Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Deviled Eggs

Today is National Deviled Egg Day!



To celebrate the day,
I have posted 
recipes
 with variations and a
 link 
for many more deviled egg recipes
from the
"Deviled Egg Gourmet"


Always keep your deviled eggs well-chilled, taking additional precautions in the summer months. Not a good idea to eat deviled eggs left out of the refrigerator for more than an hour or so, especially during hot weather.


Adapt the recipes to suit your lifestyle . . . use light mayonnaise to help cut down on the calories from fat to accommodate low cholesterol and low fat diet plans (with 50% less fat than regular mayonnaise). My choice is Hellman’s . . . regular mayonnaise will produce a creamier result.



Deviled Egg Recipe #1


Ingredients


12 large eggs, hard cooked, peeled, carefully sliced half
½ cup Mayonnaise
¼ cup Sour cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Prepared white horseradish
8 ounces Bacon, cooked crisp, drained, crumbled fine
4 Scallions, chopped fine




Directions


Put egg yolks into a small bowl and mash them with the back of a spoon.


Stir in mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard and horseradish. When yolk mixture is smooth, stir in bacon and scallions. Taste for seasoning. Using two spoons, stuff egg whites with the yolk mixture.


Source: Foodista






Deviled Egg Recipe #2


Ingredients


6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise
¼ cup Light Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing
½ teaspoon dry ground mustard
½ teaspoon white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Paprika for garnish




Directions


Remove the egg yolks to a small bowl and mash with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard powder, vinegar, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Fill the empty egg white shells with the mixture and sprinkle lightly with paprika.


Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one day before serving.


Source: DeviledEggs.com . . . this website has lots of deviled egg recipes!






My Deviled Egg recipe


I don't measure!


Remove the egg yolks to a small bowl and mash with a form. Add mayonnaise, a bit of sour cream (optional) and a splash of pickle juice until desired texture and taste is achieved. 


Spice with a little salt and a dash of cayenne pepper to taste . . . use black pepper if you don't like spicy hot. Finely cut pickles and add to the mixture. 


Fill the egg whites with the mixture, sprinkle with paprika or cayenne pepper and garnish with a pickle slice cut in half.











Garlic Dill Potatoes






Potatoes are tossed
 in a garlic dill
butter 
before serving in this 
awesome side dish




Ingredients

8 medium red potatoes, cubed
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt



Directions

Place the potatoes in a steamer basket, 
and set in a pan over an inch of boiling water.

Cover, and steam for about 10 minutes, 
until potatoes are tender but not mushy.

In a small bowl, stir together the 
butter, dill, garlic, and salt.

Transfer the potatoes to a serving bowl, 
and pour the seasoned butter over them.

Toss gently until they are well-coated.


Source:  AllRecipes



Monday, October 25, 2010

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Brownies



Ingredients

1 large roll Pillsbury premixed chocolate chip cookie mix (refrigerator section)
2 (8 oz.) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


Mix cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with mixer until softened.


Cut cookie mix in half and put 1/2 back in freezer.


Slice dough in 1/4 inch slices and place on bottom of a 9 x 11 inch baking dish.


Blend to cover bottom.


Place cream cheese mix on top of cookie mix.


Take remaining dough and slice in 1/4 inch slices. Place on top of cream cheese mix, leaving spaces between the dough.


Bake 40 minutes.


Cut into 48 brownies when completely cooled.


Refrigerate.



Source:  Foodista

Friday, October 8, 2010

Apple-Raspberry Turnovers



Yield: 6 turnovers
Cost per serving: $.50


Ingredients


1 medium apple, peeled, cored and diced
2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from 1 17.5-oz. package), thawed
1 large egg, lightly beaten




Preparation


Position a rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Combine apples, jam and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a separate small bowl.


On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut pastry into 6 4-inch squares with a sharp knife or pizza cutter.


Spoon some apple mixture into center of each square, leaving a 1-inch border. Brush borders with beaten egg. Fold each square into a triangle and press edges with tines of a fork to seal (be sure to seal tightly). Using a sharp paring knife, cut 2 small steam vents in top of each turnover. Sprinkle each turnover with cinnamon sugar. Place turnovers on lined baking sheet.


Bake until golden and puffed, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.




My variation

This already fast and easy recipe can be even easier by using pie filling and other goodies . . . how about cherry pie filling with cream cheese?  


The variations are endless and inexpensive . . .





Source: All You, OCTOBER 2008

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Canning tomatoes



If you grow your own tomatoes, canning
 is the perfect way to preserve your surplus.

 Here is an excellent instructional video:













In addition to this video, 


here are some links on 


canning tomatoes:












Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; 
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.



Monday, September 27, 2010

Caramel Popcorn



This is one of those snacks that
I have attempted to make with
awful results.  

I'll be giving this a try . . .
however, it is a huge recipe, 
so I will be cutting it way back.


Ingredients

12 quarts plain popped popcorn
1 pound peanuts
2 cups butter, cubed
2 pounds brown sugar
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 cup molasses


Directions

Place popcorn in two large bowls.
Stir 1/2 pound nuts into each bowl.

In a Dutch oven, combine the remaining ingredients.
 Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 5 minutes.

Pour half of syrup over each bowl of popcorn and stir to coat.

Transfer coated popcorn into a large roasting pan. 

Bake at 250° for 1 hour. 

Remove from the oven and break apart while warm. 

Cool. Store in airtight containers. 

Yield: 48 servings ( 1 cup per serving).


Nutrition Facts: 

1 serving (1 cup) equals 267 calories, 15 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 
20 mg cholesterol, 189 mg sodium, 32 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Caramel Corn published in Taste of Home February/March 1994, p64

Photo by: Taste of Home


Thursday, September 23, 2010

Apple Cobbler Oatmeal


Image source:  Food Network website



Oatmeal is one of my favorite meals.  Over the years, I have experimented with the basic oatmeal recipe by adding various ingredients such as nuts, raisins . . . my favorite is substituting flavored coffee creamer for milk (Amaretto flavor is awesome).

Can't wait to try out this oatmeal recipe!


Ingredients


1 cup water
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
Pinch salt
1 apple, cored and diced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon crushed walnuts
1/4 cup fat free milk
dash of cinnamon



    Directions:
    Cook oatmeal on the stove top according to instructions (with a pinch of salt, if desired). Stir frequently as it boils. Add diced apple about halfway through cooking. Remove from stove and stir in brown sugar, walnuts, milk, and cinnamon.


    This recipe is for 1 Serving



    Source:  The Food Network website




    Janel Ovrut, MS RD LDN, loves experimenting with vegetarian and vegan cooking. Read her food blog,Eat Well with Janel, and follow her on Twitter @DietitianJanel. Catch up on her previous posts here.

    Wednesday, September 22, 2010

    Skillet Rosemary Chicken



    Chicken . . . so versatile . . . yet the question always remains . . .

    What to do with chicken that is new and appealing?

    It is during these "bored of food" times that I have found some of my favorite recipes. Looks like this time my search for new recipes has a real winner.

    The compliment of rosemary with chicken has always produced delicious results with my roast chicken that I stuff with rosemary, lemons, onion and garlic. The simplicity of cooking these simple ingredients in a skillet sounds like a great idea to use with the bagged frozen chicken tenderloins (skinless and boneless) that I love to use since they require no cleaning and I don't like chicken skin.


    My spin on this recipe will be to make it stir-fry style,
    with the chicken tenderloins cut into bite sized pieces,
    served over white rice.


    By the way, my favorite source of finding new recipes is the Food Network Website!




    Ingredients

    3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large
    Kosher salt
    2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 tablespoon leaves
    1 clove garlic, smashed
    Pinch of red pepper flakes
    Juice of 2 lemons (squeezed halves reserved)
    2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)
    10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved


    Directions

    Preheat the oven to 450. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.

    Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.

    Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet and drizzle with the juice of the remaining lemon.

    Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.


    Per serving: Calories 413; Fat 23 g (Saturated 5 g); Cholesterol 87 mg; Sodium 1,055 mg; Carbohydrate 19 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 32 g


    Photograph by Antonis Achilleos



    Sunday, September 12, 2010

    Fish in a Bag Tilapia Recipe . . . Red Lobster


    Red Lobster is one of my favorite restaurants!

    Personally, I can't visit without ordering their
    fried shrimp with a baked potato and house salad.

    This recipe is one of my aunt and uncle's favorites
    and was no longer on the regular menu
    the last time we visited.

    However, they were extremely accomodating
    and made it special to order for them.

    This recipe is for my aunt and uncle!



    Ingredients (makes 4 servings):

    8 sheets parchment paper
    4 servings Vegetable Mix (see recipe below)
    12 lemon wheels, each cut into 1/4" pieces
    4 thyme springs, approximately 3-5" each
    1 tsp. Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Blackened Redfish Magic™
    4 8-10 oz. pieces of tilapia, skin off


    Vegetable Mix Recipe:

    1 medium red onion, cut into half slices
    1 medium red pepper, cut into 1-1 1/2" x 1/4" strips
    2 stalks of celery, sliced into 1/4" pieces
    8 oz. carrot slims
    2 tbsp. of McCormick's “It's a Dilly” Seasoning Blend™
    2 baking potatoes
    2 tsp. kosher salt
    1 tsp. black pepper
    2 tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped
    1 tsp. Chef Paul Prudhomme's Vegetable Magic



    Preparation


    Vegetables:

    Wash all vegetables.

    Peel the onion and cut in half.
    Slice into 1/4" half moons.

    Cut the red pepper into 1-2" long
    by 1/4" wide strips.

    Trim the celery and cut into 1/4" pieces.

    Cut the potatoes in half in the middle and
    then into 1/6 ths. Steam potatoes for
    approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until tender.

    Cool in ice water to stop cooking.

    Once cooled, drain well.

    Place all vegetables into a mixing bowl.

    Add the following to the vegetables:

    It's a Dilly seasoning blend, kosher salt,
    ground pepper, chopped thyme and
    Chef Paul Prudhomme's Vegetable Magic.

    Mix well.



    Fish:

    Make 3 to 4 1/4" slices approximately 1/2" apart.
    This will ensure even cooking.

    Brush with liquid butter and then
    season with kosher salt.

    Lightly sprinkle Chef Paul Prudhomme's
    Blackened Redfish Magic on the fish.



    Layering the Bag:

    Brush each piece of parchment paper lightly
    with liquid butter (one side only).

    Place 1/4 of the vegetable mixture in the
    center of one sheet of parchment paper.

    Place one piece on top of the vegetable mixture.

    Place three lemon wheels across the fish.

    Place one large thyme sprig on top.

    Repeat with the other three pieces of fish.



    Sealing the Bag:

    Place one sheet of the buttered parchment paper
    on top of one piece of fish.

    Crimp the two sheets of parchment paper like a
    piecrust until the bottom and the top are completely sealed.

    Repeat with the other three pieces of fish.



    Cooking:

    Place the bags onto a cookie sheet.

    Cook in a 450-degree oven for
    approximately 12 to 15 minutes.

    To check the temperature, insert a probe into
    the side of the bag until you have reached
    the middle of the fish. The temperature of the fish
    should be between 140-150 degrees.

    Place the bag onto a plate.

    Slice the parchment open right at the table to enjoy!


    Source: Red Lobster


    Sunday, August 15, 2010

    How to oven-dry tomatoes





    Prepare:

    Roma tomatoes are best for oven-drying.

    Remove their stems, rinse them under water and pat dry.

    Cut the tomatoes in half lengthwise. Core and remove the seeds.

    Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Place the tomato halves, skin side down, on the parchment.



    Bake:

    Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

    Bake for 8 to 10 hours for tomatoes that are about 3 1/2 inches long.

    Smaller tomatoes will take less time.

    Start checking them after about 6 hours.

    The tomatoes should be drying out and shriveling.

    When done, they will be reddish-brown flat pieces about 1 1/2 inches long.



    Store:

    Keep them in the refrigerator for about a month or in the
    freezer for six months for best quality.



    Use:

    Rehydrate them in hot water. Use kitchen scissors to cut them
    and use on pizzas and in sauces, soups and pasta dishes.





    Source:
    Susan M. Selasky
    Detroit Free Press Test Kitchen
    July 28, 2010