Grandma Beulah’s Zucchini Crumb Pie

This recipe tastes just like apple pie and, if you don't tell, they won't know the difference. We found it best to use the overly large zucchini from your garden or grocery store because they are the same size and shape as apple slices. This recipe is from my Grandmother Beulah Menne. 

 

Beulah's Zucchini Crumb Pie

Amanda Hartman

 

Crust:

1 3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

6 Tb chilled butter, small pieces

5 Tb chilled shortening, small pieces

2 Tb ice water

 

Filling:

3 3/4 lb large zucchini (3-4) peeled, cored; thick slices - they look just like apple slices

1 Tb lemon juice

2 1/2 Tb butter

2 Tb apple cider (or apple butter)

1 1/2 Tb cornstarch

1/2 cup apple sauce

1 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

 

Topping:

3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup golden brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

6 Tb butter, small pieces

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

 

Crust:

1) Mix in food processor flour and salt. Add butter until it looks like course meal. Drizzle ice water until it clumps up. It will be light and soft but will not fall apart when squeezed together. Try not to add too much water or it will stick real bad. Form in disc shape and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in fridge. 

 

Preheat oven to 350 deg.

 

2) Roll out crust and place into buttered 10 inch pie pan. Freeze for 15 minutes.

 

3) Line with foil and add pie weights (beans or rice will do). You may want to spray nonstick spray on foil touching crust to avoid tearing crust when removing foil. Bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes. Let cool completely.

 

Filling:

1) Toss zucchini and lemon. Melt butter in large skillet on med-high temperature. Stir in sugar and cinnamon. Add zucchini and saute about 5 minutes. 

 

2) Whisk apple cider with cornstarch in bowl (if using apple butter you can use water or apple juice). Add to zucchini. Boil, stirring constantly. Transfer zucchini to large bowl. Add applesauce. Cool completely.

 

Topping:

1) Using fingertips, rub all ingredients in bowl until moist clumps form. 

 

Preheat oven to 350 deg

 

Place filling in the crust. Sprinkle topping over zucchini. Bake until topping golden about 40 minutes. 

 

Serves 8

Holiday Fruit Punch

I was at church for a potluck years ago and one of the ladies brought a punch that we all loved!  We were all asking for the recipe, and she was hesitant to give it out because of the sugar content.  However, I did get it from her, and it really is amazing. 

Holiday Fruit Punch

About - 23 oz. Grapefruit juice  (1/2 can - not frozen concentrate - in juice section)

About - 23 oz. Pineapple juice  (1/2 can - not frozen concentrate - in juice section)

5 bananas (mashed)

4 cups sugar

1 cup lemon juice

1 - 12 oz. Can frozen Orange Juice concentrate

8 cups water

 

Blend together.  Freeze in 16 oz. Plastic cups.

 

When ready to serve - place as many frozen cups as you want to use in punch bowl.  Mash frozen parts with potato masher to blend, or use a hand held stick blender/mixer if you have one.  Add 7-up or ginger ale to the consistency you like.  Blend and serve.   

Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes

Cafe Rio Chicken

3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing 
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
2 cloved minced garlic

Cook for about 4 hours in a crock pot. Shred chicken with a fork.


Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa

Pork Roast: Put it in a crock pot with a little water and cook until very tender (about 8 hours on low). 

Shred pork and add:
1 can enchilada sauce
2 cloves minced garlic
1 small can diced green chilies
1 can Coke (not diet coke)
1 cup brown sugar
salt to taste

Cook for one more hour.

 

 

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

1 package Ranch Buttermilk Dressing mix
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 cup Mayonnaise (I use half mayo and half sour cream)
3 fresh tomatillos
1 cup fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic
¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Just put everything in a blender and puree.
Refrigerate for a couple of hours and if you need to, adjust the thickness by adding more buttermilk to thin it out, or sour cream to make it thicker

Bran Muffins

I recently discovered my kids love bran muffins.  I made them for them to snack on, an they devoured them.  

Here's the recipe.  It's super easy. 

3 cups bran

1 cup water

1 stick butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 eggs (beaten)

2 cups buttermilk

Boil water and add 1 cup bran.  Stir and set as side to cool for about 3-5 minutes. Add butter to melt.  Mix in brown sugar.  Mix in eggs. 

Mix flour, 2 cups bran, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl.  Add buttermilk (don't stir). 

Combine wet bran mix, with flour/milk ingredients. 

Put in muffin cups and bake 400° for 15 minutes.

Makes 35-40 muffins (depending on the size)

Sour Cream Biscuits

We found this recipe when watching Paula Deen, and fell in love with it.  It's great for filling people up quickly.  It's a basic delicious and disgustingly rich side.  

Ingredients

• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease miniature muffin pans.

• Mix the flour and butter together, add the sour cream, and blend well. Place spoonfuls of the batter in the muffin pans. Bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

I love Mac and Cheese.  It's an amazing home style dish that just makes you want to snuggle up and eat on a bad day, good day, cold day, or whatever type of day.  I decided to try my hand at this and make my own Mac and Cheese.  My husband has a slight allergy to eggs, so I used flour as a thickener instead.

3 cups uncooked shell pasta
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 oz cream cheese
4 oz velveeta
2 cups fontina or cheddar cheese, plus additional 1/2 cup for top
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp bacon fat (optional)
Pinch salt and pepper
Pinch nutmeg
1 tsp Worchestershire sauce
2 Tbsp butter (softened)
2 Tbsp flour



Preheat oven to 350°
Butter 9 inch square or round baking pan.

Cook shell pasta for about 5 min.  You'll want it to be only about half cooked.  Drain and set aside.

While the pasta is cooking, over med heat 1 Tbsp butter and milk over med heat.  Add velveeta and cream cheese.  Stir or whisk until melted.  Remove from heat.  Add salt, pepper, bacon fat, nutmeg, and worchestershire sauce.  Stir to combine.
Add 2 cups of cheese. Stir until combined.

Mix 2 Tbsp butter and 2 Tbsp flour together until it is a paste.  Put geese mixture back on med heat. Add flour/butter to the cheese mixture and whisk constantly.  You will want to make sure the flour beaks up and doesn't lump.  Do not boil, but whisk until it starts to thicken.  Then remove from heat an add and mix together with shell pasta.

Put in baking dish.  Top with another 1/2 cup cheese.  Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes.  Cool 5 minutes.

Enjoy

You can also add crispy bacon, ham, or any other yummy additions to make this your own.

Spicy Taco Seasoning

I love making tacos, but I never buy taco seasoning.  I have everything I need, so I make my own.   I usually make it with sausage, so I don't put much salt in this.  Feel free to add to it if you need. 

Here is my recipe. 

Spicy Taco Seasoning 

2 Tb Cayanne Powder

2 Tb Cumin Powder

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Black Pepper

1 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

1/4 tsp Dried Oregano

Mix all ingredients in a coffee grinder and mix together.