Two Fall Delights

I love fall! The ingredients and food that is in season is one of my favorites of all the year! So fun :)

The great thing about these recipes is they are low-carb; the second one qualifies if you are doing a paleo or low-carb/no carb diet!

This might seem like a lot of ingredients, but you can buy one package of sausage for ...!both! And a little goes a long way. My kids will not for sure eat these, so if you have kids I recommend quesadillas on some corn tortillas or having some macaroni and cheese on hand.

Stuffed Green Peppers

ingredients:

green peppers

brown rice

italian sausage

cheddar cheese

garlic powder

salt and pepper

curry powder

dried onion flakes

Wash green peppers and cut off tops

Remove seed and place in small baking dish

Cook rice

Cook sausage- add other ingredients to rice and mix

Put rice filling into green peppers, pressing as you go until they are overfull

Bake on 375 for 25 min.

Add cheese and broil until cheese is brown and bubbly

Stuffed Acorn Squash

ingredients:

carmelized onions

crumbled sausage

sliced carrots

butter

parmesan cheese

cinnamon

applesauce

sliced almonds

coconut oil

herbs (rosemary or thyme)

Bake on 400 for 35 min.

Cook sausage

cook onion in coconut oil for 20-25 min, stirring every 5 minutes until well-browned!

add other ingredients to filling

Add filling and top with parmesan cheese

broil in the oven 3 min or until cheese is browned 

Baird McClure's Sour Cream Coffee Cake

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

3 eggs

1 c. sour cream

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. baking powder

2 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. almond flavoring

1 c. brown sugar

1 tbsp. cinnamon

1/2 c. chopped almonds or pecans

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs.

Add sour cream and flour alternately.

Add the rest of the ingredients. For best results, let stand until batter reaches room temperature.

Grease pan, add half the batter for one cake. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar. Add the other half for one cake. (makes 3 cakes total). Sprinkle the top with crushed almonds, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Bake 25 min. @ 350 °. Freezes well.

Baird Mclure was a friend of my Granny B's. I think she lived near us when we had a house on Richardson St.  She was a dear lady and an excellent cook.  Her coffee cake recipe can't be beat!

Fudgy Brownies

These turned out deliciously fudgy and perfect, simply because I followed Molly's directions for a) how long to cook b)the ratio of chocolate + sugar and c) the number of eggs (4).

If you want to do any of the following.... 1) reduce the calories 2) convert her measurements from ounces to cups 3) use cocoa powder rather than fine quality chocolate, use my recipe.

If you want to do them perfectly, use the following recipe  ;)

1 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp. unsalted butter 
1/2 c. coconut milk
generous pour half and half
6 oz. or about 3/4 c. cocoa powder (
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs

adapted and largely inspired by the recipe from Orangette


These were soooo delicious! My kids gobbled them right up.

Peanut Butter Granola

Ok, so the title is a nod to one of my favorite bloggers (Hi Megan). I just read her amazing book, and I recommend it for sure! Go get yourself a copy right now!

And the granola? It is my recipe. And it's just stinkin' awesome. (Did I mention it's easy and quick?)

2 c. peanut butter

1 c. honey

4 scant cups quick oats (small rolled oats)

quick handful mixed nuts

a few squirts crisco spray all over top

1. Melt peanut butter on high for 20 sec., Add honey and microwave another 10-15 sec.

2. Add quick oats and stir

3. Add nuts and a few more squirts of honey

4. Add a few more squirts of crisco. 

5. Spread on a cookie sheet and press down a bit with a spoon.

5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 min. Turn down to 325 and bake another 15-20 min. or until lightly browned. You might want to stir about half way through to keep from burning!

YUM!

Beck Family Pumpkin Bread

This is a family favorite. Stephen loves to make it with the kids every Fall.

Ingredients:

1 15. oz. can pumpkin (we use Libby's)

4 eggs

3/4 c. oil

3 c. flour

 1 1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg (opt.)

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. ginger (opt.)

1 c. chocolate chips

Mix dry

mix wet

add dry to wet

Fold in chocolate chips

bake 1 hr. on 350º

 or until toothpick inserted

comes out clean!

It will smell very good in your house all day when you make this!

Notes: adding a tiny touch more oil will make it more moist.

Extra chocolate chips also welcome. They make it yummy.

makes 2 loaves

For a healthier alteration, substitute 1/3 c. coconut oil and 2/3 c. applesauce for the oil.

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie 

I used to order this whenever I went out for Irish food. Now I can make a casserole, and eat on it for lunch-leftovers the next day or two (so now when we go out, I just get the burger).  A lot of times when I'm making this casserole, I brown the beef earlier in the day, add the soup, and stick it in the fridge. Then all you have to do at dinnertime is the mashed potatoes and pop it into your oven.


Shepherd's Pie

1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey
1/4 diced onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
(I use 1/2 26 oz. can, meaning approx. 13 oz.)
Frozen Mixed Veggies- corn, peas, carrots, and green beans
3-4 Large Russet Potatoes, mashed
Milk to taste
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder
Mozzarella or Cheddar, shredded
Parmesan, grated


1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Brown your ground beef, and as the grease cooks out, add your diced onion.
3. Drain, and add cream of mushroom soup.
4. Put in casserole.
5. Thaw mixed veggies in the microwave, add salt and pepper and layer onto your beef mixture.
6. Wash and peel potatoes. Cut into large slices and boil for about 8-10 minutes, until just soft.
7. Drain water, add milk and butter, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Mash as you stir this in.
8. Layer your potatoes, top with cheese, and pop into oven for 30 minutes.
9. Before taking it out of the oven, turn on the broiler to get your cheese a tiny bit browned.

I think my fave thing about this recipe is that it is good for all ages. Our one-year-old just gobbles it down. And serve it with a slice of multigrain bread, and that's it. (Ok, maybe some pudding for dessert). Enjoy!

Rosemary + Garlic Bread

This is classified in my recipe book as "Quick and Easy French Bread," and I love this recipe! I have made it so many times, and it always turns out delicious. I also love coming up with creative add-ins! I have done tomato-basil bread, and it was great. I have also made it as a round loaf instead of two long loaves.

Rosemary + Garlic French Bread

1/4 c. warm water
1 pkg. dry quick-rise yeast
pinch of sugar
3 1/2- 4 c. flour
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 c. plus 2 tbsp. warm water
handful fresh (or it could be dried) rosemary
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 egg white + 1 tbsp. water


Combine water, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Add sugar, salt, and water. Mix well. Gradually add flour, mix well, and knead 5 minutes. Let rise 15 minutes in a warm place.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough with a rolling pin to get air bubbles out. Then roll up jelly-roll style and turn ends under and smooth out. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Cut 3 diagonal slashes across loaves. Combine water and egg white and brush on loaves.

Preheat oven to 300. Boil kettle of water. Pour boiling water in a shallow pan on lower rack of the oven. Turn off oven. Set sheet on rack above. Let rise until double- about 15 minutes- and then take the pan of water out. Turn oven to 425 degrees and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake 8 minutes longer. Makes 2 loaves.

TOTAL TIME: (bake and prep)~ about an hour


adapted from a recipe from Cooks.com that no longer exists.

Homemade Pizza

Homemade Pizza

You should really try making homemade pizza sometime. It's a lot of fun, kids can help, and the process IS part of the experience. I once did a can crust for a party, and we all decorated our own pizzas. That can be fun as well! Molly helped me make it this time, and it truly turned out delicious!

For the crust:

2 1/4 tsp. or 1 pkg. active dry yeast rapid rise
3 1/2-4 c. unbleached flour (You can use half whole wheat and half white flour- delicious!)

1 1/4 c. very warm water
3/4 tsp salt
sprinkle of sugar

2 tbsp. olive oil

1. 1 3/4 c. warm water- pleasantly warm on your wrist, sprinkle yeast and let activate 10 min., sprinkling in a pinch of sugar to help activate

2. Put salt and 2c. of the flour into food processor, pulse, then add yeast/water and pulse five times. Add olive oil. Add remaining flour 1 c. at a time, scraping sides as you go. Add the rest of your water, and if it is too runny, add a bit more flour. Empty out and knead 15 turns until dough is elastic, adding flour as needed. It should not be sticky.

3. Allow dough to rise in greased covered bowl for 45 min. (alternatively, preheat/set oven to 170. Turn off oven. Allow dough to rise 30 min). Punch down and divide in half- each half will make a 12 in. pizza.


You can wrap it in Saran Wrap at this point and leave it in the fridge overnight, or as long as you need to. (If there are any hard spots on your dough from refrigeration, just pick them off and throw them away). 

Form the dough into a circular disk. Stretch the crust in a round, spinning pattern, turning as you go.  Keep flattening and stretching until it is the size you want. (Might need kitchen gadgets for this;) 
For the Pizza:

Add a dollop of sauce with spoon, using the back of the spoon to spread on your crust.
Add toppings of choice, and lots of shredded mozzarella and fresh parmesan.

Ideas for toppings....
Good Marinara sauce
(could be mixed with sour cream or mayo/cream cheese~this is a Paula Deen fave)
Barbecue Sauce
Pesto

pepperoni, bacon, italian sausage, (spicy) chicken, (fresh) mozzarella, feta, parmesan cheese, fresh tomato, black olives, ground beef, shredded basil, grapefruit, pineapple, bell pepper, red pepper flakes. Add shredded basil/cilantro at the end to keep it from over-baking.

4. Bake with toppings on 450 for 16-18 min. adapted from Paula Deen's Pizza Recipe, Paula Deen Celebrates c. 2006
*I tried this pizza crust recipe, since it called for sugar unlike Paula Deen's recipe. I found it a bit too dry. I'm going to keep trying crust recipes.
~SEE ALSO: Barbara Kingsolver's pizza crust recipe

Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Scones!

chocolate chip scones!

Once I discovered the recipe for Shortcake on the back of the Bisquick box, I went hogwild with ideas. 

Adding sugar to a biscuit recipe makes it dessert? Sign me up.

I recently went grocery shopping in search or Bisquick, but couldn't find it.  I am sadly dependent on the box mix, as opposed to dicing butter for the perfect biscuit.

I found a great alternate plan, and these AMAZING chocolate chip scones were born.

Recipe:

3 1/4 c. Southern Biscuit Flour (with shortening flakes)

1 1/4 c. buttermilk

1 c. mini chocolate chips

3 tbsp. sugar

butter for brushing

drop biscuit style- and bake on 450 for 10 minutes! 

Enjoy! 

....for a snack, for dessert, or for breakfast!

Snickerdoodles

ingredients:

1 1/2

cups sugar

1 c. butter

2

eggs (or 1/2 c. milk)

2 3/4

cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose or unbleached flour

2

teaspoons cream of tartar

1

teaspoon baking soda

1/4

teaspoon salt

1/4

cup sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

• 1 Heat oven to 400ºF. 
• 2 Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. 
• 3 Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press down for bigger cookies.
• 4 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. 

adapted from: this recipe