Cranberry Torte

mAs7Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 cups fresh cranberries (2 -12 oz packages)
  • 2 cups sugar, divided into 1.5 cup and .5 cup amounts
  • 2 cups flour (standard, almond, or coconut)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 cup water
  • Pinch Sea salt

 

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat your oven to 300 or 325F. (Explanation later)
  2. Rinse the cranberries and put in to lightly greased 13×9 glass pan
  3. Sprinkle .5 cup of sugar over cranberries and set aside
  4. In a medium bowl beat the eggs (low speed)
  5. Add 1.5 cups of sugar and continue beating
  6. Add melted butter
  7. Once incorporated slowly add flour in .5 cup increments fully incorporating each before adding the next.
  8. Slowly add water to mixture until it reaches a smooth, batter like consistency
  9. Mix in walnuts
  10. Pour mix over cranberries in 13×9 pan
  11. Let sit for a couple of minutes to make sure the batter fully covers the cranberries
  12. Bake for 70 minutes at 300 or 60 minutes at 325
  13. When the torte is golden brown remove from oven and let cool completely.
  14. Serve and enjoy

Store refrigerated or freeze to enjoy later

“Brownies”

mAs7QToday’s kitchen experiment: “brownies”

1 stick butter melted (or 2/3 cup ghee)
2 TBS walnut oil
1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
3 eggs
1/2 cup coconut flour
3/4 cup raw sugar
2 Tbs agave nectar
2 Tbs maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 package dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

in a small container mix sugar, agave, maple syrup, oil and butter
in a medium bowl mix coconut flour, cocoa powder, eggs, vanilla, pecans, chocolate chips
Add sugar mix to flour mix and stir until fully combined
add to greased 9×9 pan

either bake for 45-50 minutes at 325 degrees or microwave for 6 minutes
let cool
enjoy

20130707_141345

Chicken Potpie

Ingredients:

Pie crust (see below)
1 (4ish-pound) frying chicken, cut into 8ths
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
2 teaspoons chicken rub seasoning (recommended: Emeril’s Chicken Rub)
1 large russet potato, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
2 cups sliced carrots or diced carrots
1 cup coarsely chopped onions
1 cup corn kernels
1 cup button mushrooms, quartered
1 cup lima beans (or baby butter beans)
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
Directions:
Divide the piecrust dough into 4 separate portions and form into 4 disks. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling 2 of the portions of dough out to fit into 2 (9-inch) deep dish pie pans. Trim the edges of the dough so that 1/2-inch dough hangs over the sides of the pans. Roll the remaining 2 portions of dough out and refrigerate (placed on a baking sheet with plastic or parchment between dough), along with the prepared pie pans, until the filling is chilled and you are ready to bake the potpies.

Season the chicken pieces with the salt and pepper. Heat a Dutch oven or other large, heavy pot over high heat and brown the chicken pieces on both sides in the olive oil, working in batches if necessary, about 5 minutes on each side. Drain all fat from the pan and add the chicken broth, bay leaf, poultry seasoning, and chicken rub seasoning. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, & simmer until the chicken is very tender and falls from the bone, about 1 hour. Transfer the chicken pieces to a plate and set aside until cool enough to handle. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bones and tear into bite-size pieces. Set aside, try not to eat it.

While the chicken is cooling, add the potatoes, carrots, onions, corn, mushrooms, lima beans and heavy cream to the pan and return to a boil. Cover the pan, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.

Combine the flour and butter in a mixing bowl to form a thick paste-like mixture. Ladle some of the hot chicken broth into the mixing bowl and whisk to combine with the flour-butter mixture. When smooth, add this mixture to the pot and stir to combine well. Bring the sauce to a low boil and continue to cook until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved chicken meat, stir to combine, and remove from the heat. Discard the bay leaf, taste, and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Set aside to cool completely. Once cooled, refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and position the oven rack on the lowest rung of the oven.

Divide the chilled filling between the 2 pastry-lined pie pans and, using a spatula, smooth the filling to the edges. Place the egg in a small bowl and beat with 1 tablespoon of water. Lightly brush the edges of the overhanging pastry with some of the egg mixture. Top each pie dish with one of the rolled out portions of dough and trim edges so that they match the edges of the dough lining the pie pans. Using your fingers, pinch edges of dough together and roll inward so that the edges sit inside of the edges of the pie pans. Crimp the edges using your fingers, a fork, or a crimping tool. Using the tip of a sharp knife, cut several slits in the top of each pastry to allow steam to vent while cooking. Brush the top of each potpie with some of the eggwash.

Bake the potpies for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking the potpies until the crusts are golden brown and the filling is heated through, about 40 minutes longer.

Remove the potpies from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. Cut the potpies into wedges and serve.

Pie Crust
8 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces

2 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening

3 tablespoons ice water

Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Incorporate the butter pieces and shortening by hand, working the fat into the flour with your fingertips until the dough starts to come together and form small pea shapes. Work the ice water into the dough with your fingers until it just comes together, being careful not to over-mix.

Form the crust into a disk shape, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator to rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling out to fit into a pie pan.