Author: QuiltLady

CREAM CHEESE PEPPERMINT COOKIES

Out of my grams archive I found this awesome little recipe that would be perfect for baby or bridal showers.  Grams notes on the side suggested using food color to alter the cookies for the appropriate event.  I also highly recommend keeping these cookies refrigerated as they will melt! Next time I will go a step farther and freeze them for an hour and then quick dip them in melted almond bark.
Using extracts you can also change the flavor to just about anything you wanted.  I’m curious what a blackberry almond combo would be like.

CREAM CHEESE PEPPERMINT COOKIES

8 ounces cream cheese softened
1/2 cup crisco shortening
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
8-9+ cups powdered sugar

  • Line your baking sheet with wax paper.
  • Using a stand mixer cream together the shortening and cream cheese.
  • Add extracts and beat until smooth.
  • Gradually add powdered sugar until dough is soft and elastic.
  • Roll into small balls.
  • Use a fork to hash mark the top and slightly flatten each cookie,
  • Cover and chill overnight.

I filled a few of the hash marks with some hot fudge I made recently and the guys loved them.

SALAMI PASTA with fennel

There is something oximoronic about going to the gym and watching the food channel while on the treadmill, but alas that is exactly what I do. My gym has receivers hooked up to all the treadmills and stationary bikes so you can choose 1 of 8 channels to mindlessly occupy your brain while you work out.  I can’t handle the 3 stations that are tuned to the current political BS, or the channel for the home shopping network or the 2 channels that are running old Law and Order reruns so the Food channel wins by default.  

Anyway, Rachel Ray was on the other day preparing Salami Spaghetti and it looked just odd enough and interesting enough to try.  I modified it slightly, but the overall flavor was similar I’m sure.

SALAMI PASTA with FENNEL
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1/3 pound salami, cut into thin strips (I used a combination of hard salami and Genoa)
1 small fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced (reserve fronds)
1 Vidalia onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
1 large lemon, juiced
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 pound pasta (I used shells, she used spaghetti)
grated Parmesan

  • Add avocado oil to a large skillet over medium high heat.  
  • Add salami strips, separating them as you go. Cook until crispy, stirring frequently. Remove and drain on paper towels.
  • Reduce the heat. Add onions, fennel, garlic and thyme sauteing until tender and beginning to brown. 
  • Add salt, pepper and wine to deglaze the pan.
  • Add chicken broth simmering until begins to thicken slightly.
  • Add lemon juice.
  • Add salami pieces back in.
  • Add prepared pasta and several of the fennel fronds and toss well.
  • Plate and top with Parmesan flakes and fennel pieces for garnish.

BERRY SHORTCAKES

Baking Partners are making Berry Shortcakes this month.  Perfect timing for the 4th of July Holiday and the warm summer days.  Reeni from Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice suggested this recipe from David Lee of King Arthur Flour for his biscuits. This recipe was absolutely perfect!  I added a few blueberries to the shortcake portions and they made it more flavorful and colorful too.  I also used heart and start shaped cutters to make the shortcakes more festive. I served it for company and received many compliments.

for fruit:

2 pints of your favorite berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc…) I used a combination of mashed strawberries and blueberries.

2 tablespoons sugar

for biscuits: 
2 cups (8 1/2 ounces) Perfect Pastry Blend or King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour*
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons coarse sugar (I used cinnamon sugar YUM!)
1 to 1 1/4 cups heavy cream, enough to make a cohesive dough
1 to 2 tablespoons melted butter  

*David called for “soft Southern flour;” that’s why we like to use our Mellow Pastry Blend, a lovely “soft” flour whose protein level falls right in between all-purpose and pastry flours, giving you the best of both worlds: tender texture, and ease of handling. If you use unbleached all-purpose flour, substitute 1/4 cup (1 3/8 ounces) cornstarch for 1/4 cup of the flour.

  • Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar. 
  • Stir in enough heavy cream to moisten the dough thoroughly. You’ll probably use about 1 cup in the summer, 1 1/4 cups in the winter, and 1 cup + 2 tablespoons at the turn of the seasons. You want to be able to gather the dough together, squeeze it, and have it hang together, without dry bits falling off. 
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and very gently pat it into an 8″ circle about 3/4″ thick. 
  • Use a sharp biscuit cutter (we use a 2 1/4″ cutter) to cut rounds. 
  • Dip the rounds into melted butter, and place them on a lightly greased baking sheet. 
  • Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired; this is a nice touch if you’re going to use the biscuits for shortcake.
  • Bake the biscuits in a preheated 425°F oven for 15 to 18 minutes, till they’re golden brown. 
  • If you have any melted butter left over, brush it on the baked biscuits. 
  • “Serve hot!,” says David. Yield: 10 large (about 2 1/2″), ultra-tender biscuits.
To make Maine-style strawberry shortcake: 
  • Trim and slice 1 quart fresh strawberries. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar, stir, and set aside at room temperature for several hours; or refrigerate overnight. 
  • Whip 1 cup (8 ounces) heavy cream till it barely holds its shape. Sweeten to taste with granulated sugar. 
  • Split oven-warm biscuits in half. Top the bottom half of each with whipped cream, strawberries, more whipped cream, then the top half of the biscuit. Add a dollop of whipped cream and a slice of strawberry on top, as a garnish. Yield: 8 to 10 shortcakes.

RASPBERRY JAM

RASPBERRY JAM
8 cups raspberries
6 cups sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon orange peel
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 package unflavored gelatin

  • Combine fruit, sugar, lemon juice, nutmeg, cinnamon and orange peel in a stock pot.
  • Bring to a full rolling boil – stirring constantly. Let boil 1 full minute.
  • Remove from heat and stir in gelatin.
  • Skim any foam.
  • Pour into sterilized jars.
  • Water bath process 15 minutes.

You too can learn to Preserve

One thing that many of you don’t know about me is that I love to cook (LOL) AND to preserve. To me there is nothing that says I love you more than preparing those special meals and treats for my family. Canning is easy, but it is time consuming and you do have to follow sterile rules to make it safe. You can be a plain or as inventive as you want.

Hubby pointed out this would be a good time to share my award pictures that I began to scrapbook about before the move and have yet to finish. I always thought it a little ironic that I was ‘preserving’ my preserving ribbons. Here are a few pictures.


How I got started on entering the county fair is actually a cute story. I was still working for a major phone company and I make a Spiced Pear jam that really is awesome. We had a cafeteria in the building I worked in and the engineers would stop by my desk to buy a jar of jam before their coffee break so they could put it on the pancakes and waffles. I loved making it and only charged them enough to actually cover my expenses so I could make more.

My boss kept trying to get me to enter it into competition, but I was reluctant as I really didn’t think I had what it took to compete against women who had been doing it all their life (one woman had an entire 4×8 foot wall with just her entries and had been winning 1st and 2nd place awards for over 20 years) because I was a self-taught newbie and ‘shy’. Unbeknownst to me, one of the guys entered me in the upcoming county fair. He knew I went every year to drool over the jams and jellies and crafty items in the home building. You have to picture my jaw actually dropping to the floor on this particular year when I see my name, my jam and an actual 3rd place ribbon attached to it! I was literally speechless especially since I hadn’t entered the fair. Long story short I will always be eternally grateful to him for giving me the courage and confidence to enter each and every year after that for 10 years until I moved away. I have also been published in several of their cookbooks the years I won first place. I hope to start again soon.
 
Over the next few days I’m going to post several of my recipes and hope you enjoy them.

SMOKEY NAVY BEAN SOUP – CROCK POT STYLE

The weather took a serious turn towards fall early last year.  But, I was ready!  One of my favorite things about fall is fun food for tailgating or just watching football at home.  This soup recipe is no exception.
Whether you serve it in a bread bowl (which is my favorite way) or just in a bowl, the flavor is smokey, deep and intense – perfect for warming you from the inside out. AND it is super easy in the crock pot!

SMOKEY NAVY BEAN SOUP – CROCK POT STYLE
1 pound navy beans, soaked overnight
1 large onion, chopped
6 cups water
1 KNORR vegetable gel tub
1 large onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 ribs celery, sliced
3 carrots, sliced
1 can petite diced tomatoes (I use Chipotle & jalapeno flavored)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste (I use 1 t. Himalayan pink salt and 1/4 t. white pepper)
1 ham steak, chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 pound bacon, crisp and bacon
grated cheese

  • Spray slow cooker with PAM.
  • Drains beans of soaking water and add to slow cooker along with onions, garlic, celery, tomatoes and carrots.
  • Whisk together the water, KNORR gel tub, thyme, salt and pepper until well blended. Add to the slow cooker.
  • Cook on low 4-6 hours.
  • Add ham pieces.
  • Cook another 2-3 hours.
  • Garnish with cheese and bacon before serving.
  • Enjoy!

BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN BAKE

BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN BAKE
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic & herbs, undrained
1 package Chicken Stove Top Stuffing
1 KNORR chicken bouillon gel tub
1 cup hot water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Gourmet Garden Basil paste
4 slices or 1 cup grated  mozzarella cheese
  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Whisk together hot water, bouillon tub, garlic and basil paste until well blended.
  • In a mixing bowl mix together the stuffing mix, tomatoes and bouillon mixture until stuffing is moistened.
  • In a 9×9 baking dish sprayed with PAM, layer evenly first the chicken, then the cheese and topped with the stuffing mixture.
  • Bake 45 minutes – chicken will be cooked through and stuffing will be beginning to crust.
  • Cut it like a lasagna and serve with salad.

BEEF STEW

BEEF STEW

1 pound lean beef stew eat, cut into cubes
1/2 pound baby carrots, halved
1 large Vidalia onion, peeled and quartered
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Knorr Spring Vegetable Recipe Mix
1 cup V8 juice*
1/4 cup white zinfandel wine*
2 tablespoons brown sugar*
1 tablespoons tapioca*

  • Spray bottom of slow cooker lightly with PURE!
  • Place the beef cubes in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Layer onions over top of beef.
  • In a mortar and pestle, grind all the seasonings together to reactivate their properties.
  • Add to Knorr Spring vegetable mix and blend well.
  • Sprinkle over the meat and onions.
  • Add carrots.
  • Whisk together the wine, V8 juice, brown sugar and tapioca until sugar and tapioca is completely dissolved.
  • Pour this over meat and vegetables.
  • Cover and cook on low 5 hours, undisturbed.
  • DO NOT CHECK ON IT!
  • Serve Immediately over mashed potatoes.
*The tapioca, wine and brown sugar make a really nice thick gravy consistency with robust flavor when mixed with the V8.

BLACKBERRY SOUFFLES

They serve up great for a Sunday brunch buffet.

BLACKBERRY SOUFFLES
6 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into eight 2 inch cubes
2 cups sliced blackberries

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Spray 8 ramekins with PURE.
  • Beat together eggs, water, and salt.
  • Fill ramekins 2/3 full with egg mixture.
  • Top each one with a cream cheese cube.
  • Evenly sprinkle brown sugar on top of each ramekin.
  • Top each one with blackberries.
  • Bake 15 minutes or until brown sugar is melted and eggs are set.
  • Slide out of ramekins (if you want), dust with powdered sugar and the rest of the blackberries.

APRICOT PINEAPPLE MONKEY BREAD

APRICOT PINEAPPLE MONKEY BREAD*
BREAD
1 cup scalded milk
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1teaspoon salt
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup rum
1/2 cup minced walnuts
2 packages dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 Jumbo eggs, beaten
4 1/2 – 5 cups flour
TOPPING
20 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained well
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar, super firmly packed
1/2 cup apricot pineapple preserves**
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2+ teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup golden raisins*
1/4 cup rum*

  • Soften the yeast in the warm water.
  • Stir together the sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
  • Soak the raisins in the rum until needed. Drain before adding to the bread.
  • Combine the milk, shortening, sugar and salt. Cool to lukewarm.
  • Add yeast to milk mixture and then the eggs, the raisins and nuts.
  • Add the flour. Mix to a soft dough.
  • Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl. Turn over once, cover with a cheesecloth and let rise until double in size.
  • Punch down and let stand ten minutes.
  • Prepare the topping while the dough is standing.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan.
  • Add the preserves, brown sugar, cinnamon and almond extract. Cook until smooth and fairly thin.
  • Add the pineapple (and raisins if you’re using refrigerator rolls) and heat through.
  • Roll into many small balls about the size of golf balls.
  • Grease a Bundt cake pan. (I like to use my pineapple upside down cake pan.
  • Arrange a layer of the balls haphazardly in the cake pan.
  • Dribble about half the topping loosely over them.
  • Arrange the other half of the dough balls.
  • Pour remaining sauce over top.
  • Allow to rise until double in size (about 1 1/4-1 1/2 hours)
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.
  • Enjoy
*You can cheat and use 3 cans of refrigerator biscuits instead if you’re in a hurry. If you still want the raisins you can add them to the topping instead.
**You can use pretty much any flavor you want – I also use raspberry, peach and blackberry depending on my mood. A lot of times I combine the peach and blackberry half and half.