Archive for August, 2006

Easy Quilter Puffs

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by Carol Burns

I like to serve these to my quilt group because they are versatile. In February when the strawberries are in season, I stuff them with whipped cream and a strawberry slice….other times I stuff them with chicken salad and once I scooped chocolate pudding into them for a nice treat!

1 cup water
1 stick of butter
1 pinch of salt
1 cup of flour
3 eggs

Bring water and butter to a boil over medium heat, add salt and flour. Stir quickly until the mixture forms a ball and remove from the heat. Beat in eggs one at a time.

Drop teaspoons of mixture onto a cookie lined with parchment paper and bake at 425° for 30 minutes. Take them out, cut a slit in the sides and bake for 10 more minutes to dry out. Cool and store in an airtight container or freeze for another day.

Fill with your favorite chicken salad, crab salad, pimento cheese spread, pudding, or just plain whipped cream is good…makes a good treat during quilt meetings and they think you spent all day making them!

Butter Tarts to Die For

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by Susan Lusted

Never Fail Pastry

5 1/2 cups pastry flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 pound Tenderflake lard
2 tsp vinegar
1 egg slightly beaten, add water to vinegar and egg to make 1 cup

Cut lard into cubes(about 1 inch) and freeze. Mix together flour, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor. After the lard is frozen, add to the food processor. Pulse until the flour mixture is crumbly and resembles small peas. Add the liquid mixture through the feed tube. Continue until the mixture forms a ball. Divide into four and form into flat disks. Chill for about 15 minutes. Roll out about 1/4 of the dough on a floured board until 1/8 inch thick. Cut to the appropriate size and line the tart tins. While I am making the filling, I place the lined tart tins in the freezer. You get flakier pastry if you keep it chilled before baking.

Filling

2 cups of dark brown sugar, packed
2 cups of corn syrup
1/2 pound of butter, do not substitute
8 large eggs
1/2 tsp of salt
1 1/2 tsp of vanilla
3 cups of raisins(washed and rinsed)

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add brown sugar, and syrup and mix together. Slightly beat the eggs, and gradually add to the mixture beating constantly. Add salt, and vanilla and mix well. Place a tbsp. of raisins in each tart shell. Add the syrup mixture til about 3/4 full. Bake in a 400° oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly before removing from tins. These do freeze well. (that’s if they last long enough)

Quick Nachos

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by Susan Palmer

This is really fast and really good. Serve with Guacamole and Sour cream on the side.

1 jar Fritos Salsa con Queso (15 1/2 oz jar)
1 can pinto beans
1 can refried beans
1/2 of a 16 oz jar Tostitos Salsa
1/2 - 1 C grated cheddar cheese (lightly packed)
Tortilla chips

Mix beans and refried beans in baking dish. Spread to cover bottom. Spoon salsa on top to cover. Pour on Salsa con Queso to cover. Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese. Microwave until heated through and cheese is melted. Serve with chips and guacamole and sour cream on the side.

Guacamole
2 ripe avocados
juice of 1/2 lemon (or lime)
1/2 - 1 tsp garlic powder, depending on your taste
Cut avocados in half, remove seed (whack it with the blade of a large knife, twist to loosen and lift to remove). With a spoon, scoop out pulp into a bowl. Add lemon juice and garlic. Mash with a fork or whisk until mostly creamy. Some lumps may remain.

Scalloped Corn Ohio Style

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by Carol Jimenez

2 cans corn, drained
Butter squares throughout
Crushed crackers
Salt and Pepper
Milk to cover
Put all ingredients in a buttered dish bake for approximately 30 to 45 minutes at 350 degrees F.

I serve with salmon patties and a salad.

Dilled Green Beans

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by RHoffmeyer via e-mail

4 Lbs. whole green beans (about 4 quarts)
1/4 teasp. crushed red pepper per pint jar
1/2 teasp. whole mustard seed per pint jar
1/2 teasp. dill seed per pint jar
1 garlic clove per pint jar
5 C. vinegar (1 1/4 quarts)
5 C water
1/2 C. salt 1/4 tsp. powdered alum

Wash beans thoroughly and cut into lengths to fill pint jars. Pack beans into clean, hot jars. Add pepper, mustard seed, dill seed and garlic.

Combine vinegar, water, salt and alum; heat to boiling. Pour boiling liquid over the beans, fill jars but leave 1/4-inch headspace. Seal and process in a boiling-water bath for 5 minutes. Yield: 7 pints. Enjoy.

Six Week Bran Muffins

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Anonymous

1 box Kellogs Raisin Bran Cereal (15 ounces)
3 cups sugar
5 cups flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 quart buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup oil

Mix the dry ingredients together. Add the buttermilk,stir, then add the oil. (I change the recipe a bit by adding orange zest (to taste) or nuts and usually extra raisins.) Spray oil in a muffin pan or use paper muffin cups. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Batter keeps up to six weeks in refrigerator so you can have fresh muffins every day.

Crock Pot Oatmeal

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by Janice Linden, jlinden50@hotmail.com

2 cups milk
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 Tbsp.melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup rolled oats (NOT instant or 1 minute)
1 c. chopped apple
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix everything in the crockpot right before you go to bed. Turn on LOW. When you get up in the morning it will be ready to eat.

Cilantro Pesto

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by M. Hoffman, Boston, MA

The pesto goes great with toasted bread, grilled fish, raw or roasted veggies, crackers. You can drink red or white wine, beer, or a good tequila drink. Enjoy!

Take a handful of cilantro (3-4 cups packed), stems removed
4-6 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup olive oil
1-2 limes (depending on how sour you want it)
salt to taste

Peel and sauté garlic until brown, 5-10 minutes medium heat. By sautéing the garlic, you are making it easier to blend in with the rest of the dish as well as turning down the “garlic breath factor.” Grab a food processor or blender (food processors work better) and squeeze the lime juice into the blender. Add the garlic, cilantro, pine nuts, and olive oil–no need to really fret the amounts, the dish is nearly fool proof. Blend.

Caramel Kettle Korn Pops

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by stricker@netexpress.net

1-1/2 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter - no substitute
1/3 cup white corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp. baking soda
8 oz (1 bag) “Kitchen Cooked” brand Kettle Korn Pops
one half of a 12 oz. bag pecans or nuts of choice (optional)

Divide 8 oz Kettle Korn Pops and pecans and place in two greased mixing bowls. (Makes it easier to mix.) Mix sugar, butter, syrup & salt. Bring ingredients to a boil & boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and immediately stir in baking soda. Coat Pops with caramel mixture. Place in 2 greased pans and bake 1 hour at 200 degrees F. Stir every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately spread onto waxed paper. Separate pops. When cool, store in plastic bags.

Black Bean Quesadillas - Quick & Easy

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Submitted by Penny Schwickerath

2 cans (15 oz. Each) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 jar (8 oz.) salsa, divided
10 flour tortillas (8 inches)
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded cheddar or Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
sour cream

In a bowl, mash the beans; add 1 cup salsa. Place five tortillas on ungreased baking sheets; spread with bean mixture. Top with the remaining tortillas; sprinkle with cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until crisp and heated through. Cut into wedges. Serve with sour cream and remaining salsa. Yield: 5 servings.