Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie

Crust:
18 whole graham crackers (two sleeves)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted

Filling:
1 tablespoon, (heaping) lime zest
1/2 cup lime juice
2 large egg yolks
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For the crust:
Crush crackers in a food processor or Ziploc bag. Pour into a bowl and stir in sugar and melted butter. Press crumbs into a pie pan and bake for 5 minutes or until golden and set. Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly.

(Can be made ahead, cooled and covered until ready to fill and bake. Just reheat in the oven 2-3 minutes before adding filling.)

For the filling:
Mix lime zest, lime juice, and egg yolks in a mixing bowl. Add the condensed milk and mix on high until smooth and thick. Pour mixture into crust and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven, allow to cool, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour...more if possible. Serve with sweetened whipped cream and lime slices to garnish.

Swedish 3 Layer Bars

Swedish 3 Layer Bars
 
First Layer:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups flour
pinch salt

Second Layer:
4 eggs
4 tablespoons flour
1 pound light brown sugar
pinch salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts
8 ounces coconut

Third Layer:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 pound confectioner's sugar

Directions

First layer:
Mix all ingredients until crumbly; press into a 15x10" jelly roll pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes.

Second layer:
Beat eggs; add flour, sugar and salt and beat to combine. Stir in vanilla, nuts and coconut. Spread over bottom later. Bake for 15 minutes at 300 degrees. Turn oven to 350 degrees and bake 5 to 10 minutes longer, or until set. Cool completely.

Third layer:
Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioner's sugar. Spread on top of cooled bars. Chill in fridge for at leat an hour. Cut into very small bars.

Yield: 80 bars

Hello Dollies

Hello Dollies

1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 3 ounce can flaked coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
1 1/4 cups pecan pieces
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Mix butter and crumbs; press firmly in a 9" square pan. 

Add a layer each of coconut, chocolate chips, and pecans. Pour condensed milk over top. 

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the nuts on top are nicely browned. 

Cool completely before cutting into small squares.

Note: The Hello Dollies are in the center of the plate.  The other bars are the mincemeat bars in the recipe below.

Mincemeat Bars

Mincemeat Bars
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
3 tablespoons hot water
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup raisins
1 9 oz. package mincemeat, broken up
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
3 tablespoons hot milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Combine butter, brown sugar, eggs, molasses, and vanilla; mix thoroughly. 
 
Sift together flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir into sugar mixture. 
 
Stir in hot water; mix well. 

Next stir in almonds, raisins, and mincemeat. Mix well. 

Spread into 2 greased 8x12 pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 16 minutes.
  
Remove pans to wire racks. 

Combine confectioners sugar, hot milk, vanilla and almond extracts. Spread over hot bars and cool completely. 

Cut into small bars and store in an airtight container.

Note: The mincemeat bars are the ones on the outer edge of the plate.  The bars in the center are Hello Dollies (Recipe will be posted)

Butterscotch Pie

Butterscotch Pie

1 9 inch pie shell, baked and cooled
2 1.4 oz Skor or Heath bars, chopped

FILLING:
1 1/2 cups whole milk
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1/4 cup golden syrup
1/4 cup boiling water
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla

TOPPING:
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
2 teaspoons bourbon
1 1.4 oz Skor or Heath bar, chopped

Sprinkle two chopped Skor bars in the bottom of cooled pie sheel; set aside.

FILLING:
Whisk together milk, cornstarch, and salt for slurry in a bowl; set aside.

Brown 10 tablespoons butter for the filling in a saute' pan over medium heat, 10 to 15 minutes, or until brown flecks appear in the butter. This will provide a toasty nutty flavor. Add brown sugar and golden syrup; bring to a boil. Boil 3 minutes, whisk in boiling water until smooth, boil 1 minute more.

Whisk slurry into sugar mixture and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture comes to a boil, about 5 minutes; cook 1 minute more and remove from heat.

Drizzle 1 cup of butterscotch into the 4 egg yolks to temper, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and gradually whisk tempered mixture back into filling. Simmer filling 1 minute to thicken, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and pour filling into pie shell.

Press plastic wrap onto filling to prevent a skin from forming. Cool to room temperature, then chill overnight.

TOPPING:
Beat heavy cream to soft peaks in a bowl with a hand mixer on medium. Add 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar and 2 teaspoons bourbon, beating until combined.

Top pie with the whipped cream and garnish with the remaining chopped Skor bar. Chill until ready to serve.

Pumpkin Bundt Cake

Pumpkin Bundt Cake

2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
1/16 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 (15 ounce) can solid-pack pumpkin

Sugar syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water

Cinnamon Sugar:
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices; add to egg mixture alternately with pumpkin, beating well after each addition.

Transfer batter to a greased 10-inch Bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool the cake for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack. While cake is baking, combine the sugar and water for the sugar syrup; heat in a small saucepan over medium heat, or in a small microwave safe bowl in the microwave; stir until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside. Combine the remaining sugar with the cinnamon; set aside.

After removing cake from pan, brush hot cake with the sugar syrup, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar onto the cake. Let the cake cool completely before serving.

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff

1 pound beef tenderloin
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 pound mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1 medium onion, minced
1 can condensed beef broth (Campbell's)
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup sour cream
3 cups hot cooked noodles (3 to 4)

Cut meat across the grain into 1/2" strips, about 1 1/2 " long. Melt butter in large skillet. Add mushrooms and onions; cook and stir until onion is tender, then remove from skillet. In same skillet, cook meat until light brown. Reserving 1/3 cup of the broth, stir in remaining broth, the catsup, garlic and salt. Cover; simmer 15 minutes.

Blend reserved broth and flour; stir into meat mixture. Add mushrooms and onions. Heat to boiling; stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Reduce heat. Stir in sour cream; heat. Serve over noodles.

Fruited Quinoa Salad

Fruited Quinoa Salad

2 cups quinoa
1 tablespoon olive oil

Vinaigrette:
1 lime, zested and juiced
enough Champagne wine vinegar, added to lime juice to measure 1/3 cup
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon lime zest
salt, to taste

Add ins:
2 pears, diced
1/2 cup dried cranberries
8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint

Quinoa:
Bring 7 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan.  Add 3/4 teaspoon salt and quinoa.  Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, adding more water as necessary to keep the quinoa covered.  Cook 20 minutes or until tender.  Drain and rinse the quinoa with cold water to stop the cooking.  Transfer the quinoa to a foil lined rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with the 1 tablespoon oil, and toss lightly to coat.  Spread the quinoa on the baking sheet and cool completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Vinaigrette:
Put the lime juice, vinegar, and honey in a small bowl; whisk till the honey has dissolved.  Gradually whisk in the oil.  Add the zest and season with salt to taste.

Salad:
Put the cooled quinoa in a large bowl and toss to break up any clumps.  Add the pears, cranberries, goat cheese and mint.  Toss to combine then add the vinaigrette and season with more salt, if needed.  Refrigerate for up to 1 day.  Add the pine nuts just before serving, tossing to combine.

Serves 16

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken Pot Pie

Pastry dough:
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups plus 1 Tbsp shortening
1/3 to 1/2 cup cold water

Filling:
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup half and half
4 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Couple shakes cayenne, optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Pastry dough:
Combine flour and salt; cut in shortening with a pasty blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle cold water (1 tablespoon at a time) over surface; stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Divide into two balls (one slightly larger). Press into flattened circles on plastic wrap and then cover with wrap and let rest while preparing the filling.

Filling:
Saute' first 3 ingredients in butter in a large skillet over medium heat until tender. Add flour; stir until smooth. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add chicken broth and half and half; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in chicken, peas, salt and peppers. Set aside while finishing the pastry.

Lightly flour a pastry cloth, board or counter. Lay the larger pastry round on the flour. Cover the top of the pastry with the plastic wrap. Roll out to 1 inch wider, all around, than the top of a deep dish pie dish. Carefully place dough into the pie dish, easing to fit without stretching. Roll out the second piece of dough the same way, rolling it about 1/2 inch wider than the top of the pie dish . Pour the filling into the pie shell, then cover with the pastry. Carefully tuck the edges of the top pastry under the bottom pastry and crimp to seal. Cut some slits in the top to allow steam to excape.

Cover the edges of the pie crust with strips of foil to keep from over browning. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour, removing foil strips after 30 minutes. Finish baking until crust is golden brown. Cool 15 minutes before cutting into wedges.

Serves 6 generously

Note: Sometimes I cook 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms until they have given off all their juices and add them with the chicken and other ingredients.

Bourbon-Glazed Salmon

Bourbon-Glazed Salmon

Marinade: to be made TWICE

3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons bourbon
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets, without skin
1 tablespoon oil
1/4 cup green onions, sliced

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large zip-lock bag. Add fish to bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 1 1/2 hours, turning once halfway through time.

Combine the first 7 ingredients again in a small bowl and set aside.

Remove fish from refrigerator and remove from marinade. Pat well with paper towel to dry.

Place the second marinade mixture in a small saucepan and bring to a boil; lower heat and let simmer until reduced by half. Set aside while you cook the fish.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season fish with a light sprinkling of salt. Add the oil to the pan and once it shimmers, add the fish to the pan. Cook fish 2 to 4 minutes per side, until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desided degree of doneness.

Place one fillet on each of four plates; drizzle each serving with some of the sauce and sprinkle with the sliced green onions.