Kitchen Gadgets

It has been awhile since I have blogged about  kitchen gadgets. Well I am back and have many new gadgets to share with you all.

The first is a Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker.
I purchased this with a gift card. The price was 49.00, which I paid zero for. Since the gift card was obtained by points I earned from an account. I like this kind of purchase. Most of the time this is the only way I can get some things I like, and not feel guilty spending the bucks. I got  mine from Williams Sonoma, online ordering.

 Today I decided to give it a try. The ingredients were just two things....Milk and Yogurt. Yes I know, you are asking why yogurt. Well in order to make yogurt you have to have the bacteria. Yogurt has the probiotics in it already. Now you know this is a good bacteria and can be sure the product will be safe and healthier. You may use the powdered one you buy at the speciality stores if you choose.

With this machine you have to heat the milk to 180 and cool it to 110, then add in the yogurt. Pour it into the jars and set the machine. I will give it 10 hour due to I like it firmer. The timer goes up to 15 hours. Will post the recipes and tell you how it turned out later this week.

I wanted a yogurt machine for some time. Was looking at two types. One that you just pour the milk  mixture in cold and it does all the cooking and cooling for you. The other was this one. Looking at both of them I came to the conclusion that the fully automatic one had some down sides I did not like. First of all it cooked in a Plastic container. My thoughts were, what about bacteria and sterilizing the plastic. It is very hard to make sure the plastic is clean and bacteria free. My second thought was the cooling done process. What if you let it go too long, will it just keep it cold. The answers the those questions were not found. The third was the yogurt is made in one container. That makes for a faster turning bad time. Each time you take the yogurt out of the refrigerator it allows air born bacteria in.

Therefore I went with the glass jars and this machine. I thought I could manage the time issue and complete the process. I also felt good about the cleaning of the glass jars. Once I find the prefect timing for my prefect yogurt, I can make it at night and be up to complete it in the morning.

The cost to make the yogurt is about 20cents per 7 oz. that is great compared to the dollar plus in the store for 6oz container.

Roasted Maple Salmon

This is a recipe my daughter loved. It is a really easy one with the cooking time of 15 minutes. A quick dinner paired with a salad and steamed veggies.

You will need:

4 Tablespoon of maple syrup.
2 Tablespoon of low sodium soy sauce
1 Tablespoon grated Ginger
1/2 teaspoon Cornstarch
1 Tablespoon water.
mix these ingredients together and set aside.

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit
• Place 4 fresh salmon fillets( about 6 oz each) in a shallow baking dish,
• top each with one half of the sauce
• Place in preheated oven for 10 minutes, then remove and bast with remaining sauce, return to oven for 5 to 8 minutes more, ( the thickness of the fillet will decided on the time.)

***Note if you want to use frozen fillets you will need to follow these directions:

Place fillets in 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes, remove from oven and  put  all the sauce on top, return to oven, turn up to 450 for 10 more minutes.

New Potato Salad

This can be served warm or cold. Earlier this week I saw a show that was making potato salad for a group get together. That made me want to make some. Trying to use healthier items and make it more easier to eat, guilt free. I took a family favorite recipe and updated it.

New Potato Salad

24oz Baby Dutch Yellow Potatoes
3 hard boiled eggs
1/4 cup finely diced sweet onion
1/4 cup finely diced celery
2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 Tablespoon brown mustard
2 Tablespoon Dukes Mayo
2 teaspoon super fine sugar ( I use caster sugar) Caster sugar is a superfine sugar found in the sugar section, usually on the top shelf in a small clear bag. manufactured by India tree.
Salt and Pepper.


Cut potatoes in bite size pieces, leave the skins on. Put in large pans and cover with water. bring to a boil. boil for about  10 to 15 minutes or until fork tender. drain and set aside.

put 3 raw eggs in the saucepan, cover with water. Bring to a boil, boil for 2 minutes and then turn the heat  off, cover and let stand for 10 minutes.  After that time drain water and rinse in cool water, peel eggs and cut into pieces. I cut egg in half and then each  half in half again and then in quarters. set aside.

Mix together next 6 ingredients  in a large serving bowl  stir well. Add the eggs and potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste

You can serve this warm or cold.
copyright 2013 by "Auntie E Cookbook/M Dubros"

Black Bean Burgers

I have been trying to find other food to help trim my calories. Without going full vegetarian I wants to mix in the veggie meals during the week. Been trying different vegetarian burgers in the restaurants.  The best one I have found is a UNO. however a wonder waht the calorie counts is. Even with Vegetarian dish they can have a high calorie count.

While looking through a new cookbook, I saw a recipe for a Burger made with Black beans. Of course I did not have all the ingredients it called. So out came my thought process, how can I make a black bean burger with what is in my Cupboard.

Black Bean Burgers.

1 can Black beans
2 oz jalapeno  peppers
1/2 cup Panko Crumb
2 tablespoon Olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2  teaspoon Chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground oregano
dash salt
1 large egg white.

Drain and rinse black beans.  set aside 1/2 cup and mash  with fork the remaining.
Add the the next seven ingredients and mix with fork.
Beat egg white and add to the bean mixture.

divide into four patties and cook on medium high heat. 3 minutes per side.

Serve with guacamole, or top with MontereyJack cheese

copyright 2013 by "Auntie E Cookbook/M Dubros"

Lima beans- Southern Style

Our March is coming in with a furry. Isn't that the way it usually entered. For some reason I got the craving for Lima beans. Looking in the Cupboard I had Dried Limas. So that meant time to make them. This recipe is a very easy one.

What you will need:
 1 Smoked Ham hock ( you can find these in the meat department with the pork items)
 A package of Dried Lima Beans
 4 quarts water( divided)
 Smoked house Pepper
 Smoked Sea Salt
Shallot thyme finishing butter

In a large stock pot add package of Dried beans and 2 quart Hot water. Bring to a rapid boil and boil for 3 minutes. remove from heat and let stand covered for 1 hour.

Drain beans and rinse well. Rinse stock pot and add 2 quarts of hot water, Ham hock and beans. add in 1 teaspoon smoked pepper and 1/2 teaspoon smoked Sea salt. bring to a boil and simmer for 2 1/2 hours or until Lima beans are soft.
 Remove Ham hock and cut up, discarding the fat. remove 1/2 the water in stock pot. Salt the pepper meat add to the beans. chopped about 1/4 cup white onion.  return to heat continue to simmer for 30 minutes. Ladle beans into serving dish, Add some Shallot thyme finishing butter( you can find this in the diary section) serve warm.

Gameday Chili in about 35 minutes

Winter, February and Football Games. Now my memories in Colorado included a roaring fire  with chili and beer. Our Ravens are in the Superbowl this year  so I thought I would have some Take me back Memories. Here is a great Chili recipe.

You will need:

green peppers, onions, garlic and olive oil
salt, smokehouse  black pepper, roasted cumin, roasted Chili powder, Worcester sauce
Ground beef, cannelloni beans, red kidney beans, crushed tomatoes in puree sauce.
beer( I use a larger) however use one that you like the flavor.

 In a large soup pot, heat olive oil ( about 2 Tablespoon) add 1/2 cup each of Chopped green peppers and Yellow onions. cook on med heat until soften. then add 1 tsp minced garlic, stir well, add 2 tsp salt and a dash of  smokehouse black pepper, 2 tablespoon Cumin and 1 teaspoon chili powder stir well.

Add one pound of ground beef, break it up and brown in the soup pot, while browning add 2 Tablespoon of Worcester sauce. stir while browning meat.

Add one can of 28 oz crushed tomatoes in puree sauce. stir well.

drain one 14 oz can each cannelloni beans and kidney beans. add the drained beans to the chili.

Add 4 to 6 oz of beer. stir gently and reduce temp to simmer. simmer about 20 minutes.

Serve with cheddar cheese, to top the chili with.

In need of a New coffee pot

Had a great holiday season, didn't do too much due to hubby was in the hospital leading up to the holidays. Also we had a trip plan to Disney World. We stopped by Savannah and really love that place. We had the best Fried Chicken ever. I will need to get the recipe for it.

Oh yes the Coffee pot....Well ours has decided to stop heating. I will be looking for a new one. Want to get a more up to date one. However I am not a fan of the one cup ones.

Any suggestions on the brands? I tend to like Hamilton Beach. However I am open to other brands. Looking at the Starbuck one at Williams Sonomas. However the cost is high. I will have to get some gift cards to afford it. I think I have enough points to get it.  Looking at the Breville Youview coffee maker (photo on the right). It can brew a pot as well as a single cup. Runs about 280 dollars. I have liked all the products I have purchased from this company.