Friday, August 12, 2011

Recipe : Boiled Chocolate Delight Cake

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Thoroughly grease bottom and sides of a 2-quart heat proof mold or 9 inch bundt pan. Sprinkle with white sugar and tap out excess.
n large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs and blend well.
In separate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, cinnamon and baking soda; add to butter mixture alternately with milk until well blended. Stir in the chopped nuts.
Spoon batter into a greased mold. Cover with piece of greased aluminum foil, greased side down. Fold down edges of foil around rim; fasten securely with string.
Place a rack in la large kettle or pot; pour in water to top of rack. Heat water to boiling; place mold on rack. Reduce heat. Cover kettle and steam cake over simmering water for hour and 25 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. (Add water, as needed, during steaming to keep water at rack level.) Remove mold from kettle; cool 10 minutes on wire rack. Run tip of sharp knife around edges; invert on serving plate. Serve hot accompanied with sauces of your choice.

Recipe : Bunch's Crab Casserole

Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup dry sherry
1 (6 ounce) package herb-seasoned dry bread stuffing mix
1 pound cooked crabmeat

Directions
Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease an 11x7 inch baking dish.
In a bowl, combine the chopped eggs, heavy cream, mayonnaise, onion, parsley, and sherry. Reserve 1/2 cup of the stuffing mix and add the rest to the egg mixture. Stir in the crabmeat.
Pour the mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle the reserved stuffing on top. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes or until bubbly and slightly browned on top.

Recipe : Barbequed Steelhead Trout

Ingredients
2 pounds steelhead trout fillets
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup barbeque sauce

Directions
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil the grate.
Arrange the trout fillets on large piece of aluminum foil. Whisk together the butter, lemon juice, paprika, and cayenne pepper; brush the mixture onto the fillets.
Cook on the preheated grill until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 10 minutes; brush the fillets with the barbeque sauce; cook another 2 minutes.

Recipe : Apricot-Ginger Asparagus

Ingredients
1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground ginger

Directions
In a large skillet, bring 1 in. of water to a boil; place asparagus in a steamer basket over water. Cover and steam for 5 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain and keep warm.
In a small skillet over medium heat, bring the preserves, vinegar, cinnamon and ginger to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2-4 minutes or until glaze begins to thicken. Pour over asparagus.

Recipe : Baked Candied Tomatoes

Ingredients
3 cups canned tomatoes
1 1/2 cups white sugar
4 slices white bread
6 tablespoons butter
1 pinch ground cinnamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Mix together the tomatoes and sugar; pour into 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.
Crumble bread and cover tomatoes. Place sliced butter on top, sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until thickened, pressing bread down often.

Recipe : Beef 'n' Cheese Macaroni

Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef
1 (7 ounce) package elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup cubed process American cheese
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside. In the same pan, melt butter. Add the cheese, milk and salt; cook and stir until the cheese is melted. Drain beef. Stir beef and macaroni into cheese sauce; heat through.

Recipe : Acorn Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup ground pecans

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, milk and extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until easy to handle.
Divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with 2-1/2-in. acorn cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips; stir them until smooth. Spread chocolate over the stem and cap of each acorn, leaving about a 1/4-in. border. Sprinkle pecans over chocolate. Pipe remaining chocolate in a criss-cross pattern over each acorn. Let stand until firm.

Recipe : Blueberry Crisp II

Ingredients
4 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place the blueberries into an 8 inch square baking dish. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in the mayonnaise until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of the berries.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is lightly browned.

Recipe : Berry Barbecued Pork Roast

Ingredients
1 (3 pound) boneless pork loin roast
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Directions
Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper. Place with fat side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice and barbecue sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook and stir for 10-12 minutes or until cranberries pop and sauce is thickened.
Brush some of the sauce over roast. Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F, brushing often with sauce. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with remaining sauce.

Recipe : Bela's Potato and White Bean Chowder

Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 medium red potatoes, chopped
1/2 tablespoon imitation bacon bits
1/8 teaspoon dried celery flakes
1 pinch ground dry mustard
1 pinch ground cloves
cayenne pepper to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups rice milk
1 1/2 cups water
1 (15 ounce) can European soldier beans, drained, liquid reserved

Directions
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and stir in the flour to form a roux. Mix in the onion and garlic, and cook and stir until tender.
Place the potatoes and bacon bits into the saucepan. Cook and stir until well coated with the roux. Season with celery flakes, ground dry mustard, cloves, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Mix in the rice milk, water, and the liquid from the beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Increase the amount of liquid if the soup seems too thick.
Mix the beans into the soup, and continue cooking about 10 minutes, until heated through.

Recipe : Best Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Ingredients
1 head fresh broccoli, chopped
1 (2 ounce) package dry cauliflower soup mix
4 cups water
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
In a medium sized stock pot, over medium heat, combine soup mix and water, stirring constantly until well mixed.
Add broccoli florets, partially cover and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes stirring often.
Once broccoli is tender, place soup in a food processor or blender and puree. Once blended return soup mixture to stock pot, add milk and stir.
Add cheese to soup mixture keeping 1/2 cup set aside. Stir soup until cheese is melted and then sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese on top of individual soup servings.

Recipe : Almost Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 cups water
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 large green pepper cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups uncooked instant rice

Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef; drain. Set beef aside and keep warm.
In the same skillet, combine water, tomatoes, green pepper, onion and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender.
Stir in rice; cover and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in beef; return to the stove and heat through.

Recipe : Buttermilk Chess Pie

Ingredients
2 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.)
In a large bowl, combine sugar and flour. Beat in the eggs and buttermilk until blended. Stir in the melted butter and vanilla. Pour filling into the pie crust.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until filling is set.

Recipe : 2-Step Beefy Taco Joes

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell's� Condensed Tomato Soup (Regular or 25% Less Sodium)
1 cup Pace� Thick & Chunky Salsa
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
8 Pepperidge Farm� Classic Sandwich Buns with Sesame Seeds

Directions
Brown ground beef in skillet. Pour off fat.
Add soup and salsa. Heat through. Top with cheese. Serve on rolls.
Serve with French fries and corn on the cob. For dessert serve chunky applesauce.

Recipe : Alaskan Spicy Spinach Dip

Ingredients
2 pounds pepperjack cheese
2 cups half-and-half cream
1 large tomato, diced
1 onion, diced
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
3 cups spinach, rinsed and chopped

Directions
Over a double boiler slowly melt the pepperjack cheese. When the cheese is melted whisk in half and half until smooth and creamy. Stir in tomato, onion, red bell pepper and chopped spinach. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve warm with tortilla chips or bread.

Recipe : Braised Pork Ragu

Ingredients
2 pounds pork shoulder roast, cut into cubes
1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken stock

Directions
Season pork with the rosemary, thyme, pepper, and salt. Heat oil in a large large Dutch over over medium-high heat. Sear pork in the hot oil until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.
Stir onion and carrot into pot; cook until onion is soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Pour in the wine; stir, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits from the bottom. Stir in the tomatoes and stock. Bring to a simmer; cook until meat is very tender and the sauce has thickened, about 30 minutes.

Recipe : Best Cream Of Broccoli Soup

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
8 cups broccoli florets
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in medium sized stock pot, and saute onion and celery until tender. Add broccoli and broth, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot.
In small saucepan, over medium-heat melt 3 tablespoons butter, stir in flour and add milk. Stir until thick and bubbly, and add to soup. Season with pepper and serve.

Recipe : Beet, Orange and Apple Salad

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds beets
2 cups shredded beet greens
1 large orange
2 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon raspberry vinegar
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons unsalted sunflower seeds, toasted

Directions
Wash and dry beet roots and greens. Shred greens to measure 2 cups and set aside.
Place beets in a sauce pan with enough water to cover. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. Drain and allow to cool.
Trim and peel off skins; cut into 8 wedges.
Peel and section orange. In a bowl, combine orange sections, beets and apples.
Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and garlic. Pour over beet mixture and toss well.
Arrange 1/2 cup beet greens on 4 salad plates. Top with beet mixture, sprinkle with sunflower seeds and serve.

Recipe : Acini di Pepe Salad

Ingredients
1 cup acini di pepe pasta
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained with juice reserved
1 (15 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained with liquid reserved
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
7 ounces miniature marshmallows
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained (optional)

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain.
In medium saucepan, combine reserved liquids from pineapple and oranges (equals about 1 1/2 cups), sugar, eggs, salt and flour. Cook until thick, stirring constantly. When mixture becomes thick, add cooked pasta and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, add pineapple and oranges, whipped topping and marshmallows to taste. Mix together and top with cherries if desired. Keep chilled until served.

Recipe : Black Beans with Bacon

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package dry black beans
2 1/2 quarts water
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 large onion, chopped
1 tomato, cubed
1 carrot, cubed
1/2 pound bacon strips, diced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Place beans in a pressure cooker with enough water to cover, and soak 12 hours, or overnight.
Add 2 1/2 quarts water to the beans, or enough to fill pressure cooker about 2/3 full. Cover, and cook 30 minutes at 10 pounds pressure. Remove from heat, and set aside.
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and saute the garlic and onion until tender. Stir in the tomato and carrot. Cook about 5 minutes, and mix in the bacon. Cook and stir until bacon is crisp and evenly browned.
Mix the vegetable and bacon mixture into the pressure cooker with the black beans. Cover, and continue cooking approximately 10 minutes at 10 pounds pressure. Garnish with parsley, and season with salt and pepper to serve.

Recipe : Brunch Enchiladas

Ingredients
1 pound cooked ham, chopped
3/4 cup sliced green onions
3/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
10 (7 inch) flour tortillas
5 eggs, beaten
2 cups half-and-half cream
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 dash hot pepper sauce

Directions
Place ham in food processor, and pulse until finely ground. Mix together ham, green onions, and green peppers. Spoon 1/3 cup of the ham mixture and 3 tablespoons shredded cheese onto each tortilla, then roll up. Carefully place filled tortillas, seam side down, in a greased 9x13 baking dish.
In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, cream, and milk, flour, garlic powder, and hot pepper sauce. Pour egg mixture over tortillas. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake, uncovered, in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until set. Sprinkle casserole with remaining 1 cup shredded cheese. Bake about 3 minutes more, or until cheese melts. Let stand a least 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe : Australian Federation Biscuits

Ingredients
2/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup hot water
1 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates
1 1/2 cups golden raisins
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water. Stir in the dates and raisins; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the date and raisin mixture. Combine the flour and cinnamon; mix into the batter until just blended. Finally stir in the walnuts. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet. Cookies should be at least 1 inch apart.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe : Angela's Awesome Enchiladas

Ingredients
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - cut into chunks
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/4 cups sour cream
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
1 (1.25 ounce) package mild taco seasoning mix
1 bunch green onions, chopped, divided
1 cup water
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
5 (12 inch) flour tortillas
3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives

Directions
Place the chicken in a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken pieces are no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Shred chicken by placing two forks back to back and pulling meat apart. Set the shredded chicken aside. Meanwhile, combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chili powder in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, then turn off the heat and cover to keep warm.
Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the shredded chicken, chopped green chilies, taco seasoning, half of the bunch of chopped green onion, and water. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the lime juice, onion powder, and garlic powder; simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stir 1 cup of the soup mixture into the skillet with the chicken mixture. Spread the remaining soup mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Fill each tortilla with chicken mixture. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the chicken filling before folding the tortillas, reserving half of the shredded cheese for topping the enchiladas. Fold tortillas over the filling and place seam-side down in the prepared pan.
Pour enchilada sauce evenly over the enchiladas. Cover with the remaining 1 1/2 cups of Cheddar cheese. Sprinkle the reserved chopped green onions and the sliced olives on top of the cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until filling is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 25 minutes.

Recipe : Banana Sour Cream Bread

Ingredients
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup butter
3 cups white sugar
6 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease four 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
In a large bowl, cream butter and 3 cups sugar. Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in nuts. Divide into prepared pans.
Bake for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Recipe : Banana Tea Slice

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
1/2 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup shredded coconut
6 graham crackers
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice

Directions
Line bottom of 8 inch square pan with graham wafers. Beat 1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1/2 cup icing sugar and 1 egg yolk until fluffy. Mix together maraschino cherries, walnuts, banana, lemon juice and coconut. Spread over wafers. Cover with another layer of graham wafers and press down.
Cream together 2 tablespoons. butter, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup almond extract and enough maraschino cherry juice to make spreading easy. Spread over wafers and chill 24 hours. Slice and serve.

Recipe : Broiled Lobster Tails

Ingredients
2 whole lobster tails
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon ground paprika
salt to taste
ground white pepper, to taste
1 lemon - cut into wedges, for garnish

Directions
Preheat the broiler.
Place lobster tails on a baking sheet. With a sharp knife or kitchen shears, carefully cut top side of lobster shells lengthwise. Pull apart shells slightly, and season meat with equal amounts butter, paprika, salt, and white pepper.
Broil lobster tails until lightly browned and lobster meat is opaque, about 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with lemon wedges to serve.

Recipe : Angela's Oriental Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients
3 cups water
1 (3 ounce) package chicken flavored ramen noodles
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
2 leaves bok choy, sliced
1 carrot, sliced
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Directions
In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Break up block of noodles and stir into pot, reserving seasoning packet. Stir in chicken, bok choy and carrot. Bring to a boil again, then reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Stir in contents of seasoning packet and sesame oil.

Recipe : Baked Pita Triangles

Ingredients
6 pitas (6-inch rounds), split, then quartered

Directions
Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees.
Place pita triangles directly on rack. Bake until golden brown and completely crisp, about 10 minutes.

Recipe : Barbecue Slaw

Ingredients
2 cups Red Cabbage, shredded
2 cups Green Cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup Red or White Onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup Red or Green Bell Peppers, or a combination
1/2 cup Carrots, shredded
1/4 cup Marzetti� Slaw Dressing
1/4 cup Barbecue Sauce
1/8 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce

Directions
In a mixing bowl, combine cabbage, onion, peppers and carrots. In a small bowl, mix slaw dressing, barbecue sauce and Tabasco sauce. Pour over vegetables and toss lightly. Serve immediately.

Recipe : Butter Mint Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions
In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and extract. Gradually add the flour; mix well. Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets; flatten with a glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes or until firm. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Recipe : Beef Onion Soup

Ingredients
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
1 cup cubed cooked beef
2 (3/4 inch thick) slices French bread, toasted
1/3 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 teaspoons shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions
Prepare soup according to package directions; add beef. Ladle into two 2-cup ovenproof bowls. Top each with a French bread slice. Sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese and Parmesan cheese if desired. Broil until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Recipe : Banana Souffle

Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 egg whites
2 eggs, separated
1 pinch salt
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 tablespoon honey, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
1 tablespoon sweetened cocoa powder

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Brush 4 1-cup souffle dishes with melted butter; sprinkle the insides of the cups with sugar.
Set the egg yolks aside, and place the 4 egg whites into the work bowl of an electric mixer. Beat the egg whites and salt until the whites form soft peaks.
Place the 2 egg yolks, bananas, honey, vanilla extract, and ginger into a blender; pulse until smooth.
Scoop the banana mixture into a bowl; use a rubber spatula or wire whisk to gently fold 1/4 of the beaten egg whites into the banana mixture. Gently run the spatula through the center of the bowl, then around the sides of the bowl, repeating until fully incorporated. Fold in the remaining egg whites, being careful to keep as much air in the mixture as possible.
Spoon the souffle mixture into the prepared dishes; bake in the preheated oven until the souffles have puffed up above the baking dishes and the tops are browned, about 15 minutes. Sift a little sweetened cocoa powder over each souffle for garnish to serve.

Recipe : Alfredo Light

Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 cups skim milk
1 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 ounces dry fettuccine pasta
1 (16 ounce) package frozen broccoli florets

Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and saute until golden brown.
In a small saucepan, stir together milk, chicken broth, flour, salt and pepper over low heat until smooth and thick. Stir into onion mixture. Continue to cook over medium low heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce is thick. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water. Add broccoli to the pasta for the last several minutes of cooking. Continue cooking until the pasta is al dente.
Drain the pasta and vegetables, and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with sauce. Serve.

Recipe : Apple and Pear Soup

Ingredients
1 tablespoon reduced-fat margarine
3 tart apples - peeled, cored, and chopped
3 pears - peeled, cored, and chopped
5 cups vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons pureed fresh ginger
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions
Melt the margarine in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir the apples and pears in the melted margarine for about 5 minutes. Add the vegetable broth, sage, pepper, and bay leaf to the pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Place a cover on the saucepan and allow the mixture to simmer until hot and the apples and pears are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Pour about 1/3 of the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold the lid of the blender in place with a towel and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth; pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the saucepan. Return the pureed soup to the saucepan and warm over medium heat until completely reheated. Garnish with parsley to serve.

Recipe : Aunties Wild Huckleberry Pie

Ingredients
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
4 cups huckleberries
2 1/2 tablespoons tapioca
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon butter

Directions
Mix together the huckleberries, tapioca, sugar, salt, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell. Dot top with butter. Add top pastry and flute edges.
Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Then turn oven down to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45-55 minutes. Longer if berries are frozen.

Recipe : Big M's Grilled Orange Lamb Kabobs

Ingredients
2 1/4 pounds lean lamb meat, cubed
1 1/3 cups coriander seeds
4 1/4 cups fresh orange juice
6 orange, peeled, sectioned, and cut into bite-size pieces
1 hot chile pepper, minced
2/3 cup orange liqueur
1 bunch fresh cilantro

Directions
Place lamb meat into a large nonmetallic bowl. Grind the coriander seed in a mortar and pestle, and rub into the meat. Pour orange juice and orange liqueur over meat, and mix in minced chile pepper and chopped orange. Cover, and refrigerate for 24 hours. Turn the meat over every couple of hours.
Preheat grill for medium heat. Remove the lamb and orange pieces from marinade, and transfer marinade to a small saucepan. Set marinade aside. Thread the cubes of lamb on skewers, alternating with pieces of orange, and starting and finishing with a piece of orange.
Place saucepan with marinade on the grill, and bring to the boil. Continue boiling until reduced to a sticky but fluid sauce.
Once the marinade has come to the boil, place the skewers on the grill. Cook slowly until slightly charred, and cooked to your preference. Transfer skewers to a warm dish, and cover for 5 minutes. Serve with the orange sauce, garnished with sprigs of fresh cilantro.