Tess Harris

Archive for January, 2011|Monthly archive page

Play “Catch Up” With Me

In American Food, Chicken Recipes, Food on the Go!, Healthy & Light, Salad Recipes, Sandwiches & Wraps on January 27, 2011 at 10:01 PM

Thursday comes.  And am still not ready.  I have taken hundreds of photos of the dishes I cooked for the past four years.  And recipes I have created and tested.  In fact, it’s taking most of my computer space.  Still.  I don’t have enough.  Sometimes, none meet with what I’m looking for.  Or, that fit the occasion.

Step by step photos are what I need.  And I need them for the hundreds of recipes I have cooked up since 2006.  When I first started on this journey.

I remember when I first taught myself how to bake bread.  From scratch.  I learned it from a book with step by step instructions, with photos.

The photos and step by step instructions helped me tremendously.  And gave me the courage to keep going.

It wasn’t until over a year ago, that I’ve started taking step by step photos on the dishes or recipes I’m working on.  Before that, I only took photos of the finished product.  Which I later realized is not sufficient enough to help those who are beginners.  Just like I once was.  Not long ago.

For me a perfect food blog post has step by step photos.  With clear, concise, and easy to follow instructions.  And I’m hoping that, that is what I’m presenting here.

Though sometimes, you’ll just have to forgive me.

~~~

As for this Roasted Chicken Club Salad Sandwiches recipe.  I think I have sufficient step by step photos to help us along…

Split chicken breasts are what we need to roast…

Rinse chicken breast under cold running water.  Place them in a large  baking sheet and pat them dry with paper towel.  Then pour some oil on the breasts and rub them all over…

And season them generously, on both sides, with salt and ground black pepper.

And roast them in preheated oven at 400°F for 50 minutes.

Remove the skins and shred the meat off the bones.

Next…

And with these ingredients. Make the salad dressing.


The salad dressing should look somewhat like this…

Add the chopped celery and onions to the shredded chicken.  Toss it to combine.

Then pour the salad dressing over the chicken, celery and onion mixture. Mix until chicken and salad dressing are combined well.


And wallah. That’s our Roasted Chicken Salad.

Get your Ciabata Rolls ready. And split them in half.

You could also just other breads such as rye, white or wheat.  Though I prefer Italian breads.  Especially the fresh ones…


First line the Ciabata roll with lettuce or spring mix greens.

Then top it with the Roasted Chicken Salad.


Top bacon over the chicken salad. (I usually allow one slice of bacon per sandwich. I break one slice in half.)

And there you are.  Our Roasted Chicken Salad Club Sandwich.

Serve with your choice of soup or your favorite potato chips or pretzels.

Roasted Chicken Club Salad Sandwiches

Yield:  8 Ciabata Rolls Sandwiches

Shredded Roasted Chicken Breasts – see recipe below

2 celery stalks – chopped

½ medium size red onion – chopped

Salad Dressing – see recipe below

8 thick slices bacon – cooked and crispy

8 green lettuce leaves – washed and patted dry or Spring Mix

8 Ciabata Rolls

In a large mixing bowl.  Combine shredded chicken, chopped celery and onions.  Add salad dressing.  Mix until salad dressing is combined well with the chicken, celery and onions.

Using a sharp knife.  Split Ciabata rolls

Line each roll with a lettuce leaf.

Scoop about ½ cup of Roasted Chicken salad mixture over the lettuce leaf

Break one crispy slice of bacon in half and top it over the chicken salad.  Place the half of Ciabata rolls over the filled sandwich.

Serve with your choice of soup or with your favorite potato chips.

Roasted Split Chicken Breasts:

3 – 4 split chicken breasts (about 4 pounds) – bone in and skin on

3 TBSPs. olive oil or cooking oil

4 tsps. coarse sea salt or 2 tsps. kosher salt

2 tsps. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Remove chicken from the package and rinse under cold running water.  Pat dry with paper towels.  And place chicken in a heavy-duty baking sheet.  Line with aluminum foil.

Drizzle olive oil over the chicken breasts and rub the oil all over the chicken.

Generously season the chicken breasts, on both sides, with coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

And roast them, skin sides up, in a preheated oven at 400°F for 50 minutes.  Cool the chicken to safely handle.

Remove the skins.

(By the way.  The skins are really crunchy.  And I usually eat them while they’re still warm.  Though they are a bit salty.  But don’t worry.  All that salt is only on the skins.  Only a negligible penetrated to the meat.)

Tear the chicken meat off the bones.  Shred into chunks and place in a large mixing bowl.  Discard the bones.  And the skins.

Salad Dressing:

1 cup real mayonnaise

2 tsps. Dijon mustard

½ tsp. dried tarragon leaves

½ tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp. kosher salt

Combine salad dressing ingredients in a bowl.  Set aside.

Tess’ Kitchen Secrets:

#1 – Coarse Celtic sea salt.  I love to roast chicken breasts with coarse sea salt.  This salt gives the chicken a better taste as compared to regular or kosher salt.

#2 – Roasted chicken used for chicken salad has more texture and taste as compared to the ones that’s been boiled.

#3 – The celery and onions gives the chicken salad a good crunch.

#4 – Also.  I prefer to use Spring Mix greens over lettuce leaves.  I think the Spring Mix Greens has more nutrients than the lettuce leaves.

Enjoy and Happy Cooking!

Tess Harris


Avocado BLT Sandwiches

In American Food, Food on the Go!, Healthy & Light, True Confessions - A Memoir on January 20, 2011 at 9:47 PM

I wasn’t sure what I was going to post today.  But whatever I decide, it has to be something simple and easy.  For both you, and me.

And that’s exactly what this Avocado BLT Sandwiches are.

If it weren’t for the slices of bacon.  These sandwiches are almost healthy.  But who can refuse bacon?  I love bacon.  I absolutely love it!  Don’t you….?

Com’on.  I know I am not alone in this department.

I particularly love the thick bacon slices.  They are perfect.  Especially for these sandwiches.

As for the avocados.  You have to pick the ripe ones.  But firm to the touch.  To be sure, look at each one.  Inspect them on all sides.

I know there’s not a 100% guarantee you’re going to pick the perfect avocados.  No matter how careful you are in choosing them.  And that’s not your fault. Or mine.

The avocados at the grocery stores have been picked from the tree months ago.  And who knows how long they have been sitting in the grocery bin?

When I was a little girl.  We were around avocados.  Perfectly ripe avocados.  Minutes fresh from the tree.  But at that time, we simply didn’t know what to do with them.  Our neighbors didn’t know either.  So we simple mashed them up.  Added sugar to it.  And walla.  Sweet mashed avocado.  Or for a fancier version, a drizzle of evaporated milk is added to the mixture.  But we can only eat so much mashed avocados with sugar.  And when eaten by itself.  Avocados are bland.  So we let the rest go to spoil.

We didn’t know that other countries, like America, have so much uses for them.  Such as making guacamole, California rolls, sandwiches, and more.  If only we knew.  But of course we didn’t.  We didn’t know anything.  I come from a family and community of ignoramus.

My husband always tells me:  you all could have gone to a library and read a book!  What library?  Where?  In our barrio?  I didn’t find out there was a place called library until I was in college.  And even then.  I was too shy to go in there!  It was staffed with mean looking, condescending girls.  Looking as if they are going to swat me with a stick if I make the wrong move!  Or say a word.  Or ask them questions.  But then he says:  You have no excuse! I don’t want to hear it!  I hate when he says this.  I really do.  Because he makes me feel even more of a dumb ass.  He is right of course.  Maybe we all could have read a book.  Any book.  I simply wasn’t raise in an environment that read.

My father could not read.  Nor write.  He only knew how to scribble his name on a dotted line.  I’m sure I had told you this before.

My mother was the smartest in our family.  She finished fifth grade.  She could read and write.  And could speak decent English.  In fact, she was my first English teacher.  She once worked as a maid for an American family.  Right after World War II.  When the Americans liberated us from the Japanese.  The American family had two children.  A son and a daughter.  And she was their nanny.  And that’s how she learned and practiced the English language.

As for reading.  The only books we read were the text books issued to us from school.  And we didn’t study English literature or world history.  And I think this explains a lot why we act the way we do as a people.  And as a country.

We haven’t advanced much.  It’s true that Filipinos work around the world as skilled and technical workers.  Medical workers.  Domestic helpers.  But I don’t know if I will call these advancements.  Yes. The remittances from Filipino overseas workers accounts for 10% of the country’s gross domestic product.  And still increasing year, after year.

What does this mean?  This means, we are a people who can adapt anywhere.  Anyplace.  Anytime.  This also means that we are expendable labor.  Readily exported and exploited for the right price.

Well.  OK.  Let’s get back to the Avocado BLT sandwiches…

You will need the following:

Thick bacon slices.

Cooked and drained.

I’ve tried cooking bacon in a preheated oven at 400°F for 15 to 25 minutes.   This is how restaurants cook their bacon.  But, I must say.  I prefer cooking bacon the old fashioned way.  And here is why.

The oven cooked bacon is greasier.  Even after they have been drained and patted with paper towels.  Whereas the ones cooked in a a skillet… are crisper and less greasy.  Takes longer.  But I’d cook bacon in a skillet anytime.

Ciabata Rolls

Or whole Ciabata bread. Or Flat bread.

During the time I took this photo.  I was making sandwiches for Ramon.  Thus I only slice what I needed.

And then I sliced the bread in half.  And generously smear each half with real mayonnaise.  Or mayonnaise on one half.  And mustard in the other half.

Sprinkle each half with freshly ground black pepper.

Next.  Layer thin slices of tomatoes and red onions over one half of the bread.

Again.  Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Generously layer a ‘spring mix greens’ over the tomatoes and onion layers.

Layer the av0cado slices over the ‘spring mix greens.’

And finally.  Top all the layers of tomatoes, onions, spring  mix, avocados with slices of bacon.

Place the other half of Ciabata bread on top.

And slice them.

Two slices for each person.

Serve with your choice of potato chips or soup.

Here’s the recipe:

Avocado BLT Sandwiches

Serves 3 – 4 people

1 package (16 ounces) Thick Bacon Cuts – cooked and drained

1 Ciabata Bread or Flat Bread

Real Mayonnaise

Large ripe tomato – thinly sliced

Half of Red Onion – thinly sliced

Spring Mix greens or baby spinach (get the ones that have been thoroughly washed and ready to use)

2 ripe large Avocados – half avocado for each person

Fine sea salt or kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Split the Ciabata bread.  Smear each half, cut side, with mayonnaise.  Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper.

Line the thinly sliced tomatoes over on one of the bread halves.  Generously sprinkle salt and black pepper over the thinly sliced tomatoes.

Place a layer of thinly sliced red onions over the tomatoes.

Generously layer spring mix greens, or baby spinach over the tomato and onion layer.

Layer avocado slices over the spring mix green.  Generously sprinkle salt and black pepper over the avocado slices.

Line the cooked and drained bacon over the avocado layer.

Place the other bread half over the one with filled with avocados and bacon.

Slice the whole sandwich into three and then slice each third in half.

Serve sandwiches with your choice of soup.

Enjoy and Happy Cooking!

Tess Harris

Easy and Simple Egg Rolls (Lumpia)

In Appetizers, Beef Recipes, Chinese Food, Filipino Food, Food on the Go!, Other Asian Foods, Pork Recipes, Side Dishes, Snacks, Uncategorized, Vegetable Recipes on January 14, 2011 at 9:12 AM

Are you Filipino?  Do you make lumpia?

These are two questions that I get asked often by Americans.  Years ago.  I would feel offended by these questions.  What do you mean do I make lumpia?  I can make all kinds of things.  Why does it have to be lumpia?

It’s not until this past several years that these questions no longer offend me.  As much.

I can’t blame my American friends.  We have been conditioned to think of people in terms of their stereotypes.  I am Filipino.  Therefore I make lumpia.  I probably eat balut too.  For those of you who are not familiar with balut.  Balut is a fertilized duck or chicken egg with a nearly developed embryo.  Boiled and eaten on the shell.  And the answer to the balut question is NO.  I have never eaten balut.  And never will.  No offense to those who eat them.  Sorry.  The mere sight of balut makes my insides shakes and grumble.  As if it’s going to invert.

The truth is.  I did not learn how to make egg rolls or lumpia until I was 19.  When I meet my husband, my cooking skills were mediocre.  I had to teach myself how to cook.  Or watch others cook.  And then practice what I had learn in my kitchen.

I had once used a blender to ground pork.  And the blender started smoking.  The motor burn out.  I was 20.  Young and dumb.  I didn’t know I couldn’t use a blender to ground pork!  I forget what it was exactly I was making.  But I wanted to impress my husband, who was then my boyfriend.

To this day.  He remembered the dish.  He said it was good.  And the blender?  He remembers that too.

You’re probably wondering… What do you mean you didn’t know how to cook?  You were poor and had no servants!  So how could you not know how to cook?  Being poor was  exactly the reason.  We were too poor.  There was nothing to cook.  I know how to cook rice.  I learned that at seven.  I know how to stew fish with salt and vinegar.  I learned this at eight.  But these were it.  We did not have the luxury to cook and eat pancit or lumpia.  We eat meat once every six months.  If we’re lucky.

Though there were exceptions.  I helped my mom make “sweets stuff” when I was barely nine.  I was her little helper.  Grating sweet potatoes and cassava.  And rolling them in banana leaves.  And then hawking them on the street until every one of the sweet roll is sold.  Probably explains why I hate selling to this day.

The skills of rolling stuff come naturally to me.  Rolling sweet potatoes and or cassava.  Egg rolls.  Lumpia.  Sushi.  And kimpap.  A Korean dish that sort of like sushi.  I suppose I could roll anything.  My step mother-in-law was highly surprised when I easily caught on on how she made kimpap.  And how at ease I was at rolling them.  I didn’t tell her I’ve been rolling stuff since I was barely nine.

I was with my sister when I first saw how lumpia or egg rolls were made.  She, and her friend, Ate Aida, would have a large tub of raw ground beef and finely chopped vegetables, and some eggs to bind them.  And they’ll start rolling the mixture in lumpia wrapper.  They’d do this on birthdays and special occasion.  This was my first exposure in making lumpia.

You probably notice that I am using the terms lumpia and egg rolls interchangeably.  That’s because the principles in making the two are the same.  The only difference is the thickness of the wrapper.  Lumpia wrapper is thinner and crispier.  More delicate and tears easily.  Whereas the egg roll wrapper is thicker and a lot easier to handle.

There are two types of lumpia:  Fresh (spring rolls) and Fried (egg rolls).

Fresh lumpia or spring rolls are just what the name implies.  The wrapper is not fried.  It is filled with stir fried or fresh vegetables.   And topped with a slightly sweet sauce.  Health aficionados will almost always chose fresh lumpia over fried spring rolls.

The fried egg rolls are of course, fried.  The vegetables are stir fried.  Then wrap with egg roll wrappers.  Deep fried at 350˚F for about 2 minutes on each side.  Or until the wrapper is golden brown and crispy.

The secret in making egg rolls is in the filling.  People have their favorite secret ingredients.  Usually, a combination of meats, shrimp and vegetables.

What I made here are lumpia or egg rolls.  And in my opinion, easy to make.  I used vegetables that I like and quick to cook.

I hardly ever use bean sprouts in my egg rolls.  That’s because my husband hates bean sprouts.  And besides, beans sprouts produce too much liquid which makes the filling a bit runny.  And this I do not want.

And the sauce is fresh from the bottle.  Sweet Chili Sauce.  Available in any Asian stores.  You can make your own if you like.  A simple mixture of vinegar, garlic, freshly ground black pepper, and a little bit of salt will do.

Egg rolls are best served immediately.  While they’re still warm and crispy.

Here’s what you’ll need for this easy and simple egg rolls:

Ground beef.

Ground Pork.

Onions. Chopped.

Garlic. Chopped.

Carrots. Finely diced.

Celery. Finely diced.

Green Beans. Chopped.

Potatoes.  Finely diced.

Green onions.

Lumpia or Eggroll Wrappers.

You can find these at any Asian stores.  Or in Supermarkets.  In the refrigerated section next to the produce department.  And or in the freezer department.

Seasoning:  soy sauce, coarse sea salt, and ground black pepper.

And Sweet Chili Sauce for dipping the lumpia or egg rolls.

~~~~

Once the prep work is done. i.e. chopping the onions, garlic and the vegetables needed…

You need to do the following:

Heat a large skillet and add 3 TBSPs. olive oil.

Add meat – ground beef and pork into the pot.

Stir it up and add sea salt.  Or kosher salt.  Use less if using kosher salt.

Add freshly ground black pepper.

Cook meat until gray.  Until all the juices evaporated and meat starts to sizzle.  If the meat is too watery.  Drain liquid.  You may have to add a tablespoon oil to saute the veggies with the meat.

Add onions and garlic.  Stir a few minutes.  Just until onions are translucent.

Add the potatoes.  Stir and saute a few minutes.

Add the chopped vegetables: carrots, celery and green beans.

Stir and saute until green beans are slightly cooked.

Add the green onions.

Add one to two tablespoons of soy sauce.

Add one tablespoon first.  Then taste.  Add another if needed.

Stir to combine.

By this stage… the potatoes should be soft and mash easily.  It should act as thicker or binder to the whole meat and vegetable mixture.

If the mixture contains a bit of a liquid.  Sprinkle a a tablespoon cornstarch over the meat and vegetable mixture.  And then stir to incorporate.  Over medium heat.  Stir for a few minutes.

~~~

How to roll the lumpia or egg roll:

Step one.  Carefully peel and separate each egg roll wrapper.

Lay one wrapper flat with one corner facing you.

Spoon about two tablespoons of the meat and vegetable mixture onto the wrapper.  About two inches from the corner pointing towards you.

Fold the corner facing you over the filling.  Slightly tucking in the tip under the filling.

Roll it forward up to the middle corners.

Fold the left corner over.

And fold the right corner over.  Forming an envelope.

Lightly brush the folded corners and top wrapper with beaten egg.

And then continue to roll until you have a short cylinder.

Finish rolling the remaining meat and vegetable mixture.  Place each roll seam side down.

Heat a deep skillet or a wok and add about 3 – 4 cups of cooking oil.  Heat oil until it reaches 350˚F.

Fry egg rolls or lumpia, five or six at a time, until golden and crispy.

Remove egg rolls from the pan and drain on paper towels.

Serve immediately.  While warm and crispy.  With a sweet chili sauce on the side for dipping.

This Sweet Chili Sauce is really not spicy.  It is more sweet than it is spicy.

~~~

Easy and Simple Egg Rolls

Filling:

1½ pound ground beef

1 pound ground pork

6 TBSPs. cooking oil – divided

1 large onion – chopped

4 stalks green onions – chopped

6 cloves garlic – smashed, peeled and minced

1 large baking potato – peeled and finely diced

3 large carrots – peeled and finely diced

3 celery sticks – peeled and finely diced

1 pound green beans – finely chopped

6 green or red hot chilies – finely chopped (optional)

1 TBSP. coarse sea salt

½ tsp. ground black pepper

1 package Egg Roll Wrappers

Large egg + 1 tablespoon water – lightly beaten

Heat a large pot and add 3 tablespoons cooking oil.

Add ground beef and pork.  Stir to break up into small chunks.

Add coarse sea salt and ground black pepper.

Stir and cook meat until gray.  Keep stirring until most liquid evaporates and meat starts to sizzle.

If there’s too much liquid in the meat.  Drain the liquid.  And add a tablespoon of oil to the meat.

Add onions and garlic.  Stir until onions are translucent.

Add the potatoes.  Stir for a few minutes.

Add all carrots, celery, green beans.

Stir until vegetables are partially cooked, about 3 minutes.

Add green onions.  Stir to combine.

Add soy sauce.  Stir to incorporate.

At this stage, the potatoes should be soft and mash easily.  It should act as thickener or binder to the whole meat and vegetable mixture.

If the mixture contains a bit of a liquid.  Sprinkle a a tablespoon cornstarch over the meat and vegetable mixture.  And then stir to incorporate, over medium heat.  Stir for a few minutes.

Remove pot from the heat and cool.

How to Roll the Egg Rolls or Lumpia:

Separate the spring rolls wrapper one at a time.  Cover them with damp kitchen towel to keep them from drying.

Using a large chopping board lay the spring roll flat.  One corner facing towards you.

Scoop about two (2) spoonfuls of the meat and vegetables mixture into the spring roll wrapper.  About 1½ inches away from the corner facing you.

Fold the corner facing you over the filling.  And fold both left and right corners over the first fold.  Forming an envelope.

Lightly brush folded and top wrapper with the beaten egg.

Roll and seal.  Place egg roll seam side down.

Repeat the procedures with the remaining filling and egg roll wrappers.

How to Fry Egg Rolls or Lumpia:

Heat a deep skillet or frying pan and add 3 to 4 cups cooking oil.  Heat the oil to about 350˚F.  (Use a thermometer to make sure you have the correct temperature while frying.)  The egg rolls should be fully submerged in the hot oil.

Fry egg rolls about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Drain on paper towels.

Serve egg rolls immediately.  While still warm and crispy.  Have a small bowl of Sweet Chili Sauce on the side for dipping.

Tess’ Kitchen Secrets:

#1 – Since the filling has already been cooked.  It only takes a few minutes to fry these egg rolls.

#2 – The finely diced potatoes serves as thickener and binder.  Which makes for a crisper egg rolls.

Enjoy and Happy Cooking!

Tess Harris

Apple Crumble with Browned Butter

In American Food, Salad Recipes on January 6, 2011 at 12:08 PM

This recipe was inspired by my friend Theresa.  She made this for Thanksgiving and posted an inviting photo on her Multiply page.  She was kind enough to share her recipe.  And gave me permission to share it with you here.  Thank you Tess!

I altered her recipe just a little bit.  Instead of using margarine.  I used browned butter.  I LOVE the smell and taste of browned butter.  And I thought it would be perfect for this recipe.

Also, while I was at the grocery store.  I spotted Ultra fine or superfine sugar that Baker’s used.  So of course I got one and use it for this Apple Crumble recipe.  Instead of granulated sugar.

Here’s Theresa’s Original recipe if you would like to print it as well.

For this Apple Crumble, you will need the following:

When making crumbles or pies, I always like to mix different varieties.  Here I have Granny Smith, Gala and Braeburn.

Peel, core and slice apples.

Freshly squeezed lemon juice.

You really do not need two lemons.  One large lemon usually yield 2 – 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.  And you only need 1 – 1/2 TBSPs.

Superfine sugar.

Ground cinnamon and cloves.

Flour (superfine sugar, and kosher salt).

Browned butter.

~~~

How to assemble all the ingredients…

Pour lemon juice over the sliced apples.  Toss to combine.

In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon and cloves.

Pour sugar, cinnamon and clove mixture over the apples.

Mix them up.

Brush a 13 x 9 x 2″ baking pan with browned butter or melted butter.

Empty the bowl of apples into the buttered pan.

In another bowl, combine flour, sugar and kosher salt.  Mix them up.

Pour browned butter over the flour mixture.

And mix them up or crumble them with your hands.  Until mixture resembles a sand texture.

Pour crumbly mixture over the apples.  Making sure to evenly spread the it over the apples.

And that’s how it should look…

Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F degrees for 45 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350°F and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Since this is a crumble.  I like my apples tender.  Not crispy.

And that’s how it should look.

And it should taste as good as it looks.

Here’s the recipe.

Apple Crumble with Browned Butter

10 – 12 Apples medium size apples (granny smith, gala and braeburn)

1/4 superfine or Baker’s sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves

1 ½ TBSPs. lemon juice

TOPPING:
¾ cup superfine or Baker’s sugar
1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
¾ teaspoon kosher or maldon salt
1/3 cup browned butter

Preheat oven at 375°F.

Butter a 13″ X 9″ pan.

Peel and core and slice apples.

In a mixing bowl, pour lemon juice over sliced apples.

In another bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and cloves.  Pour over sliced apples and mix .  Then pour apples into buttered baking pan.

In yet another bowl, combine together sugar, flour, salt.  Pour browned butter.  Mix until crumbly and sand in texture.

Top apples with the crumbled mixture.

Bake at 375°F degrees for 45 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350°F and bake an additional 10 minutes.  Or until apples are tender and topping is light golden brown.

Best served warm and fresh from the oven.  May be served with whipped topping or vanilla ice cream on top.

How to Make Browned Butter:

Place butter in small pot with heavy bottom.  Melt butter over medium heat.  Butter will boil and sputter before it turns golden brown.  This whole process takes about 20 minutes.  Please watch carefully.  As soon as the butter turns starts to smell nice, aromatic and nutty and turns golden brown.  Remove pot from the heat and cool before using.  Refrigerate for future use.

Note: 1 cup of butter will yield about ¾ cup of browned butter.

Tess’ Kitchen Secrets:

#1 – Browned butter elevates the taste of this apple crumble to another level.

#2 – Mixed apple varieties give this apple crumble a mixed texture, sweetness and tartness.

#3 – You can also make this dairy free.  Since I’ve tested this recipe.  I have also have made a dairy free version, using coconut oil, instead of browned butter.  Slightly different taste.  But it was still good.  Perfect for people who are allergic to dairy products.

Enjoy and Happy Cooking!

Tess

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