Author: LauraGrenier

Green Beans with Smokey Bacon Vinaigrette
In this recipe for a side dish, green beans are kept somewhat crisp and cooked with smoked bacon and yellow onion.

Fill a big pot with ice and water to create an ice bath, then set it aside.

Water that has been lightly salted is brought to a boil.

Green beans should be cooked for three minutes in boiling water until just tender but still crisp.

Drain.

To prevent the green beans from continuing to cook, immediately submerge them in the ice bath.

Drain, then set apart.

Over medium-high heat, cook the bacon for about 5 minutes, or until it starts to brown.

Add the onions to the bacon and cook for an additional 7 to 10 minutes, or until the onions start to caramelize and turn golden brown.

Add the green beans, red wine vinegar, and sugar; cook and stir for two to three minutes, or until the sugar is dissolved.

Squash Pie
Squash that has been cooked is combined with eggs, butter, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. This decadent filling is prepared, blended to perfection, then poured into a pie shell, baked in a hot oven until set and golden.

Set oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees C).

Squash cubes are covered in water in a small saucepan.

Cook for about 15 minutes, until tender, after bringing to a boil.

Drain, then mash.

Take 2 cups of the mashed squash and put the rest in the fridge.

Combine spices, sugar, and salt.

Blend in the milk, butter, and margarine.

Filling should be added to a raw pie shell.

40 minutes of baking at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) or until a knife inserted in the center of the dish comes out clean.

Sweet Baby Carrots
These baby sweet carrots cooked with honey, butter, and brown sugar are irresistible]y delicious! Made in one pot, they take just 20 minutes to make.

Place carrots in a large pot and cover with salted water.

Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until carrots are tender about 15 minutes.

Remove from the stove and drain carrots in a strainer.

Return the pot to the stove add butter and reduce the heat to medium-low.

When butter is melted stir in brown sugar and honey.

Add carrots and stir until evenly coated.

Cook for 5 more minutes before serving.

Baked Zucchini Fries
There is a tasty Parmesan cheese crumb coating on these zucchini fries. For a quick appetizer or delectable side dish, they bake up crispy and light.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.

Stir bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese together in a shallow bowl.

Whisk eggs in a separate shallow bowl.

Working in batches dip zucchini strips into egg mixture shake to remove any excess then roll strips in bread crumb mixture to coat.

Transfer coated zucchini strips to the prepared baking sheet.

Strawberries for Shortcake
Mix a few ingredients with strawberries and get a fruity, flavorful topping for shortcake and much more.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine strawberries and dark corn syrup.

Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat.

Stir mixture for about 10 minutes, or until strawberries start to release juice.

Lemon juice and sugar are then added, and the heat is turned off.

Before serving, allow to cool to room temperature and then chill.

Spicy Tan Tan Soup (Tantanmen or Dan Dan Noodles)
Tan tan soup, also referred to as dan dan noodles, is a traditional Chinese soup that features pork, chiles, and lots of flavor.

Heat sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat; add doubanjiang.

Cook and stir shallots garlic and ginger until fragrant about 30 seconds.

Add ground pork; cook and stir until browned about 3 minutes.

Mix soy sauce tahini sake miso paste and tianmianjiang into pork mixture until evenly combined.

Add chicken stock; bring to a boil.

Mix rice vinegar and rayu into pork mixture; add spinach.

Simmer soup over low heat for 10 minutes.

Put noodles in a bowl of hot water to separate; drain.

Mix noodles into soup and garnish with green onions and Thai chile peppers.

Healthier Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies with crisp edges and chewy middles are given a healthy and fun twist by using sweet potato puree for some of the butter and orange juice as a replacement for sugar.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Beat butter sweet potato white sugar brown sugar and orange juice with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth.

Add eggs whites one at a time allowing each egg to blend into butter mixture before adding the next.

Beat in vanilla extract.

Dissolve baking soda in hot water in a small bowl.

Add to sweet potato batter.

Stir in flour chocolate chips and walnuts.

Roll dough into walnut-sized balls and place 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake in preheated oven until edges are nicely browned about 10 minutes.

Breakfast Paella
This easy breakfast paella includes Spanish chorizo, kidney beans, rice, and eggs for a hearty start to the day.

Heat oil in a paella pan or large cast iron skillet over medium heat.

Add onion bell pepper and chorizo.

Cook stirring frequently until vegetables soften about 5 minutes.

Add garlic and cook until fragrant about 30 seconds.

Add rice salt paprika and saffron.

Cook stirring frequently until rice is lightly toasted about 1 minute.

Add broth beans sofrito olives and bay leaves.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer covered shaking pan occasionally (do not stir) until rice is almost done but still toothsome 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove and discard bay leaves.

Brazilian Coffee Cookies
With real coffee flavor, these Brazilian cookies resemble gingersnaps.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).

Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk flour coffee powder salt baking soda and baking powder together in a bowl.

Combine brown sugar white sugar shortening egg milk and vanilla in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until fluffy.

Gradually mix in flour mixture until thoroughly combined.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Use a fork to flatten balls to a thickness of 1/8 inch.

Bake in the preheated oven switching racks halfway through until lightly browned 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and transfer to wire racks to cool.

Special Rhubarb Cake
Fresh rhubarb is used to decorate this moist, delicious cake, which is served with a brown sugar and vanilla cream sauce.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Grease a 9-inch square cake pan.

Beat 2 tablespoons softened butter and 1 cup white sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy.

Beat egg into the butter mixture.

Mix 2 cups flour baking powder baking soda and salt in a bowl; add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk to the butter mixture stirring just to combine into a batter.

Fold rhubarb into the batter just until incorporated; pour into prepared pan.

Stir 2 tablespoons melted butter 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 cup white sugar together in a bowl until evenly moist; sprinkle over the batter.