From our kitchen ...
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APPETIZERS &
BEVERAGES |
- Forgettin' Frances.
An original drink concocted from supplies on hand
following two days of hunkering down from a hurricane. No ice
required.
- Faux Chevre (Fake Goat
Cheese). From Ruth Marie, this tastes like an authentic
version of the real thing at a fraction of the cost, and it's so
simple to make!
- Our Favorite Ceviche.
The fish cooks in lime or lemon juice in this spicy,
healthy classic.
- Cereal Cheese Squares. Like bite-size cheese straws. Use Rice Krispies or similar cereal.
- Smoked Salmon
Cheesecake. A great make-ahead appetizer for
parties.
- Simple Sensational
Sausage Balls. A three-ingredient appetizer that
people love.
- Iowa Blue Cheese Tart.
Elegant yet fun appetizer, if you can imagine a blue cheese
cheesecake.
- Rosemary-flavored
Grilled Red PeppersGreat as side dish. Serve as a
snack with crackers and a fresh white cheese, such as queso blanco
or fresh mozzarella.
- Authentic
Tapenade Provencale. Two
versions, the really good one from southern France, and my quicker,
less fattening version.
- Roasted Pumpkin
Seeds. Easy, fast, tasty substitute
for nuts. Spice 'em up or just use salt.
- Ruth
Marie's Black Bean Dip. Bacon makes
this special.
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Guacamole with Broccoli. You'll hardly know the
difference and it so good for you. Pretty shade of green.
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| SOUPS |
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| MAIN
DISHES |
- Gourgere with Mushrooms
and Ham A wonderful brunch or supper dish to share with special friends,
esp. those who'll help you put it together.
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Maple-Pepper Steak. I had
been saving some wonderful REAL maple syrup that friends from Quebec
had gifted us with for something special. About 3 years later I
figured it was time to use it and discovered the best steak marinade
I've ever tasted.
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Sussex Stewed Steak. This is the best, and
possibly the easiest, pot roast I've ever tasted. Really satisfies
the inner beast.
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Basil-stuffed Steak.
From Home& Family TV show. Needs lots of fresh basil.
- Ethiopian Chicken.
A make-ahead recipe for spicy chicken.
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Herbed Balsamic Chicken with Blue
Cheese. Surprisingly fantastic. A load of
flavor. All you need is a simple arugula salad to complete effect if
you want a light meal.
- Jailhouse Chili.
This took first prize in the St. Lucie County, FL,
Chili Cook-off in 1988. I was part of the Port St.
Lucie News team that
created it.
- Penne with Tuna and
Tomatoes. We were attracted to this because we had our
own crop of cherry tomatoes, but it is so easy and tasty, we had to
add it to our favorites.
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Redneck Ribs.
Adapted from a recipe from the late, great humor columnist. This is
prompting us to buy a smoker.
- Shrimp and Corn Pudding. Fresh corn makes this a
sweet treat as a main dish.
- NEW!
Honeyed Prawns and Polenta.
An updated spicier and simple version of Shrimp & Grits.
- Simple Simon Chicken.
One of the first -- and still one of the best -- recipes for
oven-fried chicken.
- NEW!
Cheesy Oven-fried Chicken Tenders.
Up-to-date version, using chicken breast and Dijon mustard.
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Lemon Corn
Pasta Toss Amazingly easy
recipe from Del Monte, that's quick, virtually no-fat and absolutely
delicious. A real surprise!
- Fiesta Corn and
Pasta Skillet Another
winner from Del Monte, with ground beef. Really satisfying and quick
to make.
- Sea Bass in Moho
Sauce. A real treat of a solid
white fish in a lime and garlic sauce ... mmmmm!
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| VEGETARIAN |
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NEW!
Penne Caprese. My attempt at
duplicating a lovely light pasta dish from our favorite Italian
restaurant.
- Onion and Olive Pizza.
This
traditional Mediterranean no-tomato pizza makes a great supper with
maybe some vegetable sticks on the side.
- Tomato
Tarte from Ruth Marie. All you need is a nice green
salad with this for a lovely supper.
- Classic Cheese Souffle.
This is almost fool-proof ... as long as you follow the
instructions.
- Curried Lentils.
An easy version of a classic.
- Barley Stew with
Lentils. A really satisfying main dish from one
of my favorite cookbooks, The Good Book Cookbook,
historically correct recipes from biblical times. Some real
"whole food" here.
- Peppered
Lentils. Yes, more lentils. This is quick to
prepare, tastes fantastic. The flavor comes from sesame oil.
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Herb-roasted Sweet
Potatoes. Sort of "invented" this ... really
tasty and really good. Other herbs should work as well.
- Cassie's Soubise.
Lots of onions combine with a little bit of rice and cheese for rich
full-flavored creamed dish that is ever-so-elegant.
- Sunday Dinner Green Beans.
A "canned soup" classic for those nostalgic meals.
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| SALADS
AND DRESSINGS |
- Classic
Caesar Salad
A couple years after discovering
this recipe, we ordered Caesar Salad, with all the flourish, made at
one of Toronto's better restaurants. Mary was flattered -- but the
waiter wasn't -- when Jack said, "It's just like home."
- Mary's Mayo
without Guilt. Uses low or no fat
sour-cream and yogurt. Great with tuna salad.
- Lin's Spicy Cilantro Sauce.
This is courtesy of a wonderful Chinese woman who was
on one of our nature trips. It can be used for many things. I used
it to stir fry some chicken and vegetables, adding some additional at
the last minute, and serving over rice.
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Mary's Warm Spinach Salad with Apple & Thyme-scented Caramelized
Onions. Tangy and refreshing, tart but with a
hint of sweetness.
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| BREADS |
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Dutch-style Pancakes. We fell in
love with these on a trip to the Netherlands and now have them often
for brunch or supper.
- Grandma's Baking
Powder Biscuits. A real old-fashioned, but easy
recipe.
- Lazy Day Biscuits.
There is no simpler way to bake than this.
- St. Augustine
Bread. A no-knead crusty loaf, a la Cuban style,
from the kitchens of the oldest European city in the U.S., St.
Augustine, Florida.
- Irish Soda Bread.
From our Nova Scotia days, this makes a nice Sunday morning treat.
- Jack's
and W.O. Mitchell's
Western-style
Pancakes The Canadian author
W.O.
Mitchell revealed this secret to fluffy pancakes while appearing
on a cooking show in the 1970s. He learned it from Chinese cooks brought in by
the railway to feed its workers.
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Gary
Player's Whole Wheat Bread. This no-yeast bread is so
simple and so good I have to share the link. It keeps well in a
plastic bag. It's a dense, soft bread with a real nutty flavor.
(I've used All-Bran rather than the "digestive bran."
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Chicoutimi Sage Biscuits. A neighbors luxuriant
sage plant inspired me to add this recipe. It is so go good I
daren't not make it, but maybe you can enjoy it.
- No-knead Artisan
Bread. You know those crusty, bubbly loaves that cost $5+ at the
store. This recipe takes some planning ahead, but is very simple
once you get the method done. And, oh, so good!
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| DESSERTS |
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Last updated
04/04/2011 05:33 PM
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