Gingerbread Waffles

Cook Time: 10 min

Level: Easy
Yield: 4 (4 section) waffles, 16 pieces, up to 8 servings


Directions

3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, eyeball it1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter, plus some to butter the iron
Syrup, whipped cream or fresh fruits for topping, to pass at table


Preheat waffle iron.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. In a medium bowl, beat eggs and brown sugar until fluffy, then beat in pumpkin, milk, molasses and melted butter. Stir the wet into dry until just moist. Do not overstir the waffle batter. Brush the iron with a little melted butter and cook 4 waffles, 4 sections each. Serve with toppings of choice.

From: foodnetwork.com

Harvest Moon Macaroni

Cook Time: 16 min

Level: Easy

Yield: 6 servings

 

 

Ingredients

 

1 pound macaroni such as cassarecci, strozzopretti or ziti with lines

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose four

1 cup chicken stock

1 1/2 cups whole milk

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Nutmeg, grated to taste

1 (10-ounce) box frozen butternut squash, defrosted

A few dashes hot sauce

1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1 cup extra-sharp yellow Cheddar

A handful fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

 

 

Directions

 

Bring water to a boil, season with salt and cook macaroni to al dente.

 

 

Preheat broiler and place rack in middle of the oven.

 

 

Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a sauce pot over medium heat, saute onions and garlic until soft, 6 to 7 minutes and stir in the thyme.

 

 

Scoot onions off to side of pan and melt butter, whisk flour into butter and combine whisk 1 minute then whisk in stock and milk, season sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg, and cook until thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes.

 

 

Stir in butternut squash and a few dashes hot sauce. Reduce heat. When sauce comes to a bubble, stir in Parmigiano. Combine the sauce and macaroni, transfer to a casserole dish and top with shredded yellow Cheddar, chopped parsley and paprika. Brown the macaroni under broiler, 4 to 5 minutes until brown and bubbly.

 

From: foodnetwork.com

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting

Cook Time: 20 min

Level: Easy

Yield: 8-10 servings

 

 

Ingredients

 

1 box prepared gingerbread mix, prepared to package directions for cake

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 orange, zested

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups powdered confectioners' sugar

Shaved crystalized ginger, for garnish

 

 

Directions

 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

 

 

Divide prepared cake mix into nonstick muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes. The batter will make 8 to 10 muffins, depending on the size of your tin. Turn muffins out of tins to quick cool.

 

 

Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, nutmeg, orange zest and vanilla with hand mixer at medium speed. Beat in sugar until frosting is fluffy. Frost cupcakes and top with crystalized ginger.

 

From: foodnetwork.com

Antipasto Pie

Cook Time: 20 min
Level: Easy
Yield:  8 servings


Ingredients

1 (12-inch) round or oval, crusty, chewy bread, such as Tuscan-style or a sesame semolina
1 (14 to 16-ounce) jar giardiniera*, drained
1/2 pound thinly sliced sharp provolone
1 (14 to 16-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, or 2 fresh roasted red bell peppers, see note
1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts in water, drained
1 (12-ounce) bag mixed salad greens, any variety
1/2 cup (a couple of handfuls) fresh Italian flat leaf parsley leaves
15 to 20 leaves fresh basil, torn
1/3 pound sliced Genoa salami
1/3 pound sliced sweet soppressata
1/3 pound sliced cappacola (hot cured pork shoulder)
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1 vine-ripe tomato, thinly sliced
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Coarse salt and pepper
8 hot or sweet pickled cherry peppers


Directions

8 (8,10 or 12-inch) bamboo party skewers

Serving suggestions: green and black olives, herb flavored potato chips

* Giardiniera is a Italian pickled salad of cauliflower, hot peppers and carrot found in International Foods aisle of market

Cut the top off of a large round or oval bread and hollow it out leaving a half inch rim and bottom to your bread. The loaf should resemble a bowl or deep pie shell.


Pulse the giardiniera in a food processor into a coarse relish. Spread and press relish into the bottom of your bread shell in an even layer. Top relish with a layer of provolone slices, red pepper pieces, and artichoke hearts. Press ingredients down as you work to make room in your shell for as much antipasto as possible.


Combine mixed greens, parsley, and basil in a bowl. Add a thin layer of greens on top of artichokes, and drizzle with oil. Layer in meats and remaining cheese. Top with a few more greens, onion and tomato slices, and another drizzle of oil. Season the top of filled shell with salt and pepper. Bag up remaining unused greens and herbs for tomorrow night's salad.


Replace top of bread and wrap your GIANT, drip-less antipasto stuffed pie for travel.


When you are ready to serve, spear hot or sweet cherry peppers on 10 or 12-inch bamboo skewers and space eight skewers equidistant around the bread. Cut bread into wedges, like a pie, and serve with olives and fancy potato chips.


Note: to roast peppers, split each red bell pepper down the center and gut them by scooping out seeds with a tug using your cupped hand. Place peppers skin-side-up under broiler preheated to high. Leave oven door ajar for steam to escape and blacken peppers entirely. Place charred peppers into a paper bag and roll the bag up tightly. Let stand 5 minutes until peppers are cool enough to handle and peel off charred skins.

From: foodnetwork.com

Gutsy Red Pepper Gazpacho

Cook Time: 25 min

Level: Easy
Yield:  6 servings


Ingredients

2 red bell peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons sugar
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
2 slices white bread, crust removed and chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup tomato sauce
1 (28-ounce) can stewed diced tomatoes
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
Blue corn tortilla chips


Directions

Place peppers in food processor and puree. Add sugar, jalapeno, bread, garlic, tomato sauce, tomatoes and process until smooth. Add 1/2 cup of water to thin soup, if necessary. Add vinegar and oil, pulse-process and season soup with salt, to taste.


Serve immediately or chill. Garnish cups of soup with chopped red onion and pass blue corn chips for dipping into soup at table.

From: foodnetwork.com

Smoky Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Cook Time: 25 min
Level: Easy
Yield:  4 servings

Ingredients

3 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and cubed
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons EVOO - extra-virgin olive oil - 2 turns of the pan
1/4 pound smoky bacon or turkey bacon, chopped
1 1/3 pound ground turkey breast
1 tablespoon smoked paprika, available in small cans on spiceaisle of market
(You may substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons each sweet paprika and cumin combined)
Coarse black pepper
2 tablespoons, 5 or 6 sprigs, fresh thyme leaves
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
3 ribs celery from the heart, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cups frozen peas
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream, divided
3 tablespoons butter
1 large egg, beaten
10 to 12 blades fresh chives, chopped or snipped

Directions

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, salt it, and cook the potatoes until tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

Heat a deep, large skillet over medium-high heat. Add EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, to the skillet. Add bacon and brown it up, then add ground turkey to the pan and break it up. Season the turkey with smoked paprika, salt and peppe,r and thyme. When turkey browns up, add: onions, carrots, celery. Season the veggies with salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes, then add red pepper and peas cook another 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook flour 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and combine. Add 1/2 cup of sour cream and combine. Simmer mixture over low heat.

Preheat your broiler to high.

When potatoes are tender, add a ladle of cooking water to the egg. Drain potatoes and return to the warm pot to dry them out a little. Add remaining 1/2 cup sour cream, butter, half of the chives, and salt and pepper. Smash and mash the potatoes, mashing in the beaten, tempered egg. If the potatoes are too tight, mix in a splash of milk.

Pour turkey mixture into a medium casserole dish. Top turkey with an even layer of smashed potatoes and place casserole 5 inches from hot broiler. Broil the potatoes until golden at edges and remove the casserole from the oven. Garnish the casserole with the remaining chives and a sprinkle of smoked paprika.

From: foodnetwork.com

Cream Eggs with Irish Cheese and Chives

Cook Time: 5 min
Yield:  8 servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter, cut into small bits
8 large eggs
1/3 cup heavy cream, eyeball it
Salt and pepper
1/2 pound farm house Cheddar, shredded or diced
12 blades fresh chives, chopped

Directions

Heat a medium nonstick pan with butter over medium low heat.

Whisk eggs with cream and salt and pepper. Scramble eggs soft only, stir in cheese and chives and continue to cook a minute more then serve.

From: foodnetwork.com