German Spaetzle

Spaetzle With Chicken Paprikash

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This German classic is a light, small
dumpling-like noodle, wonderful with roasts
and chicken, or anything that has a sauce. 

This recipe will be enough for 3-4 servings,
but I usually make a double amount and

put extras into Ziplock bags and store
 them flat in the freezer.

Combine the eggs, water and salt in a medium bowl.

 Whisk with a fork.

Stir in the flour. It should be a wet dough

 that you can stir with a fork. 

If it's too stiff add a little more water.

Ist das nicht ein Spatzle maker? 

Ja das ist ein Spatzle maker.

The spaetzle maker fits over the rim of the pot.

 Put the dough into the square hopper of the

 spaetzle maker over a large pot
of boiling salted water.

 Quickly slide the hopper back and forth
grating the dough over the holes
and into the boiling water. 

Let the water come to a boil again then

 let the spaetzle cook for one minute. 

After they rise to the top the are done!

 Use a slotted spoon to strain the spaetzle 

out of the water and into a serving bowl.  

Repeat process with any remaining batter.

You can butter, salt and pepper now or just 

serve along with the sauce of you main dish.

You can also saute them in butter and season.

Spaetzle with Pork Roast and Gravy

Spaetzle, it's a nice alternative to potatoes, rice or pasta.

Spaetzle

2 eggs

1/2 -3/4 C water

1/2 t salt

2 C flour

Whisk the eggs, 1/2C water and salt with a
fork in a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir
 until a sticky dough forms. Add more water if
the dough is too thick to stir with a fork.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Put the dough into the holder of the spaetzle
 maker and quickly rub back and forth to press
 the dough through the holes. Let the water
 return to a boil. The spaetzle will rise to the
top when they are about done. This will take
about one minute, then skim them out of
the water and into a serving bowl. Repeat
with the remaining dough.

 *You can also use a tin can and press the
dough through the holes in the can. 

You can also serve spaetzle with
a little butter, salt and pepper.

Leftover spaetzle can be heated in the
 microwave or sauteed in a little butter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't be afraid to try these. They are very easy
 to make and only take about 5 minutes to prepare.
If you are lucky enough to find a spaetzle maker
 they go really fast. I found one in a thrift
 store for $1, probably because no one
knew what it was!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's a way to make a homemade
 spaetzle maker out of a tin can.
Clean and wash a large tin can and punch
large holes in the bottom the about size of
 a pencil with a large screw driver or pick.
 Put the dough in and push it through the holes
into the boiling water using a large rubber
spatula. You can also use a colander
 with very large holes. 

Guten Appetit!

Links: Facebook, Rattlebridge Farm,
Between Naps On The Porch

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

I like to make this easy scalloped potatoes

side dish when I have something else roasting

 in the oven for dinner

like chicken, ribs, meatloaf, roast beef, etc.

This is extra easy to whip-up because you 

don't have to prepare a cream sauce separately.  

You can make a small or large casserole 

using this method.

In a buttered casserole layer:

sliced potatoes

sliced onions

sprinkle on a little flour

sprinkle on a little salt and pepper

dot with butter

repeat.

Pour on milk to about halfway up. 

Sprinkle with a little paprika. cover with foil. 

 Bake for45 min.-1 hour at 350. 

Then uncover and bake another 15-30 minutes until

the potatoes are fork tender and browned.

I always make the whole recipe because this

 makes great leftovers for another meal. 

Good with my Glazed Meatloaf.

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

....serves 6

4 potatoes, sliced thin (peeled or un-peeled)

1 onion, sliced thin (about 2/3C)

1/4 pepper

1 t salt

2 T flour 

3 T butter

1-1/2 to 2 C whole milk

paprika

Butter a shallow casserole and layer with half

 of the potatoes, half the onions, 

half the salt pepper. Sprinkle on half the flour. 

Dot with half the butter. 

Now repeat with the remaining 

potatoes, onion, salt, pepper, flour and butter. 

Now pour the milk over all and sprinkle

 with a little paprika. 

Cover and bake for 45 minutes @350 or 375. 

Uncover and bake another 15 minutes 

until the potatoes are fork tender and browned.

Enjoy!

Links: My Romantic Home,
Stone Gable

Baked Greek Chicken

This chicken recipe is too easy
to be this good.

 You can easily make it if you are cooking for
 one or twenty.

Ranch Dressing
Worcestershire sauce
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Mix

On each breast,

 Drizzle on a little Worcestershire (about 1 t)

Sprinkle with a little House Seasoning Mix.

Squirt on a little Ranch Dressing (about 2 T)

and spread it a bit. Pop into a 350-375 oven

for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Serve with rice and a green vegetable.

~~~Dinner is served~~~

You can also use a whole cut-up chicken.

Cook that a little longer.

I reuse an empty seasoning container 

to mix-up Paula Deen's 

House Seasoning 

1/2  C salt

1/4 C pepper

1/4 C garlic powder

Add to a large shaker top container.

Toss to combine.

It goes on almost everything.

Baked Greek Chicken

 boneless chicken breasts

(1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8)

or a whole cut-up chicken

Worcestershire sauce

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

Garlic-Salt-Pepper Mix

Put chicken pieces in a shallow casserole.

Drizzle a little Worcestershire on each piece.

Sprinkle on a little seasoning mix.

Squirt on a little Ranch dressing.

Bake at 350 until golden for about 30 minutes.

(More for bone in chicken pieces.)

Serve with rice.

Enjoy!

tip: Use your toaster oven if you are just making one.

Links: Designs By Gollum, At The Picket Fence,
EKat's Kitchen, Stone Gable, Savvy Southern Style

Lemon Brownies

This is a good treat for someone that 

doesn't like chocolate.

( I can't believe I just typed that sentence )

In a large bowl combine the sugar, flour

and salt. Add the softened butter.

tip:You can soften a stick if butter in the 

microwave for 25 seconds on 30% power

 Whisk the eggs in another bowl and add the lemon juice,

and zest.

Combine the two and beat until smooth.

I always use the butter wrapper to grease the pan.

Pour in the batter.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Mix the powdered sugar, lemon juice and zest.

 Spread on the cooled lemon brownies.

It will make a nice thin glaze.

Cut into squares.

These have a light yet dense texture, 

similar to brownies. I'll give them their own

new name......Lemonies!

Enjoy!

Lemon Brownies

3/4 C flour

3/4 C sugar

1/4 t salt

1 stick butter, soft

2 eggs

juice from 1/2 lemon (about 1T)

zest from 1/2 lemon (about 1t)

Combine the flour, sugar and salt

 in a large bowl.

 Mix in the softened butter.

In another bowl whisk the eggs with 

the lemon juice and zest.

Add to the larger bowl and mix well.

 Pour into prepared 8X8 brownie pan.

 Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

You can double the recipe and bake in a

 9X13 pan for 30 minutes.

Remove and let cool, then glaze.

Glaze

1/2C powdered sugar

1 T lemon juice

additional lemon zest

stir together

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

note: 1 stick of butter is = to 1/2 C or 1/4 pound.
I use unsalted butter.

Check out my Lemon Lover's Bundt Cake too.

Links: Savvy Southern Style, Designs By Gollum,
EKats Kitchen

Joe's Grilled Tomatoes

I hope you saved 1/2 C of the garlic creamed spinach from the previous post.

This is a fast easy side that goes great
with grilled steak. It's also a good lunch
or a great afternoon snack.  

 Combine the leftover 1/2 C creamed spinach with
2 T melted butter and 2 T bread crumbs.

 Divide the mixture on top of four 1/2" thick slices of beefsteak tomatoes.

 Cover the top with 3 slices of American cheese.

 Real cheese works best (not cheese product)

Broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is bubbly

 and slightly browned.

Grilled Tomatoes

1 beefsteak tomato

1/2 C garlic creamed spinach

2 T melted butter

2 T seasoned breadcrumbs

3 thick slices American cheese

Slice the tomato into 1/2" slices.

Combine spinach, butter, and breadcrumbs.

Divide on top of the tomato.

Dice the cheese and add to top.

Broil 2-3  minutes

(watch carefully)

Links: Designs By Gollum

Joe's Garlic Creamed Spinach

Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant on South Beach

 is world famous. They have been a Florida 

landmark for almost 100 years.

 Everybody goes for the amazing stone crab, 

but their sides dishes and key lime pies 

are also very popular.

Here's the recipe for the garlic creamed spinach, 

one of the house specialities.

 Have the ingredients ready because it doesn't take long to prepare.

 Saute the garlic in the hot butter.

 Add the flour and whisk to cook for one minute.

 Add the half and half and cook until thickened.

 Stir in the spinach and seasonings.

 Let simmer for about 10 minutes. 

You can cover it and keep it warm for longer.

Garlic Creamed Spinach

2 boxes frozen chopped spinach,  thawed

3 T butter

1 T minced garlic

1 T flour

3/4 C half and half

3/4 t salt

1/2 t nutmeg

1/4 t pepper

Squeeze all the water out of the spinach and set aside.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and cook the 

chopped garlic about 1 minute until fragrant.

Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.

Gradually whisk in the half and half and cook until thickened.

Stir in the spinach and seasonings. 

Cook on low for about 10 minutes. 

Save any leftover spinach for Joe's Broiled Tomatoes.

I'll post that next.    

Enjoy!

Links: Stone Gable