Baby its Cold Outside

Baby its Cold Outside
Recipes for the Holidays
Hosted by: Lisa & Ardis


Hot Chocolate Bar

3 Cheese balls with Crackers
Christmas Spinach Salad
Soup Sampler with Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Florentine Tortellini Soup
Zupas Garden Chowder
Hungarian Mushroom Soup
Raspberry Chocolate ice cream with Chocolate Sauce

Hot Chocolate Bar
Favorite hot chocolate
Homemade marshmallows
Whipping cream
Chocolate chips
Toffee bits
Mint Chocolate bits
Stir stick candy canes
Caramel sauce
Anything else you like


Homemade Marshmallows
by Lisa Evans

3 packages (3/4 oz.) unflavored gelatin
¾ cup water
¼ cup water
2 cups sugar
1 dash salt
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla
Dusting Powder:
½ cup powdered sugar
4 tbsp. cornstarch

In a bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over ¾ cup water. Let it sit until all the water has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, line a 9x13 cake pan (they turn out about an inch thick) with nonstick foil for parchment (not wax paper). Dust parchment paper with the dusting powder. For thinner marshmallows, use a jelly roll or cookie sheet. They turn out about ½ thick this way. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir the sugar, salt, and corn syrup into ¼ cup water for a few minutes until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high, attach a candy thermometer to the pan, and boil until the mixture reaches 220 F. Quickly stir in the vanilla. Immediately pour the syrup mixture over the gelatin mixture, whisking constantly until the result is light and fluffy and has tripled in size, (15-20 min). Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and let cool at room temperature. Meanwhile, combine the powdered sugar and cornstarch to make dusting powder and sprinkle it onto a cutting board. When the marshmallow mixtures cool, turn it out of the pan onto the board. Dip cookie cutters into the dusting powder and cut out shapes.


Blue Cheese: Cheese Ball

2 8 oz pkg of Cream Cheese                        
2 C. grated Cheese                                               
1 tsp. garlic                                                 
1 cube blue cheese crumbled
1 bottle Kraft English Cheese
½ C. Mayonnaise    
1 tsp. lemon juice
nuts, chopped finely

*Whip Cream Cheese and English Cheese until soft and fluffy. Mix rest of the Ingredients with this Cheese Mixture. The Cheese Ball will appear soft but it sets up in the refrigerator. Leave in about 8 hours. Grease hands and roll out balls the sizes you prefer and roll in nuts. (preferably walnuts)

Yummy Cheese Ball
Mix together:
     8 oz cream cheese
     1/2 cup pineapple, drained
     2 tsp onion soup mix
     1/4 green pepper chopped finely
Make a ball with the above and roll in below:
     1/2-1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans.

Serve with crackers.
Note: This makes 3+ cheese balls.

Spinach Salad
Recipe by Amy Kelley

Summary:
You may add apple cubes, pomegranates, or Craisins for winter salads. This is a great mix around salad, I've even served it with apples, cheese, mushrooms and candied pecans - whatever sounded good together.

Ingredients:
1 head red or fancy green lettuce
1 bunch spinach
1 small red onion, sliced thin
1 cup fresh mushroom slices
1 cup Swiss Cheese or Mozzarella, shredded
1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
Honey sesame sticks

Dressing:
2/3 cup cider vinegar
1 1/4  cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
green onion bottom half, cut fine, (optional)

Directions:
Combine lettuce, spinach, red onion, mushrooms, cheese and bacon in salad bowl. Mix dressing ingredients in blender and mix well. Just before serving, break up small pretzels and mix with the greens. Add dressing to taste, toss and serve. Or you can serve the salad and let people pour dressing over the top to their personal taste.


Hungarian Mushroom Soup         
12 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced or roughly chopped
2 c. chopped onion
4 T butter (1/2 square)
1/4 c. flour
1 c. milk
1 tsp dill weed, plus a little extra if desired before serving.
1 T Hungarian paprika (or regular paprika)
1 T. soy sauce
1 tsp salt
2 c. stock or water
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 c. fresh chopped parsley (opt for garnish) or dill
Fresh- ground pepper to taste
1/2 c. sour cream
      
Saute onions for a few mins in 2 T butter.  Salt lightly.  Then add mushrooms, 1 tsp dill, 1/2 c. stock or water, soy sauce and paprika.  Cover and simmer for 15 mins.
Melt remaining butter in large sauce.  Whisk flour and cook, whisking a few minutes. Add milk.  Cook, stirring frequently, over low heat, about 10 minutes, till thick.   Stir in mushroom mixture and remaining stock. Cover and simmer 10-15 mins.  Before serving, add salt, pepper, lemon juice, sour cream, and extra dill, if desired.  Garnish with parsley or fresh dill or small dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Tortellini Soup 
by Ardis Bird

4 cups chicken broth (or 3-14 oz. cans)
1- 15 oz. container Alfredo sauce
2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
½ cup oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and diced
1 cup fresh or frozen baby spinach
1 package 3 cheese tortellini -Cooked as directed on package
Parmesan cheese

In a large pot combine, chicken broth and Alfredo. Bring to a boil. Add chicken and tomatoes. Bring to boil again. Simmer 5 minutes. Add spinach and tortellini and serve with Parmesan cheese. 

Café Zupas Garden Chowder
1/3 cup salted butter
2 medium zucchinis, chopped (skins on)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tsp dried parsley (or 2 TBS fresh, chopped)
1 tsp dried basil (or 2 TBS fresh, chopped)
1/3 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3 cups vegetable broth
1 tsp lemon juice
4 Roma tomatoes, chopped (keep seeds & juice)
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup frozen corn
½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Melt butter into large saucepan. Add the zucchini, onion, parsley and basil. Stir and cook for about 10 minutes until vegetables are tender. Stir in flour, making sure there are no lumps. Season with salt and pepper. Gradually, add the broth and stir until smooth. Add the lemon juice. Cook for a couple of minutes. Add tomatoes, cream and corn. Quickly bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in the cheese. Mix well. Serve and enjoy.

Texas Roadhouse Rolls 
1 ¼ cups milk
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
¼ cup honey
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 egg
1 tsp salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 recipe cinnamon honey butter

In a sauce pan over medium high heat, bring milk to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm. In a mixing bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, sugar, and honey. Let sit for 5 minutes or until the yeast is activated.  In a large bowl, combine yeast mixture, melted butter, egg, and salt. Mix in four one cup at a time and mix until smooth. Knead for 8 minutes by hand or in an electric stand mixer. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead 3-5 more minutes. Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray, place dough inside and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 1 hour in a warm place. Punch dough down and roll out on a lightly floured surface until ½ inch thick. Cut into 24 squares and place on 2 large baking sheets sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 30-40 minutes or doubled in size. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Brush melted butter on top of hot rolls if desired.


Hot Fudge Sauce
2 cup Sugar
½ cup Cocoa Powder                                               
½  cup Butter or Margarine
12 oz. Can Evaporated Milk                          
1 tsp. Vanilla

*Melt Butter over low heat-until melted. Add Sugar and Cocoa. Mix up really good. Add Can of Evaporated Milk. Cook on Medium High, bring it to a boil. Boil for 4 minutes while stirring continuously (do not over boil). Take off heat and then add Vanilla. Makes 2 Pints. Serve over ice cream or whatever you like.

Cousins Lunch Begins...The start of a beautiful thing....

“Home for Lunch”
We love to have our teens around for lunch this is a quick go to lunch for fun hosting
that seems to be a crowd pleaser. 

Cousins Lunch October 10, 2019
Sue Frame and Carolyn Myers



Bree and Lemon Curd Bites
Watermelon and Balsamic Bites
Hot Carmel Apple Cider
Roast Beef, Honey Balsamic Sliders and Caramelized Squash
Love these Ladies!
Carolyn & Sue

Recipes


Brie Lemon custard bites

Fire Hook Baked Cinnamon Crackers
Beirabaga Lemon Curd
Fromager D Affinois Brie
Any brie will do this particular brie has a very mild.

Watermelon Bites
Watermelon cubed, Sprinkled with feta cheese and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. 
Top with fresh basil.

Caramel Apple Cider
¼ C Cream  (1 ½ C )
¼ C Brown Sugar  (1 ½ C)
Mix together in a pot and bring to a boil.
Add:
3 C Apple Juice or Apple Cider ( 1 gallon)
½ C Water  (3 C) 
Heat till steamy Served topped with whipping cream- made with brown sugar


Caramelized squash and fresh Herbs. 

9 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 Butternut or Kabocha Squash (21/2 to 3 lbs)- Peeled, seeded, and cut into 1” dice.
2 Tbsp Sugar
½ C chicken broth
Salt and Freshly ground pepper to taste
3 Tbsp finely diced shallots
⅛ tsp. Grated nutmeg
1 Tbs minced sage
1 tsp. Fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp Minced parsley
1 Oz. Parmigiano- Reggiano Cheese Grated. 

In a braiser ( or large base pan)  over medium- high heat melt 3 Tbs. butter.
Add squash in a single layer and cook without stirring, 6 min. 
Stir squash, cook 4 min more. Add sugar, Broth, salt and pepper.
Cover and cook 2-3 min. Uncover and cook stirring occasionally 2-3 min more. (transfer to a bowl)
In braiser, over medium- high heat melt 6 Tbs. butter Cook shallots, nutmeg, and sage 1 min.
Off heat add lemon juice parsley, salt, pepper and Squash. 
Serve with grated cheese on top. 

At this point, add pasta and ½ c. of water reserve from past to  squash
and serve with remaining cheese on top. 
( can add bowtie or fettuccini pasta to make as a meal.)

Lunch Sliders

Balsamic Honey Pulled Pork Sliders

1x2 ½ pounds
boneless pork shoulder roast or Pork Butt roast with bone 
1 cup
onion (chopped, 1 large)
¾ cup
green sweet pepper (chopped, 1 medium)
1 teaspoon
dried thyme (crushed)
½ teaspoon
dried rosemary (crushed)
½ cup
chicken broth
1 cup
balsamic vinegar
¾ cup
ketchup
⅓ cup
brown sugar (packed)
¼ cup
honey
1 tablespoon
Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon
dijon-style mustard
1 clove
garlic (minced)
½ teaspoon
black pepper (ground)
¼ teaspoon
salt
20
small round dinner rolls (or cocktail-size hamburger buns, split and toasted)
add
deli coleslaw
add
dill pickles (or sweet, coarsely chopped)



Coleslaw
  • 1 head cabbage, finely shredded
  • 1 red onion, quartered and thinly sliced
Dressing:
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed

    1. Combine cabbage and red onion in a large bowl.
    Stir sugar, vinegar, vegetable oil, salt, dry mustard, and celery seed together in a saucepan.


    2 Bring to a boil; remove from heat.


    3.Pour sugar and vinegar mixture over the cabbage and red onion.
    Toss mixture. Let cool, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.


    Italian Roast Beef

    •  1 1/2 cups low-sodium beef broth
    •  1 cup water
    •  2 teaspoons salt
    •  1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    •  2 teaspoons dried oregano
    •  2 teaspoons dried basil
    •  2 teaspoons onion powder
    •  2 teaspoons dried parsley
    •  2 teaspoons garlic powder
    •  2 bay leaves
    •  5 pounds chuck roast

    1. In a liquid measuring cup or bowl, combine water and beef broth with salt,
    ground black pepper, oregano, basil, onion salt, parsley, garlic powder, and bay leaves.
    Whisk to combine.

    2. Place roast in slow cooker and pour seasoning mixture over the meat.
    Cover, and cook on low for 9-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours.
    When done, remove bay leaf, and shred meat with a fork
    (keep the shredded meat in the slow cooker with the juices).

    3. Serve on crusty rolls with cheese, if desired.

    Energy Balls


    1 cup (dry) oats
    1 cup coconut flakes
    ½ cup chocolate chips
    ½ cup creamy peanut butter
    ½ cup ground flaxseed
    ⅓ cup honey
    1 tsp vanilla
    Optional: 2 T cocoa powder

    Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.
    Let chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size
    you would like (Mine were about 1” in diameter). Store in an airtight container and
    keep refrigerated for up to 1 week. Makes about 20-25 balls.