Sam's Place

For the love of coffee

Well, I don’t have a great recipe to share with you today, but don’t worry another one will be coming soon. This one is my love for coffee.

The very first thing that I do in the morning is pour myself a fresh hot cup of coffee, I just can’t do without it, and I’m sure many of you do the same. Oh, that very first cup of coffee that gets us kick started in the morning is just great.

Black & Decker DLX1050B 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe,

My Black and Decker 12 cup Coffee Maker:

Most nights before I go to bed I program my Black and Decker12 cup coffee maker. So that first cup of liquid gold is ready and waiting.

I have had great luck with the Black and Decker coffee makers. When this one quits working I'll buy another one.

Although there are many popular brands on the market to choose from below are just a few.

Best 12 Cup Coffee Makers

Mr. Coffee BVMC-EVX23 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black

Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Coffee Maker, Programmable Brewstation Summit Dispensing Coffee

Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 12 Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black/Silver

KitchenAid KCM1204OB 12-Cup Coffee Maker with One Touch Brewing -

When I forget to program my 12 cup brewer for the morning it's not a problem. I just pop a K-cup into my Keurig one cup brewer. In about 30 seconds I have a nice hot cup of coffee.

Keurig k cup brewers are a perfect option for that quick cup of coffee any time of the day.

Keurig one Cup Brewers

Keurig K15 Single Serve Compact K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, Chili

Hamilton Beach 49970 Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer

Keurig K55 Single Serve Programmable K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, Black

Keurig K10 Mini Plus Brewing System, Black

Best K-cups Coffee for your one cup system

Coffee Variety Sampler Pack for Keurig K-Cup Brewers, 40

The Original Donut Shop Keurig Single-Serve K-Cup Pods, Regular Medium

Green Mountain Coffee Breakfast Blend, Light Roast, K-Cup Portion Pack

96 Count Variety (10 Amazing Blends), Single-serve Cups for Keurig

Now, I know that anybody that loves their coffee has a favorite coffee mug. I know that I do most days I have to have my favorite coffee mug. A coffee mug makes a great gift idea for that someone you know who just loves their coffee.

Coffee Mug Gift Ideas

Francois et Mimi Set of 6 Large-sized 16 Ounce Ceramic

Home Basic MS44647 6 Piece 11 oz Diamond Mug Set

Culver 16-Ounce Bistro Ceramic Mug, Black, Set of 4

Best funny gift - 11OZ Coffee Mug - Don't be

Do you know that there are many health benefits from drinking coffee? Studies have shown some of the benefits of drinking coffee daily are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and much more.
Click here for the health benefits of drinking coffee daily.

You can also personalize a coffee Mug for you, or as a gift.

Coffee Mugs

Sweet and Salty Chocolate Turtles

These sweet and salty chocolate turtles are a treat anytime. This year I decided to make my own homemade chocolate turtles for the holidays. The only problem was that I didn’t take any pictures to post this sweet treat, so I made them again. Some people call these cookies, and some candy, I think they’re candy.

Here is what I used: In my Homemade Chocolate Turtles Recipe

1-11oz. bag of Kraft Caramel Bits

1-11.5oz. bag Nestle Milk Chocolate Morsels

2 tablespoons of heavy cream

1 cup of pecans (cut in half)

Sea Salt (Optional)

Making Chocolate Turtles is easy and here is how:

I lined two cookie sheets with tin foil, and greased the tin foil with Pam non-stick spray, this prevents the candy from sticking.

In a microwave bowl, I mixed the caramel bits and heavy cream. By the way, these caramel bits are wonderful because they are already unwrapped and ready for any recipe.

Melt the caramels in the microwave 30 seconds at a time stirring between each interval. I have to tell you that I was so excited to use my microwave for something other than heating up my cold coffee.

When the caramel stirs easily add the pecans and mix well. Drop onto the tin foil with a tablespoon.

I melted the chocolate in the microwave using the same 30-second method as the caramels. Use a tablespoon to cover the caramel and pecan drops. I sprinkled some sea salt over the chocolate to make these sweet and salty. You don’t have to use the sea salt if you don’t want to.

Place the cookie sheets in the freezer for about 15 or 20 minutes until the candy is firm. They peel right off of the tin foil because of the non-stick spray, now refrigerate and enjoy.

This recipe yielded me about 27 of these delicious beauties; I had to give some to my daughter so I wouldn’t be in sugar overload.

You might also like my: Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Here is everything you need to make chocolate covered turtles

Kraft, Caramel Bits, 11oz Bag (Pack of 3)

Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Morsels, 11.5 Ounce Packages (Pack

SUNBEST Fancy Georgia Raw Shelled Pecans, Pecan Halves, JUMBO, Unsalted,

Morton Coarse Sea Salt, 17.60 oz

Pam Cooking Spray, 8 oz

Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil (200 Square Foot Roll)

Good Cook Set Of 3 Non-Stick Cookie Sheet

Ziploc Freezer Bag, Gallon Size-28 ct

Garlic Bread Sticks

Now that the weather is cooler I guess it's okay to fire up the oven and do some baking. I was in the mood for some of my homemade pizza so I decided to make some. The recipe for the dough that I use will yield me three 12 inch pizzas, I only made two and thought I would make some of these garlic bread sticks.

These are so easy to make as just a great snack, or if you're in the mood for garlic bread to go with that pasta you're making for dinner these garlic bread sticks will be perfect. You can find the recipe for the dough here, remember this recipe will yield three pizzas so if you only want to make the bread stick you'll want to reduce it accordingly.

Okay here is how I did this:

I greased a small 13 x 9-inch pan and spread the dough. I used one pound of dough because I wanted to make sure it wasn't thin after I spread it out. I set this aside for about 30 minutes to let the dough rise just a little more. While waiting, finely mince two cloves of garlic.

Then with my pizza cutter, I cut 1-1/2 inch pieces across the width of the pan, this yielded nine pieces. Now brush the top lightly with olive oil, add the garlic, some salt, and pepper to taste, Italian Herb Seasoning, and top off with Romano cheese.

Bake this on the middle rack in your oven at 450 degrees for 15 minutes until the top is golden brown, then cut up the middle after they come out of the oven this will give you 18 nice garlic bread sticks to enjoy.

Norpro Wood Pastry/Pizza Roller

To roll out my dough I use my Norpro Pastry roller. This is such a handy tool to have in the kitchen. I use this for all of my doughs and pastries.

Here is all that you need to make Garlic Bread Sticks:

1 pound of dough
2 cloves of garlic
Italian Seasoning
Olive oil
Romano cheese
Salt
Pepper

Make these as a snack or serve with any meal, as always I hope you enjoy Thanks for stopping by.

Good Cook Set Of 3 Non-Stick Cookie Sheet

KitchenAid KSM150PSCU Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield

Stainless Steel Garlic Press, X-Chef Premium Peeling Press Mince &

Apple Crisp

I had some apples left over from my previous post-Sam's Apple Pie. I was all set to make some more pie crust for a second pie, but my wife said: "why don't you make an apple crisp instead". I took her advice and made this simple yet delicious dessert. This apple crisp is great served warm, with whip cream or ice cream.

Here is what I used to make the crisp topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup Quaker Oats

I loaded all of this into my KitchenAid mixing bowl, set the flat beater in place, and turned it on low speed for about one minute. This mixed up very nicely until it was crumbly.

This was really enough for a 9x13 inch pie plate but I didn't have that many apples left over, so I used another 9-inch pie plate. I put the apples in the pie plate and then packed on the crisp topping, as I had more than enough.

I set the oven to 350 degrees and baked it for 45 minutes, I also set the pie plate on a cookie sheet just in case of any spills.

As Always Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Sam's Apple Pie

Every fall season I get an itch to bake an apple pie, so I decided to go ahead and bake one of my favorites. I call this one Sam's Apple Pie, actually, apple pie is great any time of the year, it just seems fitting when the apples are in season.

I started off by making the pie crust, and since I'm no expert I did this according to my KitchenAid instructions and recipes.

Here is what you need for the pie crust:

2-1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening, well chilled
2 tablespoons of butter or margarine, again well chilled
5 to 6 tablespoons of cold water

I added the flour and salt into my mixing bowl, then attached the flat beater and turned it on low for about 10 seconds.
I cut the shortening and butter into small pieces, added them to the flour, turned on low speed for about one minute until I saw the mixture starting to form little clumps.
Keeping the mixer on low speed I added the cold water one tablespoon at a time until the pie crust formed into a ball.
I cut it into two equal pieces, wrapped it and put it in the refrigerator while I prepared the apples.

My pie crust ready to be cut in half

Now that my pie crust was made it was time to get the apples ready. I used five nice sized Granny Smith apples. I peeled, cored and sliced my apples and placed them in a large bowl. I'm not that particular, I sliced the apples thin but they didn't have to be all the same size. This is enough pie crust for a bottom and top of a 9-inch pie plate.

Once the apples are in the bowl here is what you need:

2 tablespoons lemon juice
3/4 cup of white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour or cornstarch (I used flour)
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Add all of these on top of the sliced apples and mix well using a large spoon. Now that the apples are mixed place them in the refrigerator while you roll out the pie crust.


Mixed apples in the bowl

Next, I rolled out my pie crust between two pieces of wax paper and carefully lined the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Make sure you press it firmly to the bottom and sides, of the pie plate to work out any air bubbles.

Pie crust in pie plate

Next, I added 4 to 5 cups of the sliced seasoned apples into the pie plate, make sure you get the juice from the bottom of the bowl.

Now I added the top, and cut about a three-inch cross in the center, and one-inch cross at every point and one in between. This allows the steam to release.

I lightly brushed the top with milk and sprinkled sugar and cinnamon on top. Place the pie on a cookie sheet just in case there are any spills, and mine always does, so it's best to be safe.

Time for baking instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees
Cover the top of the pie with tin foil, and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes
After 15 minutes remove the tin foil, lower the oven to 375 degrees
Continue to bake for another 45-50 minutes

Just out of the oven

I could have really got away with three Granny Apples for this pie, as I had some leftover. So enjoy my Apple Crisp that I made with the leftover apples.

Well, it may not be the prettiest pie or win any contests, but it is oh so good. As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Easy All Purpose Dough

This is quick and easy dough, and if you are in the mood for pizza here is my homemade pizza recipe, or my ever to delicious pepperoni bread. But you may want to use this dough for some great snacks like garlic rolls, breadsticks, and what about that oh so famous fried dough. The kind you buy at your local county fairs, you know the one with sugar all over it.

Here is what you need:

2 packages of active dry yeast

2-1/4 cups of warm water

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar (optional) I don’t use the sugar, you may prefer to use it

3 tbsp of Crisco or oil (I sometimes use light olive oil)

5 to 6 cups of all-purpose flour

Here is all you need to do:

In a measuring cup add the yeast to the warm water. Let this stand until you see some bubbles.
In a large bowl or your KitchenAid mixing bowl add the flour, salt, and oil
Make a well in the flour and pour in the warm water and yeast.
Now start to mix, or place your dough hook and turn on your stand mixer
You want to mix until the dough is nice and smooth and not too sticky.
Cover and let the dough rise for 1 hour or more.
After the dough rises, punch it down and divide it up for whatever you are making.

I get three nice 12” or 14” pizzas from this recipe depending on the thickness of your pizza.