Tag Archives: dessert

Oatmeal Ginger Cream Cookies

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bars and Cookies, Cookies, Holiday and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,
Oatmeal Ginger Cream Cookies

Oatmeal Ginger Cream Cookies

These large sandwich cookies made their way onto my cookies-to-give list.  The moist filling and the soft oatmeal cookie are both delicious separately, but when you put them together they become sublime.  I chose to include them in my cookie collection this year because they are BIG, not some little dainty cookie that’s gone in two bites.  (Although I love those, too!)  I think guys will really like them because they’re “manly”.

These are generously sized cookies, with a cream cheese filling that has bits of crystalized ginger in it.  (Did you notice what happened there?  I found another way to sneak in some ginger. :P)  The cookie part is a nice soft, oatmeal that’s got lots of spices in it.  The oats are toasted in the oven before incorporating them into the batter, making them crispier and toasting the oats also brings out their nutty flavor.  When two oatmeal cookies are sandwiched together with the ginger cream filling the flavors fuse and compliment each other so well.  Mr. D. described them as YUMMO!!IMG_5676

The recipe expects you to get 12 cookies, but I must have made mine a little smaller, because I got 15 sandwich cookies, and they were plenty big for my taste.  They are not low in calories, but I tried to reduce the fat and calories somewhat by using low-fat cream cheese.  These are definitely cookies that guys will like.

Without the filling these are still very good oatmeal cookies, and I think the addition of raisins in that case would really enhance them.

OATMEAL GINGER CREAM COOKIES

Yield:  Makes 12-15 sandwich cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1  1/2 cups rolled oats

    These cookies are nicely spiced.

    These cookies are nicely spiced.

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 stick butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • Ginger Cream  (recipe follows)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350*F.  Position racks in the top and bottom levels of the oven.  On a baking sheet, bake oats on the top rack, shaking the pan intermittently to prevent burning, until lightly browned, 10 minutes.  Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool, leaving oven on.

Begin by toasting the oats on a baking sheet.

Begin by toasting the oats on a baking sheet.

2.  Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.  In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy….

Cream butter, sugars and egg.

Cream butter, sugars and egg.

Beat in the egg.  Add the flour mixture, beating until just combined.  Stir in the toasted oats.

This is a thick dough.

This is a thick dough.

3.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.  Roll dough ( about 2 tablespoons/cookie), into balls, or use a #30 (1-ounce) ice cream scoop.  For each baking sheet, drop 12 balls 2 inches apart.  With dampened hands, flatten each ball to 1/2-inch thickness.

Flatten dough balls prior to baking.

Flatten dough balls prior to baking.

Using the bottom and top racks, bake until cookies are lightly browned around the edges and set, 12 minutes, switching the baking sheets from top to bottom and rotating them from front to back halfway through baking.  Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

After baking, browned but not crispy.

After baking, browned but not crispy.

4.  Frost the bottoms of 12 cookies with Ginger Cream, then top with the remaining 12 cookies.

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For Ginger Cream:IMG_5670

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (low-fat cream cheese is OK)
  • 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Beat in the ginger.

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SOURCE:  The Beekman Boys via Country Living Magazine

Ginger Snaps

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bars and Cookies, Holiday and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
Ginger Snaps

Ginger Snaps

Ginger is always a must in my Christmas baking.  Sometimes it appears in more than one item.  Since I’m keeping it simple this year I settled on ginger snaps for my ginger fix instead of anything more elaborate.

I can remember making these cookies with my mother when I was young and just wanting to help in the kitchen.  I always had the sense of excitement and anticipation when my mother was baking, so that is where I wanted to be also.  Often my job was “prepping”, i.e., chopping nuts, or fruits, or in this case cutting up the candied ginger.  I never minded this because, you know, I got to taste everything in advance.  That’s how I come by my love of candied ginger, and to this day I still have to eat a piece or two while I’m cutting it up.

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If store-bought ginger snaps are the only kind you have ever had then you will be very surprised by these.  They are not in the least bit dry, or crunchy.    You won’t need to dunk them into coffee or milk to soften them up.  They are kind of hard to describe;  a little crispy at the edges, but still soft and chewy inside.  Spicy and gingery, but not overly so–just a good blend of spices.  The outside is sugary, because  you form the dough into balls and roll in sugar.  Everything is better with a little sparkle, right?

These are great for gifting or make a fabulous go-along for your cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa.  I hope you love them as much as I do!

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GINGER SNAPS

Yield:   about 3 dozen

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 2/3 cup canola oil
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup finely diced crystalized ginger (optional)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 – 1 cup coarse/sparkling sugar

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 325*F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.  In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt.  Whisk to blend.  Stir in the ginger if using.

2.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the oil, sugar, molasses and the whole egg.  Mix on medium speed until well combines.  With the mixer on low speed, mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated and a dough forms.

3.  Shape small portions (about 1 Tbsp) into 1 to 1 1/2-inch balls.   Place the sparkling sugar in a small dish, and roll each ball of dough in the sugar so that it is covered in an even layer.  Repeat with the remaining dough balls.

Roll dough balls in sugar.

Roll dough balls in sugar.

4.  Place the coated balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 to 3 inches apart.  Bake,  just until the tops of the cookies are set and beginning to crack, about 15 – 17 minutes.  Let cool on the baking sheets a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container in a cool place.

Cooling after baking.

Cooling after baking.

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Note:  The cookies will become more firm as they cool, but if you prefer a softer cookie for eating, warm in the microwave for 10 seconds.

SOURCE:  my mom’s recipe box

Apple Sour Cream Pie with Gjetost Cheese

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Pies, Pastry and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
Sour Cream Apple Pie with Norwegian Gjetost Cheese.

Sour Cream Apple Pie with Norwegian Gjetost Cheese.

Making apple pie this way was a first for me.  The first time I made the crust this way, the first time I put sour cream in the filling with the apples and definitely a first time using Norwegian Gjetost (pronounced “yay-toast”) cheese.  It was a wonderful addition to apple pie.

Gjetost is made from a combination of both cow and goat’s milk and has a fudge-like consistency and nutty, caramel flavor. It develops its distinctive color and flavor because the milk sugars are caramelized during the cheese-making process.  The cheese is slightly sweet and nutty and has a smooth texture.  I used a brand called Ski Queen gjetost, that I found at my local Whole Foods, but there are other brands available, often found at Scandinavian markets.  Gjetost generally comes in an 8-ounce block.  It is delicious when brought to room temperature, sliced and served with flatbreads or other crackers and fruit.

Gjetost cheese, packaged in an 8-ounce block.

Gjetost cheese, packaged in an 8-ounce block.

The filling also calls for a little sour cream, which adds a creamy balance to the gjetost.  This is a very easy pie to make; the crust is a no-roll variety and the quick streusel topping is made with crunchy flake cereal.  The crust is an adaptation of a recipe called Pat-A-Pan Piecrust from the Amish Cook’s Baking Book by Lovinia Eicher with Kevin Williams.

This pie was one of my offerings at the Thanksgiving dinner at my sister-in-law’s house. It was the only homemade pie there, and it disappeared so fast I didn’t get a picture of it sliced, nor did I even get a piece to eat.  My husband and the others who had some all declared it “delicious, creamy, different, but good. and other such phrases.  I guess I’ll have to take their word for it.  I know that it looked great and smelled fantastic while it was baking.  Since I still have about half the cheese left, I will most likely make it again–this time just for us!

SOUR CREAM APPLE PIE WITH NORWEGIAN GJETOST

Yield:   Makes 1  9-inch pie,  8  servings

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

  • 1  1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 Tbsp. cold milk

For the filling:

Apples and other filling ingredients.

Apples and other filling ingredients.

  • 6 cups sliced apples
  • 2 Tbsp. sour cream
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. cardamom*
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 2 Tbsp. flour
  • 2 ounces gjetost cheese, grated**

*  If you don’t keep cardamom on hand you can replace it with pumpkin pie spice or just extra cinnamon.

**  If you can’t find the gjetost, omit it and replace half of the sugar in the filling ( 1/4 cup) with light brown sugar and add an extra 1/2 tablespoon flour.

For the streusel topping:

Crumble topping ingredients.

Crumble topping ingredients.

  • 1/2 cup crushed cornflakes ( or other unsweetened flake cereal)
  • 1/4 cu flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. cardamom
  • 4 Tbsp. butter, melted

Preparation:

Crust:   Combine the flour, salt, sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, whisk the oil and milk until creamy and well blended.  Pour over the dry ingredients and mix with a fork to form a moist dough.  Place in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate and flatten with you hand.  Using your fingers, gently push the crust to the edge and up the sides of the pie plate, taking care to make it as even as possible.  Prick the bottom and sides with the times of a fork, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before filling and baking.

Crust is shaped to the pan with your fingers.

Crust is shaped to the pan with your fingers.

Preheat the oven to 425*F.

Filling:  Blend the sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, salt and flour together in a large bowl.  Add the apples and toss to coat well.  Sprinkle the bottom of the pie crust with about 1/3 of the grated gjetost.

Sprinkle 1/3 of cheese in the bottom of crust.

Sprinkle 1/3 of cheese in the bottom of crust.

Add about 1/2 of the apple mixture and spread evenly.  Top with another 1/3 of the cheese, leaving the remaining 1/3 for the last 2 minutes of baking.

Add 1/2 the apple filling and another 1/3 of cheese.

Add 1/2 the apple filling and another 1/3 of cheese.

Top with the remaining apples.  Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, shielding the edges of the crust with foil as soon as they turn golden brown.

Add remaining apple filling.

Add remaining apple filling.

Streusel topping:  While the pie is baking, combine the crushed cornflakes, flour, sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and melted butter in a small bowl.  Remove the pie after the first 25 minutes and spread the topping over the top as evenly as possible.

After baking for 25 minutes,.

After baking for 25 minutes,.

Sprinkle on topping and continue baking.

Sprinkle on topping and continue baking.

Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the topping is bubbling and golden brown and the apples are tender.  Immediately sprinkle on the remaining cheese and place the pie back in the oven for a minute or two until it melts.  remove and cool on a rack to room temperature.

Looks and smells fantastic.

Looks and smells fantastic.

I baked the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips and  I’m glad I did as it did run over.  It firmed up as it cooled and kept its shape when cut into wedges.   I have got to make this again.   😀

SOURCE:   My Gourmet Connection

Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Carolyn's Originals, Desserts and tagged with , , , , , ,
Gluten-free Pumpkin Cheese Cake.

Gluten-free Pumpkin Cheese Cake.

Not too long ago a member of my family was diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity.  So for Thanksgiving, I wanted to make a dessert that she particularly likes and could eat.  Pumpkin pie has always been a favorite, so I knew that anything with pumpkin would work out well.  I also needed it to be something that didn’t have a crust.

Remembering a cheesecake recipe that I have made in the past that was crustless,  I devised this recipe for a cheesecake that is crustless, but gives all the flavor of a pumpkin pie.  We all loved it.  So for anyone who needs a gluten-free dessert, this one is very good.  You can also reduce the fat content by using low-fat cream cheese and low-fat sour cream.  It mixes up easily and can be all made in a little over an hour.  Chill until ready to serve.

Oh, soooo good.

Oh, soooo good.

GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Yield:  serves 8

Ingredients:

Looks like someone's making a pumpkin cheesecake!

Looks like someone’s making a pumpkin cheesecake!

  • 2  (8-oz.) packages cream cheese
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 4 eggs

Topping:

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 3 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350*F.  Spray or grease a 9-inch deep pie pan, or 10-inch regular pie pan.

2.  In the large bowl of an electric mixer,  put in cream cheese and sugar.  Beat until smooth and thick. Add eggs one at a time beating smooth.  Add vanilla, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.  Blend in well.  Pour into prepared pie pan.  I had enough filling for a 9-inch deep dish pie plate plus 3 custard cups.

This makes a lot of filling. Use a 10" pan or several extra custard cups.

This makes a lot of filling. Use a 10″ pan or several extra custard cups.

3.  Bake at 350*F for 40- 45 minutes.   Test center for doneness.  The cheesecake may develop cracks in the top, but this will be covered by the sour cream topping.

It will puff up as it bakes and may crack like this one did.

It will puff up as it bakes and may crack like this one did.

4.  Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 20 minutes.  While cooling the center will become slightly depressed.

A depression forms in the center as it cools a bit.

A depression forms in the center as it cools a bit.

Meanwhile mix up the topping mixture using a bowl and whisk.  Pour over cheesecake, and bake an additional 10 – 15 minutes.  The topping should fill the depression in the cheesecake, creating a white center with raised edges that are light pumpkin color.  A pretty effect!

Before baking--fill center with sour cream topping.

Before baking–fill center with sour cream topping.

After baking.

After baking.

5.  Cool on a wire rack and then refrigerate until ready to serve.

A light and fluffy texture.

A light and fluffy texture.

Oh, soooo good.

Oh, soooo good.

SOURCE:   a  Carolyn’s Original

Cranberry-Pear Crisp

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Desserts and tagged with , , , , ,
Cranberry and pear crisp.

Cranberry and pear crisp.

If I were to ask you to name the “fruits of fall”,  surely apples would likely be the first you would mention, and then maybe pears would be a close second.  Where would cranberries fall on that list of fall fruits?  Fresh cranberries are in season now, bagged and sold by the pound.  I usually get several bags of them and put them into the freezer for use later on when they’re no longer available at the supermarket.  They are so useful in both sweet and savory dishes.

We think of cranberries when we’re planning the Thanksgiving menu, because cranberry sauce, whether canned or home made is a natural with turkey.  But cranberries seem to get neglected when it comes to baking or making a dessert for the holiday table.  So today I have a recipe that attempts to change that.

This tart-sweet dessert combines fresh cranberries  with dried cranberries and fresh diced pears, plus lovely spices.  It gets topped with a crumble that is made from flour, sugar, oats, chopped nuts and melted butter.  Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, it could be the grand finale to your holiday dinner, if not this month, maybe next.  The colors are so festive, they remind me of Christmas jewels and ornaments.

Love the color, and it tastes great, too.

Love the color, and it tastes great, too.

CRANBERRY-PEAR CRISP

Yield:   Serves 6 – 8

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound cranberries, thawed if frozen

    The colors of these two fruits are so pretty together!

    The colors of these two fruits are so pretty together!

  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 firm pears (such as Bosc), peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • pinch of ground allspice
  • 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. flour
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or other nuts of choice
  • 1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375*F.  Lightly grease or spray a 3-quart baking dish.

2.  Combine the fresh and dried cranberries in a large bowl.  Add 1 cup sugar,  3 Tbsp. water and the vanilla and toss to coat.  Lightly mash with a potato masher or fork to burst some of the cranberries.

Mix cranberries with sugar and vanilla.

Mix cranberries with sugar and vanilla.

Add the pears, cinnamon, allspice and 2 Tbsp. flour and toss to coat.

Add chopped pears and spices.

Add chopped pears and spices.

Transfer to the prepared baking dish.

Arrange mixed fruits in a baking dish.

Arrange mixed fruits in a baking dish.

3.   Make the topping:  Mix the remaining 1 cup flour, the nuts, oats, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the salt in a medium bowl,  then stir in the melted butter.

Add melted butter to dry ingredients for crumble topping.

Add melted butter to dry ingredients for crumble topping.

Use your fingers to pinch the topping into small clumps and sprinkle it over the fruit.

Sprinkle on crumble topping.

Sprinkle on crumble topping.

4.  Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown, about 40 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Golden and bubbly after it has baked.

Golden and bubbly after it has baked.

A little sweet, a little tart, a lot of delicious!

A little sweet, a little tart, a lotta delicious!

SOURCE:  Food Network Magazine

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Desserts and tagged with , , , , , , ,
Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Here we are well into the month of November with Thanksgiving looming just ahead.  If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking of your menu for the big day, and maybe trying out a new recipe or two.  That’s what I do.  We seem to want the traditional foods, but I try to give a new twist to one or two of those dishes.

In this case it’s a somewhat different way of enjoying pumpkin pie.  These are individual little “cupcakes” that taste just like pumpkin pie, but without the bother of a crust.  These are pretty easy to make.  They go together in only two steps and are baked in muffin tins.  The only thing you need to be concerned about is to make sure you spray the muffin cups well with non-stick spray or line them with foil liners.  Paper liners make if difficult to remove the “cupcakes” from the muffin tins and are hard to peel away from the pumpkin filling.IMG_5636

I’ve also read a review of this recipe with suggestions for making it very low cal. so I am including those suggestions here for any of you who must maintain a low sugar/calorie intake.

PUMPKIN PIE CUPCAKES

Yield:   Makes 12

Ingredients:

All the same ingredients as for pumpkin pie filling.

All the same ingredients as for pumpkin pie filling.

wet:

  • 1   15oz.can pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup sugar (or 1/2 cup all natural Stevia in the raw)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup evaporated milk, fat free is Ok. (or use 3/4 cup 1% milk with 2 Tbsp. cornstarch whisked in.)

dry:

  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350*F.   Line a 12 cup muffin tin with foil liners, or spray well with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a bowl with a pouring spout (batter bowl) whisk together all the wet ingredients.   In another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

3.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and blend well.  Pour the batter into the muffin cups, filling them almost to the tops.  (mine hold 1/3 cup batter each, and this amount filled them to the top).

4.  Bake for 20 minutes.  They will puff up as they bake, but will fall slightly as they cool.  Cool for 20 minutes, them refrigerate to chill until ready to serve.

See how they puff up in the oven--they will fall a little when you take them out.

See how they puff up in the oven–they will fall a little when you take them out.

5.  Carefully run a knife around the edge of each cupcake to remove from the tin.  Top each serving with whipped cream or whipped topping and a sprinkle of more pie spice.   Delicious!!

Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pie spice.

Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pie spice.

One is not enough :D

One is not enough 😀

SOURCE:   Allrecipes.com

Swedish Apple Pie

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Desserts, Pies, Pastry and tagged with , , , , ,
Swedish Apple Pie

Swedish Apple Pie

This past weekend I made some time for a fall activity I particularly enjoy–apple picking.  Many of the nearby orchards offer “pick-your-own” and it’s become somewhat of a tradition.  There’s something so satisfying about going into the orchard, and plucking those rosy, beautiful apples right off the tree and into your basket.  My problem is that I don’t seem to know when to stop.  I plan to pick a few, primarily for eating, ( lunches, ect.), and to bake a pie, or other dessert,  but somehow when I get home I have way more than I planned on.  Fortunately my unheated sunroom turns into “cold storage” room during cold weather, so apples keep quite well out there.

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Apple Pie is always on the agenda of what to make with the apples.  But this recipe, though called Apple Pie,  is out of the ordinary in that there is no bottom crust, and what looks like a crust on top is more like a big sugar cookie.  This recipe is one that I tend to forget about until something reminds me of it.  It originally came to my attention when it was included in a cookbook put together by the ladies of my church several years ago.  I really don’t know its history, or why its called “Swedish Apple Pie”, but being half Swedish myself I decided to claim it, make it and share it with you. If anyone out there knows its history please let me know.IMG_5547

Any firm, tart apple can be used, so that the acidity stands up to the rich batter.  The orchard I visited had Macouns and Cortlands available for picking, and I got some of each.  I used three Cortlands for this pie, but I really don’t think it matters what kind of apple you use.  You really can’t go wrong with apple pie.IMG_5548

Swedish Apple Pie is very easy to make.  Basically you slice the apples into a pie dish, sprinkle them with a sugar-cinnamon mixture, mix up the batter and spread it over the apples.  Bake till nice and brown.  The crust is very much like a sweet, chewy cookie,  somewhat like an apple crisp, but not quite.  Start to finish it takes about an hour to make, and soon after that you’ll be spooning up a warm apple dessert that is particularly good served with a wedge of sharp cheddar cheese, another New England tradition not to miss.  It is also very nice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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SWEDISH APPLE PIE

Servings:   6 – 8

Ingredients:

  • 3 large, or 4 medium firm-tart apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon plus 1 cup flour
  • 2 Tablespoons plus  2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 10 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 large egg, slightly beaten

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350*F.  Grease a 9 – inch pie plate.

2.  Place the sliced apples into the pie plate, arranging them to fit.  The pie plate will be nearly full.

3.  In a small bowl, mix together the 1 Tbsp. flour, 2 Tbsp. sugar, and 1 tsp. cinnamon.  Sprinkle over the apples.

Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar over the apples in a pie dish.

Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar over the apples in a pie dish.

4.  In a large bowl,  whisk together the 1 cup flour, 2/3 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Add the beaten egg, and melted butter. Stir just to mix well.  Spoon over the apples and spread to cover as well as possible.  I just “plop” it all over the top, and then with a spatula spread it out as much as possible.  It may not cover completely.

"Plop" spoonfuls of dough over the apples.

“Plop” spoonfuls of dough over the apples.

Spread dough out to cover apples as much as you can.

Spread dough out to cover apples as much as you can.

5.  Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 40 to 45 minutes.  Let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.  Serve warm.

Bake till brown on top.

Bake till golden brown on top.

Serve with a wedge of cheddar cheese or a scoop of ice cream.

Serve with a wedge of cheddar cheese or a scoop of ice cream.

SOURCE:   First Church cookbook:  “Home Cooking”

Anytime Frosted Sugar Cookies

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bars and Cookies and tagged with , , , , , ,
Anytime frosted sugar cookies.

Anytime frosted sugar cookies.

Psssst—-Gather ’round everyone, I have a secret to tell you.   You know those soft, frosted sugar cookies that you see in those plastic containers at the grocery store?  The ones that have changing color schemes depending on the season and upcoming holiday?    Well, you can make them at home,  only BETTER!     I don’t buy them myself, but if someone offered me one, I guess I’d have a hard time saying,  ” no, thanks.”   They’re nicely decorated, make you feel festive, and it’s so easy to buy a package and put them out on a plate,  what’s the harm?    Artificial ingredients, that’s what.

I’ve found a recipe for a homemade version that blows the competition right out of the water.    These taste buttery and delicious because, well, they’re made with real butter, with real vanilla, and real eggs.  Real beats artificial every time.  These are easy to make and they can be customized to the season or holiday just by tinting either the cookie dough or the frosting with food coloring and sprinkling on some decorative sugars or jimmies.  The only problem once you make these is that they taste so much better than the store-bought, you won’t want to stop at having just one.  So having a batch of these around is kind of a problem, but at least it’s a good problem to have. 😀

ANYTIME FROSTED SUGAR COOKIES

Yield:  2 – 3 dozen large cookies

Change colors to suit the occasion or holiday.

Change colors to suit the occasion or holiday.

Ingredients:

  • 4  1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4  1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp. salt
  • 1  1/2 cups ( 3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 5 tsp. vanilla extract

1.  Preheat oven to 350*F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper or grease lightly.

2.  In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt, and whisk together to blend.

3.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy, about 2 – 3 minutes.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed.  Blend in the vanilla.

4.  With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients mixing just until incorporated and evenly mixed.  Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour.

5.  When you are ready to bake the cookies, scoop a scant quarter cup of cough and roll into a ball.  Flatten the ball slightly and place on the prepared baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies at least 2 – 3 inches apart.  Bake about 10 – 12 minutes or just until set.  (Do not over bake.)  The edges should be only very lightly browned if at all.  Let cool on the baking sheet for several minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:IMG_5546

  • 4 – 5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 1/3 cup  ( 5  1/3 Tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
  • 7 – 8 Tbsp. milk, plus more as needed
  • food coloring, optional
  • sprinkles and colored sugars, optional

To frost the cookies:

1.  Place the confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl.  Add the melted butter, vanilla, and milk to the bowl and whisk until smooth.  Whisk in additional milk as necessary, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.  Tint with food coloring if desired.  Use an offset spatula or knife to frost the cooled cookies.  Top with sprinkles as desired.   Store in an air-tight container.

Let frosting dry before storing in air tight container.

Let frosting dry before storing in air tight container.

SOURCE:    Martha Stewart

Apple Slab Pie

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Pies, Pastry and tagged with , , , , , ,
Apple Slab Pie

Apple Slab Pie

This recipe is about as American is mother’s apple pie.  Because it IS apple pie, only in a non-traditional form.  You don’t need a pie dish to make this pie, just a baking sheet.

You can make this with Perfect Pastry Blend, for pastry that will be tender and flaky, or use regular all-purpose flour and your own favorite pie crust recipe.  The slab shape offers each serving some extra crust for those who are especially fond of the crust, and the apple filling is thick and nicely cinnamon flavored.  I used local Paula Red apples, but I don’t know how wide-spread their availability is, so use whatever  kind of good pie-apple is coming on the market where you live.

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I made this pie for a special dinner when we were entertaining friends, and since I don’t have a tray or platter large enough to hold it I placed it on a hugh cutting board, and brought it to the table that way.  It was kind of fun for my guests to see the whole pie, and watch me slice and serve it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with caramel syrup drizzled over all.  There were only a few crumbs left on the plates so I know everyone enjoyed it.

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APPLE SLAB PIE

Yield:  8 – 10 servings

Ingredients—

Pastry:

  • 2 cups King Arthur Perfect Pastry Blend, or all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup ( 1 stick, 8 Tbsp.) cold unsalted butter
  • 6 – 8 Tbsp. ice waterIMG_5055

Filling:

  • 1 1/2 pounds (about 6 ) baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3/4 tsp. Apple Pie spice, or 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 3 Tbsp. Pie Filling Enhancer or cornstarch ( I use Instant Clear-Gel from King Arthur Flour.)
  • pinch salt
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp. water (egg wash)

1.  To make pastry:  Combine the flour and salt.  Work in the butter, with fingers or a pastry cutter,

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then sprinkle in the water, mixing until cohesive.  Form pastry into two rectangles, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

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Form two rectangles, wrap and chill.

Form two rectangles, wrap and chill.

2.  Preheat the oven to425*F.  Lightly grease a baking sheet, or line with parchment paper.

3.  To make the filling:  Mix together all the ingredients except the egg.

4.  Roll one piece of pastry into a 17″ x 7″ rectangle, trimming the edges.  Roll the second piece into a 16″ x 6″ rectangle, also trimming the edges.

5.  Place the smaller rectangle on the pan and brush with egg wash.

Bottom layer of pastry, brushed with egg wash.

Bottom layer of pastry, brushed with egg wash.

Spread the apple filling over the pastry, leaving 3/4 “- wide bare edges.  Center the other piece of pastry over the apples and press down, crimping the edges to seal.  Brush with egg wash and cut several vents.

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6.  Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375*F and bake for 12 to 14 minutes longer, until golden.

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SOURCE:  King Arthur Flour

There’s What in the Cake?

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Cakes, Desserts and tagged with , , , , , ,

Bettcha can’t guess what’s in this cake!  A secret ingredient that provides that extra moisture.  Hint:  Theme Thursday?  Tomatoes?

A moist and flavorful apice cake.

A moist and flavorful spice cake.

Some of you may have guessed it by now, but maybe some of you have never heard of  this  recipe for Tomato Soup Cake that dates back quite a few years.  It was popular when my Mom and Dad were young, and my mother used to make it when I was growing up.  She got the recipe from my Dad’s mother.  She made it about once a year, since it was my favorite cake and I always wanted it for my birthday.  I loved it with walnuts and raisins in it and lots of cream cheese frosting.

The recipe got lost after a while, and when my children were young I wanted to make it for them, but couldn’t find the recipe.  I was thrilled to find it on a web site called Heritage Recipes.  We had a family birthday get-together last weekend, and I made this cake.  The flavor and spiciness are just as I remember.  It was like meeting an old friend again.    If you are somewhat put off by using tomato soup in a cake, I promise you will never know its there.  It just tastes like a wonderful spice cake.  You must try it.

Tomato Soup Spice Cake

Tomato Soup Spice Cake

After having written the above introduction to this recipe I found another version of it using a spice cake mix, tomato soup, eggs and water.  So that is the one I actually made since it was quick, but I am including both recipes here because I really want to save the original so it doesn’t get lost again.   You can take your pick about which one to make, the quick version was also very moist and intensely spice flavored.

TOMATO SOUP SPICE CAKE

Yield:

Ingredients:IMG_5199

  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ( 10.75 ounce ) can tomato soup, undiluted
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. cloves
  • 1 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350*F.  Lightly grease and flour a 13 x 9-inch cake pan.

2.  Cream the shortening with the sugar using an electric mixer.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well.  Stir baking soda into the tomato soup and add to shortening/sugar mixture.

3.  Whisk together dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture.  Beat to blend well.

4.  Stir in raisins and nuts.

4.  Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350*F for 45-50 minutes, testing with a cake tester or toothpick for doneness.

5.  Let cool completely on a wire rack.  Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Quick Version:IMG_5181

  • 1 ( 18.25 oz.) box Spice Cake Mix
  • 1 ( 10.75 oz.) can condensed tomato soup
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350*F.  Lightly grease 2  8″  or 9″-round cake pans, or a 13 X 9″ cake pan.

Mix cake mix, soup, water and eggs as per package directions.

Mix all 4 ingredients together at medium speed.

Mix all 4 ingredients together at medium speed.

Pour into prepared pan(s), and—-

Bake  for 30 -35 minutes till it tests done with a toothpick.

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Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting with cream cheese frosting.

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SOURCES:  Heritage Recipes,  and CampbellSoup.com