One-Pan Paprika Chicken with Potatoes and Tomatoes

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 45 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4 to 6

INGREDIENTS

• 6 to 8 chicken thighs (about 3 pounds, bone-in and skin-on)
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes
• 1 red onion, cut into 8 wedges
• 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes
• Handful of thyme sprigs
• Leaves from 3 to 4 parsley sprigs, for garnish

METHOD

1 Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a rack in the middle position.

2 Prepare the chicken: With scissors or a sharp knife, trim the excess chicken skin and fat from the thighs. Sprinkle all over with salt and pepper.

3 Marinate the chicken in the sauce: In a large bowl, stir together the mustard, lemon juice, paprika, 2 tablespoons of the oil, and additional salt and pepper to taste. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat. Set aside while you chop the vegetables.

4 Prepare the vegetables: Cut the baby potatoes into halves. Peel the red onion and cut it into 8 wedges through the root end. Smash the garlic cloves lightly with the flat of a knife, just to break the skin. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half, but keep them separate from the other vegetables.

5 Bake the chicken and vegetables: In a large baking dish (9x13-inch pan, 3-quart dish, or other similar sized baking dish), toss the potatoes, onion, and garlic with salt, pepper, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Spread them evenly in the pan and top with thyme sprigs. Nestle the chicken into the vegetables and scrape any extra sauce over top. Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered.

6 Add the tomatoes: Remove the pan from the oven, scatter the cherry tomatoes on top, and return the pan to the oven.

7 Bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of a thigh registers 165F. Serve with a salad or crusty bread.

Gingerbread Waffles

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 to 5 large Belgian waffles

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/3 cups milk, warmed to room temperature
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups (290g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• Melted butter or cooking spray for coating the waffle iron.
• Powdered sugar for serving (optional)

Special Equipment:

• Waffle iron

METHOD

1 Make the waffle batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, molasses, brown sugar, and egg until everything is well incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder and salt together.

Gradually mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. (I usually pour half of the flour into the wet ingredients and stir until the flour is absorbed before adding the rest of the flour.) Mix until you no longer see streaks of flour. Small lumps are okay.

2 Let the batter rest as you preheat your Belgian waffle iron to medium-high. Warm the waffle iron for at least 5 minutes, or until a drop of water sizzles on contact with the griddle.

3 Make the waffles: Brush melted butter onto the waffle iron or coat with cooking spray. Scoop 2/3 to 3/4 cup of the batter into the waffle iron and use the bottom of the cup to spread the batter around into the edges. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or according to your waffle maker's instructions, until the waffles are golden brown on the outside. Remove the waffle from the iron with tongs or a fork and place on a cooling rack.

Cook the remaining waffles and serve immediately. Sprinkle waffles with powdered sugar, if you like, or serve with whipped cream and maple syrup.

Yankee Cornbread Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• Butter (for the pan)
• Flour (for the pan)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup canola oil
• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups yellow cornmeal, preferably stoneground
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Special equipment:

• 9x13-inch baking pan

METHOD

1 Heat the oven to 375F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and butter the paper. Dust the pan with flour, tapping out the excess.

2 Prepare the batter: In a bowl large enough to hold all the ingredients, stir together the eggs, canola oil, and yogurt until smooth. Stir in the sugar followed by the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Keep stirring until no pockets of dry ingredients show.

3 Bake the cornbread: Pour the batter into the pan and use an offset spatula or regular spatula to smooth the top. Bake the cornbread for 35 minutes, or until it is uniformly golden brown on top and firm in the middle. Set on a rack to cool for 10 minutes.

4 Slice the cornbread: Make 2 vertical slices and 5 horizontal slices to form 18 squares. Lift them from the pan and serve with butter.

Apple cake

Mom's Best Apple Cake

Examiner.Com

From Anne Marie Hurley, Livonia, Michigan

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 ½ tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
•  3 cups apples, peeled and diced

Topping

• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup milk

 Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 baking dish.

Cake: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Beat together until well-incorporated. Stir in the apples.

Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 55 – 60 minutes. Cool completely before adding the topping.

Topping: In a saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils. Boil without stirring for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately spread over the top of the cooled cake. Let sit for an hour prior to serving.

Pumpkin Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon all spice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

PENUCHE GLAZE

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2-2 cups confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Have ready some ungreased baking sheets.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and the sugars together until light and fluffy.
4. Blend in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract.
5. In separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
6. Mix flour mixture into butter-sugar mixture.
7. Drop tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
8. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until golden around the edges.
9. Remove warm cookies and transfer to racks.
10. Let cool completely for a least one half hour, then frost with glaze.

For Glaze:.

In a medium saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar over medium heat until bubbly. Cook, stirring constantly, for one minute or until slightly thickened. Beat in the milk. Blend in confectioner's sugar until the glaze is smooth and spreadable. Using a silicone basting brush, which I love and use religiously now, or a butter knife to spread glaze on cookies is the best tip. Please note; this glaze will harden fairly quickly. I suggest that you keep the saucepan over the stove on the lowest heat possible to prevent it from hardening.