Lancaster County Dutch Market

The Lancaster County Dutch Market in Germantown, Maryland was having a Pig Roast and Chicken BBQ this weekend.  I actually had no idea until I drove up because I was craving one of their freshly baked pretzels.  This is an Amish market that is only open Thursdays through Saturdays.   They sell produce, meat, cheese, baked goods, candy, and furniture.  There is also a restaurant inside this market if you want a sit down meal.   Most people go for their famous fried chicken and soft pretzels because they are that good.  If you go on a Saturday, you will be waiting in line but it moves relatively quickly.   I didn’t get any fried chicken this weekend but I’ve had it before and it really is the best. 

I got a cinnamon and sugar pretzel (my favorite) and a sausage and cooper cheese pretzel.  I have never tried the sausage and cooper cheese pretzel before but the guy in front of me literally bought 5 of them so I thought it has to be good.  And yes it was and I will definitely be getting it again.

 

I also visited their bakery and got a loaf of their Gourmet Apple Bread.  This is like dessert for breakfast, and right up my alley.

I wasn’t going to get anything from the Pig Roast, but I saw the line and thought why not.  I posted a picture from their Pig Roast on my Sophie in the Kitchen Facebook page.  They were selling pulled pork sandwiches with sides of baked beans, coleslaw or fries.  You could also purchase the pulled pork in pints or quarts.   I got a sandwich with a side of coleslaw and they gave such a huge portion!   I had to take half the pulled pork off my sandwich, but I saved it so I can make another sandwich later.  It was delicious, and their sauce was finger licking good.   While I was in line, I noticed that most people were purchasing quarts of the pulled pork.  I guess they want to stock up since the Pig Roast is only done once or twice a year.  I was so lucky I finally got to try their Pig Roast since I’ve heard it about the last couple of years. 

According to their Amish Market Facebook page, they won’t have another Pig Roast until next May 2013!  

Brie and Apple Panini

I loved this Brie and Apple Panini so much that I have eaten it for breakfast and dinner now.  The combination of brie and apple is delicious.  This was so easy to make too, especially if you have a Panini press like the Cuisinart Griddler.  Since I'm obsessed with TJ's aka Trader Joe's and have recently discovered their Mini Brie Bites thanks to my sister-in-law, I decided to try their Middle Eastern Flatbread too.  The TJ's Flatbread is a close second to the Brooklyn-based Aladdin Flatbread introduced to me by my cousin Cathy from Petite Therapy.  I mention it in my Baba Ghanoush post because the Aladdin Flatbread is so good but not in DC!  I need to make this Brie and Apple Panini again soon because it was that awesome.

Brie and Apple Panini

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

Granny smith apple, sliced thin

Brie, sliced (I used Trader Joe’s Mini Brie Bites.)

Flatbread (I used Trader Joe’s Middle Eastern Flatbread.)

Directions

Pre heat your Panini press. (I have a Cuisinart Griddler.)  You could also use a stovetop griddle with a heavy pan on top or press.

Place sliced brie on one side of flatbread.

Top Brie with sliced apples.

Fold flatbread in half and place onto Panini press.

Cook until cheese is melted and bread is lightly browned, it will only take a few minutes (no more than 5 minutes).

Serve immediately.

Panko Crusted Baked Cod

Light, lemony and healthy is how I would describe this Panko Crusted Baked Cod.  The flavor is wonderful and the fish is tender and flaky.  I served the fish over garlic couscous and it was delicious.

I used the frozen Alaskan Cod from Trader Joe's and I thawed from frozen in package in the refrigerator for 24 hours.  It is a great deal to buy the frozen fish at Trader Joe's and the Alaskan Cod was under $4 for about 1 pound.  This was a quick and easy dish that I will definitely be making again.

Panko Crusted Baked Cod

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 pound cod fish fillet, cut into pieces

¼ cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 ½ to 2 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Coat baking sheet with non-stick spray.

Rinse fish if needed and pat dry with paper towel.  Season fish with salt and pepper.

In a bowl, melt butter and mix in lemon juice.

In another bowl, add in panko.  (Additional salt and pepper may be added.)

Dip fish into butter lemon mixture.

Next, coat fish with panko.

Place fish on a baking sheet.

Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes.

Serves 2 to 4. 

Lasagna with Homemade Tomato Sauce

Lasagna can be an easy make ahead meal, especially if you make your tomato sauce ahead of time or use store bought sauce.  I actually like to use the no-boil lasagna noodles; it cuts the time in half and I don't notice any change in taste.  This time I made my own tomato sauce and added in sausage, but you could omit the meat if you want it to be vegetarian.  What I love about lasagna is how versatile it can be, you can add veggies, sometimes I add in mushrooms and/or spinach.  This recipe is a simple, traditional lasagna.  Enjoy!

Lasagna with Homemade Tomato Sauce

Printable Recipe

Ingredients for Tomato Sauce

28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

15 ounce can tomato sauce

6 ounce can tomato paste

16 ounce (1 package) hot pork sausage (I used Jimmy Dean brand.)

1 teaspoon garlic, minced

1 tablespoon parsley, dried

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

2 teaspoons sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for Lasagna

9 ounce (1 box) no-boil lasagna noodles (I used Barilla brand.)

14 ounce ricotta cheese (I used whole milk ricotta.)

2 eggs, beaten

4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

½ cup parmesan cheese

Directions for Tomato Sauce

In a dutch oven, over medium heat, cook sausage until browned.  Add in minced garlic.

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomatoe sauce, and tomato paste.  Add in parsely, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt and pepper.

Cover and simmer on low heat for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Allow to cool.

Directions for Lasagna

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium sized bowl, combine beaten eggs, ricotta cheese, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.  Set aside.

Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Spread about 2 cups of tomato sauce in bottom of baking dish.

Arrange 4 lasagna noodles on top of tomato sauce, the noodles will overlap slightly.

Spread 1/3 ricotta cheese mixture over noodles.  Top with ½ cup of mozzarella cheese and 1 cup tomato sauce.

Next layer, arrange 4 lasagna noodles, 1/3 ricotta cheese mixture, ½ cup mozzarella cheese and 1 cup tomato sauce.

Next layer, arrange 4 lasagna noodles , remaining ricotta cheese mixture, ½ cup mozzarella cheese and 1 cup tomato sauce.

Last layer, 4 lasagna noodles, remaining tomato sauce, and ½ cup mozzarella cheese.

Bake covered with foil for 40 to 50 minutes.  (Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray to prevent foil from sticking to the cheese.)

Uncover and continue baking for additional 5 to 7 minutes minutes until cheese is melted.

Let stand  and cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Mom's Birthday Dinner

My mom’s birthday was last week and we went out for a family dinner at Wong Gee, a Chinese Restaurant in Wheaton, Maryland.  If you are not familiar with the area, Wheaton and Silver Spring, Maryland has many Chinese restaurants that are “authentic” Chinese.  I tried to get a few pictures but we were all hungry!  Since there was 11 of us altogether at dinner, we had many dishes, including the following:

1. BBQ Meat Platter (Roast Pork, Duck and Chicken)

2. Fish Maw with Crab Meat Soup 

3. Kingdom Pork Chop

4. Sautéed Two Lobsters with Ginger and Scallion

5. Fried Chicken Hong Kong Style

6. Sliced Abalone, Black Mushroom with Vegetable

7. Shrimp with Walnuts

8. Sautéed Flounder Fillet with Vegetable

 

9. Diced Chicken with Salted Fish & Bean Curd in Clay Pot

For dessert, we had a red bean soup and since it was my mom’s birthday, an extra platter of dim sum style buns.   The buns are not normally served at dinner, only during dim sum. One of the chefs is a friend of my parents and he knows how to make these buns, because it is a specialty for a chef to know how to make dim sum dishes.  We had both steamed lotus seed paste buns and baked custard buns.  Most Chinese desserts are not sweet, such as the red bean soup, but I love the custard buns.  They were freshly made and delicious!

I think my mom had a wonderful birthday because she loves spending time with her family and enjoying good Chinese food!

 My mom and I at my brother's wedding this year.