Cherry Danish Cookies

Here's a new recipe for Christmas.  Eye appealing and very tasty. Cherry in the center allows the cookie to be eye appealing while delicious to eat..Sweet and a bit tart.  They remind me of a small danish.  So pretty.

The batter is a little sticky so I made them on the order of a drop cookie because making balls out of the batter would be messy and I didn't want to add anymore flour.  If you prefer you can either refrigerate the dough or add a bit more flour so you can roll the dough into balls.

12/21/16 

Cherry Danish Cookies

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 cups flour
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• white chocolate, for drizzling on top

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees 

Place sugar and softened butter in mixing bowl.  Beat until smooth, add egg and vanilla while beating slowly.  Add sour cream and baking soda.  Slowly add flour and beat until all is incorporated.

On a large cookie sheet either using a medium size meatball type scoop place about 1 tablespoon of batter.  Make a slight indentation in center of batter and add a cherry pie filling. Leave some distance between each cookie.  They will spread slightly.

Bake depending of size of cookie approximately 12 to 15 minutes.  Allow to cool slightly before moving them to rack.  When cooled drizzle with melted white chocolate morsels.  Follow instructions on bag of morsels until melted . Stir after each 10 second interval while melting.

With a small spoon drizzle cookies with white chocolate.  Allow chocolate to harden and store in an airtight container in cool area.

recipe makes about 30 to 36 cookies depending on size.




Happy Baking from my kitchen to yours,

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Surprise visit from our son so I was able to make this using rotisserie chicken , fresh vegetables and cream of chicken soup. 11/12/2024

Updated photo 2/7/2023

I love Casseroles!  and this has to be one of my family's favorites, especially our son.  This one's for you Mark:).

A short story to go along with this yummy meal.  There were days that our son had a friend over and of course I would always invite them to eat with us.  His very good friend's mom called me after Danny had eaten with us and said "can I please have your recipe for pot pie"?   Her exact words were "'Danny loved it and is begging me to make it".  It was an honest feel good moment.:) for me.

 At that moment I realized sharing  recipes was a  wonderful giving experience and that I would do forever. We have lost contact with Danny and his family but  I am sure without a doubt Danny's mom has now made this pot pie recipe for her grandchildren.

  Enjoy! and pass this recipe to others so that they will enjoy it too.

Betty Crocker and I have been long time friends..Years ago 
I experimented with a version of Betty's chicken pie recipe, by adding some peas, carrots and potatoes to it.  I realized long ago I must  get some veggies in as much as I could with our children and this casserole surely did it.  It was one of my son and his friends favorites.. Several of their mom's asked for the recipe..I top it with Bisquick Biscuits mix and bake..

  A tasty meal and leftovers are great..Here's my adjusted version..Happy Cooking!

6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons flour
 1 3/4 cups chicken broth( I used my homemade soup)but I have made it with Swanson's Chicken Soup.
2/3 cup cream or milk
3 small potatoes diced and cooked
3 small carrots sliced and cooked
1/4 cut frozen peas
1/2 tsp. salt 
2 cups cooked diced chicken (I'm sure you could use canned or rotisserie chicken as well).

***Biscuit Topping

1 pkg. Bisquick brand baking mix Complete (7.5 oz.)  or you can buy Bisquick brand in a large box for convenient recipes. Note:   I mix the Bisquick with milk instead of water.

Heat oven to 425 degrees..Heat 6 tablespoons butter over low heat. Blend in flour until mixture is smooth.(it's called a rue)   Stir in broth and milk.  Bring to a boil stirring constantly about 1 minute. It should thicken slightly.  Stir in chicken and vegetables. Pour into baking dish.  Top with heaping tablespoons Bisquick mix ( follow instructions on box.  ( I use Bisquick Complete Mix). 

 Bake until Biscuits are slightly browned approximately 20 minutes. Serve by heaping spoonfuls..

Note:  I cook my chicken, potatoes and carrots ahead to save time and  I Refrigerate them until ready to use. Another way to speed up this meal is to use canned chicken and broth as well as frozen vegetables.. 

Happy Cooking!

Repost 10/12/18
original 2011

Cauliflower Cakes

What can you make when you have a huge head of cauliflower?  Well one great idea is cauliflower cakes.  Similar to potato pancakes and IMO just as tasty.  Enjoy!

I  did not follow a specific recipe but thought one similar to my potato pancake recipe would certainly be worth a try. 

 The cauliflower was washed and in large florets so I cut them in half before I put them in the food processor.  I pulsed them slowly and added my onion powder, salt and pepper and egg while pulsing.  I then slowly added the flour until the consistency was to my liking.

I heated a large skillet and added several tablespoons of vegetable oil. Once the oil was heated using a large tablespoon placed a pancake size scoop into the hot oil.  Browned on both sides and removed from skillet onto several paper towels to remove all grease.  They're really good!

Approximately 2 cups cauliflower florets(pulse in processor until finely chopped).
1 tsp. Onion powder
1 egg
1/2 cup flour
Salt and pepper
Vegetable oil for frying

Sour cream, applesauce to garnish if desired or use as a side dish with chicken or fish.

Easy Stir Fry Garlic Shrimp

I didn’t have a clue what to make for dinner tonight so a little this and a little that became my easy stir fry dinner.  Note:  when frozen shrimp are on sale I buy a bag.  It’s so  easy to make a quick meal with them.

You can easily make it too!!! Doesn’t it look yummy???

• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 T vegetable oil
• 2 cloves grated or minced garlic
• 24 medium to large frozen cooked shrimp deveined
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. Paprika
• I small broccoli crown separated and steamed
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tsp. Soy sauce
• 2 chopped scallions (green onions)
• 
  
• For convenience Cooked Minute rice or packaged rice is my choice to stir in to shrimp and garlic.  You can use regular cooked rice as well. You decide. 

Thaw shrimp overnight in refrigerator or run cold water over shrimp to defrost.   Pat dry.

In a large skillet place oil.  When heated add shrimp and saute until no longer cold.  Several minutes.  Remove shrimp and set aside.  

Whisk 1/3 cup honey, garlic and soy sauce together.  Add to skillet you had cooked the shrimp. Whisk until starting to bubble.  Add steamed broccoli and sautéed shrimp.  Toss with cooked rice.  Garnish with scallions.

Enjoy!

Baked Oatmeal

Recipe repost 👍

School has started so this is a great breakfast for the kiddos or even as a meal for an evening you don't know what to make for your family.  It is easily put together and baked for your enjoyment.  It is a great recipe.  One of my favorites and my hubby's too.  Healthy and nutritious and a good for you meal.

 Leftovers can be stored easily in the refrigerator, individually wrapped for several days, and it is freezer friendly. Microwave friendly to heat your individual leftovers.  Just the dish for a quick breakfast or lunch.  I cut down the sugar slightly when I add dried fruit.

Today this recipe has dried cranberries.  Chopped walnuts or pecans can be added as well.

Note: Cut in squares or spoon into dishes and top with cream and berries. Yum!

  Serve warm with a little milk or half and half..  Note:  When I make this recipe plain I usually top it with fresh sliced or diced strawberries..Wonderful!

 Happy Baking and Cooking from my kitchen to yours,

3 cups oatmeal (any brand quick oats)
3/4 cups brown sugar( Splenda is easily substituted for sugar)
1/2 cup margarine or butter melted
2 eggs
2 cups milk( I used skim)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2  tsp. salt( I eliminate salt if I am using salted butter)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup dried fruit (optional) or top with fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberres.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease a 13 x9 inch pan.  Beat margarine or butter and brown sugar together.  Add eggs, vanilla, baking powder, salt and milk. Fold into oatmeal and mix making sure to coat all oatmeal. Pour into greased baking dish or pan.  Bake 375 degrees uncovered approx. 25 minutes. Either cut in squares or spoon into serving dishes.  Add some milk or half and half as needed.

This recipe is diet friendly as well.  Use skim milk, margarine, instead of butter and sugar substitute.