Recipe Repository

I’ve never really loved pumpkin pie until I started experimenting with a recipe from the “Recipe Cottage,” which a co-worker shared with me. After some tweaking, I found that I really enjoyed the creamy texture and strong pumpkin flavor of this pie. The added bonus is that this version does not call for extra butter, cream cheese, or heavy cream, unlike other pumpkin pie recipes I’ve read.

Ingredients

1 large or 2 small “pie” pumpkins, enough to yield 2 cups cooked, drained pumpkin
2 egg yolks + 1 whole egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cups of whole milk
one pinch of salt
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
9-inch pie pan filled with your favorite crust
(I use an all-butter frozen pie shell but you can make one from scratch if you prefer.)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the pumpkins in half and scoop out seeds and slimy stuff. Place them cut-side down on a baking sheet (preferably one with a lip to catch liquid) and roast in the middle of the oven for one hour. Remove and let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, blind-bake the pie shell according to the recipe or package directions. Set the shell aside to cool, and turn the oven up to 425 degrees F.

When the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, peel off the rind and discard. Drain the pumpkin in a fine mesh sieve or colander for about 20 minutes to remove excess water. Place the drained pumpkin in a food processor or blender and process until smooth, stirring as necessary. If, after achieving a smooth consistency, the pumpkin is still a bit thin and similar to applesauce, drain it a second time in a sieve lined with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.

In a large mixing bowl or electric mixer, whisk the eggs and then add the sugar, maple syrup, salt and spices. Mix until the sugar has dissolved. Be sure the pumpkin is cooled to room temperature before measuring two cups and adding that to the egg/sugar mixture (to avoid cooking the eggs). Mix well. Next, add 3/4 cup of milk and mix. If it looks like there will be more room in your pie shell, or the filling is too thick, add a little more milk and mix again.

Pour the pie filling into the pre-baked pie shell and bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 375 and bake for another 30 minutes, or until the custard is firm. Cool and serve with home-made whipped cream or ice cream.

This is a recipe that my mother got from a little old lady at a church bake sale one year. It’s so good that it instantly became the birthday cake in our household; Rick requests it every year.

Tools
10-inch tube pan or bundt cake pan
large and small rubber or silicone spatulas
electric mixer

Cake Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 & 3/4 cups sugar
6 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
8 oz sour cream
food coloring (optional)

Note: I like to use food coloring to make contrasting cake and frosting colors, for festive appeal. This is optional of course.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla and one egg; mix. Scrape the bowl well. Continue to add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Now add half the flour mixture to this egg/butter mixture and fold together with a spatula, then mix. Add half the sour cream and mix; then add the other half of the flour mixture and a few drops of food coloring (if you are using any) and mix again. Finally, add the rest of the sour cream and mix until the cake batter is smooth.

Very Important: Butter the inside of your cake pan, and don’t be shy about the butter – use a lot and get every centimeter, including the center tube part. Next, put a handfull of flour into the buttered pan, and tilt the pan around slowly so that the flour can spread out and stick to the butter layer. Hold your pan over the sink or a trash can and tilt the pan in different directions to be sure you get all the surfaces coated. Gently tap out the excess flour.

Pour the cake batter into your prepared cake pan, making sure it is evenly distributed. Bake for 70 minutes, turning once to ensure even baking. To test the cake for doneness, insert a wooden skewer or chopstick into the cake and remove immediately. If the skewer comes out clean, your cake is done. If it comes out sticky, your cake needs a few more minutes in the oven. When the cake is done, set it out to cool for at least 30 minutes.

To release the cake from the pan, run a very thin chopstick or long thin knife between the cake and the pan. Make sure you go all the way to the bottom of the cake pan when you do this, and be gentle. Next, place a dinner plate upside down over the cake pan. Turn the cake pan and plate over. Your cake should release from the pan and fall onto the plate. If not, try a few gentle smacks on the bottom of the cake pan to release your cake. If this doesn’t work, turn the cake back over and let it cool a little longer. Being too rough can cause the cake to break and only part of the cake to fall out, so you have to have some patience and practice with this. If you buttered and floured your pan, the cake should pop out without too much trouble. The cake will come out bottom-side up. Place a second plate on top of the cake and flip it back over to get it right side up (this is safer than just lifting it with your hands, as it keeps the weight distributed).

OK, now that you have your cake you need some frosting!

Frosting Ingredients
4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick) butter, softened
8 oz. Philladelphia Cream Cheese at room temperature (yes, I am brand-specific on this one)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
16 oz. (one box) of 10X powdered sugar
food coloring (optional)

In a large bowl, cream the butter and the cream cheese. Add the vanilla and start adding the sugar a little at a time. You want to whip a lot of air into the frosting to make it light and also increase the volume so that there is enough to cover the entire cake. Keep whipping and adding the sugar a little at a time. Add a few drops of food coloring if you like. After all of the sugar (the entire box) has been added, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the frosting for about half an hour. It needs to be semi-firm before you spread it on the cake.

A quick word about frosting the cake: there’s no right or wrong way, but the method I have found to be easiest is to put blobs of frosting on the top of the cake, then work the frosting around and down with a small spatula to get it to stick to the cake surface. Then it is a matter of smoothing or texturing. Work at a steady pace and don’t worry if your cake doesn’t look like something out of a magazine. It will taste great! Remember, the longer the frosting sits out the softer it will get, eventually melting off the cake. So work steadily and don’t fuss with it too much. Put the frosted cake back into the fridge and take it out only when you are ready to serve it. Enjoy!

Also known as Russian Tea Cakes or Mexican Wedding Cookies, these wonderful cookies are great any time of the year. I like to include them in my holiday assortment for a little variety. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
16 oz. confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 & 1/4 cups white flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup pecans chopped or broken into small pieces

Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine butter, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and vanilla. In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, and nuts. Work in flour mixture untill dough holds together. Using your hands, shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on un-greased baking sheet and bake 10-12 minutes or untill set but not brown.

After removing them from the oven, allow the cookies to cool for about 15 minutes. While they are still warm (but not too hot!) roll the cookies in confectioner’s sugar. The sugar should stick and coat the cookies but not melt. If the sugar melts, let the cookies cool longer and try again. After the first coat of sugar is applied, wait unti the cookies are completely cool and roll them in confectioner’s sugar a second time. To package these for gifts I like to put 6 of them in a small plastic sandwich bag and add an extra teaspoon of powdered sugar to the bag.

This traditional stuffing is vegetarian-friendly and very savory. The use of a pre-packaged breading also makes it quick and easy. The recipe makes enough to fill a 9×13 inch baking pan, plus a little extra to stuff your bird or tofurkey. It can easily be scaled up or down for greater or fewer numbers of guests, as the breading mix is sold in a variety of sizes. Serves 9-12.

Ingredients:
1 small bag Pepperidge Farm bread stuffing mix
1 small bag Pepperidge Farm cornbread stuffing mix
1 large yellow onion
3 stalks celery
1 handful chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 Tbsp. dried sage (rubbed to a powder)
butter and hot water (see breading package for amount)

Mince the onion and celery, and saute in a little oil. Add the parsley and sage and remove mixture from heat. Combine with the breading mixes, add the butter and hot water, and cook according to the directions on the back of the bag of mix.

This cornbread is perfect with chili, but also compliments any hearty soup or stew. The maple syrup adds richness without making it too sweet. Takes about 45 minutes to prepare, serves 6-8.

Dry Ingredients:
1 cup corn meal (medium ground is best)
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

Wet Ingredients:
1 large egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil + 1 Tbsp.
1/2 cup Vermont maple syrup (or substitute honey or Grandma’s molasses)
1 & 1/2 cups milk or soymilk

Preperation
Add the tablespoon of vegetable oil to a 10-inch cast iron frying pan that has at least a 2-inch lip on it. Put this in your cold oven and preheat to 350° F.

In a small bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, scramble the egg, then whisk in the oil. Whisk in the maple syrup next, and when that is combined stir in the milk. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, and whisk gently just until combined. Small lumps are fine.

When oven and frying pan are heated, carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and pour in the batter, then gently place this back in the oven (on the middle oven rack). Bake for 25 minutes and check with a toothpick for doneness. Bake for a few minutes more if needed. Then remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Makes 8 generous pieces.

Alternate method: distribute batter evenly in an oiled or lined 12-space muffin tin. Check for doneness at about 12-15 minutes.