Rhubarb Pie

This is an amazing dessert with or without a pie crust. I like to make it without crust and serve it with Ice cream. It becomes more of a souffle this way :). Another reason I love this dessert (besides the fact that I love rhubarb) is that the hands on time is so short.

Rhubarb Pie

3 eggs                                    1/4 C. flour
1 1/4 C. Sugar                         2 1/2 C. Chopped rhubarb
1/4 C. butter (softened)             1/4 tsp. salt
1 10-inch pie shell (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Separate yolks from egg whites. Beat whites and slowly add 1/4 cup sugar until stiff; set aside. In a blender or food processor mix egg yolks, butter, salt, remaining sugar, and flour. Add rhubarb and pulse until it is mixed well (should still have lots of chunks). Fold together the rhubarb mix and the egg whites (gently). Pour into a buttered dish or pie shell. bake for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 325 and bake for 30 minutes more.

Enjoy :D one of my favorites!!

~Sarah~

Blackberry Cream Cheese Pie

This pie is to die for! Made it today with my mom's fresh blackberries, it was so incredible. You may want to make two pies when you make it. It is a delightfull summer pie.


5 cups blackberries
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 baked 8-inch or 9-inch pie shell
Whipped cream and/or additional berries, to garnish (optional)
In a medium-size saucepan, combine 3 cups of the berries with the water. Bring to a boil. Let cool, then strain to remove the seeds. Return the syrup to the saucepan. Stir in the cornstarch, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring, and boil for 2 minutes. Cool.

When the syrup is cool, blend the cream cheese, milk, and lemon zest until smooth. Spread evenly in the baked pie shell. Top with the remaining 2 cups uncooked berries. Pour the cooled, thickened syrup evenly over the berries. Refrigerate for 1 hour or more.

~Amie Michelle~

Apple Caramel Pie

My family and I have really enjoyed this recipe. Now that it is fall, it is a great time to try this!

Ingredients:
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust deep dish pie
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
5 cups thinly sliced apples
2/3 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
20 caramels, halved
2 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2) To Make Taffy: In a small bowl combine brown sugar, melted butter or margarine, and 1/3 cup flour. Mix well and set aside.
3) To Make Apple Filling: Place apples in a large bowl. Add white sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Toss until all ingredients are mixed well and apples are thoroughly coated.
4)Spoon half of apple filling into pastry-lined deep-dish pan. Top with half of caramels and half of taffy mixture. Repeat process with remaining apple filling, caramels and taffy mixture. Place top pastry over filling and seal well (this is very important--if edges are not sealed, caramel will leak out all over). Cut steam vents and brush top crust with milk or light cream.
5)Cover pie with foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil from pie and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, until crust is golden. Serve warm.
~Amie~

Everyday fun, New Twists on Old Favorites

Grilled Cheese Supreme
Instead of your normal everyday grilled cheese try these additions for a switch up and gourmet feel to an old favorite.

-sauteed onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes
-Rotel
-Meat slices/ bits. Turkey ham is especially good.


Mac n' Cheese

-Take your finished mac and place in baking dish add small layer of cheese and a layer of bread crumbs drizzle with butter and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Mix in broccoli or other vegetables.
- Try new cheeses or combinations of cheese. My favorite mac is with Monterrey cheese and a little bit of pepper.

Breads
If you like to make homemade bread or rolls here are a couple of additions to take it from everyday to special occasions ( home made rolls and bread are always excellent whether spruced up or not).

-Fennel or a mix of the same spices you would put in your pizza sauce (fennel, parsley, basil)
-Rosemary and sage.
- Cheese :)

Well that was on my mind for tonight. Thinking about some of the things that Amie and I like to play around with :)

~ Sarah ~

Waldorf Astoria Cake

½ C. shortening

2 eggs

¼ C. red food coloring

1 C. buttermilk

1 tsp. soda

1 ½ C. Sugar minus 2 Tbsp.

2 tsp. cocoa

2 ¼ C. sifted cake flour +2 Tbsp.

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vinegar

Cream together shortening, sugar, and eggs. Add the cocoa, food coloring, and flour. Beat in the remaining ingredients. Bake in two round (9") cake pans at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan. Cool and split each layer. Frost and stack (frosting below)

 

Frosting:

1 C. milk

1 C. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

3 Tbsp. flour

1 C. sugar

Cook the milk and flour until very thick. Let cool (this step is important because if it isn't both thick and cooled your frosting will be glaze). Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla together. Slowly add the milk mixture and beat until light and fluffy.

 

The frosting is really what makes this cake come alive. I think I could eat the frosting by itself. I will try and refrain J

Enjoy! ~Sarah~

Sour Cream Pancakes

4 eggs

½ C. flour

1 C. sour cream

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp. baking soda

Beat eggs well. Add sour cream, flour, salt, sugar, and soda. Blend until smooth. Cook on hot, lightly greased, griddle until bubbly on top. Turn and cook till brown.

Simple Pleasures, Garlic-y Beans and Marinated Mushrooms

Here are two recipes that I absolutely love! They are both so simple but dress up a dinner so nicely.  Both are adjusted as you like it :)

Garlic-y Beans

Green Beans
Butter
Garlic (minced)
Parmesan Cheese (grated)

Steam green beans first. Melt a couple of Tablespoons of butter in a pan. Add beans and garlic and saute for a few minutes. When hot sprinkle well with parmesan and serve.



Marinated Mushrooms

Mushrooms
Butter
Montreal Steak seasoning

Saute Mushrooms in butter till nice and brown. Sprinkle with Montreal and serve.



Wonderful flavor in both dishes. Adjust the ingredients as you like them. Delicious, quick, and yet still feels like a gourmet side!