Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

I don't know where this recipe came from, but anything with peanut butter and chocolate is a winner in my book. The recipe only makes 12 cupcakes, so you might want to double it.

1 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips

In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt.  In another bowl cream together brown sugar, peanut butter and butter.  Add egg and beat well.  Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.  Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips.  Spoon into cupcake pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

Frosting:

Melt 3/4 cup chocolate chips over warm water (I just microwaved them for 30 seconds).  Beat in 1/4 cup heavy cream and whisk until cool and fluffy.
Note:  This frosting is semi-sweet.  If you want a sweeter frosting use milk chocolate chips, or try the chocolate frosting recipe from the February 13, 2011 post (Chocolate Cake).

Shrimp Creole

This recipe came from the chef of the M.S. Skyward, the Norwegian cruise ship of Mom's first Caribbean voyage.  It makes me wonder if she attended one of those on-board cooking demonstrations or just asked the chef for the recipe.  It is easy to see why this became one her favorite dishes.  It tastes wonderful and can be made in just minutes.

1 lb. raw shrimp, peeled and cleaned
1 cup green pepper, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon shallots, sliced
1 bay leaf
salt & pepper
1 can tomato paste
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 cups water
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon cornstarch
a few drops of tobasco

Melt butter in large pan.  Add onions, celery, shallots, and green pepper.  Saute for about 15 minutes.  Add shrimp, tomato paste and water.  Let simmer a few minutes.  Add tomatoes.  Dissolve cornstarch in a little water.  Stir into sauce.  Add lemon juice and season with salt, pepper and tobasco.  Serve over hot rice.

Chocolate Crackles

This recipe came from Ruth's daughter-in-law, Julie Bryan, a fellow chocoholic and cookie lover.  These are great for dipping in milk.

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2 Tablespoons water
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat all of the above until melted.  Add 2 eggs one at a time, beating well after each.

Sift together 3 cups flour, 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt.   Combine with chocolate mixture and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes.  Roll into small balls and coat in sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes.

Orange Nut Bread

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cup oil
Grated peel or one orange
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and sugar in bowl.  Beat eggs in large bowl.  Add milk, orange juice, oil and grated orange peel.  Add flour mixture to egg mixture, mixing well.  Stir in nuts.  Pour into greased 9-inch loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until wood toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Makes one loaf.

Aunt Ethel's Chicken Noodle Soup

This might be my most used recipe over the years, a hearty yet healthy chicken soup that everyone loves!

1 whole chicken or chicken breasts, about 3 1/2 pounds
2 quarts water
2 teaspoons salt
3 large carrots, cut diagonally into 1/4" slices
2 large celery ribs, cut diagonally into 1/4" slices
1 medium onion, sliced
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 Tablespoon chopped dried parsley
3 cups noodles, homemade or purchased

Combine chicken, water and salt.  Cover and cook until chicken is tender.  While chicken cooks, prepare vegetables and make noodles.  Remove chicken, reserving liquid.  Let chicken cool, then cut into bite size pieces.  Add vegetables and seasonings to hot liquid.  Cook vegetables until tender, 10 or 12 minutes.  Drop in noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.  Add chicken and heat through.

If you want a thick soup:  Melt 1 cube margarine and stir in 1/2 cup flour.  Stir in 1 can evaporated milk. Reduce heat of soup and stir in milk mixture.  Stir constantly until thickened.

Homemade Noodles:

1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
2 Tablespoons milk

Add flour to egg, milk and salt mixture.  Stir in flour.  Knead a few times.  Cover and let stand 10 or 15 minutes.  (It will be easier to roll out.)  Roll out to about 18 x 20 inches.  Let dry about 1 1/2 hours.  Cut into 1/2" strips.

Ruth noted the following:  "Aunt Ethel adds a few chicken bouillon cubes but be careful because they can make the soup too salty.  I found that the whole chicken makes a more flavorful soup than chicken breasts & you probably don't need the bouillon cubes to give added flavor."

Cranberries!

In preparation for Thanksgiving I found these recipes that will make a nice accompaniment for turkey.

Spiced Cranberries (top left), Cranberry Sauce (top right), and Quick Cranberry Relish (bottom)




Quick Cranberry Relish


3 large apples (pared and cored)
2 cups cranberries
2 small oranges and 1 lemon (all unpeeled, quartered, with seeds removed)

Put all of the above in a food processor and chop to medium fine.

Add 2 cups sugar and mix well.  Cover and store in refrigerator.  Makes 1 1/2 quarts.  For extra tang add 1 tablespoon horseradish to one cup relish just before serving.


Spiced Cranberries


2 cups cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground mace

Wash and drain cranbaerries.  Combine sugar, water, cinnamon stock, cloves and mace in saucepan.  Bring to boil and simmer 5 minutes.  Add cranberries and simmer 5 minutes longer.  Remove cinnamon stick.  Chill before serving.  Makes 2 cups.


Cranberry Sauce


1 quart cranberries
2 cups sugar
2 cups boiling water

Cook cranberries and water together until skins of berries are broken.  Rub through a sieve.  Return strained portion to stove.  Add sugar and simmer for 5 or 10 minutes.

Note:  This recipe is exactly what was written by Mom.  I was unsure whether to drain off the water after cooking the cranberries.  I ended up mashing the cranberries through a strainer, using the pulp and the water.  The sauce turned out nice and firm.