The Art of Rosette Cooking

Front Cover, The Art of Rosette Cooking.

Front Cover, The Art of Rosette Cooking. GGA Image ID # 1d8df30f0d

Ursula Kaiser, The Art of Rosette Cooking,  n.d., Kalkus-Hirco, Lyons, Illinois, Soft Cover, 89 Pages.

Instructions and History of Rosettes

An Ancient pastry making tradition dating back to the Iron Age has emerged in a new line of products from Kalkus-Hirco, Inc. It’s a collection of 81 different pastry shell molds called Rosette Irons that make everything from party cookies to gourmet entrees.

They’re easy to use. They’re inexpensive to buy. And they make unusual, tantalizing meals and treats for pennies. Just one cup of flour, one cup of milk, and one egg makes 50 pastry shells. Best of, all they provide kitchen fun for the whole family.

The Pastry is formed by dipping molds into a special batter and then deep frying it to a crisp, flaky, texture. The Rosette name comes from the basic geometric shape of the oldest of the molds — a circle crisscrossed with arcs to form a flower-like pattern.

The famous Rose Window in the Notre Dame Cathedral is a rosette shape. It was a very popular shape in the early days of iron moldings. This shape was used to decorate gates, buildings, furniture, and especially festive foods.

While Rosette Irons take their name from one shape, many other traditional shapes are associated with different European Countries. For centuries, Italian cooks have used a large bowl-shaped mold called a Timbale. Flat irons called waffles have long been popular in Germany. In America these pastry molds are most familiar to the descendants of Scandinavian Families who call them simply “rosettes.”

The Christmas Season was the time when Norwegian grandmothers would perform a kitchen ritual the children loved. First a simple batter was made with flour, eggs, sugar, salt, and a little vanilla for flavor. Then oil was heated in a deep pan and the magic began.

A rosette iron was attached to the end of a long handle and dipped into the oil to preheat. Next, the iron was dipped into the batter so that none went over the top. In a few seconds the iron was removed with batter clinging perfectly to the shape.

The batter and iron were then dipped into the hot oil. In a few more seconds the rosette molds turned golden brown. Then out they came with a pair of tongs to drain and cool on a paper towel. With a little powdered sugar sprinkled on top, they were wonderful!

But most grandmothers added a few more finishing touches, usually chocolate chips or a sugar glaze frosting.

Everyone usually got a turn at making some rosettes, and there were rarely any left by the end of the day.

Now every American family can share in this type of holiday fun and lots more. With 81 different molds and dozens of recipes, iron pastries fit into almost every mealtime and entertainment occasion.

Take food shells in their many different shapes as an example. They make great desserts when filled with fresh fruit, fruit fillings and puddings, or, they can turn leftovers into creative new entrees.

Our fish molds make perfect serving shells for a seafood casserole. And the dozens of different molds and irons in our collection, make wonderful treats for every holiday and special occasion.

There are bridge molds, mushrooms, stars for hors d’oeuvres, deep shells for creamed meats and puddings, and even a mold for ice cream cones. Using the Cartwheel Tidbit Maker, it’s possible to make 6 dozen cookies in about half an hour.

Today, the foods one can make with Rosette Irons are limited only by the imagination. There are a few tricks that can turn rosette iron pastry making into works of art.

For example, after the batter is formed and before it cools, it's possible to bend it. You might take the butterfly shape and bend the wings up to make a butterfly that looks as though its flying.

You can also add a few drops of food coloring to the top of the batter in the bowl. Don’t stir. Just swirl lightly around the top. Now when the irons are dipped, colors will swirl through the pastry.

Rosette Irons are easy-to-use, inexpensive, versatile, and a great, delightful source of family fun. All pastries can be made ahead and stored for 6 months in an air-tight container or frozen.

At room temperature, they will last about one week in a cookie jar. The molds are easy to use and children can even work with them, if properly supervised.

For our purposes, these irons can be divided into two types; the decorative ones, and the shells. The shells are the Patty Shell, Sea Shell, Deep Heart Shell, Mushroom Shell, Deep Tart Shell, Ice Cream Cone Shell, and Petite Shell.

All of these can be filled and used for appetizers, vegetables, main courses, or desserts. The rest of the irons are the decorative ones. These are used as chips for dips; and when sprinkled with powdered sugar, dessert cookies.

Rosette Molds

Rosette Molds

HEAVY BATTER

Bear 2 eggs
add 1 cup evaporated mük or half & half

Mix all ingredients with wire whisk, in blender, or food processor. Batter will be smooth and creamy. Refrigerate or let stand for 1/2 hour.

Assemble utensils:

  • deep fry unit
  • Thermometer
  • paper towels tongs

(Instructions for making Heavy Batter continued)

  1. Heat oil to 365°
  2. Heat Patty Shell iron #3 by dipping utensil into oil (20 sec.)
  3. Drain slightly on paper towel to remove excess.
  4. Dip hot iron into batter (DO NOT get batter on top of mold).
  5. Dip mold into hot oil (rest on bottom of pan to insure flat bottom).
  6. As patty browns gently lift mold away, patty will drop into hot fat.
  7. When patty is browned on one side, tum to brown on the other.
  8. Remove from oil and drain on paper towel.
  9. Repeat — heating iron, draining, and dipping into batter.

Back Cover, The Art of Rosette Cooking.

Back Cover, The Art of Rosette Cooking. GGA Image ID # 1d8e35adf7

Contents:

  • History
  • Instructions
  • Rosette Molds
  • Batters
  • Breakfast Treats
  • Appetizers and Snacks
  • Dips or Fillings
  • Dinner or Lunch
  • Desserts
  • Cookie Recipes
  • Craft Ideas for Rosette Ornaments
  • Krimp Kut Sealer
  • Tart Master
  • Tart - Turnover - Ravioli - Fried Pies - Filled Cookies

General Instructions and Important Hints

Cooking Utensils:

  1. An electric controlled pan is recommended (350°—375°).
  2. The pan should be deep enough to allow mold to be completely submerged.
  3. Use a small deep pan for deep molds, you will use less oil.
  4. Use a thermometer to check degrees, even when using electric pans. (350°—375°) 1" cube bread browns in one minute.

 

Oils: Any good quality cooking oil.

  1. 1. Peanut Oil and Safflower Oil have less calories.
  2. Heat oil to 365° before dipping shells or molds.
  3. Keep temperature at 350°—375°; if temperature is too low, pastry gets soggy and greasy. (Use thermometer to test: 1" cube bread browns in one minute.)

 

Molds:

  1. Preheat molds about 10 seconds.
  2. Drain slightly on paper toweling before dipping into batter.
  3. Keep molds free from crumbs and bits of batter.
  4. No batter should be on top of mold.
  5. Dip batter-filled mold into hot oil and submerge for quick second before releasing.
  6. Use fork tine or tongs for turning; be careful not to prick.
  7. Allow deep molds to rest on bottom of pan for a second to insure flat surface.
  8. Wash molds with detergent after each use to keep from becoming rancid.

 

Batter:

  1. Mix batters by hand, with wire whisk in order given, alternating dry with moist ingredients.
  2. Use food processor with steel blade or blender.
  3. Batter should be free of lumps and creamlike in texture.
  4. Let stand 30 minutes to allow bubbles to disappear or make the night before and refrigerate.
  5. Cold batter gives crispier, thinner pastry. (Store in covered container.)
  6. Use cake flour sifted 3 times for lighter, more delicate crust.
  7. Do not use self rising flour.
  8. Add color (red—green) for tinted shells.
  9. Evaporated milk produces heavier batter than regular milk.
  10. Add cornstarch for a heavier shell. (Meat dishes with sauce).
  11. Replacing beer for the liquid in recipe produces a more flaky pastry.
  12. Add spices & Flavorings to suit taste to basic recipe:

 

For LEMON COOKIES

  • 2 tbl. lemon juice, 2 tbl. sugar

 

For CHOCOLATE WAFFLE

  • 2 tbl cocoa, 2 tbl. sugar
  • Substitute 3 tbl. Kahlua or liquor for milk.

 

Spice batter

  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
  • Add 1/4 cup finely chopped nuts or fruits to batter.

 

Substitute liquid for liquid, flour for flour, keeping in mind: 1 cup DRY does not equal 1 cup LIQUID i.e. 1/2 cup flour + 1/2 cup com meal = 1 cup FLOUR; 1/2 cup milk + 1/2 cup half & half = 1 cup MILK

Heavier flour (i.e. cornstarch) shells are firmer.

For richer, crispier pastry, add an extra egg to basic batter.

STORAGE HINTS

  1. Cool and drain completely before storing.
    Will keep 6 months stored fresh in air-tight container.
    Will keep 6 months if frozen.
  2. Freeze individual shells on cookie sheet. When frozen, stack in container (plastic box prevents breakage).
  3. To warm: Place in 350° oven on cookie sheet — 5 minutes. (Place in microwave 10 seconds.)

Now that we have had all the general information, let's begin to have some fun.

Kalkus-Hirco, 1990. "Ursula Kaiser, owner of Kalkus-Hirco, Inc. is sharing with you, in this her first volume, some of her recipes and hints on how to have fun in your kitchen using the Kalkus-Hirco Rosette irons; Tartmaster and Krimput Sealer.

Her enthusiasm for fine dining pleasures reaches all ethnic groups. The many shapes and designs of the Kalkus-Hirco rosette irons, seasoned with the variety of batter recipes, opens the door to endless culinary creations for you, your family and guests to enjoy." Scarce, Out Of Print, Book. . Soft Cover. Very Good. 6 x 8.75 in., 89 Pages.

This is a complete guide on rosette cooking -- history -- molds are shown (line drawings) -- there are 33 batter recipes -- recipes using the rosettes -- craft ideas for rosette ornaments.

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