I'm planning a relaxing weekend in Marion with Tim and Julie July 12-14. I think I'll surprise them with some tasty goodness. I found recipes in some Taste of Home cookbooks donated to the Friends of the Library book sale and a copy of Sheila Lukins "celebrate!".
Saturday Afternoon Cocktail Hour
Cranberry-Jalapeno
martini
Cook 1 cup turbinado sugar with ¾ cups cranberry juice and ½
cup fresh cranberries and ½ tsp. chopped seeded jalapeno pepper.
Bring to a boil and reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for
3 min. or until sugar is dissolved.
Cover and let stand 20 min.
Strain the liquid, discard cranberries and jalapeno. Cover and refrigerate syrup.
3 oz. vodka, 1 T
cranberry syrup and 1 T cranberry juice. Stir, strain and serve over ice with
mint and cranberries.
Pistachio Gorgonzola Cheesecake
Chop 2 shallots in food processor and add 2 cups Gorgonzola, 1 cup butter, 1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, ¼ cup Madeira wine, 2 T. grated orange peel, 1 T. heavy whipping cream, ½ tsp. white pepper and ½ tsp. ground mustard.
Combine 1 cup toasted, chopped pistachios with 8 thinly sliced green onion, 2 T. minced fresh basil, 2 T. oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped and drained, and 2 cups Gorgonzola.
Spread half the mixture in a parchment lined springform pan. Top with half of the cream cheese mixture. Repeat layers. Pat down. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
Remove the sides of the pan and unmold. Press ½ cup finely chopped pistachios over sides. Serve with crackers.
Late Dinner
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Chili Lime Dressing
Cube 2 pounds sweet potatoes and toss with 2 T olive
oil. Roast at 400 degrees for 40 min.
until potatoes are tender stirring twice.
Combine 1 large red pepper cut into ½ inch pieces, 8 green onions
chopped, ½ cup minced fresh parsley and ¼ cup fresh minced cilantro.
Dress with 1/3 c. olive oil, ¼ c. lime juice, 4 tsp. chili
powder, ¾ tsp. salt, ¾ tsp. ground cumin, ½ tsp. pepper and 1/8 tsp. cayenne
pepper.
Tilapia with Basil Oil and Summer Salsa
Combine ½ c. fresh corn, ½ cup chopped nectarine, ½ cup chopped tomato and ½ cup cubed avocado with 2 T. fresh basil, minced, 2 T. fresh lime juice, 1-1/2 tsp. grated lime peel, 1 tsp. finely chopped seeded jalapeno pepper, ¼ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper.
Place 1 cup loosely packed basic leaves, 2 T. lime juice, 1-1/2 tsp. grated lime peel, 1 garlic clovein food processor and pulse until chopped, adding 1/3 c. oil while chopping.
Serve baked or grilled tilapia with salsa and oil.
Grilled Red Potato
Salad with Blue Cheese and Bacon
Toss 3 pounds small red potatoes, quartered, 1 small red
onion, thinly sliced, 2 T olive oil and 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper and seal
up in foil and grill, covered over medium heat for 40-50 minutes. Turn once.
Toss with 1 c. mayo, ¼ c. minced chives, ¼ cup white
balsamic vinegar, 2 tsp. sugar, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard. Sprinkle with 1 cup blue cheese and 6 bacon
strips, crumbled.
Blackberry-Basil Panna Cotta
Combine 2 cups heavy whipping cream and 2 cups half and half with 3/4 cup sugar in a saucepan. Sprinkle with two envelopes of unflavored gelatin and let stand for one minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until sugar and gelatin are completely dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract and 2 tsp. lemon peel.
Pour the panna cotta into six ramekins or custard cups coated with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
In a small saucepan, combine 2 cups fresh blackberries with 1 cup sugar and 1 cup blackberry wine or ruby port wine. Bring to a boil and cook until mixture is thicken. Reduce to 1-1/4 cups in this process and then remove from heat, stirring in 1/4 cup minced fresh basil and 2 T cold butter. Cool.
Unmold panna cotta onto dessert plates, serve with sauce and garnish with additional blackberries and basil.
Sunday Morning Breakfast
Grapefruit in honey-thyme sauce – 3 large grapefruit sliced.
½ cup white wine or white grape juice and ¼ c. honey and 2 T minced fresh thyme simmered 15 min.
Overnight Yeast Pancakes
1 pkg active dry yeast or ¼ ounce dissolved in 1-1/2 cups warm buttermilk for 5 min.
Combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup wheat flour and ¼ c. sugar and 3 tsp. baking powder and 1 tsp. baking soda and ½ tsp. salt
Whisk in 2 eggs, 2 T canola oil and 1 tsp. vanilla extract until moistened. Stir in yeast mixture and refrigerate for 8 hours.
OR
Cheese grits and sausage breakfast casserole
2 pounds bulk Italian sausage, cooked
Bring 2 cups water and 2 cups chicken broth, ½ tsp. salt to a boil. And slowly stir in 1-1/4 cup quick cooking grits.
Reduce heat and cook and stir for 5-7 minutes. Removed from heat and add 1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, 1 cup milk, 1-1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. sage and stir until cheese is melted. Stir in sausage and 6 eggs, beaten. Transfer to a greased dish and bake uncovered at 350 for 40-45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes.
