Tag Archive for 'pecans'

5 Easy Appetizers for New Years Eve

Published by Hal on December 30, 2007 in Hal's Hint, mixed drinks and recipes. 1 Comment

With New Years’ celebrations upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to give you a appetizers that look and taste gourmet, but are easy on the wallet and are easy to prepare.

1. Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Get a few packages of lean cut bacon and some containers of dates. Wrap a slice of bacon around each date and skewer with a tooth pick. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked.

2. Prosciutto-Wrapped Apples and/or Melon

Wrap some prosciutto around wedges of apple or melon, such as honeydew (but only if you have access to good quality melon!). These are sure to be a hit!

3. Honey-Nut Brie

Place an 8-ounce wheel of brie on the center of foil lined baking sheet and score the top. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle some fresh thyme leaves over the top. Cover with the foil, and bake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees for 10 minutes. When the brie is melty, plate it and cover with 1/4 cup of toasted pecans and 2 tablespoons of honey. Serve with crusty bread.

4. Bagel or Pretzel Dip

Combine 8 ounces of cream cheese with 5 ounces of Old English Cheese. Add about 1 teaspoon (up to 2, if you like the flavor) of garlic powder. Serve with cut up bagels or soft pretzels.

5. Easy Bruschetta

Dice 6-8 roma tomatoes and add to bowl. Prepare a chiffonade of fresh basiland add it to the tomatoes. Add a dash of salt about about 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir to combine. Serve over toasted slices of French Bread.

BONUS COCKTAIL

Here is an easy, refreshing cocktail for your party. Fill a tall, thin glass with ice. Add one ounce of vodka, then fill with sparkling water. Squeeze a lime wedge into the drink and garnish with some curls of lime zest or a slice of lime.

Hal’s Hint: As you can see, these appetizers are really easy, the most difficult having only five ingredients. And, most only have 1 “gourmet” ingredient. Because of this, your guests will be amazed–but we know the secret, that these recipes cost nearly nothing. Another trick that will “Wow!” them is presentation. We eat first with our eyes, so having these dishes arranged artfully on a nice platter will be certain to whet your guests’ appetites. Be creative and festive–your guests will appreciate your effort!

Recipes: Sweet Petals Coffee Cake

Published by Hal on December 29, 2007 in Hal's Hint and recipes. 0 Comments

This recipe has been a favorite in my family for years and years. I think the source is an old Better Homes and Gardens or Woman’s Day magazine from around 1970. I’m going to another holiday party this evening and made this treat this morning. It takes nearly 3 hours from start to finish, but most of that time is rising and baking. Before everyone gets nervous about cooking with yeast, it’s not as hard as it sounds! The little buggers (quite literally) are hardy, so unless you make your yeast-bath really hot and kill them, you’ll be just fine.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 3 tablespoons shortening
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3/4 cup scalded milk
  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 3-4cups chopped nuts (I have used peanuts, walnuts, and pecans–any nut will probably taste fine)

Directions:

  1. Combine the water, shortening, salt, sugar, and scalded milk.
    Hal’s Hint: to scald milk, bring it just to a boil and remove it from the heat immediately.
  2. Allow the liquid mixture to cool to lukewarm.
    Hal’s Hint: to test the temperature, dip your finger into the liquid or flick some onto your wrist. If you can’t really feel the temperature or it feels slightly warm, it’s good to go.
  3. Stir the yeast into the mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Measure 2 1/2 cups of flour into a mixing bowl and pour the yeast mixture into the flour.
  5. Stir until the dough forms a ball.
    Hal’s Hint: the dough may be sticky at first–add more flour, about 3 tablespoons at a time, until the dough comes together into a ball. It’s much easier to add flour than it is to take it away
  6. Knead the dough about 20 times and cover.
  7. Allow the dough to rise for 60 minutes in a warm place (I put the dough in the microwave–not on, of course!).
  8. In the last 10 minutes of the first rise, melt the butter and combine the sugars, cinnamon, and nuts in a separate bowl.
  9. Tear pieces off the dough and roll them into strips about 1/2 inch in diameter and about 6 inches long.
  10. Dip the strips in the melted butter and roll them in the sugar/nut mixture.
  11. Coil the strips on a pan, making a round cake.
  12. Sprinkle some of the remaining sugar/nut mixture over the cake and place back into the warm place.
  13. Allow the cake to rise again for another 60 minutes.
  14. 15 minutes before the cake has finished rising, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
  15. Bake the cake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
  16. Allow the cake to rest for 10 minutes. Ice with a mixture of 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1-2 teaspoons of milk, if desired.

My recipe notes that the dough making process can be shortened by using frozen sweet rolls. I’ve never done this, and don’t think it will cut out much of the time. Personally, I love the smell of yeast and rising bread, so I couldn’t imagine not making this totally from scratch.

I’m sure when you make this for your next family gathering, it will be a smash hit! It takes some time, but the end result is truly worth it. And, it’s an easy recipe that anyone can make, even the first time cook.

More pictures:

Recipes: Poor Man Turtles (aka Rolo Pretzel Cookies)

Published by Hal on December 25, 2007 in recipes. 0 Comments

Ingredients

  • Bag of mini- or grid pretzels
  • Bag of Rolos
  • Bag of pecan halves

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees
  2. Assemble the cookies on a cookie sheet, with a pretzel on the bottom, topped by a Rolo, topped by a pecan half.
  3. Place in the oven for about 3-5 minutes, or until the Rolo just starts to melt.
  4. Allow to cool before serving

I brought these to a function once, and they were a smash hit! Super easy to make, and they’ll be gone in a flash. Enjoy!

Recipes: Bourbon Balls

Published by Hal on December 24, 2007 in recipes. 0 Comments

(Note, you can see some buckeyes in that picture, too! The bourbon balls are the ones in the middle.)

Ingredients

  • 1 box of confectioners sugar
  • 1 stick of (real) butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons of bourbon
  • 3/4 cup of chopped pecans
  • Melted Chocolate mixed with food grade paraffin

Directions

  1. Mix the first five ingredients together in a bowl.
  2. Place in the refrigerator for about an hour
  3. Scoop or roll into balls and place back into the refrigerator for another hour
  4. Dip the balls into the chocolate/paraffin mixture.

Yum!