an apple pie just for Robert and me

Easy Apple Pie Foldover
When you don't want to bake a big pie, make a four-serving foldover that's every bit as scrumptious!
Prep Time: 25 Min
Total Time: 1 Hr 15 Min
Makes: 4
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples (1 1/2 medium)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts
1 egg

DIRECTIONS:

* In 2-quart saucepan, mix apples, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of the water and the lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender.
* In small bowl, mix flour, granulated sugar and salt. Gradually stir into apple mixture, cooking and stirring until mixture thickens. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Cool 15 minutes.
* Meanwhile, heat oven to 375°F. Let pie crust pouch stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
* Remove pie crust from pouch; unroll crust on ungreased cookie sheet. Spoon cooled fruit mixture evenly onto half of crust to within 1/2 inch of edge.
* In small bowl, beat egg and 1 tablespoon water; brush over edge of crust. Fold untopped half of crust over apple mixture; firmly press edge to seal. Flute edge; cut small slits in several places in top crust. Brush top with remaining egg mixture.
* Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Serve warm or cool.

Stuffed Peppers

6 medium bell peppers
2 cups cooked rice
1 lb. browned ground beef
1 onion chopped fine
1 can sloppy Joe mix

wash peppers and remove seeds. Cut each pepper into half lengthwise or stuff whole. boil in clear water 5 minutes. Remove and cool. Mix beef, rice and 1/2 can sloppy joe mix. Stuff mixture into each pepper half. Place into baking dish. Any remaining rice mixture can be spooned around the peppers in the dish. Mix remaining 1/2can sloppy joe mix with 1/2 can water. Pour over peppers. Bake for 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Sprinkle with shredded cheese for the last minute or two of baking.
Freeze already cooked without any trouble.

Italian Cream Cake With Buttercream Frosting

Italian Cream Cake Recipe

Ingredients You Will Need:
½ cup shortening

1/2 cup oil (I think you might be able to skip this but I didn't)
½ cup butter
2 cups sugar
5 eggs, separated
1 cup buttermilk-use real, not lowfat, and definitely not the powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups shredded coconut (or one small can)
1 cup chopped pecans (toasting is optional)
¼ teaspoon cream of tarter

Italian Cream Cake Frosting Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 package of cream cheese (8 ounces)
4 cups powdered sugar
¾ teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Beat the shortening, butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Add the egg yolks and beat again. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the egg whites and cream of tarter, alternating between the buttermilk and the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, take the egg whites and cream of tarter and blend together. Fold the egg white and cream of tarter mixture into the rest of the ingredients.

Pour the ingredients into a greased baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool for about ten minutes once finished.

Italian Cream Cake Frosting
Combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract with an electric mixture. Stir in the pecans last. Frost the cake with your homemade icing and sprinkle a few coconut flakes and pecans on top of the cake for decoration.

3 kinds of chocolate chippers

Brad Rauscher called me tonight to ask about chocolate chip cookies. His were turning out flat and he wanted fluffy. I sent him the following:
The Chewy Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Recipe Summary
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Chill the dough, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.


The Thin Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Recipe Summary
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
2 ounces milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Combine the egg, milk, and vanilla and bring to room temperature in another bowl.
Cream the butter in the mixer's work bowl, starting on low speed to soften the butter. Add the sugars. Increase the speed, and cream the mixture until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed and add the egg mixture slowly. Increase the speed and mix until well combined.
Slowly add the flour mixture, scraping the sides of the bowl until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for more even browning.
Remove the cookies from the pans immediately. Once cooled, store in an airtight container.


The Puffy Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Recipe Summary
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies

1 cup butter-flavored shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the shortening, sugar, and brown sugar in the mixer's work bowl, and cream until light and fluffy. In the meantime, sift together the cake flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside.
Add the eggs 1 at a time to the creamed mixture. Then add vanilla. Increase the speed until thoroughly incorporated.
With the mixer set to low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the shortening and combine well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough. Scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 per sheet. Bake for 13 minutes or until golden brown and puffy, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool and store in an airtight-container.

Source(s):

FoodNetwork

quick and crunch breaded Pork chops

	1 5 oz box melba toast, crused coarse OR PANKO BREAD CRUMBS salt/pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoons minced fresh or 1/2 t. dried thyme 1/8 teaspoon sugar 6 Tbs mayonnaise 4 boneless pork chops, 1" thick 1 Heat oven to 425° and adjust rack to middle position 2 prepare crumb coating: mix the crumbsk salt, garlic and onionj powderk paprika, thyme, and sugar in shallow dish. Add 2 T. of mayo and work evenly into crumbs 3 Season and coat chops: Pat chops dry with paper towel and season with salt/pepper. cover chops completelyl with remaining 1/4 cup mayo and dredge thoroughly with crumbs including sides. Press on crumbs to make sure they adnere. Transfer breaded chops to wire rack set on rimmed baking sheet. 4 Bake Pork Chops: Bake chops until coating is golden brown and center of chops register 140° on instant-read thermomenter, 18-22 minutes. Remove chops from oven and let rest on rack until center of chops reach 150°° before serving, 5-10 minutes

Pan Roasted Chicken Breasts with Potatoes (and baby carrots, if desired)

	from The best 30-minute Recipe...cook's illustrated. 4 chicken breasts salt and ground black pepper 6 tbs olive oil 1-1/2 pounds red potatoes, cut into 1" wedges (I added baby carrots) 2 Tbs fresh lemon juice 1 clove garlic 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme pinch red pepper flakes 1 Heat oven to 450°. adjust rack to the lowest position. 2 season and brown chicken; Pat chicken dry with paper towels and seasonj with salt and poepper. Heat 1 T of oil in 12" nonstick skillet over med-hi heat til just smoking. Brown chicken well 5 minutes. While chicken browns cut up the potatoes 3 microwave potatoes: meanwhile toss the potatoes with 1 T oil, 1/2 t. salt, 1/4 t. pepper in microwave-safe bowl, covered tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave on high until potatoes begin to soften, 5-7 minutes, shaking bowl (without removing plastic) to toss potatoes halfway through 4 Bake chicken: transfer chicken, to baking dish and bake until thickest part registers 160 degrees on instant-read thermoments, 15-20 minutes. 5 Brown Potatoes: While chicken bakes, pour off any grease ijn skillet, add 1 T of oil, and return to midium heat until shimmering. Drain microwaved potatoes, then add to skillet and cook, stirring occasionaloly, until golden brown and tender, about 10 minutes. 6 Make Drizzling Oil: Whisk remaining 3 T. oil, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes together. Drizzle oil over chicken and potatoes before serving. Cooking Tips Preheat oven before assembling your ingredients. If the split breasts are of different sizes, check the smaller ones a few minutes early to see if they are cooking more quickly, and remove them from the oven if they are done.

Philly Steak Wraps

I was hankering for soemthing new today. As luck would have it, this simple recipe has ingredients that I buy regularly.  YUMMY!

1 T beef bouillion granules
1/2 c. water
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1/8  t ground black pepper
1 boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut 1 inch thick (1 pound)
1 small green bell pepper, cut into 1/4 strips
1 small onion cut into 1/3 inch slices
veggie oil
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
4 (9-10 inch) flour totillas

1. Combine the boulliuon granules, water, garlic, black pepper in a bowl.  Marinade the steak in it for 1-3 hours in the refridgerator, turning occasionally. 

2.  Remove steak from  marinade and cool in the grill. 

3.  Put some veggie oil into a pan and cook up the veggies on the stove top.

4.  Slice the cooked beef into thing slices.

For each wrap, sprinkle cheese onto the tortilla.  Add peppers, onions, beef. Fold over.  Place in hot, oiled pan over medium high heat.  Brown 2-3 minutes on each side.  Serve immediately.

This was a pampered chef recipe, but I simplified it for the blog.

Truckstop Buttermilk Pancakes

So.
I will love you forever, Bisquick, but lately I've been straying a bit. I recently found an awesome recipe for coffee cake from scratch, which I will not post here because it hurts too much that Hank loves it more than Bisquick Conference cake. Then I came across this recipe for Buttermilk Pancakes and went for it because I was out of Bisquick, and because the photo looked good and THEY WERE DELICIOUS! Pouffy, fluffy little clouds of morning joy. Obviously, a few more steps are involved in making these than you'd ever have when making Bisquick pancakes, but even I, a very devoted and loyal follower of that certain Bisquicky-ness you can't get anywhere else, really loved this recipe. Oh yeah. We got our hands on some blueberries today and are going to try these out again in the near future, this time with blueberries. This concludes my dissertation.

Let the games begin!

• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• ¼ cups Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 2 cups Buttermilk
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• 2 whole Large Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• ¼ cups Milk (I used water. I'm pretty sure there's no need for buttermilk AND milk)
  

Preparation Instructions

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Melt butter and separate eggs. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Then mix in the butter, yolks, and vanilla with the whisk. Then stir in the buttermilk.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until they are just combined. Add milk as needed until batter reaches desired consistency.

Pour batter onto a hot buttered griddle using approximately 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Flip when bubbles begin to form on top.

(Got this recipe off of tastykitchen)

m2

Peggy's Linguini Salad

This was served by Peggy at Carol and Al's 50th Anniversary party and it was so good. Apparently Peggy brings this to all the potlucks and is always asked for the recipe. And because there is never anything left, she always leaves a small bowl at home for her husband and herself.

1 pound linguini
Chopped celery
chopped green peppers
sliced green onions
2 large, diced tomatoes
Good Seasons Zesty Italian (dry Packet but mix as directions say with oil/vinegar)
Salad Supreme by McCormick...to taste

Cook the linguini and rinse.

Add the rest and toss.

Chill and serve.

Beefy Chili Dogs

• I happen to love hot dogs so tonight we had them with this topping...and man! was it good.
  
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• 12 ounces ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 4-ounce can diced green chili peppers- I cut up green and red peppers
  
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 10 frankfurters
• 10 frankfurter buns, split and toasted
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Finely chopped onion
• Yellow mustard

Directions

1. For meat sauce: In a large skillet, cook ground beef, 1 cup chopped onion and garlic until meat is brown and onion is tender; drain fat. Stir in undrained tomatoes, chili peppers, chili powder, 1 tablespoon mustard, sugar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, celery seeds, salt and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

2. Add frankfurters to skillet. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes more or until frankfurters are heated through. Remove frankfurters from meat sauce.Robert grilled the dogs.

3. To serve, place frankfurters in split buns. Top each with about 1/4 cup of the meat sauce. Serve with cheddar cheese and additional onion and mustard. Makes 10 servings.

Slow Cooker Directions: Brown ground beef mixture as above; drain off fat. Transfer mixture to a 2 1/2- to 3 1/2-quart slow cooker. Add the remaining sauce ingredients. Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 2 hours or low-heat setting for 4 hours. Add the frankfurters to the slow cooker. Cover tightly; cook 30 minutes more or until frankfurters are hot. Serve as above or turn heat to low or warm and let stand up to 1 hour.

Garden Potato Salad

I made the following recipe yesterday for our Memorial Day Linner. And it turned out exactly as the picture that accompanied the recipe in the magazine...food network mag. I didn't have all the spices to boil the potatoes with but I made do by improvising.

Ingredients

• 1 lemon
• 5 or 6 sprigs fresh parsley, plus 2 tablespoons chopped leaves
• 2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 pounds small red-skinned potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
• Kosher salt
• 4 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
• 3/4 cup fat-free plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon whole-grain or dijon mustard
• 3 scallions, minced, whites and greens separated
• Freshly ground pepper
• 2 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 small Kirby cucumber, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds

Directions

Peel a 2-inch-long strip of zest from the lemon; tie into a bundle with the parsley and thyme sprigs and bay leaf using kitchen twine. Put in a saucepan with the garlic, potatoes, 2 tablespoons salt and 8 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook about 10 minutes. Add the carrots and cook until the potatoes are tender and the carrots are crisp-tender, about 5 more minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the vegetables and discard the herb bundle. Let cool.

Meanwhile, finely grate 2 teaspoons lemon zest and squeeze 3 tablespoons juice into a large bowl. Whisk in the yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, scallion whites, chopped parsley, reserved cooking water, 1 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper.

Add the potatoes, carrots, celery and cucumber to the dressing and toss. Chill about 4 hours. Top with the scallion greens.

Alton's Brown Chicken Fried Steak...who else?

I must be in the mood for cooking this week. Perhaps because I need to enjoy dinners while Robert is still on days. It's a whole other matter when he returns to afternoons. So tonight's offering is one of Robert's favorites, one he often gets when we go out to eat at places similar to Cracker Barrel (and if you are wondering, I was able to get Robert the first of the four Shrek glasses offered by McDonalds....y'all know how he loves Shrek....so this was a surprise. Plus it is filled with CHOCOLATE MILK, another of his favorites).

Chicken Fried Steak

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef bottom round, trimmed of excess fat
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 whole eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Cut the meat with the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices. Season each piece on both sides with the salt and pepper. Place the flour into a pie pan. Place the eggs into a separate pie pan. Dredge the meat on both sides in the flour. Tenderize the meat, using a needling device, until each slice is 1/4-inch thick. Once tenderized, dredge the meat again in the flour, followed by the egg and finally in the flour again. Repeat with all the pieces of meat. Place the meat onto a plate and allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.

Place enough of the vegetable oil to cover the bottom of a 12-inch slope-sided skillet and set over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the meat in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook each piece on both sides until golden brown, approximately 4 minutes per side. Remove the steaks to a wire rack set in a half sheet pan and place into the oven. Repeat until all of the meat is browned.

Add the remaining vegetable oil, or at least 1 tablespoon, to the pan. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of the flour left over from the dredging. Add the chicken broth and deglaze the pan. Whisk until the gravy comes to a boil and begins to thicken. Add the milk and thyme and whisk until the gravy coats the back of a spoon, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Season to taste, with more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve the gravy over the steaks.

parmesan crusted chicken

Had a lovely meal tonight and Robert raved about the chicken so I thought I'd post it. It's fast and easy. I LOVE The foodnetwork magazine.

1/2 cup Hellmann's Real Mayo ... or whatever you have as long as it's MAYO
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 boneless, skinnless chicken breasts
4 t. Italian seasoned dry breadcrumbs
***** Here's what I used cuz it's better....PANKO toppings with Italian seasonings added

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Combine the Mayo with the parmesan cheese.  place chicken on baking sheet. Top evenly with Mayo mixture, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
3. bake 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.