Old Country Dumplings German Bullets 2 Ways Food

OLD COUNTRY DUMPLINGS (GERMAN BULLETS) - 2 WAYS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, eggs and water with your hands. Knead the dough in the bowl until it is one large ball of dough. It shouldn't be too dry and just a tiny bit sticky. If you find it's too dry or too wet, add a very small amount of water or flour until you get the right consistency. Set bowl aside.
• Add bacon and onion to large frying pan. Stir frequently over medium heat until bacon is cooked and onion is slightly browned. When done, place bacon and onions on paper towls on a plate. Do NOT wipe out the pan - you need the fat for frying. Return half the bacon mixture to the pan.
• With kitchen shears, cut dough into 4 or 5 large pieces. Between your palms, flatten dough into a large flat circle, about 1 inch thick. Cut pieces of dough into similar, bite sized pieces onto a tea towel. It's OK if they dry for a few minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring salted water to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Add potatoes, cook for 10 minutes, until just tender. Remove potatoes and set aside.
• Add dumplings to boiling water. You can do this by dropping them in a few at a time or fill up a spatula with dumplings and add to water. Make sure to stir them up in case some are sticking together. When they float, they are done, only a few minutes. Strain some of the dumplings into a colander, keeping half of them in the pot. *** Make sure you keep enough cooking water in the pot to cover about 3/4 of the soup dumplings.
• Ensure that half of the dumplings are in the soup and half in the pan with the bacon and onions. Add the potatoes to the soup and the bacon and onion mixture that you set aside. Add milk and bring to a boil. When it reaches a boil, you can turn it down to low. Salt and pepper to taste.
• While waiting for the soup to boil, fry the dumplings in the pan with the bacon and onion. Add eggs and stir to coat the dumplings. Let egg cook through. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Your 2 versions of dumplings are now ready! I usually have the soup first and then the fried ones second, in the same bowl. Some people like to get the soup and put the fried ones on top. Any way you like it - there are no rules!
• It is a good idea to leave out salt and pepper so everyone can add it to their taste.

PESTO PITA BRUSCHETTA - 2 WAYS

Steps:

• Combine the pesto & mayonnaise or pesto & cream cheese. ( I do this on the pita to save on dishes).
• Place or sprinkle tomatoes on top and then sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Place under you griller or broiler and cook until pitas are slightly crisp & cheese is melted.

ASPARAGUS SAUCE - 2 WAYS

Steps:

• Snap off asparagus tips. Trim & discard the bottom inch of ea asparagus stalk. Peel the stalks, cut into 2-in pieces & set aside.
• Heat butter in a 2 qt saucepan over med heat. Add flour & stir well w/a wooden spoon. Reduce heat to low & cook (stirring often) for about 5 min or till roux has a nutty aromoa, but do not let it brown.
• Whisk in the broth, stirring to make a smooth sauce. Add asparagus stalks, bring to a gentle simmer & cook for 30 minutes.
• Puree using a blender, immersion blender or food proc. Keep warm till ready to use.
• Cook asparagus tips in salted boiling water for 3-5 min or till barely tender. Drain at once, rinse w/cold water to stop cooking process & set aside.
• Just b4 using sauce as desired, add asparagus tips & warm for 3 minutes.
• NOTE #1: If using canned asparagus, drain & reserve liquid. When the roux is ready for addition of the broth, combine the reserved asparagus liquid w/broth to a total volume of 2 cups & add to roux, using additional broth as needed to get desired consistency. This method will concentrate the asparagus flavor. If using it + the broth, you will not need added salt.
• Note #2: Without the fresh asparagus tips, you will not have the visual & textural elements of using fresh asparagus, but the sauce will be rich & flavorful. I favor adding baby shrimp or crisp bacon pieces to get visual & textural elements.
• To Serve: Use sauce to top cheese omelets, cheese grits, a cheese souffle, cheese quesadillas, a baked potato, etc.

JUS DE VEAU LIE (THICKENED VEAL STOCK) 2 WAYS

Steps:

• REAL DEAL:.
• (Optional): Splinter bones with a cleaver.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Brown the bones in batches in a roasting pan in the oven, turning once. Do not use more than 1 rack in the oven at a time.
• While the bones are coloring to a caramel shade, set your large stock pot over as many burners as it will straddle. Cover the bottom of the empty pot with carrots, onions, garlic, tomato paste, bay leaves, parsley stems, and thyme.
• Then add the browned bones, batch by batch, until they are all in the pot. Cover pot, without adding water, and apply high heat for 10 minutes to make the vegetables and bones sweat, or release their juices.
• Pour 1 cup of water into the pot. Cook over high heat until the liquid has reduced to a brown glaze at the bottom. This will take a few minutes, but this is the secret to a knock-out sauce. Repeat this twice more. With a wooden spoon, make a well into the vegetables to check the glaze.
• Add 10 quarts of cold water and bring to a full boil. Skim carefully, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 6 hours. You should end up with 8 quarts.
• Remove all solid ingredients with a skimmer and discard. Strain stock through a chinois into a clean pot or pots, cool to room temperature, uncovered, and refrigerate.
• When the layer of fat has solidified at the surface, remove the layer of fat.
• -- THIS FAT-FREE STOCK CAN BE KEPT IN THE REFRIGERATOR SO LONG AS IT IS REBOILED EVERY 2-3 DAYS. (Hope you have a spare refrigerator :D) --.
• To complete the jus de veau, add mushrooms, chervil, and tarragon leaves to the strained, fat-free stock and bring to a boil. During this round, you will reduce the stock from 8 quarts to 2 quarts of liquid.
• When it looks as if there is about 5 quarts left, remove the mushrooms with a skimmer. Squeeze the mushrooms to make them release the liquid they have absorbed. Now finish the reduction to 2 quarts of liquid.
• Strain through a chinois lined with muslin or a clean dish towel into 1- or 2-cup freezer containers, cool, uncovered, and remove fat once more after refrigeration, if necessary. Freeze.
• BEFORE USING:.
• Defrost the required amount of jus. Then in a proportion of 2 tablespoons Madeira and 1 teaspoon arrowroot per cup of jus, dissolve arrowroot in Madeira and stir the mixture into the jus. Boil for 1 minute.
• ENHANCED STORE-BOUGHT STOCK:.
• Pour veal stock, mushrooms, chervil and tarragon into a saucepan.
• Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and gently simmer for 8-10 minutes.
• Remove mushrooms and squeeze their liquid into pan. Discard mushrooms. Strain broth into bain marie or double-boiler to keep warm until serving.
• BEFORE USING ENHANCED STORE-BOUGHT STOCK:.
• Dissolve arrowroot in Madeira and stir the mixture into the jus. Boil for 1 minute.

CHICKEN RICE STEW- 2 WAYS

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, bring chicken broth, onions, carrots, garlic, and chicken to a boil.
• Boil until chicken is done, usually 15 mins or so depending on thickness of breasts. Remove chicken, dice, and set aside in a bowl.
• Add rice to broth and veggie mixture. Bring to a boil and boil on med-high for 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat, partially cover, simmer until rice is done. Usually 15 minutes.
• Add chicken (Unless you are making Cambodian Style, see below).
• Stir and serve!
• ******If making Cambodian Style, ****.
• Add the fish sauce and sugar. Stir. Taste and make adjustments as needed. If you're new to fish sauce, remember you can always add more sugar to counteract the saltiness. But MEASURE! A little goes a LONG way for both ingredients here!
• Add chicken and stir.
• Place in serving bowl, top with shrimp, cilantro, and a section of lime!
• Enjoy!

POTATO DUMPLINGS (SINKERS)

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients with clean hands.
• Roll dough out into a"tube" shape on a floured surface.
• Cut into 1" dumplings.
• Drop dumplings into a large soup pot filled with boiling water.
• Boil 20 minutes.