Hamburger Buns

Bread Machine

Hamburger Buns

1 dozen rolls (2lb loaf)

1¼ cups water 70-80º

1 large egg

6 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

3 tablespoons sugar

4 cups bread flour

1/3 cup nonfat dry milk

3 tablespoons quick cooking oats

1 tablespoon plus one teaspoon whole wheat gluten

2 teaspoons salt

2½ teaspoons bread machine yeast

Place all ingredients in bread machine in order given. Select dough setting.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. When the machine stops the cycle immediately turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Cut into 12 equal portions. Form a small round ball for hamburger buns. Place on lined baking sheet and let rise 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 375º.

Beat one egg and one tablespoon of water together. Brush over the rolls with pastry brush. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 15-22 minutes.  Let cool completely and slice in half horizontally to serve.

© Crackerberries 2017

Fried Chicken

 Cast Iron Perfect Fried Chicken

3-3½ lbs. chicken legs

1½ tbsp. salt

1½ tbsp. paprika

1 cup bread flour

Crisco

Mix the salt, paprika and four together in shallow dish.  Rinse of chicken legs and set aside. Work the flour all over the chicken leaving no moist spots. Place coated pieces on a rack to dry for 10 minutes.  Flour the chicken pieces a second time working the flour into the chicken.

Heat ¼ inch of Crisco in a cast iron Dutch oven until it sizzles with a drop of water. Make sure you have a cover.

Add meaty pieces first, don’t crowd.  Reduce heat gradually when browning begins. Turn pieces 2-3 times with tongs (do not pierce). When chicken is partially tan, add 1-2 tbsp. water; cover tightly. Browning will continue.

Allow 50-60 minutes of cooking time after chicken is covered, flipping once in the middle of the cooking.  Meat should shrink a little from bone ends. For extra crispness, uncover last 10-12 minutes.

Remove from pan and let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving.

© Crackerberries 2017

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