Making Dinner Happen

German Apple Pancakes

hobbyhopper — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:08:15 +0000

2/3 cup flour
2 Granny Smith apples
3 eggs
1/4 cup light brown sugar
5 tbsp granulated sugar (plus more for coating muffin tins)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 tbsp unsalted butter (plus more for coating muffin tins)
1 tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup milk
Topping of choice (maple syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream, etc)

Preheat the oven to 450. Brush melted butter inside each muffin cup; coat with granulated sugar.

Peel, core and slice each apple into 12 wedges. Then cut each wedge into 3 pieces. Toss with brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice.

Melt 2 tbsp of butter in a 10″ nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the apples, sauté, turning occasionally, for 10-12 minutes, until caramelized. Remove pan from stove; let cool for 5 minutes. Divide the caramelized apples among the muffin cups.

Place flour, salt, granulated sugar, 2 tbsp melted butter, eggs and milk in the bowl and mix well.

Pour batter over apples. Place in the oven and lower the temperature to 400 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes. Pancakes will puff up during the last 5 minutes of baking.

Remove tin rom the oven and turn it over on a flat surface to remove the pancakes. Top with topping of choice and serve immediately.

Crispy Smashed Potatoes

hobbyhopper — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:53:03 +0000

2 pounds small red potatoes
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp thyme leaves
fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 500 degrees (yes, five hundred). Place one oven rack in the top position and one in the bottom.

Clean the potatoes and place on baking sheet. Add 3/4 cup of water to the baking sheet, cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Let potatoes cool for 10 minutes and coat with 3 tbsp of oil. Place potatoes back onto baking sheet and smash with the bottom of a cup to about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick. Drizzle with the remaining 3 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper.

Place baking sheet back in the oven on the top rack and bake for 15 minutes. Then move to the bottom rack and bake for another 25-30 minutes until crispy brown.

(Recipe from Caramel Potatoes)

Smushed Apples and Sweet Potatoes

hobbyhopper — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:09:34 +0000

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 Granny Smith apple – peeled, cored and sliced
1/8 cup milk

Place the sweet potato in a medium saucepan and fill with enough water to cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

Melt butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Mix in the sugar, cinnamon and allspice. Add the apple slices, cover, and let simmer for 5 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Mix the apple mixture into the drained sweet potatoes along with the milk. Mix well using an electric mixer or just a fork until potatoes are mashed.

(From Allrecipes.com)

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabob

hobbyhopper — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:01:48 +0000

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary
2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
1 tbspn white sugar, or to taste (optional)
4-5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into 1 inch cubes

In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade.

Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear.

(Recipe from allrecipes.com)

Baked Sweet Potatoes

hobbyhopper — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:39:47 +0000

2 tbsp olive oil
2-3 large sweet potatoes
2 pinches dried oregano
2 pinches salt
2 pinches ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Spray bottom of an 11×7 or 9×13 glass baking dish.

Wash and peel sweet potatoes. Cut into 1″ cubes. Place them into the baking dish and toss with olive oil to coat. Sprinkle with oregano, salt and pepper. Bake for 60 minutes or until tender. Stir half way through baking.

(Recipe from Allrecipes.com)

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

hobbyhopper — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 18:41:41 +0000

2 cups all-flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup rolled oats
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.

On medium speed, cream together the butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Add the egg and beat to combine. On low speed, gradually add the flour until just combined. Stir in the oats, and then the chocolate chips.

Use a cookie scoop and drop dough onto prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden. Cool completely on the baking sheet and then store in an airtight container at room temperature.

(Recipe from Brown Eyed Baker)

Lemon Grilled Salmon

hobbyhopper — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:10:12 +0000

2 tsp fresh dill or 3/4 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 salmon filet (1-1 1/2 lbs)
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp chicken broth
3 tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp finely chopped green onions
1 small lemon, thinly sliced
2 onion slices, separated into rings

Sprinkle dill, lemon-pepper and garlic powder over salmon. Place in a large resealable bag or shallow glass baking dish. Combine brown sugar, broth, oil, soy sauce and green onions; pour over the salmon. Seal or cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, turning once.

Drain and discard marinade. Place salmon skin side down (or on foil) on grill over medium heat; arrange lemon and onion slices over the top. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

(Taken from Taste of Home Backyard Grilling cookbook)

Hot Chocolate

hobbyhopper — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:38:38 +0000

2 cups whipping cream
6 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla
12 oz package milk or white chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli)

In a slow cooked combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 2-2.5 hours. Stir occasionally until chips are melted.

Apple Crisp

hobbyhopper — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:33:43 +0000

10 cups all-purpose apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 cup white sugar
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup water

1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the sliced apples in a 9×13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tbsp flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.
Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Half Moon Cookies

hobbyhopper — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 23:41:52 +0000

3/4 cup Crisco
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup regular sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large mixing bowl combine Crisco, sugar, eggs, sour cream and vanilla. In another mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix well.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10-15 minutes until light brown. Do not over bake. Frost the flat side half chocolate and half white.