Reader's Recipe Questions

Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself--your strengths and your limitations--in contrast to depending on affirmation from others. ~Judith M. Bardwick

Today I have questions from readers and answers I hope will help.

I was wondering if you had a recipe for making pickled polish sausage or Kielbasa. I would like to try some. Can a plastic jug be used or just glass? ~Janet

Here is a really simple method to try, and you can adjust the spices if you wish to be hotter or milder. It really isn't a good idea to use plastic containers for pickling.

You'll need smoked kielbasa or sausage for this recipe. Slice it into one inch sections and place it in a sterilized glass canning jar. Be sure to use the rubber ring and the metal lid. Fill the jar with sausage pieces and add white vinegar to cover it until it's about 1/2 inch from the top of the jar opening. Add 1-2 tablespoons crushed red pepper or a small, whole dried pepper (such as a Thai variety). Seal the jar, and place it in the refrigerator for 48 hours. It will last 3-4 weeks if kept refrigerated. Option: You can heat the vinegar before using as well.

I have a friend that lives in another country where corn syrup is not available What could be used in a pecan pie instead of corn syrup?. Would you have a different recipe without it? ~Janet

Your friend can make a syrup that will work in the recipe. Use 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and 1/3 cup water. Mix them in a sauce pan and boil until it becomes thick like syrup. You can also add a little molasses to this too.

I am looking for a bread machine recipe using caramel candy. I had one but lost it. It was a great recipe. ~IMA

I'm not sure if this is the same one you tried, but it's from BettyCrocker.com and sounds wonderful!

Bread Machine Turtle Bread

Ingredients:
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
10 caramels, unwrapped
2 2/3 cups Gold Medal® Better for Bread bread flour
2 tablespoons dry milk
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons bread machine or quick active dry yeast
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except chocolate chips and pecans in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Add chocolate chips and pecans at the Raisin/Nut signal or 5 minutes before the last kneading cycle ends. Select Sweet or Basic/White cycle. Use Medium or Light crust color. Remove baked bread from pan, and cool on wire rack.

On OFL we have an article with great tips for making yeast breads:
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/yeastbread.html