Fresh Pear Pie

Ingredients

Classic Pie Pastry for one 9 inch double-crust pie

Filling:

½ cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 Bartlett or Bosc pears (about 6 cups)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Topping:

Approximately 1 teaspoon milk (preferably whole milk)
Approximately 1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare pastry for one 9 inch double-crust pie. Line a 9 inch pie pan with the bottom pastry.

Filling:

In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
Peel, core, and dice pears into small pieces, about ¼ inches thick. Toss pear pieces into sugar mixture, stir until well mixed. Sprinkle lemon juice over pear mixture, stir until well mixed.
Spread pear mixture in the pastry-lined pie pan. Cover filling with the top pastry and flute the edges. Cut slits or decorative designs in the top pastry to allow steam to escape.

Topping:

Using a pastry brush, lightly brush milk over top pastry and fluted edges, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar.

Bake:

Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven to 350 degrees F. Bake an additional 60 minutes, or until the pear juices are bubbling and the crust is a golden brown. Tip: During baking, if crust is getting too brown, loosely place a piece of foil over the top to prevent the crust from over-browning.
Remove from oven. Cool on a wire cooling rack before cutting and serving.

Tip: Fruit pies are juicy and usually bubble over while baking; bubbling fruit juices are very sticky and can be hard to clean up. There are a few solutions for easy clean up. Place the pie on a rimmed baking sheet that has been lined with foil or parchment paper. If using foil, grease the foil for easier removal, or juices that have bubbled over will cause the foil to stick to the bottom of the pan. Discard the paper or foil along with the spilled juices after baking. Or, place a non-stick baking mat on top of un-greased foil, curve up the edges of the foil to keep the juices from spilling onto the floor of the oven, and place the pie directly on the baking mat. Or, place a drip pan lined with foil on a lower oven rack underneath the pie while it is baking to catch the juices when they bubble over.

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients:
Cabbage Rolls

1 large head green cabbage, about 2 to 2¼ pounds
2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs (not necessary, you can leave them out, but they do make the meat fluffier)
1 medium onion, grated or minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ cup raw long-grain white rice *

Tomato Sauce

2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped (medium dice)
2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce or one 32-ounce can whole tomatoes, pulsed in a food processor with juice until pureed.
juice of one lemon or 2 tablespoons (or more to taste) apple cider vinegar
¼ to ¾ cup light brown sugar (Depending on amount of sweetness you prefer. Start with ¼ cup and taste sauce, adding if you like it sweeter. If you prefer it completely savory, add only 1 tablespoon brown sugar and the juice from half a lemon)
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup golden raisins (optional)
Chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions:

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. When the water comes to a boil, fill a large bowl with ice water. Cut out as much of the core as you can from the bottom of the cabbage, then drop the whole, cored head into the boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes. Once the leaves separate and are pliable, immediately remove and drop the blanched leaves that separated (or whole head if all the leaves did not separate) in the ice water. Once cooled down, remove and pat the leaves dry. Repeat with any leaves still attached to the head that aren't pliable, if necessary. Alternatively, If you've got time on your hands, you can freeze the wrapped head of cabbage for two days then defrost. The leaves will peel off easily and be soft enough to roll.

Here's some other ideas from readers, although I have yet to try them so I cannot confirm that they work. 1. Place the cabbage in the microwave for 6 minutes. The core will slip right out and the leaves will be perfect for rolling. 2. Take a knife and shave down the vein on each cabbage leaf, but they still need to be softened to roll, so you'd still have to blanch them (extra work), so I'm not sold on this one. 3. You can also throw the whole head in the boiling water without coring it. The leaves just won't separate on their own, but are still easy to peel off.

Set aside about 16 of the largest leaves for stuffing and rolling, then chop some of the remaining leaves to make 1 cup of chopped cabbage and reserve.

Mix the ground beef with the eggs, grated onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and rice. (If you use cooked rice, you can test the seasoning of the meat mixture to your liking by frying up or microwaving a piece of it and tasting, if desired). Divide this mixture into sixteen 2-ounce balls. Using moistened hands, form the balls into cylinders. Place a cylinder of filling near the bottom of a cabbage leaf (if the vein in the leaf is really thick, shave it down with a knife before placing the beef on it, being careful not to cut through the leaf itself.). Begin to roll it up, folding both sides over the filling, and finish rolling to enclose the filling, like an eggroll. Continue, filling and rolling all the cabbage leaves. Place them, seam side down, on a tray or baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Over medium heat, melt the butter in a heavy, nonreactive saucepan. Sauté the second onion until soft and golden. Add the garlic and saute for 2 more minutes, then add the reserved chopped cabbage and sauté briefly.

Add the tomato sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, salt and pepper to taste, and stir to combine. Increase the heat until it comes to a boil, then lower it and simmer for 5 minutes. Add raisins now, if using.

Line of the bottom of a 13 x 9 roasting pan or glass dish with a layer of sauce. Place cabbage rolls, seam side down, on top of sauce. Top cabbage rolls with remaining sauce then cover the whole pan with tin foil. Bake for 2 hours in a preheated 350F oven

Twice Baked Potatoes

Ingredients:

4 large Russet potatoes
4 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
4 Tbl. butter, softened
1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 c. milk, give or take
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt (I add way more)
freshly grated black pepper, to taste
1 c. grated Cheddar cheese
2 chopped green onions, for garnish, opt.

Directions:

Wash and pat dry the potatoes.  Poke a few holes in each potato, using a fork, and cover tightly with foil.  Bake at 375 degrees for 1 - 1 1/2 hours or until cooked through.  Remove from oven, carefully remove foil and cool slightly.  Cut each potato in half lengthwise and scrape out the insides, with a spoon, into a large bowl, being careful to keep the shells intact. 

Add the butter, sour cream, seasoned salt and pepper.  Mash together using a potato masher.  Add enough milk, as needed, to reach desired creamy consistency and stir in the majority of the cheese, reserving a little for topping.  Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed.  Place the potato shells onto a large baking sheet.  Fill each potato shell with the potato mixture and top with reserved cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are hot.  Garnish with crumbled bacon and chopped green onions.  

Cracker Barrell Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients

2 cups Flour
½ teaspoons Baking Powder
1 pinch Salt
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 cup Milk, A Bit Less Than A Full Cup
2 quarts Chicken Broth
3 cups Cooked Chicken

Preparation

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork or pastry blender. Stir in the milk, mixing with a fork until the dough forms a ball.

Heavily flour a work surface. You’ll need a rolling pin and something to cut the dumplings with. I like to use a pizza cutter. I also like to use a small spatula to lift the dumplings off the cutting surface.

Roll the dough out thin with a heavily floured rolling pin. Dip your cutter in flour and cut the dumplings in squares about 2″x2″. It’s okay for them not to be exact. Just eye ball it. Some will be bigger, some smaller, some shaped funny.

Use the floured spatula to put them on a heavily floured plate. Just keep flouring between the layers of dumplings.

To cook them, bring the broth to a boil. Drop the dumplings in one at a time, stirring while you add them. The extra flour on them will help thicken the broth. Cook them for about 15-20 minutes or until they not doughy tasting. Add the cooked chicken to the pot and you’re done!

Taco Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
Frozen potato crowns (about 24)
8 slices American cheese
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
butter (for spreading)
8 slices white bread

Directions
                   
Step 1: In a medium skillet over medium high heat, brown ground beef. Drain off any excess liquid and stir in the package of taco seasoning and ¾ cup of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes (or until the ground beef is fully cooked), stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cook the potato browns by either baking them in the oven or deep frying them according to package directions. Drain on paper towels (if deep frying).

Step 2: Pre-heat a skillet to medium high heat. Spread butter over one side of a slice of bread. Place butter side down into the skillet. Top with 2 slices American cheese, taco meat, potato crowns, and shredded Mexican cheese blend. Butter an additional slice of bread on one side and place it butter side up on top of the sandwich.

Step 3: Cook in the skillet until lightly browned on the bottom and flip over. Continue cooking until the other side has browned and the cheese has melted. Repeat with remaining sandwiches.

Cracker Barrell's Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredient:

2cups Flour
½teaspoons Baking Powder
1pinch Salt
2Tablespoons Butter
1cup Milk, A Bit Less Than A Full Cup
2quarts Chicken Broth
3cups Cooked Chicken

Directions:
                   
In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork or pastry blender.  Stir in the milk, mixing with a fork  until the dough forms a ball.

To cook them, bring the broth to a boil.  Drop the dumplings in one at a time, stirring while you add them.  The extra flour on them will help thicken the broth.  Cook them for about 15-20 minutes or until they not doughy tasting.  Add the cooked chicken to the pot and you’re done!

Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp garlic powder
22 oz (6 1/2 cups) cauliflower florets
3/4 cup Hot Wing Sauce
1 tbsp melted unsalted butter

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Lightly spray a large non-stick baking sheet with oil.

Combine the water, flour, and garlic powder in a bowl and stir until well combined.

Coat the cauliflower pieces with the flour mixture and place on the baking sheet; bake for 20 minutes.

While the cauliflower is baking, combine the hot sauce and butter in a small bowl.

Pour the hot sauce mixture over the baked cauliflower and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes.

Serve with ranch dressing if desired and celery sticks.

Pumpkin Roll

Ingredients (Roll):

3 eggs
2/3 cup pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Ingredients (Filling):

1 (8oz) cream cheese
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Mix all roll ingredients together and spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. When done flip onto damp towel and roll up. Leave rolled up for 4 minutes. Unroll and spread filling over it and roll up again. Wrap in plastic or foil and freeze (helps it stay together easier). Lay out a few hours before wanting to eat.

Hasselback Potatoes

Ingredients:

6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Butter
Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals.

Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

Fresh Cooked Green Beans

Ingredients:

1 lb green beans
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons bacon grease (can substitute 1 T butter and 1 T olive oil)
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt (can substitute regular table salt; use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon)
Ground black pepper

Directions:

Snap the stem ends of green beans, or cut them off in a big bunch with a knife if you’d like. Just don’t tell Granny. Melt bacon grease in a skillet over medium low heat. Add garlic and onions and cook for a minute. Then add green beans and cook for a minute until beans turn bright green. Add the chicken broth, chopped red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Turn heat to low and cover with a lid, leaving lid cracked to allow steam to escape. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until liquid evaporates and beans are fairly soft, yet still a bit crisp. You can add more chicken broth during the cooking process, but don’t be afraid to let it all cook away so the onions and peppers can caramelize.

Chili Cheese Corn

Ingredients:

1 8oz. package cream cheese
2 Tbsp. butter
4 cups fresh or thawed frozen corn.
1 4oz. can chopped green chilis
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional, I didn't have any so I made it without)

Directions:

In a large saucepan, combine the cream cheese and butter.  Cook and stir over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until smooth.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Cook for 5 minutes or heated through.
This makes 6 servings

Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Burritos

These are supposed to be close. To McDonald's breakfast burritos.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
18 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped ham
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
20 flour tortillas

Directions:

Saute onions and bell peppers in butter. Beat eggs and milk together and pour into skillet with the onions and peppers.

Add the ham, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until eggs are set. Mix in cheese and let melt.

Scoop 1/2 cup egg mixture onto tortillas. Fold ends under and roll up. Freeze (see instructions below) or put all burritos in a baking dish, top with cheese (if you'd like) and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with salsa.

Freezer Instructions:

Wrap burrito in a paper towel then in a sheet of foil. Seal tightly and place in freezer bags. When bag is full, remove air and seal. Freeze.

Serve:

Remove foil and put paper towel wrapped burrito in microwave. Reheat for around one minute. Serve with salsa.

White Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

10 soft taco shells
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 (4 oz) can diced green chillies

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 pan
2. Mix chicken and 1 cup cheese.  Roll up in tortillas and place in pan.
3. In a sauce pan, melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute.  Add broth and whisk until smooth.  Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly.  
4. Stir in sour cream and chilies.  Do not bring to boil, you don't want curdled sour cream.
5. Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese.
6. Bake 22 min and then under high broil for 3 min to brown the cheese.

Chicken Marsala

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4-inch thick
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (16-ounce) package mushrooms, sliced
1 shallot, minced
3/4 cup Marsala wine
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/2 bag egg noodles, cooked according to package directions
1 (9-ounce) package frozen peas, cooked according to directions
chopped parsley for garnish, optional

Directions:

In a shallow dish or pie pan, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour mixture.

In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 3-4 minutes per side, until cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and keep warm.

Add remaining tablespoon butter to pan and place mushrooms in pan. Turn heat up slightly and saute until mushrooms are nice and browned and have lost most of their water content. Add minced shallot and saute for 30 seconds.

Using a slotted spoon, remove mushrooms from pan and place with chicken.

Add Marsala and Sherry to pan and cook over medium heat until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Add chicken and mushrooms back to pan.

Mix noodles and peas together and top with chicken and Marsala sauce.

Garnish with parsley.

S'mores Brownies

Ingredients:

8 sheets of graham crackers
¼ cup butter, melted
2 Tablespoons sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2½ Tablespoons cocoa powder
2 eggs
¾ cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 heaping cup mini marshmallows
3 oz milk chocolate chips or 2 1.5-oz Hershey bars, broken into pieces

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In an 8×8 pan spray the sides with non-stick cooking spray.

In a food processor, pulse the graham crackers until fine. In a small bowl, combine the crumbs, 2 Tbs sugar, and ¼ cup melted butter.

Press firmly in the bottom of the 8×8 dish.

In a medium bowl or kitchenaid mixer, combine softened butter, 1 cup sugar, and cocoa until smooth. Add eggs and stir. Add flour, vanilla and salt until the mixture is combined.

Spread half over the graham cracker crust.Sprinkle marshmallows on top of half of the layer, then spread remaining batter on the top.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.Sprinkle the chocolate chips or broken hershey bars on top of the brownie. Return to the oven and let cook for 3 more minutes.

Remove from oven and spread chocolate with a rubber spatula. Cool completely.

Quick Garlic Breadsticks

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
4 hot dog buns, split
2 tablespoons margarine, softened

Directions:

Mix butter and seasonings together until well blended. Spread over bread and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Philly Cheesesteaks

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces, weight White Velveeta
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1/4 cup Milk
• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 6 whole Deli Rolls
• 1-1/2 pound Thinly Shaved Good Quality Deli Roast Beef
• 1 whole Yellow Onion, Peeled And Sliced Thick
• 1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced Thick
• 1 whole Yellow Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced Thick
• 1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced Thick
•  Optional: Spicy Mustard, Horseradish, Worcestershire Sauce, Hot Sauce

Directions:

First make the cheese sauce by combining the Velveeta, black pepper, cayenne, and milk in a small pan. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it's melted and hot. Keep warm.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter on a griddle over medium heat, then place the deli roll halves on the griddle until golden brown. Set aside.

Heat 2 more tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Throw in the roast beef and move it around with a spatula, breaking it up a bit as you go. Cook/warm for about a minute or so, then remove it to a plate and set it aside.

Add the remaining tablespoons butter to the same skillet and throw in the onions and peppers. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the veggies until dark golden and soft, about 8 to 10 minutes.

To build the sandwiches, place a pile of beef on the bottom half of each roll. Spoon cheese sauce over the beef. Top with peppers and onions, then top with more cheese sauce. Place the top half of the roll on top and serve immediately!

Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 cups milk
6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

Melt butter in a medium, non-stick saucepan over medium heat. Add cream cheese and garlic powder, stirring with wire whisk until smooth. Add milk, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps. Stir in Parmesan and pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Sauce will thicken rapidly, thin with milk if cooked too long. Toss with hot pasta to serve.

Roadhouse Cinnamon Butter

Ingredients:

1 stick of butter (room temperature)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and store in air tight container. Keep refrigerated.

*Sorry about the pictures they are NOT the greatest*

Baked Chicken (tastes like it's fried)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic
1/3 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 chicken legs
1/2 cup butter, melted
Red Pepper Flakes (your discretion)

Directions:

Heat oven to 425.

Mix the flour, salt, garlic, paprika, red pepper flakes and pepper in a bowl.

While you are mixing your coating, you'll want to have the butter melting. Melt the butter in the microwave.

Dip the drumsticks into the butter, coating them completely. Then roll in flour mixture to coat them completely. Then, dip them in the butter again and back once again into the flour mixture. You want them to be double coated so as to be extra crispy.

Put the drumsticks in an ungreased or foil lined square pan.

Bake, uncovered, until done. It usually takes about 45-50 minutes.

Yields 6 drumsticks.