Fruit Strudel

Fruit Strudel

• 2 cups chopped fresh fruit (or frozen fruit, thawed and drained)
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup hard margarine
• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 4 oz light cream cheese
• 1/2 tsp almond flavoring
• 1/4 cup slivered or sliced almonds, toasted
• Sugar for garnish

Combine fruit and sugar in small saucepan on medium heat. Stir. Heat for 10 minutes until soft and reduced to about half. Cool.

Measure flour and salt into bowl. Cut in margarine until crumbly.

Add sour cream. Mix well. Divide into two equal portions. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill. Roll our 1 portion on lightly flour surface to 12 x 15 inches (30 x 38 cm) rectangle.

Beat cream cheese and flavoring in small bowl. Spread 1/2 of cream cheese mixture in 4 inch (10cm) lengthwise row down center of rectangle.

Spread 1/2 of fruit mixture over cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with 1/2 of almonds. Cut both sides of uncovered pastry in 1/4 inch (2 cm) slices at slight angle from edge of cream cheese layer to edge of pastry. Fold each strip alternately over fruit layer, creating a braided look. Repeat to make second braid. Transfer to greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 over for 30 to 35 minutes until golden.

Sprinkle with sugar during last 10 minutes of baking. Cuts into 8 pieces.

I shared this dessert with my Dad and he didn't believe that I had made it. Gee thanks. :)

Butterscotch Confetti Squares

This has got to be the easiest recipe EVER. And I'm sure everyone has had it at one point or another. I made this the other day, just to have something different and Devin and Dillon devoured it. Dillon calls it marshmallow cake, but somehow in his two year old pronounciation it comes out marsh m cake. I'll be making some more for the holidays.

Butterscotch Confetti Squares

• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 8 oz (250 g) miniature colored marshmallows

Melt margarine and peanut butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir in butterscotch chips until melted. Cool until you can hold your hand on the bottom of the pan. Add marshmallows and stir until all are coated. Pack in 9x9 pan that has been lined with foil or waxed paper (I just use pam in my glass pan). Refridgerate.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 1/4 cups marg/butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 tsp baking soda

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffly. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; blend into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes.

Note: Do not overbake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking and flatten while cooling. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Buns

Is there anything better than buns, fresh from the oven? I think not!
Buns

This recipe works well using a large mixer with a large bowl and fitted with dough hooks. Begin with a coarse whisk, switching to a dough hook as the mixing becomes heavier.

• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup oil
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp fermipan yeast

Mix first six ingredients and add 4 cups flour. Then slowly add 2 tbsp fermipan yeast that has been mixed with 1 cup flour. Continue to add flour (approx 8 - 10 cups total) until fairly stiff. Turn into large bowl and let rise until double in bulk. Punch down.* Let rise again until double. Shape into buns and let rise on pans. Bake at 350.

Variation: To make brown buns, use whole wheat flour for the first four cups. 1/4 cup wheat germ and 1/4 cup crushed flax can be added as well.

*I don't usually let the dough rise a second time. Once is enough for me! I've got things to do!

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

I'm not a huge fan of meatballs in general, but I really like this recipe:


Sweet & Sour Meatballs

• 2 lbs hamburger
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp sage*
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• salt and pepper
• chopped onion to taste

Sauce:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1 cup water

Combine the first 7 ingredients. Roll into small balls and brown in a frying pan. Place browned meatballs in a casserole dish or roaster.

Sauce: Put brown sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Mix well. Add ketchup, vinegar and water, mixing well after each, stirring continually. Bring sauce to a boil. It will thicken and clear. Pour over meatballs. Bake at 325 for an hour.

Pineapple chunks may be added with the sauce. The juice may be used to replace the 1 cup water. Make sure 1 cup liquid is added.

*Although I have about 10,000 spices, I don't have sage, so I've never added it in to this recipe and I think it's still pretty tasty!

Pecan Glazed Salmon

Now, if you recognize any theme within my recipes it's "easy". I love food, I love to cook, but I (like everyone else I know), don't have all day. So if you like salmon, or better yet if you don't, give this recipe a try. I'm sure you'll love not only the taste, but also how little effort it takes! (Don't tell Tom.)

BrownSugarPecan Glazed Salmon

Ingredients:

1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans (or any type of nut)

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup butter or margarine (I use light marg)

1-2 tbsp water

2 salmon steaks

Preparation:

1) Preheat oven to 425

2) Brown the pecans in a non-stick pan, over medium heat.


Add brown sugar, butter/margarine, and water; heat until simmering. Set aside.

3) In a pie plate, roast salmon in pre-heated oven for 6 minutes.

4) Spoon glaze over salmon and continue roasting for an additional 6 minutes.

5) Voila, you're done!

See? Super easy! Of course you can use salmon fillets instead of steaks if you wish, but remember that cooking times vary according to the thickness of your fish. Be sure to always cook your fish until the flesh flakes easily with a fork.

I love this recipe. Why? Not only are they a fantastic way to increase your fish intake (Health Canada recommends 2 servings per week) and boost your body's omega-3s, but your husband will be so distracted by the goodness, he won't realize it's not beef!

Banana Muffins

1 cup sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1 egg 1 tsp soda 1/2 cup oil 1 cup bananas (2 bananas) 1.5 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. This is the only banana muffin recipe that has ever turned out well for me. Makes 12 muffins.