The Taste of Fall

I don't know if you're like me, but I have certain dishes that I save for specific seasons. Some of my fall favorites are chili, Swiss steak, apple cake, and many soups. I love to make soup because they are so satisfying to the stomach as well as the nose! There is something very comforting about walking into the house on a cool day and smelling something wonderful simmering away on the stove. I am having company tonight and although the weather is a bit warmer, the calendar says November so I better take advantage of the season. Winter will bring flavors and favorites of its own.

This recipe is from Pampered Chef and is simple to make and very hearty. I like soups because you can make them a couple days in advance then reheat when ready to serve. (Just be careful when you reheat this one not to overcook the shrimp which will make them tough.) I plan to serve cole slaw and popovers with my chowder tonight. Get out your Dutch oven and make a pot of chowder this week--hurry though, fall is flying by!

Seafood Chowder

4-5 medium red potatoes, cut into 1" cubes
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. sliced carrots
1 c. diced red bell pepper
2 cans (6 1/2 oz. each) minced clams, drained, reserving juice
1 T. butter or margarine
2 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper
3/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. half and half (light cream--I buy the low-fat)
1 lb. fresh by scallops
1 lb. frozen cooked medium shrimp, thawed, rinsed and tails removed
Snipped parsley

Cut potatoes into 1" cubes to measure 3 cups. Chop ion, slice carrots, celery and dice bell pepper. Drain clams reserving clam juice. If clam juice does not measure 1 cup, add enough water to equal 1 cup.
Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion; cook 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, bell pepper, reserved clam juice, chicken broth, salt and black pepper. Bring to a boil; cover. Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile, measure flour into a small bowl. Whisk in half-and-half until smooth.
Add clams, scallops and shrimp to chowder; gradually whisk in flour mixture. Return to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Cover until ready to serve. Sprinkle with parsley. (Yield: 12 servings)

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.)

Caramel Chews--A Great Gift

If you are like me, along with cookbooks and recipe boxes that hold favorite recipe cards, you have many loose sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper that hold recipes that you have printed off of the internet (and maybe even some of mine from this blog!). A couple years ago I found a great three-ring binder made just for these papers. It has a stand in the back that I can pop out when I am using one of the recipes. I purchased some tabs that I could write on to separate my recipes into categories. I purchased my binder at Wal-Mart but you can probably find them at any store that sells scapbooking materials. I found a recipe binder at Big Lots the other day for $4. I highly recommend one if you're a recipe collector.

As I was going through my binder today trying to find an idea for something to take to our church bake sale this Sunday, I came across a recipe I printed off August 9, 1999. It is definitely a keeper and my chosen recipe for the sale. It is for Katie Brown's Carmel Chews. They are relatively easy to make, they are chewy, DELICIOUS, and they make a pan full! I can easily have two or three bags to offer for the auction and maybe even send some to a homesick niece at college. As Ina Garten says, "Who wouldn't like that?"

If you have a gift to make, an item to make for a bake sale, or someone who would just appreciate a homemade candy, try these. It is a little tedious wrapping each caramel but trust, me--it's worth every minute. Print the recipe off--and buy yourself a binder. You'll want to keep this one!

Caramel Chews

1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 t. vanilla
2 c. broken walnuts, pecans, almonds or peanuts

Slice butter into pieces and melt in saucepan. Add sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk. Stir constantly and cook until it reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Mixture will turn a golden color. Remove from heat and add nuts; stir in vanilla.
Pour into lightly greased jelly roll size pan. (Using butter to grease your pan will give the chews more flavor and allow them to slip out of the pan easily.) Let cool and harden at room temperature for 2-3 hours. They are ready to cut when you press down on them and it doesn't leave a mark.
Cut waxed paper into squares. Use a flexible spatula to cut out chews in approximately 1" x 2" pieces. Wrap in waxed paper by rolling it and twisting the ends.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.

Overcoming Discouragement

Settled now into our new home in Eastern Kentucky, we have had the privilege of having out-of-town guests as well as new friends in our new church to our home for dinner. My husband spoke yesterday about ways to overcome discouragement. I mentioned to him that one way I get my mind in a healthy frame of mind is serving others. I ask the Lord to place someone on my heart who needs encouragement. I send cards, an email note, make a phone call or make a meal. Having others into our home and sharing a meal together is another great way to lift up your heart. With cooler weather and shorter days coming soon, I encourage you to open up your heart and home to others. I know you will be blessed.

I served these biscuits recently when we had some friends over and received a great compliment when they were certain these were homemade biscuits. They are actually made from canned biscuits and are extremely easy to make--they just have a lot of good flavor.

Tiny Herbed Biscuits

1 can (10 count) refrigerated biscuits
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 t. celery flakes
1 1/2 t. parsley flakes
1/2 t. dill weed or seed
1 t. instant minced onion
1 1/2 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Melt butter in an 8 or 9-inch round cake pan. Stir in all the seasonings (except cheese). Quarter each biscuit and roll in butter mixture. Keep adding more pieces until all have been turned around and covered with mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Place plate over cake pan and invert biscuits onto plate.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.

Two Broccoli Casseroles

I two have recipes for broccoli casseroles that I love. One recipe comes from my sister Sharee and the other recipe from my twin sister, Denise. They are both very good but they are very different. Sharee's recipe is a little easier to prepare. Denise's recipe isn't difficult,it just involves a little more time. I hope you'll try them both and see which one is your favorite. I thank my sisters for these recipes and for what they mean to me. I love you both and consider you two of my best friends. I am blessed to have you!

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

16 oz. frozen chopped broccoli
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. Velveeta Cheese
Ritz Crackers
2 T. margarine

Thaw broccoli and place in 13 x 9" dish. Spread soup over broccoli then top with slices of Velveeta cheese. I just cover the broccoli with one layer of cheese. Top with crushed Ritz crackers. Dot margarine over crackers. Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.

Broccoli with Walnuts

3 10 oz. packages frozen chopped broccoli thawed
1 stick margarine, melted
1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 T instant chicken granules
2 c. milk
2/3 c. hot water
6 T. margarine
2 c. Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix
2/3 c. chopped walnuts

Arrange broccoli in buttered 9 x 13 dish. Melt one stick of margarine in small saucepan. Add flour and chicken granules. Cook a few minutes, stirring constantly. Add milk gradually and stir until smooth and thick. Pour this over broccoli. Melt 6 T. margarine in hot water. Add stuffing mix and toss to combine well. Add walnuts. Spoon on top of broccoli and bake uncovered in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.