Pecan Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

Pecan Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice and nutmeg)

¼ teaspoon cardamom

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 cups mashed pumpkin

1 ¼ cups vegetable oil

8 ounce package cream cheese

1 egg

3 tablespoons sugar

Chopped roasted pecans (2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 3 tablespoons brown sugar) roasted for 30 minutes at 300º  - turning half-way through cooking.

Beat cream cheese with one egg and 3 tablespoons of sugar until well blended.  Place on waxed paper and roll into log.  Place in freezer.

In large bowl combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, salt and baking soda.  Mix and create a well in the center of the mixture.

In a medium bowl beat four eggs, add sugar, oil and pumpkin.  Add to dry ingredients and blend well.  Spoon into greased muffin tin, filling about three quarter’s full.  Slice the cream cheese into ½ inch disks and press into the center of each muffin.  Sprinkle with finely chopped pecans.  Baked in preheated oven 20-25 minutes (22 worked perfect for me) until toothpick inserted into muffin comes out clean.  Do not insert into cream cheese.  Remove from oven and let stand in tins for 5 minutes then carefully remove and cool on wire racks.  Store in refrigerator.

©Crackerberries 2016

Fried Dilly Beans

Fried Green Dilly Beans

1 Egg

1 cup milk

1 tsp. hot sauce

1 cup flour

1 tsp. black pepper

1 cup Italian style bread crumbs

¾ tsp. garlic salt

½ tsp. Cayenne pepper

1 quart dilly beans

Place the flour and pepper in one bowl and stir to combine.  In a second bowl mix the egg, milk and hot sauce together.  In a third bowl combine the bread crumbs, garlic salt and Cayenne pepper.

Drain dilly beans in strainer. Shake excess brine from the beans and roll in flour.  Dip beans in milk mixture and then roll in bread crumbs. 

Heat oil to 350º.  Deep fry 1½-3 minutes until golden brown.  Serve with horsey-sauce.  Combine ½ cup mayonnaise with 1 tsp. horseradish and 1 tsp. chili sauce.

© Crackerberries 2016

Potato Salad

New Potato Salad

1 lb. fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 lb. (4 medium) potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tomato, coarsely chopped

4 Tbsp. reduced calorie mayonnaise

4 Tbsp. plain low-fat yogurt

1 tbsp. dill pickle relish

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

½ tsp. celery seed

Cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Once water boils reduce heat and cook 5 minutes.  Add green beans, cover and cook 10 minutes longer.  Remove from heat and drain off water. Set aside until cool.

In medium bowl combine mayo, yogurt, relish, mustard, and celery seed. Combine with cooled potatoes and green beans.  Stir in chopped tomato, and garnish with extra if desired.  Chill for 4 hours before serving.

© Crackerberries 2016

Hamburger Enchiladas

Hamburger Enchiladas

Enchilada Sauce:

2 Tbsp. Oil

½ cup finely chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 beef bouillon cube

½ cup hot water

20 oz. jar tomato sauce

2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 tsp. sugar

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. cumin

½ cup cold water

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

Beef Filling:

1 Tbsp. oil

½ cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb. ground beef

6 red chili peppers

2 cups cooked rice

6-8 flour tortillas

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

5-6 hot green Chile peppers

Enchilada Sauce:

Heat oil in medium sauce pan; sauté onion, garlic and clove until tender. Dissolve bouillon in hot water; add to onion mixture. Stir in tomato sauce, chili powder, sugar, salt and cumin.  Combine cold water and cornstarch; gradually stir into sauce mixture. Simmer 10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Beef Filling:

In large skillet heat oil; sauté onion and garlic until tender.  Stir in ground beef and cook until no longer pink; drain off excess grease if necessary.  Add peppers, rice and ¾ cup of the enchilada sauce. Simmer 10-15 minutes.

Heat oven to 375º. Pour 1 cup of the enchilada sauce onto a large plate.  Lay tortilla on plate and flip to cover both sides with sauce. Spoon ¼ cup mixture into center and roll up.  Place in lightly greased baking dish seam side down. Continue using remaining ingredients.  Pour remaining enchilada sauce over top.  Bake 375º 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese and hot Chile peppers. Bake an additional 5-6 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. 

© Crackerberries 2016

Savory Meatloaf

Savory Meatloaf

Quick and easy never tasted so good.

1 lb. ground beef

2 eggs

½ cup Italian style bread crumbs

1 onion, finely chopped

¾ cup pre-made hollandaise sauce

1 packet beef flavored seasoning from Ramen Noodles

Combine the ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, and onion and form into a loaf in baking dish. Stir together the hollandaise sauce and beef seasoning. Spread over the loaf and cook for one hour at 350º.

Serve with your favorite sides.

© Crackerberries 2016

Egg Plant Parm

Egg Plant Parmesan

32-48 oz. homemade pasta sauce

1 medium – large eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced

2 eggs

½ cup milk

½ cup Parmesan cheese

1½ cup bread crumbs

1 tbsp. Italian seasoning

4 cups shredded/slice mozzarella cheese

Vegetable oil

Peel the eggplant and slice thin 1/8”. Combine milk and egg in one bowl.  Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning in another bowl.  

Dip the eggplant in the egg mixture then dredge through the bread crumbs.  

Heat oil in large skillet (just enough to cover the bottom of the pan – the eggplant does not have to be submersed in the oil.  Fry in hot oil 3-4 minutes per side and drain on paper towels.  

In lightly greased 10 x 10 baking dish, layer eggplant.  Top with pasta sauce then mozzarella cheese. Bake in a 350º for 40-45 minutes until bubbly. Serve with a side of pasta and additional sauce.

© Crackerberries 2016

Energy Cookies

Spunky Cookies

½ cup butter

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

1 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

½ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. baking soda

1¼ cups all-purpose flour

2 pkgs. maple & brown sugar instant oatmeal

1 cup coconut

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven 375º

Cream together butter and peanut butter, then add sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cream until well blended.  Add egg and vanilla mixing well.  Add flour first and then oats, raisins and coconut. Once all blended drop by spoonful two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375º for 8 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheet one minute, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Yield 4 dozen cookies.         

© Crackerberries 2016

Quiche

Crackerberries Quiche

Single crust pastry

          1 cup all-purpose flour

          2/3 cup Crisco

          ½ tsp. salt

          4-5 Tbsp. ice water

Cut Crisco into flour and salt until small pea size crumbs are formed. Add enough ice water to moisten dough and roll out on floured surface into flat round disk.  Place into pie plate and flute the edges.

Preheat oven to 350º

Quiche ingredients

          ½ lb. bulk sausage, cooked and grease drained off

          ½ cup chopped onion, sautéed

          3 Chile peppers, finely sliced

          1 cup Kale, sautéed until wilted

          4 eggs, beaten

          1 cup milk

          1½ cup shredded cheddar

          1 Tbsp. herbs de Provence

Cook sausage, sauté onions, kale and Chile peppers.  Combine all ingredients in large bowl and stir well.  Pour into prepared crust and cook in preheated 350º oven for 45-50 minutes.  Let cool 10 minutes before cutting.

© Crackerberries 2016

Zuppa Faux Toscana

Faux Zuppa Toscana

Soup in the style of Tuscany this is not...but it's a close resemblance of the chain restaurant soup you can purchase.

Tall Cool ☺ne is not much for milk based chowder or soup, so I did have to alter it a little bit.  I like it. Hope you like it too! 

4 potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 lb. hot Italian sausage, scrambled and drained

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. fresh ground pepper

1 Tbsp. Herbs de Provence

1 can beef broth

1 can chicken broth

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2 cups chopped fresh kale

Combine first 8 ingredients in crock pot and stir. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours.  Add soup and kale, stir, cover cook two more hours on low. 

© Crackerberries 2016

Bagels

New York Style Bagels

From Maine to South Carolina I’ve found the perfect New York Style Bagel recipe.  I’ve altered a few things to make it my own, but if you want a great chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, this is the recipe for you.

1¼ cup ice water

1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. molasses

2¾ cup bread flour

4 tsp. vital wheat gluten

2 tsp. instant yeast

2 tsp. salt

Cornmeal

Sugar

Baking soda

Combine ice water and molasses together and stir until molasses dissolves. Place flour, yeast and gluten in food processor and process for 5 seconds; while processing, slowly pour in ice water and process until dough is combined. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.

Add salt and process until dough clears the side of the bowl. (It may not be one mass.) 1-1½ minutes of processing. Transfer to counter top and knead with hands until smooth.  Divide into 8 portions and cover with plastic wrap.  Working one portion at a time form into small balls. (Cupping your hands around the dough on unfloored counter and move your hands in circular motions. The tackiness of the dough against the unfloored counter will work the dough into a smooth ball.) Dip fingers in flour if it becomes too sticky.  Let balls rest for 15 minutes.

Lightly dust a baking pan with cornmeal. Using one dough ball at a time, dip in flour and with rolling pin roll balls into 5-inch rounds. Roll into tight cylinder and pull into 9-inch ropes. Twist in opposite directions to form a spiral. Wrap over the top of your hand and under your palm to create a ring. Gently roll and press the seam together under your palm. Transfer rings to dusted baking pan keeping an inch between each one. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest a room temperature for one hour.  Then cover tightly and place in refrigerator overnight.

One hour before baking remove from fridge and let dough stand at room temperature.  Preheat oven to 450º placing rack in middle and set a pizza stone on rack to preheat.

Boil 4 quarts of water with 1 Tbsp. baking soda and ¼ cup granulated sugar.  Set wire rack in rimmed baking sheet and spray with cooking oil. Boiling 2 bagels at a time, transfer to boiling water and cook 20 seconds, then using a slotted spatula, flip and cook 20 seconds longer.  Place cornmeal side down on wire rack.

Place sheet of bagels on pizza stone in preheated oven.  Pour enough boiling water on bottom of cooking sheet.  Bake 15 minutes and then flip the bagels and bake an additional 12-14 minutes.  Carefully remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes before slicing, toasting and adding your favorite toppings.

***Not GLUTEN FREE

 

For toppings: Combine 2 TBSP. each poppy seeds, sesame seeds, chives, and 1 tbsp. coarse sea salt. Press tops of just-boiled bagels (not the cornmeal side) and return to wire rack for baking.

© Crackerberries 2016

Apple Pan Cake

Riverhouse Café’s Johnny Apple Cake

Mom sends me the Hannaford FRESH magazine every time she has accumulated a stack of them. I just received the new batch last week and found a great recipe I tried the other day.  Had to share.  If you live in New England, check out the diner. I bet everything on the menu is awesome!

http://theriverhousecafe.com/breakfast-menu.html

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. ground cinnamon (I used allspice)

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup milk

1 large egg

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted (I used salted)

¼ tsp. vanilla extract

1 apple cored, cut into ¼ pieces (I used a granny Smith and red delicious)

2 Tbsp. packed light brown sugar

Place a rack in the upper-middle of the oven and pre-heat to 400º.

Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in one bowl, and whisk milk, egg, sugar, 2 tbsp. butter and vanilla in another bowl. Combine wet ingredients and chopped apple to dry ingredients and mix just until combined.

Heat remaining butter in cast iron or oven proof skillet, stirring pan to coat.  When butter is hot and melted, sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the skillet and pour in batter.  Smooth over top and bake in oven until golden brown. About 20 minutes. 

Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes and then invert it onto a serving platter.  Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve with whipped cream and syrup (optional) if desired.

Author’s note:  Not just for breakfast.  I think this will be a great dessert during holidays topped with strawberries, blueberries, and even chocolate syrup!

© Crackerberries 2016

Cheesy Potato Skins

Cheesy Potato Skins

4 large potatoes

2 Tbsp. Butter, melted

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 tbsp. bacon bits

2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese

½ cup sour cream

½ cup creamy buffalo ranch dressing

1 tbsp. chives

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Pierce potatoes to allow steam to escape.

Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes or until tender. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Cut potatoes lengthwise into fourths; carefully scoop out pulp, leaving ¼-inch shells. Save potato pulp for another use.

Set oven control to broil. Place potato shells, skin sides down, on cookie sheet or broiler rack. Brush with melted butter.

Broil with tops 4 to 5 inches from heat about 5-7 minutes or until crisp and brown. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese, parmesan and bacon bits. Broil about 30 seconds or until cheese is melted. Serve hot with sour cream and buffalo ranch dressing.

© Crackerberries 2016

Roast Goose

Roasted Goose

1 -11.23 lb. goose

Kosher salt

Toothpicks

Pepper

Cut wing tips off at second joint. Remove giblets and neck from cavity of bird and rinse with cold water.  Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stuff if desired.

Prick outside of goose all over with (like piercing a crust for baking) the tip of a very sharp knife or an ice pick. Be careful not to pierce the meat.

Tie up the legs and wings tightly.  Pull the long flap of skin over the back of the bird and secure with toothpicks. Salt and pepper the whole bird and place on rack in oven roaster or other large pan.

Preheat oven to 425º.

Add ½ cup water to bottom of pan so the goose grease doesn’t scorch.  Cover and bake 30 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 350º.  Remove most of the goose oil/grease from the roasting pan. (Don’t worry, there will be plenty more for basting.

Baste and cover and return to oven. Baste every 30 minutes for the next 3 hours. Cover with aluminum foil if the breast starts to get too brown. Test the internal temperature.  180º is done.  Remove cover and crisp another 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and let stand 20 minutes before pulling apart.  Do not try to carve like a turkey.

Serve with your favorite sides.

© Crackerberries 2016

Potato Soup

Fast Potato Soup

½ lb. Applewood smoked bacon

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

5 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 pkg. onion soup mix

4 cups water

1 can cream of chicken soup

Cook bacon in Dutch oven.  Remove bacon, leaving drippings in pan. Sauté onions in bacon drippings, scrapping bits off bottom of pan five minutes or until onions are translucent.  Add garlic and cook 1-2 more minutes.  Add potatoes and toss to coat, cooking another couple minutes.  Combine onion soup mix with water and stir into potato mixture.  Cover and simmer medium low for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  Stir in cream of chicken soup.  Pureé half of the mixture and add back into the kettle.  Season with tarragon leaves, celery salt, salt and pepper.  Sprinkle with crumbled bacon and serve with your favorite panini sandwich.

© Crackerberries 2016