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19 April 2011

Brussels Sprouts w/bacon & spinach

Ingredients

  • 8 slices bacon (I used turkey bacon this time & cooked w/olive oil)
  • 2 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and thinly sliced
  • sea salt to taste
  • fresh lemon juice (can use red wine vinegar)
  • 1/2 pound spinach - chopped, washed and dried

Directions

  1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Crumble and set aside. In a medium sauce pan, steam Brussels sprouts until tender.
  2. Heat the remaining fat in the skillet over medium high heat and add the Brussels sprouts. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the sprouts are tender.
  3. Add the spinach. Saute the mixture over moderately high heat for 1 minute or until the spinach is wilted. Season salad with fresh lemon juice, sea salt and sprinkle with bacon. Serve warm.

24 March 2011

Beer Can Chicken

Beer Can Chicken

Ingredients

2 Small Roasting Chickens
2 Cans of Miller Lite
Lemon
1/2 Red Onion
10 Cloves of Garlic
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Crushed Red Pepper
Creole Seasoning

Easy dinner...
Pre-heat oven to 375

Remove gizzards from chicken...rinse chicken. Open cans of beers...drink 1/2 of each...or set aside for Carey Leigh! Take a can opener and remove the entire top of the can (this is so you can fill it with the seasonings! Rub bird with olive oil, creole seasoning (I didn't use a lot of this just a dusting) and salt and pepper. I sauteed garlic cloves with olive oil for a few short minutes and then I chopped them up pretty fine...rubbed the outsides of the birds with the garlic and put the remainder into the cans of beer. Diced the onions and put in beer can. Slice lemons and squeeze juice into the cavity of the bird...put remainder into the can. Through in a couple of shakes of red pepper and creole seasoning into beer and you are ready to mount the bird!

I lined a roasting pan with foil and set the cans of beer on the bottom of the pan. Carefully place the bird over the can of beer and balance the legs like a tripod...they are small enough, so they will balance very easily!

I put them in the over for 1.5 hours at 375...I increased to broil for 10 min or so to get the skin crispy and reduced heat to 450. I took the birds out when they hit 175 degrees at the thickest point and let them set for 10-15min.

They were so juicy and DELICIOUS...if I do say so myself. Sorry...no pics...I was a bad host this month;-)

You can cook on grill...but since I do not have a grill...I do not know all of the specifics on timing.

Enjoy!

Yummy Snicker Cheesecake Lollipops

Filling
  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or almond extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 bag of Snickers Miniatures
Decoration
  • 4-5 mini snickers
  • Baker's Semi sweet Chocolate

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a foil liner in 9" baking pan.

Beat cream cheese with a handheld electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar, flour, and vanilla, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Chop Snickers into small pieces and fold into cream cheese mixture. Spoon cream cheese mixture into pans. Bake until just set, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool and place entire pan in freeze for at least hour (I did over night).

Melt the bakers chocolate in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until completely melted. Use remaining chopped Snickers. Cut frozen cheesecake into squares and insert lollipop stick and immediately dip into chocolate then into chopped Snickers. Set on parchment paper and refrigerate for another 1/2 hour. Server immediately out of fridge for best results.

30 September 2010

Caramel Apple Crisp

  • 3 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup cold butter
  • 8 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples
  • 1 package (14 ounces) caramels, halved (I would cut in thirds to get better distribution)
  • 1 cup apple cider, divided

Directions

  • In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Press half of the mixture into a greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Layer with half of the apples, caramels and 1 cup oat mixture. Repeat layers. Pour 1/2 cup cider over top.
  • Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Drizzle with remaining cider; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until apples are tender.

11 September 2010

Grilled, Bacon Wrapped, Stuffed Rollups

Lemon Chicken Rollups with Basil & Roasted Red Pepper

Lemon Marinade:

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 tbsp lemon zest

1/2 tbsp kosher salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

4 large cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor until liquids are fully combined and garlic is well pureed. Mixture should be opaque and fairly thick. Pour over pounded strips of chicken and marinade for 4-8 hours (I marinated overnight).

Chicken Rollups

4-5 large chicken breasts, pounded thin and cut into 3” strips

bacon

Filling: mix these together (use any amount you prefer)

cream cheese

roasted red pepper

basil

garlic

Place one strip of bacon on work surface and place a marinated, pounded chicken breast strip on top. Spread with a thin layer of cream cheese filling. Roll together and secure with a skewer. (I used 5” wood skewers, presoaked)

Grill until chicken is cooked through!



Carne Asada Rollups with Cilantro & Roasted Red Pepper

Marinade

1.5 pounds flank steak, cut into 3” strips

1/3 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 limes, juiced

1/2 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

Mix all ingredients together and marinate beef 4 hours or longer (I marinated overnight).


Filling: mix these together (use any amount you prefer)

cream cheese

roasted red pepper

cilantro

garlic

Carne Asada Rollups:

Place one piece of bacon on workspace and place a marinated steak strip on top. Spread a thin layer of cheese filling. Roll together and secure with a skewer. (I used 5” wooden skewers, presoaked).

Grill until cooked to desired wellness! Enjoy!

*I froze extra assembled rollups before grilling.

30 August 2010

Salsa Baked Goat Cheese

Need:
1/4 cup pine nuts or coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
1 3 oz package cream cheese, softened
1 4 oz log goat cheese
1 cup salsa (I used Frontera Jalapeno Salsa)
chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Chips, crackers, or bread

Directions:
Heat oven to 350. Spread nuts on a baking sheet, let them toast until lightly browned & very fragrant, 7-8 minutes. Remove and set in a bowl.

Add both cheeses to the nuts and combine. Scoop into baking dish and form into a 5in diameter disc. Spoon the salsa over and around the cheese, bake until heated through, 10-15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with chips, bread or crackers.

20 August 2010

Chilled Cream of Asparagus Soup with Lump Crab

2 bunches of asparagus
1/2 of a large white onion
4 cloves of garlic
1/2 a stick of butter
1 small container of Greek yogurt
1 small container of heavy whipping cream
1/2 of a large can of chicken broth
2 cans of lump crab meat
1/2 brick of cream cheese
salt/white pepper/cayenne pepper

Sauteed onions, garlic and butter. Boil asparagus. Add onions to drained asparagus...puree with yogurt and chicken broth. I used a handheld Smart Stick, but you can use a blender or a food processor. Add heavy whipping cream till desired consistancy. Season with salt, white pepper and cayenne pepper to taste. Chill in refrigerator(12 hours to enhance flavor). In a separate bowl mix crab meat and cream cheese. Season with cayenne pepper and salt.

Place a dollop of crab meat in the bottom of each bowl and fill bowl with chilled asparagus soup. I garnished with an asparagus tip!

Refreshing, tasty and EASY!

June and July...Girls Night Out

We have had a busy Summer for Cooking Club. There is a new addition to the Utz Clan...the Weavers found a home...Michele sold hers! We took a little break and celebrated with a Girls Night Out! August's Cooking Club Posts coming soon!!!!

07 June 2010

Strawberry Margarita Crisp

This did NOT turn out well... the ingredients were yummy but it was a runny mess.
Preheat oven to 350?. Place graham cracker crumbs and macaroons in a food processor; process until macaroons are finely ground. With food processor on, slowly pour margarine through food chute, and process until well-blended. Combine strawberries and next 4 ingredients (strawberries through liqueur) in a medium bowl; stir well. Spoon strawberry mixture into an 11x-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with macaroon mixture and almonds. Bake mixture at 350? for 25 minutes or unitl sauce is thick and bubbly. Garnish with sliced strawberries, if desired.

23 May 2010

Fish Tacos

Ingredients
Tomatillo-Avocado Relish:


* 2 large tomatillo, husked and rinsed and diced
* 1 ripe Hass avocado, halved, pitted and diced
* 1 or 2 jalapeno or serrano peppers, finely diced (depending on how spicy you like it)
* 2 limes, juiced
* Extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Smoked Tomato Salsa Crema:

* 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
* 2 teaspoons chipotle in adobo puree
* 3 plum tomatoes, grilled or roasted until blackened, halved, seeded and diced
* 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
* 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 1 tablespoon finely chopped Mexican oregano
* 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
* Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1 cup sour cream or creme fraiche

Roasted Habanero-Mango Hot Sauce:


* 2 tablespoons canola oil
* 1 small Spanish onion, chopped
* 2 very ripe mangoes, halved and flesh chopped
* *1 habanero (I used serrano peppers), roasted and chopped
* 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
* 1/4 cup water
* 2 tablespoons clover honey
* Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper

Red Cabbage Slaw:

* 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 1/4 cup orange juice
* 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
* 2 tablespoons clover honey
* 1/4 cup freshly chopped basil leaves
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1/2 cup canola oil
* 2 cups finely shredded napa cabbage
* 2 cups finely shredded red cabbage
* 1 large carrot, peeled and julienned

Fish:

* 3 (8-ounce) Tilipia
* Canola oil
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1/4 cup reserved dressing, from the slaw
* 8 (6-inch) flour or corn tortillas
* Cilantro leaves

Directions

For the relish:

Combine the tomatillo, avocado, jalapeno and lime juice in a medium bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil, add cilantro and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

For the salsa crema:

Put the vinegar and chipotle puree in a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until slightly smooth.

Put the sour cream into a medium bowl, add the salsa and stir to combine.

For the hot sauce:

Heat the oil in a medium saute pan over high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the mango, *habanero, vinegar and 1/4 cup water and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mango is very soft, about 15 minutes.

Transfer to a food processor; add the honey and salt and pepper, to taste, and pulse until smooth. Strain through a mesh strainer into a bowl. Let cool to room temperature before serving. The sauce can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for 1 week. Bring to room temperature before serving.

* Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Put the habanero in a small ovenproof saute pan, drizzle with a little canola oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Roast until charred on all sides. Remove the stem, skin and seeds.

For the slaw:

Put the lemon juice, orange juice, mustard, honey, basil and salt and pepper, to taste, in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, add the oil until emulsified. Reserve 1/4 cup of the dressing for the fish.

Combine the cabbage and carrot in a large bowl; add half of the dressing and toss to coat. Add more dressing and salt and pepper, if needed.

For the fish:

Preheat the grill to high or grill pan over high heat.

Brush both sides of the fish with oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill until golden brown and slightly charred on both sides and just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and drizzle the fish with the reserved dressing. Let cool slightly, then using a fork, flake into large pieces.

Grill the tortillas until slightly charred and just warmed through, about 5 seconds per side. Transfer the tortillas on a flat surface and fill the center of each with some of the fish, red slaw, salsa, hot sauce and cilantro leaves...fold and eat.

May

Cinco de Mayo