Fall Recipes

Thought I'd share some recipes today.  Finally the election is over and I'm trying to get back to my real work  :)  But I'm so tired and wore out, I can't get anything done.  I do have one load of laundry in the machine and need to do dishes.  So tired.

First recipe is a favourite of mine.  I don't make it often because of the wackos non-tomato family members.

Tomato Pot Roast

5 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
3 lg carrots, cut in half or quarters
1 onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, same as carrots
28oz tomatoes
2 cans tomato paste
2 t basil, oregano, and rosemary
1 t salt and pepper
4 lb blade roast

I mix everything (except beef) together in a bowl.  Place roast in crockpot, then pour 'sauce' over top.  Cook 8 hours on low.

Growing up in Bowmanville, autumn meant apple time.  In fact, next weekend is Apple Fest.  You should check it out if you are nearby.  There aren't too many orchards up here, but I can get Algoma apples at No Frills and they are from 'home'.  In fact, some of their orchards are down the road from my Grandma's house.

Here's an easy apple recipe:

Apple Crisp

1 c brown sugar                     3/4 c flour
3/4 c rolled oats                    1 t cinnamon and nutmeg
1/2 c butter

Grease a 9x9 inch pan.  Peel and slice apples into pan.  Make crumbs (I often melt the butter to make it easier).  Sprinkle over sliced apples.
Bake 375F for 30-35 minutes.

Recipes

  This is our front door this morning.  It was -32C when Colin headed outside to head to the barn.  Our old front door is only a single pane of glass, so not too great in the winter.  It's a good time to make some comfort food.  I thought I'd share some recipes:



Chili
2 lb ground beef                         2 can tomato soup (don't dilute)
7 cans (19 oz) kidney beans -drain half  or use 4 cans kidney beans and 3 cans navy beans (drain navy beans)
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes (don't drain)
6 onions, chopped
1 small jar sweet pimentos, chopped
6 T chili powder, or to taste

Brown beef and onions, drain if needed.  Add everything else.  Simmer over low heat for a few hours.  Stir fairly often.  Even better when made the day ahead.

Ranch Buns
make ranch spice from Niki's blog 
then make a batch of potato bread dough, adding in 1-2 T of ranch spice:
1/3 c potato flakes                      2 T yeast
2 c warm water                             1/2 c margarine
1 T salt                                              2 eggs, beaten
6 c flour                                            1-2 T ranch spice


Put in the bread machine in the usual order:  wet stuff first, then dry, then flour and yeast on top.  Let rise once.  This is also easy to make by hand.

Roll into golf ball sized balls and place in a greased cake pan (9x9 makes 16).  Let rise then bake 400F for 15 minutes.  Brush with melted butter then sprinkle with Parmesan.

Yummy brownies.  These brownies have a secret ingredient -oatmeal!  But you would never know if you didn't tell anyone.  This is only half a batch, the recipe makes 9x13

Oatmeal Brownies
1 c oatmeal                        1 c butter
2 c boiling water              4 eggs
3 c brown sugar               2 t vanilla
2 t bk powder and bk soda
2 c flour                                 1 t salt
4 T cocoa
Mix oats, butter and water.  Let cool.  Add all other ingredients.  Pour into greased pan or pans.  Bake 350F for 40 minutes until done.

Chocolate Glaze
3/4 c sugar (brown or white)                1/4 c milk
2 T butter                                                       1/3 c mini marshmallows
1/4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
Bring sugar, milk and butter to a boil.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add marshmallows and chips.  Stir till melted.  Let cool a bit.  Pour over cake or brownies.

Recipe Catch-Up

I just realized that I haven't posted any new recipes here for a while.  So here are a few:


Potato Goulash
1 1/2 lb pork -I used shoulder chops cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 T paprika (not hot)
2 lb potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
2 onions, chopped
2 T vinegar
3 c beef stock
14 oz diced tomatoes
Brown pork and onions.  Add everything else to pot.  Simmer on low for 1 hour.

Chicken Cacciatore
3lb chicken pieces, we use thighs                     1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced                                         salt & pepper, to taste
28oz stewed tomatoes                                           28 oz tomato sauce
1/4 cup red wine                                                     1/4 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
Brown the chicken in a little oil. Add everything into a dutch oven. Cover and simmer all afternoon until the house smells wonderful Don’t use a crock pot, the sauce doesn’t reduce and is too runny.

Honey Barbecue Pork Ribs
2 lb pork ribs                                    1 sm onion, chopped
1 c bbq sauce, we prefer Diana’s honey and garlic
1/3 c honey
Arrange ribs in the crock pot, sprinkle with onions.  Combine sauce and honey.  Pour over ribs.  Cook on Low for 7-9 hours.
Two really yummy recipes for you to enjoy.  Even better, they don’t need an oven and can be basically tossed in the pot and forgotten about.  Some days we all need recipes like that.


Black Bottom Cupcakes
makes 3 dozen
White Part:
Beat together 8 oz cream cheese, 1 egg, and 1/3 c sugar.  Then stir in 6 oz mini chocolate chips.  Set aside.
Chocolate Part:
2 c flour                                        3/4 t salt
1 1/2 t bk soda                            3/8 c cocoa
1 1/2 c wt. sugar                       1 1/2 c water
1 1/2 t vinegar                          1 t vanilla
1/2 c oil
Line muffin tins.  Fill 1/3 full with chocolate part.  Top with 2 t white part.
Bake 350F for 20 minutes, or until done.

Meatloaf
1 c bread cubes                        1/4 c milk
1 t salt                                           1 T parsley
1 onion, chopped fine            1 egg
1 lb ground beef
Soak the bread in the milk.  Add everything else and mix gently.  Put into a greased loaf pan.
Bake 350F for 1-1 1/4 hours

Baked Egg Sandwiches -makes 4
4 hamburger buns, not sliced    4 tomato slices
salt & pepper                                  4 eggs
1/3c grated cheese                      1/4 c cream
3 T chopped scallions
Slice a thin piece off the top of each bun and scoop out most of the crumbs -leaving about a 1/2 inch shell.  Put the buns on a baking sheet.  Put a slice of tomato in each.  Carefully crack an egg in each bun.  Sprinkle with s&p, then cream, cheese and scallions.
Bake 375F for 20-30

Golden Pork Chops -makes 4
4 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick                 1/2 c bread crumbs
s&p                                                                   1 T oil
1 egg, beaten                                                2 c milk
Mix egg with salt & pepper.  Dip pork chops to coat.   Put chops in crumbs and coat well.  Let sit for a few minutes to dry.  Brown chops in oil in fry pan.  Remove chops to oven proof casserole and add milk to almost cover.  Turn once or twice as it cooks.
Bake 350F for 45-60 minutes

Chocolate

This year Ella requested Turtle Cake for her birthday party.  It's Colin's favourite too.

Turtle Cake

3 c flour                             1 t salt
2 c wt. sugar                      6 T cocoa
2 t bk. powder                   2 t bk. soda
2 t vanilla                           2 t vinegar
1 c butter, melted               2 c sour milk, lukewarm

Mix everything together and pour half the batter into a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake 350F for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, over medium heat, bring to a boil:
1 c butter              1 can condensed milk           1 c brown sugar
Boil 5 minutes.  Pour over bottom layer of cake.  Sprinkle with 1 cup chocolate chips and pecan pieces.  Pour remaining batter over all.  Bake 25-30 minutes more.

Brownies

1/2 c butter                           1/4 t salt
4 eggs, beaten till light
2 c white sugar                      1/2 c cocoa
1 t vanilla                               1 c flour

Spread into a greased 9x9 inch pan.  Bake 325F for 30-35 minutes.  Do not overbake, may still be moist in the middle.  These don't need to be iced.

New Year's Recipes -Part Two

Chocolate Cheesecake

This is the best cheesecake, even my Grandpa who didn't liked chocolate like my cheesecake  :)

crust: 11/4 c graham cracker crumbs
           1/3 c butter/margarine, melted
           1/4 c white sugar
Mix and press into the bottom and sides of a 10 inch springform pan.  Bake 350F for 10 minutes.  Cool completely.

cake:
500g cream cheese, at room temperature
1 c white sugar
1/4 c cold water
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate
1 envelope gelatin powder
1 c whipping cream, whipped

I usually whip the cream first, in my Kitchenaid stand mixer.  I then put it in the fridge till later.  Beat the cheese until smooth.  Add sugar and melted chocolate melt chocolate very carefully and stop before you think it's done, burnt chocolate will ruin everything!  Sprinkle gelatin powder over cold water in small saucepan.  Let stand 5 min.  Stir over low heat to dissolve.  Blend into cheese mixture.  Fold gently into whipped cream.  Pour into prepared pan and chill for at least 3 hours, I usually do it overnight.  Don't be tempted to cut the pieces too big, it is a fairly rich cheesecake.

Vegetable Gratin

you can use just about any vegetable.  I used a mixture of broccoli, cauliflower and carrot.  I thawed the bag first, but didn't cook them.  If using fresh vegetables, cook al dente  first.

Bechamel Sauce:  don't panic it's easy
2 T butter
3 T flour
2 c hot milk
salt and pepper and a pinch of nutmeg

Melt butter in saucepan.  Add flour and seasonings and cook over medium heat, stirring, for about 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and pour in milk.  Whisk all together.  Bring to a boil, whisking continually.  Stir until medium thick.

Gratin:
fold 1/3 cup cheese (I used cheddar) into bechemel sauce.  Don't be tempted to add a lot extra or it could look oily after baking.

Spread a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of a greased, shallow baking dish.  Arrange about 3 cups of vegetables over sauce.  Spoon over remaining sauce and sprinkle another 1/4 cup of cheese.
Bake 425F for 20-25 minutes, serves 5-6