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2004

TODAY's CASES:

Cajun Cracklings

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jim
To: phaedrus
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 11:57 AM
Subject: Cajun Cracklins (Fried Pork Rinds)

> Please tell us a good recipe for cracklins like they sell as fast food
> down in Louisiana.
> The commercial bagged pigskins, pork rinds, chicharrones being sold in the
> north are the next thing to saw dust.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jim and Fredrica 

Hello J & F,

The first recipe below is a crackling, or graton, recipe that comes straight from Louisiana. The second recipe is how to take those cracklins and make cracklin bread. The other two recipes are Mexican and Spanish crackling recipes. Enjoy!

Phaed

Cracklins
Submitted by Maw Maw
Kaplan, LA

A great tasting snack especially with boudoin or cush cush..

Ingredients
pork skin with fat
oil
salt
pepper

Directions
Cut pork fat and skins into 2-inch squares keeping the pork meat on the
square. You will see skin, fat, and meat. You can also cut smaller sections
into the fat if thick, but not all the
way through the skin.

Place the pork squares in a hot iron pot. Do not overcrowd the pieces. Add
about 4 inches of oil making sure all pieces are covered with the oil.

Cook over high heat until cracklins (pork squares) are browned and floating
to top. Stir constantly to keep the pork cracklins from sticking and
burning.

Remove from grease with strainer and pour out onto absorbent
paper towels. Salt and pepper the cracklins while hot. Store in a tight
closed covered container.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Cajun Crackling Bread

(Yield: 2 loaves)
2 envelopes active dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water (105°F)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm (105°F)
4 eggs
5 to 5-1/2 cups bread flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups cracklings
1 egg beaten with
1 tablespoon milk
Grease a large bowl; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water with sugar; let stand until
foamy, about 5 minutes.  Add salt, milk, eggs, and 3 cups flour to dissolved
yeast; beat until smooth.  Add butter, beating until well blended.  Stir in
enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.  Turn out onto well floured
board; knead briefly.  Press out into a flat disc.  Sprinkle 1 cup crackling
over dough; fold dough over.  Knead in cracklings.  Press out again; add
remaining cracklings.  Fold dough over and knead 8 to 10 minutes until
smooth and elastic.  Place in prepared bowl; grease top lightly.  Cover; let
rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Spray 2 8x4-inch loaf pans with non-stick vegetable spray.

Punch dough down; knead briefly.  Divide dough in half; shape into loaves.
Place in prepared loaf pans; grease tops lightly.  Cover; let rise until
doubled, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Brush tops of loaves with egg mixture.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until
loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when lightly tapped.  Remove from
pans; cool completely on a wire rack.
-------------------------------
Pork Cracklings

Serves 4
Sea salt
Paprika
115g/4 oz pork rind
Vegetable oil, for frying

1.- With a sharp knife, cut the pork rind into strips about 1 cm/  1/2 in wide
and 2.5 cm / 1 in long.
2.- Tip out vegetable oil to a depth of 2.5cm/1 in into a deep heavy-based
frying pan. Heat the oil until a cube of bread browns in 1 minute. Cook the
strips of rind in the oil for 1-2 minutes, until puffed up and golden. Bleed
dry on kitchen paper and sprinkle with paprika and salt to taste. Serve hot
or cold. It can be stored in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
-------------------------------
Chicharon
Pork Cracklings

List of Ingredients

2 lbs. pork rind, cut into 1-inch squares
3 cups water
1 tbsp. salt
1 cup vegetable or corn oil

Instructions

Boil cut pork rind in water and salt for 30 minutes.
On an oven pan, spread the cooked pork rind and bake at 300 degrees for 3
hours.
Set aside and let cool.
Deep fry rinds in a skillet in hot oil over high heat until they puff up.

Kubba

----- Original Message ----- 
From: dee
To: phaedrus
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 12:09 PM
Subject: kuba

> I am currently serving in Iraq and have enjoyed a local dish called Kuba.
It is served in two different ways.  One is like a thin flat bread filled
with ground seasoned meat.  The other is similar composition, but served in
a more of a patty form with some type of tomato sauce over top.  I will
return to the states soon, and would be very excited to have this recipe to
share with my family.  We have been unable to find any cookbooks written in
english.  Thanks.  SFC Dee
>
>

Hello Dee,

I looked everywhere, but I could only find one kubba recipe. See below.

Phaed

Kubba (minced rice & meat patties)

Ingredients:
300g lamb minced
1 onion, finely diced
2 tbspns parsely, finely chopped
1 tbspn sultanas
2 tspns peas
1 tspn cumin
1 tspn turmeric
1 tspn ground Basra (black) limes

2 cups rice
2 saffron strands
handful fine breadcrumbs

oil for frying

Method:
First make a mince stuffing by frying lamb mince with onion. When the meat
is cooked, add parsley, sultanas and peas, and spice with cumin and turmeric
and a little ground lime powder. Once the cooking liquids have disappeared,
season to taste. The mixture must be quite dry and fragrant.

Cook long-grain rice (preferably basmati) with saffron or turmeric until
well done. Mash with a handful or two of breadcrumbs to achieve a soft
paste. With a palmful of rice mixture, form a flat disc, place a teaspoon or
two of meat mixture in the centre and fold the rice paste over it (Amera
makes small saucer shapes and oval, mini-torpedo shapes). Deep fry in
vegetable or olive oil until golden.

Meringue Shells

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Belinda" 
To: phaedrus
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 10:19 AM
Subject: meringue shells

I am looking for a recipe for meringue shells.  I would also like a recipe
for Lemon custard to use as filling for the meringue shells.  Thank you for
your help.

Belinda 

Hello Belinda,

See below.

Phaed

Lemon  Filled  Meringue  Shells

 Ingredients :
 Meringue:
 2 egg whites
 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
 1/3 c. sugar
 Filling:
 1 pkg. (4 serving size) lemon cooked pudding mix
 2 egg yolks
 2 1/4 c. water
 1/4 c. sugar
 1/2 c. sour cream

 Preparation :
      Beat egg whites and vanilla until foamy.  Slowly add sugar.
 Continue beating until stiff peaks form.  Cover baking sheet until
 stiff peaks form.  Cover baking sheet with brown paper.  With spoon,
 shape 6 meringue shells.  Bake in preheated 300 degree oven 35
 minutes.  Turn off oven.  Let shells dry in oven with door closed 1
 hour.  In medium saucepan combine all filling ingredients except
 sour cream. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until
 mixture thickens. Cool.  Fold in sour cream.  Chill.  Spoon into
 meringue.  Garnish with sliced lemon and lime, if desired.  Makes 6
 servings.
 ----------------------------------
 Lemon  In  Individual  Meringue  Shells

 Ingredients :
 3 egg whites
 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
 3/4 c. sugar
 3/4 c. sugar
 3 tbsp. cornstarch
 1/4 tsp. salt
 3/4 c. water
 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
 1 tbsp. butter
 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
 1 c. lemon juice
 1 c. whipped cream

 Preparation :
    Heat oven to 275 degrees.  Beat 3 egg whites and cream of tartar
 until foamy.  Beat in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time;
 continue beating until stiff and glossy.  Drop meringue by
 tablespoonful onto cookie sheets.  Shape into bowls, using spoon.
 Bake 1 hour.  Turn off oven; leave meringues in oven with door
 closed 1 1/2 hours.  Remove from oven.  Store in an airtight
 container until ready to use.  Mix 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch and
 salt in meringue saucepan. Gradually stir in water.  Cook over
 medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
 Boil and stir 1 minute.  Stir at least half the hot mixture
 gradually into egg yolks.  Blend into hot mixture in pan.  Boil and
 stir 1 minute.  Remove from heat; stir in butter, lemon peel and
 lemon juice.  Cool to room temperature.  Just before serving spoon
 into meringue shells.  Top with whipped cream.
--------------------------------------------
Meringue  Shells

 Ingredients :
 4 egg whites
 1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
 1 tsp. vanilla
 1 c. sugar

 Preparation :
   Beat egg white (eggs should be at room temperature), cream of
 tartar and vanilla in large mixing bowl until foamy.  Gradually add
 sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form and
 sugar dissolves.  Spoon in pastry bag with star tip.  Using
 parchment paper or brown paper.  Form shells by making circle with
 pastry bag until meringue has formed the size shell you need.  You
 can spoon out on paper and form cup with tip of spoon.  Bake at 225
 degrees for 1 hour.  Turn oven off and let meringue cool 1 hour in
 oven.  Remove shells from pan and fill just before serving.  I use
 lemon filling.  Be sure and not fill until just before serving.  May
 keep empty shells in air tight container.

Presto Banana Cake

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Janice
To: phaedrus
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 7:35 PM
Subject: Recipe Using Presto Flour

> Hi,
>
> I lost a recipe that my grandmother use to make using Presto Flour - it
> was called Banana cake.   I know one of the ingredients is sour cream.
>
> Thanks,
> Janice
>

Hello Janice,

See below.

Phaed

Banana  Cake

 Ingredients :
 3 3/4 c. sifted Presto cake flour
 3 tsp. baking powder
 1 tsp. baking soda
 1/2 tsp. salt
 1/4 c. dairy sour cream
 2 c. mashed ripe bananas
 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
 1 1/2 c. sugar
 3 eggs

 Preparation :
    Preheat oven to moderate (350 degrees).  Generously grease 15 x
 10 x 1 inch jelly roll pan.  Sift together flour, baking powder,
 baking soda, and salt onto piece of wax paper.  Stir sour cream into
 mashed bananas in small bowl.  Beat together butter, sugar, and eggs
 in large bowl with electric mixer at high speed, 3 minutes, or until
 light and fluffy.  Stir flour mixture alternately with banana
 mixture into the butter mixture, beating by hand after each
 addition, until the batter is smooth.  Pour batter into prepared
 pan.  Smooth top with a spatula.  Bake in preheated moderate oven
 (350 degrees) for 25 to 30 minutes or until enter springs back when
 lightly pressed with fingertip.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Top
 with your choice of frosting or topping. Cut into 24 pieces.  (4
 cuts lengthwise, 6 crosswise.)

Cakes of Raisins

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cristy" 
To: phaedrus
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 7:25 PM
Subject: Raisin Cakes or, as they are Biblically referred to: Cakes of Raisins

> Dear Uncle Phaedrus,
>
> I had just been browsing, ceaselessly, through the Altavista search engine
> for an authentic, preferably ancient Israelite, or, even a general  Middle
> Eastern recipe for Raisin Cakes.
> I frequently read of them in the Bible, and wondered if this cooking
> tradition had been passed on since, as indeed so many other ancient
> eastern recipes have.  I did come across one recipe for raisin cakes 
> but it was a puff pastry type thing called Umm Aloo, which I doubted 
> fitted the description in the Bible of those cakes which seemed to be 
> made in preparation for long journeys - so maybe they were a kind of 
> cracker or bread bun or biscuit (scone) type cake or something.  I'm sure 
> that they also referred to them as date cakes, at one stage.  
> (perhaps a mere fruit variation).
>
> I bet if I had a middle eastern name for them I'd be able to find
> something rather authentic, but alas I do not!
> (Sigh)  perhaps they are now extinct or something.  I even bet many
> Nomadic Saudis have some sort of cakes that they carry with them (like an ethnic
> sort of health bar or something), which may somewhat fit the description.
>
> I bet that they are merely raisins pounded up in the form of a type of
> sugarplum.  But even if they were, I would still love to also get a recipe
> for one which consisted of a type of dough with raisins (or dates) mixed
> through.
>
> Thanks for listening, and I would be much thankful for your support.
>
> Well, I would be very interested, for sure,
>
> Many regards,
>
> from
>
> Cristy
>
>
> P.S.  (Here is a reference to them, in the Bible 'Sustain me with cakes of
> raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick '- (Song of Solomon
2:5)
>
>

Hi Cristy,

When I want to know about something like this that's mentioned in the Bible, I usually go to my copy of "Smith's Bible Dictionary", which has the words or phrases, like "raisin cakes" in English. Then it gives a definition and then gives the word in the original language (Hebrew or Greek or Aramaic) and gives possible origins of the word.

Well, I couldn't find my copy of Smith's. It's around somewhere, but I dunno where. I did find some information on the Internet. The word that is translated as "raisin cakes" in some translations of the "Song of Solomon" is the Hebrew word "ashisha". This word basically means "pressed." In the King James version of the Bible, it is more often translated as a "flagon of wine", but in newer translations it is rendered as "cakes of raisins", which is now thought to be a more accurate translation.

Many of the cultures who lived in the area of Palestine worshipped female deities. Notable among these were the Moabites and the Canaanites. Cakes of raisins were a sacred sacrificial food to these female deities, and raisins had a reputation among Middle-Eastern cultures of being an aphrodisiac. This may account for their mention in the rather erotic "Song of Solomon".

The type of raisin cake meant by "ashisha" is not, in all probability, a cake, bun or biscuit with flour of any kind. "Cake", as meant here, probably means that the raisins have been pressed together into a cake like the yeast in a cake of yeast has been pressed together, and then dried so that the outside is not so sticky.

Phaed

""


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