Chocolate and other food groups

We always eat the same sort of menu on Christmas morning - fruit, fresh from stockings; little sausages, some browned and some wrapped up for pigs in a blanket; juice; and a bread of some sort. This year, the kids asked for a coffee cake. But I didn't want to take time to throw together a coffee cake when I could be with the family. So I found this recipe and put it together the night before. Then all I had to do was preheat the oven, wait the oven was ready, and pop this in. And it tasted great too. Overnight Coffee Cake Coffee Cake: 1 c. flour 1/4 c. sugar 1/4 c. brown sugar 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 c. buttermilk 1/3 c. shortening 1 egg Topping: 1/4 c. brown sugar 1/4 c. chopped nuts or oats 1/4 c. nutmeg Grease and flour 9 inch round or 8 inch square pan. In small bowl, combine all coffee cake ingredients; stir until moistened. Pour batter into greased and floured pan. In another small bowl, combine all topping ingredients. Sprinkle over batter...

Pecan Pumpkin Bread Made for Christmas this year. Really good. 2 1/2 c. flour 1 c. whole wheat flour 3 c. sugar 2 tsp. baking soda 1 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. nutmeg 1 c. oil 2/3 c. water 4 eggs 16 oz. can (2 c.) pumpkin 1 c. chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom only of 2 9x5 loaf pans or 3 8x4 loaf pans. In large bowl, combine all flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; mix well. In medium bowl, combine oil, water, eggs, and pumpkin; blend well. Add to flour mixture; beat 1 minute at medium speed. Fold in pecans. Pour batter into greased pans. Bake at 350 for 60 to 70 minutes or until done. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Wrap tightly and store in refrigerator. 

Lemon Herb Flank Steak We had this for Christmas dinner this year. Super yummy! For Steak: 2 lemons 2 Tb. oil 1 Tb. garlic 1 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. oregano 1 tsp. rosemary 1 tsp. thyme 1 tsp. salt 1 flank steak, about 1 1/2 lbs. Grate peel from lemons; set aside for later. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze to make 1/4 c. juice. In a large Ziploc bag, combine 1 Tb. grated lemon peel, lemon juice, oil, and herbs. Set aside remaining lemon peel. Using a large knife, cut several diagonal slashes into steak to prevent curling during cooking. Add steak to marinade in Ziploc bag. Chill for at least 1 hour.  Preheat broiler. Broil for about 5 minute on each side for medium, brushing twice with marinade. Transfer steak to cutting board. Slice on a diagonal. Place lemon butter slices on hot steak; serve immediately. Serves 6. Lemon Butter: 1/4 c. butter or margarine, softened 1/2 tsp. minced garlic 1/2 tsp. thyme 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper Remaining lemon peel In small bowl, combine ...

Southwestern Turkey Soup 3-4 c. chicken broth 2 c. chopped cooked turkey 1 carrot, diced 1 celery stalk, diced 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 tsp. hot sauce 1 tsp. sage 1-3 cloves garlic, depending on taste 1 c. medium shell pasta or macaroni Combine broth and turkey, carrot, celery, beans, and pasta. Let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until carrots are cooked. Add seasonings and black pepper. Serves 4-6.

Chocolate Mousse Pie Chocolate Crust (bought or homemade, recipe follows) 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1/2 c. cocoa powder 1 c. powdered sugar 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 2 c. whipping cream Beat cream cheese and cocoa together in large mixing bowl until fluffy and well blended . Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla. Blend well. Set aside. Whip cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared crust; chill until firm. Garnish with chocolate curls. Makes 1 pie. Chocolate Crust 1 1/2 c. chocolate cookie crumbs (I used chocolate graham crackers from Albertson's) 1/3 c. melted butter 3 Tb. sugar (if you use the graham crackers, do not add sugar; they have sugar on the outside) Combine ingredients together. Press mixture onto bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes; cool. This is a very rich pie with only a little sweetness. Great for dark chocolate lovers.

From my Aunt Viola Tallarini 1 lb. ground beef 7 oz. can corn 4 oz. can tomato sauce 1/2 c. water 1 onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 16 oz. noodles 1/2 c. sliced olives Cheddar Cheese Brown meat with onion and pepper. Add corn, tomato sauce, and salt and pepper. Mix in noodles and olives. Pour onto greased casserole dish and top with cheese. Bake at 45 at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese is melted.

From my neighbor, Nadine Taco Soup 1 lb. ground beef 1 onion, diced 1 pkg. taco seasoning 8 oz. can tomato sauce 16 oz. can stewed tomatoes 15 oz. can corn, drained 15 oz. can kidney or black beans, rinsed 2 c. grated cheese Hot sauce Cook ground beef and onion together in large stock pot until browned. Add seasoning and stir until well blended. Add tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, corn, and beans. Cook over medium heat until heated through. Stir occasionally. Taste and season with hot sauce. Spoon into bowls and top with cheese. Serve with corn chips.