countryhomerecipes

[countryhomerecipes]

♡ Apple Pie for the Soul ♡

“This is the best pie I have ever had... ever in my whole life.” - Glen Goncalves.

“I save my thick, chewy crust for last to dip into the sweet, cinnamony, apple liquid.” - Me.

I made this apple pie last night and I am still thinking about it. It’s sitting in the kitchen near enough for me to see... I already had a piece for my breakfast dessert. Should I have another piece for my lunch dessert too?

First, check out my Pie Crust recipe to get started on your pie!

http://countryhomerecipes.tumblr.com/post/124240763361/the-best-most-flaky-pie-crust-youll-ever-have

Now for the apple pie filling!

In a bowl, mix:

      ♡ 1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice

      ♡ 1/2 c. sugar

      ♡ 3 Tbsp. flour

      ♡ 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Peel and thinly slice about 5-8 cups of apples. The reason I’m not giving a precise measurement is because different people have different sized pie pans and different preferences with pie filling amounts. I prefer a bit less, as you can see in the photos. For that pan, I used 5 cups. 

Apples that are thinly sliced retain their size better when baking in a pie and they get cooked through. You can read more about this topic here:  https://scienceandfooducla.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/perfectly-unsoggy-apple-pie/

With each cup of apples that you slice, mix it immediately into the bowl with the lemon juice. This is to keep the apples from browning.

Once complete, add the filling inside your pie shell!

Apple pie does well with as a covered pastry with a top crust. This is to keep the moisture in and cook the apples fully.

Moisten the edges of the bottom crust with a bit of water to get a good seal between the top and bottom crusts.

Once sealed, you will have excess crust hanging off the edges. Feel free to chop the excess off and press with a fork, but I find that an uber thick, rolled-up, chewy pie crust is a treat unto itself and should not be wasted.

For my chewy, delectable, pie crust method:

Simply moisten the top crust around the edge and roll it into itself.

Cut some holes in the top of the pie for air to escape.

Bake the pie at 350°F for 40 minutes and then increase the temperature to 425°F for 10 minutes, or until very lightly browned.

“Pies are meant to be cooled before eating so that the liquid can congeal, but I say damn the waiting! Let it be drizzly! I love me some sweet apple liquid!”

Thinly sliced apples make for the best apple pies.

The crust does not have to be perfect! That’s what makes the pie more home-style, with more love inside! <3

Pie pastry hanging over? Don’t waste it!

Roll her up!

Make sure to cut holes into the top so that excess air can escape.

Cooked to perfection.

A Perfect Piece o’ Pie.

You see? I like my pie filling relatively thin, and my crust relatively thick.

Check out the crust edge. I save this bit for last and dip it in all the liquidy sauciness left over.

#pie #apple #apples #apple pie #pie crust #crust #pastry #apple pastry #cinnamon #autumn #fall #autumn recipes #pie recipe #recipe #dessert #dessert recipes

[countryhomerecipes]

♡ Lasagna from the ♡♡♡Heart♡♡♡

Yes this is my ultimate lasagna recipe!!! Simple, straight-up, beefy, cheesy & easy! With a home-made beef tomato sauce that has some small but effective perks that change a drab sauce into a fab sauce! Enjoy! <3

“This recipe makes enough for one lasagna and extra left-over sauce for pasta the next day.”

Okay, I don’t ever measure anything in this recipe, but I’ll put approximations for you. Do it how you like it! ;)

In a large pot, saute:

      ♡ olive oil (I use about 1/4 c.)

      ♡ lots of garlic (half of a garlic bunch? More? It’s up to you)

      ♡ lots of onion (I use about 1 extra large yellow onion, or 3 smallish-medium size-ish ones)

Once the onions are beginning to caramelize, add:

      ♡ salt (1 Tbsp is around what I use)

      ♡ pepper (I like around 1 Tbsp)

      ♡ cayenne pepper (I like my lasagna spicy with about 1 tsp., but if you don’t like spicy, then don’t add this at all)

      ♡ paprika (about 1 tsp. to get that smoky flava)

      ♡ Portuguese sweet red pepper paste (about 3 Tbsp) *photo below

      ♡ basil (about 1 Tbsp)

      ♡ oregano (about 1 1/2 tsp.)

Once fully caramelized, add:

      ♡ ground beef/pork/chicken (1 small package, about 500g)

Cook the ground meat until fully brown, not raw in any area. This is better to cook a bit too much than not enough!

Once meat is cooked, add:

      ♡ 3 large cans of crushed tomatoes, and/or diced, and/or broiled, whatever you have!

Blend the sauce with a hand mixer until all of the large pieces are broken up. Us at Country Home Recipes love a consistent lasagna, so this is a key moment in our recipe.

Let this simmer for a bit, and let it cool. I find sauce always tastes better when it has had time to cool because the flavors come together.

Now time to make the lasagna!

♡ Spread a layer of sauce onto the bottom of you lasagna pan so that the pasta doesn’t stick.

♡ Sprinkle cheese evenly over-top. I personally like super strong cheddar mixed with mozzarella! If I have it, I also add Parmesan and swiss... really any kind of cheese for me is good in this. 

♡ Lay down the oven-ready lasagna pasta over-top. No worries if you have ot over-lap a bit, or break pieces apart. It will all come together when it’s cooking.

♡ Repeat this process until the pan is full!

Cover the lasagna with tinfoil, careful not to let the cheese touch the tinfoil too much (it will stick).

Bake in the oven at 375°F for 40 minutes. Take the tinfoil off, increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for another 10 minutes or until the top is browned in areas.

Chop up your onions & garlic to saute in the pot.

The Portuguese pepper paste will look something like this. Make sure it is (1) Portuguese and (2) SWEET not spicy.

Once your delicious sauce is finished and blended it should look something like this.

First layer...

Second layer...

Third layer!

Spreading on the sauciness <3

Finito & ready for the oven!

Enjoy it, baby!

#drab to fab #sauce #tomato #tomato sauce #beef #beef sauce #lasagna #lasagna recipe #recipe #dinner #easy lasagna #easy #easy dinner #dinner recipes #pasta #pasta sauce #pasta sauce recipe #cheese #cheesy #meat lasagna

[countryhomerecipes]

♡The Best most Flaky Pie Crust you’ll Ever Have♡

This recipe is taken from Michael Smith’s cooking show. I ran to grab a pen & paper, and got it all down. When I first tried it, my family couldn’t believe how good it was. Personally, I’ve never liked those pie crusts that are so dry that when you inhale they get caught on your uvula and make you cough and sputter. This pie crust is thick, and chewy, and like having a dessert separate from the pie itself.

Mix:

s  2 ½ c. flour

s  1 tsp. salt

s  2 Tbsp. sugar

Shred in 1 c. frozen butter

Add ½ c. iced water

Mix with hands

Split in 2

Sit 30 mins in fridge (the dough, not you)

"The dough makes 2 crusts, or 1 covered pie!"

Mix the flour, salt & sugar in a large bowl.

Grate the frozen butter onto a bowl and then transfer into the flour mix along with the iced water.

Mix with your hands until fully incorporated.

Keep this ball of pastry in the fridge while you mix your pie filling.

Once the filling is complete, flour a surface.

Split the pastry in half and flatten one half with your hands onto the floured surface.

From there you will need touse a rolling pin. Honestly, I don’t have one so I just use my favoite wine bottle.

Roll the pastry out until it is large enough to fit into your pie pan.

I purposely use a smaller pie pan because I like my crusts THICK <3

To transfer into the pan more easily, you can fold the pastry in half, and half again.

Ready for filling!

#pie crust #pie #crust #pie crust recipe #crust recipe #recipe #bakery #pastry #pastry recipe

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Galaxy Cookies♡

My favorite, staple cookie. Everyone ALWAYS loves these, and they can be done vegan style! So quick, so easy, only one bowl needed, not messy, can’t be under-cooked because there is no egg... the perfect cookie. Taken and slightly altered from the Betty Crocker cookbook.

Mix:

s  ½ c. soft butter/margarine

s  ¾ c. icing sugar

s  1 Tbsp. vanilla

Add 1 ½ c. flour with a pinch of salt

350°F 10-15 minutes

“Under-baking is better than over-baking because there is no egg & they stay soft”

#easy cookie recipe #cookie recipe #easy cookies #quick cookie recipe #quick cookies #betty crocker #vegan cookie recipe #vegan cookies #vegan recipes #vegan

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Decadent Peanut Butter Cookies♡

These moist, soft, chewy peanut butter cookies will warm your mouths as well as your hearts. Taken from Averie Cooks website & altered just slightly.

Combine:

  1 egg

  ½ c. brown sugar

  1/3 c. peanut butter

  2 Tbsp. butter

  1 tsp. vanilla

  1 c. flour

  ½ tsp. baking powder

Divide into 16 balls & flatten on a plate to stick in the fridge for about 30 minutes

350°F 10 mins

"It’s better to undercook than overcook, so they stay chewy!"

#peanut butter #peanut butter cookies #peanut butter recipe #recipe #cookies #cookie recipe #dessert #sweets

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Butterscotch Squares♡

These squares come from a long-lived Christmas tradition in my family. Soft, moist, chewy... melt in your mouth, sweet, buttery, with pecans... I’m actually melting just thinking about them.

Mix:

s  1/3 c. butter

s  1 egg

s  2 tsp. vanilla

Mix:

s  7/8 c. flour

s  ½ tsp/ salt

s  1 tsp. baking powder

s  ½ c. chopped nuts

Add two mixes together

Bake in a square brownie pan

325°F 20-30-40 mins

#butterscotch #butterscotch squares #dessert #dessert recipes #squares recipes #squares recipe #moist #sweets

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Kale Dip♡

If you don’t like kale, you will still like this dip. I tricked Glen (my love) into thinking is was spinach and he said it was the tastiest spinach dip he ever had. YEAH that’s because it’s kale, honey. Enjoy.

Finely Chop 1 bunch of kale

In a saucepan, fry butter & garlic lightly

Add kale & ¼ c. water

Boil out water, add salt & pepper to taste

Fry kale until desired taste (I like it browned a bit)

Let cool

Mix:

s  1 c. mayo

s  1 c. sour cream

s  Cooled kale

s  1 pkg. dry “Knorr” brand vegetable soup mix

"Hollow out a pumpernickel loaf & serve inside!"

#kale #kale dip #kale recipe #kale recipes #dips #dip recipe #dip #kale dip recipe #kale dip recipes

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers♡

These stuffed pepper will blow your mind. They are SO flavorful and delicious, there is absolutely no need for meat in these babies. They have quinoa in them so they are filling and full of protein! The sofrito recipe is linked to below.

Mix in a bowl:

s  2/3 c. sofrito sauce

s  1 c. cooked quinoa

s  1 c. cooked wild rice

s  Diced cheese (optional)

s  ½ c. bread crumbs

s  2 eggs

Fill pepper halves with mixture & grate cheese on top

350°F 20 mins

"Replace the quinoa or wild rice with couscous or rice! "

"The cheese on top keeps the peppers from getting crunchy!"

Sofrito recipe:

http://countryhomerecipes.tumblr.com/post/124239948871/sofrito-sauce

#stuffed peppers recipe #recipe #stuffed pepper #stuffed peppers #sofrito #vegetarian recipe #vegetarian #vegetarian recipes

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Sofrito Sauce♡

This salsa is excellent mixed into any pasta sauce, stuffed peppers, and more. The recipe I created here is inspired from Cuban recipes that I have researched. It will add a bit of sweetness to combat the acidity in tomato sauces. Yum yum yum. Always handy to have some in the fridge! My stuffed pepper recipe is linked to below.

In a saucepan, sauté until peppers are soft:

s  ½ c. olive oil

s  2 large onions diced

s  2 red peppers diced

s  5 cloves garlic minced

Add:

s  5 tomatoes chopped

s  2 Tbsp. tomato paste

s  ½ c. white wine

s  Salt & pepper to taste

s  ¼ tsp. cumin

s  ½ tsp. oregano

s  Cilantro to taste (optional)

s  1 bay leaf

Bring to a boil & simmer 10 minutes

Let cool & blend until smooth (optional)

Stuffed Peppers recipe:

http://countryhomerecipes.tumblr.com/post/124240008431/vegetarian-stuffed-peppers

#sofrito #sauce #salsa #sofrito recipe #cuban recipe #salsa recipe #red pepper #red pepper sauce recipe #red pepper sauce #mexican sauce

[countryhomerecipes]

♡General Tso Chicken♡

This recipe is better than most restaurants that I’ve been to. Likely because of the crispness of the breading around the chicken and the freshness of the garlic and green onion. Takes some time, but is honestly well worth it! 

Whisk in a bowl:

s  ¼ c. chicken broth

s  2 Tbsp. sugar

s  2 Tbsp. wine vinegar

s  1 Tbsp. hoisin sauce

s  1 Tbsp. sesame oil

s  1 Tbsp. corn starch

Coat 1 lb. cubed chicken in whisked egg & toss in S&P flour

Deep fry coated chicken at 375-400°F until golden

In large saucepan at med-heat, sauté:

s  2 Tbsp. olive oil

s  Chopped green onion

s  3 crushed garlic cloves

s  2 slices of fresh ginger shredded

Add sauce & bring to boil, & mix in cooked chicken

"Sprinkle sesame seeds on top for a lovely garnish!"

#general tso chicken #general tao chicken #general tao #general tso #chicken #chicken recipe #thai #thai food #thai recipe #thai chicken recipe #thai chicken

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Cream Cheese Icing♡

Cream cheese icing, so rich and goes perfectly on a banana or carrot cake! <3

Combine all at room temp:

s  1 pkg. cream cheese

s  1 ½ c. icing sugar

s  A Tbsp. vanilla

s  1 c. butter

#cream cheese #cream cheese icing #cream cheese frosting #birthday cake icing #icing #icing recipe #frosting recipe

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Brian’s Favorite Banana Cake♡

Brian is my older brother and every birthday he asks for this cake. It is ever so moist, dense, very banana-flavored, and melt in your mouth! Goes perfectly with the cream cheese frosting linked below!

Combine in a small bowl:

s  2 ¼ c. flour

s  ¾ tsp. baking soda

s  ½ tsp. baking powder

s  ½ tsp. salt

Mix in a small bowl:

s  2 smashed old smelly bananas

s  ¼ c. buttermilk (or ¼ c. milk with ½ tsp. white vinegar)

s  1 tsp. vanilla

Beat in a large bowl:

s  ½ c. melted butter

s  1 1/3 c. sugar

Add 2 eggs to the large bowl, 1/3 dry mix, 1/3 banana mix, dry, banana, dry, banana.

Butter & flour 3 round 8” cake pans

350°F 17 mins

http://countryhomerecipes.tumblr.com/post/124239685216/cream-cheese-icing

#banana #banana cake #cream cheese icing #icing #birthday #birthday cake #cake #cake recipe #banana cake recipe

[countryhomerecipes]

Creamy, Spicy & Baked Shrimp Dip

YUMMMMM This is my FAVORITE dip in the whole wide world, and I just made it up two weeks ago! It is all that the title says- creamy as heck, spicy to your liking *I like it hot!* and warm oven-baked to perfection. Sooo rich and warms your heart. My family and I dipped my fresh-baked buns in the dip, but it would also go very well on crackers...or actually just alone. You could just swipe your finger through, or even just cup your hand and scoop out a wad.

Saute:

s  Butter

s  Garlic

s  Green Onion

s  Shrimps (tails removed)

s  Salt

s  Cayenne

s  Pepper

Remove shrimp from pan and chop into small chunks

Add:

s  ¼ c. beer or white wine

s  2 tbsp. lemon juice

s  ½ c. cream cheese

s  3 tbsp. mayonnaise

s  ¼ c. sour cream

s  ¼ c. cheddar cheese grated

Bake in a casserole dish, open, at 450° for 20 minutes

#shrimp dip #dip #appetizers #appetizer #dips #dip recipe #shrimp recipe #cream cheese dip #cream cheese recipe #dip recipes #recipe #shrimp dip recipe #spicy dips

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Curried Lentils♡

This saucy & seasoned recipe goes perfect on warm pita bread. Easy and quick to make, will please a crowd! :)

Sauté 2 Tbsp. olive oil & 1 large diced onion

Add & Bring to boil:

s  4 cloves garlic minced

s  1 Tbsp. Curry powder

s  1 tsp. cumin

s  1 tsp. coriander

s  ¼ tsp. turmeric

s  1 can lentils

s  1 can diced tomatoes

Wilt in 4 c. baby spinach leaves

"Excellent served on fresh pita with garlic mayo! "

#lentils #curry #curried lentils #indian #sauce #recipe #lentils recipe

[countryhomerecipes]

♡Pulled Pork Sammies♡

This Pulled Pork recipe is salty, sweet, and oh so delish! Takes a while, but not much effort. Totally worth it for a feast!

Cover the fattiest pork butt or shoulder with dry rib rub

Bake at 400°F 1 hour

Bake at 250°F 3 hours

Place pork in a huge pot on the stove

Add tons of liquids & sauces from the fridge, including:

s  1 can of coke

s  1 bottle of dark beer

s  Orange juice

s  Frank’s Red Hot Sauce

s  Broth (a lot)

s  Water to cover pork

Add:

s  Salt

s  Paprika

s  Chili powder

s  Cumin

s  Any other spices you may like!

Bring to a boil & Simmer for 5 hours

Let cool & Pull apart fat from pork

Refrigerate & pour out excess liquid

"Excellent served on fresh ciabatta with mayo, cheese, & bread & butter pickles!"

#pulled pork #pork #pork sandwiches #pulled pork sandwich #dinner #recipe #barbeque #feast #pulled pork recipe

[countryhomerecipes]

Simple, Easy No-Knead Bread

I have perfected this recipe! & have no fear, this bread can go into a bread pan as well, just cover with tinfoil before the last 10 minutes of cooking. The dough can also be split into 8 rolls! :)

♡ Mix in large bowl:

3 c. flour

¼ tsp. yeast

½ tsp. salt

♡ Add:

           1 ½ c. lukewarm water

♡ Cover bowl with a damp towel & let sit overnight

♡ Next morning, sprinkle flour on a flat surface.

♡ Empty the dough onto the floured surface.

♡ The dough will be sticky; sprinkle a bit of flour on the dough if it sticks to your hands.

♡ Knead the dough (folding it over and pressing down in different directions) until it forms a round ball.

♡ Place the rounded dough into a Dutch oven lined with parchment paper.

♡ Cover the Dutch oven with a damp towel & let sit for 1 hour.

♡ Preheat oven to 425°F and cook with lid on for 30 minutes.

♡ Remove the lid and raise the temperature to 450°F for 10 minutes for a soft crust, 15 for a harder crust.

Mix your yeast, salt, and flour into a large bowl. Add the water and mix until fully incorporated. 

Throw a damp towel over it and let it sit overnight.

By morning, it should have doubled and bubbled up to look like this. If you jostle the bowl, it should jiggle like jelly.

Flour a surface well

Use a spatula to help scrape out all of the dough onto the floured surface

The dough will plop out and look like a pile of gushy gunk. Yum! Sprinkle the dough with flour so you can work with it without getting your hands all sticky.

Fold the dough over in different directions until you can form it into the shape you want (This may be a longer loaf to stick in a bread pan, or simply a round loaf to put into the dutch oven)

I chose to to a bread pan loaf today.

I use a re-usable parchment paper that I cut to fit into my bread pan. Regular parchment works just fine. DO NOT do this without parchment! It will stick and you might cry.

Again, throw the damp towel over-top and sit for about an hour (both you and the bread).

After the wait, the bread should have grown a bit in the pan. Yay! It’ll keep growing in the oven, so make sure that there is ample space above the bread when baking.

When you stick it in the oven, cover loosely with tinfoil for 30 minutes & take the tinfoil off for the last 10 if you don’t have a lid (like for this bread pan).

Once out of the oven, the bread should come out looking delish! Pop it out of the pan and let it cool completely before slicing in...

Or you can cheat and cut into it STAT! ;)

#bread #bread recipe #recipes #no knead bread #easy bread recipe #bakery style bread #bakery #home baked bread