Make your own Creme Fraiche

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/02/how-to-make-creme-fraiche-in-1-easy-step.html

Making your own Ricotta Cheese

http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/02/how-to-make-fresh-ricotta-fast-easy-homemade-cheese-the-food-lab.html

Strawberry Watermelon Cake

http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipes/recipe-search/fare-exchange/2010/11/strawberry-and-watermelon-cake/

• 250 gm
• seedless watermelon, thinly sliced
• 60 ml (¼ cup)
• rosewater
• 4 tbsp
• caster sugar
• 40 gm
• almond meal
• 500 gm
• strawberries (about 2 punnets), halved
• 10
• seedless red grapes, halved
• 1 tbsp
• slivered pistachios (see note)
• 1 tbsp
• dried rose petals (see note)
•  
• Almond dacquoise
• 150 gm
• almonds, coarsely chopped
• 150 gm
• pure icing sugar, sieved
• 5
• eggwhites
• 135 gm
• caster sugar
•  
• Rose-scented cream
• 300 ml
• thickened cream
• 30 gm
• caster sugar
• 2 tbsp
• rosewater
• For almond dacquoise, preheat oven to 200C. Process almonds in a food processor until finely ground, then combine in a bowl with icing sugar. Whisk eggwhites in an electric mixer until soft peaks form (3-4 minutes), then gradually add caster sugar and whisk until stiff peaks form (1-2 minutes). Gently fold through almond mixture, spread on a 30cm x 40cm oven tray lined with baking paper and bake until golden (10-15 minutes). Set aside to cool on tray, then cut in half lengthways.
• Arrange watermelon slices in a single layer on a wire rack. Sprinkle with 20ml rosewater, then scatter with 2 tbsp sugar. Stand to macerate (30 minutes), then pat dry with absorbent paper.
  
  
  Meanwhile, for rose-scented cream, whisk cream and sugar in an electric mixer until soft peaks form, gradually add rosewater and whisk until stiff peaks form (do not over-whisk).
  
  
  Spread one-third of rose cream evenly over one half of dacquoise, scatter with half the almond meal, then top with watermelon, trimming to fill any gaps. Scatter over remaining almond meal, spread over half remaining cream. Top with remaining dacquoise, spread over remaining cream and refrigerate until firm (1-2 hours).
  
  
  Combine strawberries, remaining rosewater and remaining sugar in a bowl, toss to combine and set aside to macerate (15 minutes). Carefully arrange on top of cake, gently pushing into cream. Trim edges of cake, scatter over grapes, pistachios and petals, and serve.
  
  
  Note Slivered pistachios and dried rose petals are available from David Jones food halls, select delicatessens and Pariya Food.
  
  
  Thiss recipe is from the December 2010 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.
  
  

Watermelon Lemonade

http://twolooniesandapenny.blogspot.com/2012_05_01_archive.html

Pickled Watermelon Rind

A Bitten Word recipe adapted from the National Center for Home Food Preservation

Ingredients

2 quarts watermelon rind (equal to one medium-sized melon)
3/4 cup salt
3 quarts water
5 cups sugar
3 cups white vinegar
3 cups water
1 tablespoon (about 48) whole cloves
6 cinnamon sticks, broken into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon Allspice
1 lemon, thinly sliced, with seeds removed

Trim the pink flesh and the green outer skin from the rind. Cut into small strips, about 1" x 2". Cover with brine made by combining 3 quarts water and 3/4 cup salt. Refrigerate for five hours or overnight.

Drain; rinse. Cover the watermelon with water and bring to a boil; continue cooking until fork-tender, about another 15 minutes. (Overcooking will cause the rinds to become rubbery.) Drain.

Combine sugar, vinegar, water and spice. Boil 5 minutes and then pour over watermelon; add lemon slices. Refrigerate overnight.

Heat watermelon in syrup to boiling; reduce heat to medium-high and for one hour. Pack the hot watermelon pickles loosely into clean, hot pint jars.Cover with boiling syrup, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel; apply two-piece metal lids.

To seal: Submerge the full jars in boiling water (enough water so the jars are 1-2" below the surface); boil for 15 minutes (or slightly longer at higher altitudes). Remove jars and let them sit undisturbed at room temperature for 24 hours. Check seals

---------------------------
Alternate Recipe:


 3 quarts water
 3/4 cup salt
 4 quarts watermelon rind, white part only, cut into 1-inch cubes
 2 tablespoons whole cloves
 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed

10 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
 1 quart apple cider vinegar
 2 cups white sugar
 4 drops green food coloring (optional)




Directions

In a glass bowl, stir together the water and salt until the salt has dissolved. Add the watermelon rinds and any additional water needed to cover them. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight.
Drain the watermelon rinds from the salted water, and place into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Cover with fresh water, then place over high heat and bring to a boil. Boil rinds for 30 minutes, then drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, tie the cloves, mustard seed, and cinnamon sticks in a piece of cheesecloth. Place into a large saucepan or Dutch oven along with the vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat, then remove from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes. Stir in the drained watermelon rind, then return to the stove over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until the rind is transparent and the syrup is slightly thickened, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove and discard the spices after 40 minutes. Stir in the food coloring if desired.
Ladle into hot sterilized 1 pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Seal jars with new lids and rings, making sure you have cleaned the jar's rims of any residue. Process jars under 1 inch of water in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Let cool overnight, then press down on the lids to make sure they are sealed before storing. Store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator and enjoy those first.

Bret's Beef and Black Bean Soup

1 1/2 ibtop rond steaks, cubed
1 box beef broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
3 large carrots, thinly sliced
3 medium potatoes
2 zuccini cubed
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp sugar
1-1/2 tsp. dried basil
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tbsp dried)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp.ground cumin
1/2 tsp.chili powder
1 tsp. hungarian paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
16 oz dried black beans
1-1/2 cups cooked rice
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 tsp fresh lemon zest
6 c. water
plain yogurt

hours before, rinse beans and set them to soak.  If in a hurry, you can boil the beans first to speed up the soak time.  Bring to a boil under this method and then let the beans sit for an hour.  Overnight is good, but not necessary.

Once beans are soaked, chop beef and add the cubes, prepare the vegetables and add them, add all seasonings, stir and simmer for a hour.

Fruity Vitamin Water

1) The classical : lemon/cucumber:
Mix in a pitcher: 10 cups of water + 1 cucumber and a lemon, thinly sliced + 1/4 cup fresh finely chopped basil leaf + 1/3 of finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

2) The granite : Strawberry/Lime or Raspberry/Lime
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 6 strawberries / 0r Raspberries and one thinly sliced lime + 12 finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

3) The digestive : Fennel/citrus
First: infuse 1 to 3 grams of dried and crushed fennel in 150 ml of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Allow to cool.
Mix in a pitcher: 10 cups of water + lemon juice (put the leftover lemon in the mix) + a small thinly sliced orange + 12 fresh chopped mint leaves + the infusion of fennel seeds. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

4) The antiOX : Blackberry/Sage
Note that a part from the berries, sage leafs is the herb that has the highest antioxidant content.
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 1 cup of blackberries that have been very slightly crushed + 3-4 sage leaves. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

5) WATERmelon : watermelon/Rosemary
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 1 cup of watermelon cut into cubes + 2 rosemary stems. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

6) The exotic : Pineapple/Mint
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 1 cup of pineapple cut into cubes + 12 fresh mint leaves finely chopped. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

7) The traditional : Apple/cinnamon
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 1 cup of apple cut into cubes + 2 cinnamon sticks + 2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

8.) The zingibir : Ginger/tea
In advance: heat 1 teaspoon of ginger in two cups of tea, let it cool down.

Mix in a pitcher: 10 cups of water with two cups of the ginger tea + 4-5 pieces of fresh ginger cut into cubes. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

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