Quick Orange Coffee Cake

I've found a few coffee cake recipes that I'd like to try. Coffee cake is intended to be dry and crumbly, yet somehow very delicious. Here is a Pilsbury recipe for an orange twist on coffee cake. It is delicious!!

Here is a recipe I just found for a Paula Dean Orange Coffee Cake that looks even more delicious!
Orange Coffee Cake

 Quick Orange Coffee Cake

Base

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 6 Tbsp butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg, beaten

Filling

• 11 oz can mandarin orange segments, drained welll

Topping

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts
• 1 tsp grated orange peel

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9 inch cake pan. In medium bowl combine 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend well. Using pastry blender or fork, cut in 6 Tbsp butter until mixture is crumbly. Add milk, vanilla and egg; mix well. Spread batter in prepared pan. Arrange orange segment over batter. In small bowl, combine all topping ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle over orange segments. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Minced Beef Pie

That is sour cream in the picture not whipped cream. Okay! So, what is the deal with minced meat pies? I have heard of them but never tried one. Upon my research I learned that minced meat pies are traditionally made with wild game meat, figs and dates and flavored with holiday spices such as cinnamon and clove. Hmmm...this probably wouldn't fly well with the husband and kids...so...I created a dinner approved minced meat pie. I gave it the sweetness of a sweet pulled pork or sloppy joe in a buttery, flaky crust and the savor of a nice Sunday roast! I then topped it with my special creamy roast beef sauce! It ended up being super delicious and the next day we took our left overs and melted cheddar cheese on top and the kids dipped in in ketchup.

It's a delightful winter comfort dish! Hope you enjoy!!

Minced Beef Pie

• 1 (2-3 lb) beef roast
• 2 frozen pie crusts 
• 2 cans refrigerated pie crust (I made my own)
• 1 pkg dry onion soup mix
• 1 pkg dry Italian salad dressing mix
• 2-3 cups water
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon 

Place thawed roast in a deep roasting pan. Pour dried soup mix, dried Italian dressing and water over the top. Cover with tin foil and place in oven at 250 degrees for three hours.

Remove roast from oven and cool for 20 minutes. Shred roast and place 2/3 of it in a food processor. Blend until meat is completely minced (almost like a thick dip). You may need to add some of the juices from the pan to the blender to help it blend. Add to a large bowl. Spoon onions from roasting pan and 1/4 cup of juices into bowl. Stir together. Add remaining shredded beef to bowl and stir together. Add ketchup, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Stir well. Add extra of these ingredients if desired. Scoop into thawed pie crusts all the way to top. Roll out refrigerated pie crust onto flour dusted surface in the shape of two 9" round circles. Place one on top of each pie and seal edges.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Slice pie while hot and top with cool, creamy roast beef sauce. Enjoy!

Creamy Roast Beef Sauce (it's not spicy my 2 year old loves it)

• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

Whisk together all ingredients and chill.

Crab Corn Chowder

I created this when I wanted to get creative with some imitation crab that we had. This is so delicious! It's smooth, warm, comforting and you can't have just one bowl. My son hates peas but he loved them in this! Serve it with warm garlic bread.

Crab Corn Chowder

• 1 large package of flaked imitation crab meat (or real)
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions
• 3/4 cup flour
• 6 cups milk
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup frozen sweet corn
• 1 1/2 - 2 tsp salt (add 1/2 tsp at a time until it reaches your desires saltiness)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• ground pepper

Heat large saucepan to medium high. Melt all of butter then add green onions. Simmer for a couple of minutes until tender. Sprinkle over 1/4 cup of flour. Stir. Slowly add 1 cup milk and stir. Add remaining flour and stir. Add remaining milk and whipping cream - continue stirring until it's smooth and free of lumps. You can add more flour to thicken if needed. Flake crab meat and add to pot. Be careful with the salt adding 1/2 tsp at a time until it reaches your desire level of saltiness. Add remaining ingredients and simmer on low for 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Pumpkin Mousse Trifle

This is delicious and perfect for any holiday dinner! It's also pretty to look at. It's really easy especially if you buy an already made pumpkin spice pound cake. I found a delicious Paula Dean pumpkin spice pound cake at the Walmart bakery.

Pumpkin Mousse Trifle

      CAKE (You can skip this step and buy a pre-made pumpkin spice pound cake)

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

SUGARED PECANS

• 1 egg white
• 2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

PUMPKIN MOUSSE

• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 carton (16 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

In a large bowl, beat the sugar, pumpkin, oil and eggs until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into pumpkin mixture until blended. 

Transfer to a greased and floured 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut cake into 3/4-in. cubes.

Meanwhile, whisk egg white; stir in pecans, cinnamon and sugars. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 9-13 minutes or until puffed, stirring once. Cool completely. 

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Add the pumpkin, cinnamon and vanilla. Fold in 1-1/2 cups whipped topping. 

In a 3-1/2-qt. trifle bowl or glass serving bowl, layer half of the cake, pumpkin mousse, remaining whipped topping and pecans. Repeat layers. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Yield: 14 servings.

The Best Eggnog Ever! (made for eggnog haters)

Wow has it been a busy month, but I'm back! Here is a real treat for all you eggnog haters and lovers. My sister had told me about this brand of eggnog and how perfect it was. It's called Southern Comfort and I found it at Walmart and bought the Vanilla Spice flavor. Don't worry there is no alcohol in this it's found in the dairy section by the whipped cream.

This tasted like a vanilla milkshake whipped cream dream! If you have hated eggnog before or your family does, you have to try this! It's not rich and there is no strong nutmeg, egg flavor. Like I said tastes like a vanilla milkshake! I topped ours with whipped cream and dusted with cinnamon. The kids couldn't get enough of this drink!