Karren's Recipe File

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Classic Barbeque Rub (Epicurious)

2 tablespoons smoky Spanish paprika
2 tablespoons kosher salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chile powder
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 teaspoon oregano, crushed

Combine paprika, salt, sugar, brown sugar, cumin, chile powder, black pepper, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, and oregano in bowl; mix well. For a smoother rub, puree ingredients in a spice grinder until well combined and all pieces are uniform (the rub will be very fine and tan in color).
Extra rub can be stored in an airtight container for up to six months.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Lemon Curd

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 Tbl grated lemon zest
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed (I used salted and it tasted fine)

In a 2 qt saucepan combine lemon juice, zest, and sugar. Whisk until mixed. Add remaining ingredients. Cook over medium-low heat until thick enough to hold marks from whisk, and first bubble appears on surface, about 6 minutes.

Apple Cranberry Popover Puff

Popover Puff:
3 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted
1 cup milk
6 eggs
1 cup flour
½ tsp salt

Apple Cranberry Filling:
1 orange
½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
1 3 oz. pkg. vanilla cook and serve pudding mix (not instant)
1 tsp cinnamon
4 firm, red baking apples such as Jonathan
¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted
Powdered sugar
Vanilla ice cream or thawed, frozen whipped topping (optional)

Preheat oven to 450°F. For popover puff, measure 1 tablespoon melted butter into the bottom of a deep dish baker; brush over bottom using pastry brush. In a mixing bowl, combine milk, eggs, and remaining butter; whisk until smooth. In small bowl stir together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture; whisk 1 minute or until smooth. Pour batter into baking dish. Bake 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350F; continue baking 10-15 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.

Fresh Peach Pie (Vella Hayes)

Baked 9” pie crust
4 cups fresh peaches, sliced

Filling:
Mash 2 cups of the peaches and add:
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp lemon juice

Heat until filling is clear. When cool, add additional 2 cups sliced peaches. Pour into cooked shell and chill.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie

9” graham cracker crust
¼ cup margarine
¼ cup peanut butter
¾ cup sugar
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
Cool Whip

Cream butter and peanut butter. Gradually add sugar and beat well. Blend in chocolate and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating 3-5 minutes after each. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into pie shell and chill at least two hours.

Frozen Lemon Pie

3 eggs, separated
¼ cup lemon juice
½ cup sugar
dash of salt
1 cup whipped cream
2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

Combine egg yolks, lemon juice, and ¼ cup sugar in pan. Cook until thick, stirring constantly. Beat egg whites with salt until stiff. Gradually add rest of sugar. Fold in warm mixture. Let cool. Whip cream. Mix together with mixture. Sprinkle most of the crumbs on the bottom of 9” pie pan. Pour in mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top. Freeze.

Praline Delight Pie

1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup chopped pecans
5½ oz. pkg. Instant vanilla pudding
2½ cups milk
1 envelope whipped topping mix
1 lightly baked 9” pie shell

Combine butter, brown sugar, and nuts in a saucepan; heat until butter and sugar are melted. Spread in bottom of pie shell. Bake at 450° for 5 minutes or until bubbly; cool. Prepare pie filling mix with 2½ cups milk as directed on package. Measure 1 cup filling; set aside. Pour remaining filling into pie shell. Prepare whiped topping mix as directed. Blend 1-1/3 cups into the measured pie filling. Spoon into pie shell. Chill about 3 hours. Garnish with the remaining whipped topping and pecan halves.

Chocolate Pie

4 small Hershey almond bars
16 large marshmallows
¼ cup milk

Completely melt candy bars, marshmallows, and milk in double boiler; cool. Whip ½ pint whipping cream and fold in. Pour into baked 9” pie shell.

Rhubarb Cream Pie (Vella Hayes)

1½ cups sugar
4 Tbsp flour
¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)
¾ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp cloves
1 Tbsp butter
2 well beaten eggs
3 cups cut rhubarb

Blend sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves; cut in butter. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Pour over rhubarb already in 9” pastry shell. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes, then 350° for 30 minutes.

Five Minute Creamy Coconut Pie

3 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 Tbsp sugar
½ cup milk
1-1/3 cup coconut
3½ cups Cool Whip
½ tsp almond extract
Graham cracker pie crust

Beat cream cheese until smooth; beat in sugar. Gradually add milk and beat until smooth. Fold in coconut, Cool Whip, and extract. Spoon into crust. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. Garnish with toasted almonds or toasted coconut and maraschino cherries. Let stand at room temperature about 15 minutes before cutting. Store pie in freezer.

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

4 eggs, separated
2 cups sugar
28 oz. can packed pumpkin
1 cup milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon½ cup cold water
1 tsp nutmeg
½ tsp ginger
1 envelope Knox gelatin

Beat egg yolks; add 1 cup sugar, pumpkin, milk, salt, and spices. Cook until thick; add gelatin soaked in cold water. Mix and cool. When thick, fold in stiffly beaten egg whites to which remaining sugar has been added. Pour into baked pie shells

Makes two 9” pies.

Frozen Strawberry Yogurt Pie

2-8 oz. Containers vanilla yogurt
3½ cups Cool Whip
2 cups sweetened, sliced strawberries
9” graham cracker crumb crust

Fold yogurt into whipped topping, blend well; fold in strawberries. Spoon into crust. Freeze until firm, 4 hours or overnight. Remove from freezer 30 minutes before serving and keep chilled in refrigerator. Garnish with additional whole strawberries, if desired. Store any leftover pie in freezer.

Toll House Cookie Pie

2 eggs
½ cup flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, melted and cooled
6 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

9” unbaked pie shell
whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl beat eggs until foamy. Add flour and sugars; beat until well blended. Mix in melted butter. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour into pie shell. Bake for one hour.

(Try cutting back on sugar and butter and also try using salted peanuts)

White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries (Williams & Sonoma)

2 cups strawberries, stems removed
¼ cup sugar
1 Tbsp raspberry flavoring
6 oz. white chocolate, finely chopped
¼ cup milk, warmed
1 cup heavy cream
2 egg whites, at room temperature
Pinch of cream of tartar
¾ tsp vanilla extract

In a blender or food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine 1 ½ cups of the strawberries with the sugar. Puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Add the flavoring and stir to mix. Cut the remaining ½ cup strawberries lengthwise into thin slices and stir into the puree. Set aside.

Place the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over but not touching gently simmering water in a saucepan. Heat the chocolate, stirring occasionally, until it is melted and smooth and registers 140°F on an instant-read thermometer. Gradually add the warm milk to the chocolate, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan of water and let the mixture cool until it is almost at room temperature.

In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cream on high speed just until soft peaks form. In another bowl, using clean beaters, beat together the egg whites and cream of tartar on high speed until stiff peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, fold half of the
whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold the remaining whites, the whipped cream and vanilla into the chocolate mixture just until combined and no white drifts remain. Do not overmix. (At this point, you may cover and refrigerate the mousse for up to 1 day; however, it is best to served within an hour or two).

To serve, spoon about half of the mousse into 6 parfait plasses, half filling each glass. Top with the strawberry sauce, again using about half and dividing it equally. Repeat with the remaining mousse and strawberry sauce. Serves 6.

Pie Crust

2½ cups flour
1 cup shortening
1 tsp salt
1 egg
1 tsp vinegar
¼ cup water

Blend flour, shortening, and salt together with pastry blender. Add together in separate bowl the egg, vinegar and water. Add to flour mixture.

Makes three pies or two shells and one top crust. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes for shells only.

Ice Cream in a Bag

½ cup fruit, jam, or chocolate syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup whipping cream or whole milk
3 Tbsp sugar
1 quart-sized freezer bag
1 gallon-sized freezer bag
crushed ice
¼ cup rock salt

Put fruit, vanilla, milk, and sugar in quart-sized bag. Close tightly. Fill gallon-sized bag one-third full with crushed ice and rock salt. Put quart-sized bag inside gallon-sized bag and close tightly. Knead and shake bags for approximately 15 minutes. Serve promptly (it melts fast!!) and enjoy.

Pear Tart

½ pkg. folded refrigerated unbaked pie crust (1 crust)
15 oz. pear halves
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 egg, beaten
½ cup orange marmalade, melted
1 tsp vanilla

Let piecrust stand according to package directions. Unfold crust on an 11- or 12-inch pizza pan or baking sheet. Fold under ½” of edge; flute edge high.

Drain pears, reserving 3 tablespoons liquid. In bowl, beat together cheese, egg, reserved liquid, ¼ cup marmalade and vanilla. Spread cheese mixture over piecrust. If desired, slice and fan pears slightly; arrange on cheese. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until filling is set and crust is golden. Cool 1 hour on wire rack. Brush with remaining melted marmalade. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired.

Makes 10 servings.

Simple Peach Sorbet

15 oz. can peach halves
1 tsp vanilla extract

Place unopened can for fruit in freezer until solid (freeze approximately 24 hours; the can may bulge slightly).

Submerge unopened can in very hot tap water for 1 minute. Open can and pour any thawed syrup into food processor bowl. Remove frozen fruit from can; carefully cut into 8 chunks.

Place frozen fruit chunks and vanilla in food processor; process until smooth.

Serve immediately or spoon into freezer container and freeze until ready to serve. Garnish scoops of sorbet with peach slices and fresh mint sprigs, if desired.

Makes 3 servings. (To double recipe, process in two separate batches.)

Broiled Peach Brulee

15 oz. can peach halves in heavy syrup, drained
¼ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup coarsely chopped nuts
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

Preheat broiler. Arrange peach halves, cut side up, in shallow baking pan. Stir together sugar, nuts, and cinnamon in small bowl; sprinkle over peaches. Broil 3 inches from heat 2 to 3 minutes or until topping is lightly browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon, if desired.

Makes 3 servings.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Strawberries and Cream Crepes

10 crepes
3 cups fresh or frozen strawberries 
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup ricotta cheese
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup sour cream

Slice strawberries; add granulated sugar and set aside. In blender whip ricotta cheese until smooth; stir in powdered sugar and sour cream. Fill crepes with approximately 2/3 cup of creamy mixture and berries; fold over. Top with remaining cream and berries.

Black Forest Crepes

10 crepes
1 Tbsp brandy flavoring (optional)
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1½ cup fresh or canned cherry pie filling
powdered sugar

Add brandy flavoring to cream cheese, if desired. Spread cream cheese down center of each crepe; repeat with the cherry pie filing, fold over; sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Old Fashioned Peach Cobbler (Ona Edgley)

1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter
1 quart peaches

Heat oven to 350°. Mix sugar, flour, milk, and baking powder. Pour into
8 x 8” pan. Put dots of butter on top of mixture. Boil peaches and juice and spoon over cake mixture. Bake in oven for 35 minutes or until brown. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Easy Ambrosia

10 crepes
Fresh or frozen mixed berries
1/3 cup granulated sugar
½ cup powdered sugar
Whipping cream

Place berries in strainer to drain off excess juice/moisture, add granulated sugar. Heat crepes in frying pan, pale side up. Remove when steaming hot. Run row of berries down center, run row of whipping cream beside fruit; roll one side over, then the other. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Super Sundae (Ona Edgley)

Crust:
1 large box of vanilla wafers, crushed
1 cube butter or margarine
Cut in butter to crushed wafers. Line 9 x 13” pan with half of the vanilla wafer crumbs.

1 gallon vanilla ice cream, softened
12 oz. can Hawaiian punch concentrate

Press half of the ice cream into the pan. Freeze. Pour punch concentrate on the ice cream. Freeze until firm. Add rest of the ice cream and the second half of the vanilla wafer crumbs. Freeze until firm.

Rhubarb Crunch

4 cups diced rhubarb
3 Tbsp flour
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ allspice
1 tsp vanilla
1½ cup flour
1 cup oatmeal, uncooked
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup butter, softened
 
Heat oven to 375°. Grease 9x13" baking dish. Combine rhubarb, white sugar, cinnamon, allspice, 3 tablespoons flour, and vanilla. Stir well and spread into baking dish. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine brown sugar, oats, and 1½ cup flour. Stir well then cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over rhubarb. Bake 40 minutes. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or ice cream.

Lime Sherbert

3 oz. pkg. lime Jello 
1 cup boiling water
juice from 2 large lemons
1½ cups sugar

Dissolve Jello in water then combine with other ingredients. Freeze and stir two or three times before serving.
1 quart milk

Lemon Dessert

8 eggs, separated
¾ cup sugar
½ cup lemon juice
1 envelope Knox gelatinCook yolks, sugar, and lemon juice in double boiler until thick. Soak gelatin in water and add to cooked mixture. Beat egg whites until stiff. Add ½ cup sugar. Fold into cooked mixture. Line pan with crumbs. Put in half of mixture. Sprinkle with crumbs. Add rest of mixture. Sprinkle with more crumbs. Let set in fridge for several hours. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

2/3 cup water
½ cup sugar
1 pkg. graham crackers

Ice Cream Balls (Ona Edgley)

1 quart vanilla ice cream
1 cup graham cracker crumbs, fine
¼ cup peanut butter
tsp cinnamon

Mix together peanut butter, cinnamon, and graham cracker crumbs. Form round ice cream balls using ice cream scoop; roll in graham cracker crumb mixture. Freeze until ready to use.

Red Raspberry Crepes

10 oz. pkg. frozen raspberries, thawed
Cranberry juice cocktail
1/3 cup sugar
4 tsp cornstarch
Dash of salt
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp orange juice
2 tsp lemon juice
4 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
½ cup toasted slivered almonds
19 dessert crepes

Sauce: Drain berries, reserving syrup. Add cranberry juice to syrup to make 1½ cups. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Blend in syrup mixture. Cook and stir until bubbly. Add butter, orange juice, lemon juice, and berries. Keep warm or chill. Heat before serving.

To assemble: Spread cream cheese over unbrowned side of crepes, leaving ¼” rim around edges. Sprinkle with some almonds. Roll up as for jelly roll. Reserve remaining almonds for garnish. Cover crepes and chill.

To serve: Arrange crepes in chafing dish or skillet; add hot sauce. Cover and heat through. Sprinkle with almonds.

Indoor S'mores

2/3 cups light corn syrup
2 Tbsp margarine
16 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
8 cups Golden Graham cereal
3 cups mini marshmallows

Grease 9 x 13” pan. Heat corn syrup, margarine, and chocolate chips to boiling in 3 qt. saucepan, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour over cereal in large mixing bowl; toss quickly until completely covered with chocolate. Fold in marshmallows, 1 cup at a time. Press mixture into pan. Let stand 1 hour. Cut into squares.

Banana Trifle

3 oz. pkg. strawberry Jello
¾ cup boiling water
ice cubes
½ cup cold water
1 cup sliced bananas
1 cup sliced strawberries
2 cups ½” pound cake cubes
¼ cup orange juice
3 oz. pkg. vanilla pudding
1½ cups cold milk
½ cup Cool Whip

Dissolve Jello in boiling water. Add ice cubes to cold water to make 1¼ cups. Add to Jello, stir until thick. Remove remaining ice. Stir in bananas and strawberries. Place cake cubes in large bowl. Sprinkle with orange juice. Spoon Jello over cake. Chill for 15 minutes. Prepare pudding with 1½ cups milk. Let stand for a few minutes. Fold in Cool Whip. Spoon on top of Jello. Chill; garnish.

Serves 10

Strawberry Deluxe

1 cup flour
¼ cup brown sugar
½ cup chopped nuts
½ cup butter

Mix together flour, brown sugar, and nuts lightly. Cut in butter. Put in 9 x 13” pan. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. Remove half for topping later. Press remaining crumbs in pan.

Filling:
16 oz. pkg. frozen strawberries
¾ cup sugar
2 egg whites                                            
1 Tbsp lemon juice 
1 tsp vanilla
½ pint whipping cream, whipped

Place strawberries, sugar, egg whites, lemon juice, sugar, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat 20 minutes. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into pan. Top with remaining crumbs. Freeze over night. Serve straight from freezer.

Serves 10-12

Texas Pecan Dessert

3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
20 Ritz crackers, rolled fine

1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 325°. Stiffly beat egg whites; slowly add sugar while beating. Fold Ritz crackers , vanilla, and nuts into egg whites, gently. Pour into well-greased pie pan and bake for 30 minutes. Chill. Top with Cool Whip; sprinkle with nuts.

Applesauce Pudding

2 cups applesauce
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ cup raisins, optional
1 cup Bisquick
¼ cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup sugar
¼ cup margarine

Heat oven to 375°. Grease round cake pan. Mix applesauce, brown sugar, raisins, and cinnamon. Pour into pan. Mix together Bisquick, sugar, and nuts; cut in margarine. Spoon over applesauce mixture. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Serve with whipped cream.

Serves 6

Optional topping:
2 cups whipped cream   
1 tsp cinnamon

Lemon Cream Dream

First layer:
1¼ cup flour
½ cup butter
¼ cup chopped nuts
Mix together until crumbly. Press into 9 x 13” pan. Bake 20 minutes at 350°.

Second layer:
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
½ of 9 oz. Cool Whip
Mix well. Spread over crust.

Third layer:
3 cups milk
2-3 oz. pkgs. instant lemon pudding
Beat until thick. Spread over cream cheese mixture.

Fourth layer:
Top pudding with remaining Cool Whip. Sprinkle with nuts.
Chill thoroughly before serving.

Serves 12-16.