Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Piccadilly Carrot Souffle

Piccadilly Carrot Souffle

3 1/2 lbs. peeled carrots
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup flour
6 eggs
1/2 lb. butter margarine
Powdered sugar

Steam or boil carrots until extra soft. Drain well.
While carrots are warm, add sugar, baking powder, and vanilla.
Whip with mixer until smooth. Add flour and mix well.
Whip eggs and add to flour mixture, blend well.
Add softened butter or margarine to mixture and blend well.
Pour mixture into baking dish about half full as the souffle) will rise.
Bake in 350-degree oven about 1 hour or until top is a light golden
brown.
Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar over top before serving.

Serves 10.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Vanilla Cream Fruit Tart

* This recipe has been removed after Michelle decided it was too delicious to be shared.

* This is her selfish decision and not mine!

* My apologies.  :(

Autumn Pumpkin Bread w/ pecan streusal topping

I like to double the topping recipe, then pour half the batter in the loaf pans (or muffin pans), sprinkle with ½ the topping, then pour the second part of the batter on top and sprinkle the second half of the topping on top.


Bread:
1 ½ c. pecan pieces
1 c. veggie oil such as canola or safflower
3 c. sugar
4 large eggs
1 (15o) can pure pumpkin
1 c. water
3 c. all purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1 ½ t. ground nutmeg
1 ½ t. ground allspice
1 ½ t. ground cinnamon
1 ½ t. ground cloves
½ t. salt
Topping:
½ c. firmly packed golden brown sugar
¼ c. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 t. ground cinnamon
½ c. toasted pecan pieces

To make the bread: Preheat oven to 350. Arrange pecan pieces on a baking sheet in a single layer an toast them in the oven for 7-9 minutes, until golden brown and aromatic. Reserve 1/2c. of toasted pecans for topping.

Grease two 9 by 5 inch loaf pans or 36 standard-size muffin cups with butter or cooking spray.

Whisk the oil and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs, pumpkin, and water and whisk until combined. Stir in the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Gently stir in 1 cup of the pecan pieces. Pour half of the batter in to each loaf pan. For muffins, fill the muffin pans almost to the top with batter.

To Make the Topping: Stir the sugar, butter, cinnamon, and the reserved ½ cup of pecan pieces in a medium bowl. Sprinkle the topping liberally over the loaves or the muffins before baking.

Bake the loaves for 1 hour, or until a toothpick, inserted into the center comes out clean. Bake the muffins for 30-35 minutes.

Angel Chicken Pasta


INGREDIENTS
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup butter
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1/2 cup white wine
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup
4 ounces cream cheese with chives (optional)
1 pound angel hair pasta

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the package of dressing mix. Blend in wine and golden mushroom soup. Mix in cream cheese, and stir until smooth. Heat through, but do not boil. Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour sauce over.Bake for 60 minutes in the preheated oven. Twenty minutes before the chicken is done, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta.This works great if you double the recipe and save in the freezer and make the fresh pasta to go with the chicken and sauce.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Buttermilk Pancakes

I found this recipe on AllRecipes.com (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/buttermilk-pancakes-ii/detail.aspx) and made it last weekend. I think everyone agreed they were fabulous! Doug mentioned that they didn't bubble up like our "mix" pancakes do, but he figured out how to cook 'em right after one or two. They were thick but not pasty or dense. Wonderful! I also read that you can freeze buttermilk (never knew that before...) so I am going to freeze the rest of my 1/2 gallon to use next time.

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1/3 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and
salt. In a separate bowl, beat together buttermilk, milk, eggs and melted
butter. Keep the two mixtures separate until you are ready to cook.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. You
can flick water across the surface and if it beads up and sizzles, it's
ready!

3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture, using a wooden spoon or fork
to blend. Stir until it's just blended together. Do not over stir! Pour or
scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/2 cup for each
pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Charleston's Baked Potato Soup

This is very close to the restaurant recipe. I (Lori) made it for Julie's baby shower since it is her favorite soup. It was great!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cans Chicken Broth (~ 2 1/2 cups)
1/2 Cup Water
5 Tablespoons Butter, melted
5 Tablespoons Flour
1 Tablespoon Minced Onion (dried)
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Cups Half and Half (I used Fat Free)
1/8 Teaspoon Oregano
4 Cups Cubed Potatoes with/without skins (about 2 large or 3 small potatoes. I left skins on)
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
1/8 Teaspoon Parsley (dried)

Garnishments:
Sliced Green Onions (or chives)
Cheddar Cheese
Crisp Cooked Bacon Bits

Procedure:
In large pan, mix chicken broth, water, minced onions, oregano, and parsley. Bring to a boil, then simmer 5 minutes then add melted butter. Stir in flour slowly. Add salt and pepper. Add half and half. (Flour will still be lumpy despite lots of stirring. It evens out once it boils again). Cook until bubbly. Add potatoes. Cook until done over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally. If cooked too fast, the soup will burn before potatoes cook thoroughly. (I simmered on Low for about 1.5 - 2 hours. Stir occasionally to keep potatoes from sticking to bottom of pan.)

Garnish each bowl with the chopped onion, crisp cooked bacon, and grated cheese.

http://groups.msn.com/SecretRestaurantRecipes/restaurantrecipes.msnw?action=view_list&row=61&viewtype=2&sortstring=

Monday, November 13, 2006

Herbed Turkey and Dressing

Basting Sauce:
2 1/4 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. butter
1/2 t. salt
1 t. dried thyme
1/4 t. EACH dried marjoram, rosemary and rubbed sage
1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley
2 T. dried chives (optional since they are expensive)

Dressing:
1 loaf (1 lb.) sliced white bread
1 lb. bulk pork sausage
1/2 c. butter
4 c. thinly sliced celery
3 c. thinly sliced carrots
1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, chopped
1/2 lb. cubed fully cooked ham
2 c. sliced green onions
2 c. chopped pecans
1 large tart apple
1 c. chopped dried apricots
1 T. rubbed sage
2. t. dried marjoram
1 t. dried rosemary
1 t. salt
1/8 t. g. nutmeg
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 turkey (16-18 lbs.)
1 c. chicken broth

In pan, bring broth, butter and salt to a boil. Add herbs; set aside. Toast bread; cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Place in a bowl. In a skillet, brown sausage; remove with slotted spoon and add to bread. Add butter to drippings; saute celery, carrots, mushrooms, ham and onions for 15 imnutes. Add to bread mixture; stir in next eight ingredietns. Add eggs and 3/4 c. basting sauce: mix lightly. Stuff turkey with about 8 cups of dressing. Skewer openings; tie drumsticks together. Place on a rack in roasting pan. Baste with some of the remaining basting sauce. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 5-5 1/2 hours or until thermometer reads 185., basting every 30 minutes. When turkey begins to brown, cover lightly with foil. Add broth to remaining dressing; mix lightly. Place in a agreased 2-1/2 qt. baking dish;chill. Cover and bake at 325 for 1 hour; uncover and bake 10 minutes.

Apple Crumb Pie


2/3 c. granulated sugar
2 T. flour
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. EACH: cloves, salt, and nutmeg
6 c. coarsely diced, peeled tart apples
1 Unbaked 10-inch Pie Shell
3/4 c. flour
1/2 c. firmly-packed brown sugar
6 T. butter
1/3 c. chopped nuts (like roasted pecans)

Combine: 2/3 c. sugar, 2 T. flour, the spices and salt. Toss together with diced apples until well-mixed. Spoon into pie shell. Bake in preheated 400 oven for 25 mintues.

Meanwhile, blend 3/4 c. flour with the brown sugar until well blended. Cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse meal. Stir in nuts. Take Pie from oven and sprinkle with butter-sugar mixture. Return to oven and continue baking 30-35 minutes, or until browned and apples are tender.

** I don't always like pie crust, so sometimes I just spray a baking dish and put the apples in to bake that way and make a crisp.

Strip Steaks with a Side of Blue Cheese Spaghetti

Strip Steaks with a Side of Blue Cheese Spaghetti
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Ingredients
4 slices bacon, chopped into 1-inch pieces
Salt
1 pound spaghetti
4 (8-ounce) NY strip steaks
Ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
5 tablespoons butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1/4 to 1/3 cup cream or half-and-half, eyeball it
8 ounces blue cheese crumbles
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped sage leaves
2 tablespoons chives, chopped, a palm full
2 cups arugula, a small bunch, cleaned, trimmed and shredded

Put a large pot of water on the stove to bring to a boil for pasta. Preheat broiler to high with rack on top shelf. Preheat medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crisp.
Salt water for pasta and add spaghetti to the pot. Cook to al dente, with a bite to it. Season the steaks with salt and pepper on both sides and arrange on slotted broiler pan. Remove bacon to paper towel lined plate with a slotted spoon and drain off most of the fat, return pan to heat and reduce heat to medium. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan and 1 tablespoon butter. When butter melts into extra-virgin olive oil, add in 2 cloves garlic and the shallots, saute for 3 minutes. Arrange steaks on the broiler pan. Place under broiler - leave door to oven cracked ajar to limit flare ups and smoke. Cook 4 minutes on each side for medium rare, up to 5 to 6 minutes on each side for medium well doneness.
To the garlic and shallots, add in flour and cook a minute more. Whisk in stock, bring to a bubble, about 30 seconds then stir in the cream. When cream comes to a bubble, add in blue cheese and sage and a few grinds of black pepper. Stir until cheese melts. Reduce heat to lowest setting. Soften 4 tablespoons butter in microwave on high for 15 seconds. Mix in chives and 2 cloves minced garlic and reserve. Remove steaks from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Place 1/4 of the chive and garlic butter mixture on each steak to melt down over the meat as they rest. Drain pasta and toss with sauce to coat and combine evenly. Taste to adjust seasoning.

Serve steaks with pasta alongside. Scatter the arugula and bacon bits across the top of the pasta.
Copyright 2006 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved

Tomato, Mozzerella and Pesto Pannini

What you need:

Ciabatta bread (or some substantial artisan bread)
Tomatoes - sliced about 1/4-1/2 inch thickness
Fresh Mozzerella - sliced 1/4 - 1/2 inch. thick
Pesto
Fresh Basil leaves
Butter

Cut bread in half (as much as you and everyone else will eat)
Slather bread with pesto on both sides.
On one side of the bread, layer tomatoes and fresh mozzerella.
Cover with other side of bread.
Brush both outsides of bread with butter.
Place bread on med-high heated grill pan and place something heavy on top (my copper pots are perfect for this).
Grill 3 minutes - then flip - grill another 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted and gooey.
Open sandwich and place fresh basil leaves. Close and enjoy.

Can also add shredded chicken to sandwich.

YUM!

Calico Squash Casserole

Calico Squash Casserole (Taste of Home Aug/Sept. 1997)


2 c. sliced yellow summer squash (1/4inch. thick)
1 c. sliced zucchini (1/4 inch thick)
1 med. onion, chopped
1/4 c. green onions, sliced
1 c. water
1 t. salt, divided
2 c. crushed butter-flavored crackers
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 can (10-3/4 ounces.) cond. cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can (8 ounces.) water chestnuts, drained (optional)
1 large carrot, shredded
1/2 c. mayo
1 jar (2 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
1 t. rubbed sage
1/2 t. white pepper
1 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

In a saucepan, combine the first five ingredients; add 1/2 t. salt. Cover and cook until squash is tender, about 6 minutes. Drain well; set aside. Combine crumbs and butter; spoon half into a greased shallow 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Combine soup, water chestnuts, carrot, mayo, pimientos, sage, pepper and remaining salt; fold into squash misture. Spoon over crumbs. Sprinkle with cheese, add the remaining crumb mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Yield 8 servings.

Pick 'Em

Pick 'Em (from the kitchen of Jan Keyes)

Melt together 1 stick salted butter & 1 c. water in microwave until butter has melted.
Crack 1 egg in bottom of bread machine pan and whip it up a little.
Pour butter/water mixutre into bread machine pan
Add 4c. flour to b.m. pan
Add 1/2c sugar, 1t. salt on top of flour.
Add 1 pkg. yeast (or 2 1/4t.) on top of all b.m. pan ingredients.
Run bread macine on dough cycle.
After cycle finished, Form dough ball into lots of mini-balls on floured board.
Spray baking pan (I like to use a bundt pan) w/non-stick stuff.
Roll mini-dough balls into melted butter, then into a cinnamon sugar mixture.
Place mini-balls in bundt pan.
Let rise in warm place 1 hour
Bake @ 350 for about 30 mins.

YUM!

Friday, November 03, 2006

Oatmeal Chip Cookies

Ok guys - I think these are actually better than Aunt Linda's oatmeal cookies. The molasses keeps them a little softer. Sharon - you can substitute raisins or peanut butter chips (I think I actually made some that way for you last time you were here...) (Taste of Home 2006)

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/2 - 1 tablespoon molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Beat in the molasses, egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Roll into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: about 1-1/2 dozen.

* I doubled this recipe and used the medium Pampered Chef scoop (LOVE that thing!) and it made 4 dozen cookies. Yummy!

Purpose of the Blog

We Nye Sistas have grown up with a passion for cooking, baking and all things epicurious. This blog will allow us to share recipes with each other, and maybe some other odds and ends as we feel fit. Enjoy and bon appetit!