New Cookbooks

Check out one of these new cookbooks today by clicking on the title.

everything cooking for kidsThe Everything Cooking for Kids Cookbook by Ronni Litz Julien. Offers recipes and advice for helping parents prepare well-balanced, nutritious and delicious meals for kids of all ages, with information on childhood eating disorders.

cookbookEasy Everyday Favorites : 5 Star Recipes from AllRecipes.com, the world’s #1 cooking community. Recipes tested and reviewed by millions of home cooks!

cookbookBetty Crocker The 300 Calorie Cookbook: 300 Tasty Meals for Eating Healthy Every Day by Betty Crocker. Presents recipes for three hundred low-calorie dishes that use nutritious ingredients, including sandwiches, pizzas, soups, stews, casseroles, and a section on cooking for two.

Eat Local

Locavore was coined to describe and promote the practice of eating a diet consisting of food harvested from within an area most commonly bound by a 100-mile (160 km) radius.

If you’re interested in learning more about eating locally, check out The Locavore’s Handbook : The Busy Person’s Guide to Eating Local on a Budget by Leda Meredith.

farm to forkOr for a book with BAM! factor, check out Emeril’s latest Farm to Fork.

With fresh produce starting to show up, check out where local farmers’ markets are.

And there’s a website that will tell you about farmer’s markets or just someone with an overabundance of squash from her garden, sort of like a CraigsList for market items. Checkout Locavore365.

Cheesecake Parfait

Someone recently asked me to post another easy dessert recipe.  I was planning on having some friends over for dinner.  It was during an extremely busy week and I knew I didn’t have the time to plan anything elaborate.  I began poring over “Easy” recipes and cookbooks and came across this recipe.  It certainly sounded easy.  It also sounded delicious and versatile so I decided to give it a try.  It was simple to put together and my guests loved it.  In fact one of them asked for a second helping !!  So, here it is.  A simple, and versatile recipe called “Cheesecake Parfait”.  Enjoy !!

See you next month! Meet me in the kitchen !

Lisa Breithaupt, The Gourmet Librarian

Cheesecake Parfait

Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter

3 cups of flour

1 cup of chopped walnuts

2 8 oz packages of cream cheese (softened)

2 cups of powdered sugar

2 cups of Cool Whip ( or another similar topping)

2 3 oz packages of instant pudding (any flavor – chocolate, lemon, butterscotch, vanilla, pistachio – whatever you like)

3 cups of milk

Additional Cool Whip

Bottom layer:

Mix the butter, flour and walnuts as you would for pie crust, pat into a 9×13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

Second layer:

Measure cream cheese, powdered sugar and 2 cups of whipped cream into a mixing bowl and whip at high speed until smooth. Spread on top of crust.

Third layer:

Pour instant pudding into mixing bowl, add the milk, and whip at high speed for several minutes until thick. Spread over the cream cheese layer.

Fourth layer:

Spread on enough Cool Whip to cover the pudding.  Chill and serve.

James Beard Award Winners

Deemed “the Oscars of the food world,” by Time magazine, The James Beard Foundation Awards are the country’s most coveted honor for chefs; food and beverage professionals; broadcast media, journalists, and authors working on food; and restaurant architects and designers.

We have a couple  of the winners:

Baking by James Peterson  which won for Best Cookbook Baking and Dessert

Love Soup: 160 All-New Vegetarian Recipes by Anna Thomas

The full list of winners is here.

Chocolate Cavity Maker Cake

This recipe is a chocolate, confectionary concoction so mouthwatering, it should come with a warning label.
This delicious recipe is so simple to make, you’ll be finished with the prep before you can even squeak out the lyrics to “Pat-a-cake.” The name should tell you everything you need to know…
Give it a try and leave us a comment!
Chocolate Cavity Maker Cake

Ingredients:
1 (18.25 ounce) package dark chocolate cake mix
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding  mix
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup coffee flavored liqueur
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, eggs,  oil and coffee liqueur. Beat until ingredients are well blended. Fold in  chocolate chips. Batter will be thick. Spoon into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until cake springs back when  lightly tapped. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then turn out and cool completely on  wire rack.

Jambalaya

I was watching an episode of Emeril Lagasse’s show, on the Food Network, the weekend prior to Mardi Gras.  The episode featured classic recipes from New Orleans, and this episode inspired me to surprise my husband on Mardi Gras with Jambalaya and Bread Pudding.  I am a huge fan of Jambalaya. The reason is that the recipe can be altered to your particular taste.  If you look in cookbooks or on the Internet you will find many variations of this classic dish. I encourage you to find one that appeals to you and your family.  The recipe I use comes from the classic cookbook, “The Joy of Cooking”.  I make a couple modifications to suit my own taste, so if you have “The Joy of Cooking” you will see that my recipe is a little different.  This recipe made enough for 3 meals.  We enjoyed it on Mardi Gras and had it for lunch a couple of days later.  I even froze a portion that will be supper in a couple of weeks.  The meal was a huge hit, and Tim said it was the best Jambalaya I’ve ever made (so I will be sticking to this recipe!) The Bread Pudding topped off the meal perfectly.
See you next month, meet me in the kitchen!
Lisa Breithaupt, The Gourmet Librarian

Recipe
Jambalaya
Ingredients:
2 pounds of chicken
2 cups of cubed ham
Salt and pepper
2 T of vegetable oil
1 pound of Italian sausage
1 cup of chopped onion
1 medium green pepper chopped
2 stalks of celery
Minced garlic that equals 1 clove
2 cups of rice
2 T of tomato paste
Cayenne pepper to taste
2 cups of hot water
2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 T parsley
¼ t. thyme
1/8 t pepper
1 bay leaf
Hot sauce to taste
2 T Worcestershire sauce
3 packets of Sweetener (or sugar ) to taste.

Directions:
Heat the chicken, cut in bite size pieces, in a large skillet or a Dutch oven over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper.  Cook the chicken for about 10 minutes until brown.  Add ham and sausage and cook until brown.  Remove meat to a plate.  Add onion, bell pepper, celery (referred to by chefs as the holy trinity of Cajun and Creole cooking) and garlic.  Cook 2 minutes until the veggies are clear.  Add rice, tomato paste and red pepper.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Return the chicken, sausage, and ham to the pot.  Cook covered over medium-low heat until the water is absorbed and the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.  Continue cooking until the sauce thickens, 5 – 8 minutes.

Although this recipe has a lot of ingredients don’t let it intimidate you.  It’s easy to put together and the dish is absolutely delicious.  If, when you add the rice there doesn’t appear to be enough liquid, add some chicken broth.  Be careful towards the end of cooking stirring frequently to ensure that your rice isn’t sticking.  The sauce should be thick and the rice moist.   Some other side dish suggestions would be creamed spinach, a baked sweet potato, greens, corn on the cob, okra and tomatoes – and don’t forget the cornbread!

Sweet Tomato Chicken

During the month of February we often think of love, and the people we love, and how we can demonstrate to them how much we love them.  I often cook for people to let them know how much I care.  There’s nothing more satisfying than sitting down with friends and cooking things that you know they like; favorite meats, veggies, desserts and seeing their satisfaction.  I’m going to share a delicious crock pot dish I discovered a couple of years ago.  Sweet Tomato Chicken. The ingredients sound a bit unusual but let me assure you that when they are combined and simmered together for hours in a crock pot, the sauce is delectable and you will have your guests guessing as to the content.

See you Next Month, Meet me in the Kitchen !
Lisa Breithaupt, The Gourmet Librarian

Recipe
Sweet Tomato Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 6 chicken breasts
  • 3 cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 package of mushrooms, sliced

Directions:
Mix tomatoes, condensed milk, onion and mushrooms.  Place ½ of the tomato mixture in crock pot.  Place the chicken breasts in crock pot on top of mixture.  Cover the breasts with the rest of the tomato mixture.  Cook for 5 to 6 hours on high.

I serve this on top of pasta with a green salad and bread. A great dessert and you have a dinner for guests ready.  I would also serve this on top of rice !

Marga-Read-A

The recipe for CCPL’s entry into the Sixth Annual Mocktail Event,  the Marga-READ-A:

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup Coconut Cream
  • 1 1/4 cup of cranberry juice
  • 1 cup Apple Juice
  • Lime Juice to taste
  • 1 T. Grenadine

Directions:

Mix a small amount of juice with the coconut cream in a blender to make sure the cream mixes in well with the juice. Add the rest of the ingredients. The traditional Margarita is enjoyed in a glass that has had the rim salted.  We dipped the rims of our cups in apple juice and then colored holiday sugar to give the drinks a festive look.  All of the above ingredients can be purchased at your local grocery store.  Grenadine is a syrup that is made with pomegranate juice.  Coconut cream  has less water than coconut milk, it has a thick consistency.  Both of these items can be found in the drink mixer section of the grocery store. This can be served in individual glasses or from a punch bowl.

See you next month,

Meet me in the kitchen!

Lisa Breithaupt, the Gourmet Librarian

Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing

In this between time between Thanksgiving and Christmas we entertain a lot of family and friends and I’m always on the search for a good recipe that’s easy and delicious.  I’m sure I’ve found one that you will enjoy for many years to come. It’s the perfect recipe to serve to guests when you are short on time but want to serve an elegant dish.  From the first time I tried it I knew it would be ending up in my “favorites” recipe book.  I hadn’t made it for awhile but recently made it for my parents and my mother in law.  My mom and mother in law are both excellent cooks and they enjoyed it tremendously.

See you next month. Meet me in the kitchen.

Lisa Breithaupt, The Gourmet Librarian

Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing

Ingredients:

6 boneless pork chops (I put 8 in my huge casserole dish, pork chops with bones also work fine)

1 T. oil

21 oz can apple pie filling

6 oz package of stuffing mix prepared

Directions:  Brown the chops in oil.  Grease a casserole dish (9 X 13 is recommended).  Spread the canned apples in the bottom of the dish. Place the chops on top of the apples.  Prepare the stuffing according to the box directions. Spoon the stuffing over the chops.  Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour.  Uncover and bake for 10 minutes more.

Serve by using a spatula to scoop out a chop with both a generous serving of apples underneath and the stuffing on top.  I usually serve with green beans or asparagus and a salad.  To cut preparation time I do not prepare the stuffing on the stove. I use very hot tap water and mix it up in a bowl.  It will cook during the baking process. I also stir a cup of Craisins in the stuffing as I prepare it.  The Craisins give an additional sweetness and makes the dish look festive for the holidays.  Enjoy !!

Gifts in a Jar

Amy Matheney from the New Richmond Branch has had several requests that she share her recipes from her Gifts in a Jar Program; here they are:

Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups NESTLÉ CARNATION Nonfat Dry Milk
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Baking Cocoa
  • 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows (optional)

Using a pint jar, combine dry milk, sugar, cocoa and marshmallows in large bowl. Pour into 2-quart jar or tall container. Seal with lid and decorate with fabric and ribbon.

Recipe to attach to attach: Measure 1/2 cup cocoa mix into mug. Stir in 1 cup hot water or milk. Makes 4 servings.


Curried Rice

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c. raisins
  • 3/4 c. long grain rice
  • 1 crumbled chicken bouillon cube
  • 2 tbsps. dried minced onion
  • 1/2 tsp. curry powder

Use a 1/2 pint wide mouth jar. Pack each layer.

Mix the bouillon, onion and curry together and set aside. Dump the raisins in the jar, then the rice, and then the spice mixture.

Seal and decorate, and attach the recipe tag.

Recipe tag:
Curried Rice
You will need:
2 1/2 c. water
Bring the water to a boil. Add the contents of the jar and stir. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serves 5-6. Make as a side dish for pork or chicken.


All-Purpose Rub for Meat

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 tablespoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoons mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch dried oregano
  • 1 pinch dried thyme

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, salt, paprika, mustard, pepper, oregano and thyme.

To use: coat meat in mixture, and then grill as desired.


Holiday Oat Cookie Mix

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour mixed with ½ tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 cup white baking pieces
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup red and green candy-coated milk chocolate pieces
  • 1/3 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cups granulated sugar

Layer in the following order: White baking pieces, oats, red and green candy pieces, brown sugar (pack), sugar, flour mixture.

Attach tag:
Holiday Oat Cookie Mix
Empty the contents of the jar into a large bowl; stir until mixed. Add ½ cup butter, melted and cooled; 1 slightly beaten egg; and 1 tsp vanilla. Stir until combined. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2” apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a 375oF oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire racks; cool. Makes about 36 cookies.


Cream Cheese Mints

Ingredients

  • 2 oz cream cheese at room temperature
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 12 drops food coloring (green, red)
  • 24 drops flavoring extract (mint, cherry, and butter or eggnog)

In a bowl, use your hands to blend the powdered sugar and the cream cheese until completely mixed. Work the flavoring through the dough. Knead in the food coloring. Place the dough between two pieces of wax paper and roll it with the rolling pin until it is about ½” thick. Cut dough with cookie cutters.

Refrigerate in an airtight container, with wax paper in between layers, for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 2 dozen mints.