Whole Wheat Graham Crakers

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
2 egg whites, divided
6 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons raw or turbinado sugar

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add butter and work into flour with your fingertips until completely incorporated and mixture resembles fine meal. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 egg white, brown sugar, honey and vanilla. Add this to flour mixture and stir until a sticky dough forms.

Turn half of the dough out onto a very well floured surface and roll out into a (10-inch) square. Cut into 12 rectangles and transfer to one of the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Repeat process with remaining dough and second prepared baking sheet.

Brush graham crackers with remaining egg and sprinkle raw sugar over the tops. Bake until dark brown and fragrant, 12 to 14 minutes. Set aside to let cool completely (graham crackers will harden as they cool) before serving.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Cranberry Sorbet

This is a nice refreshingly light dessert that's a great alternative to pumpkin pie if you're overwhelmed on Thanksgiving.

4 cups of cranberries

5 cups water

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup fresh orange juice

Optional : zest from 1 lemon

Directions

Bring 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of sugar to a boil. Add the cramberries and cook them until they pop, around 10 minutes. In small batches, puree the berries and cooking syrup in a blender. When its' done, pass it through a mesh strainer to get any solids (mostly peels and seeds). Chill this for 1-2 hours until cool.

Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a saucepan and heat until the sugar dissolves. Let this cool as well.

Combine the berry puree with the syrup when everything is cool. Then pop it on your ice cream maker until it's ready. Freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

Note: This recipe is bigger than the standard ice cream maker. Half it or, like I do, make it in two consecutive batches. Serves 10-12.

Le Creuset Vegetable Casserole with Crispy Topping

4 tbs. olive oil 1 large red onion, roughly chopped 1 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into ½” pieces 1 lb. eggplant, cut into ½” pieces 4 celery stalks, cut into ¼” slices 4 zucchini, cut into ½” slices 1 lb. canned crushed tomatoes with their juice 2 tbs. chopped fresh parsley 1 tbs. balsamic vinegar 1 tbs. sugar 2 cups fresh white bread crumbs 1 cup finely grated sharp Cheddar cheese Salt and pepper (I also added a clove of fresh garlic, crushed)
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat the oil in the buffet casserole over medium heat on the stovetop. Add the onion and butternut squash and fry gently until they are lightly colored. 2. Add the eggplant, celery, and zucchini and continue frying, turing the vegetables occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juice, basil, parsley, vinegar, and sugar with 1 cup of water and plenty of seasoning. Cover and simmer slowly for 1 hr 15 minutes to 1 and a half hours until the vegetables are tender; the squash will take the longest to soften 3. When the vegetables are tender, remove the buffet casserole from the heat. Mix together the bread crumbs and cheese with plenty of seasoning and scatter this evenly over the vegetables. Put immediately under a hot broiler to crsip and brown the top. Serve straight from the buffet casserole.

Apple Crisp

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3 cups apples-cored and chopped
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Lightly grease an 8 inch square pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, oats, flour and butter. Mix until crumbly. Place half of crumb mixture in pan. Spread the apples evenly over crumb mixture. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and top with remaining crumb mixture.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown.

Plum Pie

Ingredients

• 4 cups sliced fresh plums
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pastry shell
• TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 tablespoons cold butter or margarine

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients; pour into the pastry shell. For topping, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over filling. Bake at 375 degrees F for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Cover edges of crust during the last 20 minutes to prevent overbrowning. Cool on a wire rack.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins