Been a rainy couple of days here – weather is still in the 80’s & 90’s. Babysat yesterday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and am back at it again today 1 p.m. – ? Got some granny squares crocheted – actually only have one more white square to go and I’m ready to sew them together – YAY! Started the sewing yesterday and got 4 rows done so it should go by pretty fast. Was going to add this one to the charity blankets but then got invited to a baby shower where they know it’s going to be a boy, so this will work just fine. Will probably add a hat & booties and a few other ‘goodies’ to the present.
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4 Hour or Overnight Fruit Salad
3 large eggs, beaten
1/4 C. sugar
1/4 C. vinegar
2 T. butter
2 C. green grapes
2 C. miniature marshmallows
1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks,
drained
1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges,
drained
2 medium firm bananas, sliced
2 C. heavy whipping cream, whipped
1/2 C. chopped pecans
–
In double boiler over medium heat,
cook & stir eggs, sugar & vinegar
until mixture is thickened & reaches
160 degrees F. Remove from heat &
stir in butter – cool.
In large serving bowl combine grapes,
marshmallows, pineapple, oranges &
bananas – add cooled dressing & stir
to coat. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Just before serving, fold in whipped
cream & pecans. Serves 12-16
(recipe: tasteofhome.com)
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Crockpot Parsley Smashed Potatoes
16 small red potatoes (about 2 lb)
1 rib celery, sliced
1 medium carrot, sliced
1/4 C. finely chopped onion
2 C. chicken broth
1 T. minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 tsp. salt/divided
1 tsp. black pepper/divided
1 clove garlic, minced
2 T. butter, melted
–
additional minced fresh parsley
–
Place potatoes, celery, carrot & onion
in 4 qt crockpot. In small bowl mix
broth, parsley, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp.
black pepper & garlic – pour over
vegetables. Cover & cook on Low
6-8 hours until potatoes are tender.
Transfer potatoes to a 15 X 10 X1″
pan – discard cooking liquid &
vegetables. Using bottom of a measuring
cup, flatten potatoes slightly. Transfer
to a large bowl; drizzle with butter.
Sprinkle with remaining salt & pepper –
toss to coat. Sprinkle with additional
parsley. Serves 8
(recipe: tasteofhome.com)
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Grilled Cube Steak & Greek Corn Salad
3 T. olive oil
2 T. red wine vinegar
2 T. chopped fresh oregano
and/or mint
1 tsp. honey
kosher salt/black pepper, to taste
1 English cucumber, peeled/chopped
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 small red onion, diced
1/2 C. crumbled feta cheese (about 4 oz)
1/3 C. pitted green olives, sliced
2 ears corn, shucked
1 1/4 lb. cube steaks*
–
Preheat grill to High
In medium bowl whisk olive oil, vinegar,
herbs, honey, 3/4 tsp. salt & a few grinds
black pepper. Remove 2 T. of mixture to
a large bowl. Add cucumber, tomatoes,
red onion, feta & olives to bowl with oil
mixture & toss to coat. Grill the corn,
about 8 minutes until charred in spots,
turning occasionally – remove to a cutting
board. Season steaks with salt/pepper.
Working in batches, if necessary, grill
steaks until edges start browning, about
2 minutes. Flip & cook until browned
on other side, about 30 seconds – transfer
to bowl with reserved oil mixture & toss
to coat. Cut kernels off corn cob & add
to salad. Serves 4
*If you can’t find cube steak, a top round
steak pounded with a meat mallet will
work.
(recipe: foodnetwork.com)
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Sausage-stuffed Zucchini Boats
4 medium zucchini, cut in half
lengthwise
1 T. olive oil
8 oz. sweet loose Italian sausage
8 oz. hot loose Italian sausage
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes,
chopped
kosher salt/black pepper
1/2 C. Parmesan cheese, finely
grated
1/2 C. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 C. breadcrumbs
2 T. chopped fresh parsley
–
Preheat oven 400 degrees F.
Using a teaspoon, scoop out flesh of
zucchini (so they resemble boats).
Place in 9 X 13″ baking dish – chop up
the ‘flesh’ from the insides.
In medium saute pan over medium-
high heat, add olive oil & heat through.
Add both Ital. sausage & cook 4 minutes.
Add garlic, onion, chopped zucchini
flesh, tomatoes & salt/pepper (to taste).
Cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
In medium bowl add Parm. & Mozz.
cheeses, breadcrumbs & parsley – mix
to combine. Spoon & mound sausage
mixture into zucchini boats. Sprinkle
breadcrumb mixture on top & bake
20 minutes until golden brown.
Makes 8 ‘boats’
(recipe: foodnetwork.com)
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Lemon Zucchini Bread w Crumb Topping
Cake:
1 C unpeeled zucchini – finely shredded
(can do in food processor – do NOT squeeze
or dry zucchini – makes bread moist)
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. lemon zest
1 1/2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 C. sugar
1/4 C. cooking oil
1 egg
2 T. lemon juice
–
Crumb Topping:
1/4 C. + 2 T. flour
1/4 C. sugar
2 T. melted butter
1/4 C. rolled oats
Glaze:
1 C. powdered sugar
1 T. lemon juice
1 tsp. lemon zest
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Spray a loaf pan with nonstick
cooking spray.
In medium bowl add 1 1/2 C. flour,
1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. baking
powder, 1/4 tsp. salt, shredded zucchini
& lemon zest. Add 3/4 C. sugar, 1/4 C.
cooking oil, 1 egg & 2 T. lemon juice.
Using a wooden spoon, mix until just
combined (it’s important to not over
stir the batter). Pour batter into prepared
loaf pan.
Crumb Topping:
In small bowl mix together crumb
topping ingredients – using a fork
mix until a loose crumb mixture forms.
Sprinkle crumb topping over bread batter.
Bake 50-55 minutes until golden brown.
Cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Carefully
flip bread over & place bread on wire rack
to finish cooling.
Lemon Glaze:
In small bowl mix together Lemon Glaze
ingredients until well blended & sugar
has dissolved. Once bread has cooled,
drizzle glaze over top of Crumb Topping
using a tablespoon – allowing glaze to
run down sides of cake. Let bread set until
glaze hardens, 15-20 minutes. Glaze will
hold crumb on top of bread & also soaks
into bread.
(recipe: norinesnest.com)
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Bacon/Avocado Pasta
1 (12 oz) box fusili pasta
4 sliced bacon, diced
2 avocados, halved/seeded/
peeled & diced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/3 C. diced red onion
1/4 C. fresh basil, sliced thin
1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 C. olive oil
2 T. lemon juice (fresh squeezed,
more or less, to taste)
1 T. lemon zest
kosher salt/black pepper, to taste
–
In large pot boiling/salted water
cook pasta accordg. to pkg. directions;
drain well. Heat large skillet over
meidum-high heat; add bacon &
cook until brown & crispy, about
6-8 minutes; transfer to paper
towel-lined plate. In large bowl
combine pasta, bacon, avocado,
tomatoes, onion & basil. Stir in
Parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice &
zest, salt/pepper, to taste. Serve
hot or cold, garnished with Parmesan
cheese, if desired. Serves 6
(recipe: yummly.com)
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Cheesy Tomato/Spinach/Olive
Pasta
1 1/2 C. dry fusili (or other) pasta
2 tsp. olive oil
2 small tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp. garlic, minced (2 cloves)
1 1/2 C. tomato sauce
5 C. fresh baby spinach (or
1 C. thawed/well drained frozen)
1/3 C. chopped black olives
1/4 C. chili flakes (or more, to taste)
1 C. grated Mozzarella cheese
1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese
salt/pepper, to taste
–
Make Sauce:
Heat oil in a skillet on medium-high
heat. Add chopped tomatoes – saute
3-4 minutes. Add garlic & olives, saute
1 minute. Add tomato sauce, then
spinach – stir until wilted & heated
through, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in
chili flakes.
Finish Pasta;
Add Mozzarella & Parmesan cheeses to
sauce &stir until melted (or leave Parmesan
on the side, to pass). Add salt/pepper (if
needed – olives are salty so may not be
needed). Serves 3-4
NOTE: Poster serves with warm crusty bread &
butter or garlic bread. This pasta is also great
reheated the next day.
(recipe: yummly.com)
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Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Mixed-Berry
Cobbler
1 (16 oz) pkg. frozen mixed berries
1 C. sugar
1/4 C. corn starch
1/4 C. water
1 T. vanilla
1 (12 oz) tube refrigerated cinnamon
rolls with icing
–
In large bowl mix water & cornstarch
together; add sugar & mix well. Pour
berries into mixture & gently stir
until berries are coated evenly –
pour into crockpot & mix well. Place
cinnamon rolls in a single layer on top.
Cover & cook on High 3-4 hours.
Serve with icing drizzled on top.
Serves 8
NOTE: Poster used a 2.5 qt. crockpot
(recipe: recipesthatcrock.com)
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This has been one of those weeks where
not much has been accomplished, but that’s
OK. Started reading a true story/murder
mystery called “The Monster of Florence”
by Douglas Preston. I am a big fan of Mr.
Preston’s writings, especially those combined
with Lincoln Childs – together they write some
really interesting tales. This book, however,
is a true story and was said to be one of the
unsolved crimes of Italy – I guess the actual
killer was never found although the writer
suggests he & another newspaper journalist
might have actually met the person – strange.
Hope you are having a good day – try to stay
healthy. I just noticed yesterday that all of my family
are FINALLY done with the coughing thing!
YAY! That was one nasty ‘bug’ – finally put
the Robitussin back in the cupboard. I was
beginning to get a bit worried because
choir will be starting up in September and
I sure didn’t want to attempt singing while
still struggling to BREATHE without coughing!
Hugs;
Pammie
