Pimento Macaroni and Cheese

Serves 6 with leftovers (because you will want leftovers)

• 8 ounces dry elbow macaroni
• 1 can roasted red peppers, drained and rinsed
•  4 cups milk (for creamier sauce use milk and cream or ½ and ½)
• 2 TBS butter
• ½ yellow onion diced small
• 1 clove garlic
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Place a large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. Cook macaroni for 7-9 mins until al dente. Drain and rinse. Meanwhile, in a smaller pot melt butter and add onions and garlic. Sweat slowly over low heat until onion softens. Add milk / cream.  Dice roasted peppers. Add cream cheese and simmer gently until cream cheese melts. You’ll have to stir frequently to help this along. Once smooth, add red peppers and half the cheddar. Stir to melt. Mix with macaroni. It should look very loose and too saucy. Place in a glass baking dish, top with remaining cheese and bake at 350 for 15 minutes to brown the cheese on top. Remove and let stand 10-15 mins.

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Black Eyed Pea Succotash

Try this as a side with Fried catfish or your next pork BBQ.

Serves 4

• 2 TBS  olive oil
• ½ cup diced yellow onion
• 1 clove garlic
• ¼ tsp chili flakes
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups black eyed peas
• (If fresh black eyed peas aren’t readily available, use frozen and not canned.)
• 2 cups shoe peg / white corn
• 1 – 15 ounce can diced tomato in juice
• *1 tsp  hot sauce
• *1TBS cider vinegar

*Optional for a little spiciness

In a sauce pot, add olive oil, garlic, onions, chili flakes. Cook for 2-3 min until onions soften.

Add black eyed peas and water. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add corn and tomatoes. Cook until peas are soft and most liquid has evaporated. Add hot sauce and vinegar.  Adjust with salt and pepper.

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Sweet Potato Biscuits

Yield: 12  biscuits

• 1 large sweet potato, washed,  roasted, cooled slightly
• 1 ¾ cups AP flour,  plus a little more.
• 1 tsp Salt
• ½ heaping TSP baking soda
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cold  cut into small cubes
• ½ cup whole milk or buttermilk
• *½ TSP  cinnamon
• *¼ TSP nutmeg

* optional

Wash a large sweet potato and bake in oven for 45 minutes until very soft. Remove and cool for 15 minutes. Potato should be warm, yet cool enough to handle. The peel should easily be removed from potato. Mash it well. Mix milk / buttermilk into the sweet potato puree. Mix dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or fork (a food processor will work, too), cut cold butter into the flour mixture. Work quickly as once the butter softens the flakiness of the biscuits will be affected. Mix until the flour forms small pea-sized granules. Fold sweet potato mixture into flour. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated. Do not knead the dough or over-work it. Dust a little flour onto a cutting board and roll the dough until it is ½ inch thick. You can then cut the biscuits into squares with a knife, or use a biscuit cutter to cut rounds. Place biscuits on a sheet pan and bake at 400 degrees for about 12-16 minutes.

Serve with butter or even better – apple butter.

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Cider & Molasses-Brined Bone-In Pork Chop

• 2 cups apple juice
• 2 Tbsp salt
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 sprig thyme
• 1 sprig rosemary

Directions:

Bring brine ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat and let stand 1 hour in refrigerator to cool. Add pork chops and let stand fully covered in brine for 4 hours. Remove, drain well. Let stand overnight in refrigerator uncovered to air dry. Brush pork chop with oil. Place on a hot grill and cook for 4 minutes. Turn over and cook an additional 4-6 mins. Remove from grill and let stand 5 mins to rest.

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Summer Squash Casserole

• 2 strips bacon, sliced thin
• 2-3 yellow squash, sliced thin
• ½ yellow onion, julienned
• 4 eggs
• 2.5 cup heavy cream
• 2 Tbsp chopped basil
• ½ tsp each salt and pepper

Thinly slice bacon, render over medium heat. Add onions and cook until onions are lightly browned. Drain off half the fat. Mix eggs and cream to make basic custard. Thinly slice squash.  Chiffonade basil. Mix all ingredients in mixing bowl. Spray a 2-inch hotel pan. Add squash mixture and press gently to evenly spread throughout pan. Make sure custard coats all ingredients.  Bake at 300 uncovered for approximately 40 minutes, until custard is set. Remove and cool. Cut into 2-inch squares for service.

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Wilted Swiss Chard

• 1 bunches Swiss chard, chopped. Keep 1/2 stems. Remove browned cuts at bottom
• 1 Tbsp chopped garlic
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 1/4 cup water
• Salt and pepper to taste

Chop chard, wash thoroughly to remove grit and dirt.  In a rondo- heat EVOO over medium heat.  Add chard stems first then garlic. Cook until garlic begins to brown do not burn!   Add chard and stir until chard begins to lightly wilt. Add water to  create steam.   Stir, chard should be wilted and tender but not overly mushy.  Season and serve.

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Cider Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 sprig thyme
• 1 tsp black peppercorns

Add all to sauce pot. Reduce by ¾. Do not burn! Remove from heat. Strain out seasonings. Reserve hot for service. You may adjust consistency as needed with either cider or vinegar.

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Mediterranean Quiche with Sundried Tomato, Feta Cheese and Spinach Quiche

Ingredients:

• 1 precooked 9 inch deep dish pie shell
• 3 large eggs
•  ½ pint of heavy cream or ½ and ½
• ½ cup of feta grated or cubed small
• 2 oz. hydrated sundried tomatoes
• 1 oz of sauteed fine diced red onion
• 3 oz Fresh spinach sauteed, drained and chopped
• Pinch of nutmeg, pinch of salt

• 1 precooked 9 inch deep dish pie shell
• 3 large eggs
•  ½ pint of heavy cream or ½ and ½
• ½ cup of feta grated or cubed small
• 2 oz. hydrated sundried tomatoes
• 1 oz of sauteed fine diced red onion
• 3 oz Fresh spinach sauteed, drained and chopped
• Pinch of nutmeg, pinch of salt

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees and partially cook your pie shell for 10 minutes to lightly brown. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, then add the heavy cream and mix together well. Fold in all the rest of the ingredients and stir. Using a ladle, ladle the mixture into the pie shell getting the ingredients and wet mix evenly distributed. May use a fork to slightly stir. Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes or until the quiche is firm in the center and golden brown.  

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Braised Pork Chops with Summer and Fall Vegetables

Ingredients:

• 4 Bone-in Rib Chops or your preference, cut 1-inch thick
• Flour seasoned with salt and pepper
• 2 Garlic cloves smashed and chopped
• 1 large diced onion
• 2 peppers any color – 1 inch cubed
• 1 medium size eggplant cut in 1 inch cubes
• A mixture of 2-3 medium size squash
• 1 medium box of Button mushrooms
• Fresh garden tomatoes or canned diced or plum tomatoes
• A mixture of fresh (or dry) thyme, basil and oregano
• Rice or a hearty pasta like rotini

Directions:

Heat a large fry pan with olive or vegetable oil. Dredge your pork chops in the flour, covering all sides. Lightly brown and place in a deep-sided Pyrex dish. In the same pan, sautee the onion and garlic in olive oil. Add the remaining cut vegetables and herbs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, tossing lightly, bringing the flavors together but not cooking through. Pour the vegetable mixture over the pork chops and cover with saran wrap and foil to create a good seal. Bake in a 400-degree oven for 25 minutes and shut off oven while you make your rice or pasta. When ready, remove pork chops and place on platter. Spoon vegetables over rice or pasta to serve.

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Eggplant Parmigiana

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts of Homemade tomato basil pasta sauce or your favorite jarred sauce. I like Michaels from Brooklyn Ny.
• 2-3 Fresh eggplant peeled
• Plain breadcrumbs that you season or pre-seasoned.
• Dry Italian Herbs, Dry Parsley
• 1 cup of Flour
• 3 eggs x 2 = 6 eggs
• Seasoned flour
• 2 lbs. Ricotta Cheese
• 1 pound of whole milk mozzarella grated
• Parmesan Cheese

• Filling – Beat 3 eggs. Add ricotta cheese, ¾ lb. shredded mozzarella, ¼ tsp. dry parsley, ¼ tsp granulated garlic and mix with a spatula. Add a little milk if it is too thick, however, mix should soft and not runny.
• Breading – First, beat eggs and mix with an almost equal part of water. Next season breadcrumbs with salt and pepper, granulated garlic, and dry Italian herbs. Place both the flour and breadcrumbs in separate pie pans. After peeling the eggplant, you may cut in rounds for individual servings or long way through the eggplant for a casserole style. Either way, cut at least ½ inch thick. Dip eggplant in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs and lay to the side.
• Frying – lightly fry the eggplant cutlets in canola or olive oil blend until golden brown on both sides.
• Assemble eggplant by placing sauce in a casserole dish first, followed by an eggplant cutlet, followed by the cheese mixture, then another eggplant and sauce over the top. Once you have assembled the eggplant, sprinkle with more mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
• Bake covered with saran and foil in a 350 degree oven for about 1 hour or until an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

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Lemon Chess Pie

Makes 1 9-inch pie

Ingredients:

• 1 oz of cornmeal
• 1 oz of all purpose flour
• 2 oz melted butter
• 1 and a ½ cup of sugar
• 5 oz. fresh lemon juice
• 3 oz milk
• 6 eggs
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

Whisk cornmeal, flour, and sugar together. Add melted butter, lemon juice and milk mix well. Add eggs, mixing by hand until the eggs are well incorporated. Pour into a 9-inch pie crust and bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes (depending on depth of pie shell) until golden brown and jelled. Cool completely before wrapping.  

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Broccoli Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 cups broccoli florets
• ½ lb bacon cooked and diced
• ½ cup raisins, craisins or dried cherries
• ½ cup Toasted Pecan Pieces
• ½ cup red onion diced small
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 cup Marzetti’s or preferred coleslaw dressing

Directions: Cut bacon into half-inch pieces and sauté in a fry pan until crisp. Drain and hold on paper towel. Cut the broccoli florets into bite-size pieces and place in a mixing bowl with all other ingredients. Add dressing and mix well. Allow to chill and serve.

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Robin’s Best Vinaigrette Cole Slaw

Vegetable Ingredients:

• 1 Head of fine shredded cabbage
• 3-4 fine cut julienne carrots
• 1 each fine cut julienne red, yellow and green peppers
• 1- fine cut julienne white onion
• 3-4 ribs of celery cut thin across the rib
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp. Parsley flake
• 1/2 Tbsp. Celery seed

Mix all these ingredients together well before you dress.

Dressing:

• 2/3 of a cup white or apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup salad oil
• 1/2 Tbsp granulated garlic
• 1 Tbsp white sugar
• A pinch of dry dill or basil – your choice

Mix all in a bowl well and pour over the vegetable mix to marinate in the refrigerator.

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George’s Easy Gazpacho

Ingredients – Makes 8 cups

• 1 green bell pepper diced small
• 1 Jalapeno – carefully diced and seeded
• 1 cucumber seeded and diced small
• 1 Small onion diced or green pencil onions chopped
• 1 Garlic clove smashed and chopped
• 1 large ripe tomato diced
• ½ bunch of Cilantro washed and chopped fine
• 8 oz. tomato juice Plus  8 oz. V-8
• Salt, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, sprinkle to taste

Directions:

After Chopping all vegetables, place in a bowl and pour juice over the vegetables. Add a pinch of cayenne, salt and pepper to taste. Allow to chill for several hours or overnight before serving. Garnish with ripe cantaloupe.

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Adam’s Creamy Dreamy Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 Graham Tart Shell
• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• ¾ cups on confectioner’s sugar
• ½ cup of milk
• ½ cup cool whip or whipped topping
• Chocolate syrup to blend and top

Directions: Blend the cream cheese in a mixer on low to medium to create a smooth consistency. Add confectioner’s sugar, then blend in peanut butter, chocolate sauce and milk. Scrape the sides of the bowl, and blend. Fold in the whipped topping by hand or on slow with paddle attachment. Spoon into a 9-inch graham cracker pie shell. Dot with topping and drizzle with chocolate.  Freeze overnight. Slice frozen and refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

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Homemade Vegetarian Vegetable Soup with Grains

Optional grains like barley of farro or canned beans

Ingredients: Makes 2  gallons.

First peel all the following ingredients saving peels for stock:

• Large whole onion left whole, removing outer skin.
• 1lb bag of carrots
• 1 celery stalk, clip tops and bottom.
• 2 large turnips
• 1 Fennel Bulb
• Clip 1 lb Green Bean ends for stock.
• 1 small head of cabbage or other fresh greens like Swiss chard.
• 4 large potatoes – optional.
• 1 head of cauliflower use core and stems for stock
• 1 large can of crushed tomatoes, and 1 can of water to rinse out the can

Stock Directions:

Place all washed peelings in a large stock pot and cover with water, add 5 bay leaves, thyme, salt, and fresh ground pepper. Cook until all the vegetables are well cooked, and the onion is fork-tender.

Soup Directions:

1. While the stock is being made, dice up all the cleaned vegetables in edible size pieces. Keep the cauliflower, turnips, and potatoes separate to add a little later in the process.
2. Remove the peelings from the stock, saving all the stock. Best done with a handheld strainer.
3. Next step is optional – You may either roast your vegetables or put in the stock just as they are. Either way works well, though you may have a more aromatic flavor with roasting.
4. Add vegetables to the stock along with one can of crushed tomatoes.
5. Cook on medium heat allowing soup to simmer for 20 minutes. Now is a good time to add herbs that you may like, along with cauliflower, turnips and potatoes, as well as the optional farro or barley and then simmer for another 20-30 minutes.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning.

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Farro & Wild Rice Salad with Dried Apricot, Sugar Roasted Walnuts and Grapes, Green onions and a Pear, Topped with Balsamic Dressing

Makes 8 ¼ cup servings.

Directions: Cook 1 cup of dry farro & ½ cup of Wild Rice according to package directions and cool.

For walnuts – Heat a small amount (2-3 tablespoons) of water in a saucepan and remove. Stir in ¼ cup of sugar to dissolve making a paste. Mix with 1 cup of chopped or halved walnuts or pecans. Bake on parchment-lined sheet pan in 350 degree oven for 10 – 15 minutes, browning slightly.

Cut dried apricots in strips and green onions into rings.

Slice seedless grapes in half or add ¼ cup of craisins if preferred.

Mix all in a bowl with the cooled grains.

Dressing- Mix ½ a cup of olive oil with a 1/3 a cup of Pear Balsamic vinegar, or Lambrusco or other Fruited Vinegar choice. Toss and refrigerate.

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Tabbouleh Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Bulger Wheat
• 1/2 c Olive Oil
• 2-3 Fresh Lemons, juiced
• 1 Bunch Fresh Parsley, chopped
• 1 c Vine Ripe Tomatoes

Directions:

Cook 1 Lb of bulger wheat in 1 quart of salted water for 10 minutes. Cover and allow to finish cooking off the heat for 10-15 minutes. Cool. To make dressing, mix ½ cup of olive oil, the juice of 2 to 3 lemons, a bunch of fresh chopped parsley and a cup of fresh vine ripe tomatoes. Add all to the cooled bulger wheat. Taste and adjust flavor with lemon juice and salt if needed.

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Garden Health Salad

Ingredients: Clean and Rinse the following vegetables:

• 4 Celery Stalks dice or cut into ¼ inch pieces
• 1 large Cucumber , seeded and diced ¾ inch pieces
• 3 medium size tomatoes cored and sliced in 1 inch cubes
• 2 -3 mixed color or green peppers cut into 1 inch pieces

Dressing:

• 2/3 cups of Lambrusco or Red wine Vinegar
• 1 cup of olive oil
• Pinch of salt, pepper, granulated garlic and sugar with 2 pinches of dry basil, parsley, oregano.

Mix all together taste and adjust the seasoning and pour over the vegetables.

Note – Best if allowed to marinate overnight in the refrigerator 

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Waldorf Salad

Ingredients: makes 4 cups

• 4- 5 Large Assorted Apples Cored and Diced, not peeled
• 1 and a ½ cup of fresh sliced White and Red grapes or Raisons
• 1 cup of fine diced celery
• 1 cup of chopped or walnut pieces
• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• Optional – A pinch of Sugar and a Pinch of Cinnamon

Toss all together in a bowl and allow to sit for 2 to 3 hours for the flavors to mix and get cold.

Serve on Bib or leafy lettuce optional.

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