May 30, 2011

NUTTY ECLAIR PIE (2 banana difficulty level)


Sometimes you just have to make something that you enjoyed from back in the day.  There's just something about the "Eclair Pie."  So easy to make and so tasty to eat.  This is some pretty straight forward stuff, you just have to make it a day or 2 ahead so the graham crackers get nice and soft.  Most recipes call this a "Chocolate Eclair Pie" since you spread chocolate frosting on the top, but of course I have to be different.  I decided to use the spread from "Monkey Marathon Bites."

Let 'This Monkey' show you how to make a delicious dessert!



WHAT YOU NEED:
12 oz boxes of Honey Graham Crackers
2 - 3.5 oz boxes of French Vanilla Instant Pudding
8 oz Cool Whip

For the Spread:
1 c. Mixed Nuts
2 T Sunflower Seeds
1 Medium Banana
1-2 T Honey
1 T Blackstrap Molasses (optional)
Salt to taste
Graham Crackers

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:
9x13" Pan
Food Processor for the Spread
Large Bowl
Whisk

WHAT YOU DO:
1.  Go to:  http://www.anymonkeycan.com/2011/02/monkey-marathon-bites-1-banana-recipe.html and make the Spread
2.  In a Large Bowl, whisk together the Milk & Pudding.  As this thickens, fold in the Cool Whip


3.  Make a single layer of Graham Crackers at the bottom of the 9x13" pan


4.  Spread half of the Pudding Mixture over the Graham Crackers


5.  Make another layer of Graham Crackers on top of the Pudding layer

6.  Spread the remainder of the Pudding Mixture on top of the Graham Cracker layer


7.  Spread the 'Monkey Spread' on the Graham Crackers & then build your final Graham Cracker layer


8.  Refrigerate over night in order to soften the Graham Crackers.

9.  Enjoy!


This is a nice, refreshing, summertime dessert although it's quite enjoyable all year round.  The next time I make this I will replace the French Vanilla Pudding with Banana Pudding and use Peanut Butter or homemade Cashew Butter as the topping.

It's as easy as pie!  "Anymonkeycan" make an Eclair Pie!

May 29, 2011

CUBAN BLACK BEANS & RICE (a 3 banana difficulty)

Or if your Traditional "Moros y Cristianos."


I really like Black Beans.  Whenever I go to a Mexican restaurant I ask if the refried beans can be replaced with Black Beans in hopes that they also have some Central American fare.  Mostly I just have to settle for "double rice", but that's ok.  I was glad to see a recent recipe of "Cook's Illustrated" had this dish in it.  I did some "monkey-ing around" (yeah, I said it) with it and REALLY like the outcome.  I have made it weekly for 3 of the 4 most recent weeks.  Only a trip to the Caribbean stopped a 4 for 4 performance.  However, it is getting a bit too hot here in Texas to continue making a dish that requires stove top simmering and oven baking.  My gas grill does have a side burner though...

Today 'this monkey' will show you how to make "Moros y Cristianos" Mono estilo (monkey style)! 


WHAT YOU NEED:
1 c Dried Black Beans (rinsed & picked over)
Kosher Salt
2 c low sodium Vegetable Broth
2 c Water
2 large Red Peppers (halved, seeded)
1 Jalapeno Pepper (halved, seeded)
1 large Onion (halved at equator, peeled)
1 head of Garlic (5 cloves removed & minced)
--remainder of head halved at equator with skin intact
2 Bay Leaves
1.5 c long grain Brown Rice (rinsed)
1 T Tomato Paste
4 t ground Cumin
2 T Red Wine Vinegar
2 medium Scallions (sliced thin)
1 Lime (sliced in 8 wedges)
1 Avocado (sliced)
4 oz Stella Fontinella Cheese (shredded)

FYI:  I usually double this recipe & freeze 1/2 of it.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED:
Oven
Dutch Oven or Large pot with tight fitting lid
Large Mesh Strainer
Big Spoon
Colander
Large Bowl
Large Liquid Measuring Cup
Tongs
Food Processor (mini could work)

WHAT YOU DO:
1. Dissolve 2 T Salt in 2 quarts of cold water in the Large Pot.  Add the beans & soak overnight.  Drain & Rinse well.



2.  In the large Pot, stir in the drained Beans, Broth, Water, 1 Red Pepper half, 1 Jalapeno Pepper half, 1 Onion half (the root end), 1 Garlic head half, Bay Leaves, 1 t Salt.



3.  Cover & bring to Simmer over Medium-High heat, Reduce heat to Low & cook 30-40 min (until Beans are soft)  Congrats!  You just made the "Sofrito"!



4.  With Tongs, remove the Peppers, Onion, Garlic, & Bay Leaves.  Discard or compost.
5.  Drain the Beans in the Colander set over the Large Bowl.  Keep 2.5 c of the Bean Liquid (can supplement with water as needed.)  Set aside the Large pot (unwashed)



6.  Thoroughly rinse the Rice in the Large Mesh Strainer under cold water, shake out excess water & set aside.



7.  Cut the remaining Peppers & Onions into 2-3 inch pieces & pulse them in the Food Processor 8-10 times.  About the size of Pico de gallo.  Set aside.




8.  Pre-Heat the Oven to 350 deg with the middle rack available for the Large Pot (Don't Pre Heat the pot...)

9.  Take the unwashed Large Pot & Heat 2 T Olive Oil over Medium Heat.  Stirring frequently, add the chopped Peppers & Onions, Cumin, & Tomato Paste & cook for 10-15 min (until vegetables soften). 


10.  Add the minced Garlic & cook for 1 more min. Stirring Constantly.  Add Rice & stir just to thoroughly coat the Rice.


11.  Stir in the Beans, Reserved Bean Liquid (from step 5), Vinegar, 2 t Salt.  Increase heat to Medium-High until it begins to Simmer.
12.  Cover & cook in oven for 50 minutes.

13.  Remove (CAREFULLY) from oven & fluff with fork.  Let rest for 5-10 minutes.

YEOW!!  If you remove the lid with a hot pad, then be sure to replace the lid WITH A HOT PAD!!
14.  Serve with the Sliced Scallions, Avocado, a Lime Wedge, a sprinkle of salt, a sprinkle of cheese, and a splash of the Red Wine Vinegar.


There's a lot of goodness in this dish.  To say I like this recipe is a bit of an understatement.  The recipe is a little drawn out with the soaking over night, simmering on the stove top, sauteing, and finally the baking in the oven.  But it's a lot of setting a timer, then coming back to it.  Give this one a try, it won't disappoint!  "Cualquier mono puede hacer" (anymonkeycan make) "Moros y Cristianos" because this one just did!

*A special thanks to "Google Translator"
**Be Careful handling and chopping the Jalapeno.  I usually pour about 1 t of Kosher salt in the palm of my hand & then rub them thoroughly under running water.

May 28, 2011

BLACKBERRY ICEBOX PIE (a 3-4 banana difficulty)


Sometime this winter I was watching a PBS cooking show and they made some sort of "Strawberry Icebox" Pie.  And I said to myself, "I cannot WAIT to make that during Strawberry season!"  Well, evidently blackberry season happens before strawberry season and I have an excess of blackberries.  So let's make a "Blackberry Icebox Pie"!!

I guess this recipe is a PBS, Cook's Illustrated, and Ben & Jerry's homemade ice cream collaboration inspired recipe.  Yes, in the B&J's homemade ice cream book they have ratios based on the sweetness of fruit and the amount of sugar needed...but I digress.  "anymonkeycan" make a "Blackberry Icebox Pie"!  Let's do this.

WHAT YOU NEED:
3 lbs (about 4 pints) of fresh Blackberries
1 c Sugar
2 T Cornstarch
1 T Unflavored Gelatine
1/2 t Salt
Juice from 1 Lemon (about 1-2 T)
1 Baked Pie Shell (I had an extra Pillsbury Pie crust I used, but next time I'm shooting to do it from scratch!)
Whip Cream

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED:
An oven/stove top
Small food processor
Medium Sauce pan
Large Bowl
Pyrex liquid measuring cup
Whisk
Rubber spatula

WHAT YOU DO:
1.  Put about 1.5 c of your "ugly" misshapen Blackberries in the food processor & puree for 30 sec.  You'll have about 3/4 c. of Blackberry puree.

 



















2.  In the Medium Sauce pan, Whisk together:  Sugar, Cornstarch, Gelatine, & Salt.











3.  Add & stir in the Blackberry Puree into the dry ingredients in the Medium Sauce Pan.











4.  Cook over Med-high heat.  Stir constantly & use a rubber spatula to occasionally scrape the puree from the sides & bottom the of the pan.  Bring to a boil for 2 min & be sure to continue to stir & scrape.  It should start to thicken just a little.










5.  Pour into a large bowl & add the Lemon Juice & let cool to room temp.  This may take 30-60 min.  At this point you can make your pie crust from scratch or bake the store bought one.










6.  After the glaze is at room temp, take the remaining Blackberries (about 2 lbs worth) and fold gently into the glaze.

7.  Gently spoon the pie filling into your BAKED pie crust & smooth out evenly.


oops...'this monkey' originally forgot to bake that store bought pie crust!

 
ok, that's better!!
 8.  Put that pie in your refrigerator to chill for about 2-3 hours.
9.  Serve with Whip Cream!!


I was a bit surprised how easy this came together, especially with the store bought pie crust!  I'll give this a 4 banana difficulty with "made from scratch" pie crust & whipped cream.  Definitely a "3 bananar" going the store bought route.

There you have it.  It really is as good as it looks!  "Anymonkeycan" make a "Blackberry Icebox Pie"!!



May 27, 2011

BLACKBERRY GREEK YOGURT SNACK (1 banana difficulty)


Wow!  So it's been a month since I last posted.  That's bad.  In my feeble defence, I had a week where I was nursing my CPU along.  It got to the point where not only was I getting the dreaded "blue screen" I was also getting a black screen filled with gray exclamation points.  Not a good scene at all!  For the CPU's last 3 days, I refused to turn it off.  I just kept it in sleep mode.

Then I was off for a 5 day vacation in the Caribbean where I didn't have to worry about my computer, or much else!  When I returned I purchased a new computer, and it took me this week to get everything set back up the way I needed.  Finally!  Enough with the excuses!  I hope to do a strong posting push over this Memorial Day weekend to get my average back on track

For the last 2-3 weeks my blackberry bushes have been going crazy.  I've been eating blackberries with every meal and for snacks.  If you were my neighbor, then you got some, too!

Today is a super simple snack that anyone can do, especially this monkey!!

WHAT YOU NEED:

3/4 c Greek Yogurt (any yogurt will do, but I'm partial to Greek)
1/2 c Kashi Go Lean Cereal (or Granola)
1/4 c Blackberries (or whatever berry makes you happy)
1 T Crushed Walnuts
1/4 t of Ground Flax Seed
1/4 t of Ground Cinnamon

HOW YOU DO IT:

1.  In a small bowl, add Yogurt and top with the Cereal, Blackberries, Walnuts, Flax, & Cinnamon
2.  Eat with a spoon & Enjoy!

Yeah, it's a pretty easy recipe, but sometimes you just NEED a pretty easy recipe!  Look for some more recipes involving blackberries to come your way!