Mixed Potato Gratin

This is a combination of Yukon Gold Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes in a Gruyere and Parmesan Cheese Gratin.  It's made in a shallow 2 quart casserole dish.
We have a French friend that made this without the Sweet Potatoes. You can do this too by just replacing the Sweet Potatoes with additional Yukon Gold Potatoes. However, I like the combination of the two.
What a great addition this would be to your Thanksgiving Menu.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Heavily Butter a shallow 2 Quart Casserole Dish.

Half of a Vidalia Onion, diced
1 TBS Butter
1 TBS Olive Oil
1 3/4 C Heavy Cream
2 TBS Fresh Chopped Parsley
1 TBS Fresh Chopped Chives
1 tsp Fresh Chopped Rosemary
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Nutmeg
5 Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and sliced thin on a Mandoline.
4 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and sliced thin on a Mandoline.
2 C Whole Milk
2 C Shredded Fresh Gruyere Cheese
1/2 C Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 TBS Butter, cubed.


In a saucepan on medium high heat:
Heat Butter and Olive Oil
Add:
Onions
Saute until soft.

Add:
Heavy Cream
Parsley
Chives
Rosemary
Pepper
Salt
Stir and continue sautéing for 2 minutes, stir well.
Set aside to cool completely.

In a large glass mixing bowl that's microwave safe:
Yukon Gold Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Toss to mix together.

Add:
Whole Milk, not the Cream mixture!
Toss with your hands to coat everything.
Cover with plastic wrap and heat in the microwave for 5 minutes.
Stir the Potatoes and continue heating, covered for an additional 5 minutes.
Drain the Potatoes and discard the Liquid.

Spoon 1/2 of the Potato mixture into the Casserole Dish.
Add:
1/2 of the Heavy Cream Mixture.
Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 of the Gruyere Cheese and 1/2 of the Parmesan Cheese.
Repeat with remaining Heavy Cream, Gruyere Cheese and Parmesan Cheese.
Dot evenly with cubed Butter.
Cover with Aluminum Foil.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Uncover the casserole and continue baking for 20 - 30 minutes.
The top should be Golden Brown.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Apple Fritter Bread from Mom's Pantry Kitchen

Thanks to Mom's Pantry Kitchen for sharing this amazing recipe for Apple Fritter Bread.
Since I was a child, my favorite item at the Donut Shop has been an Apple Fritter.
My Grandmother always made Fried Cakes and they were the only Donut I would eat. To this day, if I go to a Donut Shop, I get plain donuts or, Fried Cakes, as my Grandmother called them.
When my Dad would take me to a Donut Shop, you know they didn't always exist, at least not in my town when I was little. So as soon as the first one opened, I fell in love with the Apple Fritter.
Here's a link to replicate the flavor and texture of the All American Apple Fritter and it's made in a Loaf Pan. It doesn't get much better than this to bring back that childhood memory at the Donut Shop!

http://www.momspantrykitchen.com/apple-fritter-bread.html


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Macaroni Rice Salad

I recently discovered this recipe while looking through some vintage Mennonite Cookbooks in my collection.
I thought this sounded good.


Macaroni Rice Salad:

NOTE: Cook Macaroni according to package directions.

2 C uncooked Rice = 4 C cooked
1 C uncooked  Elbow Macaroni = 2 C Cooked
4 Hard Boiled Eggs, roughly chopped.
1/4 C Minced Onion
1 Carrot, shredded

Dressing:
1 1/2 C Mayonnaise.
3 TBS Prepared Mustard (your choice)
1 TBS Salt
1/4 C Sugar
2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar

In a large Mixing Bowl:
Cooked Macaroni
Cooked Rice
Eggs
Onion
Carrot

In a medium bowl:
Combine all dressing ingredients. Mix well.
Pour over the Macaroni and Rice.
Toss well.
Refrigerate overnight.
Stir before serving.
Serve chilled.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Pumpkin Butter

Homemade Pumpkin Butter tastes great in the morning on an English Muffin or Bagel. We have a perfect recipe for Pumpkin Bread and we eat it with this Butter.
I like any recipe made with Pumpkin.

1 - 29 oz. can of 100% Pumpkin Puree
1 3/2 C Apple Cider
8 Dried Dates, rehydrated in water.
1/4 C Pure Maple Syrup
2 tsp Ground Ginger
1 1/2 tsp Allspice
A pinch of Ground Cloves
A pinch of Nutmeg
The Juice of 1/2 Lemon

In a large saucepan on medium low heat:
Pumpkin
Apple Juice
Dates
Maple Syrup
Ginger
Allspice
Clove
Nutmeg
Stir to mix well.
Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often.
Remove from heat.
Add Lemon Juice and stir well to incorporate it.
Process the mixture with a Stick Blender until smooth.
You can also transfer it to a Food Processor in batches and pulse to puree it.
Spoon into jars and keep refrigerated.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Apple Butter on the Stove or in a Crock Pot

I was raised on Apples in Michigan and my Grandmother had Apple Orchards in Up State New York.
Of course I love any recipe with Apples.

Apple Butter on the Stove:

6 lbs. of Apples, unpeeled, cored and cut into chunks. ( Jonagold Apples, Cortland Apples, Ida Red Apples or Jonamac Apples are the best to use for Apple Butter.)
2 1/2 C Apple Cider
2 C well packed Brown Sugar
2 Strips of Lemon Zest 2 1/2" Long.
1 1/2 TBS Cinnamon
1 tsp Allspice
1/2 tsp Salt

In a large saucepan on medium heat:
Apples, cook stirring for 30 minutes.
Puree in a food processor.
Transfer to a large Dutch Oven.
Add remaining ingredients.

Cook on low for 2 1/2 hours.
Discard the Lemon Zest.
Spoon into sterilized canning jars with lids, filling within 1/2" from the top.
Wipe the rims and seal with lids.
Place jars in a water bath canner or on a rack in a large stock pot.
Fill with water, enough to cover the jars by 2".
Bring to a boil.
Remove jars to cool.
When the lids have popped, store them in a dark place like a Pantry, for 1 week.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen.


Crock Pot Apple Butter

I realize that time is precious and it's very convenient to get out the Crock Pot and make a recipe.
Here's Crock Pot Apple Butter.

6 lbs. of a variety of Apples, unpeeled, cored and cut into chunks. (Jonagold Apples, Cortland Apples, Ida Red Apples or Jonamac Apples are the best to use for Apple Butter.)
1 3/4 C Apple Cider
2 C Granulated Sugar
2 1/2 C Brown Sugar
1/4 C Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Salt
1 TBS Cinnamon
3/4 tsp Ground Clove
1/2 tsp Nutmeg

Add all ingredients to the Crock Pot and Stir to Mix Well.
Cook on High for 2 Hours. Stir occasionally.
After 2 hours, reduce temperature to Low.
Continue cooking for 8 hours or overnight.
Puree with an Immersion Blender.
Transfer to Mason Jars and refrigerate.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Christmas Punch Recipes!

Here are a few of my favorite Holiday Punch Recipes, adapted from Southern Living.
I did another post called Punch Recipes that can be made throughout the year.

Of course I have to start with a Texas Holiday Punch.

Tex - Mex Christmas Punch:

1 C Granulated Sugar
1 C Water
1 Quart of Pomegranate Juice
3 C Tequila
1 C Fresh Lime Juice
1 C Cranberry Juice
1 - 750ml. bottle of Champagne or Sparkling White Wine.

In a 3 quart saucepan on medium heat:
Sugar
Water
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Heat for 5 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved, stirring constantly.
Set aside to cool for 45 - 60 minutes.

In a large Pitcher:
Pomegranate Juice
Tequila
Lime Juice
Cranberry Juice
Refrigerate for 4 hours.
Pour into a large Punch Bowl.
Carefully add Champagne or Sparkling Wine

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Christmas Brandy Milk Punch:
This recipe makes 4 servings.

2 C Whole Milk
2 C Half and Half
1 C Brandy
1/2 C Sifted Confectioner's Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
Crushed Ice
Nutmeg

In a large Pitcher, whisk together:
Milk
Half and Half
Brandy
Sugar
Vanilla

Serve in Christmas Mugs over Crushed Ice.
Sprinkle with Nutmeg.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Sparkling Cranberry - Raspberry Punch:

This one looks very festive with floating Raspberry Sherbet and Frozen Fresh Cranberries.

6 C - 100%  Ocean Spray Cranberry/Raspberry Juice
6 C - Ocean Spray Sparkling Cranberry flavored Beverage
1 TBS Vanilla
1 Pint of Raspberry Sherbet
Frozen Whole Cranberries for garnish

In a large Punch Bowl, stir together:
Cranberry/Raspberry Juice
Sparkling Cranberry flavored Beverage
Vanilla
Mix well.

Use an Ice Cream Scoop an add Raspberry Sherbet.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

All American Fudge

A friend on Face Book posted a picture of Fudge that she's making for the holidays. She is the daughter of my best friend from college. We've known each other since we were 18. He named his daughter after me...... thank you Terri for reminding me that I needed to post a Fudge Recipe on my blog. Here's her recipe.

For my European friends........ we love Fudge!

All American Fudge!

Here's what you'll need:

1 - 9" X 9' Pan, lined with Foil, ends extending over the pan by 2" all around.

3 C granulated Sugar

12 TBS (3/4 C) Butter, cubed

5 oz. (2/3 C) Evaporated Milk, not Sweetened Condensed Milk!

3 - 4 oz. packages of Baker's Semi Sweet Chocolate, roughly chopped.

1 - 7 oz. jar of Marshmallow Creme

1 tsp Vanilla 

1 C chopped Walnuts or Pecans

In a 3 quart saucepan on mediu, high heat:

Sugar

Butter

Evaporated Milk

Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.

Continue cooking for 4 minutes or until a candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees, stirring constantly.

Add:

Chocolate

Marshmallow Creme

Stir well until all is melted.

Add:

Vanilla and stir to combine.

Fold in Nuts.

Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly.

Cool completely.

Use the extended foil to remove the fudge from the pan.

Peel away the foil and cut into squares.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!