Apple Cake

It's that time of the year...apples are plentiful and apple desserts are the best! This moist apple cake recipe is written on the back of a stained and worn recipe card...an adaptation of my favorite carrot cake...and I have been baking it for many years. While I'm at it, I usually bake a double recipe and put one cake in the freezer without icing...it's handy to pull out at a moments notice and serve for dessert with ice-cream and caramel sauce. We are in the middle of corn harvest on the farm...and the guys like a treat out in the fields every once in awhile. I baked them an apple cake yesterday...which they ate off disposal plates, with a plastic fork and without the flower...but enjoyed nonetheless!

Apple Cake

4 eggs

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

1 cup oil

3 cups coarsely grated apple

2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Combine eggs, sugar and oil in mixer.

Add apples.

Add remaining ingredients and mix .

Pour into greased 9x13 inch pan and bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes.

Frost with cream cheese icing when cool.

Cream Cheese Icing

4 oz. cream cheese (1/2 brick)

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups icing sugar...or until desired thickness

Cream butter and cream cheese together until fluffy.

Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Apricot and Chocolate Chip Bar Cookie

This is a recipe I've had floating about for some time. It is one of those kind of recipes you can easily whip up and bring along...to say an office gathering. In fact...this came from a colleague way back when. These days I use Splenda when possible but other than that the recipe is the same..still tastes good and hits the spot.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar (I use Splenda half and half brown sugar)
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped dried apricots

Turn the oven to 350. Lightly coat a 9-inch square baking pan with vegetable spray or line with parchment paper. Beat the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and blend until smooth. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, and apricots. Press the batter into the prepared pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is golden and the pastry begins to pull away from the sides of the pan. The center should be slightly soft. Cool on rack for 15 minutes. Cut into 18 bars when still warm, then let cool completely before removing from the pan.

Humus and Tzaziki Dip

Necessary accompaniments with any good pita bread or with falafel or as a 'spread' for a pita sandwich...both are easy and best made 'from scratch'.

Humus

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chick peas soaked overnight or 1 cup canned chick peas
• 2/3 cup tahini paste (ground sesame - paste)
• juice of 2 lemons
• 2 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
• fresh ground black pepper

Drain the chick peas and put them into a saucepan. Cover with fresh water and boil simmering for about 2 hours or until they are soft. If using canned chick peas omit the first step. Put into a food processor and add the rest ...mix til a soft paste forms. Add salt to taste. (I hate to add salt but it DOES bring out the lemon and garlic so if you want to keep it low sodium...use a salt substitute)

Tzaziki

(For this use, or used as as a dip, the sauce is left creamy and simple with garlic and lemon. If you wish to use Tzaziki as a side dish then chopped or shredded cucumber is often added.)

Ingredients:

1 cup plain yogurt (uhm...not vanilla flavoured...real good, honest, simple, plain creamy yogurt)
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tsp lemon juice (fresh if possible)
1/4 cup chopped or shredded cucumber (optional - use if a side dish/omit for dip)
salt to taste
dash of fresh ground pepper

Whip ingredients together and let sit in fridge 1/2 hour to let flavours mingle. You can add a wee bit of finely minced onion as well but a simple plain dip is best.

Falafel - Chick Pea Patties

I first tried tried falafel when I became a vegetarian many years ago and then later, when as a student, I couldn't afford to buy and eat meat anyway. It is a delicious, protein packed 'finger dipping' food served as a main course, popped into a pita half, or served as an appetizer at parties. In my home...this is a nice weekend supper we enjoy often...adding chicken skewers or marinated lamb kabobs.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups chick peas soaked in water for 24 hours or 1 19oz can of chick peas
• 1/2 spanish onion chopped into fine pieces
• 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley (fresh if possible)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
  
• 1 tbsp finely chopped coriander (fresh and optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• salt
• 1/4 cup flour
• oil for frying

Drain the chick peas and place in a food processor. Add the onions, parsley, lemon juice and coriander, garlic, cumin and salt to taste. Add the flour and process until well blended. Add more flour if needed to make a binding pliable 'paste'.

Roll into small balls about 1 inch in diameter and flatten into patties. Let them 'rest' for about 15 minutes and then deep fry them in batches in hot oil turning them over once they are a dark brown. Drain them on paper towels and serve with humus and/or tzatziki (recipe under dips).

Italian Prune Nut Bread

Italian prunes are sweet and juicy...and perfect for a healthy lifestyle. Try them in a quick bread for a change from the ordinary.

Italian Prune Nut Bread

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup sour cream

2 teaspoons grated orange peel

2 cups Italian prunes, pitted and chopped in 1/2 inch pieces

1 cup chopped nuts

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Combine flour, salt, cream of tartar, cinnamon and baking soda.

Blend sour cream and orange peel...

...add to creamed mixture alternately with dry ingredients.

Stir until blended.

Add prunes and nuts; mix well.

Divide between two greased loaf pans (9x5x3 inch).

Bake at 350F for 50-55 minutes

...or until wooden pick inserted in centre comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes in pan;

remove from pan and cool thoroughly on rack.

I've made it without the nuts...it's good either way!

Chocolate Cream Pie

I know we should be still deep into fruit pies. . .

but every now and then, I need a cream pie.

Chocolate Cream Pie is so simple. .

you can use a frozen purchased crust .. . or make your own.

While it is cooling. . . .pop this chocolate cream into the microwave.

I've posted this pie crust recipe before. . but it never hurts to have it in two places. .

Dorothy's Pie Crust

• 5 cups flour
• 4 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pound cold lard
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• enough cold water to make 8 ounces with  the egg beaten a bit .. and the vinegar.

1. In a large bowl .. .or your kitchen Aid Mixer . . measure the flour, the brown sugar, the salt and the baking powder. . .
2. Cut in the lard which you've already cut into cubes with a sharp knife. If you have a large food processor you can do it in there. . .just pulse until it looks like oatmeal. .
3. The rest of you .. .use a pastry cutter. . and cut until it looks like oatmeal .. or use the paddle of the free stand mixer and again . ..slowly mix until all the bits of lard are mostly the size of oatmeal.
4. Put the egg into the measuring cup. .add the vinegar and then add enough water to make 1 cup.
5. Then. . slowly pour in the egg/water/vinegar mixture. . .and stir with a fork just until all the bits are combined and moistened.
6. Dump out onto a counter. . and pull together to form a ball.
7. Divide into 5 pieces. . .shape them into discs .. and wrap them separately in plastic wrap.
8. Refrigerate them or freeze them until you need them .. .let them thaw in the refrigerator.

This should give you a nice flaky crust.

To Bake a pie shell. . .Heat your oven to 400. Roll your dough out to fit a 9 inch pie plate.

Ease it in without stretching. . and to bake it empty. . just line with aluminum foil pressing it against the edges. . and bake it for 10 minutes. Remove the foil. . and bake until brown. Cool.

Chocolate Cream Filling

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups of whole milk. . .you can use 2% but it won't be quite as rich
• 3 beaten egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate. . .chopped fine

1. In a large glass bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt.
2. Slowly add the milk and the egg yolks.
3. Add the chopped chocolate.
4. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. . .stir .. .repeat until it is hot and bubbling. About 10 minutes total.
5. Add the Vanilla and Butter and stir until smooth. Pour into the cooled pie shell and Chill.

Top with whipped cream. . .and chocolate shavings.

Walnut Cake

This is a nice pan cake to serve; with an orange/lemon infused flavour, crunchy walnuts inside and drizzled with a lemon syrup when taken out of the oven. It is simply delicious and a favorite at my home.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter
6 tbsp sugar
finely grated rind of orange
2 eggs, lightly beaten
5 tbsp milk
1/2 cup coarsely ground walnuts

Syrup:

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp lemon juice

Turn oven to 350 and grease an 8 x 8 inch baking pan.

Mix four and baking powder. Put the butter sugar and orange rind into a warmed mixing bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in eggs. Fold in the flour alternatively with the milk and then add walnuts. Transfer to pan and bake in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes until firm to touch. Meanwhile put the syrup ingredients into the saucepan. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved and then boiled for 5 minutes.

As soon as the cake comes out of the oven spoon syrup evenly over the surface. Let sit in the pan until quite cold. Cut into squares or fancy triangles to serve.

Peachy Fruit Dip

With all the fruit still available you might want to try this! This recipe is large, so I usually cut it in half and it serves well with a large fruit platter.

1 c whipping cream (or cool whip topping)
1 pkg instant vanilla pudding (just the powder)
2 c peach yogurt

Whip cream. Add vanilla pudding powder; whip. Add peach yogurt; whip.
Serve fresh with fruit. You can also try it with pina colada yogurt.

Harvest Loaf

I have a feeling this will be one of the first of many yummy pumpkin recipes posted, so you might want to make sure you have canned pumpkin on the shelf. I made this last week (using the measurements in brackets) and it made 2 small loaves. It is one of my daughter’s favorite Fall loaves. It is especially good when the chocolate chips are still soft.

Ingredients:

3/4 c butter (1/2 c)
1 1/2 c sugar (1 c)
3 eggs (2)
1 - 19 oz ( 540 ml) can pumpkin
3 c flour (2 c)
2 tsp baking powder (1 ½ tsp)
1/2 tsp soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp ginger
1 c chocolate chips
¾ c chopped nuts

Prepare loaf pans by greasing with shortening or spraying with Pam, and dusting with flour.
Beat butter and sugar, beat in eggs and pumpkin. Mix dry ingredients and add to egg mixture. Using the whole recipe, bake in 3 small or 2 medium loaf pans for 45 min at 350F, or until tests done.

Ostiepkove tycinky (Cheese Sticks)

A colleague at work has noted over and over again that the results of my weekend baking means 'sweets' for the office staff. He has requested more than once that a more savoury item appear on a Monday morning. Then the other week he handed me this recipe with a roughly translated ingredient list and a request that I try this some weekend. I did....the result was a somewhat moist but savory appetizer which I am happy to share with you...note the bench scraper?!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup mashed potatoes (nothing added!)
• 2 eggs
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp paprika
• for topping - caraway or sesame seeds

1. Cook potatoes and mash.
2. Mix shredded cheese, potatoes, butter, 1 egg, paprika salt and pepper
3. Add flour and mix well
4. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut into sticks. Transfer to oiled cookie sheet.
   
5. Brush with egg wash.
6. Sprinkle with sesame or caraway seeds
   

Bake in 340 degrees oven for approx 15 min.

Toscano Soup (similar to Olive Garden)

This is a delicious hardy soup loaded with goodness, in flavour and health benefits. The healthy version is in brackets.

6 Hot or mild Italian sausage (turkey italian sausage)

8 slices chopped bacon (omit)

1 large chopped onion

2 stalks celery chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

5 thinly sliced potatoes with skin on

8 c. water or chicken broth

4-6 chicken boullion cubes (use only if using water)

(use low sodium and no msg)

1 bunch of chopped Kale

1/2 c. heavy cream (skim milk or omit)

crushed red pepper flakes to taste, add when browning meat,

omit if using hot italian sausage, unless you are daring...=}

(a can of black beans adds fiber) optional, i didn't add this time.

saute sliced sausage and bacon til browned, drain fat.

Add onion, celery, garlic and cook several minutes til soft.

Add water and potatoes. Cook til potatoes are done, add kale and cream, DONE!

Would you like some freshly grated cheese or cracked pepper with that?

Rice with Vermicelli

Basmati is my rice of choice for almost every rice dish where flavour is more important than its function (i.e.- sushi rolls, etc). If using basmati always 'fry' it in butter and use a broth to cook it in. This simple little recipe is a change from the norm and a favorite with the 'macaroni' crowd.

• 6 tbsp butter
• drop of oil
• 6 oz of vermicelli, broken
• 2 cups basmati rice
• 2 cans broth and 2 cans water
• salt to taste...if you must

Melt the butter in the saucepan with the oil to prevent the butter from burning (uhm...this is a good tip to keep in mind whenever you are using butter to 'fry'.) Crush the vermicelli with hands and brown in butter...don't burn...just brown til golden. Add the rice and stir to coat all the grains...add the fluids and bring to boil. Simmer until no broth remains...about 20 minutes. It will be moist and filling...so yummy and beautiful with the golden vermicelli.

Ham and Bean soup

Soak overnight, 8 oz of navy beans.
Cover and cook 1 1/2 hours. Drain, reserving liquid
or 1-2 cans of navy beans
Place in a large pot,
3 cups of diced ham
brown a little and add
1 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
Saute until soft, add
10 c. liquid including reserved bean liquid
4 beef bouliion cubes
2-3 carrots, thinly sliced
2 stalk of celery, chopped
4 c finely shredded cabbage
1-28 oz can of diced tomatoes
salt and papper to taste
1 bay leaf
Cover and simmer about 1 1/2 hours
Add
2 c. each of frozen peas, beans and corn
bring to boil again the add
a handful of your favorite pasta and sook til pasta is done
just before serving sprinkle with chopped parsley, and grated parmessan cheese.

Quick Garlic Spread

First off start making french bread, already posted... a bought one will do if you lack the time, but the homemade is worth the effort.
Then use this recipe for the ultimate garlic spread, it is quick and simple, you will never buy one again.
Quick Garlic Spread
3/4 c. butter
1/4 c. mayonaise (don't use Miracle Whip it is too sweet)
I often use 1/2 butter 1/2 mayo
1/2 grated parmessan cheese
4 cloves garlic minced
3 tbsp. freshly chopped parsely
One large french bread loaf cut lengthwise, spread liberally on cut side and broi til brown and bubbly. Or wrap in foil and bake at 375 for 20 min. We like ours broiled. Enjoy!

Apple Pie

My favorite local produce store had a huge bin of apples on sale yesterday. The sign SOFT, Perfect for pies and applesauce. I had not planned on making 6 pies for the freezer, but sometimes plans change! I bought 24 apples and then I ran over to the super market and bought 8" aluminum pie plates and headed for home. I usually stick to my favorite pie crust recipe. I use the recipe on the Tenderflake shortening box. It was enough for 6 8" double crust pies and I formed a ball out of the remaining pastry dough and frooze it for another day when I need a quick crust for a pie. Pie dough freezes very well. Just wrap it in syran and put into a freezer zip lock bag.
Apple pie filling
24 medium sized apples peeled and chopped (I use
an apple peeler)
1 cup flour
1 1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup melted honey
1 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
Peel and chop apples into a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Divide apples between pie shells and top with pastry. Flute edges and make several slits on top crust. This help the steam release when baking. Using a pastry brush I brushed whipping cream onto top crust and sprinked with raw sugar. This does not have to be done but gives the pie a glaze and an added sugary crust.
To Bake: Pre heat oven to 425. Bake pies for 15 minutes and then reduce heat to 350 and bake another 40 minutes.
To Freeze: You can freeze the baked pies once cooled or, freeze unbaked. When ready to bake put frozen pie in 450 oven for 15 minutes and reduce to 350 and continue to bake for 1 hour. Insert a knife into pie slits to make sure apples are soft. It is better to bake the froozen pie abit longer to make sure it is baked through.
I have donated pies from this recipe to many MCC sales. It's fun to be able to contribute to such a good cause.

Rolled Oats Cookies

Moist date filling inside a soft oatmeal cookie sandwich.

I loved finding these wonderful treats that my mom would tuck into my lunches.

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 3/4 cups flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

Mix well and lastly add

2 1/2 cups quick oats

Beat butter and sugar together until well creamed. Add dry ingredients and mix for several minutes. Add milk and vanilla and beat well. Add the quick oats last and beat until well incorporated. Using a spatula pull dough into a ball in the center of the bowl. Place in fridge for about 1/2 hour to chill and firm dough to make rolling it out easier. Sprinkle flour on counter and roll out cookie dough 1/3 at a time to about 1/4" thick. Using a round cookie cutter cut out cookies and place onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in 350 oven for 10 minutes. They should be light on the bottom and still soft. Over baking will cause them to become to crisp.

While the cookies are baking make the date filling.

DATE FILLING

1/2 cups solid pack dates chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup boiling water

Stir ingredients together and heat for 1 minute on high in microwave.

Stir well and microwave 1 more minute. Take out and add 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp vanilla.

When you add these two ingredients the date mixture will bubble up from the soda. Stir well.

While cookies are still warm spread 1 tbsp of warm date filling onto a cookie and top with another making a sandwich style cookie. Yields 2 dozen cookies.

Spinach with Black-Eyed Beans (Vegetarian)

A complete meal...this spinach and legume dish is nourishing and delightfully simple. Serve hot or cold. I will be serving it cold tonight with Cajun snapper and a crisp salad with fresh basil, tomatoes and goat cheese...want to come for supper?

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups black-eyed beans, soaked for 1 hour
• 5 tbsp olive oil (as there are no real spices used here...the kind of olive oil you use will influence the taste of this simple dish....always use extra virgin if possible)
• 1 large onion peeled and finely chopped
• 2 bunches fresh spinach chopped or 1 bag/container frozen chopped spinach, thawed.
• fresh ground pepper

Soak the beans for 1 hour. Then put in pot, cover with water and bring it to boil. Simmer about 20 minutes but be careful....they should not turn to 'mush' for this dish. Drain.

Meanwhile heat the oil in a frying pan and saute the onions until they are translucent. Add the spinach and continue to fry stirring continuously until cooked...Add salt and pepper to taste and then stir in the drained black eyed beans. I love this served cold as a side dish....simple and delicious.

Trish's Zucchini Mousaka

Traditionally this one dish Mediterranean meal is made with eggplant. But not all members of my household care for that splendid purple vegetable that so wonderfully absorbs the flavours of the dish it is served with. So....the humble zucchini suffices in most of my dishes. As one loses that starchy element if you don't use an eggplant...I add a layer of rice in my version of Mousaka.

There are four layers in my version of Mousaka. Meat, Rice, Cream cheese sauce and the Zucchini and vegetables.

Rice: Melt 2 tbsp butter in saucepan. Saute 1 minced clove garlic; when softened add 1 cup BASAMATI (nothing else really will do) and stir till well coated with the butter and garlic. Turn up heat and add two cups chicken broth. (1 can plus 1 can water will do). Bring to a boil and then cover and turn to simmer for ten to 15 minutes; fluffing when the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.

Meat: Slowly brown 1 lb lean ground beef over low heat. While still pink add 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 minced clove garlic and 1/2 finely chopped white onion. Continue to brown, draining when done.


Zucchini and Vegetables: In a separate skillet heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Saute 1 clove minced garlic and 1 sliced zucchini. Add 1 tbsp fresh basil pesto sauce and 1 tbsp sundried olives in oil. Add salt and fresh pepper to taste. Add 1 red and 1 yellow pepper sliced in rings. Continue to saute until vegetables are slightly softened. Put aside.

Cream Cheese Sauce: In a bowl whisk 3 eggs, 1/4 cup flour and 1 cup of whipping cream at room temp. Pour mixture into a saucepan in which 2 tbsp of butter has been melted. Bring to a light boil ...turn down heat. Add about 4 tbsp goat cheese. Keep on a very low heat until used in the layers.

In a casserole dish layer the rice, 1/2 the vegetables, and then meat, remaining vegetables and then top with the cream sauce. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and pop in 350 oven for 35 minutes. YUM!

Sparkly Ginger Cookies

This is a recipe from my daughter and it is a favorite in our family. I have baked these many times and I should add that they rarely make it to the freezer. I have made these for bake sales and they are grabbed up very quickly.

3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350.
Cream together the butter, sugar, molasses and egg. In separate bowl mix together the dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture.
Roll the dough into small balls, approx 1.5" in diameter. Roll balls in white sugar, place on baking pan.
Bake for 10 min. Let cool slightly and transfer cookies to cooling rack.

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

(sorry for the lousy pic....camera was having a 'blue' day)

Okay...the truth is out...I am much more in my element creatively cooking...much more so than baking and you can probably tell it from my posts! This recipe is from my vegetarian days and originates from a recipe book from that era. I have liberally recreated the original recipe to suit my family tastes and my own preferences. If you are not vegetarian you may chose to serve a meat with this dish...ours was pork schnitzel. It is a bit of work...but sooooo worth it. If you like savoury...you'll like this dish. I even brought the left-overs in to work!!

Stuffing:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 med. white onion finely chopped
• 1 cup celery finely chopped
• 8 cups of whole grain bread cubes (I cheat and buy them pre-seasoned in the bulk section but if you don't then use the full amount of spices below. If you DO buy them already seasoned...please 1/2 the spice amounts or it will be toooo strong.)
• 2 tsp ground sage
• 1 tsp savoury
• 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp celery seed
• 1/2 tsp salt (I NEVER use salt unless I have to in baking...you can leave this out)
• Fresh ground pepper
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley (dried will do too) minced
• 1 vegetable bullion (or use two cups of homemade /bought low sodium (that is me again with the low sodium) chicken broth. If you use already constituted broth you won't need the water below.
• 2 cups boiling water
  

Mashed Potato Crust:

• About 10 medium to small potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes (8 - 10 cups.
  
• 1 stalk celery with leaves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 large clove garlic
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• salt and pepper to taste

Peel potatoes and put in pot with cold water, celery, bay leaf and garlic. Bring to boil, cover and simmer until potatoes are tender.

While potatoes are cooking, you can start the stuffing. Melt the butter and saute the onion, celery. Saute until they are softening. Add your bread cubes, and spices mixing well. Add the bullion in 2 cups boiling water...or your heated broth. Mix well and steam covered over very very low heating for about 15 minutes or so.

Turn your oven on to about 350. In a separate small saucepan melt the butter and add the cream. Heat until it is hot without boiling. Mash your potatoes (having drained and removing the garlic and celery) in a food processor or normal way you prepare. Add the butter cream mixture and salt and pepper to taste.

Put the stuffing in an oven-proof casserole dish. Top with the mashed potatoes. Bake in oven for 30 - 35 minutes (depends on the depth of the casserole dish) until crust is golden. While it is baking prepare the Mushroom Cream Gravy.


Mushroom Cream Gravy:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 lb mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 veg bouillon (again I use homemade/canned low sodium chicken broth) and then eliminate that water)
• 2 tbsp heavy cream
• 1/4 tsp garlic salt
• salt to taste (come on...ya don't need it!)
  

In a large frypan melt 2 tbsp butter. Add the mushrooms and saute till tender and juicy. Can you smell that wonderful smell?!!!!! Keep sauteing until a dark brown juice comes from the mushrooms. Remove the mushrooms with a slotted spoon. Pour the juice in a measuring cup and save.

In the same frypan melt the other 2 tbsp butter. Add the flour and stir with a whisk to combine. Add the mushroom liquid and continue stirring with a whisk as the gravy thickens. Add the water and bullion stirring continuously. Add the cream and salt and garlic. At this point you can add the mushrooms again or you can serve them separately over or on the side of the Shepherds Pie. This is not a lot of work...just a lot of words and it is delish!!!!!!!

Applesauce . .simple and pure

100% pure farm fresh apples

I was just talking to Kathleen on the phone. . and we were discussing the different ways to make apple sauce. . .and I was trying to explain my food mill .. .
well, it is so much easier to see than to explain.
In the collage, you can see the antique one that my mom used for 40 some years. . and beside it the new one that I purchased.
It is so easy .. .
Just wash your apples, put them in a pot with a 1/2 cup of water. . enough to cover the bottom of the pot 1/4 inch. Bring the apples to a simmer and simmer about 10 - 15 minutes or until soft and tender.
You don't need to peel the apples, nor core them nor remove the stems. . .
Just cook them.
Then, put the food mill over a large bowl and pour your apples into it and stir,
. . . once in a while you'll need to stir counter clockwise to scrape the peels off the bottom.
There is nearly no waste. . . .and leaving the cores and seeds in for cooking provides natural pectin to make a nice thick applesauce.
Once done. . .taste and add sugar to your liking.
You can put it into containers and freeze.

Orange Rhubarb Muffins

2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. chopped pecans
1 egg
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. grated orange zest
3/4 c. orange juice
1 1/4 c. finely chopped rhubarb

1- In a bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pecans.
2-In another bowl beat egg, add oil, orange zest, and orange juice. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moist and blended. Add rhubarb.
3- Spoon batter into greased muffin tins, filling to top. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. (my oven bakes it in 20). So watch them. At 350 degrees. yeilds 12

Freezing Bacon

The picture will follow soon ladies....in the mean time,
when you buy bacon.......roll each slice into a pin curl and freeze individually.
Then when you need just a few slices for a recipe you will be able to use what you need and chop it fine very easily for what you need it for.
I have been doing this for years and yesterday a friend noticed me doing this and asked if I would share it on mgcc, because she had never thought of doing that and it was a good tip. As soon as my camera is up and running i will post a picture.

natural sleep agents

Bananas

Bananas contain melatonin and serotonin which are practically some of the best sleep stimulating substances (such substances are frequently used in pharmaceutical industry). In addition, bananas contain magnesium which has a relaxing effect on muscles.
Warm Milk


There is definitely some significance to why our moms and granny's asked us to drink a cup of warm milk before going to bed! The explanation for this would be that milk contains tryptophane, which is an amino acid that has a sedative effect. Moreover, calcium contained by milk also helps the absorption of tryptophane.
Chamomile Tea



Trust the traditional herbs to soothe and calm your senses! Chamomile, one of the oldest garden herbs, has been known for its relaxing effect. Chamomile tea is generally known for its sedating effect, as well as a nerve-relaxant, serving to be the perfect natural antidote for stressed minds and bodies.
Potatoes


With all that starch in it, I have no doubt Potatoes would induce sleep! but jokes apart, they can help get rid of acids which can interfere with tryptophan amino acid. Baked potatoes can have an even greater sleep inducing effect if they are combined with warm milk when eaten. Aah, I wish they had a little fewer calories too!
Oatmeal

Oats are good for a good night’s sleep because they stimulate the production of melatonin. Also, with their high fiber content, they fill you up fast, triggering messages to your brain that you are satiated, hence serving to be relaxants and sleep-inducers at the same time!
There's nothing like a good night's sleep, and you should never deprive yourself of at least 6-8 hours sleep at night, but there are times when life gets really hectic (pretty much everyday!!), and its hard to force your mind to sleep!
So try these natural sleep-inducers; they'll silently do their work and do what you failed to do - ask your mind and body to sleep tonight, so you can be fresh and energetic to meet a new tomorrow!

Walnut and Honey Tart

Simply a wonderful Mediterranean tart. A long ago friend taught me the delights of this recipe when I was a student and on a minimum budget. Don't be fooled by the basic ingredients...it packs a very rich and delightful taste!

Pastry:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
dash of salt
1 tbsp. icing sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 tbsp iced water

Filling:

1 1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup water
1/2 lbs fresh shelled walnuts if possible (and here tis the season for them) and that would be about 1 lb before shelling
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2/3 cup milk
2 heaping tbsp honey


Make the pastry by sifting the salt, flour and sugar onto a pastry board. Cut the butter in with a pastry knife and then crumble it together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Sprinkle the water on it and gather it together into a ball. Sprinkle the board with a little more flour, then quickly spread the dough away from you by pushing down with the heel of your hand to ensure that you evenly distribute the butter. Gather the dough into a ball again and and then allow it to rest in the refrigerator for about an hour.

While this is chilling bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Boil rapidly until the mixture begins to thicken and starts to change colour (be patient...it DOES!) As soon as it turns just the palest brown, remove from the heat and add the walnuts and butter. Stir well, then add the milk and return to a low heat. Simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes or until the mixture becomes quite thick. Remove from the heat and stir in the honey. Leave to cool a little.

Roll out two-thirds of the dough and use to line a 8 inch flan tin or tart pan. Prick the bottom with a fork. Pour in the filling and spread out evenly. Cover with the remaining dough, seal the edges well and make a pattern of vents in the top. Bake for 30 to 40 minus in a 350 over or until the top is lightly browned. Allow to cool a bit and then turn out of the pan and leave to cool on a rack.

Maple Fudge Sour Cream Cake

Sometimes I’m just in the mood for a plain piece of cake with icing; something that goes well with a glass of milk. This is one of those recipes I wrote out many years ago and I don’t know where it’s from. Ingredients include those that you most likely have on hand and it’s easy. You will notice that it has no maple flavoring added to it, but it does have that maple or caramel flavor. You could add some, but it’s great the way it is. If the batter is a little hard to spread, but just wetting the spoon or spatula helps.

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 c brown sugar
1 c sour cream
2 cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp soda
¼ tsp salt

Beat egg, adding sugar gradually, and then sour cream, beating until smooth. Add combined dry ingredients. Spread into greased 9 X 9 pan. Bake at 350F, about 30 min. Cool and ice.

Maple Fudge Icing:
1 c brown sugar
1/3 c butter
1/3 cup milk
1 cup icing sugar

Boil brown sugar, butter and milk hard, stirring constantly, 3 min. COOL to lukewarm. Stir in icing sugar and continue stirring until spreadable consistency. This makes a generous amount of icing, but it’s pot licking good!!