Thursday, October 25, 2007

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins

Do you want to taste Fall all in one little muffin?

Muffin Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apple

Topping:
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 teaspoons butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 18 muffin cups or use paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, pumpkin and oil. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stirring just to moisten. Fold in apples. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping evenly over muffin batter.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.

Enjoy!


Thank you Suzanne Thomas for this yummy recipe!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Bran Muffins

5 cups whole wheat flour
1 ½ cups bran cereal (I use All Bran)
2 tsp baking SODA
2 tsp salt
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup oil
1 Quart buttermilk

Mix, place in muffin tins, cook 400 for 20 minutes

Tip: I had to buy 2 quart buttermilk, so instead of letting it go bad, I doubled the recipe and froze some. You might have to buy 2 bags of whole wheat flour.

La Madeline's Tomato Soup

Ingredients:
4 C. (8 to 10) tomatoes, peeled, cored and chopped, or 4 C. canned whole tomatoes, crushed
4 C. tomato juice and part vegetable stock or chicken stock
12 to 14 washed fresh basil leaves
1 C. heavy cream
1/4 pound sweet, unsalted butter
salt to taste
1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper


Preparation:
Combine tomatoes, juice/and or stock in saucepan. Simmer 30 minutes. Puree, along with the basil leaves, in small batches, in blender, food processor (or better yet, one of those handy hand-held food blenders, right in the cooking pan).

Return to saucepan and add cream and butter, while stirring over low heat. Garnish with basil leaves and serve with your favorite bread.

Taco Soup

1 lb ground Turkey or Lean Beef
1 large onion, chopped (I buy frozen chopped onions, cuz I hate chopping them myself)
1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing mix
1 pkg Taco seasoning mix
1 can pinto beans
1 can chili hot beans
1 can whole kernel corn (drain)
1 can stewed Rotel tomatoes (Mexican flavor)
1 can stewed tomatoes (I usually tear these up a little b/c I hate big chunks of tomatoes)

Brown meat and onion on skillet, drain. In larger pot, add all ingredients (meat too) and simmer.

Serve w/ chips and cheese.

This is a great recipe to double and freeze.

White Chili

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 can (4-ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 cans (16 ounces) BUSH'S BEST Great Northern Beans
1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth
1 ½ cups finely chopped cooked chicken breast
Shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (optional)
Sour cream (optional)
Salsa (optional)

In large skillet, cook onion in oil for 4 minutes or until transparent. Add chilies, flour and cumin; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add beans and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened. Add chicken; cook until hot. Garnish with cheese, sour cream and salsa, if desired.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Sun Dried Tomato Crostini

Loaf of French bread, bias sliced
7 oz. jar sun dried tomatoes (drain/dice tomatoes but reserve the oil)
1/2 pkg (4 oz) cream cheese
4-6 oz. feta or goat cheese
1 Tbsp milk
1/2 cup diced onions
3 Tbsp diced olives OR 1 Tbsp capers
2 cloves garlic, minced

In a small bowl, mix sun dried tomatoes, onions, olives & garlic.
In separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese, feta/goat cheese & milk until smooth.
Spread reserved oil on slices of bread and toast (I put mine in the broiler).
Spread cheese mix on top of toasted bread and top with tomato mixture.

Great for parties!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Easy Shrimp Pasta

2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
1/2 lb. shrimp, cleaned (about 10 large)
3/4 cup chopped tomatoes (about 1 medium)
2 oz. (1/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, cubed
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil leaves, divided
1/4 lb. (4 oz.) fettuccine, cooked, drained
2 Tbsp. Shredded Parmesan Cheese


POUR dressing over shrimp in small bowl; cover. Refrigerate 20 min. to marinate. Remove shrimp from marinade; set aside. Heat large skillet on medium heat; add shrimp. Cook 3 min. or until shrimp turn pink, stirring frequently. Remove shrimp from skillet, using slotted spoon; cover to keep warm. Set aside.
ADD tomatoes, reserved marinade, cream cheese and 1 Tbsp. of the basil to same skillet; cook and stir 3 min. until well blended. Add shrimp; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.
PLACE hot fettuccine on large serving platter; top with the shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. basil and the shredded cheese.