Classic Macaroni and Cheese

Serves 6 to 8

It's crucial to cook the pasta until it's tender-that is, just past the al dente stage. Whole, low-fat, and skim milk all work well in this recipe. The recipe may be halved and baked in an 8-inch square broiler-safe baking pan. If desired, offer celery salt or hot sauce for sprinkling at the table.

6 slices hearty white sandwich bread, torn into quarters
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons cut into 6 pieces and chilled
1 pound elbow macaroni
Salt
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons dry mustard
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
5 cups milk
8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (2 cups)
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)

1. Pulse bread and chilled butter in food processor to coarse crumbs, about 10 pulses; set aside.

2. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat broiler. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until tender; drain pasta.

3. Melt remaining 5 tablespoons butter in now-empty pot over medium-high heat. Add flour, mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, and cayenne, if using, and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture becomes fragrant and deepens in color, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk; bring mixture to boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Off heat, slowly whisk in cheeses until completely melted. Add pasta to sauce and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is steaming and heated through, about 6 minutes.

4. Transfer mixture to 13 by 9-inch broiler-safe baking dish and sprinkle with bread-crumb mixture. Broil until topping is deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Cool casserole for 5 minutes before serving.

Seared Ahi Tuna and Salad of Mixed Greens with Wasabi Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 1 ahi tuna steak, 6 ounces
• 2 teaspoons five-spice powder, available on spice aisle
• 1 teaspoon grill seasoning, such as Montreal Steak Seasoning, or salt and coarse pepper
• Cooking spray or vegetable oil, for brushing the grill pan
• 5 ounces, half a sack, mixed prewashed baby salad greens
• 2 radishes, sliced
• 1/4 European cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon wasabi paste
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons -virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Coat your steak with a combination of five-spice powder and grill seasoning or salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan or griddle over high heat. Spray grill surface or wipe with a thin layer of oil. Add tuna steak to the hot cooking surface and sear tuna 2 minutes on each side. Remove tuna from heat. 

Combine greens, radishes and cucumber in a bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk wasabi, vinegar and soy sauce. Whisk in oil to combine dressing. Drizzle dressing over your salad and toss to coat evenly. Slice tuna on an angle and arrange on the salad.

Meatballs Stroganoff

ingredients

• 1 12- to 16-ounce package frozen cooked meatballs
• 1 cup lower-sodium beef broth
• 1 4-ounce can (drained weight) sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
• 4 cups hot cooked wide egg noodles
• Snipped fresh parsley (optional)

directions

1. In a large skillet, combine meatballs, broth, and mushrooms. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through.
2. In a small bowl, stir together sour cream and flour. Whisk in milk and mustard. Stir sour cream mixture into skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Serve over hot cooked noodles. If desired, stir in snipped fresh parsley. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Flank Steak with Spanish Rice

ingredients

• 1 14-1/2-ounce can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
• 1-3/4 cups water
• Several dashes bottled hot pepper sauce
• 1-1/4 cups long grain rice
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Dash ground cinnamon
• 1 to 1-1/4 pounds beef flank steak
• Snipped fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)

directions

1. In a 2-quart saucepan combine the stewed tomatoes, water, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to boiling. Stir in rice; return to boiling then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, combine chili powder, salt, cumin, pepper, and cinnamon. Rub spice mixture into flank steak on all sides. Place steak on unheated rack of broiler pan. Broil steak 3 inches from the heat for 6 minutes. Turn and broil to desired doneness (allowing about 7 to 8 minutes more for medium-rare). Or, grill steak directly over medium coals for 18 to 22 minutes total for medium doneness, turning once.
3. To serve, thinly slice flank steak diagonally across the grain. Fluff rice with a fork. Serve steak slices over rice; sprinkle with cilantro or parsley, if desired. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Homemade Apple Butter

Here is a recipe I want to try:

Ingredients

• apples -enough to fill your crock pot very full.
• 1 -2 cups sugar (to taste)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt

Procedure

Peel, core and slice your apples. This is where the apple, peeler, corer, slicer comes in handy. It will cut your time in half.

If you are planning on canning apple butter, apple sauce or just plain apples. It really is handy. If you use one, see instructions that came with it.

If you do not have one of these, just prepare your apples the old-fashioned way, with a knife. If you do this with a knife, chop your apples up small.

Put your apples into your crock pot. Fill it up to the brim. The apples will settle quite a bit as they cook and soften.

In a bowl mix sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Pour this mixture over the apples.
Cover and cook approximately 10 hours. Stir occasionally.

As the apples cook you will be able to go from stirring with a spoon to a whisk. They will whisk up nice and smooth.

The color will get darker and darker as the apple butter thickens as well. I love to let them cook good and long. It makes the apple butter so yummy.

Tip: Start these in the evening. Cook on high for an hour just before going to bed. Turn down to low and give them a good stir. In the morning whisk them up.

Let the apple butter cook down to your desired consistency. It will end up with a nice scrumptious browned color. You can leave the lid off for the last hour or two to get a thicker consistency. Fill your jars leaving a 1/4 inch head space. Wipe the rims clean, remove any air bubbles and place your lids.

Read more: http://www.simplycanning.com/canning-apple-butter.html#ixzz1isVDSWNn

Chocolate Cheesecake Candy Cane Bars

Ingredients

Crust:

• 20 chocolate wafer cookies
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coffee beans
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

Filling:

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs, room temperature

Glaze:

• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon light or dark corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons sour cream, room temperature
• 1/2 cup crushed candy canes (see Cooks Note)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil. 

For the crust: Process the chocolate wafers in a food processor with the butter, sugar, coffee, and salt until fine. Evenly press the crust into the prepared dish covering the bottom completely. Bake until the crust sets, about 15 minutes.


Meanwhile, make the filling: Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; heat at 75 percent power until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir, and continue to microwave until completely melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)


Blend the cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream together in the food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides, as needed. Add the eggs and pulse until just incorporated. With the food processor running, pour the chocolate into the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.


Pour the filling evenly over the crust. Bake until filling puffs slightly around the edges, but is still a bit wobbly in the center, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.


For the Glaze: Put the chocolate, butter and corn syrup in microwave safe bowl. Heat glaze in the microwave at 75 percent power until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir the ingredients together until smooth; add the sour cream. Spread glaze evenly over the warm cake and scatter the crushed candy canes over top. Cool completely, then refrigerate overnight.


Cut into small bars or squares. Serve chilled or room temperature.


Store cookies covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.


Cook's Note: To crush the candy canes, remove wrappers and place in a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin to roll and break the candy up into small pieces, about 1/4 inch or so.

Ginger Macadamia Biscotti

INGREDIENTS:

• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 1 (18.25 oz.) package Pillsbury® Golden Butter Cake
• 1 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons grated lime peel
• 1/2 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon Crisco® All-Vegetable Shortening

PREPARATION DIRECTIONS:

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Position rack in center of oven. Spray cookie sheet with no-stick cooking spray.


2. PLACE cake mix, flour, ginger, lime peel, melted butter, eggs and macadamia nuts in large mixing bowl. Blend 1 to 2 minutes with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended, scraping bowl often (dough will be very stiff).


3. TRANSFER dough to prepared cookie sheet. With floured hands, shape dough into two rectangles, each 14-inches long by 3-inches wide by 3/4-inch thick, about 4 to 5 inches apart on sheet. Mound the dough so it is slightly higher in the center than at the edges.


4. BAKE 30 to 35 minutes or until firm to touch. Remove from oven and cool on sheet for 10 minutes. Leave oven on.


5. CUT each rectangle into 3/4-inch slices on the diagonal using a sharp kitchen knife, while still on cookie sheet. Carefully turn slices onto their sides. Return cookie sheet to oven.


6. BAKE an additional 10 minutes. Turn oven off and let biscotti remain in oven until crisp; 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer biscotti onto a rack. Cool completely.


7. PLACE white chocolate chips and shortening in a resealable food storage bag. Microwave 30 seconds on MEDIUM HIGH (70% power). Knead mixture in bag. Microwave another 30 seconds on MEDIUM HIGH. Knead. If necessary, microwave an additional 10 to 15 seconds, until chips are melted. Cut a small corner from bag. Drizzle melted white chocolate over biscotti.