Joy of Baking

We just discovered a new site for everything dessert. We went looking for an apple pie recipe and spent a good 15 minutes drooling over everything else. Check it out!

http://joyofbaking.com/

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

So I got this recipe from allrecipes.com---I had to change it a bit...I added some brown sugar, a bit more pumpkin puree and flour to compensate for the added puree...and instead of cloves I added ginger. Try out the recipe and let me know what you think! My boys and I sure had a great time making them together and drizzling the icing on...and we even had a better time eating them!--Now we're off to go share some with our neighbors. I just love this season, don't you?!

Iced Pumpkin Cookies!

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing

2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk/ or water
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix dry ingredients together first and then add the rest.
• Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet
• Bake for 12 minutes
• Completely cool and drizzle on icing with a fork
• Servings: 24 largeish cookies or 36 smallish cookies
• ENJOY!

Crock Pot Chicken Vindaloo

According to Wikipedia, Vindaloo originates from a Portuguese dish, essentially meaning wine/vinegar and garlic (in which the meat was preserved). Vindaloo keeps the three essential ingredients and adds all our beautiful Indian spices - and lots of them. A true Vindaloo is typically one the hottest dishes in India. Fear not, though: Here's a recipe that is a more reasonable heat level for us Americans, and in a crock pot to boot!

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Vinegar
1 to 2 Tbsp garlic
1 Tbsp ginger
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground clove
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 to 1 tsp cayenne powder or diced chilies
1 Tbsp mustard seed
2 Tbsp oil
1 to 2 tsp or sticks cinnamon
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 onion, diced
3 breasts chicken (frozen is okay)

Directions

•  Put everything in the pot
• Cook on low until it smells so good you can't wait any longer ( > 4 hours)
• Add a little cilantro or mint and serve with rice or chapatis

Original Recipe

Rotkohl - red cabbage with apples

Cabbage is of course a staple in Germany - from red cabbage to sauerkraut to coleslaw. Rotkohl (red cabbage) is usually stewed in vinegar and sugar, sometimes with bacon, apple, onion, garlic, pepper or cloves. Here's the recipe we used.

Ingredients:
1 head red cabbage, finely sliced (about 2 lb, or 12 cups)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
3 - 6 Tbsp sugar (to taste)
1/3 - 2/3 cup balsamic or cider vinegar
2 - 3 slices bacon
1 tart apple, thinly sliced or grated

Directions:

• Chop bacon and fry until cooked
• Add butter, then saute cabbage until slightly wilted, about 5 minutes
• Add sugar and vinegar to taste
• Cover and simmer on medium-low heat about 20 minutes, stirring often
  
• Add apple slices and simmer for 10 more minutes
• Season to taste with salt and pepper
  

Original Recipe: Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage from Simply Recipes

Jaeger Schnitzel mit Spaetzle

This week while Grandma B., Omi, and Eva are all in town, we're trying some German dishes. Check back every few days for new recipes!

The infamous "Schnitzel with noodles" is a breaded cutlet of veal, venison, or pork with "Spaetzle," or homemade egg noodles. Jaeger Schnitzel is served in a mushroom cream sauce (another variation, Wiener Schnitzel is served with lemon juice). We served this with a side of Rotkohl (red cabbage), which we'll post later.

Guten Appetit!


Ingredients:
Spaetzle noodles -
1 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp salt
*Or just use any light, fluffy, eggy noodles
Jaeger Schnitzel -
veal/venison/pork cutlet, pounded thin and floured on both sides
1/2 cup mushrooms
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp finely chopped shallots or onions
6 oz brown gravy mix or beef bouillon, flour, and butter
3 Tbsp white wine or apple juice
3 Tbsp cream or half & half

Directions:
Spaetzle - Prepare noodles according to package, or follow recipe below if you have a pasta maker.

• Combine ingredients and beat well until bubbles form.
  
• Pour batter through Spaetzle maker into simmering water
• Let noodles rise to the top, then drain well and rinse with cold water

Jaeger Schnitzel

• Melt butter in pan and saute cutlet until lightly browned on both sides
• Remove cutlet and keep aside
• Add mushrooms, garlic, shallots, and parsley and saute until partially cooked
• Add wine/juice and deglaze the pan, then add gravy and cream
• Put cutlet back in the pan and simmer in sauce for 1-2 minutes

Original Recipe

CHILI'S Enchilada Soup

http://www.allthingschristmas.com/recipes/soups/enchilada.html

Dinner List

Easy meals

Cheesy Potato Casserole

Unstuffed Bell Peppers

Cornbread & Chili/Applesauce

Tuna on Toast

Stroganoff

Cheesy Potato Soup

BLTs

Italian

Lasagna

Spaghetti

Chicken Alfredo

Chicken Caesar Salad

Stuffed Shells

Mexican

Taco Salad

Enchiladas

Taco Soup

Fajitas

Navajo Tacos

Fish Tacos

Chinese

Stir Fry

Chicken Cabbage Salad

Orange Chicken

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Indian

Lemon Chicken

Mulligatawny Soup

Chicken

Haystacks

Oven-Fried Chicken

Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Chicken Soup

Texas Two-Step Chicken

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Breakfast for Dinner

Crepes

Waffles

German Pancakes

Pancakes (Apple, Banana)

Omlets

Quiche

French Toast

Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

Butter chicken is one of everyone's favorite Indian dishes - a nice rich flavor, very identifiable as Indian without being too spicy or "exotic." The story is that a British gentleman in the UK ordered some Tandoori chicken at a restaurant, not knowing that it is basically barbecued, not a curry. He sent it back, complaining that it didn't have a sauce or gravy like he expected. The chef simply broke out a can of Campbell's tomato soup, poured it on top, and sent it back. Of course, the customer loved it.

There's lots of different variations on Butter Chicken. Here's a site that explains some of the basic points in what ingredients are staples and a list of their favorite recipes (and videos).

Here's the recipe I followed last night. It's surprisingly simple, but was very good. Of course, I did tweak it a little bit, adding coconut milk, honey, almonds, and V8 juice. Be creative y'all!

Lion House Classic Chili

Ingredients:
1 lb. diced lean beef (I use lean ground beef)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 t. crushed red pepper flakes
1 ½ T. chili powder
1 t. granulated garlic, or 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 t. cumin
1 t. crushed black pepper
1 ½ t. kosher salt
½ t. cayenne pepper
1 T. canola oil
2 cans (8 oz. each) diced tomatoes
1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilies
4 c. canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 c. tomato soup
1 c. tomato juice
1 c. brown sugar
Sour cream
Cheese, grated
Onion, finely chopped

Directions:

• Preheat a large, heavy skillet or Dutch oven.
  
• Brown beef, bell peppers, onion, and spices together in canola oil.
  
• When beef is browned, add the remaining ingredients
• Simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  
• Garnish with dollop of sour cream, grated cheese, and finely chopped onion.

Serves 8-10.