Apple Cider Vinaigrette

You Will Need:

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup apple cider

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp finely chopped shallot

1 tbsp whole grain Dijon Mustard

1 tbsp honey

1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves or 1/4 tspn dried thyme

1/3 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with tight fitting lid.  cover and shake well.  shake the jar just before serving.

inspired by Southern Living Nov 2015

Blueberry Buckle

2 cups of all purpose flour

3/4 cup of sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 large egg

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup melted butter

2 cups blueberries

TOPPING

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, softened

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder & salt.  In another bowl whisk egg and milk, then add melted butter slowly, whisking the whole time.  Add to flour mixture once fully combined.  Stir mixture until well blended, add blueberries.  Pour into a greased 9" baking pan.

2) Topping - mix sugar, flour and cinnamon.  Using a fork or food processor and blend in the butter until crumbly.  Sprinkle over batter.

3) Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean ( do not overbake ).  Cool in pan on a wire rack.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

found in Taste of Home - Sunday Best Contest 2015 - September/October 2015 issue.

Cranberry Habanero Sauce

You Will Need:

2 Habanero Chilies - stemmed and finely chopped

1 (14 oz ) can of Cranberry Sauce

3 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

In a small saucepan stir together all the ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes.

Fisn N Chips

Courtesy of Good Housekeeping - October 2015

Cooking Spragy

Mayonaise

1 1/2 lbs of Haddock

7 oz of crushed Salt N Vinegar Chips

spray large baking dish generously with nonstick spray.  Cut 1 1/2 pounds of ( they say cod ) I used Haddock into portion size pieces, and then spread both sides with your favorite mayonaise, make sure they are evenly coated not too generous, and then into the crushed Salt and Vinegar chips ( i used humpty dumpty - salt & vinegar - 7 oz bag - all of it - I crushed them in the food processor), and arrange battered fish on prepared pan.  Bake at 450 degrees for 16 minutes, or until done, firm to touch.  

Grilled Pizza

HOW TO:

Set the grill on medium-low.  Divide a pound of dough into 4 pieces, form into a ball and roll out, until a 1/4" thick, laying them on parchment paper.  Flip crusts onto grill and cook them for 2 to 3 minutes ( until puffed and browned ), then remove and turn grill side up.  decorate your pizza with your favorite toppings and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes with the grill lid closed.  They are done when the cheese is done!  Slice and serve!

Herb Coated Goat / Farmer's Cheese

These are even better if the herbs are from your garden:

I use and have usually growing:

there is a difference in taste - depending on which cheese you are using - but both are very good!

garlic chives - tops of the garlic

basil - whichever needs to be trimmed b4 flowering

thyme

oregano

rosemary

drizzle with your favorite oil - I use one that I have infused with some hot pepper flakes and garlic, serve with favorite crackers or bread.

Linguine with White Clam Sauce

For those who are fortunate to live in Maine and can dig their own clams, this is absolutely yummy, there is nothing better than the taste of a freshly picked clam!  But a great many of us do not have that luxury and this dish is still yummy and affordable.  I have used frozen clams, canned clams, such as Bar Harbor Maine Clam Juice which is my personal favorite, and Snow's Chopped clams are a staple in my house as well.  You can find Bar Harbor at your grocery store or order online - http://www.barharborfoods.com/buy-bar-harbor-foods.php, and Snow's at any grocery store. When I do use Snow's, it's usually 1 - 6.5 ounce can per serving.

Fresh Garlic to taste - finely chopped

Italian Seasoning to taste 0r fresh basil / oregano (fresh spices are a contribution of DownEast Magazine

Enough Olive Oil to lightly coat the bottom of the skillet - this should be a better quality oil - it's an intricate part of the sauce

chopped clams - these can be fresh, frozen or canned 

heat oil in skillet, add garlic and spice.  Once garlic permeates the air, add juice and clams. clams should be cooked until they are no longer transparent - do not overcook they become tough and rubbery, this dish takes less than 10 minutes to make, the pasta is the longest cooked ingredient!  pour over drained pasta in a bowl then... toss and serve.

Parmesan Crisp Baked Apples

1 /4 cup grated parmesan cheese

3 tbspns quick cooking oats

2 tbspns all purpose flour

2 tbspns brown sugar

dash of nutmeg

dash of cinnamon

mix the above ingredients together - set aside.

core to medium sized apples - stuff with mixture, add a good heap of butter on top of each one and bake for about 35 minutes or until tender all the way thru - let cool - add whipped topping if desired!

30 Minute Pizza Crust

You Will Need:

1 3/4 to 2 1/2 cups of flour

1 packet Fleischmann's RapidRise Yeast

1 1/2 tsp sugar

3/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup very warm tap water ( as hot as your faucet gets - use )

3 tbspn olive oil

1/2 to 1 cup pizza sauce

1 to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

desired toppings

PREHEAT OVEN TO 425 degrees

1.) combine 1 cup of flour, 1 packet of yeast, 1 1/2 tsp sugar, 3/4 tsp salt in large bowl.  ADD 2/3 cup very warm water and 3 tbsp olive oil, MIX ingredients together until well blended.  GRADUALLY ADD 1/2 cup flour until dough forms ball.  ADD additional flour, if needed, to handle.  SPOON dough onto floured surface.  (dough will be slightly sticky)

2.) KNEAD dough until it is smooth and elastic; about 4 minutes.  COVER with clean kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes.

3.) ROLL out dough, PRESS dough into a greased pizza pan.  Top with pizza sauce, cheese and toppings.

4.) BAKE on the lowest rack for 12 to 15 minutes, until the crust is brown.

Quick Tortellini Soup

You Will Need:

1 (8 oz) package fresh chopped onions, peppers, celery

1 tbspn olive oil

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with chilies

3 (14.5) cans chicken broth

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1 (9 oz ) package of your favorite tortellini(s)

1 (6 oz) package of fresh baby spinach or regular.

____________________________________________________________________

Saute onions, peppers and celery in hot oil in medium sauce pan for 3 minutes, add italian seasoning and saute until aromatic.  Stir in tomatoes and the next 3 ingredients.  Increase heat to high; bring to boil.  Stir in tortellini and return to boil.  Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 8 minutes or until tortellini are done.  Remove from heat and stir in spinach.  Serve with parmesan cheese.

Ravioli Lasagna

This is such a wonderful idea - discovered in "taste of home - september / october 2015 - page 10"

sauce the bottom of pan, add layer of frozen raviolis, add ( vegetable, meat ), a layer of mozzarella cheese, drizzle a little sauce, start another row, repeat the process, finish with mozzarella cheese on top!  bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, when the cheese has started to brown and it is bubbly.  Take out and cool for 10-15 minutes.  

Shrimp & New Potato Chowdah

You Will Need:

2 Tbsp butter

3 bunches of scallions / green onions

2 cups of fish stock ( or chicken stock )

1 1/2 cups of heavy cream

1/2 cup of dry white wine

1/4 tspn black pepper

1/2 lb medium size raw, peeled shrimp & deveined

2 tsp hot sauce ( or cayenne to taste, or fresh hot peppers to taste- finely diced)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

1.) Melt butter in medium sauce pan over medium heat, add onions and ( peppers if using ) and cook for about 2 minutes.  

2.) Add potatoes and the next 5 ingredients, and increast the heat to high.  bring to boil.  Reduce heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, 25 minutes or until potatoes are done.

3.) Stir in shrimp and hot sauce ( if not using peppers or cayenne ) and cook until shrimp are done about 3 minutes, they should no longer be transparent.

Serve with french bread.

inspired by Southern Living Nov 2015

Strawberries, Brown Sugar & Sour Cream

I found this in an old cookbook with Maine Recipes,  that I bought at a church fair, and when I told them I was going to make this, they thought I was nuts, but when they tried it...it instantly became a family favorite!  

arrange on a plate Strawberries ( which have been washed ), brown sugar - flattened - spread out, and sour cream.  Roll strawberry in brown sugar, and dip in sour cream.

Vegan Whipped Cream

 You Will Need:

One can of Full-Fat Coconut Milk

Refrigerate the can until it is well chilled a couple of hours, if not overnight.

Open can and scoop out only the hardened cream into the bowl ( reserve separated liquid for smoothies or cooking ). 

Using a handheld mixer, whip cream until it forms soft peaks tow to five minutes.  Fold in agave, honey or confectioner's sugar, adding more to taste.  

Makes about one cup.

Zucchini Sushi Rolls

You Will Need:

half a medium zucchini, thinly sliced half a carrot, julienned 1/3 cucumber, seeds removed, julienned half green chili pepper, julienned half apple, julienned 1 scallion / green onion (white part only), thinly julienned

To make the avocado pesto I used:

1 avocado,s juice of 1/2 lemon (medium sized) 1 small garlic clove, grated pinch of salt 1 TBSP olive oil 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

mix all these ingredients in a blender for few seconds until they transformed in a creamy mixture. 

Final assembly first rinse the zucchini to get rid of the extra salt, then absorbe the extra water with paper towels. To make a roll take one zucchini slice,  add a spoon of avocado pesto making sure to spread it at both ends (it’s what keeps the roll together),  add veggies (2-3 slices of each) and roll and roll. When all 8 are done,  sprinkle them with red hot pepper flakes  and sesame seeds, and serve!