Empirical Baker

I went to a potluck today. One of the things that happens when people know you are a baker is that you are expected to bring yummy things everywhere. I had very little time to do this, so I wanted something that would be done within an hour.

I was surfing online, and came across This Chocolate Butter Pecan Turtle Bars Recipe. Which is far too long to say. So, this is my adaptation.

* Crust:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
* 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
* .
* Top Layer:
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
* 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
* 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (I fudged a bit on the chocolate, and added more).

Bottom Layer: Mix flour, brown sugar, salt, and butter together. I used a mixer, but I could have gotten away with a pastry cutter. As it was, I had to use my fingers to get the last bit of butter mixed in. Press this into a 13×9 pan. Top with pecans. (I did not chop the pecans, which I probably will do for next time.)

Top Layer: Melt 1 stick of butter in a pan, and add the brown sugar. Cook for one minute after it reaches a boil. Pour over pecans and bottom layer. It did not seem that I had enough, so next time I might make more of the topping, or try to spread it better.

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. When it comes out of the oven, top with the chocolate chips. The original recipe said to wait three minutes then mix the two together. I think I would either have to return it to the oven to further melt the chips, or use mini chips. As it was, it was yummy, but the chips did not melt.

Let cool, and cut into pieces. :)

It is called Stuffing when stuffed inside a turkey. It is called Dressing when it is cooked on the side. I had no idea that people actually stuffed turkeys until pretty late in my life.

I have a tiny oven, so I knew I would have little room for the side dishes. But, I happen to have two 5 quart slow cookers (actually, they are Crock Pots by brand). So, one had green bean casserole (exactly as it is written on the package), and the other had dressing.

This recipe is adapted from one my family uses, which comes out of a pretty old cookbook. My grandmothers use it, so it works for me!

Dressing

1 loaf of Bread, diced (I used the Healthy Bread in Five Master Recipe, cooked in a loaf pan).
2 boxes cornbread mix (or, ya know, make your own!)
2 tbsp salt (I should have decreased this, due to not using low sodium broth).
1 tsp pepper
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning (I used sage and thyme, as my poultry seasoning was not good).
1/2 cup butter (Or other fat, butter just tastes good)
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups diced celery
4 eggs, beaten
4 to 6 cups broth
4 hard cooked eggs, chopped. (optional)

Bake a loaf of bread a few days before thanksgiving. The day of, cut the bread into small cubes (about 1x1x1 ish, but it does not have to be anywhere near exact). Season the bread cubes with some of the spices, and toast on a sheet pan until slightly dryer. (This does not have to be exact either. Dry is good, croutons would be fine, burnt is not, so whatever.) Bake up two boxes of cornbread mix. (I used one pan of muffins, and one pan of mini muffins. These would have been better had I made them the day before, but they are still yummy).

Dice or chop celery and onions. Saute in 1/2 cups butter (with some salt). You want to have them soft, but not necessarily caramelized.

In a large (Large, I used a 6 quart bowl), break up the cornbread muffins and add the dried bread. Add the celery,onion, and butter mixture. Add chicken stock or broth, and mix gently. The mixture should be moist, but not dripping. Season with poultry seasoning, salt and pepper to taste. (My mother pointed out to me that one should test the seasonings before putting the egg in. Silly me, I did not do this, and had to risk food poisoning to taste test it.) Once seasonings are to your liking, add 4 beaten eggs.

Put into a crock pot (mine fit semi snugly in a 5.5 quart), and cook on high for 3-4 hours, stirring once (if desired) after about 1.5 hours. Serve :)