October's Cook Something New Challenge

[Kate]

This month-- entree

Find a recipe that you have never made before and post it here. We want the good the bad and the ugly.

If you remember, snap a picture to post with your review, but don't let lack of a photo hold back a review.


All eating styles are welcome-- don't feel like you need to post a diet friendly recipe.


I can't wait to hear what you made.

(Oh I run the most laid-back challenge ever. If you want post 10 recipes, or one every 2 months, both are fine :D No obligations, I just want everyone to make try new and different so we can all share our ideas.)

[Karen]

post here or mention/review here and link to recipe section and actually post recipes there?

[Kate]

while I would love all the recipe here it makes more sense to post them in the recipe box and a link here.

easier to search for a recipe :D

[Karen]

I made this last night

http://www.phenomsonline.com/board/showthread.php?p=426437#post426437

I took into account parts of 3 different recipes and came up with this one. It was yummy.

I have several other new recipes I've tried this month, I'll try to post them in the next several days.

[Kate]

:heart: thanks for starting us off! I am running over to read your review

I am attempting homemade pita bread and turkey gyros right now for the first time.

[Karen]

I want to hear about homemade pita bread!

[Lisa]

:agree:

[Kate]

its rising :D but I am out of yogurt. :rant: how can you make tzatzki sauce with no yogurt????

[Phoebe]

Homemade pita?? :love:

[Kate]

it is doog. I tried it once before and it didn't work but this time it is perfect!

[Lisa]

You are posting the recipe for those too, right?

[Lisa]

:D

I did all this from scratch, no recipe. I wrote it all up, but I am going to wait to try it before posting it.

[wicked]

well i am giving dar's lc stroganoff a whirl tonight sans mushrooms and using ground round my family doesnt like the stew beef texture.

gonna toss it over dreamfield rottinis...

[Kate]

yup, I am posting-- but my computer is being :bang: and won't let me into the recipe room.

I will post as soon as I can.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a101/kateiam/gyro007.jpg

[Kate]

it was pretty good :D

[Lisa]

*drool*

And I have never had Gyros.

[Phoebe]

How far away from Dayton are you, Lisa?

Gyro Palace

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4884+Airway+Rd%2C+Dayton%2C+OH%2C+45431&hl=en

[Lisa]

Airway is about 30 minutes away. Depending on where on Airway and traffic.

[Rebecca]

What a fun idea for a challenge!

[Ms. Kim]

Tried my hand at making eggrolls tonight.... be back with photos.... :right:

[Lisa]

All from scratch, no recipe followed what so ever chimichangas.

:eat:

http://www.phenomsonline.com/board/showthread.php?p=426778#post426778

They were good.

[Phoebe]

I like the addition of Taco Bell hot sauce!!! :laugh: Creative!

[Lisa]

:rofl:

I didn't have any picante sauce and didn't want to use a whole thing of taco seasoning.

[Phoebe]

That's awesome and what this whole challenge is about, I suppose!! :clap:

[Lisa]

:dunno:

We always have Taco Bell sauce here.

[Kate]

:heart: yup-- this is just about cooking and sharing.

waiting for egg roll pictures. I have my duck sauce ready.

[Lisa]

*drool*

[taragunner]

Kate, that looks doog! :: drool ::

[Phoebe]

Ms. Kim??? :tap: Where are those eggroll pics, hmmmm???

This is what we're trying tonight.

http://www.recipezaar.com/92017

We are using Black Soy Beans, mixed veggies instead of corn (no corn) and shredded Mozz. We also make our own "taco seasoning".

[Ms. Kim]

Here ya go... had to hunt down my USB...

Filling...
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b240/ms_kimf/DSC00231.jpg

Wrapped up...
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b240/ms_kimf/DSC00230.jpg

Fryin up in the pan...
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b240/ms_kimf/DSC00229.jpg

Here we go!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b240/ms_kimf/DSC00232.jpg

[Phoebe]

Well HOT DAMN!!!

How were they?????

[Lisa]

KIM!

You can't do that to a pregnant girl!

[Niki]

Kim, I detest you. :rocks:




Well, not really but you know what I mean

[Amy]

*crave*

[Dar]

Shit. I shouldn't have looked. :nono:

My cake fell apart. :cry:

I know, I'm not really "in" this challenge, just peeking.

[Mary Ann]

Kim's eggrolls :swoon:

[Dar]

On the left, an apple cake (which I've made before). The recipe is from my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. On the right, papaya bread using this recipe (without nuts).

http://www.recipezaar.com/118766

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/pc56b28ea1752f4340f5f3ed2a2fea967/ec72eb4b.jpg

I don't have a review, since they aren't on my diet. But I did sample the batter :right: and it tasted good.

For the cake, the recipe calls for powdered sugar to be sprinkled on top. I have alot of fun with that sometimes by making paper cut-outs, putting them on with toothpicks, and then removing after sprinkling. It makes little decorations. :D

[Lisa]

*scratches and sniffs the screen*

[Dar]

I plan to take the cake to work tomorrow. And the bread will go in the freezer.

[Amy]

Yum-O! /Rachel Ray

[Ms. Kim]

Well HOT DAMN!!!

How were they?????

Sorry ladies, lost power after I posted the pics! :laugh:

They were actually pretty good. As the recipe stood, I think the filling needed a bit more seasoning, although the soy sauce you add to the mix added the salt. Could have used some pepper and a bit of chili oil I think.


Here is the recipe:

1 pound of ground pork
1/2 pound of ground chicken
2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 head of cabbage, raw, shredded
2 medium carrots, shredded
4 green onions, sliced
1 egg, beaten
Eggroll wrappers


Brown ground pork and chicken. Halfway thru cooking, add ginger.
Once brown, drain and add soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar and salt. (basically, you add the liquid to the hot meat in the skillet and let it soak up the liquid)
Combine onions, cabbage and carrots. Pour hot meat mixture over veggie mixture. Stir together and let sit for 5 minutes.
Take each eggroll wrapper and lay flat in a diamond shape. Take 3 tablespoons (I just grabbed a handfull) of filling and place in center. Roll point closest to you over mixture, then tuck in corners. Brush beaten egg on upper point, and finish the roll.
Fry in oil heated to 350 degrees until LIGHT golden brown. About 3 minutes each.

[Kate]

:eat: those look damn good.

[Karen]

whose eggrolls look awesome!

I love the powdered sugar decorations idea Dar--thanks!

[Dar]

The final product:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p792059f7e42b93d602a1cc37647d9431/ec6f6b65.jpg

I tried a small bite of the piece that fell off, and it was just as good as I remembered. My boss, who took the piece that's missing said it was "nice and moist". If anyone wants the recipe, I'll have to post it from home.

And the papaya bread... I tried a small bite of that, too. It is very good. Kind of like a carrot cake. It was still warm when I started to slice it, and it was falling apart. So, I put it in the fridge and will try to slice it up tonight to freeze.

Alison's official opinion is "mmmmmm..." and she ate an entire slice.

[Karen]

I really need a bundt pan. All of the women in Dave's family got bundt pans last Christmas: we gave a wreath one we bought in Germany to Becky, we gave Angela gothic mini's be purchased in Germany, and Angela got Dave's mom one. I want one! And I want the castle one from Williams-Sonoma for use as Freya's 1st birthday cake.

//threadjack

[Karen]

please be sure to post your recipes!:D

[Angie]

That looks, awesome, Dar!

[Dar]

Yes, you MUST have a bundt pan! I never thought I'd want one, but I just love this one. It's so simple yet elegant. It can be used for anything. There is a rose one that I have been coveting.

[Kate]

DAR-- LOOKS GREAT!

I love my bundt pan.

[Dar]

Ok, I'm going from memory here. If something's wrong, I'll edit it later.

Apple Cake

Grease and flour a bundt / tube pan. Preheat oven to 350.

3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp cinnamon

In a medium bowl, mix these ingredients and set aside.

1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup cooking oil
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla

In a large bowl, mix these with an electric beater for about two minutes. Slowly add in the dry mixture until just combined. (It will be a sticky mixture.)

3 cups chopped, peeled apples
1 cup toasted pecans (I used walnuts, which was all I had)
2 tsp fine shredded lemon peel

Fold in the apples, nuts, and lemon peel. Pour in prepared pan. Bake at 350 for about an hour, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan. Let cool for 2 more hours. Serve with powdered sugar sprinkled on top.

I use this:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/wsimgs/rk/images/products/200640/0005/img60m.jpg

[Alie]

Kim :swoon: those look yummy!

I'm going to try to make cheese fondue on Saturday night. Nothing special I know, but I've never done it before. Off to look for a recipe...

[Dar]

I have a good recipe, but it's at home. :( I know it has Emmenthaler in it, but I can't remember what else. :laugh:

I have two fondue pots and never use them. :nono:

[Alie]

I found one at Goodwill for $.95 :D

[Lisa]

:wag:

Recipes should be posted in the recipe box.


/feels like Natale using the :wag:

[Dar]

(I will once I make sure the recipe is right.)

[Alie]

do you really have to put the flour in fondue? hmmm...

[Phoebe]

Kim - that looks fairly easy, too!!

:clap:

[Laura]

Wow. Everything looks so good!

[Karen]

We had Karen's kielbasa and red cabbage last night. Yummy! Dave loved it too. We served it with plain egg noodles-very german style.

[Karen]

This is the new recipe we tried last night:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/pef33edeb5e5ed37deeffc0a9c33bd17d/ec5f8954.jpg

Here's the link to the shrimp scampi we tried last night: http://www.phenomsonline.com/board/showthread.php?p=432291#post432291

I like it, and I don't even like shrimp!

[Kate]

my kids would LOVE that

[Dar]

I made low carb teriyaki ribs last night. They were okay. Super easy, but not sure if I'd make them again. Rob complained they were too salty... and that's a complaint I never hear from him.

[Sheba]

I've been working in a bean night every week - usually on Mondays so this is what I made last night:

Red Bean & Pumpkin Soup with Chipolte Peppers (http://www.phenomsonline.com/board/showthread.php?p=432358#post432358)

This was kind of a spin-off of the pumpkin soup & the chipolte chicken recipes :D I had bought an extra can of the peppers (never tried them before) and was trying to think of something snazzy to do besides by fav black bean recipe.

We had it over potatoes I'd made for lunch & some rice. :eat:

PS those infernal eggrolls are definately in my future. *drool*

[Lisa]

Karen. :swoon: That looks good.


I am trying to clean out the pantry/freezer. So, not much to experiment with.

[Karen]

everytime I go through the cleaning out the pantry and freezer, I feel like we end up eating things like chicken/mushroom soup on rice every night. THis is actually one of the dishes I''m trying to avoid for the next 3 months. It was never supposed to be a staple. :rolleyes:

[Niki]

Karen, your beans look so crunchy and perfect! :swoon:

You even have fancy dancy serving plates! :swoon:

[Karen]

I'm big on presentation of food-it's my art :rolleyes: . not a good thing when you want to lose weight, eh?

I have the most basic dishware patterns EVER. My everyday (in the pic) is the Pfaltzgraff Heritage:
http://pfaltzgraff.com/media/lifestyle/Heritls.jpg

And my "china" is cheap and white too: Johnson Bros. Regency:
http://www.silverqueen.com/products/showPicture.asp?PictureID=20826

all food looks better on white. I introduce color w/ napkins, tableclothes, placemats, etc.

total threadjack. now you know my horrible secret....I love to make food look pretty, even if I'm not the one eating it *sigh*

[Karen]

this is so weird. that pic is in my preview and goes back to a link when it actually posts. weirdness.

[Lisa]

I have learned if the link has any weird characters in it, like a $ or ? it won't show as a pic.

[Moke]

I love pfaltzgraff but it seems like it cracks and breaks SO easy. I spent $50 on a Corelle set and bought a set of clear glasses at Tuesday morning and they have lasted longer than the pfaltzgraff. It ARRIVED broken and it just went downhill from there.

[Karen]

yikes. I've never had a problem w/my pfaltgraff. But I do get those annoying marks from my silverware. I used to think we were scratching the plates. Turns out, the silverware is depositing its coating on the plates. A quick once over with their magic potion and poof! good as new!

[Dar]

I have Pfaltzgraff stoneware, and have had it for over 7 years. The only problem we've ever had is when a friend left some of our dishes in the sink in water... the unsealed stoneware (on the bottom of the plate) soaks up the water.

I like it, but it's heavy and I'm kinda bored with it. I miss my cheapo Correlle. :laugh:

[Karen]

I know corelle normally lasts forever, but I manage to break one of my mom's every time I vist. Every. Time.

[Lisa]

My dishes are dollar store specials. $1 per piece. It was some "hand painted stonewear special".

I love them.

[taragunner]

If my crockpot chicken curry turns out ok, I will post the recipe. It smelled good.

[Kate]

yes-- I know this month's challenge was entree.

But didn't I say I run a laid back relaxed challenge?

So here is a dessert.

Chocolate pudding cake. It is hard for me to review a dessert because I almost always dislike them. I didn't like this one either. I like the the idea of hot cake and fudge against cold vanilla ice cream, but it was sweet, and I thought the cake was mealy.

But obviously :rolleyes: I am the only one with taste.

The whole 9x9 pan is gone. They practically licked the pan.



I gave everyone one serveing and Rob called them back in the kitchen at 7:45 and gave them another :getyou: (I hate bedtime snacking)


He gave it the highest compliment that he knows--

"can you write down the recipe so I can make this at the firehouse?"

It was very easy.

[Angie]

Banana Nut Whole Wheat Bread
No sugar, just 1/2 a cup of honey
Cinnabar (http://www.phenomsonline.com/board/member.php?u=128)
10-12-2006
Banana Nut Whole Wheat Bread

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ (optional)
dash of salt
1 tsp baking soda
*3-6 ripe mashed bananas
1/4 cup vegetable or olive oil
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped nuts

**Bonus breads - add in 2 cups chunky peanut butter, chopped pineapple, other fruit, nuts, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, other extracts...GO NUTS! Great recipe that takes all sorts of alterations very well.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 (175 C) while doing prep work.
Grease or PAM olive oil spray a 9x5 inch loaf or glass pan or two smaller pans.

In a medium bowl or dish squish together bananas, oil, honey, eggs, vanilla. Using a potato masher works very well.

In another larger bowl whisk together all dry ingredients, pour liquid ingredients into the dry & stir together until all dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 30 minutes (2 small pans), 40 minutes to an hour (for a single large pan) on top shelf or until a toothpick inserted comes out dry. Remove from pan ASAP. Cool before slicing on cutting board or clean towel to prevent overcooking. You can also make mini cakes using the mini cheesecake pans, these are freaking adorable.

*Original recipe called for 1/2 tsp salt - unnecessary & makes the bread salty.

Also it called for 2-3 bananas, which IMHO makes this a very dry & crumbly bread. Using 2-3 bananas is fine, but add in about a cup of water to make a "batter" not a big sticky clump that will cook to the crumbly consistancy of overcooked cornbread.

I typically use a tsp of nutmeg and cinnamon as well which is very tasty. I've never made it with the wheat germ.


I made this recipe of Sheba's last night. Except apparently I didn't read to only use 2-3 bananas. I used like 6. :laugh:

These were VERY yummy. I added a light topping of Brummel and Brown spread on it. :eat: I didn't miss the sugar what so ever.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/Angebee/Annie005-1.jpg

[Sheba]

YEAH!!!! Nooooooooo you did EXACTLY right with 6 bananas :D the original recipe called for 2-3 which wasn't nearly enough, IMHO. Made it way too dry & crumbly like over done cornbread :nono:

Try sometimes with crunchy peanut butter :eat: my fav :D

[Niki]

:eat:

Banana bread is a weakness of mine. Peanut Butter sounds like it would be a GREAT addition. I usually just put raisins in mine.

*saves recipe*

[Lisa]

:eat:

Banana bread is a weakness of mine. Peanut Butter sounds like it would be a GREAT addition. I usually just put raisins in mine.

*saves recipe*

:nono:

Rasins do not belong in banana bread.

[Niki]

:nono:

Rasins do not belong in banana bread.

^^^^^^^^^^^^ Crazy talk. :nono:

[Angie]

I just put chopped walnuts in it.

[Phoebe]

I'm just now getting around to posting this. We made these sometime last week (Thursday night, I think?) They were yummy.

Stuffed Poblano Chile Peppers

http://www.recipezaar.com/92017

6 servings
time to make 1 hour 30 min prep

nonstick cooking spray
6 poblano chiles
1 lb ground turkey
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning mix (we never use packeged Taco Mix - we just use garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cilantro, ancho powder , salt and pepper)
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained & rinsed (we used Black Soy Beans - drained)
1 (11 ounce) can mexicorn (no Mexicorn on hand, so we used a can of mixed veggies, drained)
8 ounces shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 (4 1/2 ounce) can chopped green chilies
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped (no stewed tomatoes on hand, so we used a can of diced tomatoes)

1. Heat oven to 350.
2. Spray 13x9 (3qt.) with cooking spray.
3. Cut opening in one side of each chile.
4. Carefully remove seeds and membranes, leaving top stem intact; rinse and drain well.
5. Spray large skillet with cooking spray.
6. Add ground turkey; cook over medium-high heat for 7 minutes or until no longer pink and thoroughly cooked, stiring frequently.
7. Add taco seasoning, and beans, corn and 1 cup cheese; mix well.
8. With small spoon, stuff chiles with turkey mixture.
9. Place in baking dish.
10. Lightly spray tops of chiles with cooking spray.
11. In a small bowl, combine tomatoes and green chiles; mix well.
12. Pour over stuffed chiles in baking dish.
13. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until chiles are tender.
14. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
15. Bake an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

I would have liked them to have a little more heat to them - so next time, we won't rinse the peppers. Quick and easy. We served them with a small salad.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/amyhemmer/IMG_0490.jpg

[Kate]

:eat: how were they?

[Phoebe]

Oh - they were very good - not as spicy as I would have liked - but easy to prepare and not greasy (because we used Turkey!)

[Rebecca]

Dude.

This is sooooooo good. :eat:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c103/emeganne/IMG_4802.jpg

It's Roasted Beet and Spinach Salad

Recipe to follow (I have to finish eating :D)

[Amy]

YUM!

[Amy]

Except I've never actually eaten a beet.

[Rebecca]

That was fast. :rofl: *rubs happy tummy*

Ok

Roasted Beet and Spinach Salad
1 lb beets
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1 bunch spinach
3 oz goat cheese
1 T fresh dill (I didn't add this)

Balsalmic Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup Balsalmic vinegar
1 large shallot, minced
1 cup olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Wash beets and wrap in foil. Roast for approx 1 hour. Take out of foil and let cool, then peel and cut into large slices (I did chunks). Toast the walnuts (I did mine on the stove until they were done). Put the minced shallot and vinegar in bowl. Slowly whisk in oil to emulsify, add salt and pepper.

I poured the dressing over the beets and will let them marinate there alone til I want more and kept everything seperate to keep it fresh.

On your plate, put spinach, then beets (w/dressing), then feta, then walnuts.

Then eat.

I also used a really good quality greek feta, that I really think MADE the salad--the yummy salty goodness with the sweeter beets and balsalmic. :eat:

[Dar]

Where did you find spinach?

[Rebecca]

It came in last week's veggie box.

[Rebecca]

Are they not selling spinach at the store? :scratch:

[Dar]

Nope. Not the last time I checked.

[Rebecca]

Really? I so rarely buy veggies at the store. :dunno:

[Mary Ann]

They're selling it again here.

[Rebecca]

They weren't even selling the unbagged kind?

[Dar]

For a while, no. Bagged salads had big stickers on them that said "NO Spinach".

[Rebecca]

Wow. I'm out of the loop. :laugh:

[Phoebe]

There was bagged spinach at the store today.

I made empanadas for din-din. They were good :D

[Kate]

sits with Amy

scared of beets. BUt this is because Rob eats them pickled *shudder** I will get the courage up to try them

[Phoebe]

I LOVE beets. They are so earthy and sweet.

Maybe THAT'S why you don't like them, Kate. The sweetness.

[Kate]

I have never had one that wasn't pickled. And they add CUPS of sugar when they can them. YUCK>

How were the empanadas?

[Phoebe]

Oh the empanadas were good! They CERTAINLY were not "authentic" but we enjoyed them. Kind of like the gyros - something different. :)

I used Alie's idea of using pie crust (which, I'll do next time, in a pinch or a hurry, but would like to use your calzone pastry when I find the courage - as the pie crust was a bit too sweet). Therefore, we made two HUGE empanadas and ate one half each. We have one leftover for lunch :dance:

The stuffing:

- 1 pound ground turkey
- onion
- minced garlic
- 1/2 can of corn
spices - I just dumped stuff in - no measuring
- cumin
- red pepper flakes
- ancho chili powder
- white pepper
- cilantro
- cinnamon (many recipes called for raisins. :dunno: )
- salt
- black pepper
then I took about 2 oz jalapeno juice and 2 oz of water and added 1/2 cube of beef bullion to it. After browning all the stuff, I added the juice and sprinkled some Carbquick to the mixture to make a little gravy.

There was soooooo much filling and it was only 1 pound of meat. Next time, I'd also like to add bell pepper and black beans. That would certainly stretch the filling.

[Kate]

:eat: those sound GREAT!!

[Moke]

Your families must be LOVING this challenge!!