Archive for October, 2011

Oven Baked Chicken

by on Oct.21, 2011, under Chicken, Entrees

2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ground white pepper
2 tsp salt
1 3 – 3.5# chicken, jointed or 3.5# chicken pieces
3 Tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Combine all the ingredients except the chicken and butter in a large bowl. Brush the chicken pieces with butter, then dip into the crumb mixture. Press the crumbs firmly to the chicken.

Arrange the crumbed chicken on the prepared tray. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn the chicken over and bake for a further 10 minutes (a little longer may be needed for big chicken pieces). The crumbs should be golden brown and the chicken cooked through.

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Caramel Apple Cheesecake

by on Oct.21, 2011, under Cheesecake, Desserts

Servings: 16 servings, 10-inch cheesecake
Prep Time: 12 hours 25 min
Cook Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

Crust:
3 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 22 crackers)
9 tablespoons (1 stick plus 1 tablespoon) butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar

Filling:
4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 eggs

Topping:
8 tablespoons butter (1 stick)
1 1/2 pounds (about 3 large) Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan tightly with foil to prevent moisture from the water bath from seeping into the cheesecake

Crust:
In a food processor, mix the graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven to cool completely.

Filling:
In a food processor or with an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth. Add the sour cream, orange juice, and vanilla and blend until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, blending until just combined. *Cook’s Note: It’s important to blend well with no clumps as this will make the filling a smoother consistency when baked.

Pour the filling into the crust. Put a roasting pan on a rack in the center of the oven and transfer the cheesecake to the pan. Fill the roasting pan with hot water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan and cover it loosely with foil. Bake until the center moves only slightly when the cake pan is shaken, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Check the water level about 1 hour into the baking, adding more water, if needed. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and transfer the cake pan to a wire rack to cool. Refrigerate overnight.

Topping:
Melt the butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the apples and pecans and cook, stirring, until they are coated with butter, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves and the liquid comes to a boil, about 3 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apples and pecans to a bowl. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook the remaining liquid, stirring often, until it turns a deep amber, about 6 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat to stop the cooking and add the cream. Be careful, as the cream may splatter. Return the skillet to the heat and bring it to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the apples and pecans. Allow to cool until lukewarm.

Spread the caramel-apple mixture evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Use a knife dipped in hot water to cut through the cheesecake.

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Lighter Red Velvet Cake

by on Oct.20, 2011, under Cakes, Desserts

256 Fewer Calories
16g Less Fat

Servings: 16
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 35 min
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

Cake:
2 cups cake flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch processed)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon red food coloring

Frosting:
1 (8-ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup toasted chopped pecans
1/4 cup toasted coconut

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch round baking pan with nonstick spray.

Whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk the buttermilk, granulated sugar, oil, egg, vinegar, vanilla, and food coloring together in a medium bowl. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture; stir until well blended.

Spoon the batter into the pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 – 40 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Invert.

To make the frosting, with an electric mixer on high speed, beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl until very smooth 2 – 3 minutes. On low speed, beat in the confectioners’ sugar, sour cream, and vanilla until blended, 1 – 2 minutes.

Split the cake layer in half with a long serrated knife. Place the bottom layer, cut side up, on a serving plate. Spread 1/2 cup of the frosting evenly over the layer, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Place the remaining cake layer on top, rounded side up. Spread the remaining 1 cup frosting over the top and side of the cake. Sprinkle with the pecans and coconut.

Nutritional Information: Per Serving: 216 Cal (32% from Fat, 6% from Protein, 62% from Carb); 3 g Protein; 8 g Tot Fat; 2 g Sat Fat; 3 g Mono Fat; 34 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 19 g Sugar; 31 mg Calcium; 2 mg Iron; 79 mg Sodium; 22 mg Cholesterol

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Corn & Crab Chowder

by on Oct.18, 2011, under Entrees, Seafood, Soup

Ingredients:
4 slices of bacon, cut up
2 tablespoons of butter
3/4 cup of chopped onion
1/2 cup of chopped celery
1/4 cup of all purpose flour
2 cups of chicken stock or broth
1 1/2 cups of diced raw potato
1 can of whole kernel corn, drained
1 can of creamed corn
1 teaspoon kosher salt
5 turns of the pepper grinder
1/2 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning (like Slap Ya Mama)
1/4 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning
2 cups of warmed half and half
1 pound of fresh crab, picked over for shell, (set aside a few pinches for garnish)
1/4 cup of sliced green onion
1-2 tablespoons of dried parsley
Reserved crab and extra sprinkle of Cajun seasoning, for garnish

Instructions:
Cut the bacon into small pieces and saute until cooked but not crisp. Add the butter, onion and celery and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in the flour, until well blended. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes to cook the flour. Stir in the broth a little at a time until mixture is smooth. Add the potatoes, increase heat and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring several times. Stir in the corn, seasonings and half and half. Bring back up to a boil, reduce back to a simmer and gently fold in the crab. Stir in green onion and parsley; simmer for about 10 minutes or until crab is warmed through. Garnish with a pinch of crab and a sprinkle of Cajun seasoning.

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Pumpkin Mudslide Cupcakes

by on Oct.18, 2011, under Cupcakes, Desserts

Quick tip: Make these for the under-21 set by replacing the Kahlua and Baileys Irish Cream in this recipe with apple juice.

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch salt
1 ½ cups sugar
¾ cup pumpkin puree
2 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup Kahlua
¼ cup Baileys Irish Cream

Cupcake Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, instant coffee granules, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat sugar, pumpkin puree, and eggs until smooth.
Mix the vegetable oil, Kahlua, and Baileys Irish Cream into the wet ingredients until fully combined.
Mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients a little bit at a time until just incorporated.
Divide batter evenly among 12 cupcake liners.
Bake for 20 minutes or until cupcakes bounce back when lightly touched.

Frosting Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
½ cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate syrup for drizzling
Orange and black sanding sugar (optional)

Frosting Directions:
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy – about three minutes on high speed using an electric mixer.
Add powdered sugar a little bit at a time until fully combined.
Mix in pumpkin puree, coffee granules, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla until fully combined.
Spread or pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
Drizzle with chocolate syrup.
Optionally, dust with orange and black sanding sugar.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

by on Oct.05, 2011, under Brownies, Cheesecake, Desserts

Ingredients:

Brownie Batter:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tbs vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teas salt
1/2 teas cinnamon

Cheesecake Batter:
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbs flour
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 teas vanilla
1/2 teas cinnamon
1/4 teas each ground ginger and ground cloves

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8×8? or an 11×7? baking pan.

For the Brownies: Beat together melted butter, sugar, and vanilla, then beat in eggs one at a time. Combine dry ingredients in small bowl, and then gradually stir into butter mixture by hand.

For the Cheesecake: In another bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in remainder of ingredients until smooth.

Spread about 2/3 of chocolate batter into prepared pan. Spread the pumpkin batter over top, distributing evenly. Drop the remaining brownie batter over cheesecake batter. To make the swirls, run a butter knife back and forth through the pan.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the center doesn’t jiggle when you nudge the pan. Cool completely and chill before cutting and serving.

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The Deen Brothers Lighter Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

by on Oct.05, 2011, under Cheesecake, Cookies, Desserts

The Deen Bros. Lighter Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping

168 Fewer Calories
13 g Less Fat

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 (8-ounce) packages fat-free cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and finely chopped

Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch ground nutmeg
1/4 cup fat-free caramel sauce

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with foil, allowing the foil to extend over the rim of the pan by 2 inches. Spray the foil with nonstick spray.

Pulse the flour, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until crumbly. Transfer the mixture to the baking pan, pressing firmly to form an even layer. Bake until the crust is set, about15 minutes. Transfer to a rack.

Meanwhile, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in the sugar until blended. Beat in the egg, egg white, and vanilla until combined. Pour the filling evenly over the warm crust. Sprinkle the chopped apples evenly over the filling.

To make the topping, using a fork, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, oil, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a small bowl until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the chopped apples. Bake until the filling is set and the topping is lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack. Drizzle with the caramel sauce. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours. Lift out using the foil as handles. Cut into 24 bars.

Servings: 24
Prep Time: 20 min
Bake: 40 min
Difficulty: Easy

Per Serving (1 bar): 178 Cal; 5 g Protein; 6 g Tot Fat; 3 g Sat Fat; 2 g Mono Fat; 26 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 12 g Sugar; 14 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 216 mg Sodium; 21 mg Cholesterol

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