HOT CURRIED FRUIT SALAD and BLUEBERRY OATMEAL CHEESECAKE MUFFINS and ORANGE BERRY COFFEE CAKES

The teachers breakfast, held in the week before school is out for Christmas, is among my all time favorite events to organize. It seems like such a small way to give back and to honor all they do for our kids, as I spend the school year, and to be honest, probably most of the summer, in appreciation for, and sending silent prayers of thanks to, our teachers.
I love that so many of the parents are super excited to contribute, taking the time and making the effort to shop, prepare, bake and deliver their version of gratitude, which always results in a beautiful assortment of dishes, pastries, fruit and breads.
I made the Hot Curried Fruit Salad and the Blueberry Oatmeal Cheesecake Muffins this year, and provided the Orange Berry Coffee Cakes last year.

HOT CURRIED FRUIT SALAD

1 (14 ounce) can of peach slices
1 (14 ounce) can of sliced pears
1 (14 ounce) can of pineapple chunks
1 (14 ounce) can of cherries
3/4 cup maraschino cherries
3 to 4 bananas, peeled and cut into slices
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 cup melted butter

Heat oven to 350F.
Drain all fruit and place in a bowl. Mix together sugar, cornstarch and curry powder and add to fruit. Drizzle with butter and stir gently to combine. Pour into a greased 9 by 13 inch baking dish.
Bake for 40 minutes.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, November 2005
www.arkansasonline.com/news/features/food/‎

BLUEBERRY OATMEAL CHEESECAKE MUFFINS

1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup buttermilk
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons orange zest
1 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup blueberries

Heat oven to 350F.
Combine oats and buttermilk in a small bowl, let stand for 10 minutes.
Beat cream cheese, sugar and orange zest with a mixer, until blended, set aside. Mix flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
Add egg and butter to oat mixtrue, stir until well blended. Add to dry ingredients, stir until just moistened. Gently stir in berries.
Spoon half the batter evenly into muffin cups lined with paper liners. Top each with a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture, cover with remaining batter.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Food and Family magazine, Fall 2012
www.kraftrecipes.com/‎

ORANGE BERRY COFFEE CAKES

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel
1 tablespoon orange juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
1 recipe orange glaze (below)

Heat oven to 350F. Grease 15 muffin cups, or line with paper liners.
In a bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in ricotta, egg, orange peel, orange juice and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, just until combined. Fold in cranberries and ginger.
Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove, cool slightly. Spoon on glaze.

ORANGE GLAZE
Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in 2 tablespoons of melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon shredded orange peel.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens, November 2012
www.bhg.com/recipes/‎

PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE

We upheld our annual tradition of picking out our Christmas Tree with long time friends and their family, and hot chocolate.
This year I experimented with Peppermint Hot Chocolate - some of the kids loved it and others didn't care for the flavor.
I lined the cups up along the back of the car and divided the chocolate among them. I had loaded up my basket with various adult beverages (peppermint schnapps, Godiva chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao and Kahlua were what I had in the liquor cabinet) so the parents could adjust the drink to their liking.
This will be the perfect accompaniment to the ice and snow forecast to come through over the next couple of days.

cups filled with Peppermint Hot Chocolate lined up along the back of the car

PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE

1/2 cup cream
2 cups whole milk
4 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
whipped cream and candy canes to garnish if desired

Whisk cream and milk in a medium saucepan over medium high heat, bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add chocolate, whisk until smooth. Whisk in extract. Divide hot chocolate among mugs, top with cream and garnish with candy canes if desired.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit, December 2008
www.bonappetit.com/recipes‎

HOT AND SPICY PIMENTO CHEESE DIP

We must appear to be Halloween misers - it's true we turn off all the lights and don't hand out candy to people who venture to knock at our door on October the 31st. However, the truth is, we sneak out through the garage, and hasten to a friends house in the neighborhood. A wonderful group of neighbors  gather together - the Dads typically take the kids from house to house, trick-or-treating and the Mums stay and hand out sweets and treats (and have a glass of wine).
We have attempted Halloween traditions at our house, but the street lighting is dim, and our sidewalks are uneven and overgrown in parts, so we dont have many brave souls willing to risk a real live fright, like tripping over irregular concrete, for candy.
I loaded up my basket with two big bags of candy, a hostess gift, a bottle of wine, a box of crackers and this Hot and Spicy Pimento Cheese Dip.

HOT AND SPICY PIMENTO CHEESE DIP

1 onion, finely diced
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups pepper jack cheese, shredded
1 (4-ounce) jar of diced pimentos, drained
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
salt and pepper
crackers to serve

Heat oven to 350F.
Cook onion in a skillet, until softened, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheeses and pimentos. Remove from heat, add the hot pepper sauce and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Spoon into baking dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Serve with crackers.
Enjoy!

SWEET AND SPICY PORK TENDERLOIN with HOT PEPPER SUCCOTASH

My husband and I had been invited to appear in a commercial at a local restaurant, and since we would be sampling lots of outstanding food, I made a Mexican fiesta for the kids to enjoy at home - cheese quesadillas, enchiladas and refried beans.
However, my husband called to say the shoot had been postponed due to the awful weather, we were expecting thunderstorms and tornadoes in our area. I had been to the grocery store earlier in the day, and had the ingredients to make this tasty pork tenderloin. The meal came together very quickly, and paired with a salad and outdoor dining, it was close to outstanding.
The kids swam in the pool after dinner, and 45 minutes later we were sequestered in the basement with our guinea pig, parakeets, dog, pet rats, blankets and pillows, snacks and board games, bicycle helmets and shoes. Almost as exciting as being in a commercial.

SWEET AND SPICY PORK TENDERLOIN with HOT PEPPER SUCCOTASH

1 pound pork tenderloin
4 teaspoons ground cumin
4 teaspoons ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
4 tablespoons brown sugar
salt

Remove visible fat from the pork, slice.
Mix cumin, coriander, cayenne and brown sugar in a bowl. Sprinkle pork with salt, then coat pieces in the spice mixture.
Place pork in a hot pan coated with cooking spray, and cook pork until done, about 7 to 10 minutes on each side.

HOT PEPPER SUCCOTASH

1/3 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 1/2 cups frozen baby lima beans
3 tablespoons jalapeno pepper jelly
3 green onions, thinly sliced
salt

Warm stock and oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Add corn and beans and cook 5 to 10 minutes, or until beans are tender. Reduce heat to medium-high, add jelly, stirring until it melts and coats vegetables. Add green onions and salt to taste.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, July 2012
www.arkansasonline.com/news/features/food/‎