Category: RECIPES

CHILI WHISKEY MEATBALLS

CHILI WHISKEY MEATBALLS makes 16 meatballs
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1 SMALL egg
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Heinz Chili sauce
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1/2 cup Seagrams 7
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 cups beef broth
scant 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream

  • Using your hands combine ground beef, pork, bread crumbs, egg, salt, pepper and 1/4 cup of the chili sauce in large mixing bowl.
  • Divide into 16 equal sections and roll into balls.
  • Heat the avocado oil and butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet.
  • Cook the meatballs 5-7 minutes, rotating until cooked on all sides. DO NOT CROWD PAN cook in batches if necessary. Remove cooked meatballs to a plate as you go.
  • Add whiskey and beef broth to skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes until mixture begins to thicken.
  • Stir in the remaining chili sauce and the Worcestershire sauce and cook for a few minutes more.
  • Stir in the heavy cream.
  • Add the meatballs back into the sauce turning to coat and simmer 5-10 minutes until heated through.

BAKED SPICY BACON GREEN BEANS

BAKED SPICY BACON GREEN BEANS
1 1/2 pounds FRESH green beans washed and trimmed
1 shallot, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1/8 cup Frank’s Original Hot Sauce
3/4 cup chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 slices thick bacon, diced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Brown bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towel.
  • Add shallot to hot oil and saute 1-2 minutes until browned.
  • Add garlic and saute’ 1-2 minutes more until fragrant.
  • Add tomatoes, hot sauce and broth, stirring to combine.
  • Season to taste.
  • Top with bacon pieces, cover and bake 30-40 minutes until beans are tender.

PUB BURGERS with TANGY PUB SAUCE

Remember those burgers you would get that tasted so juicy and flavorful you couldn’t stop eating?  These burgers end up tasting JUST like that, an old style drive-in burger with a classic sauce instead of a pre-processed fast food piece of cardboard.  One of the things we like best is that i you put bacon on the bottom and the top of this burger it gives you an extra tasty texture.PUB BURGERS with TANGY PUB SAUCE serves 4
BURGERS
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 slices frozen Texas Toast, thawed and cut into tiny pieces (see notes)
2 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 green onion, minced
8 slices bacon, cooked crisp
green leaf lettuce
sliced red onion
sliced tomato
4 slices Colby Jack cheddar cheese

  • Place toast pieces in bottom of mixing bowl.
  • Sprinkle with minced garlic and green onions.
  • Crumble ground beef into mixing bowl over top.
  • Generously season with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Whisk milk and BBQ sauce together. Pour over top of meat and set aside for 10 minutes.
  • Using your hands combine the ingredients until well blended.
  • Form into patties and chill until ready to cook.
  • Pan fry burgers 5-6 minutes per side in over medium high heat.
  • Add cheese slices during the last minute.
  • Grill buns, add sauce to both buns and assemble your burgers.
  • ENJOY!

TANGY PUB SAUCE
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons ketchup (see notes)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
1 tablespoon sweet relish
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
2 cloves garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste

  • Add ALL ingredients a food processor until smooth.
  • Chill at least an hour before using.

NOTES:

  • You can spice this up a bit by using Jalapeno ketchup.
  • Buttered white bread can be easily substituted for the Texas toast in a pinch.

CHICKEN & RICE CASSEROLE

I’ve been making this recipe for many years. It’s a really easy and delicious meal that can be pulled together quickly! It’s really great comfort food for a cool evening – warm, tasty, creamy AND crunchy!  My copy was handed down by grams and was probably a Campbell’s Soup label recipe originally that was shared by her grandmother’s club.  I’ve been seeing versions of it pop up around social media and pinterest A LOT lately.  My version has been changed up A LOT, but hubby ALL but licks his plate when I make it.

WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN CASSEROLE
3 cups of diced rotisserie chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup or soup substitute
2½ cups cooked rice
½ cup sliced almonds or cashews
½ cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce (optional)
¾ cup diced celery (about 3 stalks)
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
3/4 cup crushed potato chips (see notes) OR corn flakes, crushed into small pieces
2-3 tablespoons butter, melted

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Toss chicken pieces with hot sauce.
  • Place carrots in a microwave safe bowl and add 2 tablespoons of water.  Cook 1 minute so carrots begin to soften.
  • Combine all ingredients together a spread into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
  • Combine the crushed chips with the melted butter and sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until casserole is heated through.

NOTES:

  • You can really change up the flavor by using different flavored rotisserie chicken or different flavored potato chips. I also like to use sweet potato chips 😀 or sometimes, crushed saltines or rice krispies or ANY combo of the above!
  • We like to serve it with either shoepeg corn or green beans to round out the veggies 😀

WHISKEY BBQ CHICKEN

WHISKEY BBQ CHICKEN
12 chicken legs, Bone-in, Skin-on
2 tablespoons avocado Oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 Vidalia onion, halved and sliced
1-1/2 cup Seagrams Whiskey* see notes
1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce* see notes
12 ounce jar SMUCKER’S peach preserves* see notes
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced
3 green onions, thinly sliced

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Heat oil and butter in a heavy pot over medium-high heat.
  • Add chicken legs, DO NOT CROWD THE PAN. Brown both sides 5-6 minutes, then remove to a plate and repeat until all chicken is browned.
  • Pour off half all but 1 tablespoon of the oil and return pan to stove.
  • Add onions to pan and stir, cooking for 3-4 minutes, until beginning to caramelize.
  • Add garlic and stir another minute or so.
  • Pour whiskey into the pot, careful of open flames.
  • Stir and scrape the bottom of the pan, allowing whiskey to reduce for a minute or two.
  • Pour in barbecue sauce, peach preserves, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Return chicken to pan.
  • Cover and place in oven for 90 minutes.
  • Serve pieces of chicken over rice or mashed potatoes.
  • Sprinkle sliced green onions over the top.

NOTES:

  • I like Seagrams, just my whiskey of choice, but use whatever your favorite is.
  • Make your own or use your FAVORITE bottled BBQ sauce.
  • I prefer SMUCKER’S jams, but you can make your own or use another brand. I also use what I have on hand and sometimes that is apricot-pineapple which adds a GREAT flavor change.

PORK ROAST with APPLE PEAR CREAM SAUCE

PORK ROAST with APPLE PEAR CREAM SAUCE
ROAST
3 pound boneless pork roast
1 Vidalia onion, halved and sliced
2 tablespoons butter
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Place butter and onion slices in bottom of shallow roaster.
  • Generously season pork roast and place on top on onions.
  • Roast for 1 1/4- 1 1/2 hours until 165°.
  • Rest 10 minutes while finishing sauce.

SAUCE
2 Japanese pears, peeled, cored and chopped
3 large green onions, diced
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon creamed horseradish
1/2 cup heavy cream

  • Melt butter in sauce pan.
  • Add onions and pears cooking over low heat 20-25 minutes until pear pieces are very tender.
  • Transfer mixture to food processor.
  • Add the cream, horseradish and season with FRESH ground salt and pepper, blending until smooth.
  • Return to sauce pan and reheat until cooked through.
  • Serve over prepared rice.

EXTRACTS vs. EMULSIONS – a TUTORIAL

Recently a friend and I were debating the flavorings I was going to use in an upcoming recipe and it led us to question a couple definitions, specifically for extracts and emulsions used in baking.

The main difference between emulsions and extracts are that the emulsions are water based and not alcohol based. Yet they can be substituted 1:1 in a recipe. So how do you choose which to use and when to use it when so many meet your flavor needs while cooking and baking?  Best answer: you should choose an emulsion when you’re concerned about the flavor baking out of a recipe. Because they are water-based, bakery emulsions don’t evaporate as quickly as extracts, resulting in stronger aromas and tastes.

EXTRACT – an extract is a preparation containing the active ingredient of a substance in a concentrated form such as vanilla extract used in many cakes and cookies.    SYNONYMS: distillation, distillate, concentrate, essence, juice

EMULSION – I found SEVERAL definitions for emulsions:

  • A system (such as fat in milk) consisting of a liquid dispersed with or without an emulsifier in an immiscible liquid – liquids not forming a homogeneous mixture when added together.
  • A fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible.

But for me the most accurate definition I think is:

  • a mixture that results when one liquid is added to another and is mixed with it but does not dissolve into such as mixing oil and vinegar together which produces an emulsion.

Extracts and Flavors are great for both cooking and baking applications. Most extracts and flavors contain 45% alcohol by volume and require sufficient cooking time to evaporate the alcohol.

Use an extract or flavor in cookies, cakes, brownies, muffins, and other baked goods. You can also use extracts and flavors in homemade chocolates and candies.

Bakery Emulsions are water-based and alcohol-free versions of extracts. Use them the same way you would an extract but they are also especially great for flavoring frostings and other no-bake applications.

Bakery Emulsions have the same strength as extracts, so they can be substituted one to one in recipes. But conversely because they are water-based, bakery emulsions aren’t suitable for flavoring hard candies or chocolates.

I like the brands Cook’s and Lorann’s extracts and emulsions because they are fairly readily available in most specialty grocers.

Making your own vanilla extract is easy too.  Most recipes call for vodka, but I find flavored rums work really well to as do whiskeys.

VANILLA EXTRACT

6 whole Vanilla Beans
1 cup ALCOHOL of your choice

  • Slice the vanilla beans in half lengthwise with scissors or a knife, leaving a bit intact at the end just to make it pretty. Cut the beans down to fit the height of your jar.
  • Place beans in jar.
  • Cover with alcohol.
  • Screw the lid on tight or cork it and give it a good shake.
  • Place in a cool, dark place for at least 2 months. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor will be. Be sure and give the jar a shake every week or so.

HORSERADISH POTATO CRUSTED BEEF STEW

Another RECIPE SCRAP recipe wins!  The horseradish and cheddar cheese combo is AWESOME! and really elevates a basic stew to the next level.

HORSERADISH POTATO CRUSTED BEEF STEW

STEW
1 1/2 pounds lean stew meat, diced small bite sized
1 cup blended red wine
1/2 cup Moscato white wine
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
1 orange, sliced
1/3 cup Wondra
1 large Vidalia onion, quartered and sliced
4 carrots, sliced into thick chunks
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
3/4 cup beef bone broth
2 tablespoons cornstarch

  • Place half the orange slices the bottom of a non-metallic bowl.
  • Top with beef pieces.
  • Generously season with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Top with the remaining orange slices.
  • Whisk together the wines and caraway seeds.
  • Pour over beef, cover and marinade over night or at least 4 hours.

 

  • Preheat oven 325°.
  • Drain the beef WELL, discard oranges, but reserve the marinade.
  • Heat the oil over medium high heat in dutch oven.
  • Generously season the beef with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Dredge the beef in the Wondra.
  • Sear the beef pieces.
  • Add the onions, garlic and carrots and simmer 5 minutes or so.
  • Add mushrooms.
  • Whisk together the cornstarch with the beef stock and marinade, whisking until blended. Stir into stew.
  • Season to taste.
  • Cover and cook in oven 45 minutes.

CRUST – prepare potato crust so it is ready at the 45 minute mark
1 1/2 pounds YUKON potatoes, grated
1 tablespoon Avocado oil or 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons creamy horseradish
2/3 cup grated SHARP cheddar cheese
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste

  • Blanch the grated potatoes for 5 minutes in boiling water.
  • Drain well.
  • Use a cheesecloth to squeeze any remaining liquid from the potatoes.
  • Stir in avocado oil, horseradish, cheese and season to taste.
  • Layer potatoes evenly over the stew.
  • Increase the oven temperature to 400°.
  • Cook 30 minutes more until the potato crust is crisp and golden brown.

CREAMSICLE CHICKEN – PAN SEARED CHICKEN with CREAMY ORANGE SAUCE

This recipe is tender, juicy, looks elegant and pairs wonderfully with any green vegetable.  It is truly my intention to try AT LEAST 1 recipe a week from my RECIPE SCRAPS.  I now have one more scrap of paper gone!

CREAMSICLE CHICKEN – PAN SEARED CHICKEN with CREAMY ORANGE SAUCE serves 4
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (see notes)
3 tablespoons brandy
1 1/4 cups orange juice (see notes)
4 green onions, minced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounce orange yogurt (see notes)
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon water
scant tablespoon avocado oil
Orange slices for garnish
Jasmine rice, prepared per package

  • Heat avocado oil in a heavy skillet over medium high heat.
  • Generously season chicken pieces with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Saute’ chicken breasts 2-3 minutes per side until golden.
    Remove chicken to plate, tent with foil and keep warm.
  • De-glaze pan with brandy.
  • Add orange juice, garlic and green onions.
  • Bring to a boil for 2 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to simmer 2-3 minutes.
  • Whisk together cornstarch with water.
  • Whisk cornstarch mixture into yogurt.
  • Whisk yogurt mixture into pan sauce and adjust seasoning.
  • Simmer until thickened and cooked through.

NOTES:

  • If you prefer 8 thighs can be substituted easily.
  • I sometimes use a pineapple orange juice to alter the flavor a bit.
  • YOPLAIT orange cream works beautifully.

GRASSHOPPER BROWNIES

GRASSHOPPER BROWNIES
11 ounce package dark chocolate pieces
1/2 cup butter
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
Creme-de-Menthe Filling (BELOW)
Dark Chocolate Ganache (BELOW)

  • In a medium saucepan, melt and stir 4 ounces (3/4 cup) of the dark chocolate pieces, butter, and the unsweetened chocolate over low heat.
  • Remove from heat; cool.
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Grease foil; set aside.
  • Stir sugar into the cooled chocolate mixture in saucepan.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon JUST until combined.
  • Stir in vanilla.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  • Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring just until combined.
  • Stir in the remaining 7 ounces (1-1/2 cups) dark chocolate pieces. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
  • Spread Creme-de-Menthe Filling over cooled brownies.
  • Place uncut brownies in the refrigerator while preparing the Dark Chocolate Ganache.
  • Spread slightly cooled Dark Chocolate Ganache over Creme de Menthe Filling, spreading to the edges with a spatula.
  • Cover and chill about 1 hour or until set. Using the edges of the foil, lift the uncut brownies out of the pan. Cut into bars.
  • Place brownies in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

CREME-DE-MENTHE FILLING
3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons GREEN creme de menthe
Milk (optional)

  • In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and butter.
  • Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for 30 seconds.
  • Gradually beat in 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
  • Beat in creme-de-menthe.
  • Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar. If necessary beat in 1 tablespoon of additional milk to make the filling slightly thicker than a frosting

CHOCOLATE GANACHE
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 11 ounce package dark chocolate pieces

  • In a medium saucepan, bring whipping cream JUST to boiling over medium-high heat.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Add dark chocolate pieces (do not stir).
  • Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth.
  • Cool for 15 minutes.
  • Pour over brownies and QUICKLY spread evenly.

NOTE: You can substitute 2 tablespoons milk, 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, and several drops of green food coloring for the GREEN Creme-de-menthe.

CHICKEN BLT CASSEROLE

CHICKEN BLT CASSEROLE serves 6
12 ounces Barilla cellentani or rotini pasta
6 slices bacon, chopped, cooked until crispy
3 cups rotisserie chicken pieces
2 cups alfredo sauce (homemade or jar** – your choice)
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 1/2 cups micro arugula
2 large green onions, sliced thin
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray 3 quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Cook pasta al dente per package directions. Drain well.
  • In a large mixing bowl toss pasta with chicken pieces.
  • Add alfredo sauce and toss until well coated.
  • Season to taste with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Fold in green onions, bacon pieces and tomatoes.
  • Cover and bake 25 minutes.
  • Top with cheese and return to oven uncovered for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Enjoy.

NOTES:

  • This recipe is good leftover. BUT is BEST FRESH because of the lettuce and tomato. 
  • RAGU makes a basil alfredo that is super yummy!

BANANA PUMPKIN MERINGUE PIE

When we go antiquing one of my favorite finds are old recipe boxes, BUT they have to be full of lovingly handwritten recipes!  Needless to say between these finds, cookbooks and magazines I have amassed a LARGE amount of recipes to try or if you will, scraps of recipes, hence the new meme name.

Years ago I participated in a meme called Magazine Monday in an effort to clean out magazines and cook booklets hosted over at the now defunct blog Cream Puffs in Venice. I’d love to revive that meme AND clean out ALL my scraps of paper, but as I don’t know how to contact her for her permission to use the meme, I’ve decided to create my own theme called RECIPE SCRAPS and even better it won’t be tied to a specific day 😀  I like not assigning a specific day to this theme AND even better these scraps of paper will go away forever as I try each recipe.

BANANA PUMPKIN MERINGUE PIE
1 pie crust (homemade or store bought – your choice)
1 can Libby’s pumpkin puree
6 bananas
3 eggs
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon FRESHLY grated nutmeg
pinch FRESH ground salt

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Arrange unpeeled bananas on cookie sheet and roast 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool before handling.
  • Increase oven temperature to 375°.
  • Line a 9 inch pie plate with pie dough.
  • Lightly brush the edges of the pie shell with heavy cream to create a perfect, golden brown finish.
  • Peel bananas.
  • Add bananas to food processor and puree.
  • Add sugar, eggs, cream, pumpkin pie spice, butter, nutmeg and salt.
  • Add pumpkin and stir until JUST incorporated.
  • Transfer to pie plate.
  • Bake 50 minutes or until set around edges and only slightly jiggles.
  • Cool completely on rack.

MERINGUE
4 egg whites
6 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
pinch FRESH ground salt

  • Preheat oven broiler.
  • Beat egg whites until frothy.
  • Add cream of tartar and powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until stiff glossy curled peaks form.
  • Spread on filling being sure to seal the edges to the pie crust.
  • Swirl meringue with the back of a spoon to create decorative peaks.
  • Broil at least 4 inches from the heat source for 5-7 minutes or until lightly golden.
  • Let cool 30 minutes before slicing.

NOTE:

  • Preparing your meringue in a freezer chilled metal bowl with freezer chilled beaters helps with the meringue success.
  • If you have a kitchen torch, you can also use this method as an alternative, but be careful to spread the flame evenly across the entire surface to achieve a uniform look.