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Apr 9, 2011

ABC OF SOUP MAKING | Country Cooking Recipes

Lean, juicy beef, mutton, and veal, form the basis of all good soups; therefore it is advisable to procure those pieces which afford the richest succulence, and such as are fresh-killed. Stale meat renders them bad, and fat is not so well adapted for making them.

The principal art in composing good rich soup, is so to proportion the several ingredients that the flavour of one shall not predominate over another, and that all the articles of which it is composed, shall form an agreeable whole. To accomplish this, care must be taken that the roots and herbs are perfectly well cleaned, and that the water is proportioned to the quantity of meat and other ingredients. Generally a quart of water may be allowed to a pound of meat for soups, and half the quantity for gravies.

 In making soups or gravies, gentle stewing or simmering is incomparably the best. It may be remarked, however, that a really good soup can never be made but in a well-closed vessel, although, perhaps, greater wholesomeness is obtained by an occasional exposure to the air. Soups will, in general, take from three to six hours doing, and are much better prepared the day before they are wanted.

When the soup is cold, the fat may be much more easily and completely removed; and when it is poured off, care must be taken not to disturb the settlings at the bottom of the vessel, which are so fine that they will escape through a sieve. A tamis is the best strainer, and if the soup is strained while it is hot, let the tamis or cloth be previously soaked in cold water. Clear soups must be perfectly transparent, and thickened soups about the consistence of cream. To thicken and give body to soups and gravies, potato-mucilage, arrow-root, bread-raspings, isinglass, flour and butter, barley, rice, or oatmeal, in a little water rubbed well together, are used.

A piece of boiled beef pounded to a pulp, with a bit of butter and flour, and rubbed through a sieve, and gradually incorporated with the soup, will be found an excellent addition. When the soup appears to be too thin or too weak , the cover of the boiler should be taken off, and the contents allowed to boil till some of the watery parts have evaporated; or some of the thickening materials, above mentioned, should be added. When soups and gravies are kept from day to day in hot weather, they should be warmed up every day, and put into fresh scalded pans or tureens, and placed in a cool cellar. In temperate weather, every other day may be sufficient.



Various herbs and vegetables are required for the purpose of making soups and gravies. Of these the principal are, Scotch barley, pearl barley, wheat flour, oatmeal, bread-raspings, pease, beans, rice, vermicelli, macaroni, isinglass, potato-mucilage, mushroom or mushroom ketchup, champignons, parsnips, carrots, beetroot, turnips, garlic, shalots and onions. Sliced onions, fried with butter and flour till they are browned, and then rubbed through a sieve, are excellent to heighten the colour and flavour of brown soups and sauces, and form the basis of many of the fine relishes furnished by the cook. The older and drier the onion, the stronger will be its flavour. Leeks, cucumber, or burnet vinegar; celery or celery-seed pounded. The latter, though equally strong, does not impart the delicate sweetness of the fresh vegetable; and when used as a substitute, its flavour should be corrected by the addition of a bit of sugar. Cress-seed, parsley, common thyme, lemon thyme, orange thyme, knotted marjoram, sage, mint, winter savoury, and basil. As fresh green basil is seldom to be procured, and its fine flavour is soon lost, the best way of preserving the extract is by pouring wine on the fresh leaves.



For the seasoning of soups, bay-leaves, tomato, tarragon, chervil, burnet, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, mace, black and white pepper, essence of anchovy, lemon-peel, and juice, and Seville orange-juice, are all taken. The latter imparts a finer flavour than the lemon, and the acid is much milder. These materials, with wine, mushroom ketchup, Harvey's sauce, tomato sauce, combined in various proportions, are, with other ingredients, manipulated into an almost endless variety of excellent soups and gravies. Soups, which are intended to constitute the principal part of a meal, certainly ought not to be flavoured like sauces, which are only designed to give a relish to some particular dish.

Feb 23, 2011

Folgers Jingle Contest - Contest Rules

 

The Folgers jingle history

2010 contest recap

The Best Part of Wakin' Up™

As one of the most memorable and recognizable pieces of advertising, "The Best Part of Waken' Up is Folgers in Your Cup®" Jingle has helped millions of Americans start their day with the sounds, sights, and smells of fresh-brewed Folgers® Coffee. Composed by Leslie Pearl, the original Jingle debuted in 1984 and has since been transformed into country, gospel, jazz, R & B, folk, Celtic, and a cappella versions.

2010 Folgers Jingle Contest

Last year, we celebrated 25 years of "The Best Part of Waken' Up" Jingle by hosting the very first Folgers Jingle Contest. Watch our 2010 finalists perform at the Grand-Prize audition in New York City, and get a quick glimpse of their original submission videos. See footage from last year.

FREE Folgers Jingle Ringtones

Over the years, great musicians, such as Johnny Cash, Rascal Flatts, and others have recorded their own versions of the iconic Folgers Jingle. Download free ringtones from these award-winning artists, and take them on the go as you get inspired to write your own jingle. Download ringtones.

OFFICIAL RULES SUBMIT A JINGLE

 

Beginning March 31st, You Could Win $10,000 Just by Voting for the Best Folgers Jingle

When you vote for one of our 10 semifinalists, you'll be entered for a chance to win a $100 grocery store gift card and the $10,000 Grand Prize.

So circle March 31st on your calendar, and come back to vote for the best jingle. Until then, join the Waken' Up Club for the latest contest details, as well as Folgers Coffee news and promotions.

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Folgers Jingle Contest - Contest Rules

Feb 20, 2011

Recipe of the Week | Country Cooking Recipes


Double-Chocolate Layer Cake






Ingredients



Cake 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting


2 cups sugar


3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder


2 teaspoons baking soda


1 teaspoon baking powder


1 teaspoon kosher salt


1 cup buttermilk


1/2 cup vegetable oil


2 large eggs


1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee


Frosting 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped


2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, at room temperature


1 large egg yolk


1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


1 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar, sifted


1 tablespoon instant coffee granules


Directions
 
MAKE THE CAKE Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper; butter the paper. Dust the pans with flour, tapping out any excess.


In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, mix the flour with the sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt at low speed. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the oil, eggs and vanilla. Slowly beat the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until just incorporated, then slowly beat in the hot coffee until fully incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then invert the cakes onto a rack to cool completely. Peel off the parchment paper.

MAKE THE FROSTING In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate at high power in 30-second intervals, stirring, until most of the chocolate is melted. Stir until completely melted, then set aside to cool to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter at medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat for 1 minute, scraping down the side of the bowl. At low speed, slowly beat in the confectioners' sugar, about 1 minute. In a small bowl, dissolve the instant coffee in 2 teaspoons of hot water. Slowly beat the coffee and the cooled chocolate into the butter mixture until just combined.

Set a cake layer on a plate with the flat side facing up. Evenly spread one-third of the frosting over the cake to the edge. Top with the second cake layer, rounded side up. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and side of the cake. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing.





Make Ahead

The frosted cake can be refrigerated for 2 days. Let stand for 1 hour before serving.

Recipe by Ina Garten