7-Layer Cookies

Aunt Ruth’s 7 Layer Cookies-bars

• 1 stick melted margarine
• 1 cup vanilla wafers, crumbled
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1 large package semi-sweet chocolate chips*
• 1 can eagle brand milk
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Pour melted butter in the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking dish, add the cookie crumbles. Pat down to make a crust. Add the coconut, chocolate chips. Pour the canned milk all over the top add the pecans.
Bake at 325 for ½ hour.

*or 6 oz chocolate chips and 6 oz butterscotch chips.

Treats, Adams' Family Cookbook

Cousin Peanut's Pink Stuff.

This recipe is fun.. I love that it's called Pink Stuff.  Great to take to a pot luck or picnic.

• 1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 can crushed pineapple
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 1 small container of Cool Whip
• 2 cups of mini marshmallows
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Mix together and chill.

Enjoy.  

Chopped Ham & Apple Salad with Creamy Parmesan Dressing

Although this recipe is gluten free, it is not dairy free. To make it dairy free find dairy free alternatives at your local health food store.

From EatingWell: January/February 2014

Bottom of Form

This healthy main-course chopped salad recipe pairs bitter escarole and radicchio with sweet apple, smoky ham and crunchy pecans. But the pairing possibilities are limitless—you can also use cooked chicken and tangerines instead of ham and apples or bell pepper in place of the radishes. 

Makes: 4 servings, 3 cups each

Serving Size: 3 cups

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup reduced-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried tarragon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 cups chopped escarole or curly endive
• 5 cups chopped radicchio or Belgian endive
• 1 large sweet, crisp apple, such as Pink Lady, cubed
• 1 cup sliced radishes
• 3/4 cup sliced smoked ham steak (about 4 ounces)
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans (see Tip)

 

 

Preparation

1. Whisk yogurt, Parmesan, mayonnaise, vinegar, tarragon, pepper and salt in a large bowl.
2. Add escarole (or endive), radicchio (or endive), apple, radishes, ham and pecans to the dressing; toss to coat.

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate the dressing (Step 1) for up to 2 days.

• For the best flavor, toast chopped nuts or seeds. Heat a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add nuts or seeds and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition

Per serving: 257 calories; 15 g fat (3 g sat, 7 g mono);22 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 9 g total sugars; 13 g protein; 6 g fiber; 722 mg sodium; 681 mg potassium.

 

Chicken Apple Salad

New stuff:
Try this great salad next time .

Makes one salad:

1 small apple
3 oz of grilled chicken
4 cups of mixed greens
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup shreddded cheese (optional)

put the greens in a large bowl, top with favorite dressing. 

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

1 cup butter
3/4 cups brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
12 oz Reese's peanut butter cups chopped fine
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 375.
Cream sugar and butter together until smooth with an eclectic mixer. Then add the vanilla and the eggs one at a time. blend 3 to 5 minutes. The batter should be smooth. Next and the salt, soda and 1/2 cup of the flour. Start the the mixer on low. Add the rest of the flour a little at a time--about 1/2 a cup. Mix for 3 to 5 minutes. Make sure the batter is smooth and soft. Stir in the peanut butter cups and the nuts. Mix with a rubber spatula until well mixed.

Spray the cookie sheets with cooking spray, then scoop out a teaspoon of the mixture, drop onto the cookie sheet. On a large cookie sheet put no more than 12. Space them about 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart.

Cook each pan for 10 minutes. let the pan cool for a few minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. Continue baking.

Enjoy with a nice cold glass of milk.

 

Apple Pecan Cake

This comes under the title what to do with a bag of apples, when you know you can't eat them all. I started by coring the apples and dicing them up. Then put them in a large stock pot with 1/4 cup sugar and a tablespoon on cinnamon, added just a little water and simmered them for 2 hours. 

I put them in a container and refrigerated overnight. Cooked apples can be used in many ways, but this is about cake. 

 

Cake:

1 box yellow cake mix

Eggs, oil water 

1/2 can cream cheese frosting

1 1/2 cups cooked apples.

1 tablespoons cinnamon

1 cup chopped pecans

Frosting:

3 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup milk

3 tablespoons sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cake directions

Make the cake batter following the instructions on the back of the box. Add the cinnamon, apples, and pecans. Pour the batter into two greases 9 inch cakes pans. Bake according to package direction. Use the higher end of the time range. 

A toothpick should test cleanly when they are done, and should be a nice golden brown. Let them cool before turning out on a cake plate. Use the 1/2 can of cream cheese frosting for the first layer. Make sure in is spread evenly, then carefully put the other layer on top. Pour the frosting over the cake, spread until smooth. Let the frosting set up before cutting and serving. 

Frosting directions:

Bring the butter to room temperature. Add the sugar, milk and vanilla, and sour cream all at once. Beat until smooth.

A recipe from Betty Crocker - Apple Crisp

Ingredients



1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon almond extract
6 cups sliced unpeeled tart eating apples (6 medium)
2 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons firm butter or margarine
1/2 cup coarsely crushed zwieback crackers
2 tablespoons chopped pecans
Yogurt Topping
1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 1 1/2-quart casserole with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix water and 1 teaspoon almond extract. In casserole, toss with apples.
In small bowl, mix flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until crumbly. Stir in crackers and pecans. Sprinkle over apples.
Bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender.
In small bowl, mix topping ingredients until well blended. Serve warm apple crisp with topping.

Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Frosting

Ingredients:


1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
3 cups finely chopped raw apples (or grated)


Frosting:

1/2 cup butter (4 ounces)
1 cup brown sugar
3 to 5 tablespoons milk
1 box confectioners' sugar (1 pound), about 4 cups

Preparation:

Measure vegetable oil into large mixing bowl. Add sugar and eggs. Beat on low speed until creamy. Sift flour and measure. Sift again and add salt, soda and baking powder. Add a small amount of the flour mixture at a time to the creamed mixture. Beat well after each addition. When all flour has been added, or when batter becomes very stiff, remove electric mixer. Fold in chopped pecans and chopped apples with a wooden spoon. Spread evenly into a 9"x13" pan (or 2 - 9" pans) lined with lightly greased wax paper. Bake in 350° oven for 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Carefully loosen edges and turn onto cake rack, remove wax paper, cool and frost.

Make Frosting: Cook butter and sugar together until well blended and sugar is dissolved. Add 3 tablespoons milk and 1 box of confectioners' sugar. Beat and add just enough milk to spread.

Ginger Apple Peach Crisp

No, the original recipe does not call for peaches, but ginger and peaches sound good, and smell good when cooking together.
this can also be combines to cook in a 9x13 pan.

ingredients

Filling
4 medium Granny Smith apples (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, cored, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
1 cup slice peaches
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger
1 tablespoon all purpose flour

Topping
1/3 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2/3 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped

Vanilla ice cream
print a shopping list for this recipe


Read More http://www.epicurious.com:80/recipes/food/views/Apple-and-Cranberry-Crisps-with-Ginger-Pecan-Topping-108642#ixzz1pO6eWsUo

Christmas Rice

This is a fun way to dress up rice. Serve it any time you need some color, not just the holidays.  At other times of the year, I just call it Festive Rice.

By the way, this really is a pinch of this and that... so bare with me...

2 cups of cooked rice. (white or brown)
1/3 cup dried cranberries.
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup peas
2 Tbs of onion sauteed
2 Tbs, of green pepper
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
a pinch of nutmeg, (tiny tiny amount)
a pinch of poultry seasoning
salt and pepper to taste.

cook the rice to package directions. saute the onions, mushrooms,  and peppers in a little butter for 5 minutes. toast the pecans, mix all ingredients together, and serve.

The heat of the rice and vegetables should plump the cranberries a little.

Pecan Pie

My favorite holiday dessert has to be pecan pie.  Gram always said it was a secret recipe, but lo and behold... it is on the back of bottle. ... Enjoy, and Merry Christmas. 

• 
  
• 
  
• 1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans
• 1 (9-inch) unbaked or frozen** deep-dish pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, salt, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.
3. Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.
4. **To use prepared frozen pie crust: Place cookie sheet in oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on preheated cookie sheet.
5. RECIPE TIPS: Pie is done when center reaches 200°F. Tap center surface of pie lightly - it should spring back when done. For easy clean up, spray pie pan with cooking spray before placing pie crust in pan. If pie crust is over-browning, cover edges with foil.

Sugared Pecans

Well, Fall is here. There is a wonderful little nip in the air, leaves are turning colors, and moms, cooks, and bakers all have that glazed look in their eye, because they know that if it's fall, the holiday party season is just around the corner.
You can hear a scream in the distance. That is the sound of list making, party planning, and the dread fear of having  all your food befall some disaster right in front of the in laws. Or it is the sound of the dieter tiring to loose those last few pounds so they can fit in the new party dress. or ... ( fill in the blank)...

Of course as kids we never thought of those things, fall meant Halloween, which meant "Candy!"

This one is easy. My Gram  included them in her care packages every Christmas. Oh, and I dare you to stop at one.

1 1/2 cups pecans halves
3 egg whites
Pinch salt
1/2  cup granulated sugar
1/2 packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cream of tarter

Preheat oven to 300°F.




 Put egg whites into a stand up mixer bowl. Add salt. Start the mixer speed on low, gradually increasing the speed until soft peaks start to become visible and the egg white bubbles are very small and uniform, about 2 to 3 minutes.

 Increase the speed to medium-high, and slowly add the sugar to the egg whites. Continue to whip the eggs and sugar for a few minutes. Then add the cream of tarter to the bowl. Increase speed to high and whip the egg whites until they fluff up and become glossy, and stiff peaks form when the whisk is lifted, 4-5 minutes.

Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the pecan pieces. Drop by teaspoons onto a cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper.

 Put the cookies sheet in the 300°F oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Leave them in the oven overnight. In the morning they should be ready - crisp on the outside, light and airy on the inside. If they are a little marshmallowy or chewy on the inside in the morning, just let them dry out for a few more hours.

Makes 12-24 cookies, depending on the size.