New Years Day Recipe

In honor of tradition and the occasional superstition. Please enjoy the following New Years recipe for Collard Greens and sweet cornbread. Collard greens are eaten on New Years by those who want money in the upcoming year. Eat up today and hopefully money will find you in 2010.


Ingredients

* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 to 2-pound smoked pork (thickly sliced) or turkey wings
* 1 onion, halved
* 1 quart chicken broth
* 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons white vinegar
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 2 pounds fresh collard greens, washed, stems removed and roughly chopped
* 6 cloves garlic
* Sweet Maple Cornbread, recipe follows

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the pork pieces and brown on both sides, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the onion, cut sides down, and brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth. Season with chili flakes, salt, vinegar and garlic powder. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Adjust seasoning, if desired. Add the collard greens and garlic cloves, stir to combine and cover. Cook until greens are tender, approximately 35 to 45 minutes. Remove the onion halves, garlic cloves, pork pieces, for better presentation. Transfer the greens to a serving bowl.

Sweet Maple Cornbread:

* Cooking spray
* 1 cup cornmeal
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 4 tablespoons maple syrup
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 1/4 cup oil
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons butter, softened

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together all the ingredients except the butter and pour into the pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the cornbread is lightly golden brown.

Once baked, remove from the oven and brush with butter. Serve immediately.

Sweet Cornbread

Everyone needs a Holiday Treat and why not a traditional one that everyone knows and love.
In honor of the south I decide to put up this sweet delicious recipe for cornbread.This is the perfect dish to have on Christmas Day to share with your love ones and friends.

Ingredients:

1 cup cornmeal
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup melted butter
2 tablespoons honey
4eggs,beaten
2 1/2 cups whole milk

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

• Stir together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Pour in the vegetable oil, melted butter, honey, beaten eggs, and milk, and stir just to moisten.

• Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, until the top of the cornbread starts to brown and show cracks.

Vegetarian Appetizers

As we all know Christmas is right around the corner so I decide to put out some wonderful vegetarian appetizers that everyone could enjoy. These appetizers are sure to be a hit!

Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Ingredients

Meatballs:

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• Sweet and Sour Sauce:
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 3/4 cup apricot jam
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, Cheddar cheese, and cottage cheese until well blended. Mix in 1/2 cup onion, pecans, basil, salt and sage. Stir in bread crumbs. Form the mixture into 2 inch balls, and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish.

• In another bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, vinegar, apricot jam, ketchup, 1/4 cup onion, oregano and hot pepper sauce. Pour over meatballs.

• Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until meatballs are firm, and sauce is thick and bubbly.

Cheese Balls

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

• 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

• 1 (1 ounce) package Ranch-style dressing mix (not the dipping mix )
  

• 2 cups chopped pecans

• 4 pecan halves

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and Ranch dressing mix. Form into one large ball or two smaller balls. Roll in chopped pecans to coat surface. Decorate the top with pecan halves. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

I hope this can ease your mind when it comes to thinking of appetizers for the Holidays Enjoy!

Its National Brownie Day!!!

Now like most of us who can resist a delicious brownie??
So in honor of National Brownie Day I decided to put up a wonderful recipe for Brownies. This too can make a great holiday treat for your family and friends. Enjoy!

Ingredients
* 1 cup margarine or butter
* 2 cups sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 4 eggs, slightly beaten
* 1 cup all-purpose flour or unbleached flour
* 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 8 ounces (8 squares) semi-sweet chocolate (coarsely chopped)
* 1 cup pecans, chopped

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9-inch pan. In medium saucepan over low heat, melt margarine. Add sugar, vanilla and eggs; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Stir in flour, cocoa and salt; mix well. Add chocolate and pecans. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until set. Cool. Cut into 36 bars and for a special touch for the holidays sprinkle confectioners' sugar on top of the brownies.

Celebrate National Cookie Day!

Tomorrow, December 4th, is National Cookie Day in America. In honor of the holiday, take time out of your day bake, and enjoy some deliciously baked cookies!

Here is a simple recipe for 3 dozen chocolate chunk cookies:

Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
16 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Baking and preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners.

Combine the first three ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and both sugars with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Mix in vanilla. Add dry ingredients and combine well. Fold in chocolate chunks.

Form dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place each ball two inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Cool cookies on sheet for five minutes and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.