Emily’s Famous Marshmallows

Original recipe makes 1 – 9×9 inch dish
Ingredients:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting
2 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 1/4 cups water, divided
4 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Dust a 9×9 inch square dish generously with confectioners’ sugar.

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together white sugar, corn syrup and 3/4 cup water. Heat to 250 to 265 degrees F (121 to 129 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball.

While syrup is heating, place remaining water in a metal bowl and sprinkle gelatin over the surface. Place bowl over simmering water until gelatin has dissolved completely. Keep in a warm place until syrup has come to temperature. Remove syrup from heat and whisk gelatin mixture into hot syrup. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whip egg whites to soft peaks. Continue to beat, pouring syrup mixture into egg whites in a thin stream, until the egg whites are very stiff. Stir in vanilla. Spread evenly in prepared pan and let rest 8 hours or overnight before cutting.

Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies

by Ruth Rautio

2/3 cup gluten-free baking mix (such as Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose GF Baking Flour®)
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup margerine, melted

Directions 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and grease an 8×8 inch square baking dish.
• Stir together the gluten-free baking mix, cornstarch, white sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and baking soda in a bowl, sifting with a fork to remove lumps. Pour in the eggs and melted margarine, and mix with a large spoon or electric mixer on low until the mixture forms a smooth batter, 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish.

Quinoa Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

by Ruth Rautio

1/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small apples – peeled, cored and chopped
1/4 cup raisins
2 tablespoons pine nuts
4 mushrooms, chopped
2 tablespoons white wine
1 (1 pound) pork tenderloin
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch garam masala, or to taste
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

• Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion, garlic, apples, raisins, pine nuts, and mushrooms until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in the white wine, and cook another minute until the liquid has evaporated. Combine the apple mixture and quinoa until evenly mixed; set aside.
• Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Cut the pork tenderloin from one side through the middle horizontally to within one-half inch of the other side. Open the two sides and spread them out like an open book. Place between two sheets of heavy plastic (resealable freezer bags work well) on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound the tenderloin with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/2 inch.
• Season the tenderloin on both sides with cinnamon, garam masala, salt, and black pepper. Spoon the quinoa filling onto the tenderloin, then roll up and secure with kitchen twine or toothpicks. Place onto a roasting pan.
• Roast in the preheated oven until the pork is no longer pink in the center, about 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the filling should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Cover with aluminum foil, and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Apple Taffy Pizza

Ingredients:
1          package (18 ounces) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/2       teaspoon vanilla
1          package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2       cup packed brown sugar
1/4       cup creamy peanut butter
3          medium Granny Smith apples
1/4       cup caramel ice cream topping
1/2       cup peanuts, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape cookie dough into a ball and place in center of large pizza stone; flatten slightly. Using lightly floured Roller, roll out dough to a 14-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick. Bake 16-18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes. Carefully loosen cookie from baking stone; cool completely on baking stone.

Combine cream cheese, brown sugar, peanut butter and vanilla in bowl; mix well. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cookie.  Peel, core and apples. Cut apple slices in half and arrange evenly over cream cheese mixture.  Microwave ice cream topping on HIGH 30-45 seconds or until warm; drizzle evenly over apples. Chop peanuts using a food Chopper; sprinkle over apples. Cut into wedges.

Yield: 16 servings

Nutrients per serving: Calories 300, Total Fat 17 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Carbohydrate 36 g, Protein 5 g, Sodium 270 mg, Fiber 1 g

Recipe by Pampered Chef

Sausage and Apple Herb Stuffing

Here is a great stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving that comes from Pampered Chef.

1/2       lb bulk pork sausage
1/2       cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 1/2    cups sliced celery
1 1/2    cups chopped onion
1          package (14 ounces) herb-seasoned cubed stuffing
1/2       cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2       cup coarsely chopped apples
1          tbsp Rosemary Herb Seasoning Mix
2          cans (14.5 oz each) chicken broth

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place sausage into (10-in.) Skillet; cook over medium heat 3-5 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking into crumbles. Remove Skillet from heat and transfer sausage to paper towel-lined plate. (Do not drain Skillet.)

Add butter to Skillet; heat over medium heat 1-3 minutes or until foamy. Add celery and onion; cook and stir 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.

In Mixing Bowl, combine stuffing, cranberries, apples, seasoning mix and sausage. Add vegetable mixture and broth; toss until moistened. Spoon stuffing into Baker. Cover and bake 30 minutes. Carefully remove lid using oven mitts, lifting away from you; bake an additional 30 minutes or until stuffing is golden brown and heated through.

Yield: 16 servings

Nutrients per serving: Calories 210, Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 4.5 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Carbohydrate 27 g, Protein 6 g, Sodium 720 mg, Fiber 3 g

Skillet Lasagna

Ingredients

1          jar (24-26 oz or 680-700 mL) marinara sauce
3          cups (750 mL) water
8          oz (250 g) lasagna noodles
1          lb (500 g) bulk hot Italian turkey sausage or sausage links, casings removed
2          garlic cloves, pressed
2          oz (60 g) Parmesan cheese
2          tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh parsley, divided
1          cup (250 mL) fresh whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2       cup (125 mL) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4       tsp (1 mL) coarsely ground black pepper
Additional grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

Combine sauce and water in (12-in./30-cm) Skillet. Cover; bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, wrap noodles in clean kitchen towel and break crosswise into quarters. Stir noodles into sauce. Cover; reduce heat and simmer 16-18 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.  As noodles cook, place sausage into (10-in./25-cm) Skillet; cook and stir over medium-high heat 6-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking into crumbles using Mix ‘N Chop. Add pressed garlic; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir sausage into noodles and sauce.  Meanwhile, grate Parmesan cheese using Cheese Grater. Chop parsley using Santoku Knife; set aside 1 tbsp (15 mL) parsley for garnish. Combine cheeses, remaining parsley and black pepper in Classic Batter Bowl. Scoop cheese mixture over noodles using Medium Scoop. Cover Skillet and simmer gently 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and ricotta mixture is heated through.

To serve, sprinkle lasagna with reserved parsley and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Yield: 6 servings

Nutrients per serving: Calories 470, Total Fat 21 g, Saturated Fat 9 g, Cholesterol 80 mg, Carbohydrate 41 g, Protein 30 g, Sodium 1200 mg, Fiber 3

S’more Cups

The campfire is optional–these little treats can be enjoyed anywhere.

Ingredients

7          whole graham crackers (1 cup/250 mL finely crushed)
1/4       cup (50 mL) powdered sugar
6          tbsp (90 mL) butter, melted
4          bars (1.55 oz or 43 g each) milk chocolate candy, divided
12        large marshmallows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Place graham crackers into a large resealable plastic bag. Finely crush into crumbs using a rolling pin. Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter in Small Batter Bowl. Using small scoop, place scant scoop of crumb mixture in each cup of Mini-Muffin Pan. Press crumbs to form shallow cups. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling. Meanwhile, break two of the candy bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven; place one rectangle into each cup.

Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using shears dipped in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Remove from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack; cool 15 minutes. Carefully remove cups from pan. Cool completely.

Break remaining candy bars and place in (1-cup/250 mL) Prep Bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute-1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds. Dip the top of each marshmallow in melted chocolate. Turn top-side up and let stand 40 minutes-1 hour or until set.

Yield: 24 cups

Nutrients per serving: (1 cup) Calories 100, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 3.5 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 1 g, Sodium 60 mg, Fiber 0 g