Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Hot Spiced Cider


This recipe is brought to you byThe Birch Tree Inn Flagstaff, AZ

  • 48 ounces apple cider
  • 16 ounces cranberry juice
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tsp ginger root
  • 1 tsp orange peel
  • 1/2 tsp cloves
  • 1/2 tsp allspice

Pour juices into saucepan, place spices in a tea ball or in a coffee filter tied with string. This may also be placed in a percolator type coffee pot. Heat until very hot, not boiling, or perk until pot is finished.

http://www.lanierbb

Picture found at: http://mud.mm-a4.yimg.com/image/1057722376

SQUASH & APPLE SOUP


  • 10 cups chicken stock
  • 1 large butternut squash, peeled, cubed and de-seeded.
  • 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cubed
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of pepper
  • 1 tablespoon raw sugar
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 14 ounces of goat milk

Put all in a pot and bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until soft. Mash all to a fine pulp. When reheating, add milk.

© 2004-2006 Lancaster Newspapers

Eggs South of the Border


  • Chili Hollandaise
  • 1 pound Chorizo sausage
  • 6 eggs
  • Cilantro sprigs
  • Grated cheese

Chili Hollandaise:

In blender combine:

  • 2 teaspoons ground chili powder,
  • 1 tablespoon hot water,
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin,
  • 2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • and 1 egg yolk.

Blend until smooth. With blender on high, pour in 1/2 cup of hot butter in a thin and steady stream.

Keep tortilla basket warm in a 150 degree oven.

Crumble Chorizo into a frying pan. Cook until brown. Drain and keep warm. Scramble eggs. Place each basket on a plate. Spoon in sausage, eggs, and Hollandaise. Garnish with Cilantro and cheese.

Buen Provecho!

Recipe is adapted from restaurants in Tijuana. Buena Vista Bed & Breakfast La Jolla (San Diego area), California

Monday, August 21, 2006

Entree - Vegetarian Red Beans & Dirty Rice


Ingredients:
  • 2 cup brown rice
  • 1 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup carrots, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, minced
  • 1 Tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 Tbsp ground coriander
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 3 3/4 cup vegetable stock
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 cup red beans, cooked
  • 1 1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt3 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped


Directions:

Place medium-sized pot over medium heat, add rice, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, jalapeno, cumin, coriander and chili powder. Heat for 3 to 5 mins, stirring almost constantly, until lightly browned.


In another pot, bring the stock and bay leaf to a boil and add to the rice mixture, cover the pan, lower the heat and simmer for 15 mins. Add the beans, tomatoes, corn, and salt, stir, cover, and simmer for 15 more minutes or until the liquid is absorbed, remove from the heat and add parsley and cilantro.

Makes 8 cups.

Recipe4Living.com

Dessert - Pecan Pie


Ingredients:
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar1 cup light corn syrup
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan, melt butter. Mix in sugar and corn syrup. Cook, stirring over medium heat, until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the eggs, whisking quickly to incorporate. Stir in pecans. Pour into pie shell and bake for 1 hour or until firm when shaken. Pecans will rise to the top.

Recipe4Living.com

Vegetables - Fresh Carrot Salad


Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 lbs. carrots, unpeeled, scrubbed, and sliced
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 3 Tbsp low fat chicken broth
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 3 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
  • 3 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley


Directions

Steam the carrots just until tender but not mushy. Drain and let dry for a few minutes. Too much water in the carrots will ruin the effect of the dressing.

Whisk together all the remaining ingredients to make the dressing and toss with the carrot slices while they are still warm.

Serves 6

Recipe4Living.com

Friday, August 18, 2006

Dessert - Lemon Bars


Ingredients:

Crust

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup butter or margarine, melted
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Filling

  • 4 eggs, well beaten
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice (1 lemon)
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the crust ingredients in a bowl. Press into greased 9x13 pan. Make sure the edges are higher than the center to contain the filling. Bake crust for 20 minutes or until it begins to brown.

Combine, eggs, sugar and lemon juice and mix well. Stir in flour and baking powder. Pour into baked crust and bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Bars are done when they are firm to the touch. Cut into small squares and dust with powdered sugar. These bars are extremely rich, so cut into small pieces.

Recipe4Living.com

Seafood - Seafood Jambalaya


Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp olive oi
  • l1 lb. chorizo sausage, cut into thin slices
  • 1 large bell pepper, any color, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 ribs celery, diced
  • 1 small head garlic, cloves peeled and minced
  • Creole seasoning to taste
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 large tomatoes, cored, peeled, seeded, and chopped
  • 1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled
  • 1/2 lb. fish fillets, diced (trout, catfish, redfish, bass, or bluefish)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 cups long-grain rice, rinsed
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 pint shucked oysters, with their liquor
  • 2 bunches scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 tsp red Tabasco sauce, or to taste


Directions

Combine oil and sausage in a heavy-gauge pot or large wok over high heat, and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the pepper, onion, celery, and garlic, and season with Creole seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Sauté, still over high heat, for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables have browned and caramelized.

Add the tomatoes, shrimp, fish, and bay leaf, and stir. Add the rice, stir gently, and add the water. Gently move a spoon across the bottom of the pot, making sure that the rice is not sticking. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid. Turn off the heat; fold in the oysters and scallions, cover, and let sit for about 10 minutes. The jambalaya will continue cooking from residual heat.

Recipe4Living.com

Beef - Seasoned Pot Roast


  • 3/4 lb tri-tip roast
  • Lawry's Seasoned Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Flour
  • Thyme
  • 2 Tbsp Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup wine
  • 1 small onion, cut up
  • 3 cloves of garlic put thru garlic press

Directions:


Put roast, fat side down, in Dutch oven over low heat. After you have 2 tbsp of fat in the pan, brown the meat on all sides. Sprinkle with Lawry's Seasoned Salt and black pepper.


Remove meat from pan and dredge in flour. Return to pan and add Worcestershire Sauce, soy sauce, wine, onion, and garlic. Add a little water if necessary. Sprinkle a little more pepper and some thyme on roast. Cook in 300 degree oven until tender. Add more water during cooking if gravy becomes too thick. Meat is cooked when it easily falls off when pierced.

Recipe4Living.com

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Crackers - Rosemary Cheddar Crisps


  • 1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 Tbsps finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme
  • Rosemary stems to use as presentational skewers, if desired


Directions: In a food processor, combine all the ingredients except the rosemary and process until smooth. Stir in the rosemary. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. Divide the dough in half and roll out each half into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Using a cookie cutter with a hole in the middle, cut crisps and transfer to an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 1 inch between crisps. Scraps can be gathered together and rerolled, but if the dough begins to soften too much, chill it again until it is firm enough to handle easily. Cover baking sheet with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on a rack. String several crisps on a rosemary skewer to serve. Makes about 2 1/2 to 3 dozen crisps. Store in airtight containers.

Recipe4Living.com

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Salad - Cobb Salad


  • Ingredients:
    1/2 lb. bacon, diced
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 head Boston lettuce, washed and torn into small pieces
  • 1/2 head romaine, washed and torn into small pieces
  • 1/2 lb. chicken or turkey breast chopped or sliced
  • 2 large fresh tomatoes, diced
  • 2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
  • 4 scallions cut julienne style
  • 4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Vinaigrette dressing


Directions:

In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until golden and crispy and the fat is rendered, about 3 - 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels, and reserve.

Half the avocado, remove the seed, and scoop the halves out of the skin with a large spoon. Dice the avocado, and in a small bowl, gently toss with lemon juice.

Toss the lettuces together and place in large glass or wooden salad bowl. Toss with vinaigrette. If you're serving a group, you may want to serve this "buffet style" and let everyone assemble their own salad. If not, place piles of each topping in a circle atop the lettuce. It will be beautiful when you get it to the table but expect a mess when everyone digs in. Don't worry, it will taste great.

Recipe4Living.com

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Sauce - Dill Lemon Pesto


Gourmet Magazine 1995

Ingredients:
  • 3 slices homemade-type bread; torn into small pieces
  • 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp. water
  • 3/4 cup packed fresh dill leaves
  • 3/4 cup packed fresh flat-leaved parsley leaves; washed-dried
  • 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp. freshly grated lemon zest
  • 1/8 tsp. sugar
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

In a bowl soak the bread in the lemon juice and water for10 minutes and squeeze out excess liquid. In a food processor blend together the bread and the remaining ingredients with salt and pepper to taste until smooth.

Makes about 3/4 cup. The pesto will keep, with surface covered with plastic wrap, chilled, 1 week.

Serve with fish or chicken.

Other - Vinaigrette Salad Dressing


Ingredients:
  • 2 tbsp. herbal vinegar
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. dry mustard

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process tillcombined. Use at room temperature and refrigeratethe remainder.

Vegetables - Zucchini Herb Pate


Country Woman Magazine

Ingredients:
  • 4 medium zucchini, about 1 lb.
  • 2 teaspoons tarragon vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley sprigs, packed
  • 1/2 cup fresh chives, snipped
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper crackers

Line a mixing bowl with a double thickness of cheesecloth. Coarsely shred zucchini into prepared bowl. Sprinkle with vinegar, sugar and 1 tsp. salt. Toss gently; cover with a towel and set aside for 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a food processor with the chopping blade, mince parsley and chives. Gather ends of cheesecloth, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. Add drained zucchini to food processor and process until pureed. Add cream cheese, pepper and remaining salt; process until smooth. Press pate into a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve with crackers. 1-1/2 cups

Editor's Notes: I cut the salt back by half and use light cream cheese. I also use herb vinegar with varied herbs, not the tarragon vinegar.

Vegetables - Herb Roasted Tomatoes


Ingredients:
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
  • 2 large ripe tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • Salt and freshly black pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Coat a 9x13 inch baking pan with half of the olive oil. Arrange the halved tomatoes, cut side up, in the oiled pan. Sprinkle with garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Drizzle with the remaining oil. Bake for1 hour, until very softened. These can be blended for a sauce, or topped with Parmesan cheese and served as is. T hey are also great as a topping for toasted French or Italian bread.

Other - Cherry Tomato Relish


From Bon Appetit June 2000

Ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/8 cup drained canned diced mild green chilies
  • 4 green onions, finely chopped
  • 4 cups halved cherry tomatoes

Whisk vinegar and oregano in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in oil. Mix in green chilies and green onions. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover; chill.) Add tomatoes; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Soups - Turkey Stock

Place in a large stockpot:
  • 1 Turkey or Chicken carcass

The spices (Bouquet Garni) are added next either in a cheesecloth sachet or loose. They are:

  • 2 TBSPS. Dry Parsley
  • 2 TBSPS. Dry Thyme
  • 1 TBSP. Peppercorn (Whole or Ground)
  • 2 Bay Leaves

Then add the veg matter (Mirepoix) to the pot:

  • 2 rough chopped carrots (without the ends since it will sour the flavor)
  • 2 rough chopped onions (skins too, lots of flavor)
  • 2 rough chopped stalks of celery (no ends or leaves)
  • 1 large or 2 small rough chopped Leak (cut off the root end, cut it the long way first and rinse out the mud before cutting it up)

Fill the pot with COLD water to the point that the ingredients are just covered and put in on to boil. The cold water will allow the protein to leach out of the leaks. After it boils, turn the heat down to a simmer with a loose lid on the pot and leave it on the stove for 24 hours. Skim off the fat as needed. Drain it though a sieve and measure it. You should add enough water to make the yield an even gallon's worth. It can be used right away or frozen for later meals for up to a year.

Hint: To get all of the fat out skim it on the stove until you can't get anymore out and then drag an undyed paper towel across the surface of the stock and it will soak up the rest orrefrigerate the pot and the last of the fat will solidify on the top. Just poke a hole and drain off the stock.

Other - Basil Olive Oil


Ingredients:
  • 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1 cup olive oil, good quality-any type

Blanch the basil leaves for 2 minutes in boiling water. Remove and squeeze the leaves dry in a clean towel. Place the leaves and 1/2 of the olive oil in a blender. Process until smooth. Slowly add the remainder of the oil. Pour into a glass jar and steep in the refrigerator for a day for the flavors to blend. You can use this as you would pesto or other herb oil.

Dessert - 'Moon Cakes'

This recipe for Mooncakes comes from Shanghai. Originally made in moon cakemolds with imprints such as chrysanthemum pattern or other traditional Chinese characters. They should be about three inches (seven centimeters) in diameter. Before baking - invent and draw your own "traditional patterns"!
  • 4 cups flour
  • 4 tbsp. brown sugar
  • half tsp. salt
  • 4oz (11Og) margarine
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. sesame oil

For the filling:

  • 2 tbsp. peanuts
  • 2 tbsp. sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp. walnuts or pine nuts
  • 2 tbsp. chestnuts, boiled until tender, or blanched almonds
  • 2 tbsp. sultanas or other dried fruit, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. chopped dried apricots
  • 4 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp. Margarine
  • 2 tbsp. rice flour or poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 400F or 200C - Recipe makes about 15 cakes.

Sift the flout, sugar and salt together.

Chop the margarine into pieces and rub into the flour until crumbs form.

Add enough hot water (about half a cup) to make a pastry dough.

Cover with a cloth.

Roast the peanuts in a hot pan for two minutes.

Add the sesame seeds, then put a lid on to stop them from jumping out of the pan. Roast for a further two minutes.

Put the peanuts and seeds in a food processor or blender and grind with the other nuts.

Add to the rest of the filling ingredients and mix together.

Roll out the pastry on a floured board.

Cut rounds with a pastry cutter to fill the mold - if you have one - or make little pie cases.

Rub the mold with margarine and spread pastry over the bottom and sides of the mold.

Put in a tablespoon of filling. Press down gently.

Wet the edges of the pastry and cover with another round to make a lid.

Seal together, and remove from the mold if you are using one.

Put all the cakes on a greased baking sheet.

Beat the eggs and sesame oil together and brush each cake with this mixture.

Bake about thirty minutes until the cakes are golden brown

Dessert - Lavender Faerie Cookies


  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon Finely chopped lavender flowers
  • 1-1/2 cup Flour
  • 2 teaspoon Baking powder

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla; stir in the dry ingredients until well blended. Drop by half-teaspoons on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes, and cool slightly on baking sheet before transferring to plates.

From "Where the Wild Thyme Grows" article in "The Herb Companion."April/May 1993, Vol. 5, No. 4. Pg. 57.

Beverage - May Day Mead



  • 4 quarts water
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/8 cups (about) granulated sugar
  • 2 lemons, washed and sliced thinly
  • 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon raisins

Heat the water to boiling and stir in the brown and granulated sugars.

Add lemon slices. Cool to lukewarm and transfer liquid to anon-metallic container. Add the yeast and stir (but don't add the yeast until thel iquid has cooled enough, or it won't work. To test, place a few drops on your wrist. If it's not warm or cold, it's just right.

Let this water-sugar-lemon-yeast mixture stand overnight or at least 8 to 10 hours in a warm place. There should be tiny bubbles around the edge of the liquid after this length of time.

Sterilize 8 pints, 4 quart bottles or a gallon jug, and place 1 or 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar per quart of liquid into each container, as well as 3 or 4 raisins. Strain liquid through cheesecloth and pour into containers.

Cork tightly (if you happen to NOT have corks, use a balloon). Let stand at room temperature until the raisins have risen to the top of the bottle. In winter, this may take 2 days or more; in warm weather, only 8 hours.

Chill and store in the refrigerator or a cool place. Makes 1 gallon.

This is only slightly alcoholic, since the brewing time is so short, therefore your alcohol content is very low.

Dessert - Pine Bark


Pine Bark

35 saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
5 (4 oz.) milk chocolate bars, broken into pieces

Heat oven to 400°.
Line a 15x10 jelly roll pan with foil.
Lightly spray foil with a non-stick cooking spray.
Place saltine crackers, salty side up, in prepared pan.
In a saucepan, boil butter and sugar for 2 to3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract.
Pour mixture over crackers and bake for 4 to 6 minutes.
Remove from oven, top with candy bars and spread evenly as chocolate begins to melt.
Cool slightly and transfer onto waxed paper.
Allow to cool completely.

Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen
Paula's Home Cooking Showhttp://www.foodnetwork.com/