Imelda's Key Lime Pie

3 egg yokes - beaten until thick and yellow
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
grated rind

Place in cooked pie shell and refridgerate.
Serve very cold with whipped cream.

Imelda's Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

1 2/3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350.

Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Add the buttermilk or sour milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla, beating until smooth.

Spread in the pans or pan and bake, about 20-25 minutes for the small pans, 35-45 minutes for the large one. Test to see if a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in teh pan before turning out onto a rack.

Basic Shortbread

Ingredients

Makes 36 bars
1 1/3 cups (2 sticks plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

Directions
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-by-1-inch baking pan, and line bottom with parchment paper. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add salt and vanilla, and beat to combine. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed until just combined.

Press dough into prepared pan, leveling and smoothing the top. Using a dough scraper or the back of a knife, cut dough lengthwise into nine strips, each slightly less than 1 inch wide. Cut the strips crosswise into thirty-six 3-inch bars. Using the tines of a fork or a wooden skewer, create a decorative pattern on the surface.

Bake shortbread until evenly pale golden, but not browned, 70 to 85 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Invert pan, and remove parchment. Turn shortbread over, and carefully break, or cut with a serrated knife, into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Seven-Layer Cookies

Seven-Layer Cookies
Perfect as printed in Gourmet, December 2005

Makes about 5 dozen cookies (or more, if you cut them as small as I did)

Time: These take at least 11 hours from beginning to end, most of it inactive, but make sure you have a good 2 to 3 hour window to bake in

4 large eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 (8-oz) can almond paste
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
25 drops red food coloring
25 drops green food coloring
1 (12-oz) jar apricot preserves, heated and strained
7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped

Special equipment: a small offset spatula, a heavy-duty stand mixer if you have one; a hand-mixer should work as well

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13- by 9-inch baking pan and line bottom with wax paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 ends, then butter paper.

Beat whites in mixer fitted with whisk attachment at medium-high speed until they just hold stiff peaks. Add 1/4 cup sugar a little at a time, beating at high speed until whites hold stiff, slightly glossy peaks. Transfer to another bowl.

Switch to paddle attachment, then beat together almond paste and remaining 3/4 cup sugar until well blended, about 3 minutes. Add butter and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add yolks and almond extract and beat until combined well, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, then add flour and salt and mix until just combined.

Fold half of egg white mixture into almond mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.

Divide batter among 3 bowls. Stir red food coloring into one and green food coloring into another, leaving the third batch plain. Set white batter aside. Chill green batter, covered. Pour red batter into prepared pan and spread evenly with offset spatula (layer will be about 1/4 inch thick).

Bake red layer 8 to 10 minutes, until just set. (It is important to undercook. They’ll look like they’re not done, but a tester does come out clean.)

Using paper overhang, transfer layer to a rack to cool, about 15 minutes. Clean pan, then line with parchment or wax paper and butter paper in same manner as above. Bake white layer in prepared pan until just set. As white layer bakes, bring green batter to room temperature. Transfer white layer to a rack. Prepare pan as above, then bake green layer in same manner as before. Transfer to a rack to cool.

When all layers are cool, invert green onto a parchment or wax-paper-lined large baking sheet. Discard paper from layer and spread with half of preserves. Invert white on top of green layer, discarding paper. Spread with remaining preserves. Invert red layer on top of white layer and discard wax or parchment paper.

Cover with plastic wrap and weight with a large baking pan. Chill at least 8 hours.

Remove weight and plastic wrap. Bring layers to room temperature. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Keep chocolate over water. (Alternately, you can do what I did: melt the chocolate 3.5 ounces at a time just to make sure it doesn’t seize up between steps, though that shouldn’t be a problem if you only let it set for 15.)

Trim edges of assembled layers with a long serrated knife. Quickly spread half of chocolate in a thin layer on top of cake. Chill, uncovered, until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes. Cover with another sheet of wax paper and place another baking sheet on top, then invert cake onto sheet and remove paper. Quickly spread with remaining chocolate. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

Cut lengthwise into 4 strips (I cut them into more, because I wanted them 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, as I remember them). Cut strips crosswise into 3/4-inch-wide cookies.

Do ahead: Cookies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper or parchment, in an airtight container at room temperature 2 weeks. They’ll keep even longer in the freezer.

Three important notes:

I struggled with three things in this recipe (the first two were mistakes, and both came back to bite me in the tuchus) so you won’t have to:

1. Don’t stack cooled cakes: Once my first two cake layers were cool (and still on their parchment liners) and I needed to make room on the cooling rack for the third one, I went ahead and stacked them, their liners between them. DON’T DO THIS. Not because they crush each other (they won’t) or because they’ll stick (they don’t) but because that paper liner is greased on both sides from baking and the chocolate shell never quite stuck right to the pink cake because of the grease accidentally left on it. I can’t tell you how many cookies were rejected because their chocolate fell off. It is too sad to discuss.

2. Be careful dividing your jam: I mindlessly divided the jam wrong/unevenly and ended up with too much between one layer and too little between another. Too little was no biggie, but where there was too much it oozed out and was particularly difficult to keep stacked when sawing through with a serrated knife. So, if you’re using a scale to make two six-ounce divisions of jam, remember that you’ve probably strained out a good ounce or so of jam solids, or in other words DUH. Your divided amounts will be less than six ounces each.

3. They’re easier to cut when frozen: Nevertheless, they tasted amazingly and I was all ready to do a victory lap around my wee kitchen counter, however, when I got to cutting them up and then it all went south. People, these were trying to cut. The problem lies within the differing textures of the layers — the top hard chocolate shell more benefits from a sharp serrated knife (a regular, even very sharp knife will crack the edges when you press down on it), the same serrated knife that gets gummed with jam and tries to pull the soft cake layers in between apart. It was exasperating. It didn’t go well. I packed up some for a party and stuffed the rest in the freezer, only to discover the next day that these cut fantastically when frozen. Seriously. Trust me. I have the gummy floor and gray hairs to prove it.

Mint-Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

Makes 16
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
25 small (1 1/2 inch) peppermint patties

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on all sides; butter foil. Set aside.

Place chocolate and butter in a medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of gently simmering water. Stir occasionally just until melted, 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove from heat. Whisk in sugar and salt until smooth; whisk in eggs. Gently whisk in flour and cocoa powder just until smooth (do not overmix).

Spread 1/3 of batter in prepared pan. Arrange peppermint patties on batter in a single layer, leaving a narrow border on all sides. Top with remaining batter, and smooth surface. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 45 to 55 minutes.

Cool completely in pan. Use foil to lift from pan; peel off foil and discard. Cut into 16 squares (4 rows by 4 rows).

Nut Brittle

Ingredients

Makes 1 1/2 pounds
Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups mixed nuts, such as pecan halves, cashews, pistachios, coarsely chopped if large
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions
Spray a rimmed baking sheet and a wide metal spatula with cooking spray; set aside.
In a 2-quart glass measuring cup, combine sugar, corn syrup, and salt, stirring until sugar is moistened. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Stir in butter and nuts; return to microwave for about 5 minutes, until the sugar mixture is thick, bubbly, and very pale brown in color. Mixture is very hot; use handle when holding and pouring.
Remove from microwave, stir in vanilla and baking soda (mixture may foam up).

Immediately pour onto prepared baking sheet, spreading mixture as thinly as possible with the prepared spatula. Let stand 20 minutes until hardened, then lift off sheet, and break brittle into bite-size pieces.

Vegetable Chowder

Serves 8
3 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
2 medium red bell peppers, seeds and ribs removed, diced (2 1/2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
3 cups milk
4 medium baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
8 ears corn, kernels removed (about 4 cups)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 1/2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed, broken into 1-inch pieces (about 6 cups)
Hot pepper sauce, for serving (optional)

Directions
In a Dutch oven or 5-quart pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, bell peppers, and thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.

Add milk, potatoes, and 5 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until potatoes are almost tender, about 8 minutes.

Stir in corn, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Simmer until corn is tender, about 3 minutes.

With a slotted spoon, transfer 3 cups of the solids to a blender; puree until smooth. Return to pot; add green beans. Bring to a simmer; cook until beans are tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Season again with salt; serve with hot pepper sauce, if desired.

Mango Chicken Salad

Serves 4
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
3/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons Major Grey's mango chutney
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cooked chicken (about 2 1/2 pounds), shredded (about 4 cups)
1 mango, peeled, seeded, and diced
10 ounces baby spinach

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut on a rimmed baking sheet; toast, tossing occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes; cool.
In a medium bowl, whisk yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, chutney, mustard, turmeric, and cayenne; season with salt and pepper. Add chicken and mango; toss. Serve on spinach, sprinkled with toasted coconut.

Salmon with Couscous Pilaf

Ingredients
Serves 4
1 pound carrots (about 6 medium), quartered lengthwise and sliced 1/8 inch thick diagonally
1 cup uncooked couscous
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 skinless salmon fillets (6 to 8 ounces each)
Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, mix together carrots, couscous, almonds, raisins, mint, oil, 1 1/4 cups water, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Place salmon fillets on top of couscous mixture; season generously with salt and pepper. Cover pan with foil; bake until fish is opaque throughout, 30 to 35 minutes.
Transfer fish to plates. Fluff couscous with a fork; serve with fish and lemon wedges.

Asian Dumpling Soup

Ingredients
Serves 4
4 scallions, white and green parts only, thinly sliced
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/4 cup peeled and slivered fresh ginger
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps halved and thinly sliced
1 package (15 ounces) frozen stuffed dumplings
1 can (15 ounces) baby corn, drained (1 2/3 cups)
2 bunches watercress, stems trimmed (4 cups)

Directions
In a medium saucepan, combine scallions, garlic, ginger, and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil and cook, partially covered, for 10 minutes. Add chicken broth and mushrooms, cook until the mushrooms begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
Add dumplings and baby corn; boil until dumplings are tender, about 4 minutes. Add watercress, stir until wilted, about 30 seconds. Spoon into bowls, and serve immediately.

Asian Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Ingredients
Serves 4
2 cups fresh cilantro leaves and soft stems
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 rotisserie chicken (about 2 1/2 pounds), skin and bones removed, meat shredded (about 4 cups)
1/4 medium red cabbage (8 ounces), cored and thinly sliced crosswise
1 red bell pepper (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 large head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup cashews

Directions
Make dressing: In a blender, combine cilantro, lime juice, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.

In a large bowl, combine chicken, cabbage, bell pepper, and scallions; season with salt and pepper. In another large bowl, toss lettuce with 1/2 cup dressing. Divide among four bowls, and top with chicken mixture. Drizzle all with remaining dressing, and sprinkle with cashews.

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Ingredients
Serves 4
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 carrots, coarsely grated (2 cups)
1 medium onion, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 pound ground turkey (93% lean, dark meat)
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons dark-brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
4 whole-wheat hamburger rolls, split

Directions
In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium; add carrots, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add turkey; cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 12 to 14 minutes. Serve on whole-wheat rolls.

Modern Chicken Noodle Soup

MAKE-YOUR-OWN CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Prep time: 15 min | Cooking time: 10 min | Serves: 4

For the Soup:
3 cups chicken stock
1-inch stub of fresh ginger
3 large cloves of garlic, slit halfway through the middle
1 stalk of lemon grass, cut into 2-inch pieces and pounded lightly to release oils
3-4 kaffir lime leaves
2 large fresh red chillies, slit halfway through the middle

For the Chicken:
1 chicken breast, sliced thinly into bite-sized pieces
1 tbsp Soy sauce
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pure sesame oil

2 cups boiled rice vermicelli noodles
salt & pepper, to taste

For Garnishing:
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup diced extra-firm tofu, light sauteed in a bit of oil
1 cup snow peas, sliced at an angle
1 cup bean sprouts
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
1/2 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
1/4 cup scallions, finely chopped
1-2 large red chillies, finely chopped
a couple of wedges of fresh lime
hot sauce

Put all the ingredients for the soup into a large pot and let simmer on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes.

Mix chicken with Soy, white pepper, garlic powder and sesame oil, and saute in a non-stick pan till done.

To serve, divide boiled vermicelli noodles in large bowls, ladle with warm soup, and top with chicken and choice of garnish.

Carrot Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

I like to grate the carrots by hand — actually, that’s a lie, I don’t enjoy it one bit — because I want it very finely grated for a soft batter. The food processor works, too, but the pieces are a bit thicker.

Makes 24 cupcakes (or one two-layer cake, instructions at end)

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups canola oil
4 large eggs
3 cups grated peeled carrots
1 cups coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350&176;F.

Line 24 cupcake molds with papers, or butter and flour them.

Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in medium bowl to blend. Whisk sugar and oil in large bowl until well blended. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in carrots, walnuts and raisins, if using them. Divide batter among cupcake molds, filling 3/4 of each.

Bake cupcakes 14 to 18 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean. Let cool in pans for five minutes or so, then transfer cakes to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before icing them.

To make a carrot layer cake: Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans instead of cupcake molds. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Butter and flour paper; tap out excess flour. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, and bake the layers for about 40 minutes each, or until a tester inserted into center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 15 minutes. Turn out onto racks. Peel off waxed paper; cool cakes completely.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup

In a stand mixer beat all the ingredients on medium until fluffy. Chill the frosting for 10 to 20 minutes, until it has set up enough to spread smoothly.

The spazzy star decorations were created by putting the maple cream cheese frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and dolloping away. An extra layer of dollops were piped nearer to the center, to create a domed effect.

To assemble a carrot layer cake, frost the top of one cake, place the other cake on top. Frost the sides and top, swirling decoratively. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to set up frosting.

For the layer cake scenario, you will probably have a bit of leftover frosting, which you can tint and use for decorating, or save to smear on gingersnaps. What, you don’t do that too?

Pork Paprikash

Ingredients

Serves 4
Coarse salt and ground pepper
8 ounces wide egg noodles
1 tablespoon butter, cut into pieces
1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), excess fat and silver skin removed, halved lengthwise, then cut
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (14 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes in juice
1/2 cup sour cream
Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles until tender; drain and return to pot. Stir in butter; cover and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine pork with 1 tablespoon paprika; season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high; cook pork, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate (reserve skillet).

Return skillet to stove; reduce heat to medium. Add remaining tablespoon oil and onion; cook until onion is soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add pork, remaining tablespoon paprika, tomatoes with their juice, and �� cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook, until sauce is slightly thickened, breaking up tomatoes with a spoon, 2 to 4 minutes.

Remove skillet from heat, and stir in sour cream; season with salt and pepper. Serve paprikash over noodles, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Salmon Cakes

Ingredients

Serves 8
2 pounds skinless salmon fillet
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
One additional flavoring below, (optional)
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
2 tablespoons minced capers
1 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco
2 tablespoons minced pickled jalapeno chile
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley, dill, or cilantro
Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place fish on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Roast until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely; pat dry with paper towels. Break salmon into smaller pieces; flake with a fork.

In a large bowl, combine scallions, breadcrumbs, and parsley. Add mayonnaise, mustard, eggs, lemon juice, and salmon. Season again with salt and pepper, plus an additional flavoring if desired. Mix gently until ingredients just hold together.
Form mixture into 8 patties (each about 3 inches wide). Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. (For freezing directions, see below.) Refrigerate until cold and firm, 20 to 30 minutes.

Make Lemon-Herb Sauce: Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh lemon juice, and chopped herbs. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.

Heat broiler. Broil patties until lightly golden on top (without turning), 6 to 8 minutes. Serve with Lemon-Herb Sauce.

Bean Burritos

Ingredients

Serves 8
3/4 cup rice (brown or white)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 jalapeno chile, chopped (ribs and seeds removed, for less heat)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 bag frozen corn kernels, (10 ounces)
6 scallions, thinly sliced
8 burrito-size flour tortillas, 10 inches each
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Salsa and sour cream, optional

Directions
Cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onions, garlic, jalapeno, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Add tomato paste, and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Add beans and 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Add corn; cook to heat through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in scallions.

Heat tortillas according to package instructions; fill with rice, bean mixture, and cheese.

Assemble: Mound 1/4 cup rice, 3/4 cup bean mixture, and 1/4 cup cheese on one side of tortilla. Fold, and hold in sides. Starting from filled end, holding sides in as you work, tightly roll into a bundle. Place on a baking sheet, seam side down, and prepare remaining burritos.

Serve immediately, with salsa and sour cream, if using, or wrap individually in plastic and freeze up to 3 months.

Vegetable Enchiladas

Ingredients

Serves 8
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for baking dishes
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium vegetable broth
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 cups grated pepper Jack cheese (12 ounces)
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 box (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 box (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels, thawed
6 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
16 corn tortillas (6-inch)

Directions
Make sauce: In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add 1 teaspoon cumin, flour, and tomato paste; cook, whisking, 1 minute. Whisk in broth and 3/4 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook until slightly thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.

Make filling: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups cheese, beans, spinach, corn, scallion whites, and remaining 1 teaspoon cumin; season with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil two 8-inch square baking dishes; set aside. Stack tortillas, and wrap in damp paper towels; microwave on high for 1 minute. Or stack and wrap in aluminum foil, and heat in oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Top each tortilla with a heaping 1/3 cup of filling; roll up tightly and arrange, seam side down, in prepared baking dishes.

Dividing evenly, sprinkle enchiladas with remaining 1 cup cheese, and top with sauce. Bake, uncovered, until hot and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes; serve garnished with scallion greens.

Pumpkin Pasta

Ingredients
Serves 8
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound gemelli pasta, cooked and drained
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 bunch (about 8 ounces) kale, thick stems removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 can (29 ounces) pumpkin puree, (not pumpkin-pie filling)
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) reduced-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons jarred sun-dried tomato pesto
1/2 cup unblanched almonds, sliced

Directions:
Cook pasta, and drain; reserve. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add kale; cook, stirring, until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Add pumpkin, broth, and pesto; stir to combine. Bring to a simmer. Season with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

Toss pasta with pumpkin-kale mixture. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or eight individual dishes. Top with almonds. Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes.

Nancie's Speedy Italian Goulash

Speedy Goulash with Pasta

1 LB of pasta ( I used penne,(or fusilli) and for the
recipe, I actually cooked 2 lbs. and there was enough
liquid)
Oil (olive is best, but you can use vegetable)
1 Large onion
1 1/2 lbs. of stewing beef (I used sirloin steak, but
stew beef is cheaper, maybe not as tender as steak)
Flour
1 Green pepper
2 15oz cans of diced tomatoes (the smaller cans)(I
usually buy Del Monte Diced tomatoes with spices -
like garlic and basil)Maybe buy extra cans if you need
more liquid.
Paprika
Light Sour Cream

Heat 2 Tablespoons of oil in a large pot and simmer
thin wedges of onion until golden brown. Meanwhile,
cut beef into bite -size cubes, put into a plastic
bag, with a couple tablespoons of flour and shake to
coat. Shake off excess flour and add meat to the pot
with some more oil. Cook until the meat is brown -
stir constantly because the flour will tend to stick
to the pot. You can always add a little mor oil. Add
chopped green pepper, a teaspoon or 2 of paprika and
the canned tomatoes when the meat is all browned.
Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce and simmer
on low for about 20 minutes. Season with salt and
pepper and more paprika if you want a bit of a kick.
Cook Pasta in boiling water, drain. Spoon goulash on
top of cooked pasta and top with a spoonful of sour
cream.

If you need more liquid, you can add another can
of tomatoes - but this amount seemed just enough for
the 2 boxes of pasta I made. This made about 5
servings and I don't think I used as much meat- maybe
about a pound. Just experiment - you know what you like.
Bon appetit!

Nancie's Pineapple Gem Muffins

1/2 cup butter or margarine (soft)
2/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bakinf soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon (you don't really need this if don't have it)
1 cup canned crushed pineapple with the juice
coconut - about 1/2 cup
chocolate chips

-Cream butter, sugar and egg until light
-Separately mix dry ingredients together
-Add to creamed mixture alternately with pineapple
- With all thes ingredients mixe, then add coconut and chips

Preheat oven to 350 F
Bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on size - makes about 12-14 large muffins

Nancie's Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
3 bananas
3 Tablespoons sour cream OR soured milk (add teaspoon of vinegar to sour the milk)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
chocolate chips

-Beat sugar and oil with electric mixer
-Add eggs then bananas - beat thoroughly
-Dissolve soda in sour cream (or milk)
-Slowly add soda mixture to banana mixture and continue mixing
-Add flour a bit add a time while continue to mix gently
-Add chocolate chips - as many as desired


Pre-heat oven to 400 F. This makes about 15 muffins. I usually do a dozen large and a dozen mini. You might be able to get 18 smaller muffins. I like to buy those paper muffin cups to put inside the tin - makes it nice and clean to remove and they are a little smaller.
Bake about 20-25 minutes depending on the size of muffin you do.
When tops are going brown and start to split - check with knife.

Authentic Pad Thai (Ketchup-less!)

Begin by Preparing the Sauce:
There are four ingredients in the Pad Thai sauce, Tamarind pulp (for the sour flavor), Fish Sauce (for the salty part), Palm Sugar (for a slight sweetness), and Paprika or Thai chilli powder (for the spice). Two cups of sauce will make about 6-8 portions of Pad Thai.

To make about two cups of sauce, you should begin with about ½ cup each of Tamarind (either use the pre-made stuff, or the block stuff - which you need to soak in four cups of hot water and blend), Fish Sauce, and Palm Sugar. If you substitute white and/or brown sugar for the Palm Sugar, you should use only about 1/3 cup. Melt all these together in a small pot over a low flame. Taste and adjust the flavor balance until it suits you. Then add the chilli powder, begin with a teaspoon or two, depending on your taste, and keep adding until it tastes the way you like it. By the time you're done flavoring the pot should be simmering happily. Turn off the heat and let the sauce rest while you get to the other ingredients.

Now you are ready to make a Pad Thai.
Follow these steps carefully and the best Pad Thai you've ever had will be the one you've just made! Keep the sauce pot warm on another burner next to your wok. Keep a bowl of water handy too, if things get to hot in the wok you can sprinkle the water on it to slow it down.

1.) Heat a large wok over high heat until very hot.

2.) Add a splash of oil, about 3-4 tablespoons. Don't be shy, this ain't no diet food.

3.) If you are making chicken Pad Thai, add the chicken first, cook, stirring vigorously, until it's half way done, about 1-2 minutes, then add the tofu, a tablespoon or two of the sauce to flavor the chicken, and a pinch of garlic if you're using it. If you are making tofu or shrimp and tofu Pad Thai, then only add the tofu (and garlic) for now. Cook for another minute until the tofu is crisp and slightly brown at the edges.

4.) Add the noodle, about 2 loosely packed cups for one portion is my standard, and then a ladle (about ¼ cup) of warm sauce. Stir rigorously, keep everything moving in the wok, and cook the noodle until soft. Remember to break up the noodle and don't let it lump together. If the sauce evaporates too quickly and your noodle isn't quite ready, sprinkle a bit of water and keep stirring. Add a bit of oil if the noodle still stubbornly sticks together. As I said, this ain't no diet food.

5.)When the noodle is ready (taste it to be sure), push it up to one side of the wok and crack an egg into the middle. Let it set for 10-15 seconds and toss everything all together.

6.) Add the shrimp meat, pickled turnips, ground peanuts, ground dried shrimp, beansprouts. Keep things moving. Add more sauce if it looks a little pale.
When the shrimps are done, shouldn't take more than a minute, add a handful of Garlic Chives. Turn the heat off, and quickly give the wok a good stirring to mix everything together.

7.) Add the finished Pad Thai to a plate and serve to your first lucky dinner guest.

Bistec de Palomilla

Bistec de Palomilla -- Cuban Fried Steak
Ingredients
beef round - wafer thin 3 lbs
garlic clove - 2 lbs (diced)
lime - 2 (juiced)
salt - 1 Tbsp (to taste)
black pepper - 1 tsp (to taste)
olive oil - 1/4 cup
onion - 1 sliced thinly
parsley - 3 Tbsps (chopped)
Directions
In a plastic bag combine the beef round, garlic, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
Place in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for at least 1 hour.

Remove the beef from the marinade and pat dry. Make sure there are no bits of garlic left on the meat.

Heat a sauté pan over medium heat and add the olive oil.

Fry the beef for 2 to 3 minutes on each side and remove.

Add the remaining marinade and onions to the sauté pan and cook for 5 minutes.

Pour the onion mixture over the steaks and garnish with the parsley. Serve.

Lasagna

INGREDIENTS
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Bolognese sauce

INGREDIENTS
1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound pork sausage
2 ounces sliced pepperoni sausage
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 (8 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
3 cubes beef bouillon cube
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup beef brothDIRECTIONS
In a large stockpot cook the ground beef, sausage, pepperoni, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, garlic, onion, carrots and celery. Cook until beef is no longer pink. Drain into a large colander to drain grease.

To the large saucepot, add the mushrooms, tomato sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, bouillon cubes, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, basil, crushed red pepper, black pepper, sugar, and beef broth and stir well. Pour the meat mixture into the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 2 hours.

Bow Ties with Sausage in a Pink Sauce

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 (12 ounce) package bow tie pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 ounce) can Italian-style plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups fat-free half and half cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.

Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage and pepper flakes until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, cream, and salt. Simmer until mixture thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.

Stir cooked pasta into sauce, and heat through. Sprinkle with parsley.

Pink Sauce (tomato-cream)

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
3/4 teaspoon white sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup fat-free half and half
2/3 tablespoon butter
DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Make sure it doesn't burn. Add tomatoes, basil, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to boil and continue to boil 5 minutes or until most of the liquid evaporates. Remove from heat; stir in half&half and butter. Reduce heat and simmer 5 more minutes.

Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

INGREDIENTS
1 cup vegetable broth
12 dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) package uncooked penne pasta
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
In a small saucepan, bring the broth to a boil. Remove from heat. Place the sun-dried tomatoes in the broth 15 minutes, or until softened. Drain, reserving broth, and coarsely chop.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place penne pasta in the pot, cook 9 to 12 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
Place the pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir until lightly toasted.

Heat the olive oil and red pepper flakes in a skillet over medium heat, and saute the garlic 1 minute, until tender. Mix in the spinach, and cook until almost wilted. Pour in the reserved broth, and stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Continue cooking 2 minutes, or until heated through.

In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the spinach and tomato mixture and pine nuts. Serve with Parmesan cheese

Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons milk, or as needed
2 cups confectioners' sugar
DIRECTIONS
Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer. Gradually mix in the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least 3 minutes for it to get good and fluffy

Royal Icing

2 eggwhites
2 lb icing sugar sifted (Not all may be used)
1 tsp lemon juice

Step 1: Combine eggwhites and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add some of the sifted icing sugar to the mixture and start the mixer.

Step 2: Keep adding icing sugar a little at a time. When the mixture looks like thick whipped cream and makes soft peaks when you push down the hooks/paddle in it, you can use it for piping.

Step 3: When you have the soft peak icing, you start to only add 2 tbsp of icing sugar at a time because from now on the icing will get more and more stiff. When you can pull out small stif peaks the icing is ready. Cover the icing with cling film and a lid or wet cloth and store it in the fridge.

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

1(8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
1.) Place cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until creamy, about 30 seconds

2.) With the mixer on low, slowly add sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowls as necessary

3.) Add vanilla and increase mixer speed to medium. Blend until frosting is fluffy, about 1 minute

Spelt Everything Crackers

Spelt Everything Crackers
Makes 1 large cracker sheet

1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups white spelt flour, plus more for flouring surface
Coarse sea salt, dried onion bits, poppy seeds and sesame seeds (for the everything bagel effect) or a seed combination of your choice

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Dissolve the salt in 1/2 cup of cold water. Stir in the spelt flour until combined. Knead the dough a few turns until a ball forms.

2. Flour an overturned 12-by-17-inch cookie sheet and roll out the dough on top of it, using as much flour as needed to prevent sticking, until the dough covers the sheet from edge to edge. Do your best to get them as thin as possible, because the thicker parts become quite hard when baked. Using a spray bottle filled with water, spray the dough to give it a glossy finish. Prick the dough all over with a fork. If you choose, sprinkle with sea salt or seeds. For neat crackers, score the dough into grids.

3. Bake until the dough is crisp and golden and snaps apart, 15 to 25 minutes. (Check after 10 minutes to make sure it does not overcook.) Break into pieces and serve.