "Fast Sunday", where we fast for 2 meals and give the money we would have used for those meals to the Bishop, who gives it to those who need it as a "Fast Offering".   I didn't want to make rolls, because of the smells, before church, so we tried Drop Biscuits. Here is the recipe we used.    

Drop Biscuits<-----click here to go to the link

2 cups All-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup shortening
1 cup milk
Preparation:

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture is course. Add milk, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 1 dozen.

Our  youngest did a great job making his 1st fruit salad all by himself, as neither I nor Dad had much extra time to do much other than answer questions like, "Do we have more pears?" or "Can I add another banana?"  He was so proud of his combine fresh and canned salad of whatever we had on hand.  It was so worth the stickiness and peels on the table and floor:)