Sweet Dinner Rolls

1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1/2 cup warm milk
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup butter, softened

Directions:
1. Place water, milk, egg, 1/3 cup butter, sugar, salt, flour and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough/Knead and First Rise Cycle; press Start.

2. When cycle finishes, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 12 inch circle, spread 1/4 cup softened butter over entire round. Cut each circle into 8 wedges. Roll wedges starting at wide end; roll gently but tightly. Place point side down on ungreased cookie sheet. Cover with clean kitchen towel and put in a warm place, let rise 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden.

Lion House Cheesecake

Crust:
1 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs rolled fine
3 T sugar
6 T melted butter
1 t cinnamon

Filling:
3 8 oz packages cream cheese softened
1 C sugar
3 eggs
1 t vanilla

Topping:
1 pint sour cream
3 T sugar
1/2 t vanilla

Directions:
1. Mix the ingredients for the crust together and press along the bottom and about 1 inch up the sides of a 9 inch spring form pan. Use a small measuring cup to press the crumbs into the side of the pan.

2. In a mixing bowl beat the cream cheese until very smooth. Add the sugar 1/4 at a time, mixing well between.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well in between. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.

4. Pour the cream cheese mixture into the crust.

5. Bake at 300 for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. You want it to be almost done before you put the sour cream topping on. Stick a knife into the center, and be sure it comes out almost clean.

6. Mix the ingredients for the topping together.

7. Spread the sour cream mixture on the top of the cheesecake and bake for another 15 minutes. Check it with a knife as well. It should come out clean this time.

8. Let it cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate overnight, at least. Two or three days of chilling out in the fridge makes it taste even better.

Caramels

2 C. light corn syrup
1(14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 C. milk
1 C. whipping cream
1 C. butter
4 C. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 C. nuts (walnuts)

Tempered dipping chocolate if preferred or wax paper cut into rectangles
Butter a 9X 13 baking pan. In heavy 6 quart Dutch oven, combine sugar, corn syrup, condensed milk, milk, cream and butter. Place over medium heat and stir occasionally with wooden spoon until comes to boil. Clip on candy thermometer. Cook stirring constantly until reaches 240 degrees or soft ball stage. Remove from heat. Stir in
vanilla and nuts. Pour without scraping into pan. Allow to stand overnight. Cut into 1-inch rectangles or squares. Wrap in wax paper or dip in chocolate.

Walnut Banana Bread

1 3/4 C. flour (bread flour is best)
2/3 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup mashed ripe (this is usually 2 or 3 bananas)
1/3 cup margarine
2 tablespoons milk
2 eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts (divided into 2 (1/2 C.) portions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium size bowl combine all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt), stir together to combine. In another medium size bowl combine margarine and sugar, with a mixer cream the margarine, and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in mashed bananas, eggs, milk and mix well. Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mix until the flour is just mixed in, then add in the remaining flour and 1/2 cup walnuts, blend together until everything is mixed together. Do not over stir.

Pour batter into a greased 8×4 inch loaf pan. Then top the batter with the remaining chopped walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.

While Starbucks does not make their banana bread with butter, I think this comes out more rich this way. I also like to add in a sprinkle or two of cinnamon and sugar into this, again, not in their recipe, it does add that little something extra.

Tortilla Soup

2 chicken breasts; boneless, skinless
3 qt.. chicken broth
1 red onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 boiling potato, diced
1/4 C. tomato paste
1 bay leaf
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. chipotle chile en adobo, pureed
1 tsp. pickled jalapeno chile seeded, chopped
1 tsp. dried Mexican oregano
1/8 tsp. cumin
salt, to taste
white pepper, to taste
1 zucchini, diced
1 yellow squash, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
juice from 1 lime
2 Tbsp. sweet Sherry (preferably Harvey’s Bristol Cream)
1 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh mint, chopped
4 corn tortillas–cut into thin strips
Oil
1/2 lb. Jack cheese, shredded
12 slices avocado
cilantro sprigs

Poach chicken breast in simmering chicken broth until done through, about 10 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle and shred. Combine chicken
broth, chicken, red onion, carrots, potato, tomato paste, bay leaf, garlic, chipotle and jalapeno chilies, oregano, cumin and salt and pepper in large saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Correct seasoning, if necessary. Add zucchini, squash, pepper, lime juice and Sherry. Bring again to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add cilantro and mint. Stir, then remove from heat. To assemble, fry tortilla strips in hot oil until crisp. Drain on paper towels and set aside. Ladle soup into each bowl. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and tortilla strips. Garnish each bowl with avocado slice and sprig cilantro. Serve at once.

Alfredo Sauce

1 pint of heavy cream
1/4 pound of butter (one stick)
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1/2 – 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder

In a saucepan combine butter, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Simmer this until all is melted, and mixed well. Add the Parmesan cheese and Garlic powder. Simmer this for 15 – 20 minutes on low. You may wish to season with a little salt and pepper. I have done this with half and half, but we prefer the heavy cream.

Dill Potato Pages

Yield: 4 servings.

7 or 8 new red potatoes
2 cloves Garlic, minced fine
1 stick Butter
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
1/2 tsp. Celery Salt
2 tsp. crushed Dill

Wash potatoes well and boil until soft, drain well on paper towels. Melt 1 stick of butter, in large frying pan (use only real butter) saute garlic for a couple of moments, and then add potatoes and the rest of the seasonings. Pan-fry the potatoes until they are lightly brown.