Candied Pecans

Next Sunday is SuperBowl Sunday and I know many of you will be having lots of friends over to watch the game or going to a friends house. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or bringing a dish to your friends here's a great snack that everyone's sure to love.

So in addition to my "Quick and Savory Chili" for SuperBowl Sunday, here are my "Candied Pecans". Serve them as snack food; in your salads or as a topping for desserts. They are sure to please everyone that nibbles on them!

Candied Pecans

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Dash of ground cloves
2 cups pecan halves ( I use roasted pecans that I purchase at The Wine & Cheese Place)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly (about 8-10 minutes).

Add pecans and vanilla, cook until all syrup is absorbed and pecans are coated, stirring constantly (about 12 minutes - will look powdery).

Spread pecan mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment. (Pecans will have a sugar coating)

Cool completely and store in airtight container

Yields approx. 3 1/2 cups

"In The News"

One of my favorite emails that comes to me Monday - Friday morning is The Daily Sauce. It's all about food, wine and entertainment going on in St Louis. Well the other day I happen to open my email from them and much to my surprise was a blurb about my In-Home Culinary Classes.

This is what they had to say about me:

Be a Better Cook at Home

So, you made a New Year’s resolution to learn how to cook, did you? Did you spend a bundle on that designer kitchen but can’t boil water? Perhaps you and some friends want to learn how to cook something completely different. How about a cooking class for your kid’s birthday party? Sure, you could take a cooking class at any number of venues around town, but what if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own house? Vicki Bensinger has taught cooking classes for 17 years, including stints at Kitchen Conservatory, Viking Culinary Arts Center, Missouri Botanical Garden and at the new Straub’s Cooking School in Ellisville. But she’ll also help you plan a menu, schlep all the stuff to your house and teach how to be a better cook. Hell’s Kitchen, here you come!

Sauce pick: Culinary classes at home

Where to get it: Vicki Bensinger, 314.799.1633

Inauguration Day - Change Has Come to America

Taking a quick break from my usual blogs about food, cooking and culinary classes I wanted to mention what an exciting day this was in history as I watched the first African American - Barack Obama, to be sworn in as President of the United States of America.

No sooner was he sworn in did the new website from the White House get posted. In case you didn't see it take a look: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

However, I do wonder what they're serving for dinner tonight.

Culinary Class Menus and Themes

This is just a sampling of some of the classes that I offer in my "At Home with Vicki Bensinger", In-Home Culinary Classes:

Knife Skills (2 hours)
Feel confident using knives once you’ve honed your skill. Learn proper knife techniques for slicing, dicing, chopping, mincing, julienning and chiffonade. In addition you’ll learn how to select and take proper care of your knives along with a lesson in sharpening.

Asian Appetizers (3 hours)
Learn to make Potstickers with Soy/Ginger dipping sauce, Spring Rolls with a Thai Tomato Salsa, and Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and Sushi Roll (Nori Maki and Uramaki)

Sushi (3 hours)
We start by learning how to master to art of making sushi rice. Then you’ll learn various rolling techniques: Nori Maki, Uramaki, Tmari Zushi, and Temaki Zushi in addition to learning proper chopstick etiquette and how to hold them.

Company’s Coming (3 hours)
We’ll start with a Stuffed Mushroom Appetizer followed by Horseradish Encrusted Salmon with a Dijon Cream Sauce, Israeli Couscous with Grilled Vegetables ending with a luscious Trifle.

New Year’s Eve Dinner (3 hours)
Mixed Greens with Candied Pecans, Dried Cherries, Goat Cheese and a Champagne Vinaigrette Dressing, Individual Beef Wellingtons with a Demi-Glace, Shallot and Chive Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Butternut Squash ending with Chocolate Lava Cakes

Super Bowl Party (3 hours)
Spicy bar nuts
Gorgonzola and Brie Torte
Turkey Chili
Mini Orange Glazed Ham & Cheese Bites
Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings
Texas Sheet Cake


Under the Tuscan Sun (3 hours)
Pappa al Pomodora (Tomato and Bread Soup)
Eggplant Parmesan Rolls
Chicken under a Brick
Tiramisu

Stuffed Chicken Breast with Roasted Red Pepper Coulis
Wild Rice Salad with a Raspberry Vinaigrette
Roasted Butternut Squash
Strawberry Mousse

Field Greens Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
Roast Prime Rib of Beef
Truffled New Potatoes
Roasted Asparagus
Strawberry Napoleon

Popovers
Field Greens Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Sea Bass with Roasted Red Pepper, Corn and Tomato Salsa
Iced Valentine Dessert

Gingerbread House Building(2.5 hours)
Cut out; bake; construct and decorate your own gingerbread house to take home and display. Create a one of a kind piece in this fun class.
Ages 7 and up

Pizza and Calzones (2.5 hours)
Learn to make homemade Pizzas and Calzones in this fun class with a variety of toppings. Enjoy the fruits of your labor when they come out hot from the oven.

All classes can be customized to meet your dietary requirements and needs.

For pricing and additional information on these classes please contact Vicki at:
vkb2@hotmail.com

Quick and Savory Chili

SuperBowl is just 15 days away. If your family is like mine, they will tell you the day of the game that they are having friends over and ask you to make something. Then we're scurring around trying to drum up something to serve everyone. Well fear no more I have the perfect quick and easy chili recipe that's sure to put a smile on everyone's face.

You may look at these ingredients and wonder why should I make this? Trust me, not only is it delicious but you literally can toss it together in 15 minutes or less and forget about it. My family loves this chili and believe me I have many different varieties that I make that take me an hour or more to put together. This is a great simple recipe that will allow you to enjoy the game as well.

Quick and Savory Chili

Serves 6

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey or your favorite meat mixture

14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies

29 oz can diced tomatoes with roasted garlic and onions

29 oz can tomato sauce

14.5 oz. can chili beans (I like the medium heat, but use what you like best)

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup BBQ Texas Hot Sauce (Super Smoker's and KC Masterpiece make one, and there are other brands as well. Any will do)

1/2 cup Kansas City style BBQ sauce

Cook the ground meat to medium rare; drain and then add the remaining ingredients.

My family prefers I make it with ground turkey breast. If using, then spray your stock pot with Pam so it doesn't stick.

I have found that as soon as I put the ground turkey in the pot, if I add all the ingredients and stir, the turkey meat crumbles up. Then it's more like ground meat, instead of in clumps, like ground turkey breast typically tends to do. In my opinion it tastes much better this way.

This can be ready within a 1/2 an hour but without question the longer you cook it the better it gets. You can cook it for 2 hours or all day or even put it in your crock pot for the day. Either way your going to have a delicious quick and easy chili.

Serve it in bread bowls if you like with cheddar cheese and sour cream.

If you try this recipe please let me know what you think. I know you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Not every wonderful dish has to take hours to prepare.

Enjoy and I hope your favorite team wins!

Valentine's Day Menu

As you know, Valentine's Day is just 4 weeks away. With everyone's lives being so hectic these days wouldn't it be wonderful to spend a nice, quiet, romantic evening with your significant other in the privacy of your home?

Wouldn't you love to create an incredible dinner to set the mood and sweep your partner off their feet? Not sure where to start or what to prepare? I can help you with a private Valentine, "In-Home Culinary Class" for just you, with friends or as a gift for someone special prior to February 14th.

Your Choice of 3 Menu's

Stuffed Chicken Breast with Roasted Red Pepper Coulis
Wild Rice Salad with a Raspberry Vinaigrette
Roasted Butternut Squash
Strawberry Mousse

Field Greens Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
Roast Prime Rib of Beef
Truffled New Potatoes
Roasted Asparagus
Strawberry Napoleon

Popovers
Field Greens Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Sea Bass with Roasted Red Pepper, Corn and Tomato Salsa
Iced Valentine Dessert

To learn how to prepare one of these luscious menus contact me at: vkb2@hotmail.com

In-Home Culinary Classes

I have been teaching culinary classes in Missouri for the past 17 years at various cooking schools in the area. However, I also offer personalized private culinary classes for individuals or small groups in the comfort of your home.

With the start of the New Year, now is the perfect time to think about having an "In-Home Culinary Class" for just you, with friends or as a gift for someone special.

Imagine your kitchen transformed into a cooking "classroom" where you will learn new culinary skills.

The services I offer include:

• Private one-on-one classes in your kitchen if you would like to learn how to cook or hone your culinary skills
  


• Small group classes ranging from 2-12 people
  


• Children's classes - ages 7 and up
  

All classes can use one of my pre-set menus or tailored to your specifications and needs.

What I do for you:

• Prior to your class I help you plan your menu
  


• I arrive with all of the ingredients and supplies to set up a workspace in your kitchen so you and/or your guests can relax, participate and learn hands-on.
  


• At the end of your class, we'll enjoy our creations, talk about what we learned and I'll answer any questions you have. Plus, I will make sure you feel confident about re-creating those recipes on your own with the same great results.
  


• In addition you/guests will be given a folder complete with all the recipes in your menu including terms and definitions.

If you want to learn to cook, become a better cook or just have a fun time with friends and food, then consider "At Home with Vicki Bensinger," In-Home Culinary Classes.

To find out the details, class menus and pricing on having an In-Home Culinary Class please feel free to contact me.