Potato Packs

I think it's rather funny that my most simple, easy potato recipe gets so many compliments. I'm sure many of you have your own version but here's mine. ( I feel silly even posting it.)

6-8 Yukon gold potatoes, washed and not peeled
season salt and black pepper to taste. ( you know me with the salt though, heavy handed but the crowd loves them!)

Place two over lapping sheets of heavy duty foil on the counter and spray with cooking spray. Slice potatoes into bite size pieces. Place in a medium mixing bowl, coat with olive oil and add season salt and pepper. Mix together and put them on the foil. make a foil pouch/packet and grill for 40 minutes. Wow, that one was a tough one :) and no I don't have any pics of them since I never thought they were worthy :(  Maybe next time!

Black Bean Soup

1 lb. black beans, rinse well and place in a large bowl, cover with water and soak over night.
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped ( save some for garnish )
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 jalapeno, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. cumin
4 cups of water
2 cups of brewed coffee
1 ham hock
2-3 bay leaves
sea salt and pepper to taste
sour cream ( at least 6 Tbsp.) and cilantro for garnish
Heat oil in soup pot over medium high-heat. Add onions (except some for the garnish), bell pepper, celery, jalapeno, and garlic. Cook for 5-7 minutes. Add cumin and cook for 1 more minute. Pour in water, drained beans, coffee and add ham hock. Stir and add bay leaves. Skim off nay foam from the beans from the top. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper. Puree half of the soup in a blender and return to the pot. Trim the meat from the ham hock and stir back into the soup. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, onion and cilantro for garnish. Great fall dish to warm your belly!

Onion Frittata

8 extra large eggs
1/2 cup grated parmesan
4 large basil leaves, torn
3 sage leaves, minced
1 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. ground oregano
black pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 cup thinly sliced onion, I like Vadalia
1/3 cup whole milk ricotta

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk first eight ingredients in a medium size bowl. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add onion and cook until soft. reduce heat to low and stir in egg mixture. Spoon dollops of ricotta evenly on top of the mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes and then place into the oven for an additional 8-10 minutes. Cut into pie wedges and serve.

Sunny Maria

2 lbs. chopped yellow tomatoes
4 jarred pepperoncini as well as 1/4 pickling juice.
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 cup citrus vodka, chilled

Puree tomatoes in a food processor and strain in cheese cloth over a glass bowl. Press the solids through the cloth until you have about 2 cups of liquid. Chill for 2 hours. Stir together tomato juice, vodka, pickling juice, and lemon juice. Pour into 4 glasses over ice and serve with a pepperoncnini for garnish.

Zucchini Salad

1 medium zucchini cut into 1/2 in. cubes
3/4 cup of feta cheese
1/4 small red onion, sliced thin
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. dill sprigs
1/4 tsp. ground oregano
sea salt & pepper to taste

Zucchini Bundt Cake with Orange Glaze

For the cake:

2 medium zucchinis
3large eggs
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups of flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. of grated orange zest
1 Tbsp. orange juice
a pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 325. Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Grate zucchini on the large holes of your box grater. Squeeze zucchini dry in kitchen towels. Stir together eggs and sugar and then add melted butter, zucchini, orange zest and juice. Add flour mixture. Spray bundt pan with cooking spray and add batter. Bake for about 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Place cake onto a wire rack and cool before topping with glaze.

For the Glaze:
1 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp. grated orange zest
3 Tbsp. of orange juice, more can be used if needs thinning.
Whisk all ingredients and pour over the cake when cooled.

Key Lime Cookies

Key Lime White Chocolate Chip Cookies from Betty Crocker


Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cups packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

2 1/3 cups Original Bisquik

6 oz white chocolate chips

1 Tablespoon lime zest (but I would up this to 1 1/2 or even 2 tablespoons

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice



Preheat to 350ºF. Beat butter, sugars, vanilla and egg with electric mixer until well mixed. Stir in Bisquick mix. Stir in lime juice, white chocolate chunks and lime peel.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set but not brown. Cool 1 minute; slide parchment from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Farfalle with Shrimp in a lemon, butter, white wine sauce

1 lb. farfalle, cook according to pkg. directions
1 pound of raw deveined, cleaned shrimp...tails can be on or off
1 pint of sweet yellow cherry tomatoes
4 green onions, chopped
1 stick of butter
juice of 1 lemon
3/4 cup olive oil, extra light (allows for a higher cooking temp)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 turns of the pan of your favorite white wine. If you wouldn't drink it...then don't cook with it :)

Cook pasta and drain. In a deep skillet melt butter over medium heat. I add the oil as the butter melts to prevent it burning. Add in minced garlic and sautee for 2-3 minutes. Next turn up your heat to medium high and add the shrimp. Season with salt and pepper then add wine. cook for 10 minutes so the shrimp is cooked through and sauce reduce. Stir in lemon juice and add pasta to the shrimp and sauce. Toss well and serve.

Spinach and artichoke dip

1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, chopped

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained

1 cup refrigerated alfredo sauce

8 ounces of softened cream cheese

1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients until well blended. Spoon into 9-inch quiche dish or pie plate. Bake for 20 min. or until lightly browned. Serve with crackers, pita chips, or tortilla chips. You can also sprinkle with an additional 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan before baking.

Egg rolls

1 pkg. of egg roll wrappers
1 bag of shredded slaw
1 1/2 lbs. chicken, can use left overs from a roasted chicken or grilled.
3 Tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. mustard seed
black pepper to taste
1 egg, whisked
vegetable oil


Mix togther slaw, chicken, honey, soy sauce, mustard seed and pepper. Whisk egg and set aside. In a deep skillet, heat 1 1/2 -2 inches of oil over medium high heat. Place approx. 1/2 a cup of mixture onto the egg roll wrapper. Wrap like a burrito, folding 2 ends toward each other and then roll. Before sealing, brush the edge with egg wash and seal. The size of my egg rolls yields a dozen. Cook 4 at a time in the oil, about 30 seconds each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towls and then serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Sweet and savory beef ribs

1 rack of beef ribs
4 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. season salt
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. black pepper
1 cup of your favorite bbq sauce.

Preheat oven to 350. Spray heavy duty foil (enough to completely wrap ribs) with cooking spray. Place ribs on the foil and coat both sides with vinegar and all spices, starting with the vinegar. Rub into the ribs and cover tightly. Place wrapped ribs on to a rimmed baking sheet. Place ribs into the oven and cook for 30 min. Then reduce heat to 290 and continue cooking for 3 1/2 hours. Remove ribs from oven, open foil pouch and brush bbq sauce on both sides of the ribs. Close foil and return to oven for an additional 30 minutes.

Pork steak with apples and onions

2 pork steaks, sliced shoulder about 3/4 in. thick
2 garlic cloves, minced
1tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp of cayenne, less depending on your heat level
1 granny smith sliced into rounds
1 vadalia onion sliced into rounds
2 cups of apple juice

Season pork with garlic, salt, pepper and cayenne. Sear in a cast iron skillet for 3-4 min each side over medium high heat. Next add apples, onion and juice. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes. Great with mashed potatoes!

Pepperjack Corn Dip

2 cans of corn, drained
1 lb. of pepperjack cheese, shredded
3-4 green onions finely sliced
1 1/2 cup light mayo
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. of cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a medium sixe mixing bowl. Serve with Tostito's Hint of Lime tortilla chips. This makes quite a large portion so share with friends or when you have a crowd over.