Sunday, September 26, 2010

Pumpkin Pie Pockets - A Wonderful Fall Treat


Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin

  • 1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk


  • Directions

    Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. I put the whole can but since we are putting the pumpkin mixture in the pocket mold, you may want to only add half of the can of evaporated milk.  To thicken the pumpkin mixture back up, I added 3 tablespoons of flour.
    Cut your pockets out.  Put your bottom crust in the bottom of the mold and then put 2-3 tablespoons in the bottom crust.  After you have done that, place the top crust on the mixture and then close the mold.  You may want to spray the mold with nonstick spray, so that it's easier to get the crust out of the mold.



    Place the pocket pies on a cookie sheet.  I sprinkled cinnamon sugar on top of them.  You can also brush on egg whites so that they will be golden brown and shiny when you take them out of the oven.

    Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.


    Since I used the Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts, it made 7 pocket pies.  You can use a homemade crust also.  Here is the recipe for the original pumpkin pie, http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/specialty/libbys-detail-fpp.aspx

    Saturday, September 25, 2010

    Kitchen Measuring Equivalents

    Sometimes we don't always have the right pan for what the recipe calls for or the recipe may call for a pint of milk(yes, that may be a very rare example).  How are you going to figure this out?  I hope these tips help you out!

    Baking Pan Equivalents
    10" x 3 1/2" Bundt = Two 8" x 2" Rounds

    10" x 2" Round = 9" x 9" x 2" Square

    Standard 12-Cup Muffin Tin = 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" Loaf
    "                                           = 9" x 1 1/2" Round
    "                                           = 8" x 8" x 1 1/2" Square

    9" x 2" Round = Two 8" x 1 1/2" Rounds
    "                     = 10" x 15" x 1" Jelly Roll
    "                     = 8" x 8" x 2" Square

    Measuring Equivalents
    1 Tablespoon   = 3 Teaspoons
    1/8 Cup           = 2 Tablespoons
    1/4 Cup           = 4 Tablespoons
    1/3 Cup           = 5 Tablespoons plus 1 Teaspoon
    1/2 Cup           = 8 Tablespoons
    2/3 Cup           = 10 Tablespoons plus 2 Teaspoons
    3/4 Cup           = 12 Tablespoons
    1 Cup              = 48 Teaspoons
    1 Cup              = 16 Tablespoons
    8 Fluid Ounces = 1 Cup
    1 Pint               = 2 Cups
    1 Quart            = 2 Pints
    4 Cups             = 1 Quart
    1 Gallon           = 4 Quarts
    16 Ounces       = 1 Pound

    Monday, September 20, 2010

    What Would You Do With These?


    Yes, peach season may be over, but imagine all that you can make next year with these fresh peaches.  I love to make peach cobblers and peach pies.  Oh, not to forget about peach ice cream. 

    Brownies with Berries & Cream Cheese Icing


    Baking doesn't have to be hard! I used my left over blueberries and strawberries(that went with my Berry Pie).  The brownies were made with a boxed mix.  I did make this dessert extra special by whipping up some cream cheese icing.  After making so many Italian Cream Cakes, I can make the icing in my sleep.  This isn't the same recipe for the cream cake icing, but this was easy to serve with the brownies and berries.

    Here's what you'll need:
    1/2 stick of soften butter, room temperature
    1/2 stick of cream cheese, room temperature
    1 cup powdered sugar
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

    Here's how:
    Mix together your butter and cream cheese with a hand mixer or stand mixer.  After everything is combined, put the powdered sugar in with the mixture and then add the vanilla.

    Hearty Bison Chili

    It's starting to be cooler weather! What is better than chili on a cool night?  This recipe is great to make and then freeze so that you will have it on hand.


    Ingredients
    1 12 ounce bottle of Shiner Bock or any dark beer
    2 pounds ground bison
    6 cloves garlic, minced
    2 large onions, diced
    1 28 ounce can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
    1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
    1/4 cup New Mexico chile powder
    3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    2  tablespoons fresh lime juice
    2 tablespoons honey
    4 teaspoons minced canned chipotles in adobo
    1 tablespoon ground cumin
    1 1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon dried oregano
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    fresh ground black black pepper, to taste

    Directions

    Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy Dutch oven on medium-high heat until simmering.  Add bison; cook about 5 minutes or until no pink remains, roughly breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon.

    Remove meat with a slotted spoon to a small bowl.  Season with 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Set aside.

    Dreain liquid from pot, and add remaining olive oil.  Add onion and saute over medium heat until translucent and soft but not browned, about 6 to 8 minutes.  Add garlic, saute 1 minute more.  Add chile powder, cumin, oregano and cinnamon, and cook gently, 1 to 2 minutes.

    Pour in beer, and let cook down a few minutes, stirring.  Add tomatoes, honey, chipotles and remaining salt, and return bison to pot.  Cook at a lazy simmer, 45 minutes.

    Let chili cool completely, then refrigerate overnight.  Reheat over low heat, and stir in lime juice and cilantro just before serving.

    Spoon chili into bowls, and top with your favorite fixings.


    The lime juice and cilantro at the end is optional.  I like to open a can of kidney beans, rinse and drain them and add them to the chili.  Not everyone likes chili beans.

    Summer Berry Custard Pie


    Ingredients

    3 eggs
    1/2 cup sugar
    pinch of salt
    1 1/2 cups of milk
    2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
    1/2 cup blueberries
    1/2 cup slicked strawberries
    1 (9-inch)


    Directions

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

    In a medium bowl beat together the egg, sugar and salt until the mixture becomes pale. Slowly beat in the milk and vanilla.


    Cover bottom of the pie crust with the berries. Pour the egg mixture over the top, bake until center is set, about 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature before serving.

    This recipe would be really good for breakfast, brunch or a very light dessert after dinner.  A dollop of whipped cream would be delicious on top of the pie!

    Sunday, September 19, 2010

    Welcome

    Hello everyone!  I decided to make a baking and cooking blog.  Since I have a pretty new kitchen, I can't stop baking! Here is the renovation that took place in the kitchen, http://my-kitchen.tumblr.com/.  I think my family really loves that bonus.  So far in my new kitchen I have made a couple of Italian Cream Cakes, double chocolate cookies and some apple pies.  Everyday I am thankful for my new stove and microwave! We moved the new microwave to on top of the stove, so I have more counter space! That 2-3 feet of extra room feels more like 20 feet!

    I hope that you will continue to follow my journey through baking and cooking.