Bikini Martini

Fun, cute, and delicious.

In a shaker combine:
1 oz. Pineapple juice
1 oz. Coconut Rum
3/4 oz. Vodka

Shake with ice until frothy and strain into martini glass. Add a splash of Grenadine or cherry "juice" to center. Serve.

Chicken Tetrazinni

This makes 2 casseroles. You can half this, but it also freezes well and is a great "company" main dish.




2 packages of Spaghtti



2/3 cup butter



2/3 cup flour



1 1/2 teaspoons salt



1/2 teaspoon white pepper



2 1/2 cups chicken broth (I use water and Tone's Chicken base)



3 cups half & half



2 cups heavy whipping cream



8 cups cubed cooked chicken



1 package fresh sliced mushrooms



2 (4 oz.) jars diced pimentos, drained



1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese



Cook Spaghetti according to package directions. In dutch oven, melt butter, stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth. Slowly add the broth while stirring, then add half & half and whipping cream. Bring to boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and add chicken, mushrooms, and pimentos. Drain spaghetti and add to mixture, toss to coat.



Transfer to two 9 x 13" baking dishes, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. To freeze, cover wtith wax paper and tin foil; freeze. To bake; bake uncovered at 350 for 20-25 minutes.



.

Homemade Pizza

Adapted from the Uprisings Cookbook
Makes 2 Large Crusts

Mix 1 1/2 Tablespoons yeast (I prefer SAF brand)
with 2 cups warm water

Let sit for 5 minutes, it should get nice and foamy.

Add:
2 Tablespoons Honey
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 Tablespoon sea salt
2 cups Whole Wheat Flour (Hard or Soft will work) 
cornmeal (to sprinkle on pan)
Mix well, then knead in about 4 more cups of whole wheat flour, one cup at a time.  If using store bought wheat flour instead of freshly ground, you may want to substitute some unbleached white flour for 2-3 of the cups.
Knead until dough is strong, smooth, and not very sticky.  Let rise for 1 hour.  Preheat oven to 400.

Sprinkle 2 pans/stones with cornmeal.  Roll dough out slightly bigger than the pan and fold the edge in to make the "crust."  Parbake for 5 minutes at 400 degrees.

Add pizza sauce, cheese, and whatever toppings you prefer, bake for another 10 minutes.
 

Grandma Tacy’s Baked Beans

Grandma Tacy’s Baked Beans




1 pound great northern dried beans (soak overnight)

Boil until a few start to crack open, pour off water. Cover with fresh boiling water and add:

1/2 cup white sugar

1 Tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons molasses

1/2 stick of butter

Top with bacon or salt pork. Cook covered, 2 1/2 hours or until soft. Add water as needed. Brown uncovered 15-20 minutes.

Chicken Adobo

Chicken Adobo is a Philippino dish.

3lb chicken pieces (we usually use chicken thighs)
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup white vinegar
1-2 cloves garlic
2 bay leaves
freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 onion, thinly sliced.

Remove skin and fat from chicken, rinse and put in large pot, pepper chicken to taste.  Add soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, sugar, and onion.  Cook on medium heat (light boil) for 30 minutes (I usually turn chicken over once), then turn down to low, cover pot and simmer for 30 additional minutes.

Serve chicken on (or with) rice drizzled with broth from pot.

Tunafish Casserole or Tuna Skillet

I found this recipe while having to cook dairy free for a time.  My kids love this.  We often serve it just as a skillet meal and it beats Tuna Helper any day.  We serve peas on the side, but you could certainly mix them in.

Adapted from "The Milk Free Kitchen"

12 oz noodles (elbows, spirals, bowties, etc)
3 Tablespoons of butter (or substitute)
5 Large mushrooms, sliced (Fresh is the way to go, but you can use a small can)
3 Tablespoons flour
1 1/4 cups double strength chicken broth ( I use Tone's Chicken base and water)
One 7oz can tuna, drained (Albacore solid works best, but any tuna will work

Handful of crushed crackers or potato chips

Cook the pasta according to package directions.  If you want to make the casserole version; preheat the oven to 350 and grease a 2-qt baking dish.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small frying pan, add mushrooms (if using fresh) and saute until tender.  Remove pan from heat and stir in the flour.  Make sure all the flour is moistened by the butter.  Stir in the broth, keep stirring until well mixed with no lumps of flour. 

Return the pan to the burner; cook and continue stirring, until the mixture has gently boiled for 2 minutes and has thickened.  Stir in tuna (if using canned mushrooms, stir in now.)   Drain pasta and add in. 

If you want to serve as a skillet meal, just make sure everything is combined and hot and serve.

For casserole; pour mixture into prepared baking dish and top with cracker crumbs.  Bake about 30 minutes or until bubbly around edges.

Deli Meat Slicer for Christmas!!

Chef's Choice 610 Premium Electric Food Slicer

My mom bought us a Deli Meat Slicer for Christmas, we are too far away to spend Christmas together, so since I already know what it is, she told me I didn't have to wait!

Okay so now I am searching out for yummy ideas.

Deli Style Roast Beef

Pepperoni

Bologna

Summer Sausage

Beef Jerky (too many recipes out there)

Philly Cheese-steak Sandwiches