Breville Pie Maker

I have a wonderful obsession for Williams and Sonoma. I love walking around their small little store in Provo. Looking at every little thing. I am super lucky when I have my man with me. So for a date night the other night we were in the area and decided to check it out. We had so much fun. I did however find this marvelous new gadget. It shapes and bakes small pies. It is the Breville Pie Maker.  I saw this little gem and was freaking out. I was so excited. I start asking to anyone who will listen where is this. Of course they were out of them. Hopefully Santa or one of his elves are reading. Hint, hint. I love cooking gadgets.  I do need to add on to my house for all the gadgets I want. What is your favorite one??

Eat Out: Malawi Pizza

So after many recommendations I finally went to Malawi Pizza for dinner. I also finally got a date night with my man. So we headed to the new restaurant to see if it lived up to all the hype. When you walk in it really has a big spacious feel to it (Malawi Pizza is in the former Magelby's bldg in Riverwoods). There is a large tree in the middle of the dining area, that looks as if it was picked off the savannah and brought right here to Provo. So my man and I love to eat and so we decided to both get our own pizza. When we went up to order we saw the brick oven that the pizza were cooked in. I knew I was in the right place.  I got a pesto, chicken with asparagus and he got a meat pizza. They were both fabulous. I would recommend this place. It really was good. They also have pasta, and salads. My one gripe was I felt like it was a little over priced. Still I would definitely go again.

• The Malawi's Pizza

• (801) 225-2800
• 4801 N University Ave
• Provo, UT 84604

Tangy Cherry Jello Salad

I don't know if it is because I live in Utah and I am Mormon, but this jello salad is a staple in our family Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner. It is really good.  I think my mom got it from my grandma. She use to serve it on a separate plate with a leaf of lettuce and then the salad on it. Why did she do that?? It is so weird. It was like she was trying to be all fancy. I have been to many fancy restaurants and I have never seen this done before. So if you would like to serve this on a leaf of lettuce go right ahead. Go ahead and try this salad even if you aren't living in Utah or a Mormon it is universally good.

Tangy Cherry Jello Salad

1/2 cup sugar
1 large pkg cherry jello
2 cups orange juice
4 apples shredded

Dissolve jello and sugar in boiling water. Add orange juice and a few ice cubes.  Add shredded apples.
Makes a 9x13 pan

Do you love that I found a picture with the salad on spinach (i think), my grandma is up in heaven and feeling vindicated from her granddaughters snide comments about her lettuce and jello salad. 

Cranberry Sauce

Last year was the first year that I made this. It was a huge hit, this is certainly not the cranberry sauce out of the can that still looks like a can when sitting on the plate. This is also great on a turkey sandwich!! Hello left overs. Try this and let me know what you think.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe 

simplyrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup  sugar
• 1 cup water
• 4 cups  fresh or frozen cranberries
• Optional Pecans, orange zest, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice.

METHOD

1 Wash and pick over cranberries. In a saucepan bring to a boil water and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst.

2 At this point you can add all number of optional ingredients. We typically mix in a half a cup of roughly chopped pecans with or without a few strips of orange zest. You can add a cup of raisins or currants. You can add up to a pint of fresh or frozen blueberries for added sweetness. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice can be added too.

3 Remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill in refrigerator. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

Cranberry sauce base makes 2 1/4 cups.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Toppings

I have made this a couple of times for big groups of people and it is gone before I know it. It is a Thanksgiving must!!! I grew up never liking sweet potatoes/candied yams for thanksgiving. We all know the classic yams with marshmallows. Which for a kid may look enticing, but it wasn't for me. A few years ago my mom made this for thanksgiving and I was in love. She received the recipe from a great family friend. These are so great and so easy to make which makes thanksgiving dinner a little less crazy. The last time I made these I made them a day ahead and put them in the fridge and with foil and they kept great for when I baked them. So, grab a fork and give these a try you will not regret it!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Toppings
Cindy Haacke

3 large sweet potatoes (or yams)
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs

Toppings

1 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup pecans (cut up)

Boil sweet potatoes with skins until tender. Remove skins and cut off potato ends. Whip with electric mixer, stopping every so often to remove any strings that may collect on beaters. Add butter and sugar to warm potatoes and keep mixing until smooth. Add milk, vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Put in buttered casserole dish. Mix pecan topping and crumble on top of casserole. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or until topping has melted.

Amanda's notes: I would definitely double this recipe. 

Thanksgiving Dinner Week

I am so excited for Thanksgiving! I love thinking of recipes and watching cooking shows (more than usual) and planning a menu. So every day this week I will give you one of my favorite recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Who I Cook For . . .

I apologize for the graphic nature of this photo. Please disregard the food being shown to all in the mouth.

One of the people I cook for is this guy! He is a picky little stinker, but I love him. Especially when I make something he loves. I get much praise and hugs. Tonight while I was making the roasted garlic sauce for a pasta I was coaxing my roasted garlic into the blender with that fabulous heavy whipping cream. This little guy said to my man, "Dad, do you think it is weird that Mom talks to food all the time!" How can you not love that.

Farrs Frozen Yogurt

I have been telling everyone about this place, so I must make it a official. Farr's Frozen yogurt has captured my heart. I love this little place. Let me start by telling you when my love affair started with frozen yogurt. Last year or so I was in Huntington Beach visiting family and was introduced to great frozen yogurt place called, Yo Yo Yummy. Now I have to be honest I am not sure what the real name is. It is something close to that. I just started to call it Yo Yo Yummy. We walk in and get tasting cups try all this wonderful self serve frozen yogurt. Everything from root beer, to peanut butter, to gumball. We tried it all, then we could choose toppings and they would weight it and it was all mine. It was so fun and so good. So when I found Farr's I was beyond excited. It has frozen yogurt, ice cream, and frozen custard. They have different flavors that rotate all the time, and such a wonderful selection of toppings. I love the atmosphere, you walk in and it is bright and fun and inviting with the giant fireplace right there. Now, there is no excuse of not getting frozen yogurt in the winter. You must go and try it and let me know what your favorite flavors are.

Farrs Fresh Frozen Yogurt
1073 South 750 East, Orem
Price is by weight

President Cox's Chili

This is s a great chili recipe. It is easy and comes from one of my favorite people ever. Bill Cox is a man that lives in my neighborhood growing up. He was the President of our LDS Stake. That is why we call him President Cox. My dad worked with him in a church assignment, and became a wonderful friend. He also went to an LDS girls camp with my mom and dad every summer. They would camp together and President Cox would make this chili for all the leaders. He is an amazing man, and also spoke at my dad's funeral. It is so fun to make this recipe and thinking of President Cox and what a wonderful man he is, and the great lessons that he taught me and my family.

President Cox Chili

2 lbs cooked hamburger
2 C. chopped onion
1 green pepper diced
1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. cumin
1 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 qt. canned tomatoes (I use diced)
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
1 6 oz can tomato paste
3 cans kidney beans (rinsed)
1 can chili beans in seasoned sauce

Combine, Simmer , and Enjoy.

I usually put this in my crock pot and just let it do it's magic. Serve it up with some corn bread and you will be happy one! Just look at my little gal eating it.