Brandied Cherries

Ingredients:


1 pound fresh cherries
1 cup brandy
3/4 granulated sugar
3/4 cognac
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preparation

Rinse the cherries in cold water.
Pit cherries.
Place in a heatproof jar and cover with brandy (filling roughly 2/3 of the jar so there's room for more liquid). Cover the jar, but do not seal it.
Leave out for several hours, preferably overnight.

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat bring the sugar, cognac, and lemon juice to a simmer for ten minutes. Pour the brandy from the cherry jar into the saucepan and stir in. Once blended, pour all the liquid over the cherries in the jar(s) and seal.

Allow to stand for one month before use.

Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

1 C quinoa
2 C water or low-sodium vegetable broth
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
3 large celery stalks, peeled and diced
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced
3 scallions, sliced
3 T minced parsley
1/2 cup rice vinegar
2 T water
1 T vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine

Directions:
1. Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve under running water for 1 minute.
2. Bring the water or broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Slowly add the quinoa and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Refrigerate until cool.
3. Meanwhile, prepare all the vegetables and place them in a salad bowl.
4. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and set aside.
5. Add quinoa to the vegetables. Add the dressing and toss well.
6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2-3 hours.

Pasta Provencal Salad

Ingredients

Salad base

• 1 lb. pasta cooked
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 shallot, chopped

Dressing

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup mayo
• 2 Tbsp. whit wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. dill weed

Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup EVOO
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1Tbps. Dijon Mustard
• salt/pepper

Garnish

•  snow peas and paresely

Prep:

Marinate salad base in vinaigrette for an hour

add dressing, garnish and chill

Low Fat Cornbread

Ingredients

• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 Tablespoons honey

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, soda and salt. Stir in yogurt, honey and eggs. Do not over mix, stir only until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until center of the bread springs back when gently pressed.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/excellent-and-healthy-cornbread/Detail.aspx

Baked Salmon with Tangerine Ginger Relish

Ingredients

• 1 lb. center-cut king salmon
• 2 tangerines
• 1/2 Tbp. tangerine juice
• 3/4 tsp. grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 cup scallion (~1 green onion)
• 1 tsp. EVOO

Relish (Start before salmon prep)

• remove rind and section tangerine
• let drain in strainer for 15 minutes
• wisk 1/2 Tbs. tangerine juice, lemon juice, EVOO, ginger, scallion and diced tangerine

Salmon Prep

• Cut salmon into 1 inch sections (2 sections)
• Make 4-5 cuts through the skin of each piece 
• Pat salmon dry
• Preheat oven and baking sheet to 500F degrees

• brush both sides of salmon with EVOO, salt and pepper
• lower heat to 275F
• place salmon on heated baking sheet and return to oven for 9-13 minutes 
• check temp at 10 min - should be 125F

Serve Relish over Salmon 

Tilapia Fish Fajitas

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 Pounds - tilapia fillets
• 1/8 Teaspoon - garlic powder 
• 1/8 Teaspoon - chili powder
• 1/8 Teaspoon - fresh ground black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon - lime juice
• 1/4 Teaspoon - Crushed Red hot pepper
• 2 Teaspoons - worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tablespoons - vegetable oil
• 1 - onion (Thinly sliced)
• 1 - green bell pepper (Thinly Sliced)
• 1 - red bell pepper (Thinly Sliced)
• salt to Taste

Prep:

• Combine garlic powder, chili powder, pepper, lime juice, crushed red pepper and Worchestershire sauce in a baggie with the tilapia. Marinate fillets 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Heat oil in large frying pan on medium heat.
• Saute onions, for 5 minutes, add peppers and cook until just hot; season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place peppers and onions on a serving dish.
• Keep hot.
• Remove tilapia fillets from marinade and cook in frying pan on medium heat until fish flakes easily with fork.

Place finished fish on serving dish over peppers and onions.

Seafood and Turkey-Sausage Gumbo

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour

• 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 chopped yellow onion
• 1/2 chopped sweet red onion
• 2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 bay leaf
• 6 low-fat Italian turkey sausages (about 20 ounces), casings removed
• 8 medium peeled, diced hot house tomatoes (3.5 lbs)
• 2 cup canned low-salt chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 3 teaspoons Creole seasoning

• 16 uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
• 1 6-ounce cod fillet, cut into 4 pieces
• 1 6-ounce talapia fillet, cut into 4 pieces

Preperation:

Sprinkle flour over bottom of heavy large pot. 

Stir flour constantly over medium-low heat until flour turns golden brown (do not allow to burn), about 15 minutes. 

Pour browned flour into bowl. 

Heat oil in same pot over medium heat. 

Add onion and bell pepper and sauté until tender, about 7 minutes. 

Add garlic, thyme and bay leaf; stir 1 minute. 

Add sausages and sauté until brown, breaking up with back of spoon, about 5 minutes, then add browned flour. 

Add tomatoes with juices, broth and Creole seasoning. 

 Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes to blend flavors, stirring frequently.

Add shrimp and catfish to pot and simmer just until seafood is opaque in center, about 5 minutes. 

Discard bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Honey Soy Cilantro Salmon

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves
• 2 scallions
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 center cut skin-on wild salmon fillets, about 6 ounces each
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon black sesame seeds
• 1 1/3 cups cooked edamame
• Lime wedges, optional garnish

Preheat the grill over medium-high direct heat. Oil the grill grates. Finely chop the cilantro and scallion and mix in the oil and ginger. Season with salt and pepper. 

Cut two 3-inch long slits through the skin lengthwise on the bottom of the salmon fillets, going about halfway into the salmon. Evenly stuff the slits with the herb mixture. Season the fish with salt and pepper.


Stir together the lime juice, soy and honey until smooth. Place the salmon, skin side up, on the grill and cook until well marked, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the salmon and continue to cook, brushing the tops with the sauce, until the fish is cooked through, about another 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle the tops with the sesame seeds. Serve with edamame and lime wedges.

Broiler directions: Position an oven rack so that a baking sheet set on the rack is about 4-inches below the heat source. Preheat the broiler. Prepare the salmon as above and place the fillets, skin down, on a foil lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Broil, basting 3 to 4 times with the sauce, until just cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Moroccan-Style Vegetable Stew with Harissa Yogurt Sauce

Yogurt sauce:

• 1 cup (8 ounces) Greek-style yogurt*
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon harissa sauce**
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Coarse kosher salt

Vegetable stew:

• Coarse kosher salt
• 1 pound carrots, peeled, cut into 1/2-to 3/4-inch pieces
• 1 3/4-pound turnip, peeled, cut into 1/2-to 3/4-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 pound spring onions or green onions, coarsely chopped (about 1 3/4 cups)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 teaspoons all purpose flour
• 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained, rinsed
• 1 5-ounce bag baby spinach
• 1 to 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

For yogurt sauce:
Whisk first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Season to taste with coarse salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.

 

For vegetable stew:
Bring 8 cups water to boil in heavy large saucepan. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Add carrots; cook until just tender, about 4 minutes. Using skimmer or large slotted spoon, transfer carrots to large bowl of ice water. Return water to boil. Add turnip; cook until just tender, about 3 minutes. Using skimmer, transfer turnip to bowl with carrots. Reserve cooking liquid.

Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add next 7 ingredients. Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper. Cook until onions are soft, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Add wine; simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour. Add carrots, turnip, beans, spinach, and 2 cups reserved cooking liquid. Bring to simmer; cook until vegetables are heated through, adding more cooking liquid for desired consistency. Season stew to taste with coarse salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

Divide stew among bowls. Spoon dollop of yogurt sauce over and serve.

Thai Veggie Massaman Curry

Ingredients

For the Curry Paste

Grind together:

1 small onion
4 cloves garlic
3 tbsp ginger
3 chillies
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp coriander seeds
¼ cup water or coconut milk

For the Curry

1 sweet potato, cubed and cooked (boiled)
1 small potato, cubed and cooked (boiled)
1 cup green beans (French beans), trimmed and cut in half
5 white mushrooms, wiped and quartered
1/2 cup green peas
1 cup firm tofu, deep fried
1 onion, sliced lengthways
1 tbsp sunflower oil
2 star anise (or 1 tsp fennel)
14oz chickpeas
4 tbsp peanut butter
2 tsp cumin, ground
1 tsp cardamom powder
2 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
500ml coconut milk (1 can)
1.5 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp tamarind juice (or 1.5 tsp OJ, .5 tsp lime juice)
Salt to taste

Prep

1. Grind up all the ingredients for the curry paste.

2. Heat the oil in a wok, add the curry paste and cook this on a medium heat until aromatic and when the oil separates from the paste. Add the peanut butter. Keep stirring and don’t let it burn.

3. Add the coconut milk, star anise, ground cumin, cardamom powder, sesame oil, dark soy sauce, sugar, salt, tamarind juice. Allow to simmer until it becomes a little thicker (5 min).

4. Add the tofu, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, onions and chickpeas. Cover and simmer for 7-10 minutes. If your mixture becomes too thick just thin it out using a little water.

5. Add the peas and turn the heat off. It will cook perfectly in the heat of the curry.

6. Remove the whole star anise before serving. Enjoy with beautiful Thai jasmine rice.

Mexican Rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped
• 1 tomato, seeded and chopped
• 1 cube chicken bouillon
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 clove garlic, halved

Directions

1. In a medium sauce pan, cook rice in oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Stir in onion, green pepper, jalapeno, and diced tomato. Season with bouillon cube, salt and pepper, cumin, cilantro, and garlic. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 40 minutes.

Chipotle Braised Chicken

Total time: 1 1/4 hr

Active time: 30 min

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced lengthwise
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
• 1 Tbs unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 3 pounds chicken parts
• 1/2 cup flour 
• 1/8 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. salt, divided
• 1 tsp. chipotle chile powder
• 1 cup chicken stock (water + chicken bullion)
• 1 Tbs fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Preparation:

• Cook onion, garlic, and bay leaf in butter and 1/2 tablespoon oil with 1/8 teaspoon salt in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Pat chicken dry and dredge through mixture of flour and 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon cumin. Brown chicken in remaining tablespoon oil in 2 batches, 5 to 6 minutes per batch, transferring to a plate as browned.
• Discard all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet, then stir in chile powder and onion mixture and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in water and bring to a simmer, scraping up brown bits.
• Add chicken and cook, covered, over low heat, turning chicken once, until just cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer chicken and onions with a slotted spoon to a platter. Skim off and discard fat from sauce, then boil until slightly thickened. 
• Stir in lime juice and cilantro and spoon sauce over chicken.

Serve with: Mexican Rice

Recipe from Epicurious: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chipotle-Braised-Chicken-358000#ixzz1Kwmzm6DS

Dijon Mustard Shrimp Pasta

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Prep Time: 30 minutes (give an extra 20 min if you have to clean the shrimp)

Ingredients: 

• 1 oz. EVOO
• 1 medium yellow onion (sliced)
• 1.5 lbs brown crimini mushrooms (sliced)
• 2 gloves garlic (minced)
• 1 Tbs. dijon mustard
• 1 pinch sea salt
• pepper to taste
• 1 pinch fennel
• 1 pinch corriander
• 1/4 tsp. rosmary
• 1/4 tsp. sage
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 2 cups white wine (chardonnay preferred)
• 1.5 lb. cleaned uncooked shrimp
• angel hair pasta

Preparation

•  In large saute pan, over medium heat, saute oil, onions, garlic and mushrooms until onions are translucent and mushrooms release (about 5-7 minutes) 
• remove veggies while retaining some of the sauce in the pan, stir in mustard, seasoning and white wine
• let sauce reduce to about half (5-7 minutes) (Note: this is a good time to start the pasta so they are ready at the same time)
• add veggies back in along with uncooked shrimp
• Saute until shrimp are pink (3-4 minutes)
• Serve on bead of pasta with sauce

Serves: 4

Adam Grossman's Sunday Chili

Cook time: 3 hours on stove


Prep Time: 1 Hour

Ingredients

Base

• 2 oz. vegetable oil
• 1 large yellow onion (diced)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 lb ground turkey (1 inch chunks - optional)
• 3 bell peppers - yellow, red, green (strips)
• 2 Serrano chilies (diced)
• 5 green chilies (diced)
• 5 large ripe tomatoes or 26.5 oz. canned diced tomatoes (diced and peeled) 
• If freshly peeled tomatoes add 1/2 tsp. salt and let stand for 15 minutes - this will pull some of the liquid out of the tomatoes and season them
• 16 oz. red kidney beans
• 12 oz. black beans
• 12 oz. Cannelloni beans
• 2 carrots (optional)
• 2 potatoes (optional)

Seasoning

• 1/2 cup Jim Beam bourbon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 beef bullion cubes
• 2 Tbs. chili powder
• 1 Tbs. chipotle powder
• 1 Tbs. cumin
• 2 california bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. paprika 
• 1/4 tsp. all spice
• 1 tsp. Ketchup

Garnishs

• sour cream
• cheddar cheese
• cilantro

Cooking:

1. In a large pot, saute onions and garlic in oil over medium-high heat until translucent (5 min.)
2. Brown ground turkey for about (5-7 min.)
3. Add bourbon and brown sugar, and allow the alcohol burn off (5-7 min.)
4. Reduce heat to medium and add all peppers and cook until they begin to sweat (7-10 min.)
5. Stir in all seasoning except for ketchup
6. Stir in all tomatoes 
7. Drain and wash canned beans and add them to the pot
8. Cover and simmer on medium-low stirring occasionally to keep bottom from burning (~90 min.)
9. Add potatoes, carrots and ketchup and continue simmering (~75 min.)
10. Serve with cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro (and beer)

Salsa Chicken

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 each skinless boneless chicken breast
• 1 Tbs Southwest Seasoning (taco packet if not available)
• 1 tsp chipotle seasoning
• 2 cups salsa or pico de gallo
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Preparation:

• Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased shallow baking dish
• season with the seasonings. 
• Pour the salsa over the chicken; bake at 350° for 35 to 45 minutes, or until chicken is tender. 
• When ready to serve, remove the chicken from the casserole, stir sour cream into salsa, then return chicken. 
• Serve sour cream chicken and sauce with warm tortillas and Spanish rice.

This chicken breast recipe serves 4.

Emeril's Southwest Seasoning

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

Dan Loflin's Veggitarian Texas Caviar

• 2 - 16oz cans of black beans (If you can find them, I prefer to substitute 1 can of black eye’d peas for one of the cans of black beans)
• 1 - 16oz can of corn
• 1 - 16oz can of garbanzo beans
• Approx. 8 medium tomatoes diced
• 1 medium green pepper diced
• 1 white onion diced (I prefer Vidalia, or Texas 1015 onions)
• 2 - 4oz cans of diced green chiles (I prefer to use Ro-Tel and back off on the tomato and Salsa categories…Use your imagination)
• 1 jicama peeled and diced
• 1 bunch of cilantro finely chopped
• 1 - 32oz. jar of your favorite salsa (dial down or up depending on the Ro-Tel and Tomato quantity)
• Juice of 4-5 fresh limes
  
• 2-3 cloves pressed garlic
• 3 diced avocados

Potato-Leek Gratin

2-2.5 hours total time

Ingredients:

• 5 Tbs. Unsalted Butter
• 4lb. Leeks - white and green portions cut into 1/4 inch rounds
• 1.5 Tbs. Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp. minced fresh Thyme
• 1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 6 oz. gruyere cheese, grated
• 3 0z. Parmagano-Reggiano
• 3 oz. russet potatoes, peeled 1/4 inche rounds
• 3 Tbs. minced chives

Prep

1. melt 4 Tbs. butter in 12" fry pan over medium heat
2. sautee leeks and salt, cover and stir until tender (20 min)
   
3. Add thyme, nutmeg, pepper, and cream
4. Simmer uncovered until thickened (15 min)
5. Transfer to bowl and let cool
6. Clean fry pan
   
7. greese with 1 Tbs. butter
8. Preheat oven to 400
9. Combine cheeses in a bowl
10. Layer 1/3 potatoes in fry pan, 1/3 Leeks, 1/3 cheese then 1 Tbs. chives
11. Repeat 2x (reserve 1 Tbs. chives)
    
12. Cover and bake (45 min)
13. Remove lid and bake until potatoes are golden brown (~30min)
14. Sprinkle 1 Tbs. chives
    
15. Let stand 15 min before serving
    

Thai Pumpkin Curry

Ingredients

• 1/2 small pumpkin (or subsitute 1 acorn squash, butternut, or any other orange squash except spaghetti)
• 1 small or 1/2 large yam or sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1-2 medium carrots, cut into thick slices
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 can chick peas, drained
• 2 Tbsp. grated orange rind
• CURRY SAUCE:
• 3-4 cloves garlic
• 1-2 fresh red chillies (or substitute fresh green chilies, OR 1-2 tsp Thai chili sauce)
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 tsp. tamarind paste (or substitute 1 Tbsp. lime juice)
• 2+1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce (use wheat-free soy sauce for gluten-free diets)
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• juice of 1/2 lime
• juice of 1 medium orange
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric
• 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar (or substitute apple cider vinegar)
• 1 Tbsp. ground coriander seeds, 1 Tbsp. ground cumin, and 1 tsp. fennel seed
• 1/3 purple onion, sliced
• GARNISH: handful of fresh thai basil leaves

Preparation:

1. To make the curry sauce, place all sauce ingredients together in a food processor (or blender if you don't have a processor). Process well. Set aside.
2. Prepare pumpkin or squash by cutting it open and scooping out the seeds with a spoon. Either save the seeds for roasting, or discard. Cut the pumpkin/squash into cubes, slicing off the skin. You will probably only use 1/3 to 1/2 a pumpkin for this recipe (save the rest in the refrigerator for cooking later).
3. Prepare the rest of the vegetables plus the orange rind.
4. Place the pumpkin (or squash), yam, and carrots in the wok/frying pan together with the curry sauce over medium-high heat. Stir well.
5. When the curry begins to boil, reduce heat to medium, stirring occasionally. Allow to simmer for 6-8 minutes, or until vegetables have softened.
6. Add the bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, chick peas, and orange rind, stirring to incorporate. Simmer for 2 more minutes.
7. Do a taste test for salt and spice. If not salty enough, add a little more soy sauce. If not spicy enough for your taste, add more fresh chilli (or chili sauce). If too sour, add a little more sugar.
8. To serve, scoop into a large serving bowl, or portion out on individual plates. Sprinkle with fresh basil leaves. Serve with plenty of Thai jasmine rice (white or brown), and enjoy this colorful and fragrant Thai dish!

Chicken Coq au Vin

Equipment:
- Large pot

Ingredients:

- 1 Tbs EVOO
- 6 chicken thighs
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion
- 2 cups Mushroom
- 1 cup baby carrots
- 1 cup Peas
- 0.5 bottle Red Wine
- 1 Chicken Bullion Cube
- 1 Tsp Sage
- 1 Tsp Ground Thyme
- 0.5 Tsp Rosemary
- Salt/Pepper
- 1 Tbs Brandy

Cooking:

1. Saute Chicken and coarsely chopped onion in Olive Oil until chicken skin is browned and onions release
2. Add Mushrooms and saute until they release
3. Add carrots and spices
4. Cover chicken with wine
5. Cover pot and simmer for 30 min. on medium heat
6. Remove lid, add peas and brandy
7. Simmer for 15 min or until liquid has reduced

Mom's Pecan Pumpkin Pie

Crust:

• 1 frozen pie crust or prepare piecrust mix for 1 9" pie.
• 3 tab. butter or margarine
• 1/3 cup firmly packed lt. brown sugar
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans

Filling:

• 1 cup evaporated milk [canned]
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 large or jumbo eggs
• 1 and 1/2 cup canned pumpkin[ not pumpkin pie filling]. 
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed lt. brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 
• 1 teas. salt

1/2 cup whipped cream [whipping cream, vanilla granulated sugar]
whipped for topping on side.

1. make praline layer.
Take prepared frozen pie crust or make 1 generous 9" pie crust.

2. cream 3 tabs. butter or margarine with l/3 cup lt. brown sugar and then
add in the chopped pecans.

3. press the nut mixture into the bottom of the pie crust to cover the
bottom of the crust.

4. bake in hot oven 450 for about 10 minutes- or until just golden brown.

5. remove from over and let shell cool while you are mixing up filling.

Filling:

6. combine milk and water. Beat in the 3 eggs in a bowl until mixed. Stir
in pumpkin, granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and
salt, mix until well combined.[ you may have some filling left over, which
you could put in a custard cup to cook on the side of the pie for pumpkin
custard.]

7. pour into pie crust. Bake at 350 for about 1 hour or until the center
isn't soupy and seems set. It can be a little wiggly in the middle- but
mostly cooked. Do not over cook or the pie will separate or be dry.

8.Cool on a wire rack. serve room temperature or warm, with whipped cream.

Sloppy Mo-Joe's & Mojito Smashed Sweet Potatos

Mojo Ingredients:
- 1 medium Yellow onion
- 8-12 coves garlic
- 2 Tspn Cumin
- 1 Tspn lemon zest
- 1 lemon (juice)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup EVOO

Mix in food processor

Sloppy Mo-Joes
- 2 lbs ground sirloin
- 1/2 of mojo mix from above
- 2 tsbn whorschistier
- 1 tbsn hot sauce
- 1/4 cup spanish olives w/ pimentos chopped (2 large spoonfullls)
- 1 tbs sweet paprika
- 1 tbs of equal parts garlic powder, onion powder, salt pepper, corriander, crushed red pepper mix
- 1 24oz of tomato sauce



- sautee in sauce pan starting from top of list

Serve in
- vertically sliced dill pickles
- sliced tomatos
- baked bread rolls

Mojito Sweet Potatos
- 1 large sweet potato thinly sliced (boiled)
- 4 oz. of rum
- 2 pinches salt
- 4 tbsn sugar
- juice of 2 limes
- 2 pats butter
- chopped mint leaves

smash list except add chopped mint last

Garlic Lemon Herb Steak Marinade

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt (kosher or sea), or to taste
• 4 strips of lemon zest3 cloves garlic, crushed with the side of a cleaver or minced
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil, cilantro, dill, oregano, or a mix of all four
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 cup Balsamic Vinegar
  

Preperatipon:

1. Combine the lemon juice, hot pepper flakes, cracked pepper, and salt in a nonreactive (glass, ceramic, or stainless steel) bowl and whisk until the salt crystals are dissolved.
2. Add the lemon zest, garlic, parsley and basil. Stir or whisk in the olive oil & vinegar.
3. The virtue of this marinade is its freshness:
4. Use it within 1 to 2 hours of making. Stir again before using.

Seafood Cioppino

Ingredients:

½ lb. shrimp, scallops, crabmeat, mussels
1 lb. white fish (halibut, sea bass, talapia)
8 fresh clams
one can canned clams and clam broth
5 large diced tomatoes
1 cup red or white wine
1 cube chicken bullion or 1 cup clam juice
1 large onion
1 red bell pepper- sliced into thin strips

olive oil, butter
1 pinch of saffron
1/4 tsp.  ground thyme
2 cloves garlic minced
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp basil

Garnish
1/2 tsp. parsley
Red Pepper Flakes

Cooking:

1. Saute onion until transparent in olive oil
2. Add red pepper strips and a pat of butter for flavor. Cook until soften.
3. Add diced tomatoes cook until soft.
4. Add white or red wine, crushed chicken bullion cube, clam juice [drained juice from can of clams].
5. Reserve the clams from the can to add to the sauce later.
6. Add herbs and seasoning
7. when the sauce is hot, add the seafood in this order with a lid on the pot:
   - Fresh Crab (let simmer for 5 min)
   - White fish
   - Whole live clams
   - Mussels
   [let the shells open up- when the shells have opened you can add the other seafood in the following order. If any of the shellfish shells do not open after a few minutes and all the others have opened- throw the unopened ones out- they are bad].
8. - Remaining clams reserved from the can
   - Shrimp
   - Scallops
   [Cook these last items just for a few minutes- if you overcook they will become tough].
9. Serve over fettucini and sprinkle with parsley and red pepper flakes

Moroccan Chicken

Ingredients:

2 de-boned chicken breasts
2 small green zucchini squash
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
about a cup of blanched white, whole almonds
1 cup golden raisins
l large onion
1 tab. Olive oil

1 teas. Curry powder
1cub chicken bullion
1 teas. Cinnamon
¼ teas. Ground thyme
1 pinch of saffron threads
garlic, and pepper to taste


Cooking:

1. Sauté onion until transparent in olive oil.
2. Add cubed chicken pieces and sauté until just cooked- add a little more oil if need be to keep from sticking.
3. [remove chicken from pan and set aside for a few minutes].
4. Add pepper strips, almonds, chicken bullion cube, spices.
5. Cook mixture over low heat until the vegetables are soft.
6. Add previously cooked chicken cubes until hot enough to serve.
7. Grate 2 zucchinis and add to pot. (very important to add last so it doesn't over cook)
8. Cover for 2 min to cook zucchinis.
9. Serve over couscous cooked with saffron, chicken bullion broth and a little butter.

Italian Meat Sauce

Ingredients:

1 large yellow onion
1 Tbs olive oil
1 lb. lean ground turkey or chicken sausage
2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
1 Tsp celery salt
1 chicken bullion cube
1/2 Tbs Thyme
1/2 Tbs Oregono
6 fresh basil leaves
1 Tsp Ground Black pepper
8 mushrooms
1 very large fresh tomato ( can sub 1 16 oz. can of crushed tomatoes)
1 cup red wine (merlot or cab)

Cooking:

1. Sauté 1 onion in about 1 tablespoon of olive oil until the onion is transparent.
2. Add 1 lb. of ground lean beef and sauté until cooked.
3. Add spices
4. Add about 6 large sliced mushrooms and 2 diced mushrooms- sauté until just cooked.
5. Add tomatos
6. Add red wine
7. Cook for about 15 minutes.

Makes enough for about 4 people, serve over pasta.

Madras Chicken Curry

Ingredients:

6 chicken thighs
1 large yellow onion
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 bag mixed pepper strips
2.5 cups crushed red tomatoes
3 tbsp ground cumin
4 tbsp madras curry powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
pinch cinnamon
pinch ground clove

Optional:
White rice
Mango Chutney
Cashews


Cook:

1. Sautee chicken, onion and olive oil in a pot
2. add peppers
3. add tomato
4. add spices
5. simmer for 1 hour minimum

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

¼ cup margarine (soft)
½ cup light brown sugar
½ cup refined cane sugar
2 eggs
½ cup apple sauce
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup ripe mashed banana
1 tsp vanilla
2 tabsp. Sour cream
1/8 cup OJ
½ cup chopped walnuts


Baking:

1. pre heat oven to 350
2. grease baking pan
3. mix ingredients in a bowl starting with dry ingredients first
4. bake for 1 hour.

New York Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 cup flour
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp grated orange peel
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup butter
1 egg yolk

Filling:
5 packages of 8 oz. Cream cheese
1¾ cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
¼ tsp salt
2 tsp grated orange peel
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
5 large whole eggs
2 egg yolks
¼ cup heavy whipping cream (not Bavarian)


Baking:

Making the Crust:
1. Let butter soften by leaving it at room temp for a couple hours
2. Mix all ingredients into mixing bowl starting with dry ingredients first
3. Chill for 1 hour
4. Pack chilled mixture onto bottom of the spring pan about ¼ inch
a. Note: the crust will be the consistency of moist bread crumbs
5. Preheat oven to 400º F
6. Bake crust without the side of the spring pan until golden brown on sides (~10 min.)
7. With extra dough pack the sides of the spring pan to make side of crust

Making the Filling:
1. Beat cream cheese until fluffy
2. Starting with dry ingredients first add one at a time and stir
3. Pour into pan
4. Preheat oven to 450ºF
5. Bake at 500ºF for 12 minutes
6. WITHOUT OPENING THE OVEN DOOR reduce heat to 225ºF
7. Bake at 225ºF for ~50 min
8. Take cake out after an hour, edges should be golden and firm, middle can be soft but not soupy. Check by jiggling cake. Leave in longer if cake does not have these qualities. Cake is definitely done if you see cracks on surface.
9. Let sit at room temp for 30 min
10. Refrigerate
11. Serve with fresh fruit and/or grated semi sweet chocolate


Optional Topping:

Semi-sweet chocolate
Raspberry Sauce (see below)

1 10-ounce package frozen raspberries with sugar thawed
3 tablespoons raspberry jam
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
Strain raspberries, reserving 1/4 cup raspberry juices. Puree berries, 1/4 cup juices, jam, and lemon juice in processor. Strain, pressing on solids to extract as much fruit and juice as possible. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.)Makes about 3/4 cup.

Brandy Pears

Brandy Pears:

Ingredients:
- 4 pears
- 4 Tbs Butter
- 4 Tbs Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 cup Brandy (Courvoisier)
- Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Making the Dish:

1. Peel Pears
2. Cut into chunks
3. Melt butter with pears in a medium skillet over medium heat
   
4. Stir in sugar and vanilla
   
5. Simmer until juice is syrupy (10-15 min)
6. Pour in Brandy
7. Simmer to burn off alcohol (2-3 min)
8. Remove from heat and immediately serve with vanilla bean ice cream