KEY LIME MOUSSE TARTS IN PHYLLO (Page 62)

KEY LIME MOUSSE TARTS IN
PHYLLO

by Rita Heikenfeld
Key Lime Curd:
1 c. sugar
2/3 c. bottled Key Lime Juice (Nelly and Joes) near juices/lemon juce section
5 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 c. unsalted butter, melted and kept warm

Phyllo Cups:
1 pack phyllo sheets,thawed in refrigerator overnight* Don't try to quick thaw room temp. It will form a big lump.
Butter flavored cooking spray
1/2 c. finely minced nuts (pecans)
1/2 cup sugar

1 3/4 c. whipped cream

Key Lime Curd/ Mousse: Combine sugar, juice,and eggs in blender. Whirl until mixed. On low speed, add butter in a thin stream. Transfer to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick enough to mound slightly, about 8minutes. Cool. Store in refrigerator, covered, up to 2 weeks.
 After curd is cooked pour into a measuring cup. To make mousse, use anywhere from half to an equal amount of whipped cream. Fold into the COMPLETELY CHILLED lime curd. This can be done an hour or two before serving.

 Phyllo Cups: You can make phyllo cups 2-3 days ahead of time.Thaw phyllo overnight in refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Assemble everything before the phyllo (or in this package fillo) is opened. Spray the tin pan with the butter spray.

                               Not puff pastry sheets!!  Twice I have forgotten and grabbed them!

Bring to room temp. Unroll on a smooth dry surface. Keep covered with plastic and then a damp towel. Air dries it out.

 Keep covered it will dry in a few minutes. Don't be surprised the 1st few sheets are dry and not usable.

 Spray 1 layer with butter spray or melted butter and sprinkle with sugar, then repeat and sprinkle with nuts, repeat with sugar, then nuts and end with sugar (for a total of 5 layers.)
 Cut phyllo 1inch larger than your tart pan in squares .

Spray tins. Bake 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow them to cool.

Once cooled, fill tarts with mousse just before serving. Don't do in advance for 2 reasons: the bottoms aren't flat and will roll and they can get a tad soggy if not eaten right away.
 Makes 30 servings of  tiny muffin cups. Going with a standard muffin is just too much! Yes, we tried it.

Note: If you have empty tins, place water in them to keep them from burning. You can freeze the curd in a ball mason jar for 2 months.(I'd cover the tops with saran wrap, so that it touches the curd).

To make homemade whip cream: Take a 1/2 pint whipping cream and whip until fluffy.
Slowly add powdered sugar to desired sweetness. I like a splash of vanilla, but it will darken the cream.

Suppli Al Telephono

This means "Telephone wires" since they imitate telephone wires when you bite into them and have a cheese string from your mouth to your hand. These are fun to make.

Suppli al Telefono

This is a popular appetizer from Italy that was designed to use up leftover risotto. For advance preparation, the risotto balls may be fried ahead and reheated in 350 degree oven before serving. When it's prepared and heated properly it should be stretched strands of cheese when one bites into it. It imitates telephone wires, ergo the name.

Base risotto:

4-5 c. chicken broth

1/4 cup olive oil

 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1 medium onion diced

 2 cups Arborio rice

1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

salt to taste

Bring broth to a boil in a med. saucepan & keep it to a simmer (Don't let it boil away). In a separate large saucepan pan, heat olive oil and butter. Add diced onion and sauté over med. heat, until translucent 4-5 minutes. Stir in rice and cook just long enough to coat the grains thoroughly 1-2 min.

Heat on medium heat, add 1/3 cup simmering broth and cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed. Always stir in the same direction "because"….not sure why, but that’s how I was trained. Continue to add broth 1/3 cup at a time stirring constantly over med. heat until all liquid is absorbed until all liquid is gone ~ about 16 min. until rice is tender with a bite to the middle. Remove from heat and add cheese, season with salt. Allow rice to cool about 2 hours before making the balls. You may also cover and refrigerate until the next day.

Mozzarella balls:

Risotto recipe as above.

3 large eggs DIVIDED,  1 in risotto and 2 eggs for dipping

4 oz. mozzarella diced

1/2 c. Parmesan cheese grated

2 Tbsp. minced Italian parsley

salt &pepper to taste

2 cups dried bread crumbs

Vegetable oil for frying

Beat 1 egg and add to cooled risotto, mix well. Combine  Parmesan, parsley, salt and pepper.

Scoop up egg sized amount of risotto (1 1/2 Tbsp.) and lay it in the palm of your hand.

 The rice should be no more than 1/2 inch deep.

 Make an indentation in the center, fill with small diced cube of mozzarella and fold over, roll into a ball. Don't over stuff it.

 Lay it on a bake sheet and finish rolling all the balls. (*Rinse hands every 4-5 balls). Beat the remaining eggs with a little salt in a small bowl. Set breadcrumbs on a small bowl or plate. Dip the ball first into the egg, and drop into the bread crumbs and roll.

“Wet hand" and "dry hand " technique works well here! (Keep 1 for wet and 1 for dry). Lay on separate sheet. You may need to refrigerate briefly until balls become firm. Heat 3 inches of oil in the pan until 375 degrees. Test oil by dropping a few bread crumbs in the oil. They should bubble and turn brown almost instantly. Using a slotted spoon lower the rice balls into the oil.

Fry until golden brown about 2 min. (I did 3 at a time) Remove with a slotted spoon onto paper towels.

Serve immediately with PIZZA SAUCE!

When you pull them apart the string should be line string. I have not tried freezing them. You can reheat in the oven 350 degrees until done or microwave (if you are a Type A Osler)

Makes 20-24.

Appalachian Spaghetti (Or Taylor Spaghetti)

DAD'S MEATBALLS
(To be Served with Dad's Spaghetti)
James M Taylor III
Elsie Taylor
18 lbs. of hamburger
2 lbs. Bob Evan's Italian sausage
1 1/2 bunches of celery, chopped
1/4 c. Worcester's sauce
1/4 -1/2 c. A-1 sauce
2 1/2 green peppers, chopped
2 large onions (6 cups) chopped
6 eggs
1 can of evaporated milk
1 T. garlic powder
4 T. dried basil, oregano, and parsley
2 "handfuls" of oats (old or quick, doesn't matter)
 salt and pepper to taste * Mom does not like any pepper.
vegetable oil for frying (Mel & I don't think this is needed but Dad says yes)

In a very large container, mix the meats together. Add celery, onion and pepper. Add eggs and mix well. Throw in 2 handfuls of dry oats and mix. Add seasonings (spices and sauces). Use enough evaporated milk to make the mixture pliable or "wet" but still be able to form small balls. If you overdo it add more oats. Get 2 large iron skillets with hot vegetable oil, and brown the golf ball sized meatballs until very done. The veggies on the outside caramelize and the juices seal inside. Once the meatballs are cooked you can freeze them for later use, or put them into a huge pot of spaghetti sauce (see Dad's recipe for spaghetti sauce, too). You should cook the fried meatballs in the sauce overnight.

Note: To "taste" the mixture, fry up a small patty and adjust seasonings. I went light on the garlic, and usually add a lot more. I like garlic. Plan 6 lbs. of hamburger for 12 people. This recipe makes about 200 meatballs. you can cut it down. I'm not. When we make this it's a huge family party and everyone brings a container. This freezes great!

DAD'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE
(Requires an overnight prep)
James M Taylor III
Elsie Taylor - My Grandma
12 30 oz. cans of tomato sauce
1 30 oz. can of water cups
3 12 oz. cans of tomato paste
6 T. each parsley, basil, oregano and garlic powder
1 1/2 bunches of celery
2 large sweet onions, chopped
2 1/2 green peppers, diced
1/8-1/4 c. A-1 steak sauce

Place all the tomato sauce and paste in a huge stock pot. Take 1 30 oz. empty tomato can and fill it with water. Pour it into all the other empty cans, rinsing as you go, then pour it into the mixture. Add the vegetables to the pot and stir. Coat the top with the dried herbs and don't be afraid to really season it. It does cook down overnight! Add the A-1 steak sauce to taste. Mix and simmer overnight, stirring frequently. We add 200 meatballs to this and it makes quite a huge pot of spaghetti. If you are going to make it, then just make all of it! Freezes well.

2021 we doubled the herbs in sauce and meat and this update is reflected here.

ASIAN PORK TENDERLOIN (Page 32)

ASIAN PORK TENDERLOIN

1 pork tenderloin, about 3/4 lbs. tied with
string
1 tsp. dried mustard
1/2 tsp. sweet paprika
1/4 c. soy sauce
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 T. brown sugar
2 T. cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. cumin, ground
Mix all of the ingredients, except pork, in a large zip-lock bag. Add pork and seal well, squeezing out the air. Refrigerate 1-2 hours. (You could freeze for 2 months,just bring to room temp. before continuing). Grill, basting with marinade, until pink in center. Remove pork and allow to rest 5 minutes. We serve it with goat cheese for amazing sandwiches and cilantro rice as the side dish.

Note: A family favorite.We love this meal, but last year we walked away from the grill with the lid down, and set the grill ablaze. We learned and I hope you don't do what we did! Just stay nearby and keep the lid up as you grill.

BEEF AND BEAN CHILI (Page 33)

2 T. olive oil
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
2 large onions, diced
1 28 oz. can chopped tomatoes
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
2 T. tomato paste
1 T. garlic, minced
4 c. chicken broth
1 1/2 lb. good stew meat (or hamburger)
1 (15-oz.) can of black beans,drained and rinsed
1/4 c. chili powder
1 T. cumin
1 (15-oz.) can of kidney beans,drained and rinsed
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
3 bay leaves
1 tsp. chipotle adobo chili, minced


Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook,
stirring occasionally, until softened and light brown. Add the bell pepper and cook 5
minutes longer. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Increase the heat to medium high;
add the beef and cook until browned. Drain off excess fat. Stir in the chili powder and cumin.Cook 1 minute. Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to a low boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour so flavors meld and the
liquid reduces and thickens. Serve warm.
Note: I only use 1 tsp of chopped chili. I buy a can of chilies in Adobo sauce (Mexican aisle).I freeze them in individual bags, in a larger freezer bag. They thaw a tad soggy, but who cares,it's chili.
I will freeze half of this for another dinner (I usually will use up within 3 months)

Blueberry French Toast (Overnight Prep)

1 loaf french or Italian bread, cubed
1 8oz pkg. of Philly cream cheese, cubed into small bits
2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
8 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. maple syrup
1/2 c butter, melted
Spray a 9x13 pan and place 1/2 the bread cubes in it. Melt the butter is a separate bowl and allow it to cool slightly. Over the bread in the pan place 1/2 the blueberries and all of the cream cheese. Cover with the remaining bread then the blueberries. In a big bowl mix syrup,eggs, milk and butter and pour over the bread evenly. Cover and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Next day bake at 350 degrees x1 hour (check at 45. min of baking and cover with foil if need be.) Dust with powdered sugar and serve with blueberry syrup. Yum!