Portzelky (New Year Fritters)

By the sound of the name, I imagine that these New Years fritters were adopted from our Ukrainian roots. My own mother was not in the habit of making these, but the family I married into was, so I chose this recipe many years ago, submitted by a Mrs. J. H. Peters to the Mennonite Treasury of Recipes. The trick is to make sure that the oil is the right temperature, so it is good if you can use an electric pan or fryer where you can set it. This recipe makes 3 dozen.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup hot water
• 1/2 Tbsp salt
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 1/2 cup prunes cut into small pieces
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 egg whites, beaten stiff
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 Tbsp instant yeast
• 2 tsp baking powder

 

1 litre Canola oil (approx) for frying

 

Method:

 

1. Rinse raisins with boiling water to plump
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, water, salt, sugar, soda, raisins and prunes.
3. Combine flour, baking powder and yeast, adding some to the liquids.
4. Stir egg yolks into batter and then add the rest of the dry ingredients to make a heavy batter which will be rather stiff.
5. Fold in beaten egg whites with spatula
6. Cover and let rise until double in size. (half to one hour)
7. Using two regular tablespoons (one for scooping and one for scraping) drop into hot oil (about 375F or 190C), turning over once and frying until brown.
8. Scoop into a paper towel lined pan and roll in sugar while still warm.

Happy New Year!

 

Portzelke Bites - Gluten-free

I was challenged by several requests for gluten-free Portzelke. I didn't really think I could do it. But you never know until you try and my second attempt produced these very tasty morsels. I am very pleased with how they taste and my husband pronounced them 'very good' and proceeded to help himself to a goodly number! The true test! A non-Celiac person has the final word.

I used the white bean flour in this recipe because it mimics a wheat flavour. If you buy white bean flour, taste it first. If there is more than a very faint aftertaste. it is not flour from only the small white bean. There is nothing worse tasting to me than a 'raw bean' flavor. I grind my own small white beans that I buy in the grocery store. We bought a second hand flour mill, an old stone motor driven one .

Portzelke (New Years Fritters)

Ingredients and Method

1/2 cup warm water

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp. yeast

(let proof in warm spot)

Liquid Ingredients

1/2 cup warm milk

1 tsp melted butter

1 tsp vinegar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 egg

Dry Ingredients

1/2 cup white bean flour

1/2 cup white rice flour

1/4 cup sorghum flour

1/4 cup potato starch

2 tbsp Arrowroot flour

1 rounded tsp xanthan gum

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 slightly rounded tablespoons of sugar

2 cups of raisins

Method

1. In mixing bowl put in liquid ingredients and beat ... then add the proofed yeast.

2. Mix dry ingredients in zip lock bag and add all at once to liquid .

3. Beat on low until blended then on high until dough is smooth and changed texture- a minute or two.

4. Add raisins and beat until mixed evenly.

5. Scrape sides of bowl down with spatula to form a ball of dough in bottom of bowl.

6. Cover and let rise in warm spot for 30 -40 minutes.

Heat about 3/4 of an inch of oil in a pot or small frying pan.

When hot drop by teaspoon a dollop of dough , about the size of a large walnut, into the hot oil and fry until a rich golden brown.

I made them smaller than the regular wheat ones because they seemed to be better.... but you can try them any size you like. And I also prefer them well done.

The texture of the Portzelke is very good - slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with a very good crumb. (Next day - warm left overs in toaster oven)

Let them cool and dust with icing sugar if you like them that way.

Enjoy !!!

**

Cutletten Sandwiches

I make these sandwiches when I have leftover "Cutletten".

Judy posted a recipe for "Kotletten" (you can find it under the "Mennonite Recipies" section of this blog) which is basically the same as my recipe for"Cutletten". My precious Mother in Law always fried hers in a pan using only a Tbsp. or 2 of oil and she would occasionally coat them with bread crumbs before frying them. Any way you make them, they are a treat and there are usually enough leftover to make this delicious sandwich the next day.

• Leftover "Cutletten"
• 1/2 of a medium onion, sliced
• 1/4 red or yellow pepper cut into strips
• 1/4 green pepper cut into strips
• grated cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese or a mixture
• bread slices
• butter, BBQ sauce and mayonaise ( if desired)

1. Saute' onion and peppers in a pan until they lose their crunch.
2. Place bread slices on a pan and toast lightly in the oven.
3. Turn the slices over and spread other side with butter, mayo (if desired) and BBQ sauce.
4. Cut leftover Cutletten in half and lay flat sides on bread. (I often fry the meat lightly to warm it before putting it on the bread)
5. Top with saute'ed vegetables and grated cheese.
6. Broil, watching closely until cheese melts.
7. Serve open faced with Bread and Butter pickles.

Hot Turkey/Chicken Sandwiches with BBQ Gravy

Do you have any left over Turkey?
Well here is another recipe to try.
I was watching the food network and wrote the recipe down from the show Ricardo.
I love his accent and his food always looks so good.
He served his with green peas......but this is what mine looks like....
not exactly Ricardo's style, but delish none the less.

What you need is . . ..

• Left over shredded Turkey or Chicken
• Slices of your favorite bread
• Sauce, lots of it.

Sauce/Gravy:

• 6 tbsp. butter, I used less
• 1/2 c. flour
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp. chili
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. onion salt
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 tbsp. ketchup
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1. Melt the butter, add the flour...stirring with a whisk.
2. Add all the dry spices to the flour mixture.
3. Add the beef broth, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
4. Cook until nice and thick.
5. Take whatever shredded Turkey that you are using and just moisten it with the sauce, in a separate pan and heat the meat through.
6. Toast your bread or leave plain.
7. Add the chicken
8. Cover with second slice of bread
9. Pour over desired amount of gravy.
10. This makes lots of gravy for lots of sandwiches
11. Enjoy
12. Try to resist the temptation of licking the plate clean...... ;^D).....or you will end up with a double chin....

This gravy is also very good over meatballs.

Cheese Fondue

We have enjoyed cheese fondue with our Swiss friends on many occasions...and find it is a wonderful camping dish or a treat to enjoy with friends around the table on a winter evening. This is a recipe that came from a 'Taste of Home' collection at one time. Make a meal of it by dipping raw vegetable pieces and cooked chicken strips as well as the usual cubes of bread.

• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• pinch of nutmeg
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 1 loaf of fresh French bread, cubed
  

Directions:

1. Rub inside of large saucepan with the clove of garlic.
2. Bring the apple juice to a boil over medium heat...then reduce to low heat.
3. Toss the cheeses with the cornstarch, pepper and nutmeg...stir into the juice.
4. Cook and stir constantly for 3-4 minutes...or until cheese is melted.
5. Transfer to a fondue pot to keep warm.
6. Serve with cubed bread for dipping.

Bread for the Journey

It is the last Sunday of the year and it's almost time to ring in the new year..
None of us knows what our future holds but if we put our trust in God we know that we will not go alone..God will be with us each step of our journey. It's also the time of year when people make new year's resolutions. I checked an online dictionary and it gave me this definition of a new year's resolution..'a promise that you make to yourself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year'.
Philipians 3: 13,14
"No dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Jesus Christ, is calling us." (NLT)

I wish you all a hope and peace filled New Year!

Joy to the world!

Jesus is the reason for the season.

All the preparations. . .

all the goodies in the freezer . .

all the gifts under trees around the world. . .

all are because of Jesus.

A few days ago I was listening to my favorite female Vocalist singing like an angel.

I had goosebumps as she sang O Holy Night.

Her eyes were closed as she sang to her Saviour . .

and I wondered then what heaven must have been like when the Christ Child was born.

What must that choir of angels been like .. .

singing Glory to God?

Again this Christmas I stand amazed at the gift of Jesus.

The Bible says . .

"For God so Loved the World that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life"

John 3 :16

Have you accepted the gift of Jesus?

You might think that you have done far to many bad things for God to forgive you.

God already knew before he created you .. what you would do in your life.

You might think that you will try harder to be good. . .

but there is nothing you can do to earn this gift . .

it is free to all who believe!

Before God created man he knew we would ALL be sinful.

Even knowing that he still created us ..

and loved us. .

and sent Jesus as a wee baby so that he would grow to be a man without sin that could pay the price of our sin.

I don't know very much of what heaven will be like ..

but when I get there. .

I want to sing like an angel.

I'll be joined with loved ones that have gone before me. . .

and together we will sing praises to Jesus Christ . .

who loves every person ever born on this earth.

My heart longs to say something that will help you to understand how important it is not to delay accepting the most important gift you will ever be offered.

God created man to worship him.

If we don't worship God we will worship other things and then we'll feel an ache and a void that nothing seems to satisfy.

Each of us will feel a personal ache and longing in our heart . ..

a void that only Jesus can fill.

I pray that no one that reads this blog goes away feeling unloved.

We long to reach out to those that feel unlovely . . .

and unloved in this hurting world.

(left to right . ..Anneliese, Bev, Julie, Lovella, Marg, Judy, Kathy .. missing from the picture are Betty, Charlotte and Ellen)

On behalf of all of us at Mennonite Girls Can Cook . .

We wish you a day filled with the joy and peace of Christmas.

All for now . . .with love,

Lovella