Thursday, December 31, 2009

Brie En Croute

ingredients
1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1 egg
1 tbsp. water
1/4 cup toasted sliced almond (optional)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 (about 1 pound) Brie cheese round
1 box (13 ounces) Pepperidge Farm® Entertaining Quartet Distinctive Crackers


directions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork or whisk.

Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 14-inch square. Cut off the corners to make a circle. Sprinkle the almonds and parsley in the center of the circle. Top with the cheese. Brush the edge of the circle with the egg mixture. Fold the pastry up over the cheese to cover. Trim the excess pastry and press to seal. Brush the seam with the egg mixture. Place seam-side down onto the baking sheet. Decorate the top with pastry scraps, if desired. Brush with the egg mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Let stand for 45 minutes. Serve with the crackers.

Bacon Cheddar Pinwheels

INGREDIENTS
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet
2 tablespoons ranch dressing
1/4 cup cooked real bacon pieces or 4 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
1/2 cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)
1/4 cup chopped green onions (4 medium)

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut lengthwise into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4-inch rectangle.
3. Spread dressing over each rectangle to edges. Sprinkle each with bacon, Cheddar cheese and onions.
4. Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 slices; place cut side down on ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Dinner in a Dish

I am FINALLY getting back into cooking dinner every night and have come across some easy and delicious recipes!

I found this recipe, Dinner in a Dish, from a Taste of Home magazine. I cut the recipe in half and we still have leftovers...which tasted amazing the next day!

Here is a picture of my finished product!













SERVINGS 12
CATEGORY
Main Dish
METHOD Baked
PREP 15 min.
COOK 35 min.
TOTAL 50 min.

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
3 cups frozen peas
2/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
6 cups hot mashed potatoes (prepared with milk and butter)
2 eggs

DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, cook the beef and onion over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the next nine ingredients. Bring to a boil; cook an stir for 2 minutes.
Pour into an ungreased shallow 3-qt. baking dish. Combine potatoes and eggs. Drop by 1/2 cupfuls onto beef mixture.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly and potatoes are lightly browned. Yield: 12 servings.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Biscuit-Topped Chicken Potpie

Yield
6 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups chopped leek
1/4 cup chopped shallot
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 cups refrigerated diced potatoes with onions (such as Simply Potatoes)
1/3 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 cups chopped roasted chicken breast
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
2/3 cup half-and-half
Cooking spray
1 1/4 cups low-fat baking mix (such as Bisquick Heart Smart)
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°.

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add leek, shallot, and thyme; sauté 2 minutes. Add potatoes; sauté 2 minutes. Add wine; cook 1 minute or until liquid evaporates. Stir in mustard and broth; bring to a boil. Cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in chicken, mixed vegetables, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute. Combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add cornstarch mixture and half-and-half to pan. Reduce heat, and simmer 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Spoon mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

Lightly spoon baking mix into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine baking mix, milk, and egg in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Spoon batter over chicken mixture; spread evenly to cover. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes or until topping is golden and filling is bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes.


Nutritional Information
Calories:348 (24% from fat)
Fat:9.2g (sat 4.1g,mono 2.2g,poly 0.9g)
Protein:23.5g
Carbohydrate:43.3g
Fiber:4.4g
Cholesterol:55mg
Iron:3.1mg
Sodium:634mg
Calcium:131mg
David Bonom, Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2006

German Apple Pancake

Yield
6 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

Ingredients
Batter:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg
1 cup egg substitute
1 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Apple mixture:
Cooking spray
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg
1 cup thinly sliced Granny Smith apple

Remaining ingredient:
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Preparation

1. To prepare batter, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, salt, and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine egg substitute, milk, butter, and vanilla in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add egg substitute mixture to flour mixture, stirring with a whisk. Let stand 30 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 425°.

3. To prepare apple mixture, coat bottom and sides of a 10-inch ovenproof skillet with cooking spray. Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; sprinkle evenly over bottom and sides of pan. Arrange apple in an even spokelike layer in pan. Sprinkle apple with remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until mixture bubbles. Slowly pour batter over apple mixture.

4. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375° (do not remove pancake from oven); bake an additional 13 minutes or until center is set. Carefully loosen pancake with a spatula. Gently slide pancake onto a serving platter. Sift powdered sugar over top. Cut into 6 wedges; serve immediately.


Nutritional Information
Calories:173 (28% from fat)
Fat:5.4g (sat 2.8g,mono 1.4g,poly 0.9g)
Protein:7.7g
Carbohydrate:23.2g
Fiber:0.9g
Cholesterol:11mg
Iron:1.5mg
Sodium:213mg
Calcium:101mg
Abby Mandel, Cooking Light, AUGUST 2008