Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Topping





I made this on Monday night and it was really good!!!   I didn't get any pictures but thought it was good enough until I make it again with pictures to post! 

The praline has a nice buttery taste which just enhances the sweet potatoes so nicely!!!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!



                                Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Topping


4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
½ cup white sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
¼ tsp salt
½ pint heavy whipping cream
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup flour
1 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350
Butter a 2 quart casserole dish.
In a mixing bowl,  combine the sweet potatoes, sugar, vanilla, eggs and cream.  Blend well and spread evenly into casserole dish.
Prepare the topping  by combining the butter, brown sugar, flour and pecans.  Mix until crumbly , and sprinkle over sweet potato mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Herbed Tomato Tart

This is very delicious and easy!!  I made it for the first time last week and will  be making it again! 

You start with a Pepperridge Puff Pastry sheet which you bake for 15 minutes then you just add mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, salt, olive oil  and herbs. Oh and feta cheese if you like feta cheese!  I don't nor did anyone else I was making it with so we left it off! 

This would be great at Thanksgiving or a Christmas Party for an appetizer! 

Simple yet looks so beautiful.  I bought red tomatoes, some that weren't red yet and then some small yellow cherry tomatoes.  I also used the chives and then I just added basil but you can use more herbs.

I will have to say I am giving Sprouts another chance.  I had bad luck like 3 or 4 times in a row so I stopped going over a year ago.  There is a great place in Duncanville called Cox Farm's and their produce is just always fresh, like you see them constantly throwing stuff out that isn't good.  The times I went to Sprouts I just seemed to get things that weren't good.  Like the garlic was rubbery the cucumbers had no flavor and a onion was molded inside but looked fine on the outside. 

I was in a hurry and was trying to decide where would be the fastest to get in and out of and I thought Sprouts!  So I got my chives there and was pleasantly surprised that they had a section of .99 cent fresh herbs!   I had already gotten basil at Kroger (for $1.89) but I could have got a smaller one for .99 too.  I found a few more things and decided I would give them another chance.  We shall see!

You really should try this Herbed Tomato Tart!  I even was thinking this would make a good pizza!  Puff Pastry, cheese pepperoni, veggies or whatever you want!!!  The pastry is so light and flaky!  I love using puff pastry anyway so this was a great!!




This can be pricey, I paid $4.57 at Kroger then saw it the next day at Heb for $3.38! 


I didn't even roll it out like it says since it just folds right out!  You can roll it out then put it on the cookie sheet,  I just took a short cut.


Now you will think, man that is a lot of tomatoes!  I was also making a pasta dish with fresh tomatoes so I didn't use all these for the tart.


I really like to grate my own cheese but you can do whatever you want ;)


Bake the puff pastry for 15 minutes, the oven I was using doesn't always get things brown so later I thought I should have kept it in there a few more minutes.  After I baked it the 2nd time it was brown.





This really does look beautiful in person!


You can cut it like this or smaller slices like strips even.




Herbed Tomato Tart


Medium Tomatoes thinly sliced (about 3/4 lb)
1/2 pint assorted small tomatoes, halved
3/4 tsp salt, divided
1 (17.3 oz) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
1 (8oz) mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 4oz feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
1/4 cup finely chopped chives
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup assorted fresh herbs, chopped
1 T olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place tomatoes in a single layer on a paper towel; sprinkle with 1/2 tsp.  Let stand 30 minutes.  Pat dry with a paper towel.

Meanwhile, roll 1 pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface; place onto an ungreased baking sheet. Cut 4 (12X1 inch) strips from the remaining pastry sheet, and place strips along outer edges of pastry square, forming a border.  Reserve remaining pastry for another use.

Bake at 400 degrees for 14 to 15 minutes or until browned.

Sprinkle pastry with mozzarella cheese and next 3 ingredients.  Top with tomatoes in a single layer.  Sprinkle tomatoes with herbs and remaining 1/4 tsp of salt; drizzle with olive oil.

Bake at 400 degrees for 14 to 15 minutes or until cheese melts.  Serve immediately.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Stock Up- Deals of the Season!


This time of year I stock up on Campbell's Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom Soup along with Chicken Broth!  I honestly stock up for the year!  I had 1 can left from last year!

Kroger right now has all three for .50 when you buy 10 which is a great deal!  They can run up to $1.39 other times of the year.  Wal Mart also has some great prices on these items and most stores will up to Thanksgiving and then Christmas.  Sometimes the deals after Thanksgiving aren't as good but they are still better than the full price!!!

For me Campbell's is the only brand to buy for Cream of Chicken and Mushroom.  The others have a weird after taste to them (a plastic taste).  I buy all brands of Chicken Broth doesn't seem to change too much but when I can get Swanson's at a good price I buy that.  Right now Swanson's is .50 a can at Kroger!!

Also this week Land O Lakes butter is $1.99 at Kroger!!!!!! 

Green Giant Green Beans and corn are also .50 a can and Stove Top  Dressing is .75.

I happen to like Stove Top Dressing, I know but I actually love it!

Just fyi  ;)

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Classic Chess Pie


Chess Pie is one of my all time favorites!  It's super easy to make especially if you use a frozen pie crust which is what I did.  I make my own crust but I also buy them to save time.  I like to buy Pet Ritz brand, Sarah Lee's or Marie Callender's.  You want to get the deep dish so that the filling doesn't run out while baking.

Honestly it was after I made this pie for the first time years ago I realized why they say "it's as easy as pie"!  Takes minutes to put together and about 50 to 55 minutes to bake.  You want to make sure it does bake for the whole time so that it sets.  A little under might make it a tiny bit runny.  Now if your oven bakes faster than usual then just check it and make sure it doesn't giggle.





I used a frozen pie crust you can take this out of the tin and put it in your own pie plate ;)
I do have a good pie crust recipe on here if you want to make your own.  I was just in a hurry!
Bake the crust like it says for 4 to 5 mintues before pouring the pie filling in.



add dry ingredients then the butter, eggs, milk, vinegar, vanilla and stir until combined


pour into pie crust and bake for 50 to 55 mintues


after 10 to 20 minutes cover the edges with foil...I usually wait unitl 20 mintues so it can set alittle so when I pull it out it doesn't spill out of the pie.  You can also use pie shields which I have but the foil was right there!

Truly delicious and easy as pie!




Classic Chess Pie



1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
Fit pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under, and crimp.
Line pastry with aluminum foil, and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
Bake at 425° for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove weights and foil; bake 2 more minutes or until golden. Cool.
Stir together sugar and next 7 ingredients until blended. Add eggs, stirring well. Pour into pie crust.
Bake at 350° for 50 to 55 minutes, shielding edges with aluminum foil after 10 minutes to prevent excessive browning. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Coconut Chess Pie: Prepare filling as directed above; stir in 1 cup toasted flaked coconut before pouring into pie crust. Bake as directed above.

Yield:  1 (9-inch) pie

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