Polenta

4 cups water
Salt to taste
1 cup quick cook grits
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup blended cottage cheese
seasoning

adapted from http://themerlinmenu.blogspot.com/2009/01/creamy-polenta.html

Simple White Cake

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes Ready In: 50 Minutes
Servings: 12


"A buttery white cake that comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent all day making it. "
Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/simple-white-cake/Detail.aspx

Mac n Cheese

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded good quality
1/2 cup breadcrumbs, buttered
Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
1 Preheat oven to 400°F.
2 Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions; set aside.
3 In a large saucepan melt butter.
4 Add flour mixed with salt and pepper, using a whisk to stir until well blended.
5 Pour milk and cream in gradually; stirring constantly.
6 Bring to boiling point and boil 2 minutes (stirring constantly).
7 Reduce heat and cook (stirring constantly) 10 minutes.
8 Add shredded cheddar little by little and simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese melts.
9 Turn off flame.
10 Add macaroni to the saucepan and toss to coat with the cheese sauce.
11 Transfer macaroni to a buttered baking dish.
12 Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
13 Bake 20 minutes until the top is golden brown.
14 (You can also freeze this recipe in zip-lock bags for later use - once you have mixed the macaroni along with the cheese sauce allow to cool to room temperature before adding to your freezer - I generally pull it out the night before and allow macaroni and cheese to reach room temperature; I then add the macaroni and cheese to a buttered baking dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs and then bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown on top and bubbling.


http://www.food.com/recipe/fannie-farmers-classic-baked-macaroni-and-cheese-135350?scaleto=2&mode=null&st=true

Sweet Black Sesame Soup (Sesame Tong Shui)

This sweet soup is made with black sesame seeds, rumored to help prevent grey hair. Feel free to use Chinese rock sugar (available at Asian markets) instead of granulated sugar if desired. For an added touch, the soup can be garnished with crushed nuts, shredded coconut or softened, chopped Chinese dates.
Ingredients:
1 cup rice (long grain or short grain)
1 cup black sesame seeds
7 cups water
3/4 cup granulated sugar, or to taste
Boiling water as needed, depending on how thick or thin you want the soup
Preparation:
1. Soak the rice in cold water for at least 1 hour.
2. Toast the black sesame seeds in a frying pan on medium low heat for 1 - 2 minutes, until they are fragrant and the pan begins to smoke. Remove and cool.
3. Drain the rice and add to a blender with 3 cups water. Blend until smooth. Remove and clean out the blender.
4. Grind the sesame seeds in the blender until they are fully ground and the sesame smell is very fragrant. Add 1/2 cup water and grind briefly until the mixture forms a grayish paste.
5. Add the blended rice/water mixture to the sesame paste and blend.
6. In a large saucepan, bring the mixture to a boil with 3 1/2 cups water and the sugar. As soon as it starts to boil, turn the heat down to low and cook until the mixture thickens, stirring constantly (5 – 8 minutes). Note: Be sure to stir constantly or there will be splattering and the pot may burn. Add boiling water to the soup as desired, depending on how thick or thin you want the soup. Serve warm.

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/desserts/r/black_sesame.htm

Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding

Rated:

Submitted By: Kelly Powers
Photo By: DESIDERATAGRACEFULLY
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 20 Minutes
Servings: 4


"My mom's best chocolate pudding recipe made with cornstarch and cocoa."
Ingredients:
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
powder
1/4 cup cornstarch 1/8 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. In a saucepan, stir together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Place over medium heat, and stir in milk. Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat, and stir in margarine and vanilla. Let cool briefly, and serve warm, or chill in refrigerator until serving.

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=44699&origin=detail&servings=4

Banana Crumb Muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Sweet Dinner Rolls

Sweet Dinner Rolls


recipe image
Rated: rating
Submitted By: Donna West
Photo By: Nobody'sGirl
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes

Ready In: 2 Hours 20 Minutes
Servings: 16
"This versatile dough -with butter, milk and sugar -does make lovely sweet dinner rolls, but do not stop there. Use it for breakfast rolls like sticky buns and the like, too."
Ingredients:
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45
degrees C)
1/2 cup warm milk
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup butter, softened
Directions:
1. Place water, milk, egg, 1/3 cup butter, sugar, salt, flour and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough/Knead and First Rise Cycle; press Start.
2. When cycle finishes, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 12 inch circle, spread 1/4 cup softened butter over entire round. Cut each circle into 8 wedges. Roll wedges starting at wide end; roll gently but tightly. Place point side down on ungreased cookie sheet. Cover with clean kitchen towel and put in a warm place, let rise 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden.