Foodie Friday ~ Christmas Brittle

I call it Christmas Brittle.....but you can make this anytime of the year. Very simple to make! I made it last weekend and come Monday it was gone.

Christmas Brittle

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 package (12 oz.) milk chocolate chips
saltine crackers
colored sprinkles or chopped nuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°. Line cookie sheet with foil and grease with butter. Place
single layer saltines (crackers) on buttered foil.
Cook together 1-cup butter, 1-cup sugar for approximately 3 minutes.
Pour over saltines, spread evenly. Place in hot oven for 5 minutes. Immediately
after taking from oven pour on top 12 oz. Milk chocolate chips and spread with
back of spoon until chocolate melts. Sprinkle with colored sprinkles and
refrigerate for 2 hours. Peel off foil and break into small pieces.

Foodie Friday is presented by

"Designs by Gollum"

Visit her site for more fabulous recipes:)

Foodie Friday ~ Custard Pie

Custard Pie

Pie Crust:

1 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons sugar

1/3 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup oil (corn or canola)

Mix in the pie plate, form ball, then pat into pie plate and flute edges.

Note: or you can use a Pillsbury ready made crust.

Custard:

2 cups milk, scalded

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

4 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

nutmeg or cinnamon

Mix eggs, sugar and salt together. Add scalded milk with butter to mixture. Place into uncooked pie shell. Sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon and bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Lower temperature to 325 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.

(Can make coconut custard by adding 1/3 cup coconut over custard after placed in shell and baked the same as above).

mmmmmm.......Enjoy:)

Foodie Friday is presented by
"Designs by Gollum"
Visit her site for more fabulous recipes:)

Foodie Friday ~ Cheddar Cheese Bread with Chicken Soup and Potato Dumplings

Unfortunately, I neglected to write down who's blog I copied this recipe from. If you view this and it is your recipe, let me know........the recipe is fabulous. So easy to make.Cheddar Cheese Bread Recipe:

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

4 ounces of cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 1/4 cups milk

3/4 cup sour cream

3 tablespoon butter melted

1 egg, lightly beaten

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9x5 loaf pan with oil. In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Carefully stir in cheese cubes until cheese is well coated. In a separate bowl whisk together the remaining ingredients. Fold the milk mixture into the flour/cheese mixture. Stir just until combined, do not over stir. The mixture will be thick. Pour/spread into greased loaf pan. (I put fresh ground pepper on top before putting it into the oven) Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes and then remove from pan. Let cool on hour before slicing and serving.

The Potato Dumplings are from "Savoring Time in the Kitchen". So simple to make. It was a great addition to my chicken soup.

Potato Dumplings Recipe:
1-1/2 cups riced or mashed cooked potatoes (2 medium)
1-1/2 tablespoons softened butter
1 egg, beaten
1-1/2 teaspoons salt or to taste
1/4-1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley
3/4 cup flour, more or less (depending on how soft or hard you like your dumplings - less flour for a softer dumpling)

Blend the first five ingredients and then incorporate flour. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Take about 2 tablespoons of dumpling mixture in your hands and roll into an elongated shape about the size of a small thumb and drop into the boiling water. Repeat until all the dumplings are made. Reduce heat and simmer dumplings for about 20-25 minutes and then scoop out and add to the finished chicken soup.


My Chicken Soup Recipe:
1 pound boneless, skin removed chicken breast.
1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 stalks celery sliced, include celery leaves
3-4 large carrots, peeled and sliced
fresh parsley
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
salt
pepper
1 bay leaf
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cups chicken stock
4-6 cups water
Cut chicken into small pieces. Saute onion in olive oil and add chicken. Add celery and carrots, along with the seasonings. Add chicken stock bouillon cubes and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 hours.

It was such a snowy week here in Chicago. The schools closed today so Nikos got to go sledding with his friends. I had the day off......so I decided to try some recipes. Now I am ready for the couch and a good movie:)

Foodie Friday is presented by
"Designs by Gollum"
Visit her site for more fabulous recipes:)

It's a Winter Wonderland......

Snow.....Snow......and more snow:)Happy New Year to you all:)

Foodie Friday ~ Simple Sweet Scones

I served these scones at my Christmas Tea and Cookie Exchange December 5th. These would be great for Christmas morning breakfast. Fast and easy to make:)

Recipes:

Simple Sweet Scones

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons or stick cold unsalted butter

1/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup milk

2 tablespoons Lavender (McCormick)

Wilton white sparkling sugar

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Put flour, baking powder and salt into large bowl. Stir to mix well. Add butter and cut in with pastry blender or fingers until the mixture looks like fine granules. Add sugar and lavender, toss to mix. Add milk and stir with fork until soft dough forms. Form dough into a ball, put onto lightly floured surface and give 10-12 kneads. To make round scones, roll out dough and cut with 2" round cutter. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar. Bake 12 minutes or medium brown on top. Put on wire rack. Cover with cloth, cool completely. Serve with Mock Devenshire Cream and Lemon Curd.

Mock Devenshire Cream

1 cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon confectioners sugar

1 cup sour cream

In a chilled bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Add sugar. Fold in sour cream and blend. Keep refrigerated. Serve with scones.

Foodie Friday is presented by Gollum at
"Designs by Gollum"
visit her site for more fabulous recipes:)

Deck the Halls ~ with Poinsettias

Such a colorful time of the year. Lights sparkling and snow softly falling.

Soon it will be Christmas:) Check out Susan from

"Thoughts from over the Rainbow"

for more holiday fun.

Foodie Friday ~ Cranberry Liqueur

Tis the season for cranberries! This recipe will keep well for about a year. Wash and put cranberries in a large mason jar.

Orange vodka.

Simple syrup with added lemon and orange peel.

Measuring 2 cups vodka.

This is what it looks like when you start.

This is after one week.

Cranberry Liqueur Recipe

1 pound cranberries (fresh, washed, chop or leave whole)

2 cups orange vodka

1-1/2 cups simple syrup (see below)

1/2 orange peel (grated) and juice

1/2 lemon peel (grated) and juice

Combine all ingredients into a large sterilized jar, topping with the hot simple syrup last. Shake or stir well, then seal.

Allow to steep for 3-5 weeks, shake or turn jar over each day. Strain and serve. I am keeping my jars in the refrigerator.

Simple Syrup Recipe

1-1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cups water

Bring to a boil until sugar is completely dissolved. Add orange and lemon peel and juice. Top with a cinnamon stick. Allow to cool for about a minute before using.

Foodie Friday is presented by Gollum at

"Designs by Gollum"

visit her site for more fabulous recipes:)