Here are today's six recipes, all great choices for holiday meals, or any time, including Cream Cheese Cookies and Easy Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake. Enjoy!
SIMPLEST ROAST CHICKEN
Is there anything better than a good meal that’s simple to fix, tastes good, and is good for you? This comes from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “With an ingredient list just four items long (chicken, olive oil, salt, pepper), the genius of this bare-bones roast chicken is in its technique. To make it, thoroughly preheat a cast-iron skillet before sliding into it a seasoned bird, breast side up. In under an hour you’ll get a stunner of a chicken, with moist, tender white meat, crisp, salty chicken skin, and juicy dark meat all done to a turn. If you don’t already have a cast-iron skillet large enough to hold a whole chicken, this recipe is a good enough reason to invest in one.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 50 to 60 minutes.
This was featured in “The Minimalist: Simplest Roast Chicken” and can be viewed online here. Also, you might want to check out Melissa Clark’s guide, “How to Roast Chicken.”
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds, trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken’s cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
SLOWCOOKER MACARONI AND CHEESE – CROCK POT
From a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. Time to make 1 1/2 hours; 20 min prep; 4 servings
3/4 finely chopped onion
3/4 finely chopped green bell pepper
3 1/2 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups uncooked)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground red pepper
1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 ounces processed cheese (Velveeta)
1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained
Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion & bell pepper; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Place onion mixture & macaroni in 3-quart electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
Place flour & next 4 ingredients in small bowl; gradually add milk, stirring with whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture, cheeses, & pimiento to slow cooker; stir well. Cover lid; cook on high-heat setting 1-1/2 hours or until thick & creamy, stirring after 1 hour.
CREAM CHEESE COOKIES
This recipe, from The Food Network, begins, “A triple dose of cream cheese (mixed into the batter, in chunks in the dough and as a glaze on top) makes these pillowy cookies extra tangy. Freezing the cream cheese before stirring it into the dough makes it easier to cut into clean pieces and keeps the chunks from disintegrating when shaping the dough into balls.” Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Prep: 40 min; Inactive: 1 hr. 30 min; Cook: 1 hr 15 min; Yield: 3 dozen cookies; Level: Easy.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cream-cheese-cookies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
2 3/4 sticks (1 cup plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, 6 ounces at room temperature, 2 ounces frozen
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring (see Cook's Note)
2 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed
Very finely grated lime zest or finely minced cranberries, for garnish, optional
Directions
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms.
When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Special equipment: a 1-ounce ice cream scoop, optional
Cook's Note: When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
Showing posts with label Easy Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easy Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake. Show all posts
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Desserts
Okay, here it is: a double post for today. And it's DESSERTS! Can you really go wrong with that? I doubt it, especially when we're talking about Devil's Food Marshmallow Cupcakes or Easy Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake.
And so...here are six dessert recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!
DEVIL’S FOOD MARSHMALLOW CUPCAKES
This comes from Nichelle Stephens, About.com’s Cupcakes expert. Nichelle wrote, “Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Cocoa Cremes are the chocolate snack cakes that have been the dessert for kids and adults lunches for decades. However, there's a better way to get a chocolate fix by baking the cakes from scratch. The essential components are chocolate cupcake, marshmallow filling and chocolate ganache frosting.
“Tip: An easy way to make chocolate ganache is to use chocolate candy melts. I have used Chocoley's Bada Bing dark chocolate candy melts.
“This chocolate cupcake recipe is from the cookbook, Home Baked Comfort by Kim Laidlaw.
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 18 cupcakes
Ingredients
Devil’s Food Cupcakes
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup natural cocoa powder
2/3 cup boiling water
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Cream Filling
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tbsp heavy cream
1/2 cup of marshmallow fluff
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache
1 cup of dark chocolate candy melts
6 tbsp of heavy cream
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place one 12 cupcake cavity and one 6 cavity pan with cupcake liners. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the boiling water. Let cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the buttermilk. In a small bowl, pour the cocoa powder into the boiling water and whisk. Let cool and set aside. Using another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, use the attachment to butter and sugars together on medium until well combined.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the vanilla along with the final egg. Reduce speed to low to add the dry ingredients ins 3 additions alternately with the cocoa buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Beat until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Use a scoop to divide the batter evenly into 18 wells of the baking pans.
Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and slightly springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean which will be about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes. Then remove from pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the filling, in the mixing bowl, sift the sugar over the butter. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the marshmallow fluff, vanilla and cream. Beat until light and fluffy.
Using a paring knife or an apple corer, create a hollow about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep in the center of each cupcake. Fill each hollow with a spoonful of the filling.
To make the ganache, in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water in a saucepan. Melt the butter and chocolate with the corn syrup and cream, stirring constantly with a whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.
Spread the filled cupcakes with the ganache. The filled and frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
CHOCOLATE BEAN CAKE
This comes from the MyDailyMoment.com e-newsletter. It begins, “Think you've bean there, done that? Well, you haven't until you try this protein-packed chocolate cake that's a slice of heaven. If you want a dessert that's a deviation from the norm, try this simple slice of heaven. It's a chocolate lover's dream.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes; Serves 12.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. confectioners' sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 in. round cake pan.
Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds after the first minute, until chocolate is melted and smooth. If you have a powerful microwave, reduce the power to 50 percent.
Combine the beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the sugar and the baking powder, and pulse to blend. Pour in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This traditional British layer cake is made up of two buttery, tender spongecake rounds that sandwich a thick layer of jam and, often, a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. It’s a simple, homey confection that works as well with a cup of afternoon tea as it does for dessert. Feel free to substitute other flavors of tart jam for the raspberry. Apricot and blackberry work particularly well.” Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
This was featured in “‘The Great British Bake Off’ Changes the Way the British Bake” and can be viewed online at here.
Ingredients
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened, more for greasing pan
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 cup raspberry jam, more to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center. Grease and line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, then beat in milk, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in flour mixture until combined, then scrape into prepared cake pans, smoothing the top.
Bake cakes until golden brown and springy, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then unmold them onto a wire rack to cool completely, flat side down.
Transfer one cake (the less attractive one) to a serving platter, and spread jam evenly on top. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla just until it holds stiff peaks. Dollop about half the cream on top of jam, then top with remaining cake. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately, with the extra whipped cream on the side.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves 8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
EASY CHERRY COBBLER
This comes from the GE Appliances e-newsletter. Makes 6 servings in 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1 (20 to 22 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (9 ounce - 1 layer size) box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped coarsely
1-teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread cherry pie filling in an 8-inch square-baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter, nuts and cinnamon.
Sprinkle evenly over top of cherries or arrange in rows so that the cherries are visible.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until mixture is bubbly.
Serve with vanilla ice cream.
BAKED APPLES
This came from an old Weight Watcher’s email, and had a points value of 3 points each. I have no idea what the new points value each serving would have now, nor do I have the exact email to find the recipe. Very yummy, though.
4 apples, small
1 C applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 C water
2 C vanilla nonfat yogurt
1/4 ground cinnamon
4 tsp pecans or walnuts, toasted & chopped
Core apples, leaving bottom intact so they can be filled. Place upright in small glace microwaveable baking dish. Stir applesauce, cinnamon & brown sugar. Spoon mixture into apples. Pour water into bottom of baking dish. Cover dish & microwave at medium for 12-15 minutes until apples are soft. Remove from microwave & allow to cool. Spoon yogurt over each apple, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon & toasted pecans or walnuts.
And so...here are six dessert recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!
DEVIL’S FOOD MARSHMALLOW CUPCAKES
This comes from Nichelle Stephens, About.com’s Cupcakes expert. Nichelle wrote, “Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Cocoa Cremes are the chocolate snack cakes that have been the dessert for kids and adults lunches for decades. However, there's a better way to get a chocolate fix by baking the cakes from scratch. The essential components are chocolate cupcake, marshmallow filling and chocolate ganache frosting.
“Tip: An easy way to make chocolate ganache is to use chocolate candy melts. I have used Chocoley's Bada Bing dark chocolate candy melts.
“This chocolate cupcake recipe is from the cookbook, Home Baked Comfort by Kim Laidlaw.
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 18 cupcakes
Ingredients
Devil’s Food Cupcakes
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup natural cocoa powder
2/3 cup boiling water
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Cream Filling
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tbsp heavy cream
1/2 cup of marshmallow fluff
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache
1 cup of dark chocolate candy melts
6 tbsp of heavy cream
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place one 12 cupcake cavity and one 6 cavity pan with cupcake liners. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the boiling water. Let cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the buttermilk. In a small bowl, pour the cocoa powder into the boiling water and whisk. Let cool and set aside. Using another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, use the attachment to butter and sugars together on medium until well combined.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the vanilla along with the final egg. Reduce speed to low to add the dry ingredients ins 3 additions alternately with the cocoa buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Beat until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Use a scoop to divide the batter evenly into 18 wells of the baking pans.
Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and slightly springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean which will be about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes. Then remove from pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the filling, in the mixing bowl, sift the sugar over the butter. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the marshmallow fluff, vanilla and cream. Beat until light and fluffy.
Using a paring knife or an apple corer, create a hollow about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep in the center of each cupcake. Fill each hollow with a spoonful of the filling.
To make the ganache, in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water in a saucepan. Melt the butter and chocolate with the corn syrup and cream, stirring constantly with a whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.
Spread the filled cupcakes with the ganache. The filled and frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
CHOCOLATE BEAN CAKE
This comes from the MyDailyMoment.com e-newsletter. It begins, “Think you've bean there, done that? Well, you haven't until you try this protein-packed chocolate cake that's a slice of heaven. If you want a dessert that's a deviation from the norm, try this simple slice of heaven. It's a chocolate lover's dream.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes; Serves 12.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. confectioners' sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 in. round cake pan.
Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds after the first minute, until chocolate is melted and smooth. If you have a powerful microwave, reduce the power to 50 percent.
Combine the beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the sugar and the baking powder, and pulse to blend. Pour in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This traditional British layer cake is made up of two buttery, tender spongecake rounds that sandwich a thick layer of jam and, often, a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. It’s a simple, homey confection that works as well with a cup of afternoon tea as it does for dessert. Feel free to substitute other flavors of tart jam for the raspberry. Apricot and blackberry work particularly well.” Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
This was featured in “‘The Great British Bake Off’ Changes the Way the British Bake” and can be viewed online at here.
Ingredients
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened, more for greasing pan
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 cup raspberry jam, more to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center. Grease and line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, then beat in milk, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in flour mixture until combined, then scrape into prepared cake pans, smoothing the top.
Bake cakes until golden brown and springy, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then unmold them onto a wire rack to cool completely, flat side down.
Transfer one cake (the less attractive one) to a serving platter, and spread jam evenly on top. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla just until it holds stiff peaks. Dollop about half the cream on top of jam, then top with remaining cake. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately, with the extra whipped cream on the side.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves 8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
EASY CHERRY COBBLER
This comes from the GE Appliances e-newsletter. Makes 6 servings in 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1 (20 to 22 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (9 ounce - 1 layer size) box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped coarsely
1-teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread cherry pie filling in an 8-inch square-baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter, nuts and cinnamon.
Sprinkle evenly over top of cherries or arrange in rows so that the cherries are visible.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until mixture is bubbly.
Serve with vanilla ice cream.
BAKED APPLES
This came from an old Weight Watcher’s email, and had a points value of 3 points each. I have no idea what the new points value each serving would have now, nor do I have the exact email to find the recipe. Very yummy, though.
4 apples, small
1 C applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 C water
2 C vanilla nonfat yogurt
1/4 ground cinnamon
4 tsp pecans or walnuts, toasted & chopped
Core apples, leaving bottom intact so they can be filled. Place upright in small glace microwaveable baking dish. Stir applesauce, cinnamon & brown sugar. Spoon mixture into apples. Pour water into bottom of baking dish. Cover dish & microwave at medium for 12-15 minutes until apples are soft. Remove from microwave & allow to cool. Spoon yogurt over each apple, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon & toasted pecans or walnuts.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Tuesday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!
SIMPLEST ROAST CHICKEN
Is there anything better than a good meal that’s simple to fix, tastes good, and is good for you? This comes from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “With an ingredient list just four items long (chicken, olive oil, salt, pepper), the genius of this bare-bones roast chicken is in its technique. To make it, thoroughly preheat a cast-iron skillet before sliding into it a seasoned bird, breast side up. In under an hour you’ll get a stunner of a chicken, with moist, tender white meat, crisp, salty chicken skin, and juicy dark meat all done to a turn. If you don’t already have a cast-iron skillet large enough to hold a whole chicken, this recipe is a good enough reason to invest in one.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 50 to 60 minutes.
This was featured in “The Minimalist: Simplest Roast Chicken” and can be viewed online here. Also, you might want to check out Melissa Clark’s guide, “How to Roast Chicken.”
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds, trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken’s cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
SLOWCOOKER MACARONI AND CHEESE – CROCK POT
From a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. Time to make 1 1/2 hours; 20 min prep; 4 servings
3/4 finely chopped onion
3/4 finely chopped green bell pepper
3 1/2 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups uncooked)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground red pepper
1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 ounces processed cheese (Velveeta)
1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained
Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion & bell pepper; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Place onion mixture & macaroni in 3-quart electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
Place flour & next 4 ingredients in small bowl; gradually add milk, stirring with whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture, cheeses, & pimiento to slow cooker; stir well. Cover lid; cook on high-heat setting 1-1/2 hours or until thick & creamy, stirring after 1 hour.
CREAM CHEESE COOKIES
This recipe, from The Food Network, begins, “A triple dose of cream cheese (mixed into the batter, in chunks in the dough and as a glaze on top) makes these pillowy cookies extra tangy. Freezing the cream cheese before stirring it into the dough makes it easier to cut into clean pieces and keeps the chunks from disintegrating when shaping the dough into balls.” Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Prep: 40 min; Inactive: 1 hr. 30 min; Cook: 1 hr 15 min; Yield: 3 dozen cookies; Level: Easy.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cream-cheese-cookies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
2 3/4 sticks (1 cup plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, 6 ounces at room temperature, 2 ounces frozen
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring (see Cook's Note)
2 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed
Very finely grated lime zest or finely minced cranberries, for garnish, optional
Directions
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms.
When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Special equipment: a 1-ounce ice cream scoop, optional
Cook's Note: When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
SIMPLEST ROAST CHICKEN
Is there anything better than a good meal that’s simple to fix, tastes good, and is good for you? This comes from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “With an ingredient list just four items long (chicken, olive oil, salt, pepper), the genius of this bare-bones roast chicken is in its technique. To make it, thoroughly preheat a cast-iron skillet before sliding into it a seasoned bird, breast side up. In under an hour you’ll get a stunner of a chicken, with moist, tender white meat, crisp, salty chicken skin, and juicy dark meat all done to a turn. If you don’t already have a cast-iron skillet large enough to hold a whole chicken, this recipe is a good enough reason to invest in one.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 50 to 60 minutes.
This was featured in “The Minimalist: Simplest Roast Chicken” and can be viewed online here. Also, you might want to check out Melissa Clark’s guide, “How to Roast Chicken.”
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds, trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken’s cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
SLOWCOOKER MACARONI AND CHEESE – CROCK POT
From a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. Time to make 1 1/2 hours; 20 min prep; 4 servings
3/4 finely chopped onion
3/4 finely chopped green bell pepper
3 1/2 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups uncooked)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground red pepper
1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 ounces processed cheese (Velveeta)
1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained
Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion & bell pepper; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Place onion mixture & macaroni in 3-quart electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
Place flour & next 4 ingredients in small bowl; gradually add milk, stirring with whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture, cheeses, & pimiento to slow cooker; stir well. Cover lid; cook on high-heat setting 1-1/2 hours or until thick & creamy, stirring after 1 hour.
CREAM CHEESE COOKIES
This recipe, from The Food Network, begins, “A triple dose of cream cheese (mixed into the batter, in chunks in the dough and as a glaze on top) makes these pillowy cookies extra tangy. Freezing the cream cheese before stirring it into the dough makes it easier to cut into clean pieces and keeps the chunks from disintegrating when shaping the dough into balls.” Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Prep: 40 min; Inactive: 1 hr. 30 min; Cook: 1 hr 15 min; Yield: 3 dozen cookies; Level: Easy.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cream-cheese-cookies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
2 3/4 sticks (1 cup plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, 6 ounces at room temperature, 2 ounces frozen
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring (see Cook's Note)
2 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed
Very finely grated lime zest or finely minced cranberries, for garnish, optional
Directions
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms.
When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Special equipment: a 1-ounce ice cream scoop, optional
Cook's Note: When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Thursday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes, all great choices for holiday meals, or any time. Enjoy!
Note: Diabetic Thursday will return next week.
SIMPLEST ROAST CHICKEN
Is there anything better than a good meal that’s simple to fix, tastes good, and is good for you? This comes from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “With an ingredient list just four items long (chicken, olive oil, salt, pepper), the genius of this bare-bones roast chicken is in its technique. To make it, thoroughly preheat a cast-iron skillet before sliding into it a seasoned bird, breast side up. In under an hour you’ll get a stunner of a chicken, with moist, tender white meat, crisp, salty chicken skin, and juicy dark meat all done to a turn. If you don’t already have a cast-iron skillet large enough to hold a whole chicken, this recipe is a good enough reason to invest in one.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 50 to 60 minutes.
This was featured in “The Minimalist: Simplest Roast Chicken” and can be viewed online here. Also, you might want to check out Melissa Clark’s guide, “How to Roast Chicken.”
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds, trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken’s cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
SLOWCOOKER MACARONI AND CHEESE – CROCK POT
From a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. Time to make 1 1/2 hours; 20 min prep; 4 servings
3/4 finely chopped onion
3/4 finely chopped green bell pepper
3 1/2 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups uncooked)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground red pepper
1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 ounces processed cheese (Velveeta)
1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained
Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion & bell pepper; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Place onion mixture & macaroni in 3-quart electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
Place flour & next 4 ingredients in small bowl; gradually add milk, stirring with whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture, cheeses, & pimiento to slow cooker; stir well. Cover lid; cook on high-heat setting 1-1/2 hours or until thick & creamy, stirring after 1 hour.
CREAM CHEESE COOKIES
This recipe, from The Food Network, begins, “A triple dose of cream cheese (mixed into the batter, in chunks in the dough and as a glaze on top) makes these pillowy cookies extra tangy. Freezing the cream cheese before stirring it into the dough makes it easier to cut into clean pieces and keeps the chunks from disintegrating when shaping the dough into balls.” Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Prep: 40 min; Inactive: 1 hr. 30 min; Cook: 1 hr 15 min; Yield: 3 dozen cookies; Level: Easy.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cream-cheese-cookies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
2 3/4 sticks (1 cup plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, 6 ounces at room temperature, 2 ounces frozen
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring (see Cook's Note)
2 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed
Very finely grated lime zest or finely minced cranberries, for garnish, optional
Directions
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms.
When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Special equipment: a 1-ounce ice cream scoop, optional
Cook's Note: When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
Note: Diabetic Thursday will return next week.
SIMPLEST ROAST CHICKEN
Is there anything better than a good meal that’s simple to fix, tastes good, and is good for you? This comes from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “With an ingredient list just four items long (chicken, olive oil, salt, pepper), the genius of this bare-bones roast chicken is in its technique. To make it, thoroughly preheat a cast-iron skillet before sliding into it a seasoned bird, breast side up. In under an hour you’ll get a stunner of a chicken, with moist, tender white meat, crisp, salty chicken skin, and juicy dark meat all done to a turn. If you don’t already have a cast-iron skillet large enough to hold a whole chicken, this recipe is a good enough reason to invest in one.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 50 to 60 minutes.
This was featured in “The Minimalist: Simplest Roast Chicken” and can be viewed online here. Also, you might want to check out Melissa Clark’s guide, “How to Roast Chicken.”
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds, trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken’s cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
SLOWCOOKER MACARONI AND CHEESE – CROCK POT
From a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. Time to make 1 1/2 hours; 20 min prep; 4 servings
3/4 finely chopped onion
3/4 finely chopped green bell pepper
3 1/2 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups uncooked)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground red pepper
1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 ounces processed cheese (Velveeta)
1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained
Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion & bell pepper; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Place onion mixture & macaroni in 3-quart electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
Place flour & next 4 ingredients in small bowl; gradually add milk, stirring with whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture, cheeses, & pimiento to slow cooker; stir well. Cover lid; cook on high-heat setting 1-1/2 hours or until thick & creamy, stirring after 1 hour.
CREAM CHEESE COOKIES
This recipe, from The Food Network, begins, “A triple dose of cream cheese (mixed into the batter, in chunks in the dough and as a glaze on top) makes these pillowy cookies extra tangy. Freezing the cream cheese before stirring it into the dough makes it easier to cut into clean pieces and keeps the chunks from disintegrating when shaping the dough into balls.” Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Prep: 40 min; Inactive: 1 hr. 30 min; Cook: 1 hr 15 min; Yield: 3 dozen cookies; Level: Easy.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cream-cheese-cookies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
2 3/4 sticks (1 cup plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, 6 ounces at room temperature, 2 ounces frozen
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring (see Cook's Note)
2 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed
Very finely grated lime zest or finely minced cranberries, for garnish, optional
Directions
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms.
When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Special equipment: a 1-ounce ice cream scoop, optional
Cook's Note: When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Just Desserts!
Here are six yummy dessert recipes you can put on your holiday table - or, really, whip up any time. Enjoy!
DEVIL’S FOOD MARSHMALLOW CUPCAKES
This comes from Nichelle Stephens, About.com’s Cupcakes expert. Nichelle wrote, “Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Cocoa Cremes are the chocolate snack cakes that have been the dessert for kids and adults lunches for decades. However, there's a better way to get a chocolate fix by baking the cakes from scratch. The essential components are chocolate cupcake, marshmallow filling and chocolate ganache frosting.
“Tip: An easy way to make chocolate ganache is to use chocolate candy melts. I have used Chocoley's Bada Bing dark chocolate candy melts.
“This chocolate cupcake recipe is from the cookbook, Home Baked Comfort, by Kim Laidlaw.
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 18 cupcakes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Devil’s Food Cupcakes
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup natural cocoa powder
2/3 cup boiling water
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Cream Filling
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tbsp heavy cream
1/2 cup of marshmallow fluff
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache
1 cup of dark chocolate candy melts
6 tbsp of heavy cream
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place one 12 cupcake cavity and one 6 cavity pan with cupcake liners. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the boiling water. Let cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the buttermilk. In a small bowl, pour the cocoa powder into the boiling water and whisk. Let cool and set aside. Using another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, use the attachment to butter and sugars together on medium until well combined.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the vanilla along with the final egg. Reduce speed to low to add the dry ingredients ins 3 additions alternately with the cocoa buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Beat until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Use a scoop to divide the batter evenly into 18 wells of the baking pans.
Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and slightly springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean which will be about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes. Then remove from pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the filling, in the mixing bowl, sift the sugar over the butter. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the marshmallow fluff, vanilla and cream. Beat until light and fluffy.
Using a paring knife or an apple corer, create a hollow about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep in the center of each cupcake. Fill each hollow with a spoonful of the filling.
To make the ganache, in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water in a saucepan. Melt the butter and chocolate with the corn syrup and cream, stirring constantly with a whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.
Spread the filled cupcakes with the ganache. The filled and frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
CHOCOLATE BEAN CAKE
This comes from the MyDailyMoment.com e-newsletter. It begins, “Think you've bean there, done that? Well, you haven't until you try this protein-packed chocolate cake that's a slice of heaven. If you want a dessert that's a deviation from the norm, try this simple slice of heaven. It's a chocolate lover's dream.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes; Serves 12.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. confectioners' sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 in. round cake pan.
Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds after the first minute, until chocolate is melted and smooth. If you have a powerful microwave, reduce the power to 50 percent.
Combine the beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the sugar and the baking powder, and pulse to blend. Pour in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This traditional British layer cake is made up of two buttery, tender spongecake rounds that sandwich a thick layer of jam and, often, a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. It’s a simple, homey confection that works as well with a cup of afternoon tea as it does for dessert. Feel free to substitute other flavors of tart jam for the raspberry. Apricot and blackberry work particularly well.” Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
This was featured in “‘The Great British Bake Off’ Changes the Way the British Bake” and can be viewed online at here.
Ingredients
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened, more for greasing pan
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 cup raspberry jam, more to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center. Grease and line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, then beat in milk, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in flour mixture until combined, then scrape into prepared cake pans, smoothing the top.
Bake cakes until golden brown and springy, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then unmold them onto a wire rack to cool completely, flat side down.
Transfer one cake (the less attractive one) to a serving platter, and spread jam evenly on top. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla just until it holds stiff peaks. Dollop about half the cream on top of jam, then top with remaining cake. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately, with the extra whipped cream on the side.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves 8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
EASY CHERRY COBBLER
This comes from the GE Appliances e-newsletter. Makes 6 servings in 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1 (20 to 22 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (9 ounce - 1 layer size) box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped coarsely
1-teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread cherry pie filling in an 8-inch square-baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter, nuts and cinnamon.
Sprinkle evenly over top of cherries or arrange in rows so that the cherries are visible.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until mixture is bubbly.
Serve with vanilla ice cream.
BAKED APPLES
This came from an old Weight Watcher’s email, and had a points value of 3 points each. I have no idea what the new points value each serving would have now, nor do I have the exact email to find the recipe. Very yummy, though.
4 apples, small
1 C applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 C water
2 C vanilla nonfat yogurt
1/4 ground cinnamon
4 tsp pecans or walnuts, toasted & chopped
Core apples, leaving bottom intact so they can be filled. Place upright in small glace microwaveable baking dish. Stir applesauce, cinnamon & brown sugar. Spoon mixture into apples. Pour water into bottom of baking dish. Cover dish & microwave at medium for 12-15 minutes until apples are soft. Remove from microwave & allow to cool. Spoon yogurt over each apple, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon & toasted pecans or walnuts.
DEVIL’S FOOD MARSHMALLOW CUPCAKES
This comes from Nichelle Stephens, About.com’s Cupcakes expert. Nichelle wrote, “Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Cocoa Cremes are the chocolate snack cakes that have been the dessert for kids and adults lunches for decades. However, there's a better way to get a chocolate fix by baking the cakes from scratch. The essential components are chocolate cupcake, marshmallow filling and chocolate ganache frosting.
“Tip: An easy way to make chocolate ganache is to use chocolate candy melts. I have used Chocoley's Bada Bing dark chocolate candy melts.
“This chocolate cupcake recipe is from the cookbook, Home Baked Comfort, by Kim Laidlaw.
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 18 cupcakes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Devil’s Food Cupcakes
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup natural cocoa powder
2/3 cup boiling water
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Cream Filling
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tbsp heavy cream
1/2 cup of marshmallow fluff
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache
1 cup of dark chocolate candy melts
6 tbsp of heavy cream
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place one 12 cupcake cavity and one 6 cavity pan with cupcake liners. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the boiling water. Let cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the buttermilk. In a small bowl, pour the cocoa powder into the boiling water and whisk. Let cool and set aside. Using another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, use the attachment to butter and sugars together on medium until well combined.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the vanilla along with the final egg. Reduce speed to low to add the dry ingredients ins 3 additions alternately with the cocoa buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Beat until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Use a scoop to divide the batter evenly into 18 wells of the baking pans.
Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and slightly springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean which will be about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes. Then remove from pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the filling, in the mixing bowl, sift the sugar over the butter. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the marshmallow fluff, vanilla and cream. Beat until light and fluffy.
Using a paring knife or an apple corer, create a hollow about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep in the center of each cupcake. Fill each hollow with a spoonful of the filling.
To make the ganache, in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water in a saucepan. Melt the butter and chocolate with the corn syrup and cream, stirring constantly with a whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.
Spread the filled cupcakes with the ganache. The filled and frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
CHOCOLATE BEAN CAKE
This comes from the MyDailyMoment.com e-newsletter. It begins, “Think you've bean there, done that? Well, you haven't until you try this protein-packed chocolate cake that's a slice of heaven. If you want a dessert that's a deviation from the norm, try this simple slice of heaven. It's a chocolate lover's dream.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes; Serves 12.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. confectioners' sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 in. round cake pan.
Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds after the first minute, until chocolate is melted and smooth. If you have a powerful microwave, reduce the power to 50 percent.
Combine the beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the sugar and the baking powder, and pulse to blend. Pour in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This traditional British layer cake is made up of two buttery, tender spongecake rounds that sandwich a thick layer of jam and, often, a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. It’s a simple, homey confection that works as well with a cup of afternoon tea as it does for dessert. Feel free to substitute other flavors of tart jam for the raspberry. Apricot and blackberry work particularly well.” Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
This was featured in “‘The Great British Bake Off’ Changes the Way the British Bake” and can be viewed online at here.
Ingredients
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened, more for greasing pan
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 cup raspberry jam, more to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center. Grease and line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, then beat in milk, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in flour mixture until combined, then scrape into prepared cake pans, smoothing the top.
Bake cakes until golden brown and springy, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then unmold them onto a wire rack to cool completely, flat side down.
Transfer one cake (the less attractive one) to a serving platter, and spread jam evenly on top. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla just until it holds stiff peaks. Dollop about half the cream on top of jam, then top with remaining cake. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately, with the extra whipped cream on the side.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves 8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
EASY CHERRY COBBLER
This comes from the GE Appliances e-newsletter. Makes 6 servings in 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1 (20 to 22 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (9 ounce - 1 layer size) box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped coarsely
1-teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread cherry pie filling in an 8-inch square-baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
In a small bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter, nuts and cinnamon.
Sprinkle evenly over top of cherries or arrange in rows so that the cherries are visible.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until mixture is bubbly.
Serve with vanilla ice cream.
BAKED APPLES
This came from an old Weight Watcher’s email, and had a points value of 3 points each. I have no idea what the new points value each serving would have now, nor do I have the exact email to find the recipe. Very yummy, though.
4 apples, small
1 C applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 C water
2 C vanilla nonfat yogurt
1/4 ground cinnamon
4 tsp pecans or walnuts, toasted & chopped
Core apples, leaving bottom intact so they can be filled. Place upright in small glace microwaveable baking dish. Stir applesauce, cinnamon & brown sugar. Spoon mixture into apples. Pour water into bottom of baking dish. Cover dish & microwave at medium for 12-15 minutes until apples are soft. Remove from microwave & allow to cool. Spoon yogurt over each apple, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon & toasted pecans or walnuts.
Friday, December 2, 2016
Friday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes to help you through the weekend. Enjoy!
EASY PEA SOUP
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Nigella wrote, “One of my regular near-instant meals is pea soup, which I make by tossing sliced scallions in a little garlic-infused oil (or using regular olive oil and mincing a clove of garlic into it) and then by adding peas from the freezer.” Yield: 2 to 4 servings; Time: 15 minutes.
This was featured in “AT MY TABLE; In January, Comfort Comes On the Stove or in a Bowl and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon garlic-infused oil
2 scallions, finely sliced
4 cups (two 10-ounce packages) frozen peas
Chicken or vegetable stock concentrate (powder, paste or cube)
2 to 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation
Place a saucepan over medium-low heat, and add oil and scallions. Stir until heated, then add frozen peas. Stir well with a wooden spoon.
Add 3 cups boiling water and stock concentrate to taste. Cover, and cook at a lively simmer until peas are tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool until no longer steaming.
Transfer soup to a blender. Add cheese, and purée until mixture is very smooth. Serve immediately or, if desired, reheat to taste.
SOUTHWESTERN THREE-BEAN AND BARLEY SOUP
This recipe begins, “Serve this zesty bean and barley soup garnished with chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime, if desired.”
Time: 135 minutes (30 minutes prep)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion , diced
1 large stalk celery , diced
1 large carrot , diced
9 cups water
4 cups (32-ounce carton) reduced-sodium chicken broth , “no-chicken” broth or vegetable broth
1/2 cup pearl barley
1/3 cup dried black beans
1/3 cup dried great northern beans
1/3 cup dried kidney beans
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add water, broth, barley, black beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin and oregano. Bring to a lively simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 hours (adding more water, 1/2 cup at a time, if necessary or desired). Season with salt.
Slow-Cooker Variation: Use 2 cups water (instead of 9 cups) and combine all ingredients in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until the beans are tender, about 4 hours on High or 7 to 8 hours on Low.
Nutritional Facts: Servings: 6; Serving Size: about 1 1/3 cups; Calories: 205; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Protein: 11 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 10 g; Potassium: 601 mg; Sodium: 705 mg; Yield: 6 servings; about 1 1/3 cups each; Exchanges: 2 starch; 1 vegetable; 1 lean meat; 1/2 fat
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED VEGETABLES WITH POLENTA AND BABY GREENS
This comes from Publix's Greenwise Magazine. It seems that Greenwise Magazine is no longer being published – at least it looks that way – but Publix still carries their Greenwise products. This cam from the March 2006 issue of the magazine. And Publix, if you're listening, please bring back the magazine!
6 C cut-up vegetables, such as asparagus, red or green pepper wedges, zucchini slices, quartered mushrooms. and/or red onion slices
1/4 C organic olive oil
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbs organic olive oil
1/4 – 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 C milk
2 C water
1 C cornmeal
1/2 C finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs snipped fresh basil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Organic baby greens
In shallow roasting pan, combine veggies, 1/4 C olive oil & 1/4 tsp kosher salt; toss to coat veggies. Roast, uncovered, in 350 degree oven about 30 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring once.
Meanwhile, in large saucepan, cook garlic in 1 Tbs olive oil over medium heat. Stir in crushed red pepper. Stir in milk & 1 C water. Bring just to boiling. In small bowl, stir together cornmeal with remaining 1 C water. Slowly add cornmeal mixture to hot milk mixture, stirring constantly. Return to boiling. Reduce heat to low. Cook, uncovered for 5 – 10 minutes more or until mixture is very thick, stirring frequently. Stir in 1/2 C Parmesan cheese, basil, & 1/2 tsp salt.
To serve, spoon polenta mixture onto individual plates or into shallow bowls. Place roasted veggies on top of polenta. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese & crown with greens. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition per serving: 272 cal; 16 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 11mg cholesterol, 404 mg sodium, 26 g carbo., 4 g fiber, 9 g protein.
CHOCOLATE BEAN CAKE
This comes from the MyDailyMoment.com e-newsletter. It begins, “Think you've bean there, done that? Well, you haven't until you try this protein-packed chocolate cake that's a slice of heaven. If you want a dessert that's a deviation from the norm, try this simple slice of heaven. It's a chocolate lover's dream.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes; Serves 12.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. confectioners' sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 in. round cake pan.
Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds after the first minute, until chocolate is melted and smooth. If you have a powerful microwave, reduce the power to 50 percent.
Combine the beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the sugar and the baking powder, and pulse to blend. Pour in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
EASY PEA SOUP
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Nigella wrote, “One of my regular near-instant meals is pea soup, which I make by tossing sliced scallions in a little garlic-infused oil (or using regular olive oil and mincing a clove of garlic into it) and then by adding peas from the freezer.” Yield: 2 to 4 servings; Time: 15 minutes.
This was featured in “AT MY TABLE; In January, Comfort Comes On the Stove or in a Bowl and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon garlic-infused oil
2 scallions, finely sliced
4 cups (two 10-ounce packages) frozen peas
Chicken or vegetable stock concentrate (powder, paste or cube)
2 to 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation
Place a saucepan over medium-low heat, and add oil and scallions. Stir until heated, then add frozen peas. Stir well with a wooden spoon.
Add 3 cups boiling water and stock concentrate to taste. Cover, and cook at a lively simmer until peas are tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool until no longer steaming.
Transfer soup to a blender. Add cheese, and purée until mixture is very smooth. Serve immediately or, if desired, reheat to taste.
SOUTHWESTERN THREE-BEAN AND BARLEY SOUP
This recipe begins, “Serve this zesty bean and barley soup garnished with chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime, if desired.”
Time: 135 minutes (30 minutes prep)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion , diced
1 large stalk celery , diced
1 large carrot , diced
9 cups water
4 cups (32-ounce carton) reduced-sodium chicken broth , “no-chicken” broth or vegetable broth
1/2 cup pearl barley
1/3 cup dried black beans
1/3 cup dried great northern beans
1/3 cup dried kidney beans
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add water, broth, barley, black beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin and oregano. Bring to a lively simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 hours (adding more water, 1/2 cup at a time, if necessary or desired). Season with salt.
Slow-Cooker Variation: Use 2 cups water (instead of 9 cups) and combine all ingredients in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until the beans are tender, about 4 hours on High or 7 to 8 hours on Low.
Nutritional Facts: Servings: 6; Serving Size: about 1 1/3 cups; Calories: 205; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Protein: 11 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 10 g; Potassium: 601 mg; Sodium: 705 mg; Yield: 6 servings; about 1 1/3 cups each; Exchanges: 2 starch; 1 vegetable; 1 lean meat; 1/2 fat
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED VEGETABLES WITH POLENTA AND BABY GREENS
This comes from Publix's Greenwise Magazine. It seems that Greenwise Magazine is no longer being published – at least it looks that way – but Publix still carries their Greenwise products. This cam from the March 2006 issue of the magazine. And Publix, if you're listening, please bring back the magazine!
6 C cut-up vegetables, such as asparagus, red or green pepper wedges, zucchini slices, quartered mushrooms. and/or red onion slices
1/4 C organic olive oil
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbs organic olive oil
1/4 – 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 C milk
2 C water
1 C cornmeal
1/2 C finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs snipped fresh basil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Organic baby greens
In shallow roasting pan, combine veggies, 1/4 C olive oil & 1/4 tsp kosher salt; toss to coat veggies. Roast, uncovered, in 350 degree oven about 30 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring once.
Meanwhile, in large saucepan, cook garlic in 1 Tbs olive oil over medium heat. Stir in crushed red pepper. Stir in milk & 1 C water. Bring just to boiling. In small bowl, stir together cornmeal with remaining 1 C water. Slowly add cornmeal mixture to hot milk mixture, stirring constantly. Return to boiling. Reduce heat to low. Cook, uncovered for 5 – 10 minutes more or until mixture is very thick, stirring frequently. Stir in 1/2 C Parmesan cheese, basil, & 1/2 tsp salt.
To serve, spoon polenta mixture onto individual plates or into shallow bowls. Place roasted veggies on top of polenta. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese & crown with greens. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition per serving: 272 cal; 16 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 11mg cholesterol, 404 mg sodium, 26 g carbo., 4 g fiber, 9 g protein.
CHOCOLATE BEAN CAKE
This comes from the MyDailyMoment.com e-newsletter. It begins, “Think you've bean there, done that? Well, you haven't until you try this protein-packed chocolate cake that's a slice of heaven. If you want a dessert that's a deviation from the norm, try this simple slice of heaven. It's a chocolate lover's dream.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes; Serves 12.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. confectioners' sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 in. round cake pan.
Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds after the first minute, until chocolate is melted and smooth. If you have a powerful microwave, reduce the power to 50 percent.
Combine the beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the sugar and the baking powder, and pulse to blend. Pour in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
EASY LAYERED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “ This cheesecake is completely homemade, and it takes just minutes to prepare.
“From the homemade cinnamon-spiced graham cracker crust to the luscious double layer pumpkin filling, this cheesecake will look (and taste!) like you spent half the day in the kitchen!
“The cheesecake is made in a 9 1/2- X1 3/4-inch deep dish pie plate. If your pie plate is slightly smaller, you might have a little extra filling. There's very little expansion, so you can fill it nearly to the rim. Just be careful moving it to the oven!
“If you do plan to use a smaller ‘ready’ crust, I listed the measurements for a smaller amount of filling below the recipe.
“Make this cheesecake at least 4 hours before you plan to serve it to give it plenty of chilling time.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 57 minutes; Total Time: 72 minutes; Yield: Serves8.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)
Vanilla and Pumpkin Filling
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
whipped cream or whipped topping for serving, optional
caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce for serving, optional
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375° F.
For the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 8 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are blended into the butter.
Spread the crumbs in a 9- to 10-inch pie plate and tamp down firmly over the bottom and the sides.
Bake for 12 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325° F.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until well blended. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled crust.
Into the remaining cream cheese mixture, beat the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Spread over the first layer.
Bake the pie for 40 to 50 minutes, until set and just slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (about 3 to 4 hours) before slicing.
Serve topped with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel or butterscotch sauce, if desired.
Serves 8, or up to 12 if slices are quite small.
Filling amounts for a smaller pie:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Follow the directions above, using 1 cup of the plain vanilla filling for the bottom layer.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Top the whole pie with whipped cream or whipped topping before serving, or add a generous dollop to each serving.
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