Filipino Recipes - Sans Rival Cake Recipe - Pinoy Food

Whenever I hear the word Sans rival, I always remember my high school best friend who gave her crush the same secret name because it is her favorite cake. Imagine a boy named Sans Rival... can't help but giggle at the thought.

Sans rival is a cake that you would like to have every day, unless you are trying to slim down. It is creamy, tasty, sweet, with bits and pieces of cashew nuts that makes the cake even more delightfully delicious. I tried baking it myself using this recipe that I got from no other than my best friend. Yes, the same one I mentioned earlier.

Cookie

Ingredients:

• 8 egg whites
• 1 cup sugar
• 1½ cups cashew nuts (finely chopped)

Filling:

• 8 egg yolks
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1 tsp corn syrup
• 1/3 lb fresh butter
• ½ cup cashew nuts (chopped)

Cooking Procedure:

• Beat egg whites until stiff and foamy. Add 1 cup sugar gradually, beating continuously, until you see soft peaks formed. Add finely chopped cashew nuts. Grease four cookie sheets which are 9x14 inch in size and dust lightly with flour. Pour mixture into 4 sheets  and spread thin. Bake in preheated oven 300ºF for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove cookie sheets and set aside to cool.
• Put 1 cup sugar, ½ cup water and 1 teaspoon corn syrup in saucepan and set to boil without stirring. When thick enough to form a soft ball when dropped in a saucer of water, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Beat egg yolks until lemon-colored. Add syrup little by little, beating well.
• Melt butter to creamy consistency and when syrup mixture is sufficiently cool, add little by little while continuing to cream. Spread butter mixture on the layers and put together, one on top of the other, sandwich fashion. Spread more butter mixture to the top layer and sides and sprinkle with cashew nuts, Wrap in wax paper and chill before serving.

Filipino Recipes - Sans Rival Cake Recipe - Pinoy Food

Jasmine is a native Filipino with a passion for cooking and gardening. Her love of Pinoy food has lead her to create a website to share her favorite Filipino recipes with the world. Come and explore and enjoy a true taste of the Philippines with these authentic Pinoy recipes and stories of the Philippine culture.

Easy Dutch Oven Recipes - Getting Started Cooking With Your Dutch Oven

Dutch Oven cooking is fun and easy. Dutch oven recipes are abundant and adapting them from your favorite home recipes is easy. With a little experience you'll find that it is fairly simple to cook with your Dutch oven. Here are some easy Dutch oven recipes to try:

Easy Dutch Oven Mountain Man Hash

Biscuit

1 lb. Bacon or sausage

2 lbs frozen potatoes (shredded or southern style)

1 dozen eggs

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Cut bacon/sausage into smaller pieces (about 1"). Cook the bacon or sausage in the Dutch oven. Add potatoes, cover with lid with coals on top. Cook until potatoes are done, stirring occasionally. Mix eggs together in a bowl and pour on top of potatoes. Replace lid with coals on top and cook until eggs are done (shouldn't need a long time if the lid is hot). When eggs are done, sprinkle cheese on top, replace lid and bake until cheese is melted. Serve as is, or wrap spoonfuls in warmed flour tortillas to make breakfast burritos (provide salsa).

Easy Dutch Oven Taco Pie

1 ½ lbs. Ground beef

1 medium jar of taco sauce

6 large corn tortillas

8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz can of tomato sauce

Brown the ground beef and drain it. Mix the taco sauce and tomato sauce. Line the Dutch oven with tin foil and put 3 tortillas in the bottom. Put ½ of the ground beef on the tortillas and cover with ½ of the sauce. Put 3 more tortilla shells on top, and put the remaining ground beef and sauce on top of those tortillas. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Cover the Dutch oven, place a few coals on top, and bake until the cheese is melted. You could also add onions, olives, mushrooms for some variety.

Easy Dutch Oven Au Gratin Potatoes

8-10 potatoes, sliced thin

2-3 Tbsp. Melted butter or margarine

2-3 medium onions, sliced thin

15 oz can of cheese soup

¼ cup milk

½ cup cracker or bread crumbs

1 cup shredded cheese

Put a little oil in the bottom of the Dutch oven. Put a layer of potatoes in the bottom and brush with the melted butter. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add a layer of sliced onions. Continue the layering with potatoes and onions as described until all have been used. Mix the soup with the milk and pour over the top. Sprinkle the top with the bread or cracker crumbs. Add any additional desired seasonings. Put Dutch oven over 6-8 briquets and 16-18 briquets on top. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove and sprinkle the top with the shredded cheese. Replace lid and let the cheese melt-shouldn't take long.

Easy Dutch Oven Cowboy Stew

4 potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

1 can of corn

1 can of peas

1 can of stewed tomatoes

1 can of green beans

1 can of baked beans

1 can of tomato soup

Bay leaf

Brown ground beef and onions. Add all other ingredients (don't drain the cans). Add bay leaf and any other desired seasonings, such as salt and pepper. Cook until the potatoes are done.

Easy Dutch Oven Cinnamon Bread

4 cans of refrigerated tube biscuits

1 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup of sugar

4 tsp cinnamon

Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Mix the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a zip-lock bag. Put the biscuit quarters in the bag and shake until they are all well-coated. Place the biscuit pieces in the bottom of the Dutch oven. Melt the butter and then pour over the biscuit quarters (you can do this with another pan, or you can use the inverted lid of the Dutch oven to melt the butter). Put 6-8 coals underneath Dutch oven and 14-15 on top. Bake for 30 minutes.

Each of these is a quick and easy Dutch oven recipe and will help you get started with Dutch oven cooking. Have fun!

Easy Dutch Oven Recipes - Getting Started Cooking With Your Dutch Oven

Scott Carey enjoys all types of outdoor cooking, including Dutch oven cooking. See http://www.outdoorcookingmagic.com for more Dutch oven cooking tips.

Old-Fashioned Biscuit Recipes Like Grandma Used to Make

Do you remember those big, fluffy, delicious biscuits that you enjoyed eating at grandma's house? I sure do. I remember the big old wood cookstove in my grandma's kitchen and the delicious biscuits that were always sitting in the "warmer" area. No matter the time of day, there were always biscuits at the ready in grandma's kitchen! I grew up in the midwest where we had some mighty cold winters. One of the best things to do was to sit in grandma's kitchen where the heat from the big old cookstove made it the warmest room in the house. So if you are like me and have wonderful memories of sitting in grandma's kitchen eating a homemade biscuit slathered with hand-churned butter and homemade jam, you might want to try one of these old-fashioned biscuit recipes.

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

Biscuit

5 cups flour

3/4 cup shortening or lard

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp sugar

1 pkg yeast

1/3 cup warm water

2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sift dry ingredients together into large bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture. Add buttermilk and yeast that's been dissolved in the warm water. Mix with a spoon until all the flour is moistened. Cover and set in refrigerator till ready to use. Take out as much dough as needed. Roll out on a floured board to 1/2" to 3/4" thick. Cut using a biscuit cutter or small glass. Bake 12 minutes until browned. Keep unused dough in refrigerator for use the next day.

BAKING POWDER BISCUITS

2 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

2 tsp sugar

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sift all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Using two knives, cut in shortening until crumbly. Add milk and mix in well. Roll out on a lightly floured surface and cut with a biscuit cutter. Bake at 400 degrees for fifteen to twenty minutes.

Enjoy!

Old-Fashioned Biscuit Recipes Like Grandma Used to Make

Linda collects vintage recipes and enjoys sharing them with others. You can visit her vintage recipe blog at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information visit her website at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com

Easy Dutch Oven Recipes - Getting Started Cooking With Your Dutch Oven

Dutch Oven cooking is fun and easy. Dutch oven recipes are abundant and adapting them from your favorite home recipes is easy. With a little experience you'll find that it is fairly simple to cook with your Dutch oven. Here are some easy Dutch oven recipes to try:

Easy Dutch Oven Mountain Man Hash

Biscuit

1 lb. Bacon or sausage

2 lbs frozen potatoes (shredded or southern style)

1 dozen eggs

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Cut bacon/sausage into smaller pieces (about 1"). Cook the bacon or sausage in the Dutch oven. Add potatoes, cover with lid with coals on top. Cook until potatoes are done, stirring occasionally. Mix eggs together in a bowl and pour on top of potatoes. Replace lid with coals on top and cook until eggs are done (shouldn't need a long time if the lid is hot). When eggs are done, sprinkle cheese on top, replace lid and bake until cheese is melted. Serve as is, or wrap spoonfuls in warmed flour tortillas to make breakfast burritos (provide salsa).

Easy Dutch Oven Taco Pie

1 ½ lbs. Ground beef

1 medium jar of taco sauce

6 large corn tortillas

8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz can of tomato sauce

Brown the ground beef and drain it. Mix the taco sauce and tomato sauce. Line the Dutch oven with tin foil and put 3 tortillas in the bottom. Put ½ of the ground beef on the tortillas and cover with ½ of the sauce. Put 3 more tortilla shells on top, and put the remaining ground beef and sauce on top of those tortillas. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Cover the Dutch oven, place a few coals on top, and bake until the cheese is melted. You could also add onions, olives, mushrooms for some variety.

Easy Dutch Oven Au Gratin Potatoes

8-10 potatoes, sliced thin

2-3 Tbsp. Melted butter or margarine

2-3 medium onions, sliced thin

15 oz can of cheese soup

¼ cup milk

½ cup cracker or bread crumbs

1 cup shredded cheese

Put a little oil in the bottom of the Dutch oven. Put a layer of potatoes in the bottom and brush with the melted butter. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add a layer of sliced onions. Continue the layering with potatoes and onions as described until all have been used. Mix the soup with the milk and pour over the top. Sprinkle the top with the bread or cracker crumbs. Add any additional desired seasonings. Put Dutch oven over 6-8 briquets and 16-18 briquets on top. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove and sprinkle the top with the shredded cheese. Replace lid and let the cheese melt-shouldn't take long.

Easy Dutch Oven Cowboy Stew

4 potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

1 can of corn

1 can of peas

1 can of stewed tomatoes

1 can of green beans

1 can of baked beans

1 can of tomato soup

Bay leaf

Brown ground beef and onions. Add all other ingredients (don't drain the cans). Add bay leaf and any other desired seasonings, such as salt and pepper. Cook until the potatoes are done.

Easy Dutch Oven Cinnamon Bread

4 cans of refrigerated tube biscuits

1 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup of sugar

4 tsp cinnamon

Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Mix the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a zip-lock bag. Put the biscuit quarters in the bag and shake until they are all well-coated. Place the biscuit pieces in the bottom of the Dutch oven. Melt the butter and then pour over the biscuit quarters (you can do this with another pan, or you can use the inverted lid of the Dutch oven to melt the butter). Put 6-8 coals underneath Dutch oven and 14-15 on top. Bake for 30 minutes.

Each of these is a quick and easy Dutch oven recipe and will help you get started with Dutch oven cooking. Have fun!

Easy Dutch Oven Recipes - Getting Started Cooking With Your Dutch Oven

Scott Carey enjoys all types of outdoor cooking, including Dutch oven cooking. See http://www.outdoorcookingmagic.com for more Dutch oven cooking tips.

Blue Ribbon State Fair Recipes - Some Award Winning Recipes

Blue ribbon recipes is the very best of recipes from state fairs around the country. From cakes, cookies, breads to jelly's and main dishes.

Here are some great blue ribbon recipes to prepare at home:

Biscuit

1. Thyme For Biscuits

Ingredients:

- 2 1/4 c Red Band all purpose flour
- 1 T sugar
- 3 t baking powder
- 3/8 t garlic salt
- 1/2 t basil, crushed
- 1 t thyme, crushed
- 1/2 c butter
- 1/3 c Parmesan cheese, Shredded
- 4 T dried tomatoes, drained and
- snipped
- 1/4 c sour cream
- 1/2 c milk

Directions:

- Pour 3/4 cup boiling water over 10 pieces of dried tomatoes.
- Let sit for minutes to dehydrate.
- Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic salt, basil and thyme.
- Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in cheese and tomatoes.
- Make a well in the center of the dry mixture.
- Add sour cream and milk all at once. Stir just until moistened.
- Turn dough out onto lightly floured board.
- Flour top and knead 2 or 3 times. Lightly roll out ¾ inch thick. Cut with biscuit cutter.
- Place on ungreased baking dish.
- Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown.

2. 1776 Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

- 1 c water, Warm
- 2 T yeast, or 2 packages
- 1/2 c sugar
- 1/8 t mace
- 1 c scalded milk
- 1 c lard, Melted
- 1 T salt
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 7 c flour, about
- Butter, softened
- Cinnamon & sugar, mixed together blueberries & cherries decorations

Powered Sugar Icing
- 1 t vanilla
- lb powdered sugar
- 5 T hot milk
- 1/2 t lemon flavoring
- 2 T white shortening (Crisco)

Directions:

Put the yeast in the water & set aside.

- Put sugar, mace, milk, melted lard, salt & eggs in a large mixing bowl.
- Add yeast mixture and about 7 cups of flour.
- Mix all ingredients together & work to a smooth dough.
- Let rise until double.
- Roll out on board 1/2" inch thick, spread with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar.
- Cut in strips one inch wide. Twist them as you place in a round 8" greased pan. Let rise about 40 minutes.
- Bake 18-20 minutes at 375 degrees or until golden brown.
- Ice with Powdered Sugar icing.
- Decorate with red cherries & blueberries and to with a flag in the center.

Powered Sugar Icing:

Combine all ingredients, beat one minute, add more milk if needed to make it spread easily.

3. 1986 Winner Praline Cookies

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cup brown sugar, Packed
- 1 egg
- 1 /2 c
- 1 t vanilla
- 1cup pecans, Chopped

Directions:

Preparation time: 25 minutes Baking time: 10 to 12 minutes

- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream butter, sugar and egg. Stir in flour, vanilla and pecans.
- Mix well by hand. Shape into balls about the size of walnuts, place on cookie sheets and flatten to about 1/8 inch.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until brown.
- Remove from oven and allow it to cool completely and harden.

Yield: 36 servings

Blue Ribbon State Fair Recipes - Some Award Winning Recipes

You welcome to visit our website: The Delicious Recipes Package [http://those-recipes.information-guide.org/The_Recipes_Package.html] and Cheap Meal Ideas Recipes [http://those-recipes.information-guide.org/The_Recipes_Package.html] for more delicious recipes.

Italian Biscotti Recipes

There are an endless variety of Italian biscotti recipes. The following are a couple variations that are both easy and delicious and are sure to make nearby mouths water!

Simple Biscotti Recipe

Biscuit

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon anise or almond extract

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Prepare your cookie sheets by greasing them or line them with parchment paper. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the oil, eggs, sugar and anise flavoring and beat until well blended. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients and then stir these into the egg mixture to form a heavy ball of dough. Divide the dough into two pieces.

Form each piece into a roll (a long tube) as long as your cookie sheet. Place the roll onto the prepared cookie sheet and apply a little bit a pressure until it is about 1/2 an inch thick.

Pop these in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. When the color seems right, remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When the biscotti are cool enough to handle, slice 'em up! Using a long-bladed knife, slice the cookies into 1/2 inch slices.

Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Remove from heat, and voila! A perfect cookie for a snack or for entertaining!

Another one of those oh-so-tasty Italian biscotti recipes that you simply must try are of the chocolate variety. Read on and you won't be disappointed!

Chocolate Biscotti Recipe

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Prepare your cookie sheets by greasing them or line them with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add in the cocoa and baking powder. Add the eggs one at a time. Sift the flour in next, work until you have a ball of dough. Finally mix in the chocolate chips. Divide the ball into two pieces.

Form each piece into a roll (a long tube) as long as your cookie sheet. Place the roll onto the prepared cookie sheet and apply a little bit a pressure until it is about 1/2 an inch thick.

Pop these in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. When the color seems right, remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When the biscotti are cool enough to handle, slice 'em up! Using a long-bladed knife, slice the cookies into 1/2 inch slices.

Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Remove from heat, and now you've got a chocolate-y and delicious alternative to the traditional biscotti, which are sure to be a big a hit!

One last note: to really kick up the yum-factor on either of these Italian biscotti recipes, try dipping one side of each cookie in melted milk or dark chocolate, and then heck - dip 'em again in some chopped up almonds or hazelnuts. Now doesn't that just sound like a tiny piece of heaven?

Italian Biscotti Recipes

http://www.tasty-italian-cooking.com

Finger Jello Recipes

Kids, especially preschoolers, love Finger Jello! They love it
even more when they get to help make it. Let your preschooler
cut the Jello into shapes with cookie cutters when the Jello is
set. Make green and red for Christmas, orange for
Halloween. Making finger jello can be a fun family activity!

Finger Jello Recipe #1

Cookie

3 3-oz. pkg. Jello

4 pkg. Knox unflavored gelatin

4 c. boiling water

Mix all ingredients together until dissolved. Pour into
13x9x2-in. baking dish and refrigerate. Cut into squares or use
cookie cutters to create shapes.

Finger Jello Recipe #2

3 3-oz. pkg. Jello

1 c. whipping cream

2 1/2 c. boiling water

Mix Jello and boiling water together until dissolved. Add
whipping cream and continue stirring. Pour into 8x8-in. pan and
chill well.

Finger Jello Recipe #3

1 c. sweetened condensed milk

1 3-oz. pkg. purple Jello

1 3-oz. pkg. orange Jello

1 3-oz. pkg. yellow Jello

1 3-oz. pkg. green Jello

1 3-oz. pkg. red Jello

7 pkg. Knox unflavored gelatin

To prepare filling, dissolve 2 envelopes of Knox gelatin in 1/2
cup cold water. Add 1 cup boiling water to sweetened condensed
milk. Add dissolved gelatin to milk and stir in 1 additional cup
of boiling water. Set aside.

To create layers, prepare one box of Jello at a time. Mix 1
envelope Knox gelatin with 1/4 cup cold water. Add 1 cup boiling
water and 1 box Jello. Pour Jello into greased 13x9x2-inch baking
pan. Refrigerate 15-20 minutes until set.

Pour 3/4 cup filling over set Jello. Chill 15-20 minutes.
Continue layering Jello and filling, ending with Jello on top.
Chill each layer 15-20 minutes before adding next layer.

Finger Jello Recipes

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For more inspirational articles and tips for everyday living, visit http://www.christian-parent.com.

Copycat Recipes - Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Often times, I'll eat in a restaurant and I'll enjoy a certain dish so much I'll want to duplicate the recipe at home. While often times my recipes will come out good, they are never quite as good as the restaurant version.

For those who like meatloaf, many have said the meatloaf served at Cracker Barrel is one of the best meatloaves ever. Those who have worked at Cracker Barrel say that the secret is in the bread crumbs. At the restaurant, they use their buttermilk biscuits in place of breadcrumbs. This will absolutely make a difference in the taste of the meatloaf.

Biscuit

What you might consider doing is making a batch of buttermilk biscuits and then using those in your meatloaf. It will help authenticate the taste of the restaurant recipe.

This recipe is enough for three loaves. It is perfect for small parties or even family potluck dinners.

10 pounds ground beef
30 ounces onion, chopped into 1/4-inch squares
1 pound diced green bell peppers
10 eggs
5 tablespoons salt
1 1/2 tablespoons pepper
1 1/2 quarts diced canned tomatoes
2 1/4 cups buttermilk biscuit crumbs or breadcrumbs.

This is one of those throw it all in a bowl and mix it up recipes. The restaurant uses a convection oven. Most home do not have a convection oven. I suggest cooking at about 350 degrees for about sixty minutes. After removing from the oven, invert each loaf to a cooling rack and spread a half cup of ketchup over each loaf. Cut and serve.

I did go to several sites to see if I could find a recipe for the biscuits. I found a few sites where people claiming to be Cracker Barrel employees listed the recipe. They all had the exact same recipe:

2 cups White Lily self-rising flour
1/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup buttermilk

It's just the three ingredients. Blend the flour and shortening together. Then add in the buttermilk. Mix for one minute, roll out and cut. Bake for eight minutes at 450 degrees. Once you take them out of the oven, brush with melted butter.

I have personally not used White Lily flour, so I wanted to find a recipe using products I've used before and I found what is being called a copycat recipe of the Cracker Barrel buttermilk biscuits:

2 ½ cups Bisquick
2 /3 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter

Mix the Bisquick, buttermilk and sugar together. Add the butter and mix until dough forms. Dust a board with flour and knead twenty times. Roll about ½ inch thick and cut into biscuits. Bake eight to ten minutes at 450 degrees. What was interesting was this recipe was very clear to not brush melted butter onto the biscuits after cooking.

Either way, the key seems to be in using crumbled buttermilk biscuits instead of bread crumbs when making the copy cat meatloaf recipe.

Copycat Recipes - Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Audrey's mom always entertained when she was growing up. Audrey learned to prepare for large groups and has often entertained 15-30 people in her home at a time. You can find more great recipes at http://www.recipe-barn.com

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes - One Recipe with Many Variations

There are so many Christmas cookie recipes around but often so little time to bake during the busy holiday season.

The solution? A great tasting basic cookie recipe that quickly and easily turns into such a variety of easy to make Christmas treats, friends and family will think you poured over all your favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

Cookie

Let's start with the basics.

Basic Cookie Dough Recipe

1/2 cup (or 1 stick) butter (or margarine) at room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the flour. Beat with an electric mixer, scraping the sides of the bowl several times, until the mixture is light and fluffy. With mixer at a low speed, add the flour gradually, beating just until everything is well blended.

Place the mixture on a baking sheet using a tablespoon measure and press down with a spoon to flatten a bit. Or roll our and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake at 350ºF for about 12 to 15 minutes, until golden.

This basic cookie mixture is also the base for the following cookie recipes (all baked in a preheated oven at 350ºF).

Orange Cookies

(Makes about 32)

Add 1 tablespoon of grated orange zest to the recipe. Shape into a log that is about 1 1/2" in diameter and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Slice dough into 1/4" thick slices. Place on cookie sheet. Cookies can be decorated with candies, rolled in colored sugar, or cut into pretty holiday shapes before baking. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned.

Cherry Coconut Chocolate Squares

(Makes about 54 squares)

In addition to the basic dough you will need:

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 large eggs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups flaked coconut

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, well drained and coarsely chopped

Line a 13"x9" baking pan with foil.

Stir cocoa powder into basic dough mixture. Press evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crust looks dry.

In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, almond extract and baking powder until well blended. Stir in coconut and cherries. Pour over the baked crust.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until top just begins to brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Lift it out on to a cutting board using the foil ends and cut into 1 1/2" squares. Squares can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Coconut Pineapple Cookies

(Makes about 36)

In addition to the basic dough you will need:

1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

1/3 cup pineapple preserves (use raspberry or apricot if you prefer)

Add 1 cup of the flaked coconut to the basic dough mixture and mix well. Shape the dough into 1 1/2" balls and roll in the remaining coconut to coat them. Place the balls 1" apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Make a deep indentation in the center of each cookie with your fingertip.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookie is firm and the coconut is lightly toasted. When cooled, fill each hole in the center of the cookies with the preserves.

You can vary this basic dough to make a wide variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon. Add chopped dried fruits like apricots or dates. Or bake them plain in holiday shapes and decorate with colored icing.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. Here's hoping these quick and easy Christmas cookie recipes help keep the pressure off the cook.

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes - One Recipe with Many Variations

Karen Ciancio is a cook and lover of all things food and cooking related. Her website http://www.cookingnook.com contains easy dessert recipes, plus lots of other recipes, cooking tips, measurement conversions and kitchen ideas.

Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes - Cherry Snowball Cookies

These pretty cookies have a surprise cherry in the middle.

1 cup butter, softened

Cookie

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 teaspoon salt

36 maraschino cherries, well drained

Glaze Coating

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, cream the butter, sugar, water and vanilla.

In another bowl, combine the flour, oats and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Shape a tablespoonful of dough around each cherry to form a ball. Place 2-inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until bottoms are browned. Let cool.

Glaze Coating

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 to 1/3 cup milk

2 cups flaked coconut, finely chopped

Directions

In a bowl, combine sugar and enough milk to make a smooth dipping consistency. Dip cookies into glaze, then roll into coconut.

Makes 36 cookies.

=> Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes: Spumoni Cookies

The favorite Italian ice cream treat becomes a delicious cookie.

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 squares semisweet chocolate, melted

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

3 to 5 drops green food coloring

1/4 cup candied red cherries, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

3 to 5 drops red food coloring

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add in the flour and mix well.

Divide the dough into three sections.

Stir chocolate into one section; mix well.

Add pecans and green food coloring to the second portion

Add cherries, almond extract and red food coloring to the third section.

Roll each section between two pieces of waxed paper into 8x6-inch rectangles. Remove the waxed paper.

Place the chocolate rectangle on a piece of plastic wrap. Top with the green and pink rectangles; press together lightly. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill overnight.

Cut the chilled dough in half lengthwise. Return one half to the refrigerator.

Cut the remaining rectangle into 1/8-inch slices. Place 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until set. Cool. Repeat with remaining dough.

Makes 84 cookies.

=> Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes: Chocolate Dipped Spritz Cookies

These classy cookies are dipped in chocolate and decorated with nuts and sprinkles.

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

11 ounces dark, white or milk chocolate candy coating

Chopped walnuts and/or colored sprinkles

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla.

In another bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder; gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Using a cookie press fitted with your choice of disk, press the dough 2-inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, or until set (do not allow cookies to brown). Let cool.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt the candy coating; dip each cookie halfway into coating. Sprinkle with nuts or colored sprinkles. Place on waxed paper until set.

Makes 72 cookies.

Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes - Cherry Snowball Cookies

Clueless about what gift to give that special person? Stop on by and browse our great gift ideas selection for some suggestions. [http://www.1MinuteSolutions.com]

Delicious and Hearty Chicken Stew Recipes For Your Slow Cooker or Crockpot

Stews make great meals since they combine several food groups, are healthy, hearty and tasty. Making them in your slow cooker or crockpot makes is so nice to come home to a great meal ready to eat. Try these recipes for Chicken Stew with Dumplings or Chinese Chicken Stew.

CHICKEN STEW WITH DUMPLINGS
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup chopped onion
1 large green bell pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 cup sliced celery
2 cans (approx 14-oz each) chicken broth
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large red potatoes, skin on and cut into bite-size cubes
1 pkg (6-oz) fresh mushrooms, halved
3/4 cup frozen peas
1 tsp dried basil
3/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp dried tarragon
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream (or 1/4 cup fat-free evaporated milk)

Biscuit

Combine the carrots, onion, bell pepper, and celery in a slow cooker or crockpot. Stir in the chicken broth, saving 1 cup for later. Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for 2 hours.

Stir the flour into the 1 cup of saved chicken broth until smooth. Slowly stir the mixture into the mixture in the cooker. Add the chicken, potatoes, mushrooms, peas, and seasonings to the cooker; cover and cook an additional 4 hours until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies are tender. Stir in the cream.

DUMPLINGS:
1 cup biscuit mix
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/8 tsp dried tarragon
1/3 cup low-fat milk

In a small bowl combine the biscuit mix and herbs. Stir in the milk to form a soft dough. Spoon the dough on top of the stew in four large spoonfuls. Cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes then cover and cook for another 30 to 45 minutes. The dumplings should be firm and a wooden toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.

Yield: 4 servings.

CHINESE CHICKEN STEW
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp peanut or canola oil
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
1 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (14-oz) chicken broth, divided
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 large red bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 large or 3 medium green onions, cut into half-inch pieces
3 cups hot cooked rice, optional
1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro, optional

In a bowl, toss the cut-up chicken pieces with the Chinese spice. Stir in the red pepper flakes.

In a large skillet, heat the peanut or canola oil and add the onion and chicken; cook, stirring, about 5 minutes or until the chicken is browned. Add the mushrooms and garlic, cooking until the chicken is cooked through.

Combine 1/4 cup chicken broth and cornstarch in a small bowl; set aside. Place the cooked chicken mixture into a slow cooker or crockpot. Add the remaining broth, bell pepper, and soy sauce; stir to blend. Place lid on the cooker and cook for 3 1/2 hours or until the bell pepper is tender.

Stir in the cornstarch mixture, sesame oil, and the green onions. Cook another 30 to 45 minutes until the juices have thickened.

To serve, ladle into soup bowls and scoop a half cup rice, if using,into center of each bowl. Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro, if desired.

Yield: 6 servings.

Enjoy!

Delicious and Hearty Chicken Stew Recipes For Your Slow Cooker or Crockpot

For more of Linda's slow cooker/crockpot recipes visit http://grandmasslowcookerrecipes.blogspot.com She also shares her old fashion recipes at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com

Maltese Recipes and Cuisine

Today, the Maltese people enjoy a varied Mediterranean cuisine, particularly influenced by Italian cuisine. Malta however has many historic links with other countries, and many other influences can be seen in Maltese cuisine, for example, Moorish influences.

Some popular Maltese dishes include:

Biscuit

- Aljotta - A fish soup containing garlic, herbs and tomatoes that is often served with rice.

- Brodu - A broth containing meat (beef or chicken usually) and vegetables, and served with pasta.

- Kusksu - A thick soup made from chicken stock, and containing broad beans, pasta beads (known as "kusksu"), onions, tomato paste and garlic.

- Minestra - A thick vegetable soup, particularly popular in Winter, and usually eaten with crusty Maltese bread known as "hobza".

- Soppa ta' l-armla - Literally translated, "soppa ta' l-armla" means "widow's soup", the dish supposedly having gots its name because neighbors donated it poor widows living in their communities. Soppa ta' l-armla is a thinner version of minestra (vegetable soup), but with the addition of fresh gbejniet (small, round cheeses, made from sheep's milk) which melt in the soup, and raw eggs added at the end to coagulate the soup.

- Bigilla - A traditional bean dip made from mashed dried broad beans with seasonings and optionally chili.

- Kapunata - The Maltese version of ratatouille. Served hot or cold, and even used as a pizza topping.

- Mqarrun il-Forn - Baked macaroni with bolognese sauce and egg. Bacon and peas are added in some versions of the recipe, and the dish is usually topped with a layer of grated cheese or bescamella (white sauce).

- Timpana - A pastry covered version of Mqarrun il-Forn (baked macaroni). A small amount of ground (minced) beef, and sometimes hard-boiled eggs, are added, then then the whole thing is encased in a pastry crust.

- Ross il-Forn - Baked rice. This dish is similar to Mqarrun il-Forn, but with rice instead of macaroni (water is added before cooking), and the addition of curry.

- Ravjul - The Maltese version of ravioli, filled with ricotta and parsley (and sometimes spinach), or with minced meat. The dish is covered with a tomato sauce and topped with cheese.

- Bragjoli - A thin slice of beef surrounding a mixture of breadcrumbs, bacon, eggs and cheese.

- Fenkata - Rabbit served in tomato sauce or gravy. The meat is usually light fried and then simmered as a casserole for several hours.

- Laham taz-ziemel - Stallion meat with white wine sauce.

- Lampuka - Mahi-mahi, a white fish. It can be eaten pan-fried with olive oil, oven-baked with a tomato and wine sauce, or made into fish pies.

- Qargha Baghli - Stuffed marrows with ground (minced) beef and parsley. They can be baked or made into a creamy soup.

- Zalzett tal-Malti - A traditional Maltese sausage made from pork and flavored with black peppercorns, coriander seeds, parsley, sea salt, and sometimes garlic. There are varieties which are dried and others that are eaten fresh.

- Imqaret - A deep-fried pastry filled with dates.

- Pastizzi - Pastry stuffed with ricotta or a mushy pea mixture.

- Figolla - An icing-coated biscuit stuffed with sweet ground almonds. It is traditionally eaten at Easter, and made into shapes such as a fish, a lamb, a heart, etc.

- Helwa tat-Tork - "Turk's sweet" - The Maltese version of Halva.

- Kwarezimal - Biscuits, traditionally eaten during Lent.

- Pudina ta' l-Hobz - Bread pudding. Pudina ta' l-Hobz is made from stale bread, soaked in water over night, and milk, cocoa, sugar, dried fruit, nuts, and sometimes liqueurs, are then added.

- Qaghaq ta' l-Ghasel - A light pastry ring made with honey or treacle. Originally eaten at Christmas, but now popular all year round.

Maltese Recipes and Cuisine

Originally published at http://www.recipesmaniac.com/cook_maltese.php - visit this site for more information, photographs and cook books.

Discover more about recipes and cooking at http://www.recipesmaniac.com/

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipes: From Delicious Drop Cookies To Fun, Tasty Cut-Outs

If you're in the mood for something sweet, there are a lot of easy sugar cookie recipes to choose from. But sugar cookies come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. They can be as simple as drop cookies, a spoonful of dough dropped onto a cookie sheet, or as elaborate as carefully cut-out cookies decorated with pretty, colorful icing.

So which one of those easy sugar cookie recipes should you pick? Which one will give you the best results for the type of sugar cookie you're trying to make?

Cookie

The truth is, most easy sugar cookie recipes use the same basic list of ingredients, with maybe an added spice here or there. What it really comes down to are the quantities of each ingredients, and how you treat the dough.

Each ingredient in a sugar cookie has a specific role, and tweaking its quantity will give you a slightly different cookie. So what goes in a sugar cookie?

• Flour. Flour gives the cookie its structure. When you mix flour in liquids, it forms tough strands of gluten. The more you mix it, and the more flour you add, the tougher a cookie you get.
• Butter. Butter doesn't just add flavor. It also helps the cookie stay more tender by preventing too much gluten from forming. It also lets the cookie spread out more.
• Sugar. Sugar helps the cookies be more fluffy by trapping air inside the butter when you cream it. Also, if you don't cream it enough, the undissolved sugar will make the cookie spread out more.
• Eggs. The yolks help make a more tender cookie, and the whites help give it structure. They also add some moisture.
• Baking powder. Baking powder helps the cookie rise.
• Baking soda. Baking soda makes the cookies brown faster, and makes the cookie more tender.
• Vanilla. Vanilla is just there for flavor, but it really does make all the difference.
• Salt. Like vanilla, the salt is just there for flavor, although it can toughen the cookie, too.

But it's not just the ingredients that matter in easy sugar cookie recipes. How you handle the dough will affect what kind of cookie you get.

• The longer you cream the butter and sugar, the fluffier a cookie you'll get. It also won't spread as much, perfect to help cut out cookies keep their shape.
• The longer you mix the flour with the wet ingredients, the tougher a cookie you'll get. If you're looking for something fluffy, avoid over-mixing.
• If you want to roll out the dough, you'll need to refrigerate it until it's firm enough to work with.
• You can also refrigerate the raw cookies once they're shaped. It helps them keep their shape in the oven.

When you're baking, it's always a good idea to start with a recipe. But once you have a decent recipe, you can tweak it to suit your tastes and purposes, and make your own easy sugar cookie recipes.

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipes: From Delicious Drop Cookies To Fun, Tasty Cut-Outs

Cooking is Melanie Steele's passion. She created www.enjoy-how-to-cook.com to inspire that love of cooking in others. Visit her site to discover her delicious cookie recipes.

Easy Cookie Recipes With Few Ingredients

Cookie hunger can strike at any time. This is an easy cookie recipe that requires few ingredients - three ingredients, to be precise. Its simplicity and the fact that it only takes a few minutes to cook means that you never again have to be short of cookies for more than a few minutes.

Many cookie recipes require odd ingredients - or, at least, ones that you won't necessarily have in the house. This one has only three: egg, peanut butter and sugar. You don't even need flour, which means that it's perfect for coeliacs and those with gluten intolerance. This is truly the easiest cookie recipe out there. If you're pushed for time, or entertaining at short notice and need to impress without going out to the shops first, this is one to go for.

Cookie

All you need to do is mix one cup of peanut butter and one cup of sugar together with one egg. Then spoon lumps of the mixture onto a baking sheet that has been lightly greased. Cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees (make sure you preheat the oven).

Voila: easy cookies with only three ingredients.

You can mix it up a bit if you want. These are pretty sugary and sweet, and so you can try cutting down on the sugar. Instead, try grating some chocolate into the mixture - peanut butter and chocolate is always a winning combination. White sugar will give you a different taste to brown sugar. Also, you'll find it makes a difference if you use unsalted butter. Enjoy!

Easy Cookie Recipes With Few Ingredients

Easy cookie recipes with few ingredients offers more simple and fast recipes.

See this page for a gluten-free peanut cookie recipe.