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Garlic and Herbs Prime rib roast

December 30, 2011 · by · 6 Comments
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Ingredients:

8-10 lbs. Prime rib

2 heads garlic
1 shallot
bunch of rosemary(4 oz.)
bunch of thyme (4 oz.)
2 tbsp. fresh ground pepper
2-3 tbsp. salt
2/3 cup olive oil

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a food processor or blender.
Rub the garlic and herb mixture all over the roast.
Heat oven to 500 degrees.
Place meat on a roasting pan.
Add water to the bottom of the roasting pan,about a 1/4-2/3 from the bottom.
Place the roast in the oven uncovered.
Bake the roast for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 325 degrees and bake for 2 hours 15 minutes for medium rare.cook more if you want well done.Every 30 minutes baste the roast with drippings from the roast.Add more water(boiling/hot) if needed to the pan.
When the roast is done,cover it with foil and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Au Jus:
2 cups drippings from the roast, if not enough drippings add beef stock.
1/2 cup red wine

Place the roasting pan over the stove.(or transfer to sauce pan)
bring to boil.
Add wine and simmer for 5-7 minutes.

Horseradish sauce:
6 tbsp. sour cream
2-3 tbsp. prepared horseradish
1 tsp.Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. lemon juice 
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients.

Filed Under: Main course ·

Oliv’ye- Russian potato salad

December 29, 2011 · by · 4 Comments
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This salad is very famous in Russian/Ukrainian culture. It’s a must on the New Year table.As always there is different variations of this salad,every family has their own recipe.It consist of diced potatoes,carrots,eggs, bologna, pickles and peas that’s usually combined with mayonnaise. You can also substitute bologna for cooked chicken meat or beef,fresh cucumbers instead of pickles, and sour cream for mayo if you are watching your waistline.Making it half mayo, half sour cream won’t make a lot of difference in taste.If you have a European Deli Market store nearby,it’s better to use bologna called “Doktorskaya”from there.Otherwise it will taste great anyways.I know some people even use Oscar Meyer hot dogs, and it’s still good.

Ingredients:

3 potatoes cooked with skin,peeled and diced (small)
2 carrots cooked and diced (small)
12 eggs hard boiled and diced
1.5 lbs of bologna diced (small)
10-12 small kosher dill pickles dice small
1/2 sweet onion finely chopped
1 can (15 oz) sweet peas,drained
3-4 tablespoons Mayonnaise
salt to taste

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients with mayonnaise or sour cream.
 *Finely chopped baby dill and green onions are optional.You can modify this recipe to your taste by adding more or less any of the above ingredients.

Filed Under: Salad ·

Cookie ornament balls with walnut and cranberries

December 17, 2011 · by · 7 Comments
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6 tablespoons of sugar divided
3 drops of red and 3 drops of green food coloring
2 sticks butter softened at room temp.
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla (or almond extract)
1 cup walnuts coarsely chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries (or dried cherries chopped)
4 oz. cream cheese
1/2 can of condensed milk

Directions :
heat oven to 375 degrees

In a small bowl combine sugar and red food coloring. Mix well until all sugar is colored.repeat for green sugar.Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.add vanilla.

Combine flour,salt and baking powder and gradually add to butter mixture. Shape in to 1 inch balls and  place on baking sheet .flatten the balls with fork. bake 8-10 minutes. let cool.

Cream:

Beat cream cheese and add condensed milk.

Crush the cookies with hands.Add walnuts,cranberries or cherries and creamMix until well blended. Shape into balls in roll in colored sugar. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Filed Under: Dessert ·

Cabbage cucumber salad

December 17, 2011 · by · 2 Comments
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This is very simple and healthy salad.

Ingredients:
1/2 head of cabbage shredded
1/2 English cucumber cut in half lengthwise and sliced
salt
pinch of sugar
1-2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon.
unrefined sunflower oil( or your choice)

In a bowl rub cabbage with salt and sugar.add the rest of the ingredients and mix.

Filed Under: Salad ·

Russian Vareniki with Sauerkraut

December 17, 2011 · by · 2 Comments
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Vareneki is a Russian classic dish that takes some time to make, but worth it! there is variety of fillings you can use,the most popular is with potato and onion,but this one is my personal favorite.for the dough I use the kitchen aid stand mixer,it’s much easier and saves the time.

dough:
2/3 cups milk or buttermilk
2 large eggs
2 cups warm water
1 1/2 tsp salt
7 cups plus 6 tbsp unbleached all-purpose flour

Combine and whisk together milk,eggs,salt and water. Add 4 cups flour and using a dough hook,mix it until well combined. then add 1 cup at a time for the rest of the three cups. If the dough is still sticky add flour 1 tablespoon at a time and continue mixing or about 3-5 minutes.place is under a bowl or plastic wrap.

Sauerkraut filling:
2 cups sauerkraut ( here is the recipe http://everydayrussian.com/?p=492)
1 onion finely chopped
fresh cracked pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Heat oil in a frying pan on  medium heat. add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes.add sauerkraut and pepper.cook stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes.

Caramelized onions:

1/2 onion finely chopped
1 stick of butter

Fry  onions with butter on med-low heat until golden brown.

Directions:
Cut the dough into 6 pieces. With one piece at a time make a thin log. Cut the log into about 1/2 inch pieces. Dust the rolling pin and the surface with flour. Press down the pieces into a plate with flour (both sides,making a round shape.)
Roll the pieces in to a 1/8 thick rounds.Place about 1 teaspoon of the filling in the middle and fold it making a semi circle the looks like a smile.Place vareneki on well floured pan.

To Cook:
Bring a pot of water to a boil.Add salt and vareniki one at a time.mix carefully. Cook uncovered until vareneki will float on top then cook for another 3 minutes.Drain the water.

Serve with caramelized onions and butter. Sour cream if desired.

Filed Under: Dinner, Main course, ukranian, vegetarian ·

Steel cut oats with cottage cheese

December 17, 2011 · by · Leave a Comment
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This is a healthy way to start the day.I make this not only using steel cut oats,you can use cream of buckwheat or polenta too. It can be either sweet or salty depending on your preference.my personal preference is not sweet.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup steel cut oats, cream of buckwheat or polenta.
 salt
about 1-2 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons cottage cheese ( more or less depends how much you like it)
sour cream
sugar ( I used  raw sugar)

Directions:
cook oats,buckwheat or polenta with salt. when its done cooking keep the heat on low and add butter and cottage cheese.mix well. serve with sour cream and sprinkled with sugar.

Filed Under: Breakfast ·

Creamy Garlic Chicken Pizza

December 2, 2011 · by · 9 Comments
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This creamy garlic chicken pizza is favorite pizza in our family.It’s made of creamy garlic sauce, chicken,red onions, green onions and bell peppers (if desired). You can use any type of chicken,cooked,grilled, rotisserie ,and even canned.I also like to add a little bit of smoked mozzarella cheese on top and red pepper flakes.

Toppings:
Your choice of chicken cut in to square bites or pulled apart
shredded mozzarella cheese
shredded cheddar cheese or Colby jack
green onions finely chopped
red onion sliced
your choice of bell peppers(optional)
tomatoes (optional)
Parmesan cheese

Don’t add chicken for meatless/vegetarian pizza.

Ingredients for the dough:
serves 2 (14 inch)pizza crust
dough recipe adapted from Bobby Flay

3 1/2-4 cups flour (preferably bread flour)
1 teaspoon sugar or honey
1 tablespoon instant dry yeast
1 1/2 cups water, 110 degrees F.
2 tablespoons olive oil,plus 2 teaspoons
2 teaspoons kosher salt

Combine the flour, sugar(or honey),salt, yeast in the bowl of stand mixer and combine.While the mixer is running,add the water and 2 tablespoons of the oil and beat until the dough forms into a ball.If the dough is sticky,add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time,until the dough comes together in a solid ball.Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead into a smooth,firm ball.

Grease a large bowl with 2 teaspoons olive oil.place the dough in the bowl,and cover with plastic wrap and put it in a warm area.(I cover the bowl with blanket).Let it double in size,about 1 hour.Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 2 equal pieces.Cover each with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let them rest for 10 minutes.

White sauce ingredients:
8 cloves garlic finely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup 2% milk
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
fresh ground pepper
2 (heaping) tablespoons  ranch ( I used Litehouse brand)*optional
if you like you can add a pinch of each,dried parsley,oregano,thyme
or fresh chopped parsley.

*You can also combine just ranch dressing with garlic.

Heat oil in sauce pan on medium heat.add garlic, cook for about a minute(be careful not to burn it).Add flour and mix until combined well with garlic.slowly add the cream and milk stiring all the time.Add ranch salt,pepper and all dried herbs (optional)

Heat oven to 415 degrees

Spread the dough on to the pizza pan.poke the dough with fork. transfer to the oven, and bake for 5 minutes.
Take it out from the oven.Spread the sauce all over the crust.add some cheese and your desired toppings,and sprinkle with little more of cheese.Bake the pizza for about 5-8 minutes. sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.serve and enjoy!

Filed Under: Dinner, lunch, Main course · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Apple Tvorog Crumb Cake

December 1, 2011 · by · 3 Comments
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This apple tvorog crumb cake will melt in your mouth.Combination of apples and tvorog is amazingly delightful.Its fairly easy to make and perfect with your favorite cup of tea or coffee.

Adapted from edimdoma.ru

Ingredients for crumb crust:

4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 sticks cold butter shredded


Filling:
2 1/4 cup Tvorog(farmers cheese)*
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons cream of wheat(manka)
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar or vanilla extract
4-5 apples peeled and shredded

*You can use ricotta cheese if you have trouble finding tvorog.

Heat oven to 375 degrees

Directions:

For the filling: Combine all the ingredients except apples and mix until well combined.Add apples and mix again.

Crust:combine all the ingredients and rub using hands to make crumbs,that butter is well incorporated with all the ingredients.

Grease 11×15 glass baking pan.Transfer half of the crust/crumb mix to the baking dish. press and spread out making a smooth layer.Add the filling and spread it out.Add the rest of the crust mix to the top layer and spread it gently. bake for about 45 min-1hour.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Dessert · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,