Penelahpe's and Monday Night Blend Perfectly

I love cooking with beer, for real.  From sweet to savory.  I learned about cooking, poaching fruit in alcohol from Chef Joel from TEASPACE (lil five points hidden treasure circa 2007).  Sake poached Apple dumplings.  

Then the awesome and talented Chef Scotly gave me creative control on the Ormsby's dessert menu and we did SweetWater 420 poach apple dumpling stuffing with pecan streusle.  

So now the  2015-2016 food adventures bring me to the Drafty Trash Talk  Apple Pies.  I made 75 min pies from a great cause TrashWater (they make sure people in rural international spaces get clean water).  My not so secret ingredient is, guess? Go ahead I'll wait.....you are correct Monday Night Draft Kilt Scotish Ale and its flavor is worth every word.  The beauty of this Scotish Ale is not heavy and has coffee, malt, caramelized sugar,  would go great with ice cream and its the bomb with apples and cherries and brown sugar.   Say it loud "yummy!!"

The Crust is all Martha Stewart.  I'm saying , its just a good crust. 

Okay for la receta: 

Pre heat oven 350

cooking time 

20 min  on stove top

20 in oven

5 lbs.  of  golden delicious apples (preference)

1 C   Brown Sugar

1 bottle Monday Night Drafty Kilt

1 C frozen sweet cherries

3 Tsp Cinnamon

Peel and slice apples thin. Place in bowl of water and lemon juice to prevent browning until finished with all apples 

Dissolve the brown sugar in a large pot. How? add enough water just to wet the sugar. Turn stove top on med heat. 

Once the sugar is dissolved gradually add the  apples and the cherries and cinnamon.  DONT worry the apples will make their own liquid.  

Here's the fun part:

Once the apples begin to break down add your beer.

Continue to stir and taste and stir and taste (if you like super sweet allow the beer and apples to cook down first- you might be pleasantly surprised)

Now it is important to know that even though the alcohol will cook out your final product will taste like this wonderful craft beer.

Let the apple mixture cook until the apples are red and soft and tender about 20 Min

Let the apples cool before filling in your pies.

I did mini pies per the photos posted but please by all means make your pie as your want and make sure you blonde bake your crusts.

 Streusel 

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, cold butter

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

a pinch of Cardamon 

Add all in a food processor and pulse until crumbs

cover the top of pie/pies

Bake pie/pies at 350 until the edges of crust and streusel are golden brown and the juice from the apples and cherries is bubbling out. 

Lemongrass vegetable soup, penelahpe's style

I

As hungry and exited guests enjoyed the Fulton County Arts Council Brunch they opened the crock pot holding the soup, smelled it looked and ask, 'What's this?"  I answered,"Lemongrass vegetable soup."   I received some odd looks and comments,  but the power of persuasion and a curious appetite lead to an empty crock pot.

Lets begin

4 Lemongrass stalks

1knuckle of Ginger

                    2 limes, roll them before juicing

2tablespoons Chili paste

Teriyaki sauce ( the liquid)   

2 small bags 12-16 oz of frozen Asian blend with water chestnuts, baby corn ect vegetable 

Salt, Pepper, granulated garlic power,  Cilantro

Place a large pot on stove add 8 cups of water bring to a boil

                    1. Cut the bottom 1/2 in off the lemongrass, 
                      Bruise the lemongrass with the butt of a knife and shop lemongrass until tiny pieces.

                    2. Peel and small dice ginger ( think about whether or to you want big chunks of ginger    
                        and  lemongrass in your soup-- the small the better)

                    3. Add lime juice,  lemongrass and ginger to boiling water-- let boil about 5-8 min
                       Taste your broth- you should taste the lemongrass, the ginger and a hint of the lime    
                        juice
                    4. Now add the rest of the ingredients:  chili paste, Teriyaki sauce and frozen vegetables
                    5. Taste and add salt and black
                    6. Turn on low and let simmer about 30-45 min.
                    7. Add about a table spoon of chopcilantro when finished.

Enjoy the soup and remember use this recipe as your base and build with other flavors: green curry, shrimp, fish sauce, caramelized onions, roasted garlic...... send me you pics and share your experience.
Peace.

Penelahpe's Quiche was a Big Hit Thanks to Recipe Sharing

This week we catered a brunch for Fulton County Arts Council.  These are one of my favorite clients, they like good foods and we have the opportunity to feed a lot of different people.

This was  brunch  was exciting to put together from menu conception to packing up after the event.

Smoked gouda quiche: 

One with chicken sausage, spinach and roasted red pepper 

&

 Spinach and roasted yellow peppers.

The recipe came from my good friend's Nana.

I made a few modifications and the egg to milk proportions are perfect.

 Base Recipe as follows- pre heat over 375 ( serving size 3-4 pies)

Whisked together

8 eggs

1 cup of whole milk

1 cup of heavy cream

1/2 tablespoon of salt

1 teaspoon of black pepper

1 teaspoon of chopped oregano

Combine in one bowl

4 cups of provolone

2 cups of smoked gouda

When finished place peppers in separate bowls

2 red peppers

2 yellow peppers

4 cups of fresh spinach chopped

Do this first!!!!!

4 garlic gloves 

place in foil with olive oil close, place at bottom of oven first and check later

Peppers- this can be done ahead of time

rub each pepper in olive oil

place on cooking sheet and roast until skin in brown, turn over at least 1 time

Once skin in brown remove place in bowl cover with plastic wrap allow to steam 20-min.

please let peppers cool down - 

 peel with a knife- chopped remove seeds  

keep yellow and red peppers separate!!!!

Chicken

1/2 pound of ground chicken season with 

1 teaspoon coriander,

 salt, pepper, 

2 teaspoons cumin, garlic, 

1/2 teaspoon cardamon 

 mix all seasons into the chicken

cook a small patty and taste adjust for seasoning

cook the rest and drain when finished

Pull garlic out of oven- garlic should be tender, brown and smell awesome.

In one bowl combine chicken, spinach and red peppers  and oregano

In the other combine roasted garlic, yellow peppers, spinach and oregano

Pie crust: I purchase from my farmer's market- or google for an easy recipe

Assemble- 

mix both cheese together

At cheese first, other fillings and our quiche mix on top.- mix slightly

add more cheese on top.

Bake until golden brown and it does not wiggle.

Pull out let set and cool a bit and enjoy.

Please try this recipe you also have the option to order these quiches from Penelahpes@gmail.com

Thank you and peace.

Penelahpe's watermelon salad on the fly

After catering a business retreat in the mountains we returned with a surviving watermelon.  As I was sharing it out to co workers... I had a flash back to a birthday dinner party and watermelon Salad!!!!!!!

What you need:

10  medium chunks of watermelon---sweet, cold, water me

8 thin slices of red onion

2 table spoon of feta crumbles

2 basil leaves, chiffonade ( roll http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Chiffonade/)

salt and pepper to taste

Drizzle of olive oil

1-2 tables of balsamic reduction 

or 

your favorite balsamic dressing.

You know if you are successful if you taste it and begin to nod your head and say to yourself, " Alright I like this .."  and you go for some more.

If not, play with the amount of cheese to mellow the sweet and the tang of the dish

if you want your taste buds to pop - chop and add red pepper flakes 

Okay make this and share with me -- with a pick on my instagram or twitter @penelahpes

Peace.

Sweet Potatoes Soufflé Empanadas Recipe

Sweet potatoes soufflé

Sweetened with almond milk and brown sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. Penelahpes secret ingredient of love. Goya empanadas shells with annatto for coloring.  A spoonful in the center..if filling comes out the side , just take some out. 

Two choices to cook.: 1. Bake them and brush with egg wash before putting them in the oven or fry in hot veggie oil until dough is cooked thoroughly . trial and error... Return to hot oil if need be.

Dust with cinnamon and sugar of your choosing: brown, turbinado, white sugar and yes powered sugar may make n appearance.  When your sweet potato empanadas are finished.

Ice cream is the perfect guest to this mini meal.  My children waited for no such garnish or ice cream, as they bit in and steam left the treat and their mouths... They just jump around blowing vigorously so the next bite would not be delayed.

First, make sure the Goya shells are defrosted. Add mixture into shell.

Fold the shell with mixture in it.

Fold the edges over and repeat.

Prepare a good amount to begin frying.

Now, just wait for them to turn golden brown, then they're ready to cool off and start the next batch.

Get your Double Chocolate Vegan Cake infused with Green Tea!

Let's talk about this...Double chocolate vegan cake infused with green tea.

This one has sweet potato in the icing to riching ( i made that word up) aka enrich the flavor of it more. And sweet potato between the layers of chocolate love with six layers of goodness.

This cake is available year round from www.Penelahpes.com

The back story, this original recipe is available in th Grit cookbook.  My training at TeaSpace introduced me to tea infused desserts over all, thanks Chef Joel. So the penelahpe's take away is we do flavored Cakes, hazelnut, mint, orange, green tea, cinnamon ..... There are no limitations.....

Checkout Penelahpe's Year Round Desserts

Desserts year round...Penelahpe's has  awesome Dessert offerings.

Bombshell blondies filled with chocolate chips, butter scotch and white chocolate. Pick and choose your bombshell.

Our Apple Pies are a hot seller, this year we are using seasonal beers to add that love kick.  Our Super Moist Carrot Cake will have you stuck at the your table with good conversations, coffee - clear conscience- and pleased palate.

Vegan Chocolate Cake is my personal favorite, because we offer a small variety of infused flavors, mint chocolate, hazelnut cinnamon, Chamomile, orange, original - This cake is rich and full of chocolate flavor. www.penelapes.com for pictures.

Last but not least the Cheesecakes yes with a "S".  

We offer several flavors hazelnut, butterscotch, apple bottom, and original.

We take orders YEAR Round. Dessert parties, dessert tastings, wholesale desserts......... www.penelahpes.com, penelahpes@gmail.com 4046459233