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Cinnamon spice biscotti

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger, ground
1/8 tsp nutmeg, ground
1/8 tsp cloves, ground

  1. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Mix until evenly incorporated.
  2. In another bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Add to the bowl of wet ingredients, and stir until a soft dough forms.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and shape the dough into two logs about 3 inches wide. Bake at 350 F for 35 minutes or until golden brown.
  4. Using a serrated knife, gently slice the logs diagonally into 1-inch thick pieces. Return to the baking sheet, and sprinkle the tops with cinnamon sugar (1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon).
  5. Bake for 5-7 minutes. Flip the pieces over, sprinkle the other side with cinnamon and sugar and bake for another 5-7 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

Zucchini fritters

2 small zucchini, shredded
1 egg
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
fresh parsley

  1. Wash zucchini and cut off the ends. Grate the zucchini into a bowl using a large-holed grater.
  2. Add garlic, oregano, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Add a whisked egg and the flour. Stir until evenly combined.
  4. Heat oil in a small skillet until very hot. Drop the batter into the oil, one spoonful at a time. Fry each side until deep golden brown.
  5. Let drain on a paper towel covered plate. Serve with marinara.

Chai butter cookies

  • 2 cups flour
  • 3 tea bags, chai tea
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  1. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, chai, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar.
  2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and shortening until light and fluffy. Beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla.
  3. Slowly beat in the dry ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  5. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, and press with the tines of a fork to flatten.
  6. Bake at 350 F until pale golden, but not brown, 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly on cookie sheet, then transfer to cooling rack.

Rolo cookies

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cups cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 sticks butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 bag of Rolos

  1. Sift cocoa, flour, and baking soda into a medium bowl.
  2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together. Add vanilla and eggs.
  3. Add dry ingredients, but don’t overmix. Chill at least an hour.
  4. For each cookie, roll a small ball of dough, flatten it, stick a Rolo in the center, and roll the dough around the Rolo. Use only enough dough to cover the Rolo.
  5. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Hard candy

2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup water
1 dram (.125 fl oz, 3/4 tsp) super-strength flavoring oil
food coloring
powdered sugar (optional)

  1. In a pot, mix sugar, corn syrup, and water until dissolved.
  2. Heat without stirring, until 260 F on a candy thermometer. Add food coloring, without stirring.
  3. At 300 F, remove from heat immediately. Once boiling ceases, add flavoring and stir.
  4. Quickly pour into greased molds or cookie sheet. Let cool. (Boil water in pot to dissolve remaining candy.)
  5. Break out of molds and dust with powdered sugar.

Spinach artichoke dip

5 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
14 oz artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp chili sauce
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
1/4 cup mozzarella, grated

  1. Mix everything and pour into baking dish.
  2. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve with crackers.

Baked potato soup

1 head garlic
3 Tbsp butter
2 leeks
5 cups vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
2 1/2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/3 cup sour cream

  1. Rinse the head of garlic. Cut and discard the top third off the head and peel any loose papery skins off the bottom.
  2. Discard dark green parts of leeks. Halve lengthwise and chop finely.
  3. In a large, heavy pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add leeks and cook 5 minutes. Add the garlic head, broth, bay leaves, and 3/4 tsp salt.
  4. Reduce heat and simmer until garlic is very tender, 30-40 minutes.
  5. Add potatoes and simmer, partially covered, until tender, 15-20 minutes. Discard bay leaves and garlic.
  6. Add sour cream to soup and cook for another 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Use immersion blender (or blender) and process soup until chunky-creamy. Serve with chives, sour cream, grated cheddar, butter, etc.

Cream cheese sugar cookies

1 cup sugar
2 sticks butter, softened
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
2 1/4 cup flour

  1. In large bowl, combine sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, extracts, and egg yolk. Stir in flour until well blended.
  2. Chill dough for 2 hours. On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into shapes.
  3. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake for 7-10 minutes at 375 F. Cool completely on wire racks.

Russian tea cakes

2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup pecans, hazelnuts or other nuts, toasted and finely ground
1/8 tsp cinnamon

  1. In large bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar until well blended, then beat in flour and nuts.
  2. Divide dough into two balls. Wrap separately and chill until cold, about 30 minutes.
  3. Roll dough between palms into 2 teaspoon balls, and place 1/2 inch apart on large baking sheet. Bake 18 minutes at 350 F.
  4. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cool cookies 5 minutes on baking sheet, then coat in cinnamon sugar.
  5. Transfer to a cooling rack, and cool completely before serving. Sift remaining sugar on top of cookies.

Golden mashed potatoes

1 3/4 lb Yukon gold potatoes, peeled
3 Tbsp butter
1 cup milk

  1. Cut potatoes into large 2-inch chunks; put potatoes into a large saucepan, covered by an inch of water.
  2. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes until tender.
  3. Drain, and cook briefly over medium heat to dry out potatoes.
  4. Mash, adding butter and milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with gravy.