Sunday, September 11, 2011

Cooking : Baked Pork Chops with Apple Raisin Stuffing

Ingredients
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 tablespoons raisins
4 cups Pepperidge Farm� Herb Seasoned Stuffing
4 boneless pork chops, 3/4-inch thick
paprika or ground cinnamon
apple slices for garnish

Directions
Mix applesauce, water, margarine, celery and raisins. Add stuffing. Mix lightly. Spoon into 2-quart shallow baking dish. Arrange chops over stuffing. Sprinkle paprika over chops.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 35 minutes or until chops are no longer pink. Garnish with apple slices.

Cooking : Apricot Brandy and Peach Schnapps Pound Cake

Ingredients
3 cups white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup apricot brandy
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup peach schnapps
1 cup water
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup apricot preserves
1/2 cup apricot brandy
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup almonds

Directions
Butter and flour one angle food tube cake pan. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar for 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time. Beat well. Sift flour with soda and salt; add sour cream and brandy ending with flour. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
Prepare the syrup in a sauce pan by combining the sugar, peach flavored liqueur, water and lemon zest. Boil for 1 minute.
Turn cake out onto plate and punch holes in bottom of cake with ice pick or something similar. Slowly pour all of syrup into holes until cake is penetrated and syrup is absorbed. Immediately turn cake right side up onto serving plate.
Prepare the topping/glaze by combining the apricot preserves, apricot brandy and lemon zest in a sauce pan and boiling for 1 minute. Drizzle over top of cake. Place sliced almonds on top of glaze along with a little lemon zest if desired.
Serve the cake with sliced fresh peaches and coat with 1/2 cup citrus juice. Add one basket blueberries and mix together. Pour 1/2 cup peach flavored liqueur and 1/2 cup simple syrup over fruit. (simple syrup made from 1/2 cup sugar boiled in 1 cup water for 1 minute and cooled)

Cooking : Banana Apple Muffins

Ingredients
3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup grated peeled tart apple
1/4 cup mashed ripe banana

Directions
In a bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, beat the egg, milk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apple and banana. Fill greased muffin cups about three-fourths full.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Cooking : Bean and Beef Shaloupias

Ingredients
1 pound pinto beans, boiled according to package directions
2 cubes beef bouillon
water to cover
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 onion, diced
10 (6 inch) corn tortillas
3 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese

Directions
In slow cooker, combine boiled pinto beans with bouillon cubes and enough water to almost fill cooker. Let simmer on Low setting for 8 hours.
In a large skillet, brown beef with salt, pepper and onion. Drain well and set aside.
Assemble as follows: Top each tortilla with beef mixture, cheese and a ladel of beans with juice from slow cooker. Top with preferred garnishes as desired and serve.

Cooking : Breaded chicken with Avocado

Ingredients
3 tablespoons cornmeal
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon water
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
4 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 slices avocado
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sliced green onion

Directions
In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the cornmeal, cornstarch, garlic salt and cumin. in a shallow bowl, beat the egg and water. Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness; dip into egg mixture, then place in the bag and shake to coat.
In a large skillet, heat oil. Cook chicken for 4 minutes on each side. Top with cheese and avocado; cover and cook until chicken juices run clear and cheese is melted. Garnish with sour cream and onion.