Tag Archives: holiday

Jun9

Cupcakes, Nice and Easy

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cupcakes 2cupcakes

Cupcakes-Coconut, Almond,  Chocolate, Lemon-The Easy Way

Makes 18-24 cupcakes

This is a super simple recipe that results in very light and rich tasting cupcakes.  They way you want them to taste is up to you—————-

Ingredients:

  1. 4 eggs
  2. 2/3 C. white sugar
  3. Dash of almond or vanilla extract or lemon zest  (optional)
  4. 1 ¼ C. all-purpose flour
  5. 1 Tsp. baking powder
  6. 3/4 C. total of the following 3 condiments—combination and amount to equal 3/4 C. wished for chosen by you (ie, it could be solely 3/4 C. coconut; or 1/4 C. coconut and 1/2 C. almonds; so-on-for the light flavor, don’t over dose):
    1. Shredded coconut
    2. Chopped or slivered almonds
    3. Chocolate chips
  7. 8 Tblsp. unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

  1. Combine the 4 eggs, sugar and optional extracts and beat for about 5 minutes until mixture is very thick, pale and forms a ribbon.
  2. Sift the flour with the baking powder .
  3. In the egg mixture, fold in some of the flour mixture and then some of your condiment selection and continue doing that till all folded in.  Lastly, fold in the melted butter.  Fold in well till you can’t see the butter any longer.
  4. Put the dough in the refrigerator for 25 minutes.  By that time, the mixture should be quite thick.
  5. When you’ve put the dough in the refrigerator, pre-heat the oven to 450. As well, spray your muffin pans or line them with paper cupcake liners.  I really like the latter.
  6. After 25 minutes take your mixture out of the refrigerator and scoop the dough out to fill the muffin pans/or liners till each is filled about 3/4 of the way full.
  7. Place on the middle rack in the 450 degree oven and bake for 5 minutes.  Turn the heat down to 400 and bake for 5-7 minutes longer or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick will come out clear.
  8. Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
  9. Try not to eat them all at one sitting.

For easy access and printing of this and past recipes, visit Margot’s blog http://blog.tempinnkeeper.com  Call Margot for personal cooking help or hosting

 @ 721-3551.

Margot is a self-taught enthusiastic & passionate cook. Having been an inn-keeper for 5 years at her own inn, she accumulated a lot of good recipes which she loves to share.

 

Jun5

Strawberry-Nut Quick Bread

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strawberry nut quick bread

Strawberry-Nut Quick Bread

Makes one 9 X 5 Loaf

I found some very sweet and tasty California strawberries at the Ketchum Atkinsons’ store at a nice price- under $2 for a 1 lb. Clamshell.  So, I of course ate some fresh but the thought of making this very tasty quick moist bread came to mind, so I did create a half a loaf, just for me.  With some whipped cream cheese as a topping, it was delicious.  Of course, I wanted to share this easy recipe so here it is.

Ingredients:

  1. 2 eggs
  2. 1 C. sugar
  3. 1/2 C. oil
  4. 1 ½ C. all-purpose flour
  5. 1 Tsp. baking soda
  6. 2 Tsp. cinnamon
  7. 1/2 Tsp. salt
  8. 1 ½ C. of your favorite chopped nuts
  9. 10 Oz. sliced strawberries –fresh preferably but they can be frozen

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 and oil well a 9 X 5 X 3 loaf pan.  I also sprinkled some sugar on the bottom.
  2. Beat eggs, sugar and oil until well combined.
  3. Mix together well the flour, soda, cinnamon and salt.  I use my whip for this.
  4. Beat or mix all until well blended.  Batter will be thick.
  5. Add the berries and chopped nuts.
  6. Spread the batter in the pan and bake on the middle rack for 55 to 65 minutes.  For half a loaf, I used the same sized pan so the break turned out a bit less thick and it baked in about 40-45 minutes.
  7. Let cool in pan for about 10 minutes and remove to a wire rack. 

For easy access and printing of this and past recipes, visit Margot’s blog http://blog.tempinnkeeper.com  Call Margot for personal cooking help or hosting

 @ 721-3551.

Margot is a self-taught enthusiastic & passionate cook. Having been an inn-keeper for 5 years at her own inn, she accumulated a lot of good recipes which she loves to share.

Apr10

Rick’s Slow Cooked Pork

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slow cooked pork roast

Pork with spinach and potatoes

spinach pork and top

spinach on top pork

Rick’s Slow Cooked Pork

Serves 6-8

Two of my guests at my bed and breakfast inn decided that they wanted to move from Tahoe to Paso.  So, they resided in my cottage for well over a month.  They were a lovely young couple and I loved their company.  Christy eventually became the manager at an exclusive winery; Rick though always loved to cook and he ended up working at an exclusive restaurant.  This is one of his recipes and I love the ease and simplicity of it.  It is sort of a pulled pork recipe so if you look at comparable recipes, you can also add vinegar, etc. but honestly, I think that Rick’s way is the best.  So here it is:

Ingredients:

  1.  One 3-4 lbs. Shoulder/butt (NOT LOIN) I used a 3.44 Lb. Fresh Boston Butt Pork Shoulder Roast that was priced very nicely.
  2. Olive oil—I used at least 1/2 C.
  3. S&P
  4. Fresh thyme

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 275.
  2. LIBERALLY, and I mean that, spread olive oil over the whole roast. I sprayed with olive oil a large Pyrex dish first and placed the roast in it.
  3. Salt and pepper the roast to your taste.
  4. Spread fresh thyme, as much you would like, over it all.
  5. Cook the roast, uncovered, for 6 hours.
  6. That’s it and believe me, moist and delicious is what you get.
  7. Now, I had some freshly washed spinach waiting to be cooked and I thought, well, why not about 1/2  hour before the pork is done to pile it on top of the pork, sprinkle some red pepper flakes and Parmesan on top of the greens, place a top (or aluminum foil) on top and put it back in the oven. But even before that since I also had a left over cooked baked potato,  I had cut that up in small bits and had added that around the roast before I did the spinach bit.
  8. When I took the roast out, I arranged the spinach and potatoes nicely around the roast and it looked gorgeous.
  9. Of course, this kind of pork also goes very well with potato salad and/or beans.
  10. Rick also said that you can cook very thick pork chops like this as well.  He said to cook them for 1 ½ to 2 hours the slow way.
Mar29

Shrimp a la Dijon

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shrimp dijon 2Shrimp a la Dijon

Serves 4

 

For my taste, this recipe results in a truly delectable dish.  It’s a quick and easy one to serve however looks and tastes like you might have spent hours on it.  The sauce in particular is divine.  You can serve it over rice, pasta or with crusty French bread and a nice light green salad.  It’s perfect for last minute guests or just for last minute family dinners or even just for your lonesome.  Just make sure that you have some dried mushrooms or frozen pre-cooked mushrooms and uncooked peeled and devinne with tail on shrimp in the freezer.  You can even substitute for the shrimp left-over chicken.  You also can add chopped light tasting veggies like chopped yellow squash (not broccoli, Brussel Sprouts and such), when sauteing the onions and mushrooms.

Ingredients:

  1. 12 Oz. Shrimps with tail defrosted per package instructions
  2. Butter and/or olive oil to amount to 3 Tbls. (I use a bit of both)
  3. 1 ½ C. sliced mushrooms
  4. 1/4 C. finely chopped onions and/or 3 finely chopped garlic cloves
  5. 1 Tblsp. flour
  6. 3/4 C. very warm chicken broth
  7. 1/4 C. dry white wine (I used dry vermouth)
  8. 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  9. 1 Tsp. crushed dry tarragon and/ or a heaping 1/2 Tsp. fennel seeds
  10. 1/4 Tsp. paprika
  11. 1/4 Tsp. ground pepper
  12. 1/4 C. heavy cream (you can use ½ and ½ or milk if you wish to lighten the load)

Directions:

  1. In a large measuring cup, combine the chicken broth with the white wine, Dijon mustard, and tarragon or fennel seeds, paprika and ground pepper.  Let sit while you do the rest of the steps.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the butter and/or oil till it is hot.  Add the mushrooms and onions/garlic and over medium heat, sauté till the mushrooms and onions/garlic are soft, limp and glistening. Stir in flour till all is well mixed and no more flour white remains.
  3. Add the chicken broth mixture and stir till thickened and the mixture bubbles.  Reduce heat to medium low.
  4. Stir in the cream and shrimp.
  5. Cook covered for 2 minutes or till shrimp is done.  Don’t overcook or shrimp will become tough.
  6. Garnish individual plates or platter with lemon slices and sliced tomatoes and top with parsley or herbs.
Mar18

Irish Soda Bread

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Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Makes 16 servings

 

I know that St. Pat’s has past and gone, but I discovered this most delicious and easy recipe that I honestly think can be used any time of the year.  It is delicious the next day toasted and topped with honey, jam or whipped cream cheese.  It uses half the usual amount of flour called for in most soda bread recipes and therefore is on the lighter side and I believe is the reason that it keeps better.  I hope that you’ll enjoy it as much as I have.

Ingredients:

  1. 2 ½ C. All purpose flour
  2. 1/2 C. sugar
  3. 2 Tsp. caraway seed
  4. 1 ½ Tsp. baking powder
  5. 1/2 Tsp. baking soda
  6. 1 Tsp. ground cinnamon
  7. 1/2 Tsp. salt
  8. 1/2 Tsp. currants or raisins
  9. 1 ¼ C. buttermilk *
  10. 2 eggs
  11. 1/2 Tsp. vanilla

Directions:

  1.  Preheat oven to 350
  2. Lightly grease a 9-inch round cake pan
  3. In a medium large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.  I use a whisk to do this.  When well mixed add the raisins or currents.
  4. In a small bowl whisk the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla till well blended.
  5. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients; add the liquid ingredients and mix quickly till blended and no more flour is showing.
  6. Pour into the cake pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes.  Mine was done in 45 minutes.
  7. Place pan on a rack and let sit 10 minutes before removing the bread.
  8. * If you don’t have buttermilk, do this: take 1 ¼ C. milk minus 1 ½  Tblsp. and briefly heat the milk in the microwave—about 1 minute.  Then add 1 ½ Tblsp. white vinegar and let it sit while you prep the rest of the ingredients.

 

For easy access and printing of this and past recipes, visit Margot’s blog http://blog.tempinnkeeper.com  Call Margot for personal cooking help or hosting

@ 721-3551.

Margot is a self-taught enthusiastic & passionate cook. Having been an inn-keeper for 5 years at her own inn, she accumulated a lot of good recipes which she loves to share.

 

 

Mar10

Garlic Shrimp–3 different ways

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Garlic Shrimp (3 different ways) for an appetiser or for a light mealgarlic shrimp

Serves 4

Well, I love shrimp and I love garlic so you know what I think of these simple, delicious and lovely to look at dishes.  If you like the two ingredients I just mentioned,  don’t wait to create these easy ecstasies; they can suffice as hors d’oeuvres or as a luncheon or supper dish.  Easy and good–I aim to please.

Ingredients:

  1. 1/4 C. Olive Oil or more (Make sure that the olive oil covers the pan bottom. DON’T SKIMP!)
  2. 4 large garlic cloves, finely minced
  3. 1 Tsp. red pepper flakes
  4. 1 to 1 ½ Lb. medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and unfrozen (I do not buy the ready to cook type of shrimp because for my taste, the uncooked shrimp is so superior and it’s a breeze to handle).
  5. 2 Tblsp. lemon juice
  6. 2 Tblsp. dry sherry (I used white vermouth because I didn’t have dry sherry.  White wine would be OK as well.  I hear that even white vinegar or rice wine will do but I haven’t tried that for this recipe).
  7. 1 Tsp. paprika
  8. Chopped Italian parsley for garnish and lemon wedges as well
  9. Crusty sliced French bread or white rice to go with this dish

Directions:

  1. In a sauté pan or a large deep skillet, over medium heat, heat the olive oil.  Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté until the garlic turns golden (about one minute).
  2. Raise the heat to high and add the shrimp, lemon juice, sherry and paprika.  Stir well, then sauté, stirring briskly, until the shrimp turn pink and curl slightly (about 3-4 minutes).
  3. Season to taste with S&P and sprinkle with parsley.
  4. Serve hot over white rice or even Spanish styled rice or sided with sliced crusty French bread.  Left-over’s? Place in frig. and reheat slightly in the micro the next day.  They’ll still be good.

Variation to the above recipe:

  1. Chop roughly the peel of one orange and add it when you sauté the garlic and red pepper.
  2. Substitute the lemon juice with the juice of your one orange.
  3. 1 Tsp. of ground cumin can be added to the paprika if you wish or you can delete both of these spices totally.
  4. Substitute chopped cilantro for the Italian Parsley.
  5. Serve this with warm corn tortillas or over Mexican rice or with sliced crusty French bread.

Very Lastly:

If you wish you can easily make a broiled shrimp scampi from both of the above recipes:

Directions:

  1. Preheat the broiler
  2. Make sure your pan that you are using stove top will be broiler proof and will fit on the oven rack correctly as near to the broiler as possible. Turn the fan on.
  3. Where the directions say to add the shrimp etc., do so but very quickly so as be able to stir everything to blend well—- once again quickly.
  4. Immediately place the pan under the broiler
  5. Cook, shaking the pan once or twice and stirring if necessary, but generally leaving the shrimp undisturbed until they are pink all over and the mixture is bubbly.  This may take from 5 to 10 minutes depending on the heat of your broiler.
  6. Garnish and Serve IMMEDIATELY.

 

Mar10

Spinach Stuffed Eggs and the Dr. Seuss Effect

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Spinach Stuffed Eggs and tgreen eggs close uphe Dr. Seuss Effect

(I think for hors d’oeuvres/appetisers, most people might eat two halves so this recipe might serve 4)

 

This is a very delicious filling for left over hard boiled eggs (Easter) or for St. Pat’s (think green) or really anytime. For fun I sometimes combine this recipe with some ham filled eggs so as to duplicate the Green Eggs and Ham from that famed Dr. Seuss tale so many of us read to our wee ones.

 

Ingredients:

  1. 4 Hardboiled eggs
  2. 2 Tblsp. cooked well drained spinach (I use fresh)
  3. 2 Ounces whipped crème cheese
  4. 2 Tblsp. grated Parmesan
  5. A dash of freshly grated nutmeg
  6. S&P to taste
  7. A dash of cream
  8. Sliced black olives and some slivered pimentos for topping

Directions:

  1. Cut the eggs length wise.
  2. Scoop out the yolk and put into a food processor or blender along with the cream cheese, spinach, parmesan cheese, S&P and nutmeg. I actually mashed everything with a fork so that it came out not quite so smooth and I thought more tasty and interesting looking.  It’s up to you and if your filling is not as smooth as you wish, add a bit of whole milk or cream.
  3. Fill egg whites with the spinach filling and top with a sliced black olive and a sliver of pimiento.

Ham and gherkins egg filling for the Dr. Seuss effect:

Directions:

  1. Mash 6 hardboiled egg yolks with 4 Tblsp. finely chopped cold cooked ham, 1 Tblsp. finely chopped gherkins and enough mayonnaise or whipped cream cheese to make a firm paste.
  2. Fill the eggs with the ham mixture and garnish tops with more chopped ham and paprika.
Mar6

A Breeze to Make Oreo Truffle Eggs Especially for Easter

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A Breeze to Make Oreo Truffle Eggs Especially for Easter

Makes around 40-45egg truffles for Aubrey

You may have run into this yummy truffle recipe however it escaped my attention until I was introduced to it at a party just recently.  It was so delicious that my iron will in regards to sweet temptations broke down and I indulged in several. But, I wondered what made them so good because when I asked the gal who had brought them, she said that they were deceivingly easy to make and even kids with parental help could make them. So lo and behold, I found the recipe on the net and true enough, they are a breeze to make. You all know how I love to share good things so here is this breeze to make recipe.  I thought that one could actually form the shapes to look more like chocolate Easter eggs— give that a try—and enjoy.

Ingredients:

  1. One 16. Oz. package of OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
  2. One 8 oz. package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened or one 8 oz. carton of softened Cream Cheese.
  3. Two 8 oz. packages Bakers Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted. Kraft suggests placing the unwrapped chocolate in a microwaveable bowl and to microwave on high 2 ½ minutes or until chocolate is completely melted, stirring every 30 seconds.  For myself, I place the opened chocolate in a microwave bowl, put about 2 ¼  Tsp. of unsalted butter on top and micro on medium for about 2 minutes, then stir and continue microwaving on medium for 30 to 60 seconds more stirring intermittently until chocolate and butter are all melted. Sometimes I omit the butter.  If you are into professional looking exteriors, you probably should temper the chocolate which takes a bit of patience and time.  For tempering instructions, look that up on the net or a good cookbook.

Instructions:

  1. Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor(about 1/4 C.); reserve this for later use.   You can also crush the cookies in a plastic bag using a rolling pin.
  2. Crush the remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs and place in a medium bowl.
  3. Add cream cheese and mix until well blended. I used my hands.
  4. Roll cookie mixture in 40 balls or if for Easter, into egg shapes. They should be about one inch in diameter to give you a general idea of the appropriate size.
  5. Dip balls/eggs in the melted chocolate; place on a wax or parchment papered baking sheet.
  6. To easily coat the truffles with the melted chocolate, add truffles, in batches, to bowl of melted chocolate.  Use 2 forks to roll the truffles in the chocolate until evenly coated.  Remove the truffles with the forks letting any excess chocolate drip back in the bowl.  Place truffles on your papered prepared baking sheet.   If you have any left-over chocolate, store that in the frig. for some other later use.
  7. Sprinkle the balls with the reserved crumbs if you wish.
  8. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
  9. I have frozen these and they turn out just fine.  In fact, I eat them straight out of the freezer and they are delicious. I also have put some crushed lavender culinary buds in the cream cheese and that has turned out well.

I dare you not to eat them all immediately.  However, if you are that strong of will and constitution, store in a tightly covered contained in the frig. for a later serving.  Don’t plan on any left-over’s.

Feb19

Crudities with Green Goddess Dressing

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Crudities with Green Goddess Dressing

Makes 12-18 appetizer servings

 

Crudities Ingredients:

  1. 2-3 lbs. small raw mushrooms
  2. 2-3 lbs. asparagus (tough ends removed)
  3. Broccoli (cut into small flowerets)
  4. Small peeled carrots
  5. Edible-pod peas
  6. 40 to 50 small inner leaves from 3-4 heads of romaine lettuce(washed/crisped)

Green Goddess Dressing ingredients (makes 1 ½ C)

  1. 3 large egg yolks
  2. 3 Tblsp. white wine vinegar
  3. 2/3 cup chopped parsley
  4. One 2-oz. can anchovy fillets
  5. Green onions, chopped including the tops
  6. 1 ½ Tsp. dry tarragon
  7. 1 ½ C. olive oil

Directions:

  1. Place all of the ingredients except the oil in a blender and whirl until a smooth puree.  Slowly add the oil till well blended.
  2. Serve or cover and chill for up to a week.
Feb19

Roasted Buttered Nuts with Two Variations

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Roasted Buttered Nuts with Two Variations for appetizers

Makes about 4-6 servings

Ingredients:

  1. 2 C. (about 1 lb.) unsalted nuts such as pecans, almonds or cashews
  2. 1 Tblsp. peanut oil or melted butter
  3. S&P to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 450
  2. Toss the nuts in a bowl with the oil/butter and S&P.
  3. Place on baking sheet and roast, shaking occasionally, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
  4. Cool before serving; they will crisp as they cool

Two Variations:

 

Sautéed Buttered Nuts:

Instructions:

  1. Place 4 Tblsp. butter or peanut oil in a large skillet and turn heat to med.-low.
  2. When the butter melts or the oil is hot, add the nuts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned—about 10 minutes.  Be patient; high heat will burn the nuts.
  3. As they cook season with S&P.

Spiced Buttered Nuts:

Instructions:

  1. Add 1 Tsp. to 1 Tblsp. of any spice mixture such as chili powder or all purpose curry powder to the mix as directed below:
    1. When roasting, toss the spice with the nuts at the beginning.
    2. When sautéing, add it to the butter or oil as it heats.