Useful and helpful hints:

Here are several hints that might make baking and cooking a bit easier.  I found them in a Reader's Digest issue..You may find them helpful! I did!!! 


Peeling Apples:

Peeling  apples for a pie can take less time with this trick:  Peel around the top and bottom of an apple in a circle, leaving the center intact. Then peel the center in a top to bottom motion, turning the apple as you go..

Gravy:

Getting gravy to the right consistency takes time and care..Try this hint..If it's too thick, mix in teaspoons of hot water until it's right..To avoid lumps, use Wondra (I love it)..You can find it by the flour..

Basting the Turkey::

Rather than basting with your pan drippings, use melted butter and a bit of wine..It'll add a buttery tang to the turkey and help keep it juicy.  You can add your favorite herbs, garlic and other seasonings too!

Ice::

Replace your ice bucket with a kitchen colander..Place an ice filled colander in a bowl and as the ice melts, only the ice cubes will remain..water will drip to bowl..How about that!!!  Easy!

Dress up your Mayo:

If plain mayonnaise isn't cutting it on your sandwich try adding some fresh basil, thyme, lemon or lime juice..Even hot sauce or horseradish will add to spicing it up!

Hope you found these helpful..I'll keep posting more when I think they might interest you..

Happy Baking and Cooking!







10/21/11

Spiced Pecans: Mom's recipe

Great recipe for your nut loving family and friends.

Hint:  Thanksgiving and Christmas.


I wasn't going to do a thing today in the kitchen but I just couldn't resist making some wonderful toasty pecans that everyone loves!   Mom made these every year and she couldn't make them fast enough. You can't eat just one! if you know what I mean.  Everyone loves them!  They are also wonderful to make for the holidays AND  they STORE WELL IN COOKIE TINS.  I doubled the recipe and made 2 lbs..

I love to give containers mixed with these pecans and trail mix that I make especially during the holidays.  You can find cute little containers at the Dollar Store.

Happy Baking from my kitchen to yours,

1 egg white slightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
1 lb. pecan halves
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves (optional)
1/2 tsp. nutmeg or 1/2 tsp. allspice

All toasted and just out of the oven..Yummy!

Stir after 20 minutes and put back in oven for 10 minutes more..

Mix together sugar, salt and all spices..

In a Medium bowl whisk egg white and water, stir in pecans until all surfaces are moistened. Sprinkle above sugar/ spice mixture to coat all pecans.  Mix well until all pecans are covered with sugar mixture...

Spread pecans on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake in a pre heated oven 300 degrees for 30 minutes..stirring once after 20 minutes then put back in oven and bake remaining 10 minutes. Cool and store.

11/18/12 original

11/23/13

Eggless Tiramisu! A Birthday dessert for me!

 Re-post of one of my favorite desserts. A great Christmas Dessert idea from my kitchen to yours, xo

easy. 

It's my birthday and I'm eating dessert! and it's before dinner.  I can do whatever I want and I like it!

  As my grandson's says "I'm Boss"..whatever that means but I'm thinking that's a good thing or so I'm hoping.  Enjoy this extremely delicious Tiramisu.  Thanks just a pinch for the recipe!  Mixed it up a bit and I think you can too if you can't find ladyfingers.

Happy Baking from my kitchen to yours,
  

M.J.

I am very skeptical about using raw eggs in any recipe so when I saw this recipe posted on justapinch.com I wanted to try making something similar.

I couldn't find ladyfingers at the grocery store so I substituted Almond Biscotti for the lady fingers.  The recipe turned out fine but I forgot to buy 2 packages as the recipe called for (24) so I wasn't able to layer mine. Surprisingly it turned out fine and it was super easy. 

Here's the finished product!  Make sure to refrigerate for several hours before serving and also carefully dip the ladyfinger or biscotti.  The biscotti absorb quickly.  

P.S.  I couldn't tell any difference except the Stella Doro had tiny pics of almonds going through them.  A great touch!  I should had had two packages but since I only bought one it was a single layer tiramisu which was fine. A keeper recipe!



Happy Baking from my kitchen to yours,

1 c	mascarpone cheese
5 Tbsp	powered sugar
1 tsp	vanilla
2 c	cool whip, thawed
1 c	coffee, strong and cooled
1 pkg	ladyfingers 24 count
1/2 c	cocoa powder
1/4 c	shaved chocolate

Mix mascarpone cheese, powered sugar, and vanilla.  When mixed well fold in cool whip

2

dip 12 lady fingers in the coffee, letting sit for a min. before placing on the bottom of a rectangle glass pan. (make sure you let lady fingers sit in coffee for a little while because it will be dry if they are not moist enough)depending on the pan you use, you sometime have to break some in half to completely cover bottom with ladyfingers.

3

pour half of the mascarpone cheese mixture over ladyfingers. shift cocoa powder evenly over mascarpone mixture. not to light but not to heavy, I put enough so you can hardly see the cheese mixture.

4

dip the last 12 lady fingers in the coffee and spread the rest of the mascarpone cheese mixture. do another med. layer of cocoa powder. this time sprinkle shaved chocolate over the top. I use about 1/4 or a little more on the top.

5

Let set in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.   4 or more is better!! Enjoy!!!

Pasted from <http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/cake/eggless-tiramisu.html>

 
4/26/13
1/23/14

Sausage Cheese Balls

 Game day !

Appetizer Suggestion: Memorial Day, July 4th or any party.  Bring on a fabulous appetizer.  Sausage Cheese Balls.  Super easy!

We've were invited to our friends for New Year's Eve and I didn't feel like doing anything fussy so I found this recipe on the internet and I think it's going to be a hit.

Note:  This appetizer was delicious.  There wasn't one left on the plate!  Also I was asked for the recipe and since it was so easy I knew it by heart.  Love these 5 ingredients or less dishes.

Enjoy!

8/2/17 

1 lb.. hot sausage (ground)
8 oz. softened cream cheese
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cups Bisquick

Mix above ingredients well with hands or to make it easier use the dough hook on your kitchen mixer.

Make into small balls and bake at 400 degrees about 20 to 25 minutes and browned slightly.

I'm going to serve them with marinara sauce.  I bet you could also serve some ranch dressing to dip them into also.

Enjoy!

5/18/15 

Almond Biscotti: My Favorite!!!

If you want tender buttery tasting Biscotti, this recipe is for YOU!


Hi Everyone and a very good and positive thinking day to you.

I can't believe how quickly times goes by. This original recipe for my biscotti was one of my first recipes I posted on my blog. I still make them frequently because IMO it is the best recipe to date. Enjoy!

This is really the easiest of all Biscotti recipes.  I have made many different type Biscotti  and  the consistency and tenderness as well as buttery taste in this recipe out numbers any others I had made.  You can toast them for crunch or  slice them (they have to be cool).  They will not slice well unless they are cooled.  I use an electric knife but any very sharp serrated  knife will work. They are wonderful just the way they are or Add cranberries, almonds, mini choc. morsels etc.  I found this recipe years and years ago in a magazine and I still  have the small torn and tattered piece that I have taped on an index card. Ask my friends...they love this recipe!





 1 cup butter (I use salted)
2 1/2 cups sugar, divided
6 eggs
2 tsp. almond(watch amount), anise, vanilla or butternut extract
4 1/2 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 cup chopped almonds( pecans, cranberries)or chopped dates
4 tsp. milk

In a mixing bowl cream butter and 2 c.sugar..( add a little less if you prefer a less sweet biscotti). Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition..Stir in extract..Combine dry ingredients, add to creamed mixture..Remove from mixer.  Stir in almonds or other dried fruit.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease with cooking spray.  Divide dough in half, spread by tablespoons (illustrations below)onto two 12x3 inch rectangles on foil. (Drop by tablespoons approx. 8 full tablespoons in line) (photo will show how to do).  Brush with milk and sprinkle with remaining sugar.

Bake 375 for 15 to 20 min. or golden brown and firm to touch.  Remove from oven.  Reduce heat to 300.  Lift rectangles onto cooling rack.  Cool at least 15 min. They will slice better if completely cooled.

Place on cutting board and slice diagonally 1/2 in. thick.  Place slices cut side down on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 10 min. and turn cookies over and bake additional 10 minutes for crisp Biscotti.    Cool and store in airtight container. 

Recipe makes 4 rolls..Two on each cookie sheet.

****Updated photo. 12/4/2022

I added 1 cup chopped dates to this recipe.  Delicious!

Choc chips were added to these Biscotti.

Happy Baking from my kitchen to yours,

5/9/11 original post