Monday, November 3, 2014

HOLIDAY PIES









It's almost that time again-holiday baking.
I do stray from my normal routine. I cook
my holiday meals from scratch! I am no
longer working full-time.  I have time to 
bake my holiday desserts. Trust me! I do 
take short cuts when I can.These pies are
not low calorie. Most these ingredients can
not be substituted with margarine, honey,
agave nectar, 1% or skim milk.  The taste
and texture of the pies will result in a "hot
mess".  Cut calories and modify your diet
after the holidays. I use portion control
and drink a glass of water before I eat, so
I keep me from over doing it too much.


I plan my holiday menu ahead of time. I do
a shopping list. I buy sale items that I need
for my recipes. Most grocery store sales on
holiday baking goods start a week or two
before Thanksgiving and Christmas.


The men in my family love pies. I must make 
the my famous pumpkin sweet potato pie and
a pecan pie. I also add a fruit crisp or cobbler
to change things up a bit.

Here are some of the holiday pie recipes 
my family enjoy. Some of the pie recipes
were adapted from my collection of new
and vintage cookbooks.


PUMPKIN/SWEET POTATO











FRANKIE'S PUMPKIN SWEET POTATO PIE


    1 C pumpkin puree
    1 C mashed sweet potato
    1 1/4  C  sugar
    2 eggs
    5 oz can evaporated milk
    1 tsp vanilla
    1 unbaked deep dish pastry shell


Preheat oven 325 degrees.

In large bowl add all the  ingredients together. 

Beat with hand held mixer until smooth. Pour 
mixture into pastry shell.

Bake at 300ยบ for 1 hour and 40 minutes.
   

Tip: Bake pie on cookie sheet to insure browning 

of bottom crust.













PECAN PUMPKIN PIE





3 eggs

1 C  pumpkin puree

1/3 C  sugar

1 tsp spice spice  

2/3 C corn syrup

½ C sugar

3 T melted  butter

3/4 tsp vanilla

1 C  pecan, chopped

1 unbaked deep dish pie shell







Preheat oven to 350 degrees.



Mix 1 beaten egg, pumpkin,1/3 c sugar and pie spice.

Add to  bottom of pie crust. Combine 2 beaten eggs,

corn syrup, 1/2 c sugar butter and  vanilla. Add nuts

and mix well. Pour mixture over pumpkin. Place pie

on cookie sheet.



Bake 45 minutes or until filling is firm. 








IMPOSSIBLE SWEET POTATO PIE




1/2 C baking mix
1 C sugar
2 T butter, soft
½ C evaporated milk
2 eggs
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
2 C cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
1 teaspoon vanilla


Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease a 8 or 9 inch 
pie plate/pan. Blend the ingredients until smooth.  
Pour into pie plate or pan. Bake at 1 hour or until filling is firm in the center.

Tip: Impossible Pumpkin Pie: Replace sweet potatoes with 2 cups of pumpkin puree and change spices to 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice.



 


Of course, I prefer fresh raw sweet potatoes
when I have time to cook from scratch. But,
my family also enjoys my quick canned sweet
potato recipes too. Bruce's yams seems to be
close to fresh tasting sweet potatoes  "in my
humble opinion."






FRANKIE'S  SWEET POTATO FAMILY PIE 


2- 20 oz cans Bruce's cut yams ( in heavy syrup)
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 C butter flavored pancake syrup
1 box 2 crust refrigerated pie crust

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 baking dish.



In bowl add yams, spices, and pancake syrup.
Mix well. Add yams to baking dish.  Unroll pie 
crusts and cut into strips. Place strips over the
yams in a criss-cross pattern. Place pie on foil
lined sheet pan to catch any spill overs.

Bake 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown 
and syrup is bubbling around edges

Tip:

Use remaining butter flavored syrup for your
morning pancakes. I use this flavor instead 
of adding butter to my pancakes(Cuts a few
calories.)



 










My friend cooked this for a dinner we had at
work. It was the best sweet potato dish had
ever tasted. I got the recipe from her.Now it
is part of my family's favorite Thanksgiving 
and Christmas desserts.  Some people use
it as a side dish. I think it's sweet enough 
to be a dessert.





SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE 



FILLING



4 C mashed and cooked sweet potatoes

1/4 C packed light brown sugar

1/2 C white sugar

2 eggs

½ c milk
1 tsp. vanilla
4 T butter, soft



CRUMB TOPPING

2 t cinnamon
1/2 c brown sugar
2/3 c flour
6 T butter, softened
1 c chopped pecans
1/2 t ground cloves
1/2 t ground nutmeg





Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 baking 
dish. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients for
the filling until smooth. Pour it into dish and set 
aside. In another bowl, mix butter, brown sugar,
flour, and spices with a fork. Add the pecans and 
mix well. Place the topping over the filling. Bake
35 minutes or until topping is browned.




PECAN











SOUTHERN  PECAN PIE

3 eggs
1 C sugar
1 C  corn syrup
2 T  butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1  C  chopped pecans
9 inch unbaked pie crust




Preheat  oven to 350 degrees. 
In large bowl add eggs, sugar, syrup, butter, and vanilla.  Blend until smooth. Stir in pecans. Pour 
filling into pie crust. Place pie on cookie sheet and
place in oven. Bake 50 minutes or until the center 
is firm. 


Tips:

Walnut Pecan Pie- Use 1/2 cup chop walnut &
1 cup chop pecans

Chocolate Pecan Pie-Stir in 1/2 cup semi-sweet
chocolate chips when you add the nuts.

German Chocolate Pecan Pie- Follow tips for
Chocolate Pecan Pie and add 1/2 c sweetened
flake coconut.  









COCONUT PECAN PIE





3 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 C sugar

1/2 C butter, melted

2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 C flaked coconut
1/2 C chopped pecans
1 unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven 350 degrees. 

In bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, butter, lemon juice
and vanilla until well combined. Stir in coconut
and pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.Put pie on
cookie sheet and place in the oven.

 

Bake 50 minutes or until center is firm. 










BOURBON PECAN PIE

3 eggs slightly beaten
1 C sugar
1 C  Corn Syrup
2 T  butter, melted
1 1/2  T bourbon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup pecans
1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish pie crust



Preheat oven to 350°F.


Beat eggs slightly with a fork in a medium bowl. 

Add sugar, corn syrup, butter, bourbon, and vanilla and mix well. Stir in pecans. Pour into pie crust.
Put pie on cookie sheet and place in the oven.

 
Bake 50 minutes or until  center  feels  firm.  


Tip:  Add 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips when you stir in pecans. 








BROWNIE PECAN PIE

1 C corn syrup
1/2 C sugar
1/8 tsp  salt
1/2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 T butter
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 C  chopped pecans
1 (9-inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust


Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine corn syrup, sugar and salt in a small 
pot.  Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat 
2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove
from heat. Add chocolate and butter to syrup 
mixture, stirring until chocolate is melted and
mixture is smooth.  Let cool to avoid cooking 
eggs. Slowly pour the chocolate mixture over
eggs, stirring constantly. Add the vanilla and
pecans and mix well.  Pour mixture into pie 
crust.  Put pie on cookie sheet and place in 
the oven. 

Bake for about 50 minutes or until center of 
pie is firm.


SOUTHERN CHESS PIES








CHOCOLATE COCONUT CHESS PIE   



1 1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/3 c. cocoa

1/4 c. butter, melted

1/2 c. evaporated milk

1/2 c. coconut

1/2 c. pecan pieces



Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients well. Pour into a 9 inch pie shell. Put pie on cookie sheet and place in the oven. 
Bake 30 minutes or until center is firm.









BEST LEMON CHESS PIE  #1



1 C sugar

4 eggs, beaten

4 T butter, melted

juice from 1 large lemon

zest from lemon

9 inch unbaked pie crust



Preheat oven 350 degrees

Beat eggs, sugar, lemon juice and zest. Pour 
into pie crust. Bake 30 minutes or until center
is firm.




BEST LEMON CHESS PIE #2




2 C sugar

1 T flour

1 T corn meal

1/8 tsp salt

4 eggs

1/4 C butter

1/4 C milk

1/4 C lemon juice

9 inch unbaked deep dish pie crust





Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Mix lightly with a fork: Sugar, flour, corn meal and salt. Add eggs, butter, milk, and lemon juice. Mix well.  Pour into pie shell, and bake for 45 minutes or until center is firm.












BROWN SUGAR CHESS PIE





¼ C butter, melted
1/2 C white sugar
1 C brown sugar, packed
1 tsp flour
3 eggs, beaten
2 T milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
9 inch unbaked pie crust

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Add butter with sugars and flour and mix 
well. Add the other ingredients and stir
until blended. Pour into pie crust. 

Bake 30 minutes or until center is firm.
 


FRUIT PIES & COBBLERS

I do cut corners and save time by 
using canned fruit pie filling. I use
fruit in heavy syrup when my fave
store is out of pie filling.







FRUIT PIE & WALNUT CRUMB TOPPING


FILLING

20 oz favorite pie filling
1 tsp ground cinnamon

TOPPING


3/4 C all-purpose flour
3/4 C packed brown sugar
1 C walnuts, chopped
1 tsp ground cinnamon
6 T butter, melted 


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove lid 
from pie filling.Stir in cinnamon.Set aside.   

Prepare crumb topping. Mix the flour, brown 
sugar, walnuts, cinnamon in a bowl. Stir in 
the butter and mix with a fork until mixture
crumbles. Pour filling into the pie crust.Place
crumb topping over entire surface of pie filling.
Put pie on cookie sheet and place in the oven.



Bake  50 minutes  or until the crumb is golden,
the fruit juices are bubbling around the edge. 

Tip: Use Peaches in heavy syrup if peach pie
filling not available.









CHERRY PIE WITH OAT CRUMBLE

FILLING


20 oz can cherry pie filling

1 tsp almond extract



OAT TOPPING
 

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 C brown sugar, packed

½ C flour

1/2 C oats

1/4 C butter, melted 



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove lid 
from pie filling. Stir in almond extract. Mix
well and set aside.  

In bowl, combine all of the ingredients for
topping. Pour filling into pie crust. Crumble 
topping over filling. Place pie on a cookie 
sheet.

Bake 45 minutes or until the fruit juices are 
bubbling around the edges.

 









QUICK PEACH BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE


20 oz canned peaches in heavy syrup
1 pint fresh blueberries
1 tsp almond extract
2 layer box spice cake mix
1 stick butter or margarine, melted


Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 baking dish.

Remove lid from peaches and stir in almond extract .
Pour peaches into dish and spread evenly.  Sprinkle
blueberries over peaches and press into filling
with back of spoon.  Top fruit with dry cake mix.
Drizzle melted butter evenly over cake mix.

Bake 30 minutes or until the fruit juices are
bubbling around the edges.
















CREAM CHEESE PIE



    8 oz.  cream cheese, softened
    14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
    1/3 C  lemon juice
    1 tsp  vanilla extract
    8 or 9-inch  graham cracker  pie crust
    21 oz. blueberry pie filling, chilled


In bowl, beat  cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.
Add sweetened condensed milk ans mix well.  Stir
in lemon juice and vanilla. Pour into crust and chill
4 hours or until set. Top with  pie filling just before
serving.

Tip:

 Strawberry or cherry pie filling good too.








QUICK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE


1 pkg.  (3.9 oz.)  chocolate instant pudding
1-1/2 C  cold milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
9 inch graham cracker crust
2 C  thawed extra-creamy whipped topping, divided
 
 
In bowl, whisk pudding mix, vanilla, and milk
until smooth. Stir in 1 cup of whipped topping
and mix well. Pour into crust. Spoon remaining whipped topping over pie. Chill 4 hours or until 
the pie filling is set.
 
 





















Friday, October 10, 2014

CRAZY BREAD, QUICK & EASY










I like to bake lots of  biscuits from biscuit mix
or baking mixes during the week. I have found
a lot of easy recipes in  mini cookbooks I bought
from the thrift store.  I have found mini books by
Jiffy, Pillsbury Bake-Off, Food Lion, and the Family 
Dollar store. My mom loved my Jiffy book and did
not give up my copy. I ordered her one.The recipes have been adjusted fit my family's taste.  



BAKING/BISCUIT MIX RECIPES
 









7 UP BISCUITS 



2 C baking mix

1/2 C 7-up soda

1/2 C sour cream

1/4 C melted butter

1/2 tsp garlic powder




Preheat oven 375 degrees. Need 9x9 dish.


Mix sour cream and baking mix together, then add 7UP.  Dust flat surface with a small amount of the baking mix. Pat the dough out 1/2 inch thick. Cut
the dough into 9 equal pieces.  Place half of the 
melted butter in dish. Place biscuits on top of the butter. Drizzle the rest of the butter on top of the biscuits and finish with a sprinkle the garlic powder
on each biscuit. 
 

Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.















BASIL & CHEESE  BISCUITS


3 C baking mix
1 C Italian mixed cheeses, shredded
2 tsp dried basil
1 C milk
3 T melted butter


Preheat oven 375 degrees. Grease sheet pan.
In a bowl, stir together baking mix, cheese, 

basil and milk to form a ball. Drop by large 
spoonfuls on sheet pan.  Bake  15 minutes
or until the biscuits are golden brown.  Brush
the tops with the melted butter. 


Tip:  8 oz bags of  Italian style cheeses
( mozzarella, Parmesan, provolone)at 
local grocery store.






CREAM CHEESE BISCUITS



2-1/2 C  baking mix
2 oz. cream cheese, cold
2 T  butter, cold
3/4 C  milk




Preheat oven to 450°F. Grease sheet pan.
Cut cream cheese and butter into baking

mix with fork. Add the milk. Mix until just 
combined.  Use large tablespoon to drop 
by spoonfuls onto sheet pan. Bake for 10 
minutes or until lightly browned.









SWEET TATER BISCUITS
2 1/2 C baking mix
1/3 C butter or margarine, softened
1 C mashed cooked sweet potato
1/2 C milk



Preheat oven to 375 °.  Grease sheet pan.
Stir all the ingredients with a fork until soft

dough forms. Drop by heaping spoonfuls 
onto sheet pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until  
golden brown.
 






CHEDDAR BISCUITS 

2 C baking mix 
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 C cheddar cheese, shredded
3/4 C milk



Preheat oven to 375 °.  Grease sheet pan.
Stir all the ingredients with a fork until soft

dough forms. Drop by heaping spoonfuls 
onto sheet pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until  
golden brown. 

Tip: Bacon Cheddar Biscuits, omit mustard
and add 2 tablespoons real bacon bits.








 
GREEN ONION BISCUITS

 

2 C baking mix 
1/8  tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 C green onion, chopped
3/4 C milk



Preheat oven to 375 °.  Grease sheet pan.
Stir all the ingredients with a fork until soft

dough forms. Drop by heaping spoonfuls 
onto sheet pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until  
golden brown. 






CHILI ONION BISCUITS


2 C  baking mix


green onions, chopped



1 tsp  chili powder 
2/3 C  milk  
 Preheat oven to 375 °.  Grease sheet pan.
Stir all the ingredients with a fork until soft
 
dough forms. Drop by heaping spoonfuls 
onto sheet pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until  
golden brown. 


Tip: Can use Ancho chili powder for spicy
biscuit.



 REFRIGERATOR BISCUIT MAGIC







BACON CHEESE PULL APART BISCUITS 





3 cans refrigerated biscuit dough

1/2 pound bacon

1/2 C  diced green onions

1/2  C diced bell peppers

1/2 pound shredded cheese

1/4 C butter, melted


Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan.



Cut bacon into 1/4 inch pieces until crisp. Add 
onions and bell peppers.Fry until the peppers 
are soft. Cut raw biscuits into quarters. Place 
biscuits into a mixing bowl. Add the peppers, 
bacon, onions, cheese, and butter.  Mix well.
Place biscuits  into prepared  pan, and pat 
down.  Bake 10 minutes or until light  brown. 
 






PEPPERONI SNACKS

3.5 oz  package pepperoni slices
2 cans 10 count flaky refrigerator biscuits
8 oz shredded pizza style cheese
Italian seasoning
1/2 stick butter, melted


Preheat oven 350 degrees.  Grease sheet pan.

Remove biscuits from cans and split in half. Add two
slices of pepperoni to one half of biscuits. Place 1 tsp
of cheese on top of pepperoni halves.  Place tops on biscuits.  Brush biscuit tops with the butter. Sprinkle
with the Italian seasoning.Place biscuits on sheet pan. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Tip:  Use pasta/pizza  sauce for dipping.