Spicy Date in a Blanket

The other night I went to ladies night out at one of my daughters friends, parents home; and I  had a great time! This is a great idea everyone brings either a appetizer, dinner item, dessert or drink. There were about 30- 40 Moms there from Kindergarten to 4th or 5th grade. It was so much fun. The best part is you are not allowed to talk to the Moms that you know! You are only allowed to speak to people in other grades or classes that you do not know.
 My daughter has been going to the same school since kindergarten, however, I still do not know all 250+ families who attend the school and it was fun to meet parents who had kids in other grades. A lot of the Moms at my daughter school know that I have the cooking underwriter website. So they always ask if I will create something fun to bring to"Ladies Night Out". So I created spicy dates in a blanket with jalapeno jack cheese a spicy sweet appetizer.

Spicy Date in a blanket Ingredients:
36 Medjool Dates pits removed
36 small pieces of jalapeno Monterrey Jack Cheese
1 tub of Gluten Free Pizza Dough by Pillsbury rolled out and cut in strips

Take dates and remove pits slice down the center.

Insert spicy jalapeno Monterrey jack cheese.

    

Next roll pizza strip around date making an x in center.

Bake at 350 degrees on a silpat for 10 min.

Bon Appetite,


Enjoy,

Sheila Fretz

Easy Pie

I too love to bake from scratch, but when it comes to making Cherry pie filling, I do not want to spend 2 hours in the kitchen. I do not like pitting the cherries, then taking the cherries, and making a  pie filling. So when it comes to making Pies and tarts sometimes it is best to get the help from your local grocery store. I know your disappointed, however,there are many Gluten Free Pre made piefillings out there. When you are having your holiday celebration and have to make all the sides for a holiday dinner, plus make all 4 desserts. You will thank me for this fabulous easy dessert! No one needs to know that the filling came out of a can.

Make a batch of  Famous Pie Crust. Divide into 2 equal portions. Roll out place one in a pie shell do not cut excess off.

Next poor 2 cans pre-made pie filling I used Comstock Cherry Flavor. You can use any type of filling to make any type of Easy Pie this way.

Last roll out other crust and take a cookie cutter and make one cut out of the center. I used a Canadian Maple leaf bought at mine at William Sonoma but they too sell them at Amazon.
However, you could do a star for the winter holidays or a heart for Valentines day.    Last  place on top of pie and crimp edges together. Bake in oven at 325 degrees covered for 30 min. after 30 min pass uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes uncovered. Serve after it has cooled at least 45 minutes to an hour filling gets very hot !!!

Enjoy,

Sheila Fretz

Butter Tarts with Pecans or Raisins

So in Canada Butter Tarts are a big deal. Most people buy them at their local markets, bakeries or convenience stores. If you go to Canada, you have to check these out especially on the East Coast they seem to have created the best butter tarts.  As you know, I just recently hosted Canadian Thanksgiving, and now I want to share with you my special recipe.

Butter Tarts with Pecans or Raisins  Ingredients:
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup pecans


Home made pie crust (see recipe below)

Home Made Butter Tarts Equipment
Cupcake pans
Measuring cup

1st make Home Made Pie or Tart  Crust then set a side. Next Make filling  take eggs, Corn syrups, sugar, and Vanilla and mix in large bowl until a thick consistency appears.

Roll out pie crust/ tart crust

Next Cut with Large 4" or 5" cup or Circular cookie cutter.

Place cut pie shell in cupcake pan

Poor Butter Tart batter in pans sprinkle with either Pecans or Raisins .

I always make 12 Raisin tarts and 12 Pecan tarts. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 18 min.

Bon Appetite
Enjoy,
Sheila Fretz

Home Made Pie or Tart Crust

Okay so I have a little secret, this is my first time I have ever created a pie or tart crust recipe. I have seen recipes that incorporate eggs or vinegar. However, I wanted to create a recipe that I could pass on to my friends that have food allergies. This recipe incorporates gluten free flour, butter, shortening, sugar, salt and cold chilled water and the best part is I make it in the food processor.

Home Made Pie or Tart  Crust Ingredients:

1/3 cup shortening plus 2 Tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup of butter chilled chopped
3 cups gluten free flour
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon salt
3/4 cup water chilled


This is the easiest recipe and it will only take you 2 to 3 min to make. Take the flour, Sugar and Salt and put in the food processor with dough blade ( picture below) pulse 3 times. Next add chopped chilled butter, pulse 4 times, Add Shortening divided equally around bowl. pulse again 4 times add 1/2 cup of water pulse again. The remainder of the water is used to add if needed.

This will make enough dough for a top and a bottom of a shallow pie pan.


Bon Appetite!

Enjoy,

Sheila Fretz

Thanksgiving Canadian Style

 So October 11, 2010 was Canadian Thanksgiving and I had my Thanksgiving Holiday Party, 10.10.10, with my fabulous friends and extended family. Look at my Fabulous table scape I love to put all of my Pilgrims out with my Pumpkins, Corn and leaves out too.


In this Picture from Right to left Turkey, Mr. Fix It’s Mashed Potatoes,  Cranberry Relish, Or Beet Berry Relish,  Acorn Squash Florets with Apple Sage Sausage Stuffing, Mr. Fix It's Famous Home Made Stuffing and my sweet neighbor Annie brought these fabulous sweet potatoes. Annie will be sending me her recipe and I will post as soon as I receive.

In this picture from Front to back German Cabbage, Ham., Gravy Turkey, Cranberry Relish.  In addition to Harvest Time Creamed Corn ( not in photo).

We also had 5 kinds of Pies and Tarts, Butter tarts and  Pecan Tarts, Dutch Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Easy (Cherry) Pie.  I will share those recipes Wednesday and Friday.


Thanks for stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving to all and if you are in the United States Happy Columbus Day.


Bon Appetite!

Enjoy,

Sheila Fretz

Cranberry Relish

This is one of my favorite recipes for Cranberry Relish it is not to sweet and it taste so yummy. Plus it so easy to make.

Cranberry Relish Ingredients
1 Bag of  Cranberries 16 oz
1 Cup of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp nutmeg

Equipment
1 large pot
1 spatula Rubber for stirring

TIP OF THE DAY: Buy Cranberries when in season and freeze them; this way when you want to make anything  that calls for cranberries you have them at home.

Place Cranberries, Sugar, Nutmeg and Orange Juice in a pot and bring to a boil. Turn down to simmer and let boil and additional 10min. Place in bowl and chill overnight in refrigerator.

Bon Appetite!

Enjoy,

Mrs. Mix It

Tailgating such a fun activity in the fall to do with Friends and Family

About a month ago or so I was contacted by Gimlet Mommy of the Entertaining House asking me about what reminds me of fall most My First Answer was Thanksgiving and my second answer was having a Tailgating Party. So Gimlet Mommy asked that I do a post on Tailgating and all of the fabulous food that I would serve at a event like this. We served some familiar dishes that a lot of you have made from "Cooking Underwriter" in the past, plus some new appetizers, salads and side dishes. The Mrs. of One Fabulous Mom and her husband were in attendance too and we had a blast together as usual. Come with us on our journey of tailgating with fabulous friends and don't forget to visit their fabulous blogs too.

This was are menu for our tailgating event. We had a fabulous time at the football game after our tailgating adventure and fun was had by all.  By the way University of Southern California,  Trojans won and walked away with a victory. The score was 17 University of Southern California, and 14 Virgina.

Summer In a Bowl

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon

Grilled Peppers and Onions

The Grilled Peppers and Onions we heated up on the grill after we had  pre-cooked at home for the tailgate party

OneFabulousMom’s Famous Brats made from her husband's special spices, are to the left.

I made the Sweet Italian Sausage wrapped in bacon, this is a fun and yummy way to eat sausage! We rolled the Sweet Italian Sausage in Bacon then put one wooden tooth pick in to keep bacon on until crispy. Remove before serving, and are to the right

TIP OF THE DAY: Don't forget your spray bottle of water because the bacon grease will flame up the fire on your barbecue.

Brownies made from Pams Gluten Free Cake Mix with Gluten Free Sprinkles
Made as directed from box except I made substituting the butter for apple sauce  equal parts. Then I frosted and Put the Gluten Free Sprinkles as a topping.  Plus I made in Cupcake lined tins for easy transport and display.


So all of the recipes have links to them! I hope you enjoy the fresh quick and easy food recipes as much as we did. We made the Summer in a bowl,  The Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad the night before. Then that Morning of the tailgate we assembled the Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon  and The Grilled Peppers and Onions; we then  cooked at home then heated up on the grill before serving.  We also Grilled the Brats and Sausage at the sight but assembled the Sweet Italian wrapped in Bacon and the Alfredo Corn  on the Cob at home the night before.A lot of these foods can be done ahead of time and are fabulous on the grill.  Happy Tailgating!                                                                

Bon Appetite and Happy Tailgating!!

Enjoy!

 Sheila Fretz