Red Velvet Crinkles

These are great Holiday Cookies. I'm making them for the Festival of Carols at our church this year.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
A Sheet Pan lined with Parchment Paper.

2 1/2 C Flour
1/3 C Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp  fine Seas Salt
1/2 C (1 stick) Unsalted Butter, softened
2 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1 1/2 C Granulated Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 1/2 - 2 tsp Red Food Coloring
1 tsp Vanila
1/2 C Confectioner's Sugar

In a medium Mixing Bow:
Flour
Cocoa
Baking Powder
Salt
Whisk well and set aside.

In a large Mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer:
Butter
Cream Cheese
Mix briefly, just to combine.

Add:
Sugar
Beat for 2 minutes.

Add:
Eggs
Food Coloring
Vanilla
Beat well to incorporate.

Fold in by hand, with a rubber spatula:
Flour / Cocoa mixture, in 2 batches. until completely incorporated.

Use a 1 1/2" Cookie Scoop to create balls.
Roll them in Confectioners' Sugar until completely covered.

Place them 2" apart on the Sheet Pan.
Bake 9 - 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and pull the Parchment Paper with the Cookies from the Sheet Pan onto a rack and cool allow to cool completely.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Miniature Pie Cookies

Is it a Pie or is it a Cookie......... I don't know so I call them Pie Cookies.
This is really a recipe without a recipe and that makes it really easy.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Some Mini Muffin Tins sprayed with cooking spray. This makes about 72 cookies so you use however many pans you need.

Here are the basic ingredients:
Some cans of Fruit Pie Filling, pick your favorites, like Cherry, Blueberry, Apple, or Peach.....etc.
You'll need 2 boxes of pre made refrigerated Pie Crust, how easy is this, so far?
1 Egg
Some Water
Some granulated Sugar.
and a 1 1/2" round biscuit cutter or a juice glass, or Champagne glass.....!

I think that's it!

Here's what you do:
Cut a bunch of circles from the dough that's been rolled out onto a lightly floured surface.
Place a bit of fruit in the center of each circle, sprinkle with a bit of Sugar. (if you use Apple or Peach, sprinkle with a Cinnamon/Sugar mix.
Pinch the circle to create sort of a Taco bowl and make a pocket to hold the fruit.

Mix the egg and 1 tsp of water, whisk it a bit.
Use a pastry brush to lightly brush the edges of the cookie bowl.
Place each of them in the cups of the mini muffin tun.
Bake for 12 - 14 minutes.
Remove the pan and sprinkle again with either Sugar or Cinnamon/Sugar Mix.
Set on a rack to cool for 5 minutes.
Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Port Wine Walnuts with Stilton Cheese

I found this recipe in my archives and I don't know where it originated to give credit. It's not a recipe that I created.

Port Wine Walnuts with Stilton Cheese

2 1/2 C walnut halves
3/4 C sugar
3/4 C ruby port wine
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 wedge (1 pound) Stilton Cheese

Spread walnuts evenly on a rimmed sheet pan.
Toast for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

In a saucepan on medium high heat:
Sugar
Wine
Pepper
Bay Leaf
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low , cover and simmer 3 - 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat.
Discard Bay Leaf.

Add:
Walnuts
Stir to coat well.
Remove the nuts with a slotted spoon and transfer them to the sheet pan. Keep the syrup in the saucepan and set it aside.
Spread the nuts in a single layer.
Bake for 12 minutes, stirring once.
Remove the pan to a rack to cool completely.
Separate any clusters.

Return the saucepan with the syrup to low heat and gently cook until it begins to thicken, about 3 minutes, or until it coats the back of a spoon.

Place the wedge of cheese on a serving platter and drizzle it with the syrup.
Scatter the Walnuts around the Cheese and serve with crackers.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Savory Palmiers from Ina Garten

I was asked to bring a Finger Food to the Artist's Reception at a Gallery, where I have a wallhanging on exhibit. I found this great savory recipe. I've adapted the recipe , without changing the integrity of the original.
We'll also serve this at our Christmas Open House.

Savory Palmiers

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Sheet Pans lined with Parchment Paper.

1 package of Frozen Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry, divided and thawed.
1/4 C Pesto
1/2 C Crumbled Goat Cheese
1/4 C Finely Chopped Sun dried Tomatoes in Oil, drained.
1/4 C Toasted Pine Nuts
Fine Sea Salt

Unfold one sheet of pastry on a lightly floured surface. Keep the second sheet refrigerated.
Roll it gently into a 9 1/2" X 11 1/2" rectangle.
Spread the sheet evenly with half of the Pesto.
Sprinkle with half of the Cheese.
Sprinkle with half of the Tomatoes.
Sprinkle with half of the Pine Nuts.
Sprinkle with Salt.

If you're unfamiliar with the folding process of a traditional French Palmier, research the method.
Here's a description of how to prepare the Palmiers.

Working with the long side of the sheet of pastry facing you, fold the front and back of the sheet half way to the center (1/4 of the sheet).
Continue and fold each side to meet the center of the sheet.
Fold again, in half.

Cover with Plastic Wrap and refrigerate. Keep the dough refrigerated until ready to use. It makes slicing easier.
Repeat the process with the second sheet of Pastry using the remaining ingredients.

Use a sharp knife and cut the cold rolls into 1/4" slices.
Place them 2" apart on the sheet pans.
Bake for 14 minutes.

Remove the pan to a cooling rack for 5 minutes.
Transfer the Palmiers to the rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Mini Mac and Cheese in a Mini Muffin Tin

I call this a "kid" Hors D'oeuvre. What a great idea to serve at any party so kids will have something fun to eat.. The adults might like it too!

Here's what you'll need:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

4 - 12 cup nonstick Mini Muffin Tin, generously butter each cup.

1/2 pound of Elbow Macaroni (cooked according to package instructions and drained)

1 1/2 TBS Butter + additional to brush the pans

1/4 C Fresh grated Parmigiano - Reggiano Cheese

2 TBS Flour

3/4 C Whole Milk

1 well packed cup of Sharp Cheddar Cheese

4 oz. of Sliced American Cheese, chopped

1 large Egg Yolk

1/4 tsp Paprika

Sprinkle about 2 TBS of Parmesan Cheese in each cup of the Muffin Tin. Tap out excess.

In a saucepan:

1 1/2 TBS Butter, heat until melted.

Add:

Flour and whisk for 2 minutes.

Add:

Milk, whisking until boiling , about 5 minutes.

Add:

Cheddar and American Cheese.

Whisk until melted.

Remove from the heat.

Whisk in the Egg Yolk and Paprika.

Fold in the Macaroni.

Use a 1 1/2" cookie cutter and drop a scoop into each cup.

Sprinkle the tops with additional Paprika.

Bake for 10 minutes until golden brown and sizzling.

Remove the pans to a rack and col for 5 minutes.

Spoon out the Mini Macs and transfer them to a serving platter.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Cinnamon Sugar Mini Pretzels or Chex Cereal

Another tasty snack to make during the holidays.
I just made these for the first time. They are yummy!

Option:You can also use 9 C of Rice Chex or Corn Chex.

Cinnamon Sugar Mini Pretzels or Chex Cereal

Here's what you'll need:
1 large Jelly Roll Pan lined with Parchment Paper.

9 C Mini Twist Pretzels
1 1/2 C Cinnamon Chips
6 TBS  Butter
1 C + 1 tsp Confectioner's Sugar
1/2 C + 1 tsp Granulated Sugar
3 tsp Cinnamon

Pour Pretzels into a very large bowl.

In a medium mixing bowl:
Confectioner's Sugar
Granulated Sugar
Cinnamon
Whisk well.

In a saucepan on medium low heat:
Cinnamon Chips
Butter
Stir continuously until melted.
Remove from heat and quickly pour over the Pretzels.
Use a rubber spatula and gently fold until evenly coated.
Immediately add Confectioner's Sugar Mixture.
Fold until well coated
Spread out onto the Jelly Roll Pan and cool completely.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Peppermint Popcorn

This recipe is adapted from The Beekman Boys. It's a great snack to serve during the Christmas Holiday Season. I increase the recipe and make more, just because everyone loves it. We serve it in decorative Christmas Cellophane Bags sealed with a twist tie. The bags are placed in a Holiday serving bowl. It just seems easier than putting out a bowl of Popcorn.

Peppermint Popcorn:

1/4 C Un popped Corn. It makes about 2 quarts popped.
8 oz. White Chocolate, chopped or chips. I use Ghiraradelli.
4 large Peppermint Candy Canes (break into a few pieces so they're easier to pulverize)
1 TBS Sea Salt
2 TBS Granulated Sugar

Pop the corn, however you pop your corn!
Spread it evenly onto a Jelly Roll Pan.

In a Food Processor:
Candy Canes
Salt
Sugar
Pulse until coarsely ground. They'll be a bit clumpy and that's what you want. Don't over grind, they'll begin to clump.

Melt the Chocolate in a Microwave or a Double Boiler.
Drizzle evenly over the Popcorn and immediately sprinkle with the Candy Cane Mix..
Gently stir with a rubber spatula.
Allow to cool completely.

Transfer to a serving bowl or portion it into decorative Cellophane Bags and seal with a twist tie.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!