5/15/2011

Black Forest Dump Cake II recipe.

Ingredients
1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (16.5 ounce) can pitted dark sweet cherries
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup butter, cut into pieces

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Dump cherry pie filling into dish and spread evenly. Repeat with cherries, including juice. Sprinkle cake mix over the top - DO NOT STIR. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Distribute butter pieces evenly over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.

All-Natural Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup vegetable shortening (such as Crisco�), frozen and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup butter, frozen and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 tablespoons ice-cold water, or more as needed
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 carrots, diced
1 cup chopped celery
3 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
2 cups frozen petite peas
1/2 large onion, diced, divided
1 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons chicken soup base
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

Directions
Preheat an oven to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9-inch square casserole dish.
Sift the 3 cups flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg together into a large mixing bowl. Cut the vegetable shortening and cold butter into the flour mixture with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some chunks the size of peas. Add the ice water a tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork, until the flour mixture is moistened. Work the dough as little as possible; this is the key to a super light and flaky crust. After half the water has been incorporated, watch closely, as mixture will come together suddenly. Once it begins to stick together, gather into a ball, divide into halves, and roll each ball out to 1/4-inch thickness, adding flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Press one of the dough portions into the prepared casserole dish, covering bottom and sides completely.
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts in the hot skillet until evenly browned on both sides; cut into small cubes and set aside in a large mixing bowl. Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium-low. Cook the carrots, celery, potatoes, peas, and about half the diced onion in the drippings from the chicken until the carrots soften; add to the bowl with the chicken.
Increase the heat to medium. Add the water to the skillet and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon; pour into a cup and set aside.
Melt the butter in the skillet. Cook and stir the remaining onion and the garlic in the melted butter until the onions begin to brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons flour over the onion mixture and stir to evenly coat. Pour the reserved liquid over the onion mixture. Stir the chicken base, salt, pepper, sage, and thyme into the mixture. Cook and stir until the mixture has reduced into a thick gravy; pour over the chicken mixture in the mixing bowl. Allow the mixture to cool completely.
Pour the mixture over the crust in the casserole dish. Top with the remaining portion of dough and pinch the edges together to seal the edges. Cut a few slits into the top to vent.
Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is golden brown and the gravy bubbles through the slits, about 1 hour. Allow to cool slightly before serving, 10 to 15 minutes.

Amber's Devils on Horseback recipe.

Ingredients
1 pound bay or sea scallops, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
lemon pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Pat scallops dry with paper towels and place in a lightly greased 1 quart casserole dish.
Bake scallops in preheated oven for 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and garlic. Remove scallops from oven. Spoon lemon/garlic mixture over scallops and sprinkle generously with lemon pepper.
Return scallops to oven and bake until firm, about 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Best London Broil Ever! recipe.

Ingredients
1 (2 pound) top round London broil
1 (28 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
garlic salt to taste

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place the roast in a roasting pan, pour stewed tomatoes over it, and season with garlic salt.
Roast for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until fork tender. Let stand for about 10 minutes at room temperature before carving and serving.

Banana Pudding I recipe.

Ingredients
2/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
1/2 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafer cookies

Directions
In medium saucepan combine sugar, flour and salt. Add eggs and stir well. Stir in milk, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly. When mixture begins to thicken, remove from heat and continue to stir, cooling slightly. Stir in vanilla and butter until smooth.
In 9x13-inch dish, layer pudding with bananas and vanilla wafers. Chill at least one hour in refrigerator before serving.

Amanda's Stuffed Peppers recipe.

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
6 white mushrooms, chopped
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
4 bell peppers, tops cut off and seeded
1 (26 ounce) can spaghetti sauce

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with aluminum foil.
In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, egg, onion and mushrooms. Spoon mixture evenly into the seeded bell peppers. Replace tops. Place stuffed peppers in lined baking dish.
Bake in preheated oven for one hour, or until meat stuffing is cooked through. Remove from oven and discard pepper tops.
Sprinkle tops of peppers with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Return dish to oven until cheese is melted, about two minutes.
In a saucepan, heat spaghetti sauce on stove over medium heat, stirring regularly. When sauce begins to steam, remove from heat and pour over top of peppers.

Brandied Pears recipe.

Ingredients
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 large pears, peeled, halved, and cored
1/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons brandy
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
1 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 teaspoons brandy, sherry, or other liqueur

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Mix 1/3 cup brown sugar with water and lemon juice together in an ungreased baking dish until sugar is dissolved. Arrange pear halves, core side down, in the dish, and baste with the sauce. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake pears in the preheated oven for 20 - 25 minutes, or until fork-tender but not mushy.
Meanwhile, mix nuts together with the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons brandy, and the yogurt; set aside. In a separate bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks form. Sprinkle in white sugar and remaining 2 teaspoons of brandy, or liqueur of choice, and gently whip a few strokes more.
To serve, place one pear half in the center of each serving plate and fill core cavity with nut stuffing. Top with whipped cream. Serve warm.