Make recipes really pop

July 01, 2009 09:43 am

— By Dustin Shipman
dshipman@joplinglobe.com
One of the best things about cooking is the ability to experiment with different recipes.
It’s through these experiments that we have been able to come up with such amazing culinary creations as the deep-fried Twinkie, the cheese-stuffed pizza crust and, of course, the thurrito (a burrito inside of a burrito inside of another burrito).
Your favorite sodas are not immune to the science of culinary confections. In fact, there are many cookbooks filled with various recipes and tips for incorporating soda into dishes.
Whether you are a Pepsi or a Coke fan, you are sure to find recipes that include your favorite soft drink to make everything from pork chops to birthday cakes.
One local baker who uses soda in some of her recipes is P.J. Pickett, owner of P.J.’s Country Bakery, 3500 Apricot Drive.
She said soda isn’t something she uses for the majority of her cakes, but there are still a few recipes with soda that are tasty.
“I do a cake that has some Coke in it,” Pickett said. “It’s a chocolate cake that has Coca-Cola in it. It helps to make it more moist.”
Pickett said the Coke taste doesn’t really come through in the final product. Soda can also be used in place of much of the water that is used in some cake recipes, she said.
“A lot of recipes that call for a lot of water can use soda and cut back on the water,” she said. “You usually have to add a little more soda than water on account of the acid content that is in it.”
Pickett said root beer is among the most popular sodas to be used in baking recipes, but almost any soda has a recipe somewhere.
“I had a brother that worked for the Dr Pepper company for years, before he passed away,” she said. “His wife used Dr Pepper in just about everything she cooked.”
Pickett said most people wouldn’t know by the taste if someone had used soda in the recipe; however, the texture of the food can be changed.
“There are a few little things that change but it’s not that much and it really isn’t that hard,” Pickett said. “There are a lot of recipes floating around out there. I always tell people it’s like putting carrots or another chocolate cake that I make that has spinach in it. You wouldn’t know it was in there if somebody didn’t tell you. It’s just a moister base.”

Strawberry shortcake
2 cups biscuit mix
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
1/2 cup 7UP
1 tablespoon sugar
Mix ingredients with a fork. Beat vigorously for 20 strokes. Turn out on floured board. Knead 10-12 times. Roll 1/2 inch thick, cut with floured 3-inch cutter. Bake on un-greased baking sheet in 450 degree oven for 10 minutes. Split shortcakes while warm and spread with butter or margarine. Spoon sweetened, sliced strawberries between layers and over the top. Serve with cream or sweetened whipped cream.
Source: www.sodachef.com

Coca Cola-braised ham
3 pounds fresh or fully cooked ham (standard bone in ham)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
3 cups Coca Cola
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar, dark, packed
Lightly score surface of ham and season with salt and pepper. (Use less salt if using a cured ham.) Place in crockpot, skin-side down.
Combine mustards, Coca Cola, ground cinnamon, and brown sugar and blend with a wire whisk in a small saucepot. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture dissolves. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 minute. Pour over ham in the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Slice and serve hot or cold with remaining sauce as a glaze. Serves 10.
Source: www.cdkitchen.com

7UP pork chops
6 pork chops (1-inch thick)
1 package dry onion soup mix
1 bottle (12 ounces) 7UP
Put pork chops in shallow pan. Pour 7UP over them and sprinkle dry onion soup on top. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Serves 6.
Source: www.cdkitchen.com

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