Cheddar Cheese Snaps

I had this recipe posted along with another Cheese recipe and it was difficult to locate it on the Blog. I decided to re post it alone.
Here's my recipe from 1980. I used to make these every year for New Year's Eve.

The Dough will be very crumbly but it comes together when you form the balls.

Cheddar Cheese Snaps:

1 pound of Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
2 sticks of butter, room temperature
3 C Flour
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 C Chopped Pecans

Combine the first 5 ingredients on a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and mix well.
Add Pecans
Divide the dough into thirds.
Form each third into small 1 1/2" diameter logs on a sheet of parchment paper.
Wrap tightly and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Slice the rolls into 1/4 " slices
Arrange 1 1/2" apart on a baking sheet
Bake for 18 - 20 minutes
Transfer to paper towels to cool
Store in air tight containers

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Cheesy Baked Red Potato Casserole

This is a great side dish for Family Gatherings, Holiday Dinners, Church Pot Luck Suppers or Block Parties.
It's easy and delicious.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" Casserole Pan sprayed with a Vegetable Cooking Spray.

9 Red Potatoes diced into 1" Cubes.
1/2 C Prepared Ranch Dressing
1 TBS Garlic Powder
1 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
2 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/4 C Chopped Fresh Chives

In a Saucepan on Medium High Heat
Potatoes
Bring to a Boil and cook for 10 minutes.
Drain completely.

Add:
Ranch Dressing
Mix well.

Add:
Garlic Powder
Paprika
Salt
Pepper
Stir to combine well.

Spoon into the Baking Pan.
Spread evenly.

Bake for 30 - 35 minutes.

Remove from Oven.
Sprinkle evenly with Cheese.
Stir to combine well.

Sprinkle evenly with Chives, do not stir.
Serve Hot.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

New Year's Cold Black Eyed Peas

I don't know if it's a Texas tradition or do other states eat Black Eyed Peas on the first day of the new year? We love Black Eyed Peas in Texas, anytime of the year. I think we just have a passion for food here.
There are so many recipes for Black Eyed Peas from simple and plain to decadent. We eat a lot of Texas Caviar that's made with Black Eyed Peas. There are so many recipes that add Ham Hocks or Bacon to Black Eyed Peas. This is a Vegetarian Version that's served cold, as a side salad.
This recipe is made with a dressing and very tasty.

Cold Black Eyed Peas

2 C shelled black eyed peas
1 C vegetable oil
1/3 C red wine vinegar
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 TBS minced parsley
1 small red onion, thinly sliced

Saucepan, over medium heat:
Cover peas with water
Bring to a boil
Simmer for about 30 - 40 minutes, or until tender yet firm.

Make the dressing:

In a bowl, whisk together:
oil
vinegar
garlic
salt
pepper
parsley
Mix well

Drain the peas
Toss in the onion slices
Add dressing
Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours, or up to 2 weeks.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Fig and Cambozola Cheese Cookies

Some foods just seem to go together well. They're almost meant to go together, like Peanut Butter and Jelly, Popcorn and Butter, Milk and Chocolate Chip Cookies.......... and Figs and Blue Cheese! Cambozola is a delicious combination of German Triple Cream Brie-Style Blue Cheese and Italian Gorgonzola Cheese.  It's rich like Camembert and sharp like Gorgonzola. It has the taste of Blue mixed with the creaminess of Camembert. Here's a great appetizer pairing those two great food items together.

Fig and Cambozola Cheese Cookies

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Sheet Pans lined with Parchment Paper
A  2" Round, Fluted Cookie Cutter.
1 - Stainless Steel TBS Measuring Spoon.

1 1/4 C Flour
8 TBS Butter, Cold and Cut into Pieces.
4 oz. Cambozola Cheese, rind removed and cut into small pieces.
1/2 tsp Pepper
Bonne Maman Fig Preserves

In a Food Processor:
Flour
Butter
Cheese
Pepper
Pulse until the Dough forms into a ball.
Transfer to a lightly floured flat surface.
Knead the Dough gently. (add additional flour if it seems too sticky)

Roll it out 1/4" thick.
Use the Cookie Cutter and cut out the Dough.
Transfer to the Sheet Pan.

Use the back of the Measuring Spoon to create a well, for the Preserves, in the center of each piece.

Add 1/4 tsp of Preserves in each well.
Bake 12 - 14 minutes.

Remove the Pan to a rack to cool for 10 minutes.

Transfer the Cookies to the rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Café Bombón

A delicious Espresso Drink that originated in Valencia, Spain.
We have a Nespresso Coffee Maker that I use for the Espresso Coffee.

Here's what you'll need:
A Small Clear Glass
Sweetened Condensed Milk
A Shot of Espresso Coffee

Pour 3 tsp Sweetened Condensed Milk
Pour the Espresso over the Milk.

It creates the third layer of Crema.
Stir slowly to combine well.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Christmas Wine Cake

I received this recipe in 2011.
It's from a friend in Denver, Colorado.
She said this is her mother's recipe and she made it every year for Christmas.
It's become a family Christmas Cake at our house.
I've made 2 of these Cakes this Christmas and I've posted photographs of several options of Wine to use.

NOTE:
After testing it several time, I prefer soaking the Raisins in the Wine of your choice, overnight.
Put 1 C of Raisins in a Glass Measuring Cup, fill it with Wine. Cover with Plastic Wrap and refrigerate overnight.
When you're ready to make the cake, Drain the Raisins and reserve the liquid and use it as part of the Cup of Wine in the Recipe.
I also prefer the Glüwein over Red Wine.

I opted to Dust the Top with Confectioner's Sugar.

This is the only Pan that works. Don't try to make it in a Bundt Pan.

A really nice French Red Wine.

I've made this cake with a very nice French Red Wine and
with Nürnberger Christlindles Glüwein.
I prefer the Glüwein.

This Mulled Cherry Wine is a great option.

You can also use Glögg.

The Butter, Sugar and Eggs are mixed with a Mixer.

Dry ingredients are sifted together and
added to the Egg and Butter mixture alternating with the Wine.

I start out folding this with a spatula and then I use the Mixer.

This is after it's mixed with a Mixer and the raisins are folded
in by hand.

Ready to bake for 45 minutes.

Christmas Wine Cake

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - Tube Pan, sprayed with a Cooking Spray.

2 Large Eggs
2 C Granulated Sugar
16 TBS Butter, room temperature.
1 C Wine. (Sweet White, Rosé, or Red) A Hearty Burgundy is best. I have also made it with German Glühwein.
3 C Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 C Raisins. Sultana Golden with Sweet Wine and Dark Raisins with Red. (See the note above about soaking the Raisins overnight)
Homemade Whipped Cream for Service. (Recipe to follow)

NOTE:
You can do this step or not. It's not in the original recipe.
The day before, put the Raisins in a 1 C Measuring Cup and cover with Wine to soak for a day. I cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it. When you're ready to make the cake, drain the raisins and use the liquid as part of the 1 C of Wine in the recipe.

In a Large Mixing Bowl with a hand mixer:
Eggs
Sugar
Butter
Beat until creamy smooth.

In another bowl, sift together:
Flour
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Salt
Whisk well and set aside.

Alternate the Dry Ingredients and the Wine into the Creamed Butter and Sugar Mixture.
Mix just until well combined.

Fold in Raisins by hand with a Wooden Spoon or Silicone Spatula.
Spoon evenly into the Pan.

Bake for 45 minutes.

Remove the Pan to a Rack to Cool for 10 minutes.
Invert the Cake onto the Rack to Cool Completely.
Transfer to a Serving Platter.
Cut with Confectioner's Sugar as an Option.
Garnish each serving with Whipped Cream.

This is my favorite recipe for homemade Whipped Cream.

Homemade Whipped Cream:

1 C Heavy Cream
1 tsp Vanilla
1 TBS Confectioner's Sugar.
Whip the Cream in a Stand Mixer with a Whisk Attachment.
Beat to Soft Peak.
Add:
Vanilla
Confectioner's Sugar
Beat to Stiff Peak.
Transfer to a Serving Bowl to serve.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Ritz Cracker/Peanut Butter Cookies

These can be made with White Chocolate and Valentine Sprinkles too. This is probably a well known recipe but it was the first time I had tasted them. There are so many options for decorating them, use you own imagination and creativity.
I recently went to a Holiday Event and someone brought the Chocolate ones. They are delicious.

http://www.averiecooks.com/…/chocolate-peanut-butter-stacks…

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!