Sweet Spiced Nuts

This recipe is a quick and easy way to have your whole house smelling delicious and to have a yummy snack on hand. I particularly love them sprinkled over vanilla ice cream. You can change the spice measurements easily to taste. Last time, I doubled the amount of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, and they turned out great.

1 egg white

5 cups walnut halves or pieces

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1. Grease 15x10x1 inch baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl beat together egg white and 1 teaspoon water with a fork. Add nuts, toss to coat. In a small mixing bowl combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle sugar mixture over walnuts; toss to coat.

2. Spread nuts in prepared baking pan. Bake in a 325 degree oven 20 minutes. Spread on waxed paper; cool. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container. Makes 7 cups nuts.

Pie Crust

Cools' Pie Crust Recipe

Makes 2 double crusts

3 c. flour
1 ¼ c. shortening (you can use cold butter, to be healthier, but it never is quite as flaky)
1 t. salt
Cut together.
1 egg, well beaten
5 t. water
1 T vinegar
Mix. Pour liquid mixture into flour mixture and mix with fork.


Some extra tips for you over achievers...
For an extra-crispy pie crust with a golden color, brush the unbaked top crust with water, and sprinkle it with sugar.
For a shiny pie crust, brush the unbaked top crust with an egg wash made from one egg and 2 tablespoons cream.
Remember to cut vents (make them decorative!) in the top of a double-crusted fruit pie; vents allow steam to escape and prevent the fruit juices from overflowing.

Blackberry Pie Filling and the Cools Pie Crust

While I haven't tried it, I'm sure you could use honey or a substitute sweetener for this recipe. They're berries! They're already pretty sweet.

Blackberry Pie
5 cups of blackberries
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. flour
Toss.
Place on already prepared 9'' double pie crust, top with more crust. Poke air holes. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes.

Pie Crust
3 c. flour
1 1/4 c. shortening (or butter if you want it healthier, it is slightly denser, though)
1 t. salt
Cut in shortening/butter.

Mix together in separate bowl:
1 egg
5 T water
1 T vinegar

Add to flour mixture. May add a tiny bit more water if needed. Roll out into 9" circles. Makes 2 double crusts. (That means 4 circles all together)

Chocolate Mousse recipe

Ingredients

2 cups chilled heavy cream
4 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped

Garnish: lightly sweetened whipped cream
Special equipment: an instant-read thermometer

Preparation

Heat 3/4 cup cream in a 1-quart heavy saucepan until hot. Whisk together yolks, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a metal bowl until combined well, then add hot cream in a slow stream, whisking until combined. Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until it registers 160°F on thermometer. Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in vanilla.

Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water (or in a glass bowl in a microwave at 50 percent power 3 to 5 minutes), stirring frequently. Whisk custard into chocolate until smooth, then cool.

Beat remaining 1 1/4 cups cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds stiff peaks. Whisk one fourth of cream into chocolate custard to lighten, then fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly.

Spoon mousse into 8 (6-ounce) stemmed glasses or ramekins and chill, covered, at least 6 hours. Let stand at room temperature about 20 minutes before serving.

It is really quite good!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Makes 3 loaves

3 eggs
3 c. sugar
1 c. oil
2/3 c. water
2 c. pumpkin
Mix. Set aside.
3 1/3 c. flour
2 t. soda
1 t. cinnamon
1 12 oz. package of chocolate chips
1 ½ t. salt
1 t. allspice
Mix. Add first mixture. 350 1 + hour

Oil Pie Crust

Oil Pie Crust
Makes 2 crusts

1 1/8 c. flour
1/3 c. oil
1/6 c. milk
½ t. salt

Peach/Apple Pie

Peach/Apple Pie

1 jar peaches, drained
2 medium apples sliced
1 c. sugar
1 T. cornstarch
2 T. tapioca
1 t. cinnamon
Pour into saucepan and simmer. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Top with toping.

*Topping
½ c. sugar
¾ c. flour
1/3 c. crumbly butter
Crumble together. Bake at 400 for 40 minutes.

Poached Pears

We will be making Poached Pears for dessert on Christmas and we tested it out last night. It is definitely a winner.



1 T. arrowroot
1 bottle Red Wine
1/2 c. Sugar
1 Cinnamon Stick
6 Cloves
zest of 1 small orange
zest of 1 small lemon
6 pears (ripe, but still firm)

Serves 6

Mix the arrowroot with 2 T. wine and set aside. Heat the remaining wine in a saucepan with the sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves and orange and lemon zest. Simmer gently for a couple of minutes until the sugar dissolves.

Peel the pears, but don't remove the stalks. Put the whole pears in the saucepan of wine, cover and poach gently for about 25 minutes, or until they are very tender, turning occasionally. Lift out with slotted spoon and place in a deep serving dish.

Srain the wine to remove the cinnamon stick, cloves and zest, the pour the wine back into the saucepan. Stir the arrowroot and add to the hot wine. Simmer gently, stirring now and then, until thickened. Pour over pears and leave to soak until cold. Serve with cream or creme fraiche.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS

These were a yummy warm snack after playing hard out in the snow. They could stand to be a little more moist. Any suggestions to help with that?

2 c. flour
1 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 lg. egg
1 c. milk
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 1/2 c. mini chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. salt

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 stick butter
1/4 c. sugar
Mix graham cracker crumbs and sugar together. Melt butter and mix into crumbs. Cover bottom of 9 inch pie plate with mixture and press against sides. Bake in 350 degree oven for 6 or 7 minutes. Set aside.

Oatmeal Pecan Pie

I just tried this recipe lastnight, and it was a hit. I think it's even going to make it on the Thanksgiving menu.

Oatmeal Pecan Pie

1/2 pkg. refrigerated pie dough or your favorite homemade pie crust
Cooking spray
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup regular oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Roll dough into an 11-inch circle. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Fold edges under; flute.
3. Combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients, stirring well with a whisk. Pour into prepared crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely on a wire rack. Yield: 12 servings.

Spiced Pumkin Bars

This recipe is the perfect fall treat and is one of Joshua's all time favorites.

Spiced Pumkin Bars
Prep: 15 min. Bake: 25-30 min. Oven: 350 degrees Makes: 24

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 15 oz can pumpkin
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup cooking oil
3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 recipe cream cheese frosting
Pecan halves (optional)

1) In medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2) In a large mixing bowl beat together eggs, pumpkin, sugar, and oil with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the flour mixture; beat until well combined. If desired, stir in chopped pecans. Spread batter into an ungreased 15X10X1 inch baking pan.

3) Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting. If desired, top with additional pecan halves. Cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator.

Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium mixing bowl beat together one 3 oz. package of cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup butter, softened; and 1 tsp vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, beating until smooth.

Ice Cream Pie

Need a wow dessert in a hurry? Here's your answer.

*Tip: In this case, do not buy generic brand cake mix or frosting. I did try it, and though it worked, is was not nearly as moist. Also, be sure to not overcook the crust! Lastly, if desired, for an elegant finish, sprinkle with decorative topping such as chocolate sprinkles or crushed oreos.

1 pkg. Pillsbury Plus Devil's Food Cake Mix
3/4 cup Pillsbury Ready to Spread Chocolate Fudge Frosting Supreme
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup oil

Filling: 6 cups (1 1/2 qts.) ice cream, softened

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease bottom, sides, and rim of two 9 inch pie pans. In large bowl, blend all shell ingredients at low speed until moistened; beat 2 minutes at highest speed. Spread half of batter in bottom of each pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Cakes will collapse to form shells. Cool completely. Fill with softened ice cream. Let harden awhile in freezer if possible.

Peach Pie

From Grandma Porter's kitchen...

7 cups of fresh peaches
1/4 c. flour
1 c. sugar
Mix together. Put in unbaked pie shell, cover and bake.

Edit: To prepare the peaches you can boil them whole in boiling water for less than 1 minute. Put them in cold water (so you don't scald your hand) and the peel should come off quite easily. Cut them up into slices and take the pit out.

The easiest strawberry shortcake! EVER!!!!!!!!!

INGREDIENTS:

Strawberries.
Angel food cake.
Sugar.
whipped cream.

First you cut your strawberries and let them soak in sugar.Then you cut your angel food cake,and put the strawberries on top and add a scoop of whipped cream.
TIME TO EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perfect Apple Pie

It's that time of year to pick your apples and make your pies. Here's a recipe that has been enjoyed by the Cools' family for generations.Literally.
* For dinner take a 1/2 c. of your mixture out and marinate some pork chops in it to bbq and still have enough for an Apple Pie dessert! Mmm...

Perfect Apple Pie
1 c. sugar (or less)
2T. flour
1 t. cinnamon
1/8 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. salt
7 c. thinly sliced and peeled apples
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. butter (dot on pie)

425 for 45 min- 1 hour (or until lightly browned and bubbling)

Double Chocolate-Chip Cookies

From the kitchen of Stephanie Garvey:

"These are Michael's favoritest cookies. Ever.
They stay moist a lot longer than regular chocolate chip cookies."

Double Chocolate-Chip Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 c. flour
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
mix and set aside

1/2 c. butter (softened)
1 egg
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
mix and add the dry mixture to it

spoon mix into that:
2 T. oats
1/4 c. chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 14 minutes. Let cool on sheet.