CREAM CHEESE PEPPERMINT COOKIES

Hi Tamy here filling in for Jen this morning.

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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 could also change the flavor to just about anything you wanted.  I’, 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.

CREAM CHEESE PEPPERMINT COOKIES

Out of 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 could also change the flavor to just about anything you wanted.  I’, 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.
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PORK CHOPS AND SCALLOPED POTATOES

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This is a tried and true recipe good for winter or summer because of the crock pot.  Recently we were asked out for my aunt’s birthday party.  At the last minute I was asked to prepare it at home instead.  What could I say but yes?  It is June in Texas though and I am miserable as my uncle believes he is freezing if you lower the thermostat below 80 degrees so I reallllllllllllllllllly didn’t want to turn on the oven, but needed a “Sunday” dinner meal for company.  That is what is so nice about this recipe – it looks like you slaved in the kitchen all day, but really I plugged it in and went to an air conditioned museum for a few hours.  But, shhhhhhhh don’t tell on me.  These are so yummy and they turn out super tender – you’ll be able to cut them with a fork.

4 extra thick pork chops
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper
3 large russet potatoes
1 can cream of asparagus soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
4 ounces Land of Lakes block cheese*, cut into chunks

  • Melt butter in a large skillet.
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper generously on both sides of chops.
  • Brown chops on both sides.
  • While chops are browning, wash the potatoes and slice into 1/4 inch.
  • Whisk together the soup, sour cream and milk.
  • Spray crock pot with PURE.
  • Layer potatoes slices, soup sauce and cheese chunks 2 or 3 times.
  • Lay pork chops on top.
  • Cook on low 4 hours.

*Velveeta works, but not nearly as well.

Try this Italian Green Bean & Tomato salad with this!

Italian Green Bean & Tomato Salad

 GREEN BEAN & TOMATO SALAD
1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and washed
3 cups grape tomatoes
1 bunch green onions, sliced
3 tablespoons peanut oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
salt & pepper taste
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Add green beans and blanch 3-5 minuted until just tender.
  • Drain and rinse with cool water.
  • Whisk together the oil, vinegar and seasonings.
  • Toss together the green beans, tomatoes and onions.
  • Pour marinade over and toss well.
  • Chill 24 hours before serving.

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Asian Style Latke

Taste and Create was started as a food event by Nicole from For the Love of Food. This is the 2nd time I’ve participated in Taste and Create and I don’t plan on stopping soon. I enjoy meeting new bloggers, especially foodies.
The whole purpose of Taste and Create was, and has been, and continues to be to create a community of bloggers who test each others’ recipes and share links. The participants of the event are paired together and try a new recipe from one another’s blog.
My partner this month is Stephanie over at 52 Kitchen Adventures who has some wonderful recipes.  I love anyone who will pair bacon and chocolate together as she did with these cupcakes. Honestly I wanted to make those cupcakes, but I have already made the caramelized chocolate covered bacon and decided to venture deeper into her list and fell in love with the Asian Style Latkes.  I have made my own latkes or potato pancakes for years, but love the flavors that Stephanie’s recipe adds to the mix.
Stephanie wrote, “At my local farmer’s market, there is stand dedicated to Asian produce. I’ve found some interesting vegetables there, and the other week I saw what looked like ginormous white carrots (reminiscent of Bunnicula, the vampire rabbit who sucks the juice out of vegetables). It turned out to be daikon. Daikon literally means “large root” in Japanese, which is pretty accurate. It has a flavor similar to smaller radishes, but is slightly sweet. It’s pretty low in calories and has a high Vitamin C content.” and she could have been writing about my new local farm fresh produce market in my temporary home town.
She found that daikons are used in a dim sum dish called turnip cake which is a pan fried cake of shredded daikon with dried shrimp, mushrooms and Chinese sausage. I agree that the original recipe sounds great, but agree with her recipe changes which resulted  in a latke make of shredded daikon and potato. The Chinese five spice gives the latkes a deliciously savory and sweet flavor.  Hubby loves turnips and asked that next time I include turnips.

 ASIAN LATKES
  • 2 large daikons
  • 6 white potatoes
  • 1 bunch of green onions
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 C breadcrumbs (we used panko)
  • 1 t Chinese five spice
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Olive oil
Grate the daikons and potatoes. Place grated pieces into a clean, dry towel and twist and squeeze out moisture over the sink. Keep squeezing and twisting the towel until no more liquid comes out. Place dry gratings into a large bowl.  I didn’t have anyone around to help with pictures so I offer you Stephanie’s picture for demonstration.
Sliver the green part of the green onions and reserve for garnish. Chop the white part of the green onions and add to the bowl of daikon and potatoes, along with the egg, breadcrumbs, and seasonings. Thoroughly mix together with your hands, then form flattened balls (these can be any size you want, just make sure they are all uniform in size so they cook evenly).
Fill a large sauce pan 1/4″ deep with olive oil. Heat over medium-high heat until very hot (when a piece of bread browns in 10 seconds, it’s ready). Carefully place the latkes into the pan, leaving a couple of inches in between them. Turn them after 7-10 minutes, or when browned on the bottom. Cook another 7-10 minutes, or until both sides are browned. Garnish with green onion slivers and serve with sour cream or applesauce.

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JUST BECAUSE I NEEDED A PICK ME UP

SPICY MAC & CHEESE
1 package cheese and garlic croutons, coarsely ground (2 cups ground)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3 cups dry elbow macaroni
3 cups whole milk, room temperature
1/2 cup butter
1 small onion, minced
1/2 cup flour
2 tablespoons Frank’s Hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
4 cups extra, extra, extra sharp cheddar cheese (16 oz. block), grated
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Toss crouton crumbs with melted butter and set aside.
  • Prepare macaroni and drain.
  • In large skillet melt 1/2 cup butter.
  • Add onions and saute’ until tender and slightly browned.
  • Whisk in flour until smooth.
  • Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thick.
  • Stir in hot sauce, salt and peppers.
  • Stir in 3/4 of the cheese until blended.
  • Toss together the macaroni and 3/4 of the bread crumbs.
  • Stir in cheese mixture until smooth.
  • Pour into lightly sprayed 9×9 stoneware.
  • Top with remaining cheese.
  • Bake 30 minutes.

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Bittman Batter is Better – Corn Fritters

Sorry Tami and Martha.  I tried to schedule this but it kept showing up here.
Stop by and taste my newest gluten free creation at Comfy Cook.
Join me at My Sweet and Savory where all the baked goods are.
I love corn fritters even though they are fried or maybe because they are fried. Mark Bittman has a recipe for what is now my favorite corn fritter recipe. To continue, in this month’s theme, of pancakes, I am going to share his recipe with you.
Every corn fritter, I have made has had sugar in it and even when it is not called for, I add a little but not with this recipe. If I am going to follow a Bittman recipe, I will try to stay as true, as I can. (It did not need the sugar)
I think, what made this so good, is that the eggs are separated and it has some heat to it.
I guess, every recipe has a story, and this is no different. I had cooked two batches of the pancakes and was happy with that extra height, coming from the beaten egg whites. It is important to be gentle with this batter so as not to lose this. My hubby, who is one of those men, who always helps, when necessary. He will throw a wash in the washing machine, do dishes, vacuum. He is great. Sometimes, he helps when I don’t want him to and that is what happened.
I had a cake in the oven, at the same time, I was making the pancakes and I muttered something like, “I have to take the cake out.” Harmless, one would think. He asked if he could get the cake for me and I said, no because I wanted to check it for doneness. Then, he offered to make some more pancakes and I said that he did not know how to do it and went to get the cake. When I stood up, there he was, beating the mixture in the bowl with a joy, you would not believe – you know that batter that should be gently handled.
Bottom line – Maybe it does not have to be handled so gently or maybe, I screeched early enough to save it but the pancakes turned out fine.
Thai Style Corn Pancakes (ever so slightly adapted)

Ingredients:
2 eggs, separated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 chopped scallion
1/2 teaspoon hot paprika
2 cups frozen corn
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (I used gluten free rice flour mix)
3 to 4 tablespoons canola oil, as needed

Method:

Combine the egg yolks, scallions, hot paprika, corn, soy sauce, and flour in a large bowl.

Mix everything together and season well with salt and pepper.
Beat the egg whites in a different bowl until they are stiff and form peaks.
Slowly and gently fold the egg whites into the corn mixture. You want the whites to be loosely folded in with the rest of the ingredients so they do not lose any of their airiness.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter or oil is hot, spoon in pancake-sized dollops into the pan, around 4 to 6 at a time. (I got six in my electric fry pan, each time and made one jumbo one, for the fun of it. These would make great crepes. I will have to try making them.)
Cook each pancake until they are nicely browned on one side, around 3 to 5 minutes, and then turn and brown on the other side. Add additional oil as needed in between each batch until you have cooked all of your corn mixture.
Drain on paper towels.
I would serve these plain although Bittman gives choices of sauces or just a squirt of lime. I would also add some more heat, whether it be additional hot paprika or chili powder of cayenne.

SPICY MAC & CHEESE

1 package cheese and garlic croutons, coarsely ground (2 cups ground)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3 cups dry elbow macaroni
3 cups whole milk, room temperature
1/2 cup butter
1 small onion, minced
1/2 cup flour
2 tablespoons Frank’s Hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
4 cups extra, extra, extra sharp cheddar cheese (16 oz. block), grated
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Toss crouton crumbs with melted butter and set aside.
  • Prepare macaroni and drain.
  • In large skillet melt 1/2 cup butter.
  • Add onions and saute’ until tender and slightly browned.
  • Whisk in flour until smooth.
  • Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thick.
  • Stir in hot sauce, salt and peppers.
  • Stir in 3/4 of the cheese until blended.
  • Toss together the macaroni and 3/4 of the bread crumbs.
  • Stir in cheese mixture until smooth.
  • Pour into lightly sprayed 9×9 stoneware.
  • Top with remaining cheese.
  • Bake 30 minutes.

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PORK CHOPS AND SCALLOPED POTATOES

This is a tried and true recipe good for winter or summer because of the crock pot.  Recently we were asked out for my aunt’s birthday party.  At the last minute I was asked to prepare it at home instead.  What could I say but yes?  It is June in Texas though and I am miserable as my uncle believes he is freezing if you lower the thermostat below 80 degrees so I reallllllllllllllllllly didn’t want to turn on the oven, but needed a “Sunday” dinner meal for company.  That is what is so nice about this recipe – it looks like you slaved in the kitchen all day, but really I plugged it in and went to an air conditioned museum for a few hours.  But, shhhhhhhh don’t tell on me.  These are so yummy and they turn out super tender – you’ll be able to cut them with a fork.
Insert finished picture here!  
I prepped them tonight to make tomorrow 
for a birthday dinner so we’ll have to take a picture then.

4 extra thick pork chops
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper
3 large russet potatoes
1 can cream of asparagus soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
4 ounces Velveeta, cut into chunks

  • Melt butter in a large skillet.
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper generously on both sides of chops.
  • Brown chops on both sides.
  • While chops are browning, wash the potatoes and slice into 1/4 inch.
  • Whisk together the soup, sour cream and milk.
  • Spray crock pot with PURE.
  • Layer potatoes slices, soup sauce and cheese chunks 2 or 3 times.
  • Lay pork chops on top.
  • Cook on low 4 hours.

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POTATO PANCAKES

POTATO PANCAKES

3+ cups peeled, grated & squeezed* potatoes
1 large bunch green onions, minced or 1 small Vidalia onion, minced
1/2 cup self rising flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, beaten
4 tablespoons butter, melted

  • Sift together the flour, salt and pepper.
  • Whisk together the buttermilk, egg and butter until smooth.
  • Whisk in the flour mixture until well blended.
  • Fold in the potatoes and onions.
  • Drop onto hot griddle and make your pancakes.
  • Serve with applesauce and sour cream or with the Sauerbraten gravy.

*I use a flour cloth towel as my base. I grate the potatoes on top of it and then bring all the corners together like a knapsack wrapping the potatoes inside. I continue to tighten the turns until I squeezed all the moisture from the potatoes.aprons 3

Pizza Pasta

Happy Saturday!! This is Tiffanee from One Crazy Cookie and I can’t tell you how excited I am to be guest posting her today. This is such an amazing blog!!  Since it is a busy Satruday I am sharing with you one of my family’s all time favorites.  The recipe makes 2 9×13 pans. So you make two and freeze one for later. It freezes very well.
Pizza Pasta
Makes 2 9×13 pans. If you don’t want to make 2 half the ingredients.
1 1/2 lb bow tie pasta
1 lb  ground sausage
2-3 jars spaghetti sauce
1 package Canadian Bacon or 1/2 lb cooked and diced ham.
1/4 lb sliced pepperoni
6 Tbs. Parmesan cheese
1 lb grated mozzarella cheese
*optional: onions, mushrooms & olives
1. Cook Pasta until al-dente. Do not overcook. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook and drain sausage (add and cook onions with sausage if desired)
3. Pour a small amount of sauce to lightly coat the bottom of a 9 x13 pan.
Layer ingredients:
1st layer: cover bottom with a layer of pasta, cover with sauce, mozzarella, 1 Tbs. Parmesan and top with sausage (can add sliced olives)
2nd layer: cover 1st layer with pasta.
 Then cover with spaghetti sauce, mozzarella, 1 Tbs. Parmesan and top with ham. (can add sliced mushrooms).
Cover 2nd layer with the remaining pasta.
Cover with sauce, mozzarella, 1 tablespoon Parmesan and cover the top with pepperoni.
Bake covered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Take cover off and bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cover and freeze 2nd one.
Unthaw frozen one for 24 hrs in fridge before baking.
*It took me three jars of spaghetti sauce this time.

Spinach Salad with Teriyaki Bowties

A very quick apology… I suddenly got rushed this week.  You will see the reason in a couple days on my own site, but short version is that I am going to have to repeat a recipe today that was on my own site recently.  But, while it has only been a couple months since I posted this, I have made and served this 4 times.  Whenever we have guests come to visit paradise, this is now on our “must make”menu plan.

Easy

Fast

VERY TASTY

Filled with Flavors

A terrific cold salad, substantial enough to be served as a full meal, and great for leftovers…

Adaptable, I have made this with shrimp in place of the chicken, and Caramelized Pineapple added.

A great item to take to a summer picnic.

It is just as good as it looks… 

Enjoy, and I will see you in a week with something special… Promise

It’s another session of what to do with the second half of one of those rotisserie chickens you buy every week.  And there are enough different tastes to satisfy everyone.  Jackie had asked for a salad recently.  So, when I saw Melanie’s post at THE SISTER’s CAFE, I knew I had another use for that rotisserie bird…



And here’s an oddity… no rum, no extra spices, I didn’t change a single ingredient.  I followed Melanie’s recipe as she wrote it.  If you go to her post (click HERE), Melanie listed a few additional ingredients as optional.  But really, if you have a plate of spinach, do you really need to add parsley?  Adding the oranges and water chestnuts was already inching the price up.  So, unless you have them on hand, do as I did and leave out the craizins, parsley, … And here is what she wrote…

Spinach Salad With Teriyaki Bowties 
submitted by Melanie sisterscafe.blogspot.com

16 oz. Bowtie pasta, cooked and cooled
1 – 2 bags of fresh baby Spinach
2 small cans Mandarin Oranges
1 Red Pepper, chopped
1 can Water Chestnuts
1 bunch Green Onions, chopped
1 cup Honey Roasted Peanuts or Cashews
1/4 cup Sesame Seeds, toasted
2 cups torn cooked Chicken

Dressing:
1 cup Vegetable Oil
2/3 cup White Wine Vinegar
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
2/3 C. Teriyaki Sauce
5 Tbs. Sugar

Cook bowtie pasta according to directions, drain and cool while whisking the dressing together in a large bowl. Marinate cooked bowtie pasta in the dressing for 1 hour or longer in the fridge. Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl and pour the teriyaki sauce and pasta over the salad, toss together and serve. If it’s just a few of you, make individual salad servings; keeping the salad and bowtie sauce separate for the rest of the week (no one likes a soggy salad).

This sauce is terrific!  Beyond terrific in fact.  The whole thing blended so well.  It was a perfect addition to my new series on what to do with those rotisserie chickens that are so cheap here in paradise.

Jackie loved it!  Thanks Melanie… A GREAT recipe!

Well worth the effort!

Dave here from MY YEAR ON THE GRILL. Plan ahead, be a cook and you to can say…  

 … I CAN COOK THAT! 

And so can you!