11/9/15

Thanksgiving Essentials Class



Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time?  Did your mother in law ask you to make rolls for Thanksgiving, but the only rolls you've made come from the freezer section of the grocery store? Whether you are an experienced host or a beginner cook, this class is for you! We will be making:

Perfect Roasted Turkey
Pan Gravy
Parker House Rolls
Apple, Sausage and Herb Roasted Stuffing
Apple Cranberry Pie



Photo credits: Becky @Vintagemixer



































Once you learn how to make these staple holiday dinner dishes from scratch, you'll never buy packaged items again! Through learning tried and true techniques, you'll gain the confidence to start your own delicious family traditions in the kitchen. Come join us!

Thursday, November 19, 2015 
10:00 am to 1:00 pm (sold out)

Details...
Class is a demonstration, not hands on
After the class, we will serve generous samplings of items prepared!
Please, no children at the class
Limited space
Sorry, no refunds- only credit toward future class.
If cancellation made less than 24 hours before class,  
no credit. 


After signing up you will receive the address of the class in North Salt Lake by email.
Questions?  Email me:   Abountifulkitchen@gmail.com
Sign up now!

Sorry first class  (daytime) FULL! 

I've added a SECOND CLASS:
Thursday, November 19  6-9:00pm
Please sign up below, same details above apply! 

Sign up Now! Last class filled in less than 24 hours.

Sorry Second Class Filled! 
 If you want to be on a waiting list for either class, 
leave your email address below in case of cancellation.
Updated 11/11/2015 8:30 AM

11/4/15

Mini Chicken Pot Pies with Herb and Cheese Biscuit Toppers





 After an amazingly warm September and October, I'm sitting at my kitchen counter and the snow is beginning to fall.  Chicken Pot Pie is the ultimate cold weather dish, and this update on the classic will get you in the mood for the winter weather coming. Mini Chicken Pot Pies with Herb and Cheese Biscuit Toppers are filled with comfort food goodness!





































I've given two ways to make this dish: a busy-day canned soup variety that takes a few minutes to dump and bake and then a from scratch recipe for those who have a little more time. Either way, this dish is hearty and will make even the pickiest eater happy! 



















Mini Chicken Pot Pies with Herb and Cheese Biscuit Toppers
A Bountiful Kitchen

filling:
1 tablespoons butter or olive oil
2 carrots ( or about 1 1/2 cups baby carrots, cut up)
1 cup of celery, chopped (or more carrots if you aren't a fan)
1 cup broccoli, chopped
1 cup onion, chopped I like sweet onions but white or yellow work as well
3 cups cooked, chopped chicken (or rotisserie chicken, cut up)
1 tablespoon dried tarragon, optional 

sauce:
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sifted flour
2 teaspoons chicken stock concentrate*
1-2 cups water or milk
-OR-
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can milk

Cream Biscuit Topper
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon  baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 c cream
3 fresh basil leaves, chopped (or other herbs, about 2 tablespoons)
1 cup cheese, grated

Prepare the biscuits (directions below) and set aside.
Pre heat the oven to 375 and set rack in middle of oven. 

Saute carrots, celery, onion and tarragon together in a large stockpot for about about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat add chopped broccoli, place lid on pan and let sit for 5 minutes.
In another pan, over medium heat melt 6 tablespoons butter and add 1/2 cup sifted flour. Whisk until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon salt and pepper each and 2 teaspoons chicken stock concentrate. Whisk until smooth. Slowly pour 1 1/2 cups water or milk into pan whisking until smooth and bubbly. If the mixture gets too thick, add a little more milk or water. The mixture should be the consistency of gravy. Pour this mixture over the cooked vegetables.
If you are using the soup method, add the soup and can of milk directly to the vegetable mixture after the vegetables are finished sitting for 5 minutes covered. Mix until the soup and milk are blended into the vegetables. Do not add salt to this mixture until you taste, the soup usually has enough salt included. 
Add cooked, chopped chicken to the vegetable/gravy mixture. 
Place ramekins on a cookie sheet.
Fill greased ramekins (about 8) or a 9x13 pan with vegetable, chicken and gravy mixture. Top each with a biscuit. Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until mixture is bubble and biscuits are golden. 

prepare biscuits:
Mix all dry ingredients together in large bowl. Add cream all at once, fold until dry mixture is absorbed. Fold in herbs and cheese.  If the mixture is too dry, add a tablespoon or two of additional cream. Pat out on floured surface to about 3/4 inch thick. Cut with round biscuit cutter or glass. The biscuit recipe usually makes about 12- 2 1/2 inch biscuits. 

Tips:
-*Stock concentrate is sold in many forms. It enhances the flavor of the gravy. Knorr and Swanson both sell stock concentrate. Knorr is sold in a little "cup" about 4 cups to a package the little cups are equal to about 1 tablespoon of flavoring ( one of the cups will be perfect in this recipe) . Swanson sells their product "Flavor Boost" in a box with 8 liquid packets included. You can also buy stock concentrate in jars at food specialty stores. These are usually sold in 2 cup (actual 2 cup measurement) jars that need to be refrigerated after opening. I always look for products that are MSG free. A crumbled bullion cube will also work.
-The biscuit can be made without the herb and cheese added. I used Smoked Gouda, but any cheese will work.
-You may use any combination of veggies. I strongly suggest using onions because of flavor, but green beans, peas, corn may be substituted for the other veggies.
-I frozen the leftovers by placing the entire ramekin in a Ziplock bag in the freezer. To use, let sit on counter for about one hour. Heat, covered for about 45 minutes at 350.
-To make this "quick and easy", use a can of soup and milk and a can of biscuits in place of the roux and cream biscuits. 

11/2/15

Chocolate Silk Pie and Harmons Thanksgiving Pie Fest!










Gathering with my Harmons blogger friends is always a treat. It's especially wonderful when we gather to share dishes we have made. A few weeks ago, we prepared pies and Christmas brunch to get us in the holiday spirit! I'm so excited to share a new recipe with you for the most simple Chocolate Silk Pie you will ever make, along with four other  amazing recipes for your Thanksgiving lineup! 

photo credit Caroline from Armelle Blog


I cannot think of a better way to start the month of November than with P I E. 
You know how I feel about pie. 
Pie is love, in my book. You can imagine how I felt when we gathered and all brought a pie to share. 
Let's just say it was a love fest. 



Here are the links to all of the pies we enjoyed at our Harmons blogger pie love fest... 
(thanks to Caroline from Armelle Blog for the next few photos!)























































































































































My new favorite chocolate pie is the pie I shared. It's the World's Best Chocolate Silk Pie. 
Why the World's Best? 
1. The flavor is amazing. Just enough chocolate to satisfy a chocolate lover. 
2. Smooth and silky. Beating for a looooong time is the key. 
3. No bake filling. Some will say, raw eggs? No thanks. If you're pregnant, wait till after you deliver to make this. But otherwise, I think a true chocolate silk pie means you'll be eating a few eggs, uncooked. 
4. 5 ingredients. That alone is reason enough to make this pie. 
5. Great beginner pie. All you have to do is beat together ingredients for filling. If you are unsure about making crust, crush up 3/4 package of Oreos  in food processor with 4 tablespoons melted butter and a tablespoon of sugar, press into pie plate. Now you've got yourself The World's Best Chocolate Silk Pie in the World's Most Simple Chocolate Cookie Crust. 
Congrats! 



The World's Best Chocolate Silk Pie
A Bountiful Kitchen, adapted from Allrecipes.com

1 cup butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted in double boiler and then cooled
2 teaspoons vanilla or  1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon almond flavoring
4 eggs
1- 9 inch baked pie shell (recipes below)

Cream butter in a mixing bowl.  If using a stand mixer, use a paddle attachment to cream the butter and sugar, then switch to a whisk attachment to add the remaining ingredients. Gradually beat in the sugar with an electric mixer until light colored and well blended ( about 3 minutes). Stir in the thoroughly cooled chocolate, and vanilla extract. Add two eggs, beating 5 minutes on medium speed, then add the remaining two eggs, beat for 5 additional minutes. 
Using a spatula, scrape the chocolate filling into a cooled, baked pie shell.
Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
Garnish with fresh whipped cream, chocolate curls if desired. 

Tips:
-Make the crust the day before or earlier in the day so the crust has time to cool completely before filling. You may also refrigerate the crust after cooking to help the crust cool more quickly. 
-You must have a mixer to make this. Preferably a stand mixer, or a person willing to stand and hold the mixer for a long time. 
-The pie filling recipe requires following the directions very carefully. It is very important the butter is at room temperature (not melted) , or it will not beat up properly.  Also, it is very important the eggs are beaten for 5 minutes after each addition for a total of 10 minutes. 
-You may use a single baked pie shell or a cookie crust shell. I have included recipes for two of my favorites below. Make sure to let the crust cool completely before filling!
-This pie is best when made the day before serving or early in the day to allow it to set up properly. 


Single Pie Crust
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup solid shortening
1/4 cup cold water

Cut shortening into flour and salt in medium size bowl, until the mixture resembles small pieces the size of peas. Add cold water all at once. Mix with a fork until dough starts to form into a ball, do not over mix. Add additional flour to the dough just until the dough is not sticky. Sprinkle flour out onto a flat surface. Roll the dough out and place in a 9 inch pie plate. Lightly press into the corners of the plate. Crimp the edges. Using a fork, pierce the sides and bottom of the pie dough. Refrigerate crust for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, place oven rack on bottom third of oven and turn oven to 500 degrees.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Let cool completely before cooling.


Chocolate Graham Cookie Crust
2 cups graham cracker cookie crumbs
1 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs (white centers removed)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
In the bowl of a food processor or blender, process the graham crackers and Oreos to make crumbs.
In a bowl mix together the cookie crumbs, sugar and butter with your hands. Press the mixture evenly into a 9-inch pie pan. (It will seem like an excessive amount of crumbs, but it will compress down quite a bit with pressure.) Cover the crust with plastic wrap and top with another 9-inch pan, pressing quite firmly to make a smooth surface. Bake the crust for 15 minutes.
Remove the crust from the oven and let cool completely before filling.

This post was sponsored by Harmons Grocery, all opinions are mine.