Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Old Timey Apple Pie





Ingredients


Original recipe makes 1 - 9 inch pie











Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). 


Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.

Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust.



Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.

Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F. 
Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Caramel Apple Bars

Ingredients

1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 1/2 cups apple - peeled, cored and chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour


Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).In a large bowl, cream together the brown sugar, butter and shortening until smooth. Combine 1 3/4 cups flour, oats, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Set aside 2 cups of this mixture. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch baking pan.In a medium bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, then toss them with the 3 tablespoons of flour. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the prepared crust. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt caramels, stirring frequently until smooth. Pour the melted caramels evenly over the apples. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture over the top of the apple layer. Press down lightly.Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender. Cut while slightly warm and refrigerate any leftover bars.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Jamaican Red Bean Stew


Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups sliced baby carrots
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 1 sweet potato, diced
  • 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp ground allspice
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 (16 oz) cans dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed*
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1 - 2 cups unsalted vegetable broth or water
  • Optional: 1/4 tsp salt or to taste

Directions:

  1. Pour the oil into a 4-quart slow cooker and set the cooker on high. Add the garlic and put the lid on the cooker while you prepare the rest of the ingredients
  2. To the cooker, add the carrots, scallions, sweet potato, and tomatoes.
  3. Stir in the curry powder, thyme, red pepper flakes, allspice, and salt and pepper to taste
  4. Add the beans, coconut milk, and broth
  5. Reduce heat, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours

Friday, October 12, 2012

Crock Pot Split Pea Soup


Ingredients:

2 cups green split peas
8 cups water or vegetable broth
3 vegetarian bouillon cubes
2 potatoes, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped (optional)
2 carrots, sliced
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp sage
1 tsp thyme
3 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot or slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for at least 4 hours, or until peas are soft.
Remove bay leaves before serving.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Lebanese Cookies

Ingredients

COOKIES
1/3 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup Sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice or orange blossom water
1 teaspoon Baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour

SYRUP
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup water

NUTS SPRINKLE
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts or other nuts



Preparation

Preheat oven to 350.
  1. In mixing bowl, beat cooking oil and butter until blended; beat in sugar.
  2. Add orange juice, baking powder and baking soda, mix well.
  3. Gradually add flour to make a soft dough.
  4. With clean hands, shape dough into 2-inch ovals. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.
  5. Cool about 2 minutes and remove to a wire rack.
  6. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the 3/4 cup sugar, honey and 1/2 cup water, bring to a boil. Gently boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  7. Dip the COOLED cookies into the warm syrup.
  8. Sprinkle immediately with the finely chopped walnuts.
  9. Return to wire rack to set.

Southern Living Plum Preserves

Ingredients

4 pounds plums
4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange rind
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 (15-ounce) package raisins

Preparation

  1. Cut plums in half. Remove and discard pits.
  2. Bring 2 cups sugar, orange rind, and juices to a full rolling boil in a Dutch oven, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat, and add remaining 2 cups sugar, plum halves, and raisins; simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes or until thickened, skimming off any foam.
  3. Pour hot mixture immediately into hot sterilized jars, filling to 1/4 inch from top. Remove air bubbles; wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids, and screw on bands.
  4. Process in a boiling-water bath 20 minutes.
  5. Note: Store unopened preserves in a cool, dry place up to one year.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Little Sisters Lentil Burgers (bargain babe recipe)

Ingredients

3/4 cup lentils, picked over and rinsed
3/4 cup nuts (walnuts, cashews, pecans)
1/3 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
3 garlic cloves (or more to taste) coarsely chopped or pressed
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Course salt and fresh ground pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 large egg

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the lentils in a small saucepan and cover with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until the lentils are tender but still holding their shape, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well and cool.

Meanwhile, spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until fragrant and darkened, about 10 minutes. Let cool.

In a food processor, combine the walnuts, breadcrumbs, garlic, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Process until finely ground.
Add the lentils and 1 tablespoon of oil. Pulse until coarsely chopped. (Some lentils should remain whole).

In a large bowl, whisk the egg. Add the lentil mixture and mix well. Divide into 4 equal-sized parts. Roll into balls and flatten with your palms into 3/4-inch-thick patties

Fry em up in oil season with condiments as you like!