½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
¾ cup white chocolate morsels
½ cup semisweet chocolate morsels
Preheat oven 350 deg.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix well and scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Mix into the creamed butter, scraping again. Stir in the white and semisweet morsels.
Bake 9-12 minutes. High altitude: Reduce sugar to ¾ cup. NOTE: It’s hard to tell when dark chocolate cookies are done. A trick is to lift the baking sheet and bang it on the oven rack; if the cookies still have a dome, leave them in; if they flatten, remove from the oven.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Morning Glory Muffins
½ cup raisins, packed
½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1 cup fresh or canned crushed pineapple, drained
1 tart apple, peeled, cored, finely chopped
½ cup shredded coconut
About 4 large carrots, peeled and grated (2 cups)
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup oil
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
TOPPING
brown sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all fruits, coconut, carrots, and nuts. In another large bowl whisk together the eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and add to wet mixture. Stir until just blended. Stir in fruit mixture. Divide among muffin cups, filling almost to top. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Cool in pans at least 10 minutes then remove. Serve warm. NOTE: you can refrigerate batter over night to let the flavors blend. Makes 16-18 muffins
½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1 cup fresh or canned crushed pineapple, drained
1 tart apple, peeled, cored, finely chopped
½ cup shredded coconut
About 4 large carrots, peeled and grated (2 cups)
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup oil
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
TOPPING
brown sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all fruits, coconut, carrots, and nuts. In another large bowl whisk together the eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and add to wet mixture. Stir until just blended. Stir in fruit mixture. Divide among muffin cups, filling almost to top. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Cool in pans at least 10 minutes then remove. Serve warm. NOTE: you can refrigerate batter over night to let the flavors blend. Makes 16-18 muffins
Mandarin Orange Salad
2 –20 oz cans pineapple chunks
2 – 15 oz cans mandarin oranges
5-6 firm, medium-size bananas, sliced
2 red apples, chunked
1 small package Cook & Serve tapioca pudding mix
1 small package Cook & Serve vanilla pudding mix
1. Drain pineapple and oranges, reserving juice. Add enough water to juice to make 3 cups liquid. Pour juice/water into a 3-quart saucepan. Put pineapple and oranges in a large bowl.
2. Add tapioca and vanilla pudding mixes to juice and mix well. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture boils and thickens. Pour over pineapple and oranges and refrigerate for several hours.
3. Add bananas and apples just before serving. Mix well. Note: May need to add more fruit for the amount of sauce. Serves 6-8.
Rachel's note: This is the salad that I made at the Family Reunion we had in Montana a few years ago.
2 – 15 oz cans mandarin oranges
5-6 firm, medium-size bananas, sliced
2 red apples, chunked
1 small package Cook & Serve tapioca pudding mix
1 small package Cook & Serve vanilla pudding mix
1. Drain pineapple and oranges, reserving juice. Add enough water to juice to make 3 cups liquid. Pour juice/water into a 3-quart saucepan. Put pineapple and oranges in a large bowl.
2. Add tapioca and vanilla pudding mixes to juice and mix well. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture boils and thickens. Pour over pineapple and oranges and refrigerate for several hours.
3. Add bananas and apples just before serving. Mix well. Note: May need to add more fruit for the amount of sauce. Serves 6-8.
Rachel's note: This is the salad that I made at the Family Reunion we had in Montana a few years ago.
Grammy's Sweet and Spicy Pecans
2 TB margarine
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
2 cups pecan halves
1 TB water
In an 8x8 glass pan, melt margarine in microwave. Add remaining ingredients; stir to coat pecans. Microwave on high 5-6 minutes or until pecans are toasted and glazed. Stir every minute or so to avoid burning. Or toast in the oven at 375 degrees, stirring occasionally. Spread on waxed paper to cool.
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
2 cups pecan halves
1 TB water
In an 8x8 glass pan, melt margarine in microwave. Add remaining ingredients; stir to coat pecans. Microwave on high 5-6 minutes or until pecans are toasted and glazed. Stir every minute or so to avoid burning. Or toast in the oven at 375 degrees, stirring occasionally. Spread on waxed paper to cool.
Decadent French Toast
2 (day-old) croissants
¼ cup cream cheese
8 fresh strawberries
3 eggs
½ cup half-and-half
3 TB sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Butter or margarine for frying
Confectioners’ sugar
Slice croissants lengthwise to make a butterfly shape. Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese on the inside of each croissant half. Slice 4 strawberries and place slices on cream cheese. Fold halves together to reform croissants. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, sugar and vanilla. Soak croissants, dipping both side in batter, but do not allow them to become soggy. In a skillet, fry croissants on both sides in butter or margarine until thoroughly cooked and golden brown. Garnish with remaining berries (sliced). Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Makes 2 servings.
¼ cup cream cheese
8 fresh strawberries
3 eggs
½ cup half-and-half
3 TB sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Butter or margarine for frying
Confectioners’ sugar
Slice croissants lengthwise to make a butterfly shape. Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese on the inside of each croissant half. Slice 4 strawberries and place slices on cream cheese. Fold halves together to reform croissants. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, sugar and vanilla. Soak croissants, dipping both side in batter, but do not allow them to become soggy. In a skillet, fry croissants on both sides in butter or margarine until thoroughly cooked and golden brown. Garnish with remaining berries (sliced). Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Makes 2 servings.
Pollo Rellenos
6 split chicken breasts (1 ½ lbs)
1/3 cup cornmeal
2 TB taco seasoning mix
1 egg, beaten
1 (4 oz) can whole green chilies, cut in half lengthwise
2 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, cut into sticks
2 TB cilantro or parsley
Black pepper
Red pepper
Salt
8 oz salsa
shredded cheese and cilantro or parsley for top
Combine cornmeal and taco seasoning in shallow dish; set aside. Pound chicken flat. Place a piece of green chili on flattened chicken. Place a stick of cheese inside the chili, sprinkle with seasoning. Roll up into chicken. Dip chicken roll in egg and then the cornmeal mixture. Place in a shallow baking dish. Bake, uncovered at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes. Serve with salsa and cheese.
1/3 cup cornmeal
2 TB taco seasoning mix
1 egg, beaten
1 (4 oz) can whole green chilies, cut in half lengthwise
2 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, cut into sticks
2 TB cilantro or parsley
Black pepper
Red pepper
Salt
8 oz salsa
shredded cheese and cilantro or parsley for top
Combine cornmeal and taco seasoning in shallow dish; set aside. Pound chicken flat. Place a piece of green chili on flattened chicken. Place a stick of cheese inside the chili, sprinkle with seasoning. Roll up into chicken. Dip chicken roll in egg and then the cornmeal mixture. Place in a shallow baking dish. Bake, uncovered at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes. Serve with salsa and cheese.
Spinah & Ricotta Puff Pie
1 lb. Spinach, stalks removed and well washed (I just use frozen, chopped spinach)
12 oz. Ricotta cheese
1 TB grated Parmesan or Cheddar cheese
pinch of nutmeg
1 egg (optional)
8 oz. Ready made puff pastry (fresh or frozen and thawed)
1 egg, beaten, for brushing
salt & pepper to taste
Steam the spinach, or cook in a saucepan with just the water clinging to the leaves after washing, for about 3 minutes until wilted. Drain well.
Mix the spinach, ricotta, Parmesan or Cheddar, salt and pepper, nutmeg and egg (if using) in a bowl until evenly blended. Spoon the filling into a lightly buttered 9 inch pie plate.
Dampen the rim of the pie plate with water. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to cover the pie, trimming off the surplus. Press the pastry rim with a fork and prick the middle in several places with a fork. Brush the pastry with beaten egg. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown.
Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
12 oz. Ricotta cheese
1 TB grated Parmesan or Cheddar cheese
pinch of nutmeg
1 egg (optional)
8 oz. Ready made puff pastry (fresh or frozen and thawed)
1 egg, beaten, for brushing
salt & pepper to taste
Steam the spinach, or cook in a saucepan with just the water clinging to the leaves after washing, for about 3 minutes until wilted. Drain well.
Mix the spinach, ricotta, Parmesan or Cheddar, salt and pepper, nutmeg and egg (if using) in a bowl until evenly blended. Spoon the filling into a lightly buttered 9 inch pie plate.
Dampen the rim of the pie plate with water. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to cover the pie, trimming off the surplus. Press the pastry rim with a fork and prick the middle in several places with a fork. Brush the pastry with beaten egg. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown.
Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
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