Author: Carma Spence

Carma Spence has been experimenting in the kitchen since she was four years old and loves trying out new recipe ideas. She is the author of Bonkers for Bundt Cakes and Your Perfect Pie, as well as author and contributor to several more non-food-related books. With Carma's Cookery, she is taking her passion for empowering people and blending it with her passion for cooking, gift-giving and entertaining.

Categories
Recipes

Light and Healthy Chocolate Pie

Chocolate Pie healthy desser?
Source

Love chocolate but don’t want all the sugar and calories? Try this light and relatively healthy chocolate pie recipe.

Chocolate Pie healthy desser?
Source

Ingredients for Light and Healthy Chocolate Pie

Crust

  • Cooking spray
  • 40 graham crackers (10 full cracker sheets)
  • 2 Tbsp Splenda (or 3 packets)
  • 2 Tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 large egg white

Filling:

  • 2 cups fat-free milk, divided
  • 2/3 cup Splenda (or 16 packets)
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 3 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 ounces dark (70% or more) chocolate, chopped
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed
  • 3/4 tsp grated dark (70% or more) chocolate

Directions

Crust

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spray 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray.
  3. To prepare crust, place crackers in a food processor; process until crumbly. Or, alternatively, place them in a sealed bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
  4. If using a food processor, add Splenda, butter, and egg white; then pulse 6 times or just until moist. If you crushed the crackers in a bag, put them in a bowl and add the Splenda, butter and egg white. Mix until just moist.
  5. Press crumb mixture into the prepared pie plate. Bake for 8 minutes; cool on a wire rack 15 minutes.

Filling:

  1. In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup milk, Splenda, unsweetened cocoa, cornstarch, salt and egg. Stir with a whisk.
  2. In a heavy saucepan, heat 1 1/2 cups milk over medium-high heat until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Remove from heat.
  3. Gradually add hot milk to Splenda mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Return milk mixture to pan.
  4. Add chopped chocolate; cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 5 minutes), stirring constantly.
  5. Reduce heat to low; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  6. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
  7. Pour into prepared crust.
  8. Cover the surface of filling with plastic wrap and chill for about 3 hours. Remove plastic wrap; spread whipped topping evenly over filling.
  9. Garnish with grated chocolate.

[divider]

[one_third] [/one_third]
[two_third_last]

Looking for a few more pie recipes to try?

Do you want to create your perfect, signature pie, but just can’t find the right recipe? Your Perfect Pie may just be the cookbook for you!

Breaking down the mystique of homemade pie into modules you can mix and match, this simple cookbook is sure to please. Learn more and grab your copy at:

CarmasCookery.com/yourperfectpie

[/two_third_last]

Categories
Recipes

New Orleans Wine Sauced Chicken

new orleans wine sauced chicken
New Orleans Wine Sauced Chicken
New Orleans Wine Sauced Chicken shown here with a trinity of roasted herbed potatos (red potato, sweet potato and yam).

Ingredients:

  • 4 chicken breast fillets
  • 6 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 3⁄4 tsp salt
  • 1⁄4 tsp black pepper
  • 1⁄4 tsp paprika
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3⁄4 cup white wine (you may substitute water)
  • 1 tsp chicken bouillon
  • 1⁄4 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 3⁄4 cups sliced mushrooms
  • 1⁄2 cup diced onion
  • 3⁄4 cup diced celery
  • 1⁄2 cup grated carrot
  • 1⁄2 cup sour cream
  • chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions:

  1. Rinse chicken and pat dry.
  2. In a shallow dish or pie plate, mix together flour, salt, pepper and paprika. Dredge chicken breasts in this mixture. (Keep the flour mixture, too!)
  3. In a large frying pan, melt 2 Tbsp butter until bubbly. Brown the chicken breasts on both sides in pan. Set aside on a dish.
  4. Add remaining butter to the pan and melt. Stir in reserved flour mixture until smooth. Add wine (or water). Stir until smooth.
  5. Stir in chicken bouillon, poultry seasoning, bay leaf, mushrooms, onions, carrots and celery.
  6. Add chicken breasts. Cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove chicken to plate.
  7. Stir sour cream into pan and cook until just heated through.
  8. Pour sauce over chicken. Garnish with parsley. Serve.

Source: This recipe was adapted from Great American Recipes

Categories
Special Occasions

Suggested Easter Menu

easter dinner

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been sharing recipes, tips, and ideas for a simple and easy to make Easter menu. Today I’m bringing it all together for you in one post (with links)!

suggested easter menu

Easter Menu Appetisers

Easter Menu Side Dishes

Easter Menu Main Dish

Equipment You’ll Need … or Want

To prepare many of these dishes, you’ll need a slow cooker. In fact, it might be a good idea to have more than one! I have two, and one of them comes with a pot that is divided into two parts. There are also slow cookers that have multiple pots, made especially for use at parties.


Getting eggs to hard boil so they create nice, clean halves can be tricky. Often to get a dozen good-looking eggs, you need to cook two dozen! There are two ways around this conundrum: Buy eggs already hard boiled (you can find them in the refrigerator section of your grocery store) or use a specialty egg cooker.

You can simply spoon the egg filling into the halves and it looks just fine. But for that extra touch, you might want to use a pastry cone, cookie press or specialty egg maker.

And finally, to create a nice display, you might want to have a deviled egg tray. This is a special tray with egg-shaped indents that hold the eggs so they don’t flop over.


If you decide to have a sweet potato bar or any other type of “select your own toppings” display, it is helpful to have plenty of small bowls on hand. I like to use ramekins.


 

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Easy Easter at HomeMake it a relaxing, easy event with the tips, suggestions and recipes included in Easy Easter at Home, Carma’s Cookery’s latest report. Take a sneak peak at the Table of Contents, then grab a copy of your own!

  1. Introduction
  2. Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
  3. Hosting Easter Without the Stress
  4. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
  5. Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
  6. It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
  7. Getting Creative with Leftovers
  8. Closing Words
  9. Recipes
  10. Crafting Ideas

Buy it now

Categories
Recipes

Deviled Eggs Deluxe

Deviled eggs are the quintessential potluck food. Honestly, they’re so popular they’re known by many names: stuffed eggs, angel eggs, eggs mimosa, Russian eggs, dressed eggs, and picnic eggs. According to Wikipedia, the deviled egg goes as far back as ancient Rome, where they were traditionally served as a first course.

No matter the event, there is always someone who will bring a tray of them. And they disappear quickly! Here’s my take on this classic dish.

Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

  • 1 doz. large boiled eggs, cut in half, lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 red onion, chopped finely
  • 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • paprika

Directions for Deviled Eggs Deluxe

  1. Scoop out egg yolks into a large bowl and mash with a fork.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well incorporated.
  3. Spoon or pipe the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites and sprinkle with paprika.

Variations & Ideas

  • Sprinkle with some diced green onion.
  • arnish with chopped cilantro or parsley.
  • Replace mayonnaise with sour cream.
  • Use 1/4 cup mayonnaise and 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese.


 

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Easy Easter at HomeMake it a relaxing, easy event with the tips, suggestions and recipes included in Easy Easter at Home, Carma’s Cookery’s latest report. Take a sneak peak at the Table of Contents, then grab a copy of your own!

  1. Introduction
  2. Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
  3. Hosting Easter Without the Stress
  4. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
  5. Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
  6. It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
  7. Getting Creative with Leftovers
  8. Closing Words
  9. Recipes
  10. Crafting Ideas

Buy it now

Categories
Recipes

3 Ways To Cook Up Leftover Ham in the Slow Cooker

left over ham
Photo by Mack Male via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

One of the best things about cooking up a holiday ham is the leftovers. There are the obvious candidates like ham sandwiches or ham and eggs for breakfast the next day. But it doesn’t stop there. Since you already have your slow cooker out for cooking the ham in the first place, let’s talk about some yummy ways to cook up delicious dinners for the next few days. Or freeze the leftover ham slices and use them to cook up these leftover ham slow cooker recipes on a busy weeknight down the road.

leftover ham
Photo by Mack Male via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Slow Cooker Leftover Ham and Potato Casserole

This makes a hearty weeknight dinner and is a great way to use leftover slices of holiday ham. The recipe calls for 6 thick slices, but use up whatever you have left.

Ingredients

  • 6 thick slices of leftover ham
  • 8 potatoes, scrubbed and sliced
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Directions for Leftover Ham and Potato Casserole

  1. Layer 1/3 of the ham in the slow cooker, followed by 1/3 of the potatoes, 1/3 of the onions, and 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat twice more.
  2. Pour the undiluted soup over everything and cook on low for 7 hours.

Split Pea and Bean Soup

The key to good, old-fashioned split pea soup is to cook it slow and to cook it with ham. This is a great recipe for all those little bits and pieces of leftover ham from the holidays.

Ingredients

  • 2 (12oz) pkgs dry split peas, rinsed and sorted
  • 1 pound leftover ham, diced
  • 1 lb carrots, peeled and finely diced
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Split Pea and Bean Soup

  1. Pour everything into your slow cooker and cover with water.
  2. Cook on low for six to eight hours, stirring occasionally. Add more water as needed to get the consistency you like for your soup.
  3. Season with more salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Leftover Ham and Beans in the Slow Cooker

Let’s wrap this up with another frugal family favorite – ham and beans. The ham bone in this recipe is optional but adds lots of flavor. And don’t worry too much about the amount of ham to add. If all you have left over is 1/2 a cup or just a few bits and pieces, add those.

You can make this recipe with any type of dried beans. Both pinto and northern beans work very well. If you don’t have a ham bone to add, consider throwing in a bouillon cube in for added flavor.

Ingredients

  • 16 oz. dried beans
  • 1 cup leftover ham
  • 1 ham bone
  • 2 tbsp. dried onion (or 1/4 cup fresh onion)
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Ham and Beans

  1. Sort and rinse your beans.
  2. Put everything into the slow cooker and add enough water so the level is an inch or two above the beans.
  3. Cook the beans on high for two hours, then switch your slow cooker to low and cook an additional four hours or until your beans are tender and ready to eat.
  4. Remove the bone before serving./li>

These beans are great with a homemade cornbread on the side.

 

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Easy Easter at HomeMake it a relaxing, easy event with the tips, suggestions and recipes included in Easy Easter at Home, Carma’s Cookery’s latest report. Take a sneak peak at the Table of Contents, then grab a copy of your own!

  1. Introduction
  2. Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
  3. Hosting Easter Without the Stress
  4. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
  5. Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
  6. It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
  7. Getting Creative with Leftovers
  8. Closing Words
  9. Recipes
  10. Crafting Ideas

Buy it now

Categories
Recipes

Broccoli Slaw Salad

broccoli slaw
Photo by torbakhopper via Flickr (CC BY 2.0) - cropped

Broccoli slaw is one of the latest “health” tends to be added to the salad aisle of your grocery store. Basically, it is the stems of broccoli — that part no one really wants to eat — julienned or shredded into more easily consumable pieces. Often, the broccoli is mixed in with shredded carrots, as well. Some people like to saute broccoli slaw, while others turn it into an interesting and high-fiber salad.

broccoli slaw
Photo by torbakhopper via Flickr (CC BY 2.0) – cropped

Ingredients

Salad

  • 1 bag of broccoli slaw (you can find this in your produce section)
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp
  • Optional: 1/2 C chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, pistachios) and/or 3/4 C dried cranberries
  • Optional: 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions for Broccoli Slaw Salad

  1. Add dressing ingredients to a large bowl and mix together well.
  2. Add salad ingredients and stir well, making sure to coat everything evenly.
  3. Refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together and enjoy!

Variations

  • Don’t want to add sugar? Use Splenda or stevia to taste.
  • Toss in some poppy or chia seeds for texture.
  • Use ranch dressing instead of the dressing recipe above.

 

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Easy Easter at HomeMake it a relaxing, easy event with the tips, suggestions and recipes included in Easy Easter at Home, Carma’s Cookery’s latest report. Take a sneak peak at the Table of Contents, then grab a copy of your own!

  1. Introduction
  2. Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
  3. Hosting Easter Without the Stress
  4. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
  5. Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
  6. It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
  7. Getting Creative with Leftovers
  8. Closing Words
  9. Recipes
  10. Crafting Ideas

Buy it now

Categories
Recipes

How To Cook the Perfect Easter Ham in the Slow Cooker

Easter ham

Are you serving Easter ham this year? One of the hardest things about cooking for a big gathering around the holidays – including Easter – is the logistics of figuring out what needs to go in the oven when. You don’t want the biscuits getting cold while the ham is still baking. I’ve been known to gather all my recipes and chart my cooking times all out — and still not get the timing right!

There just never seems to be enough time or space to bake the turkey, ham, casseroles, side dishes, pies and rolls to perfection and have it all hot and ready at the same time. That’s where your slow cooker can come to the rescue. This Easter, cook your ham in this handy kitchen gadget and free up hours of valuable oven time.

Easter ham

Step One: Choose Your Largest Slow Cooker

To begin with, get out your largest slow cooker. Ideally, you want one that holds at least six quarts. The size of the Easter ham you’re able to cook depends on the size of your slow cooker. Since these handy kitchen appliances aren’t terribly expensive, it may well be worth investing in a larger model if your current slow cooker is too small to hold a good-sized Easter ham.


Step Two: Choose Your Easter Ham

Choose a fully cooked ham that you think will fit in your slow cooker. It’s fine if it’s a bit of a close fit. You can even get away without the lid closing all the way. When that happens after you put your ham into the slow cooker, grab some heavy duty aluminum foil and make a tent over your slow cooker instead of the lid. Be sure to seal everything well around the rim to prevent too much heat and moisture from escaping.

Note: For easy clean-up, you may want to spray the inside of your crock with non-stick cooking spray before you add the ham. There is no need to add water or any type of cooking liquid.

Step Three: Set it and Forget It

Cook the ham on low for six to eight hours, or on high for four to five hours, or until your entire ham is heated throughout. You can use a whole ham or a spiral sliced one for this cooking method.

If you prefer the outside to be a little browned, heat the ham and then carefully transfer it to a baking dish. Broil the ham for a few minutes until it develops a nice lightly browned crust. Keep an eye on it carefully. When broiling, you can go from perfectly cooked to burnt in less than a minute.

Variations on Ham

Of course, you’re not limited to a plain ham with this recipe.

  • If you prefer a glazed ham, cook up a batch of your favorite glaze and pour it over the ham as you start to cook it in the slow cooker. Baste the meat every hour or two with the glaze and again before broiling, for best results.
  • If you want to reduce the saltiness, try basting the ham with 7-Up.
  • For a more traditional spiciness, poke some whole cloves along the top of the ham.
  • Rub the ham with honey or brown sugar for a sweeter take.

 

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Easy Easter at HomeMake it a relaxing, easy event with the tips, suggestions and recipes included in Easy Easter at Home, Carma’s Cookery’s latest report. Take a sneak peak at the Table of Contents, then grab a copy of your own!

  1. Introduction
  2. Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
  3. Hosting Easter Without the Stress
  4. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
  5. Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
  6. It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
  7. Getting Creative with Leftovers
  8. Closing Words
  9. Recipes
  10. Crafting Ideas

Buy it now

The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.