Monday, May 30, 2011

Cooking : Apple and Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken Breast

Ingredients
1/2 cup finely chopped apple
1/8 teaspoon apple pie spice
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
4 thin slices prosciutto
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2/3 cup milk
1 dash ground black pepper

Directions
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an ovenproof baking dish; set aside.
Combine chopped apple and the 1/8 teaspoon apple pie spice in a small bowl; set aside.
Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of heavy plastic (resealable freezer bags work well) on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound the chicken with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Place one slice of prosciutto on each chicken breast. Place 1/4 of the apple mixture on each chicken breast. Roll up each breast and secure with a toothpick. Sprinkle the 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice all over outside of chicken breasts and place into the prepared baking dish.
Bake the chicken breasts, uncovered, in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about for 25-30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
When chicken is almost done, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour to make a smooth paste. Whisk in milk and pepper; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Serve sauce over chicken.

Cooking : Boterkoek (Dutch Butter Cake)

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
16 almond halves (optional)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 8 inch round cake pans, or 9 inch pie plates.
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, reserving just enough to brush over the tops, about 1 tablespoon. Stir in the almond extract. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter by hand using a sturdy spoon. The dough will be stiff.
Press evenly into the two prepared pans. Press almond halves into the top where each slice would be. Brush the tops with a thin layer of the reserved egg.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Cut into wedges to serve.

Cooking : Ballpark Baked Beans

Ingredients
2 (16 ounce) cans baked beans
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained

Directions
In a large bowl, combine beans, brown sugar, ketchup and mustard. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Stir in the pineapple; bake 30 minutes longer.

Cooking : Bev's Seasoned Salt

Ingredients
1/2 cup salt
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
1 pinch ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon ground mustard

Directions
Pour the salt into a small mixing bowl. Whisk in the sugar, oregano, celery seed, paprika, thyme, turmeric, curry powder, chili powder, marjoram, and mustard until evenly blended. Store in a tightly sealed shaker jar.

Cooking : Baked Chicken Breasts Supreme

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Plain yogurt or sour cream
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon Hungarian sweet paprika
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 cups fine dry bread crumbs

Directions
In a large bowl, combine first eight ingredients. Place chicken in mixture and turn to coat. Cover and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Remove chicken from marinade; coat each piece with crumbs. Arrange on a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes or until juices run clear.

Cooking : Baked Custard for Two

Ingredients
3 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
In a bowl, lightly beat the egg. Stir in the milk, sugar, vanilla and salt until combined. Pour into two ungreased 6-oz. custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Place in an 8-in. square baking dish; add 1 in. of hot water to the pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

Cooking : Blue Cheese Hot Wings!

Ingredients
30 chicken wings, cut apart at joints, wing tips discarded
2 teaspoons ground cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 cup Louisiana-style hot sauce
1/3 cup molasses
1 teaspoon liquid mesquite smoke flavoring
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups prepared blue cheese dressing

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Sprinkle the chicken wings on all sides with cayenne pepper and seasoned salt, and spread in a single layer into a large baking dish.
Bake the wings in the preheated oven until the skin is browned and crisp, 30 to 40 minutes, turning the wings over halfway through cooking for even browning.
While the wings are baking, combine hot sauce, molasses, and liquid smoke flavoring in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the onion, green pepper, and garlic, and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir in the blue cheese dressing. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Transfer the wings from the baking dish to paper towels to drain excess grease. Pour off any excess fat from the dish, and return the wings to the dish. Pour the sauce evenly over the wings, turning them over with a spatula or tongs to coat all sides with sauce.
Return to the oven and bake until the sauce has thickened and cooked onto the wings, about 20 minutes. Cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

Cooking : Apple Cream Coffee Cake

Ingredients
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1 medium apple - peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Directions
Combine nuts, cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter; gradually add remaining sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Spread half of the batter in a well greased 10-in. tube pan with a removable bottom. Top with apple slices; sprinkle with half of the nut mixture. To with remaining batter, then with remaining nut mixture. Bake at 375 degrees F for 40 minutes or until cake tests done. Remove from oven; let stand 30 minutes. Loosen sides of cake; lift cake with removable bottom from pan. Cool. Before serving, carefully lift cake from pan.

Cooking : Barbecue Butter Beans

Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans butter beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 bacon strips, diced

Directions
In a bowl, combine the beans, brown sugar, ketchup and onion. Transfer to a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with bacon. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours.

Cooking : Barley, Shrimp, and Corn Salad

Ingredients
1 cup barley
2 1/2 cups water
1 pound cooked bay shrimp
2 cups frozen corn, thawed
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
4 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon minced lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Combine barley and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for approximately 35 minutes.
Transfer barley to a large bowl, and toss with shrimp, corn, bell peppers, green onions, thyme, and lemon zest.
In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice and oil. Season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over barley salad, and toss to combine.

Cooking : Asparagus Casserole

Ingredients
2 (8 ounce) packages whipped cream cheese
1 (11 ounce) can condensed cheese soup
2 (4 ounce) cans shrimp, drained
3 (15 ounce) cans asparagus, drained
1 (6 ounce) can French-fried onions

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a mixing bowl, blend cream cheese and cheddar cheese soup until there are no lumps. Fold in the shrimp.
Arrange the asparagus in a 9x13 inch casserole dish. They should be arranged so that the head to tail end of the asparagus are alternated. Pour the cheese and shrimp mixture over the asparagus. Use a spatula to spread the soup around evenly. Be careful not to tear asparagus. Make sure there is at least 1/2 an inch of space between the top of the ingredients and the top of casserole dish because the casserole will boil while cooking.
Bake covered in a preheated 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 35 minutes. After 35 minutes, uncover and crush fried onions on top of casserole and cook for the remaining 10 minutes uncovered.

Cooking : Amish Sugar Cookies

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Mix together vegetable oil (yes, 1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil), sugar and eggs. Mix in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, buttermilk, salt and vanilla.
Pour teaspoon-sized amounts of batter onto cookie sheets, leaving plenty of room in between. These cookies will puff up and get large.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Cooking : A Fuzzy Thing

Ingredients
2 fluid ounces vodka
1 fluid ounce triple sec liqueur
1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger peach schnapps
2 fluid ounces orange juice
2 fluid ounces pineapple juice
2 tablespoons sweet and sour mix

Directions
In a cocktail mixer full of ice, combine vodka, triple sec, schnapps, orange juice, pineapple juice and sour mix. Shake vigorously and strain into glasses.

Cooking : Best Beef Dip Ever

Ingredients
4 pounds beef chuck roast
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
3 bay leaves
1 cup soy sauce
6 cups water

Directions
Place roast in slow cooker. Season with garlic, rosemary, and bay leaves. Pour in soy sauce and water. Cook on low setting for 6 to 10 hours. Unlike most roasts, the longer the better.

Cooking : Bratwurst Stew

Ingredients
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
4 medium carrots, cut into 3/4 inch chunks
2 celery ribs, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 cups chopped cabbage
2 (15.5 ounce) cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained
5 fully cooked bratwurst links, cut into 3/4 inch slices

Directions
In a large saucepan, combine the broth, carrots, celery, onion and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the cabbage; cover and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in beans and bratwurst; heat through.

Cooking : Apple and Onion Dressing

Ingredients
7 cups soft bread cubes
1 cup raisins
3/4 cup butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
3 cups chopped Granny Smith apple
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter a 2 quart casserole dish.
Cover raisins with boiling water and let sit for 5 minutes. Drain well then toss them with the bread cubes.
In a skillet melt the butter and saute the onions, garlic, and celery for about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir the sauteed onions into the bread cube mixture. Add the diced apples, parsley, salt and paprika and stir carefully. Place stuffing mix in the prepared dish or you can alternately place it in a large roaster with your favorite uncooked meat (pork chops, turkey, chicken, etc.).
Bake the dressing at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes. If you are baking the dressing with meat cook it until the meat is completely done all the way through.

Cooking : All-Bran Cranberry Crumble Coffee Cake

Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup soft butter or margarine
2 cups fresh cranberries, finely chopped
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup Kellogg's* All-Bran* Original cereal
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/4 cup soft butter or margarine

Directions
Topping: In medium bowl, mix together sugar and flour. Using pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cranberries. Set aside.
Cake: In small bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In large mixing bowl, mix together cereal and milk. Let stand for 5 minutes or until cereal is softened. Add egg and butter; beat well. Add flour mixture, stirring only until combined.
Spread batter evenly in 23 cm (9-inch) square baking pan coated with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with cranberry topping.
Bake at 200 degrees C (400 degrees F) for about 45 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centre comes out clean. Serve warm or cold.

Cooking : All-Purpose Rub

Ingredients
4 tablespoons SPLENDA� No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
4 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespoons mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pinch dried oregano
1 pinch dried thyme

Directions
In a small bowl, combine the SPLENDA� Granulated Sweetener, salt, paprika, mustard, pepper, oregano and thyme.
To use: coat meat in mixture, and then grill as desired.

Cooking : Asian Orange Chicken

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
Pour 1 1/2 cups water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce into a saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir in the orange zest, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, chopped onion, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and cool 10 to 15 minutes.
Place the chicken pieces into a resealable plastic bag. When contents of saucepan have cooled, pour 1 cup of sauce into bag. Reserve the remaining sauce. Seal the bag, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
In another resealable plastic bag, mix the flour, salt, and pepper. Add the marinated chicken pieces, seal the bag, and shake to coat.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken into the skillet, and brown on both sides. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels, and cover with aluminum foil.
Wipe out the skillet, and add the sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Mix together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water; stir into the sauce. Reduce heat to medium low, add the chicken pieces, and simmer, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cooking : Bengali 5-Spice

Ingredients
2/3 cup cumin seeds
1/3 cup fennel seeds
1/4 cup black mustard seed
3 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons fenugreek seeds

Directions
Combine the cumin seeds, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, oregano, and fenugreek seeks in a non-stick skillet over medium heat; roast the spice mixture until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Spread the spices onto a large platter to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

Cooking : Avocado Egg Salad

Ingredients
6 avocados - peeled, pitted, and cubed
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
5 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1/2 red onion, minced
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon milk
3 hard-cooked eggs, sliced
1/2 teaspoon paprika

Directions
Toss avocado cubes with lemon juice in a serving bowl; mix avocado with chopped egg and onion. Whisk together the mayonnaise and milk; add to avocado mixture and gently mix. Arrange the remaining eggs sliced atop the salad in rows. Sprinkle top with paprika.

Cooking : Apple Chutney

Ingredients
15 tart apples - peeled, cored, and finely chopped
1 yellow onion, quartered
3 (1 inch) pieces fresh ginger root, peeled
1 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
In a saucepan, mix the apples, onion, ginger, vinegar, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, white pepper, cardamom, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until the apples are tender. Mix in some water if necessary to keep the ingredients moist. Remove the onion and ginger, and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Cooking : Addictive Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups raisins
4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
4 cups white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Grease three 12 cup muffin pans, or line with paper muffin liners. Soak raisins in hot water for ten minutes to plump, then drain.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ground cloves. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, pumpkin, and applesauce, until smooth. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly to make a smooth batter. Stir the raisins and walnuts into the batter. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cooking : Bahama-Mama Pork Chops

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks, reserve juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2/3 cup tomato-based chili sauce
1/3 cup raisins
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 pork chops
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions
In medium bowl, blend reserved pineapple juice with cornstarch; stir in pineapple, chili sauce, raisins, sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
In large skillet lightly brown chops in oil and drain. Pour pineapple mixture over chops. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until pork is cooked throughout.

Cooking : Apple Sausage Ring

Ingredients
3/4 cup milk
2 cups crushed butter-flavored crackers
1 1/2 cups chopped, peeled tart apples
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 pounds bulk pork sausage

Directions
In a large bowl, beat eggs and milk. Stir in the cracker crumbs, apples and onion. Crumble sausage over mixture and mix well. On a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray, shape pork mixture into a 9-in. ring. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F; drain.

Cooking : Apple Lasagna

Ingredients
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 (21 ounce) cans apple pie filling
8 lasagne noodles, cooked and drained
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup packed brown sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Combine Cheddar cheese, ricotta cheese, egg, white sugar, and almond extract in a medium bowl. Blend well. Spread one can apple pie filling over the bottom of a greased 9x13 inch pan. Layer with half of the noodles, and then the cheese mixture. Layer again with remaining noodles, and the second can of pie filling.
Combine flour, 6 tablespoons brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over top.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare garnish by blending sour cream and 1/3 cup brown sugar in small bowl until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate. Serve warm apple lasagna with sour cream garnish.

Cooking : Butter Cookies IV

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter
3 tablespoons cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 ounces colored candy sprinkles

Directions
Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the egg, cream and vanilla extract. Blend thoroughly (this usually works best with your hands).
Form dough into a flattened ball, wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. This mixture can keep for several days.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
Roll dough out on a floured board to about 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick. Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and decorate with different types of sprinkles.
Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 5 to 8 minutes.

Cooking : Bratwurst Snacker

Ingredients
4 King's Hawaiian� Snacker Rolls
1 pkg. (4 serving size) bratwurst sausages
1 medium onion, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 yellow pepper, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions
Preheat grill to medium-low. Place oil, peppers and onion in a foil pan and place on grill. Saute until slightly tender.
Grill brats according to package directions.
Serve brats on Snacker Rolls; top with peppers and onions.

Cooking : Brandi's Won Tons

Ingredients
2 cups shredded napa cabbage
1/2 pound ground pork
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon dry sherry
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
1 green onion, minced
36 wonton wrappers
1 egg white, beaten
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons finely shredded fresh ginger

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the napa cabbage, and cook uncovered until tender, about 1 minute. Drain in a colander, then immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the napa cabbage is cold, drain well, squeezing out any excess water, and place in a large bowl. Stir in ground pork, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, sherry, cornstarch, 1 1/2 teaspoon of minced ginger, and green onion.
Arrange half of the wonton wrappers on a large sheet of waxed paper. Brush each wrapper lightly with the egg white. Place a heaping teaspoon of the pork mixture in the center of each wrapper. Gather all 4 corners of the wonton wrapper and pinch the edges together to seal in the filling. Repeat with remaining wonton wrappers.
Bring large pot of water to a boil and drop the wontons into the boiling water. When the wontons rise to the surface, continue to cook them one minute longer. Remove with a slotted spoon as they finish cooking and place on a platter.
Dipping sauce: Mix 1/4 cup soy sauce, seasoned rice vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of shredded fresh ginger in a bowl.

Cooking : Banana Bread IV

Ingredients
5 very ripe bananas
1 cup shortening
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease 2 - 9x5 inch loaf pans. In a medium bowl, mash bananas and stir in the eggs until well blended. Set aside.
In large bowl, beat shortening and gradually add sugar. Stir in vanilla and banana mixture. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt; blend into batter. Add walnuts if desired. Divide between the prepared pans.
Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Cooking : Apricot Fold-Ups

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
8 ounces cream cheese, cold
1 cup margarine, chilled
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
2 cups apricot preserves
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons water

Directions
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Cut in the cream cheese and margarine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on the milk and vinegar. Work the dough by hand until it holds together in a ball. Divide dough into 4 pieces and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (190 degrees C).
On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough into a rectangle measuring 7 1/2x10 inches. Cut the dough into 2 1/2 inch squares. Place a 1/2 teaspoon dollop of apricot preserves onto the center of each square. Fold each corner to the center and pinch together.
Place cookies on an unprepared cookie sheet, and bake for about 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Drizzle with glaze when cool.
In a small bowl stir together 3/4 cup of confectioners' sugar with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Drizzle over the cookies.

Cooking : Blueberry Breakfast Sauce

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/3 cup water
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions
In a 2-qt. saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; gradually stir in water. Add blueberries; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Serve warm or cold over French toast, pancakes or waffles.

Cooking : Acorn Squash Slices

Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Wash squash. Cut in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membrane. Cut each half crosswise into 1/2-in. slices; discard the ends. Place slices in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with salt. Combine syrup and butter; pour over squash. Sprinkle with pecans if desired. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until tender.

Cooking : Boiled Mustard Potatoes

Ingredients
6 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 cup prepared yellow mustard, or to taste
5 large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and halved

Directions
Whisk the water, yellow mustard, and salt together in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and stir in the potatoes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain liquid, and serve.

Cooking : Breakfast Muffins

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, egg, and butter; mix until ingredients are moistened, do not overbeat. Stir in fresh fruit. Spoon batter into twelve greased muffin cups.
Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Serve warm.

Cooking : Brandied Orange and Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients
2/3 cup orange zest
2 cups water
2 cups white sugar
2/3 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 cups cranberries
1 tablespoon brandy

Directions
In a small pan over medium heat, combine the orange zest and water. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain, reserving zest and 1/3 cup liquid.
To the reserved liquid, add the sugar, orange juice and lemon juice. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes uncovered, stirring often.
Add cranberries; increase heat to medium-high and boil for about 10 minutes or until the cranberries have popped and a small spoonful of sauce sets on a cold plate.
Remove from heat, stir in brandy. Pour into 4 1/2 pint jars leaving 1/2 inch space from top. Place lids onto jars, and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Cooking : Bajadera (Bah-Ya-Deh-Ra)

Ingredients
1 cup water
2 1/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 pound animal cracker cookies (tea biscuits), crushed
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
6 ounces dark chocolate, melted

Directions
Place the water, sugar, and butter in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until the sugar and butter dissolve, about 10 minutes. Pour into a mixing bowl and cool to room temperature.
Stir the crushed animal crackers into the sugar mixture until evenly moistened; spread half the mixture into an 8x8-inch baking dish. Stir the cocoa powder into the remaining animal cracker mixture until smooth; spread into the baking dish over the lighter-colored layer. Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the bajadera.
Refrigerate overnight; cut into 16 pieces to serve.

Cooking : Best Garlic Souffle

Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 eggs, well beaten
1 cup minced garlic

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in celery soup, milk, salt and pepper. Heat, stirring, until smooth. Slowly stir in cheese and lemon juice, mixing well.
Remove from heat and stir in eggs and garlic. Mix well and pour into prepared dish.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes.