SANDRA’S EASY PUMPKIN LOG ROLL with a CREAMY MAPLE FILLING

A phenomenal dessert that freezes well,

so the pumpkin log roll can be made ahead of time

and sliced while frozen into pieces for a stunning presentation...

Servings: (10 to 12)

Prep: 15 Mins.

Bake: 12-15 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Roll:

Wet Mixture:

3 large eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

2/3 cup pure pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

Filling:

1 (8 oz. tub), cold, whipped cream cheese

1 cup confectioners' (powdered) sugar, sifted

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon mapleine

--Additional confectioners’ sugar (for decoration)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 15”x10” jelly-roll pan; line with parchment paper, then spray top of paper as well. Set aside a clean tea towel (large enough to cover unrolled pumpkin roll).

Beat eggs, granulated sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla extract. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and salt into same bowl over wet ingredients. Using a wooden spoon, stir dry mixture into wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. Spread batter evenly onto prepared pan.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until top of cake springs back when touched.

Immediately loosen sides of cake, place tea towel over top flush with beginning roll-up edge.

Turn onto working surface. Carefully peel off parchment paper.

Roll up cake and towel together, starting with shorter end.

Cool seam-side down on wire rack for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling by beating cold, whipped cream cheese, 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar, butter and mapleine in small bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake. Spread cream cheese mixture over inside of cake to within 1/2” of all edges. 

Re-roll cake into log, gently but tightly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate seam-side down for at least 1 hour.

Unwrap pumpkin log, generously sprinkle with sifted confectioners' sugar on entire outside, and cut into 1" slices, then serve (See main photograph above). ~ Enjoy!

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Tip:

If freezing pumpkin log roll, defrost first to serve whole, or I prefer to slice while frozen for cleaner cut cake slices, then serve individually.

SANDRA’S GLAZED MAPLE RAISIN OATMEAL COOKIE BITES

Heavenly maple cookie bites

that pair nicely with an

ice cold glass of milk...

Yields: (38 Bites)

Prep: 15 Minutes

Bake: 10 to 12 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

Cookie bites:

6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

½ cup granulated sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1 cup raisins

¼ cup quality maple syrup

Glaze:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoon quality maple syrup

1 tablespoon water

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar using a hand mixer until smooth, then beat in egg and vanilla. Using a spoon, stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Fold in oats, raisins, and maple syrup until fully incorporated.

Drop dough in rounded teaspoonfuls 1” apart onto prepared cookie sheets (I use a miniature scoop and drag it up the side of the bowl to ensure uniform bites).

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are lightly browned and centers are set.  Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets.  Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, sift, and then whisk 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar with maple syrup and water until a smooth glaze has formed, (adding more or less maple syrup/water for proper consistency).  Spoon glaze into the bottom corner of a ziploc bag, and snip the tip.  Glaze the cooled cookies using a back and forth motion. Let glaze set. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S THAI-STYLE SWEET POTATOES and CARROTS

A simple to prepare 

superbly delicious side dish

that you’ll probably be making

over and over again...

Servings: (4)

Prep: 10 Mins.

Bake Time: 45 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1” cubes

2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1” chunks

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon dried cilantro

2 tablespoons quality maple syrup

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place chopped vegetables and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl; toss to coat.  Pour mixture into an 8”x8” casserole dish, cover, and bake for 45 minutes ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S CORNMEAL-MAPLE MUSH with TOAST TRIANGLES

I grew up eating this as my Mother
never served us cold store-bought cereal;
we always had a hot breakfast of
oatmeal, cornmeal, cream of wheat with homemade toast
before school; after all this is Alaska...

Servings: (2)
Prep: 3 Mins. | Cook 5 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
2 cups cold water
Pinch of sea salt
1/4 cup quality maple syrup
--(or ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar)
1/4 cup condensed milk (unsweetened)

--Prepared whole-wheat toast, cut into triangles

METHOD

Combine cornmeal, cold water, and sea salt in a small saucepan, and whisk to combine. Place on stove over high-heat until boiling while whisking (to prevent lumps from potentially forming), and then reduce heat to low and continue to whisk for 5 minutes, until cornmeal is tender and mush has thickened. Add the maple syrup, and condensed milk, whisking to combine, and remove from heat.

Place toast in the toaster, and pour mush into serving bowls, and garnish mush with a slight drizzle of maple syrup. Butter toast, and cut them into triangles and serve along side. – Enjoy!

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Tip: This mush was a staple breakfast in our household while growing up, and every time I this it floods me with fond memories of my family and friends in my hometown of Yakutat, Alaska.

SANDRA’S AWESOME ALASKA FRY BREAD

My mom served our fry bread hot
 with warm Syrup, as do I...

Yields: 4 Fry Bread
Prep: 10 Mins. |
Fry: 6 to 8 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon powdered milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of sugar
1/2 cup warm tap water
peanut oil for frying (or vegetable oil)

METHOD

Began by heating the 2" deep oil to 360 degrees in a large cast-iron skillet (or and electric fry pan).

Meanwhile, sift together the flour, salt, powdered milk, and baking powder into a large bowl, and add the sugar. Pour the water over the flour mixture all at once, and stir the dough with a fork until it starts to form a ball. Flour hands, and mix the dough to incorporate the flour into the mixture to form a soft and pliant ball. (You want to mix the dough well, but DO NOT knead it, which will make for heavy Fry Bread when cooked.) The inside of the dough ball should still be sticky after it is formed, while the outside will be floured.

Cut the dough into four equal pieces. Using floured hands, stretch, and pat to form disks of about four inches in diameter and quarter-inch thick. Fry until golden brown, and then flip to fry the other side. Each side will take about 3 to 4 minutes. Place Fry Bread to drain on a paper towel-lined plate. - Enjoy!


--You can eat the hot Fry Bread drizzled with honey, spread it with jelly, dip it in hot maple syrup (my favorite because this is how my Mom served it to our family, as shown in photo), as a vessel to fill with fish taco ingredients, and so on.

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Tip: This Fry Bread can be kept warm in a 200-degree oven for up to 20 minutes. They also refrigerate well, and then can be reheated in a 350-degree oven for 12 minutes before serving.

(6) Recipes: SMOOTHIE FROZEN BERRY/FRUIT/YOGURT POPS

A fabulously healthy and tasty treat...

RASPBERRY AND BANANA YOGURT POPS (Shown in Photo)

Yields: (12) pops

· 1 cup of frozen raspberries
· 1 banana, peeled and quartered
· 2 (6-oz. containers) raspberry yogurt
· 1 cup milk

Peel the banana and slice it in quarters, then place berries in blender. Spoon in the yogurt, and then pour in the milk. After sealing the lid, press the puree button and blend until smooth and thoroughly combined, about 2 minutes. Spoon mixture into molds (or paper cups with pre-purchased popsicle sticks) and freeze for a minimum of 6 hours, or overnight. Peel pops away from orka molds (or paper cups) and enjoy!

-Note: These are “orka ice pop molds” that are bpa free as they are made of silicone so are flexible and easy to peel away from popsicles, including no-drip handles...Bonus! – I purchased three sets for about $12 ea. (4/set) sometime ago on Amazon.com, whereby I received them in 3 days; plus they last forever ;-)

♥ KIDS AND ADULTS LOVE UM’ ♥
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PUMPKIN POPS

Yields: (12 pops)
· 2 (15 oz.) cans pumpkin puree
· 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
· 2/3 cup milk
· 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (for a homemade spice blend, click here: Sandra's Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend)
· ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Place the pumpkin puree into a medium-size bowl. Add pure maple syrup, milk, umpkin pie spice, and vanilla to the bowl and mix well. Spoon mixture into ice pop molds (if using paper cups add sticks), and freeze for at least 6 hours before serving.
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CREAMY RASPBERRY POPS

Yields: (12 pops)

· 1 cup milk
· 1 (1 oz.) package vanilla pudding mix
· 1/2 cup milk
· 1 cup frozen raspberries
· 2 cups raspberry sherbet
· 2 cups cool whip, thawed

Pour 1 cup of milk into a bowl, and stir in pudding mix, beating with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes until thickened. Place the remaining milk and raspberries into a blender and puree 2 minutes until smooth, and add to bowl with pudding mixture, stirring to combine. Spoon the mixture into ice pop molds (if using paper cups add sticks), and freeze for at least 6 hours before serving.

-Note: If desired, use chocolate pudding in place of the vanilla, try a different flavored sherbet, or use canned crushed pineapple in place of the raspberries.
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YOGURT JUICE POPS

Yields (10 pops)

· 3/4 cup milk
· 1 cup (any flavor) frozen juice concentrate (do not add water)
· 1 cup plain yogurt

Mix all the ingredients using a blender. Pour into popsicle molds (if using paper cups add sticks) and freeze for 6 hours and enjoy!
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ORANGE AND MANGO POPS

Yields (12 pops)

· 4 large ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted and roughly chopped
· 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

Puree all the ingredients using a blender for 2 minutes. Pour into popsicle molds (if using paper cups add sticks) and freeze for 6 hours and enjoy!
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FRUIT AND BERRY YOGURT POPS

Yields (12 pops)

· 4 (6-oz) containers of vanilla yogurt
· 2 cups frozen fruit (or berries)
· 2 tablespoons honey

Puree all the ingredients using a blender for 2 minutes. Pour into popsicle molds (if using paper cups add sticks) and freeze for 6 hours and enjoy!

SANDRA'S SALMON and PINEAPPLE GRILLED with a MAPLE GINGER GLAZE

A tropical surprise type of salmon with a burst of flavor
that you are bound to love...

Serves: (4)

Prep: 10 min |
Marinade: 20 min |
Cook: 10 min


Posted: by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

· 4 fresh salmon fillets
· 4 fresh pineapple slices (or if canned, drain juice)

***Marinade:
· ¼ cup maple syrup
· 1 tablespoon soy sauce
· 1 teaspoon gingerroot, grated
--(or ½ teaspoon ground)
· 1-1/2 teaspoons dijon
· 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

· 1 box long-grain rice, prepared according to directions
· steamed fresh green beans

METHOD

In small glass bowl, whisk maple syrup, soy sauce, gingerroot, dijon, and cayenne pepper until combined. Place salmon in a single layer glass dish skin side down, pour over marinade (reserving ¼ of it for basting), cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Baste both sides of pineapple slices with marinade, and set aside.

Meanwhile, oil and heat grill to medium-high heat, arrange salmon fillets (skin side up) on pan or rack so sides are not touching; adding the pineapple slices as well. Cook pineapple just until grill marks form, and gently flip over doing the same. Grill salmon for 4 minutes, and then gently flip over so skin side is now up on grill - for a total cooking time of 4 to 6 minutes (depending on thickness of salmon fillets).

Place salmon fillets on serving plates with the pineapple. Serve with sides of rice and steamed green beans. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA'S ROASTED FALL ACORN SQUASH

A spicy and sweet roasted acorn squash that is
a perfect side dish to most any entree...

Serves: (4)
Prep Time: 10 min |
Roast Time: 45 min to 1 hr

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

2 acorn squash, cut in half lengthwise
4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Kosher salt, to taste
Cayenne pepper, to taste

METHOD

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Wash and dry squash, and then cut in half lengthwise (along the ribs); be super careful. Scrape seeds and pulp from the insides with a spoon and discard.

In a small bowl combine the softened butter with the maple syrup, spread inside of each half with mixture, and then lightly dust all four halves with kosher salt and cayenne pepper.

Place halves cut side up on a baking dish lined with foil.

Bake for 45 minutes to one hour until soft, which will have a pool of goodness in the middle of each half.  Use a pastry brush to evenly distribute pooled sauce on both halves of acorn squash.  Stand to let cool for 10 minutes before serving. - Enjoy!