Tortillas and Oranges » Equipment

Equipment: Grill Basket

admin — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 09:03:29 +0000

Our summer guests are about to roll in and we are busting out the grill basket. Make sure you have one for your veggies.

Equipment: Rubber Gloves

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:02:54 +0000

How necessary are these things? Really?

Do you use rubber gloves? I ask because this summer I had a house full of mommies who were disgusted by my lack of rubber gloves. One mommy couldn’t breathe until she got back from Target with a darling pair of dish cleaning gloves, just for me. I don’t know why I don’t use them, it never really occurred to me. Have I missed something?

Equipment: A Love Note to my Vita Mix

admin — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:25:57 +0000

My dearest beauty before she makes the Pioneer Woman's salsa.

Dear Vita Mix,

It has been too long. I must publicly express my feelings for you. I love you more than anything else in my kitchen. I love you more than my Bosch mixer. I love you more than…dare I say it…some of my best knives. You are always there for me and you never let me down.

Do you remember when Thomas Keller wrote that you puree things to an “unmeasured fineness”? Truer words have never been written. I know that you are bored to death of the same old soups, smoothies and salsas. But I cannot stop. You make my boring old roasted butternut squash and onions taste like a cozy corner of paradise. You make my strawberry, orange, and oatmeal smoothie taste like heaven in a cup. You took my warm but tangy bean and salsa dip and turned it into an award winning dish (ok, I gave the award to myself, but still).

Thank you Vita Mix. You changed everything about my kitchen, and I’ll be forever in your debt.

With Gratitude and undying love.

My Favorite Morning Smoothie

1/2 cup Greek yogurt (Costco now sells large containers of Fage. We are lucky)
½ cup old fashioned oats-raw
1 ½ cups baby spinach leaves
1 peeled orange
7-10 frozen strawberries

2 Tblsp. Agave Nectar(Also available at Coscto now. Man, how do they keep up with what we really want?)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup milk

If you have a vita mix or blend tec, throw everything in and blend away. If you have a food processor or blender, blend carefully. The frozen strawberries will give your machine a bit of a workout. Blend to desired consistency. Enjoy.
Side note: I keep a large supply of straws around because smoothies are simply easier to drink with straws.

Bread: Consider the Bread Machine

admin — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:21:54 +0000

In December 1998, a large package arrived at my door. It was a new and innovative tool called a bread machine. Fast forward 12 yeas later. A walk through any local Salvation Army or thrift store today produces several donated bread machines. They have become passe. But today I want you to rethink your bread machine. In fact, think of it as more of a dough machine. I own two now. Every Sunday morning, I throw the ingredients for my favorite french rolls into each pan and set the timer. Hours later, I reshape the dough, bake the rolls, and people are happy. (Now, here is where I will let you in on a little secret. When I shape my rolls, I dip each one in melted butter, then sprinkle the lot with kosher salt. The salt on top adds a nice touch–it’s impressive and it tastes yummy.)

My very easiest loaf/baguette/roll recipe and how to do it in a bread machine:

Ingredients:

12 ounces (1 ½ cups) water
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 heaping teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons yeast

Place all ingredients in your bread machine “can” in the order above (liquids always go first). Set the bread machine to it’s dough setting. Once complete, shape your dough to desired serving. I usually shape the dough into rolls or long baguettes. Once shaped, let dough rise an addition 30 minutes then bake according to its shape.

Rolls–375 for 12 minutes or until golden on top.

Baguettes (recipe above makes at least 2, possibly three)–375 for 2o minutes or until bottom sounds hollow when knocked.

Loafs–350 for 30 minutes or until golden on top.

All ingredients listed above put into the bread machine cans, ready to go to work.

The shaped rolls next to the underappreciated machine.

The crown jewel of our Sunday table. Don't forget the butter.

Post bread machine and pre oven, bread dough ready to go.

Ahhh, the finished product. Two days' worth sandwich bread for the kiddies.