How long a drive is that? I'd ask at the Recipe Exchange too. This should be fine for a side dish. I've made it lots & it's always a hit: SWEET & SOUR SQUASH (serves 8) 4 small zucchini 4 small yellow squash 1/2 cup chopped celery 1 red onion, chopped fine 1 red bell pepper, seeded & chopped 1 cup sherry wine vinegar (white wine vinegar works) 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 dup olive oil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper Slice the zucchini & yellow squash paper-thin into a large shallow bowl. Add the celery, red onion & bell pepper. Combine the remaining ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil & stir to dissolve the sugar. Pour the dressing over the vegetables while still hot. Cover & marinate at room temperature or chill overnight. Drain & serve.~~ If you've got a cooler, this would be perfect because it's best made 2 days ahead: PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE 3 cups finely ground gingersnaps 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1 1/2 sticks butter, melted Two 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened 5 eggs 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 16 oz can solid-pack pumpkin 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp ground mace 1/4 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup brandy 2 cups sour cream 1/4 cup granulated sugar Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the gingersnap crumbs, confectioners' sugar & melted butter in a bowl & mix thoroughly. Press the crumb mixture onto the bottom & up the sides of an ungreased 9" springform pan. Beat the cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, the brown sugar, pumpkin, spices, vanilla & 1/4 cup of the brandy to the cream cheese & mix until smooth. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the prepared pan & bake 40 minutes or until the edge of the cheesecake begins to pull away from the side of the pan. Remove the cheesecake from the oven & reset the temperature to 400°. Whisk together the sour cream, sugar & remaining 1/4 cup of brandy in a small bowl. Spread the sour cream mixture over the hot cheesecake, return to the oven & bake 10 minutes more. Cool to room temperature, cover & refrigerate in the pan overnight or up to 4 days. Remove sides of the pan before seriving.~~ From Savor the Brandywine Valley. It said it won a prize in Creative Cooking's cheesecake contest. FRESH AUTUMN PEAR BREAD 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/8 tsp nutmeg 1/4 cup buttermilk or yogurt 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh ripe pears, skin left on Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 9" loaf pan. In a large bowl, using a mixer, cream the butter & sugar together until light & fluffy. Add the eggs & vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda & nutmeg. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing gently but thoroughly. Gently stir in the pears. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan. Bake 1 hour or until a cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean.~~ Again, if you have a cooler this would work also: SUN-DRIED TOMATO BREAD 2 cloves garlic 1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes 1 bunch green onions 2 1/2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 5 oz Provolone cheese, grated 3/4 tsp dried rosemary 3/4 tsp pepper 1/3 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted 2 TBL Crisco (room temperature) 2 TBL sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/4 cups buttermilk Preheat oven to 350°. Grease one 9" loaf pan or three 4x3x2" pans. In a small saucepan, cook the garlic in boiling water to cover for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, drain & chop the tomatoes, reserving 2 TBL of the oil. Slice the green onions thin & include 1" of the green part. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt & baking soda. Add the cheese, green onions, rosemary, pepper, sun-dried tomatoes & pine nuts. Toss the mixture until combined. In a small bowl, whisk together the shortening, reserved oil & sugar until the mixture is smooth. When teh garlic has finished cooking, drain, peele & mash it with a fork. Add to the shortening mixture along with the eggs & buttermilk. Add the shortening mixture to the flour mixture & blend until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the middle of the oven until a cake tester comes out clean, 25-30 minutes for the small loaves, 45-50 minutes for the large loaf. Cool the bread in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Turn onto the rack & cool completely. The bread keeps, wrapped tightly in foil & refrigerated for up to 4 days.~~ |