Thursday, May 28, 2015

Cream of Potato Soup

A simple soup that can be prepared in a short time.
 






































  • 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons chopped onion
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt  
  • dash pepper
  • paprika  
  • parsley, minced
 
Boil potatoes in water for 15 minutes.  Set aside.
Melt butter over medium heat.
Add onion, cook until translucent.
Stir in flour. Cook 5 minutes.  Do not brown flour.
Add milk, stirring to combine.
Bring to a boil.
Add potatoes and water.
Reduce heat to simmer.
Season with salt and pepper.
Simmer 15 minutes.
Garnish with paprika and parsley.










































Printable Recipe
 
 

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Pickled Okra

    They're crunchy.

     





































  • 3 1/2 pounds washed fresh okra
  • 3 cups 5 percent acidity apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup canning salt
  • 2 teaspoons dill seeds
  • 2 teaspoons mustard seeds  
  • 4-6 garlic cloves
  • 4-6 small hot red peppers
Brush okra lightly with a piece of nylon net or a brush to remove fuzz.
Trim stems from okra, being careful not to cut pods.
Bring vinegar, water, salt, dill seeds and mustard seeds to a boil
Pack okra in hot sterilized jars, filling to 1/2 inch from top.
Add 1 garlic clove and 1 hot red pepper to each jar.
Pour hot vinegar mixture over mixture in jars, filling to 1/4 inch from top.
Remove air bubbles.
Seal and process 15 minutes in a boiling water canner. 
Let stand at least 7 days before serving.
Yield about 4 pints









































Tip:
I like using the 12-ounce jelly jars.

Printable Recipe

 

Monday, May 25, 2015

Bloody Mary Cocktail

For best flavor serve ice-cold.
 
 






































  • 6 ounces tomato juice
  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 lime wedge
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
  • 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
  • celery stick for garnish
  • green olives for garnish
  • pickled okra for garnish

Blend tomato juice with vodka and Worcestershire sauce.
Squeezed lime juice into juice.
Add pepper, Tabasco and celery salt.
Pour over ice.
Garnish with celery stick, olives and okra.






































Printable Recipe

Enjoy without the vodka for a virgin bloody Mary.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Lemon Brownies

A refreshing sweet tart brownie.







































  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 2 large eggs
  • zest of 2 lemons
  • juice of 2 lemons
Lemon Glaze
  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • zest of 2 lemons


In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the flour, sugar, salt and butter until combined.
Whisk together the eggs, lemon zest and lemon juice.
Add eggs to the flour mixture and beat for 2 minutes at medium speed until smooth.
Pour into a greased 8x8 inch baking dish.
Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.
Allow to cool completely before glazing
Sift powdered sugar to remove any lumps.
Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest.
Spread glaze over the brownies and let glaze harden.
Cut into bars and serve.


Printable Recipe

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Classic Hurricane Cocktail

The classic Hurricane Cocktail was first served during the 1939 New York City Worlds Fair, but a bar in New Orleans made this fruit punch world famous.  Don't be deceived by its sweet fruity taste it packs a category-5 punch.








































  • 2 ounces light rum
  • 2 ounces dark rum
  • 2 ounces passion fruit juice
  • 1 ounce orange juice
  • 1/2  ounces fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon simple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon grenadine
  • Garnish: orange slice and maraschino cherry

Mix all ingredients together.
Pour over ice.
Garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry









































Printable Recipe



Thursday, May 14, 2015

Fried Green Tomatoes

Serve hot for a tangy, crispy, yet juicy tomato side dish.
 




 
 


  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1/2 cup cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 green tomatoes, cut into 1/3-inch slices
  • vegetable oil
  • salt to taste
 
 
Mix together egg and buttermilk.
Mix together 1/4 cup flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper.
Dredge tomato slices in remaining 1/4 cup flour.
Dip in egg mixture.
Dredge in cornmeal mixture.
Add oil to a depth of  1/4 inch in a large skillet. 
Heat oil to 350 degrees.
Cook tomatoes 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Do not over overcrowd skillet.
Drain on a wire rack.
Salt hot tomatoes to taste.
 

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Orange Jelly

A beautiful citrus orange colored jelly that is great on toast, but try serving it over pound cake for a fantastic dessert.





  • 1 12-ounce package frozen orange juice
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter
  • 1 1.75-ounce box powered pectin
  • 4 1/2 cups sugar

Thoroughly mix orange juice concentrate with water, butter and pectin in a large sauce pan.
Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down.
Add sugar all at one time.
Return to a full boiling roll and boil exactly one minute, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat.
Skim off foam.
Ladle hot jelly into prepared jars to 1/4 inch of top.
Top with two-piece lids.
Process 15 minutes in a boiling-water canner.
Makes 6 half-pint jars.

Printable Recipe





Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Pecan Peach Pepper Preserves

Preserves that are sweet and a little hot.  Perfect served over cream cheese.  Or put a teaspoon on grilled pork chops or chicken and let melt into a sauce.








































Pecan Peach Pepper Preserves


  • 3 pounds of peeled, pitted and finely chopped peaches
  • 7 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 large sweet red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 medium jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 1 3-ounce pouch liquid pectin


Mix chopped peaches and 2 cups of the sugar in a non-reactive bowl or pot; cover and let stand about 30 minutes to macerate.
Mash the peaches, leaving some large chunks.
Use an immersion blender if you want the jam smoother.
Add peppers, zest, pecans and remaining sugar to the peaches.
Add lemon juice, vinegar and butter.
Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.
Stir in the pectin.
Return to a full rolling boil and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and use a metal slotted spoon to skim off any foam.
Ladle quickly into sterilized jars to within 1/8 inch of tops.
Wipe jar rims and treads.
Cover with two-piece lid.
Screw on bands.
Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.
Makes about 9 half pints.







































    Printable Recipe









Monday, May 11, 2015

Congealed Lime Salad






































  • 1 3-ounce package lime Jello
  • 1 1/2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature, diced
  • 8 ounces sour cream
  • 1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple
  • 1/2  cup chopped pecans



Stir together Jello, water, marshmallows, and cream cheese in a large bowl.
Chill until it begins to set, about 45 minutes.
Beat until combined.
Stir in sour cream, pineapple, and pecans.
Pour into gelatin mold.
Chill until set, at least 3 hours.

Printable Recipe

 

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Macaroni Shrimp Salad

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • 16 ounces elbow macaroni
  • 1 pound shrimp, boiled, peeled and chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 4 hardboiled eggs, sliced or chopped
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • juice of half a lemon
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste


Cook macaroni according to package directions.
Drain.
Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
Add macaroni mixing well.
Chill before serving.

Printable Recipe







Thursday, May 7, 2015

Cresent Ham Sandwiches

Equally good for dinner with a green salad or breakfast with a fruit salad.








































  • 1 8-ounce package refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 1 pound fully cooked ham, thinly sliced
  • 4 ounces Swiss or Havarti cheese, thinly sliced
  • 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
  • 5 eggs, beaten

Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 2 squares.
Place one square in bottom of 8-inch baking pan that is well greased or lined with parchment paper.
Press dough to fit pan.
Layer with half the ham, cheese and tomatoes.
Pour half the eggs over layers.
Repeat the layers.
Top with remaining dough square.
Pour remaining eggs over top.
Cover with foil or parchment paper.
Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 20 minutes.
Remove foil and bake another 25 minutes.
Let cool at room temp for 15-20 minutes before serving.
Slice into 6 to 8 servings.





Tip: 
Let the parchment overhang sides of dish for easy removal from pan.


Printable Recipe