End Of the Year Recipes

The next-to-last day of the year. Where did the time go? No, I don't know, either, but someone I know keeps responding to that question (Where does the time go?) with, "Into the past." Makes sense...No matter. Here's another day's worth of recipes. A few of them would be good for New Year's Eve. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER TURTLE PUDDING

This is from Tablespoon.com's newsletter. They usually have yummy recipes. This one starts off, “Ooey gooey chocolate pudding, caramel and pecans make this slow cooker dessert extra delicious.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 3 hr 10 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup caramel topping

1 2/3 cups hot water

1/2 cup chopped pecans, if desired

Directions

Spray 3-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix Bisquick mix, 1/2 cup of the sugar and the cocoa. Stir in milk and 1/2 cup of the caramel until well blended. Put in slow cooker. Pour hot water over top (do not stir). Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup sugar.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until top springs back when touched lightly (center will still be soft). Turn off slow cooker; let stand uncovered 20 minutes to cool slightly. Serve warm pudding with remaining 1/4 cup caramel topping and chopped pecans.

PIZZA POT PIES

This is from Giada De Laurentiis, of The Food Network's Everyday Italian. Total Time: 1 hr 10 min; Prep: 30 min; Cook: 40 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Intermediate

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pizza-pot-pies-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

Tomato Sauce:

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon fresh minced rosemary leaves

2 ounces diced pancetta

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Pizza Pot Pies:

3 cups Tomato Sauce

2 cups diced roasted chicken

2 cups broccoli cut into small, bite-sized pieces

1 1/2 cups diced mozzarella cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 pounds pizza dough

1/3 cup olive oil

6 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Directions

Special equipment: 6 (10-ounce) ramekins

For the Tomato Sauce: Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, rosemary, and pancetta. Saute until the pancetta is crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, stir to combine, and simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes. Add the salt and pepper. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl combine the Tomato Sauce, chicken, broccoli, mozzarella, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Divide the chicken mixture evenly between the ramekins. Roll out the pizza dough and cut circles with a pairing knife that are 1-inch wider in diameter than the ramekins. Place the circles of dough over the filled ramekins and press down to seal, making sure to pull the dough over the edge of the ramekin. Brush the top of the pizza dough with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cut a small slit in the top of the pizza dough with a pairing knife. Bake until the pizza crust is golden, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

PUMPKIN COFFEE CAKE

This is from a long-forgotten emailing list. It would be nice for any holiday morning get-together.

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

3 eggs

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/4 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 3/4 cup solid-pack canned pumpkin

1 egg, beaten lightly

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

For the streusel topping:

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup butter

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 325F. Cream together butter, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla. Beat in 3 eggs. Combine flour, baking soda and powder, and add to the butter mixture along with the sour cream. In another mixing bowl, mix pumpkin, 1 beaten egg, 1/3 cup sugar and pumpkin pie spice. In a 13x9 baking pan, pour half the plain batter, then half the pumpkin batter, then half the streusel. Repeat layers, making sure to end with the streusel. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

LASAGNA PRIMAVERA

This recipe is from FamilyTime's newsletter. It starts off, "Using oven-ready lasagna noodles makes this recipe simple to prepare...and layering vegetables into the lasagna is a brilliant way to add flavor and lighten up this delicious dish." Prep. time: 40 minutes; Cooking time: 45 minutes; Serves: 8 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each); Source: Campbell's Recipes To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons light butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups skim milk

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 medium zucchini, or summer squash, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 3 cups)

1 package (10 ounces) cremini mushroom, sliced (about 3 3/4 cups)

1 medium red pepper, cut into 2-inch-long strips (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch-long pieces (about 2 cups)

3 cups Prego® Heart Smart Ricotta Parmesan Italian Sauce

12 oven-ready lasagna noodles, (no boil)

Directions

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or the mixture is golden. Gradually stir in the milk. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until the milk mixture boils and thickens. Stir in the nutmeg and black pepper. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Heat the remaining butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini, mushrooms, pepper and asparagus and cook for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally.

Layer 1/2 cup Italian sauce, 4 lasagna noodles, 3/4 cup Italian sauce, one-third of the milk mixture and half the vegetable mixture in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Repeat the layers. Top with the remaining lasagna noodles, sauce and milk mixture. Cover the baking dish loosely with foil.

Bake for 45 minutes at 375°F. or until the lasagna is hot and bubbling. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

EASY BAKED BEANS

This comes from the October 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Baked beans were meant to be doctored up to suit a cook’s taste, so feel free to make these with more or less sugar, a spicier salsa or mustard, and add-ins such as soy sausage or soy hot dogs.” Serves 8.

1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans

2 medium onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)

1 8-oz. jar medium salsa

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

3 Tbs. yellow mustard

Soak beans in 6 cups water overnight. Drain; reserve soaking liquid.

Coat Dutch oven with cooking spray, and heat over low heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until browned. Stir in 1 cup soaking liquid. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up onion bits stuck to pot.

Stir in remaining ingredients and 5 cups water. Cover, and cook 1 1/2 hours. Uncover; simmer 1 hour more, or until sauce has thickened.

nutritional information per serving: Calories: 166; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 0.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free