Old Fashioned Bread Pudding

 A favorite of mine that I don't make too often due to its high calorie content!  But oh, so delicious.

1 16 oz. day old French bread loaf, cubed

1 12 oz. cans evaporated milk

1 cup water

6 large eggs, beaten

1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

1 large Red Delicious apple, grated (I use Granny Smith)

1 cup raisins

1 1/2 cups sugar

5 tablespoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup butter, cut up and softened

Bourbon Sauce (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine first 3 ingredients; stir in eggs, blending well.  Stir in pineapple and next 4 ingredients.  Stir in butter, blending well.  Pour mixture into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until set.  Serve with Bourbon Sauce.

Bourbon Sauce

3 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons bourbon

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon nutmeg

Melt butter in a small saucepan; whisk in flour, and cook 5 minutes.  Stir in whipping cream; cook 3 minutes.  Stir in bourbon, vanilla, and nutmeg and simmer 5 minutes.

Cabbage Steaks

A nice lunch or side dish.  Easy prep and surprisingly delicious taste.

Remove the larger leaves around a head of green cabbage.  Wash well under running water.  Cut into one inch slices crosswise.  On each side, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic salt.

Bake in 400 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes, depending on your preference.  I leave them in for 40 minutes in a preheated oven.

Sweet Potato Muffins

I love sweet potatoes and this is an especially good recipe.

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 cups brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup baking soda

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil 

1 cup mashed roasted sweet potato

1 egg

1/2 cup yogurt or buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375.  Prepare muffin tins (I use cup liners).

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.  In another bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients and fold into dry ingredients just until combined.

The batter will be thick and you may need to add additional yogurt or buttermilk.

Fill muffin tins 3/4 of the way full and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  Allow to cool in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then remove.

Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake

 A delicious start to the day!

Cake batter

2 13/ cups flour, plus extra for baking dish

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 cup milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup fresh blueberries

Cheese filling

1 cup ricotta

1 egg

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Topping

1 cup reserved crumb mixture (instructions below)

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 and grease and flour a 9x13x2 inch baking dish.

To make cake batter:  Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Measure and set aside 1 cup of crumb mixture for topping.  To remaining crumb mixture, add baking powder, milk, eggs, and vanilla.  Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Pour batter into pan and sprinkle blueberries over top.

To make cheese filling:  Combine ricotta, egg, sugar, and lemon zest in a mixing bowl.  Beat until smooth.  Spoon over blueberries.

To make topping:  Place reserved crumb mixture, walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.  Toss to combine.  Sprinkle over cheese layer.

Bake 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.