Friday, January 18, 2008

Mom's Apple Pie



Crust Ingredients:
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling Ingredients:
5-7 tart apples; peeled and sliced thin
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of salt
4 tablespoons of butter


Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large cooking pot, combine all the filling ingredients and cook until very soft.

In the pie baking dish, mix flour, sugar, and salt.

In small bowl, whip oil and milk together and pour over the flour mixture.

Mix together with fork until the four is all damp and ingredients are combined completely. Reserve 1/3 of dough to crumble over the filling for crust top.

Press rest of dough to the bottom of the pie baking dish evenly and up the sides; crimp edges.

Add filling and top with the reserved flour; crumpled. Dot with butter

Bake for 30-40 minutes; until top is brown and filling is bubbling.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Easy Mac & Cheese Muffins


Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon butter
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a small bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, olive oil and salt; set aside.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook for about 8 minutes, it should still be a little firm. Remove from the heat, drain and return to the pot; stir in the butter and egg until pasta is evenly coated. Reserve 1/2 cup of the sharp Cheddar cheese and stir the remaining Cheddar cheese, milk, and mozzarella cheese into the pasta. Spoon in to the prepared muffin pan. Sprinkle the reserved cheese and the bread crumb mixture over the tops.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until the topping is nicely browned. Allow for the muffins to cool for a few minutes before removing from pan. This lets the cheese set and they will hold their muffin shape.

Spice Cake in a Jar


Ingredients:

1 tablespoon shortening, melted
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup golden raisins
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup sour cream
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Brush five sterilized canning jars with melted shortening. Place jars on a baking sheet; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, all-spice, and salt. Stir in pecans and raisins. In another bowl, combine milk, butter, honey, sour cream, egg, and vanilla; whisk until smooth. Combine milk mixture with flour mixture, stirring to combine well. Evenly divide batter between jars, filling each jar approximately half full.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Using kitchen towels, remove one jar at a time form the oven; carefully place lid and ring on each, screw lids on tightly. Cool jars on counter top. Once jars have sealed (popped!), store in a cool place for up to one year.