Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Holiday Pretzel Treats

(Found here, from Kirsten R.)

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Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug (we preferred the hugs)
M&M's candy

ButterSnaps are my favorite pretzels! These are the kind I used.

1. Heat the oven to 170F. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug (I think the peppermint kisses for Christmas would be good too).

2. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (I did 7min) (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.

3. Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

***Delicious Dinner Rolls***

Recipe found here

Using jellyroll pans give the rolls a great shape. Adding dough enhancer will keep these rolls fresh for up to 6 days stored at room temp in Tupperware or zip-lock bag. You will get exactly 4 dozen rolls every time!



In a large microwave safe bowl:
1 1/2 cups of milk (I prefer to use 1% or higher fat)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)

In a 2 cup or larger sized liquid measuring cup:
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
2 cups of warm water (100-110 degrees)

In KitchenAid Mixing Bowl:
9-10 cups of flour (I use King Arthur All-Purpose flour or Turkey bread flour from Costco).
3 Tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon of store bought dough enhancer/conditioner (pictured below), helps preserve bread
1 egg, beaten
1 Tablespoon salt

2 sticks of butter for buttering the pans and baked rolls
Parchment paper


.................................................................................................................................
To Keep Bread/Rolls fresher for longer:
2 teaspoons of dough conditioner/enhancer (if using homemade version)
plus
2 Tablespoons gluten



Homemade dough conditioner:


¾ cup lecithin 

3 Tablespoons ascorbic acid
2 Tablespoons ginger
3 Tablespoons cornstarch

Store in air tight container at room temperature.


OR

2 Tablespoons from the can (it already contains gluten so you don't have to add that to it), if using the store bought (pictured below).

.................................................................................................................................

Scald milk, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup butter in a microwave safe bowl, for about 4-5 minutes (or until butter is mostly melted).

In the KitchenAid mixer with dough hook attachment, add 4 cups of flour, salt, dough enhancer, and egg. Mix a few times with spatula to combine.

Meanwhile, in a measuring cup with 2 cups of warm water add 1 Tablespoon sugar, then 2 Tablespoons of yeast, mix slightly. Let it sit for a couple of minutes until it is bubbles up (proofed).

Now add the scaled milk, sugar, and butter to the KitchenAid mixer with the flour mixture. We are going to add yeast to this hot mixture, but it will be too hot to just dump the yeast mixture yet. To cool it down stir in 2 more cups of flour.


Keep track of how much flour you are adding!!!


Now add the yeast mixture, after it has proofed.

Gradually stir in remaining 9-10 cups of flour (counting the flour you have already added to cool it earlier, 3-4 cups of flour are left to be added). I would recommend adding 1 cup at time and stirring in between. You can mix these by hand in a large bowl or with a mixer. You will have to knead it by hand at the end.

I lay out parchment paper and knead the last cup or two of flour by hand.

At the end the dough will be dense and sticky, and may be hard to stir, you can use your hands to incorporate the rest of the flour if needed. Be sure not to add too much flour. You want to get it so it is no longer sticky, but you don't want to crumbly and falling apart from adding too much flour.

Then smooth the dough out and cover the bowl with plastic wrap (spray a little pam on the plastic wrap or sprinkle some flour on top of dough, so it doesn't stick). Leave it in a warm place and let it rise (about an hour). Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size.

When your dough is close to rising completely, butter 2 cookie sheets and set them aside.

AFTER THE DOUGH RISES 

Lay out parchment paper and lightly cover it with flour to prevent the dough from sticking. Dump your dough out and divide it into 4 balls. Eyeball the sizes, then lift them up and feel the weight of each ball. Try to make them even, but they don’t have to be perfect.

Using one ball of dough at a time: roll the dough into a circle on a floured counter. Once it is rolled out spread the top with butter from edge to edge. You will use about 2 Tablespoons per circle of dough.Cut the dough into quarters using a pizza cutter. Then cut each quarter into 3 pieces. You should end up with 12 triangles from each circle of dough.

You will roll the dough starting with the wide end of the triangle.Tuck the tail of the triangle under the roll and place it on the buttered cookie sheet. You will make 3 rows, with 8 rolls per row. This will give you 24 rolls per pan. Two balls of dough will fill 1 pan. You will get a total of 48 rolls!

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Place the pans of rolls in a warm place to let them rise, I cover them with a lightweight towel. They will need about 45-60 min to rise again.

AFTER THE 2ND TIME RISING 

Once they are full in size, bake (one pan at a time) in the oven until they are golden brown. About 10 – 20 minutes, It may take more or less time depending on how fast your oven cooks. Keep a close eye on your first pan to get the right time for the second.

While they are still hot out of the oven, brush with\ melted butter for a delicious buttery glaze.


Sunday, September 25, 2011

Oilve Tapenade Dip/Spread

from Ina Garten, Foodnetwork

1/2 pound good black olives, such as kalamata, pitted and diced (I used mostly kalamata but also some green olives)
3 tablespoons capers, drained
8 anchovy fillets (I left these out)
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup good olive oil (I used extra virgin olive oil)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves (I used 1/4 tsp crushed dried thyme)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 baguette, sliced and toasted (I used crackers)

Combine the olives, capers, anchovies and garlic in a food processor fitted with a steel blade, and pulse 3 times. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, thyme and parsley and process until chunky. Keep refrigerated.

Serve on toasts, french bread slices, etc.

Roast Beef Bruschetta Appetizer

Kirsten R.

Recipe Found Here

1 loaf (1 lb.) baguette French bread, cut into 30 (1/4 in) slices
2 Tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
½ cup chive-and-onion cream cheese spread
* ½ lb. thinly sliced cooked roast beef (from deli)
¼ teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
4 plum (roma) tomatoes, thinly sliced
8 medium green onions, sliced

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Brush both sides of bread slices with oil. (I sprayed them with my Presto oil sprayer to make the coating lighter). Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 5 minutes or until crisp. Cool 5 minutes.

Spread cream cheese over each bread slice. Top with beef; sprinkle with pepper. Top each with tomato slice and onions.

Makes about 30 bruschetta.

* Can substitute roast beef with ham or turkey if preferred

Saturday, September 24, 2011

***Towering Praline Carrot Cake***

Kirsten R.

I have baked this cake with the raw shredded carrots and the boiled version, they taste the same to me. The recipe calls for boiling the carrots first, but if you are low on time you can skip it and have a fantastic cake. 


Cake:
l lb or about 6 medium carrots (3 cups sliced)
3 cups flour
2 3/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
6 eggs, slightly beaten
8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (optional, or add to outside of cake as decoration)
1/2 cup flaked coconut


Praline Sauce
6 Tablespoons butter
6 Tablespoons brown sugar
4 Tablespoons whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla

Candied Pecan Halves (optional topping) 
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 Tablespoons orange juice (I replace this with butter and do it with brown sugar and butter - I don't like the orange flavor)
1/2 cup pecan halves

Cinnamon-Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
l teaspoon cinnamon
l teaspoon vanilla
5 3/4 to 6 1/4 cups powdered sugar

For Cake
Preheat oven to 350.

Peel and chop carrots, place in food processor/blender using several pulses (should have about 1 1/2 cups after shredding them).

OR In a covered medium saucepan cook carrots in a moderate amount of boiling water about 20 minutes or until very tender. Drain. Cool carrots slightly; coarsely mash with a potato masher.

Grease and lightly flour three 8 or 9 inch round cake pans. I prefer 8 inch. 

In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center and add oil, eggs, pineapple, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed with wire whisk attachment for 1 minute to combine all ingredients. Fold in the l cup pecans, the coconut, and shredded carrots.

Spread batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pans, Cool completely on wire racks.

Praline Sauce
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the brown sugar and cream and butter. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently over entire surface for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla. Cool.

Candied Pecan Halves
Preheat oven to 350. Combine brown sugar and orange juice. Add pecan halves, stirring to coat. Spread in a lightly greased baking pan. Bake 12 mins or until nuts are browned & syrup is bubbly, stirring once. Pour out onto lightly greased baking sheet, separating into single nuts. Cool on wire rack.

Assembling Cake
Place 1 of the completely cooled cake layers, top down, on cake plate. Use about 1 cup frosting to pipe or spoon a rim about 1" & 1/2" high around outer edge of cake layer.

Then spoon about 2 Tablespoons of frosting in center 1-1/2" of that layer, leaving an unfrosted area or ring. Spoon & spread half of the Praline Sauce into ring (sauce will not fill ring). Add 2nd cake layer, top down, & repeat frosting & sauce as above.

Add final cake layer, top up. Frost top & sides of layer with remaining frosting. Garnish top with Candied Pecan Halves. Store cake in refrigerator.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

***Pumpkin Bread***

Tastes just like the box of Pillsbury Quick Bread. You can add chocolat chips, but I actually like it better without them. Makes two loaves. Fabulous with some powdered sugar on top when cooled.

5 eggs
1 29oz. can pumpkin
3 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil (canola works fine)
4 1/2 cups flour (half white/wheat works well)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon ginger
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (optional)
1 cup nuts (optional)

Beat eggs and other ingredients in order given, mixing well.

Pour into TWO greased 9x13 pans and bake at 350 for 25-30 min. If you use bread pans bake for 60-65 minutes or until toothpick comes out of center clean.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

***Honey Lime Enchiladas***

6 Tablespoons honey
5 Tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 2-3 limes)
1 Tablespoon chili powder (I like mild)
4 cups chicken, cooked and shredded (I just use what I have 2-3 chicken breasts)
1 can black beans, rinsed
Flour tortillas, large (I use 8-10, depending on how much I fill them)
Green enchilada sauce (2 small 10oz cans  or 1 large)
Shredded cheddar cheese (maybe 2-3cups)

Mix honey, lime juice, chili powder, and cooked chicken together and marinate for at least 1 hour. Cover bottom of baking dish with a small amount of enchilada sauce. assemble enchiladas by placing a heaping spoonful of chicken, a spoonful of beans and cheese in tortillas. Roll up and place in baking dish. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bake at 350F for 20-30 minutes or until warmed through and cheese is melted.

Recipe found here

Cucumber Salsa

(Johan G.)

2 cucumbers, chopped (no seeds)
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup green bell peppers, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, minced (no seeds, this is optional)
1 small onion, chopped
1 to 2 Tbsp lime juice
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 tsp minced fresh parsley
2 tsp minced fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp salt



Mix everything, cover, refrigerate. Sometimes I use dried parsley and cilantro, as well as garlic powder, if I don't have them fresh. Served well in a flour tortilla!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Aunt Ruth's Cookies

(Aunt Ruth)

1 batch of Lisa’s Favorite Chocolate Chip cookie dough
2 packages cream cheese (8oz each),  at room temp
1 cup sugar, granulated white
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Spread cookie dough in a 9x13, to cover the bottom. It does not need to be a thick layer. Pree cookie dough together to form bottom crust. Set aside.

Beat softened cream cheese on high speed in mixer, until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, mixing well. Add eggs. Pour mixture onto cookie dough and spread out. Add another layer of cookie dough on top of cream cheese mixture.

Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes, or until the top is brown and cooked through. Cool completely and store in the refrigerator.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Butternut Squash Baked

(Jessica A.)

1 butternut squash, chopped in small sqaures
olive oil
a few shakes Mrs. Dash Italian style
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
onion

Spread butternut squash on baking sheet. Sprinkle the remaining ingedients over top. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

***Garlic Bread***

(recipe found here)


1 loaf of crusty French bread
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 large cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
1 heaping Tablespoon of freshly chopped parsley, or dried (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix the butter, garlic, and parsley in a bowl. Make 1-inch thick slices into the bread, but do not go all the way through, just to the bottom crust. Put a teaspoon or two of the butter mixture between each slice. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil and heat for 15 minutes in the oven.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Fondue

(recipe found here)

Best Ever Chocolate Fondue

½ (16 oz) can chocolate syrup
½ (13 oz) jar hazelnut-chocolate spread
½ cup milk chocolate chips
3 tablespoons half-n-half

Dump everything into a medium micro-wave bowl and nuke for 1 to 3 minutes. Stir every 30 seconds. Pour into a fondue pot over sterno to keep warm. Serve with graham
crackers, pound cake cubes, pretzels, pineapple chunks, apples, pears, Etc.


Marshmallow Fondue
1 pkg mini marshmallows
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon almond extract

In a saucepan melt pkg. marshmallows with some heavy cream until smooth. Pour into fondue pot and serve with cubes of fresh fruit or Rice Krispie treats cut into cubes.


Caramel Fondue

1 large can evaporated milk
1 large bag Kraft caramels
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix over low heat until smooth and thick. Pour into fondue pot and serve with chunks of bananas, wedges of apples, and cubes of pound cake.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Cake (aka Buckeye Cake)

(Mandy H.)



Cake:
1 box Chocolate Fudge cake mix (or any chocolate cake mix)
1 (3 oz.) box instant chocolate pudding
2 cups sour cream
5 eggs
1 cup melted butter (2 sticks)
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup milk chocolate chips (I recommend ghirardelli)

In a large bowl, beat first 6 ingredients until well blended. Mixture will be thick. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into three greased 9” pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-40 minutes. (Keep an eye on them so they don’t overbake). Cool completely. I actually like to pop them in the freezer for easy assembling.

Peanut Butter Buttercream Icing
Ingredients
2/3 cup solid vegetable shortening (I use an organic brand with no hydrogenated oil)
2/3 cup butter (11 Tablespoons)
1 3/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
6-8 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (2 lb. bag/box is perfect)

Directions
Cream shortening and butter with electric mixer.
Add peanut butter, milk and vanilla.
Gradually add 6 c. sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry.
Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add more sugar (or milk) as needed until icing is desired consistency (should be firm enough to hold a shape but still smooth).

Keep icing covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Re-whip before using.

TO ASSEMBLE CAKE:
First of all, if you don't have a canvas decorating bag and an extra-large star tip, I recommend getting one (you can get them at Wal-Mart, under $5 for all). The tip is Wilton size 1M. I use it for EVERYTHING. It makes super-fast, gorgeous cupcakes and is the very easiest way to decorate a cake (no crumbs!).

Place a small dab of frosting on a cake platter, set first cake layer on top (it's easiest to assemble if the layers are frozen but not necessary). Pipe out (or spread) frosting over top of layer and add next layer. Repeat with final layer. Spread a layer of frosting on the very top and sprinkle chocolate shavings on top (or chocolate chips or chopped reeses peanut butter cups!).

Using your large star tip, make stripes up and down the sides of cake. This is super-easy and you have no frosting crumbs! Hooray!

To finish, draw "S" shapes all around the top edge of the cake. Voila! You have decorated a professional looking cake in 5 minutes! Enjoy!

recipe found here

Sunday, February 6, 2011

***Soft Chewy Caramel Popcorn***

(Jenn H.)

1/2 cup butter
2 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 cup white corn syrup
1 15oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 teaspoons salt (fine sea salt)
3 gallons popped popcorn (1.5 cups of kernels)


Prepare the popcorn; I use an air-popper. The popcorn doesn't require extra butter or oil, since you'll be covering it in caramel.Use a cooling rack placed on top of a baking sheet to spread the popcorn over and let any un-popped kernels fall through. Set aside popcorn in several large bowls.

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a medium sauce pan, stir well and bring to a boil over medium heat.

Add sweetened condensed milk slowly and simmer stirring constantly. Bring almost to soft ball stage (about 220 degrees), remove from heat and add vanilla and salt. Pour over popcorn and slowly turn over to cover popcorn in caramel. Makes about 20-30 popcorn balls.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

San Giorgio Oven Ready Lasagna

Whole milk mozzarella and whole milk ricotta make an extra good dish!



1 lb ground beef (or sausage)
3-4 cups sauce (I use 1 1/2 jars of Classico Four Cheese)
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 pieces Oven Ready Lasagna noodles, uncooked
4 cups (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese (this is just enough)
1/4 to 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese


Heat oven to 350. Remove 12 pieces of pasta from package. 

In large skillet, cook meat until browned; remove from heat. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce.

In a small bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, egg, basil and oregano

Assembly
In a 13x9 inch baking dish, spread 3/4 cup meat sauce.

Place 3 pieces uncooked pasta crosswise over sauce. Pieces should not overlap or touch side of pan since they will expand when baked.

Spread about 2/3 cup ricotta mixture evenly over pasta. Spread 3/4 cup meat sauce evenly over ricotta covering pasta completely; sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 TWO more times. Top with remaining 3 pasta pieces. Spread remaining meat sauce completely over pasta; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and the parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes; remove foil. Bake 10-15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting. Serve with additional sauce, if desired. 10-12 servings.


MAKE AHEAD DIRECTIONS
Prepare as directed; DO NOT BAKE. Cover with foil and refrigerate up to 48 hours or freeze up to 2 months. Bake refrigerated lasagna at 400 about 45 minutes and frozen lasagna 1 hr and 35 min, removing foil during the last 5 minutes of baking.