French Toast Bake

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 (21 ounce) cans apple pie filling
• 20 slices white bread
• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup maple syrup

Directions

1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
2. Spread the sugar mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the apple pie filling evenly over the sugar mixture. Layer the bread slices on top of the filling, pressing down as you go. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the milk and vanilla. Slowly pour this mixture over the bread, making sure that it is completely absorbed. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
3. In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Place covered pan into the oven and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 60 to 75 minutes. When done remove from oven and turn on broiler. Remove foil and drizzle maple syrup on top of the egg topping; broil for 2 minutes, or until the syrup begins to caramelize. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes, then cut into squares. Invert the pan onto a serving tray or baking sheet so the apple filling is on top. Serve hot.

Toaster Pastries

• 9 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 2 cups
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 1/2 ounces shortening, approximately 6 tablespoons
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 egg mixed with 1 to 2 teaspoons water
• Vegetable, canola oil or butter, for frying
• Curried Mango Filling, recipe follows
• Chocolate Filling, recipe follows

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Pulse for a few seconds and then pour into a large mixing bowl.

Add the shortening and knead it into the flour with your hands until it is crumbly. Add the milk all at once and mix in with aspatula until it begins to come together. Lightly flour your hands and the countertop and turn the dough out onto the countertop. Knead the dough ball, folding over 10 to 20 times. Using a rolling pin roll the dough to 1/3 to 1/2-inch thickness, then cut into rounds using a 2 1/4-inch ring. Roll each round as thinly as possible or to 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling onto the dough, brush the edges of half of the dough lightly with the egg wash, fold over and seal the edges together with the tines of a fork, dipping it into flour as needed. Gently press down to flatten and evenly distribute the filling and snip or cut 3 slits in the top of the pie. Dock piesthat are going to be deep-fried, instead of snipping or cutting slits.

To pan-fry pies, place a medium saute pan over medium low heat along with 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable, canola oil or butter. Once heated, place 2 to 3 pies at a time into pan and saute until golden on both sides, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side. Allow to cool 4 to 5 minutes before serving.

To deep-fry pies, heat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or a large heavy pot to 375 degrees F. Once hot, add 1 to 2 pies at a time and fry until golden brown, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.

To bake pies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place finished pies onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

To make toaster pastries:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Divide dough in half and roll out to less than 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 4 inch by 5 inch rectangles. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling onto center of one piece of dough. Brush the edges with egg wash and top with second piece of dough. Seal edges by pressing together with tine of fork. Gently press down to flatten and evenly distribute the filling and dock the top of the pie. Repeat with second half of dough.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to cool completely and place into zip-top bags until ready to toast. The pies will not be brown until toasted.

Curried Mango Filling:

• 4 mangos, peeled and diced, approximately 2 cups or 12 ounces
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

Place all of the ingredients into a small saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover andsimmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a bowl and place in refrigerator to cool completely before using as filling.

For each pie place 1 to 2 tablespoons onto the center of the dough. Follow directions above.

Yield: enough for 10 to 15 pies

Chocolate Filling:

• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• Pinch kosher salt
• 10 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature

Place the sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and butter into a large zip-top bag and squish to combine. Cut a whole in 1 corner of the bag.

For each pie, pipe 1 to 2 tablespoons of mixture onto the center of the dough. Follow directions above.

Yield: enough for 10 to 15 pies

Quick Crustless Quiche

8 slices bacon

4 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded

2 tablespoons butter, melted

4 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 teaspoon salt

Black pepper to taste

1/2 cup flour

1 1/2 cups milk

First, melt your butter and set it aside (this gives it a chance to cool). Then, fry up your 8 slices of bacon (NOT in the butter!). This is the most time-consuming part of this recipe (i.e. this is an easy recipe).

Then finely dice the onion. I like it very fine.

In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, butter, onion, salt, flour, and milk.

Add freshly ground black pepper.

Then crumble the bacon into your lightly greased pie pan, covering the bottom.

Then add the cheese. I like mozzarella, but the original recipe called for Swiss. The cheese and bacon at the bottom serves as your "crust."

Then gently pour the egg mixture over your "crust." Go slowly so that the bacon and cheese does not mix with the rest and stays on the bottom (but if it mixes, no biggie really).

Then put it in the oven! 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until set.

Enjoy this quiche hot out of the oven or chilled. This recipe is versatile, so feel free to add broccoli, sausage, tomato, or ham...or whatever! My recent favorite addition is 5 oz of spinach.

Sausage and Bean Casserole

12 slices white sandwich bread

2 pounds smoked Polish sausage, halved lenghtwise and cut in pieces

2 large onions, chopped

8 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup tomato paste

14.5 oz chicken broth

1 cup dry red wine

1 tsp dried thyme

4 cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

In a food processor, pulse bread until large crumbs form, season with salt and pepper, set aside.

Preheat oven to 375*F. In a 6-quart saucepan, cook sausage, onion and garlic stirring occasionally until onions are translucent and sausage is starting to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Add tomato paste, broth, wine thyme and 2 cups water, bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, add beans. Simmer, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened but still soupy, about 10 minutes.

Stir in 2 cups of breadcrumbs. Divide sausage mixture between two 3-quart shallow baking dishes. Top with remaining breadcrumbs.

Bake on a baking sheet until top is golden, about 30 minutes.

Tomato Lime Black Bean Soup

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp brown sugar

2 cans black beans

4 c broth

28 oz diced tomatoes with juice

4 dashes chipotle tabasco

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

2 Tbsp lime juice

Cook onion and garlic in oil with brown sugar until translucent and caramelized, about 10 minutes.

Add beans and broth, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Add tomatoes, simmer for 15 minutes more.

Remove 2 cups of the soup and puree with chipotle and cilantro, return to the pot.

Stir in lime juice and season with salt.

Ladle soup into bowl and top with guacamole if desired.