Author: thebigkitchentable

Baba’s Candied Sweet Potato Casserole

Baba’s Candied Sweet Potato Casserole

Even if you don’t like sweet potatoes, you have to try these.  I promise you will love them and so will your guests.Ingredients:8 lbs. sweet potatoes1 cube butter1 T. vanilla1 box light brown sugar2 T. cornstarch½ cup coffeeDirections:Boil potatoes until tender; until easily pierced with 

Lawry’s Creamed Corn

Lawry’s Creamed Corn

One of our favorite family restaurants is Five Crown’s in Corona del Mar.  My boys love the creamed corn, and actually… I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t.  They provide the recipe online, but having it at the restaurant is best. Ingredients: 1½ tablespoons butter1½ tablespoons 

Praline Cheesecake

Praline Cheesecake

This is my Baba’s recipe that she adapted from a Better Homes and Gardens recipe from 1978.  It has always been a crowd pleaser, and it’s a great dessert for Thanksgiving.  

Ingredients for crust:

1¼ cups crushed graham crackers
¼  cup sugar
¼ cup chopped toasted pralines
¼ cup butter melted

Directions for crust:

In a small bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and chopped pecans.  Stir in the melted butter.  Press crumb mixture into the bottom and 1½ inches up the sides of a 9″ springform pan.  Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.

Ingredients for cake:

3 8oz. packages of softened cream cheese
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 5⅓ or ⅔ cup evaporated milk
2 Tablespoon flour 1½ teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup toasted pecan halves

Directions for cake:

Beat the cream cheese, 1 cup brown sugar, the evaporated milk, flour and vanilla.  Add eggs and beat until blended.  

Pour into baked crust and bake at 350° for 50 to 55 minutes.  Loosen sides and remove from pan.  Cool completely.  Arrange nut halves on top of cheesecake.  


Carmel Sauce:

1 cup dark corn syrup
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
2 Tablespoons light brown sugar 
1 teaspoon vanilla

Before serving, combine corn syrup, cornstarch and light brown sugar in a small saucepan.  Cook and sir until thickened and bubbly.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Cool slightly.  To serve, spoon some of the warm sauce over the nuts on the cheesecake.  Pass remaining sauce.




Sangria

Sangria

My husband and I just visited Florida, and we ate at the Columbia restaurant in Longboat Key.  We ordered the Sangria that is made table side, and it was the best Sangria we have ever had.  I happened to pop into the store they have 

Kolac Bread

Kolac Bread

Serbian Orthodox families celebrate the day their family was baptized.  This day is a Holy Day, called “Krsna Slava” or Patron Saint Day.  To prepare for your Krsna Slava you make a bread, “Kolac” that is blessed by the priest and then shared with family, 

William Sonoma’s Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Bars

William Sonoma’s Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients:

  • For the crust:
    1 package (1 lb. 2 oz./509 g) spiced pecan pumpkin quick bread mix 
  • 1 egg 
  • 8 Tbs. (1 stick) (4 oz./125 g) unsalted butter, melted 

  • For the filling: 
    1 package (8 oz./250g) cream cheese, at room temperature 
  • 1 jar (13.5 oz./382 g) Muirhead pecan pumpkin butter 
  • 3 eggs 
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
  • 8 Tbs. (1 stick) (4 oz./125 g) unsalted butter, melted 
  • ½ tsp. ground cinnamon 
  • 15 oz. (470 g) confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

Preheat an oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 13-by-9-inch (33-by-23-cm) baking pan.

To make the crust, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, combine the quick bread mix, egg and melted butter and beat on low speed until the ingredients come together, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and spread out evenly. Press the crust down until it feels compact (using the back of a measuring cup can help).

Wash and dry the mixer bowl and beater.

To make the filling, in the mixer bowl, combine the cream cheese and pumpkin butter and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, vanilla, melted butter and cinnamon and beat until combined, about 2 minutes. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat well, about 2 minutes.
Spread the filling over the crust. Transfer to the oven and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Do not overbake; the center should still be a little gooey. To test for doneness, gently shake the pan; you should see a slight jiggle in the center. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for at least 20 minutes, then cut into bars. Makes 16 bars.


Recipe from: Williams Sonoma

Brownie Batter Dip

Brownie Batter Dip

I made this Brownie Batter for dessert last night, and everyone loved it.  It’s easy and you can be creative with stuff to dip into the batter.  I served it with pretzel chips, Nilla Wafters, strawberries and tortilla chips seasoned with cinnamon and spice.  Ingredients:8 oz. 

Bar Amá Queso

Bar Amá Queso

My husband loves the queso at Bar Ama in Downtown Los Angeles.  It is an addicting appetizer favorite, and super delish when the restaurant adds a scoop of chorizo right in the center of the bowl.Ingredients:2 Tbs. unsalted butter2 1/2 Tbs. all purpose flour2 cups 

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

My family loves roasted cauliflower, and I decided to change up the recipe when I was making burgers one night.  You could make this as a side dish, or even serve it as an appetizer.


Ingredients:

3 heads of cauliflower
olive oil
kosher salt
coarse ground pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 cup of Frank’s RedHot 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450º .  Clean and cut cauliflower into florets.  If some of the florets are too bit, slice them in half to make the pieces somewhat uniform in size.  

Place the cauliflower on a baking sheet.  Drizzle the cauliflower with olive oil, then sprinkle it with kosher salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Toss the cauliflower and make sure the florets are seasoned evenly in the olive oil and seasonings.  

Bake the cauliflower until it starts to brown.  Approximately 20 minutes.  At this point turn the cauliflower over, so it can get browned evenly.  Cook another 5 minutes or until desired brownness. 

Pour Frank’s RedHot over the done cauliflower; toss and serve.

Serve with Blue or Ranch cheese dressing. 

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

I like to use ingredients that are fresh, and that I always have on hand.  The recipe calls for evaporated milk, but I use half and half if I have it, or milk if I don’t.  I also use whatever cheese I have in my