Chocolate Cayenne Truffles

Chocolate Cayenne Truffles

Ingredients

• 9 oz. semisweet chocolate
• 3/4 cup butter
• 4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 6 tbsp. cream
• 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• For powder coating:
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. ginger
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
For Truffles: Melt chocolate, butter and cayenne in a double boiler, or in a bowl in the microwave. Stir well.
Remove from heat, and then mix in cream and powdered sugar. Stir well. The sugar will stick together in small lumps if you don’t stir vigorously. Cover and chill overnight.
For Powder Coating: Scoop out the chocolate, one tablespoon at a time. Mold it into balls and roll the balls in the powder mixture to coat them. Return truffles to the refrigerator until serving time.

Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies

 

Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies

Serves: 2 dozen

 Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons loose Earl Grey tea leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature

Directions

In a food processor, pulse together the flour, tea, and salt, until the tea is just spotted throughout the flour. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and butter. Pulse together just until a dough is formed. Place dough on a sheet of plastic wrap, and roll into a log, about 2 1/2-inches in diameter. Tightly twist each end of wrap, and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Slice the log into 1/3-inch thick disks. Place on parchment or silpat lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart (2 probably needed depending on size of sheets). Bake until the edges are just brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks and cool to room temperature.

Bread Machine Banana Oatmeal Bread

Bread Machine Banana Oatmeal Bread

=== LARGE 2 lb LOAF ===

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 cup oats
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon dry milk powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 cups sliced, ripe bananas

Cooking Directions:

Add all ingredients to machine in order recommended by machine
manufactuer. Select "whole wheat" bread setting; crust color medium.

This recipe yields 1 loaf.

Dad's Best Potato Salad

Dad's Best Potato Salad

• 3 or 4 mid sized Russet potatoes
• 4 Tbsp juice from Kosher dill pickles
• 3 Tbsp finely chopped dill pickles
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 or 2 chopped scallions
• 1 - 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Bring a pot of water to boil. Add the potatoes (skins on). Simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from pot. Let cool enough to handle, but still warm. Remove skins. Cut potatoes into inch sized cubes.

2. Put potatoes in to a large bowl. Add the juice from the Kosher dill pickles. Add the finely chopped pickles themselves. Add parsley, onions, celery, scallions and (optional) hard boiled egg.

3. In a separate small bowl, mix mayonnaise with mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix in the dressing with the potato mixture. Again, salt and pepper to taste.

Best Baked Spaghetti Recipe ever!

Baked Spaghetti:

• 2 cups canned diced tomatoes
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 1/2 teaspoons House Seasoning, recipe follows
• 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoning salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 small bay leaves
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 8 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta (I use regular pasta)
• 1 cup grated cheddar
• 1 cup grated Monterey Jack

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a stockpot, combine the tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, onions, peppers, garlic, parsley, seasoning mixtures, sugar, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce the heat and let simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Crumble the ground beef in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until fully cooked, with no pink color remaining. Drain the fat from the meat, and then add the ground beef to the stockpot. Simmer for 20 more minutes. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Cover the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan with sauce. Add a layer of pasta and then a little less than 1/2 of each cheese; repeat the layers, ending with the sauce. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Top the casserole with the remaining cheese, return it to the oven, and continue to cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 more minutes. Cut into squares before serving.

Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Yield: 10 servings


House Seasoning:

• 1 cup salt
• 1/4 cup black pepper
• 1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Thoughts

She lives beyond the grace of God, a wanderer in the outer darkness. She is "vampyr", "nosferatu". These creatures do not die like the bee after the first sting, but instead grow strong and become immortal once infected by another nosferatu. So, my friends we fight not one beast but legions that go on age after age after age, feeding on the blood of the living.

Woodmans Food Market - Beloit

It must have been elderly day at Woodman's this morning. Every time I tried to get where I needed to go, a dear, sweet elderly person was standing in the middle of the aisle. I cough, clear my throat and wiggle my cart to get their attention. Eventually I just turn around and go the other way. Just to find more chatting in the middle of the next aisle!