Saturday, December 13, 2008
December 10 "Progressive" Dinner
Here are some of the recipes for food that was brought to the Enrichment Dinner on December 10 at the lovely home of Marla S. Sorry there aren't any pictures--I think I should make someone the official Enrichment food photographer!
Cheese Ball
prepared by Marie H
2 8-oz packages cream cheese
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained
2 T finely chopped onion
1 T Lawry's Seasoned Salt
Warm/soften cream cheese. Mix all ingredients together. Refrigerate 45 minutes. (I don't do this--too impatient). Divide into 3 balls. Roll in 3/4 C finely chopped pecans.
Autumn Comfort Mac
originally published in Portland Monthly Magazine, March 2008
prepared by JaneAnne P
Casserole:
1 butternut squash (about 2 lb), peeled, seeded and cut into 1" cubes
1 T olive oil
12 oz cavatappi (hollow corkscrew pasta; I used a 16-oz pkg and adjusted the sauce)
4 oz pancetta, diced (I used 8 oz thick-cut uncured bacon)
1 med shallot, minced (a few T)
4 T unsalted butter
4 T all-purpose flour
2 C whole milk
1/2 C heavy cream
2 C Tillamook Italian cheese blend (not the mozzarella one)
1 t ground black pepper
1 1/2 T fresh sage leaves, minced
4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
Topping:
1 T unsalted butter
1 C homemade bread crumbs
1 T fresh sage leaves, minced
1/2 C more of the same shredded cheese blend
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. In a bowl, toss butternut squash with olive oil. Spread in a single layer on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes, stirring once mid-way. Remove when squash is tender. Set aside and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
3. Bring several quarts salted water to a boil. Add cavatappi and cook until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
4. Cook pancetta or bacon in a skillet over medium heat until fat is rendered and bacon is starting to crisp, about 6 minutes. Remove rendered fat. Add shallot and sauté 2-3 minutes more. Remove from heat.
5. In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add flour, stirring constantly, and cook for a couple of minutes. Add milk and cream slowly, whisking constantly, until smooth. Cook until thickened slightly and floury taste is gone. Stir in cheese until melted. Remove from heat and stir in pepper and sage.
6. Combine pasta, cheese sauce and bacon-shallot mixture in large bowl. Fold in squash and goat cheese. Pour into a buttered (or sprayed with cooking spray) 9x13" pan.
7. In a small saucepan (or the microwave), melt butter, then stir in bread crumbs, sage and cheese. Sprinkle over pasta. Bake 20-25 minutes, until bubbling. Brown for 3 minutes under the broiler. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Strata with Italian Sausage, Rainbow Chard, Shallots and Fontina
prepared by JaneAnne P
This dish is freely adaptable to whatever ingredients you have on hand. In spring, you could make it with salmon, asparagus and havarti. The possibilities are endless!
stale bread--enough 1/2-3/4" slices for two tightly-fitting layers in a 9x13 pan (I used one loaf Pearl Bakery ciabatta)
1 T olive oil
1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or hot), removed from casings
1 bunch rainbow chard, stems cut into 1/2" lengths, leaves cut into 1" pieces
1 large shallot, peeled and sliced thin
8-12 oz grated cheese (in this case a mixture of Italian fontina and the same Tillamook grated blend used in the Mac above)
15 eggs
1 qt half and half
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1. Heat olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just starting to smoke. Add sausage and cook, breaking up pieces with spoon, until starting to brown and render its fat. Move sausage to side of pan and remove most of the fat, then return to heat and add shallot and chard stems, with just a little salt and pepper. Sauté until shallot is limp but not fully translucent, then add chopped chard leaves. Continue sautéing until vegetables are tender.
2. Put half of bread in a single layer in the bottom of the pan. Top with half the sausage-shallot-chard mixture, then half the cheese, and repeat layers.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, and 1/2 t each salt and pepper. Pour over layers in baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and weight top to keep bread submerged in egg mixture (I use the plastic lid to my Pyrex baking dish, turned upside down, with a few large cans of food on top.). Let sit at least an hour or as long as overnight (refrigerated if longer than an hour) (this works great for holiday breakfasts or brunches, since you can assemble it the night before).
4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake until puffed and brown and starting to pull away from the edges of the pan, and not at all jiggly in the middle when shaken (a poke into the middle may reveal some uncooked custard, but some residual cooking will happen after the pan is removed from the oven). Let stand 15 minutes, then serve.
Kay's EASY Chicken Parmesan Bites! (for busy moms)
prepared by Kay H
Ladies, this is the short version of a long version classic.
One large bag, breaded chicken tenderloins (Costco)
One bag shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
One container grated Parmesan cheese
oregano
One jar of your favorite pasta sauce, mine would be Barilla marinara, or Prego marinara
hot pepper flakes
(This will save you time on all the breading and home made sauce, that I save for the holidays)
Place a layer of jar sauce on the bottom of a large Pyrex baking dish. Sprinkle lightly with hot pepper flakes, oregano, and Parmesan cheese.
Bake the tenderloins on a sheet pan for 40 minutes, turning once at 20 minutes, until crisp.
Place tenderloins in a tight row on top of sauce.
Cover chicken with another layer of sauce, oregano, Parmesan cheese, hot pepper flakes, and a generous layer of part-skim mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes covered with aluminum foil.
Cheese Ball
prepared by Marie H
2 8-oz packages cream cheese
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained
2 T finely chopped onion
1 T Lawry's Seasoned Salt
Warm/soften cream cheese. Mix all ingredients together. Refrigerate 45 minutes. (I don't do this--too impatient). Divide into 3 balls. Roll in 3/4 C finely chopped pecans.
Autumn Comfort Mac
originally published in Portland Monthly Magazine, March 2008
prepared by JaneAnne P
Casserole:
1 butternut squash (about 2 lb), peeled, seeded and cut into 1" cubes
1 T olive oil
12 oz cavatappi (hollow corkscrew pasta; I used a 16-oz pkg and adjusted the sauce)
4 oz pancetta, diced (I used 8 oz thick-cut uncured bacon)
1 med shallot, minced (a few T)
4 T unsalted butter
4 T all-purpose flour
2 C whole milk
1/2 C heavy cream
2 C Tillamook Italian cheese blend (not the mozzarella one)
1 t ground black pepper
1 1/2 T fresh sage leaves, minced
4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
Topping:
1 T unsalted butter
1 C homemade bread crumbs
1 T fresh sage leaves, minced
1/2 C more of the same shredded cheese blend
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. In a bowl, toss butternut squash with olive oil. Spread in a single layer on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes, stirring once mid-way. Remove when squash is tender. Set aside and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
3. Bring several quarts salted water to a boil. Add cavatappi and cook until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
4. Cook pancetta or bacon in a skillet over medium heat until fat is rendered and bacon is starting to crisp, about 6 minutes. Remove rendered fat. Add shallot and sauté 2-3 minutes more. Remove from heat.
5. In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add flour, stirring constantly, and cook for a couple of minutes. Add milk and cream slowly, whisking constantly, until smooth. Cook until thickened slightly and floury taste is gone. Stir in cheese until melted. Remove from heat and stir in pepper and sage.
6. Combine pasta, cheese sauce and bacon-shallot mixture in large bowl. Fold in squash and goat cheese. Pour into a buttered (or sprayed with cooking spray) 9x13" pan.
7. In a small saucepan (or the microwave), melt butter, then stir in bread crumbs, sage and cheese. Sprinkle over pasta. Bake 20-25 minutes, until bubbling. Brown for 3 minutes under the broiler. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Strata with Italian Sausage, Rainbow Chard, Shallots and Fontina
prepared by JaneAnne P
This dish is freely adaptable to whatever ingredients you have on hand. In spring, you could make it with salmon, asparagus and havarti. The possibilities are endless!
stale bread--enough 1/2-3/4" slices for two tightly-fitting layers in a 9x13 pan (I used one loaf Pearl Bakery ciabatta)
1 T olive oil
1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or hot), removed from casings
1 bunch rainbow chard, stems cut into 1/2" lengths, leaves cut into 1" pieces
1 large shallot, peeled and sliced thin
8-12 oz grated cheese (in this case a mixture of Italian fontina and the same Tillamook grated blend used in the Mac above)
15 eggs
1 qt half and half
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1. Heat olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just starting to smoke. Add sausage and cook, breaking up pieces with spoon, until starting to brown and render its fat. Move sausage to side of pan and remove most of the fat, then return to heat and add shallot and chard stems, with just a little salt and pepper. Sauté until shallot is limp but not fully translucent, then add chopped chard leaves. Continue sautéing until vegetables are tender.
2. Put half of bread in a single layer in the bottom of the pan. Top with half the sausage-shallot-chard mixture, then half the cheese, and repeat layers.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, and 1/2 t each salt and pepper. Pour over layers in baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and weight top to keep bread submerged in egg mixture (I use the plastic lid to my Pyrex baking dish, turned upside down, with a few large cans of food on top.). Let sit at least an hour or as long as overnight (refrigerated if longer than an hour) (this works great for holiday breakfasts or brunches, since you can assemble it the night before).
4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake until puffed and brown and starting to pull away from the edges of the pan, and not at all jiggly in the middle when shaken (a poke into the middle may reveal some uncooked custard, but some residual cooking will happen after the pan is removed from the oven). Let stand 15 minutes, then serve.
Kay's EASY Chicken Parmesan Bites! (for busy moms)
prepared by Kay H
Ladies, this is the short version of a long version classic.
One large bag, breaded chicken tenderloins (Costco)
One bag shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
One container grated Parmesan cheese
oregano
One jar of your favorite pasta sauce, mine would be Barilla marinara, or Prego marinara
hot pepper flakes
(This will save you time on all the breading and home made sauce, that I save for the holidays)
Place a layer of jar sauce on the bottom of a large Pyrex baking dish. Sprinkle lightly with hot pepper flakes, oregano, and Parmesan cheese.
Bake the tenderloins on a sheet pan for 40 minutes, turning once at 20 minutes, until crisp.
Place tenderloins in a tight row on top of sauce.
Cover chicken with another layer of sauce, oregano, Parmesan cheese, hot pepper flakes, and a generous layer of part-skim mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes covered with aluminum foil.
Pita Bread from Christmas Party
Making your own pita bread is a snap IF you have two items: a decent food processor and a baking stone. You can do without the first of these if you don't mind kneading by hand, but if you don't have to hand-knead you can have finished, soft, delicious pita bread in ONE HOUR.
Pita Bread
makes 6-8 6-7" pitas
adapted from Cook's Illustrated, Jan/Feb 1999
1 pkg (2 1/4 t) dry active yeast
1 C warm water (110-115 degrees)
1 T olive oil
2 t sugar
1/4 C plain yogurt
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 C whole wheat flour
2 C bread flour (or higher-protein all-purpose, like Bob's Red Mill or King Arthur), plus extra as needed
1. Sprinkle yeast over warm water in bowl of food processor, and let dissolve for a few minutes.
Add oil, sugar and yogurt and pulse a little to mix. Add salt and flours and process until smooth, about 15 seconds, scraping sides of bowl as necessary.
Keep processing, adding flour, until dough is soft and satiny and pulls completely away from sides of bowl, about 30 seconds (or turn dough out onto floured work surface and knead 12-15 minutes).
Put dough in medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in warm, draft-free spot until dough doubles in size, 30-45 minutes. (At this point, dough can be punched down, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerated up to 2 days.) Before the dough is completely risen, put baking stone on lowest rack in oven and preheat oven to 500 degrees for at least a half-hour.
2. Turn dough onto lightly-floured work surface, and, if it is sticky, sprinkle lightly with flour. Divide dough into 6 or 8 equal portions with a chef's knife or bench scraper. Roll each portion into a ball, then roll with rolling pin into a four-inch circle (the picture below shows two batches that I mixed up in succession).
Let rest for 10-15 minutes, then roll into a 6-7" circle.
3. When oven and stone are fully heated, carefully and quickly place a few dough rounds directly on the baking stone (I do three at a time on my round stone), and bake for 3-6 minutes, until bread is puffed and golden brown on the bottom. Pause between batches to let oven return to 500 degrees (they don't cook as quickly or puff as dramatically at lower temperatures. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, and spray with a little olive oil if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Monday, November 24, 2008
November Cookie Sunday
Melinda K made these oreo-like cookies for November's Cookie Sunday.
Cookie mix:
1 box cake mix (I used the triple fudge)
1 cube butter (1/2 C)
2 eggs
filling:
1/2 bag powdered sugar (1 lb)
1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz)
1 t vanilla
3/4 C shortening
Mix together cookie ingredients. Roll into small balls and cook at 350 degrees until the dough starts to crack, about 5-7 minutes.
The recipe makes about 2.5 dozen but the frosting is enough for five dozen so don't make the whole amount unless you are doubling the cookie dough.
Also, I don't usually use shorting in my baking but I like theses cookies so much that I think it's worth the fat. You could probably experiment with butter if you would like.
Cookie mix:
1 box cake mix (I used the triple fudge)
1 cube butter (1/2 C)
2 eggs
filling:
1/2 bag powdered sugar (1 lb)
1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz)
1 t vanilla
3/4 C shortening
Mix together cookie ingredients. Roll into small balls and cook at 350 degrees until the dough starts to crack, about 5-7 minutes.
The recipe makes about 2.5 dozen but the frosting is enough for five dozen so don't make the whole amount unless you are doubling the cookie dough.
Also, I don't usually use shorting in my baking but I like theses cookies so much that I think it's worth the fat. You could probably experiment with butter if you would like.
November Book Group dessert
Carolyn C hosted, and served this dessert:
Molten Chocolate Cakes
(4-8 servings depending on size of muffin tin)
4 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
1 stick butter
1 t vanilla or raspberry extract
1 C powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
6 T flour
Spray 4 custard cups or muffin tin or mini- muffin tin with cooking spray. Microwave chocolate and butter in large bowl on high 1 minute or until butter is melted. Whisk until chocolate is completely melted, then stir in flavoring and sugar until blended. Whisk in eggs and yolk. Stir in flour. Spoon evenly into cups or tins, not quite to the rims.
Bake in oven preheated to 425 degrees F until sides are firm but centers are soft, approximately 15 minutes for custard cups, 13 minutes for muffin tin, or no more than 7 minutes for mini-muffin tin. Cool 1 minute, then carefully remove with a blunt knife and serve immediately with ice cream.
Molten Chocolate Cakes
(4-8 servings depending on size of muffin tin)
4 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
1 stick butter
1 t vanilla or raspberry extract
1 C powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
6 T flour
Spray 4 custard cups or muffin tin or mini- muffin tin with cooking spray. Microwave chocolate and butter in large bowl on high 1 minute or until butter is melted. Whisk until chocolate is completely melted, then stir in flavoring and sugar until blended. Whisk in eggs and yolk. Stir in flour. Spoon evenly into cups or tins, not quite to the rims.
Bake in oven preheated to 425 degrees F until sides are firm but centers are soft, approximately 15 minutes for custard cups, 13 minutes for muffin tin, or no more than 7 minutes for mini-muffin tin. Cool 1 minute, then carefully remove with a blunt knife and serve immediately with ice cream.
October Bead Night
JaneAnne P hosted October's bead night, and served the following dessert:
Pear Crisp
adapted from Cook's Illustrated, September/October 2007
3/4 C coarsely chopped almonds
1/2 C flour
1/4 C packed light brown sugar
4 T sugar
1/4 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
salt
5 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 t cornstarch
2 t fresh lemon juice
3 lb ripe but firm Bartlett pears
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat to 425 degrees. Process nuts, flour, brown sugar, 2 T granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1/8 t salt in food processor until nuts are finely chopped. Drizzle butter over flour mixture and pulse until mixture resembles crumbly wet sand, pausing halfway through to scrape down sides of workbowl. Set aside.
2. Whisk remaining 2 T sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and pinch of salt together in a large bowl. Peel pears, then quarter and core, and cut each quarter into 8 pieces. Gently toss with sugar mixture and transfer to 8-inch square baking dish.
3. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit, breaking up any large chunks. Bake until fruit is bubbling around edges and topping is deep golden brown, 27-32 minutes. Cool on wire rack until warm, at least 15 minutes, and serve.
The pear crisp was topped with Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, and served with ganache-filled almond macaroons on the side.
Pear Crisp
adapted from Cook's Illustrated, September/October 2007
3/4 C coarsely chopped almonds
1/2 C flour
1/4 C packed light brown sugar
4 T sugar
1/4 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
salt
5 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 t cornstarch
2 t fresh lemon juice
3 lb ripe but firm Bartlett pears
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat to 425 degrees. Process nuts, flour, brown sugar, 2 T granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1/8 t salt in food processor until nuts are finely chopped. Drizzle butter over flour mixture and pulse until mixture resembles crumbly wet sand, pausing halfway through to scrape down sides of workbowl. Set aside.
2. Whisk remaining 2 T sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and pinch of salt together in a large bowl. Peel pears, then quarter and core, and cut each quarter into 8 pieces. Gently toss with sugar mixture and transfer to 8-inch square baking dish.
3. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit, breaking up any large chunks. Bake until fruit is bubbling around edges and topping is deep golden brown, 27-32 minutes. Cool on wire rack until warm, at least 15 minutes, and serve.
The pear crisp was topped with Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, and served with ganache-filled almond macaroons on the side.
October Holiday Prep Activity
October's Enrichment dinner and activity was loads of fun. We had delicious soups, artisan bread (from Pearl Bakery and Grand Central Bakery), and traditional holiday desserts, and got an introduction to our preparedness focus for the coming year from our ward's resident preparedness expert, Pascal S. After dinner we had five different holiday prep activities: Halloween ghosts (made from tissue paper spray-glued to leftover aluminum screen), tealight holders made from baby food jars, Day of the Dead sugar skulls, upcycled gift wrapping, and holiday makeup tips from our ward's resident makeup expert, Kay G-H.
The blank sugar skulls and pastry bags of brightly-colored royal icing:
The sugar skulls I decorated at home later using the leftovers:
The gift-wrapping table (you can see the pattern for the Chinese takeout box--I printed it out and enlarged it with a photocopier, and then we cut boxes out of poster board left over from another project).
The potluck soups and desserts were delicious. Here are a few recipes.
Horst Mager's Original Lentil Soup
prepared by Allison P.
in a large double boiler or a large saucepan add:
3 oz salad oil
Add the following to the oil:
3 oz diced bacon
3/4 C diced onion
3/4 C diced carrots
3/4 C diced celery
Sauté the above mixture until the onion and celery are transparent. Stirring constantly, add
3/4 C flour
When the flour has blended with the above mixture, slowly add 3 1/2 qts. of water, stirring constantly. Then add:
1 C lentils
1 t white thyme
2 t Salt
2 T beef base
2 bay leaves
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of white pepper
3/4 C diced potatoes
Simmer approximately 3 hours.
Tuscan Vegtable Soup
Taken From: "The Food You Crave" by Ellie Krieger
prepared by Jessie M
1 15-oz can low-sodium cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 T olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced (about 1 C)
2 carrots, diced (about 1/2 C)
2 stalks celery, diced, (about 1/2 C)
1 small zucchini, diced (about 1 1/2 C)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1 t dried)
2 t chopped fresh sage leaves (or 1/2 t dried)
1/2 t salt
1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
32 oz low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 14.5-oz can no salt added diced tomatoes
2 C chopped baby spinach leaves
1/3 C freshly grated Parmesan, optional
In a small bowl mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon, and set aside. Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and tomatoes with the juice and bring to a boil. Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach leaves and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes more. Serve topped with Parmesan, if desired.
Butternut and Ham Bisque
from Family Fun magazine
prepared by Melissa K
2 T unsalted butter
1 very large sweet onion, chopped
½ t dried rosemary leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 C peeled, diced butternut squash
1 C peeled, diced all-purpose potatoes
5 C chicken stock
1 t salt
black pepper to taste
½ C light or heavy cream
1 ½ C diced cooked ham
Melt the butter in a medium soup pot or a large saucepan. Stir in the onion and rosemary. Partially cover the pan and cook the onion over moderate heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute.
Add the squash, potatoes, chicken stock, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover the pot. Cook the soup at a low boil for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are very soft. Remove the pan from the heat.
Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the soup solids and a ladleful of broth to a food processor (do this in batches if you processor is small).* Puree the vegetables, then stir them back into the broth. Stir in the pepper, the cream, and the ham, heating for several minutes before serving. Makes 6 servings.
*I never do it this way. I use my hand-held drink blender right in the pan to purée the entire pot of vegetables and broth.
Buffalo Minestrone
prepared by Melissa K
This soup is typical of some of our Sunday dinners. I’ll use up what I have in the house and make substitutions with things I actually have instead of what is called for in the recipe. Sometimes it turns out good, sometimes not.
2 patties frozen ground buffalo meat
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 t dried oregano
2-3 C fresh baby spinach, chopped
5-6 C beef stock (I used “better than bouillon” and water)
2-3 C peeled, diced all-purpose potatoes
1-2 carrots, diced
2 14-oz cans diced tomatoes
1 12-oz can V-8
2 cans red beans, drained
1 C small shell pasta
salt and pepper to taste
Microwave the frozen patties on 30% for a bout 3 minutes to thaw. Cook them in a large pot, chopping as they brown. Add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté until translucent. Stir in the oregano and spinach and cook about a minute. Add the stock, potatoes and carrots, tomatoes and V-8 and simmer about half an hour. Stir in the beans and macaroni. Cook about 15 minutes more to cook the pasta.
Sara's Bread Pudding
prepared by Sara McC
1 1/2 lb loaf white bread (like Wonder Big Loaf), or any other desired bread
1/2 C raisins or craisins (soak for a few minutes)
2 1/2 cubes of unsalted butter, melted
3 C sugar
10 eggs
2 12-oz cans evaporated milk (may use skim)
2 t cinnamon
2 t vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Tear the bread into 2-inch pieces and place half the bread in the bottom of the pan. Top with raisins or craisins. Top with the remaining bread. Place the melted butter in a large mixing bowl and slowly add the sugar, using an electric mixer to mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Add the evaporated milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well. Pour the mixture carefully over the top of the bread, being sure to cover all of it. Let sit to absorb for 5 to 10 minutes. Place baking pan in a water bath (I use a broiler pan or a jelly roll pan and fill it with water). Bake for 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes or until bread is light brown and spongy. Cool. Serve with English Custard, below.
English Custard (my friend Anne's recipe from London)
1/3 C sugar
2 T cornstarch
1/8 t salt
2 C milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 T butter, softened
1 t vanilla
Blend sugar, cornstarch & salt in a 2-qt saucepan. Combine milk and egg yolks. Gradually stir into sugar mixture, then cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
Chocolate Pecan Pie (a Kentucky Favorite)
prepared by Natalie C
1 unbaked pie shell (9” deep dish)
3 eggs
2/3 C sugar
½ t salt
1/3 C butter, melted
1 C light corn syrup
1 C pecan halves
1 ½ C semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat eggs, sugar, salt, butter, and syrup. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Pour into pie shell and bake until set, about 40-50 minutes. Cool before cutting.
Papa Hadyn's Banana Cream Pie à la Harris (hope this makes sense)
prepared by Annette H
Graham cracker crust:
11 whole graham crackers, crushed
5 T butter,melted
1 T sugar
Combine ingredients till crumbs are moistened. Press mixture into 9 inch pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes, then let cool. Melt approximately 3 oz dark chocolate. Paint the bottom of the crust with the melted chocolate. Let cool completely.
Then prepare Cream Filling:
5 T cornstarch
1 C sugar
1/4 t salt
2 1/2 C milk
3/4 C half and half
3 egg yolks
2 T butter
1 t vanilla
Mix cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a 3-qt saucepan. Add milk and cream and cook over medium heat until smooth and thick, stirring constantly. Pour small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; blend thoroughly, then pour back into saucepan. Cook another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla.
Slice 2 bananas into pie shell. Pour the filling over the bananas. Chill 3-4 hours.
Chocolate Mousse:
7 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 C, plus 2 T heavy cream, chilled
2 T water
2 T sugar
Put 2 inches water in a medium saucepan and bring pot to bare simmer. Combine the chocolate and 2 T of heavy cream in a stainless-steel bowl big enough to rest on top of the saucepan. Place the bowl over the simmering water, making sure that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Heat, whisking occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove the bowl from the heat, stir in the 2 T of water and set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
In a medium sized bowl using an electric mixer, whip the remaining 1 C heavy cream and sugar together until the cream holds stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.
Layer the chocolate mousse on top of the cream filling in pie pan. (you will probably have leftover mousse, darn, as this is enough mousse for an entire pie).
Chill pie for 3 hours. (You don't have to chill the cream filling for an entire 3 hours before adding the mousse layer. I typically chill it for as long as it takes me to make the mousse and then chill it for 3 hours after I've added both layers.)
Finally, whip up 1 C of heavy cream into stiff peaks to top the pie. I do not add sugar to this, as I feel the pie has enough sugar and it becomes too sweet.
Crinkle Top Cookies
prepared by Janie D
Disclaimer:
These are once-a-year cookies at my house, because they are made with
shortening (which is soooo bad for people!). I have tried substituting
butter for the shortening, and they turn out OK, but not great. If you
do use butter instead of shortening, you'll need to chill the dough
before forming into balls and rolling in sugar. Bake for an extra
minute or so -- 9 - 10 minutes, rather than 8.
3/4 C vegetable shortening
2 C granulated sugar (divided)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 C dark molasses
1/2 t salt
2 t baking soda
1 t ground ginger
1 t ground cloves
2 C all-purpose flour
1 C raisins
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together shortening, 1 C sugar and egg. Add molasses. Combine salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves, and flour; add to the creamed mixture. Stir in raisins. Form into walnut-sized balls, roll in remaining sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet, leaving a bit of room for cookies to spread. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, being careful not to overbake. Better to undercook than
overcook - they should be chewy. Remove to rack after baking.
Janet's Hazelnut/Sweet Cherry Baklava with brandied syrup
prepared by Janet A
Ingredients:
1 lb pkg Filo (phyllo) pastry leaves at room temperature (thawed per package directions and left out of refrigerator for at least 4 hrs)
1 C butter, melted (no substitute)
Filling:
1/2 lb hazelnuts, ground or chopped fine
1/2 lb dried Bing or other sweet cherries
1/2 C sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
Syrup:
1 C honey
1 C sugar
1 C water
2 T dried cherries
1 T brandy flavoring
1 T lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix filling ingredients in food processor (note that you can chop the hazelnuts first). Unroll pastry leaves and place under a slightly damp clean towel. Butter a 17"x12"x2" baking pan and set next to your work space. Take 6 sheets of Filo and brush every other sheet with butter. Spread 1/4 of the filling to within 1" of the end, lengthwise on this stack. Fold in the ends and roll up. With a very sharp knife, score the roll in 1" intervals. Brush with butter. Repeat until the filling & Filo are rolled & scored (you should have about 4). Drizzle a little butter over each roll and place in oven. Bake at 350 F for 1/2 hr, then reduce to 300 F and bake for another 1/2 hr.
Meanwhile, prepare the syrup: heat and stir all ingredients in a heavy saucepan over moderate heat until sugar dissolves, then boil slowly for 20 minutes. Strain syrup and drizzle over the baklava rolls as soon as they come out of the oven. Cool until rolls can be touched, then slice at score marks all the way through. Serve warm or cold. [Note: Janet uses only half the syrup and saves the rest. Refrigerate in a jar and use for pancakes, waffles or another batch of baklava.]
The blank sugar skulls and pastry bags of brightly-colored royal icing:
The sugar skulls I decorated at home later using the leftovers:
The gift-wrapping table (you can see the pattern for the Chinese takeout box--I printed it out and enlarged it with a photocopier, and then we cut boxes out of poster board left over from another project).
The potluck soups and desserts were delicious. Here are a few recipes.
Horst Mager's Original Lentil Soup
prepared by Allison P.
in a large double boiler or a large saucepan add:
3 oz salad oil
Add the following to the oil:
3 oz diced bacon
3/4 C diced onion
3/4 C diced carrots
3/4 C diced celery
Sauté the above mixture until the onion and celery are transparent. Stirring constantly, add
3/4 C flour
When the flour has blended with the above mixture, slowly add 3 1/2 qts. of water, stirring constantly. Then add:
1 C lentils
1 t white thyme
2 t Salt
2 T beef base
2 bay leaves
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of white pepper
3/4 C diced potatoes
Simmer approximately 3 hours.
Tuscan Vegtable Soup
Taken From: "The Food You Crave" by Ellie Krieger
prepared by Jessie M
1 15-oz can low-sodium cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 T olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced (about 1 C)
2 carrots, diced (about 1/2 C)
2 stalks celery, diced, (about 1/2 C)
1 small zucchini, diced (about 1 1/2 C)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1 t dried)
2 t chopped fresh sage leaves (or 1/2 t dried)
1/2 t salt
1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
32 oz low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 14.5-oz can no salt added diced tomatoes
2 C chopped baby spinach leaves
1/3 C freshly grated Parmesan, optional
In a small bowl mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon, and set aside. Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and tomatoes with the juice and bring to a boil. Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach leaves and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes more. Serve topped with Parmesan, if desired.
Butternut and Ham Bisque
from Family Fun magazine
prepared by Melissa K
2 T unsalted butter
1 very large sweet onion, chopped
½ t dried rosemary leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 C peeled, diced butternut squash
1 C peeled, diced all-purpose potatoes
5 C chicken stock
1 t salt
black pepper to taste
½ C light or heavy cream
1 ½ C diced cooked ham
Melt the butter in a medium soup pot or a large saucepan. Stir in the onion and rosemary. Partially cover the pan and cook the onion over moderate heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute.
Add the squash, potatoes, chicken stock, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover the pot. Cook the soup at a low boil for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are very soft. Remove the pan from the heat.
Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the soup solids and a ladleful of broth to a food processor (do this in batches if you processor is small).* Puree the vegetables, then stir them back into the broth. Stir in the pepper, the cream, and the ham, heating for several minutes before serving. Makes 6 servings.
*I never do it this way. I use my hand-held drink blender right in the pan to purée the entire pot of vegetables and broth.
Buffalo Minestrone
prepared by Melissa K
This soup is typical of some of our Sunday dinners. I’ll use up what I have in the house and make substitutions with things I actually have instead of what is called for in the recipe. Sometimes it turns out good, sometimes not.
2 patties frozen ground buffalo meat
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 t dried oregano
2-3 C fresh baby spinach, chopped
5-6 C beef stock (I used “better than bouillon” and water)
2-3 C peeled, diced all-purpose potatoes
1-2 carrots, diced
2 14-oz cans diced tomatoes
1 12-oz can V-8
2 cans red beans, drained
1 C small shell pasta
salt and pepper to taste
Microwave the frozen patties on 30% for a bout 3 minutes to thaw. Cook them in a large pot, chopping as they brown. Add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté until translucent. Stir in the oregano and spinach and cook about a minute. Add the stock, potatoes and carrots, tomatoes and V-8 and simmer about half an hour. Stir in the beans and macaroni. Cook about 15 minutes more to cook the pasta.
Sara's Bread Pudding
prepared by Sara McC
1 1/2 lb loaf white bread (like Wonder Big Loaf), or any other desired bread
1/2 C raisins or craisins (soak for a few minutes)
2 1/2 cubes of unsalted butter, melted
3 C sugar
10 eggs
2 12-oz cans evaporated milk (may use skim)
2 t cinnamon
2 t vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Tear the bread into 2-inch pieces and place half the bread in the bottom of the pan. Top with raisins or craisins. Top with the remaining bread. Place the melted butter in a large mixing bowl and slowly add the sugar, using an electric mixer to mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Add the evaporated milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well. Pour the mixture carefully over the top of the bread, being sure to cover all of it. Let sit to absorb for 5 to 10 minutes. Place baking pan in a water bath (I use a broiler pan or a jelly roll pan and fill it with water). Bake for 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes or until bread is light brown and spongy. Cool. Serve with English Custard, below.
English Custard (my friend Anne's recipe from London)
1/3 C sugar
2 T cornstarch
1/8 t salt
2 C milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 T butter, softened
1 t vanilla
Blend sugar, cornstarch & salt in a 2-qt saucepan. Combine milk and egg yolks. Gradually stir into sugar mixture, then cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
Chocolate Pecan Pie (a Kentucky Favorite)
prepared by Natalie C
1 unbaked pie shell (9” deep dish)
3 eggs
2/3 C sugar
½ t salt
1/3 C butter, melted
1 C light corn syrup
1 C pecan halves
1 ½ C semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat eggs, sugar, salt, butter, and syrup. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Pour into pie shell and bake until set, about 40-50 minutes. Cool before cutting.
Papa Hadyn's Banana Cream Pie à la Harris (hope this makes sense)
prepared by Annette H
Graham cracker crust:
11 whole graham crackers, crushed
5 T butter,melted
1 T sugar
Combine ingredients till crumbs are moistened. Press mixture into 9 inch pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes, then let cool. Melt approximately 3 oz dark chocolate. Paint the bottom of the crust with the melted chocolate. Let cool completely.
Then prepare Cream Filling:
5 T cornstarch
1 C sugar
1/4 t salt
2 1/2 C milk
3/4 C half and half
3 egg yolks
2 T butter
1 t vanilla
Mix cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a 3-qt saucepan. Add milk and cream and cook over medium heat until smooth and thick, stirring constantly. Pour small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; blend thoroughly, then pour back into saucepan. Cook another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla.
Slice 2 bananas into pie shell. Pour the filling over the bananas. Chill 3-4 hours.
Chocolate Mousse:
7 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 C, plus 2 T heavy cream, chilled
2 T water
2 T sugar
Put 2 inches water in a medium saucepan and bring pot to bare simmer. Combine the chocolate and 2 T of heavy cream in a stainless-steel bowl big enough to rest on top of the saucepan. Place the bowl over the simmering water, making sure that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Heat, whisking occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove the bowl from the heat, stir in the 2 T of water and set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
In a medium sized bowl using an electric mixer, whip the remaining 1 C heavy cream and sugar together until the cream holds stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.
Layer the chocolate mousse on top of the cream filling in pie pan. (you will probably have leftover mousse, darn, as this is enough mousse for an entire pie).
Chill pie for 3 hours. (You don't have to chill the cream filling for an entire 3 hours before adding the mousse layer. I typically chill it for as long as it takes me to make the mousse and then chill it for 3 hours after I've added both layers.)
Finally, whip up 1 C of heavy cream into stiff peaks to top the pie. I do not add sugar to this, as I feel the pie has enough sugar and it becomes too sweet.
Crinkle Top Cookies
prepared by Janie D
Disclaimer:
These are once-a-year cookies at my house, because they are made with
shortening (which is soooo bad for people!). I have tried substituting
butter for the shortening, and they turn out OK, but not great. If you
do use butter instead of shortening, you'll need to chill the dough
before forming into balls and rolling in sugar. Bake for an extra
minute or so -- 9 - 10 minutes, rather than 8.
3/4 C vegetable shortening
2 C granulated sugar (divided)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 C dark molasses
1/2 t salt
2 t baking soda
1 t ground ginger
1 t ground cloves
2 C all-purpose flour
1 C raisins
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together shortening, 1 C sugar and egg. Add molasses. Combine salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves, and flour; add to the creamed mixture. Stir in raisins. Form into walnut-sized balls, roll in remaining sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet, leaving a bit of room for cookies to spread. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, being careful not to overbake. Better to undercook than
overcook - they should be chewy. Remove to rack after baking.
Janet's Hazelnut/Sweet Cherry Baklava with brandied syrup
prepared by Janet A
Ingredients:
1 lb pkg Filo (phyllo) pastry leaves at room temperature (thawed per package directions and left out of refrigerator for at least 4 hrs)
1 C butter, melted (no substitute)
Filling:
1/2 lb hazelnuts, ground or chopped fine
1/2 lb dried Bing or other sweet cherries
1/2 C sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
Syrup:
1 C honey
1 C sugar
1 C water
2 T dried cherries
1 T brandy flavoring
1 T lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix filling ingredients in food processor (note that you can chop the hazelnuts first). Unroll pastry leaves and place under a slightly damp clean towel. Butter a 17"x12"x2" baking pan and set next to your work space. Take 6 sheets of Filo and brush every other sheet with butter. Spread 1/4 of the filling to within 1" of the end, lengthwise on this stack. Fold in the ends and roll up. With a very sharp knife, score the roll in 1" intervals. Brush with butter. Repeat until the filling & Filo are rolled & scored (you should have about 4). Drizzle a little butter over each roll and place in oven. Bake at 350 F for 1/2 hr, then reduce to 300 F and bake for another 1/2 hr.
Meanwhile, prepare the syrup: heat and stir all ingredients in a heavy saucepan over moderate heat until sugar dissolves, then boil slowly for 20 minutes. Strain syrup and drizzle over the baklava rolls as soon as they come out of the oven. Cool until rolls can be touched, then slice at score marks all the way through. Serve warm or cold. [Note: Janet uses only half the syrup and saves the rest. Refrigerate in a jar and use for pancakes, waffles or another batch of baklava.]
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