REMEMBERING LORETTA!
Today, July 25, would have been my sister Loretta’s 81st birthday. Over the years I have shared many experiences on the blog that I had enjoyed with Loretta. She was an avid follower of the blog and always encouraged me to keep writing. In February of 2023, Loretta’s time on this earth ended. Loretta was a beautiful melody in the rhythm of my life. Her passing has left such an empty place in my heart.
The phrase ‘too much of a good thing’ is certainly not true when it comes to the many memories we shared. I will always give anything to recollect and relive the memories we created together.
She was a constant in my life during her lifetime. Loretta was so much more than just a sister to me. Only her love, kindness, and the memories we shared can bridge the gap between the departure of her passing.
Loretta was a very kind, gentle soul. She was a sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend and professional health care worker as well as many other things she did with such love and compassion.
I wanted to make something special on the blog to honor her memory. This rhubarb cream tart w/ strawberry meringue seems fitting since she loved rhubarb.
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Rhubarb Cream Tart w/ Strawberry Meringue
Votes: 2
Rating: 5
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Votes: 2
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
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Instructions
Stewed Rhubarb
Place the rhubarb, sugar, salt, & 1/4 cup of the water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil & reduce it to a simmer. Simmer until the rhubarb falls apart.
When the rhubarb is just about done, take a small bowl & whisk to combine the remaining water & the cornstarch. Stir the mixture into the simmering rhubarb & continue to stir until the mixture becomes thick & glossy. Take it off of the heat & let it cool.
Pastry Cream
Pour the 1/2 & 1/2 cream, sugar, & salt into a small saucepan & place over medium-low heat. Heat the cream until steam begins to gather on the surface & it's on the verge of boiling.
While the cream is heating up, whisk to combine the egg yolks & cornstarch. Once the cream is hot, add a few ladlesful of the cream mixture to the yolk mixture while whisking constantly to temper the eggs. Pour the yolk mixture into the saucepan & cook over low heat until the cream thickens & becomes glossy.
Take the pastry cream off of the heat & add the butter. Stir until the butter melts. Pour the cream into the tart shell & add the stewed rhubarb on top. Cover & let chill for 3 hours or until set.
Strawberry Meringue
Place the water, sugar, & strawberry powder in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling don't stir it anymore. Heat the mixture until it registers a temperature of 230-240°F on a candy thermometer.
While the sugar mixture is heating up, whisk the egg whites & cream of tartar on high using a hand mixer or a stand mixer until soft peaks form.
With the mixer running, stream the hot sugar mixture into the egg whites. Continue to whisk until stiff peaks form.
Place the strawberry meringue on top of the set rhubarb custard tart. Toast the meringue with a kitchen torch or leave to as is.
The Caramilk chocolate bar is a Canadian creation that has been around since 1968. First produced at the Cadbury factory in Montreal then production moved to the Gladstone factory in Toronto in 1978 and has been made there ever since.
The general name for the candy confection is actually Cadbury Caramilk, but in the USA, this candy bar is more familiarly known as Caramello. The entire styling of the bar is different depending on where it is sold and this can lead to confusion that these are different candy bars when they are actually the same product. There are some variations in the recipe in different countries but the overall taste is remarkably similar.
There have been countless theories and debates about how Caramilk gets the soft flowing caramel inside the Caramilk bar. To date, it is still one of those Canadian enduring mysteries as Cadbury has guarded the Caramilk ‘secret’ for over 50 years.
These apple tart/baskets are certainly taken up a notch by simply adding a piece of Caramilk chocolate to the center. Who knew …. what’s old is new again!
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Caramilk Apple 'Baskets'
Votes: 2
Rating: 5
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Votes: 2
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
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Instructions
Pastry
In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar & salt. Add cold butter, vanilla & lemon zest. Cut into flour mixture with a pastry blender until dough starts to come together & form clumps. Divide 2/3 of pastry between 10 tart/muffin cups. Using fingertips, evenly press the dough into each cup. With remaining pastry, divide it into 10 balls & flatten each to form a top for each tart. Place pastry in refrigerator until filling is prepared.
Filling
In a saucepan, whisk together 1 1/4 cups water, both sugars, spices, salt & lemon juice. Add the diced apples & simmer for 10-12 minutes to soften apples, stirring occasionally. Combine remaining 1/4 cup water with cornstarch & add to apple mixture; continuing to cook until thickened. Remove from heat & allow to cool.
Assembly/Baking
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Place a Tbsp of apple filling in each tart shell. Divide the Caramilk bar into 10 pieces. Place one piece in the center of each tart. Divide remaining apple filling between the 10 tarts. Top each with a pastry round & bake for about 35 minutes or until golden.
Serve inverted on a serving plate, either as is or with your choice of topping.
CELEBRATING OKTOBERFEST!
Even if it is a little hard to admit summer has ended and fall is officially here, Oktoberfest seems like a great little celebration to ease into the coming winter months.
Oktoberfest began as a wedding celebration more than 200 years ago in Munich, Germany, when Bavaria’s, Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12,1810. The wedding was celebrated with multiple days of drinking, feasting and horse races. Everybody had so much fun that it was resolved to repeat the celebration, which has been done, every year since.
Beer enthusiasts from all over the world flock to Munich for Oktoberfest, where they feast on everything from steins of beer to plates of sauerkraut, bratwurst, cabbage rolls, sausage and wiener schnitzel. Bavarian music fills the air to promote the fun atmosphere of Oktoberfest.
While the true celebration has to be experienced in Munich, there are actually some great Canadian events that try to duplicate the festivities without having to travel abroad. In different parts of the country this is a fun and social sampling event featuring many local craft and authentic Bavarian breweries as well as authentic food, Oktoberfest music, dancers, games, etc..
To acknowledge this holiday we are having a corned beef, cabbage & potato pizza with a rye bread crust. It seems a good mix of German-Canadian food to me ?!
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Corned Beef & Cabbage Pizza
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Ingredients
Toppings
- 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 large potato, thinly sliced, spiced & baked
- 1/4 Tsp EACH paprika, crushed rosemary, garlic powder, pepper & salt
- 150 grams sauerkraut with juice
- 1 small red onion, diced small
- cornmeal
- 100 grams monterey jack cheese, grated
- 170 grams corned beef, cooked & diced
- 50 grams mozzarella cheese, grated
- 40 grams Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
- 1 cup Russian dressing
Ingredients
Toppings
- 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 large potato, thinly sliced, spiced & baked
- 1/4 Tsp EACH paprika, crushed rosemary, garlic powder, pepper & salt
- 150 grams sauerkraut with juice
- 1 small red onion, diced small
- cornmeal
- 100 grams monterey jack cheese, grated
- 170 grams corned beef, cooked & diced
- 50 grams mozzarella cheese, grated
- 40 grams Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
- 1 cup Russian dressing
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Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Rye Pizza Crust
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In a bowl, combine flours & salt. Pour 1/2 cup water into a microwave-safe bowl; heat for 30 seconds. Stir brown sugar into water until dissolved; add yeast & stir. Let mixture stand about 10 minutes, until bubbly. Pour yeast mixture into flour mixture. Pour remaining 1 cup of water into microwave-safe bowl; heat for 30 seconds.
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Stir olive oil into warm water; pour over flour mixture. Knead flour mixture, adding more all-purpose flour if dough is sticky, until dough is smooth & holds together. Form dough into a ball & place in a buttered bowl. Cover with a tea towel & let rise in a warm place about an hour or until doubled in size.
Fillings
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Preheat oven to 425 F. Toss thinly sliced potato with 2 Tbsp olive oil in a plastic bag. Combine paprika, rosemary, garlic powder, salt & pepper; add to potato slices & toss again. Roast in a single layer on a baking sheet about 10-15 minutes. In a skillet, add sauerkraut with juice & diced onion. Simmer for a few minutes until onion is tender. Drain well; set aside to cool slightly.
Assembly
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Punch down dough. Sprinkle a 14-inch pizza pan with cornmeal & press dough out to fit pan. Top crust with monterey jack cheese, corned beef & onion/sauerkraut mixture. Lay roasted potato slices to cover pizza then sprinkle with mozzarella & Parmesan cheeses. Bake pizza for 12-15 minutes or until golden & crispy. Once pizza is done baking, drizzle with Russian dressing & slice.
I’m sure you use or are probably aware of the technique of cooking in parchment paper. The French call it ‘en papillote, the Italians ‘al cartoccio but we Canadians just call it cooking in parchment. This simple, yet elegant culinary tradition infuses the meats, vegetables and herbs together to create unbelievable flavor. Not only does this enclosed packet keep delicate foods like fish moist and intact but cuts down on your clean-up time. It is a super easy way to cook for one and not have lots of leftovers.
Since fall is upon us and we are back to more of those oven meals, HONEY TERIYAKI SALMON is the perfect, no-fuss Sunday meal.
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Honey Teriyaki Salmon
Votes: 2
Rating: 4.5
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Votes: 2
Rating: 4.5
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Rate this recipe!
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Instructions
Honey Teriyaki Sauce
In a small saucepan, whisk together soy sauce, 3 Tbsp water, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger & sesame oil. Bring to a boil over medium heat. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch with remaining 2 Tbsp water until well combined. Pour into sauce mixture; boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat & allow to cool slightly about 5-10 minutes.
Salmon & Veggies
Toss broccoli & carrots in olive oil; season with salt & pepper. Cut 4 sheets of 14-inch lengths of parchment paper. Divide broccoli & carrot mixture among sheets layering in center in an even layer. Set aside 1/4 cup of the sauce mixture then brush bottom sides of salmon fillets with a scant tablespoon of the sauce then rotate the salmon over veggies.
Preheat oven to 400 F. Brush tops of salmon with another scant tablespoon of the sauce mixture. Pull sides of parchment inward & seal then roll edges up, leaving a little room for heat to circulate, not wrapping to tightly. Place packets on a baking sheet. Bake until salmon is cooked through, about 25 minutes. Serve with white or brown rice if desired & remaining sauce. Sprinkle with green onions.
