A Simple Lemon Cake

Moist. And easy.

I'm always on the prowl for a good cake recipe that doesn't feed an entire wedding party! I adapted this recipe that I found on the inside of a margarine box. It was pretty simple. The cake itself was moist and the simple frosting gave just enough lemon tartness without being overpowering. Great with a hot cup of tea or cold glass of milk.

This cake is even more flavorful the next day. 

CAKE

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon fresh-grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon fresh-grated orange zest
• 1/4 cup melted margarine
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 (scant) teaspoon almond extract

GLAZE

• 3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon melted margarine or butter
• 2-3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease or spray an 8 x 8-inch pan.

In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Stir in the zest from the lemon and the orange and use your fingers to incorporate throughout.

In a small bowl combine the wet ingredients. Add to flour mixture and mix with a spoon until incorporated. Using a wire whisk or hand-held beater, beat just until smooth being careful not to overbeat. If using an electric beater, blend and then beat on medium speed for about one minute. This is not a cake that has to be "beaten."

Pour into pan and bake 30 - 35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.

In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, margarine or butter, and enough lemon juice to desired consistency. Spread over cooled cake.

Now, really, how easy is that? Enjoy!

Homemade Sausages

A plastic bag replaces the familiar casing that a sausage
is packed into. It is then poached in water.

One of the joys of visiting Europe is sampling the many sausages that are a part of their everyday culture. Recipes differ from town to town, region and country. They are a staple of "pub" food. We all know "bangers and mash."

Unfortunately, that's not the case in the United States. Here, we are limited to several mass-produced "corporate" varieties found in supermarkets and they are usually limited to Polish sausage, smoked sausage and Kielbasa. If one is able to find fresh, uniquely-seasoned sausages they are not cheap.

Ziploc "Brats" with boiled potatoes and spicy mustard.

Since I don't have a meat grinder or casings, and since I'm not planning to produce gargantuan supplies of links, I settled on pre-ground pork that is about two bucks a pound and will make four sausages. A real bargain in today's economy of high-priced meats, especially beef.

I went through dozens of recipes scaling them down to fit the quantity and to satisfy my taste buds. As first, I simply fried them. But the heat and oil woefully compromised the taste and often masked the subtle flavors of the spices. What to do?

That's when I hit upon the idea of using plastic bags and poaching the sausage. It worked like a charm!

Be sure to use name-brand bags for freezer or for cooking.
They are less likely to leak at the corners than generic.
Pictured here: Spicy Kielbasa.

SAUSAGE ADVICE

1. Use name-brand, pint-sized plastic bags. Generic are usually thinner and the corners leak so you will lose the poaching liquid inside the bag resulting in a very dry sausage. Name-brand, such as Ziploc, do not contain BPA, a harmful chemical.
2. Use less, not more, of each spice if in doubt. You can always add more later on. Keep a notepad nearby to record what you add.
3. I actually prefer dried spices and herbs, but prefer fresh garlic that is smashed into a paste. Use fresh cheese, not canned/powdered which can dry the sausage.
4. After mixing, place a good teaspoonful on a plate and microwave for about 30 seconds or until no pink remains in center. Taste. Adjust seasonings accordingly.
5. The ideal sausage mixture is 70/30. Pre-ground pork is 80/20, but it's okay. If you have a friendly butcher, he will be more than happy to grind some fresh suet for you. You can also add ground bacon. Allow it to partially freeze, cut into chunks and grind in your food processor. But remember it will alter the taste of your sausage.
6. As the sausages poach, they will shrink. Sometimes the bag will, too.
7. Be sure to add the water to your mix. This adds moisture and helps to incorporate the spices. You may also add olive oil, which I find myself doing more and more.
8. If possible, refrigerate your mixture for several hours or overnight before forming into sausages.
9. These freeze beautifully. I allow mine to thaw before poaching. 
10. If you want, carefully remove sausages a bit before they are done and brown in a bit of butter/olive oil. 
11. Smoked paprika adds great smoky taste to homemade sausages.
12. Because they are lower in fat than regular sausages, condiments work well with Ziploc sausages.
13. If your sausage mixture ends up too strong in spicy flavors, form into patties and fry. Frying reduces the strong tastes. 
14. Here's a great site for sausage recipes and even supplies: Len Poli's Sausage Making - Homemade Sausage Formulations and Recipes

Put 1/2 cup sausage mixture in bag and using the the side
of your hand at a bit of an angle,
push into the bottom to begin forming
the sausage.

Roll to for a round sausage.

Simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Try to keep
tops of bags upright.

Allow poached sausage to sit in their pouch
for 5- 10 minutes to absorb liquid.

RECIPES

Adjust seasonings to your taste for recipes. Sometimes I divide the meat into half-pound amounts and add something different to one to see how it turns out. Be sure to add water. I like to mix the meat mixture with the back of wide metal spoon, pushing down and sliding it forward.

BRATWURST

1 pound ground pork sausage

1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground caraway seed

1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram leaf, crumbled

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon coriander

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon brown sugar (optional)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons water

These are especially good served with sauteed onions and peppers and, of course, spicy mustard. I also make a sandwich out of them by slicing them thinly lengthwise and then placing on bread with a bit of Dijon.

 SAVORY POLISH SAUSAGE
1 pound ground pork
1 teaspoon crushed onion flakes
1 good teaspoon fresh garlic, pressed
1- 2 teaspoons dried marjoram leaves, crushed
1/4 teaspoon allspice, preferably whole berries, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pepper--several grinds
1/8 teaspoon crushed, dried rosemary
1/8 teaspoon thyme flakes (scant)
a few pinches of: dried mustard
pinch of sage
2 pinches Cayenne pepper (optional)
Drizzle of olive oil
3 tablespoons water

This is especially good with a side of horseradish for dipping. Serve with boiled potatoes and sauerkraut. Makes a great sandwich on rye spread with horseradish.

It's difficult to know the the fat ratio of pre-ground chicken. Serve with a simple side of mayonnaise for dipping, homemade mayo is even better!

CHICKEN SAUSAGES

1 pound ground chicken

2 teaspoons onion powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

pinch of thyme

pinch of savory or sage

2 tablespoons water

CHICKEN SAUSAGES
WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND SPICES

1 pound ground chicken

1 1/2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes that have been soaked in water and squeezed dry (save the water)

2.5 ounces finely diced onions or 2-3 teaspoons dried

1 teaspoon coriander seed

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon celery seed

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons tomato water

ITALIAN SAUSAGE

1 pound ground pork

1-3 teaspoons fresh garlic paste (to taste)

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 1/2 teaspoons crushed fennel seed

1/8 teaspoon coriander

3/4 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary

1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (to taste)

1 teaspoon salt

1 - 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons water

Once poached, slice and serve with your favorite marinara sauce over pasta. 

After poaching a bit, I sauteed this Italian sausage in a bit
of olive oil and butter to brown it (but first I sliced off
an end to eat!).

Enjoy making sausages. They are inexpensive and it's fun to experiment with ingredients. They make for a great dinner. Simply remove from the freezer. And they make great "gifts, " too. 

Ham and Hominy Soup

Look for thick, juicy ham shanks, such as these. A ham shank is NOT the same
as a ham hock.

As delicious to eat as it is beautiful to look at, this colorful soup is studded with bright, yellow hominy (corn) to contrast with the orange tomatoes and pink chunks of ham. And it’s pretty easy and inexpensive to prepare, too. You basically chop one onion and some garlic and open and dump cans and throw in some spices. But don't be fooled by the simplicity of it all. The depth of tastes will win you over. I've even had people pay me money to make them a potful.

This recipe really began as a "stew." But people often commented on the deep, rich "broth" and wanted more! So I transformed it into a savory soup. It's one of my favorites.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin or freshly-ground cumin seeds (I grind my own)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crumbled
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
• 1-2 bay leaves, depending on size and freshness
• 1/2 teaspoon dried, crushed red-pepper flakes-or to taste
• 1.5 to 2 pounds smoked ham shanks
• 6-8 cups canned chicken broth
• 1, 14 1/2-ounce can sliced stewed tomatoes with juice
• 3-4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2, 15-ounce cans golden hominy, drained and rinsed (avoid generic brands)

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, cumin, thyme, bay leaf and red-pepper flakes. Sauté 5 minutes. Add ham shanks, broth, tomatoes and garlic. The tomato slices will break down as they cook. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook until shanks are tender, at least 1 1/2 hours, but longer is even better. I often go for an entire afternoon.

Carefully remove ham shanks and place on a cutting board. Remove meat and cut into bite-sized pieces. Discard fat and bones. Return meat to pot. Add drained-and-rinsed hominy and simmer until hominy is just tender, about 15-30 minutes. Add the smoked paprika, if using. Ladle into deep bowls and serve. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Reheat until heated through.)

For garnish, dollop with sour cream and sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese.

NOTES: Because ham can be salty, use broth, hominy, and tomatoes that are low in sodium compared to other brands. I crush the cumin seeds in a mortar and pestle. A ham "hock" is the foot of the pig and has little meat. The "shank" is above the foot and has lots of lean meat. Like ham, they are usually smoked.

Potato Soup with Leeks, Mushrooms and Dill

Insanely delicious!

I woke up in the middle of the night and, at three in the morning I just couldn't stand it any longer. I methodically got out of bed and  found myself standing in front of the opened refrigerator door. I needed--craved--just one more tiny bowl of this amazing soup! Light, yet intense, with a perfect blend of flavors, every spoonful is savored. Even cold. You want more. And then you lick the bowl clean!

Yes, it's a lot of chopping. But, trust me, it's worth it! And do not, under any circumstances, sub onions for the leeks--NO NO NO! Feel free to mix in cream or sour cream at the end for a traditional "potage," but I found the flavorings perfect, not wanting them compromised in any way. 

• 2 leeks, white and light green parts only for 2 cups finely chopped
• 2 pounds red potatoes (about 8 medium) diced, for 4 cups
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 pound mushrooms, chopped. If you don't have quite one pound then use:
• 1, 4-oz. can/jar mushrooms, drained, reserve the juice (optional, see note below)
• 6 cups chicken stock (canned is fine) or bone broth**, including the mushroom juice
• 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves (use less to begin with)
• 2-3 teaspoons dried dill weed
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
• Pepper, freshly ground, to taste
• Butter and olive oil

Slice the leeks lengthwise and then slice each half again lengthwise. Finely chop. Peel carrots and chop. Slice and chop mushrooms, discarding stems if necessary. Peel potatoes. Slice into about 3/4-inch rounds and then slice each round into fourths or sixths. Set aside.

In a Dutch oven, add about 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil. When melted, add fresh mushrooms, a bit of salt and pepper and the dried thyme. Saute until soft and juicy, adding more butter if necessary. Remove to a small bowl and add in canned, drained mushrooms, if using.

In same pan, add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. When melted, add the leeks and carrots and cook for about five-eight minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add two teaspoons dried dill weed and minced garlic. Stir just until fragrant. 

Add chicken stock and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a simmer. Add diced potatoes. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes until potatoes are soft but still hold together. Add mushrooms. Stir. Re-cover and simmer about 15 minutes.

Taste for seasonings adding salt, pepper, thyme, and dill if needed. Using the back of a slotted spoon, begin mashing about half of the potatoes against the side of the pan. This will thicken the soup. Remove from heat and allow to sit, covered, for about 30 minutes. Stir before serving. Sometimes I add a tablespoon or two of butter.

If desired, serve in individual bowls with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of dill.

Lock the refrigerator door before going to bed.



Notes: If I don't quite have 1 lb. of mushrooms, I'll add the canned mushrooms.

** I recommend College Inn Bone Broth. Of course, home made is best ...