Friday, August 24, 2012

Summer Squash Relish


Summer Squash Relish

Our garden is flourishing this year even though we lost our yellow summer squash plants. Honestly, I'm not sure we could handle any more loaded plants so perhaps the attack of the cut worm is a blessing in disguise.

My sister has a good portion of my aunt's garden and she grows it mostly to share. So we end up with tons of squash anyway. I told her we would take any of the over sized zucchini and squash she had to make relish. Ask and ye shall receive!

My search for a good and simple recipe lead me to this Summer Squash Relish recipe. Honestly, when I first tasted it just after we made it I thought the cinnamon was too strong. But a couple of days later it's perfect! It was simple to make, especially with my new birthday food processor!

As you can see, the recipe calls for apple cider. We assumed it was apple cider vinegar since it's a relish, so that's what we used. You can click here for the recipe or read it below.

Summer Squash Relish

10 cups chopped zucchini and yellow summer squash
1 medium white onion chopped
1 medium red bell pepper chopped
1 medium green bell pepper chopped
2 cups apple cider
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons mustard seed
2 teaspoons celery seed
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon pickling salt

Combine all ingredients in large sauce pot, then bring to a boil over medium heat.
Stir occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Immediately fill hot pint jars with mixture, leaving 1/2" head space.
Carefully run a nonmetallic utensil down the inside of jars to remove trapped air bubbles
Wipe jar tops and threads clean, then adjust two pieces.
Process jars in boiling water canner for 15 minutes.

And that's that! Super easy and double dog yummy!

Lemon-Zucchini Loaf


LEMON-ZUCCHINI LOAF WITH LEMON GLAZE by NancyCreative
Makes one 9×5″ loaf
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice)
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 cup grated zucchini (you don’t need to peel the zucchini before grating it)
Preheat oven to 35o degrees. Grease and flour a 9×5″ loaf pan; set aside.
In large bowl, blend flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In medium bowl, beat 2 eggs well, then add canola oil and sugar, and blend well. Then add the buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest and blend everything well. Fold in zucchini and stir until evenly distributed in mixture.
Add this mixture to the dry ingredients in the large bowl and blend everything together, but don’t overmix.
Pour batter into prepared 9×5″ loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (if your oven tends to run hot, check the loaf after 40 minutes; also, if you make this in an 8×4″ loaf pan, your baking time may be a little longer…about 5 to 10 minutes more). Cool in pan 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely. While loaf is cooling, you can make the glaze…
LEMON GLAZE
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice)
In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and lemon juice until well blended. Spoon glaze over cooled loaf. Let glaze set, then serve.
This Lemon-Zucchini Loaf is great way to use the zucchini from your garden this summer!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Apple Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes - questionable


Apple Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

By Stefani Pollack
Be sure to leave your kitchen while these apple pecan cinnamon roll cupcakes are baking.

Amazing Roast


Easiest and most amazing roast ever. Combine the ranch, italian dressing and brown gravy packets with a 1/2 cup of water and pour over roast in a crock pot. Sounds good

Colombian Guacamole



Colombian Guacamole

Bon Appétit  | July 2009
by Steven Raichlen

user rating

87% would make it again
user rating
user rating:
Colombian Guacamole4 forks

at a glance

main ingredientsOnion,  JalapeñoAvocado
dietary considerationsVegetarian,  Low FatLow Cal,  High FiberHealthy,  Low Cholesterol,  Vegan
yield: Makes 1 1/2 cups
his Colombian version of guacamole is smoother than most Mexican guacamoles, and it's used as a sauce for grilled meats, not just as a dip... more ›
  • 1 large ripe avocado (12 to 13 ounces), peeled, pitted, coarsely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped green onion or sweet onion (such as Maui or Vidalia)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped serrano chiles with seeds
  • 1/4 cup (or more) water
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons (or more) fresh lime juice
  • Coarse kosher salt

Best Burgers


Best Burger Recipe Ever with Secret Sauce



Seriously, this is the best burger recipe ever–it’s a Ben favorite.
I am kinda a stickler when it comes to homemade burgers. I can’t stand the dryness of pre-constructed or frozen patties, or when the patty turns into a giant dome that I can hardly bite into–and my burger muuust have cheese.  So last year I set about creating the perfect burger, and you know what? I don’t even make it on the grill.
Burger Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef 85/15
sesame seed buns
1/2 cup of grated Monterrey jack cheese
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
season salt to taste
cracked black pepper
onion powder
We usually like to buy extra lean ground beef around these parts, but when it comes to a juicy burger, you’ve gotta make an exception.  The best burgers have more fat–naturally.
Combine the ground beef, grated cheese, bbq sauce, and seasonings.  Shape patties that are about 1 inch thick.  Then it is very important to  push a 1/2 inch indent into the center of the patty–this is what prevents the patty from becoming a dome.  These burgers stay extra moist because the bbq sauce and cheese are mixed in with the meat.
I cook the patties on this really cool skillet that has grill lines.  I wait for the skillet to get super hot and then I apply a very thin layer of butter to the grill lines.  Place the patties on indent side up as pictured.
Reduce heat to medium and allow this side of the patty to cook for about 4-6 minutes, but make sure it doesn’t burn. Then flip the burger over and cook until done.  I like my burger medium-well.  While the burger is cooking, I like to whip up some secret sauce–sort of my version of In & Out’s addicting sauce.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of mayo
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup relish
2 tablespoons worcestershire
seasoned salt
Combine all ingredients and whisk until well mixed. Taste and adjust ingredients to your liking.
I also butter and toast the buns on a skillet Pioneer Woman style.  Something about a sesame seed bun makes the burger seem more legit.
Now while the burger might not look like an award winner, it certainly tastes like it.
click here for more yummy recipes
Best Burger Recipe Ever with Secret Sauce
4.1 from 31 reviews
Print
Recipe type: Entree
Author: Ashley Stock – Little Miss Momma
I am kinda a stickler when it comes to homemade burgers. I can’t stand the dryness of pre-constructed or frozen patties, or when the patty turns into a giant dome that I can hardly bite into–and my burger muuust have cheese. So last year I set about creating the perfect burger, and you know what? I don’t even make it on the grill.
Ingredients
  • Burger
  • 2 lbs ground beef 85/15
  • sesame seed buns
  • 1/2 cup of grated Monterrey jack cheese
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
  • season salt to taste
  • cracked black pepper
  • onion powder
  • Secret Sauce
  • 3/4 cup of mayo
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup relish
  • 2 tablespoons worcestershire
  • seasoned salt
Instructions
  1. Combine the ground beef, grated cheese, bbq sauce, and seasonings. Shape patties that are about 1 inch thick.
  2. Then it is very important to push a 1/2 inch indent into the center of the patty–this is what prevents the patty from becoming a dome. These burgers stay extra moist because the bbq sauce and cheese are mixed in with the meat.
  3. Wait for the skillet to get super hot and then apply a very thin layer of butter to the pan. Place the patties on the pan, indent side up.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and allow this side of the patty to cook for about 4-6 minutes, but make sure it doesn’t burn. Then flip the burger over and cook until done.
  5. For the sauce: Combine all ingredients and whisk until well mixed. Taste and adjust ingredients to your liking.
  6. Assemble the burgers and serve with avocado, lettuce or your choice of toppings!
Notes
I also butter and toast the buns on a skillet Pioneer Woman style. Something about a sesame seed bun makes the burger seem more legit.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos


Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

print recipe text only1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic, or garlic powder
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions
2 C shredded cooked chicken (for extra yumminess, use grilled taco chicken!)
1 C grated pepperjack cheese
small corn tortillas (and actually, flour ones are really good as well)
kosher salt
cooking spray
Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it’s soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.
You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.
Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.
Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.

Then roll it up as tight as you can.

Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.
The ones pictured below are actually flour tortillas- which I found out I like just as well (maybe even better!) than corn ones.

Dip ‘em in salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or this dressing.
Makes 12-16
Freezer Instructions: Prepare the taquitos through rolling them out and placing them on the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze until solid, then transfer to a large freezer bag. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 425 and place the taquitos on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Wanna make it a meal? 
Serve with a side of Black Beans and a simple green salad with Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing. Wash it down with some Brazilian Lemonade!
Looking for the beef version? It’s right here!
Lastly, recently this recipe was noted in an article in the Chicago Sun-Times where the author noted that they were “some of the best taquitos I’ve ever had” I’ll take it!

Caramel and Chocolate Covered Marshmellows, Peeps Too


FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2011

I found these GIANT campfire marshmallows at the Christmas Tree Shoppe and had to buy them. I don't even like marshmallows, but they were just huge!  So I dipped them in some melted caramel, let it harden and then dipped in some melted dark chocolate.



Some I just dipped in the chocolate because the caramel was a royal pain for the kids with sprinkles!


And here is my first attempt at peanut butter eggs!  I can't believe I've never made them before! So easy!


And my Treat Hutch is nearly complete!  I'm going to take the peeps sacks off and fill them ahead of time and put little name tags on them, but other than that it's good to go!









The peeps topper in the last picture is from Itsy Bitsy Paper and I just love it!

Tomorrow is cleaning day!  And shopping for last minute basket fillers, buying a ham, making jello cookies, a key lime pound cake and finishing up the eggs/prizes for the adult egg hunt!  I host Easter every year and we're up to 42 people!  Yeehaw!!

Cranberry and Avocado Salad


Cranberry and Avocado Salad with Candied Spiced Almonds and Sweet White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Once you try this delicious salad you’ll find yourself craving it again and again. It’s bright, fresh and beyond versatile.
By Chris Scheuer
This salad is perfect for a quick lunch, a fancy brunch, a lovely side salad or a complete meal with chicken, shrimp or pork tenderloin piled on top. You can add goat cheese, blue cheese or any other fun cheese that strikes your fancy. It’s wonderful with spinach, Romaine, field greens, Bibb lettuce, arugula… did I miss your favorite? Well, it’s great with that too! Feel free to change out the nuts also – don’t have any almonds? Candied Spiced Pecans would be a fabulous switcheroo!
For Valentine’s Day, you could add a sprinkle of crimson pomegranate seeds or how about a scatter of blood orange or ruby red grapefruit wedges? Slivers of mango are beautiful as well as grape halves or sliced crisp apples or pears. Are you starting to get the picture? It’s what I call a Little Black Dress Recipe! Totally adaptable, simple or elegant, dress it up or down depending on the occasion.
The vinaigrette that dresses this delicious salad can be prepared in minutes. I keep a jar in the fridge so we can have a fabulous salad on the spur of the moment with whatever’s in season and/or whatever’s  stashed in my fruit/veggie bins!
The recipe below is for my Cranberry-Avocado Salad with Candied Spiced Almonds and Sweet White Balsamic Vinaigrette, but feel free to have fun and adapt according to your tastes, whims, cravings, pantry and budget!
Cranberry-Avocado Salad with Candied Spiced Almonds and Sweet White Balsamic Vinaigrette
5.0 from 1 reviews
Print
Recipe type: Salad
Author: Chris Scheuer
Prep time: 45 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 55 mins
Serves: This fresh salad serves 6 as a dinner salad, 8 as a side salad
Ingredients
  • Ingredients for the dressing:
  • 1/2 cup (60g) sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1 ½ tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons dried mustard
  • 1 tablespoon minced sweet onion
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) white balsamic vinegar
  • 1/3 cup (70 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup (70 ml) extra virgin olive oil

  • Ingredients for the salad:
  • 12 ounces (340g) baby spinach, arugula, field greens
  • 1 small bunch cilantro, washed and dried, leaves removed whole from stems (discard the stems or use for another recipe)
  • 2 medium avocados, peeled and halved
  • 1 1/2 cup (115g) dried cranberries
  • 1 1/2 cup (115g) Candied Spiced Almonds (see recipe)

  • Ingredients for the almonds:
  • 5 cups (600g) sliced almonds, or a 1 pound package
  • cup (100g) sugar
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cumin*
  • 1-1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika* – some smoked paprikas are quite hot, if you don’t like “hot”, just use 1 teaspoon and they will be mildly spiced.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • sea salt
  • The cumin and the smoked paprika give just a hint of mysterious, delicious flavor – even though these are savory spices, these almonds are still wonderful served with sweets like ice cream or yogurt.
Instructions
  1. For the dressing; combine all ingredients in a pint sized glass jar and shake well to dissolve sugar.
  2. For the salad; place greens and cilantro leaves in a large bowl.
  3. Add avocado and dried cranberries and about 1/4 cup of the dressing and toss gently.
  4. Scatter candied almonds over salad and sprinkle lightly with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pass extra dressing at the table.
  5. For the almonds:place a large sheet of foil on a work surface. Spray with cooking spray or rub a teaspoon of oil over foil with a paper towel.
  6. Place sugar in a large non-stick sauté pan and heat over medium heat, occasionally tipping and swirling the sugar until it’s all melted into a pale golden syrup.
  7. Lower heat immediately and add butter, cinnamon, smoked paprika and vanilla. Stir until well combined and all butter is incorporated into the sugar syrup.
  8. Add the nuts and stir gently to coat. Don’t worry if you have some clumps of caramelized sugar – they will melt as you continute to sauté the almonds. Cover and continue to cook on low, stirring every minute or so until almonds are a delicious golden brown. Watch very carefully as they can go from beautiful to burned very quickly! Turn out onto prepared foil and sprinkle liberally with sea salt. Spread out on foil to cool.
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