Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars made with Homemade Graham Crackers

The January 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Lauren of Celiac Teen. Lauren chose Gluten-Free Graham Wafers and Nanaimo Bars as the challenge for the month. The sources she based her recipe on are 101 Cookbooks and www.nanaimo.ca.
Homemade Gluten-Free Graham Crackers
I made 1/2 of the recipe from 101 Cookbooks, but replaced the wheat flour with rice flour and oats. Since I was making the dough in the food processor anyway I didn't bother to use oat flour.

1 cup rice flour
1/3 cup oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 1/2 Tbs cold butter
1/6 cup honey
3 1/2 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla

Blend the flours, add the sugar and soda and blend again. Add the butter and blend. Will turn into sand. Finish by adding the honey, milk and vanilla.

Chill the sticky mess (1 hour+). Roll out. Cook on baking paper 350f or 175c for 15 min or until light brown.
I was out of baking paper so I used foil. I hate rolling and cutting cookies, but the Nanaimo bar need broken cookies so i didn't worry about what they looked like.
I used Food Network's recipe for the Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars, but used walnuts in the base not almonds. Very rice so we enjoyed these bars in very small bites. Was much more like candy then cookie.

Celeriac Salad (Celeriac Remoulade), hold the Mayo

We went to SuperValu the other night and got the best deals. This Irish Celeriac was only .50! I know you can make celeriac mash, but I like it RAW!

Celeriac Salad (Celeriac Remoulade), but hold the Mayo*
serves 1 or 2 salad lovers and 4 haters
2 cups of grated celeriac
1 small grated green apple
1/4 cups of plain yogurt
1/2 of the juice of a lemon
1/2 tsp chopped parsley
salt, pepper and hot chili pepper

Mix and enjoy right away or up to an hour later.
* I also held the mustered because Saeid hates it, but feel free to add 1 tsp if you like.
If you can find a Celeriac go and make this salad. I'm going to go make it for the 3rd time this week!

Expresso Maker and John Deere Mug

You know when you are an Italian American when:

you drink your coffee in a John Deere mug.

Step-by-Step Homemade Pizza Dough

Homemade Pizza is not just fun but easy too.

Makes dough for 2 Pizzas
3 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp yeast
1 tsp olive oil
1 cup warm water (- 1 tsp)

Mix 3 cups of flour and 1/2 tsp of salt in a big bowl. Make a well (hole) in the middle of the flour and put the 1/2 tsp of sugar and 1 tsp of yeast in the well. Put 1 tsp of oil in a cup, fill the cup up the rest of the way with warm water. Pour into the water into the well. Leave for 5 min to let the yeast proof (start growing).
How to Knead the Dough
Using a spoon slowly pull the flour into the well. Once all the water is mixed in use your hand to pull the rest of the flour into the dough. Now it is time to knead. Using the heal of hand to push the dough away from you and then pull back while turning the dough. Do this for about 2-3 min until the dough is smooth.

Let the Dough Raise
Cover the dough with a wet towel. Place in a warm place to double in size (about 2 hours). In the winter (or any season in Ireland) you may need to place the bowl in the oven with the light on or will a cup of hot water. The heat will help the yeast grow faster, but if your not pressed for time than don't worry about it.
Once the dough is doubled in size split the dough into two balls. Let rest for 5-10 min.

Roll out the dough on a floured board or counter top.
For a circle turn the dough 1/4 of a turn after each roll.
Make any kind of pizza you like!!!

Pre-heat your oven to its hottest setting. Bake the Pizza on a cookie sheet, pizza stone or tray. Should take about 12-15min to bake.

Spicy Anchovies (Myolch'i Pokkum) and Hard Black Beans (K'ongjaban)

My whole family loves Korean food. My parents always have a few kinds of kimshi in their frig along with other side dishes. One of my mom's fav is Spicy Anchovies. She buys hers (along with other treats) at the Korean shop near her house. Sadly Dublin does not have the Korean population which Kansas does and I have to make do with what the Asian markets sell here.

For both dishes I looked at A Korean Mother's Cooking Notes by Chang Sun-Young.
Her 'notes' are helpful, but I did what I liked after reading them.
Spicy Anchovies (Myolch'i Pokkum)
1 cup small Anchovies ( I cleaned mine but the ones my mom buys always have heads still)
1 Tbs sesame seed oil
1 Tbs Korean hot red pepper paste (Kochujang)
1 Tbs sugar
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp roasted sesame seeds

Fry the Anchovies in the oil until crunchy ( about 2-3 min). Add the red pepper paste, sugar, and soy sauce. The paste will melt and turn into a nice sauce (but add a few drops of water if it is not). Coat the anchovies and mix in the sesame seeds.
This dish can be made without the Kochujang but I would rather have too much than none!
Hard Black Beans (K'ongjaban)
This is a dish I loved in Korea. I never knew how easy it is to make. I found Chang Sun-Young recipe made way too many beans. I was also afraid the beans were going to burn so I doubled the sauce.
1 cup black beans
1 cup water
4 Tab soy sauce
4 Tab sugar
4 Tab water
but I would use
1/4 or 1/2 cup black beans
1 cup water
4 Tab soy sauce
4 Tab sugar
4 Tab water
1 tsp roasted sesame seeds

Bring the beans to boil in the water. Cook for 10 min. The beans not need to be soaked and don't worry they are hard black beans!!! Drain and mix beans with soy sauce, sugar and water. Don't cover and don't cook to long. Just wait to the sauce to get as thick as honey. Top with sesame seeds. (Don't sit down to eat this in a big bowl, its a side dish so limit yourself to about 10 beans).

Chicken Satay

The January 2010 DC challenge was hosted by Cuppy of Cuppylicious and she chose a delicious Thai-inspired recipe for Pork Satay from the book 1000 Recipes by Martha Day.
I used chicken instead of Pork, but could also use fish, tofu or anything really. I loved this challenge and will make this again.
Satay Marinade
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 T ginger root, chopped
2 T lemon juice
1 T soy sauce
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
2 T vegetable oil
Hot pepper (optional)

Blend in food processor and mix with 1 pound of meat. Leave for a few hours.
I put the chicken on skewer and topped with extra marinade before broiling in the oven.

Came out great!

The hot and spicy satay went well with yogurt (also made peanut sauce but I'm yogurt crazy).

Snow Bbq with Ramen Coleslaw

Ireland does get snow but it melts right away. Since New Years Eve the whole island has been white. We had a Bbq before it turned back to green.

How do you start a Bbq in snow? With the help of a blow dryer!

Saeid's Hamburgers
2 pounds Irish Beef
1 Irish onion grated
salt and pepper
Mix and shape into 6 burgers. These 1/3 pounds were tasty.
I made my mom's Roman Coleslaw, but as it was 6am in Kansas I had to make it from memory.
Roman Coleslaw
1/2 small white cabbage
2 carrots
1 inch ginger
1 package of Roman
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame seed oil
1 tsp lemon jucie
1/4 hot pepper
2 Tbs toasted sesame seed

Finely chop the cabbage, grate the carrots and ginger. Mix with 1/4 of the roman spice package, soy sauce, sesame seed oil, lemon juice and hot pepper. Check the taste. Top with sesame seed and 1/2 the package of broken Roman.

Update: My mom uses some of the seasoning package from the Ramen in the salad.  Make sure to check how much salt your adding!!!

I think the snow made everything taste better!

Lentil and Mushroom Cannelloni

Vegetarian cannelloni (and lasagna) is often just a tube of cheese topped with more cheese. Not really diet food! I made a 'meaty' vegan filling and then finish the dish with a tiny bit of cheese. Don't be put off by the number of ingredients. This really is a simple dish.
For Lentil and Mushroom Filling
Makes 4-5 cups
1 cup dried lentils
2 carrots
1 onion
5 sun dried tomatoes in oil
4 cloves of garlic
2 cups of mushrooms
1/2 tsp Marmite
2 Tbs tomato paste
1 cup of red wine
1/2 cup tomato sauce
hot pepper, salt, pepper, herbs, fennel,bay leaves and Italian herbs

Wash the lentils and cover with an about 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil with a pinch of salt, cover and lower the heat. Cook for 15min until most of the water is gone and the lentils are soft.

Get out your food processor with all its bits and bops. Mince the onion, garlic and sun dried tomatoes. Add to a non stick pan on med heat. Grate the carrots and add to the pan. Slice the mushrooms and add to the pan. Add 1 tsp fennel seeds and 2 bay leaves along with any other herbs and spices. Stir and let all the water cook out of the veg. This will take about 10 min. When the water is almost gone add the Marmite and tomato paste. Mix in. Add the wine. Let the wine cook out. Add the tomato sauce and lentils (drain the lentils first if there is lots of water). Cook for about 10 min, check the taste, turn off and let cool.

Marmite: love it or hate it. But you can't taste it in this dish, it just ups the 'meaty' taste.

For the Cannelloni
1 box cannelloni
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 ball of fresh mozzarella sliced (125g)
few sliced olives and herbs to top
Lentil and Mushroom filling

Pre heat oven to 200c (400f). Put half the tomato sauce in a big baking dish. Fill the uncooked cannelloni and pack tighly into the baking dish. Cover with the rest of the tomato sauce. Top with the mozzarella, olives and herbs. Cover with foil and back for 20min. Uncover and bake for 10min or until the cheese starts to brown.

Try to let the cannelloni rest before eating, they are hot!!! The lentil and mushroom filling was so rich! I loved it, Saeid said meat would be nicer but he still had 3rds so I guess he liked it!

Homemade Muesli

Muesli is the unmarried older sister of granola. With way less sugar muesli is a health way to start the New Year.
Makes 4 cups
2 cups oats/rye/bran flakes
1 cup dried fruit
1/3 cup seeds and nuts
1/3 cup dried coconut
2 Tbs wheat germ
orange zest, spices
Mix up and keep in a air tight container. Soak the muesli overnight in milk or yogurt. Add fresh fruit grated fruit(like apple or pear) or some nice jam.

We had ours with sour cherries!

Overindulgence

We had such a great New Year.
Thanks to all those who hosted parties! After so much overindulgence its time to diet!

Greek Coffee

"What is Greek Coffee?" "Its like Turkish Coffee but we call him Greek!"

I learned how to make Greek coffee on New Years Day, so I guess if i do nothing else this year I have still accomplished alot.
You need a 'bricky' pot to make the coffee in and a gas burner.
Greek coffee
sugar
Fill the bricky 3/4 full of water.
Put on a med gas and add 4 tsp of coffee.
Then add sugar to taste, if you like it sweet 1 tsp coffee to sugar.
Give the coffee a little stir. When the coffee starts to boil over its ready.

I really want a bricky so I can start making it myself.