Kitchen Sink Blondies

Suggested Piece: Bake and Roast Pan

Ingredients
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 1/2 c. light brown sugar (or substitute)
1 1/2 tbsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
22 Oreo sandwich cookies pieces
1/2 c. M&M's or Reese's Pieces (or 1/4 c. of both!)
Candy eyes to decorate (opt.)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Coat Bake and Roast Pan with cooking spray. Whisk together until smooth the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add the flour and stir until just combined. Gently fold in Oreo pieces. Spread batter evenly in Bake and Roast Pan. Sprinkle with M&M's/Reese's Pieces and candy eyes, and press into batter with spatula. Bake for 20-22 minutes, until top is no longer wet. Allow the blondies to cool in pan before slicing and serving.

Corn Souffle

Suggested Piece: Bake & Roast Pan

Ingredients
6 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
Dash of salt
30 oz. canned creamed corn
15 oz. frozen corn
2/3 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. butter

Directions
Cream eggs and sugar until a lemony yellow. Add sugar, salt, creamed corn, frozen corn, milk, vanilla, and flour and beat for 1 minute. Pour into a buttered pan and a dot with butter. Bake at 350F for 1 hour. Let sit for 10 minutes so that is sets and thickens. You know it's done when the edges are golden and slightly pulled away from the pan.

Peggy's Quick Beer Bread

Suggested Piece: 11” Skillet

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
¼ cup sugar
1 – 12 oz can beer (Budweiser)
¼ cup butter

Directions
Preheat skillet on medium-low heat. Mix together all dry ingredients in large bowl. Pour in beer and mix well, batter will become sticky. Melt butter in bottom of skillet to coat and pour excess butter into small dish. Empty dough into skillet and drizzle with remaining butter. Cover and bake on medium-low for approximately 30-35 min. or until baked through. (Skillet should never click when baking dough!)   

Beer-Braised Beef

Suggested Piece: 12" Gourmet Chef Skillet & Multipurpose 5 Qt.

Ingredients
3 bacon strips
2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1 onion (#3 cone)
1 tsp. garlic (#1 cone)
1 bay leaf
1 can (12 oz.) beer
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. thyme, dried
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. water

Directions
In large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels; drain, discarding drippings. Sprinkle beef with pepper and salt. In the MP5, brown beef over medium-high heat. Add the bacon, onion, garlic, and bay leaf. In a small bowl, combine the beer, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and thyme. Pour over beef mixture. Cover and cook over medium heat until Vapo-Valve clicks, then reduce temperature to low. Cook over low heat until meat is tender. In small bowl, combine flour and water until smooth. Gradually stir into MP5. Cover and cook on medium heat until thickened. Discard bay leaf. Serve over noodles or mashed potatoes.

Ultimate Green Bean Casserole

Suggested Piece: 11" Large Skillet

Ingredients
For the topping:
4 slices hearty bread, torn into small pieces
2 tbsp. butter, softened
¼ tsp. salt
⅛ tsp. pepper
6 oz. (about 3 cups) canned fried onions
For the beans and sauce:
2 lbs. fresh green beans, trimmed and halved crosswise
Salt & pepper to taste
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 lb. white mushrooms, sliced thin
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp.  flour
1½ c. chicken broth
1½ c. heavy cream

Directions

For the topping:

Combine the bread pieces, softened butter, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor and pulse until crumbles are coarse. Toss with canned fried onions in a large bowl and set aside.

For the beans and sauce:

Place frozen green beans in 11" Large Skillet and cook using the medium - click - low method for 5 mins. Remove from heat and place blanched green beans in paper towel lined colander. 

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in 11" Large Skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, garlic, ¾ teaspoons salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Cook until the mushrooms release their moisture and then liquid evaporates, about 6 minutes.

Add 3 tablespoons flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add in the broth and simmer, stirring constantly. Stir in the heavy cream and cook until liquid thickens and reduced to about 3½ cups, or for about 12 to 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired.

Stir in green beans. Sprinkle with topping, cover and cook over medium heat about 15 mins. Remove cover and place under broiler until topping is golden brown.

Tip: For a new spin on an old favorite substitute green beans for halved Brussels sprouts! Also, if you want to make this ahead mix up your bread-crumb topping and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Combine with onions just before baking. You may make the bean and sauce mixture and refrigerated, covered, for up to 24 hours. To serve, heat casserole in 425 degree oven for 10 minutes, then add topping and bake as directed above.

Carmel Apple Crumb Bars

Suggested Piece: Double Burner Griddle, 1 Qt. Saucepan,

Ingredients
Glaze:
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 to 2 Tbsp milk
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Crust:
1/2 cup unsalted butter melted, cooled
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Filling:
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c apple butter or applesauce
1/2 medium Granny Smith apple shredded

Directions
Glaze:
In a 1 Qt. Saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add sugar and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and simmer the mixture for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 tablespoon of milk. Heat to boil. Take of the heat, cool for 5 minutes. Transfer into a medium mixing bowl. Cool to lukewarm, about 30 minutes. If the sauce hardens, reheat on low heat. Add powdered sugar and whisk. If the mixture is crumbly, add another tablespoon of warm milk. Whisk until drizzling consistency. Makes about 1/2 cup of glaze.

Line Double Burner Griddle with parchment paper. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Crust:
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk melted butter with sugar. Add remaining ingredients and stir everything until a thick dough forms. Reserve 3/4 of a cup for the crumb topping. Press the remaining dough onto the bottom of prepared pan.

Filling:
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients until smooth. Pour over the crust.

Top with little bits of the reserved dough to make the crumb topping. Bake the bars for 25 to 28 minutes. Cool completely in the pan. Drizzle with caramel sauce or glaze

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Suggested Pieces: Stainless Steel Cookie Sheets

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg & ground cloves. In a separate large bowl beat together the butter and sugars until fluffy. Turn the mixer down to low then beat in the egg, vanilla and pumpkin. Slowly add in the flour mixture. The dough will be very sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. When ready to bake, take the dough out of the fridge. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and line 2 cookie trays with parchment paper. In a small bowl whisk together the sugar and cinnamon for the cinnamon sugar coating. Form the dough into balls of about 1 1/2 tablespoons in size, then roll in the cinnamon sugar coating and flatten slightly. Place the cookies on the cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 8-10 minutes until the tops look just set.

Creamy Chicken & Corn Chowder

Suggested Piece: MP5 or 5 Qt. Roaster

Ingredients

2 Chicken breasts, cooked & shredded

3 tbps. Butter

¼ c. Flour

2 boxes Chicken broth

2 med. Potatoes (#3 cone)

3 c. Fresh or frozen corn

½ c. Cream

Salt & Pepper to taste

Chopped chives for garnish (opt.)

Directions

In bottom of MP5 or 5 Qt. Roaster melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring for approx. 2 mins. Gradually add the chicken stock, whisking until smooth. Add the potatoes and bring to a boil. Add the corn, cover and cook until Vapo-Valve clicks. Reduce heat to low and cook until potatoes and corn are tender, approx. 10 mins. Add the shredded chicken and cook for an addition 2 mins. Add the cream and stir to combine. Salt & pepper to taste and garnish with chives.

Chinese Almond Cookies

Suggested Piece: Stand Mixer & Stainless Steel Cookie Sheets

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 c. butter
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. almond extract
1 1/3 c. almond flour, lightly packed
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/8 c. sugar
Sliced almonds

Directions

1. Place the almond flour, butter, and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat on low speed for 3 minutes. The mixture will be coarse and chunky looking.
2. Add one of the eggs, reserving one for later, and the almond extract. Beat together until just incorporated.
3. Whisk together flour, sugar, and baking soda in a medium bowl and add to the stand mixer. Mix until just combined.
4. Pour mixture out onto plastic wrap and form into a disc. Wrap it up and chill in the fridge for 2 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat the egg you saved in a small bowl and have a pastry brush ready.
6. Take pieces of dough and roll them into balls, about 1 inch wide. Place on the cookie sheets and gently press them down with your palms to flatten into coin shapes.
7. Take your pastry brush and brush the tops of the cookies generously with the egg wash then place a sliced almond on top, pressing gently to keep it in place.
8. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until the cookies start to turn a dark golden color on top.
9. Remove and let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Ridiculously Easy Maple Pecan Scones

Suggested Piece: Cookie Sheet & 1 Qt. Saucepan

Ingredients

SCONES

1 c. heavy cream, plus more for brushing on top of scones

8 tbsp. butter

2 c. flour

¼ c. sugar

1 tbsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

½ c. chopped pecans

GLAZE

2 tbsp. maple syrup

2 tbsp. butter

2-3 tbsp. heavy cream or half & half, or milk

2 tbsp. dark brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

¾ c. confectioners’ sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Measure 1 c. heavy cream and place in the freezer while proceeding with recipe. (You want the cream to be in the freezer about 10 minutes.) Place butter in a 1 Qt. Saucepan and melt over medium-low heat. Once melted set aside to cool a bit while prepping other ingredients. Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and pecans in large bowl. After heavy cream has been chilled in freezer for 10 minutes, combine it with the melted butter. Stir with a fork until butter forms small clumps or globules. Add butter/cream mixture to dry ingredients and stir with rubber spatula until all flour is incorporated and batter pulls away from sides of bowl. Don’t over mix. Generously flour a work surface. Dump dough onto prepared work surface and turn to coat all surfaces with flour. Knead on counter 5-6 times (about 30 seconds). Flip over on work surface to coat with flour then pat into a 6-inch circle. Cut dough in 8 equal pie-shaped pieces. Transfer wedges onto prepared cookie sheet pan and brush tops with heavy cream. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let the scones cool before icing. While the scones are baking, make the maple glaze: place maple syrup, half and half, butter and brown sugar in a clean 1 Qt. Saucepan. Cook over medium heat whisking well to smooth out any lumps. Cook for another minute or until mixture is vigorously bubbling. Add powdered sugar to make a thick, but drizzle-able glaze. If glaze is too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar, if too thick add a little more cream. Drizzle glaze over scones. Let scones sit for 15 minutes to let glaze set before serving.

Guiltless Macaroni & Cheese

Suggested Piece: 3 Qt. Saucepan with Culinary Basket & Small Skillet

Ingredients

2 heads cauliflower (#3 cone)

2 c. milk

3 oz. cream cheese

2-3 tbsp. flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. butter

3 garlic cloves (#1 cone)

1 c. cheese, sharp cheddar (#1 cone)

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Heat ½ inch of water in bottom of 3 Qt. Saucepan over medium heat. Process cauliflower on #3 cone into Culinary Basket. Set basket in 3 Qt.; cover and cook on medium heat until Vapo-Valve clicks. Reduce heat to low and cook for approx. 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth.  In a bottom of Small Skillet sauté butter and garlic over medium heat (careful not to overcook!) Then add milk mixture to the skillet. Stir constantly for about 3 or 4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more. It should be much thicker now. When it’s nice and thickened remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheese and stir until smooth. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Season with additional salt & pepper if needed. Remove basket and pour water from 3 Qt. Transfer cauliflower into 3 Qt. and fold in cheese sauce.

Braised Short Ribs

Suggested Piece: 4.5 Qt. Mini Braiser -or- 5 Qt. Roaster

Ingredients

8 whole beef short ribs

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/4 c. flour

6 pieces thin sliced bacon, diced

1 onion (#2 cone)

3 carrots (#2 cone)

2 shallots, diced

2 c. white or red wine (preferably dry)

2 c. beef broth

2 sprigs thyme

2 sprigs rosemary

Instructions

Salt and pepper ribs, then dredge in flour. Set aside. In bottom of piece, cook bacon over medium heat until complete crispy and all fat is rendered. Remove bacon and set aside. Pour off most of the grease. Raise heat to medium-high. Brown ribs on all sides, about 45 seconds per side. Remove ribs and set aside. Turn heat back to medium. Add onions, carrots, and shallots to pan and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in wine and scrape bottom of pan to release all the flavorful bits of glory. Add broth, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Taste and add more salt if needed. Add ribs to the liquid; they should be almost completely submerged. Add thyme and rosemary sprigs (whole) to the liquid. Cover and cook over medium heat until Vapo-Valve clicks; reduce heat to low continue cooking (20 minutes per pound) but the longer the better! Ribs should be fork-tender and falling off the bone. Serve 2 ribs on bed of creamy polenta or mashed potatoes, spooning a little juice over the top. YUM!

Bratwurst with Apples, Onion, and Sauerkraut

Suggested Piece: 9 Qt. Braiser Pan

Ingredients
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon Wondra flour
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 cups sauerkraut (preferably fresh), rinsed, drained, squeezed dry (from one 32-ounce jar)
1 large onion (about 1 pound), halved lengthwise (#4 cone)
3 large Golden Delicious apples (about 1 1/2 pounds total) (#3 cone)
6 whole smoked bratwurst (about 1 pound), pierced all over with skewer
4 bay leaves
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons dry vermouth
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
Pumpernickel bread or whole grain (opt.)

Directions
Place caraway seeds and fennel seeds in small resealable plastic bag. Crush seeds with mallet. Add flour and pepper to bag; shake to blend. Spread sauerkraut over bottom of 9 Qt. Braiser Pan. Sprinkle 1/3 of flour mixture over. Arrange onion slices over; sprinkle with half of remaining flour mixture, then lightly with salt. Spread half of apple slices over, then sprinkle with remaining flour mixture. Place bratwurst over apples, then arrange remaining apple slices around bratwurst. Tuck in bay leaves. Mix broth, vermouth, and ketchup in measuring cup. Pour broth mixture evenly over. Cover a cook over medium heat until Vapo-Valve clicks, then reduce heat to low for approx. 45 minutes. Uncover; brush with melted butter. Roast in oven uncovered at 400F until edges of apples and sausages begin to brown, about 25 minutes longer. Serve with bread.

Peanut Butter Blondies

Suggested Piece: Bake & Roast Pan

Ingredients
3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
10 white chocolate peanut butter cups, chopped
1 cup Reese's Pieces

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease the Bake & Roast Pan with cooking spray or butter. In a large bowl, beat the butter, peanut butter and sugars with a hand mixer until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking soda. Add to wet ingredients and beat until just combined. Mix in peanut butter cup then transfer dough to pan. Press Reese’s Pieces on top the blondies batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.

Apple Pie

Suggested Piece: Large Mixing Bowl & 10" Gourmet Chef Skillet

Ingredients

5 granny smith apples (#3 cone)

1 c. flour

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

2 tbsp. butter

1/4 c. water (opt.)

1 pkg. Pillsbury refrigerated pie dough

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugars, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Process apples on #3 cone into bowl and toss to coat evenly. Fit one pre-rolled pie dough round into bottom of 10" Gourmet Chef Skillet. Fill skillet with apple mixture (it's okay if it's heaping, the apples will cook down). Cut butter into small cubes and place on top of apples. Drizzle with 1/4 c. water (opt.). Using your fingers dipped in water, wet edges of dough in the skillet. Unfold 2nd pre-rolled pie dough round on top apples (make sure to create decorative holes to vent pie as it cooks!) Press and seal edges of pie. Sprinkle top of pie with a little cinnamon and sugar. Bake in oven for 30 - 45 minutes, or until top of pie is golden brown. 

Gravy

To make a sauce or gravy from drippings and juices left in pan after stovetop roasting, follow these simple steps:

1. Remove meat from pan and keep warm. 
2. Skim fat from juices. 
3. Add 3-4 tablespoons chicken or beef stock, wine or water and place over medium heat. 
4. Using a spoon, scrape browned meat particles from pan and stir into liquid.
5. Cook and stir uncovered, to reduce and thicken slightly. 
6. Season to taste and serve hot.

Larger amounts of pan juices may be thickened with one of the following:

• Flour: 3 tablespoons per 2 cups liquid
• Arrowroot: 2½ teaspoons to 1 cup liquid
• Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon per 1½ to 2 cups liquid

Dissolve thickener in cold water equal to two times the amount of the thickener. Whisk into simmering liquid in pan. Cook and stir just until thickened. When using flour, cook and stir 3 additional minutes to eliminate flour taste. Over-beating sauces that use cornstarch will become thinned. And, sauces thickened with arrowroot have no holding power and should be served as soon as thickened.