My Vintage Kitchen

Great Moments in American Cinema

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Here we are with our second installment of "Great Moments in American Cinema". If you would like to see our first installment here it is. Today it's a tribute to the man who can make giant pancakes, John Candy, otherwise known as "Moley Russell's Wart" or "Uncle Buck".

There are so many wonderful things about the following scene.

A. Who does not love Tone-Locs "Wild Thing"?

B. Who does not love large men trying to pee in tiny urinals?

C. Who does not love a "Melanoma Head"?

Ah yes, truly a great moment in American Cinema. In honor of Uncle Buck, here is a recipe for one of my favorite holiday treats. Buckeyes.

-Shelly

Buckeyes

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups sifted confectioners sugar

6 ounces dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet

2 tablespoons shortening

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and confectioners sugar till a smooth stiff dough forms. Shape into balls using a tablespoon of dough for each buckeye. Place on prepared pan and refrigerate. Melt shortening and chocolate together in a double boiler. Once chocolate and shortening are melted and smooth remove the refrigerated dough and insert a wooden toothpick and dip into melted chocolate. Return to wax paper, chocolate side down, and remove toothpick. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.

The French Really Have a Way With Words

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I love how you can say anything in French and it sounds posh.                                                          

For instance:"We are the young, hello my name is pencil"

Sounds like: " Nous sommes les jeunes, bonjour mon nom est le crayon"

But in German....uhhh not so much "Wir sind die junge, hallo ist mein name bliestift".

And then there is "Shrimp Etouffee"                                                                                                    

In French: "Etouffee de Crevette"

In German: "Garnele Etoufee".

See what I mean? Anyway, lets quit talking about how Etouffee sounds and get down to it. This is a variation on a Crawfish Etouffee that was in the December issue of Gourmet Magazine...the variation being my grocer did not have crawfish and I used shrimp.

Also I have a Disclaimer : All translations are courtesy of some free translator I found on line and I have no clue if they are actually correct. Yes I am of German decent, no I do not speak German. Yes I took French in High School, no I do not speak French...sorry Madame Price.

-Shelly

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter 

3 cups minced onion

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

1 tablespoon all purpose flour

1 cup chicken broth

1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1 lb shrimp ( cleaned )

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Melt butter in medium saucepan over moderate heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add thyme and flour, and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Whisk in chicken broth, Cajun seasoning, paprika and hot sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in shrimp. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Stir in green onions and parseley. Serve with steamed rice.

       

Crazy for Cutlery

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I must say.....you know every time I say "I must say" I think of Ed Grimly. ANYWAY...I must say I am completely in love with our little cutlery set....how cute is that face and the little bun on this chickies hair? We try not to really plug the stuff we sell to much as really the main focus of this blog is cooking, but I just had to show you all how cute this little sweet pea is. Her partner is pretty charming too. Anyway, they are back in stock as is the very popular Penguin Thermos ( if you're still looking for last minute gifts.) 

Check back with us tomorrow as I will be posting the BEST Etouffee I have ever had in my entire life! You know it's good when the recipe calls for a whole stick of butter....lord have mercy on our arteries!

-Shelly

Is that a Fried Egg on your Salad?!

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I know what your thinking...did two Bob Evans waiters collide...one with a breakfast bowl, and one with a salad? No my friends, they did not....and yes that is a fried egg on top of that spinach salad. I was flipping through the pages of Everyday Food and found this little recipe. Really the only reason I thought about making it was because I had all the ingredients, that by the way is never a good reason to cook something as it should probably sound good to you first. So the fried egg thing did not sound so good to me, because A. I thought I don't want a runny yoke all over my spinach and B. It's a fried egg, boiled egg seems OK but fried? hmmm. Well I must have felt adventurous because I went ahead and trusted the editors of Everyday Food and I must say this was excellent! The salad needs the yoke, it gives a rich lovely flavor to the salad and balances out the bitterness of vinegar and spinach.

   

Serves 4

2 bundles fresh spinach washed

3 med Yukon Golds (small dice)

1 shallot ( fine dice)

2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

Parmesan cheese

4 eggs

Cook your potatoes in a bit of olive oil until golden brown. In a separate bowl mix the shallot with the vinegar, olive oil, mustard, salt & pepper.  Put your spinach in the bowl but don't mix in the dressing yet. Grate desired amount of Parmesan cheese on top of spinach. Top with your hot potatoes and start mixing together...till spinach wilts. Fry your egg over medium. Plate your salad and top with egg.

 

For our Indy Readers

I can not even begin to tell you how overjoyed I am that Maria's Pizza is finally getting ready to reopen....AND I hear it's going to be next to Deano's Vino in Fountain Square. I have not personally confirmed this yet, but I will keep you updated. I could not think of a more perfect place for Maria's and I have to say I have seriously missed them in their absence! As many of you know who read my old blog ( that I recently chucked) I went on and on about what is the greatest pizza in the United States...Sorry NY I don't need a slice of your pie....Chicago, your good...but not even close.  Maybe it's because I grew up with it, maybe it's because EVERYONE I have ever taken there becomes addicted...maybe it's because they are sprinkling mood altering drugs in the sauce...whatever it is all I know is Maria's original recipe is soon going to be back and I will be there to cheer them on in their new home and as I promised I will keep you updated!

I may even write a poem "Ode to Muenster Cheese"...a little birdy ( reader) told me that was what they used and in a miserable effort to recreate a Maria's Pizza in my own kitchen I tried Muenster Cheese and a Beer Crust....Oh it smelled like a Maria's...the beer crust, the cheese....but it was not even close to as tasty....I still haven't cracked the mood altering drugs/pixie dust they are sprinkling on their pizzas.

Stay Tuned!!!

-Shelly

UPDATE: Here is their website  (check it out...thats my photo! haha) OHH and I'm not sure but 1106 Prospect St is not next to Deano's Vino....I think it's on the other side of the Fountain Sq Theater. Corrections anyone??

My Thanksgiving Holiday, by: Robin

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Thanksgiving has come and gone and it was FANTASTIC. Up here in New Jersey, my family went to my cousins husbands parents sisters husbands house and it was phenomenal. They are from India and served many traditional Indian foods as well as the standard turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole fair. I believe they had close to 60 people in attendance and I have never seen anyone throw a Thanksgiving party quite like this one. They played football, had cocktails, and were the most gracious host and hostess I have ever met. Oh, and they had these great spicy ball things. WHAT WERE THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS????? Hats off to the cousins husbands parents sisters husbands family. I am thankful for such a great day with such nice people. Thank you. Now, here is quick tip from the Indiana thanksgiving crowd and Shelly. Instead of pie, make tiny tarts from the previous post because they take up less valuable food stomach space. EVERYONE ate a tart and the pie sat lonely and untouched. Poor Pie.

-Robin

It is Your Turn to Entertain Us

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Well, it's stranger fudge time of year again. The holidays are upon us and we are busier than ever. Instead of me boring you with yet another attempt to be witty, I would love to hear your great stories of the holiday's and the bizarre and funny things that have happened. If you have a delicious recipe to accompany your story throw it our way as we continue to search for the best of the best! Here is a little something we cooked up to hold you over.

Our Great Grandmothers Pumpkin Pie

This is a dark rich pie that is absolute heaven.

1 cup pumpkin

1 1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp  ground cloves

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

butter ( the size of a walnut)  sorry there is not exact measurement but this is what Grandma wrote down.

Cook in a double boiler the first 7 ingredients till thick. Remove from fire and let stand a few minutes. Then Add eggs & butter to mix. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake in a hot oven until shiny.  Sorry again grandma did not put specifics and this recipe was handwritten in the front of her cookbook. I cooked it for 10 minutes at 450 then down to 350 for about 25 more minutes.

Also, this made enough to fill some very small tart pans ( nice if your stuffed and just want a bite or two)

So I'm a Snob...It's Just Because I'm Better Than You

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When I was in college I had moments when I could have been a little nicer. This of course, rides on the idea that I could always be a little nicer, but why? Three doors down in my dorm, there were two girls. One of the girls we nicknamed W.T. for her one time stone washed jeans which were now yellow and the very strong possibility that her home had wheels. Her roommate "dresser" was so named for her boxy build.  Dresser and WT lived happily in their own filth as we "clean" girls held our noses and walked past their open door while simultaneously avoiding the grasp of our pervert janitor, which is another story all-together (whoopsidoodle, I didn't realize you were changing. I didn't grab you there, I didn't realize the towel over the curtain and the water running meant you were naked in the shower....you get the picture). Sometimes when I think back I picture what their lives must be like now...10 years later. Has W.T. lived up to the name? Has Dresser blossomed into a fine young armoire? These are things that I would like to get to the bottom of, and now that My Vintage Kitchen is on myspace ( where we found this gem of a photo-pure culinary delight) I'm pretty sure I will!

Check us out at http://www.myspace.com/myvintagekitchen

Either way I have a feeling their wedding cake looked like this.

   

Pull My Finger

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If we food bloggers could name one day per year where the joy of creating can be completely stamped out by those that love us most it is Thanksgiving. Therefore, we girls at My Vintage Kitchen are making some early suggestions so that you may prepare your grocery list accordingly. Sure, certain family traditions must prevail. For instance, I do think it's cute when my mother-in-law comes out with pants tucked neatly into her turkey socks so the "snakes don't get in". I am also sometimes forced to re-think the whole turkey/meat thing as my father in law goes out back and knocks off Ted the live turkey, but people, CRANBERRIES IN A CAN? Sure, when I was a kid you couldn't fight me for the opportunity to open the can and hear the suctioning fart noise that was to follow as I triumphed over helping "make" Thanksgiving dinner. And the memories of the whole "pull my finger game" over football with my uncle will not be forgotten either, but, it is time for a new era. Have we forgotten about the pilgrims? Would they just open a can of cranberries? No! No! and neither should you. So, I implore you, this year make something a little different. Oh, and get yourself an Apron. We are not savages here. We are delicate frickin flowers....ummmm unless you are a guy doing the cooking, then we are masculine strapping men....and if that is you, well, you should probably just wear some nice fitting jeans and a button up shirt, untucked with the sleeves rolled up. That's hot. Thank you.

- Robin

 

Cranberry Chutney

1 bag fresh cranberries

2 med apples diced

1 1/4 cups superfine sugar

1/2 cup water

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp cinnamon

Mix everything in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer for 20 min. You want to sort of mash the fruit with your spoon a bit so that it thickens. Refrigerate.

Rosemary Spread

Use 1 cup cooked shredded chicken or turkey

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

2 Tablespoons fresh Rosemary chopped.

Soften Cream Cheese and mix in other ingredients. Also salt and pepper to taste.

Spread on toasted bread *I used pumpernickle* or crackers, dot with your chutney and garnish with rosemary.

We have a WINNER!

Congratulations to Nicole P.!!!! You guessed correctly....the top photo had an extra layer of fudge that was not in the bottom photo or the recipe. Nicole, shoot us your address a myvintagekitchen@gmail.com and we will get you your new fancy "cocktail dish towels"!

Thanks again to everyone who played along!

OH and if you are wondering how on earth the top piece had the extra layer of fudge and the bottom one did not. Robin (in New Jersey)  and I (Shelly in Indiana) will often cook the same recipes, we talk about what we would like to try, and post. And sometimes we mix it up a bit, as you can see we both took pics of our creations only to realize that I put an extra layer of fudge. Either way this recipes is amazing and you should give it a go!

Thanks again for playing along and congratulations to Nicole...this one was sort of hard!