Mellen Weekly Record & XL Publishing

10/31/2021

Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

FOR THE APPLES
3/4 c. lightly packed brown sugar
1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Pinch kosher salt
2 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/2" thick

FOR THE CAKE
Cooking spray
1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. lightly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3/4 c. Milk

Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 9” round cake pan with cooking spray. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt brown sugar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Cook until slightly thickened, 2 minutes. Pour caramel sauce into prepared pan and layer apples on top. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. In another large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat together butter and sugars until softened. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla. Add half the dry ingredients to wet ingredients, beating until just combined. Pour in milk and mix until fully incorporated. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Pour batter over apples and bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 1 hour. Let cool in pan 15 minutes then invert on to a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing. Makes 8 servings.

10/30/2021

Homemade gifts are great to give and receive especially when it is something to eat. This ginger bread pear loaf recipe is all decked out for the occasion. It would also taste great with homemade eggnog... Recipe to follow next week.

Gingerbread Pear Loaf

Cooking spray
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 c. molasses
1/2 c. buttermilk
6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter,
at room temperature
1/3 c. packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 firm but ripe Bartlett pear, peeled and chopped

Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease an 8- by 4-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Whisk together flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, cloves, and salt in a bowl. Combine molasses and buttermilk in a separate bowl. Beat butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to medium and beat in eggs and vanilla. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture and molasses mixture alternately, starting and ending with the flour mixture, just until incorporated. Fold in pear and transfer to prepared pan. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes 12 servings.

07/31/2021

Here's the White Barbecue Sauce that Michelle Johnson Said: was the best she's ever tasted.
White Barbecue Sauce

1 ½ cups mayonnaise
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon coarse ground pepper
1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons horseradish

Stir together mayonnaise, vinegar, minced garlic, pepper, mustard, sugar, salt, and horseradish until blended. Cover and chill 2 to 4 hours. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week. Makes 1 3/4 cups.

07/31/2021

Here is that awesome recipe Jeanne Houle said: was really good and easy to make.
Feeling a little heavy after the 4th. Well you can have your pie and eat it too. Here’s a light and easy key lime pie thats YUMM-O-LISH!!! It’s a no-bake, so the kitchen stays cool. Plus it's low in fat, sugar and fuss. Enjoy!!!

Fluffy Key Lime Pie

1/4 cup boiling water
1 package (0.3 oz) sugar-free lime gelatin
2 cartons (6 oz each) Key lime yogurt
1 carton (8 oz) frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
1 reduced-fat graham cracker crust (9 inches)

In a large bowl, add boiling water to gelatin; stir 2 minutes to completely dissolve. Whisk in yogurt. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into crust. Refrigerate, covered, until set, about 2 hours. Makes 8 servings.

06/17/2021

Here's that recipe I promised you. Sorry, it took so long. You really want to make these
Chocolate chip cookies and cheesecake all in one bite. What more could we want??? Plus this recipe is great for a party. It makes two dozen.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans

FILLING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture until blended. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans. Set aside a third of the dough for topping. Press remaining dough into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Spoon over crust. Drop teaspoonfuls of reserved dough overfilling. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Cover and store in the refrigerator. DELISH!!!

05/28/2021

Memorial Day Schedule

Mellen Copper Falls VFW Post 2273 will participate in the following Memorial Day activities on Monday, May 31st.

8:00 a.m. Members of Post 2273 will assemble
at the City Garage
8:30 a.m. Veterans Memorial
8:45 a.m. Bad River Bridge
9:00 a.m. Mellen Cemetery
9:45 a.m. Highbridge Cemetery
10:30 a.m. Marengo Cemetery
11:15 a.m. St. John's Cemetery, Cozy Valley
12:00 p.m. Cayuga Cemetery
12:30 p.m. Possibly Mellen Manor Nursing Home

John Itvin, Ashland County Veterans Service Officer, will be the guest speaker.

Poppy Day will be Friday, May 28th 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

05/20/2021

What!!! Chocolate chip cookies and rich caramel!!! So these are a must fix for mom on Morther’s Day. They’re relatively easy to make and a fun way to make memories with the kids. You will just have to make sure the kids leave some for mom. YUMM-O-LISH!!!

Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

For Bars:
1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300g) brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 1/4 cups (282g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels

For Caramel Sauce:
5 ounces evaporated milk
1package (11 ounces) caramel bits or wrapped caramels (be sure to unwrap if using the wrapped caramels)

Heat oven to 350°. Add butter, brown sugar, and vanilla to a large bowl and with a hand-held mixer, cream ingredients until they are lighter and fluffier. Add in eggs, mixing well after. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix on low until combined. add chocolate morsels right into the cookie dough and mix with a hand held mixer, or stir them in by hand. In a prepared 8x12 or 9x13 baking dish, press half of the cookie dough down. Try to get an even layer. Set the remaining cookie dough aside. Bake for 10 minutes. While the cookie bars are baking, prepare the caramel sauce. In a saucepan over medium heat, add the evaporated milk and caramel bits. Stir frequently for about 8 minutes, or until the caramels are melted and the evaporated milk is fully incorporated. Remove from heat. Carefully remove the cookie bars from the oven and place on a heat-safe surface. Pour the caramel sauce over the bars making sure to get it into every nook and cranny. Carefully start placing flattened dollops of the remaining cookie dough over the hot caramel. It works best to pick up a small handful, flatten it in your hand a bit, and then place that directly on top of the caramel. Do this with all remaining cookie dough. It is ok if there is some caramel showing. Bake for an additional 15-18 minutes, or until the caramel is bubbling and the cookie is golden brown. Allow bars to cool to room temperature and then cut and serve. Makes 12 bars. Cooks Notes: You can enjoy these hot, right out of the oven, with ice cream. Here’s how: Using a spoon, remove a portion from the pan (they will be ooey gooey and falling apart, this is a good thing) and place into a bowl. Top with ice cream, more caramel if you want, and serve.

05/20/2021

Try this loaded salad along side your grilled favorites. It’s light, fresh and perfect for a summer side dish. It’s LOW CARB!!! And loaded with bacon and cheese.

Loaded Cauliflower Salad

1 head cauliflower
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup sliced radishes
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 green onions, sliced
4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
DRESSING
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons sweet relish
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 425°. Cut the florets off of the thicker center stalk of the cauliflower. Chop the florets into bite sized pieces and transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Using your hands, toss the cauliflower with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake 15-20 minutes or until tender crisp. Set aside to cool completely. In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, sweet relish, Dijon, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled cauliflower, radishes, celery, cheese, green onions and bacon. Pour the dressing over the cauliflower mixture and toss to combine. Allow to chill for 2 hours before serving.

04/05/2020

02/25/2020

3 cups sugar 1 cup butter 6 eggs, separated 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 cup sour cream 3 cups ...

03/24/2019

Rocky Road, Snickerdoodle, M & M, and Orange Dream are this week's flavors