Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Pie, Pie Pie!!!!

'tis Thanksgiving...'tis pie time!!!  I made a lot of pie today....my kitchen looked like a flour, sugar, butter bomb went off...but boy howdy was it wicked fun!!!!  I am including here two recipes...a maple, pecan pumpkin pie and the family standard banana cream pie.  Last year, I dared not attend my family's Thanksgiving but instead went to my amazing cousins house in Colorado.  Well, I received hate mail from my family because of the lack of banana cream pie at their Thanksgiving, in fact, we had to have Thanksgiving part two, so that we could include banana cream pie.  So, have a fabulous Thanksgiving, a happy holiday season and rock the pie world peeps!!!! xoxo...Sara


Banana Cream Pie

Mix in saucepan:
you really have to stir and watch this baby
2/3 cup sugar                                                                           
dash of salt
2 ½ Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp flour

Stir in gradually:
3 cups whole milk

Cook over moderate heat stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils.  Boil 1 minute.  Remove from heat.

Slowly stir half the mixture into:
3 egg yolks, beaten

Blend egg yolk mixture into hot mixture in saucepan.  Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.

Blend in:
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla                                           
1 Tbsp butter

Cool and pour into cooled baked pie shell, add 1-2 sliced bananas.  Chill thoroughly and add whipped topping.

**layer banana slices, one layer on the bottom, then a layer of pudding, then a layer of banana, etc. 

Graham Cracker Crust                                                        

2 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
½ cup sugar
½ cup melted butter

Mix and press into pie pan.

Bake for 10 minutes at 300 degrees.

Whipped Cream Topping
Ingredients:
·                        1 cup heavy cream
·                        1/4 cup sugar
·                        1 teaspoon vanilla
Preparation:
Whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla; beat 
until cream holds peaks. Spread over top of cooled pie.


Michele Albano's Maple Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Streusel
Ingredients
streusel is delicious
  • Pie Crust
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening, very cold
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream, for brushing
  • Pecan Streusel
  • 3/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced, cold
  • Filling
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree, preferably fresh
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup Grade B maple syrup
  • 3 large eggs, beaten
  • Maple Whipped Cream (recipe follows), for serving
Directions
To make the crust, combine the flour and salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Break up the shortening and toss it with the flour mixture to coat. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, mix the ingredients together until the dough forms coarse crumbs. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons ice-cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough easily forms a ball that can hold itself together. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and as long as overnight.
While the dough is resting, make the streusel: Toss the pecans with the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the butter, and using a pastry blender or your fingertips, work in until you have small clumps. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Sprinkle flour generously over a hard surface and roll the dough out with a rolling pin until it forms an 11-inch round. Fold the round in half, place it in a 9-inch pie plate, and then unfold the dough to completely cover the pie plate with a bit of an overhang. Tuck the overhang under to make a double-thick rim, and then use your fingers to crimp the edges of the pie shell. Brush the heavy cream over the crimped edges, and refrigerate until the filling is complete.
To make the filling, mix the pumpkin, flour, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt together with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl well. Add the heavy cream and maple syrup, scraping the bowl several times while mixing. Mix in the beaten eggs.
Pour the filling mixture into the pie shell, and bake for 15 minutes. Then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until the filling is almost firm, about 30 minutes. Remove the pie from the oven and sprinkle the pecan streusel over the top, covering the pie completely. Return the pie to the oven and bake until the filling is just a bit wobbly in the middle and the pecan streusel is golden, 10 to 15 minutes. The total baking time should be 55 to 60 minutes.
Cool the pie on a wire rack. The pie is best served at either at room temperature or cold. Before serving, garnish the pie with the Maple Whipped Cream.
  • Maple Whipped Cream
  • 2 cups heavy cream                                                                        
  • 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar                                                                     
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Grade B maple syrup, or to taste
Place the metal bowl of an electric mixer in the freezer to chill for at least 15 minutes.
Combine the cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla in the chilled bowl, and beat on high speed until the mixture thickens. Add the maple syrup and beat on high speed until the cream holds firm peaks.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Cheesecake of Awesome Deliciousness

Cheesecake is just one of those words you say and drool starts to form at the corners of your mouth...even though I like pie better....but there is something about that word...cheesecake....cheeeeeeeeesecake....anyway...my favorite cooking blog is Pioneer Woman...http://thepioneerwoman.com/ and she has a pumpkin cheesecake to die for.  The only changes I made were making my own gingersnap cookies and made the pecans into pecan pralines.  Now, I suggest you double the gingersnap recipe, because the minute they start cooking, you will be craving them....and then eating them, and then sampling them, and then accidentally dropping one on the counter, and hey, you have to eat it because its broken, and then, wait, you need to eat one with milk...and so on and so forth, y'all have your own way of justifying, rationalizing and lying to yourself about your cookie eating habits...(send me more excuses)  But they are way delicious!!!  The cheesecake is pretty easy to make, even a spazzy cook like me can pull it off.  When I took it to my work potluck today, one of the ladies had what was described as a "Hallelujah" moment.  That's what makes me happy!!  love to you all.  Laters! 

-Martha Stewart's Gingersnap Cookies

2 cups all purpose flour
yep...the one on the bottom is one I was "sampling"
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp  ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
1 cup sugar
¾ cup canola oil
1 large egg
¼ cup mild-flavored molasses (I used full flavored and LOVED it)
I accidentally added 1/4 tsp of cloves, and it was a lovely addition. 

Additional sugar for coating

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Whisk flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in large bowl.  Beat sugar and oil in another large bowl until pale in color, about 2 minutes.  Beat in egg and molasses.  Gradually stir in flour mixture.

Roll 2 tablespoonfuls dough into ball, then roll in sugar to coat.  Repeat, forming about 6 dough balls.  Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet (cookies will spread).  Bake until cookies are golden brown around edges and cracked on top, about 12 minutes.  Let cool 2 minutes on sheet; trasfer cookies to rack to cool.  Repeat with remaining dough.

Pecan Pralines Southern Style

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup pecans
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream  
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter                                                   
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, plus
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Spread the pecans on a cookie sheet and place in the oven for 3 minutes.
Stir and bake for 3 more minutes (Watch them closely so the don't get over toasted).
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Fit a heavy-bottomed saucepan with a candy thermometer.
Over high heat, cook the cream, butter and brown sugar to 240 degrees (soft ball).
If necessary, stir once to help dissolve the sugar.
Remove from the heat and let sit for 15 seconds.
CAREFULLY stir in the vanilla, , and toasted pecans.
 (It might spit and sputter) Stir until the mixture looks creamy and slightly thickened.
Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.
Cool for 20 minutes. 

PW’s Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Gingersnap Cheesecake
also known as: PW’s Pumpkin Cheesecake
**Can be halved for a smaller springform pan
Crust:
12 ounces storebought gingersnaps
1/2 cup chopped pecans
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar                                                                                         
Dash of salt
Filling:
4 packages cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)                                      
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
4 eggs
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 jar caramel topping
Extra chopped pecans
Extra crushed gingersnaps
In a food processor (or large ziploc bag) crush gingersnps. Add chopped pecans, melted butter, brown sugar, and salt, and pulse (or mix) until thoroughly combined.
Press into bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Chill for 20-30 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin and spices and mix again. Add eggs one at a time, mixing for 20 seconds between each addition. Add cream and mix until just combined.
Remove crust from fridge. Pour 1/2 jar of caramel topping on crust. (NOTE: CAN BE OMITTED; SEE NOTE ABOVE) Sprinkle caramel with chopped pecans. Gently pour cheesecake filling in pan. Even out the top with a flat spatula.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until no longer soupy. Cheesecake should still be somewhat jiggly. Cool on counter for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, pour the rest of the caramel topping over the top. Smooth with a flat spatula until evenly smooth. Cover and chill cheesecake for another four hours or overnight.
Remove rim from pan and slice. Sprinkle each slice with extra crushed gingersnaps.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Kitchen of Tasty Chaos: Simple Cheese Lasagna and Amazing Chocolate Cream ...

Kitchen of Tasty Chaos: Simple Cheese Lasagna and Amazing Chocolate Cream ...: "

Simple Cheese Lasagna and Amazing Chocolate Cream Cheese Mint bars

Yes, I have been gone for awhile...well, I actually haven't been anywhere, but I haven't been here blogging...does that make sense?  :)  I have made some things, but they failed...but this came out fantastically!  The chocolate cream cheese bars are truly amazing!!!  Enjoy and well, thanks for caring ;)





Simple cheese lasagna

15 ounces ricotta or cottage cheese
1 ¼ cups parmesan cheese grated
1/2 cup minced fresh basil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
6 cups tomato sauce
12 no-boil lasagna noodles (8 ounce package)
1 pound whole-milk mozzarella, shredded (4 cups)

Adjust an over rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees.  Mix the ricotta, 1 cup of the Parmesan, the basil, egg, salt, and pepper until well combined.

Spread ¼ cup of the tomato sauce over the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish.  Place 3 of the noodles on top of the sauce and drop 3 Tbsp of the ricotta mixture down the center of each noodle, then spread it to an even thickness.  Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of the mozzarella.  Spoon 1 ½ cups of the sauce evenly over the cheese.  Repeat this layering two more times.

For the final layer, place the 3 remaining noodles on top.  Spread the remaining 1 ¼ cups sauce over the noodles.  Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and then the remaining ¼ cup Parmesan.  Spray a large sheet of foil lightly with vegetable oil spray and cover the lasagna.  Bake for 15 minutes.

Remove the foil and continue to bake until the cheese is browned and the sauce is bubbling about 25 minutes longer.  Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Chocolate Cream Cheese Mint bars
Crust:
20 chocolate wafer cookies
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine salt

Filling:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs, room temperature

Glaze:
4 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 teaspoon light or dark corn syrup
2 tablespoons sour cream, room temperature
1/2 cup  Andes Mints chips

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil.

For the crust: Process the chocolate wafers in a food processor with the butter, sugar, and salt until fine. Evenly press the crust into the prepared dish covering the bottom completely. Bake until the crust sets, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the filling: Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; heat at 75 percent power until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir, and continue to microwave until completely melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)

Blend the cream cheese, sugar and sour cream together in the food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides, as needed. Add the eggs and pulse until just incorporated. With the food processor running, pour the chocolate into the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.

Pour the filling evenly over the crust. Bake until filling puffs slightly around the edges, but is still a bit wobbly in the center, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.

For the Glaze: Put the chocolate, butter and corn syrup, brown sugar in microwave safe bowl. Heat glaze in the microwave at 75 percent power until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir the ingredients together until smooth; add the sour cream. Spread glaze evenly over the warm cake and scatter the mint chips over top. Cool completely, then refrigerate overnight.

Cut into small bars or squares. Serve chilled or room temperature.

Store cookies covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.









Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients

 1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/3  cup Baking Cocoa

½  teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 1 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3  cup packed brown sugar
1/2  teaspoon vanilla extract
1   large eggs
irections

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.