Homemade Old Bay Seasoning

 If you're like most people, you probably have a can of the popular Old Bay Seasoning on your shelf, and you use is occasionally when you cook seafood.  I haven't purchased this stuff for over 4 years - I make my own.  This stuff sells for almost $4.00 a can, and you can make the same thing for less than $1.00.

I also use it on dozens of recipes.

Let me show you how easy it is to make.

You will need:
Bay leaves (a good handful)
1/4 cup celery salt
2 Tab. dry mustard
4 teas. ground ginger
4 teas. ground black pepper
4 teas. sweet paprika
2 teas. ground nutmeg
2 teas. allspice
2 teas. ground white pepper
2 teas. ground clove
1 teas. ground mace
1 teas. ground cardamon
1 teas. crushed red pepper flakes

First you need to finely break up 1/4 cup of bay leaves, (about 1 good handful).  You can do this whatever way is easiest.

Make sure to get the pieces as small as possible.

Place the pieces into a small bowl and add:
the rest of the ingredients.

Note: Since mace and cardamon are rather expensive, I just buy a small amount from the bulk section.  That way I am not paying for a full size container that will sit on the shelf and get stale, (and I only pay a few pennies for the small amount that I need).  The same with celery salt, I don't use it very often, so I buy it in small amounts from the bulk section.  A good way to save money on spices.

Whisk everything together until everything is incorporated well.  You can already smell the wonderful warm flavors of all the spices.

Pour into a clean container with a tight fitting lid, label, and store on your pantry shelf.

I use this for my roast chicken, (it makes a great rub).
I use this on my ribs, (just mix it with some brown sugar).
I use it in the steam water when I cook clams, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, any kinds of shell fish, (just a couple spoonfuls).
It's great on pork roasts, and pork chops as a dry rub

It's a very versatile seasoning, and so delicious.  Give it a try and you won't go back to the store brand.

Enjoy!

Hot Cross Buns

Easter always means hot cross buns at our house.  It was something that I always remembered from my childhood, (that wonderful rich sweet dough filled with fruit and the little icing cross on the top as a reminder of the holiday).  I noticed this week that several of the local bakers and grocers were selling their hot cross buns for $5.00 a dozen, (and some for even more)!!  Such an outrageous price.  Just a couple of hours, and a couple of dollars will give you a dozen of wonderful buns that you will be delighted to serve.  Let me show you my recipe.

For the rolls you will need:
1/4 cup rum
1/2 cup mixed dried fruit
1/2 cup raisins
1 1/4 cup + 1 Tabs. milk, (room temperature)
3 large eggs
6 Tabs butter, (room temperature)
2 Teas. instant yeast
1/4 cup brown sugar, (firmly packed)
1 teas ground cinnamon
1/4 teas allspice
1/4 teas ground nutmeg
1 3/4 teas salt
1 Tabs baking powder
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour

For the icing you will need:
1 cup + 2 Tabs confectioners' sugar
1/2 teas vanilla extract
pinch of salt
4 teas milk

In a small bowl combine the dried fruit and rum.

Note:  you can substitute apple juice, or even water with rum extract, but I find the rum gives the rolls a much better taste, and don't worry the alcohol burns off.

Cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for a couple of minutes to soften the fruit and warm the liquid.  Set aside, to cool to room temperature.

You will notice that the liquid is absorbed by the fruit, this is a good sign.

With your stand mixer, (and dough hooks), in a large bowl add 2 eggs and 1 egg yoke.  Keep the egg white, (you will use it for the dough topping).

Add 1 1/4 cups of room temperature milk and 6 Tabs. butter.

Add the yeast.

Add the brown sugar, (break up the sugar and sprinkle it into the bowl).

Turn on the mixer for a minute on low to incorporate everything.

 Add the cinnamon.

Add the allspice.

Add the nutmeg.

Add the salt.

Add the baking powder.

Turn on the mixer, and start adding the flour.

Keep mixing until the dough comes together.

Note:  If you want to make the dough in a bread machine Place all the ingredients into the dough pan, (in the order that your machine suggests), and start on the dough cycle.   I have made this both ways and both ways give the same results.

Once the dough comes together, add the mixed fruit, (and if there is any liquid add that also).

Add the raisins.  Continue mixing until the dough has formed elasticity.


Note:  if you are using your bread machine, watch until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bread pan, then add the fruit and the raisins and let the machine continue the dough making process.

You will know your dough has formed it's gluten when you pick up a piece and pull on it and it has a window effect without tearing, (it has elasticity).

Remove the bowl from the mixer, cover with plastic wrap and a clean towel and allow to rise for 1 hour.

Note:  If using your bread machine, when the machine signals that the dough is ready, transfer to a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a clean towel and allow and dough to rise for 1 hour.

It has been 1 hour, and you can already smell the wonderful dough with the fruit flavors, and the sweet dough flavor.  These are going to be some extra special buns.

Spray a 9 X 13 inch baking pan with non-stick baking spray.

Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 12 equal pieces.  Roll each piece into a good palm sized ball, (about 1/3 cup size / or a muffin scoop sized).

Place the balls in the greased pan.

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and a clean towel and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour.  Notice that I leave plenty of space between each bun for expansion.

It's been 1 hour and the buns have doubled and they now fill the pan.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

While the oven is preheating, in a small bowl to the 1 egg white that you reserved from the dough, add 1 Tab. of room temperature milk.  Stir well to incorporate.

Brush the milk topping over each bun.  Bake the buns for 20 minutes, until the buns are golden brown.

After 20 minutes, remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before removing from pan.

Once the buns are cool enough to handle, remove from the pan, transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

While the buns are cooling, make the icing.

In a small bowl combine the confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, pinch of salt, 4 Tabs of milk.

Stir well.  You want a stiff icing.  Transfer to a piping bag, (I use a clear sandwich bag, that you clip the corner from, for a quick pipping bag).

Once the buns are COMPLETELY COOLED, pipe a cross on each bun, (after all that's why these buns got their name).

 Let the icing set up for a few minutes and you are ready to serve.

As you can see, the buns are flaky inside.   And the dough has a nice wonderful sweet flavor.

Give these buns are try for your Easter table.


Enjoy!

Pickled Red Onions

At our house, we love Mexican food.  And one thing that really goes good on tacos, is pickled red onions.  They also go with so many other dishes.  And it's so fast and easy to make.

You will need:
1 large red onion
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
pinch of red pepper flakes

Slice your red onion into thin half moons.

 Into a small saucepan, pour the apple cider vinegar.

 Add the red wine vinegar.

Add the sugar.

Add the kosher salt.

Whisk together well.  Bring the mixture just to a boil, on the stove top over medium-high heat..  Make sure to whisk it well until the sugar and salt dissolves.

Remove from the heat and add the allspice.

Add the red pepper flakes, and whisk to incorporate everything.

Add the red onions slices, (make sure to separate the slices).

Gently stir the onions into the vinegar mixture, allow to cool to room temperature, (stirring occasionally).

Pour into a glass container, (with a tight fitting lid). I like to use old canning jars.

Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.  They are now ready to enjoy.

These wonderful onions, with the sweet, and slight pickled flavor add so much more to your tacos, (and chicken, fish, or pork dishes).  All the Mexican stands have a bowl of pickled onions as a condiment, (it's just like a relish).

Try this, and you'll be amazed at all the different ways you can use this wonderful little side dish.

Enjoy !