No-Bake Cookies

Great no-bake cookies made with oatmeal, peanut butter and cocoa. Start timing when mixture reaches a rolling boil; this is the trick to successful cookies. If you boil too long the cookies will be dry and crumbly. If you don't boil long enough the cookies won't form properly."

INGREDIENTS

• 1 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

Peas And Pearls

Peas And Pearls

1 cup chicken broth 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 3 teaspoons chopped fresh dill 1 (10-ounce) package frozen pearl onions, thawed 1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas, thawed 1 small bunch watercress, washed and trimmed Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper In a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, combine the chicken broth, 2 tablespoons of the butter, and 2 teaspoons of the dill. Once the liquid gets hot, add the pearl onions and peas. Cook and stir for 5 minutes until well coated and thickened slightly. Add the watercress, remaining butter, and dill; season with salt and pepper.

Black Russian Pie

This is from a fantasy football website, it is very delicious.

Black Russian Pie:

Crust:
1 C chocolate wafer crumbs (or chocolate graham crackers)
2 tbs unsalted butter, melted
2 tbs kahlua

combine well. press onto bottom and sides of 9-inch pie plate. chill for 10-15 min.

Filling:
1/2 C milk
2 envelops unflavored gelatin
1/2 C kahlua
2 eggs
1/2 C sugar
1/3 C vodka
1 1/2 C heay cream, whipped
shaved chocolate

Heat milk to boiling. add gelatin and kahlua.... stir until dissolved. in a blender, mix eggs, sugar, vodka. with machine running pour in milk mixture and blend well. transfer to a bowl. chill for 15-30 min. fold gelatin mixture into whipped cream. pour into crust. chill until set (about 3 hours). sprinkle shaved chocolate on top right before serving.

Traditional Pumpkin Pie

This is a delicious pumpkin pie recipe. It is a very simple recipe, just mix it and bake. It has been used by Libby's for over 50 years.

Traditional Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz.) 100% pure pumpkin
  
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
  
• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
• Whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

POUR into pie shell.

BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.
(LIBBY'S)

NOTES:
1 3/4 teaspoons pumpkin spice may be substituted for the cinnamon, ginger and cloves; however, the taste will be slightly different. Do not freeze, as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.

FOR 2 SHALLOW PIES: substitute two 9-inch (2-cup volume) pie shells. Bake in preheated 425° F. oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F.; bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until pies test done.

Tips For Your Thanksgiving Meal

Below are some tips to make your Thanksgiving Meal come of with out a hitch!

1. Plan your meal in advance.
2. Collect your recipes well in advance and keep them together.
   
3. Ask for help. If you are expecting a big crowd ask some of your guests to bring an item. Ask others to lend a hand with other details.
4. Shop for everything you can early to get them out of the way. Last minute shopping will put a kink in your master plan.
5. Things like cranberry sauce and slaw can be made a day in advance, freeing up valuable time for the big day. Clean out the refrigerator.
   
6. Turkey Day! Make a plan. No what needs to be cooked separate from the bird.
   
7. Don't Panic-This is fun, relax and enjoy it!
   

Walnut Apple Slaw

Here is a great way to liven up your slaw!

Walnut Apple Slaw

Ingredients:

6 cups shredded cabbage
1-1/2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
3/4 cup raisins
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup buttermilk
4 to 5 tablespoons sugar
4-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 medium apples, chopped


Directions

(To decrease the preparation time of Walnut Apple Slaw, use a 16-ounce bag of coleslaw mix for the shredded cabbage and carrots.)

1. In a large salad bowl, toss the cabbage, carrots, walnuts, raisins and onion.

2. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, buttermilk, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

3. Pour over cabbage mixture and toss to coat.

4. Gently fold in apples.

5. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Serves 12

Chocolate Cranberry Truffles

Here is one I like during the holiday season:

Chocolate Cranberry Truffles

9 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1. Place chocolate, cranberry sauce and heavy cream in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until sauce is smooth, whisking frequently. Remove from heat and pour into a glass or plastic bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let sit at room temperature to thicken.
2. Combine cocoa and 1 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar on a small plate. Scoop out a rounded teaspoonful of chocolate mixture. Roll in cocoa, coating throroughly. Dust hands with powdered sugar. Roll truffle in hands to form a 1-inch ball. Continue forming truffles with remaining chocolate mixture.

Makes 30 truffles.

(Recipe provided courtesy of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.)

Pumpkin Pie With Cranberry Topping

Put a little twist into the traditional pumpkin pie. Your guests will love you for it!

Pumpkin Pie With Cranberry Topping:

Pastry:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small chunks
2 tablespoons ice water, plus more if needed
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Filling:
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Pinch salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Topping:
1/2 cup pecans
4 ounces frozen cranberries
1 (2.3-ounce) package amaretto cookies (about 12)

Make the pastry: combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the ice water and work it in to bind the dough until it holds together without being too wet or sticky. Squeeze a small amount together, if it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.

Sprinkle the counter and a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll the dough out into a 10-inch circle. Carefully roll the dough up onto the pin and lay it inside a 9-inch pie pan. Press the dough firmly into the bottom and sides so it fits tightly. Trim the excess dough around the rim and pinch the edges to form a border. Place the crust on a sheet pan to catch any spills. Refrigerate until ready to fill.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Filling: Puree the pumpkin in a food processor with the butter and a pinch of salt. Measure 1 1/2 cups puree into a bowl. In another bowl beat the eggs and sugar until the sugar has melted. Add the eggs to the pumpkin puree and whisk well. Add the cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir well to combine. Pour the mixture into the pie shell, and place on the bottom rack of the oven. Brush the pastry with the beaten egg white. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and bake until the pie is set but still jiggles slightly, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool.

Meanwhile, put the pecans on a baking sheet and bake them with the pie for about 10 minutes to toast them. Remove them from the oven and let them cool. Thaw the cranberries in a strainer set over a bowl to catch the liquid. Put the cookies, pecans, and cranberries into a food processor and pulse them a few times until they are coarsely chopped. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the cooled pie and serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers.

Sweet Potatoes with Pecan

These sweet potatoes are tremendous.

Sweet potatoes with marshmallow and pecans:

12 large sweet potatoes
3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted pecan pieces
1 cup miniature marshmallows Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Wash the sweet potatoes, scrubbing them well to remove any dirt. With a fork, prick the sweet potatoes in a couple of spots and place them on a sheet pan. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center goes in easily.

In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and flour together until it's crumbly-looking. Add the cinnamon, salt, pecans, and marshmallows; fold the streusel topping together to combine.

Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise down the center and push the ends towards the middle so it opens up. Stuff the sweet potatoes generously with the streusel topping and return to the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and brown.

Cranberry Relish

Here is a wonderful cranberry dish.

Cranberry Relish

2 pounds fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup Grand Marnier liqueur
1 orange, zested and juiced

Place all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor, pulse several times to breakdown the cranberries and incorporate the ingredients; it should still be a bit chunky. Allow the cranberry relish to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, so the flavors can marry.

More Stuffing

Easy Thanksgiving Stuffing:

INGREDIENTS:

• several loaves of bread-toasted and torn into bite sizes
• chicken broth or canned chicken broth
• 1-2 eggs
• sage
• poultry seasoning
• onions and celery chopped and lightly fried in butter
• salt and pepper

PREPARATION:

Combine all ingredients. Stuff the turkey right before roasting.

We alway stuff the bird. There will be extra so just put in a casserole dish and bake.

This is a very easy and very good stuffing recipe. A very traditional recipe, no frills, just good.

Sausage Stuffing

Sausage Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing:

1 pound mild bulk breakfast sausage
4 tablespoons butter
3 cups sliced leeks, white and pale green parts only, cleaned well (about 2 large leeks)
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped
1 cup chopped celery with leaves
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 cup dried cranberries, rehydrated in boiling water for 15 minutes and drained
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
6 cups boxed bread cubes (croutons)
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 to 3 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Place the sausage in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, crumbling coarsely with the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage and drippings to a large bowl. Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, apples, celery and poultry seasoning to the skillet and saute until the leeks are soft, about 8 minutes. Mix in the drained cranberries, sage and rosemary. Add the mixture to the sausage, then mix in the croutons and parsley. Next add the chicken stock a little at a time until the stuffing is very moist. Be sure not to overdo it; it shouldn't be mushy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place in a casserole dish. (The stuffing can be made to this point 2 days before Thanksgiving, refrigerated.)

Bake in a 9 by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish and place, uncovered, in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until the top is crispy and the center piping hot. Remove and serve immediately.

*Note: If stuffing a turkey, the stuffing must be cold before being placed in the bird.

The Goodies

There are many wonderful Thanksgiving recipes available. Many of my favorites will be here. I hope you enjoy them. The first recipe I am posting is for the bird of course.

This is a very simple recipe for smoked turkey:

Smoked Turkey

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
• 1 (20 pound) bag high quality charcoal briquettes
• hickory chips or chunks

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the charcoal into the bottom pan of the smoker. Light the coals and wait for the temperature of the smoker to come to 240 degrees F (115 degrees C). Lightly oil grate.
2. Rinse turkey under cold water, and pat dry. Place hickory chips into a pan with water to cover.
3. Place turkey onto the prepared grate. Add 2 handfuls damp chips at start of cooking, then a handful every couple of hours during the cooking process. Leave the lid on - DO NOT keep looking at turkey, or you will let the heat out! Continue smoking until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches180 degrees F (82 degrees C), or keep going until the coals die out.

Tips:

Don't keep checking bird, you will let the heat out.
Use a meat thermometer to make sure turkey is cooked to correct temperature.
Use orange juice or other liquid in water pan for added flavor.