Mennonite Girls Can Cook is a collection of recipes which were posted daily for a period of ten years from 2008 to 2018. We have over 3,000 delicious recipes that we invite you to try. The recipes can be accessed in our recipe file by category or you can use the search engine.

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Pfeffernuesse


Every year I am asked about this recipe, so this year, my sister called and said,
"I want to learn how to make Pfeffernusse." So we penciled in a calendar date and had a fun time in her kitchen making all sorts of recipes that we love, and learned how, too many fingers in the dough, can spoil everything.
Remember before you bake these cookies, you need to make sure your cupboard is stocked with those special spices from the deli. Find out, how disastrous it can be with two sisters in the same kitchen.

Pfeffernusse

Step One:
  • 1 1/2 C honey
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1 teaspoon cardamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons /15 grams Neunerlei Lebkuchen Gewurz (this is a gingerbread spice purchased at Delicatessen)

  1. Warm honey in microwave and add sugar and spices.
  2. Cool mixture to room temperature.

Step Two:
  • 1 cup margarine
  • 1/3 cup sour cream

  1. Melt margarine and add sour cream.
  2. Now add to honey mixture.

Step Three:
  • 6 cups cups flour(you may need to add 1/2 cup more as it needs to be thick)
  • 3 teaspoons baking soda

  1. Blend flour and soda into mixing bowl.
  2. Sift together flour and baking soda and add the honey mixture and mix well.
  3. I usually use my kneading hook, as this dough is heavy. One time I broke my cookie beaters.



  1. Place in fridge overnight to cool. 
  2. To bake, grease cookie sheets
  3. Roll dough into rolls (snakes) and slice.(thickness of your index finger)
  4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Bake for 9 minutes. Just slightly browned.
  5. When baked, leave cookies on sheet 2 minutes, then remove from pan.
Sometimes I leave the dough in the fridge for days and let the young ones make snakes together with me. It takes time rolling them out, but its fun if you do it with someone else and make an activity out of it. This yields about one ice-cream pail.
I actually bake a few pans every Advent Sunday, and that way they are fresh.

The best way to eat these are to dip them in a fresh cup of coffee.


Christmas Fruit and Nut Cake with Caramelized Pineapple





Fruitcake is our favorite small bite treat with a cup of coffee during the Christmas season.  Be sure that you use ingredients that are fresh.  Nuts and dried fruits that are even a bit stale will taint the fruitcake and will ruin all the work.   Fruitcake lovers will all enjoy this delicious Christmas treat.
Fruitcake improves in flavour and texture over time, so make it now to enjoy at Christmas.
  • 1 cup slivered blanched almonds
  • 1 cup whole blanched almonds
  • 1/2 cup whole walnut halves
  • 1 1/2 cups seedless raisins
  • 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
  • 1 cup / 225 grams glace cut mixed peel
  • 1 cup / 225 grams glace fruit cake mix
  • 2 cups 500 grams glace whole cherries
  • 1 cup finely chopped dates
  • 1/2 cup apricot brandy
  1. Stir together all the fruit and nuts in a large glass bowl.  Stir in brandy and cover with lid or tightly with plastic wrap.  Stir occasionally and leave at room temperature until the next day.
Caramelized Pineapple
  • 1 14 ounce / 398 ml can crushed pineapple with the juice
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup apricot jam
  • 1/4 cup apricot brandy
  1. Combine pineapple, juice and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Stir  occasionally to prevent scorching and simmer to reduce liquids, 30 - 40 minutes.  Once the liquid has mostly evaporated and the pineapple has started to caramelize, remove from heat, add jam and brandy.  Refrigerate overnight in sealed container. 
Fruitcake Batter
  • 2 1/3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup room temperature unsalted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 7 eggs (should measure 1 1/2 cups)
  1. Prepare 2 - 3 loaf pans by cutting brown paper bags to fit first lengthwise and then across the width, allowing the paper to come just over the edge of the pan.  Grease paper well. Alternately, for gift giving, use disposable paper bakeware.  
  2. Preheat oven to 275 F. 
  3. Stir together dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix 1 cup of the flour mixture with the fruit and nuts and set aside. 
  4. In a large bowl, beat butter, then gradually add sugar and eggs with mixer. Add remaining flour mixture and beat to combine. 
  5. Use a large wooden spoon to stir in fruit and nut mixture along with the pineapple mixture. Stir well to combine.
  6. Divide into loaf pans and bake.  Baking times will vary depending on size of the pan. You can bake the fruitcake in small individual loaves or square pans.  Whatever you decide to use, check every 30 minutes to start if you use small pans.  The loaves will feel firm in the center when done. Test with a toothpick once you think the top feels firm.  Regular bread pan loaf pans will be up to 3 1/2 hours. Check several times to make sure the top of the cakes are not getting too brown.  If that happens, cover loosely with foil.   The bakeware shown in the photo held 3 cups of batter, measured 1 1/4 inch X 6 inch diameter and took just over an hour to bake. 
  7.  Remove from oven, remove from pan, allow to cool for half an hour and then carefully remove brown paper.  Brush with additional apricot brandy before storing. Leave cakes in the disposable bakeware pans for easy gift giving.   Seal well in plastic bags and store in the refrigerator for several months or freeze.

Autumn Sausage Medley



I'm thinking it's definitely past Autumn in most parts of Canada now 
but the ingredients of this dish still speak to me of crisp Fall days.
Farmer Sausage, Butternut squash, apples flavoured with a touch of Rosemary - what's not to like?
  • 1-2 cups butternut squash, cubed
  • 2 apples, cubed
  • 1 onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 small can sliced water chestnuts drained (optional)
  • 1 red pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 6 large mushrooms quartered
  • 1 link Farmer Sausage cut into 1 inch pieces (you can use garlic or Kielbasa sausage if you like)
 Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup apple juice
  • 2-3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons chili sauce
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cups apple juice
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

    1. Saute' apple and squash in 1 tablespoon oil in a large frying pan until lightly browned.  Remove to 3 or 4 cup casserole dish.
    2. Place onion, red pepper and mushrooms in pan, and saute' until wilted adding more oil if needed.
    3. Remove to casserole dish. 
    4. Add sausage pieces.
    5. Mix cornstarch and 1/2 cup apple juice in a small bowl.  Set aside.
    6. Add remaining sauce ingredients to pan  stirring well until sauce boils. 
    7. Add cornstarch mixture and stir and cook until sauce returns to a boil and thickens. If you like a sweeter sauce, feel free to add more honey. Add more cornstarch mixed with a bit more apple juice if you'd like the sauce a bit thicker.
    8. Pour sauce over ingredients in casserole dish and bake at 350˚ for 30- 45 minutes or until squash and onion are tender.
    9. Serve over rice or noodles.
    10. Serves 4-6.

    School Lunches from the Kitchen


    September is here with all of its joy of new school clothes and school supplies for the kids, while parents make renewed resolutions for organization toward a healthy and happy family lifestyle. I am a Grammy now, with all of that behind me, but still so clear in my memory. In fact, I have vivid memories of the lunches my mom packed for me and today, when I have thermos tea along with a ham, lettuce and mayo sandwich on a bun, my mind goes right back to my school desk at Sir James Douglas Elementary. The sandwich was always neatly wrapped in wax paper with a unique fold on top. If lunches can have such a lasting impact on a person, I like to think that it's food, not only for the body, but for the mind and soul. Maybe this is why I still like to help out my kids with a bag of pizza buns or pinwheels to put into the freezer, knowing that moms just get way too busy to keep up . . . and again, it's toward more than food for the body.


    A variety of homemade buns, rolls, cookies and  muffins will take a few hours of focused time to prepare but will go a long way toward stress free lunch packing for the next month. All of the suggested recipes freeze well and are ready to pack into a lunch bag along with some veggies, yogurt, cheese and fruit.

    With this post I just want to share a few favorite ideas. I'll add the links and more suggestions.



    The pizza buns are made with a quick French bread dough, pizza sauce, cheese and bacon bits. One recipe makes about 30 buns. The banana chocolate chip muffins make a nice treat in miniature size for younger kids.


    These sausage rolls are posted as a recipe on my personal blog, but I will give you the method here quick. You will need half of a skinny farmer sausage, quartered lengthwise, so that you have four long strips of sausage. Then, using 3 cups of the  the Basic Large Biscuit Mix, mix in 1 egg and 1 cup buttermilk. Roll it out to about 16 X 12 inches and divide it into four strips to roll the sausage up in. Cut these long rolled up sausage strips into small segments to make two dozen sausage rolls. Bake at 400 F about 15 minutes or until golden. The treat in this lunch is a mini chocolate zucchini muffin.


    Cheese stuffed breadsticks are also made with French Bread dough. I made these with half whole wheat, half unbleached white flour. The recipe makes 24 to 32 bread sticks.



    Maybe you have someone who prefers salads to sandwiches. A favorite pasta salad is a great idea. I added some left over rotisserie chicken into this lunch and some raisin oatmeal cookies which I have not posted, but there are a lot of cookies on this site to choose from. Plain mini meatballs (without the glaze or sauce) are also good in a lunch.



    I was sure I had posted this quiche, but found out it's one I can still do in the future. A friend of mine told me her grandchildren love taking quiche in their lunch. They are easy to prepare. You can use frozen pastry tarts and simply fill them about 3/4 full with your choice of quiche filling. Bake at 400 F about 20 minutes.



    Bev's Ham and cheese pinwheels have become a favorite just in this past year. If you love to roll out pastry and play with it, this is for you. These treats are a bit of work but very rewarding as the recipe makes about 60 pinwheels. Pop them frozen into a lunch bag and they will be good at noon. I use the cooked ham that comes cut square (375 g package) and quarter each slice for the perfect size on each pinwheel square. You can use only cheese if you like. If your school is not a peanut free zone, try the rice crispy chocolate rolls for a treat. Dried mango or apple slices might be something your kids like.



    Biscuits, along with a few favorite things to nibble on may be a nice change for some. Split them to add butter or jam.


    And last but not least, an old family stand by, are plain or whole wheat buns for sandwiches. Shape them large for bigger sandwiches or small, almost touching when you put them on the pan, so that they turn out more like a soft roll. Some kids love the "no crust" feel. Slice them before freezing, so that they can be filled on the day of, while frozen. If you want to minimize processed meats, use egg or tuna salad, homemade roast beef, chicken or ham. Home cooked meat is easiest to slice thinly once cooled.

    I hope that lunch making can be an enjoyable time for whoever prepares it. Sometimes parents need for their kids to prepare their own lunch but again, to eliminate stress, prepare or delegate someone to peel and chop vegetables once a week and keep them in sealed containers with a bit of water. Ripen fruit on the counter, then wash and put in fridge when good to go. Have sandwich options and snacks readily available. If you pack a lunch and find out it does not get eaten, find out what needs changing. Sometimes younger children just feel like they do not have enough time to eat. Some like to know what is in their lunch in order to look forward to it. Some like a surprise. Know your own child to work toward a happy lunch experience. One day this too will only be a memory.

    For more ideas, try a search of cheese straws, muffins, pizza muffins, vegetable muffins,wiener rolls, meat buns, baked oatmeal, cookies or school lunches in the recipe search window near the top of the sidebar.



    Blueberry Lemon Loaf


    This bread will have you thinking of coffee time, but not only that.  Serve it warm with ice cream for dessert or leave it out for breakfast. It's not very sweet, yet filled with lots of lemon and blueberry flavor. Switch it up with orange rind, if you like.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 cups flour
    • 3/4 cup sugar
    • 3 tsp baking powder
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • rind (grated) from one large lemon
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup sour cream (I use 7% fat)
    • 1/4 cups oil
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 2 cups blueberries. (fresh or frozen)
    Method:
    1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease or line with parchment paper, one 5x9 inch loaf pan.
    2. Mix dry ingredients along with rind. 
    3. In separate small bowl, mix wet ingredients and add to dry along with blueberries.
    4. Stir until just combined and spread into loaf pan.
    5. Bake for 60 - 70 minutes, until cake tests done with pick. Leave in pan for 10 minutes before removing.
    6. If desired, drizzle with a mix of 3/4 cup icing (confectioners) sugar and juice of about 1/2 lemon. 


    Alvina's Cinnamon Twists


    For this Flashback I want to remind you of these sweet little twists I first sampled in Alvina's kitchen many years ago. Alvina is my cousin by marriage and lives about 1500 miles from us, but the visits we’ve had as families have been the best! Besides being an excellent cook and home-maker, Alvina has a wonderful warm personality and the best laugh!. I love reminders of our times together and when I make these I wish that the distance between our houses would not be so far.




    More recently, this recipe came up when MGCC were invited to do a cooking class in Shipshewana, IN, and we demonstrated this simple biscuit pastry to be used plain, with a savory or a sweet filling.

    Ingredients:

    Your favorite biscuit or scone pastry. I use:
    • 2 c flour
    • 2 Tbsp sugar
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp soda
    • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar (optional)
    • 6 Tbsp butter, room temp.
    • 1 c buttermilk or milk
    filling and icing:
    • 2 - 3 Tbsp melted butter
    • 3/4 c brown sugar 
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 1 Tbsp flour
    • 3/4 c icing (confectioner's) sugar

    Method:
     
    1. In medium sized bowl, mix dry ingredients, then cut in butter with pastry blender. 
    2. Add buttermilk, stirring with fork until dough holds together. Shape into a ball.
    3. Pat into a rectangular shape on lightly floured surface and roll out to a 6 x 24 inch strip.
    4. Spread with melted butter, then with sugar/cinnamon/flour (mixed)
    5. Starting from long side, fold over twice, so that you have a 2 inch strip that has 3 layers.
    6. Cut into 3/4 inch slices and twist each slice so that it looks like the figure 8. (right hand twists away from you and left hand toward you)
    7. Place on greased and floured (or parchment paper lined) cookie sheet.
    8. Bake at 400F until golden. About 12 - 14 minutes. Yield: approx. 30 mini twists
    Icing:

    Fill a 1 c measuring cup 3/4 full of icing sugar. Stir while adding a little water at a time, until it has an easy spreading consistency. Drizzle or brush over warm twists. (If you did not use
    parchment paper, remove twists from sheet with lifter before sugar, that has run out, hardens.)


    Rollkuchen Meatpockets




    I remember the years when I was a teenager, we lived close to the church and my parents would often invite company home for lunch. My mom usually had a pot of soup ready and quickly made Rollkuchen to go along with the soup. It was pretty much the same, Sunday after Sunday, but she never stressed and everyone loved the meal. This recipe yields about 24 meatpockets or regular Rollkuchen ... you may want to double it. 

    Ingredients:
    • 2 eggs
    • ¾ c milk
    • 2 tablespoons vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • 2 cups flour - could be more
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 generous teaspoons baking powder
    • 3 - 4 cups oil for frying
    Filling:
    • 1 - 2 cups left over sloppy joe sauce or chili



    Method:
    1. In a small bowl, mix eggs with fork and then mix in the rest of the wet ingredients.
    2. In another larger bowl, mix flour, salt and baking powder, make a well and add the wet ingredients. Stir with wooden spoon, adding in the dry, until all ingredients are mixed well.
    3. Dust with flour and knead slightly jsut to gather and smooth. Add flour as needed so it is not sticky. (Can be wrapped and refrigerated at this time to roll and fry later.) Roll out quite thin on floured board or counter. 
    4. Place a rounded teaspoon of filling about one to one and half inches apart in a row, along one end.
    5. Fold dough over top of filling and press with a cup (dipped in flour) to form a perogie like crescent. No need to pinch. Lay on floured cookie sheet until all done before proceeding to fry. (If making regular Rollkuchen, simply cut into two inch strips and cut five inch lengths.  Cut a slit and flip one end through it to make a bow tie)
    6. Heat oil – test with a little dough to make sure it fries quickly, or throw in a few kernels of popcorn. Oil is ready when they pop. The trick to not have deep fried food soak up too much oil is to fry quickly in very hot fat. A cast iron works great. Use 2 forks or tongs and have a paper towel lined pan ready.




    Jam Rolls (Rollchen)

    I didn't realize until I was finished preparing this recipe that it is actually very much like Julie's Authentic Schnetki that she posted quite a while ago. You can find some nice variations there. For one reason or another, my family made them with jam and they have always been one of my hubby's favorite snack. Usually they just appear at our house with my Mom, who makes them regularly. The pastry can also be used for (fruit filled) Perishky.

    Ingredients:
    • 3 1/2 c flour plus some for shaping and rolling out
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/2 cup shortening
    • 1/2 cup butter
    • 1 egg, beaten
    • 1 cup milk or water
    • 1/2 cup buttermilk (or sour cream)
    • 1 - 1 1/2 cups thick jam (we prefer plum or guava)

    Method:
    1. Cut shortening and butter into dry ingredients with pastry blender.
    2. Add combined beaten egg and liquids. Stir with fork until everything is moist.
    3. Sprinkle with a little more flour, kneading gently and shape into log. Can chill at this time.
    4. Divide log into four parts. Set aside three.
    5. Roll a quarter of the dough out - rolling it up gently with the rolling pin (or flipping) to add more flour underneath. Roll sideways and up and down to achieve desired size - about 16 x 10 inches.
    6. Divide into four rectangular strips, each about 4 x 10 inches.
    7. Along one long side of each strip, spread about 1 - 2 Tbsp thick jam.
    8. Roll up like jelly rolls, pinching ends. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Can freeze at this time to bake fresh when needed.
    9. Bake on parchment-lined cookie sheets at 375° F for 30 - 35 min.
    Some jam most always runs out - hence the parchment paper for easy clean up. This is why it is best to use thick jam, preferably cooked without pectin.


    Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas


    I recently discovered this quick and easy method for preparing chicken fajitas.  The seasoned chicken and veggies are roasted in one pan in the oven.  While they are cooking, there is time to prepare the guacamole and other fixin's.

    • 4 chicken breasts (about 1 pound), thinly sliced
    • 1 red pepper, sliced
    • 1 green pepper, sliced
    • 1 yellow pepper, sliced
    • 1 medium onion,  halved and then cut in slices
    • 1-2 Tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
    • fajita seasoning (recipe below) or 2 tablespoons of packaged taco seasoning mix
    • 6 - 8" tortillas 
    • Avocado, salsa, sour cream, cheese for toppings.

     Fajita Seasoning:
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder  
    • dash of red pepper flakes
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon pepper  

    1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
    2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.
    3. Combine seasoning ingredients in a small bowl.
    4. Distribute the veggies and chicken pieces evenly over the bottom of the pan.  Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with seasonings. Toss to coat.
    5. Bake for 15 minutes.  
    6. Stir and return to oven for another 10 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked and veggies are tender.
    7. Serve hot from the oven on warm tortillas with optional toppings, as desired.


    Oatmeal Fudge Bars

     
    My niece, Carolyn is known for bringing these squares to family gatherings and one is lucky to get a piece, because they go fast! An oatmeal bar with a fudge filling that is hard to resist.
    Ingredients:
    chocolate fudge
    • 1 can (10 oz / 300 ml) sweetened condensed milk
    • 1 cup chocolate chips
    • 1/2 cup butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    cake
    • I cup butter, room temp
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup white sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 cups flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 3 cups rolled oats
    Method:
    1. On medium/low heat, melt fudge ingredients, stirring as needed, until well combined. Set aside.
    2. In large bowl of mixer, cream together butter and sugar, then beat in the eggs.
    3. Gradually, stir in flour, baking soda and rolled oats. This will end up resembling a stiff cookie dough. For easier mixing you can use a hook attachment on the machine if you have it ... but it works fine by hand too.
    4. Using a wet spatula or wet hands,  press 2/3 of the dough into a 9x13 inch greased pan. Glass or light colored aluminum is good. Keep 1/3 for top layer.
    5. Spread with fudge filling.
    6. Randomly scoop spoon fulls of the left over dough all over the top - like islands - allowing spots of the filling to show. (I add a few tablespoons of milk to this part of the dough to have an easier consistency to work with)
    7. Bake at 350° F for 25 - 30 minutes. (Do not over bake - may appear a bit jiggly when you take it out of the oven) Let cool. Cut into 36 - 48 bars. Keeps well for days, refrigerated. Freezes well.

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    Hawaiin Style Farmer Sausage

    Since I saw this recipe featured on Winkler Meats Instagram page this week, it seemed like a good time to dust it off and re-publish it.


    We rather like farmer sausage around here and always have some on hand.  Farmer sausage is a smoked pork sausage; the smoky flavour is a great addition to soups and casseroles.  But if you aren't familiar with this particular sausage, I'm sure your favorite sausage would work with this dish as well.
    • 1 ring farmer sausage (about 1 1/2 pounds), sliced in 1/2 inch pieces
    • 2 stalks celery, sliced
    • 1 large onion, sliced
    • 1 green pepper, cut in chunks
    • 1 red pepper, cut in chunks
    • 1 large can diced tomatoes (796 ml / 28 oz)
    • 1 can pineapple chunks or tidbits (398 ml / 14 oz), drain and reserve juice
    • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    1.  Stir fry farmer sausage for several minutes.
    2.  Add celery, onions, and peppers and cook until tendercrisp.
    3. Add tomatoes, pineapple, seasonings, sugar and soy sauce.  Simmer 5 minutes.
    4. Blend cornstarch with reserved pineapple juice. Add to simmering sausage dish and cook for 2 minutes.
    5. Serve on a bed of rice.

    Serves 6.

    Porridge Pancakes


    This family sized recipe makes about 16 hearty, oat filled pancakes named for their moist porridge texture within a pancake. We love them with cinnamon steamed apples on the side. This recipe works best if mixed the night before and refrigerated to cook in the morning, or mix during the day to cook for supper.

    Ingredients:
    • 2 cups (quick cooking) rolled oats
    • 3 cups buttermilk (or 2 cups milk and 1 cup yogurt)
    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • 2 eggs, beaten
    • 1 cup flour
    • 2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    Steamed apples
    • 2 Gala apples, unpeeled and sliced
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 2 tablespoon sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    Method:
    1. Combine oats and buttermilk. Stir in oil and beaten eggs. 
    2. Add combined dry ingredients. Refrigerate overnight or for several hours.
    3. Cook on non-stick griddle between low and med heat. Adjust heat setting so that the pancakes do not brown too quickly. Cook first side for about 2-3 minutes, until tiny bubbles appear on top. Flip and cook for another 2 - 3 minutes. * 
    4. In the meantime, in medium pot, cook apple slices in butter until tender. A few minutes. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and keep hot on low heat. 
    * tips: a square (stove top) griddle/and a scratch proof flipper is a great investment for cooking pancakes/hot cakes. Keep cooked pancakes warm on an oven proof serving plate in 200 F oven. Serve with butter, maple syrup and cinnamon apples.
    Left over pancakes can be stored in sealed bag (refrigerator or freezer) and toasted.


    Cast Iron Pizza

    Who doesn't like pizza! This pizza can be bakes on a very hot BBQ or in the oven. We have a Big Green Egg grill which really bakes up a pizza like a wood oven, but I've tried this in my kitchen oven and it turns out nicely. This is a deep dish thicker crust pizza. Baking it in a cast skillet gives the pizza a perfectly crispy crust. Because it's a deep dish crust it's important to follow the method below to insure it cooks through.

    Crust:
    • 3 cups flour
    • 2 tsp instant yeast
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 1/4 cup warm water
    • 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
    1. In bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups flour, yeast, salt, water and oil. Stir to combine. Gradually add more flour kneading with your hands until you have a smooth and elastic dough.
    2. Form dough into a ball. Rub lightly with a bit more olive oil and place in a bowl and cover with lid or plastic wrap. Allow to rise on counter for at least an hour. I find that pizza dough is best made a day or two before hand. Once mixed place in refrigerator covered. Take out and let rise on counter one hour before using. 

    Topping: ( personalize your pizza by omitting or adding your own favourite toppings.
    • 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
    • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
    • 1/4 cup pizza sauce ( I like to add a bit of oregano, garlic and onion powder, Italian spice...any of these or a mixture to spice up the sauce)
    • 4 strips bacon, fried to lightly crisp, crumble
    • 1/2 cup finely chopped deli ham
    • 1/2 cup finely chopped pepperoni
    • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, raw
    • 1/4 cup thinly sliced black olives
    • 1/3 cup pineapple tidbits, or fresh pineapple

    Making and baking the pizza:

    You can heat your cast iron in the oven or on your BBQ. Place cold cast iron pan in a cold oven or BBQ. You want to preheat your cooking method along with the pan to a temperature of 450-500º.

    Remember that cast iron gets very hot, you will need a good oven mitt to handle your pan and a good surface to remove it to....don't set a hot cast on your counter top!

    1. Once pan and oven/BBQ are up to temperature, working quickly, remove cast and quickly spray it with cooking spray and give it a sprinkle of corn meal. (this will add a nice crunch to your crust)
    2. Take your risen pizza dough, and working quickly pull or roll your dough to the size of your pan and without touching the hot cast lay the dough in the pan carefully working the crust into the pan and up it's sides. The dough should be about 1/2" thick.
    3. Place the cast with just the dough back into the oven or BBQ. Allow to bake (this is called blind baking) for 5 minutes.
    4. Remove pan, spread sauce over partially baked dough, add 1/3 of the cheese, all of the meats, onions, olives and pineapple. Top with remaining cheeses and bake for another 15-20 minutes until done. 
    5. Allow pizza to rest in cast for 2-3 minutes, then slide it onto a cutting board. Pizza will slide out of the pan really easily...just don't burn your hands on the cast. 

    German Pancakes


    In our home, growing up, Pfannkuchen, were a lunch treat made by my Oma (we called her Omi) ... and the tradition continues, the only difference being that we clarify them as being the European version by calling them German pancakes. My grandchildren have simply dubbed them  sugar-roll-up pancakes. This recipe is slightly larger than the one in our original cookbook.

    Ingredients:
    • 4 eggs
    • 3 cups milk, divided
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups flour
    Method:
    1. Using a whisk or hand mixer, beat eggs well with just 1 cup of the milk. 
    2. Add flour and salt. Beat until smooth before adding the rest of the milk. Let rest for a few minutes.
    3. Heat medium sized non-stick skillet to just below medium heat. Brush with a dab of butter.
    4. Lift hot skillet with left hand, slightly tilting it toward you. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the top half, allowing the batter to spread while rotating the skillet. ( A slight rotation of the wrist) 
    5. Set the skillet back on the heat, cooking until the pancake is set. (wet look has disappeared) 
    6. Using a small thin lifter or spatula, gently flip to cook second side, which will go quick.
    7. Repeat, using a dab of butter as needed, stacking pancakes on a dinner plate. Yields approximately 18
    Tips and Variations:

    Batter should be smooth, thin enough to coat the pan easily when tilted. If it does not run easily, add more milk. If there are a few tiny lumps, don't be concerned. 
    The traditional way to have these is to sprinkle the open pancake with sugar, fold in half and roll up from the short end - making it easy for younger children to eat by hand.
    However, the options are limitless, including cottage cheese with canned peaches, nutella and sliced bananas or strawberries and whipped cream. 
    I use the same recipe (half size) for savory fillings, using a smaller skillet.

    Portzelky with Dried Cranberries Happy New Year

    Happy New Year Friends! 

    The calendar page is opened to a fresh new start. Hello 2016! Whether you have stopped by for the first time or are a long time friend of ours here at MGCC we want to thank you for visiting our blog. Many of you have supported our projects this past year by purchasing our cookbooks. We are grateful for our sponsors (visit them on our sidebar) who play a vital part through their generous giving. We look forward to what God has in store for us as we journey together in 2016.

    We want to start out the first weekend of this new year with food for thought followed by a traditional recipe for New Years Cookies, better known in our Mennonite circles as Portzelky.

    Each year when we gather around the Christmas table my husband Scot has something to encourage and challenge us with for the coming year. In light of giving, he found a list of 5 gifts that don't cost, but may require personal sacrifice. From youngest to oldest this list spurred on some good suggestions of how we can be generous givers of these free gifts. Join us as we seek to make a difference.

    Food for Thought
    1. Giving others the Benefit of the doubt. Not everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt, but in love we can extend grace. (1Cor. 13:7)
    2. A Second Chance. Hurt is real. Consider forgiveness towards those who have hurt you. Freedom comes when we forgive. (Matt. 18:21-22)
    3. Encouragement. Seize the opportunity to reach out to others with words of affirmation, and acts of kindness. 1 Thess. 5:14 includes a challenge. "...encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 
    4. Give a listening ear. "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak...." Those wise words come from James 1:19. Heeding them can provide an incredible gift.
    5. Time. 1Peter 4:10-11 encourages us to use our God given gifts, ultimately that God may be glorified. Everything we do requires time. Whether serving your family a meal, helping with homework, cleaning, repairs, caring for the sick or the elderly. Make these a positive investment of your time. They may be life changing times for others and for you. 
    May we all be encouraged in this new year to look beyond ourselves, extend grace, forgive, encourage,
    listen and be generous and cheerful givers. 

    New Years Cookies


    I'll be making a few batches of Portzelky over the weekend to serve and deliver...fresh and warm.
    Typically these have raisins in them but for a change I've used dried cranberries. Before adding the cranberries I divided the dough into two bowls, added the cranberries to one and left the other plain....some like these little fritters better without the fruit. 
    (yields approximately 3 dozen)

    • 3/4 cup milk
    • 3/4 cup water
    • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
    • 2 eggs, plus 1 egg white, beaten together well
    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 tablespoon instant yeast (sometimes called quick rise)
    • 3 1/2 cups flour
    • 1/2 cup dried cranberries, or raisins (optional)
    • additional granulated and/or powdered sugar for dusting
    1. Place milk, water and butter in a microwave bowl and heat until very warm.
    2. Beat eggs and egg white together until frothy.
    3. Stirring continually pour very warm milk mixture over eggs until combined.
    4. In a large bowl, stir together sugar, salt, baking powder, yeast and 2 1/2 cups flour.
    5. Stir with a wooden spoon. Adding remaining 1 cup of flour. The dough will be a bit sticky, or 'shaggy'. 
    6. Stir in fruit if using.
    7. Set aside and cover with a lint free towel to rise for 45 minutes or until double in bulk.
    8. Heat oil in deep fryer or on stove top to 375º. Always stay near hot oil on stove!
    9. Drop teaspoons of risen dough into hot oil. As the portselky cook they will usually flip over when cooked through on one side. You may have to turn them with a spoon. 
    10. Remove with deep fryer basket or slotted spoon onto a paper towel lined baking sheet. 
    11. If wanting to dust with sugar put choice of sugar in a large bowl and add portzelky and shake to coat. Or, place bowls of sugar on table for everyone to dust their own.