Weekday & Saturday Morning Cooking Classes to begin

I will be starting group cooking classes.  Session 1 will consist of : Knife skills, menu planning, lunch box lunches , easy week night dinners   Session 2: will consist of soups, casseroles, chicken recipes, pasta & sauces    Session 3: Hor d’oeuvres/ easy appetizers , brunch menu, holiday dinnners & holiday  baking

The same classes to begin Saturday mornings also. 

Seating is limited to 6 & Cost will be $75 per session  prepaid Contact me @ kristiewalter@rcn.com

Couples Cooking Classes

Ready for a night out?  How about something out of the ordinary & alot of fun. Gather your friends for a very untraditional dinner party.  A cooking  dinner party.  No shopping or clean up involved.  Together we’ll be making appetizers,  dinner  &  desserts.  You won’t find this at any restaurant.. September’s theme is a Night in Tuscany.. October’s Theme will be a Tapas Menu…

Homemade Bagels

so here we are in this little farming town…. with no bagel shop ..So..

1 1/4 cup warm water

2 tsp yeast

1 T sugar

4 cups bread flour

2 T oil

1 tsp salt

Dissolve yeast in water & add sugar. Sit for 5 minutes. Then add the flour, oil & salt. Knead until smooth (this works great in a standing mixer with a dough hook)

Then I put this in the frig the night before but you can make this right away..I consulted Julia Child’s recipe & she let it set overnight

Separate dough in 8 balls & let them rest on the counter for 10 minutes. Then shape them and put on a greased cookie sheet. Meanwhile take large pot & fill 1/2 way with water. Preheat oven to 425.  When the water starts to boil add 1 tsp baking soda to the water.  Boil 2 bagels in the water at a time (you don’t want to crowd the pot) for 1 minute on each side. Put them on the greased cookie sheet & boil remaining bagels. When they’ve all been boiled Brush with egg whites & top with toppings (sesame seeds, poppy seeds, cinnamon & sugar) . Bake for 20 -25 minutes until golden brown…

Overnight Coffee Cake

2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup applesauce, 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (1 cup milk with 1/2 tsp vinegar added), tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 eggs…..mix altogether

Topping: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar (I used raw but white is fine), 1 tsp cinnamon & some chopped walnuts or pecan(optional)

Grease a 9 X 13 dish pour 1/2 of the batter, then 1/2 of the topping & repeat . Cover & refrigerate overnight

Bake 350 35-40 minutes

If you wanted to cut back on fat used you can do 1/2 cup applesauce & 1/4 cup butter too..

Homemade Chocolate Cookies & Cream Ice Cream

We just made a gallon of homemade ice cream….
3 cups milk
1/2 cup cocoa
2 T corn starch
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 cups 1/2 & 1/2
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups heavy cream
optional* 3 cups crushed cookies
scald 3 cups milk (I used whole raw milk) until it got hot & bubbles started to form. I whisked in 1/2 cup cocoa & 2 T Corn Starch ( I used non GMO) & then added 1 & 3/4 cup sugar (I used raw but white is fine), 1/2 tsp salt & stirred on the heat for 2 minutes & then removed from heat. I then added 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups of half & half & 3 cups of heavy cream.
I chillded the mixture in the refrigerator for 1 hour & then poured into my ice cream maker. I made the ice cream according to the directions & added crushed organic chocolate sandwich cookies (oreo’s are fine) during the last 5 minutes. I used the white mountain ice cream maker

Carnitas

When I was invited to can with some new friends I tried really carnita tacos…well ever since.. I have a craving for more…So this is my take on Carnitas:
2-3 # pot roast (chuck roast) or Pork Roast (pork butt works great!)
Rubbed with 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, salt & pepper, 3 cloves of minced garlic
Brown roast on both sides in 2 T oil
Place in a baking dish/roasting pan with about an inch of water. Top with 2 cans of diced chili’s & Roast at 300 for about 4 hours or until fork tender. Let the roast set for 30 minutes. Then shred the meat.
Serve with fresh squeezed lime (don’t skip the lime!) & chopped fresh Cilantro on tortillas with rice & beans..

Peach Cobbler

1 stick butter (salted)
4 cups sliced & peeled peaches
1 1/2 sugar divided in half (3/4 cup each)
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 T baking powder

Melt butter & pour into a baking dish (11×7 works or an oval baker). Next put peaches & 3/4 cup sugar in a pot & stir until boils start to form. While the peaches are cooking Mix flour, milk, powder & remaining sugar & pour in the baking dish with the butter but do not stir. When the peaches are done add them to the baking dish over the batter but do not stir together. Bake 375 40-45 minutes

Peach Pie

Peach season is here!!!!!!!!!!!
6 large sweet juicy peaches pitted, peeled & sliced
1/2 cup sugar (more if your peaches aren’t super sweet) I use raw sugar
2 T flour
Mix together in a bowl fillin a unbaked pie crust
Top with crumbs: 3 T butter melted, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup oatmeal mixed altogether inot crumbs
Bake 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour on a low rack

If you’d like to make your own pie crust: 1 stick cold butter cut up, 1 1/4 cup flour (you can use spelt flour or pastry flour too)
& 3 T cold water…don’t work your dough long just until it’s combined or it’s gets tough..this is great in a food processor

Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

cream butter & sugar, then add egg & remaining ingredients. Drop in balls onto cookie sheet press cross marks with fork.
375 for 10 minutes

Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad

1 – 1 1/2 pounds of grilled chicken breasts sliced
1 bag of fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup feta cheese
1 cup sliced black olives
2 cups of bow tie pasta (cooked & chilled)
1 pint cherry tomatoes

Topped with your favorite Italian Dressing & tossed all together