Turkey Pot Pie With Cheddar Biscuit Crust

We have had leftover turkey sitting around in the freezer since Thanksgiving and it was high time that we got around to using it. I love a good pot pie, so when I ran across this recipe I was a happy girl. The Robber was less enthusiastic... but you know how he is. He comes around when confronted with the actuality of the delicious dish. I wasn't as in to the cheesy biscuit crust, but the Robber chomped on it and peeled off and ate the extra cheese, so it looks like we're stuck with it. Although if I make this again I think I'll go unhealthy and use white flour, the wheat is just too ponderous. This isn't interesting from a spice perspective, but it is warm and hearty and feels comforting, just like a pot pie should.

I made this in my geranium pot, which did just fine in the oven.

From Gourmet Magazine via a Hint of Honey:

http://www.ahintofhoney.com/2009/11/turkey-pot-pie-with-cheddar-biscuit.html

Ingredients:

For the filling:

4 C. roasted turkey meat, cut into small pieces

3 1/2 C. turkey stock (I just used chicken stock)

1 medium onion, chopped

2 large carrots, peeled and chopped

2 celery ribs, chopped

1-2 lbs. Yukon gold potatoes, diced

1/2 tsp. dried thyme (or 1 tsp. fresh)

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter

8 oz. mushrooms, cleaned and quartered (omitted these)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

10 oz. frozen baby peas, thawed (used the whole 16 oz. bag)

For the crust:

2 C. whole wheat pastry flour (white whole wheat or all-purpose can be used)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1- 1 1/2 C. extra-sharp Cheddar, grated

1/2 C. Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated

6 T. cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 1/4 C. well-shaken buttermilk

Directions:

1. To make the filling, cook onion, carrots, celery, potatoes, and thyme in butter with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a 12-inch-wide shallow pot (3- to 4-quart), over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are almost tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, uncovered, stirring, until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. (Maybe I didn't chop the potatoes small enough? But I had to cook everything, covered, for much longer before they softened enough.)

2. Sprinkle with flour and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Stir in stock, scraping up any brown bits, and bring to a boil, stirring, then simmer until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in turkey, peas, and salt and pepper to taste. At this point it can be refrigerated and reheated over low heat just before topping with biscuit crust. (Because my vegetables took longer, I mixed up the crust while they were cooking and was ready to go to the oven as soon as the veggies were done.)

3. Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.

4. To make the biscuits, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper into a medium bowl. Add cheeses and toss to coat. Blend in butter with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk and stir just until a dough forms. Drop biscuit dough onto filling in large mounds, leaving spaces between biscuits.

5. Bake in preheated oven until biscuits are puffed and golden brown and filling is bubbling, 25 to 35 minutes. (You can sprinkle extra Cheddar cheese on top for the last few minutes of baking.) Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Yield: Serves 8.

Creamy Potato Soup

So I actually "blogged" this recipe before-- but was corrected in the actual soup made by a comment from my sister R. (I had not made the soup, just eaten it at a family dinner). Now a few months later the Robber has purchased a big bag of red potatoes, languishing on the counter. Having time off, I took it upon myself to turn some of the potatoes into soup, with excellent results and minimal effort. We ate this soup with half whole-wheat biscuits and the Robber declared it a success, which for soup, is saying something.

Adapted from Potage Parmentier, a recipe in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking."

Ingredients:

1 lbs peeled potatoes, sliced or drained (I used six smallish red potatoes)

1 lbs thinly sliced leeks including the tender green (I used two leeks, some of the green)

5 C. water

1 T. salt

2/3 C. light whipping cream

Pepper to taste

Additional salt to taste

Directions:

1) Place chopped potatoes and leeks in large pot. Add in water and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered 40-50 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

2) Remove 1 C. (or more, as desired for texture) of water/broth.

3) Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until it has the desired consistency (I like to leave a few chunks of potato hanging around in my soup rather than make it uniformly blended.)

4) Remove from heat. Add in whipping cream and stir thoroughly. Add in additional salt and pepper to your taste. Serve warm.

Vichyssoise

Or Cold Leek and Potato Soup, from Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. R. made this for our family's Christmas dinner and claims she didn't follow the instructions well and of course served it hot rather than cold but it was so delicious that my non-soup-enthusiast husband demanded that we blog and save this recipe. So here goes:

Ingredients:

3 C. peeled, sliced potatoes
3 C. sliced white of leek
1 1/2 quarts of white stock, chicken stock, or canned chicken broth
Salt to taste

1/2 to 1 C. whipping cream
Salt and white pepper

2 to 3 T. minced chives

Directions:

1. Simmer the vegetables in stock or broth instead of water as described in the master recipe. Puree the soup either in the electric blender, or through a food mill and then through a fine sieve.

2. Stir in the cream. Season to taste, oversalting very slightly as salt loses savor in a cold dish. Chill.

3. Serve in chilled soup cups and decorate with minced chives.

Serves 6-8.


Other Variations from Mrs. Child:

"Using the master recipe for leek and potato soup [above], a cup or two of one or a combination of the following vegetables may be added as indicated. Proportionas are not important here, and you can use your imagination to the full. Many of the delicious soups you eat in French homes and little restaurants are made just this way, with a leek-and-potato base to which left-over vegetables or sauces and a few fresh items are added. You can also experiment on your own combinations for cold soups, by stirring a cup or more of heavy cream into the cooked soup, chilling it, then sprinkling on fresh herbs just before serving. You may find you have invented a marvelous concoction which you can keep as a secret of the house."

To be simmered or cooked in a pressure cooker with the potatoes and leeks or onions at the start:
-- Sliced or diced carrots or turnips
-- Peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
-- Half-cooked dried beans, peas, or lentils including their cooking liquid

To be simmered for 10-15 minutes with the soup after it has been pureed:
-- Fresh or frozen diced cauliflower, cucumbers, or broccoli, lima beans, peas, string beans, okra, or zucchini
-- Shredded lettuce, spinach, sorrel, or cabbage

To be heated in the soup just before serving:
-- Diced, cooked leftovers of any of the above vegetables
-- Tomatoes, peeled, seeded, juiced and diced

Curried Red Lentils

The Robber's second Vegetable Tuesday post! He's just taking over this sweet blog. Sweetly. p.s. These are just like heaven-- soooooul satisfying.

Note to self: The Robber is having a hard time remembering exactly. So if you make these next time and they are not quite as good, then figure out what is different, fix it, and then edit this post. But for now, let's trust the Robber.

Ingredients:

2 C. red lentils

4 C. water

4 tsp. chicken bouillon

1/2 onion, diced

1 T. minced garlic

8-10 red creamer potatoes, halved or quartered (not peeled)

1/2 -1 carrot, sliced

1-2 diced Roma tomatoes

Curry powder to taste, minimum 4 tsp.

Note: You can adjust amount of vegetables to taste.

Directions:

1. In large pot, saute lentils in small amount of olive oil with garlic and onion until onions become translucent. Add in water and bouillon cubes and curry powder. Bring to a boil.

2. Add in potatoes and simmer until potatoes are tender. Add in carrots when approximately halfway done and tomatoes towards the end.

3. Taste and add more curry powder, if needed. Serve warm-- I like to eat this by itself, like a pea soup, but the Robber eats it over brown rice.

Oven-Roasted Fries

From Word of Wisdom Living, some blog by some Mormon guy. There aren't that many recipes on it, mostly just health tips, but this is where I got the inspiration for my chicken enchiladas the Robber loves so much. I ran across these and they seemed to fit well into my otherwise-Annie meal. I love oven-roasted potato wedges and these didn't disappoint, but I can never seem to get my wedges crispy enough. :( Do I need to slice my potatoes thinner, or cook them at a higher temp, or make sure they are spread out more evenly? Hrmmmm.

Recipe here:

http://www.wordofwisdomliving.com/home/healthy-recipe-2-oven-roasted-fries.html

Ingredients:

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/2 tsp. dried dill weed

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. dried parsley

4 large Yukon Gold potatoes, or potato of your choice

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine oil and spices (except salt and pepper). Wash the potatoes and cut into wedges, leaving the skins on. (Thinner wedges are crispier and cook faster.) Add wedges to the bowl and coat evenly. Arrange on a foil lined baking sheet, add salt and pepper to taste.

2. Roast for 30-40 minutes at 425 degrees, flipping the potatoes after 20 minutes to brown on both sides.

Green Mashed Potatoes

My final NYTimes recipe for the Easter season, but one well worth posting as I actually really enjoyed this one. The mashed potatoes turned out so pretty and green! And so delicious! I did make some minor (major?) changes to the recipe, Mark Bittman would be so proud! Instead of using one whole pound of greens (a whole pound! so many greens!) and boiling them, I used 6 oz. of fresh spinach and chopped it up finely, and then added it uncooked to the hot potatoes before I mashed them, so that the spinach softened a little bit in the hot potatoes. I used double the amount of potatoes (three large, three smaller) for that amount of spinach, and added butter and some milk powder to the potatoes instead of the olive oil recommended by Mr. Bittman. I did use seasoned bread crumbs, and baked the potatoes in a pie plate, but I found that the bread crumbs were not to my taste although I could see how others might like them. If I make these again, I would either not add the crumbs, or I would serve it with croutons or top it with larger crumbs so the final result is not as gritty feeling in the mouth. Also, if I did use bread crumbs, I would be tempted to mix them separately with olive oil and then spread them over the top, so as to more evenly distribute the oil across the crumbs.

Overall I think the idea of adding greens to the potatoes, no matter how you do it, is quite nice and might as well be done if you have the little bit of extra time.

Here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/dining/111mrex.html

Ingredients:

2 large starchy or all-purpose potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into quarters

Salt

1 pound dandelion or other greens, washed and trimmed of thick stems

1/4 to 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

1 cup homemade bread crumbs

Directions:

1. Put potatoes in a large, deep pot and cover them with cold water. Add a large pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Cook until soft but not falling apart, 15 to 30 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain; meanwhile, add greens to water and cook for about 1 minute. Rinse under cold water. Drain well, then chop.

2. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Rice potatoes, run them through a food mill, or mash them with a fork or potato masher, adding enough olive oil to moisten them well. Mash in the greens, adding more olive oil as needed. Sprinkle with salt and lots of pepper.

3. Put mixture in an ovenproof dish and top with bread crumbs. Drizzle with more olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake until bread crumbs are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

Yield: 4 servings.

Southwest Potatoes, with Patience

Another recipe off of my Gmail list of NYTimes breakfast foods to try out. I wanted to do something a little different, so I convinced the Robber to let me make these for him this last Sunday---- for lunch. Because of course, we didn't get up in time to make breakfast. We didn't have any chili powder, so I used 1/2 tsp. red pepper and 1/2 tsp. cumin and they turned out very spicy but deliciously so. Still, if you are less of a spicy person, I would say you could omit the spices altogether and it would still be good with the flavors of the corn and beans and browned potatoes and be just fine, or try out the chili powder and see how it goes. I think I'm inclined to stick with the red pepper and cumin because the Robber liked them so much, and I like making things the way the Robber likes them.

Complete recipe from the Minimalist here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/dining/08minirex.html

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons olive oil, or more as needed
2 tablespoons minced fresh jalapeño, or to taste (I omitted these)
1 to 1 1/2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen
Salt and black pepper
2 pounds new potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (I used red potatoes, unpeeled)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste (I used 1/2 tsp. red pepper plus 1/2 tsp. cumin)
1 14-ounce can black beans, well drained
3/4 to 1 cup grated Cheddar or jack cheese

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish.

Directions:

1. Put 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add jalapeño and corn, and sprinkle with salt and pepper; let sit for a moment. When corn begins to brown, shake pan to distribute for even browning. Remove corn.

2. Add remaining oil to pan. When hot, add potatoes. Cook, undisturbed, until they begin to brown around edges and release from pan, about 10 minutes. Continue, at least 15 more minutes, turning potatoes to brown all sides without stirring too often. Add oil if needed to prevent sticking, and lower heat if needed to prevent scorching. When potatoes are tender and golden, add chili powder, corn and beans.

3. Turn on broiler. Place rack about 4 inches below. Transfer potatoes to a baking dish, sprinkle with cheese and run under broiler until cheese is melted and beginning to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

Post-edit: Both times I have made this recipe now I have wanted to double the cheese for the topping, but have only grated the additional cheese after putting the cheese on and finding it wanting. Next time I will just go ahead and double the cheese right off the bat.

I also used the chili powder the second time I made these and the result was not at all too spicy but I think just right for people who don't like a mouthful of spiciness, but some flavor.

Potatoes with Chorizo and Bacon (Patatas con chorizo y bacon)

This is kind of a cheat post.... I haven't actually made this recipe yet. My sister R cooked a really lovely birthday dinner for the Robber when he visited Roch in January, using recipes from the cookbook that we purchased for her for Christmas: 1080 Recipes by Simone and Ines Ortega. The cookbook is reportedly the "Bible" for Spanish cooking, the definitive collection both inside and outside of Spain. Along with the recipe below, she made us an orange flan and some lemon chicken, both were delicious! But this recipe, laden with fat as it is, was my favorite. I'm hoping to make it again, probably some time when the Robber comes or I have guests. Or I could see this being a delicious one-dish alternative to the traditional hash browns and bacon that we have every year for Christmas breakfast. Maybe I will remember and suggest to R that she make it this next year. The notations in parentheses are from R.

Ingredients:

4 T lard or 3 T butter (I used butter)
5 T oil
2 oz chorizo sausage, peeled, thinly sliced (I used chicken chorizo, which is somewhat unusual, and each sausage was 3 oz so I used 3 oz)

3 1/2 oz thickly sliced bacon, cut into half-inch wide strips
3 1/4 pound small potatoes, preferably new potatoes (I used about a pound-and-a-half each of red and white new potatoes)
1 T chopped parsley

1 clove garlic, finely chopped
salt
Directions:

1. Melt fats in a very large, thick skillet-- it needs to be big enough to fit all the potatoes in a single layer. Add meats and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for a few minutes.

2. Add potatoes. Season with salt and cook over low heat, shaking the pan occasionally, for 45-60 minutes, until the potatoes are evenly browned. (The recipe says nothing about a lid, but at about 40 minutes I got nervous they wouldn't get done because of the uni-directional heat, and put a lid on them for the next 20 or so minutes. I think that they would have gotten done anyway, although I don't think the lid hurt, either. DO NOT put on a lid any earlier, though. Steamed potatoes get very mealy rather than creamy).

3. Just before serving, sprinkle with garlic and parsley and stir for a few minutes more. Serve.

Note from R: the book says some types of chorizo become hard with prolonged cooking. This wasn't a problem for me because I used chicken chorizo. But to prevent this, it says you can cook the chorizo with the bacon and set it aside. Sounds like a bother.

Mashed Potatoes

This is how to do it, Mom says.

Select your potatoes according to the number of eaters-- one potato per eater. Peel, wash, and cut them in quarter (or smaller) pieces. Cover them with salted water. Boil them for 25 minutes. Adjust the time depending on your altitude. While they boil put in a bowl (here's where you can get creative): salt, pepper, powdered milk, butter, and a little paprika for color. Pour the water off, saving a little in a cup. Put them in the bowl. Beat them up with the beaters and add a little extra water if you need to.

Chicken Pilau

From Baljekar et. al, the Indian cookbook I am borrowing from Rebekka. We made this recipe together. We used brown basmati rice and subsequently had to adjust the timing of the cooking and things didn't turn out 100% correctly. The rice was too wet and the potatoes not quite done enough, but the dish was still good. I expected it to be more interesting, and wished it had a higher chicken:everything else ratio, but it is nice to have dishes that provide everything all in one place. Meat, vegetables, carbs. These pack well for lunch and are keeping me alive in medical school. So I suppose I will be making this again because it is fairly easy and is nutritiousy.

Ingredients:

2 cups basmati rice
6 T ghee or unsalted butter
1 onion, sliced
1/4 tsp. mixed onion and mustard seeds
3 curry leaves
1 tsp. grated fresh ginger root
1 tsp. crushed garlic
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 potato, cubed
1/2 C. frozen peas, thawed
6 oz. chicken breast fillets, skinned and cubed
4 T chopped fresh cilantro
2 fresh green chiles, chopped
3 cups water

Directions:

1) Wash the rice thoroughly under running water, then let soak for 30 minutes. Drain in a strainer or colander and set aside.

2) In a pan, melt the ghee or butter and fry the sliced onion until golden.

3) Add the onion and mustard seeds, the curry leaves, ginger, garlic, ground coriander, chili powder, and salt. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes over low heat.

4) All the sliced tomatoes, cubed potato, peas, and chicken cubes and mix everything together well.

5) Add the rice and stir gently to combine with the other ingredients.

6) Add the cilantro and chiles. Mix and stir-fry for 1 minute. Pous in the water, bring to a boil and then lower the heat. Cover tightly and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, leaving the lid in place, and let the pilau stand for 6-8 minutes. Serve.

Serves 4.

Nutrition Notes per serving

Energy 603 cal
Fat 16.8 g
Saturated Fat 10 g
Carbohydrate 91.9 g
Fiber 2.1 g

Potato-Apple Pancakes

From Epicurious. First the original recipe, then my modifications:

Ingredients:

1 pound russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium onion, peeled, quartered
1 2-inch cube peeled celery root (celeriac)
1 medium Granny Smith apple (unpeeled), quartered, cored
1 large egg
1 green onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh marjoram
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup all purpose flour

Vegetable oil (for frying)

Garnish

1 8-ounce container crème fraîche or sour cream
2 tablespoons drained prepared white horseradish
8 ounces thinly sliced smoked salmon
Chopped fresh chives

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Place baking sheet in oven. Place colander in large bowl. Line colander with kitchen towel. Using processor fitted with shredding blade, coarsely grate potatoes, onion, celery root and apple at the same time. Transfer potato mixture to towel. Gather towel tightly around potato mixture and squeeze out as much liquid as possible into bowl; discard liquid. Place potato mixture, egg, green onion, marjoram, salt and pepper in same bowl; toss to blend. Mix in flour.

Pour enough vegetable oil into heavy large skillet to cover bottom. Heat oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, drop 1/4 cup pancake mixture into skillet for each pancake. Using bottom of metal spatula, flatten each mound to 3-inch round. Fry until cooked through and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer pancakes to baking sheet in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining pancake mixture, leaving behind any liquid that collects in bottom of bowl.

Mix crème fraîche and horseradish in small bowl. Arrange 2 pancakes on each plate. Garnish pancakes with dollop of horseradish cream and smoked salmon. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Potato-Apple-Pancakes-with-Smoked-Salmon-and-Horseradish-102616#ixzz0kH1q6Yqh

Hmmmm, let's see, I:

Used 3 large russet potatoes
1/2 one large onion
Omitted the celery root (like virtually all the reviewers)
1 large fuji apple
2 large eggs
Omitted the green onion and the marjoram
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup all purpose flour
Added some various spices

I also did not make the garnish. I served these with cherry salsa and sour cream at an Easter dinner and they were well received! Not my favorite ever, but a good exercise in using what I already had to make something new.

Note, I think these cook better with less oil in the pan than with more.

Moosewood Samosas

Mollie says of these: "Samosas are flaky pastries filled with spicy potatoes and peas. In traditional Indian cuisine, they are deep-fried (and that is still an option.) But baking them works very well, and is easier and more healthful. All components can be made well ahead of time. Finished samosas can be stored for days in the refrigerator or freeze. Make the Dipping Sauce while the samosas bake. Serve samosas with any curry, or as a simple supper with Ginger Carrot Soup and Raita."

I served these with the Cauliflower curry and some asparagus. These definitely would have benefited from me having more experience, patience, and time. As it was, I was rushing to get them in the oven and onto the table. But they were well received and most everyone had a second samosa, despite their less than perfect appearance.

THE DOUGH:

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup buttermilk or yogurt
extra flour, as needed

1) Place the flour in a medium-sized bowl. Mix in the salt.

2) Make a well in the center, then add the buttermilk or yogurt. Mix first with a spoon and then with your hands, to make a smooth dough.

3) Add extra flour, as needed, to keep the dough from being sticky. The dough will be quite soft. Knead in the bowl for about 5 minutes. Cover tightly and refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the pastry.

THE FILLING:

2 large potatoes (the size of a large person's fist)
1 Tbs. butter
1 C. finely minced onion
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs. freshly grated ginger
1 tsp. mustard seeds
1 tsp. dried coriander (if available)
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C. uncooked green peas (frozen, thawed is also fine, I used the pea & pearl onion mix, my personal favorite for anything requiring peas)
2 Tbs. lemon juice
cayenne, to taste

1) Peel the potatoes and chop them into 1-inch pieces. Place in a saute pan, cover with water, and boil until very soft. Drain and transfer to a medium-sized bowl. Mash and set aside.

2) Melt the butter in a heavy skillet. Add onion. garlic, ginger, mustard seeds, coriander, and salt. Saute over medium heat about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the onions are quite soft. Add this to the mashed potatoes, along with the remaining ingredients. Mix well, but try not to smash the peas. Cool for a least 15 minutes before filling the pastries.

THE DIPPING SAUCE:

1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
3 Tbs. brown sugar
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt

1) Place all ingredients in a small saucepan. Stir until the sugar dissolves.

2) Heat to boiling, then let simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes. It will reduce slightly.

3) Serve warm or at room temperature with hot samosas.

TO ASSEMBLE AND BAKE:

1) Preheat the oven to 425F. Generously oil a baking sheet.

2) Keep a small container of flour, a fork, a small bowl of water, and a pastry brush close at hand. Flour a clean surface, and, one by one, roll 1-inch balls of dough into 5-inch circles, using a rolling pin.

3) Place approximately 1 1/2 Tbs. filling the center of each circle, and fold over, just like a turnover. Brush the inside edges of each circle with a little water, and fold the edges to make a small hem. Crimp the edges with the fork.

Note: If you are storing the samosas to bake later on, place them in a heavily floured plate or tray, dust the tops with more flour, and cover lightly. Store in the refrigerator or freezer until baking time.

4) To bake: Place the samosas on the oiled baking sheet. Brush the tops with oil. Bake 15 minutes at 425F, then reduce the heat to 375F and bake for 10 minutes more. For maximum crispiness, turn the samosas over when you turn the oven down.

5) Serve within 15 minutes of baking, with dipping sauce. A nice way to serve the sauce is in individual saucers or tiny bowls, so each person can hold both samosa and sauce directly under his or her face while eating, and let the sauce bowl catch the drips. (It does drip, but that's one of the charms of the ritual.)

Time: 1 1/2 hours to prepare; 25 minutes to bake

Yield: 16 medium-sized satisfying pastries (enough to feed 6 to 8 people, at least). I fed eight people with this recipe.


I was rushed for time, so I didn't make these neatly or brush the tops with oil. Also, I forgot to add cayenne pepper to the filling, so it was milder than it might have been (perhaps a blessing in this overly spicy meal.) I also didn't have time to make the Dipping Sauce, although I feel I will try it in the future. These would be wonderful again-- much like the earlier pirozkhi-- if only they were speedier to make and slightly less complicated. I guess I could see myself making these in advance for a nicer meal and freezing them if I had the time, but they just aren't practical for an every day sort of a meal. It's a shame because they are warm and soft and filling, the buttermilk in the batter lends an edge to the softness of the potatoes and peas.

Satyamma's Famous Cauliflower Curry

This recipe comes from The New Moosewood by Mollie Katzen and was easily one of the more satisfying moments of my night-- although I think the samosas could have been just as satisfying with a little more time and skill. I would serve this again, even though it requires a lot of ingredients and chopping. We ate it without rice, but I think like all curries it would be better over some rice or noodles.

On The Side:

Begin cooking some rice at around the same time you start preparing the curry. 2 cups brown rice in 3 cups water will be the right amount.

Ingredients:

2 medium-small (3-inch diameter) potatoes, cut into small chunks
[1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 Tbs. mustard seeds
3 medium cloves garlic, peeled
1 1/2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
1/2 C. lightly toasted peanuts
1 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground cloves or allspice
2 Tbs. toasted cumin seeds
1 to 2 Tbs. toasted sesame seeds
1/4 tsp. cayenne
1/2 C. water (more, as needed)]
1 to 2 Tbs. peanut oil
1 1/2 C. chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1 large cauliflower, cut in 1-inch pieces
1 medium carrot, thinly sliced
optional: 1 cup cooked chick peas
3 to 4 Tbs. lemon juice

Directions:

1) Boil the potatoes until just tender. Drain and set aside.

2) Place the next 11 ingredients in a blender and puree until fairly homogeneous. Add extra water, as needed, to form a soft, workable paste.

3) Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, and add onion and salt. Saute for 5 minutes over medium heat, then add cauliflower and carrot and mix well. Cover and cook about 10 minutes, then add the paste. Mix well. Cook, covered, over low heat until the cauliflower is tender, stirring every few minutes. Add more water, if necessary, to prevent sticking.

4) Add the cooked potatoes, chick peas, and lemon juice, and cook a few more minutes. Taste to adjust salt, and serve hot, with rice and condiments.

ON THE SIDE:

Your choice of condiments:

Raita
Lemon slices
Orange slices
Toasted nuts
Toasted coconut
Raisins
Sliced cucumbers
Sliced tomatoes
Thin strips of bell pepper

Time: 30 to 40 minutes to prepare.

Yield: about 6 servings. (This served eight easily. I think it could do ten if needed.)


I omitted the cumin seeds and substituted 2 Tbs. cumin powder, omitted the sesame seeds, and omitted the carrot. I did use one can of cooked chick peas and some sweetened coconut, but I don't think it harmed anything. This made a massive amount of delicious curry. With all the potential flavors in it, however, I found it too bland for my liking and added a significant amount of salt and pepper at the end. I would keep the chick peas, cut down on the lemon juice and add in some non-blended toasted peanuts to the final dish and serve it over the brown rice, instead of as a free standing entree.

Refridgerator Cabbage Goulash

The end of the monster cabbage!!!

I chopped that cabbage right up, with all the other vegetables I owned, and stuck it all in a pot. Take that cabbage!

I got the inspiration for this dish from http://www.cheriestihler.com/recipes/sides.html under Spicy Fried Cabbage, but modified it according to the vegetables I had in the fridge. This is what I made:

5-6 T. olive oil
2 russet potatoes-- peeled and chopped into thin slices
3 small cloves garlic-- minced
1/5 monster cabbage-- cut into thin strips
5 stalks celery-- cut into pieces
1 ear corn, cut the kernels directly off the ear
1/2 package sliced ham, cut into squares
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. white pepper
2 dashes nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp. salt


Heat oil in large saucepan on medium high. Add celery, potatoes, ham, and garlic. Stir-fry until potatoes are becoming soft, add cabbage and spices and stir until everything is coated evenly. Add corn, cover, and cook on medium low covered for 10-15 minutes or until cabbage is soft. Serve warm.

Pirozhki

Still needing to find things to do with the monster cabbage (which I kept in the fridge wrapped up in tin foil), I came upon this pirozhki recipe on Epicurious under the five fork category which would use the potatoes and some of the remaining dill. I made the dough and the filling up on a Thursday night and baked them on a Saturday morning. Pirozhki are a baked Russian potato-cabbage dumpling.

The original recipe can be found here:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/PIROZHKI-11648

Ingredients:

For the dough
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
2 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sour cream (I used 1/4 C. sour cream and 1/4 C. plain yogurt)
1 tablespoon cold water if necessary

For the filling
3/4 pound russet (baking) potatoes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped fine
3/4 teaspoon caraway seeds (I omitted these)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 cups chopped cabbage
3 tablespoons sour cream (I used 3 T. plain yogurt)
2 tablespoons water if necessary
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill

an egg wash made by beating 1 large egg with 1 teaspoon water

Preparation

Make the dough:
In a food processor blend together the flour, the baking powder, the salt, and the butter until the mixture resembles meal. In a small bowl whisk together the egg yolks and the sour cream, add the sour cream mixture to the flour mixture, and blend the mixture until it just forms a dough, adding the water if the dough seems dry. Divide the dough into fourths, form each fourth into a flattened round, and chill the dough, each round wrapped well in wax paper, for 1 hour or overnight.

Make the filling:
Peel the potatoes, cut them into 3/4-inch pieces, and in a steamer set over boiling water steam them, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are very tender. Force the potatoes through a ricer or food mill into a bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon of the butter. In a heavy saucepan cook the onion and the caraway seeds in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until the onion is golden, add the cabbage, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 5 minutes. Cook the mixture, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes more and stir it into the potato mixture with the sour cream, the water if the mixture is too thick, the dill, and salt and pepper to taste. The filling may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.

On a lightly floured surface roll out 1 piece of the dough 1/8 inch thick, keeping the remaining pieces wrapped and chilled, and with a 3-inch cutter cut out rounds. Brush each round with some of the egg wash, put 2 level teaspoons of the filling on one half of each round, and fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon, pressing the edges together firmly to seal them and crimping them with a fork. Gather the scraps of dough, reroll them, and make more pirozhki with the remaining filling and dough and some of the remaining egg wash in the same manner. The pirozhki may be made up to this point 5 days in advance and kept frozen in plastic freeze bags. The pirozhki need not be thawed before baking.

Arrange the pirozhki on lightly greased baking sheets and brush the tops with the remaining egg wash. Bake the pirozhki in preheated 350°F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until they are golden, and serve them warm or at room temperature.

Makes 50 pirozhki.

These were a LOT of work, but a really delicious finished product. If I ever do these again (and I might, they are really good), I would make larger pirozhki because it takes a long time to make 50 individual turnovers. Note: the egg wash on the inner side of the pirozhki is really necessary in helping the pirozhki dough stick to itself and make the crimped edge of the turnover. Also, the dough should not be rolled if unchilled-- it will be too sticky.

I still have 1/3 cabbage left.

Roasted Potatoes and Onions with Sweet Beet Mustard

Tuesday August 12, 2008

This is my first Vegetable Tuesday. I've only been in Rochester a week, and don't have any vegetables except the potatoes and onions that my parents bought when they were here this last weekend. I decided to use them to begin my Vegetable Tuesdays. Part of this is about using what you've got. I didn't have a lot of time either-- getting home later than I thought from library orientation and then going to Walmart for bookcases-- but I put these in the oven and let them bake while I put the first of my bookcases together. This simple preparation was easy and perfect for the day.

Roasted Potatoes and Onions

1) Peel and quarter 4 large potatoes

2) Chop 1/2 onion into large-ish chunks

3) Place potatoes and onions in 13 x 9 glass pan, trying not to crowd the vegetables together

4) Gently coat vegetables in olive oil (you can use butter if olive oil is not available)

5) Add salt, garlic salt, cumin, and other spices as desired to tops of potatoes. You can stir to distribute evenly as necessary.

6) Cover pan with aluminum foil

7) Bake at 350F for 45-60 min.

Your potatoes should be nicely roasted with a harder outside but a softer, deliciously warm inside.

I garnished my vegetables with some Sweet Beet Mustard A. C. had given us after our family picnic on Saturday. I don't have the recipe, but if I ever have some beets maybe I'll be making some for a Vegetable Tuesday down the road.

I think Vegetable Tuesdays are off to a rolling start!