Baked Brie with Honey and Berries

Brie is great! It can be savory or sweet, depending on what you serve it with. I really like it sweet.

1 wheel of brie
2 sheets of puffed pastry
1 egg yolk
Honey
Berries
Water crackers

Defrost the puffed pastry according to package directions. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. When it's defrosted, lay the sheets of pastry out flat. Put the brie wheel on one sheet.

I don't bother to take off the rind. It doesn't bother me. Start wrapping the brie in the pastry. Make sure the whole thing is covered by pastry. I didn't need the second sheet this time, but sometimes I do, so I'll use some of the other sheet to be decorative.

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, the place the brie, seem side down on the sheet. Add any decorative touches to the pastry, then get the egg wash together.

Beat an egg yolk in a bowl, mix in just about a tablespoon of water, then beat a little more. Use a pastry brush to brush the sides and top of the brie with the egg wash. This will give the pastry a nice, golden brown color. Now put the brie in the oven and bake for about 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed up.

I like to put it on a platter, then drizzle a generous amount of honey on top. I serve it with berries, water crackers and sliced baguette.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread

I had something very similar to this at a friend's wedding and had to recreate it. Here is what I've come up with...

1 8oz brick of cream cheese
1 6oz bag of craisins
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp sugar

Let the cream cheese sit out for a bit to soften. When it gets to the point that you can start mixing the other items in, add about half of the craisins.

Using a fork, fold the craisins into the cream cheese until well incorporated.

Next, add the other half of the craisins and mix them in. (It just seems to be easier to do it a little at a time, instead of all at once.) Now add the cinnamon and sugar and mix those in really well.

By now the bowl you are using is probably pretty messy looking. Spoon the mixture into another bowl so that it looks prettier for presentations sake.

Either serve it immediately or cover it and put it in the fridge for later use. I serve this with crackers, graham crackers, or a sliced baguette.

Cinnamon Pancakes with Apples and Bacon

I'm getting a little bored with bacon, eggs and toast every Sunday morning, so today I wanted to try something different. Here's what I've come up with...

Pancake Batter:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated suger
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

In a medium sized bowl mix the egg, milk and vegetable oil with a whisk. Using a flour sifter, slowly mix the dry ingredients, whisking as you go to avoid lumps. Pour about 1/4 cups of batter for each pancake into a hot, oiled pan. Turn when the edges start to get golden brown and bubbles start to appear throughout the batter.

Apple bacon topping: (My family is crazy and I'm the only one who wants the topping. If your family is not nuts, use more ingredients for a larger yield.)

• 1 large apple, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat, then add brown sugar and apples. Saute until soft, about  five minutes.

Then add crumbled bacon.

Serve pancakes hot, with the apple topping and maybe some maple syrup (The real stuff!!). Also, mimosas are a great compliment to this dish! :) These are VERY rich, but so yummy! Enjoy!



*For vegetarian, just eliminate the bacon. It's still yummy!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

I got this recipe from my darling sister-in-law (Thanks Chandra!) and it couldn't be easier! I still like the canned stuff, but this is way better!

1 cup sugar

1 cup port wine (Cheap stuff will do just fine)

1 bag fresh cranberries

Put the sugar and wine into a sauce pan and stir while slowly bringing to a boil. Make sure sugar melts all the way. Reduce heat to a simmer and add cranberries. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries begin to pop. When the berries have popped it's done! Remove from heat. When they cool put them in the fridge. That's it!

Apple Crumb Pie

I pretty much can't come to a holiday gathering without making this pie for the family. Luckily, it's really not very difficult!

1 9 inch store bought pie crust,chilled

1 cup sifted flour

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

6 cups of apples, cored, skinned, diced or sliced

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine flour, brown sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl. Blend with a hand mixer until crumbly, then set aside. (Sometimes I add a little cinnamon to this mixture as well)

In another large bowl combine apples, granulated sugar and cinnamon. Mix gently to coat apples with sugar and cinnamon. Check your liquor cabinet. Is there something there that might be good in this mix too? I usually add about a tablespoon of Tuaca or Grand Marnier.

Pack apple mixture into chilled pie crust. Sprinkle crumb topping over apple mixture. Sprinkle the top with a little more cinnamon or sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for about 50 minutes.

Fruit stuffing

This is the stuffing I make for the people in my family that don't eat meat, or at least pork.

1 loaf wheat bread, cut into small cubes

1/2 loaf white bread cut into small cubes

1 pkg craisins

1 granny smith apple, cut into small pieces ( I leave the skins on because it's healthier and more colorful)

1 honey crisp apple, cut into small cubes

1 pear, cut into small cubes

butter

3 eggs

vegetable broth

parsley

poultry seasoning

salt and pepper

Day one: cut up breads and leave out overnight on a large cookie sheet. Periodically mix it up to expose under layers to the air and get stale.

Day two: Cut up apples and pear. Put half of the bread crumbs in a large bowl. Melt a stick of butter and add it to the bread crumbs. Add eggs and fruit. add generous amount of parsley, poultry seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well. Slowly add veggie broth and bread crumbs, mixing well until well moistened, but not too wet. Transfer everything to a large Pyrex dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.