HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS

Okay. Here's the basic, original recipe from Goop.com, which is Gwyneth Paltrow's "Mom" website. It's good made just like this, but ohhhhhhh, the variations you can do!!!!!

1 1/3 cup quick cook rolled oats
pinch salt, one of cinnamon, one of nutmeg and one of ginger
1/4 cup flax seeds
1 cup dried fruit and/or nuts
1/4 cup of canola oil
1/4 cup good quality maple syrup
2 T. brown rice syrup

Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8" square pan with parchment, hanging over the sides.

Grind 1/3 cup of the oats in the food processor until they're powdery. Add to large bowl with remaining oats and all other dry ingredients. Toss.

In a separate bowl, whisk wet ingredients together.

Add wet to dry.

Put mixture into pan and smooth top. Bake 1/2 hour until evenly browned. Let cool 15 minutes on a cooling rack (the parchment makes a good sling to get it onto the rack). Cut into bars.

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Now for the variations. I've found that just about any dry, crunchy type of grain or cereal will work for the "1/4 cup flax seeds". I've used wheat germ, crunched up cereal (it's the perfect thing to do with the leftover handful in the bottom of the box), and several other ingredients that sounded and looked as if they might taste good in a granola bar. No misses yet. I don't think you can screw it up.

Secondly, you can change up the spices you use however you want. When I'm using apples I use a little more than a pinch of cinnamon and ginger and no nutmeg. When I use dried mango or papaya I use a pinch of cardamom. Peaches and cloves are good together, and then sometimes I just don't use anything but the salt so I can taste the natural sweetener and other ingredients I've used.

Third, 1/4 cup of oil is WAAAAAAAAAY too much. I use about half that. Replacing the oil with peanut butter or any kind of nut butter is really delish too.

Fourth, I don't care for maple syrup too much so I replaced it. Depending on what ingredients I"m using I've replaced it with agave nectar, honey, or a mixture of those two plus others like sorghum or molasses. (A teensy bit of that goes a long way though.)

In order to get my kids to eat this the first time, I added m&ms- about 1/2 cup to the whole recipe. I guess that provided just enough chocolate/candy lust to get them to try it. Now they love them no matter what ingredients I sneak in.

Enjoy!

Tiedye

Buff Chick Dip (from Hungry Girl)

I did this dip for a friend get-together late this afternoon. Oh. My. Gosh. It's FABulous!! It's from the new Hungry Girl 1-2-3 Recipe Book. OK here's the recipe as written by HG:

8 oz. fat free cream cheese
1/2 cup Frank's Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup fat free Ranch dressing
1/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
Two 10 oz cans of 98% fat free chunk white chicken breast in water, drained and flaked

Place cream cheese in lg microwave safe bowl and stir until smooth. Mix in Frank's RedHot sauce, mozzarella, ranch, and yogurt. Stir in chicken until thoroughly combined.

Microwave 3 minutes. Stir and then microwave for an additional 2 minutes or until hot. Enjoy!

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Ok here's what I did:

One 8 oz tub of lowfat cream cheese, room temp
1/4 cup Frank's Redhot Buffalo Wing Sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup lowfat Ranch
1/4 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt

I left off the chicken completely because two of us are vegetarians. Then I substituted lowfat instead of fat free for the cream cheese and Ranch dressing. I would just rather not have food than to have the fat free versions of those items. Then. THIS is MOST important...... I used HALF of the amount of Frank's sauce and it was just right. HALF.

OK this is the BEST dip for fresh celery and salt free tortilla chips on the PLANET. I bet it would be great with chicken too.

Enjoy!!

tiedye

Ice Cream Cake

Okay, here's the original recipe as I got it a few years ago:

Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake

Butter the cake pan of your choice, then press wax paper over the bottom of the pan.

If using Dairy Queen ice cream, spread it in the bottom of the pan. If you are using any other ice cream, allow it to soften, then spread on the bottom of pan until the pan is almost half full. Sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies, then spoon hot fudge sauce (at room temperature) over the top of this. Set in freezer until frozen.

Remove from freezer and add second layer of ice cream. Smooth it evenly with the top of the cake pan. Return to the freezer and freeze until very hard.

Remove from freezer and frost with a mixture of equal parts ice cream and thawed frozen whipped topping beaten together. Return to freezer until 10 minutes prior to serving time.

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Now here's what I do. We like it better- it still has that distinct taste a DQ ice cream has but instead of being all ice cream it has a thin layer of real cake too.

You do need a cake mix (whatever flavor you want), you need chocolate wafers, Hersheys chocolate syrup, and you DON'T need Oreos.

Line a deep cake pan (I use a bundt pan) with Saran. (If you spray a little Pam on the pan it'll stick nicely for you.

Bake your cake in a large enough sheet cake so it's a thin layer - maybe 1" to 1.5". Let it cool.

Dollop and then spread a little hot fudge sauce in the bottom of the pan. Spread softened vanilla ice cream next, to about 1/3 full. Make sure it's pressed down firmly into the pan.

I use chocolate wafers; the kind that are with the sundae ingredients at the grocery store. Crush a sleeve of those and then drizzle just enough chocolate syrup over them and toss, so they are a little moist instead of dusty and loose. Then spread that over the vanilla ice cream and press firmly.

The cake layer is the next layer- cut it to fit and lay it over the cookie crumbs. Press firmly.

Spread a layer of chocolate ice cream last, until your pan is as full as you want it. Cover with Saran directly on top of the ice cream and freeze.

I frost this cake with Cool Whip.

Enjoy! Tie

Barbeque Baked Bean Cheese Dip

This was in the Thursday Food edition of the AJC. It's suuuuperrrrrb.

1.5 cups catsup
1/2 c molasses
1/3 c maple syrup
1/3 c packed brown sugar
3 strips bacon, finely chopped
4 slices deli ham, finely diced
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/4 Dijon mustard
1 cup water
three 15-oz cans cannellini beans, drained
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1-pd bag corn tortilla chips

In medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the catsup, molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, bacon, ham, onion, mustard and water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook, stirring often, until very thick, about 2 hours. (Note from Tie: I put it in the crockpot on low instead so I didn't have to watch it.)

Add beans and simmer another 10 minutes.

Heat oven to 350 and spread cream cheese in an even layer across the bottom of a deep 8x8 baking or casserole dish. Spoon beans and sauce over cream cheese, then top with cheddar. Bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and heated through.

Serve with chips.

Enjoy!
Tie

CHEESEBURGER CHOWDER

1/2 pound ground beef
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1 3/4 cup milk
1 cup frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 T taco seasoning
1 T dried minced onion
1/2 t. chili powder

Optional, for topping:
Coarsely crushed corn chips
Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Chopped green onions
Sour cream

In large saucepan saute beef over medium heat until done. Drain.

Stir in soup, milk, potatoes, chilies, and seasonings until blended. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with toppings.

This soup takes all of 15 minutes from start to finish, and it's GOOD. Sometimes I use low fat Velveeta instead of the cheese soup, because Campbells cheese soup has a particular taste I'm not so fond of, but even using the soup it's still great.

I have made it without the mexican seasonings before, and then I top each bowl of soup with a hamburger dill pickle chip and a teensy swirl of mustard (sounds gross, BUT lemme tell you, it tastes LIKE A CHEESEBURGER)!!

Enjoy!!
Tie

SALTINE CRACKER TOFFEE BARS

I know, I know, it sounds gross. Trust me, it's SOOOOOOOO not.

Toffee Treats

1/4 of a box of saltine crackers
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
1 large bag of chocolate chips
chopped walnuts - optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Grease with butter. Cover with one layer of saltine crackers laid side to side like bricks. Bring 1 cup sugar and 1 cup butter to a boil and continue to boil for 2 1/2 minutes. Pour over crackers and spread fast. Bake 5 to 7 minutes. Spread a large bag of chocolate chips over, like icing. Top with chopped walnuts if desired.

You can't believe how good these are.

Enjoy! Tiedye

IHOP's GRIDDLE CAKES

Many years ago my mother in law told me about these. Ronny and I are not big on going out for breakfast but on this particular morning, we all had accommodated a family member's birthday request and met at the IHOP. I had no clue what to order. Boy was I glad I listened to my Mama.
NOWWWWWW, they have discontinued these delightfully unique pancakes, and I guess it's to the advantage of my hips, but I mourn them. Now that I found the recipe, I'm making them at home. Yay me. Yay my family- wow they're good.

Now this recipe makes a TON of pancakes. BUT. They freeze beeeeeautifully! Makes school mornings a snap.

3 1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup honey
28 ounces of pancake mix
18 ounces of Cream of Wheat
2 t baking powder
5 1/2 cups nonfat milk
8 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil

Mix yogurt and honey until smooth, cover and set aside in a the refrigerator.
In a large bowl, combine the pancake mix, Cream of Wheat, and baking powder; set aside.
In separate large bowl, combine milk, eggs, and oil, stir into dry ingredients and mix until batter is smooth.
Ladle 1/4 cup portions of batter onto medium hot lightly greased griddle. Cook until pancake tops begin to bubble (you guys know how to cook pancakes at this point.....) ^_^

Serve each plate with 1/4 cup of yogurt and honey mixture.

Enjoy! Tiedye

THE SOUP NAZI'S CRAB BISQUE

Again, ingredients you just wouldn't expect. That's why these recipes are so phenomenal. There seem to be a lot of ingredients, but don't get intimidated. Most of them are just pinches of spices. It really is quick and easy. I used canned crab meat- that sped up the process immensely. I used onion powder and celery seeds instead of making my own broth, and I put it all in a slow cooker instead of cooking it for FOUR hours. After the potatoes (in bold) you dump everything else in AT ONCE. It still was the best crab bisque I've ever had. WAAAAAY better even than Aspen's Lobster Bisque. THAT's sayin' a LOT.

4 pounds snow crab clusters (legs)
2 quarts water
2 quarts chicken broth
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 ribs celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, quartered
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 t dry mustard
1 T chopped canned pimiento
one 16oz can refried beans
1/2 t pepper
2 bay leaves
1/3 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 T butter
1/4 t dried thyme
1/8 t dried basil
2 T Old Bay seasoning

Remove all crabmeat from shells and set aside.
Discard 1/2 of shells and put remainder into large pot with water and chicken broth over high heat. Add onion, 2/3 of chopped celery, and the garlic, then bring the mixture to a boil. Continue to boil for 1 hr, stirring occasionally, then strain the broth. Discard the shells, onion, celery, and garlic, keeping only broth.

Measure 3 qts of broth into lg saucepan or pot. Add water if there's not enough broth to measure 3 qts.

Add potatoes and bring mixture to boil, then add one half of crabmeat and all remaining ingredients, including remainder of chopped celery, to saucepan and bring mixture back to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 4 hours or until soup reduces by about half and starts to thicken. Add remaining crabmeat and simmer for another hour or until soup is very thick.

Refrigerate overnight. It's better the next day. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Serves 4 to 6.

REFRIED BEANS......WHO'DA THUNK IT?????

Enjoy! Tiedye

OLIVE GARDEN'S SALAD DRESSING

It's our favorite Italian dressing by far. Surpringly, there are a couple of ingredients that make it different from other Italian dressings. Guess that's why we like it so much?

Considering how expensive it is to buy this stuff at the Olive Garden, it's worth making a batch instead.

1/2 white vinegar
1 t lemon juice
2 T beaten egg
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3 T grated Romano cheese
2 T dry unflavored pectin
1 1/4 t salt
1/2 t minced garlic
1/4 t parsley flakes
pinch of dried oregano
pinch of red pepper flakes

Mix all ingredients in blender on low for about 30 seconds.
Chill in refrigerator for 90 minutes.
Serve over favorite salad.

Makes 1 1/2 cups.

Enjoy! Tiedye

OLIVE GARDEN'S FETTUCCINI ALFREDO

Same cookbook as the last recipe - and oh boy is this good and rich. BUT. It's my #1 son's favorite alfredo. Very easy too.

1 pound fettuccine
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 grated Romano cheese
6 jumbo egg yolks
salt and cracked pepper
1 t garlic powder
1/2 t parsley flakes

Cook fettuccine according to the pkg directions. Heat milk and cream in a large, heavy saucepan until it comes to a simmer. Slowly whisk in the cheeses and then remove from heat.
Place egg yolks in a bowl and slowly whisk in a portion of hot milk and cream mixture to temper. Season to taste with s&p.
Add cooked fettuccine to saucepan. Sprinkle in garlic powder and stir until the sauce thickens to desired consistency.
Sprinkle with parsely and serve immediately.

Serves 4 to 6

Enjoy! Tiedye

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY'S OREO CHEESECAKE

Alright. I have a new cookbook. It's called America's Most Wanted Recipes, and it has the recipes for many restaurants' famous dishes. This is one that's particularly special since a few of my HTE sistahs and I sat in a booth and visited over one of these (and a couple of other flavors of cheesecake as well).

CRUST
2 T butter, melted
1 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs (about 25 cookies, finely chopped)

FILLING
Three 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
1/4 t salt
2 t vanilla
1/4 cup ap flour
8 ounces sour cream
5 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped, for filling

10 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped, for topping

Have all ingredients at room temp before beginning. Preheat oven to 325.

Crust: mix melted butter with Oreo cooking crumbs and press onto bottom and 1 1/2" up the sides of a 9" springform pan. Set aside.

Filling: Beat cream cheese with elec. mixer on low until fluffy. Slowly add sugar and continue beating cream cheese until mixed well. Add eggs one at a time and continue to beat until blended.
Measure vanilla, salt and flour; pour into cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Add sour cream and beat.
Stir in the 5 coarsely chopped Oreo cookies with a spoon.
Pour the cream cheese mixture into the sprngform pan and sprinkle the 10 coarsely chopped Oreo cookies over.

Place the pan in the middle of the oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. After that time keep the oven door open and let the cheesecake stay in the oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool enough to place in refrigerator for 24 hours.

To serve, run a knife or metal spatula around the sides of the pan to loosen the cake, and remove the pan.

Serves 4 to 6

Enjoy! Tiedye

BEST SALSA EVER

I had this at a family get together this past weekend and fell in love with it. Super easy!

1/4 cup of fresh cilantro
1/2 medium onions
1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
6 roma tomatoes, quartered
1 teaspoon of cider vineger
1 teaspoon of salt,(optional)
1/4 - 1/2 of a jalapeno pepper

You put every thing in the Cuisinart or Magic Bullet in this order, mix until all is chopped.

Enjoy!

Tiedye

CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN MUFFINS (or BREAD)

Yesssss, another pumpkin recipe. Here's the thing. I bought one of the $15 sized pumpkins at church back around Halloween. HUGE thing. I bought it for the front porch. We didn't carve it, it was just part of our harvest porch. Well it lasted, and it lasted, and it LASTED. No rotten spots like you usually see after a couple of weeks. Guess it was because the weather was cold and it preserved it. Who knows. So. When we got ready to put the Christmas porch up, I found myself with a perfectly good hunormagondous pumpkin on my hands. Couldn't throw it away. I've been bred not to do such wasteful things. So I cut it in half, scooped the seeds and strings out, (toasted the seeds ^_^ ) and BAKED the darned thing. It took BOTH ovens. The result? TWELVE QUARTS of pureed pumpkin. Yep. So here's what I did with a pint of it today:

• 3/4 cup white sugar (I used raw sugar)
  
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• hefty pinch of ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• hefty pinch of ground ginger
  
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
  

Whisk together first three ingredients until blended well. Add pumpkin and water and whisk until blended.

In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, soda, cloves, ginger, and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture and fold until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Bake at 400* for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

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Now I know this is not a remarkable recipe, but it's GOOD and it's healthy. I think it's because you don't use the traditional pumpkin spices, and so it gives it a whole different taste.

Enjoy!

Tiedye

PUMPKIN COBBLER

This is so super easy, so delicious, and it's sort of different- a nice change from pumpkin pie. I wish I could remember where I got the recipe so I could give credit.

15 oz can pumpkin (not pie mix)
12 oz can evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/4 t cloves
1/4 t ginger
1 cup sugar
dash of salt

Mix and pour into 9x13 pan.

1 box yellow cake mix with pudding
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 sticks of melted butter

Sprnkle cake mix over pumpkin, then pecans, then pour butter over.

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

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THAT's the original recipe (for that unnamed source which I can not recall). Ok here are the changes I made:

I used real pumpkin that I had in the freezer. It made the batter a little thinner, but it still set, and it was great. I always swear I can tell the difference between canned pumpkin and real. In truth, who knows.....?

I reduced the sugar to 3/4 cup, and I used raw sugar instead of refined white sugar. I use raw sugar or turbinado sugar whenever I can, and in a pumpkin recipe it was a no-brainer. Those two tastes are fabulously rich together.

I used walnuts instead of pecans. I like them better with pumpkin. Personal preference.

I reduced the amount of the butter to ONE HALF of a stick. It was PLENTY.

Enjoy, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I'm thankful for this blog.

Tiedye

Savory muffins

I got this book for my birthday and have not used it until recently, I know shame on me.

http://www.amazon.com/Mix-100-Muffins

Scallion & Goat Cheese Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Coarsely ground black pepper, to taste

2 large eggs, room temp

1 cup buttermilk, room temp***

6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 bunch scallions, sliced thin

5.5 oz goat cheese, crumbled

Sea salt, for garnish

Preheat oven to 400F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line with paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper into mixer bowl.

Lightly beat eggs and add to mixer bowl. Add buttermilk**, melted butter, scallions, and goat cheese. Mix on medium speed until just combined - do not overmix.

**If you don't have buttermilk  add 1 tablespoon white vinegar to just under a cup of low fat milk and stir together.

Scoop the batter into the muffin pan. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 20 minutes, until well-risen, golden brown, and firm to the touch.

Let muffins cool 5 minutes in the pan before removing. Serve warm or cool completely and store covered for 3 days.

Yields: 12 muffins

I also used gorgonzola once and I seemed to like it better............chefs choice I say.

Cactus

If you like cranberries……..

This is a great buffet dessert or even after the turkey or prime rib Thank Full meal that's just around the corner.

 

Cranberry Nut Tart

• 3 cups (12 oz bag) rinsed cranberries
• ¾ cup chopped pecans 
• ½ cup sugar
• ¾ cup melted butter
• 2 large eggs slightly beaten
• 2 tbls orange juice
• 1 cup sugar  ***
• 1 cup all purpose flour

 

 Butter and lightly flour a deep 10 inch pie plate or a 10 x 2 quiche dish.

 

Place cranberries in the bottom of the pan, sprinkle with the pecan pieces, then sprinkle the ½ cup sugar.

 

Now in a bowl combine the melted butter, eggs, juice and the 1 cup of sugar. Add the flour and whisk till smooth. Pour mixture over the cranberries.

 

***If I have any oranges on hand I sometimes grate maybe a tsp of the orange rind into the wet ingredients. 

Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 45 minutes. Insert the old toothpick in the center to check for doneness.

  

Let cool…………………add a scoop of really good vanilla ice cream or not.

 

 

Enjoy

 

Cactus

Cornish Hens with Apricot Glaze

This recipe is easy as can be, but so delicious that no one will know how little time it actually takes to prepare.

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 Cornish game hens
2 tablespoons butter, melted and divided
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon grated onion
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the salt and cayenne pepper. Rub a third of the mixture inside the hends. Brush the hens with 1 tablespoon of the butter and sprinkle with the remaining seasoning mix. Place hens on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

In a saucepan, combine the preserves, honey, onion, nutmeg and remaining butter. Cook and stir until preserves are melted (I'm lazy; I melted everything together in the microwave). Brush over hens. Bake another 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown and a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees. Cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

PUMPKIN GOOEY BUTTER CAKE

A Paula Deen favorite - I should have known when I saw how much butter to use! I don't know how I lived to nearly 40 y/o without ever tasting this but SIL introduced it to me a couple years ago. I was planning on making this for a surprise dessert tonight and thought I had all the ingredients, but unfortunately, I'm missing the cream cheese. Well, there's always tomorrow...One of these days I'm going to try the chocolate/peanut butter variation.

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 egg
• 8 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
  
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar*
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

*Reviews of this recipe said that it's very sweet and the sugar can be reduced to 3/4 or 1/2 the amount included here.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.

Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Variations: For a Pineapple Gooey Cake: Instead of the pumpkin, add a drained 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

For a Banana Gooey Cake: Prepare cream cheese filling as directed, beating in 2 ripe bananas instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.

For a Peanut Butter Gooey Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix. Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter to the cream cheese filling instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.

Fabulous Fall Meal!

Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon
• 1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage
• 4 cloves garlic, cracked and chopped
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
• 4 to 6 sprigs sage leaves, cut into chiffonade, about 2 tablespoons
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup chicken stock, canned or paper container
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup (3 turns around the pan) heavy cream
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ground or freshly grated
• Coarse salt and black pepper
• 1 pound penne rigate, cooked to al dente
• Romano or Parmigiano, for grating
• Pumpernickel or whole grain bread, as an accompaniment

Directions

Spinach Salad with Apple and Red Onion, as an accompaniment, recipe follows

Heat a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and brown the sausage in it. Transfer sausage to paper towel lined plate. Drain fat from skillet and return pan to the stove. Add the remaining tablespoon oil, and then the garlic and onion. Saute 3 to 5 minutes until the onions are tender.

Add bay leaf, sage, and wine to the pan. Reduce wine by half, about 2 minutes. Add stock and pumpkin and stir to combine, stirring sauce until it comes to a bubble. Return sausage to pan, reduce heat, and stir in cream. Season the sauce with the cinnamon and nutmeg, and salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer mixture 5 to 10 minutes to thicken sauce.

Return drained pasta to the pot you cooked it in. Remove the bay leaf from sauce and pour the sausage pumpkin sauce over pasta. Combine sauce and pasta and toss over low heat for 1 minute. Garnish the pasta with lots of shaved cheese and sage leaves.

Serve pumpkin sausage pasta with pumpernickel or whole grain bread and Spinach Salad with Apple and Red Onion.

Spinach Salad with Apple and Red Onion:

• 1 pound triple-washed spinach, de-stemmed
• 1 small Golden Delicious apple, quartered, cored, and sliced
• 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons (a couple of splashes) apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon grain mustard
• 1 tablespoon (a good drizzle) honey
• Coarse salt and black pepper

Place spinach, apple, and onion in a salad bowl. Place oil, vinegar, mustard and honey in a small plastic container and fit lid on container. Shake dressing to combine, 1 minute. Pour dressing over salad, toss, and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Yield: 4 servings

Philadelphia Cherry Danish Dessert

2 8-oz. cans refrigerated crescent rolls, divided

2 8-oz. tubs cream cheese spread

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided

1 egg white

1 tsp. vanilla

1 21-oz. can cherry pie filling

3 tbsp. milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 13x9 inch baking pan. Unroll one can of crescent dough. Place in baking pan; press into bottom of pan to form crust, firmly pressing seams togther to seal.

Beat cream cheese spread, 3/4 cup of the powdered sugar, the egg white, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Spread onto crust; cover with pie filling. Unroll the remaining can of crescent dough onto a large sheet of wax paper. Pat out dough to form a 13x9 inch rectangle, pressing seams together to seal. Invert over pie filling to form top crust; discard wax paper.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool at least 20 minutes. Gradually add milk to remaining powdered sugar, beating well until blended and thick. Drizzle over warm dessert. Cut into 24 rectangles to serve. Store leftover dessert in fridge.

(Makes 24 servings)