Berries and Coconut Cream

Berries are always a great choice for desserts or snacks.  

I love this recipe for its simplicity.  The coconut cream sounds delicious

and a great alternative to plain whipped cream

This recipe comes from Real Simple's series Favorite Summer Recipes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds mixed berries (such as blackberries and raspberries)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez)

Directions

In a large bowl, gently toss the berries, sugar, and lime juice.

With an electric mixer, beat the heavy cream and cream of coconut until soft peaks form. Serve with the berries.

Real Simple, By Sara Quessenberry, August, 2009

Crab Fritters

• 1 lb. Back fin Crabmeat
• 1 Egg, beaten
• 1 cup Ritz Crackers, crushed
• 1 tsp. Yellow Mustard
• 2 tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp. Fresh Parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce


Place crabmeat in a mixing bowl, picking any stray shell fragments out. Add crushed crackers, Old Bay Seasoning & parsley to the crab. In a separate bowl, combine egg, mustard, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Whip with a whisk until smooth. Pour egg mixture over the crabmeat and crackers and gently mix careful not to break up large lumps of crabmeat. Mold into golf ball size balls and place on a cookie sheet. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Drizzle w/ melted butter and allow to cool.

Pimento Cheese Burger

Can we assume from The Food Network that Bobby Flay is the King of Burgers and BBQ?  I've heard raves about his restaurant Bobby's Burger Palace.  I'd love to go there and have one of these Pimento Cheese Burgers!

The Captain and I love cheeseburgers and we love pimento cheese . . . of course we will be trying this recipe soon!

Photo and Recipe Source:  Bobby Flay's website

Makes 4 burgers

Pimento Cheese

• 1/3 cup prepared mayonnaise
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder
• ¼ pound extra sharp white cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
• ¼ pound extra sharp yellow cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
• 1/3 cup drained and finely diced piquillo peppers or roasted red peppers

Using a fork, stir together the mayonnaise, salt, pepper and cayenne in a large bowl. Add the cheese and peppers and mix with the fork until combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using to allow the flavors to meld.

Burgers

• 1½ lbs freshly ground chuck (80/20)
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 hamburger buns, with or without sesame seeds, split
• 8 thick slices double smoked bacon, cooked until crisp, optional

1. Form the meat into four burgers. Season the burgers on both sides with salt and pepper.

2. Add the oil to the griddle and heat over high heat until shimmering. Cook the burgers for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked to medium doneness.

3. During the last 30 seconds of cooking, top each burger with a few spoonfuls of the pimento cheese, cover with a basting cover or loosely tent with foil and cook until the cheese melts slightly.

4. Place the burger on the bottom half of the bun, top the cheese with 2 slices of bacon on top of the cheese and top with the bun top.

Olive Potatoes

Source:  The Cooking Channel
Recipe courtesy Laura Calder

Show: French Food at Home

Episode: The Olive Show


French cooking is something I'm not familiar with.  Probably because I don't have much of an interest since my trip to France and my dislike of the food, except for the awesome pastries.  I was surrounded by unfamiliar food arranged by a tour group.  I'll never forget my disgust when a plate of escargot was placed in front of me and I had no idea what was before me.  I immediately lost my appetite when I asked "what is escargot" and found out they were snails.  I lived on coffee, pastries and fruit while in Paris.

Anyway, I ran across the show French Food at Home on The Cooking Channel and have watched it several times with a bit of apprehension.  I'm surprised to say that I have seen several meals prepared that I would love to try out.  The Olive Potatoes is a side dish that I want to try for sure.

As I have "matured" my mind is more open to different foods from all cultures.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup/ 125 ml olive oil
• 2 pounds/1 kg red waxy potatoes
• 4 medium onions, sliced
• 8 cloves garlic, unpeeled
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 to 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1/2 cup/50 g black olives, pitted
• 1/2 cup/50 g green olives, pitted
• 1/2 cup/60 g pine nuts
• A handful of shredded fresh basil

DIRECTIONS

Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan until quite hot. Add the potatoes, onions and garlic; stirring to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and add the thyme sprigs. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and the potatoes tender and golden, about 30 minutes.

Then toss in the olives and pine nuts, stirring to warm them. Check the seasonings, toss in the basil and serve.