Sweet Potato Salad

One steamed sweet potato, cut into cubes

After cooked, drizzle with a little vinegar.  Let potato cool.  I used white wine vinegar, although I think you could use any vinegar.

Mix with:
1/2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp grainy mustard
some mayo (to taste)

I made this on Feb. 25, 2019.  Ono!!

Taiwan Mushi

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound ground pork or chicken
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 6 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked, stems removed, thinly sliced (I used fresh sliced mushrooms.  Sometimes, it's difficult to find shiitake)
• 1/2 C bamboo shoots, rinsed, drained, coarsely chopped
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3 stalks green onion, chopped 
• 1-inch ginger, peeled, grated (hint: use a spoon to scrape off the skin)
• 1 (20 ounce) block firm tofu, 1-inch cubes
• 2 large eggs, beaten

Garnish

chopped green onions

Sauce

2 T sake (I didn't have sake so used white wine)

1 T mirin (Sweet cooking rice wine)

1/4 tsp salt

4 T shoyu (mainland haoles call this soy sauce)

4 T brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a separate bowl, mix sauce ingredients well.  Set aside.  In a skillet over medium heat, saute pork in oil.  Add mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and onions.  Cook two minutes.  Stir in sauce mixture.  Remove from heat.  In a 3-quart casserole dish, layer tofu.  Top with pork mixture.  Pour beaten eggs over mixture.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until set.

Note: Could use an 8" x 8" glass dish OR a 9"x13" casserole dish.  I used a cast iron Dutch oven.

This recipe is very forgiving.  You can add more mushrooms or bamboo shoots or even add water chestnuts.  

I made this on Feb. 26, 2019.  I overcooked this so it was very firm.  :(  You should cook this just until the eggs are set.  

Made this again on July 17, 2023.  Only cooked it for 30 minutes so not as overcooked.  I didn't have pork, so used ground turkey.  Didn't have sake so used rum.  Didn't have shiitake mushrooms so used "seafood" mushrooms!  And used Gerald's homegrown scallions.

"Seafood" mushrooms!

Portuguese Sweet Bread

Ingredients

• 2 pkgs yeast
• 1/4 C lukewarm water
• 1 C milk
• 1 C sugar (many times, I use honey; sweeten to your taste)
• 1/2 C butter
• 1 tsp salt
• About 6 C flour
• 3 eggs, well beaten
• 1 egg, beaten
• Optional - lemon extract or grated lemon peel

Directions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in the water.  This is one way to proof the yeast; you can also just add the dry yeast to the dry mixture.
2. Scald milk and pour it over the sugar, butter, and salt in a large bowl.  Stir until the butter almost melts.  Scalding the milk can make the bread rise faster.
3. Stir in about 2 C of flour and beat until smooth.  Beat in the 3 eggs and the yeast mixture.
4. Stir in only enough flour to make a very soft dough.
5. Turn out onto floured board and knead until dough is very smooth and shiny, adding flour as necessary.
6. Shape into a ball and place in a buttered bowl, turning to butter all sides.  Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 2 to 12 hours.
7. Punch dough down; allow to stand for 10 minutes.  Divide dough in half.  
8. Shape each portion into a loaf and place in greased pans.  Let rise until almost doubled in bulk; about one hour?
9. Optional - Gently brush tops of loaves with the beaten egg.
10. Bake at 350 deg. for about 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
11. I usually don't brush with egg before baking, but brush with melted butter AFTER baking.  This softens the crust.

I used the above bread dough to make Czech Vánočka (Christmas Sweet Bread).

What is different about this bread is that raisins are added to the dough; sliced almonds are sprinkled on top before baking.

The bread is divided into 3 different portions and braided.  

 

Pull-apart loaves

Ingredients

• 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 C unsifted flour (I use unbleached flour)
• 3 T sugar (sometimes I use honey)
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 pkg active dry yeast (I usually use quick-acting)
• 1 1/2 C water
• 1/2 C milk
• 3 T margarine/butter
• melted margarine
• orange marmalade (or another type of marmalade) optional

Directions

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix 2 C flour, sugar, salt, and undissolved yeast. 
2. Combine water, milk, and 3 T /margarine/butter in a saucepan.  Heat over low heat until liquids are very warm (120 deg F - 130 deg F).  You should be able to put your finger in the liquid; if it's too hot, the yeast will die.  Butter does not need to melt.
3. Gradually add to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.
4. Add 3/4 C flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed scraping bowl occasionally.  Stir in enough additional flour to make a stiff dough.
5. Turn out onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
6. Please in greased bowl, turning to grease top.  Cover, let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk.
7. Punch dough down; divide in half.  Cover, let rest on board 10 to 15 minutes.  
8. Roll one half to a 12 x 8-inch rectangle.  Brush with melted butter.  When I make this, I spread a layer of orange marmalade.  This does make the rectangle and strips slippery  :)
9. Cut into 4 equal strips, 8 inches long.  Stack strips.  Cut into 4 equal pieces, 2 inches wide.
10. Place one edge in greased loaf pan so that layers form one long row down length of pan.  Repeat with remaining dough.
11. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled in size.  
12. Bake at 400 deg. F. about 30 minutes or until done.  Bake at 350 deg. for about 20 or so minutes.  400 deg. is too hot.
13. Remove from pan and let cool on wire rack.