Monday, January 31, 2011

January Recipe Swap- Soups

Festive Black Bean Chili
submitted by Ellen P.
(I can't remember where I got the recipe from--apologies to whoever this recipe belongs to)

2 cups chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/2 cup water
1 T ground cumin
1 T ground coriander
1 cup prepared Mexican-style red salsa
2 red and/or green bell peppers, chopped
3 cups black beans (two 15-ounce cans, drained and rinsed)
3 cups canned whole tomatoes, with juice (28-ounce can)
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels (11-ounce package)
salt to taste
Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce to taste
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, or to taste (optional)

In a covered soup pot, cook the onions and garlic in the water on high heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes. Add the cumin and coriander and stir on high heat for a minute. Stir in the salsa and bell peppers, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the black beans and tomatoes; simmer for 10 minutes. Add the corn and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Add salt and Tabasco to taste. Stir in the cilantro, if desired.

Serves 4 to 6
Total time: 35 minutes

Carrot Ginger Soup
submitted by Margaret M.
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped coarse (about 5 cups)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, minced
Salt and ground black pepper
2 T grated fresh ginger
¾ C whole milk
¼ C orange juice
1 T minced fresh chives

1. Heat broth mixture: Bring broth and carrots to boil, covered, in large saucepan and set aside.
2. Sauté onion: Meanwhile, melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and ½ tsp. salt and cook until softened, 3-5 minutes.
3. Sauté ginger and add broth mixture: Stir in ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in broth mixture. Bring to simmer and cook until carrots are tender, 10-13 minutes.
4. Puree soup, finish, and season: Puree soup in batches in blender until smooth. Return pureed soup to pot and stir in milk and orange juice. Return to brief simmer, then removed from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with chives before serving.
serves 6

Awesome Potato & Sausage Soup
submitted by Laura P-N.

6-8 Yukon gold potatoes (or 4 large baking potatoes), peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
4 cups chicken stock
2 lbs. sausage, out of the casing (use mild sausage if you want a mild soup)
1½ cup diced onion
1¾ cup finely diced celery
1 stick butter
1 quart heavy whipping cream
3 or 4 T balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Salt and pepper, to taste

In a large stock pot, add potatoes and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 20 minutes. In a sauté pan over medium heat, add sausage and chopped onion and celery and sauté until completely cooked. Drain sausage mixture. Add to stockpot with butter. Add cream and extra broth, if needed. Cook for about 15 minutes on medium-low. Add vinegar, vanilla, and parsley at end of cooking. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

French Onion Soup
submitted by Shaunna B.

3 Tbs olive oil
2 large Red Onions, sliced
2 Large Yellow Onions, sliced
4 Leeks, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp sugar
7 cups beef or chicken broth
2 crushed cloves of garlic
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp dry thyme
salt/pepper to taste
shredded gruyere cheese and french bread, sliced

Sauté onions in olive oil for 15 minutes on medium heat. Sprinkle sugar on them, cook for additional 30-40 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add beef/chicken broth, garlic, bay leaf, and thyme, salt/pepper. simmer for 30 minutes
Ladle soup into oven safe bowls, toast bread, put bread in bowls on top of soup and cover with cheese. Broil to melt cheese, serve.

Anything Goes Soup
Saralynn Jensen

1/2 cup wild rice blend
2+ Tbsp dry onions
2+ Tbsp dry carrot dices
2 -3 beef bouillon cubes
3 1/2 cups water
1/2 lb ground beef (can substitute a couple cups of pinto, kidney beans, etc.)
1/4 cup alphabet noodles
2 cups corn, frozen or canned
2 cups green beans, frozen or canned
8 oz tomato sauce (can use whatever tomato-based sauce you have in your fridge)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/4 tsp black pepper

Combine rice, onion, carrot, bouillon and water. Simmer for 30 to 45
minutes until rice is tender. Add all other ingredients except spices
and bring to simmer. Add spice and turn off heat.
This is a great soup to use up leftovers - throw in whatever you think
will taste good with Italian type flavors.


Easiest and Best Black Bean Soup  (Submitted by Elyse S.)
2 cans black beans (15 ounces), drained and rinsed
1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon cumin
Cheddar cheese (optional)
Sour cream (optional)
Green onions (optional)

In a food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth. Pour into medium saucepan and heat thoroughly. Serve with sour cream, cheese, and green onions, if desired.

Refried Beans

1 onion
3 c (dry) pinto beans
1/2 jalapeno
2 T garlic
5 t salt (bouillon)
1 3/4 t pepper
1/8 t cumin
9 c water

Cook for 8 hrs. in crockpot. Leave one cup of liquid and throw rest out. Put in food processor/blender and blend. You can use this for bean burritos. I would guess it makes about 4 cups of beans.

Smothered Burrito Sauce

1 c. water
3/4 c. salsa
1/4 c. tomato paste
1/4 c. corn meal
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 c. tomato sauce

Put beans in shells. Fold into burritos. Put sauce on top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake @ 350 degrees for 10 min. If you don't have time to make the sauce you can buy the red or green enchilada sauce. 

Thursday, November 11, 2010

November Recipe Swap - Biscotti

Biscotti


Beat together:
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil (optional)
Then add:
1 tsp almond, lemon OR anise extract (your choice)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder

When mixed, slowly add in:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Grease and flour a 10 1/2" x 16" cookie sheet with sides (sometimes called a jelly roll pan). Pour in batter. Bake at 375 F for 15 to 17 minutes. Cut into 3 sections lengthwise then cut diagonally.

For softer cookie: Frost and sprinkle with non-pareils. Cut when cool.

Frosting: 1/2 box confectioners sugar and a little milk with 1 tsp almond or anise extract to the consistency of soft peanut butter

For crunchy cookie: After the cookies are cut, spread on cookie sheets and bake 15 to 20 minutes at (250 F to 275 F), turning halfway through. Good for dunking.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

October Recipe Swap - Pumpkin

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread (Alecia Williams)
Blend:
4 eggs
3 cups sugar
2 cups pumpkin
1 cup oil
2/3 cup water
Sift together and then add to mixture:
3½ cups flour
1 T baking soda
1 1/4 t. Salt
1 t cinnamon

Stir in:
½ bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ bag mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake at 325 degrees (this recipe makes 7 small loaf pans) for 45-50 minutes.


Pumpkin Squares (Gloria Daniels)
4 eggs
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 t baking powder
2 t cinnamon
1 t salt
1 t baking soda

Beat eggs, sugar and oil.  Add pumpkin.  Sift dry ingredients together and add to mixture.  Pour into greased jelly roll pan.  Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting
3 ounces cream cheese
1/3 cup butter
1 T milk
1 t vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla until creamy.   Add sugar and frost.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Tea Party

Shortbread
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter,no substitutes
Combine flour, sugar and salt in a bowl.  Cut in cold butter with fork until dough sticks together (takes a few minutes).  Press into springform, tart, or shortbread pan.  Prick with fork and cut with knife into wedges.  Bake at 350 F until just browned at the edges - do not let middle brown.  Let cool in the pan.

Friday, July 16, 2010

July Recipe Swap - Ice Cream

Simple Vanilla Ice Cream (Cuisinart)

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups whole milk
1-1/8 cups granulated sugar
3 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the milk and granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. Turn the machine on; pour the mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.



Tutti-Fruity Ice Cream (from Ben Beutler's grandmother)

1 can Eagle Brand milk
1 small can Carnation milk
4 eggs
1 large pkg strawberry jello
1 pkg frozen strawberries(thawed)
3 bananas, diced
1 1/2 cups sugar
1  13oz can crushed pinapple
1/2 cup pecans
1 qt half & half

Mix these ingredients and freeze in ice cream freezer

Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream (Cuisinart)

Ingredients

3 cups fresh ripe strawberries, stemmed and sliced
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1-1/2 cup sugar, divided
1-1/4 cups whole milk
2-3/4 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the strawberries with the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Stir gently and allow the strawberries to macerate in the juices for 2 hours. Strain the berries, reserving juices. Mash or purée half the berries.
In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the milk and remaining granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream, reserved strawberry juice, mashed strawberries, and vanilla. Turn the machine on; pour the mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. Five minutes before mixing is completed, add the reserved sliced strawberries and let mix in completely. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.
Note: I tossed all the strawberries in the blender.  I like it that way (no clumps).


Mango Sorbet (from Williams-Sonoma)

2 ripe Mangos (about 2lbs total weight) cubed
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar

Pour the Mango cubes into a bowl and mash with a fork. You should have about 2 1/2 cups mango pulp. Add the lemon juice and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.

In a small, heavy saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is clear, about 1 minute. Set aside and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hours or up to 8 hours. 

Add the syrup to the mango pulp and stir to combine. The mixture does not have to be smooth; it will blend during churning. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer the sorbet to a freezer-safe container. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 3 days, before serving. 

Makes about 1 1/2 pints 

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Smoked salmon tea sandwiches

Smoked salmon tea sandwiches

8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
2 t fresh chives
1 T dried dill
4 slices thin-sliced white bread
3/4 lb. thinly sliced smoked salmon

Combine first 3 ingredients and blend well. Spread on one side of 2 bread slices. Lay salmon slices on cream cheese. Cover with remaining bread. Trim crusts and cut into squares or diamonds.

Yield: 8 tea sandwiches
submitted by: Kimberly Burnett

Saturday, April 17, 2010

White Chocolate and Craisin Drop Biscuits

White Chocolate and Craisin Drop Biscuits
Follow recipe on side of Bisquick box for biscuits.
Add white chocolate chips and craisins to taste.(half cup of each)
Do not roll and shape dough.
Mix dough, chips and craisins till wet then STOP MIXING. This is the most important part. Drop on ungreased pan with spoon.
Add 2-3 minutes to baking time on baking directions on side of box for biscuits.
*recipe taken from a professional chef at a bed and breakfast.
submitted by: Carrie Brady