Pumpkin Bread with Glaze

Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 c. vegetable oil
3 c. white sugar
2/3 c. water

In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended.

3 ½ c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. ground cloves
¼ tsp.  ground ginger

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended.

Pour into the prepared pans.

Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Glaze:

Combine 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar, 3 Tablespoons apple cider and 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.  

Glaze should be thick but pourable. Add more sugar or cider if needed.  

Pour over the cake while still warm.  Reserve some to pour over each slice when served.

I made this for the library staff on Halloween.
I think it was a hit!

10 Minute Stroganoff

What You'll Need:

·         1 1/2 pounds ground beef

·         1 (8-ounce) package presliced fresh mushrooms

·         1 large onion, thinly sliced

·         16 ounces carton sour cream

·         1 (10-3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

·         Garlic salt and black pepper to taste (optional)

What To Do:

Brown ground beef in a large skillet, set aside.

Add mushrooms and onion to skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until tender.

Add ground beef, sour cream, and soup; cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally. If desired, stir in garlic salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately over hot cooked egg noodles.

The Real Scoop
by Andrew

Definitely needed salt and pepper, but this was good.  We should have this again soon, but without the mushrooms.  

Trisha Yearwood's Chocolate Orange Cake

Ingredients
Cake:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice, plus 2 tablespoons finely grated zest
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons orange juice

Directions
Special equipment: a Bundt pan

For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the softened butter and 1 tablespoon of the cocoa to make a thick paste. Use this paste to paint the inside of the Bundt pan. Set aside.

In an electric mixer, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and remaining 1/2 cup cocoa and mix until blended. Add the orange juice, mayonnaise, vinegar and vanilla and mix until just combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold in the orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean, 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

For the chocolate glaze: Mix the confectioners' sugar and cocoa together. Whisk in the orange juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a good consistency to drizzle. Drizzle the glaze over the cake.

You can substitute 2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise.

I took this to work for National Library Worker's Day 2015.  I think the staff liked it, but it's not one of my favorites.  I thought it needed more orange flavor and while I can't put my finger on it, it was missing something.  It was moist and thick, but missing.....something.

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 bag Frozen Hash Brown Potatoes (32 oz) or substitute thinly-sliced potatoes
• 1 lb Bacon
• 1 Small Onion diced
• 8 oz Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 12 Eggs
• 1 cup Milk

Instructions

• Cut bacon in to small pieces, cook and drain (You could use precooked bacon to speed up the process).
• Add half bag of hash browns (or half of the potatoes) to bottom of slow cooker.
• Add half your bacon.
• Add half your onions.
• Add half your cheese.
• Add remaining hash browns.
• Add remaining bacon.
• Add remaining onions.
• Add remaining cheese.
• In a medium sized bowl beat eggs and milk together.
• Pour egg mixture over your casserole.
• Add salt and pepper on top.
• Cook on Low for 4 hours or warm for 8 hours.

Buckeye Pretzels

Mom showed me how to make these while we were there over Christmas.
Everyone enjoyed them.

A buckeye sandwiched between two pretzels and dipped in chocolate!  

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
Pretzels
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat peanut butter and butter until combined. Scrape down bowl, add sugars and beat until combined. You should be able to roll the mixture into balls without sticking to your hands. If needed, add more powdered sugar until you reach a consistency that is easy to roll.
Roll the mixture into small balls, about 1 teaspoon of mixture for each ball, and place on prepared baking sheet. Sandwich the balls between two pretzels and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Melt the chocolate in a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat. Dip each pretzel bite halfway into the melted chocolate and place on the prepared baking sheet. Chill in refrigerator until chocolate is set.

Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini

1 - 8 oz box spaghetti noodles
2 - cups cooked chicken breasts or leftover turkey
½ - cup chopped onion
3 - tablespoons butter
1 - tablespoon of minced garlic
1 - can cream of mushroom soup
½ - cup light sour cream
½ - 3/4 cup whole milk
½ - cup Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

While the noodles are boiling, melt butter on a low heat in a frying pan. Add garlic and onion. Saute for about 3 minutes.


Add soup, sour cream, milk, cheese and turkey. Stir over low heat, until noodles are done boiling. Drain noodles and add to the mixture. Toss well and serve immediately.


NOTE - This was very dry. I would double the amount of cream sauce.

Baked Cheesy Chicken Penne

6 tablespoons butter, plus more for baking dishes
kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound penne rigate (I used a 14.5 oz box of rice pasta)
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 8 ounces each), halved horizontally (I used some leftover cooked chicken)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
6 garlic cloves, finely minced
6 cups whole milk (I used lactose free)
1 1/2 cups shredded provolone (6 ounces)
1 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 6 ounces)

Preheat oven to 400. Butter two shallow 2-quart baking dishes. If you’re going to freeze one, use a disposable foil pan. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes short of al dente; drain pasta and set aside.

While pasta is boiling, heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Season chicken with salt and pepper; cook until opaque throughout, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Halve each piece lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.

In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot , melt butter over medium. Add flour and garlic; cook, whisking, 1 minute. While whisking constantly, gradually add milk; bring to a simmer. Keep whisking frequently as sauce thickens, about 1 minute more. Add tomatoes; cook 1 minute. Take the pan off the heat and and gradually stir in provolone and 1/2 cup Parmesan.

Add chicken and pasta to pot; season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide pasta mixture between baking dishes. If freezing, place remaining Parmesan cheese in a zip-top baggie. If cooking, sprinkle on top.

Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Notes - I used Monterey Jack and Colby cheeses.  Since it tasted "floury" to me, I also topped it with a light sprinkling of paprika and also Italian seasoning.

This made A LOT.  I got two pans for the freezer and one for tonight.  I hope we like it!

Note 2 - After making this, I can say that this really IS bland.  Not quite sure how to "step it up."