Thursday, July 14, 2011

Cooking : Black Tea Lemonade

Ingredients
5 cups water
1/2 cup white sugar
3 orange pekoe tea bags
1 (12 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
5 cups water

Directions
Bring 5 cups of water and the sugar to a boil in a saucepan, then remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Allow tea to steep while you mix the lemonade concentrate and remaining water in a large pitcher. Pour the tea mixture into the lemonade, discarding tea bags. Stir and refrigerate until cold before serving.

Cooking : Beer Cheese Soup V

Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced onion
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground dry mustard
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
5 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
5 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer

Directions
In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt butter. Cook celery, carrots and onion in butter until onion is translucent. Stir in flour and mustard to coat vegetables. Pour in chicken broth and simmer until slightly thickened. Puree mixture in a blender or food processor or using an immersion blender. Return to pot.
When pureed mixture is hot, begin to stir in Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Parmesan, a little at a time, alternately with the beer, until all is fully incorporated and melted. Serve at once.

Cooking : Beefburger Parcels

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, finely chopped
1 (17.25 ounce) package frozen puff pastry
1 egg, beaten
1 cup red grape juice
1 cube beef bouillon
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with equal parts water

Directions
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, 1 chopped onion, garlic, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add egg, and mix well. Shape into 4 thick patties, not too large in diameter. Cook burgers on grill until brown.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute 1 chopped onion, and chopped mushrooms until brown and caramelized.
Cut puff pastry into 4 squares, and roll pieces large enough to wrap burgers. Divide mushroom mixture into the center of each pastry, then top with burgers. Wrap pastry around burgers, and seal edges. Place parcels seam side down on a baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown. Serve with Red Grape Sauce.
Meanwhile, make Red Grape Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine grape juice, Worcestershire sauce, and bouillon. Mix the cornstarch with water, and stir into sauce. Bring slowly to a boil, stirring constantly, until thickened.

Cooking : Apricot Cookie Frosting

Ingredients
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup apricot preserves
3/4 cup pecan halves

Directions
Mix together sugar, butter or margarine and apricot preserves until well blended.

Cooking : Brazilian-Syle Turkey with Ham

Ingredients
1 (12 pound) turkey
4 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1 cup olive oil
4 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
4 medium green peppers, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
2 pounds thinly sliced smoked ham

Directions
Remove giblets from turkey and discard. Place a turkey-size oven roasting bag inside a second roasting bag; add turkey. Place in a roasting pan. Combine the salt, pepper and garlic; rub over turkey.
In a bowl, combine the vinegar, oil, tomatoes, peppers and parsley. Pour over turkey and into cavity. Squeeze out as much air as possible from bag; seal and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours, turning several times.
Drain and discard marinade. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together. Prepare grill for indirect heat, using a drip pan. Coat grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before starting the grill.
Grill turkey, covered, over indirect medium heat for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees F, tenting turkey with foil after about 1 hour. Let stand for 20 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, warm the ham. Layer turkey and ham slices on a serving platter.