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Browsing Tag: experiment

Experiment: Plantain Bread

Recently, I had a few really ripe plantains that would not have made good tostones, mangu, or mofongo – the only recipes I know (so far) for plantains.  So I thought, could I use them like overripe bananas and make a bread with them? Well, it turns out you can and the results are just as delicious as its more famous cousin.  Here are the results of my experiment in making plantain bread – courtesy of this recipe from Imma at Immaculate Bites. Thanks Imma for the recipe and insight into this delicious plantain bread! If you want to enjoy this delectable bread, stop by Immaculate Bites for the recipe! I bet Imma would appreciate the visit…

Moro de Habichuelas

I know, I can hear it now… “What is this ‘More habits’ dish?”  Basically, it is red beans and rice. A Caribbean style red beans and rice – in the style from the Dominican Republic (or so I read). This dish was an experiment in trying to scale the dish down to cooking for one, while still keeping the flavor and texture that makes this dish the staple it is.  Overall, my effort tasted fine (maybe it needed a bit more salt for the amount I made) and the texture was close (the rice was slightly overcooked). Since it was an experiment and we all know I eat my experiments, I added 8 oz of linguiça – a sausage popular in Portuguese…

Spice Cookies

Today’s experiment was with cookies.  No, not the annoying web cookies stored in your browser, but that holiday treat everyone enjoys – at least everyone I know.  I based this recipe on a Lebkuchen recipe, making some slight adjustments. The cookie it produces is a flavor bomb – honey, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, almonds, ginger, vanilla and rum. That’s right, I wrote ‘rum’. I made a simple rum glaze for these warm spiced treats and these cookies could be called chewable Hot Buttered Rum! So preheat that oven, we have family and friends needing these delights! Save Print Spice Cookies Prep time:  10 mins Cook time:  15 mins Total time:  25 mins Serves: 60   Ingredients 1½ cups…

Pumpkin Mini-Cheesecake Experiment

Here are the photographic results of a dessert experiment I made recently.  I have to say the experiment was close, but no cigar. The crust I used was a blend of graham cracker and ginger snap (that part works!), but the cheesecake batter was lacking what I wanted to achieve.  So I will try, try again until I get it right!   Save Save…

Sous Vide Beef Pho Experiment

Today was a day for experimenting in the kitchen. I decided to make Pho from scratch using the sous vide cooking method. Sounds wild, huh? Well this experiment was fun, challenging, slightly anxiety inducing, and utterly delicious!  I won’t post the recipe yet as it needs a bit of refinement, but let’s just say I am already looking forward to my next sous vide pho effort.  Here are some photos to whet your appetite for that next effort too! Save…

Cake for One

Tonight, I was thinking I would love to have a nice slice of spice cake for dessert. Trouble is… I did not have a spice cake. Or a spice cake mix. Or the gumption to make a spice cake from scratch for just one piece.  Then I remembered a recipe a dear friend gave me years ago – the 3-2-1 cake and I still had some 3-2-1 cake mix in my pantry! The key to a 3-2-1 cake is to combine 1 angel food cake mix with 1 standard cake mix in a large zip top bag, combining well. Then you simply place 3 tablespoons of cake mix in a microwave safe coffee mug, add 2 tablespoons of cold water and…