Jack Daniel Grilling/Dipping Sauce

Jack Daniel Grilling/Dipping Sauce

1 Head of Garlic
1 T. Olive Oil
2/3 C. Water
1 C. Pineapple Juice
1/4 C. Teriyaki Sauce
1 T. Soy Sauce
1 1/3 C. Dark Brown Sugar
3 T. Lemon Juice
3 T. Minced White Onion
1 T. Jack Daniels Whiskey

1 T. Crushed Pineapple

1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Cut about 1/2-inch off of top of garlic. Cut the roots so that the garlic will sit flat. Remove the papery skin from the garlic, but leave enough so that the cloves stay together. Put garlic into a small casserole dish or baking pan, drizzle olive oil over it, and cover with a lid or foil. Bake in a preheated 325° oven for 1 hour. Remove garlic and let it cool until you can handle it. Combine water, pineapple juice, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium/high heat. Stir occasionally until mixture boils then reduce heat until mixture is just simmering. Squeeze the sides of the head of garlic until the pasty roasted garlic is squeezed out. Measure 2 tsp. into the saucepan and whisk to combine. Add remaining ingredients to the pan and stir. Let mixture simmer for 40-50 minutes or until sauce has reduced by about 1/2 and is thick and syrupy. Make sure it doesn’t boil over. Makes 1 C. of glaze.

 

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Glazed Meatballs

Glazed Meatballs

1 1/2 lb. ground beef

1/4 C. Dry bread crumbs

1/4 C. Water

1/4 C. Fresh chopped onion

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 tsp. Pepper

1 1/2 C. Grape jelly (or other simple flavor)

1/2 C. Ketchup

 

Put first 7 ingredients into bowl. Mix well. Shape into small balls. Heat grape jelly and ketchup in frying pan. Add meatballs. Simmer very slowly for about 20 to 25 minutes turning meatballs at half time. Serve in chafing dish.

Roasted Veggies with Brie

Roasted Veggies with Brie

Roasted Veggies with Brie1 wheel of brie
1 medium zucchini, cut into rounds
Roasted red pepper
30-40 garlic cloves, roasted
olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper
Finely chopped fresh rosemary
Baguette for serving

Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees. Put peeled garlic cloves in an oven safe dish, sprinkle with about a teaspoon of black pepper, a teaspoon of kosher salt and about a tablespoon of olive oil. Cover tightly with foil & bake for about 30 minutes. Slice zucchini into rounds and put into a pan that has been heating over medium heat with a few swirls of olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. Cook for about 10-12 minutes & give them a flip with a spatula and cook down about another 10 minutes. Slice the brie wheel & roasted red pepper into long strips, set aside, finely chop 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary. Cut the baguette and lightly toast on a sheet pan. Your oven should already be hot, so only about 5-7 minutes will do. Assemble roasted red pepper strips, roasted garlic & zucchini in separate piles in an oven proof pan; stack the brie like a fan. Sprinkle the veggies and brie with kosher salt and finely chopped fresh rosemary. Place the whole pan in the oven for about 5 minutes… until the brie starts to melt; serve with toasted baguette.

Potatoes with Bleu Cheese

Potatoes with Bleu Cheese

5 or 6 medium potatoes, peeled & sliced
1 small onion, diced
1 tsp. salt
pepper
3 Tbsp Imported Bleu Cheese (crumbled)
Heavy Cream (approx. 2 to 2 1/4 cups)

Spray a rectangular casserole dish with cooking spray.  Put a layer of potatoes on bottom of dish.  Sprinkle half the onion, half the salt, half the cheese and some pepper over potatoes.  Repeat layering once more.  Pour cream over potatoes until it is about halfway up dish.  Bake at 350 for 2 hours.  Cover with foil once potatoes are browned.

 

Bulgur Salad with Green Onion Vinaigrette

Bulgur Salad with Green Onion Vinaigrette

3/4 C. medium-grind bulgur

1/2 small red onion, finely diced

2 plum tomatoes, finely diced

1 C. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/2 C. finely chopped fresh mint leaves

4 green onions, sliced, plus 1/2 C. chopped green onions

1/4 C. fresh lime juice

1 T. buckwheat honey

1 serrano chile, chopped

1/2 C. canola oil or olive oil

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

 

Place bulgur in a large bowl, pour 3 C. boiling water over, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain well, squeezing out as much water as possible, if needed. Return the cooked bulgur to the bowl and mix in the onion, tomatoes, parsley, mint, and 4 sliced green onions.  Place the lime juice, honey, serrano, and 1/2 C. chopped green onion in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil until emulsified. If the mixture appears too thick, blend in a few T. of cold water, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the salad to a platter and drizzle with the green onion vinaigrette.

 

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Brie Basil Tomato Pasta

Brie Basil Tomato Pasta

Dice about 8 Roma tomatoes into a bowl. Add a couple pinches of sugar and stir.  Add a few tsp. of balsamic vinegar (more if you like that taste). Drizzle olive oil over the mixture.  Add fresh basil (I usually use a handful or two). Stir and let marinate while you cook the pasta (it can also be made ahead of time and allowed to marinate longer). Cook angel hair pasta.  Place cubes of brie into bowls or serving bowl.  Pour hot pasta over the brie and toss.  Put tomato mixture over the pasta/brie.

 

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Braised Cauliflower

Braised Cauliflower

5 T. Vegetable Oil

1 T. Coriander Seeds

4 cloves Garlic, minced

1 hot Green Chili, seeded and thinly sliced

2” piece Ginger, peeled and cut into very thin slivers

½ tsp. Chili Powder

½ tsp. ground Cumin

½ tsp. ground Turmeric

1 medium head Cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets

1 tsp. Salt

1 large Potato,  peeled and cut into 1” cubes

1 tsp. Garam Masala

¼ C. finely chopped fresh Cilantro

2 Tomato, thinly sliced

 

In large saucepan, heat oil over high heat until very hot but not smoking.  Add cumin seeds and cook, stirring contantly, for 30 seconds, until they pop and blacken.  Reduce heat to low, add garlic, chili pepper, and ginger and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, until fragrant.  Stir in chili powder, coriander, turmeric, cauliflower and salt and cook, covered for 10 minutes.  Gently stir in potatoes and 1-2 T. cold water to prevent mixture from sticking.  Cover and cook 20 minutes.  To serve, sprinkle with garam masala and garnish with cilantro and tomatoes.

 

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Spiral Sandwiches Bento

Spiral Sandwiches Bento

Potato Salad

Bell Pepper

Grapes (frozen)

Meat & Cheese Sandwich Roll Ups

Condiments (would those realistically stay not messy?)

Carrot strips

Japanese candies

 

 

 

 

 

Blueberry Sauce

Blueberry Sauce

2 C. fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed, if frozen

1/4 C. orange juice

1/4 C. water

2 T. sugar

1 T. cornstarch

1/4 tsp. orange peel, grated

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1 dash salt

 

Combine all ingredients in saucepan.  Cook and stir over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes or until thickened.

Berried Treasure Muffin Cups

Berried Treasure Muffin Cups

1/2 C. butter or margarine, softened
3/4 C. sugar, divided
2 large eggs
4 C. all-purpose flour, divided
2 1/2 T. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 C. buttermilk
1 C. fresh raspberries
1 C. fresh blueberries

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 1/2 C. sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Combine 3 3/4 C. flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Toss raspberries and blueberries with remaining 1/4 C. flour; gently fold into batter. Spoon batter into greased and floured muffin pans, filling three-fourths full. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/4 C. sugar. Bake at 400° for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks. Yield: 2 dozen.

Basil Mashed Potatoes

Basil Mashed Potatoes

4 large red potatoes (With skins on)
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper
1/4 lb butter
light cream as needed
2 T. fresh basil ( if available)

Wash potatoes, cover with water and add basil. Boil until done and strain. Mash
with fork, fold in sour cream and butter.  Adjust consistency with light cream.

Balsamic Vegetable Salad

Balsamic Vegetable Salad

1 lb. fresh green beans (or frozen green beans, thawed)

1/2 C. water

3/4 C. diced Roma tomatoes

1/2 C. sliced red onion

4 T. balsamic vinegar

2 T. olive oil

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 C. chopped basil or parsley

1/2 tsp. sugar

Mixed greens (Romaine, Butter, Iceberg, Spring Green Mix)

1/2 C. shredded Parmesan

 

Cook beans in water for 5 minutes, just until crisp tender. Plunge beans into ice water for 5 minutes. Drain well. Place beans in a large bowl, add tomatoes and onions, and toss well. Combine vinegar, oil, pepper, basil, and sugar in a small bowl. Beat with a wire whisk.  Pour mixture over the vegetable mixture and toss gently. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally. To serve: Add 2 T. of the marinade to mixed greens and toss gently. Place greens on platter, spoon vegetable mixture on top of greens, drizzle lightly with marinade, and top with Parmesan. Serve remaining marinade on side.

 

Bacon Cheese Muffins

Bacon Cheese Muffins

1/2 lb. bacon

Vegetable oil

1 beaten egg

3/4 C. milk

1 3/4 C. all-purpose flour

1/4 C. sugar

1/2 C. Grape Nuts cereal, (any crunchy nugget cereal)

1 C. cheddar cheese, shredded

 

Cook bacon- drain but reserve dripping, if necessary add vegetable oil to measure  1/3 c total.  In a small bowl combine dripping/oil, egg and milk- set aside. Crumble bacon, set aside. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients, make a well in center. Add wet mixture all at once; stir just until moistened.  Batter will be lumpy, stir in cheese, bacon & cereal. Fill greased or lined muffin C. 3/4 full. Bake at 400 for 15-20 min. Makes 12.

 

Cow Bento

Cow Bento

I didn’t make it, so I don’t know what all is in there.  Looks like a Onigiri Rice Ball, deocrated with nori, cheese, ham and carrot.  Cherry tomato, apple, broccoli, japanese rolled omelet with cheese.  I just can’t identify the frightening looking organ intestinesque item on the right!


Avocado Salad

Avocado Salad

2 medium avocados, diced
1 medium tomato, diced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
3 T. fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, finely shredded

2 T. oil
1/4 tsp. salt
2 T. parsley, minced
1/8 tsp. cayenne

Mix all of the ingredients well, chill and serve.

 

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Finger Lickin’ Sticky Chicken Legs

Finger Lickin’ Sticky Chicken Legs

4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. white pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. black pepper

 

chicken leg quarters– one seasoning recipe is enough for 5 lbs of leg quarters

1-2 C. chopped onion (vidalias are wonderful in this recipe!)

 

In a small bowl, thoroughly combine all the spices.  Defrost leg quarters, and chop between leg and thigh, removing as much skin as desired (we find that the thighs have way too much skin on them, so I cut most of it off, but leave a little skin on them for taste!).  Sprinkle seasoning on each piece, front and back, then place in a pan (I find the glass pans work very nicely). Sprinkle with the chopped onion.  Bake uncovered, at 350 degrees for at least 1 hour. The onions will caramelize and turn very dark- that’s ok, they will taste incredible! (I throw in extra onion because I like them so much this way!)

Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito

Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito

5 slices turkey bacon (nitrate-free)
nonstick cooking spray
6 egg whites, beaten
1 small tomato, cored, seeded, and chopped
4 6-inch low-carb tortillas
1/2 C. low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
2 C. salsa for garnish

Place the bacon between two paper towels on a paper plate. Microwave on high 4 to 5 minutes, or just until the bacon is crisp. Break into pieces. Spray a skil­let with nonstick cooking spray and heat on medium. Scramble the egg whites in the skillet until almost done. Add the tomato and bacon. Cook 30 sec­onds to 1 minute. Heat the tortillas for 10 seconds in the microwave, or you can warm them in a pan for a minute or two. Spoon the egg scramble equally into the center of the tortillas. Sprinkle low-fat cheese on top. Fold burrito-style. Serve immediately with salsa to taste.

 

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 150

Fat:

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Asian Pork and Noodle Bowl

Asian Pork and Noodle Bowl

1/4 of a small head of cabbage

1 T. vegetable oil

8 oz of cooked pork tenderloin cut in short strips

1 can of chicken broth

2 tsp.soy sauce

8 green onions, chopped

2 packages (3 oz each) ramen noodles with chicken flavoring

 

Shred the cabbage into thin strips. In a wok, pour the T. of vegetable oil and heat to medium heat. Add the cabbage and pork. Stir fry until the cabbage begins to soften. Open the packages of ramen noodles and remove the flavor packets. Add the can of chicken broth to the wok, the two packets of chicken flavoring, and 2 cans of tap water. Also add soy sauce. Bring the ingredients to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in green onions. Heat two minutes. Add the two packages of ramen noodles, breaking them into smaller pieces if you wish. Cook until the noodles are tender, about two to four minutes. Serve immediately.

Asian Crispy Wonton Lasagna

Asian Crispy Wonton Lasagna

Peanut oil, for frying

12 wonton wrappers

Salt

Vegetable Layer:

4 tsp. vegetable or peanut oil

2 tsp. sesame oil

2 tsp. minced garlic

2 tsp. minced ginger

2 tsp. minced green onions

1/2 C. shredded carrots

1/4 C. diced red bell peppers

2 C. thinly sliced Napa cabbage

1/3 C. water

2 tsp. hoisin sauce

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. freshly ground white pepper

1 T. diced green onion

1 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Meat Layer:

2 tsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. sesame oil

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. minced ginger

1 tsp. minced green onion

1/2 C. ground pork

1/2 lb. 1/2-inch diced shrimp

1 T. hoisin sauce

1 T. plus 1/4 C. soy sauce

2 T. sugar

1 tsp. cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tsp. water

1 T. chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1/4 C. mirin

2 large shrimp, split in 1/2 lengthwise

Whole cilantro leaves, for garnish

 

In a large 1-gallon pot, heat 2 inches of peanut oil to 350 degrees F. Fry the wontons in batches until golden and crispy, about 90 seconds. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate. Season with salt and reserve until ready to assemble the lasagnas.  Place a 12-inch sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the oils. Once the oils are hot, add the garlic, ginger, and green onions, and stir with a rubber spatula for 30 seconds, to keep from burning. Add the carrots and peppers to the pan and sauté, while stirring for 2 minutes. Add the cabbage to the pan and continue to cook for 3 minutes. Pour the water into the pan and continue to cook until all of the water is dissolved, about 3 minutes longer. Season the cabbage with the hoisin, salt, and pepper. Garnish with the green onions and cilantro and toss to blend.

Place 1 wonton skin on the base of 4 separate plates. Divide the vegetables among the 4 plates, and top each with another wonton skin. Continue by adding the meat mixture onto the second wonton.  Place a 10-inch sauté pan over a medium-high heat and add the oils. When the oil is hot, add the garlic, ginger, and green onions to the pan. Sauté for 30 seconds, and add the pork. Cook the pork, stirring occasionally, until most of the fat has rendered out and there is very little pink to be seen, about 3 minutes. Add the diced shrimp to the pan and continue to cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes. Add the hoisin, soy sauce, and 1 T. sugar to the pan, and cook, stirring, until the liquid is reduced slightly, about 1 minute. Add the cornstarch slurry to the pan and cook, stirring for 1 minute longer. Sprinkle the fresh cilantro over the pan and toss to blend.  Layer the second wonton skin with the meat mixture and top with the third and final wonton skin. In the same pan that you cooked the pork and shrimp in, add the remainder of the soy sauce (1/4 C.), remaining 1 T. of sugar, the mirin, and the shrimp halves. Place this over a high heat, and cook, until the shrimp are cooked and the liquid has reduced to a glaze, about 3 minutes.  Place a shrimp half on top of each wonton, and garnish with the cilantro. Drizzle the glaze around the lasagna on the plate and serve immediately.

Banana Snake Bento

Banana Snake Bento

Hard Boiled Eggs

Pepper Stars

Broccoli

Mozzarella Balls

Lemon Pepper

Strawberries

Banana, Apricot Fruit Roll Up

Sweet Bread / Pound Cake / Sandwich

 

Asian Chicken and Chili Soup

Asian Chicken and Chili Soup

6 C. chicken broth

2 red bell peppers, (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced lengthwise and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces

2 T. soy sauce

1 to 3 tsp. Asian hot chili sauce

3 C. (12 oz. s) diced poached chicken

1 bunch (6 oz. s) watercress, large stems trimmed

2 scallions, thinly sliced lengthwise and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces

 

In a 3-quart saucepan, bring broth, bell peppers, soy sauce, and chili sauce to a simmer; cook until peppers are crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Add chicken and watercress; cook 1 minute. Ladle into bowls, and top with scallions.

Asiago Polenta with Garlic and Basil

Asiago Polenta with Garlic and Basil

2 T. olive oil

1/4 C. onions, chopped

2 tsp. chopped garlic

5-6 C. chicken broth

2 C. white cornmeal

1/2 C. Asiago cheese, grated

3 T. chopped basil

Salt and pepper, to taste

 

In a saucepan heat olive oil over high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook 1-2 minutes.  Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Slowly add in cornmeal and cook 10-15 minutes.  Finally, add cheese and basil; season with salt and pepper. Serve hot by the spoonful.

 

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Arugula Mushroom Salad

Arugula Mushroom Salad

 

1 clove garlic, peeled

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Freshly ground pepper to taste

6 cups arugula leaves

2 cups sliced mushrooms

 

Place garlic on a cutting board and crush. Sprinkle with salt and use the flat of a chef’s knife blade to mash the garlic to a paste; transfer to a serving bowl. Whisk in lemon juice, mayonnaise, oil and parsley. Season with pepper. Add arugula and mushrooms; toss to coat with the dressing.

Artichoke Heart Dumplings

Artichoke Heart Dumplings

Filling

2 T. of vegetable oil

1 can of Artichoke hearts

1 can of black olives (sliced)

1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese (optional)

 

Frying

1 Packet of 30 Dumpling/Potsticker Sheets

2 T. of vegetable oil

 

Drain the artichoke hearts and cut them up so they’re not so chunky (into quarters work best). In a non-stick pan add the vegetable oil, artichokes and black olives over medium heat. Fry until the artichoke hearts break apart a little better, about 8-10 minutes. Turn the heat off and add Parmesan cheese and stir around until slightly melted.  Lay your sheet of dumpling dough on a cutting board. I use a tablespoon’s amount of filling, add to the center of the dough sheet. With warm water, wet the edges of the dough sheet and fold into desired dumpling shape.

 

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Papa al Pomodoro

Papa al Pomodoro

3 T. extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus some for drizzling

4-6 garlic cloves, chopped

1 medium to large onion, finely chopped

1 15oz can petite diced tomatoes

1 28oz can crushed tomatoes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 quart chicken stock or broth

4 C. chopped or torn stale bread (about 1/2 pound)

2 15oz cans small white beans, such as Goya brand (smaller than cannellini beans)

1/2 C. grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, to pass at the table

10 fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)

 

Heat a medium soup pot over medium heat. Add the 3 T. EVOO, the garlic and three fourths of the onions. Cook 7-8 minutes, then add the diced and crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Add the stock and raise the heat to make the soup bubble. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the bread and beans. Stir the soup as it simmers until it thickens to stew-like consistency. A wooden spoon should be able to stand upright in the pot. Turn off the heat, adjust the seasonings and ladle the soup into shallow bowls. Top with grated cheese, an additional drizzle of EVOO, a spoonful of the remaining finely chopped raw onions, and torn basil. The basil, and only the basil, is optional.

 

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Heart Shaped Faces

Heart Shaped Faces

4oz slightly softened butter

2oz caster sugar

6oz plain flour

Pinch of salt

a few drops of vanilla essence

 

For the icing:

6oz icing sugar sifted

½ T. lemon juice or water

 

For the decoration:

Small tubes red, yellow, green and black writing icing (available in most supermarkets)

Mini colored sugar balls used for cake decoration for the eyes

 

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Beat the butter and sugar together either by hand with a wooden spoon or in an electric mixer at low speed until thoroughly mixed. Sift together the flour and salt and mix this into the butter mixture together with a few drops of vanilla essence to form a fairly stiff dough. If the dough is too dry add a little water. The beauty of this dough is that you don t need to leave it in the fridge to firm up but can use it straight away.  Form the dough into a ball using your hands, then roll out thinly on a floured work surface using a rolling pin dusted with flour. Cut into heart shapes using biscuit cutters. Collect all the trimmings together and roll these out again to make more biscuits. Arrange on greased or lined baking sheets and bake for about 12 to 15 minutes or until the biscuits are lightly golden.  To make the icing, put the icing sugar in a bowl with enough lemon juice or water to make a good spreading consistency. Spread the icing onto the cooled biscuits with a small palette knife. When set decorate each cookie to look like a face using the tubes of writing icing and sugar balls for eyes.

 

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Fireside Popovers with Brie

Fireside Popovers with Brie

fireside popovers2 eggs

1 C. all-purpose flour

1 C. milk

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 lb. Brie cheese, cut into 24 chunks

 

Heat oven to 450ºF. Generously grease 24 small muffin cups, 1 3/4×1 inch. In medium bowl, beat eggs slightly with fork or wire whisk. Beat in flour, milk, sugar and salt just until smooth (do not overbeat). Fill C. about two-thirds full. Bake 5 minutes.   Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF. Bake about 10 minutes longer or until crusty and golden brown. Cut a small slit in top of each popover. Insert cheese chunk in each popover. Bake 5 minutes. Immediately remove from pans. Serve hot.   Add extra flavor to the popovers by stirring in 1/2 tsp. dried basil or rosemary leaves or 1/4 tsp. grated lemon peel with the flour, milk, sugar and salt.

 

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