Sweet Potato Soup

Anyone who was a reular viewer of "The Jerry Seinfeld Show" knows there was a character modled after someone called "The Soup Nazi". I can't be too certain of who the guy is/was or anything (I didn't find the show funny and some of the characters were just plain annoying) but apparently he is real and has a large following. The recipe below is a rendition of his and according to my wife is delicious. I couldn't say as I'm not partial to sweet potatoes.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 Sweet potatoes (about 1 pound each)


• 8 Cups water


• 1/3 Cup butter


• 1/2 Cup tomato sauce


• 2 Tbsp. half & half


• 2 Tsp. salt


• 1/8 Tsp. pepper


• 1/2 Tsp. dried thyme


• 1 Cup cashew halfs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake the sweet potatoes for
45 minutes or until they are soft. Cool the potatoes until
they can be handled safely.

Peel off the skin, and put the potatoes into a large bowl.
Mash the potatoes for 15-20 seconds.

Spoon the mashed sweet potato into a large saucepan over
medium/high heat, add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

When the soup begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium/low and simmer for
50-60 minutes. Cashews should be soft. Serve hot.

Peanut Butter Cups

With halloween here already, I thought the perfect treat for all those little ghoulies would be some homemade peanut butter cups made famous by a certain candy company. I don't eat much candy and sometimes I have a problem eating chocolate but I'll gladly run the risk for these little morsels.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Package milk chocolate chips (12 Oz.)


• 1 Cup smooth style peanut butter


• 1/2 Cup powdered sugar


• 1/4 Tsp. salt


• 12 Paper muffin cups

Cut the top half off of each of the muffin cups to make them shallower.

Pour the chocolate chips into a glass bowl and microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes. Stir the chocolate gently then let it sit for about a minute before resuming.

Using a teaspoon, coat the inside of the muffin cups with the chocolate, drawing the chocolate all the way up to the edge of the cups. Place each coated cup in a muffin tin and when all cups are coated, place muffin tin in refridgerator to harden chocolate.

Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar and salt in a medium sized bowl.

When chocolate in cups has completely hardened, place peanut butter mixture in microwave and nuke for 1 minute. Stir mixture then pour mixture into each chocolate cup leaving room for another layer of chocolate. Place in refridgerator for about an hour to harden peanut butter mixture.

After cups with peanut butter mixture has completely hardened, microwave remining chocolate chips for 30 to 60 seconds. Use a teaspoon to add chocolate to top of each cup. Make sure "all" areas are completely covered. Refridgerate once more to set chocolate.

After 30 minutes, you have your own homemade peanut butter cups. Remove paper cup and enjoy.

Arby's Horsey Sauce

One of the best places for a quick burger style sandwich is without a doubt Arby's. Their Beef N' Cheddars, Arby Q, and my favourite, the Reuben on marbled bread are simply incredible. Sadly, their aren't too many outlets here and since I don't drive, it's to far to go for my Arby's fix.

One product Arby's came out with that I love on my sandwhiches is none other than the Horsey Sauce. Here is a very good facsimile of that sauce. I defy anyone to tell me the difference between this recipe and one that Arby's uses.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Cup mayonnaise


• 3 Tbsp. horseradish sauce (creamy style, not regular horseradish)


• 1 Tbsp. sugar


• 2 Packets of Equal sweetener (this may confuse some but trust me, it's important)

Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Keep refrigerated in a tightly covered container.

Must use up within about 2 weeks. Do not freeze.

Red Lobster Style Cheese Biscuits

One of my favourite restaraunts has always been Red Lobster. I love seafood, especially lobster, and Red Lobster is "the" place to go for it. The recipe below is for my version of their cheese biscuits and the best part is, while the biscuits may taste like it would take a long time to make them, they are very simple to make.

INGREDIENTS

Dough

• 1 1/4 Lbs.  Bisquik


• 3 Oz. freshly shredded cheddar cheese


• 1 & 1/3 Cups. cold water

Garlic Spread

• 1/2 Cup melted butter


• 1 Tsp. garlic powder


• 1/4 Tsp. salt


• 1/8 Tsp. onion powder


• 1/8 Tsp. dried parsley

To cold water, add Bisquik and cheese, blending in a mixing bowl. Mix until dough is firm.

Using a small scoop, place the dough on a baking pan lined with
baking paper. Bake in 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until
golden brown.

While biscuits bake, combine garlic spread ingredients.

Brush baked biscuits with the garlic topping.

Homemade Twinkies

I thought since I am always trying different recipes, especially for something made famous by somebody (for example, my  homemade Tootsie-Rolls ), I thought for this week I would post recipes for well known foods you can make at home.

For this recipe, along with the ingredient list, you will also need...a spice bottle about the same size as a Twinkie, 10 pieces of aluminum foil measuring 12" X 14", a pastry bag or cake decorator and a chopstick.

INGREDIENTS

Cake

• 4 Egg whites


• Non-stick spray


• 1 Golden pound cake mix (16 Oz)


• 2/3 Cup water

Filling

• 2 Tsp. hot water (should almost be boiling)


• 2 Cups marshmallow cream (Fluff works great)


• 1/4 Tsp. salt


• 1/2 Cup shortening


• 1/3 Cup powdered sugar


• 1/2 Tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Fold each piece of tinfoil twice then wrap around spice bottle to create a mold about the same size as a Twinkie - leave top open for pouring in batter. Make 10 of these from the foil and arrange on a cookie sheet and spray inside of each with the cooking spray.

In one bowl, beat the egg whites with a beater until stiff. In a second bowl, mix the cake mix with the water for about 2 minutes (disregard the instructions on the box). Pour egg whites into batter and gently fold together until well blended.

Pour batter into foil molds (about 3/4 inch in thickness) and bake for 30 minutes until done. After baking, set aside to cool.

In a small bowl, combine salt with the hot water and mix until salt has dissolved. Set aside to cool.

In a mixing bowl, combine marshmallow cream, shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla and mix well with mixer until fluffy. Add salt solution and mix another 2 minutes.

Using the chopstick, make 3 small holes in the bottom of each cake (after they've been removed from foil of course). Move the chopstick around inside the cake a little at each hole to create room for the filling.

Use the pastry bag or cake decorator to fill each cake with the cream filling.

Voila....10 homemade Twinkies.

Baked Potato Soup

One thing I'm a sucker for is a nice baked potato with butter, sour cream and snipped chives. Nothing beats it when I'm having a nice rare steak. Russets make the best baking potato because of not only their taste but because of their firmness.

Finding this recipe is perfect for those days when I want the flavour of the potato but not the full-meal feel.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 Large Russet baking potatoes


• 2/3 Cup butter or margarine


• 2/3 Cup flour


• 6 Cups milk


• 3/4 Tsp. salt


• 1/2 Tsp. pepper


• 4 Green onions (chopped)


• 12 Slices bacon (fried & crumbled)


• 1 & 1/4 Cups cheddar cheese (shredded)


• 1/2 Cup sour cream

Wash potatoes and prick several times with fork. Bake at 400 F. for 1 hour or until done. Let cool.

Cut potatoes in half lengthwise, scoop out pulp and set aside, discarding skins.

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Add flour, stirring until smooth. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.

Add potato pulp, salt, pepper, 2 tbsp. of the green onions, 1/2 the bacon, and 1 cup of the cheese. Cook until thoroughly heated; stir in sour cream. Add extra milk, if too thick.

Serve topped with remaining green onion, bacon, and cheese.

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Tomorrow is my Mother-In-Law's birthday and I just want to wish her all the best.

Hope she likes the gift I put together for her.

Hush Puppies

Years ago, one of my favourite t.v. cooks was Justin Wilson. He was an older gent from the bayou of Louisianna who not only was a great cook but had an amazing penchant for telling funny stories. This recipe is for one of his easiest treats to make.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Cups cornmeal


• 1 Tsp. ground cayenne pepper


• 1 Cup flour


• 2 Eggs (beaten)


• 1 Tsp. baking powder


• 1 Cup buttermilk


• 1 Tsp. salt


• 1 Cup finely chopped green onion


• 1/2 Tsp. baking soda


• 2 Tbs. hot bacon drippings


• 1/2 Cup parsley (finely chopped)


• 1/2 Tsp. garlic powder


• Oil for deep frying

Combine all dry ingredients. Add eggs, buttermilk, onions, and bacon drippings. Mix well.

Drop in hot oil by spoonfuls and brown on all sides.

Makes about 48.