Saturday, September 20, 2014

Trisha Yearwood's Pecan Tassies


Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus 1 tablespoon butter, melted
One 3-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup all-purpose flour
Nonstick cooking spray
1 large egg
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of fine salt
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped



Directions
With an electric mixer, beat the 1/2 cup butter and the cream cheese until smooth. Add the flour and beat until fully combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 24-cup mini-muffin pan with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Set aside.

Shape the chilled dough into 24 balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Press each ball into a cup of the muffin pan, spreading evenly and up the sides, then spoon 1 teaspoon of the pecans into each muffin cup. Fill each cup with the egg mixture until evenly distributed, about 1 teaspoon in each. Bake until the filling is set, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, and then remove from the muffin pan.

Trisha Yearwood's Sour Cream Cornbread


Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 1/4 cup self-rising buttermilk cornmeal mix
One 15-ounce can creamed corn
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs



Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet with cooking spray.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal mix, creamed corn, sour cream, oil and eggs. Pour the mixture into the skillet and bake until lightly brown, about 30 minutes.





Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:

5 medium plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeded, and thinly sliced

A generous drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, about 2 tablespoons

2 splashes red wine vinegar

2 cucumbers (about 1 1/2 pounds) thinly sliced
Kosher salt  and black pepper
2 to 3 teaspoons granulated sugar (to taste)
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

1 red pepper, thinly sliced


Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together 2 teaspoons of sugar and vinegar . 
Taste then add the additional teaspoon of sugar if needed.   
Add cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion then toss.  
Refrigerate salad at least 1 hour and up to a day before serving.

Re-toss and serve salad with crusty bread for mopping up juices and oil.