Grandma Esther's Danish Butter Cookies

Ingredients

3/4 lb butter

2-1/2 cups sugar

4 cups flour

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tartar

1-1/2 tsp almond extract

Instructions

• Beat butter, sugar, and extract together. Add eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate in between each.  
• In a separate bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cream of tartar, and baking soda. 
• Cut the two mixtures together.  The mixture will be dry and in small pea sized pieces.  
• Roll into two logs, wrap in wax paper, and chill overnight.  
• Slice into thin (3/16") slices and bake in a 350* oven until golden brown (about 15 minutes).  

Optional:  top each cookie with 1/2 of an almond before baking.

Breakfast Casserole

INGREDIENTS

1lb ground pork breakfast sausage

3C shredded cheddar cheese (divided)

2C milk

4 eggs

2 lbs tater tots

Salt

Pepper

Season Salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350*F, and spray a 9"x13" cooking spray.

2. Brown sausage, and sprinkle into bottom of pan.  Top with ~2C of the cheese.

3. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, and spices (to taste).  Pour over the sausage and cheese.  Top with tater tots, and sprinkle the remaining cheese over all. (May be covered and refrigerated overnight at this stage.)

4. Bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown on top.  Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.  

Lemon Curd

INGREDIENTS

3 lemons
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 pound salted butter, room temperature
4  eggs
1/2 cup lemon juice (3 to 4 lemons)
1/8 teaspoon table salt


DIRECTIONS

Using a peeler or zester, remove the zest of 3 lemons. Process sugar and zest in a food processor until well combined and zest is in tiny bits.

Using a stand mixer, cream the butter and beat in the sugar and lemon mixture. Add the eggs, blending well between each addition, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Continue to mix until combined and fluffy.

Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly.  Remove from the heat.  Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl.  Pour into containers and refrigerate.


Recipe heavily inspired by:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lemon-curd-recipe.html

One Pot Garlic Pasta

INGREDIENTS

2 tsp Olive Oil
4 cloves Garlic, minced
2 TBSP Butter
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Freshly-Ground Pepper
3 C. Chicken Broth (more, if needed)
8 oz Pasta (I used egg noodles, hollow pasta like spaghetti would be delish)
1.5 C. Shredded Parmesan Cheese
3/4 C. 1/2 & 1/2
Optional:  1/2 pound shredded chicken (mine was smoked), or other protein, as desired.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Saute garlic in olive oil.  Add butter, salt, and pepper. 
• Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Add pasta (and chicken, if using) and cook until desired texture (I cooked the egg noodles for approximately eight minutes). If necessary, add more broth to prevent noodles from sticking to the pan. 
• Add the 1/2 & 1/2, stir.  Add the cheese, stir.  Simmer until sauce is thickened slightly.  
• Enjoy!