Sweet Potato Soup

I keep a stock of this in my freezer at all times. And it’s one of those recipes that has a lot of leeway as far as the ingredients.

INGREDIENTS:

3 large sweet potatoes	Black pepper to taste
*3 (14-oz) cans chicken broth (just over 5 cups)	Orange zest to taste (opt--changes the texture a bit)
1/4 cup brown sugar, or more to taste	Cayenne pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)	**1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

*I prefer to use about 1½ C chicken or turkey broth with the rest as milk, and maybe some orange juice.

**I don’t usually have heavy cream on hand (because if I did, I’d put it in everything!). So you can substitute half and half, whole milk, or 2 Tbsp or so of butter. It will taste different, but still very good. As I said, the ingredients are really here just to make it taste good. So you can add or subtract whatever suits you, as long as you end up with the consistency of soup you like.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Bake sweet potatoes in preheated oven until soft, about 1 1/2 hours (you can also use a microwave). Remove and let cool slightly.

3. Peel sweet potatoes, and puree with chicken broth in batches, using enough chicken broth so that it purees smoothly. Bring puree to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the sugar, salt, nutmeg, black pepper, orange zest, and cayenne pepper; cover, and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in cream.

Easy Flourless Chocolate Cake

This is really rich and delicious.

10 ½ ounces (just under 2 C) dark or semi-sweet chocolate

1 ¼ sticks unsalted butter

1 ½ cups sugar

Pinch of salt

5 large eggs

Confectioners’ sugar (opt)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8- or 9-inch springform pan very well.

In a double boiler set over barely simmering water, melt the butter first, then add the chocolate and melt, and then add the sugar and salt, stirring frequently the whole time. (You can put them all in at the same time, but this order makes it easier to mix). In a medium bowl, beat the eggs for several minutes while the other ingredients melt. Fold the egg mixture into the chocolate and stir until thickened, several minutes. I use my KitchenAid mixer to beat the eggs and stir it all together.

Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake 45 minutes, or until the top is set and begins to crack. You can always do the toothpick test on it. By the way, it’s better to overcook this a little than to undercook it. Overcooked, the edges are a tiny bit crispy. Undercooked, it falls apart when you take off the sides of the pan (or so I’ve heard).

Remove the side of the pan and let the cake cool completely.

Dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired. It’s also delicious with fresh strawberries.

PER SERVING: 435 calories; 5 g protein; 48 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 26 g fat (15 g saturated); 143 mg cholesterol; 29 mg sodium

Blueberry Cobbler

1 stick butter
1 c milk
1 c sugar
1 c flour
3 t baking powder
1 can blueberries, drained
brown sugar

Melt butter & pour in 9x9 pan. Combine next 4 ingredients, & pour over butter. Pour fruit over top. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake 30-40 mins at 375. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Fondue

Yummy fondue goodness! (from the February Fondue Night)


Chocolate Raspberry Fondue

2/3 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup seedless raspberry preserves
1 tablespoon honey
1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chunks

In a fondue pot or 2-quart saucepan, mix whipping cream, raspberry preserves and honey. Heat over warm/simmer setting or medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, just until bubbles rise to surface (do not boil).

Add chocolate; stir with wire whisk until melted. Keep warm over warm/simmer setting. Serve with dippers.



Chocolate Cream Pie Fondue

8 ounces milk chocolate finely chopped
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
½ cup milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt chocolate; add cream cheese, milk and vanilla and stir until blended. Pour into warm fondue pot. Keep warm over low heat.



White Chocolate Butterscotch Fondue
(tastes like caramel!)

1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
¾ cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup water
¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped

Combine brown sugar, corn syrup and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add the butter and stir until melted. Add the cream and vanilla and stir until the mixture is blended. Add the white chocolate and stir until smooth. Pour into a warm fondue pot. Keep warm over low heat.


Thanks, Rebecca, for sharing these!

Mini Flourentine Cups

I found this recipe on Kraftfoods.com -love this site!- This is a very easy appetizer and can be made in advance. Enjoy!

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, cooked, well drained

1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1/3 cup Cream Cheese

1 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Tbsp. finely chopped onions

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

24 slices OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Shaved Oven Roasted Turkey Breast

Make it!

HEAT oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients except turkey.

FLATTEN turkey slices; place 1 slice on bottom and up side of each of 24 miniature muffin cups. Fill with spinach mixture.

BAKE 15 min. or until heated through. Cool in pan 5 min. before serving.

kitchen tips

MAKE AHEAD

Having a party? Assemble appetizers several hours in advance. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Then, uncover and bake as directed.

SPECIAL EXTRA

Add 1 to 2 Tbsp. chopped water chestnuts to the spinach mixture before spooning into prepared cups. (This is not recommended for those watching their carbohydrate intake.)

SUBSTITUTE

Prepare using OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Shaved Smoked Ham.

Chinese Chicken Salad

Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1/2 lb. white chicken meat, cooked and shredded
1/4 cup soy sauce (use wheat-free soy sauce for gluten-free version)
1 teaspoon sherry
1 Tablespoon sugar

High smoke point cooking oil, such as grapeseed oil, corn oil, or peanut oil
2 oz. bean threads (one bunch)
4 green onions, shredded lengthwise
1 small head of lettuce (romaine works), shredded
2 Tablespoons chopped toasted almonds
2 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Sauce:
2 Tbsp sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
3 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp dark sesame oil
3 Tbsp vinegar

* Serves 4 to 6

METHOD

1 Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken (if you don't have any already cooked, poach chicken pieces in simmering water until no longer pink inside). Mix soy sauce, sherry and sugar in a bowl and add the chicken. Let soak for 10 minutes. Remove chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Fry the shredded chicken in a little cooking oil on medium high heat to make it a little crispy and to bake in the seasoning. Set aside.

2 Put 3/4 inch of high smoke point cooking oil (such as grapeseed oil, or peanut oil) into a small saucepan. Heat on high heat until when you flick a drop or two of water into the oil it sizzles. Take one bunch of the dried bean threads and gently break them up a bit. Test the oil by putting one bean thread into the oil. If the oil is hot enough, the bean thread will almost immediately sizzle and puff up. That's when you know the oil is hot enough. Working with a few bean threads at a time, put them in the hot oil. As soon as they puff up, remove them carefully with tongs and place them on a paper towel to cool. The paper towel helps remove any excess oil. Set aside.

3 Cut your green onions, shredding them lengthwise as shown. Toast your chopped almonds, or chop your toasted almonds; toast your sesame seeds. (Heat a thin skillet to medium high heat, add the seeds - or nuts, don't do them both together - stir frequently until they begin to brown, remove from heat, they will continue to cook. Let cool to room temp.)

4 Mix all of the sauce ingredients together, in the order listed. Just before serving the salad, mix all of the salad ingredients together - lettuce, chicken, bean threads, almonds, sesame seeds, and sauce.

Zucchini Chip Bread

So I've made this recipe for a few activities, and I thought I might as well post it so others can enjoy it, too!


Zucchini Chip Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and baking powder. In another bowl, beat the eggs, applesauce, oil, orange peel and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the zucchini, nuts and chocolate chips.

Transfer to two greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for another 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves.


*I usually leave out the orange peel when I bake this bread. I don't like the flavor it adds--reminds me too much of a fruitcake cookie I never liked. And I usually bake mini-loaves of zucchini bread. The oven temperature is still the same, but the cook time is 40-45 minutes long.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

1 egg
2 t vanilla
1 c brown sugar
1 c butter
1 c peanut butter
1 c flour
1/4 c cocoa
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 pkg chocolate or peanut butter chips (opt)
Mix first 7 ingredients together. Mix in chips. Bake 10 mins at 350 degrees.

...saucy parmesan chicken

Found this amazing recipe in the Kraft's magazine a few years ago. This is a keeper! And it's FAST!

Cast of Characters
(aka ingredients!)
4 boneless chicken breasts (I use chicken strips/tenders)
1/4 c Italian dressing
1/4 c parmesan cheese

Place all ingredients in a resealable bag. Turn over several times to coat well. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to marinate, making sure chicken is not overlapping each other. Prehead oven to 350 degrees. Arrange chicken on a piece of foil. Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Amy's Note: I use the cheapest Italian dressing I can find. It works just as well as the expensive stuff!! I also use the chicken strips/tenders for this recipe. Also this recipe is great with buttered parmesan noodles!

.... cheddar chowder

I had this years ago at a bridal shower, and it was so divine! So fattening too! Serve this with warm bread and a salad on the side!

Ingredients for soup:
2 c diced potatoes
1/2 c diced carrots
1/2 c diced celery
1/4 c chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 c water

Ingredients for white sauce:
1/4 c butter
1/4 c flour
2 c milk
2 c grated cheese
1 c cubed ham

Mix all vegetables except white sauce ingredients and bring to boil. Boil for 10-12 minutes while making the white sauce.

To make the white sauce: melt butter in a saucepan and add flour to make a paste. Add milk and stir constantly over low to medium head. Heat until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and add cheese. Pour sauce into vegetables (do not drain the water!) and add ham. Heat thoroughly and serve!

Amy's Notes: I buy the small packages of diced ham found in the meat department by the bacon & lunch meats. It's the perfect size!