Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

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Cut low-moisture mozzarella cheese into 3/4 inch cubes. Store in refrigerator while preparing the meat.

In a large mixing bowl combine: 
* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 pound hot Italian sausage
* 1/2 tsp garlic powder
* 2 tsp salt
* 1 tsp black pepper
* 1 cup bread crumbs
* 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup whole milk
* 1/2 cup chopped parsley

Directions:
Roll golf-ball-sized balls with the meat mixture. Squish mozzarella cube into the center and pull the edges of the meatball around it until it’s a new ball again. Arrange meatballs in slow cooker and cover in tomato sauce. Cook on high for 2 to 2½ hours.

Chick fil A: Copycat Chicken Recipe

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Chick-fil-A made chicken sandwiches famous with this recipe!

 

3 cups Peanut oil
1 Egg
1 cup Milk
1 cup Flour
2 1/2 tb Powdered sugar
1/2 ts Pepper
2 tb Salt
2 Skinless, boneless chicken breasts, halved 
4 Plain hamburger buns
2 tb Melted butter
8 Dill pickle slices

Heat the peanut oil in a pressure cooker over med. heat to about 400F. In
a small bowl, beat the egg and stir in the milk. In a separate bowl,
combine the flour, sugar, pepper, and salt. dip each piece of chicken in
milk until it is fully moistened. Roll the moistened chicken in the flour
mixture until completely coated. Drop all four chicken pieces into the hot
oil and close the pressure cooker. When steam starts shooting through the
pressure release, set the timer for 3-1/2 minutes. IMPORTANT!!!! 
DO NOT CLOSE STEAM RELEASE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS! While the chicken is cooking, spread a coating of melted butter on the face of each bun. When
the chicken is done, remove it from the oil and drain or blot on paper
towels. Place two pickles on each bottom bun; add a chicken breast, then
the top bun. To make a deluxe chicken sandwich, simply add two tomato
slices and a leaf of lettuce. Mayonnaise also goes well on this
sandwich--it is a side order at the restaurant.

Caramel Popcorn

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Caramel Corn

  • 12 cups popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup kernels or about two bags of microwave popcorn)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (omit if using salted microwave popcorn)
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Place the popped popcorn into a big bowl, one that is at least twice the volume of the popcorn itself. Do not err on the side of a bowl that is too small, because you are going to do some serious stirring in a bit. Remove any un-popped kernels and set aside.

STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS: Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend.

Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. You’ll get a little show here as the vanilla will “sizzle” while the baking soda gets all foamy and gorgeous. Make sure the mixture is stirred very well, then immediately pour over the popcorn.

Stir well to coat all of the popcorn. Keep stirring. A little more … there, that ought to be about right.

MICROWAVE INSTRUCTIONS: Cut the butter into chunks and place in a microwave-safe bowl along with the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir well to combine. Microwave on high for an additional 2 minutes.

Remove bowl from microwave and stir very well. Return to microwave and heat for 2 more minutes on high. Remove from microwave and stir in vanilla and baking soda. It will make popping sounds and get light and foamy. After stirring, immediately pour over the popcorn in the bowl. Stir well to coat all of the popcorn.

Whichever method you’ve followed, now spread the coated popcorn on one large or two smaller cookie sheets, breaking up any clumps. Bake at 200 F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread out on waxed paper and allow to cool. 

Nana's Homemade Pumpkin Pie

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Ingredients
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
  • 1 piece pre-made pie dough
  • Whipped cream, for topping

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.

(Inspired by Paula Deen recipe)

Nana's Homemade Pecan Pie

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Ingredients
Dough:

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup cold butter (1 stick), diced
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • Flour, for rolling the dough

  • Filling:
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 2 cups chopped toasted pecans
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten



Directions
Make the dough by hand: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-sized bits of butter. (If the flour/butter mixture gets warm, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before proceeding.) Add the egg and stir the dough together with a fork or by hand in the bowl. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon more of cold water over the mixture.

Alternatively, make the dough in a food processor. With the machine fitted with the metal blade, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-sized bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 1 to 2 times; don't let the dough form into a ball in the machine. (If the dough is very dry add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.) Remove the bowl from the machine, remove the blade, and bring the dough together by hand.

Form the dough into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough with a rolling pin into a 12-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie pan and trim the edges, leaving about an extra inch hanging over the edge. Tuck the overhanging dough underneath itself to form a thick edge that is even with the rim. Flute the edge as desired. Freeze the pie shell for 30 minutes.

Set separate racks in the center and lower third of oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Put a piece of parchment paper or foil over the pie shell and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake on a baking sheet on the center rack until the dough is set, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and lift sides of the parchment paper to remove the beans. Continue baking until the pie shell is lightly golden brown, about 10 more minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

While the crust is baking make the filling: In medium saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and stirring constantly, continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts, bourbon, and the vanilla. Set the mixture aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. (If the crust has cooled, return it to the oven for 5 minutes to warm through.) Whisk the beaten eggs into the filling until smooth. Put the pie shell on a sheet pan and pour the filling into the hot crust.

Bake on the lower oven rack until the edges are set but the center is still slightly loose, about 40 to 45 minutes. (If the edges get very dark, cover them with aluminum foil half way during baking.) Cool on a rack. Serve slightly warm or room temperature.

Nana's Homemade Mashed Potatoes

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Ingredients

  • 4 lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 2” pieces
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more
  • 1 1/2 whole milk
  • 3 sprigs thyme (optional)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 unsalted butter, plus more for serving
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  • Place potatoes in a large pot and pour in cold water to cover by 1”. Add salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender but not saturated or crumbly, 20–25 minutes (boiling will lead to waterlogged pieces).
  • Drain potatoes, reserving ½ cup cooking liquid if making potatoes ahead. Return potatoes to pot and set over low heat. Gently stir until dry, about 1 minute.
  • Meanwhile, heat milk, thyme sprigs, if desired, bay leaves, and ¾ cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat.
  • Pass hot potatoes through a ricer into a large bowl (if allowed to cool, the potatoes will become gummy).
  • Remove herbs from warm milk mixture; discard. Gradually add milk mixture to potatoes, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon until combined and smooth; season with salt and pepper.
  • Serve mashed potatoes with a few pats of butter on top.
  • Do Ahead: Potatoes can be made 4 hours ahead. Pass through ricer into a large pot and cover. Just before serving, reheat over low, gently stirring in reserved potato cooking liquid as needed to loosen.

Nana's Cheesecake Recipe

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Nana's Cheesecake is famous, everyone loves it. She said I could share the recipe with all of you, so here it is!
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. lemon peel
1/2 cup oleo (margarine)
1 slightly beaten egg
1/4 tsp. vanilla
Filling:
(5) 8 oz. cream cheese bricks, softened (we like Philadelphia Cream Cheese)
1/4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp lemon peel (grated)
1 3/4 c. sugar
3 tbs. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
4/5 eggs (1 cup)
2 egg yolks
1/4 c. whipping cream
Steps:
Combine flour, sugar, lemon peel. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend, pat 1/3 dough into 9" bottom springform pan, with the sides removed. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 min. Cool, attach sides of pan.
Beat cream cheese, add vanilla, lemon peel. Mix in sugar, flour, salt, add in cream cheese, add, one at a time, until blended. Stir in whipping cream. 
Bake for 12 min. at 450 degrees. Then 55 minutes at 300 degrees.
Cool 1/2 hour, then loosen sides of pan and place cheesecake on plate.
Top with cherries, strawberries, whatever you like!

 

Bacon Grilled Cheese

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Here's how to make this yummy grilled cheese!
Ingredients
12 slices thick-cut bacon
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 sourdough bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick (12 slices)
6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
6 ounces aged Gruyere or Comte cheese
6 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, such as Cabot or Shelburne Farms
 
Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the bacon on a baking rack set over a sheet pan in a single layer and roast for 20 to 30 minutes, until nicely browned. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels and cut in 1-inch pieces.

Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Lay 12 slices of bread on a board and spread each one lightly with butter. Flip the slices and spread each one generously with the mayonnaise mixture. Don't neglect the corners!

Grate the cheeses in a food processor fitted with the largest grating disk and combine. Distribute the bacon evenly on half the slices of bread. Pile 1/3 cup grated cheese evenly on top of the bacon and top with the remaining bread slices, sauce side down.

Meanwhile, heat an electric panini press. When the press is hot, cook the sandwiches for 3 to 5 minutes in batches until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted. Allow to cool for 2 minutes. Cut in half and serve warm.

Source: Foodnetwork.com

Chicken Fried Potatoes

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Chicken-Fried Potatoes
Serves 3-5

2 medium russet potatoes, cleaned and sliced (about ¼-inch thick)
1 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 cup flour
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
2 tsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cracked black pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste
Peanut oil, for frying

For buttermilk dipping sauce:
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup buttermilk
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp. green chilies, chopped
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. chives, thinly sliced
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. minced thyme

1. In a medium pot over medium-high heat, heat oil to 350 degrees.

2. In a mixing bowl, toss potatoes, buttermilk, balsamic vinegar and garlic until well combined. Refrigerate mixture for 30 minutes.

3. In a shallow dish, mix flour, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, paprika, salt and pepper. Remove potatoes from buttermilk and dredge in flour mixture.

4. Shake off excess flour and fry potatoes in batches until golden brown and cooked through, 6-8 minutes per batch. Drain onto a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.

5. To make buttermilk dipping sauce, in a mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients together until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Before serving, allow sauce to sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes, then stir and adjust seasonings to taste.

Source: People.com

8 Summer Smoothies

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Crispy Smashed Potatoes

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Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Makes 3 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 pounds baby Dutch yellow potatoes
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, cover and cook over medium-high heat until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  3. Place potatoes about 3 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. Gently smash each potato with the heel of your hand to about 1/2-inch thickness.
  5. Brush potatoes with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with thyme.
  6. Bake potatoes, rotating sheet halfway through, until lightly browned and crispy, 30-35 minutes.

From http://www.twoofakindcooks.com/

Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Bacon and BBQ Sauce

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Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Bacon and BBQ Sauce
Makes 3 servings

INGREDIENTS

BBQ sauce:

  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons grated onion
  • 1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce (optional)

Kebabs:

  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 strips apple smoked bacon, cut into lardons

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Prepare the BBQ sauce:

  1. In a small sauce pan, combine all the sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare and cook the kebabs:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the chicken and salt. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
  2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the sweet paprika, smoked paprika, sugar and cayenne pepper, if using.
  3. In a food processor, purée the bacon until smooth. Add the spice mixture and pulse a few times until well combined.
  4. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Add the bacon paste to the chicken and use your hands to mix until well combined. Thread the chicken onto 6 skewers.
  5. Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Place skewers in the pan, cover and cook, turning occasionally, until grill marks are visible and chicken is no longer pink in the center, 8-10 minutes.
  6. Transfer about 1/2 cup BBQ sauce to a small bowl to serve with cooked chicken. Brush the top of the kebabs with some of the remaining BBQ sauce, flip and cook for 1-2 minutes. Brush with more BBQ sauce, flip and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  7. Remove kebabs from pan and let rest for 5 minutes; serve with reserved BBQ sauce.

 

From http://www.twoofakindcooks.com/