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Archives for October 2016

Baked German Apple Pacakes

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Baked German Apple Pancake

Warm and inviting. This pancake has been a family favorite for decades. Given to me by a college roommate, It has been the center attraction at many family breakfasts and brunches. It makes 2 generous or 4 petite servings.
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Ingredients
  

For the Pancake

  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour sifted
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

For the Apple Topping

  • 2 apples peeled and sliced
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or apple pie spice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Place oven rack in middle position.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Generously grease a 9-inch oven-safe skillet.
  • Beat eggs until well bended.
  • Add flour, sugar, salt, vanilla and milk.
  • Beat until smooth.
  • Stir in 2 tablespoons melted butter.
  • Pour into prepared 9-inch skillet.
  • Place sliced apples around the top of the batter.
  • Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  • Top with ¼ cup brown sugar.
  • Bake for at least 30 minutes – until pancake is puffy.
  • Serve with butter and maple syrup if desired.

Quick Bean Soup

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Witches Brew (Quick Bean Soup)

This soup is a family tradition. As a child, my mom served this every Halloween - and called it 'Witches Brew'. It is such a delicious tradition, that every Halloween - it is now being served by her grandchildren around the country. No doubt - it will be served in the homes of her great-grandchildren - for whom it is now an official part of Halloween. . . it's that good.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package Hot dogs
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (optional - I never use it)
  • 4 strips bacon sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup celery chopped
  • 1 29 ounce can tomatoes diced, stewed, or whole - undrained
  • 1 20 ounce can pork and beans
  • 2 whole bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons better than boullion - beef flavor or two beef boullion cubes
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions
 

  • Slice hot dogs into rosettes (slices) and set aside
  • In a dutch oven or large pot, saute bacon, onion and celery. Add the remaining ingredients except hot dogs and simmer 20-30 minutes.
  • Add the sliced hot dogs to the soup and simmer for 5-10 minutes to heat the hot dogs.
  • Serve with hot cornbread.

Notes

This recipe is very flexible.  If you love hot dogs, add more.  If you love bacon, add more.  If you love celery, add more.  I never add the sugar - as baked beans are plenty sweet.  If you don't have worcestershire sauce, no problem. . . . It's that good and that flexible.

Mulled Cider

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Mulled Cider

Warm apple cider with a hint of orange and wonderful warming spices.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 quarts apple cider – or a good apple juice
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 whole allspice berries
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 2 cardamom pods whole
  • 1 orange – thinly sliced

Instructions
 

  • Pour the cider into a large saucepan.
  • Add the orange slices and spices.
  • Bring to a simmer – and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

Placing the spices in a cloth bag or tea ball makes serving easier.
You can simmer this for as little as 10 minutes - but the flavor improves with time.  Just be sure that you cover the pot with a lid if you plan to simmer it longer - you don't want it all to evaporate!
If you have leftovers,  store the cider in the refrigerator - but be sure to remove the orange slices first.

Here’s what’s Happening on the Homestead

Spring.  Just the word congers up images of blossoms and bunnies, eggs and chicks. . . . and catalogs filled with tableware, linens and all the fresh spring color imaginable. . . . so when my spring edition of the Pier1 catalog arrived – I was immediately drawn to devour every page.  The dinnerware, table settings, linens were, in typical Pier1 form, a wonderful feast for the eyes. pier1-catalog-page

But, there was one thing that especially drew my attention. . .their adorable folded napkins – especially the little bunnies in the upper right corner of the page. The catalog directed readers to log on to their website for instructions  – which I immediately did.

Upon arriving at the page, I  searched for the Bunny Fold pier-one-bunny-ears-directionsand found this.   I grabbed some cloth napkins (which happened to be from Pier1) and, following their directions, began folding.  It only took me to the 4th step to figure out that there was a real problem with the directions – they were rolling from the wrong side of the napkin. . . and by the final step – it was unmistakable.

wrong-way-bunny-napkinI had created this.  I took an unfolded napkin and the directions to my husband – who, as a builder, reads instructions for a living  . . . and his response was immediate – these are not right.  They have rolled from the long side and not the point – and used directions for a granny knot.  It needs to be an ‘overhand’ knot.  (50 plus years of scouting – he should know his knots!)

After making a few simple changes – rolling from the point and using an overhand knot – the finished product looked like the one in the Pier1 picture.  Success!    folded-bunny-napkin-perfection

 And so, as much as I LOVE Pier1, no one is infallible.  I have done my own set of instructions, including pictorials, for your use should you be wanting to try these little treasures.  Such a simple way to dress up a spring  or Easter table.

Just Click Here to go to the instructions.  Happy Spring!

Enjoy,

Kathy

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Established in 1989, the Homestead at Bridle Creek has risen from acres of oaks and scrub brush to a  [Continue Reading …]

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