Author: mylowcountryliving

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Hummus is a great snack and one of my favorite flavors is roasted red pepper hummus. It is so simple and easy to make and you can make this in about 5 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 can chick peas
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup tahini
1 clove garlic
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp cumin
3 tbsp. water
paprika (as garnish)
1 red bell pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to the Broil setting.
  2. On a cookie sheet split a red bell pepper and remove the seeds. Add the garlic clove to the cookie sheet.
  3. Place cookie sheet in the oven until the red pepper has light smoldering brown spots and is cooked from its own steam.
  4. While the red pepper is cooking in the oven mix lemon juice and tahini in a blender or food processor until it is “whipped”.   It is important to mix this first to get a smooth and creamy hummus. 
  5. Combine the remaining ingredients (except red pepper and garlic) and mix.
  6. If needed, add additional tablespoons of water until hummus reaches the desired consistency.
  7. Remove the red pepper and garlic from the oven before they get burned and add them to the food processor and mix with hummus mixture.
  8. Pour into a bowl and serve. You can sprinkle paprika on top or garnish with zaatar, or sesame seeds, and a small drizzle of olive oil.

I have omitted salt from this recipe because I feel it doesn’t need it, but you can add salt if you like to your taste. You can also get creative and add other flavors into your hummus such as avocado, black beans, or even ranch flavoring.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Better than Baileys Home Made Irish Cream

One of the best ways to enjoy coffee is with Irish Cream. Instead of buying Irish Cream you can make your own “Better than Baileys Irish Cream”. After making this you will never buy Irish Cream from the store again. This Irish Cream goes fantastic with your coffee, as an after dinner drink, or even poured over ice cream for a decadent dessert.

Yields: 4 Cups

Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 3/4 cup Irish Whiskey
1 tsp instant expresso
2 tsp chocolate syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract

Directions:

  1. Mix all the ingredients into a blender.
  2. Blend on low speed for 30 seconds. Don’t over blend or the cream will clump. Blend on low for a maximum of 30 seconds. If you over blend don’t worry your Irish Cream is not ruined. You can strain the lumps through a nut bag, cheesecloth or sieve.
  3. Pour you Irish Cream into an airtight storage container or bottle. You can use a mason jar or bottles with a seal. I purchased my bottles from Amazon. The type I purchased were Giara Swing Top Bottles 33 ¾ Ounce/1 Liter (4 Pack) ROUND Clear Glass Grolsch Flip Top Bottle With Stopper, for Beverages, Smoothies, Kefir, Beer, Soda, Juicing, Kombucha, Water, Milk, Oil and Vinegar. You can click on this link to see the bottles. AmazonSmile: Giara Swing Top Bottles 33 ¾ Ounce/1 Liter (4 Pack) ROUND Clear Glass Grolsch Flip Top Bottle With Stopper, for Beverages, Smoothies, Kefir, Beer, Soda, Juicing, Kombucha, Water, Milk, Oil and Vinegar: Kitchen & Dining

After making this you will want to store it in the refrigerator. It can store up to two months, but mine usually gets drank much sooner than that!

Better Than Baileys Home Made Irish Cream

How to make Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Get ready for a rich and creamy, delicious baked potato soup with all the fixings. It’s fully loaded with bacon, sour cream, cheddar cheese and chives. You get the full loaded baked potato experience in a soup that you can’t stop eating.

Ingredients:
6 Yukon Gold Potato’s
1 yellow onion
3 minced garlic cloves
1/3 cup flower
4 tbsp. butter
8 slices bacon
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
4 green onions
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp paprika

Directions:

  1. Dice bacon into pieces and place in a large soup pot on medium heat and cook until bacon is brown and slightly crispy.
  2. Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pot.
  3. Add butter and chopped onion and cook over medium heat until onions are tender (3-5 minutes).
  4. Sprinkle the flour over the ingredients in the pot to create a rue and stir until smooth.
  5. Add garlic and cook in the rue cook for 30 seconds, just enough to release flavor and keep it sweet.  Overcooking the garlic will make it bitter.
  6. Combine chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and paprika to the pot. Stir well.
  7. Add potatoes and bring pot to a boil.   Let pot boil for about 15 minutes.
  8. Reduce heat to simmer and using an immersion blender puree half of the soup until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender you can remove half the soup and place in a blender. Blend that soup and return to the pot.
  9. Add sour cream, bacon pieces, and green onions, stir well.  Reserving ¼ of bacon and green onions for garnishment.
  10. Simmer for 15 minutes.
  11. Serve and garnish the top with additional sour cream, bacon, cheddar cheese, and chives. Enjoy!
Loaded Baked Potato Soup

French Toast Monkey Bread

Sunday morning breakfast just got better! We have combined French toast and Monkey Bread. This will be a game changer when you get your family or friends together for breakfast or brunch. This is easy to make and the combination of French toast, maple syrup and monkey bread is to die for.

Ingredients:

2 cans of biscuits
1 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. cinnamon
2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
powder sugar

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  2. Grease and flour a Bundt cake pan
  3. In a large bowl combine the heavy cream, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla extract and kosher salt. Whisk together until all is mixed and there are no cinnamon clumps.
  4. Cut all the biscuits into quarters and place cut biscuits into the bowl with the egg mixture, mix together to coat each piece.
  5. Place the egg coated biscuit pieces into the Bundt pan.
  6. In a sauce pan mix together the maple syrup and butter until it starts to simmer and all butter is melted.
  7. Pour the syrup mixture into the Bundt pan over all the monkey bread pieces.
  8. Place in preheated oven for 25 – 30 minutes until golden brown. TIP – place a cookie sheet in the oven below the Bundt pan to capture any of the mixture that may bubble over.
  9. When cooked remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
  10. Remove Bundt cake from pan by placing a plate underneath and turning over.
  11. Pour over more syrup and sprinkle powdered sugar.
  12. Enjoy!
French Toast Monkey Bread

Click here to get the recipe to make homemade vanilla extract

Better than Starbucks! DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

It’s Pumpkin Spice Season! That means it’s time for everyone’s favorite Starbucks treat…Pumpkin Spice Latte. A lot of us like to buy this daily at Starbucks but that can be expensive and the Starbuck’s drink is packed with sugar. You will love this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe. It’s a lot cheaper than Starbuck’s and we have cut back on the sugar by using maple syrup as a natural sweetener instead.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coffee
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

  1. In a small pot or saucepan mix the almond milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice.
  2. Heat on low until the pan begins to simmer.
  3. Remove from heat and add the coffee.
  4. To create a froth either blend with an immersion blender or put into your regular blender. If you put this into a regular blender make sure you vent the top of the blender so that the steam doesn’t build up and “explode” on you.
  5. Pour into a coffee mug and top with optional nutmeg.
  6. Enjoy.
Better than Starbucks! DYI – Pumpkin Spice Latte

Click here for recipe for vanilla extract.

Click here for recipe for almond milk.

Click here for recipe for pumpkin puree.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

It’s that time of the year when we carve pumpkins or make pumpkin puree and one of the by products of this is pumpkin seeds! Pumpkin seeds make a delicious and nutritious snack and are easy to roast. Follow along and I will show you how to do this.

This recipe is for the amount of seeds from one pie pumpkin (1/2 cup) but you can easily increase this recipe for larger amounts of seeds. If you are more daring you can substitute the salt for any flavoring you want to try.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 tsp olive oil

pinch of kosher salt

Directions:

  1. Rinse seeds and remove all pumpkin from the seeds.
  2. Let the seeds thoroughly dry out. I dried mine overnight on a kitchen towel.
  3. Put dried out seeds into a bowl.
  4. Add olive oil to seeds and mix.
  5. Add salt or other flavored seasoning to seeds and mix.
  6. Place seeds on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Cook in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Enjoy!
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Hand held pumpkin pies also known as pumpkin empanadas

Hand held pumpkin pies, also known as pumpkin empanadas are a great treat any time of year, but especially in the fall when we crave pumpkin flavored desserts. You can make them in the traditional half moon shape, or to get more into the season you can use a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter to make pumpkin shaped hand held pies. These delicious little pies are super simple to make. Join us to learn how.

Ingredients:

Ingredients:
dough:
2 sticks butter
1/2 package cream cheese
2 1/2 cups flour

egg wash:
white from one egg

filling:
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. In a mixing bowl combine the butter and cream cheese and mix together.
  2. Once butter and cream cheese are mixed add the flour and mix together. Once mixed together remove and refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. Separate the egg white and yolk from one egg. Using a fork beat the egg white until it is smooth and runny. Set aside until ready to use.
  4. In a mixing bowl combine pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract. Mix together and then set aside until ready to use.
  5. remove dough from refrigerator and make a ball the size of a golf ball. Roll the ball flat to 1/8 of an inch thickness with a rolling pin.
  6. Using a cookie cutter or lid cut the dough into a circle, or use a cookie cutter to shape as a pumpkin. Place cut dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Place a table spoon of pumpkin onto the dough.
  8. Using your finger you can place egg wash around the edge of your dough. If you are using a dough cut into a circle you can fold over the dough onto itself so that it forms a 1/2 circle. If using dough cut into a pumpkin you will need to place another piece of dough cut as a pumpkin on top of the first piece.
  9. Using a fork press around the edges of the dough to seal it up.
  10. Place egg wash over the dough. Optional step is to add cinnamon sugar on top of dough.
  11. Repeat steps 5 through 10 until all the dough is used up.
  12. Place cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
  13. Enjoy!
Hand held pumpkin pies also known as pumpkin empanadas

Delicious Three Meat Texas Chili

I love chili and one of my favorites is three meat Texas chili. Texas chili is unique in that it doesn’t contain any beans. Instead you have a meat based chili that is made with bacon, steak and ground beef and a delicious mix of paprika, ancho chili, and chipotle chili. If you have never eaten Texas chili you need to give this recipe a try. I guarantee you will love it.

Ingredients:
3 cups beef broth
4 strips center cut bacon
1 pound ground beef
1 pound chuck steak
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
1 medium onion
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 large garlic cloves
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tbsp. ancho chili
1 tbsp. chipotle chili
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
1 1/2 tsp oregano

Directions:

  1. Cook ground beef in your pot, don’t break up the ground beef too small. It is nice to have larger chunks of ground beef. When the ground beef is done cooking remove it and place in a bowl.
  2. While the ground beef is cooking cut up your onion and set aside in a bowl.
  3. Cut up the steak into 1 inch pieces that would fit on your spoon when eating the chili.
  4. Cut up the bacon into small pieces.
  5. Cook the bacon in your pot and cook until browned, but not crisp. Remove cook bacon and place in bowl with ground beef.
  6. Cook onions in the pot with the bacon grease. Cook until translucent, but before removing the onions add in your chopped garlic and cook for 30 seconds with your onions. Remove the onions and garlic and add to your bowl of ground beef.
  7. Add your steak to the remaining bacon grease and sear your steak in the same pot that you cooked your onions in.
  8. Add the beef broth to your seared steak.
  9. Add the crushed tomatoes and tomato puree to the pot.
  10. Add your salt, pepper, brown sugar, cumin, paprika, ancho chili, and chipotle chili to the pot.
  11. Add cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Cover and let simmer on low for 2 – 2 1/2 hours.
  12. When done cooking stir in the oregano, remove bay leaves and cinnamon stick and serve.
  13. Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, and Frito chips.
  14. Enjoy.
Delicious Three Meat Texas Chili

How to make pumpkin puree

It’s that time of year when we make everything we can that is pumpkin flavored and to do that we need pumpkin puree. Unfortunately with the pandemic it seems a lot of stores have a hard time keeping enough pumpkin puree in stock. Have no fear, because we can make homemade pumpkin puree, it is super easy and you only need a pie pumpkin to make it.

Ingredients:

Pie Pumpkin also known as a sugar pumpkin

Directions:

  1. Cut pumpkin in half and remove the seeds
  2. Lay pumpkin halves on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
  3. Cook in a 400 degree preheated oven for 35 minutes
  4. Remove from oven and let cool
  5. After pumpkin has cooled remove the skin and then slice into chunks
  6. Place chunks in a food processor and run until pumpkin is a smooth puree
  7. Remove and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
How to make pumpkin puree

How to make granola at home

You never know what is in your store bought granola. Although we think of it as a healthy snack it can be packed with excessive fats, sugars, and preservatives. When you make granola at home you control exactly what goes in it. You can make healthy, great tasting granola at home that is easily customizable made with superfoods, such as honey and coconut oil, and can include a multitude of foods such as fruits, nuts, chocolate, m&m’s, coconut and so much more. Join me as I show you how to make delicious granola at home.

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats (oatmeal)

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cranberries

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup cinnamon sugar

1/2 cup shredded cococunt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. almond extract

pinch of salt

Directions:

  1. Pour the oats onto a baking sheet.
  2. mix the coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, and almond extract together and stir.
  3. Mix raisins, cranberries, sliced almonds, coconut, cinnamon sugar, and pinch of salt with the oats.
  4. Pour the coconut oil/honey mixture over the oats and mix all together.
  5. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Make sure you check it every 10 minutes and stir the granola during the time to allow it to brown evenly.
  6. Enjoy.

To get the recipe for homemade vanilla extract go to: https://mylowcountryliving.net/how-to-make-homemade-vanilla-extract/

How to make granola at home