Turkey for Easter

I always use half a pound of bacon in my dressing and the other half over my turkey while it is cooking.
Keeps the bird moist and the family love to eat it crisp when the turkey comes out of the oven.









This recipe is from my Grannie who came from Scotland.


I very seldom measure just know by the feel and smell.
Approximate

3 cups of breadcrumbs
1/2 cup of butter
1 large egg or 2 small
1 onion
3 carrots
3 celery sticks
1/2 lb. bacon
Grind in a blender
1 tbsp of sage, poultry dressing, and thyme and parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Should be moist and easy to stuff inside turkey if not add some water.
Fresh cranberries
Potatoes, veggies and gravy to serve on the side. 

Lemon Pie

What could be better than a light lemon pie for desert for Easter

Strawberry Pie

         Kevin Lynch recipe

 

Lemon Ricotta Strawberry Pie  Shortbread Crust

½-cup soft butter ¼ cup powdered sugar 1 tbsp/ lemon zest ¼ tsp. salt 1-cup flour Filling 1-cup ricotta 4 ounces soft cream cheese 3 tbs. honey 1 tbsp. lemon zest 1 tbsp. lemon juice 2pounds of strawberries sliced Directions Cream the butter, mix in the sugar, lemon zest, poppy seeds and salt followed by the flour and mix until it forms crumbs. Press the mixture unto a pie/tart plate and bake in a preheated 400F oven until lightly golden brown, about 15 minutes before letting it cool. Mix the ricotta, cream cheese, honey and lemon juice and zest until smooth. Spread the ricotta mixture across the bottom of the baked and cooled crust, arrange the strawberry slices on top and enjoy.

I have to try this!

Wicked Potatoes

11/2 lbs potatoes boil

Pulse the next 4 together

1 onion
1/2 lb. cream cheese
3 tbsp. butter
2 eggs 

Salt and pepper
Add mashed  boiled  potatoes 

Mix and put in a covered  bowl and put in oven @325 for 1 hour.
I always add more butter and some paprika  before putting into oven.

Beef Bourguignon

I always buy one package of beef with no fat and one with some to balance out my stew

Brown meat in olive oil, after cutting into bite size pieces that has been floured, with some herbs. (What ever you enjoy)  Rosemary, Sage, Thyme.

After browning meat remove to a dish, and then add to pan:

I – Onion

2- Carrots

2- Celery

1-sweet potato or 1 dry belt potato

6 Mushrooms sliced

1/2 red pepper
1/2 green pepper
Cut all approximately the same size

Brown all

Then put in a large pot adding meat

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

¼-cup tomato paste or 1 tomato

2-  Garlic cloves crushed

1 tbsp. Parsley,

½ tsp. salt,

½ tsp. pepper,

½ tsp thyme, oregano 
1 tbsp of brown sugar

Add 2 cups of broth

½ bottle of red wine. (robust)

¼-cup flour to ¼ cup of broth

mix  to thicken

I always mix these two together in a jar as not to have lumps.

Bring to a light boil, then cover and put into the oven at 325 for 2 to 3  hours.
I turn my oven to 200 for the last 2 hours

When meat is tender and the gravy is thick, add a cup of frozen corn and peas.

Serve over rice or noodles or mashed potatoes
with baking powder biscuits or garlic bread.

Stews are always better the second day. 

Left overs make beef pot pies for the freezer.

Date Loaf

Ingredients 

Aj's date loaf

1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup chopped dates
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup nuts (walnuts,

1 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Heat oven to 350F, lightly grease a loaf pan.
Mix the dates, butter& boiling water, set aside& cool.
When cooled mix in the beaten egg& sugar.
Mix the flour, baking soda& salt together.
Add dry ingredients to the batter.
Add nuts and vanilla, blend well.
Pour into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake in 350F oven for 50 minutes or until a wooden skewer comes out clean when inserted in the center.

Starting 2014

Salads

So many different salads to choose to make.
It just makes you want to look forward to dinner.
Add a few pieces of chicken, cheese or eggs. Or a little roast
beef if your taste buds crave that beef, like mine do. I like to add nuts
raisins, cranberries, even dates. Add variety to make it fun. Just watch
the dressings they can add so many calories to a simple salad.

Greek salad	Layer salad
Turkey salad	Oranges, chicken and  greens

Finishing off 2013

 Turkey Pot Pies


Turkey dinners made for the  freezer, soup simmering on the back of the stove. Once cooked and cooled will fill serving containers for two to add to the freezer  Already for 2014 to begin.

 I could not resist making a strawberry/ cranberry pie for later.

Happy New Year all.

2014

 


Well we all have a goal for the New Year. Or do we?
Myself I am going to continue to cut my portion of food
and skip the daily desserts. Try to walk on the tread mill at least three times a week.
When its not raining, I will try to walk outside some days.
Look for interesting recipes that are healthy, cut down on meals of meat.

Bob calls me a carnivore, I love my meat. Once I have done my grocery shopping
and have meat in the freezer I feel safe.
If I don't post for awhile about food you have been warned, as I will probably go into a funk without my  portion of meat and potatoes. I do love vegetables so that will be a safe haven for me.
I will indulge in pasta and pizza on occasion, will stick to my own tomato sauce, no salt just herbs.

I am craving a roast of beef ,surrounded by potatoes and carrots, Yorkshire pudding already.
So will stop this post before I head to the store for a juicy roast.

Pineapple Fluff

I could not find one of my old recipes, so went through many different cook  books.
Frustrated I went on the web and found a few similar ones, but knew they were not like my original. 
When I woke up this morning I knew right away where it was. My old brain must have worked all night long. Here it is:

Bottom layer:

Sprinkle graham wafers on bottom of pan
add melted butter spread and pat down.

Middle 

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups of icing sugar
2 coddled eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 can of drained pineapple ( or 1 fresh crushed)

Mix first three ingredients beat till smooth 
then add pineapple
Layer over bottom layer

Top 
Whip 2 cups of whipping cream spread over middle layer
Sprinkle with graham wafers.

you can use raspberries , strawberries or what ever is a favorite in your family.

Freeze until ready to use.

No picture as two different fillings are  in the freezer already.

Almond Crescent Cookies

I cup unsalted butter
2/3 cup of icing sugar  (plus more for rolling)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp of almond extract
1 cup almonds skins off and chopped
2 1/3 cup flour
Roll dough into crescents
Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 mins.

While still hot from the oven sprinkle with the rest of the sugar.
Makes about 5 dozen

Butter tarts

Butter Tarts;

2 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup of butter
2 cups of raisins or currants 
3 eggs
3/4 cup ground pecans

Melt butter add sugar beat eggs. slowly add raisins, vanilla and toasted nuts.
Makes about 2 dozen
Fill tart shells with your own pastry or bought ones.

Bake at 400 for ten mins. then  350 for 15 mins.

Fudge

 Just a matter of time.

   

2/3 cup   Evaporated Milk
2 tbsp   butter
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups   miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups   semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp  vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Line 8-inch (2 L) square baking pan with butter;set aside

Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in medium saucepan; bring to rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 4 to 5 minutes or until mixture starts to thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallows, chocolate chips, vanilla and nuts (if desired) until marshmallows and chocolate melt and blend.

Pour into prepared buttered pan. Chill until set 4 hours or over night. Cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) squares. Store in refrigerator in sealed container.

TIPS:
• For variety, substitute 1/2 cup pecans, chopped toasted almonds or hazelnuts for the walnuts.

Herb Vinegar

Well I still had fresh herbs growing on my patio and had used my herb vinegar's making more pickled  beets today.

So decided to make a couple more bottles of herb vinegar, so easy to make.

I bring white vinegar to a boil, then add the different vinegars separately to each jar.

You can use the herbs that are your favorites. Garlic, shallots, rosemary, sage, thyme and a few cloves of pepper.

bottom is balsamic
middle cider
top white

Sausage Rolls

• 12 good quality pork sausage
• 2 Italian sausages
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon  of  sage
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
•  1egg beaten
•  Take sausages out of casing, mix with herbs in a bowl.
• Make pastry or buy frozen puff pastry.
• Roll out on a floured board 
• Put your filling in and roll and turn edge to the bottom. Brush with egg mix.

Can be frozen at this stage or bake at 375 for 15 to 20 mins. 


 

Dip in home-made mustard!

Apple Pie

Hot out of the oven.

For the girls at Tracy's work.

For the crust I use Crisco or Fluffo,
recipe on the box, but always add a tablespoon
of butter to the mix.I use a variety of apples
in pies or applesauce.
For this pie I only make one crust fill it with four apples add 1/2 cup sugar sprinkle with cinnamon.
 I add a couple of spoons of  my Chablis orange jelly before I pull the dough over and sprinkle with sugar on top before baking in a 425 oven for ten mins, then 325 till done. Enjoy.