Creamy Shallot Dressing

1/2 finely chopped small shallot
3/4 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk
 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
 salt, pepper, and more vinegar to taste

great w/ blue cheese if you like

Beer Queso

• 1 cup Beer
• 1 lb (16 oz)  american cheese
• 1 can (10 oz each) Ro*Tel

Cajun Spice Mix

   2 teaspoons salt
  2 teaspoons garlic powder
  2 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  1 teaspoon onion powder
  1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  1 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
  1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
  1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Cajun Pasta

• 8 oz Rotini, cooked
• Veggies of your choice (I do onions, mushrooms, spinach)
• 1 T of Cajun seasoning
• 2 diced tomatoes
• 1 T butter
• 1T flour
• 2 cups low fat milk
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

• Cook the rotini and set aside
• Saute your veggies until they  are done. I do onions, then add mushrooms, and finally spinach until it's wilted. Set all the veggies aside.
• Melt butter (or olive oil) and add flour. Cook until the flour is cooled. Slowly add milk and continue until slightly thickened. Add cajun seasoning. Adjust seasoning to taste
• Add in veggies and cook 2-3 minutes. Add pasta, mix it up, and you're done.

Black Bean Burgers

• 1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 egg
• ½ cup chopped sweet yellow onion
• ½ cup chopped yellow bell pepper (or not)
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 Teaspoon Sriracha
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
• 6 hamburger buns
• Additional burger toppings like sliced tomatoes, onions, lettuce, etc. as desired.

Instructions

1. Place rinsed beans in a large bowl and mash well using a potato masher or a fork.
2. Add the egg, onion, bell pepper, bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, pepper and Sriracha. Blend, using your hands, until well combined. Shape mixture into six patties.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add patties in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until each side is golden brown and cooked through. (8-10 minutes depending on the size of your patties).
4. Transfer to buns and top with additional toppings as desired. (We topped each burger with extra Sriracha, which was delicious!). Serve hot.

California quinoa salad

Copycat Whole Foods California quinoa salad recipe

Serves 6

Ingredients:

For the salad

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 large fresh mangoes, diced
• 1/2 medium red onion, diced
• 2 red bell peppers, diced
• 1 small handful cilantro, roughly chopped
• 1-1/2 cups shelled edamame
• 1/2 cup organic raisins
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

For the dressing

• 2-3 limes, juiced
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1-2 teaspoons agave or honey (depending on desired taste)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, add the cooked quinoa and all of the remaining ingredients for the salad, mixing well.
2. In a small bowl, add the fresh lime juice, balsamic, agave and season with salt and pepper and mix well.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss very well. Serve immediately or keep chilled until ready to enjoy.

Zucchini Bisque

Ingredients

•          4 medium zucchini, shredded
•         1 medium onion, chopped
•         2 T butter
•     2.5 c vegetable broth
•          1/4 c half and half
•          3/4 teaspoon salt
•          1/2 teaspoon minced fresh basil
•          1/2 teaspoon pepper
• optional - pinch of nutmeg, pinch of cayenne pepper

       

Directions

    In a large saucepan, saute zucchini and onion in butter for 5-6 minutes or until tender. Stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes. Cool slightly.
  
Use an immersion blender or transfer to a food processor / blender; cover and process on low until smooth. Return to the pan. Stir in the half and half, salt, basil, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

Influenza Sorbet

Influenza Sorbet

2 cups orange juice (from 5 to 6 oranges)

1/3 cup lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)

1/3 cup honey

1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

1/4 c bourbon

Mix it all together and put it in your ice cream maker. It has all kinds of things to make you feel better.

Braised brussels sprouts

1 ¼ lb. Brussels sprouts
3 Tbs unsalted butter
¼ tsp coarse sea salt, plus more to taste
1 cup heavy cream or half and half
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice, or more to taste

First, prep the Brussels sprouts. Trim the stem end of each sprout and pull off any ragged or nasty outer leaves. Cut the sprouts in half.

In a large (12-inch) skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the Brussels sprouts and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sprouts are nicely browned in spots, about 5 minutes or so. I like mine to get some good color here, so that they have a sweetly caramelized flavor.

Pour in the cream, stir to mix, and then cover the pot. Reduce the heat to low or medium low: you want to keep the pan at a slow simmer. Braise until the sprouts are tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a paring knife, about 30-35 minutes. The cream will have reduced some and will have taken on a creamy tan color.

Remove the lid, and stir in the lemon juice. Taste for seasoning, and adjust as necessary. Let the pan simmer, uncovered, for a minute or two to thicken the cream to a glaze that loosely coats the sprouts. Serve immediately.

Bread and celery stuffing

1 pound of cubed white bread
3/4 cup butter
1 chopped onion
4 stalks celery
1 t sage
1 t thyme
1 t marjoram
1/2 salt plus more to tast
1 T fresh sage
1 c veg stock

Melt butter and saute celery and onion until soft. Add herbs. Then add bread and coat. Add stock until the bread is moist. The center may still be a bit crunchy but as it sits it will absorb. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Sauerkraut

• 1 large head of green cabbage, sliced into thin strips (set large outer leaves aside)
• 1 Tbsp unrefined sea salt 
• 1Tbsp caraway seeds
• 
  

• Place 1/3 of your sliced cabbage into your large bowl and sprinkle 1 Tsp of the salt over it. Using your hands squeeze and stir the cabbage until some of the water content begins to come out of it and the cabbage seems wet.

• Repeat this process adding the remaining cabbage and salt 1/3 at a time to the bowl. Squeeze and stir the mixture until you can see water running off of the cabbage. This will take time and elbow-grease, so be ready to get your hands involved.
• Add caraway seeds
• Fill the 2 jars evenly, pressing the mixture down so that water releases and raises above the line of the vegetables. Continue doing this until the jars are filled with about 2″ of space remaining at the top.

• Wedge the large outer leaves of the cabbage you had set aside into the top of the jars so that the mixture is underneath it and the water level raises above the flat cabbage leaf. You will want to use a small pinch bowl or a shot glass as additional weight to keep the mixture down.

• Set the filled jars aside on a cookie sheet or in any other large, flat container with an edge so that if there is any spillover you keep it contained. Set the jars/cookie sheet aside in a secure place at room temperature where they will not be disturbed.

• Check on your raw sauerkraut every day or two to make sure that the water level has remained above the vegetables and that no vegetables are touching the surface and coming into contact with air. The fermentation process happens under water, so if you do see anything touching the surface, use a clean spoon to remove it. You may also see some growth or mold form around the top of the liquid- this is normal but it’s best to remove it when you see it. If you need to add liquid to the jars, add some fresh water to make sure that everything is below a water line. The weights should a lot help with this.

• After about one week, remove the weight and top piece of cabbage from the kraut, remove a thin layer of the top of the kraut and give it a taste. It should be sour but probably not “there” yet. Allow the sauerkraut to sit for at least 2 weeks and taste it periodically as you wish to check on it.

• Once the sauerkraut tastes as you like it, place the lid on it and store it in the refrigerator. It will last for several months while refrigerated and will not continue to ferment further.

•  

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced onions
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano
1/4 cup fresh basil
4 cups vegetable broth
½ bay leaf
½ cup flour
  3/4cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup butter
2 cups skim milk
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

1.  Heat oil in 4 quart soup pot.  Add onions and carrots.  Saute 5 minutes.  Add basil, oregano, bay leaf, tomatoes, and  broth.  Bring it to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until carrots are tender (15 minutes).

2.  While soup simmers, prepare a roux.  Melt butter over low heat, add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 5-7 minutes.  Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup.  Add another 3 cups and stir until smooth.  Add back into soup pot.

3.  Simmer, stirring constantly, until soup begins to thicken.  Add Parmesan cheese and whisk to blend.  Stir  in milk, salt and pepper.  Simmer over low heat 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Potato Leek Soup

Potato-Leek Soup

Yield: 4 servings

Time: About 1 hour, partially unattended

1½ pounds leeks, white and green parts separated

1½ pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped, trimmings reserved

1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped, trimmings reserved

1 celery stalk, chopped, trimmings reserved

Salt and black pepper

3 tablespoons butter

½ cup half and half

Chopped fresh chives or parsley for garnish (optional)

1. Put the leek greens and other vegetable trimmings in a medium pot, season with salt and pepper, and add enough water to cover the trimmings. Cover, bring to a boil over high heat, then adjust the heat so the mixture simmers gently.

2. While the stock is cooking, put the butter in a large pot over medium heat and slice the leek whites. When the butter melts, add the leek whites and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re very tender and beginning to caramelize, about 20 minutes. Add the potatoes, carrot, and celery and continue to cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

3. Strain the stock and add enough of it to the large pot to cover the vegetables. Cover, bring to a boil over high heat, and adjust the heat so the mixture simmers gently. Cook until the potatoes are very soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the cream, and purée with an immersion blender. Taste and adjust the seasoning, garnish with chives or parsley if you like, and serve. (Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.)

Cherry Cranberry Pie

1 9" pie crust

4 cups of fresh/frozen cherries and cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/4 c corn starch

1 cup flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 brown sugar
6 T butter

Put the berries in a medium sauce pan and cook over medium heat until they release a lot of their juice. Add sugar and corn starch, stir well, and cook until it thickens.

Meanwhile, mix flour, other sugars, and butter until they form small crumbs.

Put the filling in the crust, top with cumbly mix, and bake at 425 for 35-45 minutes.

Black Forest Cherry Cake

Ingredients

• 2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup melted butter (or vegetable oil)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans pitted sour cherries
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch, round, cake pans; cover bottoms with waxed paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla; beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake for 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely.
4. Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved juice, cherries, 1 cup sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool before using.
5. Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form.
6. With long serrated knife, split each cake layer horizontally in half. Gently brush loose crumbs off top and side of each cake layer with pasty brush or hands. To assemble, place one cake layer on cake plate. Spread with 1/3rd of the whipped cream. Top with 1/3 cherry topping. Top with second cake layer; repeat layers of frosting and cherry topping. Top with third cake layer. Add (or decorate with) remaining whipped cream and spoon remaining cherry topping onto top of cake.

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Adapted from AllRecipes.com

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/07/blueberry-crumb-bars/

These are easiest to cut once chilled, and store even better in the
fridge than they do at room temperature–something unusual for cookies!

Yield: I cut these into 36 smallish rectangles

1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cold butter (2 sticks or 8 ounces)
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
Zest and juice of one lemon
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch pan.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, and
baking powder. Mix in salt and lemon zest. Use a fork or pastry cutter
to blend in the butter and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of
dough into the prepared pan.

3. In another bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and lemon
juice. Gently mix in the blueberries. Sprinkle the blueberry mixture
evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly
brown. (This took an extra 10 to 15 minutes in my oven.) Cool
completely before cutting into squares.


Try making it with apricots instead:
2 cups dried apricots
1/2 cup sugar (or a little less)
Water to cover
Pinch of salt

Boil this all together on the stove for a while until the water is
mostly absorbed and the apricots have broken down a bit and it
smells/tastes good. Add more sugar if needed. Put in a splash of
brandy if you want before taking it off the heat.

Then just use this mixture as the filling instead of the blueberries
below.

Bailey's Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 c heavy cream
• 1 c milk
• 1 c sugar
• 1/2 c Baileys (or other liquor)
  

Instructions:

Whisk all of this stuff together until all the sugar has been dissolved. Stick it in the ice cream maker. Because of the alcohol, it will stay pretty soft. 1/2 cup of liquor may not seem like a lot, but you will definitely be able to taste it.

Mac & Cheese

You can substitute the same amount of any type of cheese and substitute any veggie (or just leave the veg out entirely).

Ingredients

8 ounces of pasta (macaroni, penne, etc)
1 1/4 cups of milk
2 T butter
2 T flour
1/8 t. cayenne pepper (optional)
4 oz cheese (I like smoked gouda. 4 oz is about 1 cup of shredded cheese)
1 bag of fresh spinach (or substitute about a cup of other veggies or leave them out)
1/2 c bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 375

Cook the noodles until al dente.

In a saucepan, melt the butter and stir in flour until it's bubbly. Slowly stir in the milk and keep stirring until it starts to thicken. Add the cayenne, salt & pepper to taste, and bring it all to a boil for a couple minutes. Add the cheese and stir until it's melted. If you're adding veggies, add them now (for spinach, it will seem like a lot, but don't worry - it wilt really quickly in the cheese sauce).

Meanwhile, make bread crumbs by chopping up some stale bread in a blender and seasoning with parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, or anything else you like until they taste good.

Spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray. Add the noodles, pour the sauce over them, and stir. Top with the bread crumbs. Bake for about 20 minutes until it's golden brown and bubbly.

Lemon Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cups lemon juice

Cream the butter and sugar, add flour from first 3 ingredients. Bake for 15 minutes at 350. Mix the remaining ingredients. Pour over baked crust and bake 25 minutes at 350.

Alexis's Mom's Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

375*

1/2 c butter
1/2 c peanut butter
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla

cream the above, then sift and add carefully:
1 1/4 c flour
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

shape into 1.5-2 inch balls, roll in granulated sugar, place onto cookie sheet, the use a fork or potato masher to lightly press a checkerboard/plaid dents and slightly flatten the balls.

bake 10-12 min.

mmmmmmmm

(3,000 calories per batch. Divide by # of cookies to get calories each)