SANDRA'S LEMON-KISSED HOMEMADE SIMPLE SYRUP

A terrific addition
to smoothies,
hot or iced tea, cocktails, etc.

Yield: 1-3/4 cups

Prep: 5 Mins.

Cook: 2 Mins.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup water

Juice of 1 large lemon

METHOD

In a small saucepan, combine the 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.

Pour the syrup into a sterilized Mason pint jar and let cool to room temperature, then stir in freshly-squeezed and drained-through-a-sieve lemon juice. This step is necessary to omit any possible lemon seeds and pulp.

Cover jar and store in refrigerator, the syrup keeps up to 6 months. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA'S NO-CORN-SYRUP PECAN PIE (Easy to Prepare)

A very, very easy recipe to prepare
resulting in an incredible pecan pie that will
leave your guests raving...

[Photograph credits and permission via @Polar_Gal on Twitter
who requested my recipe, prepared it,
then provided this stunning pic ~ Kudos to her!]

Servings: (8)

Prep. : 15 Mins.

Bake: 40 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans; plus more whole pecans for garnish, if desired

--1 Unbaked 9” pie shell (Sandra's Homemade Pie Crust)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Stir in melted butter. Stir in brown sugar, granulated sugar, and flour; mix well. Add milk, vanilla, and chopped pecans.

Pour filling into an unbaked 9” pie shell (you can prepare Sandra's Homemade Pie Crust, or use store-bought in the freezer section of the market, and thaw beforehand, as directed). Decorate top of pie by fanning out whole (or halved pecans in a decorative manner...my preference is to use halved 'candied' pecans). Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until done. ~ Enjoy!

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 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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


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.

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!