Dessert, Appetizer and Snacks

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Blueberry Oatmeal Bread

Richard at the office is into baking  he has made some out of this world banana breads, cakes and muffins. He stuck a piece of this in front of me today and said this is great and he was not lying.

This is Heidi from Go bold With Butter  – She must love Ina Garten who uses a lot of butter while cooking.

I’m a lover of quick breads. Pulling together a few ingredients that can be mixed by hand and dumped into one simple pan, then placed in a hot oven to produce a sweet blueberry surprise topped with a pat of butter is what I call a great weekend treat.

The beauty of this recipe is that it comes together so quickly I don’t even have to wait for the weekend to make it. In about the same amount of time it takes to make a morning omelet I can mix the ingredients, then take a quick shower, put on my face and have something fresh from the oven for my daughter before shuttling her off to school.

I love blueberry muffins so adapting the recipe for a quick bread was a natural. Adding heart-healthy oatmeal to the mix gives it a bonus kick start for my daughter’s morning, and a pick-me-up for my afternoon snack.

Blueberry Oatmeal Bread

richard 1
By Heidi
Makes one loaf

Ingredients:

1 cup blueberries
2 cups flour, plus 1 tablespoon
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup Greek yogurt
2 eggs
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup oats

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly butter and dust with flour.

In a small bowl, toss blueberries with 1 tablespoon flour to keep blueberries from sinking. In a large bowl, whisk 2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix yogurt, eggs, melted butter and vanilla together and then fold into the dry ingredients. Add the blueberries and oats and gently combine.

Scrape the mixture to loaf pan. It will be thick and a little sticky. Bake for 50-55 minutes and golden brown and when a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes then cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Related post

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

Pancakes

Healthy Breakfast Scones

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GALE’S PASSOVER TREAT RECIPE

happy_passover_matzah_greeting_card-p137958966884081037envwi_400

3 SQUARES OF PLAIN MATZAH

1 CUP BAKERS SHREDDED COCONUT

1 CUP CRANBERRY CRASINS

3 CUPS GHRIADELHI DARK CHOCOLATE MORSELS

1 CUP OF SLIVERED ALMONDS (TOAST IN 350 DEGREE OVEN FOR 7 MINUTES)

 

DIRECTIONS:

CRUMBLE THE 3 SQUARES OF MATZAH INTO SMALL PIECES

THEN MIX ALL THE INGREDIENTS EXCEPT THE CHOCOLATE TOGETHER WITH THE MATZAH

 

MELT:

3 CUPS GHRIADELHI DARK CHOCOLATE MORSELS UNTIL SMOOTH.

ADD THE CHOCOLATE TO THE ABOVE DRIED INGREDIENTS

PLACE WAX PAPER ON COOKING SHEET; THEN SPREAD THE MIXTURE OUT ON THE COOKIE SHEET AND FLATTEN WITH A METAL SPATCHLER.

REFRIDGERATE OVER NIGHT AND THEN BREAK INTO PIECES

GALE’S PASSOVER TREAT RECIPE

HAPPY PESACH!

 

ENJOY

 

Ridley Believe it or not Nachos
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Ridley Believe it or not Nachos

Growing up my son Mike’s specialty was nacho’s he always threw together the best nacho’s ever. When it hit the table we just dove in like a fumble recovery. So I present my version of his Nachos for NEpatriotslife.com game day recipe. I do him no justice.

Did you know Howard Cosell made a huge impact on nachos acceptance to the mainstream!

Do you know who Howard is?

 Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef, chicken or turkey
  • 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 (18 ounce) package restaurant-style tortilla chips
  • 1 cup shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese, or more to taste
  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can refried beans
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup sour cream, or more to taste
  • 1 (10 ounce) can pitted black olives, drained and chopped
  • 4 scullion onions, sliced thin
  • 1 (4 ounce) can sliced jalapeno peppers, drained

How:

Cook and stir ground beef or whatever- if chicken or turkey add a little olive oil to brown,in a skillet over medium heat until meat is crumbly and no longer pink, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain excess grease. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water and simmer until beef mixture has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.

Set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Spread tortilla chips on the prepared baking sheet; top with Cheddar cheese and dot with refried beans and ground beef mixture.

Broil in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, watching carefully to prevent burning, 3 to 5 minutes.

Top nachos with salsa, sour cream, black olives, green onions, and jalapeno peppers

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Howard Cosell: Nachos ultimate champion!!

Now here is where the story gets even better. The tasty snack becomes a specialty in many restaurants in Southern Texas but is virtually unknown anywhere else on the planet. That is until a gentleman by the name of Frank Liberto decided to try to sell the stuff as a concession stand item! He changed up the recipe by reformulating the cheese to be soft all the time and using simple tortilla chips. He began to sell his new version of nachos in 1977 in Arlington Stadium in Arlington Texas. but what really made the concept take off was a visit by “Monday Night Football” later that year. Before the game started they were offering the product in the reception area where Howard Cosell took a liking to the name. That night and for weeks after, Cosell and the rest of the “Monday Night Football” team worked the word nacho and the product itself in wherever they could! From there on out nachos quickly grew into the massive force they are today!!

Lyn’s Almond Butter Cookies
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Lyn’s Almond Butter Cookies

I know she got these out of a natural health magazine many years ago and that these are good, real good, that’s all I will write. Smell the almond.

About 3 1/2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • 24 whole almonds
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 2/3 cup almond butter
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest.

 

How

Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly grease 2 backing sheets

Blanch the almonds in boiling water for 45 seconds. Drain and rinse under cold running water, squeeze each almond to pop it out of its skin; transfer almonds to cookie sheet and toast in the oven for 8 minutes.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.

In another bowl, whisk together maple syrup, almond butter, melted butter, vanilla and almond extracts and orange zest until smooth.

Fold the flour mixture into the almond butter mixture.

Form the dough into walnut sized balls. Place the balls 3 inches apart on the backing sheet and gently flatten into 1 ½ inch rounds. Press an almond into each cookie. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through for even baking. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool until crisp.

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Is this true?

Almonds are not nuts.  In fact, an almond is the seed of the fruit of the almond tree.  This tree bears fruits with a “stone-like” seed within.

Fruits with these characteristics are called “drupes”.  Specifically, a drupe is a fruit that has an outer fleshy part surrounding a shell that contains a seed.  Other drupes include fruits from walnut trees and coconut trees.

The seed inside the almond fruit is what is commonly referred to as an almond “nut”, even though it’s not a nut.  A nut is a hard shelled fruit that has an indehiscent seed; more simply, a hard shelled fruit that doesn’t open to release its seed(s).  An example of a true nut would be an acorn or chestnut.

This all gives a whole new perspective to the famous Almond Joy jingle “Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don’t”.  When you feel like a nut, an Almond Joy wouldn’t do you any good due to the ingredients primarily comprising of chocolate (bean), coconut (seed), and almonds (seed).  The ending of the jingle, like so many advertisements, is then just plain false advertising: “Almond Joy’s got nuts” (LIES!!!), “Mounds don’t”.

Read more at http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/04/almonds-are-not-nuts/#SMiq8OzorPKfmDkT.99

Mixed Berry Shortcake
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Mixed Berry Shortcake

When midsummer rolls in just before the birds and chipmunks decide that their buffet is ready we grab what we can and make one of our old time favorite’s deserts, snack sometimes even breakfast. This has been one of our staples since 1991 the good thing is you choose the berries to change it up. I have tried nets and sprays but nothing really helps so with the berries, as with my garden the year before, I decided to share. If only they understood the concept. This year I only did a deck garden leaving the ground level for my herbs.

You can make this shortcake with any combination of fresh berries.  Use 8 cups of your favorite mixture.  10 servings

 

Ingredients

  • 2 pints strawberries
  • 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 pint raspberries
  • 1 pint blackberries
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • grated zest of 1 orange
  • 10 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream

How

1.  Wash and hull strawberries.  Mash 1/4 of them with 3/4 cup of the sugar.  Cut the rest in half or quarters.  Combine mashed and cut up strawberries with raspberries and blackberries.  Set aside.

2.  Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Butter and flour baking two 9″ cake pans.  Combine flour, baking powder, salt, 1/4 cup sugar and orange zest.  Cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal.

3.  Stir in milk.  Divide dough in half and put into pans with floured fingers.

4.  Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.  Turn out onto racks.

5.  Whip the cream with the remaining 2 Tbsp sugar until it holds soft peaks.

6.  Just before serving put one shortcake layer on a serving plate.  Top with about 3/4 of the fruit mixture, letting juice trickle down sides.  Spread with about 3/4 of the whipped cream.  Top with second layer.  Spoon remaining

Deionion Branch Dip
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Deionion Branch Dip

Makes 3 cups.Why this recipe works:

A good roasted onion and bacon dip recipe starts with a good technique for roasting the onions. We developed a roasted onions recipe that met three criteria. To get a tender and moist interior, we roasted them cut side down on a pan rubbed with a small amount of oil. Halving the onions also gave us a pleasing presentation, with the onions reasonably intact. Finally, we wanted a good amount of surface caramelization in our roasted onions recipe. We noticed that during cooking the outer rings of the onions rose off the pan and so caramelized less than the inner rings. The remedy was to cut two small X’s at the top of each onion half; these slits allow steam to escape during cooking and helped to limit the tendency of the outer rings to lift up and off the pan.

With its fresh ingredients, this dip tastes like an uptown version of the old standby made with powdered onion soup mix. Serve with chips, pita bread slices, carrots sticks or just stick your fingers in when no one is looking.

Ingredients

Roasted Onions

  • 6 medium yellow onions halved crosswise, root and stem ends X’d twice (see illustration below)
  •  1 Tbsp. olive oil

Dip

  • 6 – 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and drained, crumbled
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 2 ¼ tsps. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsps. Dijon mustard
  • ½ tsps. celery seed
  • 3 Tbsps. chopped fresh chives
  • ½ tsps. table salt
  • Ground black pepper

How

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil; rub foil with oil. Place onions cut side down on baking sheet. Roast until dark brown around bottom edge and tender when pierced with thin skewer or knife tip, about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to rack; let onions rest for 5 minutes before lifting off pan with metal spatula. Let onions cool then peel and chop fine.

2. Mix all ingredients (including onions) in medium bowl. Serve immediately or chill.

If you want spice it up with cayenne powder or some red pepper flakes

X’ing Onions

Cutting two small X’s near the end of the onion allows moisture to escape during cooking. This helps keep the rings level as they cook.

Original recipe is from Cooks illustrated 1997
Replacement Referees Recipes.
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Replacement Referees Recipes.

I have been doing a series of game time recipes for a site that my son has a lot to do with patriots life.com but I wanted to show my appreciation of the job that the Replacement Refs are doing by sharing some of their right on call for game time and halftime treats. One of my favorite lines I have heard so far is Oh Really they did not cover that at Footlocker orientation!

So in light of the brilliant job the Replacement Refs are doing I thought it only appropriate that we share some of their suggestions for during the game and halftime treats. You got to admit they could not miss calling the right snack at the right time. I have changed the name of the first of these into more appropriate football terminology and added my comments to others. I have to say after trying Scrapple the wait was worth …….. sorry I had to run, just made a touchdown of sorts.

 

Scramble, Fumble, Recovery Slow Cooked Stew (Scrapple)

As with preparing Sunday’s game plan this meal takes some time to make but the cheers of the crowd make up for it when you serve it up. You’ll score a real touch down with this halftime show.

Ingredients:

  • 1 hog’s head
  • 4 to 5 quarts cold water
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • 4 teaspoons powdered sage
  • yellow corn meal (about 3 cups)

How:

Separate one hog’s head into halves. Remove eyes and brains. Scrape head and clean thoroughly. Place in large kettle and cover with 4-5 quarts of cold water. Simmer gently for 2 to 3 hours, or until meat falls from the bones. Skim grease carefully from the surface; remove meat. chop fine, and turn liquor ( Steve says I have no clue I think stir). Season with salt, pepper, and sage to taste. Sift in corn meal, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened to the consistency of mush. Cook slowly for 1 hour over low heat. When sufficiently cooked, pour into greased oblong pans and store in a cool place until ready to use. Cut in thin slices and fry until crisp and brown. Makes 6 pounds.

Server with a cup of nice cheddar coffee or a spam shake.

Spam Shake

Smooth delicious and full of protein

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of Spam
  • 1 tin of anchovies
  • 2 12oz cans of beer
  • 4 oz tomato juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup chopped up parsley
  • 1/4 cup chopped scallions
  • dash of Tabasco
  • salt (if you’d need it), pepper to taste

How

Put it in blender and blend until smooth

Serve chilled with celery stick

Fried Hornworms on fried tomatoes

These lightly fried battered tomato slices topped off with a crunchy goodness will score big with your crowd.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 16 tomato hornworms
  • 4 medium green tomatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • White cornmeal

How:

In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil. Then lightly fry the hornworms, about 4 minutes, taking care not to rupture the cuticles of each insect under high heat. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Season tomato rounds with salt and pepper, then coat with cornmeal on both sides. In a large skillet, fry tomatoes until lightly browned on both sides. Top each round with 2 fried tomato hornworms. Garnish the paired hornworms with a single basil leaf.

More suggestions

During the game

  • Cheddar Coffee –A little razzle dazzle – When the coffee is gone, slurp down the glob of melted cheese. 
  • Sunflower Worcestershire Delight – a fall twist of a favorite baseball treat.
  • Banana Worm Bread – The smell alone makes the mouth….
  • Rocky Mountain Oysters– Round and crunchy a prairie treat
  • Progresso Lentil Soup with Chocolate Pudding – Are there words to describe that first taste?
  • Cricket Cookies –These are not just a night game treat

 

Halftime

  • Pig’s Face and Cabbage – You had to do something with the rest after the footballs were made.
  • Clams Sundae – A typical Patriot’s press conference
  • Deer Poppers – 1, 2, 3 4,  I want some more…
  • Moose Nose Soup – It is Moose Nose Soup. First you need a moose nose and its tongue. Burn and scrape the hair off the nose on an open camp fire or use a blow torch. Cut the nose and tongue into cubes and boil for about an hour. Add onions if you wish. I enjoyed this soup, but people find it gross. Well you’re missing out.

Find more of these types of recipes at http://www.wildrecipes.com/

Pig Skins
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Pig Skins

You can assemble these game day pig skins ahead of time, if you like. For daintier eaters try pop in your mouth bite-size pig skins, make this recipe with 12 small potatoes instead. Or for a twist, substitute smoked turkey or chicken for the pork, heck make them all and pig out.

 Ingredients:

  • 6 medium Yukon gold potatoes (about 2 1/2 lbs.)
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • A couple of green onions slice thin for garnish
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce (I used my Root beer BBQ sauce but you can use your own)
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup salsa
  • 1 cup grated Monterey Jack
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded pulled pork (You can buy in store or make your own)

How:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Prick potatoes all over with a fork then arrange on a baking sheet and bake until tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then cut in half lengthwise and scoop out flesh, leaving only about 1/4 inch of potato all around. (Save potato flesh for another use.)

In the meantime, heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onions, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and cook until deep golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes more.

Preheat broiler. Divide half of the cheese among potato skins, then top with onions. Arrange pork on onions then top with remaining cheese. Broil until golden brown and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer potato skins to a platter and serve with BBQ sauce, sour cream, salsa on the side and what else BEER!

Go Pats!

Where did potato skins originate?

According to Yahoo Answers

Sorry to tell you, but they originated with TGI Fridays. But don’t worry, it wasn’t the original store in NYC. They were actually concocted by a hungry sous chef in the Atlanta store. The year was 1974.

I still think that Friday’s skins are the best. I was introduced to them in Cupertino, California around 1977, and every Friday night would go to the bar there for skins and beer (extra sour cream, please!). Got fatter than heck that summer.

Now that’s what Fridays would like you to believe is it true? Let’s hear from you?

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GRONKACAMOLE

My son is one of the contributing editors, among other things, for Patriots Life, Celtics Life, RedSox Life and more. He was looking for some tongue and cheek recipes for patriot’s life, how I could resist.

Gronkowski was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.  He set an NFL record for receiving yards by a tight end in a single season with 1,327.

Preparation: 30-45 min

Smaller portions will take about 10 minutes to completion

Serves: 61

Hey you got to feed the team and the coaches right!

 

Ingredients – like Gronk something a little different.

■ 23 ripe, Fresh California Avocados, seeded and peeled

■ 23 tsp. fresh lemon juice

■ 5 3/4 tsp. fresh dill, chopped

■ 2 7/8 Tbsp. garlic salt

■ 17 1⁄4 Tbsp. medium-hot salsa

■ 5 3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

How

In a large bowl, coarsely mash avocados, leaving some chunks.

Add remaining ingredients and mix to blend.

Serving Suggestions: Serve with chips.

Beverage Pairings: Beer what else?

Note: Large avocados are recommended for this recipe. A large avocado averages about 8 ounces. If using smaller or larger size avocados adjust the quantity accordingly.

Recipe influenced  By the California Avocado Commission

 

Almond-Oat Strawberry Shortcakes
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Almond-Oat Strawberry Shortcakes

I love cooking but I love it even more when Lyn and I are both cooking together doesn’t matter the same dish or different, cooking in the kitchen with my honey is one of my favorite things to do.

Lyn and I are big on good quality meats and organic fruits and vegetables, usually it pays off with taste but the other day we got some organic strawberries that just were not that sweet. Not sure if it was a bad batch or just the end of the season but there we were with a huge pile of strawberries. Normally we grab a bowl full and munch on for a satisfying desert or snack, Lyn makes smoothies too much air in that for my liking you know what air in the belly gives you. Anyway what to do?

We divided in half and I was given the task of maceration, as Lyn called it. She had bought a new fancy dancy potato masher Fancy Dancy Potato Masher(I can hear Laurel in my mind oooohhhhhh, she just loves cooking stuff) but it was not working on the strawberries. I grabbed the old faithful and squashed, as I call it, away. Meanwhile Lyn went to work on the shortcakes. Soon the smell filled the house and the tummies were grumbling.

Influenced by Bon Appétit

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • Substitute with gluten-free flour and it’s a gluten-free desert, just a little more crumbly!
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/3 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple sugar, divided.
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2″ cubes
  • 1 cup chilled butter milk, divided, plus more for brushing
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
  • 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur (optional)

How

Shortcakes

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pulse flour, oats, almonds, 1/3 cup maple sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Add butter; pulse until only pea-size pieces remain. Add 1/2 cup butter milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla; pulse until large moist clumps form. Transfer to a work surface.

Knead until dough comes together, about 4 turns. Pat into a 4×6″ rectangle. Halve lengthwise, then crosswise into thirds. Round each biscuit if you want and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Brush with butter milk; sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon maple sugar.

Bake, rotating sheet halfway through cooking, until golden brown around edges and a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Set biscuits on a wire rack; let cool.

Strawberries

Meanwhile, combine strawberries (my job), 1 tablespoon maple sugar, and Grand Marnier, if using, in a large bowl. Toss to coat. Let strawberries sit, tossing often, until juices release.

Whipped Cream

Whisk 1/2 cup Cool Whip or Cool Whip lite, 1/2 tablespoon maple sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl until peaks form.

Place shortcake on plates. Divide Cool Whip mixture and strawberries over. You could probably cut the shortcake in half, build as above and then top with top of shortcake and a dollop of strawberry and cream.