Showing posts with label fall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fall. Show all posts

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Thanksgiving Sandwiches

I'm alive! Very much so.

I did not go AWOL exactly. I got a full-time job working in a High School as an aide for a mental health program. It is awesome but I am doing that on top of being a sign language interpreter and a captionist.

Needless to say, I have a lot on my plate. We all know I like to fill my plate up ;)

I don't have as much time to blog and cook like I used to but I hope to keep it up somewhat.

Yesterday was one of my most favorite days of the year...the first day of fall! I'm so ready for cozy sweaters, crock-pot meals and pumpkin spice lattes!

If anyone else is excited already for Thanksgiving, and just cannot wait, you oughtta try out a Thanksgiving sandwich. I actually made this months ago because I was spontaneously hit and overcome with a craving for a Thanksgiving dinner. That is not so easy to come by in the middle of May so I made this gem.

It tastes like the holidays. Trust me.


Thanksgiving Sandwiches
Dame Good

Ingredients:
Serves 6-8

Turkey:
1.5 lbs of turkey breast
1/3 cup apple cider
1/3 cup chicken stock
1/2 tablespoon thyme
2 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

1 box reduced-sodium stuffing
1 can cranberry sauce
light mayonnaise
Wheat hamburger buns

Directions:

Combine all of the turkey ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low for 5-7 hours. Shred with two forks.

Cook stuffing according to box instructions.

Assemble sandwiches by putting desired amount of cranberry sauce on bottom bun, top with shredded turkey. Scoop stuffing on top of the turkey. Put desired amount of mayonnaise on top bun and enjoy!



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Carrot Cake Oatmeal



I wish I could claim this as my idea.

Carrot cake oatmeal is kinda genius no?


My boss actually gave me the idea. She told me how she came across a recipe for carrot cake oatmeal online somewhere and I decided to come up with my own.

Because I'm stubborn dangerous like that.

I actually never liked the idea of carrot cake until I tried one of the carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting at the bakery...um...yum! As a kid, I thought the idea was gross. Carrots in a cake? No thank you!

Now, I take that back. Please put carrots in my cake. Anyone?




Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Dame Good

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup skim milk
1-2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup carrots, shredded
2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
1 tablespoon plain greek yogurt
1 packet of splenda (optional, if you would like more sweetness)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 1/2-2 minutes or until thickened. Enjoy!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Pumpkin Roll Bars


I have an intense itch to go shopping...

Unfortunately, I don't have the appropriate funds to scratch this itch.


Maybe it's the warm breeze outside right now or the sunshine that is giving me the urge to buy a bunch of spring-friendly clothes that are pastel/neon-colored and flowy.

My wardrobe is suddenly boring to me.


My only resort is to "fake shop"...which is essentially torture but I do it anyway. I obsessively add articles of clothing and various accessories to my virtual wishlist's as if I may magically inherit a large sum of money that I could apply to my urge to shop.

Here's hoping.


Pumpkin Roll Bars
From Sixsistersstuff.com

Ingredients:

Cake
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin
1/4 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Filling
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until smooth. Beat in 2 eggs, pumpkin, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and water until well blended. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin/butter mixture and combine until well blended. Spread about 2/3 of the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

In a bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/4 cup sugar, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over the pumpkin batter. Dollop the remaining pumpkin batter over the cream cheese batter and spread out as evenly as possible. Use a table knife to swirl together the cream cheese and top layer of pumpkin batter. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the center of the pumpkin batter springs back when touched. Cool completely in pan, then cut into bars.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake


I finished reading "The Huger Games" series.

I am conflicted.


You see, every time that I finish a book or series that I really get into I go through a roller coaster of emotions.

It starts with an excitement...like "Alas! I conquered you" But the feeling of accomplishment is immediately followed by a feeling of mourning and grief...like "Wow, I am really going to miss you."

I love to always have something to read but I generally need a 1-2 day grace period to get over the last book I read and my strange attachment to the characters...it's like losing friends.


There are worse things to have problems with am I right? Growing a little too attached to fictional characters is only cause for minor concern.

Right?

Up next? "Water for Elephants"...once I get over Katniss, Peeta and Gale that is...

Wish me luck.


Until then, the other companion I like to turn to, aside from the carefully crafted personalities I read about into the wee hours of the night, is food. Particularly food that has sugar, or carbs...or anything to make me feel guilty about eating it. Because that's what you need when you are grieving the loss of your new friendships...to feel guilt.

Like this cheesecake.

This would make a grand companion right about now.

Unfortunately, it did not last me that long.

These coconut M&M's will have to do.

(Don't mind the blur...one can only hold so still when they are excited to eat something)

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
From Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) packages neufchatel cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 (9 inch) prepared reduced-fat graham cracker crust
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 cup reduced-fat frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake


Between reading the Hunger Games series and Pinterest I often lose track of what's real life.

I am not thoroughly convinced that this is a bad thing as my fake life on Pinterest is far more exciting and interesting than the real thing. My Pinterest closet and Pinterest dream home and Pinterest Recipe box are all 100 times more fabulous than what's real.

Mind you, I have very little free time...but it seems to go to reading about Katniss kicking major ass or planning my make-believe life that I will never be rich or patient enough to achieve.

Now that I am reading this in black and white I think it may in fact be sad.

Yeah, it's kinda sad.

Before I go any further...has anyone seen these?!

No joke, when I caught sight of these at the grocery store I immediately yelped and did some kind of victory jig. Then I remembered I was in public and tried to collect myself but I feel the damage was done. Yep, I'm a crazy person.


Put sprinkles in ANYthing and I am immediately transformed into a 5-year-old version of myself. Seriously, put sprinkles on my baked potato and watch me giggle like a school girl.

A very special one.


These.Are.Awesome.

They have a slight funfetti taste and funfetti is my most favorite. And yes, I am aware that it is really vanilla cake with sprinkles thrown in but I swear to you it tastes better! Somehow it does!

Get them before they're gone!

Moving right along...

I don't know about anyone else but I enjoy pumpkin all year round. This year I was smart and stocked up on the canned pumpkin so I can enjoy it whenever I please.

This cheesecake is great if you don't have the time, or patience for that matter, to bake one. It doesn't have that rich creamy bite you get from a traditional cheesecake but it is a creamy and lighter alternative.

I recommend this.

Most def.


No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
From Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

7 oz Neufchatel Cream Cheese
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin (canned is fine)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup brown sugar, unpacked
8 oz Cool Whip Free, thawed
9 inch reduced fat Graham Cracker Crust

Directions:

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, whip cream cheese, pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar for a few minutes until fluffy. Add Cool Whip and whip until smooth. Spoon mixture into pie crust and chill for a few hours, until firm.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Lightened Broccoli and Cheddar Soup


I am no longer living in the "technological stone ages"!

Well, in terms of cell phones that is...my laptop is still ancient and my digital camera is a joke and my iPod is from 2005 but my phone...my phone is shiny and new.

I finally conformed and got an iPhone.

Yeah, I love it.

I can't stop playing with it.


Now I want a spankin' new lap top, a iPad, a iPod touch, a nice Panasonic Lumix zs7 digital camera (great for food photography I hear), and a Kindle Fire.

But that ain't happening.

This chick is poor. And spends all her money on food.

And shoes.

Mmm food and shoes :)


I think it is now required of me that I immediately go to Panera Bread and plop myself next to the fireplace and act all technologically savvy.

Not sure I could pull that off but speaking of Panera...please tell me I am not the only one obsessed with their broccoli and cheddar soup in a bread bowl...

Didn't think so. I love it. LOVE it. But have a hard time putting out of my mind the fact that it is cheese and cream and carb overload (not a hard enough time not to eat it (psh!) but enough to push me extra hard at the gym).

I decided to find a copycat recipe and lighten it some.

Is it identical? No. Is it a quick fix for a Panera craving? Yeah, I think so. Worth a shot!


Lightened Broccoli and Cheddar Soup
Adapted from CDkitchen.com


Ingredients:

1 tablespoon light butter spread (I use I Can't Believe it's Not Butter Light), melted
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup melted light butter spread (I use I Can't Believe it's Not Butter Light)
1/4 cup flour
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup skim milk
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock or bouillon
1/2 pound fresh broccoli
1 cup carrots, julienned
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces grated reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

Saute onion in butter. Set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and slowly add the half-and-half and skim milk(this is called making a roux). Add the chicken stock whisking all the time. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper. The soup should be thickened by now. Pour in batches into blender and puree. Return to pot over low heat and add the grated cheese; stir until well blended. Stir in the nutmeg and serve.

Serve with wheat bread roll.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Autumn Penne


You know those mornings you wake up after being in such a deep sleep that you are convinced that the totally unrealistic and virtually impossible events that floated around your head during the night really happened?

This is a common occurrence for me...to wake up arguing with myself about whether or not I really did become a real live Candy Land character, or met Michael Jackson in space so he could teach me the "authentic" moonwalk.

Yesterday morning was no different. Except the focus on the argument was more about why in the heck, of all things, I chose to talk about the "importance of sour gummy worms" with George Clooney.

I've never met George Clooney but my brain failed to register that for at least the first 8 minutes of my morning. And by failed to register I mean more like refuses to accept.


A girl can dream.

Then spend the beginning of her morning in a perplexed and confused state until the disappointment sets in. No, you didn't magically invent some pill that kills calories...so no you can't eat that cupcake for breakfast.

Bummer.

Something else rather disappointing to me...the fact that fall is so far away. Though we could hardly call this thing we've had here in Ohio "winter" I still want it to be over.

I figure...just because it isn't October doesn't mean I can't enjoy a little fall.

This dish does remind me of fall. I know I know, the Brussels sprouts can throw you off but I promise you you barely notice them because they are chopped up. This is a dish that makes me actually LIKE Brussels sprouts. If I had one complaint about this dish it would be that the ragu sauce is a little on the light side. Next time, I would add more crushed tomatoes.


Autumn Penne
Adapted From skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

1 sweet or hot chicken and pork sausage link, casing removed, crumbled
3/4 lb 93% lean ground turkey
4 tsp olive oil, divided
4 cloves garlic, sliced thin
10 oz brussels sprouts, weight after outer leaves and stems removed
1 small onion, diced small
1 carrot, peeled and diced small
1 celery stalk, diced small
28 oz crushed tomatoes
1 bay leaf
pinch crushed red pepper
kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1 lb high fiber, low carb or whole wheat pasta

Directions:

In a large, wide skillet, add sausage and turkey over medium-high heat, breaking up the sausage and turkey as it cooks into small pieces. When completely cooked through; set aside in a bowl.

With a sharp knife, cut the brussels sprouts into thin shreds.

To the skillet, add 2 tsp of oil over medium heat. When hot, add the garlic and cook until golden (do not burn). Add shredded brussels sprouts, salt and pepper and sauté until tender crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes; set aside in another bowl.


To the same skillet, add remaining 2 tsp of oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery, stirring well to coat with oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables turn golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Add crushed tomatoes, sausage and turkey, bay leaf, crushed red pepper, salt and fresh pepper to taste. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer about 30 - 40 minutes, or until sauce thickens.

Meanwhile, while sauce is simmering, put a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta. Add the pasta to the water 10 minutes before the sauce is done and cook pasta al dente.

Drain and add the pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce.

Add cooked brussel sprouts, toss and place in a large pasta bowl.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies


Is this real life?

I mean is Christmas really in less than a week? And I only have about 25% of my shopping done?

Crap.


Also, random. Because I am often random. Has anyone else watched the Food Network show "Sweet Genius"? It's like the pastry chef version of "Chopped" (which I love me some "Chopped". Anyways, I love the idea of this show and was so excited about it until I got a whiff of the host.

God, is he not irritating to anyone else? When he's judging (which why is he the only judge anyway? lame) he'll pause for what seems like 20 minutes and then sputter out some random word, totally unrelated to food, between his awkwardly puckered lips.

Ew.


I mean he'll "mysteriously" declare that the bite he just had was "melancholy" or "electric" and its like wtf is that supposed to tell me about how that tastes?

(disclaimer: those aren't his exact word choices but yes, they are that weird)

Thanks for ruining what could be an awesome show for me weird dude. Thanks.

I'm sure he would probably say these cookies are "inspiring", "sedating" or "awakening" but I'll take that. I think. Because they are yum.

I had some pumpkin pudding in my pantry and replaced a tablespoon or two of the flour with it for some more moisture. I suggest you do the same. You wont be disappointed.

Unless of course you don't like deliciously moist cookies that last for days.

In that case, you best go somewhere else.

Cuz you're weird like that "Sweet Genius" dude.


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
From foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups (12-ounce bag) milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.

Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Pumpkin Oatmeal and Cranberry Cookies


It is December 13th and I am still on the pumpkin train.

I don't plan on getting off. Ever.


I'm one of those crazy people who thinks any holiday includes pumpkin-somehing-or-another. I tend to buy enough cans to feed a small country in the beginning of fall and you would think that by the time Christmas rolls around I would be sick of pumpkin after making 4 loaves of pumpkin bread, 6 types of pumpkin cookies and a handful of pumpkin cheesecakes.

But no. Never. Pumpkin and are are forever the best of friends.

Pumpkin never lets me down.


I'll admit it. I actually have a small panic attack when I see that I am down to two cans of pumpkin in my pantry. Panic I tell you.

This recipe, on the other hand, is more fall-like. What is more Thanksgiving than cranberry+pumpkin? Nothing...unless you throw stuffing and turkey in the mix. Then you have an awesome sandwich.

That's another story.


Pumpkin Oatmeal and Cranberry Cookies
Adapted from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.

Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract; mix well. Add flour mixture; mix well. Stir in nuts and raisins. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned and set in centers. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Roasted Thyme Sweet Potatoes


My eyes still burn from chopping onions...2 hours ago. I want to close them but it seems to make them burn more.

How can this happen to someone who loves onions as much as I do?!

Blasphemy I tell you.

The onions have nothing to do with this post actually. I am just straining to keep my focus on the computer screen when I just want to cry. I made slimmed up a version of Panera Bread's broccoli soup for dinner tonight. Stay tuned my friends.


Now this post...is the side I made for the apple cider glazed chicken I made a couple weeks back. The pairing is magical I tell you.

You may be wondering why my sweet potatoes are not orange (or whatever color that is)...well apparently white ones exist. Ch'yeah, who knew?

On, and they're tasty. If your store happens to have 'em...snatch them up.


Roasted Thyme Sweet Potatoes
From Epicurious.com

Ingredients:

4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch-thick rounds
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup fresh thyme leaves, plus 6 thyme sprigs for garnish
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°F. In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and toss. Arrange potato slices in single layer on heavyweight rimmed baking sheet or in 13x9-inch baking dish. Place on top rack of oven and roast until tender and slightly browned, about 40 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, garnished with thyme sprigs.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Low-fat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies


Thanksgiving came and went.

Like woah.

I can't believe December is 2 days away. Snow...I'm not ready for you.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and a long lazy weekend.If you're at all like me, you go into hiding on "Black Friday". I love me some bargains but I can't withstand enough patience for a standard trip to the mall.

But I love Thanksgiving more and more with each year that passes.


I celebrated Thanksgiving with Shawn and his family, who I love. Who make me feel so welcome everytime I go there. I'm very lucky that they are so wonderful.

I did faint on Thanksgiving morning.

Yep, right on the living room floor.

The memory is a little fuzzy to me but I remember waking up to the smell of pancakes...yes, pancakes. As much as I love staying in bed I couldn't ignore the visual of light and fluffy pancakes soaking in butter and dripping with glistening sugary syrup. If I weren't so dehydrated from the one two three four too many vodka diets I had the night before. I decided my disheveled hair and smeared "makeup'ed" face wasn't worth the fuss and raced up the stairs into the kitchen. Immediately, had that "I got up way to fast" feeling and remember trying to escape into the living room. I remember not being able to see and then waking up to very concerned looking faces.

My bad.

Guess I was really too excited about the whole stuffing my face and having the excuse that it was for the sake of a holiday excuse.

I may have eaten an entire pound of stuffing. When I was younger, I hated the stuff. Now, I can't get enough. In fact, I could go for some right now.


I'm sad Thanksgiving is over, but Christmas is coming and it is my favorite holiday so I suppose I'll manage.

If anyone has any leftover pumpkin in their fridge but can't fit into their jeans because of Thanksgiving, these cookies might be an excellent thing to invest that pumpkin in.

They are a little more crunchy than your average cookie, but the flavor is there and the guilt is not.

Sign.me.up.


Low-fat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
From Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 egg white
2 tbsp pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Line two cookie sheets with non-stick silicone baking liners or spray with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the flours, baking soda, salt and pumpkin spice; stir to blend. In another bowl,whisk the sugars, butter, egg white, pumpkin puree and vanilla together until light and fluffy.

Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in two additions until the batter is very well blended. If the batter looks more “crumbly” than smooth, add just a drop of water at a time (ONLY if needed) until it smooths
out.

Drop by level spoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto baking sheets.

Bake 8 - 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let them stand 5 minutes before removing the cookies from the pans to cool on wire racks.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Apple Cider-Glazed Chicken


I was in Bob Evans one sunday morning...probably more excited than I should be for my biscuits and gravy, home fries and pancakes...aka the most healthy meal of my life.

It was sunday...I was allowed.


Anyways, I saw something about apple cider-glazed chicken and pork chops and decided then and there to scour the internet in search of a similar recipe because that sounded...well...amazing.


The one I found was just that. It was fairly easy to make and tasted like fall. I made it with thyme roasted sweet potatoes...delish if I do say so myself.

Apple Cider-Glazed Chicken
From foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup apple cider
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Directions:

Preheat a medium to large skillet over medium-high heat, for about 1 minute or until the surface of the pan is hot. Add the oil and heat until rippling on the surface. Pat the chicken breast dry and season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the pan and cook until the meat is golden, about 4 minutes. Turn the chicken breasts, lower the heat to medium and add 1 tablespoon of the butter. Cook until firm to the touch or an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F, about 4 to 6 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a plate to rest.

Pour off any fat remaining in the skillet. Add the vinegar and deglaze over medium-high heat, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add the cider and the broth. Bring to a boil and cook until it thickens to form a sauce, about 6 minutes. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, lemon juice and thyme leaves. Return the chicken to the pan, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, and serve.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Pumpkin Cookies


I have learned that there is definitely a plus side to having to go to class...and that is having people to bake things for.

I don't want 48 cookies all to myself...scratch that...I don't NEED 48 cookies all to myself so when I make something, I can have a couple
few and then bring the rest in to some guinea pigs...my classmates :)


I've made three kinds of pumpkin cookies so far...these got the best reviews so I'm posting them first.

They're cakey which is expected with pumpkin cookies. I personally think the glaze is the "kicker". It kind of tastes like a caramel or maple syrup glaze...weird? Try it, you will know what I am talking about.


Pumpkin Cookies
From food.com

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt


Penuche Glaze:
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2-2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Have ready some ungreased baking sheets.In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and the sugars together until light and fluffy.Blend in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract.In separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.Mix flour mixture into butter-sugar mixture.Drop tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until golden around the edges.Remove warm cookies and transfer to racks.Let cool completely for a least one half hour, then frost with glaze.

For Glaze:
In a medium saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar over medium heat until bubbly. Cook, stirring constantly, for one minute or until slightly thickened. Beat in the milk. Blend in confectioner's sugar until the glaze is smooth and spreadable. Using a silicone basting brush, which I love and use religiously now, or a butter knife to spread glaze on cookies is the best tip. Please note; this glaze will harden fairly quickly. I suggest that you keep the saucepan over the stove on the lowest heat possible to prevent it from hardening.
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