KerriansKitchen

KNR, p. 204 “Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins”

Sheila tried out a new muffin recipe. And the muffins have PUMPKIN in them. Big smiles here.  She said that these were for breakfast, but since I was hanging around for taste-testing duty, I had the first one for an afternoon snack. She made some with chocolate chips and without, and both types were great. Chocolate and pumpkin, though? Perfect together!

In case you were wondering? No bodies anywhere in the kitchen or dining room. I always check. 😉

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Sheila Kerrian
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Standing mixer
  • Jumbo Muffin Pan

Ingredients
  

Topping

  • 3 Tablespoons   brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons pecans, chopped and ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Muffins

  • 1/3 cup sunflower seed oil (or other nut oil)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs      
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
  • 2 cups all-purpose unbleached King Arthur flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 1/4 cups organic canned pumpkin puree
  • 3/4 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Mix topping ingredients together and set aside.
  • Pre-heat oven to 375. Use standing mixer on slowest speed. Do not overbeat at any step.
  • Cream oil and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until just mixed.
  • Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, a little at a time and mix until evenly moistened.
  • Add pumpkin puree and mix until just blended. Add chocolate chips and stir with large spoon until evenly distributed throughout the batter.  
  • Divide mix evenly among 6 extra large greased, floured muffin tins (or use jumbo baking cup papers). Divide topping equally and sprinkle on top of the muffins, about 2 teaspoons each.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes in center of oven - until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, muffins are springy to the touch, and lightly golden brown.

Let rest on cooling rack for five minutes, then enjoy!  🙂

 

 

 

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KN, p. 291 Portuguese Veggie Dish – Peppers and Zucchini

Our trip to mainland Portugal was a food adventure to be sure. We always ask for, but rarely get, all the special secrets for some of the dishes we try. BUT, a generous chef at a Porto bed & breakfast not far from the train station, shared this wonderful vegetable recipe with us.

 

Sheila replicated it at home, so we know the cook authentically shared her list of ingredients. We came up with the proportions ourselves, but after our usual trial-and-error tasting sessions, it now looks and tastes the same as the original to us. They served it at breakfast alongside the eggs and pastries, but we have enjoyed it at every meal of the day.

 

Portuguese Veggie Dish - Peppers and Zucchini

Sheila Kerrian
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Portuguese
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • about 1/2 cup (1 small) Carrot
  • 1/2 cup green Bell Pepper
  • 1/2 cup red Bell Pepper
  • 1/2 cup yellow (or orange) Bell Pepper
  • about 2 cups (1 medium) Zucchini
  • 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil olive oil can be substituted, but the flavor will be quite different
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried Oregano

Instructions
 

  • Wash carrot, peppers, and zucchini.
  • Peel carrot, then cut into 3" Julienne strips, about 1/2 cup.
  • Remove seeds from peppers, then cut into 3" Julienne strips, about 1/2 cup each of green, red, and yellow peppers.
  • Peel zucchini, then cut into 3" Julienne strips, about 2 cups.
  • Place all veggies and avocado oil into large saute pan on medium heat.
  • Add garlic, sea salt, and onion, and toss with veggies and oil until well coated.
  • Cover and lower temperature, and simmer for 5 minutes, then stir.
  • Add oregano and toss with veggies.
  • Continue to simmer until crisp tender, about another 5 minutes.

 

 

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KNR, p. 286 “Puttanesca Sauce” (Staten Island Gravy)

Our good friend and enthusiastic cook, Chin Bawambi, sent us a recipe for Puttanesca Sauce. Sheila and I followed the recipe and it’s a WOW! We took the photos before and after taste-testing and tried it with pasta as well as beef and chicken dishes. We can honestly say it’s a truly versatile sauce. Guarantee: no bodies were found anywhere on the premises while cooking. Sheila tells me that I did fall asleep on the couch with a satisfied smile after dinner, though. I believe her.

Puttanesca Sauce (Staten Island Gravy)

Chin Bawambi
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian

Equipment

  • Crock-pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes with basil
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon powdered or minced garlic
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, oregano
  • 1 heaping Tablespoon capers
  • 1/4 cup sliced Kalamata olives
  • 1 2 oz can anchovy fillets in olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning (or to taste)

Instructions
 

  • Turn crock-pot on high.
  • Place crushed tomatoes, sea salt, oregano, and garlic in crock-pot.
  • Drain diced tomatoes and add to crock-pot.
  • Drain and mince capers, add to crock-pot, and blend.
  • Finely chop olive slices, add to crock-pot, and blend.
  • Pour olive oil from the anchovy can, plus the two Tablespoons of olive oil, into the crock-pot, keeping the anchovies in reserve.
  • Finely chop anchovies and add to crock-pot, blending in.
  • Add Montreal steak seasoning.
  • Stir all ingredients thoroughly.
  • Cook on high for 30 minutes, stir and drop temperature to low.
  • Cook an additional 45 minutes, stir again and check for flavor. If needed, add more steak seasoning to taste.
  • Cook for an additional hour.
  • Serve while hot or let cool for a bit and refrigerate up to a week in glass jars.
  • Serve with pasta, poultry, veggies, or meats.

Notes

Yields 48 ounces. We pour the sauce into Ball/Mason jars and refrigerate up to a week if not serving it right away.
Keyword Sauce

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