Friday, June 26, 2009

Cucumber Soup and Caramel Corn

Cucumber Soup
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, diced
3 Tbsp water
1 cucumber, peeled
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
12oz. plain yogurt
8oz strained Greek yogurt
1/2 tsp salt

Heat the water in a pan and cook the onion and garlic until soft and translucent.
Peel the cucumber and cut into pieces.
Puree the cucumber, onion, and garlic with the vinegar.
Add the yogurt and salt and puree until smooth.
Chill for at least an hour before serving.

The original recipe called for lime juice instead of vinegar and sour cream instead of Greek yogurt. But I like it this way better.

Caramel Corn
3.5 oz Popcorn, popped
1 1/2 c Roasted Cashews
3/4 c Butter
1 1/2 c Dark Brown Sugar
1/3 c Light Corn Syrup
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp Baking Soda

Preheat oven to 250F Spray 2 large roasting pans with cooking spray (or line with parchment paper). Divide popped corn and nuts between the two pans. In a small heavy saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Allow to boil for 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and baking soda. Quickly pour the mixture over the the popped corn and nuts in the pans, Stir to coat. Place in the preheated oven for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. break apart and store in an airtight container.

I also tried adding 1 cup of chocolate chips at the last few minutes. letting the chips melt then stirring until the caramel corn was covered with chocolate.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

So here I go again, under the alias of number 5 number1 sneaks in with a few recipes. I have included Grandma Snyder's Date nut pinwheels and Molasses cookies taken directly from her recipe box.


Date Pinwheels Yield 5 dozen Oven 400

1/2 c butter
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla
2 c flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2t salt
Date filling: 1 pound pitted dates, cut up
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c water
Cook and stir until mixture boils and thickens slightly. Cool.
Just before using add 1/2 c finely chopped walnuts
Thoroughly cream butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla beat well. Sift together dry ingrediants. Stir into creamed mixture. CHill. Divide dough in half. On lightly floured surface, roll one part in 12 x 8" rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Spread 1/2 of date filling over dough.
Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Wrap in waxed paper. Chill several hours. Slice 1/4 " thick, bake on greased cookie sheet for 8 minutes at 400.

Soft Molasses Cookies
1 1/4 c molasses
1 1/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 c buttermilk
1 c shortening
5c flour (for drop cookies)
1 t salt
2 t baking soda
2 t baking powder
2 t ginger
1 t allspice
1 t cloves

Can be refrigerated overnight and then use 1 c flour to roll out and cut out cookies.
Otherwise make as drop cookies bake at 375 until firm(really this is what the recipe said , I would guess for big tablespoons 12-14 minutes)


Grandma Bessy Green's Scone -as loved by Liam and made many many times this year for his college buddies

2 c flour
2 t baking powder
2 T sugar
1/2 t salt
3-4 T butter
2 eggs
1/3 c milk or 1/2 c buttermilk(the best)

Cut shortening into mixed dry ingredients. Mix eggs and milk,add slowly to dry ingredients. It should make a stiff but not drybatter. Knead lightly 22 times. Roll out 1/2 " thick, cut into 2 " squares, fold over so it is a triangle shape. Brush with milk, dust with sugar. Bake in 400 oven 18-22 minutes until golden brown top and bottom. (Obviously you can make any shape. Liam loves these with craisins added, we also like them for strawberry shortcake)


No bake Cookies
(because everyone need emergency chocolate cookies, besides they have peanuts and oatmeal so they must be good for you:)

1 c sugar
1/2 c milk
1/3 c butter
1/3 cocoa
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla
1/2 peanut butter
3 c oats
Mix first 6 ingredients, boil for 1 minutes (I use the microwave) Add PB and vanilla , blend thoroughly. Add oats ,mix well. I use a 1T scoop to form cookies onto a plate . Eat


Chicken, Orzo and Black Bean Salad

16 oz orzo cooked with salt or chicken bouillon
3 chicken breasts -broil or grill with EVOO and 2 t cumin brushed over-cut into bite size pieces
2 c black beans
1 c corn
1 pepper diced(red is nice)
1/2 red or sweet onion diced
Dressing:
1/2 c chicken broth
2 T EVOO
2 t cumin
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 c cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
Combine all in food processor or blender and combine with ingredients.
It is best if done 24 hour in advance. We serve it with tortilla chips.