Mashed Cauliflower au Gratin Recipe

Yield: 12 Servings  (3/4 cup each)

Photo by Taste of Home©

Ingredients:

• 2 large heads cauliflower, broken into florets
• 1-1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
• 6 tablespoons butter, cubed
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning

TOPPING:

• 1 cup (4 ounces) Italian-style panko (Japanese) bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place cauliflower in a stockpot; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10-12 minutes or until very tender. Drain; transfer to a large bowl. Mash cauliflower; stir in cheeses, cubed butter and seasonings. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. or 13×9-in. baking dish.
2. In a small bowl, mix bread crumbs and melted butter until evenly coated; sprinkle over cauliflower mixture. Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until heated through and topping is golden brown.

 

Freeze option: Cool unbaked casserole; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

Nutritional Facts
3/4 cup equals 238 calories, 17 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 41 mg cholesterol, 612 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 9 g protein.

 

Originally published as Mashed Cauliflower Au Gratin in Taste of Home October/November 2012, p79

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Spiced Nut Mix Recipe

Yield: 40 Servings (10 cups)

Photo by Taste of Home©

 

Ingredients: 

• 3 large egg whites
• 2 teaspoons water
• 2 cans (12 ounces each) salted peanuts
• 1 cup whole blanched almonds
• 1 cup walnut halves
• 1-3/4 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup raisins

 

Directions:

1. In a bowl, beat egg whites and water until frothy. Add nuts; stir gently to coat. Combine sugar, pie spice and salt; add to nut mixture and stir gently to coat. Fold in raisins. Spread into two greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans.
2. Bake, uncovered, at 300° for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool. Store in an airtight container.

 

 

Nutritional Facts
1/4 cup: 134 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 87mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.

 
Originally published as Spiced Nut Mix in Taste of Home October/November 1997, p27

“Bewitched” Chili

Photo by Taste of Home©

Yield: 12 Servings (3 quarts)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound bulk pork sausage
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cans (16 ounces each) chili beans, undrained
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 3 cups water
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
• 1 envelope chili seasoning mix
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 12 round blue tortilla chips, halved
• 12 triangular blue tortilla chips

 

Directions:

1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage and onion over medium heat 5-7 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain. Add beans, tomatoes, water, chilies, seasoning mix and sugar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 20 minutes to allow flavors to blend, stirring frequently.
2. Top each serving with two halved round tortilla chips and one triangular tortilla chip inserted vertically into the chili between the round halves to resemble a witch’s hat.
   Freeze option: Freeze cooled chili in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.

 

 

Nutritional Facts
1 cup: 230 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 744mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 6g fiber), 9g protein.
Originally published as Bewitched Chili in Simple & Delicious October/November 2014

 

Popcorn Month – Rocky Road Popcorn Clusters

October is Popcorn Month.  Click HERE to learn more!

 

Rocky Road Popcorn Clusters

By Jessy Yancey

Recipe Created By: The Popcorn Board

Photo by Farm Flavor, The Popcorn Board

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 4 cups popped popcorn
• 1½ cups miniature marshmallows
• ¾ cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions:

• Place chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave on high for 1 minute, until melted. Stir in oil.
• Place popcorn, marshmallows and walnuts in large bowl. Pour chocolate over mixture, tossing to coat.
• Drop mixture by tablespoonful onto wax paper-lined jellyroll pan.
• Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.
• For a pretty presentation, drop the chilled clusters into paper baking cups.

Feb. 9 – National Pizza Day

Photo by Pizza Hut©

National Pizza Day is on February 9th of every year.  How are you going to celebrate?

 

If you like Pizza Hut©‘s crust, try making it at home with the aid of a bread machine.  Check out the Genius Kitchen recipe below:

 

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 ¹⁄₃ cups water
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 ¹⁄₄teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¹⁄₄teaspoon garlic powder
• ¹⁄₄teaspoon onion powder
• 1 ¹⁄₂teaspoons bread machine yeast

 

Directions:

1. Add ingredients (except for cornmeal) to machine bread pan in order as per manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Set to “Dough” cycle.
3. Lightly grease one 9 x 13-inch pan and sprinkle with cornmeal.
4. When the dough cycle is complete, roll out dough and place in pan.
5. Let rest in pans for 10-15 minutes.
6. Add toppings of your choice.
7. Bake at 350°F until done (approximately 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of toppings).

 

Alternative Options:

If you want to have square pieces, bake your pizza in 9 x 16 rectangular pans instead of the round pizza pan.

Also, the original recipe called for 1/2tsp. msg (monosodium glutamate)/ (Accent®)

Slow-Cooked Broccoli Recipe

Yield: 10 Servings

 

Photo by Taste of Home©

Ingredients:

• 6 cups frozen chopped broccoli, partially thawed
• 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted
• 1-1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers (about 25)
• 2 tablespoons butter

 

 

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, soup, 1 cup cheese, onion, Worcestershire sauce and pepper. Pour into a greased 3-qt. slow cooker. Sprinkle crackers on top; dot with butter.
2. Cover and cook on high for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cook 10 minutes longer or until the cheese is melted.

 

NUTRITIONAL FACTS
1/2 cup: 159 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 431mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.

 

Originally published as Slow-Cooked Broccoli in Taste of Home February/March 1999, p39

Ogre and Pumpkin Sliders

Photo by Taste of Home©

Yield: 5 Servings, approximately 10 Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 cup soft bread crumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 5 teaspoons prepared pesto
• 3 miniature fresh mozzarella cheese balls, halved
• 3 pimiento-stuffed olives, halved widthwise
• 5 slices process American cheese
• 10 hamburger buns, split

 

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs and salt. Crumble turkey over mixture; mix well. Shape into ten 2-1/2-in. patties. Grill, broil or pan-fry for 5-7 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 165° and juices run clear.
2. Drop 1 teaspoon pesto onto five burgers; top each with a mozzarella ball half and an olive half.
3. Cut eyes, nose and mouth from each cheese slice to create a jack-o’-lantern. Place cheese on five burgers; cook until cheese is slightly melted, about 30 seconds. Serve burgers on buns.

Originally published as Ogre and Pumpkin Sliders in Halloween Party Favorites 2009 2009, p13

Jack-o-Lantern Carving with the Swedish Chef

Summer Tortellini Salad

Toss pre-made tortellini with chicken and an array of herbs for a palate-pleasing summer salad.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Ingredients: 

• 1 (19-oz.) package frozen cheese tortellini
• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 1/4 cup sliced green olives
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped sweet onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence*
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• Salt to taste
• Garnish: fresh parsley sprigs

Preparation:

1. Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain and place in large bowl. Stir in chicken and next 5 ingredients.
2. Whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, and herbes de Provence. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Pour over tortellini mixture, tossing to coat. Stir in salt to taste. Cover and chill at least 25 minutes. Garnish, if desired.

*1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning may be substituted.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Rosetto Cheese Tortellini.
Tuna Tortellini Salad: Substitute 1 (12-oz.) can albacore tuna, rinsed and drained well, for chicken. Prepare recipe as directed.
Shirley Wood, San Antonio, Texas, Southern Living
JULY 2007

 

 

Founding Fathers (and First Lady Dolley Madison) Favorite Dessert

Chef Walter Staib of A Taste of History shares this vanilla ice cream recipe.  According to Chef Staib the founding fathers were critical in bringing the dessert to America, even First Lady Dolley Madison was a fan.  One respected history of ice cream states that, as the wife of U.S. President James Madison she served ice cream at her husband’s Inaugural Ball in 1813.

Vanilla Ice Cream

This vanilla ice cream is pictured with sauce and almonds, which you may add or change to include your own toppings.

Yield: 1 1/2 quarts

Ingredients:

• 4 cups heavy cream
• 3 egg yolks
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds removed

Directions:

1. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice water and setting a slightly smaller bowl atop.
2. In a medium sized sauce pot, bring the cream, half of the sugar, and the vanilla beans and pod to a simmer
3. Meanwhile, in a medium sized bowl whisk together egg yolks and remaining sugar until light
4. Slowly add hot cream to egg mixture, ¼ cup at a time, whisking all the while.
5. Return the pot to the stove and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
6. Transfer the custard to the ice bath and cool it, stirring occasionally, until it is cool to the touch. Remove from ice bath, cover, and refrigerate until cold.
7. Spin in ice cream maker following the manufacturer’s instructions.

 

 

DOLLY MADISON’S PEPPERMINT STICK ICE CREAM

Yield: 2 quarts
Ingredients:

20th century advertising co-opted Madison’s reputation for serving ice cream in the United States White House
Photo by Private Collection

• 3/4 c. sugar
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 3 c. whole milk
• 3/4 c. light corn syrup
• 2 whole eggs, beaten lightly
• 1 c. cream
• 4 drops natural peppermint extract
• 2 drops red food coloring
• 3/4 c. peppermint candy, crushed

 

Directions:

1. Mix the sugar and cornstarch in the top of a double boiler.
2. Stir in the milk, syrup and eggs.
3. Cook over boiling water, stirring all the time for 10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened. Chill.
4. Stir in cream, extract and coloring.
5. Freeze in a 2 quart ice cream freezer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
6. When partially frozen, add crushed peppermint and continue frequently.