Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Cooking : Bavarian Cream

Ingredients
2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups heavy cream

Directions
In a small bowl, stir together the gelatin and cold water. Set aside to soften. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and salt until smooth.
In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Pour the hot milk in a steady stream into the yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook and stir over medium heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and pour the custard through a strainer.
Stir in the softened gelatin and vanilla and stir to melt the gelatin. Allow to cool.
When the mixture has cooled almost to room temperature, whip the heavy cream to medium stiffness and fold it into the custard. Immediately transfer the Bavarian cream to parfait glasses, molds, or on prepared cake layers, as it will firm up quickly as the gelatin sets. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Cooking : Asparagus with Lime and Ginger

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Pour about 1 inch of water into the bottom half of a steamer pan set, and place over medium heat. Place the asparagus in the top half of the steamer pan set; steam until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the asparagus and arrange on a serving platter.
Whisk the lime juice, lime zest, cilantro, ginger, and sugar together in a bowl; stream the vegetable oil into the mixture while whisking. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over the asparagus.

Cooking : Boston Cream Pie Minis

Ingredients
1 package (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 cup cold milk
1 pkg. (4 serving size) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cake batter and bake in 24 greased medium muffin pan cups as directed on package. Cool in pans 10 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
Beat milk and dry pudding mix with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Let stand 5 min. Meanwhile, use serrated knife to cut cupcakes horizontally in half. Gently stir 1/2 cup of the whipped topping into pudding. Spoon about 1 Tbsp. of the pudding mixture onto bottom half of each cupcake; cover with top of cupcake.
Microwave remaining 1 cup whipped topping and the chocolate in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Let stand 15 min. to thicken. Spread onto cupcakes. Refrigerate at least 15 min. before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Cooking : Boston Cream Cake

Ingredients
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate frosting

Directions
Make cake according to package directions, using two 8 inch round pans. allow cake to cool completely.
Mix pudding according to package directions, spread between layers.
Place chocolate icing, uncovered, in microwave for 30 seconds until thin, pour over top of cake until it runs down sides. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Cooking : Burgers with Garden Sauce

Ingredients
1 large onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
1 medium green pepper, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 pints cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
4 slices bread
1/2 cup water
2 eggs, beaten
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds ground beef
8 sandwich rolls, split

Directions
In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, saute onion, carrots, green pepper, celery and parsley in oil until vegetables are tender. Add tomatoes, ketchup, brown sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours. Meanwhile, soak bread in water; squeeze dry and crumble into a bowl. Add the eggs, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into eight patties. Broil or pan-fry until no longer pink; drain. Add to sauce. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until heated through. Serve on rolls.

Cooking : Banana Fritters

Ingredients
2 ripe bananas
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon margarine, melted
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 quart oil for frying
1 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions
In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Mix in milk, eggs and margarine until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir dry ingredients into banana mixture.
Heat oil in a deep fryer or heavy bottomed pan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Drop batter by spoonfuls into hot oil, and cook, turning once, until browned, 2 to 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Cooking : Bride's Peach Pie

Ingredients
1 pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
5 cups sliced peeled peaches
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, cubed

Directions
Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom crust; trim pastry even with edge and set aside. In a bowl, toss peaches with lemon juice. Combine the sugar, flour, nutmeg and salt; add to peaches and toss. Sprinkle with almond extract; toss gently. Transfer to prepared crust; dot with butter. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over filling. Cut slits in pastry. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cover edge loosely with foil. Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F; remove foil and bake for 45-50 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

Cooking : Basic Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups Basic Cookie Mix
3/4 cup butter
1/4 cup cold water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Stir oats into Basic Cookie Mix. Lightly beat egg and add to mixture. Melt butter or margarine over low heat and stir in. Add cold water, vanilla and almond extract. Mix well.
Spoon into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes until top is golden. Cool and cut into bars.

Cooking : Best Salmon Bake

Ingredients
1 pound salmon fillet, halved
1 small tomato, chopped
5 green onions, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place salmon on a lightly oiled sheet pan or in a shallow baking dish, folding under thin outer edges of fillets for even cooking. Top salmon with chopped tomatoes and green onions, and season with salt and pepper.
Cook salmon in the preheated oven, uncovered, for approximately 20 minutes. Fish is done when easily flaked with a fork.

Cooking : Black Bean, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese

Ingredients
1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup fresh sweet white corn, cut from the cob
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 jicama, peeled and minced
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, minced
1 (8 ounce) package crumbled feta cheese
1 clove garlic
1 pinch sea salt
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 cup olive oil

Directions
Place the beans, tomato, bell pepper, corn, onion, jicama, jalapeno pepper, and feta cheese in a large salad bowl.
Mash the garlic and salt together with a mortar and pestle. Whisk together the mashed garlic, lime juice, mustard, and pepper in a small bowl. Add the oil in a slow, steady stream while whisking. Continue whisking until smooth. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Chill overnight.

Cooking : Bob's Mexican Stuffed Chicken

Ingredients
2 cups crushed corn flakes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 (1.27 ounce) packet dry fajita seasoning
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped orange bell pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1/2 medium red onion, diced
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup salsa
toothpicks

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
In a shallow bowl, mix the corn flakes, chili powder, and fajita seasoning. In a separate bowl, mix the red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, mushrooms, and onion.
Dredge the chicken in the corn flakes mixture to evenly coat. Sprinkle one side of each breast with 2 tablespoons Cheddar cheese, and layer with 1/4 the vegetable mixture. Top with equal amounts salsa. Carefully roll the breast halves over the filling. Seal seams with toothpicks, then dredge again in the corn flakes mixture.
Arrange the rolled chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Top with remaining cheese, and continue baking 10 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear and cheese is melted.

Cooking : Almond Coconut Chocolate Cookie Balls

Ingredients
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3 cups flaked coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
1 cup whole almonds

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In the top half a double boiler melt the chocolate and condensed milk, stirring frequently.
Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the coconut. Stir in the vanilla and salt. Mix well until the coconut is completely coated. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Press one whole almond into the top of each cookie.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes. Check at 8 minutes as the bottoms tend to burn easily. Remove from oven and cool.

Cooking : Black-Eyed Pea and Jalapeno Salsa

Ingredients
1 (15.5 ounce) can black-eyed peas
1 cup chopped pickled jalapeno peppers
1 (4 ounce) jar pimento peppers, drained and chopped
1 (8 ounce) jar mushrooms, drained and diced
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Mix the black-eyed peas, jalapeno peppers, pimentos, mushrooms, celery, onion, and olive oil together in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cooking : Black Bottom Pie I

Ingredients
1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked
1 (.25 ounce) package unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 3/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 egg yolks
1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup rum
4 egg whites
1/4 cup cold water

Directions
Dissolve gelatin in cold water, and set aside.
In a small saucepan, mix cornstarch, 3/4 cup sugar, milk, and egg yolks. Cook, stirring, until bubbly and thick. Remove from heat, and add vanilla. Divide mixture in half. Add chocolate chips to one half, and stir until melted and smooth. Pour into pastry shell. Chill.
Stir gelatin mixture into the other half of the hot egg yolk mixture. Stir in rum. Chill until slightly thick.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and beat to stiff peaks. Fold into partially set gelatin/rum mixture. Chill until mix will mound, then spoon into pie shell on top of chocolate layer. Chill overnight.

Cooking : Brown Sugar Banana Nut Bread I

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 very ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Stir in vanilla and banana. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Blend the banana mixture into the flour mixture; stir just to combine. Fold in walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.

Cooking : Beef Burgundy II

Ingredients
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
salt and pepper
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
7 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup brandy
2 cups Burgundy wine
2 cups beef broth
6 sprigs fresh thyme
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 large onion, cut into 12 wedges
4 carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces
4 stalks celery, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 1/2 pounds red potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms
1 pinch ground nutmeg

Directions
Place flour in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge beef in flour to coat.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a heavy Dutch oven over high heat. Working in batches, saute beef until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch.
Return all meat to pot, and add brandy; boil until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add wine, broth, thyme, garlic, bay leaves and oregano. Cover, and simmer until beef is almost tender, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onions until brown. Using slotted spoon, transfer onion to large bowl. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in same skillet, add carrots and celery, and saute until golden. Transfer to bowl with onions. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in same skillet, add potatoes, and saute until brown on all sides. Transfer to bowl with other vegetables. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in same skillet, add mushrooms, and saute until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl.
Transfer vegetables to pot with beef, and stir in nutmeg. Cover pot and simmer 45 minutes. Uncover pot, and boil liquid until thickened to sauce consistency, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Cooking : Better than Sex Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cups vanilla baking chips
4 ounces macadamia nuts, chopped

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
In a large mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat until light and fluffy.
In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually blend into butter mixture.
Stir in vanilla chips, and macadamia nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 9 minutes. (Do not overbake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking; flatten upon cooling.) Cool slightly, remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Cooking : Aunt Teresa's Chicken

Ingredients
4 chicken thighs
1 green bell pepper, sliced
2 carrots, shredded
1 large onion, sliced
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, layer in the following order: onion, bell pepper, carrots and chicken. Pour soup over the top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Cooking : Butterscotch Chocolate Cake

Ingredients
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 (16 ounce) jar butterscotch topping
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 (2.16 ounce) bars chocolate-covered crispy peanut butter candy

Directions
Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a 9x13 inch pan. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, poke 12 holes in warm cake.
Pour butterscotch topping over cake. Allow to cool completely. Spread with whipped topping, sprinkle with candy bars. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Cooking : Best Chocolate Chippers

Ingredients
1 cup butter
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, oil, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light brown. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Cooking : Bean and Beef Shaloupias

Ingredients
1 pound pinto beans, boiled according to package directions
2 cubes beef bouillon
water to cover
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 onion, diced
10 (6 inch) corn tortillas
3 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese

Directions
In slow cooker, combine boiled pinto beans with bouillon cubes and enough water to almost fill cooker. Let simmer on Low setting for 8 hours.
In a large skillet, brown beef with salt, pepper and onion. Drain well and set aside.
Assemble as follows: Top each tortilla with beef mixture, cheese and a ladel of beans with juice from slow cooker. Top with preferred garnishes as desired and serve.

Cooking : Bavarian Pot Roast

Ingredients
1 (4 pound) boneless beef top round roast, halved
1 1/2 cups apple juice
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water

Directions
In a Dutch oven coated with nonstick cooking spray, brown roast on all sides over medium-high heat; drain. transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. In a bowl, combine the juice, tomato sauce, onion, vinegar, salt, ginger and cinnamon; pour over roast. Cover and cook on high for 5-7 hours.
In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into cooking juices until well combined. Cover and cook 1 hour longer or until the meat is tender and gravy begins to thicken.

Cooking : Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts I

Ingredients
1/2 pound bacon, cut in half
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Wrap 1/2 strip of bacon around each water chestnut. Combine ketchup and sugar in a small bowl and mix together; dip each wrapped water chestnut into this mixture.
Place water chestnuts in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish and bake covered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until bacon is crisp.

Cooking : Aniseed Yeast Roll

Ingredients
5 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
4 teaspoons aniseed, divided
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup butter, cubed
6 eggs

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, brown sugar, salt, yeast and 3 teaspoons aniseed. In a saucepan, heat water and butter to 120 degrees F-130 degrees F. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add five eggs; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 22 pieces. Shape each into a ball. Place 2 in. apart on grease baking sheets. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Beat remaining egg; brush over dough. Sprinkle with remaining aniseed. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks.

Cooking : Balsamic Marinated Chicken Breasts

Ingredients
3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
4 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions
Whisk together the balsamic vinegar, water, onion, red pepper flakes, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, rosemary, parsley, chili powder, and oregano in a bowl, and pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken breasts, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes to overnight.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, or lightly grease a broiler pan. Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade, and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade, and place the chicken breasts onto the baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken breasts are golden brown, and no longer pink in the center, about 40 minutes.

Cooking : Asparagus Chicken Divan

Ingredients
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped
3/4 cup mayonnaise*

Directions
Broil chicken 6 in. from the heat until juices run clear. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and place in a greased shallow 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Cut chicken into thin slices.
In a bowl, combine the soup, Worcestershire sauce and nutmeg. Spread half over asparagus. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Top with chicken. Spread remaining soup mixture over chicken; sprinkle with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese.
Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. Fold whipped cream into mayonnaise; spread over top. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.

Cooking : Avocado Green Goddess Dressing

Ingredients
1 avocado, peeled and pitted
1 cup mayonnaise
5 anchovy filets, rinsed and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
In a blender combine the avocado, mayonnaise, anchovies, green onion, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper. Process until smooth, then chill for 24 hours before serving.

Cooking : Barbados Punch

Ingredients
1 ounce Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
1/4 ounce triple sec
1 ounce lime juice
2 ounces pineapple juice
1 slice lime
1 slice pineapple

Directions
Add Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, triple sec, lime juice, and pineapple juice in a blender with crushed ice.
Blend until smooth and pour into glass.
Garnish with lime slice and pineapple slice.

Cooking : Anchovy Linguine

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package linguini pasta
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 (2 ounce) cans anchovy filets
1 cup water

Directions
Brown sliced garlic in olive oil. Stir in parsley and chopped anchovies. Add water to cover, and simmer for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente.
Drain pasta. Toss with anchovy sauce.

Cooking : Beer Margarita

Ingredients
1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
8 fluid ounces vodka
3 (12 fluid ounce) cans or bottles beer

Directions
Empty lemonade concentrate into pitcher (do not add water!). Pour in vodka and beer. Serve over ice.

Cooking : Blueberry Bake

Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 cups fresh blueberries

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
To Make Biscuit Topping: In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Mix well then stir in buttermilk just until all ingredients are moistened and dough forms a ball. Set aside.
To Make Berry Filling: In a large saucepan combine honey, 1 tablespoon sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, water, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth, then add berries. Simmer over medium heat, stirring gently, until thickened (about 10 minutes). Spoon berry mixture into an 8x11 inch nonstick casserole dish.
Drop biscuit dough onto berry mixture by tablespoonfuls.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until biscuits are lightly browned.

Cooking : Basic Bloody Mary

Ingredients
1 (11.5 ounce) can tomato-vegetable juice cocktail
1/3 cup vodka

Directions
In a large glass over ice, pour 1/2 can of tomato-vegetable juice cocktail. Stir in the vodka.

Cooking : Busy Night Turkey Taco Soup with Avocado Cream

Ingredients
1 (11 ounce) can Mexican-style corn
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, undrained
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (16 ounce) jar chunky salsa
2 1/2 cups cooked, chopped turkey meat
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons guacamole

Directions
In a large pot over medium heat, combine corn, chili beans, broth and salsa. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and stir in cooked turkey. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, and cook 5 to 10 minutes more, until heated through. Stir in cilantro.
In a bowl, stir together sour cream and guacamole until smooth.
Ladle soup into bowls and top with guacamole mixture.

Cooking : Beef Tostadas

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/2 cup chili sauce
1 teaspoon dry Mexican or taco seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon chipotle sauce
6 tostada shells
3 cups shredded lettuce
1 1/2 cups guacamole
1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

Directions
In a large skillet, cook beef and red pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the chili sauce, Mexican seasoning, salt and pepper; heat through.
In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and chipotle sauce. Layer each tostada with lettuce, meat mixture, guacamole, cheese and chipotle cream.

Cooking : Au Gratin Potatoes

Ingredients
1 (2 pound) package frozen hash browns
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of potato soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 small finely diced onion
1 green bell pepper, minced
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
Spread frozen hash browns into the bottom of the prepared pan. Mix together potato soup, celery soup, onion, green bell pepper and sour cream; pour the mixture over the potatoes.
Bake in the preheated 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) oven for 60 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, sprinkle with cheese, and bake another 30 minutes or until the cheese melts.

Cooking : Best Broccoli Soup

Ingredients
2 cups water
4 cups chopped fresh broccoli
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon onion salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, bring water to boil. Add broccoli, celery and carrots; boil 2-3 minutes. Drain; set vegetables aside. In the same kettle, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour to form a smooth paste. Gradually add the broth and milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 1 minute. Add vegetables and remaining ingredients. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Cooking : Baked Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients
5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 onion, grated
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook until tender but firm, about 15 minutes; drain.
In a large bowl, mash potatoes with the butter and milk. With a hand mixer, beat in cream cheese and onion. In a small bowl, beat the egg with a little bit of the mashed potatoes. Stir into potatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a 2 quart casserole dish.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until puffy and lightly browned.

Cooking : Apple Cheddar Cheese Pie

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, chilled
1/2 pound shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup ice water
1/4 cup white vinegar
7 large Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cubed
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cheese. Combine water and vinegar, and gradually stir in until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C.) Roll one ball out to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place bottom crust in pie plate. Roll out top crust and set aside.
In a large bowl, toss apples in lemon juice to prevent discoloration. Drain and discard any excess juice. Stir in sugar and cinnamon. Arrange rows of overlapping apple slices, working from outer rim in. Dot with butter. Cover with top pie crust. Seal and crimp edges with fork, then trim excess dough. Cut a few slashes in top crust to allow steam to escape.
Bake on cookie sheet in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven, brush lightly with beaten egg, and sprinkle liberally with sugar. Bake 5 to 10 minutes more until sugar forms a crisp glaze.

Cooking : Artichoke Salad II

Ingredients
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1 cup low fat sour cream
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/4 cup diced onion
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and Italian dressing mix.
In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, red pepper, broccoli, mushrooms, onion and artichoke hearts. Top with dressing and toss until evenly coated. Refrigerate until ready to serve.