Monkey Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 (16.3 ounce) cans Pillsbury® Grands! ® Homestyle refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional) 1/2 cup raisins (optional) 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Directions:

1.	Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 12-cup fluted tube pan with shortening or cooking spray. In large -storage plastic food bag, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon.
2.	Separate dough into 16 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Shake in bag to coat. Arrange in pan, adding walnuts and raisins among the biscuit pieces.
3.	In small bowl, mix brown sugar and butter; pour over biscuit pieces.
4.	Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until golden brown and no longer doughy in center. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Turn upside down onto serving plate; pull apart to serve. Serve warm.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Ingredients

4 large russet potatoes, each about 3/4 pound each, scrubbed and dried
2 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup sour cream
1 scallion, finely chopped
Freshly grated nutmeg, optional
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the potatoes directly on the rack in the center of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Pierce each potato in a couple spots with a fork and continue to bake until tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove potatoes from the oven, and turn the heat down to 375 degrees F.

Hold the potato with an oven-mit or towel, trim off the top of the potatoes to make a canoe-like shape. Reserve the tops. Carefully scoop out most of the potato into a bowl. Take care to leave enough potato in the skin so the shells stay together. Mash the potato lightly with fork along with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the butter and sour cream. Stir in the scallion, nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Season the skins with salt and pepper. Refill the shells with the potato mixture mounding it slightly. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the potato filling. Brush the reserved top with the remaining butter and season with salt and pepper.

Set the potatoes and lids on a baking sheet, and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Lion House Wassail

2 1/4  C. Sugar

4 C. Water

2 cinnamon Sticks

8 Allspice berries

10 whole Cloves

1 piece fresh ginger

4 C. Orange Juice

2 C. Lemon Juice

2 Quarts Apple cider or Juice

Combine sugar and water in a large pot. boil 5 minutes. Remove pot from heat and add cinnamon sticks, allspice, berries, cloves and ginger.  Cover and let stand in a warm place for an hour.  Strain. Just before serving add juices and cider and bring quickly to a boil.  Remove from heat and serve. Makes 36 half-cup servings

Pretzel Rolls

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup oil
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 6 cups water
• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Mix together brown sugar, salt, and yeast in big bowl.
2. Mix together oil and water and add this to the sugar and yeast mix.
3. Add the flour and mix to a nice doughy (not sticky) consistency. Knead with mixer a few minutes.
4. Divide dough into 12 balls and shape into rolls (I like long oval shapes) and let rise on greased foil cover sheet for 20-30 minute until nice and puffy. (I raise mine in a warmed oven--preheat to lowest setting then turn OFF, THEN put in the dough to rise).
5. Meanwhile, bring water and baking soda to a SIMMER in a wide pan with straight sides and preheat oven to 375.
6. Place 4 rolls in the water and simmer 1 minute then flip and simmer 1 minute more.
7. Drain and place on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining rolls.
8. Brush rolls with egg white and sprinkle generously with kosher salt. Slash decoratively with a SHARP blade.
9. Bake until 'pretzel' brown, about 12-15 minutes.
10. Enjoy!

Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

Rolls:
• ½ cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 ½ ounce package instant vanilla pudding
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6+ cups flour
Filling:
• 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons cinnamon
Frosting:
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• ½ cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. In a small bowl combine water, yeast and sugar. Stir until dissolved. Set aside. In large bowl, take pudding mix and prepare according to package directions. Add butter, eggs and salt. Mix well. Then add yeast mixture. Blend. Gradually add flour; knead until smooth. Do not overflour the dough! It should be very soft but not sticky. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled. Then roll out on floured board to 34 X 21 inches in size. Take 1 cup soft butter and spread over surface. In bowl, mix 2 cups brown sugar and 4 teaspoons cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top. Roll up very tightly. With knife put a notch every 1 1/2 inches. Cut with thread or serrated knife. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Cover and let rise until double again.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Remove when they start to turn golden (don’t overbake). Frost warm rolls with cream cheese frosting (combine butter and cream cheese and mix well, then add vanilla and sugar and mix again, then add milk for desired consistency). Makes about 24 very large rolls.

Notes

Freezable Recipe: After shaping the rolls and placing them on the baking sheet, cover with lightly greased saran wrap and a layer of tin foil. Store in the freezer. The night before you want to serve them take out the rolls and put them in the refrigerator. Let them thaw in the refrigerator. Take them out about 8-9 hours after being in the refrigerator and let them rise until doubled. Bake according to the recipe. (If you have less time, you can take the rolls out of the freezer and let them come to room temperature on the counter – about 4 hours, then let rise until doubled).

Slow Cooked Beef Stew

Original recipe makes 12 servings Change Servings

• 3 pounds cubed beef stew meat
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup baby carrots
• 4 large potatoes, cubed
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 onions, sliced
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Place meat in a large plastic bag. Combine 1/4 cup flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt; pour into the bag with the meat, and shake to coat.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add stew meat, and cook until evenly browned on the outside. Transfer to a slow cooker along with the carrots, potatoes, parsley, and pepper. In a small bowl, stir together 2 cups of boiling water and dry soup mix; pour into the slow cooker.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter and saute onions until softened; remove to the slow cooker. Pour red wine into the skillet, and stir to loosen browned bits of food on the bottom. Remove from heat, and pour into the slow cooker.
4. Cover, and cook on High for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to Low, and cook for 6 hours, or until meat is fork tender. In a small bowl or cup, mix together 2 tablespoons flour with 1/4 cup warm water. Stir into stew, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, or until thickened.

Asian Chicken Salad

Prep Time:
18 min 

Cook Time:
10 min

Level:
Easy

Serves:
4 to 6 servings

Ingredients
Salad:

1 large carrot, peeled
3 cups shredded napa cabbage, from 1 small cabbage
3 cups shredded romaine lettuce, from 1 small lettuce
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and deveined, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh Thai basil leaves or fresh mint leaves, chopped** see Cook's Note
2 cups thinly sliced store-bought rotisserie chicken (about 2 small chicken breasts)
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted** see Cook's note
1 tablespoon toasted white or black sesame seeds*

Note: I just marinade chicken in Yoshidas sauce and grill it rather than buying a rotisserie chicken.

Dressing:

1/4 cup peanut or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar*
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, optional

Directions

1/2 cup chow mein noodles, for garnish

For the salad: Using a vegetable peeler, shave the carrot and add to a large salad bowl. Stir in the cabbage, lettuce, pepper, Thai basil, chicken, almonds, and sesame seeds.

For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, if using.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Garnish with the chow mein noodles and serve.

*Cook's Note: can be found in specialty Asian markets

**Cook's Note: To toast the slivered almonds, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely before using.

SERVINGS: 4 (MAIN); Calories: 374; Total Fat 25 grams; Saturated Fat: 3.5 grams; Protein: 21 grams; Total carbohydrates: 19 grams; Sugar: 9 grams Fiber: 8 grams; Cholesterol: 36 milligrams; Sodium: 349 milligrams