Creamy Sweet Potato and Rosemary Soup

This is a fantastic soup. It's creamy and delicious. I can easily see it on the menu at a place like Zupa's

3 T unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 T olive oil
3 large or 6 small shallots thinly sliced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
2 lbs (about 2-3) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 stems fresh rosemary
5 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
3 T maple syrup

Melt the butter and oil together over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes, rosemary, and chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are very tender, about 20-25 minutes. Turn off the heat and remove the rosemary stems. Using an immersion blender, blend the mixture until smooth and thick. You can also puree in batches in a blender or food processor. Whisk in mascarpone cheese and maple syrup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Note: If you don't have mascarpone cheese or can't find it, substitute 4 oz cream cheese blended with 2 T heavy whipping cream and 1 1/4 T sour cream. This is what I did, and it was wonderful.

Red Pepper Sauce

2 Large Red Bell Peppers
2-3 Tlb Vinegar
1/4 - 1/3 cup sugar

Over grill or under broiler roast peppers . Keep peppers whole and get as black nd brown as possible. Cool peppers in a baggie. Slice peppers in half, skin and seed. Finely chop peppers in a food processor. Cook vinegar and sugar to dissolve sugar Add to pepper. Refrigerate to cool. To serve pour a block of cream cheese with crackers on the side.

Baked Brie with Jelly

Ingredients:

1 sheet puff pastry
1 8oz wheel of brie (I personally like to trim off the rind, but it's edible

*about 1/4 cup of jelly (I used the huckleberry red pepper. Traditionally pepper jelly is used, but can be made with any flavor you like. Raspberry jam is popular too. On the cruise ship it was served with a cinnamon apple compote).

1 egg beaten with some water for an egg wash

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Gently unfold the puff pastry sheet. Cut the brie in half lengthwise. Place one round on the pastry. Spread the top with jelly and place the other half of the brie on top. Trim the excess pastry and then fold it over the cheese, sealing the edges. If desired, decorate the top with the excess dough cut into shapes. Brush the top of the pastry with the egg wash.

Place the wrapped brie, seam-down on a baking dish covered with parchment paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with crackers, bread, and fresh fruit like apples or pears. You might want to put some extra jelly/jam on the side for those that want more.

Pioneer Woman's Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

2 lbs fresh green beans, ends cut off
4 slices of bacon, cut into pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 large onion, chopped
4 TBSP butter
4 TBSP flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half
1 1/2 tsp salt
ground black pepper, to taste
1/8 tsp cayenne peper
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 jar (4 oz) sliced pimentoes, drained
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions:

Cut beans in half if you like pieces to be a little smaller.

Blanch the green beans: drop them into lightly salted boiling water and allow green beans to cook for about 3-4 minutes. Remove them from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice cold water to slow the cooking process. Drain beans once they're cool and set aside.

Add bacon pieces to a skillet over medium heat. Cook the bacon for two minutes, then add diced onion and garlic and continue cooking for 3-5 minutes, or unitl bacon is done and onions are golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a separate skillet or saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle flour into the pan and whisk immediately to evenly mix it into the butter. Cook for a minute or two, then pour in milk and half and half. Continue cooking, whisking constantly while sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne then add the grated cheese. Stir while cheese melts. Turn off heat.

Add pimentos to the pan, then bacon/onion mixture. Stir to combine. Pour over green beans and stir gently to combine. Pour into baking dish and top with panko bread crumbs.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and crust is golden.

Cranberry Salsa

1 cup cranberries
2 Tbl orange juice
1/3 cup sugar
2 med red peppers diced
3 Tbl toasted pecans, chopped
2 tsp lime zest
1 Tbl orange zest
1 jalopeno diced
salt and pepper

Blend together

Balsamic Beans

Cut 4 oz of bacon in pieces and cook in saucepan until crisp. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic, one 14 oz can of crushed tomatoes and 1 cup water, bring to a boil. Add two, 15 oz cans of white beans, rinsed well and drained, 2 Tbl each honey and balsamic vinegar #6, 1 sprig thyme and a pinch of crused red pepper flakes. Simmer until thickened, about 20 min. Season wth salt and top with chopped parsley.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

***Seriously...EASIEST RECIPE EVER!!!

Ingredients:

1 can (15oz) pumpkin puree
1 Spice cake mix
1/2 bag semisweet chocolate chips

(You can easily double the recipe by using 2 cake mixes, a full bag of chocolate chips, and the large can of pumpkin).

Combine cake mix and pumpkin until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.

Fill lined muffin tin with batter. Keep in mind that they don't really raise so you need to fill rather full.

Bake for 22-25 minutes at 350 degrees.