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#284 - New Braunfels

Carol is on location in New Braunfels, Texas, stopping at all the mustn't-miss food finds in this historic Texas town. The first stop is Karbach Haus Bed & Breakfast Home where Carol joins Kathy Karbach Kinney in the kitchen for a delicious breakfast menu (see recipes below). For more information, pictures, and to make reservations for a quaint, quiet holiday, visit Karbach Haus online at: www.karbachhaus.com.

Then it's off to offer a hand at Naegelin's Bakery where brothers Todd & Ross Granzin share some of the bakery's secrets---namely cookie-glazing expert Celia Escobado, cake decorator extraordinaire Renate Krueger, and hot cross bun aficionado Edna Rauch. Visit Naegelin's Bakery online at: www.naegelins.com.

For a delicious lunch, you can't go wrong at Huisache Grill. Visit online at:  www.huisache.com.

Any trip to New Braunfels must include a stop at the New Braunfels Smokehouse. Vice-President and General Manager Mike Dietert gets right to the meat of the matter about the delicious New Braunfels Smokehouse meals, what to find in the gift and smoked meat shop, and how to order online at: www.nbsmokehouse.com.

And don't leave New Braunfels yet, that is, unless you are going to historic Gruene, just on the edge of New Braunfels. In addition to the famous Gruene Hall (Texas' Oldest Dance Hall) and many unique specialty shops, you must plan a meal at the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, an 1870's cotton gin overlooking the Guadalupe River. Co-owner Mary Jane Nalley and Gristmill Manager Mike McCarthy talk with Carol about some of the delicious items on the menu (see recipes below). For more information and a virtual tour of the Gristmill, visit online at: www.gristmillrestaurant.com.

Karbach Haus Peppers Stuffed with Creamy Eggs and Cheese

 Makes 8 servings

Bell peppers: 4 red, gold, orange or green bell peppers

For the white sauce: 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons flour, 1 1/2 cups milk, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 3/8 teaspoon pepper

Ingredients for the egg portion: 12 eggs, 2 tablespoons butter, 2/3 cup cheese

For the topping: 1/2 cup crushed onion-flavored bagel chips

Peppers: Cut the peppers in half and remove all of the seeds and inner part of the peppers. Parboil peppers in lightly salted water for six minutes or until tender. Remove from heat and arrange on a large buttered baking dish. Set aside.

White sauce: Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Add flour, stirring until smooth. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in salt and pepper and set aside.

Eggs: Melt butter in a large skillet. Cook eggs until almost set. Remove from heat and stir in the white sauce. Fill the peppers with creamy egg mixture. Sprinkle grated cheese over all of the stuffed peppers, and top each with a liberal sprinkling of crushed bagel chips. Bake, uncovered, at 350°F for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Note: The recipe can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate, unbaked. Remove from refrigerator and let stand for 30 minutes before baking as directed. You might also wish to bake the eggs in a casserole dish without the peppers. They are very good, either way.

Karbach Haus Bread Pudding

 Makes 12 - 14 generous servings

Early in the afternoon the day before you need it, assemble the following:

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
12 slices of day-old bread, I use Earth Grains San Francisco sourdough

In a small mixing bowl, cream the first four ingredients together. Spread this mixture on 6 slices bread. Cover with 6 more slices of bread, making sandwiches. Cut or tear the sandwiches into bite-size squares, and pile them into a 9 x 13-inch buttered casserole pan or one sprayed with Pam.

In a large mixing bowl, blend together:

12 eggs
2 cups milk
3 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs till light and fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and blend well. Pour over bread and cream cheese mixture in baking dish. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

1/4 cup butter (melted and cooled)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Next morning: Brush lightly with melted butter. Cover with chopped pecans and bake at 350°F for 1 hour. As an accompaniment, offer sweetened whipped cream or Kahlua sauce (see below), and/or powdered sugar.

Karbach Haus Kahlua Sauce

Combine and blend together:

1 cup sour cream
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup whipped cream or non-dairy topping (Cool Whip)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup Kahlua - or anywhere from 2 to 4 tablespoons, to your taste

Refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Stir again, just before serving as the Kahlua tends to separate.

Kahlua sauce keeps well. It is also very good over fresh fruit dishes. I always serve it with the bread pudding, apple crisp, or cobbler dishes, and I always use the non-dairy topping to cut down on the fat content. The results seem to be the same.

> Recipes courtesy of Karbach Haus Bed & Breakfast Home, New Braunfels, Texas.

Gristmill's Tomatillo Chicken

Chicken Marinade: your favorite Italian dressing combined with white wine to taste

Bean Sauce: cooked pinto beans and cilantro to taste chopped in food processor

Tomatillo Sauce (combine the following ingredients to taste): tomatillos, onion, serrano peppers, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, avocado, salt

Marinate chicken (breasts or pieces) in Chicken Marinade. Grill chicken. To serve, put 2 ounces of Bean Sauce on plate, place grilled chicken on top of bean sauce, and put 2 ounces of Tomatillo Sauce on top of the chicken.

Gristmill's Chicken Fried Steak

Chicken Fried Steak Flour: combine flour, black pepper & seasoned salt to taste, mixing well

Cream Gravy: cook together margarine, flour, chicken base, milk, and black pepper

Place a steak in Chicken Fried Steak Flour, remove, press the steak out and press the flour into the meat, place steak in milk, remove and once again place the steak in Chicken Fried Steak Flour. Put steak in deep fryer. Place Chicken Fried Steak on plate and top with 6 ounces of Cream Gravy.

> Recipes courtesy of the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, Gruene, Texas.

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