Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake

As an unexpected treat, chocolate mini morsels are sprinkled on the crust before the pumpkin filling is poured in. More chocolate is swirled into the cheesecake to give it a marbled effect.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels, divided
• 3 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

FOR CRUST:
PREHEAT oven to 350º F. Grease 9-inch springform pan.

COMBINE graham cracker crumbs, butter and granulated sugar in medium bowl. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup morsels.

FOR CHEESECAKE:
MICROWAVE remaining morsels in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 30 seconds; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted; cool to room temperature.

BEAT cream cheese, granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth; beat in pumpkin. Beat in eggs, evaporated milk, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Remove 3/4 cup pumpkin mixture; stir into melted chocolate. Pour remaining pumpkin mixture into crust. Spoon chocolate-pumpkin mixture over top; swirl.

BAKE for 60 to 65 minutes or until edge is set but center still moves slightly. Cool in pan on wire rack. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove side of springform pan.

Serves 16

http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/29730/Marbled-Pumpkin-Cheesecake/detail.aspx

This is one recipe that I have never tweaked!  Most recipes, I write all over them to make them better, IMHO, but this one is perfect as it is!  I received it several years ago in a little Nestle cookbook, and it has become a Tradition during the Holidays.  Thanksgiving because of the Pumpkin and Christmas, because ... well, just because!

Colcannon on Chicken and Apple Pie

We just tried this recipe in our house this past week, and it is wonderful.  Once again, I will give it to you as it is printed on the website, without my 'tweaks.'  The tweaked one will be in my cookbook.  

I wanted to cook something that seemed very 'British,' and this one seemed to add the best of the United Kingdom in it!

Colcannon and Chicken and Apple Pie

Colcannon is a simple, warming Irish potato dish, combining mashed potatoes with shredded cooked cabbage and chopped spring onions. Here it is used as a lovely pie topping for chicken cooked in cider with sliced apples and carrots. The pie is a well-balanced meal in itself, needing no accompaniments. 

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp sunflower oil

1 large onion, sliced

450 g (1 lb) skinless boneless chicken breasts (fillets), cut into chunks

3 carrots, thickly sliced

240 ml (8 fl oz) chicken stock

240 ml (8 fl oz) dry cider

1 tsp wholegrain mustard

1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon or 1 tsp dried tarragon

2 Cox's apples, thickly sliced

1 tbsp cornflour

salt and pepper

Colcannon topping

700 g (1 lb 9 oz) floury potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks

200 g (7 oz) Savoy cabbage, shredded

4 tbsp semi-skimmed milk

25 g (scant 1 oz) butter

4 spring onions, finely chopped

Preparation method

1.		Heat the oil in a large, deep, non-stick frying pan. Add the onion and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes or until softened.
2.		Add the chicken to the pan and cook over a moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until it is no longer pink. Stir in the carrots.
3.		Combine the stock, cider, mustard and tarragon, and pour into the pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and cook gently for 10 minutes. Stir in the apples and cook, covered, for a further 10 minutes or until the chicken and carrots are tender, and the apples have softened but are still holding their shape.
4.		Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in a saucepan of boiling water for about 15 minutes or until tender. Cook the cabbage in a separate pan of boiling water for 4–5 minutes or until just tender but not soft; drain well.
5.		Drain the potatoes and return them to the pan. Add the milk and butter, and mash until smooth. Stir in the cabbage and spring onions, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover to keep warm.
6.		Using a draining spoon, transfer the chicken, apples and vegetables to a 1.7 litre (3 pint) ovenproof dish. Set aside. Preheat the grill to high.
7.		Mix the cornflour with 1 tbsp cold water, stir into the cooking liquid in the frying pan and bring to the boil, stirring until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then pour over the chicken mixture.
8.		Pile the potato and cabbage topping over the chicken mixture, spreading it evenly to cover. Place under the grill and cook for 4–5 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/3103/colcannon-chicken-and-apple-pie.aspx

Megan's Granola

WOW!  I am not much of a granola fan, but I do love this.  Once again, I went to allrecipes.com to find a recipe.  We have made this a few times, and it just seems to get better.  Today, I made the sauce by 1.5 times, to have a little extra 'stick' to the granola.  Nuts are optional, I just added a little extra oats and sunflower seeds instead of the nuts in one batch.

Ingredients

• 8 cups rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups wheat germ
• 1 1/2 cups oat bran
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup finely chopped almonds
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3/4 cup honey
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups raisins or sweetened dried cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil.
2. Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.