Snacks

Baked Camembert

May 1, 2011

Baked Camembert

I discovered Baked Camembert while living in France. Baked Camembert is a great appetizer or can be eaten as a meal.

INGREDIENTS

One 9 Ounce Camembert (In Wooden Box)

1 Peeled and Sliced Garlic Clove

½ Teaspoon Fresh Thyme Leaves

1 Tablespoon Honey

1 Small Baguette (Cut into Slices)

2 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Extra Olive Oil For Brushing

Sea Salt

Preheat oven to 400° F.   Remove the camembert from the box and throw away any wax paper packaging.  Take a 10 inch square of foil and place in the wooden box.  Place the camembert back inside the box.  Pierce the top of the camembert with the tip of a knife and push in the slices of garlic along with thyme leaves.  Drizzle with honey.  Loosely scrunch the foil up over the cheese and set aside.  Brush two 12 inch square sheets, the size of your baking sheet, of parchment paper with oil.  Line the baking sheet with one of the oiled parchment sheets – oil side up.  Spread the slices of baguette over the sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with crushed sea salt.  Place the remaining sheet of parchment – oil side down – over the bread.  Place in the oven with the camembert and cook both for 10 minutes or until the cheese has risen and the bread is crisp.  Open up the foil and dip in the hot baguette.  This is delicious!  Serves 4

Dagwood Sandwich

April 30, 2011

Dagwood Sandwich

The Dagwood sandwich has been around for quite awhile.  It is a tall, multi-layered sandwich made with a variety of meats, cheeses and condiments.  This mammoth sandwich was named after Dagwood Bumstead, a central character in the 1936 Blondie comic strip.  Dagwood was frequently shown making enormous sandwiches.  There is no set recipe for the Dagwood so feel free to be creative!

INGREDIENTS

10 Slices White Sandwich Bread

1/3 Cup Mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons Yellow Mustard

1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic

1 Pinch Cajun Seasoning

1 Tablespoon Horseradish

1 Tablespoon Pickle Relish

¼ Pound Thinly Sliced Swiss Cheese

¼ Pound Thinly Slice Provolone Cheese

¼ Pound Thinly Sliced Cheddar Cheese

¼ Pound Thinly Sliced Pepper Jack Cheese

¼ Pound Sliced Pepperoni

½ Pound Thinly Sliced Turkey Breast

½ Pound Thinly Sliced Ham

½ Pound Thinly Sliced Roast Beef

½ Pound Thinly Sliced Pastrami

½ Pound Thinly Sliced Salami

5 Pieces Cooked Crisp & Halved Thick Cut Bacon

1 Medium Thinly Sliced Red Onion

1 Medium Thinly Sliced Cucumber

1 Medium Thinly Sliced Tomato

10 Whole Leaf Lettuce Leaves (Washed & Dried)

3 Cherry Tomatoes

3 Small Pickle Slices

3 Long Metal Skewers

Combine mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish and pickle relish in a small bowl.  Add the chopped garlic and Cajun seasoning to the mayonnaise mixture. Arrange 5 bread slices on a large cutting board.  Spread 2 tablespoons of the mayonnaise mixture evenly on each slice.  Layer the meat and cheeses evenly among the bread slices.  Fold the meats so that the sandwiches will stack evenly on top of each other.  Top each of the sandwiches with tomato slices and the remaining bread slices.  Spread about 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise mixture on top of each sandwich and lay 2 bacon halves on top of each sandwich.  Place 1 cherry tomato and 1 pickle slice through each skewer.  Carefully build the Dagwood sandwich by stacking all 5 sandwiches on top of each other.  Separate the sandwiches by placing 2 lettuce leaves in between.  To keep the sandwich tower from falling over, fit the skewers into the sandwich tower all the way through the center.  To serve, pull off the desired amount of bread, meat and cheese.  Serves a whole village!

Lemon Sugar Cookies

April 29, 2011

Lemon Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup Softened Butter

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Confectioners’ Sugar

1 Cup Vegetable Oil

2 Eggs

1 Teaspoon Lemon Extract

4 ½ Cups Unbleached Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar

Additional Sugar

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugars and oil.  Beat in the eggs and extract.  Combine the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar.  Stir into the creamed mixture.  The dough will be stiff.  Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on parchment lined baking sheet.  Press the dough ball with the bottom of a glass that has been dipped in water and then in sugar.  Bake at 350° F for 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.  Makes about 11 dozen cookies.

Date Nut Bread

April 12, 2011

Date Nut Bread

Serve this Date Nut Bread with butter or cream cheese.  You will love it!

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ Cups Chopped Pitted Dates

6 Tablespoons Butter – Cut Into Pieces

1 ¼ Cups Boiling Water

2 Cups Unbleached Flour

¾ Cups Sugar

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

½ Teaspoon Baking Soda

½ Teaspoon Salt

1 Large Lightly Beaten Egg

1 Cup Coarsely Chopped Walnuts

In a medium bowl, combine dates, butter and boiling water.  Let stand until cool.  Preheat the oven to 325° F and grease a 9×5 inch metal loaf pan.  In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Sir the egg into the cooled date mixture.  Stir date mixture into the flour mixture just until the flour is moistened.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  Remove from the pan and cool completely on a rack.  Makes 1 loaf (16 Slices)

Naughty Nachos

March 27, 2011

Naughty Nachos

If I had to pick my last meal on earth it would be Naughty Nachos!

INGREDIENTS

1 Pound Ground Sirloin

2 Teaspoons Chili Powder

2 Teaspoons Cumin

1 Teaspoon Paprika

1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

½ Teaspoon Salt

8 Ounces Refried Beans

15 Ounces Black Beans

¾ Pound Grated Monterey Jack Cheese

1 Pound Grated Cheddar Cheese

1 Large Chopped Red Onion

½ Cup Chopped Green Onions

2 Chopped Tomatoes

8 Ounces Chopped Black Olives

3 Diced Jalapeño Peppers

16 Ounces Tortilla Chips

Iceberg Lettuce

Sour Cream  (optional)

Guacamole   (optional)

Salsa  (optional)

Brown ground sirloin in a medium skillet. Drain and add chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder and salt.  Set aside.  Spread the refried beans over the bottom of a platter or shallow heat proof dish.  This is to anchor the first layer of tortilla chips.  Next, spread a layer of chips over the refried beans, top with layers of cheeses, ground sirloin, black beans, red onion, green onions, diced jalapeño peppers, tomatoes and olives.  Repeat until all ingredients are used.  Bake in preheated oven at 375° F for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve warm.  Top with lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and salsa. Serves 6

Caramel Popcorn

March 25, 2011

Caramel Popcorn

Who doesn’t love caramel popcorn?!  I have heard that there is a movie theater in LA that sells homemade caramel corn.  I would go to the movies just for the caramel corn!

INGREDIENTS

3 Quarts Popped Popcorn

3 Cups Dry Roasted & Unsalted Mixed Nuts

1 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar

½ Cup Light Corn Syrup

½ Cup Butter

½ Teaspoon Salt

½ Teaspoon Baking Soda

½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Preheat oven to 250° F.  In a large roasting pan combine the popcorn and nuts.  You wish to leave the nuts out or just use one type of nut. Place in the oven while preparing the glaze.  In a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt.  Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, and then continue to boil for 4 minutes without stirring.  Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.  Next pour over the warm popcorn and nuts.  Toss to coat the popcorn well. Bake another 60 minutes.  Stir frequently (about every 10 minutes).  Cool and break apart.  Store in an airtight container.  Makes 4 quarts

Granola Bars

March 22, 2011

Granola Bars

INGREDIENTS

2 Cups Rolled Oats

¾ Cup Packed Brown Sugar

½ Cup Wheat Germ

¾ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

1 Cup Unbleached Flour

¾ Cup Raisins

¼ Cup Sunflower Seeds

¾ Teaspoon Salt

½ Cup Honey

1 Beaten Egg

½ Cup Vegetable Oil

2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.  In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins, sunflower seeds and salt.  Make a well in the center and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla.  Mix well using your hands.  Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared parchment paper pan.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges.  Cool for 5 minutes and cut into bars while still warm.  Do NOT allow the bars to cool completely before cutting or they will be way too hard to cut.  When bars are cool store in an airtight container.  Makes approximately 24 bars.

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