Monday, December 30, 2013

Prime Rib with Horseradish Sauce

Peanut Butter and jelly? Apple Pie and ice cream? Prime rib and horseradish? All classic and wonderful combinations. Today and tomorrow we'll think about things we would like to cook for New Years. While our family traditionally has pork, black-eye peas, slaw, collard greens, cornbread (we're Southern after all), I got to thinking what might be a great alternative to that pork. No offense to pork, I eat a lot of it but just to mix it up a bit, this prime rib and horseradish would be a killer alternative.

Ingredients for Prime Rib:
· 1 bone-in beef rib roast (4-6 pounds)
· 1 tablespoon olive oil
· 1-2 teaspoons coarse ground pepper

Ingredients for Horseradish Sauce:
· 1 cup sour cream
· 3-4 tablespoons prepared horseradish
· 1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
· 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
1. Brush roast with oil and rub with pepper.
2. Place roast, fat side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake uncovered at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
3. Reduce heat to 325 degrees. Bake for 2 hours and 30-45 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness. For medium rare, a meat thermometer should read 145 degrees; medium 160 degrees; well-done 170 degrees. Baste with pan drippings every 30 minutes.
4. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients. Serve with beef.

Friday, December 27, 2013

"Crack"- er Toffee

Ingredients:
· 4 ounces saltine crackers (about 36 crackers)
· 1 cup butter
· 1 cup dark brown sugar
· 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
· 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line cookie sheet (with sides) with foil and spray the foil with cooking spray. Lay the saltine crackers in single layer.
3. In a saucepan combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top.
5. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate and top with chopped nuts.
6. Cool completely and break into pieces.




Thursday, December 26, 2013

Cranberry Meatballs

Ingredients:
· 1 can (14 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce
· 1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce
· 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
· 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
· 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
· 1 package (32 ounces) frozen fully cooked meatballs, thawed

Directions:
In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the first five ingredients; stir until sugar is dissolved.
Add meatballs; cook for 20-25 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Overnight French Toast

Ingredients:
· ½ cup butter, melted
· 1 cup brown sugar
· 1 teaspoon cinnamon
· 12 slices French bread, sliced thin
· 3 eggs
· ½ teaspoon salt
· 1 ½ cups milk
· Garnish: syrup and powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Mix butter, brown sugar and cinnamon together and pour in the bottom of a greased 9x13 inch pan.
2. Add two thicknesses of bread over mixture.
3. Beat eggs, salt and milk together. Pour over the bread.
4. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
5. Bake 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, covered with foil. Bake uncovered for the last 10 minutes.
6. Invert on serving platter immediately.
7. If desired, serve with syrup and garnish with powdered sugar.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Cheesy Ham and Grits Casserole

Ingredients:
· 3 cups milk
· ¾ teaspoon salt
· ¾ cup grits
· ¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)
· 8 large eggs
· 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
· 2 cups diced ham

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine milk and salt and bring to a boil.
3. Pour in grits and stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium and continue stirring until grits begin to thicken. Add butter and stir to melt.
4. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs together. Add cheese, ham and grits. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
5. This can be cooked the night before, cooled and put in the refrigerator overnight, covered tightly. When ready to serve, bring the casserole to room temperature and then bake for 20 minutes on 350 degrees (still covered in foil).

Friday, December 20, 2013

Coconut Custard Pie

Ingredients:
· 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted
· 2 eggs, beaten
· 1 tablespoon flour
· ¾ cup sugar
· 1 teaspoon vanilla
· 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
· 1 cup milk
· 1 9-inch unbaked pie shell

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine butter, eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla, coconut and milk. Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell.
3. Bake until firm about 45 to 60 minutes.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Lemon Pepper Green Beans

Ingredients:
· 1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed
· 2 tablespoon butter
· ¼ cup sliced almonds
· 2 teaspoons lemon pepper or to taste

Directions:
1. Place green beans in a steamer or saucepan over 1 inch of boiling water. Cover and cook until tender but still firm or desired doneness. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté almonds until lightly browned. Season with lemon pepper. Stir mixture into the green beans and toss to coat.
3. Serve immediately.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Squash Casserole

Ingredients:
· 6 cups large diced yellow squash
· Vegetable oil
· 1 large onion, chopped
· 4 tablespoons butter
· 1/2 cup sour cream
· ½ teaspoon salt
· ½ teaspoon pepper
· 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
· 1 cup crushed butter crackers (recommended: Ritz)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sauté the squash in a little vegetable oil over medium-low heat until it is completely soft, about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Line a colander with a clean tea towel. Place the cooked squash in the lined colander. Squeeze excess moisture from the squash. Set aside.
4. In a medium size skillet, sauté the onion in butter for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and mix all ingredients together except cracker crumbs. Pour mixture into a buttered casserole dish and top with cracker crumbs.
5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Cranberry Glazed Pork Loin

Ingredients:
· 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
· 1 cup apple jelly
· 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
· 4 cubes chicken bouillon, crushed
· 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
· 2 teaspoons garlic powder
· 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
· 1 (4-pound) pork loin roast
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, apple jelly, mustard, crushed bouillon, horseradish, garlic powder and thyme and bring to a boil.
3. Line a large baking pan with foil. Place pork loin in pan, fat side up. Sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Using a pastry brush completely coat the pork with the cranberry mixture.
4. Cook approximately 45 minutes or until pork is no longer pink in the center and registers 145 degrees on a meat thermometer placed in the center of the roast. Baste every 10 minutes with remaining sauce.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Pound Cake Challenge: Oreo Cookie Pound Cake

Ingredients:
· 1 1/4 cups butter, softened
· 3 cups sugar
· 6 large eggs
· 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
· 3 cups all-purpose flour
· 1 cup heavy whipping cream
· 25 Oreo cookies, crushed
· 2 cups powdered sugar
· 3 Tablespoons whole milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan or Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
Gradually add flour alternately with cream, beginning, and ending with flour, beating until just combined after each addition.
Spoon half of batter into prepared pan. Top evenly with half of crushed cookies; spoon remaining batter over cookies. Top with remaining crushed cookies.
Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cooled cake and garnish with cookie crumbs.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Sparkling Jam Thumbprints

Ingredients:
· 1 cup butter
· ¾ cup white sugar
· ½ teaspoon vanilla
· 1 egg
· 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
· ¼ teaspoon baking soda
· 1/3 cup raw sugar
· ½ cup jam, can use apricot, strawberry, raspberry

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat together butter and white sugar at medium speed with a mixer until creamy. Add vanilla and egg; beat until combined.
Beat in flour and baking soda until combined. Pat dough into a disk. Cover in plastic wrap and chill for 3 hours or until firm.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a shallow bowl, place raw sugar.
Using hands, shape dough into tablespoon-size balls and roll in raw sugar. Place on prepared baking sheets. Using the handle of a spoon or your finger, make an indentation in the center of each cookie and fill with 2 teaspoons jam.
Bake for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Peppermint Cookies

Ingredients:
· 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
· ¾ cup baking cocoa
· ½ teaspoon baking soda
· ½ teaspoon salt
· 1 cup butter, softened
· 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
· ½ cup white sugar
· 2 large eggs, room temperature
· 1 teaspoon vanilla
· 1 package (10-ounce) Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips
· ½ bag semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Beat together butter, brown sugar and white sugar in medium speed with a hand mixer. Add eggs one at time, mixing after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
Add flour mixture slowly as mixture will become very thick. Stir in peppermint chips and chocolate chunks.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart on ungreased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for about 2 minutes then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Store in air tight container.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Toffee Blondies in a Jar

Ingredients:
· 1 cup packed brown sugar
· ½ cup miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
· 1 cup all-purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
· ¼ teaspoon salt
· ¾ cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
· ½ cup toffee pieces or butterscotch-flavored pieces

Directions:
1. In a quart glass jar, layer brown sugar, chocolate pieces, flour, baking powder, salt, nuts and toffee pieces.
2. Fasten lid tightly and attach directions (see below) for making bars to the jar.

Baking Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8x2-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, combine ¼ cup butter, 2 slightly beaten eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in jar contents. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until set and golden brown and edges just begin to pull away from pan. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.



Thursday, December 5, 2013

Pound Cake Challenge Week 14: Eggnog Pound Cake

Ingredients for Cake:
· ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
· 2 tablespoons water
· 1 cup butter, room temperature
· 2 cups sugar
· 3 large eggs, room temperature
· 3 cups all-purpose flour
· 2 teaspoons baking powder
· ¼ teaspoon salt
· 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
· 1 cup eggnog
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 1 tablespoon grated orange zest

Ingredients for Glaze:
· 3 tablespoons orange juice
· ¾ cup white sugar

Directions:
Soak raisins or dried cranberries in water for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 10-inch bundt or tube pan.
Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
Mix together eggnog and vanilla.
At a low speed, add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 4 additions, alternately with eggnog. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Gently fold in orange zest, raisins and remaining water.
Spoon batter into pan, spread evenly. Bake 55-65 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the thickest part of cake comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool upright on a rack for 10 minutes.
Prepare glaze by mixing together orange juice and sugar.
Invert cake onto a rack, over a sheet of waxed paper. Use a pastry brush to brush the surface of the cake with the glaze. Cool completely before serving.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Herbed Cheese Spread

Ingredients:
· 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
· 1 (8 ounce) package feta cheese, softened
· ½ cup butter, softened
· 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
· 2 teaspoons fresh chives
· 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
· 2 teaspoons lemon zest
· 1 teaspoon pepper
· 1 teaspoons salt
· 1 tablespoon minced garlic
· Garnish: fresh rosemary sprigs, dried cranberries

Directions:
1. Beat together all ingredients at medium speed with an electric 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth.
2. Line 2 (10 ounce) ramekins with plastic wrap, extending edges over sides. Spoon cheese mixture into ramekins. Cover and chill 24 hours.
3. Invert cheeses onto serving dishes and garnish.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Smokey Sweet BBQ Rub

All this week I'll be presenting recipes that will be great as Christmas gifts! Perfect for teachers, neighbors, co-workers, or just anyone special on your gift list. Today's recipe would be great for those fellas who sometimes aren't the easiest ones to buy for. This rub is especially good with any kind of pork, especially ribs.

Ingredients:
· ¼ cup salt
· ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
· 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons paprika
· 2 tablespoons white sugar
· 2 teaspoons garlic powder
· 2 teaspoons pepper
· 1 teaspoon dry mustard
· 1 teaspoons ground cumin
· 1 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:
Stir together all ingredients. Store in an airtight container up to 1 month.