Maple Baked Chicken Breasts

Maple Baked Chicken Breasts

4 single chicken breasts (or cut-up boiler-fyer}
1/4  cup all-purpose flour
Salt and ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons butter
1 and1/2  cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon dried savory
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
1 onion, peeled and  sliced
 
Rinse chicken and pat dry. Dredge in flour seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. In a heavy, flameproof casserole, heat butter until bubbling and brown chicken pieces quickly on both sides over medium high heat. Pour maple syrup over chicken. Sprinkle with savory, thyme and sage. Arrange onion slices atop chicken. Pour 1/ 2 cup water into the bottom of casserole. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until tender, basting chicken occasionally with pan juices. Serves 4.

Beef Burgundy

Ingredients for Beef Burgundy  (8 Servings)

1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 ounces bacon, roughly chopped
3 pounds  beef brisket, trimmed of fat (chuck steak or stewing beef) cut into 2-inch chunks
1 large carrot sliced 1/2-inch thick
1 large white onion, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced (divided)
1 pinch coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups red wine like Merlot, Pinot Noir, or a Chianti -- for a milder sauce, use only 2 cups of wine
2-3 cups beef stock (if using 2 cups of wine, use 3 cups beef stock)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 beef bouillon cube, crushed
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (divided)
2 bay leaves
1 pound fresh small white or brown mushrooms, quartered
2 tablespoons butter
~12 pearl onions, optional

In a large dutch oven or heavy based pot, sauté the bacon over medium heat in 1 tablespoon of oil for about 3 minutes, until crisp and browned. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large dish and set aside.
Pat dry beef with paper towel; sear in batches in the hot oil/bacon fat until browned on all sides. Remove to the dish with the bacon.

In the remaining oil/bacon fat, sauté the carrots and diced onions until softened, (about 3 minutes), then add 4 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Drain excess fat and return the bacon and beef back into the pot; season with 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper. Sprinkle with flour, toss well and cook for 4-5 minutes to brown.

Add the pearl onions, wine and enough stock so that the meat is barely covered. Then add the tomato paste, bullion and herbs. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the meat is falling apart.

In the last 5 minutes of cooking time, prepare your mushrooms: Heat the butter in a medium-sized skillet/pan over heat. When the foam subsides, add the remaining 2 cloves garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds), then add in the mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes, while shaking the pan occasionally to coat with the butter. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Add browned mushrooms to the pot, let simmer for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to combine.

~Thanks to https://cafedelites.com/beef-bourguignon/ 

Nana's Spritz Cookies

These are the best tasting Spritz Cookies you will ever have.  However, using a cookie press takes a little getting used to.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together (use a mixer)
1 cup Butter or Shortening at room temperature
1  3 Ounce package of Cream cheese

Add gradually
1 cup of Sugar

Beat in
1 Egg yolk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon finely grated orange rind

Sift together
2 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients a little at a time into wet ingredients.  Once completely mixed together,  fill your cookie press. ( you can divide dough and color it if wanted) Form cookies on ungreased cookie sheets.  They will not spread while baking.  Decorate with sugar, cinnamon-sugar, or chopped almonds.

Bake 12- 15 minutes, just until brown on bottom edges.  Remove at once from cookie sheets.

Dinner Rolls

Dinner Rolls

Makes 24 rolls
1 1/4 cups Milk, warmed
1/3 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Salt
1 tablespoons Butter (1/2 stick)
1 package dry yeast
1 Egg slightly beaten
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups Flour
also 3 tablespoons Butter for baking.

Stir warmed milk, sugar, salt, butter  together in large mixing bowl. Sprinkle on yeast, stir and let stand to dissolve. Add the egg and the 2 cups of the flour and beat vigorously for a minute or two. Then add enough remaining flour to make a manageable dough, Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 6 to 8 minutes, until smooth and elastic. place in large greased  bowl, cover with plastic wrap. place in a warm draft free spot and let rise until double.

Punch down dough once doubled. cut dough into 24 equal pieces. roll each piece into a smooth ball. Place the balls touching each other in a 9 X 15 pan.  Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan.
Brush rolls with Butter. cover loosely and let rise in warm draft free area.  Once double in bulk, bake in a pre-heated 425 oven for 15 minutes, or until the tops are a deep golden brown. cool for a minute out f pan, then serve.

Granny's Blueberry Buckle

I  recall having blueberry buckle with Granny* SO many times. When I moved away from the farm I mentioned blueberry buckle to friends... and I was surprised at how many people (almost everyone) who had never heard of such a thing. So, for those who have never had it - and for the family who miss it - here's Granny's recipe:

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups well-drained blueberries

Mix together first 3 ingredients. Stir in milk. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend in blueberries and then fold the dry mixture into the wet mixture.

Sprinkle top with crumb mixture made from:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup soft butter

Bake in a 9 X 9 pan at 375 degrees for 45- 50 minutes.

*Granny, for those who aren't aware, was Velma Ellis Dykeman, my great-grandmother.