Cranberry Bliss Bars

 This is the time of year that Starbuck's releases its Cranberry Bliss bars.  What better bar to bake up for the Thanksgiving holiday?  This batch will be going to my sweetheart's Friendsgiving celebration at work tomorrow.  This recipe comes directly from the website dreamsandcoffee.com

Ingredients
• Bars:
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1-2 teaspoons orange zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup Craisins
• Frosting and Topping:
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup Craisins
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Mix melted butter and brown sugar over medium speed with an electric mixer. Add in eggs, orange zest, and vanilla extract and beat until mixed well. Add in ground ginger, baking powder, salt, and flour, mixing until just blended.
3. Mix in white chocolate chips and Craisins.
4. Spread evenly into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes until set and golden brown at the edges. Avoid over-baking - it will make the bars hard! Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool. Allow bars to cool entirely before topping with frosting.
5. To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add orange zest and vanilla extract and mix well. Top cooled bars with frosting. Sprinkle with Craisins and drizzle white chocolate over the top with a fork.
6. For best results, place bars in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour to help them set before cutting. Slice into triangles and enjoy!
7. Note: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
T

Pecan Pie Bars

 This time of year many people host a Friendsgiving.  These bars are a perfect addition to such a feast.  They work great as a dessert and are easy to hand out for friends or coworkers to take home and enjoy later too.  I found this recipe on greatgrubdelicioustreats.com.

 Shortbread Crust

2 cups all purpose flour
  1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 c. cold butter


Mix flour and brown sugar in a bowl.  Cut the butter into cubes and using a pastry blender mix the butter in until it is like course crumbs.  Pack this mixture into the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking pan.
 Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Turn oven down to 275 degrees.

 
Pecan Pie Topping
 
5 eggs
 1 cup dark corn syrup
 ⅔ cup sugar
 1 tsp vanilla
 ⅛ tsp salt
 2 cups chopped pecan
 
Beat eggs, corn syrup , sugar, vanilla and salt together.  Mix in the nuts. Pour over bake crust.  Put into 275 degree oven and bake 50 minutes.

Crispy Rice Salad

 This is a great little dish to use with some teriyaki chicken, bulgogi chicken or just on its own.  The original recipe was published in Dominique’s Kitchen.  This is a wonderful cookbook that I urge you to explore.

3 c. Cooked jasmine rice

2 T. Coconut oil

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 c. Chopped peanuts

1/4 red onion, sliced thin

Chopped cilantro

For the dressing:

3T. Lime juice

“2 T. Brown sugar

1 1/2 T. Fish sauce

Sprinkle red chili flakes

2T. Soy sauce

Heat oil in skillet and add rice.  Smash rice down into one large thin circle/pancake shape. Cool over medium heat 5 minutes or until browned. Flip and cook the other side for 5 minutes.  Before serving drizzle on dressing, onions, cilantro and peanuts.

Zucchini Meatloaf

It's that time of year that zucchinis are in abundance in gardens here in the Pacific Northwest.  I am always looking for new ways to use up some of that zucchini.  This meatloaf is moist and delicious, and a great main dish.  Leftovers also make great meatloaf sandwiches for lunch.  If you want to use this recipe and roll the meat into meatballs for another tasty and healthy spin.  Great way to sneak those veggies in on your kiddos.

 For the meatloaf mix together:

• 1 cup zucchini, grated
• 1lb lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs, plain
• 1 t. worchestershire sauce 
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
•  
• Bake in a greased baking dish for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.  Mix up the toppings, spread over the top and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. 
• TOPPING:
• 1 Tbsp ketchup
• 1/4 tsp mustard
• 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
•  
•  

 

Mediterranean Lentil soup

 This is a nice hearty, fiber rich soup.  It goes great with a side of bread.  The recipe comes from Eating Well.

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 ½ cups chopped yellow onions
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons no-salt-added tomato paste
• 4 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed
  
  
• 1 cup mixed dry lentils (brown, green and black)
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
• 1 ½ teaspoons red-wine vinegar

Heat oil in a large pot.  Add carrots and onions and saute for 5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook another 3 minutes.  Add tomato paste, stir in well then add all remaining ingredients except the dill and vinegar.  Cover and simmer 30-40 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and serve.

•

Directions

Instructions Checklist

• Step 1

  Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onions and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is evenly coated, about 1 minute.

Honey Oatmeal Bread

 Who doesn't love the smell of bread baking?  Today is a rainy day here in the Pacific Northwest, so I am cooking up a big pot of lentil soup and this delightful bread.  This recipe comes from the blog, Britney breaks bread.   Perfect winter dinner.  I will also be posting the Mediterranean lentil soup recipe.  Try it and give me your feedback.

 Honey Oat Bread

In a large bowl mix:

5 c. bread flour

3 c. lukewarm water

1 1/2 c. rolled oats

3 T. honey

2 t. salt

2 t, yeast

Mix well then cover and allow to just sit for 30 minutes.  Knead for 5 minutes, cover and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.  After this time, take the dough and stretch from each side to the middle.  Cover and allow to rise for an hour.

 Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and place the dough into the pan.  Melt a little honey and brush on top, then sprinkle with some oats.  Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes to one hour.

Baked Gingerbread Donuts

 These are a nice festive treat for the holiday time of year..or any other time you feel like them! They have a nice light sugary topping and spicy flavor.  You do need a donut pan for these.  I got mine at a local kitchen store but they are available at Amazon.  This makes about 8 donuts.

For the doughnuts:

• 1 1/4 cup (156 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup (50 g) brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk (whole or low-fat)
• 3 tablespoons fat-free Greek yogurt

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• 1/3 cup (66 g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 cup (56 g)melted butter (optional)
• 
  
• In one bowl whip together the butter, egg, molasses and sugar.  Then whip in the milk and yogurt.
• 
  
• In another bowl mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cloves, allspice, ginger and cinnamon.   Then pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir until smooth.
• 
  
• Spray donut pan with cooking spray and fill with batter.  Bake at 350 for 13 minutes.
• 
  
• Stir together the coating-sugar, cinnamon and ginger. When the donuts come out you can just sprinkle them with the sugar mixture or dip the donuts in the butter and then sprinkle with the sugar mixture.
  

Jammy Dodgers

These are a British cookie, made a bit more holidayish by using small christmas cookie cutters for the centers.  You can choose whatever type of jam you would like for the middle.  I had some homemade 3 berry jam and it was great in these.

Ingredients for the cookies

• 250g (1 cup) butter, at room temperature
• 200g (1 cup) sugar
• 1 egg
• 500g (2 cups) plain flour
  
  
  
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• jam 
• powdered sugar
  

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Then beat in egg until well mixed.  Mix together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt.  Add to creamed egg mixture slowly.  The dough will be stiff.  Form into a ball and wrap in Saran wrap.  Refrigerate for one hour.  Roll out dough to about 1/4" thick.  Cut circles.   Put on parchment lined baking sheets.  Using small cookie cutters, cut out a shape from the middle of half of the cut circles.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-1l minutes.  Spread about a teaspoon of jam onto the whole circle then top with a circle with the cut out shape.  Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Asian Noodle Bowl

This is a light easy meal that can be made with or without the meat successfully.  It comes together very quickly with a minimum of prep.

8 oz. soba noodles

2 T. canola oil

1 bunch green onions, sliced

1/2 T. ginger

1/2# chicken breast, cut into cubes

1/2# broccoli florets

1/2# sliced mushrooms

1 red pepper, cut into strips

2 c. sugar snap peas

1/4 c. soy sauce

1 t. sesame oil

Put enough water in a saucepan to cover noodles, bring water to boil, add noodles and cook 4 minutes. Drain.

In a large frying pan heat oil and add chicken.  Cook for 5 minutes on medium heat.  Add all the vegetables and cook until crisp, about 5-10 minutes.  Stir in soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil.  Stir in noodles and serve.

Broccoli chicken cheesy casserole

This dish can be made in an 8” x 8” baking dish, or in individual ramekins.  It is topped with a sprinkle of bread crumbs for a nic crunch.

3 c. Cooked rice- for more flavor cook in broth
2 c. Broccoli
1/2 c. Chopped onion
2 carrots, diced
1 t. Thyme
2 c. Shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c. Half and half
1 slice bread
1 T. Butter
1T. Olive oil
1 chicken breast, cut into cubes

Heat oil in a skillet.  Add onion, carrot and broccoli and cook until tender.  Add chicken cubes and sauté for 10 minutes.  Stir in thyme.  Then add half and half, cheese and rice.  Mix well.  Place in baking dish.  With a food processor grind bread into bread crumbs then add butter and mix .  Sprinkle crumbs on top of the casserole.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

15 minute garlic chicken bites

This recipe really does come together quickly.  I served it with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli for a wonderful little dinner.

4 chicken tenders, cut into cubes
1/4 c. Flour
1 1/2 t. Italian seasoning
4 T. Butter
1 T. Olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2T. Chopped parsley

Mix flour, Italian seasoning and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.  Stir chicken and flour mixture together until there is no loose flour left.  Heat olive oil And 2 T. Butter in a skillet then add chicken.  Cook 5 minutes, then turn and cook 3-4 minutes mote.  Add in garlic, parsley and 2 T. Butter.  Cook an additional several minutes.

Gnocchi with white beans and spinach

This is a light, quick to fix meal with just a few ingredients.

1 pkg. gnocchi
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can canellini beans
1 or 2 c. Spinach (more or less depending what you like)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. Chopped onion
Shredded Parmesan cheese to taste
1 T. Basil
2 T. Olive oil

Heat oil in a large skillet.  Add onion and garlic and cook 5 minutes on medium heat.  Add spinach and cook 3 minutes.  Add gnocchi and cook until lightly browned.  Stir in tomatoes, beans and basil.  Heat for 5 -10 minutes.  Serve with a sprinkling of cheese.

Vegetarian Mexican Casserole

This is a great dinner for those nights you want to skip the meat.  Serve it with salad or just some chips.

1 c. Quinoa
2 c. Water
1 c. Frozen corn, defrosted
1/2 c. Onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 T. Olive oil
1 t. Cumin
2 t. Chili powder
1/2 t. Garlic salt
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes
1 c. Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
1 c. Salsa
1 c. Guacamole or sliced avocado
Put onion, sweet potato, and red pepper on a cooky sheet lined with parchment paper.  Sprinkle with olive oil and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Ham and Asparagus Carbonara

This is a lovely dish served with a bread crumb topping and sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.  The recipe makes about 6 cups, but you could 1/2 it for less people.

For the topping:

3/4 c. fresh bread crumbs(just put a little bread in a food processor and grind it)

1 T. olive oil

1/4 c. minced parsley

1 T. lemon zest

Heat oil in skillet, add other ingredients and cook until golden.  Set aside.

For the carbonara cook:

8 oz. spaghetti

1 1/2 c. asparagus, sliced into piece

Fill a large saucepan with water, bring to boil.  Add spaghetti and cook 10 minutes.  Add asparagus and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.  Save 1/4 c. of the pasta water.  Drain.

For the carbonara sauce:

2 eggs

3/4 c. Parmesan cheese

1/3 c. heavy cream

Beat eggs well.  Then beat in cream.  Mix in cheese. 

other ingredients:

2 T. olive oil

1/3 c. minced onion

1 T. minced garlic

2 c. diced ham

1/4 c. white wine

After browning the bread crumbs aand removing from skillet, add oil, onion, garlic and ham to skillet.  Cook over medium heat about 7 minutes.  Add wine and allow to reduce.  Mix in hot cooked spaghetti and asparagus.  Take off heat.  Stir in sauce ingredients off the heat.  Stir in pasta water.  Continue to stir until sauce thickens slightly.

Serve in a bowl with a sprinkling of bread crumbs and some parmesan cheese on top.

Meatball Stroganoff

This makes a nice meal with just a pound of beef that could feed two with plenty of leftovers or 4 with a good side.  The sauce is rich and delicious.

For the meatballs

1#ground beef

1 c. bread crumbs

1 egg

Mix these ingredients together.  Form into meatballs, place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  If you put a silicon pat, aluminum foil or parchment paper on your baking sheet you will have very little clean up for this part. While the meatballs are baking make the sauce.

1/2 c. diced onion

2 c. sliced mushrooms

1 T. olive oil

1/2 t. paprika

1/4 c. white wine

2 T. flour

juice from 1/2 lemon

2 c. vegetable broth

2 T. stone ground mustard

1/2 c. sour cream

1 T. dill

2 T. parsley

 Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan.  Add onion and mushrooms and cook for 10 minutes.  Stir in the flour.  Add in the wine and let simmer until it reduces. Add broth, lemon juice and mustard.  Simmer for about 10 minutes, until it thickens and reduces.  Stir in the dill and sour cream.   Then stir in the cooked meatballs.  Sprinkle with parsley.

Cook about 2 c. dry egg noodles in boiling water for about 10 minutes.  Drain.

Serve the meatballs and sauce over the egg noodles.

Pork Chops With Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

This is a comfort food dinner..we seem to be having a lot more of these type of meals during our COVID time at home.  This makes enough for 4 or 2 with leftovers.

4 potatoes, peeled and sliced very thin
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 t. thyme
1 T. parsley
1 1/4 c. milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 boneless pork chops
1 c. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Spray and 11" x 8" baking dish with cooking spray.  Put all the potatoes into the dish.  Top with onion.  Set pork chops on top.  Mix together the milk, soup, thyme and cheese.  Pour over the ingredients in the baking dish.  Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake another 30 minutes.  Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Peanut Butter Brownies

These are a delicious chocolate brownie swirled with peanut butter then topped with chocolate frosting.   The recipe makes a 13" x 9" pan but can easily be halved for a smaller amount. 

For the chocolate brownie:
Beat together until creamy:
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. butter
Then beat in
2 t. vanilla
Beat in 4 eggs one at a time.  Add to bowl
3/4 c. cocoa
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 c. flour
Beat slowly at first then beat on higher speed to mix well.  Stir in
1 c. chocolate or peanut butter chips.

For the peanut butter layer:
Beat together until creamy:
3/4 c. peanut butter
1/3 c. butter
1/3 c. sugar
Then beat in
2 eggs
Beat in  3/4 t. vanilla
2 eggs
Beat until well mixed

Spray a 13" x 9" baking dish with cooking spray.  Spread half of the chocolate batter in the pan.
Then top that layer with all of the peanut butter mixture, spreading to cover the chocolate layer.
Next, top the peanut butter layer with the remaining chocolate dough.  Using a knife, cut through the layers horizontally and then vertically to marble.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Allow to cool before frosting.

Frosting
3 oz. chocolate, melted
3  T. butter
2 2/3 c. powdered sugar
3/4 t. vanilla
4-5 T. water or milk
Beat all ingredients well.  Frost on brownies when cool.

French Chicken and Potatoes

Now that I am home everyday with plenty of time to cook dinner, it is a joy to get to try out some of the recipes that take a bit more time.  This recipe has about a 20 minute prep time and an hour baking in the oven.  The recipe is a delicious way to spend time in your kitchen.

For the creamy chicken sauce:

2 T. Butter
2T. Flour
2 T. Milk
1/2 c. Chicken stock
Pinch of thyme
Melt butter in a saucepan.  Stir in the flour, then sir in the milk.  Gradually stir in stock and thyme.  Cook over medium heat until it thickens.  Take off heat.

2 T. Olive oil
4 chicken thighs
Brown chicken in oil until lightly browned on both sides.  Remove chicken from pan.
To the pan add:

2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 c. Onion, sliced
 Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes.  Then add

1/2 c. White wine
Cook another 3 minutes.  Then add in:

3 carrots cut in large pieces
6-8 small potatoes
Creamy chicken sauce
1/2 c. Water
1 c. Chicken stock
2 rosemary sprigs
2 sprigs thyme
1/4 c. Dijon mustard
Stir well.  Add chicken back into the pot.  Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.  Uncover and coo for another 30 minutes.

Alton Brown’S Guacamole

This is the best guacamole recipe I have tried. Perfect with chips and a margarita!

3 avocados
1T. Lime juice
1/2 t. Cumin
1/4 t. Salt
1/4 t. Cayenne powder
1/4 c. Diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 c. Diced tomatoes
1 jalapeño diced

In a bowl with a fork mash avocados.  Mix in lime juice and spices.  Stir in onion, garlic, tomatoes and jalapeño. Serve and enjoy!

Homemade Soft Pretzels

I found this recipe in a teen magazine long ago.  It has been a favorite with everyone I have made it for.  I am going to walk you through this step by step.  You can do this!  And the results are sooo good.

2 c. milk
1/2 c. lukewarm water
1 pkg. yeast
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 t. vegetable oil
1 1/2 t. salt

Step one:
Scald milk, pour into a bowl and cool to lukewarm.  Then mix in the water and yeast.  Using a whisk, mix together until yeast is dissolved.  Then whisk in remaining ingredients.

Step two:
3 c. flour
Whisk the flour into the yeast liquid.  Cover and put in a warm place to rise for 45 minutes.

Step three:
3 c. flour
3/4 t. baking powder
Stir batter, then add in flour and baking powder.  It should be a stiff dough.  Flour a surface and turn the dough out onto the flour.  Knead 5 minutes.

 Step four:
Roll out into a 10" x 16" rectangle.   With a sharp knife cut into 16 strips about 1" wide, lengthwise.

Step five:
With the palms of your hand, roll a strip back and forth.  It will stretch in length.


Form into a U shape.

Cross the ends then twist around each other.

Tuck ends under outside edge of the pretzel.

Let rise uncovered for 30 minutes in a warm place.

Step six: Heat 8 cups of water and 3 T. salt to boiling in a large pan.  Using a slotted spatula drop one of the pretzel into the water for 3 seconds.  Lift out and tilt to drain off excess water.  Place on a well greased baking pan.

Step seven:  Beat one egg with one T. water.  Brush on top of egg and sprinkle with salt--the coarse type of salt is the best...like kosher.  Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.