Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Four Cheese and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

     Have I mentioned how excited I am to be going to Mixed Conference at the end of the month? I'm sure my friends and family are getting tired of me talking about it but I just can't wait!  Six of us from my cooking board will be going and at least 3 of my fellow #SundaySupper girls will be there as well!  I can't think of anything more fun then meeting these ladies in person and talking about food!

      In addition to just talking about food I will be going to a small cake decorating session with Duff Goldman from Charm City Cakes!  As many of you know I love decorating cakes and what could be more fun then decorating them with a pro?  Especially one that lives in my state!

Mixed Conference
     One of the things I'm already loving about Mixed Con are the pre-conference cooking contests!  I've already entered one of the cookie contests and I wanted to enter the Dreamfields macaroni and cheese contest as well.  I've had a lot of good macaroni and cheese dishes in the past few years and used what I liked from each of them to create my own fabulous dish.


     I enjoy a combination of cheeses in my macaroni.  For this version I used Parmesan, cheddar, and fontina. I also added in cream cheese for additional creaminess.  To add more flavor and a hint of salt I tossed in some crisp bacon.  I often find the use of cream to be too heavy in an already heavy pasta dish and instead opted for low fat milk and some flour to thicken it up.   Then I added a crunchy topping for some texture.

     The end result was delicious.  The macaroni and cheese was creamy and cheesy.  All the different cheeses have their own flavor but they came together in this dish and paired well with the bacon and crunchy topping.  I made a huge batch of it and neither my husband nor I minded eating the leftovers for the next few days.


Four Cheese and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese (a Hezzi-D original)
12 oz. Dreamfields elbows
4 slices bacon
2 shallots, peeled and minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ c. flour
2 ½ c. 2% milk
½ c. shredded fontina cheese
¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese
½ c. shredded cheddar cheese
4 oz. cream cheese
1 t. salt
1 t. fresh ground black pepper
¼ t. nutmeg

For the topping:
1 T. butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ t. black pepper
½ t. salt
1 t. paprika
½ c. seasoned breadcrumbs 

1.       Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. 

2.      Cook the elbow noodles according to the package directions.  Drain and pour into the baking dish. 

3.      Cook the bacon in a medium skillet until it is browned on both sides.  Remove from the skillet and drain on paper towels. 

4.      Pour 1 tablespoon of bacon grease into a large saucepan.  Heat over medium heat.  Add in the shallots and sauté for 3 minutes.  Add in the garlic and cook for an additional minute. 

5.      Pour the flour into the pan and mix well to blend. 

6.      Slowly add in the milk a little at a time, stirring with a whisk until blended.    Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. 

7.      Remove from heat and immediately stir in the cream cheese, mixing until it is completely blended.  Add in the other cheeses and stir until combined.  Sprinkle in the salt, pepper, and nutmeg and mix well.

8.      Crumble the bacon and add to the cheese sauce. 

9.      Pour the cheese sauce over top of the elbow macaroni and stir until combined.  Set aside. 

10.   Melt the butter for the topping for 30 seconds in the microwave.  Stir in the garlic cloves, salt, pepper, paprika, and breadcrumbs.  The mixture should be crumbly. 

11.  Sprinkle the topping over top of the macaroni and cheese.  Put in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.


This post linked to:
Totally Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Trick or Treat Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Tuesday Talent Show,

Monday, November 19, 2012

Turtle Cookie Cups

     In just two short weeks I will be going to my first blogger's conference.  Mixed Conference is taking place in Virginia and I am one of the lucky blogger's who will be attending!  I can't wait to meet several of the ladies from my cooking board and several of the women from my SundaySupper group.  To get myself psyched up for the conference I decided to start baking up some goodies because they are having a cookie station set up where everyone will share a favorite cookie.

    These turtle cookie cups have been several months in the making.  My original idea was to make a sugar cookie dough, fill it with caramel, then top it with nuts and chocolate chips.  That didn't end up working too well because the dough never expanded and it ended up in an odd shape.  After several trials I have come up with a delicious tasting and gorgeous looking cookie that I am proud to call my own.

      My cookie base is a sugar cookie base, but it is one that expands and doesn't keep its shape.  I then put a dent in the cookies and load them up with chocolate chips and chopped pecans.  Hot caramel is poured over the top and then the cookies are decorated.  The first bite into these cookies is pure bliss.  Sugar, butter, nuts, caramel, and chocolate burst in your mouth with every bite.  I've shared them with several friends and everyone agrees these are winner!

Turtle Cookie Cups (a Hezzi-D original recipe)
1 c. butter (2 sticks), softened
1 c. dark brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 t. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
For the caramel:
1 c. Kraft Caramel Bits (You could also used the wrapped caramels but the bits are better and easier!)
3 T. heavy cream
1/2 t. sea salt
For the filling and topping:
1/2 c. chopped pecans
48 pecan halves
1 c. chocolate chips + 1/4 c. more for drizzling

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2.  In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugars together.

3.  Mix in the vanilla.  Add the eggs in one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

4.  In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.

5.  Add the flour mixture in three parts to the butter mixture.  Mix well after each addition.

6.  Roll the dough into quarter sized balls.  Place one balls in each cup of 2 mini muffin tins.

7.  Bake for 12 minutes.  Immediately remove from the oven and use the back of a 1/2 teaspoon to make a dent in each cup.  

8.  Place several chocolate chips and a sprinkle of chopped pecans inside each cookie cup.  Remove the cups and place on a wire rack to cool.

9.  Meanwhile, heat the caramel bits in a small saucepan over medium heat.  When they just begin melting add in the heavy cream and mix until they have combined and the caramel is smooth.  Remove from heat.

10.  Using a teaspoon pour the caramel into each cup covering the chocolate chips and pecans.  Quickly place a pecan half on top of each caramel filled cup.

11.  Melt the remaining chocolate chips in the microwave checking in 30 seconds intervals.  Remove from the microwave and spoon the chocolate into a small zip top baggie.  Clip off the end of the baggie and drizzle the turtle cups with chocolate.

12.  Allow the chocolate drizzle to harden and the caramel to cool, about 1 hour, before placing in an air tight container for storage.         



This post linked to:
Meatless Mondays, Mangia Mondays, Bulletin Board, Mop It Up Mondays, Melt in Your Mouth Mondays, Mealtime Mondays, Crazy Sweet Tuesday,

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Mashed Potatoes Twice Baked #SundaySupper

     Last weekend I decided I needed to cook the turkey breast in our freezer.  I know it was only 2 weeks before Thanksgiving but I thought it would be fun to have a few friends over and have a Thanksgiving dinner with them.  For the meal I made a turkey breast, rosemary mashed potatoes, stuffing, and peach pie for dessert.  Since there were only 4 of us we had plenty of leftovers for the next day.

     This was the perfect opportunity to come up with a way to re-purpose the leftovers.  Even better the theme for this week's #SundaySupper is Thanksgiving leftovers.  I looked at the stuffing but couldn't think of anything to make with it.  I started thinking of things to do with mashed potatoes and realized they would be great twice baked.

     Enter twice baked mashed potatoes.  The mashed potatoes are mixed with cheese, bacon, chives, and vegetables then baked in muffin cups to make individual portions.  My husband loved that I re-purposed our leftovers into a delicious new side dish.  The potatoes were cheesy and slightly smokey from the bacon.  They had a whole new dimension to them and we both really enjoyed them.

Mashed Potatoes Twice Baked (adapted from Food.com)
4 c. mashed potatoes
4 slices bacon
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/2 c. red pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c. cheddar cheese
1/2 t. salt
1 t. black pepper
1 t. paprika
4 chives, sliced on a diagonal

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.

2.  Cook the bacon in a medium skillet until it is browned on both sides.  Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.  Once drained crumble the bacon.

3.  Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease from the skillet.  Add the onion and red pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes over medium heat.  Add in the garlic and saute for an additional minute.

4.  In a large bowl combine the mashed potatoes, red pepper mixture, the crumbled bacon,  and half of the cheese.  Mix well.  Stir in the salt, pepper, and paprika.

5.  Spoon the mashed potatoes into the muffins cups so that they are full.  Top off with remaining cheese.

6.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the edges are browned.  Remove from oven and top with sliced chives. 


Want to see more ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers?  Check out the rest of the #SundaySupper posts this week!

Breakfast & Brunch

Main Course

Soups, Salads, Sides & Starters

Sweets & Desserts

Wine Pairings for the Recipes Featured


This post linked to:
Scrumptious Sundays,







  

Saturday, November 17, 2012

150 Best Donut Recipes by George Geary + Pumpkin Donuts with Autumn Spiced Sugar

"What could be better than homemade donuts? "

Topped with a chocolate glaze or simply rolled in cinnamon, fresh homemade donuts are impossible to resist. Whatever your preference -- the fluffy yeast style or the denser cake variety --delicious, donut-shop confections are fun and surprisingly easy to make at home. The freshness and quality of ingredients that comes from scratch donut making simply can't be beat.

This delicious collection of donut recipes features a wide variety of choices. You'll find recipes for raised donuts (featuring yeast), cake based donuts, baked donuts (yes, donuts don't need to be fried to be fantastic), holiday donuts, one-bite donuts and dozens of recipes for toppings, icing, glazes, sugars and fresh fillings.


George Geary, a former pastry chef for the Walt Disney Company, brings humor, energy, and experiences to everything he does, whether it be a cooking class, a demonstration or an appearance.  In many cases, the certified culinary professional also brings dessert!  George currently lives in Corona, California.  (synopsis from Robert Rose Inc.)

As many of my readers knows I have really gotten into making donuts in the past year.  Who knew there were so many delicious flavors and that they are not only fried but can be baked as well?

This book is filled with more donut creations then I could ever imagine.  There are several sections in the book including Raised Donuts, Cake Donuts, Baked Donuts, Holiday Donuts, One-Bite Donuts, Specialty Donuts, and Fresh Fillings.  The beginning has a section on making donuts step by step along with step by step color photographs.  The recipes are easy to follow and the donuts I've already made are delicious!

In addition to all of the recipe there are several color photographs of the featured donuts.  Looking through the book the top 5 I have on my list to make are:  Campfire S'mores Donuts, Holiday Eggnog Donuts, Christmas Swirl Donuts, Sour Cream Blackberry Donuts, and Pretzel Twist Donuts.

Last week I went to a book club brunch and I made the Pumpkin Donuts with Autumn Spiced Sugar.  They were amazing!  The donuts had a warm pumpkin flavor and the spiced sugar they were rolled in was delicious.  

If you like making donuts as much as I do you need to have this book!  With this book you'll never need to enter a donut shop and spent way too much money on over-priced donuts again.

Pumpkin Donuts (from 150 Best Donut Recipes)
2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. brown sugar, packed
2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. ginger
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. pumpkin puree
1 T. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla extract

For the Autumn Spiced Sugar:
1 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. sea salt   

1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Spray a donut pan with cooking spray.

2.  In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.  Set aside.     

3.  In a medium bowl combine the eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, butte, and vanilla.  

4.  Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just mixed.

5.  Place the batter in a resealable freezer bag and fill each donut well two-thirds full.
 
6.  Bake for 10-15 minutes or until donut springs back when touched.

7.  Let donuts cool in pan for 5 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

8.  In a small bowl combine the ingredients for the Autumn Spiced Sugar.  

9.  Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl.  Brush each donut with butter and then dip into the sugar.  Enjoy!
 



Friday, November 16, 2012

Guest Post from Catherine Doughty, author of Breast Cancer! You're Kidding...right?



Diagnosed With Breast Cancer And Need An Algorithm Or Recipe To Save Your Life And Look Stunning?
Here Is What You Do!
By
Catherine Doughty, MS, CCHI – Award Winning Author

Finally, for those who have heard the three dreaded words, “You have cancer!”  Catherine Doughty, MS, CCHI has changed everything people ever thought they knew about breast cancer and how to seek and implement their treatment, live cancer free and look absolutely stunning!  It’s called, Breast Cancer!  You’re kidding…right?  Living Life Through The Prism Of Uncertainty And Having A Good Time!  It is world class, superior, sexy and will go down in history as the most mesmerizing book ever written on the subject of breast cancer treatment and strategy.   

The award winning author, Catherine Doughty, MS, CCHI is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a Director of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging in one of the largest health science centers in the world.  An undefeated breast cancer survivor herself, who has secured significant physician endorsements and laudatory applause for her brand new award winning book.  “Physicians and patients state that their speechless!  If the title and front cover of the book doesn’t grab you, the back cover and content will demand that it be read.”  The book is loaded with mind blowing and thought provoking strategy to assist anyone with any stage of breast cancer emerge stunning, and get their life back in control while learning how to make decisions in an uncertain decision space and live their life through the prism of uncertainty while having one rocking hot good time.  

When this unbelievable news hit the wires, everyone began seeking the attention of the renowned author, Catherine Doughty, MS, CCHI or the Cat as she affectionately likes to be called to discover the science behind this Earth-shattering new award winning book.  According to Doughty, it is the simplicity – no scholarly science, just pure scientific methodology and remarkable craftsmanship.  It started with the most shocking news a person could ever hear which is, “You have cancer!”  Once the disbelief wore off, the questions started to surface, “Where does a person start to unravel this mystery?”  

Once you have heard those three dreaded words, the first thing that needs to be realized is a fact of fundamental importance, and that is uncertainty.  Because it means breaking away from all of the ordinary predispositions of thought you were living with and reconstructing a new phase of your life.  You also need to give yourself some room to understand the absolutely fresh new scale of values which the prism of uncertainty presents to you.  After you get a hold of uncertainty as the true reality for everyone, it is the sexiest way to live and, every day you will have a rocking hot good time!

In the beginning, don’t imagine that you can assimilate a breast cancer diagnosis, what you will or won’t accept in the treatment planning stages and all that it contains in one or two clinical visits with your surgeon, oncologist or other subject matter experts, or in one or two readings.  You need a strategy to navigate the medical maze and fast.  You should review your reports and go over your options again and again with your physicians until you have thoroughly grasped the magnitude of the treatment plans you are willing to consent to because it is you who will live with the aftermath of every clinical decision carried out.

Doughty says, “I was the other girl, not the girl being told, “You have cancer!”  “I never in a million years dreamed I would be diagnosed with breast cancer.”  Just to give you some background, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for 2012:
  • About 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
  • About 63,300 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will be diagnosed (DCIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
  • About 39,510 women will die from breast cancer.
The book is an accounting of my personal experience with breast cancer.  What I did to emerge cancer free, and look absolutely beautiful.  One thing my training as a Director of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt within the healthcare industry taught me is that imaging, pathology and data are pivotal components in organizing the decision making process when it comes to a breast cancer diagnosis.  I have condensed the subject matter into the smallest compass possible because, as everyone knows who has fallen into what I call the “Cosmic Cancer Bunny Hole,” conciseness, tool sets for clinical discussions with physicians, and precision in treatment scenario planning is of the greatest assistance in decision making.

The book was designed with the principles and elements for success, in response to the requests I received from all the cancer patients I have voluntarily coached.  So often, they had been terrified, crying for days and weeks at a time and they all had the same question, “Where do I begin to unravel this, and where do I start?”  Hence, the birth of the book, Breast Cancer!  You’re kidding…right?  Living Life Through The Prism Of Uncertainty And Having A Good Time!

You will be on the edge of your seat with every single word in this book.  It captures the readers  from beginning to end, and makes them want to live their life through the prism of uncertainty.  The book is superior, sexy and stuffed with the secrets to successfully navigate the medical maze with a breast cancer diagnosis and emerge strong, health and absolutely stunning.   This is an adrenaline thrill ride from start to finish, that you cannot put down!
One of the questions people want to know is how do I get a copy of the book?  The book is available worldwide, including Amazon.com, both paperback and Kindle versions at http://www.amazon.com/Breast-Cancer-Kidding-Through-Uncertainty/dp/0615498590/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333143496&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble, and through your favorite online or brick-and-mortar bookstore or through my website at
http://www.thecancercat.com.

About the Author:

Catherine Doughty, MS, CCHI is an award winning author who lives in Bellaire, Texas. She serves as an adjunct associate professor for three universities and holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics earned at the University of Texas. Her career as a Director for a Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging is enhanced by the fact that she is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

She is available for interviews, media appearances, blogging, radio interviews, book signings, and speaking engagements. If you would like additional information on the secrets of scientific methodology or would like to meet the physicians that endorsed this award winning book, or a bulk order discount, please visit her website at
http://www.thecancercat.com/. In order to contact the author directly, send an e-mail to http://cldoughty@yahoo.com or telephone at 832-545-6239.