May recipes and pictures

May's recipe swap has come and gone.  Special thanks to our host Kathy for opening her home to us.  Here is what we enjoyed!

 

Italian Schmeer and Cucumbers

By Pat

12 oz Cream cheese, softened                          1 cup Real mayonnaise

1 pkg Italian salad dressing seasoning               1 pkg French bread, sliced

2 cucumbers, sliced                                          1 Tbsp Bacon bits (optional)

Combine cream cheese and mayo until smooth; add Italian seasoning and bacon bits.  Chill approx. 1 hour or until mixture is firm.  Spread French bread slices with mixture and top with cucumber.

Blueberry Blintz Cake

By Kim

3 eggs, divided                           1/2 cup butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened       3/4 cup milk

1 cup cottage cheese                  1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup sugar, divided                1-1/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder                  1 cup blueberry pie filling

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat 1 egg, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and 1/4 cup sugar with whisk until well blended.  Add butter and remaining sugar in large bowl; beat with mixer until light and fluffy.  Beat in remaining eggs, milk, and vanilla.  Add combined flour and baking powder; beat until well blended.  Pour half the batter into greased shallow 2-gt. baking dish.  Carefully spread cream cheese mixture over batter in dish; top with layers of pie filling and remaining batter.  Bake 45 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned.

Zucchini Crescent Pie

By Kath

4 cups thinly sliced zucchini             1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 cup chopped onion                       1 lb hamburger browned/drained

1/2 cup margarine                           2 eggs beaten

1/2 tsp each salt/pepper                  8oz shredded mozzarella

8oz can crescent rolls                       2 tsp mustard

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Brown hamburger and set aside.  Combine zucchini, onion, and margarine in a skillet and cook for 10 minutes.  Mix eggs with mozzarella cheese then add to zucchini mixture.  Add hamburger.  Press crescent rolls into 8" ungreased pie pan forming the crust then spread with mustard.  Pour zucchini mixture into pie pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Stuffed Mushrooms

By Beth

24 large mushrooms (approx.)                      1/4 cup chopped green onions (approx. 5)

1 clove minced garlic (approx. 1/2 tsp)         1/4 cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup croutons (finely chopped)                 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Clean mushrooms; remove stems; put caps to side.  Chop stems to make approx. 1 cup.

In medium sauce pan combine chopped stems, onions, garlic, and butter/margarine and cook and low heat until tender.  At least 10 minutes.  Add crouton crumbs and cheese, cook until cheese in melted.  Spoon stuffing into mushroom caps.  Place caps in a 15x10x1 inch baking pan.  Put 1/4 cup water in bottom of pan, optional.  Bake 8-10 minutes.  Serve while warm.

Vegetarian Lasagna

By Chris

12 lasagna noodles                               3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

2 heads fresh broccoli, chopped           2 small zucchini, sliced or shredded

2 carrots, thinly sliced or shredded        3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 large onion, chopped                         2 green bell peppers, chopped

2 tbsp olive oil                                     1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups milk                                         10oz pkg frozen chopped spinach

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese                    8oz small curd cottage cheese

1/2 tsp salt                                          2 Tbsp parsley flakes

1 tsp sugar                                          1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp white pepper                           16 oz can whole tomatoes

8 oz tomato sauce           

16 oz tomato and basil sauce, or 32 oz with no extra tomato sauce or whole tomatoes.

Heat oven to 375 degrees

Direction for vegetables:

Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, when oil is hot add broccoli, carrots, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and garlic.  Saute for 7 minutes and set aside.

Directions for spinach mix:

Prepare frozen spinach according to directions on box, let stand.

Place flour in a medium saucepan and gradually whisk in milk until well blended.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, cook 5 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly.  Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, salt, and peppers(s); cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; stir spinach, reserve 1/2 cup spinach mixture, combine rest with cottage cheese, stir well.

Preparing sauce mixture:

In a medium bowl, mix 16 oz tomato and basil sauce with, 1 can whole tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp of white pepper, 1 tsp of dried parsley flakes, 1/2 tsp of salt, and 1 tsp of sugar.  Mix well, set aside.

Cook lasagna noodles according to box and drain.  Using a 9x13 inch pan, add about a cup of sauce mixture and 1/2 cup of reserved spinach mixture to the bottom of the pan, add 4 lasagna noodles of top.  For the next layer; use vegetable mixture, cottage cheese/spinach mixture, with mozzarella cheese to taste.  Leave enough of the vegetable mixture, cottage cheese/spinach mixture, mozzarella (or any Parmesan left over) to cover the last layer.  Use last 7 noodles to cover the top of the lasagna and add any of the vegetable, cottage cheese/spinach mixtures and mozzarella to top off the lasagna.

Caramel Popcorn

By Sandra

3-qt popped popcorn, unpopped kernels removed       1 cup light or dark brown sugar

1/2 cup Fleischmann's original margarine                      1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla                                                              1/2 baking soda

Place popcorn in 14x10x2 1/2 inch roasting pan; set aside..  Heat sugar, margarine, and corn syrup in heavy 1 1/2 quart saucepan over medium heat to a boil.  Boil 5 minutes without stirring.  Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla and baking soda.  Pour over popcorn; stir to coat evenly.  Bake in preheated 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Spread mixture onto baking sheet(s) to cool, stirring occasionally to break apart.  Store in airtight container.  Optional nuts can be added.... 2 1/2 cups to recipe.

April's Recipes

Oh my! April has passed and we had another yummy swap! The theme was food from your background. Thanks to our wonderful host Joy for opening her home to us Swappers! Here is some of what we enjoyed.


Everyday Irish Bread
From cooks.com made by Kathy

2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar (optional)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup buttermilk or yogurt
Optional: raisins, Craisins, citrons or currants, 1/2 cup

Brush a cookie sheet lightly with butter or spray with olive oil spray. Place cookie sheet on middle rack of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add buttermilk and stir until well mixed. Knead lightly and form into a ball. Flatten and make an 'X' slash in the top with a sharp knife. This slash is traditionally made in the top of the loaf to "let the devil out", but a more practical purpose is for allowing the excess bubbles and steam to escape while making for a decorative presentation.

Place the loaf on the preheated cookie sheet and bake 30 minutes or until bottom has browned and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

Note: This bread takes only a few minutes to make and is foolproof and economical. This recipe makes a small batch suitable for everyday. It doesn't keep well; next day use thin slices for french toast or spread with butter, toast lightly and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Recipe may be doubled to make two small loaves; freeze one loaf for later.


Buttermilk Aebleskivers (Poffertjes)
By Sandra

2 cups buttermilk
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp sugar
3 eggs (or more if you wish) separated
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Sift dry ingredients and add to beaten egg yolk and milk. Beat egg whites to stiff peaks and fold into wet mixture.

Put a dab of Crisco into each cup of your heated pan. Ladle in batter to almost fill the cup; it does expand. When this side is done flip ball over in same cup to fry up the other side. Repeat until all batter is used. You can set oven on low (200/250 degrees) to keep warm while fixing each batch.

Dip into powdered sugar or spread with jellies Dried fruit can be added to the batter.



Old German Honey Cookies
By Kim

1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger

Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
In a sauce pan over low heat, melt sugar, butter, and honey. Let cool.
Mix together eggs, vanilla, baking soda, and ginger. Gradually add to cooked honey mixture. Slowly add flour to mixture until well blended. Will like a cake batter consistency. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.

Note: This is a great base cookie to add fruits, nuts, or chocolate.


Kimchi Jigae (Kimchi stew)
By Joanne

Non-orthodox- Lazy college kid inspired

1 1/2 cups sliced kimchi (cabbage kimchi)
1 tsp hot red pepper paste
1 tsp fine red pepper powder (not crushed peppers)
1 1/2 tsp beef flavored soup stock
2 Tbsp sesame seed oil
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kimchi "juice" (the liquid in the kimchi jar)
19 oz tofu

Combine the above ingredients into a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally as to not burn the ingredients. Once the kimchi begins to turn a bright orange and slight translucency, add 1 package (19 oz) cubed tofu and just enough water to cover the tofu (about 1 cup), Mix slightly as this is the stage where the tofu will need to absorb the kimchi flavor and add 1 tsp of salt. Let boil for 10 minutes then add in additional 1 1/2-2 cups of water. Taste to see if additional salt could be used. Once the soup has come to another full boil, the soup is finished; however, the longer it boils, the more the taste comes to life.

For additional flavor, thinly sliced meat such as beef or pork is often added to the soup, as are miscellaneous garnish vegetables like cucumber, carrots, or green onions.

Note: the soup is usually best made with older, more fermented kimchi.


Lumpiang Shanghai
By Joy

1 lb ground pork
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup onions, finely chopped
1 cup carrots, grated
2 eggs
1/4 cup soy sauce
Lumpia wrappers (spring roll wrappers)
Salt and pepper
Oil for frying

Mix all ingredients together.
Lay out a few wrappers at a time on a flat surface, and place about 2 tbsp of the filling in a line down the center of the wrapper. Take the bottom and top edges of the wrapper and fold them towards the center. Take the left and right sides and fold them towards the center. Moisten the edge of the wrapper to seal.
Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or skillet. Fry 3 or 4 lumpia at a time. Fry for about 3-4 minutes each side, turning once. Cut in half and serve with dipping sauce.


Strawberry-filled Pieroghies and Strawberry Sauce
By Emma

1 lb strawberries (quartered and halved)
1/2 cup white cane sugar
1/2 cup water

In medium saucepan on medium-high heat, stir together water and sugar until dissolved. Add strawberries. Bring to rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Lower heat slightly and let simmer uncovered to reduce for 1/2 to 1 hour.
Makes approx. 2 cups.

Dough: Makes approx. 50.
3 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs (beaten)
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup water
Also needed:
Filling (see Strawberry Sauce above)

Optional:
Confectioner’s (powdered) sugar
Chocolate sauce

Mix dough ingredients together in large mixing bowl, knead until no longer sticky (adding extra flour if needed). Roll out dough into a long tube about 2 – 3” in diameter, then slice into 1/2" thick discs. Roll dough discs into balls. Take the first ball and flatten with a roller to about 1/8” thick. Place 1/2 tsp. of strawberry sauce in middle, fold in half, and pinch edges shut. Repeat until out of dough.

Boil the pieroghies in a large pot until floating, then fish out of water and fry in buttered skillet until light brown.

Garnish with extra sauce, Confectioner’s sugar, and/or chocolate sauce to taste.

Easter Recipes and pictures

Oh my, we had another great turn out! Food was amazing and so was the company. Thanks again to our wonderful host Bonnie for opening her home to us. Theme this month was to get us ready for Easter with some great recipes.

Eggs Ala Goldenrod
By Sandra

Medium white sauce:
2 Tbsp butter/oleo
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp flour
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup milk

Make rue, butter and flour, cook for a few minutes to get the rawness of the flour out then whisk in milk and salt and pepper. Stir continously until thickened.

Add the egg whites (diced up) and tablespoon of the egg yolk to the white sauce.
Pour over toast when heated through and sprinkle with egg yolt.

1 cup will feed a party of two and I use two hard boiled eggs for each surving, this can be reduced to your preference.

To get yolk sprinkles push through a sieve.

Scalloped Potatoes
By Kim

4 cups thinly sliced potatoes, about 6-8 medium potatoes.

2 Tbsp flour
1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp butter

2 cups scalding milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven at 350 degrees

In a buttered 2-quart baking dish, place a layer of about 1/3 of potatoes. In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle half of the flour mixture of the potatoes and repeat with another layer of potatoes and the flour mixtures and top with remaining potato slices. Dot with butter then pour hot milk over potatoes. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle cheese over potatoes. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and cheese has melted. Serves 6 to 8.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
By Mary

2-3 Chicken breasts
1 larch can diced green chiles

2 cans family size cream of chicken soup

¼ cup of milk
1 pkg corn tortillas (30 count)

½ cup cooking oil
1 8-oz sour cream

1 16-oz pkg shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat Oven for 350 degrees

Boil chicken breasts until they are cooked through (about 30-45 minutes), set aside to cool. In a large sauce pan add the cans of Cream of Chicken soup, along with the milk for a creamy consistency. Once it comes to a light boil lower heat to a simmer, add the can of green chiles. Shred the chicken breasts and add to the simmering sauce, keep the sauce simmering at a low temp. In a small frying pan add the cooking oil. Once the oil is fairly hot dip the corn tortillas in the oil 1 at a time just to soften the tortilla (note if it becomes crisp like a tostada then the oil too hot and you’ve left the tortilla in too long.) Place the tortillas on paper towels to absorb the excess oil. Once the sauce is bubbling add the container of sour cream and stir until blended. In a casserole dish put a layer of sauce, then tortillas etc, until you’ve reached the top of the dish (4-5 layers). Top with cheese and heat thoroughly in oven until cheese is golden brown

Couscous and Fruit Salad
By Francesca

2 Tbsp Olive Oil
½ cup red or green onion, chopped

1 10-oz instant couscous
½ cup dried cranberries

¼ cup raisins
¼ cup chopped dates

½ cup cashews
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

½ cup cooked chickpeas

Cook Couscous; follow instructions with vegetable broth, instead of water, if you wish. Toss with olive oil, and let cool. Chop remaining ingredients, and combine.

Spicy Brunch Bake
By Bonnie

1 lb Jimmy Dean hot sausage
Chopped green chilies
Chopped onion
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup Bisquick mix
1-1/2 cup milk
3 eggs

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray baking dish with Pam. Brown sausage and onion; drain. Stir in green chilies. Spread in baking dish. Sprinkle in baking dish. Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Chocolate Truffle Balls
By Joy

3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 tbsp vanilla (optional)
Coating: powdered sugar, nuts, cocoa, sprinkles

In a nonstick pan, over low heat, melt the chocolate chips together with the condensed milk. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Chill for 2-3 hours or until set.
Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in any of the above coatings.
Chill for 1 hour or until firm.