Beef Stew

Brian says it tastes like his mom's beef stew.  Mom just thought it was ok

http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2013/10/best-crockpot-beef-stew.html

The Best Crockpot Beef Stew 

Add this recipe to your menu next week

and let the compliments roll in.

Beef stew has to be one of my ultimate comfort foods, especially during the winter months. And what goes better with Sunday football than a big ole’ bowl of beef stew!

Now, this isn’t any old stew. This has been proclaimed as The Best Crockpot Beef Stew by my friends and family. So add this recipe to your menu next week and let the compliments roll in.

The Best Crockpot Beef Stew 

Ingredients

2 pounds beef stew meat, (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp pepper
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 celery ribs, sliced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
6oz can tomato paste
32oz beef broth
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups baby carrots carrots
4-5 small red potatoes,cut into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups)
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
1 cups frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup water

Directions:

1.  Combine beef, celery, carrots, red onion, potatoes, salt,  pepper, garlic, parsley, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and tomato paste in the crock pot. I used a 6 qt crockpot for this stew.  Cook on LOW for 10 hours or on HIGH for 6-7 hours.

2.  About 30 minutes before serving, mix the flour and the water together in a small dish and pour into the crockpot. Mix until well combined. This will add a nice thickness to the stew. Next add in your frozen peas and corn. Continue cooking covered for 30 minutes.

Double Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/08/double-chocolate-cheesecake-cookies/

(did not make glaze)

Double Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies

YIELD: MAKES ABOUT 20 COOKIES

TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR

ingredients:

1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup loosely packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, cold and cut into cubes
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup milk chocolate chips

mascarpone glaze
4 ounces mascarpone cheese, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add in the cream cheese and beat until combined (it's okay if small clumps form), then beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, beat in the dry ingredients until combined. Use a spatula to stir in the chocolate chips.

Refrigerate the dough for 10 to 15 minutes, just until it's slightly less sticky and easier to roll into balls. Roll into golf-ball sized balls and place about 2 inches apart on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cookies are set. Let cool completely before covering in the glaze.

mascarpone glaze
Whisk together all the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Use a spoon or spatula to spread the glaze on the cookies or use a pastry bag (I did!) to pipe it across.

Dutch Baby

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/dutch-babies-ii/

Dutch Babies II

Rated: Submitted By: barbara_hengels Photo By: LynnInHK Prep Time: 8 Minutes Cook Time: 12 Minutes Ready In: 20 Minutes Servings: 2

"I love to eat these! They are warm and light, yet very filling. Great on cold mornings. This recipe is from my great grandmother. Serve with warm maple syrup and wedges of lemon."

INGREDIENTS:

2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour 1 pinch ground nutmeg

1 pinch salt 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar for dusting

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Place a 10 inch cast iron skillet inside oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
2.	In a medium bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until light. Add milk and stir. Gradually whisk in flour, nutmeg and salt.
3.	Remove skillet from oven and reduce oven heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt butter in hot skillet so that inside of skillet is completely coated with butter. Pour all the batter in the skillet and return skillet to oven.
4.	Bake until puffed and lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Remove promptly and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

http://www.marthastewart.com/316240/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-coo

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe calls for natural peanut butter, which has less sugar and gives the cookies a richer peanut flavor.

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Holiday Cookies 2005http://www.marthastewart.com/316240/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-coo

YieldMakes about 6 dozen

Ingredients

• • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups salted whole peanuts
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
2. Put sugars, butter, and peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Mix in eggs and vanilla.
3. Reduce speed to low. Add oat mixture, and mix until just combined. Mix in peanuts and chocolate chips.
4. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop balls of dough 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown and just set, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 days.