Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Hard Baked Eggs Test

Have ever come across a cooking technique that is like a science project.   While I was searching for a recipe, I came across Hard Baked Eggs.   I could not believe it.  It made me to ponder a bit.   It kind of make sense and pose the question - "Why Not?"   I read on, and found out that the it is verified by Alton Brown.   "Oh, okay," I said. "Let's try it..."  I couldn't remember all the details so I just did what I think I remembered the recipe says.  Moist paper towel, eggs, and bake in 350'F oven for 20 minutes.  Then, cool under running water in a bowl.  And Voila.  Beautiful eggs - peeled easily.
 
 
 
 The idea was to be able to Peel massive amounts of eggs easily vs boiled eggs.
I must say that this will be my favorite way of cooking eggs.
And afterwards, my son found the article.... And I remembered almost exactly....

by Alton Brown 
Published on March 29, 2013.
Sure you could just boil your eggs for dying or eating, but if you need to do more than one dozen at a time, baking is best.

Position the oven racks in the center of the oven, then arrange the eggs in a mini muffin tin or directly on a thoroughly moist kitchen towel (click play on the video above for more info). Set the oven to 320 degrees F and bake for 30 minutes. When the eggs are done fill a large bowl with ice water and move the eggs into a bowl. Peel the eggs as soon as they are cool enough to handle, then return them to the ice bath to thoroughly chill.

I usually find baked eggs a little harder to peel than steamed (or boiled), but just barely. The fact that shell of the baked eggs gets hotter during cooking than the shell of the steamed eggs may be a factor. Still I prefer the slightly creamier texture of baked eggs to steamed or boil. I imagine its because the dry heat moves into these eggs more slowly than steam heat does.

 Then, I got some home grown green onions from my garden and ate it with my RAMEN.

Matchbook Winery visit

I visited Matchbook Winery a couple of weekends ago to do something different.
Matchbook Winery is located in Zamora, California, west of Sacramento up Highway 5. 
12300 County Road 92B
Zamora, CA 95698
I am not a wine drinker, but I enjoyed the scenery and Pasta Queen luncheon at the site.

On the way back, I notice beautiful hills and happy frolicking horses, especially the white ones.  It seems to know that it is so beautiful, and I am watching it. 
 





Wednesday, April 01, 2015

My Favorite Cinnamon Rolls

If you have not yet tried your skills in making one of this Alton Brown's Overnight Cinnamon Rolls, you are really missing out on it.  I have tried many recipes for the Cinnamon Rolls, yet after many hours of labor to be disappointed.  Those recipes turn out cinnamon rolls that are rather 'hard' after sitting an hour.  I highly recommend Alton Brown's Good Eats 2, The Middle Years, cookbook.  And I enjoy his insights to all the food science behind the ingredients.  One of the modification to the recipe that I do, however, I use sour cream instead of buttermilk.  Based on my experience with Ponchiks, I think the source cream is the key to keep cinnamon rolls pillowy soft after several hours and overnight.  The recipe come close to brioche style and that maybe the contributing factor to the soft tender crumbs it produces.
  
I like to use Ceylon Cinnamon instead also.
Tastes Way Better than the 'you know who's!'  ha, ha....