April 15th - National Glazed Spiral Ham Day

Did you know that April 15th is "National Glazed Spiral Ham Day"?


DIJON MAPLE GLAZED SPIRAL HAM RECIPE
(courtesy of Dave Lieberman at FoodNetwork.com)


Cook Time:2 hr 0 min
Level: Easy
Yield: about 10 servings

INGREDIENTS
1 (9-pound) store bought bone-in spiral ham
3/4 cup water

For the glaze:
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Optional fixings for ham:
Pumpernickel bread
Assorted mustards
Pickled shallots
Cornichons
Assorted cheeses

DIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Place ham in a roasting pan and pour about 3/4 cup water into the bottom of pan. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour and 40 minutes or until heated through, soft and tender.

Make the glaze:
Whisk all ingredients together in a saucepan until smooth and heat over medium-low to medium heat until simmering. Simmer for 2 minutes and remove from heat.

When ham is heated through, remove the aluminum foil, and pour or brush the glaze over the top to cover completely. Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees F.

Return the ham to the oven and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until glaze is caramelized and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with desired fixings.

April 14th is National Pecan Day!

Did you know that April 14th is "National Pecan Day"?

 RECIPE (from allrecipes.com)Unlike most pecan pies, this one does not require corn syrup.

Prep Time: 15 Min
Cook Time: 40 Min
Ready In: 1 Hr 5 Min

Original Recipe Yield 1 - 9 inch pie

INGREDIENTS1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

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

2.In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy, and stir in melted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar and the flour; mix well. Last add the milk, vanilla and nuts.

3.Pour into an unbaked 9-in pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until done.

Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 219
Total Fat: 12.8g
Cholesterol: 84mg

April 13th - Peach Cobbler Day!

Did you know that April 13th is National Peach Cobbler Day!


RECIPE (courtesy Paula Deen)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time:45 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

INGREDIENTS
4 cups peeled, sliced peaches
2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup water
8 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/2 cups milk
Ground cinnamon, optional

DIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the peaches, 1 cup sugar, and water in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Put the butter in a 3-quart baking dish and place in oven to melt.

Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, flour, and milk slowly to prevent clumping. Pour mixture over melted butter. Do not stir. Spoon fruit on top, gently pouring in syrup. Sprinkle top with ground cinnamon, if using. Batter will rise to top during baking. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes.

To serve, scoop onto a plate and serve with your choice of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

National Days for April 12th

Did you know that April 12th is "National Grilled Cheese Day"


AND

"National Licorice Day"!


RED LICORICE CANDY RECIPE (cooks.com)

2 env. unflavored gelatin
3 pkg. cherry gelatin
4 c. cherry soda
2 tsp. anise extract

Soften gelatin in 1/2 cup of cherry soda. Bring rest to a boil and dissolve gelatin. Add flavoring and pour into 9x13 pan. Refrigerate.

April 5th is National Caramel Day!

Did you know tha April 5th is "National Caramel Day"?

CHEWY CARAMEL RECIPE"Rich, chewy caramel to individually wrap or use in candy making."

Prep Time:  10 Min
Cook Time: 30 Min
Ready In:    40 Min

Original Recipe Yield 1 pound

INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter or margarine
1 pound light brown sugar
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup light corn syrup
1 pinch salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
1.In a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Cook for 2 minutes at that temperature. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.

2.Meanwhile, butter a 9x13 inch baking pan. When the caramel is ready, pour into the buttered pan. Allow to cool completely at room temperature. Remove from the pan and cut into squares using scissors. Wrap individual pieces in waxed paper or cellophane.

April 4th is National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day!

Did you know that April 4th is
"National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day"?

CHICKEN CORDON BLEU RECIPE (serves 4)

4 Boneless chicken breasts

1/4 c Chopped cooked ham

1/4 c Grated Swiss cheese

1 Clove garlic; crushed
2 tb White wine
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c Flour; seasoned with salt
... and pepper

1 lg Egg;

-=BEATEN WITH=-


1 tb Oil
1/2 c Breadcrumbs
1/4 c Oil
5 tb Butter

Place chicken skin side down. With a sharp knife
cut a shallow slit down center of each without
cutting through to skin. Then cut shallow pockets

on either side of these slits. Mix ham, cheese,

garlic and wine. Season well. Spoon mixture into

pockets and seal slit with the small finger shaped

filet that is attached to each breast. Refrigerate

for 30 minutes. Coat breasts well with seasoned

flour, brush with beaten egg and oil, then roll in

bread crumbs. Heat oil in frying pan. Add butter

and when butter is foaming, cook chicken until

tender, golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper

towels and serve.

April 1st

Did you know that April 1st is "National Sourdough Bread Day?"

Ingredients:Yield:


SOURDOUGH BREAD RECIPE - for bread machines only
(www.food.com)

INGREDIENTS1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
2/3 cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter, melted
3 1/4 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 teaspoons dry yeast or 2 3/4 teaspoons bread machine yeast

DIRECTIONS:Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 3 1/4 hrs

1 Do not use delay bake option with this recipe.
2 Bake on french bread cycle.
3 Have water between 70 and 80 degrees.
4 Add all ingredients in order listed.
5 Make an hole in flour for yeast, don't let yeast touch water.