Date Nut Bread
Serve this Date Nut Bread with butter or cream cheese. You will love it!
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ Cups Chopped Pitted Dates
6 Tablespoons Butter – Cut Into Pieces
1 ¼ Cups Boiling Water
2 Cups Unbleached Flour
¾ Cups Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
½ Teaspoon Salt
1 Large Lightly Beaten Egg
1 Cup Coarsely Chopped Walnuts
In a medium bowl, combine dates, butter and boiling water. Let stand until cool. Preheat the oven to 325° F and grease a 9×5 inch metal loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Sir the egg into the cooled date mixture. Stir date mixture into the flour mixture just until the flour is moistened. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely on a rack. Makes 1 loaf (16 Slices)
Classic Italian Hero
INGREDIENTS
¼ Cup Vinaigrette
One 12 Ounces Loaf Italian Bread
5 Ounces Sliced Hot or Sweet Capocollo, Prosciutto, Soppressata and Salimi
5 Ounces Sliced Mozzarella Chesese
Shredded Romaine Lettuce, Arugula, Peperoncini, Basil Leaves, Roasted Red Peppers, Very Thinly Sliced Red Onions, Pesto, Olivaca and Sliced Rip Tomatoes
Add to or leave out any ingredient to this classic.
Vinaigrette
1/3 Cup Wine Vinegar
2 Crushed Garlic Cloves
1 Tablespoon Fresh Oregano
½ Tablespoon Fresh Basil
2 Drops Tabasco
2/3 Cups Olive Oil
In a container with a tight fitting lid, add all of the ingredients and shake well.
Prepare vinaigrette. Cut bread horizontally in half. Remove enough soft center from each half to make a 1 inch shell. Brush vinaigrette evenly over cut sides of the bread. Layer meats and cheese on the bottom half of the bread. Top with additional ingredients of your choice. Replace top half of the bread. If you’re not serving right away, wrap the sandwich in foil and refrigerate up to 4 hours. Cut into 4 pieces. Makes 4 sandwiches.
Zucchini Bread
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ Cups Unbleached Flour
¾ Cups Sugar
2 ¼ Teaspoons Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon Salt
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
2 Large Eggs
1 ½ Cups Shredded Zucchini
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease an 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch metal loaf pan. In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In a medium bowl mix together oil, eggs and zucchini. Stir wet mixture into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack. Makes 1 loaf – Approximately 12 slices
Asian Baby Back Ribs
These ribs are delicious served hot or at room temperature. For juicy, tender ribs, poach them before placing on the grill to barbeque. Poaching before grilling also reduces the fatty content.
INGREDIENTS
2 Racks of Baby Back Ribs
POACHING
4 Tablespoons Chopped Ginger
10 Chopped Garlic Cloves
7 Cups Water
½ Teaspoon Five Spice Powder
MARINADE
10 Ounces Hoisin Sauce
5 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
3 Tablespoons Peeled & Chopped Ginger
5 Diced Garlic Cloves
4 Tablespoons Roasted Sesame Oil
¼ Teaspoons Hot Chile Sesame Oil
3 Tablespoons Dry Mustard
4 Tablespoons Dry Sherry
1 Teaspoon Five Spice Powder
3 Tablespoons Honey
To poach your ribs, use a pan that will fit ribs and your stovetop. Use two pans if you need to. Place ribs fatty side down, cover with poaching liquid mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Do NOT poach at a higher heat or the ribs will come out tough. Cool the ribs in the poaching liquid for 30 minutes and then discard the liquid and other ingredients. While the ribs are cooling prepare the marinade.
In a large bowl, mix hoisin sauces, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, roasted sesame oil, hot chile sesame oil, five spice powder, dry mustard, dry sherry and honey. Combine well. When ribs are cooled, coat them in the sauce and turn to completely cover. In a large sealable plastic bag (or bags) marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
When ready to cook, prepare the grill for indirect cooking over a low heat.
Remove the ribs from the marinade and reserve remaining marinade. Cut rib racks into 4 to 6 rib sections and arrange meaty side up on the grill. Heat marinade to boiling for three minutes and then reserve for basting ribs. Turn, rotate and baste ribs with marinade every 10 minutes for an hour. The ribs are done when they begin to pull away from the bone and bone tips are exposed. Transfer rib racks to a cutting board and cut between bones to separate. Serve any remaining marinade to use as a dipping sauce. Serves 4
Garlic Shrimp
This dish is super easy to make and everyone will love it!
INGREDIENTS
5 Tablespoons Olive Oil
5 Minced Garlic Cloves
1/8 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
1/3 Cup Decent Quality White Wine
1 Pound Shelled & Deveined Shrimp
½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Butter
Chopped Parsley To Garnish
Prepare the shrimp by shelling and deveining. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic to the skillet. Cook for a 1 minute and add the pepper flakes. Increase the heat to medium high. Add the wine and let it cook for 1 minute. Now add the shrimp and season with salt. Cook the shrimp for 2 minutes and add the lemon juice and butter. Cook for another minute. Remove and serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley. Serves 8
Guinness Chocolate Cake
Thank you Arthur Guinness!
INGREDIENTS
CAKE
1 Cup Guinness Stout
2 Cups Sugar
½ Cup Butter
2 Tablespoons Butter
½ Cup Cocoa
1 Cup Sour Cream
2 Large Eggs
2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
2 Cups Unbleached Flour
2 ½ Teaspoons Baking Soda
FROSTING
½ Cup Heavy Cream
8 Ounces Cream Cheese
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 ¼ Cups Powdered Sugar
Preheat oven to 350° F. You will need a 9 inch cake pan. Grease and line with parchment paper. In a medium sized saucepan pour the Guinness and add ½ cup of butter. On medium-low heat until the butter is melted. Remove and whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Set aside. In medium sized bowl, beat the eggs, vanilla and sour cream until it is combined. Next add the sour cream mixture to the Guinness mixture in the saucepan. Finally, beat in the flour and baking soda. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes or until done (toothpick comes out clean). When done remove from oven and cool completely (in the pan) on a wire rack. Remove from pan and frost. Serves 8
Frosting: Beat the cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar together until creamy. Slowly add the heavy cream and beat until well combined. The frosting should be spreadable at this point.
Tart Cherry Pie
INGREDIENTS
Pastry For 9 Inch Two Crust Pie (Top & Bottom)
1 1/3 Cups Sugar
4 Tablespoons Quick Cooking Tapioca
6 Cups Fresh Or Frozen Pitted Tart Cherries
¼ Teaspoon Almond Extract
3 Tablespoons Butter
Preheat oven to 400° F. Prepare pie pastry.
In a large bowl, combine sugar and tapioca. Add cherries and stir well until blended. Pour into a 9 inch pastry lined pie plate. Sprinkle with almond extract and dot with butter. Cover with remaining pastry and flute. Cut slits in the pastry so that steam can escape. Cover the edges of the crust with foil to prevent excessive browning. Place pie on baking sheet and bake for about 45 to 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through the slits on the crust. Remove foil during the last 15 minutes of baking. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack before cutting and serving. Serve warm or at room temperature. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you wish. Serves 8
Chicken Tikka Masala
INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Basmati Rice
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Chopped Onion
2 Teaspoons Grated & Peeled Fresh Ginger
1 Crushed Garlic Clove
2 Tablespoons Indian Curry Paste
1 ¼ Pounds Skinless & Boneless Chicken Breast Halves (Cut Into 1 Inch Chunks)
¼ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1 Cup Crushed Tomatoes
½ Cup Half & Half
¼ Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro (A Bit More For Garnish)
Prepare rice.
In a large skillet heat olive oil on medium for a minute. Add onion and cook for about 6 minutes. Stir frequently. Add ginger, garlic and curry paste. Cook 3 minutes longer. Add chicken, salt & pepper and cook about 2 minutes or until no longer pink on the outside. Stir occasionally. Add tomatoes. Cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until chicken loses its pink color throughout.
Uncover and stir in half & half and cilantro. Spoon rice into 4 shallow bowls. Top with chicken mixture and garnish with extra chopped cilantro. Serves 4
Veal Piccata
INGREDIENTS
¼ Cup Unbleached Flour
½ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1 Pound Veal Cutlets
4 Teaspoons Olive Oil
1/3 Cup White Wine
1 Cup Chicken Broth
2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Capers
1 Tablespoon Butter (NOT Margarine)
1 Tablespoon Chopped Parsley
Place cutlets between two sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper. With a meat mallet, pound cutlets to ¼ inch thickness. On waxed paper, combine flour, salt and pepper. Coat cutlets with seasoned flour. Shake off the excess.
In a large skillet heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium-high heat until very hot. Add half of the cutlets and cook until brown (for about 2 minutes). Turn cutlets and cook 1 minute longer. Using tongs, transfer cutlets to platter and keep warm. Repeat with remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil and remaining veal. Transfer to plate with the other cooked veal.
Increase heat to high and add wine to skillet, stirring until browned bits are loosened from the bottom of the skillet. Add the broth and heat to boiling. Boil until sauce has reduced to ½ cup (4 to 6 minutes). Stir in lemon juice, butter, capers and parsley. When butter has melted pour sauce over veal. Serves 4
Blood Orange Mimosas
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Chilled Fresh Blood Orange Juice
1 Bottle (750ml) Chilled Dry & Good Quality Prosecco
Fresh Blood Orange Slices For Garnish
Into each of 8 champagne flutes, pour ¼ cup blood orange juice. Top off each glass with Prosecco and a slice of blood orange. Make sure that both juice and Prosecco are super chilled. Serves 8
