Pumpkin Cake
This cake is so easy to make. It is a nice dessert or can be eaten as a breakfast cake. You can put frosting on this cake if you like, but I don’t think that it needs it.
INGREDIENTS
3 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Olive Oil
5 Eggs
3 1/3 Cups Unbleached Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
1 ½ Teaspoons Salt
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 Teaspoon Allspice
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2/3 Cup Water
15 Ounces Pumpkin Puree
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a Bundt pan or two 9x5x3 inch cake pans and set aside. In an extra large mixing bowl beat the sugar and oil with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well. Add the vanilla and set the sugar mixture aside. In another large bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Alternately add the flour mixture and the water to the sugar mixture. Beat on low speed after each addition just until combined. Beat in the pumpkin and then spoon batter into the prepared pan(s). Bake for 1 hour until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan(s) and cool completely on a wire rack. Serves 8
Cinnamon Toast Shortbread Cookies
You can make these shortbread cookies into rectangles or the classic shortbread wedge. You will love this twist of the classic shortbread!
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ Cups Softened Unsalted Butter
3 ½ Cups Unbleached Flour
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 ¾ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
Combine the flour, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl. With either a hand mixer or stand mixer beat in the butter, powdered sugar, cornstarch, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and vanilla for 3 minutes on medium speed until the dough begins to form clumps. If you want to make rectangular cookies you will need to use a 9×13 inch baking pan. For wedges use two 9 ½ inch fluted tart pans with removable bottoms or you could use 9 ½ inch pie plates. I like to use parchment paper in the bottom of either types of pans, but you may also grease the pans if you like. Turn the dough out into the prepared pan of your choice and press the dough into the pan to form an even layer. Mix ¾ teaspoon of the ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the dough in the pan and lightly press into the surface. Preheat the oven to 325° F and bake on the center rack for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before cutting into the desired shape. Makes 40 rectangular cookies or 24 cookie wedges.
Cranberry Apple Pie
This pie is such a nice holiday pie. Cooking the berries, sugar and orange peel with the flour before pouring it over the apples gives the pie a better texture and flavor. The chopped pecans add a nice crunch as well.
INGREDIENTS
Pie Filling
1 ½ Cups Chopped Cranberries
1 Cup Sugar
½ Teaspoon Grated Orange Peel
1 Tablespoon Unbleached Flour
1/3 Cup Cranberry Juice
6 Tablespoons Chopped Pecans
3 Peeled & Sliced Tart Apples
½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Butter
Pie Crust
3 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Sugar
½ Cup Shortening
½ Cup Cold Butter
9 Tablespoons Ice Water
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and sugar. With a pastry blender (or two knives or fingers) cut the shortening into the flour mixture until it resembles cornmeal. Dice the butter into cubes and cut in until the largest pieces are the size of a dime. Sprinkle the ice water over the flour & fat mixture. Toss with a fork and continue until the dough is moist enough to hold together. Roll into a ball and cut in half. Flatten with halves into two disks. Wrap the pieces of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate to give them a rest for 30 minutes or more before rolling out.
Preheat your oven to 425° F. Grease a 9 inch pie plate and line with half of the rolled out dough. Put the dough lined pie plate back in the refrigerator while making the filing. In a large saucepan, cook the cranberries with the sugar, orange peel, flour and cranberry juice for 20 minutes until the mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and cool. Remove pie plate from the fridge and sprinkle half of the pecans in the bottom of the prepared pie plate. Make 2 layers of apples on the top of the nuts. Sprinkle these with cinnamon and dot with butter. Pour the cooled cranberry mixture over the apples and sprinkle on the remaining pecans. Over with the remaining (rolled out) dough and crimp the edges. Bake for 30 minutes until the crust is golden and the berries are bubbly. Remove from the oven and cool before slicing. Serves 6
Holiday Popcorn Balls
Growing up we made popcorn balls every Halloween and Christmas. We usually made them various colors according to the holiday and sometimes would put candy in them. Sticky and gooey, but oh so good. Here is a good basic popcorn ball recipe. You can make them plain or dress them up. You decide!
INGREDIENTS
¼ Cup Corn Oil
½ Cup Popcorn
½ Cup Dark Corn Syrup
½ Cup Sugar
½ Teaspoon Salt
Heat the corn oil in a large pan over a medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the popcorn and cover leaving the cover slightly ajar. The popcorn will start to pop. Shake frequently until the popping stops. Mix together the corn syrup, sugar and salt. Add the corn syrup mixture to the popped corn while it is still in the pan. Stir and toss constantly over a medium heat for 4 minutes until sugar is dissolved and the popcorn is evenly coated with the mixture. Remove from the heat and gently form into balls using buttered hands. To make colored popcorn balls just use a drop of food coloring in the corn syrup mixture. If you want to add candies then add the candy of your choice into the corn syrup mixture as well. Makes 12 popcorn balls
Puff Pastry
A relative of Middle Eastern phyllo dough as it is used in a similar manner to create layered pastries. It is thought that French painter, Claude Gelée, who lived in the 17th century. Apparently, Gelée was making a type of very buttery bread for his sick father. The process of rolling the butter into the bread dough created a croissant like finished product. Other Puff Pastry references before the 17th century which indicates that the history was originally from Muslim Spain and was converted from thin sheets of dough spread with olive oil to laminate the dough with layers of butter. Puff Pastry is commonly used for turnovers, Steak & Kidney Pie, other types of pie, sausage rolls, Beef Wellington, strudel and Miguelitos (a cake made in Spain). Here is a basic and quick Puff Pastry recipe.
INGREDIENTS
4 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Cups Cold Butter
1 ¼ Cups Ice Water
In a large mixing bowl stir together the flour and salt. Cut the cold butter into ½ inch thick sliced. Do not cut the butter into cubes. Add the butter slices to the flour mixture and toss until the butter slices are coated with the flour mixture and are separated. Pour the ice water over the flour mixture. Using a spoon, quickly mix. The butter will remain in large pieces and the flour will not be completely moistened. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough 10 times by pressing and pushing the dough together to form a rough looking ball. Shape the dough into a rectangle. Don’t be concerned that the dough will still have some dry looking areas. Make the corners as square as possible and slightly flatten the dough. Working on a well floured surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle. Fold crosswise into thirds to for a slightly smaller rectangle. Give the dough a quarter turn and then fold crosswise into thirds to form an even smaller rectangle. This should create 9 layers. Repeat the rolling, folding, turning and folding process one more time. You should have a rectangle that is approximately 5×4 inches. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and stick in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. To use the dough in your recipe cut the dough in half crosswise with a very sharp knife. Makes two 1 1/3 pound portions.
Drunkin Apple Cake
I created this cake when I had a bunch of apples staring me in the face and were on the brink of going bad. I hate wasting food so put this cake together and it turned out very nice. It is also great to eat for breakfast!
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
½ Cup Butter At Room Temperature
1 ¼ Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
¾ Cup Milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
5 Diced Apples
½ Cup Brandy
¼ Cup Brown Sugar
Place peeled and diced apples in a medium sized bowl. Mix the brown sugar and brandy into the diced apples. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature overnight.
Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add the sugar and continue beating until fluffy. Add the butter and continue to mix. Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Beat in the milk and vanilla. Fold in the entire apple mixture. Pour the batter into a 13x9x2 inch baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350° F oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and completely cool. No frosting needed. Serves 10
Molasses Cookies
The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço which means honey. Molasses is a byproduct of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet, the amount of sugar extracted, and the method of extraction. I know someone who loves molasses so much he eats is out of the jar with a spoon. If you love molasses you will love these cookies. These cookies are delicious!
INGREDIENTS
3 ½ Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Molasses
½ Cup Sour Cream
½ Cup Plain Yogurt
¼ Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ Teaspoon Allspice
¼ Teaspoon Grated Nutmeg
In a medium bowl mix the butter with the sugar and then slowly beat in the molasses. Set aside. In a small bowl combine the sour cream and yogurt. Set aside. In a medium bowl mix together the flour, salt, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Sift the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture alternately with the sour cream and yogurt mixture. Stir until blended. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Drop a tablespoonful of batter onto a parchment lined baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake for 30 minutes until done. Remove and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet and cool completely. Makes 40 cookies
Chocolate Cinnamon Cake
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Unbleached Flour
1/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 ½ Teaspoons Baking Powder
¾ Teaspoon Baking Soda
2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Butter
1 ¼ Cups Sugar
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
4 Eggs
1 Cup Sour Cream
1 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Chopped Pecans
¼ Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Prepare a bundt pan. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl beat the butter and 1 ¼ cups of sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on high until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed to medium and beat in the vanilla. Next beat in the eggs one at a time. Reduce the speed to low and alternately beat in the flour mixture and sour cream. Combine just until blended. In a separate small bowl combine the chocolate, pecans, ¼ cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for the crumb mixture. Pour half of the batter in the bottom of the prepared bundt pan. Sprinkle half of the crumb mixture next and then the rest of the batter, ending with the last of the crumb mixture. Gently cut through the batter and crumbs with a knife. Bake for 45 minutes. Cover the top of the cake with foil and continue baking for 15 minutes longer until done. Remove from the oven and cool for 30 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from the pan and finish cooling. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serves 14
Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies
I would honestly rather eat an oatmeal cookie than a chocolate chip cookie. Wouldn’t turn down a chocolate chip cookie though. Here is my Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookie recipe that I find to be absolutely delicious!
INGREDIENTS
¾ Cup Softened Butter
1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
½ Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ Teaspoon Baking Soda
¼ Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
¼ Teaspoon Ground Cloves
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 ½ Cups Unbleached Flour
2 Cups Rolled Oats
Preheat the oven to 375° F. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Mix until combined. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat in the flour and then stir in the rolled oats. Drop the dough by rounded teaspoons two inches apart on to a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the cookies have light brown edges. Remove from the oven and cool on the cookie sheet for one minute. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Makes 45 cookies
Vanilla Babka
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 ½ Teaspoons Baking Powder
¾ Teaspoons Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Unsalted Butter
1 ¼ Cups Sugar
3 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
4 Eggs
1 Cup Sour Cream
Powdered Sugar For Dusting
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Prepare a bundt pan and set aside. In a medium bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In a separate medium bowl beat the butter and 1 ½ cups sugar with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and beat in the vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time. With the mixer on low speed, alternate beating in the flour mixture and the sour cream. Beat only until mixed in. Bake for 40 minutes. Cover the top of the cake with aluminum foil. Continue baking for 20 minutes longer. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Carefully loosen the cake from the sides of the pan. Invert the cake onto a rack and cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar. Serves 12
