Poppy Seed Milk Food

POPPY SEED MILK

Steps:

• Place the seeds in a 1 qt or 2 qt measuring cup, or a medium bowl. Add enough hot water to cover, about 3 cups. Allow the seeds to steep in the water for 10 minutes. A little longer shouldn't hurt.
• Transfer teh seeds and water to a working blender. Blend at high speed until very smooth, about 3 to 4 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, arrange several layers of overlapping cheese cloth near a clan medium bowl. Spoon mixture into the cheesecloth, twist the cloth closed and squeeze over the new bowl.
• Discard the pulp from inside the cheesecloth and repeat procedure with remainging mixture in the blender. Whisk the sugar and extract into the milk, then refrigerate until chilled.

HOW TO MAKE POPPYSEED FILLING (2 WAYS)

Steps:

• Rinse poppy seeds thoroughly in a fine mesh colander, then drain them and transfer to a medium sauce pan.
• Add 3 cups water to the pot. Over medium heat, bring to a simmer. (Don't boil). Turn off. Cover with lid and let it sit for 30 minutes. Return to a simmer (don't boil). Turn off. Cover and let it sit for another 30 minutes.
• Drain poppy seeds well through a colander or by keeping lid on and placing several layers of cheese cloth on lid to catch stray poppy seeds. Life is just easier when you use a fine mesh sieve.
• Push the poppy seeds through a food grinder, using the fine grinding plate. I use my KitchenAid food grinder attachment for my stand mixer. You can also use a coffee grinder and do it in smaller batches. Note: If using a meat grinder, you need to push firmly. The seeds won't grind well unless they are under pressure. P.S. I've tried putting them through a food processor and it did not work. Drain off excess liquid if any has accumulated in the bowl.
• Mix 8-10 ounces of sweetened condensed milk into ground poppy seeds. I like to add 10 oz. Add raisins if desired (depending on the recipe you're making). Store in tupperware and refrigerate until ready to use.

STUFFED LEMON-POPPY SEED SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Heat the milk in a small saucepan or warm in the microwave until steaming. Remove from the heat and stir in the poppy seeds. Let stand until cooled, about 20 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice to thicken and sour the milk.
• Whisk the cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, tea and salt in a medium bowl; work in the cold butter and lemon zest with your fingers until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Make a well in the center, then add the egg and milk-poppy seed mixture. Stir together until combined and a soft dough forms, gently kneading the dough in the bowl once stirring becomes difficult.
• Divide the dough in half and gently pat each portion into a 6- to 7-inch disk (1/4 to 1/2 inch thick), lightly dusting the dough and your fingers with flour if the dough is too sticky. Transfer one disk of dough to a baking sheet and spread the lemon curd on top, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Place the remaining disk of dough on top of the curd and pinch the edges together to seal. Brush the top with milk and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Score the dough into 8 wedges, cutting about halfway into the top layer of dough but not into the filling.
• Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 5 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet. Slide off the baking sheet and onto the rack; let cool at least 45 more minutes. Cut into wedges along the scored lines.

POPPY SEED-LEMON TWISTS

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Make the twists: On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle. Spread the poppy seed filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border on one of the long sides. Brush the clean border with water. Tightly roll the dough into an 18-inch log, rolling toward the clean border.
• Using a chef's knife, cut the log crosswise into 12 rounds, 1 1/2 inches wide each. Dampen your hands, then stretch and pat each round into an oval shape. Twist each oval in the middle to form a figure-eight shape. Place on the prepared baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until plump, 20 minutes.
• Uncover the dough and retwist, if necessary. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes, switching the position of the baking sheets halfway through. Transfer to racks and let cool slightly on the baking sheets.
• Make the glaze: Combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, lemon juice and zest, milk, vanilla and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave 45 seconds; stir until smooth. Brush on the twists.
• Warm 1/2 cup water and the milk in a saucepan over low heat until a thermometer registers 100 degrees F to 110 degrees F. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the yeast on top, then sprinkle with a pinch of the sugar; set aside, undisturbed, until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla into the yeast mixture until combined. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, the remaining sugar, the salt and nutmeg. Make a well in the center, then add the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to make a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape into a ball.
• Brush a large bowl with butter. Add the dough, turning to coat lightly with the butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until the dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl and knead briefly to release excess air; re-form into a ball and return to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap and lay it directly on the surface of the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

POPPY SEED SQUARES

Steps:

• Beat egg whites until stiff and set aside.
• Beat egg yolks and sugar.
• Add oil, milk and vanilla.
• Mix.
• Add dry ingredients.
• Mix.
• Fold in beaten egg whites.
• If adding the cherries or nuts they can be folded in now.
• Pour into greased and floured 9x13 cake pan.
• Bake at 325F 35-40 minutes ( until tester comes out clean).
• cool.
• Filling:.
• cream butter.
• Combine milk with custard powder and add to butter.
• Mix in icing sugar. ( add a bit more milk if you need to).
• Spread over cooled base.
• Let set in fridge for about 30 minutes then add glaze.
• Glaze:.
• Melt chocolate and butter ( I usually do this step in the microwave) and spread over filling.
• Refridgerate, then cut into squares.
• This Square can be frozen.
• Prep time is approximate.
• Enjoy.

POPPY SEED BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a small bowl, combine poppy seed and 2 tbsp milk.
• In a medium mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and honey.
• Add eggs and beat well.
• Sift together flour, salt, baking powder and soda.
• Blend into creamed mixture alternately with 2 tbsp milk and vanilla.
• Stir in coconut and poppy seed milk mixture.
• Spread evenly in a greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool in pan on wire rack.
• Sprinkle top with sifted icing sugar and cut into bars.

POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• CAKE:.
• Mix poppy seeds with 2 T. milk and vanilla sugar and allow to sit for at least 15 minutes. Bring butter to room temperature. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream butter and powdered sugar with a mixer at medium high speed. Add eggs and extracts, mix well. Add poppy seed mixture, mix on low speed.
• Sift flour with baking soda and salt, and add half of this mixture at a time to the mixer, alternating with the cup of milk. Beat until batter is smooth, scaping down sides of bowl.
• Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13" glass pan or 2 9" round cake pans. Bake until golden and springy, 20-25 minutes for cake layers, or 35-40 minutes for the 9 x 13" pan. Let cool before frosting.
• FROSTING:.
• Beat the room temperature butter and sweetened condensed milk together until smooth. Add extracts and food coloring, then add powdered sugar a cup at a time, beating until smooth. The frosting should be pretty stiff. Makes enough for a layer cake, make half the recipe for the sheet cake.

POPPY SEED TORTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, soak poppy seeds in 3/4 cup milk and 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla for 1 hour. Meanwhile, separate eggs. Let butter and egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Set egg yolks aside until needed. Grease the bottoms of two 8x1-1/2- or 9x1-1/2-inch round cake pans. Line pans with waxed paper; grease and lightly flour. Set pans aside. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• For filling: In a heavy medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in 1-1/2 cups milk and egg yolks. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour filling into a bowl. Cover the surface with clear plastic wrap. Chill until completely cooled. Do not stir.
• For cake: In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add 1-1/2 cups sugar to butter, about 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on medium to high speed until sugar is nearly dissolved. Alternately add flour mixture and poppy seed mixture to butter mixture, beating on low to medium speed after each addition just until combined. Thoroughly wash beaters.
• In another large mixing bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Gently fold beaten egg whites into batter. Evenly divide batter between prepared cake pans. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes for 8-inch pans or 25 to 30 minutes for 9 -inch pans or until a wood toothpick inserted near the centers of the layers comes out clean.
• Cool cakes in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans. Cool thoroughly on wire racks.
• To assemble, carefully split each cake layer horizontally in half. Place one cake layer, cut side up, on a serving plate. Spread with one-third of the filling. Top with second cake layer, rounded (top) side up. Spread with one-third of the filling. Top with 1 more cake layer, cut side up; spread with remaining filling. Top with the remaining cake layer, placing it rounded side up.
• For frosting: In a chilled large mixing bowl beat whipping cream and 1/2 cup sugar with chilled beaters of an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Spread top and sides of cake with frosting. Chill up to 2 hours, or until ready to serve.

LEMON POPPY SEED LOAF WITH LEMON SYRUP

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter with sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• In separate bowl, whisk together flour, poppy seeds, lemon rind, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture alternately with milk, making 3 additions of flour mixture and 2 of milk. Spread in greased 8- x 4-inch (1.5 L) loaf pan.
• Bake in centre of 325 F oven for 1 hour or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Place pan on rack.
• Lemon Syrup: In saucepan or microwaveable measure, warm sugar and lemon rind and juice until sugar dissolves. With skewer, pierce hot loaf right to bottom in 12 places; pour lemon syrup over loaf.
• Let loaf cool in pan for 30 minutes; turn out onto rack and let cool completely. Wrap and let stand for 12 hours before slicing. Makes 1 loaf, 12 slices.
• Make-Ahead Tip: Store at room temperature for up to 2 days or overwrap with heavy-duty foil and freeze for up to 1 month.

NORMA'S POPPY SEED BREAD

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, oil, eggs, evaporated milk and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together.
• Add to the sugar mixture and mix well. Add the poppy seeds and mix well. Spoon into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes.