Sunday, February 22, 2009

Apple Pecan Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 butter, melted
2 tbsp brown sugar
4 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 brown sugar, divided
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour cream
4 cups chopped peeled apples (about 3)
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 13 x 9 baking pan with foil with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Mix crumbs, butter, and 2 tbsp brown sugar. press firmly onto bottom of pan.

Beat cream cheese, 1 cup of brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream, mix well. Add eggs, one a time mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust. Mix remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, the apples, pecans and cinnamon; spoon evenly over cheese cake batter.

Bake 55 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Lift cheesecake from pan, using foil handles. Cut into 16 pieces. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Fiesta Lasagna

1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 can refried beans
1 can mild chili beans or kidney beans
1 can 16 oz diced tomatoes
1 cup salsa
1 can chopped green chilies
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin or chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
1 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup small curd cottage cheese
1 1/4 cup sour cream divided
9 lasagna noodles (uncooked)

Cook beef and onion until no longer pink, drain. Stir in the beans, tomatoes, salsa, chilies and seasonings.
In a bowl combine Monterey jack and mozzarella cheeses, set aside 1 1/2 cups. Stir cottage cheese and 3/4 cup sour cream into remaining cheese mixture.

spread about a cup of meat sauce into a greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Layer three noodles on top. Add about half of cottage cheese mixture and more meat sauce. Repeat layers. Add remaining meat sauce on top. Cover with plastic wrap and foil and bake at 350 degrees for about one hour and a half.

Uncover. Spread with remaining sour cream. Sprinkle with reserved cheeses. Bake 10-12 minutes more. Let stand 20 minutes. Makes about 12 servings.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

brandy alexander pie, chocolate petal crust


Heavenly Heart Cake


Dave's Pasta Carbonara

1/2 lb sliced bacon
1/2 package fresh mushrooms
4-5 cloves fresh garlic (sliced thin)
8 oz of heavy whipping cream
handful of pecorino romano cheese

Slice bacon, mushrooms and garlic. First saute bacon and mushrooms, then add garlic and salt and pepper to taste. When cooked add cream. Reduce heat for a few minutes. Turn off heat and add grated cheese. Add over or toss with any pasta.

You could also add cooked chicken breast, peas, or whatever you like.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Almost Like Wegman's Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup cocoa
2 1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Beat butter until whipped, add cocoa, sugar, alternate with water and vanilla.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Dave's Taco Twist

1 lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1/4 chopped green pepper
1 lb corkscrew macaroni, cooked and drained
1 pkg (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
1 (8 oz) container sour cream

Brown ground beef, drain. Stir in seasoning mix, tomato sauce and green pepper. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Combine cooked macaroni, cheese and sour cream; place on the bottom of baking dish. Top with meat mixture and remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

Iva's Hearty Hungarian Goulash

1 tbsp oil
1 1/2 lbs stew beef
1 envelop onion mushroom soup mix
4 1/2 tsp paprika
1 can -16 oz stewed tomatoes
2 tbsp flour
salt
1 cup water
1 onion, chopped
1 can cream mushroom soup
1 small can mushrooms or use fresh ones
8 oz egg noodles

Heat oil, coat the beef cubes in flour and brown in kettle, add chopped onions and saute. Mix soup mix with water, tomatoes and other ingredients (not noodles) and simmer for 90 minutes or until beef is tender.

Cook noodles in boiling water. Drain and arrange beef on top of noodles.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Cake Brownies

1-1/2 cups cake flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, softened
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons Wilton(R) Clear Vanilla Extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8" X 2" or 9" X 2" square pan with vegetable pan spray or Bake Easy! Non-Stick Spray.
In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In small microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate; let cool slightly. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla and melted chocolate; mix well. Stir in flour mixture by hand; mix until just combined. Spread batter into prepared pan.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool completely on rack before cutting.

Makes about 16 brownies.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Karen P's Half-Moon Cookies

4 squares melted unsweetened chocolate or 6 Tbsp. cocoa
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup crisco or butter, softened
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 cup milk mixed with 2 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and chocolate in a large bowl. Add flour and mix well. Add remaining three ingredients. Mix until batter is smooth. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets by heaping tablespoonfuls. Bake at 325 degrees for 10-20 minutes. Depends on size of cookies. Cool and frost with buttercream frosting.

Buttercream Frosting
1 cup soft butter
4 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp milk

Add ingredients in order given. Divid in half. To one half, add 4 Tbsp cocoa. Frost cookies with 1/2 white and 1/2 chocolate frosting.

Monday, February 2, 2009

White Chicken Chili

McCormick White Chicken Chili seasoning mix
1 tbsp oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup water
2 cans cannellini beans, undrained
1 can chopped mushrooms (optional)

Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until no longer pink.
Stir in seasoning mix, water, beans and mushrooms. Bring to boil, cover. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.