All posts by debdsquiltsbags.com

I am a quilter and enjoy making quilts, beach bags and fabric art. I have been doing this for 10 years. I live on the Outer Banks of NC. I get to see amazing sunrises, sunsets and ocean pictures of fish, suffers, and sail boat. At night the stars are so clear, you can see the most amazing full moon over the ocean. Please check out my site. I have item that are for sale and you can always email for a special request. debbie.defelice@yahoo.com
Cooking for Fun!

Living on the Outer Banks

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Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home

Our home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina is a small but very comfortable house. We enjoy the big yard for it has a lot of room for all kinds of fun activities. It has plenty of room for my garden and also for entertaining. My husband decide that this year we are putting in a fire pit for those after hour fun nights. We only live about 1 mile from the Atlantic Ocean. As a matter of fact if you get on the roof you can see the ocean.
Some nights when the wind blows out of the North East for a couple of days you can hear the roar of the ocean as the waves break onto the beach. There are nights when I can not sleep so I decide to work on the computer. Around three am in the morning you can hear the fishing boats getting ready to make their trip out into the ocean. It is so quiet at that time in the morning that you can hear the roar of the engines form the fishing vessels making there way out into the Atlantic for the day. For some folks here that is a way of life for them. If you go down to the docks when they return for their day of fishing you can buy fish from them. I love it! Fresh fish for tacos, not to mention tuna for the grill. Yummy!! I should also say that they have fresh local produce that is always for sale along side the roads on your way here to the Outer Banks. I always get at least 3 dozens ears of corn to prepare for the winter months here. It really freezes great. I enjoy my garden and every year I try to plant something new. I really enjoy living here on the Outer Banks.

Soups on!

Golden Delicious Squash Bisque

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Gold Delicious Squash Bisque
Gold Delicious Squash Bisque

My neighbor gave me some summer squash, so I found this recipe and it was delicious.

Prep: 20 minutes that’s all!!

1 tsp. olive oil or your choice
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups cooked winter squash, mashed or you can use 1 12oz. package frozen pureed
1/2 cup chicken broth
3/4 tsp. curry powder
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (fat-free) Your choice!
1/2 tsp. fresh thyme
black pepper and whole grain crackers (optional)

1. In a medium saucepan heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook until tender. Stir in squash, broth, and curry powder. Bring to a boiling; reduce heat. simmer for about 2 minutes. Whisk in yogurt and thyme; heat through.
2. I use warm bowls to put my bisque in. Add pepper to taste. Enjoy!!

Main Dishes

Black Bean Beef Enchilada Casserole

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Beef Bean Enchilada
Beef Bean Enchilada

Some like it hot and this dish is!
What a great dish to make for very hungry people! This is a party favorite and pleaser for the family dinner!

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 45 min.
Servings: 8 or more

2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/8 tsp. red pepper
2 15-oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-oz. can of Fire Roasted Corn, drained
1 14-oz. can chopped green chilies, drained
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
9 6-inch corn or flour tortillas ( I have tried both)
2 1/2 cups of Mexican cheese blend
1 10oz. can enchilada sauce or you can make your own.
Sour Cream to put the fire out.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a rectangular baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the beef. onions and garlic; cook until no longer pink. Add the cumin, salt, coriander, and red pepper. Cook another 5 minutes; then add the beans, corn, chilies, and 2 tbsp. of cilantro.
3. Place 3 tortillas in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the beef bean mixture, 3/4 cup of cheese, and half of the enchilada sauces. Repeat layers once; top with remaining 3 tortillas. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of cheese.
4. Bake in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes.
5. Garnish with sour cream and the rest of the cilantro.

If your family is still hungry, make a fresh salad or add guacamole with a lime wedge. Enjoy!!

Side Dishes

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

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Cheesy Green Beans
Cheesy Green Beans

Prep: 10 min.
Total Time: 30 min.
Servings: 8

2 Tsp. melted butter
2 Tsp. flour
1 Tsp. salt
1/4 Tsp. pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup sour cream
2 ( 14.5 oz..) cans French style green beans, drained
1/2 lb. swiss cheese, grated (I get a block of swiss cheese and grate
it myself)
1 can of French onions, for the topping

1. Sauté the onion in butter
2. Add flour, salt and pepper
3. Mix in sour cream, beans and cheese
4. Pour into a 9×13 baking dish
5. Top with the French Onions
6. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes

This is a great recipe for a holiday dinner, Enjoy!!

Side Dishes

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

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My cranberries!
My cranberries!

Prep: 5 min. Cook: 15 min.
1 package (12oz) of fresh cranberries
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange Juice
1/4 Tsp. cinnamon
1/8 Tsp. salt
1. Combine sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, salt and cranberries in a medium sauce pan.
2 Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes. Enjoy!!

Do you know that you can freeze fresh cranberries for up to 6 months. You don’t have to anything special to them, just take the bag and put them in the freeze. When you are ready, wash them good, and cook them accordingly to this recipe.

Making cranberries
Making cranberries
Side Dishes

Deb’s Favor Holiday Stuffing

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Deb's stuffing
Deb’s stuffing

Prep: 30 min. Servings: 12
Bake: 350 Total baking: 30 to 40 min.

1 lb. of a good spice (mild) sausage, cooked and browned
1 box of stove top stiffing mix for turkey
1 box of chicken stock
1/2 cup of butter
bread crumbs
1 large onion
1 1/2 cups of celery
1/2 cup slice mushroom (Optional)
2 apples, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 to 1 Tbsp. of poultry seasoning
parsley to taste
salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large sauce pan cook the sausage. When it is almost done I add the onions, celery, mushroom, and seasoning.
2. When that is tender, I add that to a 9×5 baking dish. Add the apples, apricots, and the stove top stuffing along with the cup of butter. Mix this altogether.

Cooking stuffing!
Cooking stuffing!

3. Pour in the chicken both to the top of the dish and carefully place this in the oven.
4. Cook this for about 30 to 40 minutes. You can add more chicken broth to keep the stuffing moist.

Deb's stuffing
Deb’s stuffing

This was so moist and tasty that we did not have any leftovers! Enjoy!!

Desserts

Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Cheesecake

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Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Cheesecake
Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Cheesecake

Prep: 30 min. Serves 10 to 12
Bake: 1 hour 20 min.

To make the crust, you will need-
5 oz. chocolate wafer cookies
2 Tbs. sugar
5 Tbs. melted butter.

For the filling:
1 lb. cream cheese, room temp.
1 cup. sugar
1 cup canned pure pumpkin
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups heavy cream plus 1/3 of a cup
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, copped up

To make the crust:
Position the rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 350F.
In a food processor, pulse the cookies and sugar until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until evenly moistened. Using your fingers, press the crumb mixture into the base and partway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. A flat bottom glass will help pushing down the crumbs and on the side of the pan.

Crust up the sides!
Crust up the sides!

Bake this for about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack. Position the oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and leave the oven on. When the pan is cooled off, wrap the bottom and sides with aluminum foil and set it in a large baking pan.(You are going to put it a bath!)

Give it a bath!
Give it a bath!

For the filling:

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add sugar and beat until combined. Mix in the pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla until smooth. Mix in the eggs and cream just until well combined. Put that aside.
Heat the remaining 1/3 cup cream in a small saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil; remove from the heat. Add the chocolate and let stir together until melted. About 2 minutes.
pour the remaining pumpkin batter into the prepared crust. Using a spoon I dripped in the chocolate batter over the pumpkin batter. For the swirl look use a knife and swirl it around until you get the design you like.
Pour about 1 inch of boiling water into the baking pan. Bake until only the center of the cake jiggles, 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Remove from the water bath and foil and run a thin sharp knife around the cake. Cool completely on a rack. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for up to 8 (least) to 24 hours.
This is very good with a drop of whipped cream. ENJOY!!

My chocolate pumpkin cheesecake

My chocolate pumpkin cheesecake!

Side Dishes

Sweet Potato Fluff

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Sweet Potato Fluff
Sweet Potato Fluff

I got this recipe from my friend Becky Defelice! She is a real southern girl who has been here all her live. I have learned a lot from her about southern cooking. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family has.

Prep: 15 min      Servings: 8
Bake: 30 minutes

3 to 4 cups of mashed sweet potatoes ( bake 5 to 6 sweet potatoes )
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 stick butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cups milk
Topping
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl mash the sweet potatoes. Slowly add the sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla, cinnamon and milk.
3. Place sweet potato mix in a 13-x-9-2-inch baking dish.
4. In a small bowl prepare the topping. You will want to use your hands to mix together the brown sugar, flour and pecans. Spread on the topping of the sweet potato mixture evenly.
5. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the topping is slightly brown. Enjoy!!

Desserts

Southern Chocolate-Pecan Pie

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Desserts
Southern Chocolate-Pecan Pie

This is really good. One thing you should know, it was very sweet to me, so I cut back on the Syrup and sugar. The next I made it, it was perfect! I cut the syrup to less than 2/3 and the sugar less than 1/2. But that’s me!

Prep: 20 min.
Bake: 1 hour 20 min.
Serves: 6 to 10

2/3 cup The Original Alaga Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1 dash salt
1/4 cup butter
1 (6-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips
1 (9inch) deep-dish unbaked pie shell
1 cup pecan halves
4 large eggs
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1.Preheat oven to 325 degree.
2.In a small saucepan, combine syrup, sugar, and salt. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar is melted. Remove from heat. Add butter, stirring until melted. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Sprinkle chocolate chips in bottom of unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle pecans over chocolate chips. Set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, flour, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add syrup mixture in a slow, steady stream, beating constantly. Pour syrup mixture evenly into prepared pie shell.
5.Bake until filling is set, approximately 1 hour 20 min. Center of pie will puff slightly when pie is in oven but will settle when cool. Cool completely on a wire rack. Enjoy!!

Side Dishes

Thin Spaghetti Pasta Salad

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Fried Rice w/Pineapple Currie
Thin Spaghetti Pasta Salad

This is one of those recipes that you can make a lot of or not. Just cut this recipe in half if only, you have a few guest.

Pep: 20 min. + Chilling
Makes: 10 Servings
12 oz. of thin spaghetti (uncooked)
1 bottle of creamy Italian salad dressing
1 green and red pepper, chopped
6 green onions, chopped
1 tsp. dill seed
1 tsp. caraway seeds
1 tsp. poppy seeds

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain:; transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients; toss to coat. Refrigerate until cold.
You are really going to be surprise at the great favor this has, Enjoy!!