6.15.2011

Anise Waffle Cookies recipe.

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
1 tablespoon anise seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar
3 small eggs
1 drop anise oil
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, or as needed

Directions
Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Whisk together flour, anise seed, and salt in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, mash the shortening until creamy, and stir with all of the sugar, eggs, and anise oil until thoroughly mixed. Stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients to form a dough. Break off about 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie, and roll into 1-inch balls.
Spray the waffle iron with cooking spray. Place dough balls onto the iron, close the lid, and bake until the iron stops emitting steam and the cookies are lightly golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes. Check after about 1 minute. Remove the cookies from the iron and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar while still warm. Cool on wire rack.

Brunch on the Bayou recipe.

Ingredients
4 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
1/2 (1 pound) loaf day old French bread, broken into small pieces
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 pound shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/3 cup white wine
3 green onions, chopped
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions
Place sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly until evenly browned. Drain grease, and set aside.
Spread bread pieces in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Drizzle melted butter over the bread pieces, then sprinkle in the cooked sausage. Cover with shredded cheese. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, white wine, Dijon mustard, and green onions. Season with black and red pepper. Pour the egg mixture over everything in the baking dish. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
Remove the dish from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to baking to allow it to come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Cover the dish, and bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Then uncover, and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, and spread sour cream over the top. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is starting to brown slightly.

American Apple Pie recipe.

Ingredients
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
7 1/2 cups peeled, cored and sliced apples
1 cup raisins
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1 egg

Directions
Preheat oven 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Spray deep dish pie plate with cooking spray
Combine white sugar, light brown sugar, flour, lemon, cinnamon, and mix well. Add apples and raisins to sugar mixture; stir until fruit is well coated.
Spoon apple mixture into pie crust. Place second piecrust on top of filling, and trim edges. Lightly glaze top of pie with a beaten egg, then sprinkled with a little sugar.
Bake till golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes. Place on a wire rack, and cool 30 minutes.

Brussels Sprouts Stir Fry recipe.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 large potato, peeled and cubed
1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise
1 red pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup chicken broth
ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped green onions

Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, potato, and bay leaf. Cook and stir until the onion is transparent, about 5 minutes. Add the Brussels sprouts, red pepper, and chicken broth. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Toss with black pepper, to taste. Garnish with green onions, and serve immediately.