Green Chili Stew

Green Chili Stew is one of my all time favorites.   I never tire of it.  Maybe it is the green chili  that we love so much here in New Mexico.  This stew is a  combination of ground beef, potatoes, green chili, tomatoes, and spices.  All of these ingredients are simmered together to create a delicious and satisfying stew.   Serve with a flour tortilla and you have a satisfying meal. 



Green Chili Stew

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef
1 packet (1-ounce) taco seasoning
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups beef broth
1 (14.5 ounce) crushed tomatoes
1 cup diced green chilies
2 cups peeled potatoes, diced
2  teaspoons ground cumin
2  teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
1.  In a Dutch Oven heat the oil and add the  ground beef.  As the beef is browning, break it up into small pieces. When beef is cooked remove to a plate lined with a paper towel.  Wipe out Dutch oven and place meat back in the Dutch Oven.  Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the ground beef and stir until the meat is covered.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the Dutch Oven and stir to combine.  Bring to boil.   Cover and reduce heat.  Simmer for 45 minutes.
3. Taste and re season if  necessary.  Serve.

Serves 6-8



 

Chewy Sugar Cookies

Christmas time is here and at my house that means lots of holiday baking.  There is something about baking during the holidays that is extra special.  Sharing with family and friends, co workers, cookie exchanges, enjoying the treats you ban yourself from all year -  just to name a few.

This recipe is for a delicious chewy sugar cookie. It is a drop cookie.  The dough consists of your traditional cookie ingredients plus cream cheese.  The  dough a little softer so you have to handle the dough gently and briefly.    The result is a sweet tender sugar cookie.

Chewy Sugar Cookies
From Cook's Country Magazine

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups (11 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) sugar, plus 1/3 cup for rolling
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat over to 350 degrees.  Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.  Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in medium bowl; set aside.
2. Place 1 1/2 cups sugar and cream cheese in large bowl.  Place remaining 1/3 cup sugar in shallow dish and set aside.  Pour melted butter over sugar and cream cheese and whisk to combine (some lumps of cream cheese will remain but will smooth out later).  Whisk in oil until incorporated.  Add egg, milk, and vanilla and whisk until smooth.  Add flour mixture and mix with rubber spatula until soft, homogeneous dough forms.
3. Divide dough into 24 equal pieces, about 2 tablespoons each.  Using your hands, roll dough into balls.  Working in batches, roll balls in reserved sugar to coat and evenly space on prepared sheets, 12 balls per sheet.  Using bottom of drinking glass, flatten balls to 2 inches in diameter.  Sprinkle top of cookies evenly with 4 teaspoons of sugar remaining in shallow dish ( 2 teaspoons per sheet); discard any remaining sugar.
4. Bake cookies 1 sheet at a time until edges are set and just beginning to brown, 11 to 13 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through  baking.  Let cookies cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.  Let cookies cool completely before serving.

Makes 24 cookies

Snickerdoodles

It is that time of year again.  Christmas baking time which translates to lots and lots of  cookies.  The first cookies of the season I seem to make are Snickerdoodles.  I just love them and when I find recipe for them I need to make it.  This recipe is no exception.

I love the soft chewy texture of Snickerdoodles with a slight crisp edge.  The overall light cinnamon sugar flavor of the cookie makes it the quintessential Christmas Cookie.  A truly delicious cookie in my opinion.



Snickerdoodles

Pioneer Woman
Prep: 15 Minutes Level: Easy
Cook: 9 Minutes Serves: 20
Ingredients

2-1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Cream Of Tartar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
3/4 teaspoons Salt
1 cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
1-3/4 cup Granulated Sugar, Divided
2 Large Eggs
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line several baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and 1 ½ cups sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3–5 minutes. Then beat in eggs and scrape the bowl. Turn mixer on low and slowly add flour mixture until well combined.

Mix remaining ¼ cup sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Use a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop to measure out dough balls. Roll each ball in your hands to even them out, then roll in cinnamon sugar to thoroughly coat.

Place the balls on prepared baking sheets, 2 ½ inches apart. Bake for 8–9 minutes, until just barley golden around the edges. Cool for several minutes on the baking sheets before moving.