Tartar Sauce_II

Ingredients:

• 1 quart mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 cup finely chopped dill pickle

Directions:

1. In a stainless steel or glass mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, onion, and dill pickle. Mix thoroughly. Transfer to a glass or plastic container with a tight lid and refrigerate.

Tartar Sauce_I

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
• 1 tablespoon minced onion
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, and minced onion. Stir in lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Watermelon Sangria

Ingredients:

• 12 cups cubed watermelon
• 1 (750 milliliters) bottle dry white wine
• 1 cup vodka
• 1/2 cup triple sec
• 1/2 cup simple syrup
• 3 cups cubed seeded watermelon
• 1 medium lime, quartered
• 1 orange, cut into wedges
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

1. Place 9 cups of watermelon cubes in a blender; blend on high until very smooth. Strain juice through a mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Pour the wine, vodka, triple sec, and simple syrup into the pitcher. Stir to combine. Mix the remaining 3 cups of watermelon cubes, the lime quarters, orange sections, and blueberries into the sangria. Chill for 4 hours before serving.

My Birthday!!!

I am 50th years old today. I began my morning with a 3 mile run.

8-20-2010

Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients:

• 1 small butternut squash, cubed
• 2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 3 Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
• 1 red onion, quartered
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the squash, red bell peppers, sweet potato, and Yukon Gold potatoes. Separate the red onion quarters into pieces, and add them to the mixture.
3. In a small bowl, stir together thyme, rosemary, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Toss with vegetables until they are coated. Spread evenly on a large roasting pan.
4. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring every 10 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked through and browned.

Best Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 (10.75 ounces) can condense cream of chicken soup
• 1 egg
• seasoning salt to taste
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• salt and pepper to taste
• oil for frying

Directions:

1. In a shallow dish or bowl combine the soup, egg and seasoning salt (be careful, as the soup is already salted); mix together. Dip chicken in mixture and turn to coat completely. Set aside.
2. In a resealable plastic bag mix together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. One at a time, place chicken pieces in bag, seal and shake to coat. Add more flour and/or cornstarch as necessary, but add them in equal parts (there should be an equal amount of each in the mixture).
3. Place coated chicken on a platter and allow to sit until it becomes doughy (this is critical, to ensure crispiness when fried). Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium heat; be sure to use enough oil to cover chicken pieces. Once the chicken is doughy, test the oil by dropping a piece of the 'dough' into it; the oil is ready when it starts to fry immediately.
4. Fry chicken pieces in oil for about 7 to 10 minutes each, or until cooked through and juices run clear. Drain on paper towels and serve.

Cheese Garlic Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of flour mixture. Add the milk and cheddar cheese; stir to combine. Drop batter by spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. While biscuits are baking mix melted butter and minced garlic. Brush garlic butter over hot baked biscuits.

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

Ingredients:

• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons lime juice

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and parsley. Sprinkle spice mixture generously on both sides of chicken breasts.
2. Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken until golden brown, about 6 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons garlic powder and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently to coat evenly with sauce.

Dr. Pepper Barbecue Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup minced onion
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups Dr. Pepper
• 1 can of crushed tomatoes, about 15 ounces
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne
• Salt to taste

METHOD:

1 Heat the vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.

2 When the onions are just beginning to brown, add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. Simmer for 30 minutes.

2 Pour the sauce into a blender or food processor and purée it until it is smooth. Put the sauce into a saucepan, bring to a simmer and continue to simmer it for 1-2 hours. The sauce will store for several weeks in the fridge.

Makes 2-3 cups

Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo

Ingredients:

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 pound fettuccini pasta
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 ounces shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
• 3 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

1. In a large skillet over medium heat combine chicken, 2 tablespoons butter, garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove from skillet and set aside.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Saute onion, 2 tablespoons garlic and mushrooms until onions are transparent. Stir in flour, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes. Slowly add milk and half-and-half, stirring until smooth and creamy. Stir in Parmesan and Colby-Monterey Jack cheeses; stir until cheese is melted. Stir in chicken mixture, tomatoes and sour cream. Serve over cooked fettuccini.