Coffee Experiment

After reading the Pioneer Woman's post about cold-brewing, as well as America's Test Kitchens' notes on the subject, I decided to try my hand at it. However, being the (im)patient person I am, I just used what I had in the kitchen and fudged my way around.

The process was beyond simple. I didn't have any large containers so I just made a quart of it.

My cute assistant:

Making it "rain coffee". Can you imagine coffee rain? Only in a perfect world...

The reward of our "labor". I like my coffee straight up.

Next time I will use more finely ground, stronger coffee. 

For my initial experiment, though, I'd say the results are pretty fantastic for a recipe that takes so little work. Smooth and light tasting, like how coffee should taste in the Spring. 

Crispy Potatoes

Who doesn't love fried potatoes? This is how I make mine.

I made these last night and unfortunately they were gobbled up before I could take a picture of them...

Crispy Potato Pancakes

2 large baking potatoes
1 small onion or 1/2 large onion
1 tbl. cornstarch
2 eggs
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 stalk green onions (optional)
canola oil

Wash and peel potatoes. Place in a pot and cover with SALTED cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender. Remove immediately and place on paper towels or on a board to drain.

In a medium size bowl, grate the onion (large shreds) and when potatoes have cooled slightly, grate and add to the bowl. Add one egg and 1 egg white, cornstarch, and garlic powder and season to taste with salt  and pepper. Stir with a fork until well combined.

Heat 2 tbl. of oil in frying pan over medium heat (or at temperature for panfrying). Scoop potato mixture out using a tablespoon and flatten and spread slightly with back of spoon. Fry about 1 minute on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a rack or paper towels.

Garnish with chopped green onions. Enjoy!

Banana Streusel Muffies

N calls muffins "muffies". Other foods she enjoys are "tononoes" (tomatoes), "cawwots", "coocumbas" and "po-tay-tos". Oh, and "cwackas".

Banana Streusel Muffies

Muffie
1.5 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. milk
1/3 c. oil
1 egg
2 bananas, mashed

Streusel
3 tbl. flour
1/4 c. sugar
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbl. butter

Whisk together the dry ingredients in large bowl until combined. In a measuring cup mix together oil, milk and egg with a fork until well mixed. Stir mashed bananas into wet ingredients until well combined, then pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Mix until just combined (about 40 strokes is my rule for muffins and brownies).

Work streusel ingredients with fingers until crumbly.

Fill muffin cups to the top, then sprinkle with streusel mixture. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. Yield: 8 muffins.

Enjoy!