Redneck Turtle Burgers

I received an email from a friend with a recipe (with pictures) for "Redneck Turtle Burgers".  Seeing that in the subject line made me think it was a joke, but when I read it and saw the pics I knew it was serious.

The email had been forwarded, and like a responsible person, the previous sender(s) had been deleted. This created a problem as I wanted to make sure to give proper attribution.  Google to the rescue! By googling "turtle burger" I found what I believe to be the original blog post at bluegrassbulletin.com!

I haven't tried these, but they are on my "to do" list!

So for your enjoyment, here's the recipe (recipe and images Copyright Marcus Carey 2011)

Handmade ground beef patties, topped with sharp cheddar cheese, wrapped in a bacon weave, then the next step, add hotdogs as the heads, legs with slits for toes and tail.

Next step.  Place on an oven rack, covered loosely with foil and baked for 20-30 minutes at 400 degrees.  A little crispy, not too crunchy...just how a turtle should be, no?

Applesauce Flax Bran Muffins

Most recipes for bran muffins that I have tried were dry and tasted somewhat like I think compressed sawdust would taste like.  As a matter of fact, I think some of the store bought ones were compressed sawdust!

I looked at different muffin recipes to get some basic ratios of items, did a little experimenting, and this is what I came up with.  I hope you like it.


3/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
3/4 cup Flaxseeds Meal
3/4 cup Rolled Oats Cereal
3/4 cup Sugar
1-1/2   tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
2   tsp Saigon Cinnamon

3/4 cup Applesauce
3/4 cup Milk
2 Tbspn Molasses
1 Beaten Egg
2 tsp Vanilla

Preheat Oven to 350*F
Line muffin tin with paper liners or oil cups lightly
Mix dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients.
Combine and stir
until ingredients are moistened.
DO NOT OVERMIX.
Fill muffin cup 3/4 full and bake @ 350*F for 15-20 mins.

You can add 1/2 cup or so of raisins, dried cranberry, chocolate chips, whatever else you desire to change the recipe around so it's not the same all the time.  :-)

Basic Cake Recipe

This basic cake recipe will serve as the basis for many cakes. As an example by adding 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and an extra teaspoon of vanilla you have a good chocolate cake! Add 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon allspice, 1/2 teaspoon each of nutmeg & cloves and you have a spice cake. I have also used it for the basis of other cakes that I plan to write about in the future.

Here's the basic recipe:

1-1/2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup oil

Whisk together the dry ingredients
Beat the eggs and add to milk, add the vanilla and mix
Add the milk/egg mixture and oil to the dry mix, mix it well
Pour into greased 9" cake pan

Cook at 375*F for 35-40 min or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean

Enjoy!

Oh no, I forgot the rolls!

It all started last night.  I made up the dough for a loaf of sourdough bread using my basic recipe, and replenished the starter so it would be ready this morning for me to make rolls.

The morning was busy and the making of the rolls got away from me until just after noon.  Since I knew I wouldn't have time to allow sourdough rolls to rise I decided to try to make "Faux Sourdough Rolls" by adapting my recipe for Faux Sourdough Bread.  I did and they came out great.  Unfortunately, things were hopping quickly in the kitchen so I wasn't able to take photos.  I plan on making these again soon, when things are more relaxed, and will take pictures then.

The recipe:

1 Cup plain yogurt
1 Cup room temp water
2 tsp yeast
2 Tbspn Sugar
2 Tbspn Light Olive Oil
about 4 cups flour
melted butter (about 1 tbspn)

Mix the yeast in the water and set aside so it can start activating

In a large bowl, add the yogurt, sugar and oil, mix lightly, then add the water/yeast mixture and mix well.

Mix in 2 cups of flour, mix it well.  Start adding flour 1/2 cup at a time until you get a dough ball you can work with.

Turn it onto a floured board and knead well, adding flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking. Work in flour until the dough ball no longer sticks to your hands or the board as you knead it (this took a little over 3-1/2 cups for me)

Knead well for about 5 mins

Put the dough ball in a clean bowl, cover with a towel and set in a warm place to rise.

After the dough has doubled in size:

Lightly oil a 9X13 baking sheet

Punch down the dough ball, transfer it to oiled baking sheet

Work the dough ball out so it fills the baking sheet

Using a Single Edge Pastry Chopper cut 2 lengthwise cuts and 3 widthwise cuts, giving a total of 12 rolls.

Cover with a towel and allow to raise until roughly doubled again.

Cook in a 375*F oven for 15 mins, brush tops with melted butter and cook for 5 mins more.

Remove from oven, allow to cool for about 10 mins before separating.  Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving

Faux Sourdough

In keeping with recipes that save some time during the busy Holiday season, here's one I call "Faux Sourdough".  Plain yogurt in this bread recipe gives it a sourdough like tang.  Now nothing tastes exactly like real sourdough except real sourdough, but this bread has a good flavor and you can either bake it in a pan or free form it, depending on how moist you make the dough.

This bread can go from dough to finished loaf in as little as 3 hours.  That may not seem like a time saver, but if you've ever made bread, especially sourdough, you know that is pretty good.

1 Cup plain yogurt
2-3/4 cups AP or bread flour
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons oil
1 packet yeast
1/4 cup milk
water

Put the flour, sugar and yeast in a bowl.
Add the yogurt and mix it in, then the oil, mix more and then the milk.
Work the dough a bit at this point.  It will most likely still be pretty dry as far as dough goes.
As you work the dough, add water 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing well after each addition, until you reach the desired consistency.
Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead for 10 - 15 minutes.
Let the dough rest while you oil another bowl and oil a 9X5 loaf pan.
Place the dough ball in the oiled bowl and turn the ball until it is oiled all around.
Shape into a loaf to fit the pan and place it in the pan.
To get a quick rise you need a warm place of about 80*F.
You can start with a COLD oven, turn it to it's lowest setting and let it warm for 1 minute and then turn it off.
Cover the pan with a clean towel and set in the warm place (example the warmed oven) and let it rise until it is equal to the top of the pan or even an inch above the edges.
Cook at 350*F for 45-50 mins, until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped upon, or to an internal temp of 195-200 with a thermometer.
Let cool for 10 mins, then turn onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

I like this bread still slightly warm, with lots of butter!

Pasta dinner in one pan

This is a camping recipe that I like because it does taste good (always #1) but is also easy to make on those busy days.  You can cook it all in one covered skillet.

You need:
1 pound ground beef
1 jar pasta sauce (I use Classico 24oz jars)
1/2 package pasta (1/2 pound)
2 cups water
1 small onion, diced (optional)
2 cloves garlic, diced (optional)
Grated cheese

Brown the ground beef, onion and garlic in the skillet
Drain off the fat
Stir in the pasta sauce and the water and bring it to a boil
Add the pasta
Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for the time specified on the pasta package (usually about 10 mins)
Remove from heat, top with grated cheese, cover and allow to sit for 5 mins.
Enjoy!

As a side note, when camping I use Classico Italian Sausage Sauce with peppers and onions,  without adding the ground beef, additional onions or garlic.  Cook the same way without the browning & draining step.