Cherry Pie

I have this crazy fascination with making things individualized. Below I gave you the recipe to make it the traditional way but if you too would like to make them individual just use a biscuit cutter to cut out the dough and place it in your mini or regular sized muffin pans. I am sorry I don't remember the cook time for the minis but would start checking them around 15 to 20 minutes.


Cherry Pie
4 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
4 cups pitted cherries
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place bottom crust in pie pan.
In a large mixing bowl combine tapioca, salt, sugar, cherries and extracts. Let stand 15 minutes. Turn out into bottom crust and dot with butter. Place pie on a foil lined cookie sheet --- in case of drips!
Bake for approx 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown.

Pie Crust
1 1/4 cups flour
1/3 cup shortening
4 to 5 tablespoons cold water
In food processor, add flour, shortening and 1/4 tsp salt. Cover and process with on/off turn turns until most of the mixture resembles cornmeal, but a few larger pieces remain. With food processor running, quickly add 3 tbsp of water through the feed tube. Stop the processor as soon as the water is added. Scrape down sides. Process with 2 on/off turns (mixture) may not all be moistened. Remove dough from bowl and shape into a ball.
On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edges into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin. Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Do not prick pastry.
450 for 8 minutes covered with foil then 4 minutes

Egg Nest

I recently catered a brunch and didn't want to make another quiche so I came across theses cuties. In this picture I served them over a pancake however a English muffin would be great.



Egg Nest

Options: Place ham in muffin pan and just drop the egg inside and pop it in the oven or scrabble the egg with some basil and cheese.
Salt and Pepper
Cook at 350 deg. for 20 min.

Chicken Empanadas

Our family always has a "snacken" party for Christmas. This was a combined effort on both Kelly and my part. They are amazing...definintly a repeat!


Chicken Empanadas
Paula Deen

Ingredients
3 cups chopped, cooked chicken
1 (8-ounce) package shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese blend
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
Water
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Lightly grease a baking sheet. In a large bowl, combine the chicken and next 7 ingredients. Unroll 1 piecrust onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Re-roll dough as needed. Repeat procedure with remaining piecrusts, making 12 to 15 circles total. Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface. Lightly brush the edges of crust with water. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture in the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining rounds and chicken mixture. (Up to this point, the recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month). Arrange empanadas on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

Time to clean out my pictures and share some really yummy stuff!

Candy Cane Kiss Centered Brownie Bites

Adapted from here

1 brownie mix 9×13 inch size

18 Candy Cane Hershey Kisses

1/2 Cup chocolate chips

2 Tablespoons milk

3 original candy canes, crushed

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and scoop into a muffin tin pan that has been generously sprayed with cooking spray, about 3/4 way full. Press kisses into center of brownie batter, do not push all the way to bottom, some of the tip should stick out the top. Bake for 20-23 minutes or until brownies are cooked through. Let cool completely.

2. Melt chocolate chips in microwave, 30 second intervals until smooth and melted. Stir in cream until silky smooth. You can place back in microwave for 10 seconds to smooth more if needed. Spread chocolate onto brownies and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Apple Compote Pancakes

I know...more pancakes:)


Apple compote:

Saute Diced apples in a little butter then add
fresh squeezed Orange juice
honey
cinnamon
nutmeg

Cook until apples are tender.
Pancake recipe is below
Kelly and I both came up with this recipe minutes before serving breakfest.

I love the holiday's I get to spend wonderful time in the kitchen with wonderful cooks.I had such a wonderful time Christmas Eve cooking with my cousin Heather and sis Kelly.

Pancakes

I am sure that I have mentioned this before but breakfast is my favorite meal. Pancakes or waffles would have to be the my favorite in the category. Waffles would be my hands down favorite and the crispier the better because I am an anti soggy girl, but the take so much more time and everyone is done eating by the time the cook is finished so pancakes it is most of the time at my house.
Brayden's favorite breakfast item would be McGriddles at MCD's so I have been trying to find a way to make a slightly healthier and most definitely cost efficient alternative. I was wondering through the baking isle and found Carmel bits and decided that this has to be close and what could be better combining my two favorite things. Pancakes and Carmel.
After a few times making them I have made some variations like mixed carmel bits and cinnamon chips, M&M's, and chocolate chips. I really like the idea of making everyone's individual and just the way they like them.




Buttermilk Pancakes


2 beaten eggs 2C buttermilk
2C flour 1T sugar
1/2t baking soda 2T baking powder
1/2t salt 1T melted butter

In bowl combine dry ingredients thoroughly, in another bowl combine eggs & buttermilk. Blend into flour mixture until lumpy add Butter-grease griddle.

I just add in the extras immediately after I have dropped the batter onto the griddle. It gives you the option to do different flavors as well as evenly distribute the flavor in each pancake.

My little helper and Mac & Cheese

I know thanksgiving was several weeks ago but it has really been crazy around here.
I was in charge of bring Mac & Cheese and bread pudding to thanksgiving. I think that I made one of the best mac and cheese recipes that I have ever eaten!

Brayden helping make Bread pudding


Brayden's first gift from William's Sonoma - Race Car Apron. I have got to stay out of that store.

Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
9 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup shredded Muenster cheese
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
8 ounces cubed processed cheese food
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the oil and the pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain well and return to cooking pot.
2.In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 8 tablespoons butter. Add the Muenster cheese, mild and sharp Cheddar cheeses, and Monterrey Jack cheese, cubed process cheese. Simmer until all cheese is melted and combined. Stir in macaroni.
3. season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly greased deep 2 1/2 quart casserole dish.
4.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
5.Sprinkle with the bread crumbs 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
6.Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes or until hot and bubbling around the edges; serve.
I was at my mom's house when I made this and she is known for having all sorts of cheese in her fridge so I also added a few slices of provolone cheese and a little graded Gouda cheese. When making this again I don't know if I would use all of the butter, maybe 3/4 butter and the rest milk. It seemed like a lot of fat. I also don't think that all of the different types of cheese would be required but would defiantly make sure to use a sharpe cheddar, a smokey cheese like Gouda or muenster, and the processed cheese for the creaminess.