Category Archives: Food

So I tried to make samosas…

You know I love Indian food. The spicy, earthy flavors are wonderful! Cumin, curry powder, and turmeric all add an earthy, spicyness to Indian food. I decided to try to make samosas at home. A samosa is a fried or baked pastry filled with a savory filling. Sometimes they are called hand pies, dumplings , or turnovers. Just depends where and who is making them.

Arthur’s Samosas

1) While olive oil is heating you can make the dough. Mix the butter, flour, salt, and baking soda.

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2) Cut the butter into small cubes. Incorporate the flour and butter until it forms a lumpy dough. I added a tablespoon of buttermilk because everything taste better with a little buttermilk!

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3) cut the dough in half and form into a disk. Return to the refrigerator to chill.

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4) The onions should be soft now so you can at the vegetables. I cheated and used two cans of mixed vegetables in addition to a tablespoon each of cumin, turmeric, and curry powder. Cook for about 10 or 15 minutes and then turn the heat off.

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5) Remove the dough from the refrigerator.

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6) Roll the disk out to about a quarter inch thickness.

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7) Use the back of the dumpling maker to cut the dough out.

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8) Place the cut out dough in the front side of the dumpling maker and press in the center to make a pocket. Place a teaspoon of filling in the pocket.

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9) Folder the dumpling maker to close and seal the samosa.

I had a problem with the crease cracking when I folded the maker over so I decided to make the remainder of them using the old fashioned cookie cutter.

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This produced a nicer shape and then I folded and crimped them by hand.

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10) Bake them for about 15 minutes at 350f. You could fry them, too, for crunchy skin but I hate frying anything!

The filling was perfect but the dough was very soft and moist. It fell apart easily and was very sweet. Next time I think I will use less butter!

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But it’s a beginning of a good recipe.

 

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Arthur’s Risotto

A rainy and cool Autumn days call for some time in the kitchen making some great comfort food! I put Gus’s bed by the table so continue his recover from TPLO surgery for his torn ACL. I like to keep a close eye on him and my investment!

Risotto is warm and filling and flavorful! You can change the flavor by adding in season vegetables from your local farmers.

Arthur’s Easy Risotto

1) In one pan, heat the oil until it shimmering. Add the garlic and onions to the oil over medium heat until soft. In a second pan, heat about a quart of broth on low.

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2) While the garlic and onion is cooking, cut the vegetables into bite size portions. These are zucchini and yellow squashes from the Raleigh Farmer’s Market.

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3) Add rice to the oil, onions, and garlic. Stir to coat with oil and cook for about 5 minutes. Add salt or pepper or spices.

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4) Add enough broth to cover the rice and cook until it is absorbed .

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5) Add more broth to cover the rice. Add the vegetables.

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6) Stir to incorporate the vegetables and cook until the broth is absorbed to your liking.

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7) Serve as a side or eat as a main course.

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8) Risotto makes great leftovers! One minute in the microwave and you have a meal!

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You could use chicken broth or beef broth, as well. You can use the left overs as a base for several different meals by adding fresh veggies, chicken or spices!

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The Best Ever Banana Bread!

One of my favorite comfort foods is banana bread. I have written about the banana bread at The Wright Place that I ate often back when I was attending ECU. Cup A Joe has a similar bread but I found an easy recipe online aptly named The Best Ever Banana Bread.

I was really feeling the need for banana bread when I saw ripe bananas on the sale cart at the grocery store and I knew that tomorrow is going to be a stressful day. I am not work tomorrow so that I can take Gus to a veterinarian appointment to check out his bum knee. He has damaged the cruciate ligament in his left rear leg. Estimates for the surgery is about $2,527. 00! So I might be eating banana bread and those old bananas you get off the sale cart for some time to come!

I think it’s secret is buttermilk. I think buttermilk makes anything better: Buttermilk chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and seafood in a buttermilk batter!

Here is the one of the recipes floating around on the internet for the 

Best Ever Banana Bread: (adapted from www.allrecipes.com)

  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup mashed bananas
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

1) Preheat the oven to 325f. Oil or grease a 9″ X 5″ loaf pan.

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2) Blend the wet ingredients.

3) Sift the dry ingredients together. Sifting the dry ingredients prevents lumps. Blend into the wet ingredients.

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4) Pour into the loaf pan. Jiggle the pan to settle the batter.

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5) Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a a toothpick comes out clean.

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Gus guarding the oven.

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