Thursday, June 30, 2011

Key Lime Pie

Ok, here is an easy recipe for Key Lime Pie. I sort of tweaked a few recipes to make this one. Takes about 5 mins to prep and seemed to be a real crowd pleaser.


For Filling:
5 egg yolks, beaten
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lime juice (I used bottled because I did not have fresh limes if you are using fresh you would probably need 4-5 limes, in that case, use the rind of one lime as well, that will really bring out the flavor)


Mix all ingredients together and set aside.


For crust:
1 1/2 cups graham wafer crumbs
1/2 cup sugar (you can use less if you want to)
6 tbsp butter/margarine (melted)


Mix all ingredients together and press into a 9 inch pie plate. Pour filling into the crust. Bake at 375 for 15 mins of until filling is set. Cool and then chill for an hour or until serving. Top with whip cream or whipped topping when ready to serve.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Peach Cobbler

Ingredients

  • 8-10 peaches sliced (6 to 8 cups)
  • 1/4 cup bourbon (I substituted 2 tbsp each vanilla and maple syrup)
  • 3/4 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 sticks cold unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the peaches, bourbon, 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch and cinnamon in a large bowl and toss to coat.

Sift the flour, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, the baking powder and salt into a bowl. Cut 1 1/2 sticks of the butter into small pieces; add to the flour mixture and cut it in with a pastry blender or your hands until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Pour in the cream and mix just until the dough comes together. Don't overwork; the dough should be slightly sticky but manageable.

Melt the remaining 1/2 stick butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add the peach mixture and cook gently until heated through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart baking dish (or leave in the skillet). Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls over the warm peaches. (There can be gaps because the dough will puff up and spread as it bakes.) Brush the top with some heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar and a little extra cinnamon.


Bake in the oven on a baking sheet (to catch any drips) until the cobbler is browned and the fruit is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm with the ice cream.

*recipe from Food Network.com*

Homemade Lemon Filling

Ingredients

  •  2/3 cups sugar  
  •  3-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch 
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt 
  • 3/4 cup water 
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon butter (must be butter kids) 
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 

How to make it 

  •  Set up your double-boiler
  • Begin by placing water in pot and double boiler bowl on top - make sure the water from pot does not touch bottom of bowl. Turn on heat and let water come to a boil., Then turn heat to a medium, medium low so it simmers.
  • Place sugar, cornstarch and salt in double boiler and stir in water with whisk.
  • Cook over boiling water until thickened, stirring constantly.
  • Once it is thickened, cover with lid and cook an additional ten minutes (and yes stir occasionally - say every three minutes)
  • Temper your already slightly beaten egg with some of the hot mixture, then add this slowly back into the remaining hot mixture while stirring constantly.
  • Cook over hot (and not boiling) water for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Remove from heat, taking double boiler bowl off and out of the pan that had the water.
  • Add butter and stir till butter has melted.
  • Chill, once completely cooled, then add the lemon juice and stir.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Hot & Sweet Drumsticks

  • 1 cup Apricot Preserves
  • 1/2 cup Ketchup
  • 1/4 cup Soy Sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Minced Garlic
  • 2 teaspoons Hot Pepper Sauce
  • 3 pounds Drumsticks (about 12)
Preheat oven to 350F. In a small saucepan, combine preserves, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic and hot pepper sauce. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until preserves are melted.
Arrange drumsticks in a single layer on a 13 x 9″ baking pan. Pour sauce over drumsticks, turning to coat. Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes or until chicken is done, spooning sauce over drumsticks while baking. Serves 6.

-Recipe from Pioneer Woman

Cauliflower Soup

  • 1 stick Butter, Divided
  • ½ whole Onion, Finely Diced
  • 1 whole Carrot Finely Diced
  • 1 stalk Celery, Finely Diced
  • 1 whole (to 2 Whole) Cauliflower Heads (roughly Chopped)
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Or Dried Parsley (chopped)
  • 2 quarts Low-sodium Chicken Broth Or Stock
  • 6 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour
  • 2 cups Whole Milk
  • 1 cup Half-and-half
  • 2 teaspoons To 4 Teaspoons Salt, To Taste
  • 1 cup (heaping) Sour Cream, Room Temperature

Preparation Instructions

In a large soup pot or dutch oven, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes, or until it starts to turn brown.

Add the carrots and celery and cook an additional couple of minutes. Add cauliflower and parsley and stir to combine.

Cover and cook over very low heat for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour in chicken stock or broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer.

In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Mix the flour with the milk and whisk to combine. Add flour-milk mixture slowly to the butter, whisking constantly.

Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup half-and-half. Add mixture to the simmering soup. Allow to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Check seasoning and add more salt or pepper if necessary.

Just before serving, place the sour cream in a serving bowl or soup tureen. Add two to three ladles of hot soup into the tureen and stir to combine with the sour cream. Pour in remaining soup and stir.
Serve immediately.

- Recipe from Pioneer Woman