Christmas Baking

The Post Food Section got me inspired today - that's the plan, of course - so we'll be baking and making candy for Christmas this Sunday. I love plain sugar cookies cut in all sorts of holiday shapes, and gingerbread men. The kids are going to want to decorate a gingerbread house, but I'm not sure that's on the agenda this year. Perhaps rolling and decorating the cookies will be enough.

My favorite sugar cookie recipe comes from Martha Stewart. I know, I know, she's cliched, and phony, and so 1990s, but you can't argue with this recipe. It's delicious, easy to work with, and it stays fresh and yumy for a week or more.

4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 sticks unsalted butter (I always use regular butter)
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Cream together sugar and butter until fluffy. Beat in eggs. [I add to vanilla here too] Slowly blend in flour mixture. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or more. I like to form the dough into several smaller flat rectangles and chill separately. You can only work so much of the dough at a time, and it's better not to rework it several times.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into shapes and transfer to an ungreased baking sheet. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. While the cookies are chilling, preheat oven to 325. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes or until edges just begin to brown.

Cool on wire racks.

Buttermilk Pecan Chicken

Here's a recipe I got from my friend, Sandy, at the Gym. It's not flashy or new, but it's good and the kids like it all around. It's also handy because you make extras and freeze them uncooked. Then when you need a quick meal you can just pull them out, drizzle with a little melted butter or olive oil and bake.

1/3 c butter
1 c flour
1 cup pecans, ground up in food processor
1/4 c sesame seeds
1 T paprika
1 1/2 tsp salt
pepper
1 egg
1 c buttermilk
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Melt butter in 13x9 baking dish. Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Combine egg and buttermilk. Dip chicken in egg then in flour mixture. Place in pan and turn to coat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Apples a plenty

We brought back apples from our trip to North Carolina last month. Here's the recipe we used to scallop them in the oven - delicious warm or cold.

12 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into thick slices
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 T lemon juice

Melt butter. Add sugar, spices, and lemon juice. Put apples in a baking dish and pour butter mixture over. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until apples are tender.

Busy week ahead

This week coming up is so busy, I can't believe it. The two middle school kids have Christmas concerts - one Monday night, and one Tuesday night. I can't decide which is worse: a single 3.5-hour torturous concert where every group in every grade performs on the same night, or a week-long marathon of 2-hour concerts. Hmmm. I guess that depends on whether I have my knitting with me or not.

So, this week we'll have swordfish on Monday. It's not a big deal to prepare, and I'll cook some brown rice to go with, so there's something for anyone who hates fish. They can put leftover chili verde on the rice. Maybe some cooked carrots. I can do those ahead. Then off to concert number one


Tuesday - Rogan Josh. I love this Indian dish. It's traditionally made with lamb, but equally good with beef, and I have two smallish roasts in the freezer that ought to be used. Tuesday will be tough because the shop's open late, and there's concert number two. Serve with Basmati rice - love that stuff, and plain yogurt. Maybe some fruit too. I'd love to try this recipe for Naan if there's enough time.

Wednesday - Busy busy day. Special shopping night at the shop, plus I have to work from 2-5. Something fun - made ahead? Hmmm. I have Schwan's frozen breaded chicken in the freezer. I'll do a homemade Wendy's chicken sandwich. I'll sneak in some lettuce and tomato. Maybe some coleslaw too. My favorite is Marzetti's bottled coleslaw dressing and the packaged coleslaw shreds. So much better than the deli variety, and it doesn't get any easier than that.

Thursday - I'm going to try to make this soup that's a winter version of a salsa I make in the summer. Black beans, corn, mexican tomatoes, cilantro, and lime. I'll cook some chicken breast and cut it up in there too. Top with a little sour cream and serve it with chips or flour tortillas. Gonna have to make it ahead too. It would probably go nicely in the crock pot. Then off to dance class.

Friday - birthday party for daughter. Requested paninis. Panini sandwiches for 15. Anyone know a good way to keep the first ones crisp while I cook the rest?? And instead of cake, she's requested a triple chocolate semifreddo. At least I can make it ahead...

Giant has boneless chicken breast and butter on sale this week, so I'll stock up on those. I already have the chocolate for the semifreddo, but I'll need the turkey and ham for the paninis . Last week IQF swordfish and tuna and jumbo shrimp were on sale. I just love Giant.

Introduction

I love to cook. It can be pretty tough to feed 4 kids with varying tastes and tolerances and still enjoy the process, but we manage. I have my yarn store, and the kids have sports and other activities, so I can't put together a comfy pot-roast every night. But I am a big believer in healthy, balanced meals, and we sit down to dinner together every night. I know it seems really old fashioned, but hey, in a lot of ways, that's who I am.

It helps me to plan ahead, and I love a bargain, so I review the Giant weekly circulars, and plan the week's meals around what's on sale. I scour around Epicurious.com for recipes, and try to throw in at least one meal each week that's a favorite with at least on of the children. And sometimes I'm surprised with what they're willing to try, and what becomes a "keeper."

So this is really a boring blog about What's for Dinner at Ellen's house.