Thursday, September 13, 2012

Oven Baked Fries



Why go out for fries when you can make this simple and healthy one at home?? Give it a try.  Let the oven do most of the work!! 

A Ingredients
Potatoes, russet         3 heads
Olive oil                    2 tablespoon

B Ingredients
Garlic salt                       1 teaspoon
Garlic powder                 1 teaspoon
Smoked paprika              1 teaspoon
Ground black pepper      ½ teaspoon













Directions:
1. Preheat oven 450°F/230°C.
2. Clean the potatoes well with a brush, then cut into the size of fries.  Don’t cut too thick or else the baking time will be longer.  Place the fries into a big mixing bowl, drizzle the olive oil onto the fries, toss well. 
3. Measure all B ingredients into a small mixing bowl, reserve one teaspoon of the mix, then sprinkle with rest onto the fries, toss well. 
4. Line a baking sheet with foil, spray with Pam or brush the foil with olive oil, pour the prepared fries onto the baking sheet.  Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, then take the baking sheet out to toss the fries a bit for even baking, place the baking sheet back into the oven for 15 more minutes. 
5. Shook the fries into a big mixing bowl, sprinkle the reserved B ingredients on top, toss well.  Serve Hot.

Servings: 4

Monday, September 10, 2012

Rugelach



This is not an easy cookie to make.  But once you are more experienced, you’ll love how easy it is to make it!!  This cookies has become an all time favorites in my family!!!

A Ingredients
Cream cheese, room temp              8 oz
Butter, room temp                         ½ cup( ½ lb)
Sugar                                             ¼ cup
Kosher salt                                     ¼ teaspoon
Vanilla extract                                 1 teaspoon
All purpose flour                             2 cups

B Ingredients
Sugar                                 1 tablespoon
Brown sugar                      1 tablespoon
Ground cinnamon             ½ teaspoon
Raisins, chopped               ¾ cup
Walnuts, chopped             ¾ cup
Apricot jam                       ½ cup

C Ingredients
Egg                        1 head
Milk                       1 tablespoon           

D Ingredients
Raw sugar                    3 tablespoon
Ground cinnamon        1 teaspoon

Directions:

1. Beat the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until blended, beat in the sugar in batches, then salt and vanilla extract.  Beat the mixture until fluffy.  Then fold in the flour in 3-4 batches.  Do not over mix or the cookies won’t be crispy. 

2. Scoop out the dough onto a lightly floured surface, pat into a ball and divide the ball into 4 equal portions.  Roll each portion into a round ball and wrap with plastic wrap.  Chill them in the refrigerator for one hour. 

3. During the hour, measure all B ingredients into a bowl.  Beat C ingredients in another bowl.  Also measure D ingredients into a small bowl for later. 

4. After 1 hour, take out one dough from the refrigerator at a time.  Pat the dough down on a floured surface and roll into a 9 inch round.  Try to touch the dough as little as possible to keep the temperature down or else the dough will be very sticky.  Spread apricot jam onto the rolled out dough, sprinkle with B mixture.  Try to scoop up as much loose sugar from the B mixture and sprinkle onto the dough.  Cut the dough into 12 equal portions like a pie, then roll the cookies up from the rim to the center and form a crescent shape.  Place the cookie onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.  Repeat steps for the rest.  After all the cookies are made, chill the baking sheet with the cookies for 20 minutes in the refrigerator before baking.  This is a good time to preheat your oven  to 350°F/180°C

5. Brush the each cookie with the egg wash, then sprinkle with the cinnamon raw sugar on top.  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes; turn the baking sheet around, bake an additional 3 minutes until golden brown.  Let cool 5 minutes before moving the cookies to a wired rack to cool completely. 

Serving: 4 dozen