Witch Hat Cookies

Using Fudge Stripe Cookies and Chocolate Kisses, this recipes yields cute little treats that are a trick to make.

Ingredients

• 2 (16 ounce) packages fudge stripe cookies

• ¼ cup honey, or as needed

• 1 (9 ounce) bag milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped

• 1 (4.5 ounce) tube decorating gel

Directions

• Place a fudge stripe cookie with bottom side up onto a work surface.

• Smear a small dab (about 1/8 teaspoon) of honey onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss, and secure the candy piece to the center of the cookie, covering the hole.

• Use decorating gel to pipe a small bow onto the cookie at the base of the candy piece.

• Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Hungarian Potato and Sausage Soup

There’s nothing better than a hearty soup to chase away the chill of a cool autumn day. This soup is the perfect fall comfort food. The savory flavor from smoked sausage and the earthy sweetness from onions and cabbage are balanced perfectly with a splash of vinegar and a bit of sour cream, all brought together by soft and tender potatoes--the only way this gets better is serving it with a nice hunk of buttered, crusty bread.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 6 ounces smoked Hungarian sausage, sliced into rounds

• 1 yellow onion, diced

• 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

• 5 cups chicken broth, or more to taste

• 2 cups chopped green cabbage

• 1 ½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed

• freshly ground black pepper to taste

• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

• ½ cup sour cream, or to taste

• 2 tablespoons sliced green onion, or to taste (Optional)

Directions

• Step 1

  Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add sausage and cook and stir until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove sausage to a bowl, leaving behind any butter in the pot.

• Step 2

  Toss onion into the pot with 1 teaspoon salt. Cook and stir until onion just starts to turn translucent and picks up a brown color from the meat juices in the pan, 4 to 5 minutes. Add flour; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and paprika; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn the paprika.

• Step 3

  Stir in 5 cups chicken broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally so flour does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Stir in cabbage and cook until it just loses its stiffness, about 2 minutes. Stir in potatoes and bring back to a simmer. Add black pepper, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf, plus a splash of chicken broth if desired. Bring back to a simmer.

• Step 4

  Stir soup and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are very soft and tender, about 30 minutes. Add sausage and vinegar and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust for salt.

• Step 5

  Remove from heat and ladle into bowls. Garnish with sour cream, green onions, and cayenne pepper.

Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

One of the main problems with making a pizza at home is heat. To get a pizza similar to what you might find at a restaurant, you need high heat. This is where the ability of cast iron to hold heat comes into play. Using this method is a great way to get restaurant-quality results.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. pizza dough

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• ¼ cup pizza sauce

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano

• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

• ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• Kosher salt

• fresh basil leaves for garnish

  INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place a 9 inch cast iron skillet inside the oven. Heat oven to 550 degrees with the skillet inside.

2. CAREFULLY remove the skillet from the oven and spread the oil in a thin layer across the pan.

3. On a lightly floured surface, work pizza dough into a 9-inch circle.

4. Gently place crust inside of the cast iron skillet.

5. Spread sauce in an even layer across the crust.

6. Sprinkle thyme and garlic powder over the sauce.

7. Add cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the crust are dark golden brown.

8. Broil for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese starts to get dark golden brown spots.

9. Sprinkle with Kosher salt and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Slice and enjoy!

Peach Crumb Bars

These peach crumb bars are always delicious. Wait until summer for fresh peaches or use frozen to get that wonderful peach flavor any time of the year.

Ingredients

Crumble and Crust:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• ½ cup white sugar

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• 1 pinch salt

• 10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

• 1 large egg yolk

• 1 tablespoon cold water

Peach Filling:

• 2 cups fresh peach slices, or more to taste

• ½ cup white sugar

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

• Step 2

  Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Next, cut in the cold butter using 2 forks or a pastry cutter then slowly mix in the egg yolk and cold water. Don't worry if the dough seems really crumbly; it should be!

• Step 3

  Press 1/2 of the crumble mixture into the prepared pan to make the crust. Save the rest for the top of the bars.

• Step 4

  Stir together peach slices, sugar, flour, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg until combined. Evenly add peach filling to the top of the crust.

• Step 5

  Sprinkle the remaining crumble over the peach filling.

• Step 6

  Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and set, 30 to 38 minutes. Cool bars to room temperature, then cut and serve.

State Fair Scones

A hallmark of the State Fairs on the west coast, now you can make them at home any time of year. Just like at the fair, they are best served hot, with butter and raspberry jam.

State Fair Scones topped with butter and jam.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons white sugar

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 6 tablespoons shortening

• ½ cup milk

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F.

• Step 2

  Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture with a fork or pastry knife until crumbly texture. Add milk; mix until just combined.

• Step 3

  Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until completely mixed, about 1 minute. Divide into 2 equal pieces. Roll or pat each piece into a 3/4-inch round. Cut each round into 4 pieces. Arrange pieces on a baking sheet.

• Step 4

  Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Zucchini Pizza Bake

I walked into our production building today to be greeted by a bag of zucchini on a table. We’ve now reached that give-it-to-anyone time of the season. Really. One plant is enough.

Ingredients

• 4 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

• 1 pound ground beef

• ½ cup chopped onion

• 1 (15 ounce) can Italian-style tomato sauce

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• 1 green bell pepper, chopped

• ½ cup sliced fresh mushrooms

• ½ cup sliced black olives

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt; let drain for 15 minutes then squeeze out the moisture.

• Step 2

  Combine the zucchini, eggs, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Monterey Jack in a large bowl. Press the mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

• Step 3

  While the zucchini crust is baking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef and onion. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in the tomato sauce and Italian seasoning.

• Step 4

  Spoon the sauce mixture over the baked zucchini crust. Top with the bell pepper, mushrooms, black olives, and the remaining mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses. Return to the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until heated through. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.