Recipes- Cream Cheese Coodle

Fellow Hungry Housewife Tari made this for a brunch when we got together to watch a football playoff game.  She has made it before when we've had potlucks, and I think that it is SO DElicious!  It's creamy and the raisins just pop in your mouth.  Thanks for sharing!

Cream Cheese Coodle- Tari said "This recipe came with me from Pueblo, Co. from my Italian Friends...they use noodles in everything!"
1 8oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. parkay (butter)
4 eggs (beaten)
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp.salt
4 c. or 8oz. flat noodles cooked
1/2 c. raisins
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Combine softened cream cheese, parkay, eggs, milk, sugar, salt and raisins in glass baking dish. Pour in "cooked" noodles. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 375' for 35 min, or microwave on high for 8 min. turning after 4 and then on medium for 9 min. or until set. (I haven't tried the microwave method.)

Recipes- Baked Brie Two Ways: Crescent Rolls for FOODball and Phyllo Dough for Brunch at my house

When we ate at Purple Cafe and Wine Bar, I fell. in. love. with their Baked Brie!  During a recent Housewives Brunch, I attempted to make this using phyllo dough.  Hmmm....let's just say THANK YOU to my friend Jody haha.  It was yummy...just looked a little funky.  Then, while watching football playoffs, my friend Moira brought another version- this one made with crescent rolls.  Here are both recipes- both yummy though I MUST SAY that Moira's is prettier!  Hope you enjoy them as much as we did (and remember to take a walk after to burn off some of those calories!).

Baked Brie (with Crescents) by Moira
You will need Brie, raspberry jam (any brand), candied nuts and crescent rolls.  Cut the Brie in half, spread the jam and cover with LOTS of the nuts.  Put other half of Brie on the top (like a Brie Oreo!).  Spread out the crescent roll dough and put Brie in the middle- bringing the edges up to cover the sides and top.  If you are creative, use the extra dough to make a pretty decorative top (can make by hand or use small cookie cutters).  Brush an egg wash over the top and seams.  Cook 350* for 18-20 minutes.  Was super good- I ate mine just like pie ;)

The POOR Housewives!  I don't always pre-try the things I foist on them so I did my experimental Brie during one of our brunches.  Along with the trial dish, I also served Carr Crackers with spread topped with shrimp, a veggie tray with Ranch dip, edemame (in the pods with rock salt), pickled garlic (SOSOSO good even right out of the jar!) and brownies for dessert made in an 8x8 pan so they were nice and thick!

Baked Brie with Phyllo Dough
Phyllo Dough (buy GOOD QUALITY!  I had boxes in my freezer from the batch that ruined my Baklava but I used it anyway since I didn't want to waste it.  It was good- just very flaky!)
Olive Oil
Onions
Apricot preserves
Supplies for candied nuts- almond slivers, brown sugar and butter
The night before, defrost your phyllo dough in the refrigerator (or as Alton Brown does it, microwave it briefly right before using).  The next day, cook diced onions in olive oil on low until it is carmelized.  As it is cooking, bring out your Brie (in this case, I used a large size from Costco so cut it into fourths and put what I didn't use back in the fridge).  For me, I sometimes like my Brie without the outer white casting so lightly scrap it off with a knife.  

PREPARE THE ALMONDS:  melt a small amount of butter, toss in about a cup or two of almonds and stir to coat.  Add some brown sugar (start with less then add to your preference) and coat.  Put into the toaster oven to toast.  Top with a generous layer of the apricot preserves, your onions, and A LOT of the candied almonds.  

Add WAY more toppings than shown here!

Following the directions with the phyllo dough, unroll and cover loosely with a dampened towel to prevent from drying out.  Using a large cooking sheet, lay out a single layer of dough and then brush with oil- repeat 5 times (my cookie sheet was large enough that I made TWO Baked Bries at the same time).  Place the Brie layer in the center of the dough (shown above) and then fold as tightly as you can- using olive oil as a "glue" to help it stick (THANK YOU JODY for help in that part).

Then bake in a 350* oven until phyllo dough is a nice golden brown and the cheese has a "give" (so it's melted inside).  Keep an eye on it!!!  Serve with crackers and grapes.

Recipes- Crepes Jenettes for my Birthday Breakfast!

The day after Christmas, we were packing up to leave my parents' home in California for an 11 hour drive back to our house.  The FOLLOWING day is my birthday so my Mom Karen prepared me a special breakfast of sausage, bacon, crepes, French toast and juice.  YUM.

Crepes Jenettes

3 eggs beaten

1 cup flour

2 Tbsp powdered sugar

2 Tbsp orange rind (I didn't put this in..but should have)

1 cup milk

1/4 cup water

Mix together and cook crepes
I used my electric grill at 350 with a little olive oil. And ladled (using my small gravy ladle) two spoonfuls on and spread around with the back of the laddle, so it is thin.

Orange Sauce

1/4 cup butter

1/3 -1/2 cup orange juice concentrate

1 cup powdered sugar

Cook on stove until hot and starts to thicken

When first batch of crepes are cooked, spoon small amount of sauce on crepe and roll add a little sauce on top, put in 9x6 pan and keep in warm oven until all are done before serving pour on more sauce and sprinkle with powdered sugar,serve warm.