Lemon Pudding
INGREDIENTS
2/3 Cup Sugar
¼ Cup Cornstarch
1 Teaspoon Grated Lemon Zest
1/8 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 ½ Cups Milk
2 Large Egg Yolks
1/3 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
Whipping Cream For Garnish
In a large saucepan stir the sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest and salt with a wire whisk. Make sure that the ingredients are well blended. Stir in a small amount of milk until smooth and then stir in the remaining milk. Cook over a medium high heat. Wisk constantly until the mixture thickens and boils. Boil for one minute and continue to whisk. Remove from the heat. In a small bowl beat the egg yolks and lemon juice. Into the yolks whisk half of the hot milk mixture and then pour the yolk mixture back into the milk mixture in the saucepan. Stir rapidly to prevent lumping. Cook over a low heat for 2 minutes until very thick. Make sure to stir constantly. You don’t want to end up with scrambled eggs. Remove from the heat and spoon the pudding into shallow bowls or parfait glasses. Press plastic wrap onto the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming as the pudding cools. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve topped with whipped cream. Makes 6 servings.
Sweet Potato Biscuits
INGREDIENTS
2 Medium Sweet Potatoes
2 Cups Unbleached Flour
½ Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
5 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
10 Tablespoons Butter
½ Cup Milk
Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into 2 inch chunks. In a medium saucepan, heat the sweet potato chunks and enough water to cover to a boil over a high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Drain. Place cooked potatoes into a medium bowl and mash well. Set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 425° F. In a large bowl, combine the flour, light brown sugar, baking powder and salt. With a pastry blender cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk and cooled mashed sweet potatoes. Mix just until combined. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat into an 8 inch square. Cut the dough in half. Cut each half into 10 equal pieces. Gently place the biscuits 1 inch apart on two large cookie sheets that are lined with parchment paper. Place the cookie sheet on 2 separate oven racks and bake the biscuits for 14 minutes until golden brown. Make sure not to over bake. Serve warm. Makes 20 biscuits.
Chocolate Crackle Cookies
These cookies are a chocolate lover’s dream.
INGREDIENTS
12 Ounces Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate (Divided)
¾ Cup Flour
2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Ancho Chili Pepper
½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Cup Softened Butter
½ Cup Sugar
¼ Cup Packed Brown Sugar
2 Lightly Beaten Eggs
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Melt 8 ounces of the chocolate. It is a good idea to use a double boiler, but you can also melt it in the microwave. After melting the chocolate set aside. Coarsely chop the remaining 4 ounces of chocolate. Mix the flour, cinnamon, ancho chili pepper, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. In a medium bowl beat the butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add the melted chocolate and beat until well blended. Gradually beat in the flour mixture on a low speed until well mixed. Stir in the chopped chocolate. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons 1 ½ inch apart on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 375° F oven for 10 minutes. You want the cookies set and slightly cracked on top. Transfer the cookies onto a wire rack and cool completely. Makes 3 ½ dozen cookies.
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.
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
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
Homemade Granola
If you would rather use different nuts feel free. If you would rather use raisins then be my guest.
INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Old-Fashioned Oats
¼ Cup Almonds
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
1 Tablespoon Honey
¼ Tablespoon Maple Syrup
¼ Cup Dried Cranberries
2 Tablespoons Pumpkin Seeds
Preheat the oven to 250° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Stir in the sesame oil, honey and maple syrup. Mix thoroughly. Put the mixture on the baking sheet and bake for 2 hours. Remove from the oven and let cool. Add the dried cranberries and place in an airtight container. Serves 4
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
Pork Satay With Peanut Sauce
INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Pork Tenderloin
¼ Cup Coconut Milk
1 Tablespoon Red Curry Paste
¾ Cup Coarsely Ground Peanuts
¼ Cup Coconut Milk
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Fresh Lime Juice
1 Tablespoon Red Curry Paste
½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
8 Bamboo Skewers
(Soaked)
Cut the port tenderloin crosswise into 16 slices. Put each slice between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound to ¼ inch thickness using a meat mallet. In a large bowl combine ¼ cup of the coconut milk and 1 tablespoon of the red curry paste. Make sure that you do not use the low fat coconut milk for this recipe. Add the pork to the bowl, toss and refrigerate covered for 1 ½ hours. For the peanut sauce combine ¼ cup of the coconut milk, brown sugar, soy sauce, lime juice and 1 tablespoon of the red curry paste. Preheat the grill to medium high. Remove the pork from the bowl and throw away the marinade. Thread the pork evenly onto 8 skewers that have been soaked in water and sprinkle with the salt. Grill for 3 minutes on each side and serve with the peanut sauce. Serves 8
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
