CALLIE'S CHARLESTON BISCUITS

A recent trip to Charleston, SC with my cousin.  The food was amazing everywhere we went.  Even though I live on the Gulf Coast and have access to lots of seafood, I enjoyed my first taste of Shrimp of Grits.  Prepared many different ways and the restaurant we ate at  (Hymans Seafood) prepared them with a creamy Parmesan sauce that was awesome.  Callie's Hot Little Biscuit is also a chain that is everywhere.  We had seen her on the Food Network on The Kitchen.  Her stores sell the biscuits along with her cookbook and also items to make her biscuits.  We looked up her recipe online and made them when we returned.  They are a little different than most but very good. I wish we had White Lily Flour here in Texas as most Southern cooks believe it is the best for biscuits.  Regular all-purpose works well too.  She bakes hers at a high temp to start then lowers, I chose to use my usual biscuit baking temp of 425 degrees.

CALLIE'S CHARLESTON BISCUITS

2 cups self-rising flour (can use 2 cups all-purpose with 3 teaspoons baking soda and salt to make equivalent)

1/4 cup butter (half a stick) (she states room temp but I prefer cold)

1/4 cup cream cheese (2 ounces)

3/4 to 1 cup buttermilk (can use milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Prepare pan with 1 tablespoon butter melted.  Put flour in a large mixing bowl.  Cut in butter and cream cheese with fingers or pastry blender.  Make a well in the center and add milk gradually until flour is incorporated well.  Scatter flour on countertop.  Place dough and pat with flour until 1-1/2 to 2 inches thick. Cut out biscuits with 2 inch biscuit cutter or glass.  Arrange just touching each other.  Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.  Brush with melted butter when done.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP PIE

One of my best friends celebrated her 90th birthday.  Although we are years apart, she has been a best friend for over 30 years.  Her favorite snack is anything peanut butter so I thought this treat would do well for her special day. Such an easy recipe and no need for the oven on these hot days.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP PIE

1 chocolate graham cracker crust (I used store bought Oreo crust)

1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)

1 cup softened cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 carton Cool Whip

1 cup chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend together peanut butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar.  Fold in Cool Whip until completely mixed.  Add vanilla and chocolate chips.  Pour into crust.  You can freeze this or serve just from refrigerator.  Best when set for several hours.

MISS DOT'S POUND CAKE

I started joining a few friends once a month for a girls day where we get together and have lunch and visit.  We try to have a theme and do a kind of pot luck.  First one was a game day and we had a Mexican Fiesta with chicken enchiladas, beef empanadas, cilantro rice, beans, guacamole, key lime pie for dessert.  This month was a fondue party.  We had cheese fondue (fontina, gruyere, and jalapeno cheddar and white wine) with meatballs, smoked beef tenderloin, sour dough bread to dip along with a charcuterie board with tiny potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, carrots.  Dessert was a chocolate sauce with fruit and cake cubes to dip.  This pound cake was featured on an episode of HGTV's Home Town show.  It was a fun time with lots of laughs and the food was really good!  Next month is going to be a movie day with movie snacks.  

MISS DOT'S POUND CAKE

3 sticks butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

3 cups granulated sugar

3 cups all-purpose flour

6 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar together.  Add eggs one at a time.  Add flour and mix well.  Add vanilla.  Pour into an angel-food cake pan.  Place in a cold oven.  Set temperature to 300 degrees.  Bake for 90 minutes or until cake tester is clean. 

PECAN PRALINE BARK

In search of something new to bake.  Searched my 'to try' files and found this quick recipe.  It turned out really well and it will be a good one to add for Christmas goodies this year.

PECAN PRALINE BARK

12-15 graham crackers

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups chopped pecans

Line a cookie sheet (I used a large 10 x 15) with foil.  Spray with PAM. 

In a saucepan stir together the butter and brown sugar.  Bring to a boil and stir for 2 minutes.  Add vanilla and pecans.  Spread over crackers.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Let cool completely before breaking into pieces.

P.F. CHANGS COPYCAT LETTUCE WRAPS

I saw this recipe online while looking around.  I have always enjoyed these wraps when eating at P.F. Changs.  I have to say this recipe is spot on for what I've had there.  

P.F. CHANGS COPYCAT LETTUCE WRAPS

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground chicken

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion diced 

1/4 cup Hoisin sauce

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

1 Tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon sriracha (optional)  I used chili paste

1 8 oz. can water chestnuts drained and diced

2 green onions, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

Head of butter lettuce

Heat olive oil in saucepan over medium heat.  Add ground chicken and cook until browned, making sure to crumble as it cooks. Drain excess fat.

Stir in garlic, onion, Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger and Sriracha if using until onions are translucent.

Stir in water chestnuts and green onions.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with butter lettuce, spooning mixture into lettuce leaf taco style.

COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES

A weekend with my cousin.  I like to bring a treat. It is always a good visit.  

COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 stick butter, softened

1 egg

3/4 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/3 cup chocolate chips (I used mini chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients and mix well.  In another bowl, cream together the sugars and butter till smooth.  Add egg and vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients.  Mix together well.  Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.  Scoop tablespoons of dough and place on prepared pan with parchment paper.  These cookies spread quite a bit, so space at least 2 inches apart.  Bake at 350 degrees for 13 to 15 minutes till golden brown. 

CRANBERRY ORANGE QUICK BREAD

The last thing I baked for 2020.  Time to start the new year with less goodies, well maybe until Valentine's Day.  I love the taste of cranberry with orange.  This was a quick, tasty treat to make.

CRANBERRY ORANGE QUICK BREAD

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup orange juice

1 Tablespoon orange zest

2/3 cups buttermilk

6 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups Craisins

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 inch loaf pan with Pam or Baker's Joy.  In a small bowl mix together the buttermilk, orange juice, zest, melted butter and egg.  

In another bowl mix the dry ingredients.  Add the liquid ingredients to dry.  Stir in Craisins, nuts and vanilla.  Pour into prepared loaf pan.  Bake for 50 to 55 minutes until toothpick is clean when inserted.