there's something about paring pumpkins with cream cheese

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

W

O

W

Try them. Try them.
You will like them you will see.


FYI: don't grease the pan really well; they'll spread too much causing edges to burn. And the cookie is delish even without the filling.

Apple Pie

CRUST:

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp. salt

2 TBSP cold milk

1 ½ tsp. sugar

½ cup salad oil

~Mix all ingredients and press into 9-inch pie pan.

FILLING:

4 medium peeled, cored, sliced apples

½ cup sugar

½ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. cinnamon

2 TBSP flour

~Toss apples with sugar, flour, and spices. Fill pie shell.

TOPPING:

½ cup flour

½ cup sugar

½ cup soft butter

~Mix together using a pastry blender (or fork). Crumble over the filling.

Place assembled pie in a brown paper bag. Fold the end under to seal. Place on middle oven rack (not touching elements). Bake at 350° for 1 hour & 45 minutes. No peeking.

 * I usually combine tart and sweet apples: Granny Smith paired
    with Braeburn ~or~ Honeycrisp
    paired with Cameo are combinations
    that I've tried and liked.
 * Whole wheat pastry flour works well in this (pastry flour comes
    from soft wheat).
 * In regards to the topping, if the butter is melted you will be
    tempted to add flour to make it 'crumble.' DON'T. It will be
    dry and floury instead of yummy buttery.

Asian Lettuce Wrap

1 pound ground beef or chicken (I have used both with good results)
16 boston bib or butter lettuce leaves
1 8 oz can water chestnuts (chopped)
1 cup chopped yellow onion
3 tbsp bottled minced garlic
1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
3 tsp bottled fresh ginger
1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tsp asian chili pepper sauce
1 bunch green onions-cut enough to make 3/4 cup-will use a lot of the green part
3 tsp asian or dark sesame oil

Wash and dry lettuce. Cook onions and meat in small amount of oil in frying pan until onions are clear and meat is cooked. Add everything except water chestuts, green onions, and dark sesame oil. Let that cook for a few minutes. Add water chestnuts and let it cook a few more minutes. Last add the green onions and dark sesame oil and cook for 2 minutes, just until the onions start to wilt. Place 1/4 cup in each lettuce leaf and serve.

For the recipe for the dessert wontons click here.

And since I was lazy last month, here is my appetizer recipe!


Cream Cheese Ball

2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained and squeezed
2 tbsp chopped green onion
1 tsp season salt
1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix cream cheese, green pepper, pineapple, green onion and seasoned salt. Form into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Remove plastic wrap and roll in chopped nuts. Serve with crackers or veggies.

Baked Fish

By: S.H.

3-4 fillets of tilapia (or fish of choice – salmon works well)
½ medium onion, sliced fine
½ medium tomato, sliced fine
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp butter or olive oil
Salt and pepper (I use 1 tsp sea salt)
1-2 tsp herb of choice – fresh if available, dried is fine (i.e., dill, parsley, tarragon, herbs de provence, etc.)
Tin foil – enough to make a large package for the dish

Rinse fish under cold water and pat dry. Spread onion slices on foil. Lay fish over onions, sprinkle salt and pepper and ½ of herbs. Lay tomatoes on top, then sprinkle with remaining herbs. Top with the butter in little pieces or drizzle oil. Fold foil over and close to form a package. Bake in a dish in the oven at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
**Serve with a salad or steamed vegetables

Southwestern Chicken Soup

By: R.W.

1 can (49.5 oz) reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 can (14.5oz) crushed tomatoes, undrained

1 can (14.5 oz)crushed tomatoes, undrained

1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies

1 lb boneless skineless chicken breasts, cut into small cubes

1 large onion, chopped fine (I puree' in food processor)

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

1 garlic clove, mined

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

3 cups frozen corn, thawed (can use 2 cans corn, drained)

In large saucepan combine first 12 ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 hour. Add corn; cook 10 minutes longer. Top each serving with tortilla chips; sprinkle with cheese.

***I brown the chicken in the saucepan in 1 Tbsp olive oil then add the next 11 ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce and simmer 1 hour. Add corn; cook 10 minutes longer and serve.

Chicken Tacos

By: K.C.

3-4 chicken breasts

1 medium onion, chopped fine

1 large tomato, chopped fine

1 Tbsp olive oil

corn tortillas

cooking spray

2 cups grated 2 % cheddar or monterrey jack cheese combo

(or just cheddar)

Boil chicken in water with a pinch of salt till done. While chicken is boiling, heat oil in a skillet and add onion and cook till onion is translucent, add tomato to onions when the onions are almost done. Set aside until chicken is done. Remove chicken from water and shred into fine strips. Add chicken to the skillet with the tomatoes and onion. Heat together and season all to taste with seasoned salt. Heat a separate skillet or griddle, spray the corn tortillas on both sides with Pam and heat them on the griddle. Then put 2% shredded cheese in the bottom of the tacos, then the meat mixture and broil them on both sides until they're hot. Serve with salsa (recipe below), lettuce, tomato, cheese, guacamole, black beans, etc.

Salsa (from my friends in Cabo)

2 Roma tomatoes finely diced
1/4 cup onion finely diced
1/4 cup cilantro finely chopped
1 serrano pepper finely diced (you can add more if you like your salsa hotter)
salt to taste
1 tsp. lime juice

Mix together and serve

Sweet Potatoe Wedges

By: K.A.

3-4 medium size sweet potatoes

cinnamon

sugar

cooking spray

Wash sweet potatoes and cut into thin wedges. Lay on cookie sheet and spray all sides with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar or just sugar (depends on taste preference) and cook 15 minutes at 425 degrees until soft. Turn them on the otherside 1/2 way through baking to make sure that they get crisp. ***if they look burned in places, it's okay, the sugar has caramalized and that makes it so much better!