We’ve moved

Due to the incessant changes that wordpress feels compelled to make, I’ve moved this blog to Blogger..You should come here to view old recipes. All new recipes will be located at http://TEWGC.blogspot.com. Please continue to see our newest recipes at the new site, and old favorites here.

Drown In It Mac and Cheese

It’s comfort food personified. I love the stuff, but often find it very bland and gummy the next day. This recipe seems to solve that problem. This mac and cheese reheats better than any I’ve tried. Without too much effort you can split this recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• Kosher salt
• One 12-ounce can evaporated milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha  or other hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 pound extra-sharp cheddar, grated
• 8 ounces American cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 4 chunks

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place the macaroni in a large saucepan and cover it with salted water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, stir- ring occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking. Cover the pan, remove from the heat, and let stand until the pasta is barely al dente, about 8 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, whisk together the evaporated milk, eggs, hot sauce, and mustard in a bowl until homogeneous. Toss the cheeses with the cornstarch in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
3. When the pasta is cooked, drain it and return it to the saucepan. Place over low heat, add the butter, and stir until melted. Add the milk mixture and cheese mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the cheese is completely melted and the mixture is hot and creamy. Season to taste with salt and more hot sauce. Serve immediately, topping with toasted bread crumbs if desired.

SERVES: 6

NOTES: You can of course add cooked bacon, sausage, jalapeños, green onions, or whatever else you might like to make this a more complete meal.

SOURCE: Serious Eats

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls*

Another pumpkin recipe that sure will please you. It’s low carb as well, so you can freely enjoy it.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tbsp yeast
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 2 tbsp sweetener of choice (not xylitol or stevia)
• 2 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour, spelt flour, or all-purpose organic flour, whey protein, or a combination,
• 2 tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup sugar of choice
• 1/8 tsp pure stevia extract, or 4 more tbsp granulated sugar of choice
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 4 tbsp melted coconut oil or full-fat (but trans-fat-free) butter-type spread
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 5 tbsp whole-wheat pastry or all-purpose organic flour
• 3 tbsp sugar of choice
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• optional, 1/2 cup raisins
• scant 1 cup pumpkin puree
• dash salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls recipe: Warm the milk in a small measuring bowl. You want it warm, but not boiling: if you have a candy thermometer, it should read 110 degrees F. Stir in the 2 tbsp sweetener, sprinkle the yeast on top, and set aside for 5 minutes. During this time, it should bubble up. (If it does not bubble up, either your yeast is no good or your milk was too hot or cold.)

In a large measuring bowl, combine the 2 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, 1/4 cup sugar of choice, stevia, salt, the 2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Stir very well.

Stir the melted oil and vanilla extract into the milk mixture, then pour this into the large measuring bowl of dry ingredients and stir to form a dough. Especially if using spelt flour, you may need to add a little extra flour until it’s dry enough to form a dough. Form dough into a ball, then place in a lightly-greased large bowl. Cover loosely with a towel, and set in a warm place to rise 20 minutes or until doubled in size. (If your oven has a “bread proof” setting, this is the perfect place to let your pumpkin cinnamon rolls rise.)

Meanwhile, stir together all remaining pumpkin cinnamon roll ingredients (except the 5 tbsp flour) in a medium measuring bowl. Set aside. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking pan. Set aside.

After the dough has risen, punch dough to deflate. Knead dough with your hands, adding the 5 tbsp flour as you knead so that the dough is not sticking to your hands. Knead 5 minutes. On a lightly-floured surface, roll out the dough into a very thin rectangle. Spread the contents of the medium mixing bowl evenly on top. Carefully roll up the dough, lengthwise, lifting and rolling the dough.

Using a large, sharp knife, slice dough into 13 even rolls, wiping the knife after each cut. The filling may ooze out a bit, but this is okay. Place the rolls in the prepared baking pan, and return to the warm place for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. When it reaches this temperature, place cinnamon rolls in the oven and bake 20 minutes. Glaze with the recipe below:

For the Glaze:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar or Sugar-Free Powdered Sugar
3 1/2 to 4 tsp milk of choice (or more or less to achieve desired glaze thickness)
Whisk ingredients together to form a glaze. Using a spoon, drizzle evenly over pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

SERVES: 12

NOTES: use whatever sugars work for you. I used 1 c organic flour, 1/2 c spelt, 1/2 coconut flour, and 1/2 c whey protein. include raisins if you wish, and or chopped walnuts

SOURCE: Chocolate Covered Kate

Pumpkin Pie Custard*

Around the fall, recipes using pumpkin explode across the Internet. Everybody wants to pumpkin everything, including ice cream. But everyone knows pumpkin pie and a custard is nearly a pie, and no crust, means easy.

Enjoy.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup erythritol (or sweetner alternative of your choice)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tub marscapone ( 8 oz)
• 1 tspn lemon juice
• 1 tspn ginger
• 1/2 tspn vanilla essence
• 1/2 tspn nutmeg

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/350 degrees.
2. Beat the pumpkin puree and erythritol with an electric mixer. Mix well.
3. Add the eggs and blend.
4. Add the spices, vanilla essence and lemon juice and blend.
5. Finally, add the mascarpone and blend until smooth.
6. Pour into an oven dish and bake for 55 minutes.
7. Eat and enjoy!

SERVES: 8

NOTES: Top with whipped cream. Add a almond crumb crust and you have a pie.

SOURCE: Divalicious Recipes

Spicy Pasta With Bucatini

Mention pasta and you have my attention. This is a spicy and rich sauce and the pasta is perfect, thick and perfectly married to the cream sauce that accompanies it.

Enjoy.

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
3/4 Cup Finely Chopped Onion
3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
1 Pound Italian Sausage Links (Mild or Spicy), Casings Removed
1 Cup Dry White Wine
1 (14 Ounce) Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
Salt & Pepper
1 Finely Chopped Hot Chili Pepper (Optional – See Notes Above)
3/4 to 1 Cup Heavy Cream
6 Tablespoons Chopped Parsley Leaves
Pasta of Choice

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat oil in heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
Add onion and garlic and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the sausage and sauté until golden brown and cooked through, breaking up with two forks as it cooks, about 7 minutes.
Drain any excess drippings from skillet, the add wine and boil over high heat until almost all liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes and tomato paste and mix well.
Season with oregano, salt, pepper and hot pepper if using.
Simmer 5 minutes, then add the cream and parsley, and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
Use to top hot cooked pasta.

SERVES: 4

NOTES: Use Italian sausage, hot or mild, or use any pork sausage that you like. Could easily be used with andouille sausage.

SOURCE: Italian Food Forever

Southern Chicken Cacciatore

2P_P_081015_SouthernStyleChickenCacciatore

This is a bit different from my usual chicken cacciatore, but we really liked it immensely. And so I offer it to you.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
• ¾ Cup Yellow Grits
• 1 Red Bell Pepper
• 1 Tomato
• 1 Yellow Onion
• 1 Bunch Basil
• 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 2 Tablespoons Capers
• 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
• 1 Tablespoon Molasses
• 1/2 Tablespoon Southern Cacciatore Spice Blend (Smoked Sweet Paprika, , Ancho Chile Powder, Garlic Powder,  & Cayenne Pepper) To this add  1 tbsp each of fresh oregano and fresh parsley.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Core and medium dice the tomato. Cut out and discard the stem, ribs and seeds of the bell pepper; medium dice. Peel and small dice the onion. Pick the basil leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Roughly chop the capers.
2. In a large pot, heat 3 cups of water and a big pinch of salt to boiling on high. Once boiling, slowly whisk in the grits; reduce the heat to low. Cook, whisking frequently to break up any lumps, 10 to 12 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the grits are tender. (If the grits seem dry, gradually add up to ¼ cup of water to achieve your desired consistency.) Remove from heat. Whisk in the butter until thoroughly combined; season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and set aside in a warm place.
3. While the grits cook, in a large bowl, combine the flour and half the spice blend; season with salt and pepper. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. Thoroughly coat the seasoned chicken in the flour-spice blend mixture (shaking off any excess). In a large pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the coated chicken. Cook 4 to 6 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate, leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan.
4. Add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the pan of reserved fond; heat on medium-high until hot. Add the onion, tomato and bell pepper; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened and fragrant. Add thetomato paste and remaining spice blend; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the tomato paste is dark red. Add themolasses, capers and 1 cup of water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until thickened and saucy.
5. To the pan of sauce, add the cooked chicken (along with any juices from the plate), ⅔ of the basil (tearing just before adding) and ¼ cup of water. Cook, stirring occasionally and spooning the sauce over the chicken, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

SERVES: 3

NOTES: You can easily use bone in thighs, or other chicken pieces, or add a fourth and it will serve four..

SOURCE: Blue Apron

Cheesy Meatball Sliders

These are great on a football Sunday or any other day. Adapt the sauce as you desire, or make as given. It is a delicious finger food.

INGREDIENTS:

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 28-oz. cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 bay leaf
• Vegetable oil spray
• 2 slices country bread, crusts removed, torn into small pieces
• ½ cup milk
• 1 pound ground chicken
• 2 ounces finely grated Parmesan, plus more
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 12 slider rolls, preferably potato

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until onion is softened and translucent, 8–10 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, and bay leaf and bring to a low simmer. Season with salt and pepper and simmer, partially covered, while you prepare meatballs.

• Preheat broiler. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with vegetable oil spray and set aside. Combine bread and milk in a small bowl and set aside, tossing occasionally, until milk is completely absorbed, 8–10 minutes. Combine chicken, 2 oz. Parmesan, parsley, garlic, eggs, salt, pepper, and soaked bread in a large bowl; gently mix with your hands until ingredients are fully incorporated. Dampen your hands, then form mixture into 12 balls; place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Broil, rotating pan once, until meatballs are browned, 8–10 minutes. Add meatballs and any juices to sauce and continue to simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are cooked through, sauce is thick and chunky, and flavors have melded, 20–25 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Top each split roll with a meatball, a dab of sauce, and more Parmesan.

SERVES: 6

NOTES: You can vary this as you desire. Use turkey or pork instead of the chicken. Use your own sauce recipe or one that you like.

SOURCE: Bon Appetit