Colliers Beer Bread

Here's a new bread recipe that I'm testing, I tweaked this a little in hopes that it won't be bland (or just plain yucky the original recipe called for american cheese, gross!). I always end up searching for the ingredients for recipes using the ingredients I already have. The beer and cheese are treats from the Winter Fancy Food Show. It was a blast working with such a great team of people, and of course the food was amazing. Hopefully this bread will be deserving of such yummy ingredients and good memories.

Colliers Beer Bread
1 1/2 teaspoons rapid rise yeast
3 cups flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1Tablespoon sugar
10 oz Guinness
2 Tablespoon butter
I cup grated Colliers Welsh Cheddar

So it came out a good consistency but was a little heavy on the Guiness, I think I'll try this one again with a lighter beer.

Busted Bread

I've been having bread issues, it all started with a hand me down bread machine that my mom gave me, lord only knows where she got this contraption.  The first couple times I used it I was just curious to see if it worked and it did. I used regular AP flour and the bread was an okay texture but bland. I picked up some bread flour and WW flour and mixed them 50/50. The next loaf was an oat bread and was delicious but I must have trashed the slip of paper it was written on. Another loaf with the closest recipe I could find online was not great, it came out kind of flat and heavy, like it had deflated. I then tried a Rosemary Bread recipe, which came out a little tough, had good flavor but no one in the family except me liked it. So I tried the oat bread recipe again and used the WW setting on the bread machine but it was seriously deflated and hard. Shouldn't this thing be idiot proof?? I'm going to try again and use the "rapid rise" setting in hopes that my bread will not be flat. The chickens seem to be the only ones enjoying my attempts at bread making. 

Pasilla and Shrimp Pasta

A quick and easy pasta dish that's subtly spicy with a rich creamy sauce.

3 tablespoon Butter- Throw in a deep frying pan and brown
4 cloves garlic- add to browned butter
2 diced pasilla peppers- add to butter and garlic
1 diced tomato- add to butter and veggie mix
1/3 cup tomatillo salsa- add to butter and veggie mix
1/2 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
saute for about 2 mins
1 pound peeled and cleaned shrimp
after shrimp are mostly cooked add
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup white wine or cooking sherry
2 Tablespoons Cream cheese

Top with shredded Parmesan and enjoy!

Spicy Pickled Grapes

This recipe originally called for white vinegar but I subbed Chardonnay and Raspberry Champagne vinegar for a more delicate flavor. I have read that canning grapes makes them mushy and the finished product looks plenty soft, but I still think they will taste amazing.

3 cups grapes
2 cups vinegar

4 inch sprig of Rosemary
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

Clean grapes in cold water, remove stems, and fill sterilized jars with grapes. Bring water, vinegar, rosemary, and chili flakes to a simmer. Pour hot brine into jars leaving 1/4 inch head room. Process jars immediately in a boiling water bath, 20 minutes for pints.

Honey Goat Cheese Recipe

Today I made a great honey goat cheese, I used Meyer lemon juiced that I canned this spring and honey from our farm. This cheese was easy to make and will be great on toasted bread with fresh herbs and heirloom tomatoes.


Honey Goat Cheese

1 Quart goat milk
1 third cup Meyer lemon juice
1 Tablespoon Honey

Bring the goats milk to a good boil over low heat, stir in honey, add the lemon juice and let cool on the stove. After it's cool strain through cheese cloth or a handkerchief until most of the whey has drained off, for a softer cheese leave more whey or  for a harder cheese weight the top of the cheese to force more out. Refrigerate after you've reached the desired consistency.

Rainbow Fish

Inspired the beautiful colors of the radishes, beets, and carrots I harvested today I made "Rainbow Fish" for dinner. This recipe is simple and quick, plus it only takes one pan! Enough for 4 people it took about 15 minutes to put together.



Rainbow Fish

1 cup Quinoa rinsed and drained
2 cups water or broth
Variety of radishes, beets, and carrots sliced thinly
3 Tablespoons fresh herbs (I used sage and oregano)
2 Tablespoons butter
4 fillets of fish (I used Tilapia)

Rinse and drain the quinoa, a fine sieve with a handle works the best for this job. I've always had trouble with the quinoa floating away if I rinse it in a bowl. Put quinoa and 2 cups liquid in a baking dish. Chop the veggies and herbs, add to the the baking pan with quinoa. Put fish fillets on top of the vegetables and quinoa, top each fillet with a half tablespoon of butter (note: I used frozen fish so it didn't over cook in the time it takes for the quinoa to cook, if using fresh fish you may want to bake it for about 10 minutes before adding the fish). Grind fresh pepper and sea salt over the entire pan. Cook for about 20 mins on 400 until the quinoa and fish are fork tender.

Buckshots Booby Trap

Today my neighbor "Pops" and I were out farting around in the pasture. We checked out the baby goats, speculated on when the other does would kid, and had a nice time scratching the horses. When we went to see the bees we noticed all three upper boxes on the hives had been knocked askew leaving the frames slightly exposed. I figured Buck must have knocked into them a bit or gotten nosy while sniffing for honey. I mentioned calling the beekeeper to straighten them out since I try my best not to mess with them but Pops just started fixing them. He straightened out the first one and the bees were relaxed so as he started to fix the second as I tried to fix the third. It didn't go well for me and instead of the top box sliding into place the whole stack moved. Of course the bees came out and started buzzing me, then chasing me and getting in my hair. A couple landed on my arms and face but by this time I was getting away from the hive as fast as possible. I got stung on my arm as I pulled my pony tail out and was shaking them out of my hair, then stung in the middle of my forehead as I flailed my arms like a moron and screeched like a harpy. While I was running around like a dummy Pops fixed the third box and didn't get stung at all thank grilled cheesus, but my dog Jack and I each earned ourselves a few bee induced welts. Lessons learned- Buck and I are both stupid for getting near the bees. DO NOT TOUCH the BEES!!