Sausage Apple and Cranberry Stuffing

Adapted slightly from Allrecipes

My sister and I tried this stuffing while she was out here, and it was fantastic! Lovely fall fruit flavors blended with spices and meat - it was an excellent combination. It would be interesting to use dried herbs, and different kids of breads. We tried it a second time without meat and it was still awesome, so feel free to make this one vegetarian if you so desire.

Serves 5-6

5 1/2 cups cubed bread (the recipe calls for half white half whole wheat, but whatever)
1 lb. ground turkey sausage
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
2 Tbsp fresh sage
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary
1 tsp fresh thyme
1 apple, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup minced parsley
1 cup turkey stock
4 Tbsp melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C) and spread out the bread cubes on a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes until evenly toasted. Then transfer toasted bread cubes to a large bowl.

In a large skillet, cook sausage and onions over medium heat. Then add celery, sage, rosemary and thyme. Cook and stir 2 minutes to blend flavors.

Pour sausage mixture over bread. Mix in chopped apples, cranberries and parsley. Drizzle turkey stock plus melted butter, and toss mixture lightly. Fluff with fork. 

German Chocolate Cake

from Allrecipes

The ironic thing about German Chocolate Cake is that it is most certainly NOT German. Pecans aren't even grown over here and are actually quite difficult to find. That being said, this is a delicious, fancy looking cake.

Cake:

1/2 cup water

4 oz (113 grams) chocolate

1 cup buter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs (separate yolks and whites)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

2 1/2 cups cake flour (all purpose is next best)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Filling:

1 cup white sugar

1 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup (70 grams) butter

3 egg yolks, beaten

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

Chocolate Sauce:

2 ounces chocolate

1 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Grease and flour three 9" round pans (I used two 10" pans). Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Set asidde. In a small saucepan, heat water and 4 ounces of chocolate until melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 4 egg yolks one at a time. Blend in melted chocolate and vanilla, then add the flour mixture alternating with the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated (do not overmix!)

In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the whites into the batter, then quickly fold in the remaining whites until no streaks remain. Pour into your prepared bake pans and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing.

To make the filling, combine 1 cup of sugar, evaporated milk, 1/2 cup butter and 3 egg yolks. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in coconut, pecans and vanilla. Cool until thick enough to spread. Spread filling between layers and on top of the cake. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate together, stir until smooth and then drizzle down the sides of the cake.

Some people prefer to toast the pecans and coconut before adding them to the filling, but that is up to you.

Snickerdoodle Blondies

adapted from Fake Ginger

I make snickerdoodles often because they are distinctly American and I always seem to have all of the ingredients in my fridge. I made these for a church party and they were snapped up right away. They aren't too different from the cookie version, except they can be baked all at once in a pan like a sheet of brownies, so it is a little bit quicker to make. I ended up cutting them out with cookie cutters after they had cooled to make them look a little more interesting.

2 2/3 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter (250 grams)

2 eggs

1 Tbsp vanilla

cinnamon and sugar mixture for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 350 (176 C). In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth, then add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Then add in the vanilla and set aside. Sift dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and then slowly add the dry mixture to the wet one, stirring until batter is smooth and consistent. Pour into a 9x13 inch baking dish and sprinkles cinnamon sugar on the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is turning golden brown and you can stick a toothpick in it and it comes out clean. Wait for them to cool before cutting into them.

Maple Pecan and Apple Salad

Adapted from Christie's Corner

I love interesting salads. And when I spotted this one that combined maple syrup, apples and nuts, I knew I had to try it. It was amazing! We ate the whole bowl without effort. You really can't go wrong with fruit, nuts and cheese.

Serves 4-6

Salad

1 medium bowl full of mixed leafy greens

2-3 apples, cored and diced (toss in lemon juice to prevent browning)

1/2 cup maple glazed pecans (*see instructions below)

1/2 cup crumbled chevre or feta

Maple Vinegar Dressing

1 tsp dijon mustard

2 Tbsp finely minced shallots

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

1/3 cup olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

* Maple Glazed Pecans

2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

1 Tbsp brown sugar

dash os salt

dash or cayenne pepper

1 cup pecan halves

For the vinaigrette: Combine mustard, shallots, vinegar and maple syrup in a mall bowl. Whisk in oil until just combined, season with salt and pepper and set aside.

For the pecans:

Preheat the oven to 325 F (160 C). Combine maple syrup, brown sugar, salt and cayenne in a small bowl. Add pecans and toss until coated. Spread out nuts on a rimmed baking sheet lined with baking paper or foil. Toast for 10-15 minutes, or until nuts are golden and sugar is bubbling. Let cool completely, break apart and serve.

Place mixed greens and apples in a large serving bowl. Top with nuts and cheese and serve with dressing on the side.

Orange Dream Jello Salad

From Grandma Ilez

This is from Ben's Grandma Ilez, and where I am from having at least a couple of jello recipes handy is basically mandatory. The orange and whipped cream blends flawlessly and provides a light, sweet side to any casual dinner.

2 cups whipped cream

2 boxes orange jello

2 cans mandarin oranges

The day before (or at least several hours before) prepare the two boxes of jello according to the directions on the box. Just before serving, mix together the prepared jello, whipped cream and gently fold in the mandarin oranges. Keep cold until serving.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bread

adapted from Have Cake Will Travel

This was a fun recipe that encapsulates the qualities of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in one glorious bread. It was a bit crumbly but would be perfect for breakfast or a quick snack.

Makes one loaf

1 cup milk

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp all fruit berry or orange jam

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups oats, finely ground

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup berries

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C) and prepare a 8x4 inche loaf pan with spray.

In a medium bowl, combine milk, vinegar, peanut butter, jam, salt and vanilla. The peanut butter may not mix smoothly but that is ok.

In a large bowl, combine oats, sugar, flour, baking powder and baking soda. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones, being careful not to over-mix. The batter may be thick, depending on the type of peanut butter you use.

Pour into prepared pan, cover with tin foil and bake for 70 minutes (or when a toothpick comes out clean). Pull the foil off after about 40 minutes to ensure that it turns a golden brown.

Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes.

Caramel Apples

From Allrecipes

We wanted to bring something very American to a Finnish Halloween party this year and finally decided on caramel apples. The caramel was a little hard to find, but once they were finished it was well worth it. The nuts added a nice saltiness that complemented the sweet sugar and tart apple beautifully. I have to admit that these were the best caramel apples I have ever had, and something I plan on making a Halloween tradition in our house.

6 tart apples

14 ounces of caramel (about 400 grams)

2 Tbsp water

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup salted nuts, chopped

sticks

Stick the sticks (we used plastic forks...) into the top of the apples about 3/4 of the way through. In a small saucepan, heat the caramels, water and vanilla on low, stirring frequently. Once the caramels are melted and soft, dip the apples into the caramel and carefully scrape off the excess using the side of the pan. Roll the apples in the nuts and place on wax paper to cool. Allow at least 30 minutes for the caramel to harden.

Chocolate Reeses Cookies

From Ben

We had a bag of Reeses chips that my parents brought from the states, and we just had to put them in something. These cookies tasted a bit like brownies-- fudgy and dense. I think it would work well with crumbled peanut butter cups as well.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups chips

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C)

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt and combine with wet ingredients. Fold in Reeses peanut butter chips and roll batter into golf ball sized balls. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 8-9 min. Let cool before serving.

Maple Snickerdoodles

Adapted from Busty Baker

MMMMM the smell of these cookies alone is reason enough to make them. The maple flavoring amps up the buttery taste and leaves you with a deliciously soft cookie.

makes about 2 dozen cookies

1 cup butter, softened (225 grams)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 tsp Mapleine (maple extract), or 6 Tbsp maple syrup

2 eggs

4 cups flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

3 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon, for rolling

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C). Cream together butter and sugar, mix in Mapleine. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Sift together dry ingredients and add to wet mixture until just combined. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Mix 1/3 cup of sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl, spoon golf ball sized balls, roll them in cinnamon sugar and place them onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Grilled Huli Huli Chicken

adapted from Elly Says Opa

I wanted to try a recipe using a glaze, and this chicken recipe was perfect. It would be ideal on a real grill in your backyard but since we are backyard-less right now the oven worked just fine. This Hawaiian luau chicken turned out sweet and tangy and would be perfect with some grilled pineapple and red peppers.

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup pineapple chunks

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp ketchup

1 Tbsp rice vinegar

1 knob fresh ginger, grated (or 1 tsp powder)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2-3 chicken legs (or 5-6 skinless breasts)

1 tsp oil

Preheat the broiler or grill. Combine soy sauce, pineapple, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Rub the chicken with oil, and then broil skin side up about 6 inches (15 centimeters) form the element for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and broil on the other side for an additional 8 minutes. Then brush the chicken with the glaze and cook on one side. Brush and repeat 3 times (total of 16 minutes)

You can use other cuts of chicken (or meat for that matter) and just adjust the cooking time to how thick the cut is. Keep reapplying the glaze for a nice golden outside and keep flipping every few minutes until juices run clear.

Serve with rice, red peppers, and pineapple slices.

Hawaiian Haystacks

This is one of those dinners that goes by many names (Chinese sundays, chicken sundays) and is made differently in every house. I love it because it is so versatile and you can add or subtract ingredients according to your tastes. I have eaten this meal with green onions, diced peppers, diced celery, water chestnuts, different cheeses, chow mein noodles, slivered almonds, shredded carrots and soy sauce. So experiment to find the best combination for your family. This is our favorite:

Usually there is lettuce in there too, but I forgot to buy it at the store...

Serves 3-4

3-4 baked white fish filets (or 3 cups of cubed cooked chicken, or in a pinch two cans of drained tuna)

4 cups cooked rice

2 large onions

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

shredded coconut (I lightly toasted ours with salt and sugar)

3 large tomatoes, diced and seeds removed

2 cups pineapple, cut into chunks

1 head lettuce, torn into small pieces

1 can (about 2 cups) of cream of chicken soup

Cook rice, set aside.

Chop onions into rings and place them in a hot frying pan with 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt. Turn the heat down to medium and saute, stirring frequently until the onions are soft, and caramelized (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare tomatoes, chop lettuce and those and the coconut, pineapple, and onions in separate small serving bowls. Heat 1 can of cream of chicken soup in a pot and once it is warm, begin to serve.

Use rice as the base, and add heaping spoonful of each of the ingredients, topping with the fish or chicken. Pour a few tablespoons of soup on top, and serve.

Mom's Sweet Corn Bread

from my Mom

This is seriously the best corn bread you will ever have. It is sweeter than typical corn breads, and it is delicious served warm with butter and honey.

Thanks Mom, for passing on this one on. It is one of my favorites.

3/4 cup butter (168 grams)

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 cup corn meal

1 Tbsp baking powder

4 eggs

2 cups flour

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C) and lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add corn meal and baking powder and mix well. Separate the yolk from the eggs and add the yolks to the corn mixture. (Set aside the egg whites). Add in the flour, vanilla, milk and salt, mix until batter is smooth.

Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the batter gently until just combined. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 25 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean when you stick it in the middle.

BBQ Pork Sandwiches

I LOVE slow cooker recipes. They are impossible to screw up and people think you are just amazing in the kitchen. If they only knew how easy it was, they wouldn't be so impressed! For the Fourth of July, we wanted to make something uniquely American and this was just the ticket. The sandwiches were so good, juicy and delicious.

I made my own sauce because it is hard to find good BBQ sauce in Finland. But feel free to experiment with different flavors of the bottled kind.

Pork

3-4 lbs pork (could easily switch to beef or chicken)

3-4 cups (about 25-30 ounces) BBQ sauce (homemade or bottled, it doesn't matter. You just need enough to mostly cover the pork)

1 medium onion, minced

3-4 cloves garlic, finely minced

salt and pepper to taste

Homemade BBQ Sauce

1 cups ketchup

1 cup water

1/2 cup vinegar

1/2 cup brown sugar

5 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp paprika

2 Tbsp chili powder

3 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp cayenne powder

Also needed:

Buns, pickles, coleslaw and some people like mustard...

Combine all sauce ingredients and simmer for about 15 minutes in a pan until sauce is thickened. If using a bottled sauce, skip this step.

Put the Barbeque sauce in a deep pot (or crockpot) and add the minced onion and garlic, salt and pepper. Put in the pork and be sure that it is mostly covered with sauce or those bits will be dry. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours (overnight) or 4-5 hours on high. Scoop off excess fat, and shred the beef. Add a little water or extra sauce if it looks dry. Put the lid back on and cook on low for an additional 1-2 hours. Stir occasionally. Serve warm on split buns and let the compliments roll on in.

Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal

Just like Elvis, I have always been a fan of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. It is such an ingenious combination, and it makes an easy transition into oatmeal. This is a stick-to-your-ribs breakfast that will keep you going until lunch.


1/2 cup quick 1- min cooking oats
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
a sprinkle of chili powder (slightly less than 1/8 tsp)
a sprinkle of salt
1 Tbsp peanut butter
boiling water (at least 1-2 cups)
1/8 tsp vanilla
1 medium mashed banana

Boil water on the stove. In a bowl, whisk together oats, sugar, cinnamon, chili powder, and salt. Add the peanut butter in the center, but do not stir.
When the water boils, add water to oats mixture a little at a time until you reach desired consistency. Stir until peanut butter melts, then add vanilla and mashed banana.

Calorie count: approx 400

Spicy Sloppy Joes

This is one of those childhood classics that I remember as a child. They are cheap, easy and liked by kids everywhere. As an adult I prefer my Joe a little spicier, but feel free to ease up on the heat according to the tastes of your guests.

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves garlic
1-2 Tbsp spicy mustard
1 stalk celery, sliced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1-2 Tbsp brown sugar
3/4 cup ketchup (or tomato sauce)
dash of chili (adjust to your tastes)
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp olive oil
sandwich buns

Heat oil in a skillet and saute onion, garlic, bell pepper and celery, seasoned with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, then add beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain off fat. Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and sugar to beef mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, then scoop into sandwiches and serve.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

from Smitten Kitchen

Peanut Butter has got to be one of America's greatest accomplishments. The majority of Europe really doesn't know what it is missing (although they did invent Nutella, which is pretty close to perfection). What peanut butter they do sell here really doesn't cut it (expensive and weird tasting), so I can see why people here don't have a good impression.

In an attempt to gently persuade my Finnish friends into seeing the virtues of peanut butter, I sought this recipe out. These cookies are great and really hold onto that unique peanut butter flavor all the while being a pretty fantastic cookie.


1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup + 1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips (or half peanut butter chips)

Preheat oven t0 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter together until fluffy. Add the sugars and beat until smooth. Add the egg and mix well. Add the milk and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat thoroughly into wet mixture and then add chocolate chips.

Place 1 Tbsp sugar onto a plate and drop rounded spoonfuls of dough into the sugar, then onto a cookie sheet, leaving several inches between for expansion. Using a fork or spatula, lightly indent or tap cookies (do not overly flatten). Bake for 10 minutes, careful not to overbake. Cookies may appear to be underdone, but they are not.

Cool the cookies on the sheets for 1 minute, then remove to a rack to cool completely.

BBQ Chicken

I put this chicken in the oven and was supposed to take it out earlier but I accidentally fell asleep reading and when I woke up 2 hours had gone by. (Note to self: Don't do that.) The house smelled great, the chicken had been baking under the foil all that time and was fall apart tender and so delicious. The sauce is too good to waste, be sure to have rice or pasta to serve with it to soak up the juices.


3-4 chicken thighs
1/2 cup chicken broth

BBQ Sauce
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp chili powder
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1 tsp cayenne


Preheat oven to 350. Heat oil in a sauce pan. Add garlic and sauté until brown. Then add remaining BBQ sauce ingredients and reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes until thick and let cool.

Once the sauce is no longer warm, pour sauce over the chicken in a baking dish. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake chicken for 2 hours.

Take the chicken out and pour the remaining sauce and pan scrapings into a sauce pan (skim the fat if needed), bring to a boil and add the chicken broth. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add flour or cornstarch if the sauce is too runny. Pour over the chicken and serve.

BBQ Meatballs

Adapted from Pioneer Woman

I was craving something hearty without much effort on my part, and when I saw these meatballs I knew it was meant to be. Pioneer Woman has never let me down. Good BBQ sauce is a rare find in this part of the world, so it was fun to try to make my own (and I did tweak the recipe a bit) although I think I would double it next time so as to have extra.

Meatballs:

1 1/2 lb ground beef

3/4 cup oats

1 egg

3 Tbsp finely minced onion

1 1/2 tsp salt

ground black pepper

BBQ Sauce:

1 cup ketchup

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp paprika

1 Tbsp chili powder

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp cayenne

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all meatball ingredients. Roll into medium/small sized balls and brown in a frying pan over medium heat and place in a baking dish. Combine all sauce ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for 10-15 minutes until thickened. Pour BBQ sauce over meatballs and bake for 45 minutes.

Rice Krispy Treats

I finally found a bag of marshmallows out here in Finland (yay!) so I decided to make me some old fashioned Rice Krispy Treats.

Each square was like taking a little bite of America.

This recipe can be found on the back of every Rice Krispy box in the US. Even though there are a million variations, I always come back to the classic.

3 Tbsp butter (42 grams)
10 oz regular marshmallows (284 grams)
6 cups of rice krispies

In a pot, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
Remove from heat. Add rice krispies, stir until well coated.
Press mixture into a 13x9'' pan and let cool.

Orange Chocolate Cookies

adapted from Baking Delights

A tangy twist on a classic recipe.  I love the blend of chocolate and orange.  

1 c Butter

3/4 c White Sugar

3/4 c Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

2 tsp Vanilla

1 Orange, grate the rind and squeeze in the juice

2 1/4 c Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

Dark Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream the butter and sugars, add orange juice and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Combine dry ingredients with the rind shaving and stir into the creamy mixture.  Fold in chocolate chips and chill for 20 minutes.  Drop rounded spoonfuls onto a prepared baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until starting to brown on the edges.  They should be soft in the middle.  

Makes 2-3 dozen cookies