Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pecan Pie

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This recipe comes from my husband's family.  It is his favorite dessert of all time, and it is by far the best pecan pie I have ever had.  Seriously.  And it is soooooo easy to make!

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Pecan Pie
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1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp. flour
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup pecans

Heat oven to 375.  Mix together sugars and flour.  Beat in eggs, milk, vanilla, and butter.  Fold in nuts.  Pour into a pastry lined pan.  Bake 40-50 minutes.

note: I have found that after 30-40 minutes, my crust is getting well done while the pie still needs to bake a little longer.  Cover the pie crust edges with tin foil to prevent them from burning. I have found the easiest way to do this is to cut a square of foil big enough to cover the pie and then cut out a circle in the middle of it for the filling to be uncovered. 

Monday, November 8, 2010

Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
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2 c. sugar
1 c. oil
2 c. canned pumpkin
4 eggs, slightly beaten
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon

In a large bowl, mix sugar, oil, pumpkin and eggs together. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Spread on greased jellyroll pan. Bake at 350ยบ for 25 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla


Beat cream cheese and butter together until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix well. Spread on cooled cake.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Pasta with Salmon and Veggies

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I had a very difficult time figuring out what to call this dish. Salmon Pasta, Creamy Pasta with Salmon, The Best Pasta Ever...nothing seemed quite right. And frankly, Pasta with Salmon and Veggies doesn't really sound right either, but it will just have to do.

The thing I love about this dish is that you can make it according to your liking. Don't like salmon? Use chicken or shrimp instead. Or don't use any meat at all. Don't like the veggies I used? Then use whatever veggie you like. I can't think of anything that wouldn't be good (well, maybe celery). Spinach, broccoli, fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, arugala, toasted pine nuts, walnuts...seriously, the list is endless. Here's how I made it and you can adjust it however you want!

Pasta with Salmon and Veggies
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1 lb. pasta (I used bow-tie)
2 Tbsp. (or so) olive oil--who measures this anyway?!
2-4 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups chopped vegetables (yellow squash, zucchini, red bell peppers, mushrooms)
1/2+ pint heavy cream (I didn't use the whole pint but I used more than half)
salt to taste (1/2-1 tsp.)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
cedar-plank grilled salmon

Prepare pasta according to package directions, al dente.
 
Pour olive oil into pan over medium-high heat and add garlic.  Stir just a minute or so until fragrant.  Add veggies.  Saute for a few minutes or more until they are as soft as you like them.  Add cream and salt.  Simmer about 5-10 minutes until slightly thickened.  Add parmesan cheese and stir until melted.  Add pasta to the sauce and mix well.   Put in serving dish and add salmon to the top (I didn't stir in the salmon because it would break apart too easily.  You could stir in the chicken or shrimp though).  If you don't want to cedar-plank your salmon, you can bake it in the oven drizzed with olive oil, salt and pepper at 375 until it is done. 

...or use chicken from a rotisserie chicken....

...you could also add some pesto for extra flavor if you happen to have some in your fridge...